■■ ^^JXi ,' ^
Atferctrg xf£
Xfibcral Hrts
>t:? 1
^~
^
,i^^L,i,i_L_ (2 ^^^-^-^-^
THE
HISTORY OF CANAAN
NEW HAMPSHIRE
BY
WILLIAM ALLEN WALLACE
EDITED BY
JAMES BURNS WALLACE
Concord, N. H.
THE RUMFORD PRESS
1910
EDITOR'S NOTE.
My father at his death in 1893 left in manuscript a partially
finished history of the Town of Canaan. It has been my inten-
tion since that time to print it. I remember of my mother say-
ing that my father had said the history would all have to be re-
written before it was printed. I did not realize then, and not
until within a few years, how true that was. Every year since
1893 I have spent more or less time in getting the material into
shape, exerj year realizing how little I knew and how incom-
petant I was to perform the task. The mass of material, and the
condition in which it was, seemed to me stupendous. Not in the
slightest degree familiar with any of the past of the town, being
absent from it from the time I was thirteen years old, with only
periodical visits at home during vacation. During these times
I took no interest in my father's work. For thirty years he had
been accumulating the material. A good part of it was from
personal observation but much of it was obtained from the
reminiscences of old people, indefatigable search in old garrets
for letters, books, deeds, diaries, scraps, anything that would
lead to a clew on some forgotten incident.
My father says of himself : " I grew up to strong youth on the
shores of the beautiful pond that fronts our street. It was a
pleasant resort for thoughtful people. Old and young used to
linger about there, and many confidences were imparted, some
of which I shall never reveal. I was vers' near, and was con-
scious of much that was said and done in society, in politics, and
in religion. Opinions were freely expressed before me, because,
being merely a duplex tree, no one supposed my ears might
ever give tongue to my voice. I made note of many things and
treasured them up. Some of these events occurred so long ago
that it is safe to write of them. They had an interest for those
who took part in them as similar events have today, and formed
epochs in men's lives."
In my youth I spent days riding over the hills with him in
search of anything about Canaan, \-isiting the old graveyards.
He rarely trusted to his memory, which is fortunate in some
iv Editor's Note.
respects, for he had a very powerful remembrance of all events
that occurred during his life, whether in Canaan or in other
parts of the country. He was accustomed to jot down his notes
on anything that was at hand, small scraps of paper, pieces that
had already been used on one side, sometimes on both, cross writ-
ing and interlining with some other notes, but never scratching
out or rewriting. When once written it expressed his .thoughts
unchangeably. This habit was acquired by reason of his pro-
fession,— printer, reporter and editor.
To arrange these small scraps and put them in their proper
place has been at times like tracing out a labyrinth, for in my
ignorance of men and things I knew not where they went.
Neither did I know where they came from, and was tempted not
to believe them, but in no instance have I found any item, how-
ever small, to be incorrect. I often heard my father disputing
with others about some old occurrence. He always afterwards
ascertained whether he was right or wrong.
When the old house burnt in 1898 many people asked me if my
father's papers were destroyed. At that time I said they were
not, and not until within a few years have I realized that some
of them must have been burned, for there are gaps in some of
the work that can not be accounted for in any other way. I take
little credit to myself for this book. It is my father's work,
with the exception of some chapters which I wrote and which the
reader can readily tell. And these chapters contain some of his
notes, but his death prevented him from carrying his search
farther.
It will be observed that this book is a history of the early days,
down to about 1860. It contains as just an account as could be
gotten. From that date much is within the memory of those
living. Some future historian can set himself that task. I have,
however, where things of interest have happened since 1860, made
some mention of them. The strenuous life of this town hap-
pened before that date. Since the Rebellion the life of the
people has run smoothly. History is not made in that way.
After my father had been working some years upon this book
there was an article in the warrant for town meeting to see if
the town would financially assist in completing the histoiy of
Editor's Note. v
the town. It was voted down. He then made up his mind that
the book should be printed without their assistance. The amount
of time and labor he spent in collecting this material can only
be imagined. That there should not be patriotism enough in
the town to care for its history is, of course, deplorable. This
lack of patriotism has often been commented upon by many who
think more of this town than any other place on earth. It is not
only so in this town but in many others.
James B. Wallace.
Canaan, N. H., January 1, 1910.
PREFACE.
All history should be the history of the people. It is what
the people are doing in villages, communities and families, that
lie at the foundation of national character, and sentiment, and
consequently of national events. Those matters which possess
a natural interest to a particular neighborhood, from associa-
tion with the familiar names and places, are of interest to every
one who seeks in the experience of the past for that wisdom that
may be desired from a knowledge of what those who lived before
us have done and suffered.
These records present to us pictures of human life, its virtues
and failings, such as we can best understand. The village dis-
putes, religious quarrels, and political discussions of past times,
are analagous to those to which the present generation is exposed.
They afford examples of character and conduct of which we can
see the beginning and the end, and maj^ draw therefrom most
useful lessons. "We are living over the same lines with some
variations, but subject to the same general laws of action, inas-
much as we possess the same natures and are governed by the
same passions and motives, which lead to similar results.
The historic genealogy of a village may be made as useful a
guide through the devious paths of life as the chart of the
mariner to him who sails among the breakers of the great deep,
pointing out the track that others have pursued, and showing
where and how they have advanced in safety, and also wherein
they have become the victims of passion, folly and heedlessness.
By reference to various authorities it appears that so late as
1760 there were no settlements in New Hampshire north of
Charlestown, which was then called "No. Four;" nor were there
more than three towns settled south of Charlestown in the Con-
necticut valley within the present limits of New Hampshire. Hins-
dale, or Fort Dummer, was settled in 1683, Westmoreland or
"No. Two" in 1741, and Walpole in 1752. With the exception
of Walpole, these towns were all settled by Massachusetts men,
for until 1741, it was supposed the north line of Massachusetts
would include these towns. At Hinsdale and Charlestown forts
viii Preface,
were built at an early period of their settlement and soldiers
were stationed there for the double purpose of affording protec-
tion to the inhabitants and arresting the progress of the Indians
from Canada, while meditating incursions upon the frontier
towns. And so little interest did New Hampshire feel in the
settlement and development of this country that in 1745, when
Grovernor Wentworth recommended to the Assembly to take and
sustain their newly acquired "Fort Dummer, " which fell to
them upon the establishment of the line between the two colonies,
the lower house declined the acceptance of this place and also
of ' ' No. Four. ' ' alleging that the fort was fifty miles distant from
any towns settled by New Hampshire ; they did not own the ter-
ritory, and that they were not equal to the expense of maintain-
ing the places.
It was not until 1752 that the Governor of New Hampshire was
permitted to adopt any measures to secure to that colony this
valuable country. He then made several grants of townships on
both sides of the Connecticut River, and a plan was formed for
taking possession of it, the great richness of which they had heard
from hunters and returned Indian captives. There was a term
of years, from 1752 to 1760, during which the governors of New
Hampshire and Massachusetts were too busily occupied in prose-
cuting the war with the French and Indians to allow them to
give much attention to the extention of their settlement. But in
the year 1760 the last act in the bloody struggle was accomplished
in the capture of Montreal by the forces under General Amherst,
and Canada Avas reduced to a British province.
It is said during the war the seasons were fruitful, and the
colonies were able not only to supply their own troops with pro-
visions, but also the British fleets and armies with food and re-
freshments of all kinds. But after the close of the war there
followed two years, those of 1761-62, of great scarcity ; so great
as to make it absolutely necessary to seek supplies from abroad.
During the drouth of 1761 disastrous fires raged in the forests
in various parts of the state. And in the succeeding years the
emigrants who passed northward in search of new homes trav-
ersed immense tracts of territory covered with the charred
Preface. ix
remains of forests, whose naked trunks and leafless branches
were fast going to decay.
It was in the year 1761 that His Excellency Benning Went-
worth turned his attention to this wilderness, and with the assist-
ance of his secretary, Theodore Atkinson, resolved to change its
forests into fruitful fields and cover them with cheerful homes.
In this vicinity the towns of Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Gran-
tham, Groton, Hanover, Lebanon, Lyme, Orford. Plainfield and
Rumney were incorporated by separate charters.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SUR
The Charters of Canaan
The First and Second Settlers
Proprietors' Meetings, 1768-1785
Proprietors' Meetings, 1786-1845
Town Meetings, 1770-1785
Town Meetings, 1786-1797
Town Meetings, 1798-1818
Town Meetings, 1819-1909
The Pitch Book and Proprietors
VETS
Public Rights ....
The Common, Broad Street, The Meet
iNG House ....
Dame's Gore and State's Gore
The Surplus Revenue and Literary
Fund.
The Baptist Church
The Congregational Church
The Methodist Church .
Schools ....
Noyes Academy
Canaan Union Academy
Lawyers ....
Soldiers ....
XXII. Doctors, College Graduates
Roads ....
Te>iperance in Canaan .
How Some of Our Houses were Built
Wheel Carriages, Tanneries, Pots and
Pearl Ashes .
Incidents
Secret Organizations
Old Families
Genealogy
Marriages
Appendix : Votes for Governor; Representatives; Select
men; Moderators; Town Clerks; Town Appropria
TioNS for Charges; Census of 1790; Inventory of
1783; List of Voters, 1825; Enrollment List, 1864
Chapter
I.
Chapter
II.
Chapter
III.
Chapter
IV.
Chapter
V.
Chapter
VL
Chapter
VII.
Chapter
VIII.
Chapter
IX.
Chapter
X.
Chapter
XI.
Chapter
XII.
Chapter
XIII.
Chapter
XI\^.
Chapter
XV.
Chapter
XVI.
Chapter
XVII.
Chapter
XVIII.
Chapter
XIX.
Chapter
XX.
Chapter
XXL
Chapter
XXII.
Chapter
XXIII.
Chapter
XXIV.
Chapter
XXV.
Chapter
XXVI.
Chapter XXVII.
Chapter XXVIII.
Chapter XXIX.
Pages.
1-8
9-21
22-39
40-48
49-62
63-78
79-88
89-97
98-125
126-138
139-152
153-160
161-165
166-206
207-230
231-247
248-254
255-296
297-311
312-342
343-383
422-429
384-421
430-434
435^47
448-455
456-480
481-492
493-579
581-654
654-665
669-694
HISTORY OF CANAAN.
CHAPTER I.
The Charters of Caxaax.
The charters of Canaan are interesting documents, their tone
and style are kingly, such as our Eepublican ears are unused to.
The first and original charter signed and granted July 9. 1761.
having lapsed by reason of the non-performance of its conditions
by, the grantees, they made application to Gov. John Wentworth,
who renewed the old charter by a second charter dated February
23, 1769, and granted them a further term of four years to ful-
fil the conditions of the first charter.
The first charter commences with the royal declaration :
Province of New Hampshire,
George the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c.
To all persons to whom these presents shall come Greeting Know ye,
that wee of our special Grace, Certain knowledge and Meer motion, for
the Due incouragement of settling a new Plantation within our said
Province, by and with the advice of our trustj' and well beloved Pen-
ning Wentworth Esq, our Governor and Commander in chief of our
said Province of New Hampshire. Have upon the conditions and
Reservations hereinafter made. Given and Granted and by these pres-
ents 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 our other Governments, and to their heirs and assigns
forever whose names are entered on this Grant to be divided to and
amongst them into sixty eight equal shares, all that tract or parcel of
land, situate Lying & being within our sd Province of New Hampshire
containing by Admeasurement Twenty three Thousand acres, which
tract is to contain six miles square and no more out of which an allow-
ance is to be made for highways and unimprovable lands by Rocks
ponds mountains and Rivers one Thousand and Forty acres free accord-
ing to a plan & survey thereof made by our said Governors order, and
returned into the Secretary's office & hereto annexed, butted and
bounded as follows; viz; Beginning at the South East Corner of Han-
over from thence North fifty five Degrees East by Hanover Six miles
2 History of Canaan.
to the Corner thereof, from theuce South Sixty one degrees East six
miles, from thence South forty one degrees West six miles from thence
North fifty eight degrees West seven miles and one quarter of a mile
to the bound first mentioned, and that the same be and hereby is In-
corporated into a Township by the Name of Canaan, and the inhabi-
tants that do or shall hereafter Inhabit the said Township are hereby
declared to be enfranchised with and Intitled to all and every, the
privileges and Immunities that other Towns within our Province by
law exercise & enjoy and further that the said Town as soon as there
shall be fifty families resident & Settled thereon shall have ye Liberty
of hold Two fairs one of which shall be held on the . . . and the other
on the . . . annually which fairs . . .
And as soon as the sd Town shall consist of fifty families, a market
may be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may be
thought most advantageous to the Inhabitants.
Also the first meeting for fhe choice of Town Officers, agreeable to
the laws of our said Province shall be held on the third Tuesday in
August next, which said meeting shall be notified by Thomas Gustin,
who is also appointed the Moderator of the 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 for the said Town shall be on the second Tuesday of
March annually.
To have and to hold the above tract of land as above expressed
togather with all privileges and appurtenances to them and their re-
spective heirs and assigns forever, upon the following conditions:
1st viz: That every Grantee his heirs and assigns shall plant and
cultivate, five acres of Land within the term of five years for every
fifty acres contained in his or their share or portion 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 said
Township and of its Reverting to us our heirs and successors to be by
us or them Regranted to such of our subjects as shall effectually settle
& cultivate the same.
2nd. That all white and other Pine trees within the said Township
fit for Masting our Royal Navy be carefully preserved for that use and
none to be cut or felled without our special license for so doing first
had and obtained upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the Right
of such Grantee his heirs and assigns to us our heirs and successors
as well as being subject to the penalty of any act or acts of parliament
that now are or hereafter shall be enacted.
3rd. That before any division of the land be made to and among
the Grantees a tract of land as near the centre of the said Township as
the land will admit of shall be reserved and marked out for Town Lots,
one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee of the contents of one
acre.
4 yielding and paying therefor to us our heirs and successors for
The Charters op Canaan.
the space of ten years to be computed from the date hereof the Rent of
one Ear of Indian Corn only, on the Twenty fifty day of December an-
nually, if lawfully demanded, the first payment to be made on the
Twenty fifth day of December 1762
5 Each Proprietor settler or Inhabitant shall yield and pay unto us
our heirs and successors yearly and every year forever, from and after
the expiration of ten years from " the above and twenty fifth day of
December which shall be in the year of our Lord 1772, one shilling
proclamation money for every Hundred acres he so owns settles or
possesses and so in proportion for a greater or less tract of land, which
money shall be paid by the respective persons above said their heirs or
assigns in our Council Chamber in Portsmouth or to such officer or
officers as shall be appointed to receive the same and this to be in
lieu of all other Rents and services whatsoever.
In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our said Province
to be hereunto affixed.
Witness Penning Wentworth Esq our Governor and Commander in
Chief of our said Province the Ninth day of July in the year of our
Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and sixty one and in the First
year of our Reign
By his Excellency's Command with advice of Council Theodore At-
kinson Secty.
Bexnixg Wentworth.
Province of New Hampshire July 9th. 1761
The names of the Grantees of Canaan
Thomas Gustin
Gibson Harris
Ebenezer Harris
Daniel Harris
Joseph Babcock
Amos Walworth
Joseph Eames
Ebenezer Eames
Ebenezer Peck
Allen Wightman
Jared Spencer
Ephm Wells Jur
Thomas Wells
Thomas Gustin Jur
Jedidiah Lathrop
Clement Daniels
John Chamberlain
Benj Chamberlain
Abner Chamberlain
David Chamberlain
Richard Sparrow
George Harris
Caleb Whiting
Willm Fox Jur
Stephen Kellogg
Thomas Gustin
Richard Wibird Esq
James Nevins Esq
Capt. John Wentworth Somers-
worth
Thomas Westbrook Walden
Daniel Fowle
Israel Kellogg
Aaron Cady
Aaron Cady Jur
Nathaniel Cady
Asa Daniels
John Tribble
Samuel Dodge
Samuel Meacham
Isaiah Rathbun
William Chamberlain
History of Canaan.
Willm Chamberlaiu Jur
Thomas Gates
George Lamplieer
Thomas Minor
Phinehas Sabine
Joshua Rathbun
Sylvester Randal
Saml Dodge 3rd
Ephm Wells
Josiah Gates JiK
Lewis Loveridge
Rufus Randal
James Jones
Jonathan Beebe 3rd
Jabez Jones
George King Mercht
Will™ King do
Capt Willm Weutworth
Thomas Parker
Daniel Rogers
John Newmarch Esq
His Excellency Benuing Wentworth Esq, a tract to Contain five Hun-
dred acres as marked on the plan B. W. which is to be accounted Two
of the within shares. One whole share for the Incorporated Society for
ye propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts
One share for the first Settled Minister of the Gospel
One share for the benefit of the School in said Town & one share for
a Glebe for the Church of England as by law established.
Province of New Hampshire July ye 9th 1761
Recorded in the book of Charters
Theodore Atkinson Secretary
The Charters of Canaan. 5
The above is copied from the Proprietors' Records and was
supposed to have been copied from the original charter which
was in the possession of the Proprietors' clerk at one time, but
where it is now is not known. The following is from the State
Papers and is the renewal of the original charter :
Province of ) George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain,
New Hamp. ( France Ireland King defender of the Faith &c.
Whereas we of our special Grace & mere Motion for the due encour-
agement of settling a new Plantation within Our Province of New
Hampshire by our letters patent or Charter under the seal of our
Said Province dated the 9th day of July 1761 in the first year of our
reign a tract of land equal to six miles square bounded as therein ex-
pressed & since surveyed admeasured marked & ascertained by our
order to Isaac Riudge Esq our surveyor general of lands for said
Province Granted to a number of our loyal subjects whose names are
entered on the same to hold to them their heirs & assigns on the condi-
tions thei-eiu declared & to be a Town corporate by the name of Canaan
as by reference to the said chapter may more fully appear And
whereas the said grantees have represented unto us that by reason of
the great Inconveniences which occur in the Settlement of the new
Townships so remotely situated from any other Townships or Settle-
ments that can afford any assistance hath rendered it impracticable for
the whole number of grantees to perform that Part of the Conditions
that relates to the cultivation of such a Proportion of the said Grant
That there are families now settled on the premises which affords them
hopes of a final Settlement without delay and humbly supplicating us
not to take advantage of the breach of said Condition but to lengthen
out & grant them some further Time for the performance thereof. Now
ICnow ye that we being willing to promote the end proposed have of our
further Grace & Favor suspended our claim of the forfeiture which the
said Grantees may have incurred and by these presents do grant unto
the said Grantees their Heirs & Assigns the further Term of Four years
from this date for performing and fulfilling the conditions matters
& things by them to be done as aforesaid, except the Quit Rents which
are to remain due & payable as expressed & reserved in the original
Grant or Charter.
J' Wentworth.
Feb. 23. 1769.
Attached to the charter are the names of sixty-two men as
original grantees, and among them all it does not appear by any
record that more than ten or twelve of them ever saw their
''grants" — Amos Walworth, Ebenezer Eames, George Harris,
Daniel Harris, Samuel Meacham, Thomas Gates, Thomas Miner,
6 History of Canaan.
James Jones, Samuel Dodge, Epliraim Wells, Jr., Josiah Gates,
and possibly Thomas Gustin, whose name was discovered as a
witness to a deed executed before William Ayer in Canaan.
These men appear to have made explorations and to have per-
formed various labors, and they left honorable names upon the
records of the town. But there were other men than those named
in the charter, to whom Canaan is indebted for opening up high-
ways into the wilderness which developed all her hills and val-
leys. But few authentic documents exist relating to the early
settlement of this town. No diaries detailing the events of that
early life have ever been discovered, showing the hardships en-
dured or the dangers avoided by those men and women whose
resting place among us at this day is perhaps an obscure mound
of earth without a stone to indicate whose bones have there de-
cayed. Nor are there any letters to friends detailing the fate
or prospects of those who came here. But little information is
to be gained from the public records. These record the ap-
pointment of officers and of committees to perform certain duties,
whose reports being "accepted," no more can be learned from
them. They show that money was "raised" for building roads,
laying out pitches, and for other purposes, but it does not ap-
pear how this money was expended, no one being held account-
able for it.
Nor for sixteen years after the first settlement of the town, is
there to be found in the town archives a list of the taxpayers.
There is a partial list of the taxpayers for the year 1782 and a
more complete list for the year 1786 in the handwriting of
Ezekiel Wells, and which is a copy of the original record. The
list for 1782 contains the names of forty-seven, three of whom
were non-residents, that of 1786 contains seventy-eight names,
three were non-residents. Not until 1793, more than twenty-
six years after the settlement of the town, appears the first com-
plete recorded list and it embraces 124 names. The old set-
tlers are dead, their children are dead and their grandchildren,
except here and there, one whose memory has become obscured
by years, and whose recollections of the times of their fathers
are little to be relied upon. With these difficulties in view at the
starting point it will be seen that the task of the annalist be-
comes almost one of imagination. Of course it is of little con-
The Charters of Canaan. 7
sequence whether the historj^ of Canaan be written or unwritten,
like the man whose lineage ran back into obscurity, from whence
little light is visable.
Years before the events described occurred, this country A\'ith
all its ponds and streams, had been explored by trappers and
hunters whose success always equalled their industry. It was
related to me by Ensign Colby, that an ancestor of his from
Haverhill, J\Iass., with a partner named Tribble, was one of the
earliest explorers here, and that the reports these men made
upon the natural products of the soil, influenced many persons
in Haverhill, Amesbury, Plaisted, etc., to seek new homes here.
On one occasion Colby and Tribble arrived on the shores of Hart
Pond late in the afternoon, weary and discouraged by their
toilsome journey through the forest. Dense woods lined all the
banks, no trace of human life visible anywhere. They struck
a fire and ate their scanty meal. Tribble v/eary and in ill humor,
told Colby it was useless to trap in such a place. He didn't be-
lieve there was any game in this region. For himself, he was
going to sleep, if Colby choose to set the traps, he was welcome
to all the skins he could catch. The traps were set, and in the
morning the trapper was rewarded by finding each one sprung,
and holding fast a beaver, otter or a mink. Tribble apologized
for his ill nature and unbelief of the night before, saying:
"Hereafter the meaner the country looked the greater would be
his expectations of game." It is fair to state, that Colby in the
division of the furs, took no advantage of his partner's unbelief
of the night before. They continued to trap some three weeks,
with various success, about the pond and on Mascoma River, near
the present village, always camping on the shores of the pond
at night. One day, the sun about an hour high, they heard or
supposed they heard, the report of a gun fired in the direction
of their traps on the river, believing it to be a signal gun of the
Indians and that they had discovered their traps. Without
stopping to ascertain the truth, they took counsel of their fears,
seized their skins and guns and hastily and fearfully took the
trail that led to the settlements. They continued their flight
through a wild forest for forty miles, to a place now called
Boscawen. Here they sat down on the brow of a hill for rest
and refreshment. Upon reflection they concluded they had
8 History of Canaan,
fooled themselves out of their property, so they took the same
trail back, to reclaim their traps, and were not surprised to find
them all safe, many of them being sprung. Nor were there any
indications of Indians to be seen.
The Indians, one hundred and more j^ears ago were suffici-
ently numerous and hostile to cause the settlers to be extremely
watchful. Evidence exists of two Indian camps in this town.
One of these was situated upon the shores of Hart Pond, upon
land now owned by Mr. George E. Cobb. Another has been
located near the outlet of Goose Pond. Various rude imple-
ments, such as axes made of stone, jugs, etc., have been un-
earthed at these points, which confirms the belief in their former
existence. The tribe is not known nor their language. They
have disappeared like the trees, and few in our generation will
care to inquire whence they came or whither they went. They
probably belonged to the great family of Abnakis who inhabited
this part of New Hampshire and northern Maine. But as our
settlers had little to do with Indians, neither have we.
Wild game was in abundance, and the rivers were full of fish.
Venison was plenty in the humble houses of the settlers. Bears
and wolves were troublesome ; besides serving to frighten crying
children into silence, they often made sad havoc among the
flocks. Moose, deer, rabbits, foxes, partridges, with beaver, otter,
martin, mink, etc., abounded, and in their way each served to
settle and open up this town to the institutions of ci\dlization.
CHAPTER II.
The First and Second Settlers.
The story of the first settlement of Canaan is legendary and
has been brought down to us by generations. There are no docu-
ments to offer as proofs of its truth, and if any ever existed,
they have been carefully gathered up and sold for paper rags.
But the legend runs, that in the wintry December of 1766, the
old man Scofield, who had been knocking about the country in
search of a home while wandering in the neighborhood of Leb-
anon, from passing trappers and woodmen, heard of the rich
intervals, the huge trees, and game in abundance, to be had in
the wilderness, where as yet, no man had settled for a longer
time than was needed to take up his traps. He started for the
new region on snowshoes, hauling his effects on a handsled, fol-
lowed by his wife and four children, two young sons and two
daughters and settled here, the first white man, among the great
pines and maples, the black bear and wolf his only neighbors.
The old man must have possessed a stout heart and infinite faith
in himself, for I take it, no man even in these devout days would
go forth into the wilderness upon snowshoes and a handsled with
simply a trust in God. Such a trust might do in the summer
time, when the earth is generous in fruits and flowers, and a bed
of grass or leaves is easy for the bones of the weary ; but when
the frost cloud descends and settles upon the earth, and feathers
of young frosting give a nap to all things, a stern reliance upon
self is a safer trust. Faith in God may do for a man in the
agonies of inexorable death when he knows it is unsafe to post-
pone faith any longer, but it will never prevent his freezing with
the mercury at zero and below. And so thought old John Sco-
field, for he brought his axe and shovel, removed the snow,
felled trees, built him a great fire and a brush house and left a
name in the local ananls that will live forever.
It is related that the next morning after his arrival, the old
man left his family, and set out for Lebanon for such of his
goods as he had been unable to bring the day previous, intending
10 History of Canaan.
to return the same evening. But a heavy rain occurred which
swelled the ]Mascoma so as to make it impassable. He arrived on
the banks of the river after dark, but was unable to cross it, re-
maining there all night. And this was in the month of December,
1766. The experiences of that lonely traveler as he struggled
to shelter his family from the inclemency of those December
days, partake very little of romance, but they were common to
the people of those days.
John Scofield was an Englishman, born in 1715. He had been
a resident of Norwich. Conn. He was not a very social man,
liked to have his neighbors so far away that when he Adsited
them they would be glad to see him; would "welcome the com-
ing, speed the parting guest. ' ' Early in the spring of 1766, find-
ing himself embarrassed with near neighbors, he traveled up the
river leisurely looking for a place to set up his family altar.
After many hardships he reached Canaan in the manner before
stated. Here he found land and space enough to satisfy his
most lonely desires. He erected his first brush house in the
valley, about twenty-five rods north from the schoolhouse in the
old District No. 10, and afterwards built one of logs in the
same place. The rocky remains of the old cellar are still to be
seen there, overgrown with briars and bushes. There was also
an oven built oval of stone, which was standing within forty
years. It was taken down many years ago by Nathaniel Wilson
and the stones laid into a w^all in the vicinity. It was from this
place he heard the report of Thomas ^Miner's gun on the eventful
morning in the following spring, and which was a signal to him
that he was no longer to live alone. Some time after this event,
and before the lands were pitched upon by the slowly arriving
grantees, he built a house nearer to the river, where he spent
the remainder of his life. The field where his remains now lie
was his own property, deeded to him by the proprietors. He
cleaned it and dedicated a portion of it for a burial place.
Several young persons were buried here before his own death.
Mrs. Sarah Scofield. his widow, who died in 1794. is supposed
to have been the last person buried there.
It does not appear that John Scofield 's intention to set apart
this spot as a burying place was ever completed. It was never
enclosed, nor was there ever any record made of the fact. And
The First and Second Settlers. 11
when the farm was sold to Capt. Daniel Pattee in 1799, no reser-
vation was made in the deed in reference to these graves, al-
though it was well known that they were there. The practice
of using it was doubtless abandoned from the inconvenience of
getting to. it. And the present graveyard on the sand knoll at
West Canaan was substituted for it. The circumstances attend-
ing the laying out of the burying ground on the Street were
similiar in their nature. The land was given to the people for
a bur;snng place by the then owner, Nathan ]\Iesser, but when
afterwards he sold it to ]Mr. John Fales, he neglected to reserve
the graveyard in the deed. Then ]\Ir. Fales laid claim to the
enclosure and threatened to plow it up, and plant potatoes upon
the graves, if it were not paid for. The town paid him thirty-
seven and one-half dollars, and in the deed a reservation was
made of two rods square as a burial place for the Fales family.
There was a stone wall around the original lot which was re-
moved on the east side by Franklin P. Swett in the '60 's and a
picket fence built in its place. The town has bought four addi-
tions. A small strip was added by G. H. Goodhue and the
tomb of William D. Currier was accepted by the town.
Mr. Scofield brought with him to Canaan a wife and four chil-
dren: Delight, who afterwards married Gideon Rudd; Eleazer,
aged twelve years ; John, Jr., aged ten ; and IMiriam, aged eight
years. The latter afterwards married ^laj. Samuel Jones, who
came in early from Connecticut. The old man was strong-
minded and self-reliant ; he had early nerved himself to make
his own path in the world, and here we find him on that De-
cember night, the only man in Canaan, with his axe and rifle,
making a brush house to shelter his little family and keep them
from suffering. He was fifty-one years old at that time and had
been accustomed to the comforts of social life, but he left all
these to build himself a home in these mid woods. That his
labors and virtues were appreciated, is evident from the fact that
when the proprietors awarded sixty dollars to those pioneers
who had contributed most to effect the settlement of the to^vn,
Mr. Scofield was the first of the four among whom it was di-
vided, his proportion being rated at twenty-six dollars. The
early settlers of Canaan were men of brave patience. Words fail
in describing the reality to the occupants of comfortable homes
12 History of Canaan.
at this day. They were rich only in stout hands and strong faith,
and they conquered the wdlderness of swamp and forest because
they wanted a home. The earth which bore such trees would
yield rich crops of grain and fruit. They set themselves down
in the wild wood, it made little difference where, and attacked
the trees. There was another man into whose life a good deal
of romance was crowded, and as his appearance here was almost
co-equal with Mr. Scofield, their relations to each other render it
proper that we should refer to him now.
Thomas Miner, named a grantee in the charter, was the sec-
ond man who came to this town. He resided at Norwich, Conn.,
and at the date of the charter was eighteen years of age. Not-
withstanding his youthful years, his name appears as one of the
grantees. He was a restless man, full of energy and activity all
his life, a poor writer and not much of a scholar and not al-
ways mindful of the courtesies of life. This temperament led
him at an early age to seek excitement in the varied career of a
sailor. This life ever full of danger and hardship, at length it
became dull and monotonous to him and he sought change in in-
land adventure. His ventures at sea had been fortunate, he had
laid by a sum sufficiently large to secure him independence of
labor. He married Eleanor Lamb in Norwich, 1765, at the age
of 22, and his first child, named Allen, was born in September of
the following year, 1766. He was at this time out of business,
somewhat disgusted with the restraints of the Blue Laws that
governed the civilization of Connecticut, and waiting for some
exciting event to shape his course in the world. While in this
frame of mind, it occurred to him that he was joint proprietor
of a wild uninhabited tract of land in New Hampshire, which
he had never seen. He w^as one of the sixty-one proprietors
named in the charter. He could learn but few particulars con-
cerning this land. Emigrants to the Upper Cohos had passed
through it by the foot trail, but could give no description of it,
except that it was covered with goodly trees, plenty of stone for
fencing purposes; the waters abounded in fish, and the woods
with game, — some of it dangerous. He resolved to explore that
wild land, even if he had to go alone. This scheme just suited
his present state of mind. He had explored the ocean whose
waste of waters left no trace behind. Now he would explore the
The First axd Second Settlers. 13
land and leave trace of himself that should make him famous in
local story.
Many of the grantees were residents of Norwich, Colchester
and the adjoining towns, the Harrises, George, .Gibson, and
Daniel; Dr. Ebenezer Eames, James Jones, Amos Walworth,
Josiah Gates, Jedediah Lathrop, Samuel Meaeham. Then there
were Joshua and Ezekiel Wells, John and Samuel Jones, and
others Avho Avere proposing to migrate. ^Ir. Miner made known
to many of these men his intentions, but at first got little en-
couragement. Meeting Mr. Harris one day, he said to him:
' ' Mr. Harris, I 've got tired of this humdrum sort of life in a vil-
lage, where everybody has to be so proper and religion is a pre-
tense for a great deal of meanness. And I don't want to stay
any longer in a place where I'm not allowed to kiss my wife on
Sunday. I'm going to get out er this, and try the bears and
wolves for neighbors, and live on fish and venison. Come along,
and let 's look after our six miles square. ' '
To this Mr. Harris replied: "No hurry about it, ]Mr. Miner,
it's a long way, and a hard way, on foot or horseback, it's slow
traveling, but few places to stop at. You are young and active,
with a young wife and child. You don't want to leave them be-
hind. We'll get ready this fall and winter, and in the spring
we can go in company; and others will go along too. In that
way we shall be able to defend and support one another, and on
that long road there will be need enough of it."
"Well," says Miner, "I did think of starting out alone, be-
cause you see, I 've been used to doing that. I thought I 'd leave
my wife here and run up there and spend the winter looking
round. Now I'm a poor writer and a worse scholar, and the
bad of it is, that I should have to write to my folks. You're a
scholar and understand all about these land voyages. Your ad-
vice is good. We'll spend the winter in getting ready and start
out early in the spring, and build us a home up there where
'tain't unlawful for a man to say 'damn it,' if he's strongly
tempted."
It was intended to start out a company of several families,
and take along such conveniences as could be transported. But
when spring came they were not ready. Some of them hesitated
— that the journey was too long — they wanted to learn some-
14 History of Caxaax.
thing more of the country, and they would wait longer. Mr.
Miner's temperament was not of the waiting kind. AVhen the
spring came and he found the company still undecided, he took
his wife and child and such implements and conveniences as he
could pack upon a horse and with a compass in his pocket, to
guide him when he became uncertain of his way, he started out
for his territory driving a cow. His journey through Connecticut
and Massachusetts was comparatively easy. There were many
settlements and roads had been laid out. After getting into the
Connecticut valley the woods seemed to close in upon them in
long stretches, the clearings were few and very small and the
roads dwindled down to a single trail, at times only discernible
by the blazed trees which marked the way.
In all western New Hampshire but four towns had been in-
corporated. In eacli of these towns a block house or fort had been
erected and they had attained prominence from the fact that
being on the frontier they were often exposed to attack by the
Indians from Canada. At these places he stopped for rest, and
to hold intercourse with the people. His journey was a quiet
one, unmarked by any disturbing incident. . He and his young
wife enjoyed the constantly varying scenery^ which roused within
him new impulses, and thoughts to which his life had heretofore
been a stranger. In some of the reflective moods which fell upon
him he would, say : ' ' Wife, I 've loved the sea and was never
afraid when the strong winds lashed it into fury, but it was a
desert "oithout a flower or tree and all that fell into it was
swallowed up and disappeared forever. But this new road we
are traveling is dotted all along with fragrant flowers, and the
great trees, always stretching their long arms out before us, are
calling us to a new destiny. We are started upon the long road.
We are young, and life which a few months ago, seemed like an
old wornout coat, now rises up all before us. Whatever may be
our fate, we will have confidence in one another, and trust in
God." And so they passed leisurely along on their way, past all
the settlements, until they approached their land of promise and
stopped to rest upon the rising land afterwards called "South
Road, ' ' that gave them a bird 's-eye view of much of the northern
part of the town. Here they rested and decided to pitch their
camp. Not a house in sight, not a smoke, not a clearing ; no sign
of civilization.
The First and Second Settlers. 15
This young man of twenty-three years, wlio thought he had
already enjoyed and exhausted the pleasures of the sea, and had
found the charms of social life unsatisfactory, stood thereon that
evening, the past all behind liim, facing the new present, and
looking through the great trees at a future crowned with fruit-
ful fields and houses filled with comely faces. He stood there
like a prophet and "viewed the landscape o'er." There was
fearless resolution in his heart, and he turned to his wife who
was near by caressing the boy, and said : * ' Wife, this is a goodly
place. I think we'll build us a home here. This seems to be a
great point in our lives. You know I'm not much of a hand
a-praying, but we'll begin now, and thank God that we are here,
and pray that he will give us strength and grace to accomplish
the labors that are before us, and length of days that we may see
the generations that are to subdue and utilize these forests and
streams." And it was right here and on this occasion that all
the romance departed out of his young life. The sun was setting
in crimson and gold. His wife and boy were resting upon the
ground, the horse and cow weary with their long journey, were
turned loose to graze. The scene w^as not a rural one ; it en-
gendered a feeling of insecurity which called for immediate ac-
tion. The past glimmered for an instant before his mind, \vith.
all its religious and social opportunities, but it was only a gleam
that flitted rapidly away and left him standing there on the
brow of that hill, filled at once with the resolves of ripe man-
hood. Henceforth there was to be only work, not a mere struggle
for existence, but earnest active labor that the years to come
would be proud of.
His reveries were disturbed by his wife, w^ho said: "Well,
Thomas, the sun is getting low. Where shall we make a bed?
The little boy is tired; he must have his supper and go to rest."
Thomas seized his axe, and in a short time had cleared away
the brush and arranged the branches of the trees, so as to form
a shelter from inclement weather. Then with flint and steel, he
struck a fire and while his wife mixed the coarse bread and
baked it before the fire, he milked the cow, and they sat down
at their first frugal meal, not far from the spot where he after-
wards erected his dwelling.
On awakening, the next morning, it is related that his horse
16 History of CANA.ysr.
was not to be found. After making hasty preparations, Mr.
Miner seized his hat and coat and started out in pursuit, follow-
ing the trail by which he came back as far as Charlestown, or
No. 4. where he found his horse secured in the stable of a man
who three days before spoke \Ndth the travelers as they passed
along, and who, supposing the horse had strayed from his owner,
secured him in his stable. Mr. ]Miner hastily retraced his steps
to his camp, where he found his wife safe, but in much anxiety of
mind lest he might be waylaid by evil-minded persons. After
relating their mutual experiences while separated, she said to
him : ' ' Thomas, I think we are not alone here. While you were
^way I heard sounds resembling the chopping of an axe, followed
by other sounds as if large trees had fallen and one time I
thought I recognized the report of a gun, and these sounds all
came from the direction of the valley yonder. Shan't we be
:glad to have a neighbor ? ' '
' ' Indeed you surprise me, wife ; I thought I was the first and
last man here. But we'll rest tonight, and in the morning I'll
beat about in the valley cautiously, and see what discoveries I
can make ; can 't be that ^Mr. Harris, or any of the others down
home have stolen a march on us ! We '11 soon see. ' '
On waking the next morning his ears were greeted with
sounds as of an axe in the valley below. The idea of an axe im-
plied a white man, of course. So he discharged his rifle and
waited the effect. This was soon answered by the report of an-
other gun. He felt sure then that he had a neighbor, and in due
time he found himself in the presence of our first settler and
oldest inhabitant, John Scofield.
When he had made himself known the two men greeted each
other Avith friendly salutations. Mr. Miner exclaimed: "It's
good to see you here, my friend ! Thought I was ' monarch of all
I surveyed. ' but I 'm willing to divide with ye ! " " How is it. ' '
said Mr. Scofield. "about those other men that are down in the
charter, if they ever come in they'll about fill up the town; and
if I'm going to be crowded here, I'll go off to Canada, where
I 've had my eye for a long time ? ' '
"No need of that," replied ]\Iiner, "I've thought it all over
as we came along, you just stay where you are and you'll get
these lands about as cheap as you want them. ' '
The First and Second Settlers. 17
"I've been jammed in crowds all my life," says Scofield, "and
I'm up here to get away from them, can't bear to be crowded,
never could ; came away from Connecticut because there was too
many people and too much law. ' '
' ' Just you hold and listen a minute, ' ' says Miner. ' ' I 've seen
a good many of these proprietors down there in Norwich and
Colchester and there's soft spots in more than half of them.
They will never come up here because they are afraid of the
journey, and if we can make them believe there's to be assess-
ments on their rights, they'll be glad to sell out cheap and you
and I can have the benefit of their indolent fears. ' '
"It looks very probable, perhaps you're right. But how are
je for venison at your camp 1 ' '
' * None at all, seen nothing to shoot at, ' ' says Miner.
"Well, you'd better come in and take some along with ye.
We killed a bear that was snuffin' round the pig pen, two days
since and the boys brought in a deer, so we are well supplied;
and mind you bring the dame soon to see the old woman; its
natural they should want to talk with one another. ' '
"So I will," says Miner, "this venison is much like the land,
it don't cost much after you get it."
It was not long before the women came together with very
eheerful greetings. Mrs. Scofield was a middle-aged, motherly
woman, who had followed her husband in all his wanderings for
a home. They had a cabin which afforded them a shelter for
themselves and their children. She was hopeful all her life; and,
humble as it was, cheerfulness reigned in her home. Thus it was
that at their first meeting, the old and the young couple being
mutually pleased, formed a lasting friendship which continued
during their lives and afterwards, in another generation be-
came stronger by family ties.
Mr. Scofield, on learning that the proprietors of these lands
were preparing to occupy them, naturally felt anxious as to his
position here. He had after much wandering got his family in
a position to secure a comfortable home. He had cleared a smaU
patch of ground and was preparing to put in seed. Mr. ]\Iiner
had assured him that there was land enough in Canaan for all
the people who were coming, without any one of them being
crowded, "and further." said he, "and to remove all your
2
18 History of Canaan.
anxieties, I pledge my word to you that sliould any dispute arise,
as to your occupancy here, I'll di\ide my share with you, for I
am an equal owner and have a right to do what I will with my
own. Then we will take advantage of circumstances and when we
find a disgusted proprietor, we'll step in and buy him out before
he has time to change his mind. ' '
They resolved to be neighbors. Mr. ]\Iiner would plant his
stakes at a convenient distance from Mr. Scofield, who should
retain the land whereon he had made improvements and what-
ever lands they occupied, their rights should be recognized by
the grantees. Ha"\dng made this friendly covenant, they each
set themselves diligently to work, and in due time they had
green fields
"Where the rain might rain upon them;
"Wliere the sun might shine upon them ;
Wliere the "winds might sigh upon them ;
And w^here the snows might die upon them. ' '
And now, having brought these two men together, who were
so long apart, we aa^II leave them while we go back and look after
some other men. who. though willing. Avere not strong enough to
come alone, but who. in the following years left records of hon-
orable lives and actions.
Other Early Settlers.
Of the sixty-one grantees named in the charter, fifty-one were
residents of Norwich, Colchester, and the surrounding towns in
that vicinity in Connecticut. The other eleven were the friends
of the Governor, and their names were written in the charter
by court favoritism, a system that has always been understood
in courts and cabinets, and by which men of genius get lands,
or profits without work.
After the departure of young Miner, in quest of his unknown
lands, the subject of emigration often came to the surface in
conversation between the proprietors, but several months passed
away before they arrived at a conclusion. And then instead
of coming as settlers, a few started out as explorers, who were
to visit the lands and report upon its beauty and loveliness, its
The First and Second Settlers. 19
fertility and the uses to which industrious men might put it.
The party consisted of George and Daniel Harris, brothers,
Amos Walworth, Samuel Benedict, Samuel Jones, Lewis Joslyn,
Asa Williams, Joseph Craw and Daniel Grossman, some of these
gentlemen brought along their families. The expedition was
delayed until summer and they reached Ganaan by the same
route as that traveled by ]\Ir. Miner. It is supposed they were
heartily welcomed by the tw^o first families, who were anxiously
awaiting for news from home. ]\Ir. George Harris, who from
his energy and superior intelligence, was recognized as a leader
among them, soon after their arrival organized parties for ex-
ploration, and in a few days they had examined the southern,
western and northern portions of the iovm. The following inci-
dent relating to one of their parties is handed down as a legend :
George Harris and his party, in 1767, came upon a sheet of
water near Hanover, whose surface seemed to be alive with wild
geese and ducks. They killed a goose — an old one — and cooked
it, all day, and then it was tough. It never got to be a tender
goose, and to commemorate this circumstance they named that
water "Goose Pond."
Another of these parties, in traversing the northern part of
the town, came upon the camp of James Clark, who, with his
family, had just come in from the Piscataqua settlements, and
had pitched upon the hill, which he afterwards sold to Joseph
Bartlett. This man Clark lived here until 1772, when Governor
Wentworth built his road to Hanover. It was laid out north
of Clark's house. The governor offered to take Clark into his
service, which he accepted and followed on in the train to
Hanover.
These exploring parties returned to Mr. Miner's camp at the
time appointed, expressing themselves well pleased with the
lands they had examined, particularly with the numerous ponds
and streams which indicated abundance of water. In their
travels, each one had selected a spot upon which to pitch his
home. George Harris, Amos Walworth, Samuel Jones, Joseph
Craw and Daniel Grossman selected lands upon what is now
"South Road," so as to form a neighborhood. Grossman, Craw
and Benedict, who had brought their families along, went into
20 History of Canaajst.
the business of brush housekeeping, like Miner and Scofield.
While Samuel Jones, who was unmarried and had been a major
of militia, for the time being, attached himself to the family of
Mr. Scofield, from which he afterwards took a wife, and began
improvements on his own pitch, which was not far away. Mr.
Harris and Walworth returned to Colchester to convey the result
of their observations to the waiting ones who came eagerly to
hear the reports from New Hampshire.
But they were not ready to start, and did not come yet for
more than a year, except Mr. Harris, who, with his wife and
family, and accompanied by Samuel Dodge and Capt. Josiah
Gates, returned to his new home the same season, and busied
himself in assigning lands, laying out roads and other matters
in the interests of the grantees. Before winter set in, each of
these families had built log houses, and were prepared with their
slender means to meet the rigors of the season. Joseph Craw's
child died during the winter of 1768, the first death in the town-
ship. There was much to discourage these new settlers. No
roads to pass from house to house. No corn mills nor saw-
mills, no crops of grain to be gathered. The way of their
coming was not favorable for the transportation of grain or food.
Their slender stock slowly diminished, until the colonists began
to feel alarm lest they might come to want and their families
suffer. Here was a great trial approaching and it needed brave
men to meet it. And under it some of those strong men grew
faint and wished they had not come. Some, it is said, even
turned back and sought their old homes in Connecticut. There
was no mill nearer than Lebanon, nor roads leading to it, nor
bridges upon which to cross the streams. Only a foot trail led
through the forest, obstructed by swamps and fallen trees, and
rafts of logs served for bridges.
For several years it occurred that a man must walk to Leba-
non, where a mill had been built, work a day to earn a bushel of
"bread corn" and have it ground, then pack it upon his back
to his home in the forest, by that blind trail through the forest.
We can imagine how carefully that bushel of bread corn was
husbanded and dealt out to the laborers. The times afforded no
room for tramps, nor vagabonds, nor idlers, or other non-workers
The First and Second Settlers. 21
to lounge about and eat up the hard-earned bread of honest
industry.
"Here eyes do regard them,
In eternity's stillness,
Here is all fullness,
Ye brave, to reward you,
Work and despair not. ' '
It happened, a few years after the settlers came in, there was
a failure of crops. There was but one man in town who had
corn in his crib, our old friend, Maj. Samuel Jones, who was a
man of wealth and influence, living on South Road, west of
Beaver Brook. He was a kind man, considerate to his poor
neighbors, to many of whom he gave employment. It is related
that Col. Ezekiel Wells, also a man of wealth and influence, went
to the major to purchase corn, confident that his social position
was such as to bar a refusal, and thus he would save the trouble
of going to Lebanon. But the major was inexorable. He
replied : ' ' Colonel, you have a good horse and plenty of money,
and can get your corn with but little personal inconvenience. I
want a good deal of work done, and these neighbors of mine
have nothing else to pay for my corn. It wouldn 't be right for
me to sell you my com and send these men all the way over to
Lebanon on foot. No, Colonel, can't do it, we must help one
another." Colonel Wells was an irascible and profane man, but
the major was not moved thereby. Returning home, the colonel
stopped a moment at a place where young Thomas Baldwin was
hewing timber and made this remark: "By God, I wish I was a
devil." Thomas stopped his work, and looking at the colonel
quietl}^ replied: "Put your foot upon this log and I'll make a
devil of you at one blow of the axe."
CHAPTER III.
Proprietors' Meetings, 1768-1785.
During the winter and spring- of 1768, there was but little
variation in the labors of the settlers. Some progress had been,
made in laying out roads, and several acres of trees had been
felled and the land burned over preparatory to putting in
seed.
Until this season, it does not appear that any organization of
grantees had ever been made. It was necessary that some per-
sons should be authorized to transact the business of the grantees,
in order that the settlers might feel secure in their titles. Ac-
cordingly a meeting of the Proprietors was warned and was
held, probably at the house of John Scofield, although the record
does not say, on the nineteenth day of July, 1768. This is the
first meeting of the people of Canaan. They met as proprietors
of the Township of Canaan, owners of the land and not as citi-
zens in a municipal capacity. The doings of the proprietors as
recorded in the Proprietors' Book of Records, was concerned
mostly with the laying out and dividing of the land, the ap-
pointment of officers for the purpose of allotting the land, called
the "Lot Laying Committee," the appointment of assessors for
the purpose of assessing the taxes to pay the expenses of the
proprietary in surveying the lots, surveying and building roads
and bridges, the appointment of a collector to collect the taxes,
a treasurer to hold the money, and a proprietors' clerk to keep
the records. Committees were appointed at different times for
different purposes, mostly to see that the proprietors ' money was
laid out in a proper manner towards the object for which it was
raised.
Not till two years later was a town meeting held, and during
these two years the town affairs were conducted by the pro-
prietors. The town officers were also officers of the proprietary,
sometimes holding the sanie positions in each body. There were
really more offices to be filled than men to fill them and some
Proprietors' ^Ieetings, 1768-1785. 23
held two positions. Up to 1787, the proprietors assessed taxes
on the lands for the purpose of building and mending roads and
bridges, after- that time the care of roads and bridges was
assumed by the town and appropriations were made by the town
alone. From 1770 to 1787, appropriations were made by both
to\\Ti and proprietors for that purpose.
The first meeting of the proprietors is as follows :
Province of New Hampshire: Canaan July 19th. 1768. A Meeting
Legally warned of the Proprietors of the Township of Canaan in said
Province, the following votes were passed (viz.) :
1st. Chose Mr. George Harris Moderator.
2nd. Made choice of Mr. Joseph Craw Proprietors Clerk.
3rd. Made Choice of Mr. George Harris first Committee Man.
4th. Chose Captain Josiah Gates 2nd. Committee Man.
5th. Chose Samuel Benedict 3rd. Committee Man.
6th. Chose John Burdick 4th. Committee Man.
7th. Chose Mr. Joseph Craw 5th. Committee Man.
8th. Chose Mr. Samuel Benedict Asseser.
9th. Chose Mr. John Burdick 2nd. Asseser.
10. Chose Mr. Joseph Craw 3rd. Asseser.
11. Chose Mr. Samuel Dodge Collector.
12. Chose Mr. John Scofield Treasurer.
13. Voted to raise a tax of three dollars upon each Proprietors Right
to defray the Charges of Making & Mending Rodes in the Township of
Canaan.
14. Voted that the above mentioned tax of three dollars on each
Prors Right for making and Mending Rodes be worked out under the
care and direction of the Proprietors Committee and to be done by the
middle of November next & ye sd Committee alow 4/ [shillings] pe
day for sd labor.
15. Voted to raise one dollar upon each Proprietors Right which the
Proprietors will give with one hundred acres of upland to be layed out
in the undivided land with a stream where it shall be judged best &
most convenient to build Mills on to any person who will appear and
build a good Corn Mil & Saw Mill within twelve months from this time.
So as to have said Mill well done and going for the benefit of the Town.
16. Voted that the Proprietors Committee are hereby directed to
lay out to those Proprietors as are already settled in said Township of
Canaan Ten acres of Meadow and allso one huudred acres of Upland
where they have already made their Pitch, to be allowed towards their
Right or share in Said Township, and also the said Committee are fur-
ther directed to lay out ten acres of Meadow and one hundred acres
of upland as above said as shall appear to make speedy settlement in
said Town & furthermore the Proprietors Clerk is hereby directed to
put the returns sd ten acres & hundred acres lots upon Record as they
24 History op Canaan.
shall be layed out and returned by the Committee to each proprietor
as aforesaid.
17. Voted that the owners of more than one sixteenth Part of the
Rights or Shares in the Township of Canaan shall make request to the
Proprietors Clerk, setting forth the reasons for calling said meeting
and also the articles to be acted upon and of the time and place of
holding said meeting. That the Clerk warn a meeting by duly posting
a notification Agi'eeable to said request (10) days at least before the
time of holding at the house of Mr. John Scofield in said Canaan.
Shall be a suflBcient warning for the future.
18. Voted to raise six shillings on each Proprietors Right Labour
or Provitions to be given to the first settlers in said Canaan as was
proposed to be given them Encouragement, to be proportioned amongst
them as (viz.) :
to Mr. John Scofield of Vallew of 26 dollars
to Mr Asa Williams 18 dollars
to Mr Samuel Jones of Vallew of 8 dollars
to Mr. Daniel Crossman of Vallew of 8 dollars
Test George Harris Moderator,
Joseph Craw Pro C
Soon after this meetino: the proprietors realized that their
charter had lapsed for non-performance of its conditions, and
without its renewal in their favor they were liable to be deprived
of the results of all their labors ; that the township might be
granted to others. Accordingly they prepared a memorial and
presented it to the governor, followed on December 3, 1768, by
a petition of George Harris in behalf of himself and the other
grantees, praying for a new grant of the township :
A memorial of the Proprietors of the Township of Canaan in sd
Province humbly represents that your Excellency memorialists having
obtained A Royal Charter of the sd Township of Canaan Did A number
of them soon begin A Town in the second range, & the Town between;
it & Conn River not having begun to settle [namely, Hanover] and in-
deed all the towns thereabouts being destitute of Roads and also of
Provisions (to Spare) which rendered the settlement impractible at
that time; Whereupon the adventurers withdrew until the Spring of
the year 1766. At which time (the difficulties being in some measure
removed and the proprietors having given New Encouragement to the
first settlers) Canaan began to settle indeed and Encreases fast to this
time & bids fair to Encrease still — that whether the Proprietors are
engaged to settle the Town your Excellency may determine something
by A copy of part of Canaan Proprietors records which we herewith
transmit to your Excellency But your Excellencys memorialists being
sensible that the time limited in their sd Charter for Duty to be done is
Proprietors' Meetings, 1768-1785. 25^
Expired, & the duty uot done in full as required in the sd Charter, al-
though they have made Good proficiency hereto — Thei'efor your Ex-
cellency memorialists humbly pray your Excellency would be Pleased
to renew their Chareter, that so the further settlement of Canaan may
be Encouraged and those who have advanced their interests thereon,
not Deprived thereof, and the Hopes of all your Excellencys Dutiful Me-
morialists Resolved into Gratitude, and furthermore your Excellencys
memorialists (apprehending it to be requisite to have the lines of the
Township of Canaan ran and the bounds Ascertained), Humbly beg^
Leave to recommend Mr Aaron Storrs to your Excellency as a fit person
for sd purpose (he being A Surveyor that is well approve of and pray
your Excellencies favor (if it may also be your Pleasure) to appoint
him to that service. Whom we also appoint to be our agent to Lay this-
our Memorial befor your Excellency & to Rec*eive your Excellencys
answer to this our Memorial & your Excellencys Memorialists as in
Duty bound Shall Ever Pray.
At a Meeting of the Proprietors of the Township of Canaan held ia
Canaan Aug ye 12 day 1768 Chose Mr Aaron Storrs to Lay the above
Memorial before his Excellency the Govr of New Hampshire.
Test Joseph Craw. Propr Clerk
The meeting referred to on Auorust 12, 1768, was never re-
recorded in the Proprietors' Book of Records.
Petition of George Harris of Norwich in Colony of Conn husbandman
in behalf of Himself and other Grantees of Township of Canaan, unto
your Excellency & the Honbie Council humbly shews: —
That yr Petitioner & his associates have expended large sums in
bringing forward the settlement of said Township, which (on acct of
the many Obstruction & Difflcultys they have met with for want of
necessary Roads & Mills) they have not been able to effect, till his
majestys grants to them was expired & as the settlement of new land
is a heavy and weighty work, yr Petitioners pray they may be indulged
with a New Grant of said Township for such time longer as yr Excel-
lency may judge necessary & your Petitioner as in duty bound shall
ever pray —
George Harris in
behalf of Himself & associates
Dec. 3, 1768.
Their application was successful and Gov. John "Wentworth
granted them a renewal signed February 23, 1769.
For two years subsequent to the first recorded meeting, there
does not appear to be much increase in the population, but few
of the grantees arrived and some who Avere here returned to
Norwich. Among the new settlers we find Deacon Caleb Welch,
26 History of CANAA^r.
who "pitched" upon the farm once owned by Harrison Fogg.
He cleared the land of trees and dead brush, built a house, and
planted an orchard of apple and pear trees, from which he lived
to make thirty barrels of cider in one year, which he and his
boys drank. He w^as very close with the fruit, jealous of his
apples and pears. He came here with four boys, Caleb, Martin,
William and Russell. William married and settled in Enfield,
Martin married and died in Jerusalem. Deacon Caleb died with
old Moses Low, who lived near him. He was buried in the
Cobble, but no stone marks his grave. His wife went to live
with her son in Enfield, where she died at the age of ninety
years.
The Deacon's was the eighth family that settled in town. His
son, Caleb, afterwards built the house where once Rufus Rich-
ardson lived and was its last occupant. Young Caleb sold it to
Joshua Currier, who lived in it sixteen years, sold it to David
Richardson and then bought the house where his son, Farring-
ton, once lived, the first house east of the Gulf.
Dr. Ebenezer Eames, along with whom came Thomas Baldwin,
a youth then sixteen years old. Joshua and Ezekiel Wells,
two brothers; Samuel Chapman, w^ho kept an inn on South
Road, and was afterwards known as the old lame basket maker;
Jedidiah Hibbard, Asa Kilburn and Samuel Meacham and his
family, the three latter men being residents of Lebanon as earlj^
as 1764, followed Harris upon his return from Connecticut.
The power to call a legal meeting by the proprietors seems to
have lapsed and application had to be made to Israel Morey
in January, 1770, one of His Majesty's justices of the peace at
Orford, who called a meeting to be held at the inn of Mr. John
Man at Orford on May 10. At this meeting John Scofield was
chosen moderator and the meeting adjourned to six o'clock the
next morning at the house of John Scofield, in Canaan, to meet
for the future and forever hereafter in Canaan.
It appears now that the settlers are much depressed and
disafiPection is apparent from the hardships they encountered
and the scanty harvests. The want of a mill was every day
increasing, and no relief seemed to be at hand. The bread corn
had still to be carried to Lebanon as for four years past, by the
same trail first blazed by Scofield and now not much improved.
Proprietors' ^Ieetings, 1768-1785. 27
It was voted that the proprietors of Canaan build the desired
mills, and that they be completed in a workmanlike manner by
the twenty-fifth day of December, 1770. A tax of twelve shil-
lings was laid on each right, to be paid to the person who should
build the mills. And as further encouragement to some such
person, a grant of three hundred acres of land from the undi-
vided uplands was voted, one hundred of these acres to be laid
out so as to include all privileges convenient to said mills. But
in vain did they hold out their twelve shillings tax, about $125,
and three hundred acres; no millwright appeared yet for many
months.
At this meeting Jedidiah Hibbard was chosen clerk, the
duties of which he fulfilled until 1773. John Scofield was chosen
treasurer and held the office until his death, in 1784. Jedidiah
Hibbard was chosen collector and Jolui Scofield, Joseph Craw
and Asa Kilburn assessors. The clerk was authorized to warn
meetings upon the request of ten of the proprietors and until
there be twelve families settled herein by posting a copy of the
warning in a public place, also sending a copy to Mr. Fowle, the
printer at Portsmouth, and one to George Harris at Colchester,
Conn., to be inserted in the public prints, if he see cause. And
whenever twelve families are settled here the notification may
be posted in said town alone.
From all the evidence we have gathered, it appears that at
this time, 1770, nearly four years after the arrival of Mr.
Scofield, there were not yet twelve families in the town, and
these were chiefly settled upon or near the present "South
Eoad. ' ' Their names were John Scofield, Thomas Miner, Joseph
Craw, Daniel Crossman, Asa Williams, George Harris, Amos
Walworth, Caleb Welch, Samuel Chapman, Ebenezer Eames and
Samuel Benedict. Several other names appear, as Samuel Jones,
John Burdick, Samuel Dodge, Jedidiah Hibbard, Asa Kilburn,
Josiah Gates, Thomas Baldwin, but they were not reckoned as
family men. A large majority of the proprietors living in
Connecticut had not arrived and failed ever to come. They
entered into the proprietary as many do in these days for the
purpose of selling out at enhanced prices.
The meeting adjourned to meet again at the house of Jolui
Scofield. The proprietors' meetings were all held up to the
28 History of Canaan.
time of the building of the meeting house at the homes of the
settlers, then a few meetings were held in the meeting house, for
the most part they were held at the different dwelling houses.
Until 1774 the meetings were held at John Scofield's, until 1780
they met at Samuel Chapman's, and thereafter at different
places as suited their convenience. At the meeting on June 12,
1770, each proprietor Avas authorized to make choice of one
hundred acres of upland and ten acres of intervale. A tax of
fifteen shillings was laid on each right to defray the expenses of
laying out said lots. It was voted to ratify and confirm the
several taxes which had been assessed upon the rights but not
all collected, up to this time, and Mr. George Harris was ap-
pointed to collect each and every' of the aforesaid taxes.
The first tax granted August ye 18 1761 being on each
proprietors right
The second granted November ye 16 1762 on each Right
The Third tax granted Mar 31 1763 on each Proprietors
Right
The Fourth tax granted Sept ye 23 1765 on each Right
The Fifth tax granted March 11 1766 on each Right
The Sixth tax granted Sept 3 1767 on each Right
The Seventh tax granted March the 21 1769 on each
Right 17 9
The ratification of these taxes was followed by the sale of
thirteen of the original rights for non-payment of taxes and
charges.
The mill still troubled them and it was further voted "six
shillings on each right, to be paid iu labor, and the time for
completing then be extended to August 15, 1771." Eight
months longer we must pack our bread corn to Lebanon and back.
In the following October, through infinite exertions, the archi-
tects were discovered, and the mills for which we sighed were
located. John Scofield, Joseph Craw and Asa Kilburn were
appointed "to make and execute good deeds of three hundred
acres of land unto Nathan Scofield and Ebenezer Eames, as
encouragement for building Mills in Canaan as soon as they
think fit," and extending the time for completing the cornmill
to December 1, 1771, on account of the difficulty of procuring
mill stones. How anxiously they watched the work in that mill.
1.
3
0
0
8
71/2
0
3
0
0
6
0
0
6
0
0
6
0
Proprietors' IMeetings, 1768-1785. 29
From the foimdatiou to the cap-board, they saw it rise and
become more and more a mill, and when it was announced that
on a certain day, the miller would hoist the gate, every man
started early in the morning with a bushel of corn, hoping to
be first on the spot, so that he might be able to boast that his
was the first grist ground at the new mill. But perhaps we may
imagine the disgust of these early risers, who on arriving at the
mill, discerned one of those irrepressible, everlasting Yankees,
who are never behind anybody, already there, quietly sitting
upon his bag, waiting for the door to open. He had been there
nearly all night.
The mill was built at the "Corner," near the old tannery of
F. P. Swett, on the stream running from Hart Pond. It was
built by Dr. Ebenezer Fames. The contract was for a corn and
sawmill. The sawmill was not located at the Corner. From all
we can learn it was located in the southerly part of the to^Ti, and
another party got the benefit of the town appropriation for it.
Doctor Fames was one of the grantees of the town and his share
in the town land was set off to him, one hundred acres of which
he occupied near his mill. The mill was a clumsy and uncouth
affair, but it ground well the corn of the people. The stones were
turned by an overshot wheel about twenty-five feet in diameter.
We used to watch the slow revolutions of that great wheel and
wonder how it would effect us to take a ride upon it. The deed
given to Doctor Fames by the committee of the proprietors in
1771 was for one hundred acres of land, called the ' ' 1st. Hundred
of the Mill Right," and in the Proprietors' Book of Records is
described as follows :
Beginning at au old hemlock stump, at the end of the lower dam
at the lower end of Hart's Pond. Then S 35° W about 12 rods across
said Pond to a stake and stones, then S 20° E 31 rods to the N. E. Cor-
ner of a 50 acre lot in the 1st. Division of the Right of Samuel Dodge.
Then S 78i/2° W 164 rods in said Dodge's line to a stake and stones,
thence N 12° W 100 rods to a stake and stones then N 781/2° E 164
rods to a stake and stones standing in the south line of the 1st. 100 of
George Lamphere, then S 12° about 64 rods to the first bound.
John Cubrieb & Ezekiel Wells.
Committee of Proprietors.
It is not known what became of Doctor Fames and his wife.
His last appearance as a taxpayer was in 1794. And the "1st.
30 History of Canaan.
100 of the Mill Right"' in that year was given in for taxation by
Henry French. Two years afterwards, in 1796, it is given in by
Dudley Gilman. In 1797, it becomes separated, sixty acres is
owned by Hezekiah Jones and forty acres by Joshua Clement.
Then come Nathan Messer, in 1799, and Cyrus Carlton, who
came here from Orange, where he had continued lawsuits with
Nathan Waldo, which afforded both gentlemen great pleasure
until the lawyers scooped in pretty much all their estate and
then Mr. Carlton escaped to Canaan, bought the grist-mill and
built a house, long owned and occupied by Hough Harris, and
now by A. S. Green.
Excepting the laying out of roads and the survey of lands,
the mill was the first solid improvement made in Canaan.
Nearly all the houses so far were thrown up for temporary
shelter, being built of logs and brush. There were no school
houses, the schoolmaster had not yet arrived. No teams ; hospi-
tality was universal. The people were all workers and strug-
gling for existence.
At the meeting of October 16, 1770, a tax of nine pence was
laid on each right to defray the expense of sending John
Scofielcl to Portsmouth and George Harris to Colchester, to col-
lect money due the proprietors from the grantees. These moneys
were the taxes before referred to which the absent proprietors
neglected to pay, and which they did pay. Other taxes were
only collected upon the sale of the rights, the owners of which
were pleased with such a release from their obligations to the
propriety.
In January, 1771, at an adjourned meeting, Jedidiah Hibbard,
having procured a law book for the proprietors, it was voted
to be received and paid for. John Scofield's bill of 16 pounds^
8 shillings, and Ezekiel Wells' bill for 1 pound, 2 shillings, for
labor on the highway, was allowed.
Subsequently, in the same year, it was voted that each proprie-
tor should clear one acre of intervale and cut and girdle two>
acres of upland before he should have title to his lands.
Five acres of land to each right, in the most convenient place,
near the mills, were voted, for the convenience of timber, and
from this day no proprietor might choose any land that might
Proprietors* ]\Ieetings^ 1768-1785. 31
be thought necessary for such five-acre lots. Then followed
several adjourned meetings, which record only the division of
land among the proprietors, and the laying of taxes for the
building of roads. And this building of roads seems to have
been the great burden of the settlers and who can wonder at
the burden. Not much else is done in those days. ]\Iany of these
roads are traveled now, and the traces of those which have been
changed are distinctly visible.
The only historical road built this year was the Wolfeborough
or ' ' Governor 's Road, ' ' to pay for which each right was assessed
two pounds L. M., for the purpose of making and clearing. This
vote was passed in May, 1772. Joseph Craw, Samuel Benedict
and Samuel Jones were appointed to lay out the one hundred
and twenty-four pounds forthwith, and for each faithful day's
labor they were to allow each man five shilling and six pence.
This road was surveyed from the Pemigewasset River to
Dartmouth College, October 30, 1771. The direction of the
road in Canaan, according to the surv^ey, was: "W 15° N 1%
miles to line of Canaan & Hanover." This road cut across the
northwest comer of the town, crossing the bridge across ^Marshall
Brook at the head of Goose Pond, and continuing on the line
of the present road to Tunis, and from there to Dartmouth
College. It is still known in Hanover as the Wolfeborough
Road and the land lying along was laid out to its line. In
the spring of 1772, Gov. John Wentworth started in his four-
horse state coach from Wolfeborough, to visit his possessions
towards Connecticut River. He was accompanied by an escort
of sixty soldiers, and the road was cleared for him as he
passed along through forest and swamps, over hills and through
valleys, building bridges of logs over the streams and corduroy
roads over the impassable mud. He passed over IMoose Moun-
tain to Hanover, where the new college had but recently been
organized under the care of Dr. Eleazer Wheelock. In Canaan
this road is a matter of legend for the most part; it is grown
up to trees where the land has not been cleared. The line of
it is visible from the distinctive color of the foliage, being the
light green of white birch. A portion of this road is sometimes
traveled, although it has been discontinued.
32 History of Canaan.
On the twenty-ninth of November, 1773, an adjourned meet-
ing was held, when Capt. Caleb Welch w^as made moderator and
a new committee was appointed, and the minister's lots and the
school lots were voted to be laid out. And then the meeting was
dissolved, after having been in session, by adjournments, more
than three years and half. On June 1, 1773, a vote was passed,
and is recorded in the handwriting of George Harris, confirming
and ratifying all the transactions of the proprietors, relative
to grants of land and calling public meetings, "notwithstanding
any want of form, legal and proper terms or defects and defaults
of process relative to the premises." And the dissolution of this
meeting closes an epoch in our town history. For all these years
the records are slim, aifording scanty information of the lives
of the people. There were town meetings and proprietors' meet-
ings, to elect officers, to repair roads, to allow bills, to appoint
committees to lay out "hundred acre lots." But as yet there
appear no votes nor reports, upon loyalty, religion or educa-
tion. Only once in a while is there a gleam of light upon the
thoughts of this busy people.
Jedidiah Hibbard, having left town, in the latter part of
November, 1773, Thomas Miner was appointed proprietors'
clerk. From the records he has left it is very evident that
Thomas spoke the truth, when he said to Mr. Harris, at his
first setting out for the new lands, "that he had little or no
education." The ink is well preserved, black, but the
chirography, spelling and grammar are a little peculiar. There
is no punctuation, rarely was a new sentence begun with a
capital letter.
At a meeting in June, 1774, Capt. Caleb Clark, who lived near
the old Fales place, was allowed to lay out a certain hundred
acre lot "lying on the east side of the road that goeth from
Fames mill and adjoining to Capt. Dame's Gore. Said Clark
is to have said lot in room of his second hundred, in considera-
tion that he pay the expense of laying it out and give the pro-
prietors five pounds, one half to be done on the road and the
other half on the bridge, to be built across the Mascomy river
near John Scofield's at the lower Meadows."
Thomas Miner was to have the liberty of pitching one hundred
Proprietors' ^Meetings, 1768-1785. 33
acres, given him as "encouragement for building a Saw-mill."
Capt. Caleb Clark, Capt. Charles Walworth and John Scofield
were appointed agents to make ]Miner a deed.
This sa^vmill is stated to have been erected upon Moose Brook,
south of the road, and some imagining persons affirm that many
of the foundation stones are still visible, and that a flat stone
with a square hole in the center was hung as a grindstone, but
was not much used. It also lies there now, still washed by the
ever-flowing waters of Moose Brook. But Mr. Miner received the
deed and by the terms of it the people of Canaan were "well
accomodated." The deed is very neatly written, in the* fair
hand of Thomas Baldwin and is dated "This 15th. day of
September, annoque domini 1777," with Thomas Baldwin and
Asa Kilbum as witnesses. A part of this deed is copied below
as follows:
Kuow all men &c, That we Caleb Clarke of Newmarket, iu the prov-
ince &c, Gent, Charles Walworth of Canaan &c, Gent, and John Scofield
of Canaan aforesaid, husbandman, being chosen or delegated by the
Propriety of Canaan, to be a Com'tee in the name & behalf of said
propty to execute and deliver unto Thomas Miner of Canaan aforesaid,
G«nt, a Good Authentic Quit Claim Deed of One hundred acres of the
undivided lands in said Canaan in such place as him the said. Miner
shall think fit to pitch one hundred acre lott not incroaching on the
undivided in travail nor any other pitch made before it, which privi-
lege of pitching said lott is Granted unto him the said Miner by the
aforesaid propriety, for that he the said Miner hath erected a Sawmill
in said Canaan, which well accommodates the inhabitants of said town.
Wherefor we the named Caleb Clarke, Charles Walworth and John
Scofield, by virtue of the authority delegated to us by said propty for
the purpose aforesaid in the name and behalf of said propty. Do by
these presents, in consideration of the aforesaid service Done by him the
said Miner for said Propty to their full satisfaction Give Grant bargain
Sell Release Alien Convey and confirm to him the said Miner his heirs,
assigns &c.
Sixty acres of this hundred was pitched north of the Wells
farm, east of Hart's Pond.
Several adjournments of this meeting took place, the matter
of which was recorded in the uncouth hand of Mr. IMiner, and
then between the years 1774 and 1780 a hiatus occurs in the
Proprietors' Eecords. This was during the Eevolution and many
34 History of Canaan.
of the proprietors were in the Continental Army. It is a pity to
lose sight of this straggling settlement, during these years, and
our loss is hardly compensated in freeing us from the almost
unreadable cipher of Mr. Miner. In the year 1780, George
Harris was appointed to settle with Lieut. Thomas Miner and
make a request of him for the book of records he held. A
request was also made upon Ebenezer Eames for a proprietors'
'book, containing a record of the pitches. Whether it was a
different book from the one Thomas Miner had is not known,
for there is but one Proprietors' Book of Kecords in existence.
Thete may have been another book and if so it contained the
record of those who owned the land, and in which right and
division it was pitched.
This book was ''once committed to the care of Asa Kilbum,
late of this town. ' ' Mr. Kilburn, after residing in Canaan sev-
eral years, laboring hard to improve his lands, had sold out and
returned to Connecticut, not satisfied with life in our town. He
left Canaan in 1777 with Jedidiah Hibbard and joined Col.
Jona Chase's regiment at Ticonderoga.
At this date the land had become concentrated in few hands,
that is, a large part of it. For while a few men had taken advan-
tage of the necessities or fears of many of the grantees, a large
number of small falnns, hundred acre lots, had been planted and
were being improved by the owners. The grantees had, for
reasons heretofore pointed out, been glad to part with their
rights, and now new men appear as proprietors, who had come
in during the time there was no meeting, from 1774 to 1780.
Many of the proprietors held their lands for speculation, driving
close and snug bargains with the new settlers, while some of
them were very liberal. It is said that Mr. Harris, who was
anxious to have the town populated with industrious families,
upon several occasions gave an hundred acres of land for a
day's labor. He believed he would be richer for giving away a
part of his land for actual settlement, than to keep it as wild
land.
James Treadway, sometimes called Elder Treadway, with his
wife, was an early settler resident here. He came from Dutchess
County, New York, about 1770. He had purchased a large
Proprietors' ^Meetings, 1768^1785. 35
»
number of original rights and all the land Asa Kilburn owned
in 1770, excepting what Kilburn lived on. He built a log house
in the woods back of the bam on the old Dustin farm, where he
lived for many years. He was a preacher, too, before there was
a pulpit, — the first preacher to the settlers. The people gath-
ered into bams and houses to hear him, but he was not liked,
being a man of strong prejudice, verj- opinionated, and in all
his disputes manifesting much selfishness. His name appears
but once in the town records, and then in a manner to throw
suspicion upon his integrity. Owning many of the original
rights, some of which were not located, and having obtained
possession of the "Pitch Book," he made many records for him-
self, of choice lands without regard to the rights adjoining, in
many cases lapping over upon pitches already made, causing
great annoyance. He located some lands from the shores of
Hart's Pond westward, adjoining the lands of Capt. Eobert
Barber, and he claimed all the lands north of Captain Barber's
line. Persons aggrieved by his arbitrary acts, remonstrated with
him, but he paid no attention to their complaints. At last, they
brought the matter before the proprietors, at a legal meeting
held January 17, 1780, when the following votes were passed:
"That those Pitches which were made by Mr. James Treadway
while he held the Pitch Book in his possession contrary to the
former vote of the proprietors shall be void and of none effect."
"That those other Pitches that ware farely made by the other
Proprietors that do not interfere on former Pitches shall stand
good and remain valid." These votes had the effect, of course,
to put a stop to Mr. Treadway 's encroachments.
Mr. Jonathan Dustin bought of Mr. Treadway thirteen rights,
embracing the lands of the old Dustin farm, which at that time
extended from the shores of Hart Pond to Town Hill. Mr.
Dustin first lived in a house of logs, built near the site of the
house of Mrs. Levi George.
There were men in those days, who believed there was land
enough and wild enough, and that where land was so plenty
and people so few, ihey needed not to purchase anybody's right
to settle upon it. Leonard Horr, Elijah Lathrop and William
Record, believed this dogma firmly and became, in fact, squat-
36 History of Canaan^.
ters. But they were soon hunted out by the vigilant committee,
and were solemnly warned, that in order to become o^vners, they
must procure a good and authentic deed of one hundred acres
of upland from or under one or any of the proprietors, and
should make their pitch according to usage and shall improve
it by building a house thereon and continue to occupy and culti-
vate it for six months. A failure to comply with any of these
conditions will work to their discomfort.
The next year, in 1781, Leonard Horr was permitted to retain
the lot he had already selected ''northwesterly of the Saw Mill
on Mascoma river, provided he makes speedy settlement.
On September 12, 1781, it was decided to lay out the three
public rights: the Glebe right for the Church of England, the
first settled minister's right and the school right, but it was sev-
eral years afterwards that these rights were laid out.
A bed of claj^ had been opened near Hart Pond, a piece of
six acres had been laid out on West Farms, near where Nathan
C. Morgan lived, and two acres of land more was laid out adjoin-
ing the six acres as a common field.
This meeting of the proprietors, first called in 1780, was con-
tinued by adjournments, from time to time, until June, 1782,
when it was supposed to have been dissolved. Nothing more of
interest is to be gleaned here, only votes to lay out roads, for
committees to divide the common lands, for taxes, and the dry
details relating to the propriety, and then, for four years, there
is no record. At this period in our history there seems to be a
clew lost as in a mine, when the lead drops away. There are
neither town nor proprietors' records.
And now, while waiting for some further events to come
around, let us look in upon some of our old friends, and see how
they lived, and first we will premise that in those days coal as a
fuel had not been known : the same may be said of illuminating
gas, made from it. No iron stoves were used and no contrivances
for economizing heat were employed until Doctor Franklin in-
vented the iron-framed fireplace, which still bears his name. All
the cooking and warming was by means of fire kindled upon the
hearth or in ovens. Tallow candles or pine knots furnished the
light for the long winter evenings, and sanded floors supplied
Proprietors' Meetings, 1768-1785. 37
tlie place of rugs and carpets. The water used for household
purposes was drawn from wells by the aid of sweeps. Pumps
were not invented until after the beginning of the last century.
Friction matches were not made until within seventy-five years.
If the fire went out upon the hearth over night, and the tinder
was damp, so that the spark would not catch, the alternative
remained of wading to the nearest neighbor through the snow
for a brand. It was seldom that more than one room was
warmed in any house, except in case of illness of some member
of the famih^ and the winter nights of over a hundred years ago
were long and dreary. The men and women undressed and went
to their beds in a temperature colder than that of our modem
barns and sheds, and they did not complain, because they were
used to it.
' ' Simple is that olden story,
Of the years now pale and hoa^v^
When the church, the farm, the schoolhouse,
Made the round of country life.
"When amid these northern mountains.
By these clear cool hillside fountains,
Lonely households lived and labored
Far from noise and city strife.
"Here the sturdy youthful farmers
Early found their maiden charmers,
Wooed them in the country- fashion,
Won them for a life of toil.
Wed them in their simple dresses,
In their o^ti soft curling tresses.
And new households thus were planted,
On the rough and rock}" soil.
"Was this life all toil and labor?
When some neighbor met with neighbor,
Was the talk alone of cattle,
Flocks and herds and crops of corn ?
Had the scene no gentler pleasures ?
38 History of Canaan.
Did it know no joyous measures?
Yea, for out of hills and valleys,
Richest hopes and joys were born.
"Many a church was minus steeple.
And in winter time the people
Gathered from their scattered dwellings
To a house without a fire.
But it had a charm for keeping
Men and little boys from sleeping.
As the sermon struggled onward.
To the fifteenth head and higher.
"But the women, maid and mother,
Passed their stoves to one another.
Those convenient tin arrangements.
Made to hold the slumbering coals.
While the male sex held from napping,
Spent their weary time in rapping,
Rapping their stiff boots together,
Those were times that tried men's soles.
"Say ye not that life is barren.
Sweeter than the rose of Sharon,
Are the memories that gather
Round a life in honor spent.
Bright with an immortal beauty.
Is a long life linked to duty,
Ever toiling and aspiring
In a patient sweet content.
"But with all the buzz and hurry,
And with all this work and worry,
Matrons found more time to visit
Long before the setting sun,
Than in these our days, so pressing, ,
When more time is spent in dressing,
And the day is just beginning
When the olden dav was done.
Proprietors' ]\Ieetings^ 1768-1785. 39
*'How these olden memories muster,
How around the heart they cluster,
How the thoughts come thronging backward
From those sturdy scenes of old.
There are no days like the old days.
There are no ways like the old ways,
And in every generation
The old stor%' must be told." .
CHAPTEK IV.
Proprietors' ^Meetings, 1786-1845.
During a period of more than four years, the proprietary
makes no records for the clerk, George Harris, to record as would
appear from the absence of the least scratch of a pen or the leav-
ing of any space in the record book which might be filled up
afterwards. On the contrary, the last four years which are blank
on all tOA^Ti records, were full of happenings, perhaps so much
occurred that the clerk of the proprietors as well as the town
clerk, had not the courage to narrate events. Canaan was in the
secession movement to join Vermont, so anxious were the other
fifteen towns to belong to the sovereignty across the Connecticut
River, that all the to\\Ti, as well as proprietary officers, neglected
their duty. The proprietors awoke at last to find themselves in
debt, and George Harris, the owner of ten rights, Joshua Harris,
the o^\Tier of one right, John Harris, the O'WTier of one right,
Ezekiel Wells, the owner of five rights, and "William Richardson,
the owner of one right, and owners of more than one-sixteenth
part of the rights of land in town, requested the clerk to call a
meeting at Maj. Samuel Jones' on the 27th day of June, 1786.
They voted to raise one shilling and six pence on each hundred
acres of upland to defray the cost of running the lines between
Canaan and Enfield; John Scofield, the son of our first settler
(the old settler is now dead two years), is appointed collector and
to pay the money over to the selectmen of the town. This debt
is the result of a meeting back in 1781, and five years after they
are ready to pay the bill. Samuel Jones, Ezekiel Wells and
Joshua Harris were appointed "Assessors." Another meeting
is held in December to lay a tax on the ''wild lands." for the
purpose of "making & repairing the Rodes." Daniel Blaisdell
is chosen collector to collect the tax of sixty pounds, as well as
the balance of the previous tax of one shilling and six pence on
each right, w^hich John Scofield did not collect, "made in order
to defray the charge of settling the lines in sd Town between
Canaan & Enfield."
Proprietors' ^Meetings, 1786-1845. 41
This is the first appearance on the proprietors records of the
name of Daniel Blaisdell. The December meeting was ad-
journed until the next June, 1787, and again adjourned until
July. The proprietors failed to meet then.
They were earnest, industrious men, working always -^dth a
purpose, and whose hours of leisure were all filled with labor,
but they were not men fitted by education to make a record.
When their day's work was over they sat down and thought of
the next day, letting the past take care of itself, and the life of
one day was on!}- a repetition of the day preceding. The dis-
inclination to think of what was past, shows itself in a niggardly
manner throughout all their records. The town clerks were
illiterate and bungling and often neglected to record most im-^
portant events. Selectmen, assessors and committees were
equally negligent. Thus it occurs that there are several hiatuses
in our history which greatly mars its continuity, and leave
many blank years. Thus the record for 1787 closes June 3d,
A\dth George Harris for clerk. In the meantime ]\Ir. Har-
ris died, "made his exit out of time in a sudden and unex-
pected manner," as the old record has it, and then for nearly
ten years until January 10th, 1797, the clerk gives no sign. Not
a line to show that those men kept records, and so long had the
proprietors neglected their affairs that they had lost the right to
control their property and were obliged to call in the assistance
of the law to reinstate them in their rights. Joshua Wells, Rob-
ert Barber, Joshua Harris, William Richardson, William Ayer
and Ezekiel Wells, made application to Jesse Johnson, a justice
of the peace of Enfield, who issued a warrant, came over and
restored life to the defunct "propriety" by organizing a meet-
ing with legal officers. ]\Ieantime in all these years they had not
been idle. Their committee had kept at work with a surveyor
laying out hundred-acre lots and intersecting them with high-
ways. In 1788 a road was laid out "commencing at Grafton
line, at a corner bound between Nathaniel Wliittier and Daniel
Blaisdell's, to be four rods wide to the head of Broad Street,
so called; thence eight rods wide, 288 rods to Mr. Elias Lath-
rop's." In 1793 the road leading from "Capt. Joshua Wells' to
Dame's Gore," a distance of 1,240 rods, was surveyed. There
were e\ddences all over town of work, in surveys and pitches^
42 History of Canaan.
but no record of any deliberative meeting is recorded. At this
meeting, warned for the second Tuesday of January, 1797, provi-
sion is made by empowering the clerk, so that the life of the cor-
poration might hereafter be continued and in case of his death,
the ' ' Lot laing Committee, ' ' shall have the power to call a meet-
ing "upon the petition of one-sixteenth part of the proprietors."
Ezekiel Wells is appointed clerk, which office he holds until 1808.
During this period nearly all the land in town is surveyed and
recorded in his handwriting. Ezekiel Wells is given the privi-
lege "of laying out a second hundred-acre^ lot, insted of a lot
the Governors lot has took, which was No. 1 in the 2nd. Range. ' '
After nearly nine years the books and papers of the pro-
priety are scattered and Ezekiel Wells, Daniel Blaisdell and
Capt. Robert Barber were chosen to look them up. Capt. Caleb
Clark, one of the lot laying committee, has died in the meantime
and Lieut. William Richardson is appointed in his place. And
Nathaniel Bartlett takes the place of Samuel Jones, who has
left town in 1795, although he appears as the owner of land
until 1797. This meeting remains adjourned for more than a
year. For more than four years there is no record, 'then the
clerk is applied to to warn a meeting for August 27th, 1801;
The article respecting any further division of the undivided
lands is passed. Thomas Miner, Daniel Blaisdell and Jehu Jones
are appointed assessors and Ezekiel Wells collector to collect
the one dollar tax on each right voted to defray the ' ' charges of
the proprietary." This meeting remains in session by adjourn-
ments for nearly two years, when the clerk is again requested
to warn a meeting on the 17th of May, 1803. The proprietors
voted that Ebenezer Clark, then the representative to the General
Court, "present a memorial praying them to grant the dis-
puted lands that Esq. Hoyt, in behalf of the Proprietors of Graf-
ton petitioned for at the last session of said Court, adjoining the
easterly line of Hanover. ' ' Clark had been urged by the town
to remonstrate against Hoyt's petition. This land was State's
Gore, called also Gates's Gore from the name of the person who
purchased it of the state. Later in September, Daniel Blaisdell
is allowed four pounds, two shillings, "which is in full, except
on Clark's action." This was for legal services in the adjust-
Proprietors' Meetings, 1786-1845. 43
ment of the disputes over Dame's Gore line. William Rieliard-
son is allowed six pounds "in full," for like ser^dces.
At an adjourned meeting on March 29, 1804. Daniel Blaisdell,
William Richardson and Joshua Harris were chosen a commit-
tee "to prosecute any person who have or shall hereafter tres-
pass on any common lands of the proprietors." This meeting
finally, after more than a year and seven adjournments, dies, and
the Clerk in September, warns another meeting for the 8th of
October. At that time all the articles are passed and this meet-
ing is adjourned six times. Finally on the 12th day of February,
1805. the proprietors vote to have Daniel Blaisdell and Wil-
liam Richardson, their committee chosen in 1801, settle the ac-
tion with the proprietors of Orange. That town had sought to
evict Josiah Clark; the result was that Orange paid all the
costs. Daniel Blaisdell received $17.10 for his services and John
Currier $1.10 and William Richardson $4.50. In November,
1805, they raised $186 to establish the line between Canaan and
Hanover. John Currier, Ezekiel Wells and William Richardson
were chosen assessors to assess the tax on the rights. Daniel
Blaisdell to collect it and pay it to John Currier, the treasurer,
the old assessors are to pay any money they have to the treasurer.
Nathaniel Barber had pitched seventy-seven acres of land on the
3d hundred of Richard Sparrow, and he was given the liberty
to lay it out somewhere else on land not already taken.
In 1806 Richard Clark, Jr., son of old Richard, has "the
liberty to pitch and lay out as much land as falls short on the
third Hundred of Thomas Gustin Second Right on undivided
land adjoining said Clark land." The time for laying out the
first, second, third hundred-acre lots of upland and the first ten
acres of intervale continues to be extended to the 13th day of
November, 1809, with warnings from time to time against tres-
passers, that the committee will prosecute them if they settle on
any lands which belong to the propriety. The proprietors are
anxious to ascertain how much land had been taken up, and by so
doing determined how much there is left and it takes many years
with much prodding on their part to get the settlers to survey
and record their pitches. During these years there are numerous
adjourned meetings held, at wdiich the time is continually ex-
tended. The meeting warned in 1806. keeps in session until
44 History of Canaan.
1808. Taxes are assessed on July 27. 1807, of $13 on each pro-
prietor's right for the purpose of laying out the lots.
On October 8, 1807, the proprietors voted that the real owner
"of the 3rd. Hundred of Lewis Loveredge have the privilege of
pitching and laing out 50 acres of said lot on any lands wich
is pitched or laid out to any other person notwithstanding the
survey made to Jonathan Page. ' ' This land lay a little northerly
and west of Bear Pond and for many years no owner had paid
taxes on it nor for some years to come.
On February 22, 1808, John Currier was chosen the new clerk.
The old clerk had become tired of writing adjournments. He
continues in that office thirteen years until June, 1821.
On June 23, 1808, a committee, consisting of Capt. Joshua
Harris, Daniel Blaisdell, Esq., and Capt. Ezekiel "Wells, is
chosen to ascertain the quantity of land in town not divided. At
this meeting Micah Porter's intervale was voted to be surveyed.
Thomas Baldwin sold it to Samuel Jones and Jones sold it to
Porter, but the right to which it had been laid was forgotten,
and the title was defective. In 1809 it was surveyed as sixteen
acres adjoining Joshua Harris ' land. Thomas Miner had deeded
twenty acres of William Chamberlain 's right, which was entitled
to only ten acres of intervale, and the proprietors confirmed ten
of the acres to the right of Clement Daniels. In 1809 the pro-
prietors having brought suit against Robert Barber to eject him
from a piece of intervale, agreed to settle and pay the costs, and
leave Barber in possession.
From November, 1809, to July, 1812, there was no meeting of
the proprietors. During this time they had evidently ascertained
the amount of undivided land, for when they meet on July 9,
1812, they proceed to vote to lay the 4th Division of Upland of
seven acres. The trespass committee are impowered to make set-
tlement with all trespassers. This meeting by various adjourn-
ments continues until December. Then there is no meeting until
March, 1814, when the clerk warns a meeting for the 10th.
They then authorize the trespass committee to bring actions
against those who have forfeited their pitches by failing to have
them recorded and surveyed in the manner laid down, and for
cutting timber on the forfeited pitches. A second Di\asion of
Intervale of one acre is voted to be laid out to each right. From
Proprietors' ^Meetings, 1786-18-45. 45
June. 1814, to June. 1816. there is no meeting. Ezekiel Wells,
John Currier and Daniel Blaisdell are chosen the lot ' ' laing com-
mittee in futer;" Daniel Blaisdell is chosen treasurer, Joshua
Harris committee to prosecute trespassers with ]\Ioses Dole. A
further division called the 5th, of seven acres is voted to be
made of the land in the proprietary. Then for nearly five years
the records are silent, until April 17, 1821, the clerk warns a
meeting and an agent is chosen to ' ' inquire into each survey bill
and make a new and complete index of the same, to take notice
of any apparent mistake has been made in any survey." They
choose the best man in town for their agent, Daniel Blaisdell.
And the records bear witness of his work. He found three rights
that had two ten-acre lots of intervale laid out to them, and that
there were three rights, Thomas ]\Iiner, Abner Chamberlain and
Clement Daniels, "hath had no ten-acre lot laid out to them."
It was apparent that some of the former owners had deeded the
same right twice. In 1821, June -4. Elijah Blaisdell is chosen
clerk, and continued in the office until 1845. No meeting is held
until 1823, when at the request of Daniel Blaisdell, "owner of
the shares of Rufus Randal. Ephraim Wells. Thomas Gustin,
James Kevins, Esq., and forty other shares or rights, a meeting is
held on the 22 day of March." John M. Barber prays the pro-
prietors to set off a piece of land to him in consideration of his
deeding the rights of Thomas Miner, Benjamin Chamberlain,
Asa Daniels and Joseph Eames, to them. They voted to deed
him a strip of land lying between Josiah Barber's and the river,
to satisfy these rights of their full share of land. And on the
5th day of April, 1823, Barber deposited the deed with the
clerk and it was recorded in the book of records and those rights
cancelled.
On June 14, 1823, the proprietors voted that all the undivided
lands between the following limits, "beginning at the ^Meeting
house, thence on the road leading to Lebanon by William Camp-
bell's farm, to the schoolhouse in his district, thence northerly
on the road by Daniel Eamball's to Deacon Pillsbury's, thence
southerly in the road to the meeting house begun at, be reserved
to make out the fourth and fifth di\'isions of upland, on all the
rights not as yet laid out or other\^•ise cancelled. ' ' There was in
this a lot of land lying around Bear Pond, for the most part
46 History op Canaan.
worthless and included the Pond, which at that date was many-
rods larger than now. Daniel Blaisdell prays the proprietors to
set off to him land to satisfy twenty-two rights of which he is
the owner, viz. : William Chamberlain, Joshua Rathburn,
Josiah Gates, Jr., Capt. John Wentworth, Rufus Randall, James
Jones, Thomas Gustin, second right; Amos Walworth, Stephen
Kellogg, Joseph Babcock, William Fox, Jr., Thomas Gates, John
Tribble, Jonathan Beebe, 3d, Ebenezer Peck,- Ebenezer Harris,
Daniel Harris, Ebenezer Eames, Samuel Meacham, Richard
Sparrow, Sylvester Randall and Caleb Whiting, the first Divi-
sion of Intervale of John Newmarch and Thomas Miner. Land
within the following limits was set off to him : ' ' to begin at the
Grafton Turnpike road on Orange line, thence northerly on said
Turnpike road to the corner by Joshua Wells farm, thence to fol-
low the road leading from said Wells to Dames Gore thence to
follow the line of said Gore to Orange line, thence by said Orange
line to the place begun at" "Provided he reserves within said
limits enough land to satisfy the second division of intervale of
one acre to each of those rights which has not yet been laid out
or cancelled." The quitclaim deed was executed within six
days and the rights cancelled.
They also voted at this meeting to lay out a sixth Division of
Upland of six acres. On March 18, 1824, Daniel Blaisdell, owner
of the right of Ephraim Wells, receives "the strip of swamp
land adjoining the intervale of Asa Paddleford and Deacon
French, near Enfield line southerly and the lands of Reuben Gile
easterly, the land of Joseph Follensbee westerly and adjoining
northerly on the road that leads from said Follensbee 's to said
Giles, extending on said road from the line of Giles land south-
erly about forty-four rods, to a stake and stones being the corner
of said Follensbee 's land, near his orchard." "Also a small
strip adjoining the westerly side of the Turnpike road, and Or-
ange line and between Orange line and lands of said Blaisdell, ' ^
and this right or share is cancelled. On June 30th, Daniel
Blaisdell, owner of the School, Minister and Isaiah Rath-
burn rights, receives the "strip of swampy land lying westerly
of Goose Pond Brook, adjoining land of Daniel Pattee and Le\T
George, and adjoining westerly on upland of Ahimez Wright,
and easterly on upland of Jason Kidder and extends northerly
Proprietors' Meetings, 1786-1845. 4T
as far as AVright "s and Kidder 's lands extends, ' ' and these rights
are cancelled. Moses Lawrence, owner of the rights of Samuel
Dodge, 3d, Lewis Loveridge, Stephen Kellogg, Thomas W.
Waldron and John Newmarch, has set off to him to satisfy these
rights the following land: "within the following limits, begin-
ning at Dames Gore line on the road by Joseph Bartletts, thence
on the road to the corner of the road between Bartletts and
Josiah Barbers, then on the road by Lawrences, to the road
by Nathan Cross, then on the road northerly to Dames Gore line,
thence westerly on Gore line to place begun at." "Also all the
undivided land not laid out southerly of and adjoining said Law-
rence home farm and adjoining westerly on land belonging ta
Josiah Barber and David Richardson and easterly on lands
owned or occupied by Lieut. Richard Clark and Elijah Blaisdell,
and to extend southerly the whole width of the piece, to land of
Uriah Welch, supposed to contain thirty-five acres." The pro-
prietary seems now to have about finished its labors, but there
are still some rights uncancelled. And these are the property of
the estate of Daniel Blaisdell. After slumbering for nearly
twenty-one years, Joseph Dustin and Elijah Blaisdell, son and
son-in-law of Daniel Blaisdell, request Jonathan Kittredge, a
justice of the peace, to call a meeting of the proprietors at
Heath's Inn for the 21st day of July, 1845. They seek to choose
a moderator and a new clerk. Elijah Blaisdell, the old clerk,
had removed from town and became thus incompetent. They met
and chose Jonathan Kittredge clerk. And he proceeds to call a
meeting according to law that the proceedings which they are
about to take may be legal, and afford them a good title to the
undivided lands they propose to sell, for during those years Mr.
Dustin has found numerous gores and pieces, not included in the
old surveys and which have descended to the heirs of Daniel
Blaisdell. On the 2d day of December, 1845, they meet and
confirm a deed of land which Daniel Blaisdell gave James East-
man, dated November 24, 1832, of land on the west side of Goose
Pond. Blaisdell was the owner at the time of his death of all
the rights uncancelled except the rights of Richard Wibard,
Daniel Rogers and William WentwortJi, George and William
King. The proprietors vote to cancel ten rights, in consideration
of this conveyance, viz. : John Chamberlain, Abner Chamber-
^^ History of Canaan.
lain, William Chamberlain, Jr., Aaron Cady, Aaron Cady, Jr.,
Nathaniel Cady, Daniel Fowle, Samuel Dodge, Thomas Gustin
and Thomas Gustin, Jr.
They voted to reserve the common land lying on the westerly
side of the Maseoma Eiver, northerly of H. G. Lathrop's and
adjoining Dame's Gore, for the right of Richard Wibard. Jo-
seph Dustin and Elijah Blaisdell are appointed a committee to
dispose of the remaining undi\ided land which is not enough
to make any further division and account to the proprietors
''for their equal share of the proceeds, excepting the land ad-
joining Bear Pond and the piece reserved for Richard Wi-
bard's right." So ends the records; there was no accounting so
far as recorded. It is, however, well known that Mr. Dustin
under that vote sold several pieces of land. The land around
Bear Pond he claimed as his own and was not sold out of the
family until long after his death. It was never surveyed.
There still remain uncancelled the rights of George and Gibson
Harris, Allen Whitman, Jared Spencer, Ephi-aim Wells, Jr.,
Thomas Wells, Jedediah Lathrop, Clement Daniels, David Cham-
berlain, Israel Kellogg, George Lamphere, Phineas Sabine,
Jabez Jones, Richard Wibard, James Nevins, George King, Wil-
liam King, William Wentworth, Thomas Parker, and Daniel
Rogers. The right for the propagation of the Gospel and the
Glebe Rights were not cancelled, but the proprietors assumed
ownership of them after the Revolution, and sold the land set
off to these rights to different parties who occupied them.
CHAPTER V.
Town Meetings, 1770-1785.
The first town meeting of which there is anj" record was
called by Benjamin Giles, justice of the peace, "upon the peti-
tion of more than ten freeholders, inhabitants of the Township
of Canaan," on the 3d day of July, 1770. The charter pro-
vided that the first town meeting should be held on the third
Tuesday in August, 1761 ; it certainly was not held in Canaan.
Thomas Gustin was to be the first moderator and all annual
meetings were to be held on the second Tuesday of March ' ' for-
ever hereafter." At the first meeting at John Scofield's house,
John Scofield was chosen moderator; Samuel Benedict, clerk;
John Scofield, Joseph Craw and Samuel Benedict, assessors;
Asa "Williams, tithingman ; Ezekiel Wells, surveyor of roads.
And all future meetings shall be warned in the manner follow-
ing:
The annual meeting on the second Tuesday in March to be annually
warned by the Town Clerk, for the time being, by setting up a warning
of Notification at least ten days before sd meeting, at some public Place
in sd Canaan. And also the Clerk for the time being, shall at any time
when applied to by seven Freeholders of sd Canaan, or the Assessors for
the time being. Warn a meeting of the Freeholders of sd Town to be
held at any proper place in sd Town, by setting up a "Warning seven
days at least before sd meeting at some public place in sd Town.
The same names appear on tliis occasion, with the addition of
Ezekiel Wells, who with his brother, Joshua, arrived the pre^dous
year, that we are already familiar with in the Proprietors' Rec-
ords. The Wells brothers were both unmarried, Joshua being
a disappointed man of thirty-five and Ezekiel eleven years
younger, who came because Joshua did. In 1771, at the second
annual meeting, the same names appear as before, only a little
changed about ; Samuel Jones is constable ; Asa Williams, fence-
viewer ; Ezekiel Wells, tithingman ; Samuel Chapman, surveyor.
In 1772 appears the same scant records of Samuel Benedict as
clerk, not a profitable clerk for us, who are striving to learn
50 History of Canaan.
philosophy by studying the history of persons who first cut down
trees, and made roads in Canaan. The names of Ebenezer
Eames and Caleb Welch are added to the previous list. This is
the first year in which selectmen were chosen ; they had been
called assessors.
In 1773 the place of holding the annual meeting was changed
from John Scofield's to the dwelling house of Thomas Miner,
when Caleb Welch was chosen town clerk; Thomas Miner, mod-
erator, and Samuel Chapman, the lame basket-maker, tithing-
man.
A census of the town was requested this year and it was
made up in the following manner:
Unmarried from 16 to 60 12
Married from 16 to 60 11
Boys 16 years and under 16
Sixty years and upwards —
Females, unmarried 11
Females, married 12
Widows —
62
The number of ratable polls was nineteen. In 1774 the annual
meeting was ''lagally warned" and held at the "dwelling house
of Samuel Chapman." And here is an addition to the old list
of names : Charles Walworth as selectman and Ezekiel Gardner,
tithingman. And here also on this occasion, for the first time,
appears the name of "Thomas Baldwin Surveyor of highways."
Young Baldwin is, just before this time, twenty-one years old,
and has now cast his first vote. He has already made himself
useful to the people because of his superior intelligence.
Nearly all these people were of Connecticut, of the old Puri-
tan stock, and brought their peculiar notions of the sanctity of
the Sabbath to Canaan. They used to assemble in barns and
houses, where the elders led in prayer and they all hummed a
song of praise, and this young man was elected to read a printed
sermon. On this occasion it was "voted that they would build
a pound, between Mr. Samuel Chapmans and Moose Brook, to be
built by the inhabitants on the first IMonday in May next."
And they built the pound on the west side of the brook, not far
Town Meetings, 1770-1785. 51
from Mr. Miner's mill. But the pound, like the mill, has long
ago disappeared from sight. In 1775, January 16, the select-
men were directed to send a letter to the "Committee of Cor-
respondence" at Exeter, "to answer their request." John
Scofield was appointed to carry the letter. He assured the com-
mittee that the people were in sympathy with the movement for
the redress of wrongs. The committee of correspondence was
appointed by a convention of deputies, which met at Exeter
January, 1775, to consult on the state of affairs, appoint dele-
gates to the next general Congress to be holden at Philadelphia
in May following. They issued an address to the people, warn-
ing them of their danger and exhorting them to union, peace
and harmony; to frugality, industr>% manufactures and learn-
ing the military art, that they might be able, if necessary, to de-
fend the country against invasion.
A circular was sent out to the towns in New Hampshire in
which they said :
You are requested to desire all males above twenty one years of a^e
to sign the declaration on this paper, and when done to make return
thereof, togather with the name or names of all who shall refuse to
sign the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this
Colony.
On the first day of July the list of subscribers to the ' ' Associa-
tion Test" was made out and forwarded. It was found that 8,199
male persons over twenty-one years of age, then living in New
Hampshire, had solemnly promised to risk their lives and prop-
erty in defense of their country and families against British
aggression, while 773 for various reasons refused to sign. The
greater part of the latter class were hostile to colonial inde-
pendence. There were twenty-four Canaan signers, by which it
will be seen that at that date, which was nearly ten years after
the settlement of the town, there were but twenty-four males
in it over twenty-one years.
This paper sent to Exeter is as follows:
We, the subscribers do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we
will to the utmost of our power, at the risque of our lives and fortunes,
with arms oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and
Armies against the United American Colonies.
52 History of Canaan.
t
CANAAN SIGNERS.
Ebeuezer Earns John Scofield
Richard Clark Samuel Lathrop
James Treadway will Ezekiel Gardner
on certain conditions John Scofield Jr
(viz) (1) Gideon Rudd
Caleb Clark Joshua Wells
Thomas Miner Samuel Joslen
Samuel Jones Richard Joslen
Joseph Walter Charles Walworth
Thomas Baldwin Ezekiel Wells
Jehu Jones Eleazer Scofield
his Caleb Welch
Thomas Baxter X Job Scipio
mark
Robert Burts
Canaan July 1st. 1776
To the Honbie Committee of Safety for the Colony of New Hampshire.
These are to certify that every man in this town signed this agree-
ment.
Attest
EBENr EAMES ) SCleCt-
Samuel Jones f men
(1) 1st On Condition thay no man who is taken a Captive from the
British forces be made an oSicer or let to be a Soldier in the Continental
Army a21y that every American found and taken in a arms against
the United Colonies be Immediately put to Death and Sly that all and
every of the British Troops that are Captivated by the Continental
forces by Sea or land or any other way taken shall be kept in Prison
or Close Confinement and 41y than every Commanding Officer or a
Soldier or any Person or Persons imployed in any Business whatever
in the Cintinental Forces who is found & proved to be a Traitor to
the United Colonies in America be put to Death Immediately.
Upon these aforementioned Conditions do I sign this Declaration.
Witness my hand
James Treadway
With the above was sent the following request from the Com-
mittee of Safety of Canaan and Enfield. Each town had its own
committee appointed to look out for its defense.
To the Honbie Committy of Safety For the Colony of New Hampshire,
A Request from The Comitty of Safety for the Towns of Canaan
And Enfield alias Relhan in s<i Colony;
Whereas we Being in Eminent Dange of being Ravaged and De-
stroyed by the Savages, and other of our Unnatural Enemies, And we
Being Unable to Defend our Selves in the Lest; for the want of guns
Town Meetings, 1770-1785. 53
& aminition We therefore humbly Request that your Honors Would
send us Sixteen guns, forty two pounds of Gunpowder and 168ibs of
Lead 21 Dozen of flints B Lieutt Sami Jones of sd Canaan and Mr Elisha
Bingham of Enfield Which men are chosen for the Said Purpose. Gentn
your Compliaire with this Request will Greatly Oblige & Enable us to
Defend our Selves in these frontier Towns.
EsExr Eames T
Sami Meacham I '^"'
I of
Committee
Safety
Thos Baldwin J
The Reasons Why this Paper was not Signed By two of the Com-
mittee is Because one is Absent and the other is the Bearer
S. Meacham
The Provincial Congress on July 5, 1776, "voted that Samuel
Jones of Canaan and Elisha Bingham of Enfield have and re-
ceive out of the treasury 5 pounds for the purpose of purchasing
Lead and flints for the use of the inhabitants of said towns.
They giving good security for repayment of said sum when re-
quested." The council on the same day voted to give them
twenty-five pounds of powder and five pounds in money.
There are no more records for the year 1775, but a warning
for the annual meeting. If Paul Kevere's message was heard in
Canaan we do not know. The fires of Bunker Hill and Lexing-
ton did not illuminate these forest homes; but these laborers
did join the band of patriots, although they left no record of
it. Their actions spoke louder than any words they could
write.
The Committee of Safety of New Hampshire, in order to de-
termine the strength of the colony, requested a census of the
town, which was as follows:
The accompt of Inhabitants,
Males under 16 yrs 16
Males over 16 yrs. to 50 not in army 17
Males above 50 yrs 3
Persons gone to the Army 3
All females 28
Negroes and slaves —
Canaan Sept. 22. 1775 67
Upon diligent search we find that we have a Gun for every one capa-
ble of yousing them. As for Power & ball we have none with us.
Asa Kilbubn )
„ „ )■ Selectmen.
Ebenz Eames f
54 History of Canaan.
In 1776 more new names appear: "Chose Thomas Baldwin
Constable." Jonathan Bingham was surveyor and Jehu Jones
tithingman ; Asa Williams, pound-keeper. Capt. Samuel Jones,
Thomas Miner and Caleb Welch were appointed to look out for
a burjdng-place. They selected and laid out the grounds known
as "The Cobble," near Jehu Jones' house on South Road. Un-
der date of September 30, 1776, the towns of Canaan, Hanover
and Cardigan were notified to meet to elect someone to represent
them in the General Assembly and Council at Exeter the next
December. They met at Hanover November 27 and refused to
elect anyone, being dissatisfied with the methods of representa-
tion and that their advice was not taken in the government. They
had been requested two years before, in 1774, and had declined.
In 1774- '76 Lebanon, Hanover, Relhan, Canaan, Cardigan and
Grafton were classed together and entitled to one represent-
ative, but they failed to send anyone. On September 18, 1776,
Hanover, Canaan and Cardigan were classed together as being
large enough to send one representative, but they did not send
anyone in 1777. And here ends the record for that great year.
In 1777 the annual meeting was held at the house of Joshua
Harris, son of George. The records of this meeting are un-
usually elaborate, which is due to the fact that they "Chose In-
sign Thomas Baldwin, Clerk." In this case Mr. Baldwin has
recorded himself. The name of Richard. Clark, 3d, is added to
the list of freeholders. "Voted that the Committee of Safety
be desired to administer the oath to the other officers." This
committee was a patriotic committee, deriving its powers from
the Council and Assembly, and had charge of military affairs
when the Coimcil and Assembly were not in session. John
Scofield was a member and beyond this fact nothing is known.
That some of our friends and neighbors did shoulder their
muskets in the cause of popular liberty is evident from the fol-
lowing liberal bounty offered by the town :
Voted that every person that has ever been in the Continentals
service, or may enlist the ensueiug year, and may be gone through the
usual season for business, shall not be liable to pay any taxes in this
tovra for that year he is so gone.
Here appears the first vote of the town to defray town charges :
"Voted to raise by a rate on the Poles and ratable Estate of the
Town IMeetings, 1770-1785. 55
inhabitants of this town the sum of 3 pounds L. ]\I. for the de-
fraying town charges. What is paste and for the Insuing year. ' '
All the back rates on the highways were to be worked out this
year. The penaltj' for not paying the rate on polls and estates
should be the same as for not working on the highway.
The only other business is contained in the following :
Voted to appoint Capt. Joshua Wells, Caleb Welch and Eleazer Sco-
field fence-viewers, to examine fences, where any damage is done by
hogs, and see if such fence is sufficient to stop hogs yoked according to
law. If they adjudge the fence not sufficient then the owner of the
fence shall not be liable to pay the damage, provided the swine are
yoked and ringed according to law.
It might be interesting to those concerned to learn who, by the
terms of this vote, is "holden to pay the damage." The owner
of the fence is exempted. The swine, if yoked according to law,
are not liable to pay, and the owner of the swine is not men-
tioned. Now who is to pay the damage when Joseph Craw's
hogs pass through Samuel Jones' poor fence, with their yokes
and rings on, and commit trespass to Samuel Benedict's garden?
By the record it appears that Thomas Baldwin was elected
clerk for three years, 1777, 1778. 1779. Beyond the record of
1777 he confines himself to a copy of the warnings of the other
two years; no record of the doings of the meetings, and thence
onward for six years longer the record is a failure — years of
great events to the town and nation — until 1786. All is blank ;
nothing appears save a few marriages, births and deaths among
the people, and these are in an unknown handwriting. Thomas
was unfaithful to his trust. He might have done much for our
enlightenment, for he was a young man of ability. He gained
a great reputation in the Baptist Church, but as a town clerk
he was a fraud.
There was increase in population ; new names appear, old
names disappear. What were all these toilers doing in these
long years? Who can tell us? Lands were surveyed and roads
built, taxes were voted and many of the people joined the three
regiments that were voted to support the War of Independence.
Beyond these facts we shall never be able to look into the social
condition of those times. Had they preachers or schoolmasters.
56 History of Canaan.
and what were their names? During this time town meetings
were held; petitions in the archives of the state department
show that. The warning for the town meeting in 1779 contained
an article "to take into consideration a tax bill from the Treas-
urer of Xew Hampshire." The town evidently voted to have
William Aver present a petition respecting it, as the following
shows, but with what result is not known.
To the Honorable Council & House of Representatives of said State.
The petition of William Ayer of Canaan in the County of Grafton in
said State in behalf of said town humbly sheweth that by means of the
unsettled state of said County & the claim of Vermont they have never
made their state tax but are now desirous to make the said taxes & to
discharge the same: but the said town being much too high in the pro-
portion of the State tax the petitioner prays the same may be examined
& set right & said town will immediately proceed to make & discharge
their taxes & as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Exeter June 17. 1779.
Wm. Ayeb.
The petition was successful, for the Assembly voted to adjust
the rate at twenty shillings on everj- 1,000 pounds of state and
continental money for the years 1777, 1778, 1779, "said taxes
now being all in arrears. ' '
On the 20th of October, 1780, the Indians from Canada at-
tacked and burned Eoyalton, Vt. An express was sent with the
exciting intelligence for relief from the neighboring towns. A
company of twenty men was instantly raised in Canaan to join
those from Lebanon to go to the assistance of the unfortunate
people of Eoyalton and to scout along the frontiers, lest the
enemy should fall upon other settlements unawares. Joshua
Wells was placed in command of this company. The names of
those volunteers are known and their service also recorded by
their captain, w^ho sought payment for their services.
There seems to be no further inconvenience in regard to mills.
The people were fully accommodated. Mr. Eames' grist-mill was
running at the Corner. Mr. Miner's sawmill was running on
Moose Brook. Jonathan Carlton of Amesbury had built a saw-
mill on the Mascoma at the outlet of the pond, and Capt. Robert
Barber had come in from Newmarket and built the mill after-
wards known as Welch's. He also built a second mill on the
Mascoma, not far from the site of the old paper mill.
Town Meetings, 1770-1785. 57"
The first settlers in Canaan, except James Clark, were all from
Connecticut, and came here cliiefiy through the influence of
George Harris, who, as one of the gTantees. was much interested
in the new settlement. Craw, Williams, Jones, Benedict, the
Wellses, Welch, Joslyn, Walworth, Gates, Lathrop, Eames and
others came with or followed after Mr. Harris. It was a long
and weary way they traveled, on foot or on horseback. Roads-
were not marked out in many places. In others they were ob-
structed by stumps and logs. They left Colchester and Norwich
in the opening spring and arrived early in the summer. These
first-comers, most of them, located upon the ridge of land now
called South Road, extending from John Scofield's, near Mas-
coma River, near West Canaan, to the farm once owned by S. D.
Gorham, which was the homestead of Charles Walworth, a half
brother of Amos Walworth, the grantee. These men and fam-
ilies endured much of hardship and suffering. They found
here no shelter, no food, no ground fit for tillage, and but little
seed to put in the earth when it should be prepared with axe and
brand. These were soon followed by families from Haverhill^
Amesbury, Plaistow, Hampstead, Newmarket and other eastern
towns, inclined to settle here chiefly through the influence and
representations of the friends of the governor, who had been
made grantees and were anxious to realize something from their
grants. Among these were the Dustins, father and sons, the Blais-
dells, Clarks, Ayer, Bartlett, the Barbers, Sawyer, the six Rich-
ardsons. Some of these found their way to Sawyer Hill and to
various other parts of the town, but chiefly upon the uplands^
believing that they thus received the best lands for corn, vege-
tables and grass.
The inventory for the year 1783, seventeen years after the set-
tlement of the town, shows some progress. Two hundred and
seventy-nine acres of land had been subdued and made use of by
the settlers.
A true Inventory of the Polls and rateable Estate in town of Canaan
in said State in the year Auuo Domini 1783 —
No. Polls 50
No. Horses 28
No. Cows 62
No. Oxen 29
58 History of Canaan.
No. of 3 years old 14
No. of 2 years old 20
No. of yearlings 10
No. acres pasturing 118
No. acres mowing 127
No. acres tillage 34
No. acres wild land fit for improvement 12,000
Wm. Ayer )
„, -, !- Selectmen.
Wm. Richardsox f
It was during the years of unwritten history that the seces-
sion of the sixteen towns took place. Canaan was one of these
towns. The people severed their connection with New Hamp-
shire and voted themselves a part of the new territory of Ver-
mont. The history which records this peaceful uprising is sub-
stantially as below condensed:
The original grant of New Hampshire was made to John
Mason, and extended sixty miles from the sea. The line passed
from the towTi of Rindge through the west part of Concord,
striking Winnipesaukee Lake. Later grants extended its western
boundary to Lake Champlain. Under these later acts, grants of
townships were made on both sides of the Connecticut River.
In 1764 a decree of the king in council was passed limiting the
boundary of New Hampshire on the west to the Connecticut.
The grants to New York were not more definitely bounded,
and in consequence a fierce strife arose as to the right of New
York to control the lake and the river. The inhabitants of the
towns on both sides of the river were mainly from Massachusetts
and Connnecticut, and their views of public policy coincided.
They were not well satisfied with the line which separated them
from each other, and after the Revolution, when New Hamp-
shire adopted measures for framing a constitution, their dissat-
isfaction was expressed in acts as well as words. Vermont peti-
tioned Congress to be received into the confederacy as an inde-
pendent state, and a majority of the people in many towns on
this side of the river desired to unite with them, by petition
dated June 11, 1778, the result of conclusions they had reached
in March. There were sixteen of these towns, as follows :
Cornish, Lebanon, Dresden (now Hanover), Lyme, Orford,
Piermont, Haverhill, Bath, Lyman, Apthorp (now Littleton),
Town Meetings, 1770-1785. 59
Dalton, Enfield, Canaan, Orange, Landaff, New Concord (now
Lisbon), and Franconia. They took the position that since the
government of Great Britain was overthrown, they were left to
their own natural sovereignty, that the original grant of New
Hampshire extended but sixty miles from the sea, that these
townships were independent grants, each in itself a sovereign
political organization and that as the power which had created
them was thus overthrown, they were at liberty to attach them-
selves to whatever state they pleased. On the other hand it was
maintained that by their own acts in receiving grants and
protection from New Hampshire, they had acknowledged the
sovereignty of that state over them. There was much discus-
sion in the towns bordering on the river. They refused to send
delegates to the convention which formed the constitution of
New Hampshire, but united in a petition to the Vermont as-
sembly, which then met at Windsor, to be received as a part of
that state. The question was submitted to the people of Vermont
in their general assembly and the union with the sixteen towns
was accepted June 11, 1778. They were accordingly admitted
as a part of that state and gave notice to New Hampshire to that
effect, and asked for an amicable settlement of the boundary
line between the two states. The government of New Hamp-
shire was by no means disposed to recognize the right of seces-
sion. The president of New Hampshire, Hon. Meschech "Weare,
wrote to Governor Chittenden of Vermont, August 22, 1778,
reclaiming these towns, making a strong argument therefor.
He said : * ' Were not these towns settled and cultivated under the
grant of the governor of New Hampshire ? Are they not within
the lines thereof? Did not the most of these towns send dele-
gates to the convention of this state in 1773? Have they not
from the commencement of the war applied to the State of New
Hampshire for assistance and protection ? It is well known that
they did, and that New Hampshire at her own expense supplied
them with arms, amunition &c, to a very great amount. I
earnestly desire that this matter may be seriously attended to,
as I am persuaded that the tendency thereto will be anarchy
and confusion." He also made an appeal to Congress to inter-
pose and prevent, if possible, the shedding of blood. Congress
by a resolution on August 2, 1781, made it an " indespensible
60 History of Canaak.
preliminary" to the admission of Vermont as a state and freeing
them from the claim of sovereignty of New York, that Vermont
give up all claim to the to^xTis on the east side of the Connecticut
Eiver. The movement of these towns received no encourage-
ment from Congress and Canaan was not in sj^mpathy, as ap-
pears by the following petition :
Canaan January 22 1782
To the Honorable and Generable assemble of the State of New Hamp-
shier greating we haveing for a Long time bin under a broken situ-
ation the pretended State of Vermont pretend to Exercise athority over
us which causis a great confusion among us & there being more than
one half of the inhabitants of this town that have bin and now are will-
ing subjects to this state pray that we mite be put in sum regularasion
that we may have a Justice of the peace & militare officers that we may
be in a way to defend our selves against the Enemies of the united
States for we think our Selves in great danger having no authority
amongst us but the pretended athority of Vermont which we are not
willing to be under if we can have any other N. B. we the subscribers
beg the privilege that the Honorable Cort wold commisonate William
Ayer as Justice of the peace & that we mite be led to the choyce of
miletery officers
Joseph Stickney Thomas miner
Joseph flint Daniell Carr
Daniel farnum William Smith
Samuel Chatman Leonard hor
Nathi Barlet Benjaman Sawer
Joshua wels Samuel Meacham
Samuel Josen Robard Barber
Mathew Man Jonathan Stickney
Josiah hall Bartlet Ezkel wels
Benjamin Burt David fogg
James woodbury John Bartlet
henry springer Samuel Hinkson
Jaspur barber
At the first meeting of the assembly of Vermont, February
22, 1782, after the people had voted to receive these towns and
the delegates from this side had taken their seats, the question
arose whether these towns should be erected into a separate
county. This was refused, whereupon the delegates again
seceded and left the Vermont assembly in disgust. Their friends
on this side of the mountains, bound more strongly to them than
those on the other side, proposed to unite with them to form a
new state on both sides of the river, to be called New Connecti-
Town Meetings, 1770-1785. 61
cut. Then followed a series of contentions between New York,
Vermont and New Hampshire, which is not interesting here, all
of which were finally settled by the admission of Vermont with
her present boundaries into the confederacy of the United States,
a settlement which was hastened by the shrewd policy of Ethan
Allen, who conferred with the British authorities in Canada
and elsewhere as if he desired a union with them.
In some of the towns concerned in this contest there was
manifested a spirit of lawlessness and disorder. In others Com-
mittees of Safety were appointed with unlimited powers. A
meeting of the Committee of Safety for Canaan, Hanover, Leba-
non, Plainfield and Grantham was held at Lebanon and the
following vote was passed : ' ' That the laws of our country ought
and shall be the rule of our procedure in judging of the qualities
of offences and punishing the same only with such variations as
the different channel of administration requires." It appears
from the record that in 1786, after the question of sovereignty
had been settled, that the people of the town, like honest men,
voted that the uncollected taxes during the years of their seces-
sion should be paid. The amoimt is not known.
At the beginning of the year 1785 two petitions were pre-
sented to the president and council, which show the unsettled
condition of affairs in town :
To his Excellency the Pres & Honbie the Council
That as we are not represented in the house to our satisfaction we can
not rest easy to have advice taken from that quarter in your Honor-
able Board respecting the appointment of Civil & Military officers.
We take liberty to inform you that Caleb Clark Esq will give best
satisfaction for a Civil Magistrate of any man in town
Canaan Jan 26 1785
Asahel "Wells* Jonathan Stickney
Josep Stickney Zebulon Gates
Benj Harris* William Richardson*
Robart Barber James woodbury
Joseph Flint Samuel Hinlvson*
Jehu Jones* William Smith
Ezeklel Gardner* William Douglass*
Caleb Welch Elias Lothrop*
George Harris* Thaddeus Lothrop
Turner Peterson* Humphrey Nichols
Samuel meacham* Abel Hadley*
benjamen hurts* Benja Sawyer*
62 History of Canaan.
Another petition of the same date requested the appointment
of Capt. Robert Barber for a field officer: "that he would give
much the best satisfaction. We understand a certain Mr. Jones
has been mentioned, who will not answer the valuable pur-
pose of peace in s^ Town." It was signed by seventeen
men, twelve of those on the above petition marked * and
Joshua Harris, Elisha Lathrop, Ezekiel Wells, Richard Clark,
and Isaac Walker. Samuel Jones was a major in the Twenty-
Fourth Regiment the previous year.
It was in 1785 that a petition was presented to the General
Assembly by Col. Elisha Paine and others, to form a new town
out of portions of territory of the towns of Lebanon, Hanover,
Canaan and Enfield. The part of Canaan to be included was
in the southwest comer. The petition was not successful.
CHAPTER VI.
Town Meetings, 1786-1797.
It is now nine years since our town clerk made any record.
His name was Thomas Baldwin, and in that time he had become
converted to the Baptist belief, had studied divinity, theology,
been ordained as an evangelist, and placed in charge of the new
Baptist Church, w^hich was organized six years ago. In that
capacity he served well and left a large mark for future theolo-
gians to look at, but his style of keeping town records is not
commendable.
Our new clerk, Mr. David Fogg, who had recently married
Ruth Dustin, daughter of old Jonathan, lived in a log house
some fifty rods southerly from the house John j\I. Barber after-
wards built. Some of the apple trees he planted are still stand-
ing. He wrote a firm, even hand, and his record is diffuse as to
the appointment of officers. Mr. Fogg's name comes to sight
several times in the few coming years, and then he disappears,
and there is not even a grave-stone to perpetuate his exit.
When Demophile was near her end she said to me: "Do you
ever go and read those names and bits of verses on the stones
yonder? You and Aspasia used formerly. Some of them tell
us to be sad and sorry for folks who died a hundred years ago ;
others to imitate men and women we never should have had a
chance of seeing, had they been living yet. All we can learn
from them is this — that our country never had any bad people
in it, but has been filled with weeping and wailing from its foun-
dation upward."
In 1786, twenty years after the first settlement of the town,
the census of the inhabitants was 142 males and 111 females.
This year appears the first vote in reference to schools. "Voted
to raise fifteen pounds L. M. for the support of schooling, ' ' and
Capt. Robert Barber, Eleazer Scofield and Richard Clark were
appointed a committee to divide the town into school districts.
The schools had not been a feature in the town, no system existed,
64 History of Canaan.
any respecta])le person, who could strike a good square blow with
a ferrule or rod, had merit sufficient to become school-master
And sometimes persons were employed who had to spell words
of a reading exercise before pronouncing them. Ignorance was
rather winked at, other desirable things being equal. Two
months in the winter, when there was nothing else to do, was
all that could be afforded by these hard working settlers for
schooling.
New names appear: Joseph Flint and John Hall Bartlett as
tithingmen ; among the six surveyors of highways is Abel Hadley ;
Richard Otis and William Douglass are hogreaves; Benjamin
Sawyer and Esquire Ayer are fence- viewers. "Voted to raise 16
pounds L. M. to defray town charges. ' ' Compare with March 9,
1886, a hundred years later: "Voted to raise $3000 to defray
town charges." The selectmen had grown to be as careless as
the clerks. The finances and affairs of the town had fallen into
confusion. It was voted to have a thorough investigation thereof
for the years from 1781 to 1786, and Joseph Flint, Daniel Blais-
dell and Richard Otis, were appointed for the purpose. They
made a full report, which was "excepted," but they fail to in-
form us if they discovered any "rings" by which the town had
been swindled. It is fair to infer that after James Treadway left,
honesty was a prevailing virtue, although sometimes harrassed
by incapacity and ignorance. Ten shillings on the pound was
raised for the repair of roads, not to include the large bridges.
A new pound was voted to be built near the "South end of the
town." It was located on South Road at the northeast corner
of John May's. Joseph Flint was appointed as constable to
collect back taxes for the vear 1781, "and an extent for the
deficiency of soldiers for this town. ' '
It was a sin unpardonable to be a pauper, or unfortunately
poor. Our tramps were treated with more consideration, as the
following will show:
State of New Hampshire. Grafton, ss.
To Mr. John Scofield Constable for the town of Canaan for the present
year. You are hereby required in the name and government of the
people of said state, to warn off said Canaan, sundry persons now dwell-
ing in said town, viz., Abigail Cooley and Theodate Flanders with
Coffey her child. Their neglect of departing within fourteen days
Town Meetings, 1786-1797. 65
will expose them to the penalty of the law. Therefore fail not and
make return of your doings.
William Richardson "
Caleb Welch
Jehu Jones
Canaan Aug 9 AD 1786.
Selectmen.
The constable states in his return that he read this precept
within the hearing of these unfortunate women, who, looking
in vain for some hospitable door to open to them, wearily passed
over our bounds, and were heard of no more. In the following-
year similar warnings were given to Francis and Mehitable Ken-
niston and their seven children, to Hannah Stevens and to Sar-
gent Blaisdell, a brother of Daniel and Parrott Blaisdell, a
soldier who had failed to gain a residence anywhere. Also to
Abigail Finch "to depart from this town that they may not
become chargeable." "Those people that w^ill make oath that
they have paid their poll tax in any other town for the year
1781 shall be exempt from paying in this to-wTi for that year."
William Richardson, ]Major Jones and Benjamin Sawyer were
appointed "to lay out a road from the old Wolfeborough road
to Mr. Bradbury's land." That road has been made fourteen
years, and now they call it "old." It is doubtful if it ever was
traveled by any one after the governor's journey. William
Bradbury had moved on to his farm which was then the north-
west corner of the town, next to the old town line, in 1785, from
Xewburyport. He cleared it up by hand, and while doing it
lived with William Richardson.
"Voted that we instruct our representative in order to in-
courage the making of paper money. ' ' Jesse Johnson of Enfield
was the representative of the towns of Canaan, Enfield, Dor-
chester, Cardigan and Grafton, and he was instructed by the
following notice :
At a legal meeting holden in Canaan on Tuesday the 8'day of August
1786 the inhabitants of s^ Town unanimously voted to have paper
money made.
David Fogg, Toicn Clerk.
And Major Jones. Esquire Ayer and David Fogg were chosen
a committee "to instruct our representative." The reason for
this vote we learn from other sources. In January. 1777. one
5
66 History of Canaan.
hundred pounds of silver or gold was equal to the same in
Continental money. In February it took 104 pounds of Conti-
nental money to equal one hundred pounds of silver or gold.
In January, 1778, Continental money had depreciated so that
it took 325 pounds to equal one hundred pounds of gold. In
1779 it took 742 pounds : in January, 1780, 2,934 pounds, and in
June, 1781, one hundred pounds of silver or gold would buy
12,000 pounds of Continental money. Neither debts nor taxes
could be paid, and much distress existed in every community.
The great struggle for independence had terminated in the
emancipation of the people from foreign jurisdiction, but the
people were suffering from the lack of any system by which
values could be approximated. A large debt accumulated by
the war remained to be discharged. Requisitions for this pur-
pose were made by Congress and by the state governments. The
course of trade was not in favor of the colonists, consequently
the silver and gold gradually disappeared. So large was the
balance of trade against the colonies that it seemed impossible
that any system of imposts could be adopted by which the coin
could have been retained. Recourse was had to the usual mode
of taxation on polls and estates, by which means hea^y burdens
were laid upon the husbandman and the laborer. Private credi-
tors, who had suffered long by forbearance, were importunate for
their dues, and the courts were full of suits. Various remedies
were suggested by the people, who felt themselves oppressed,
but that which offered quickest relief was a new emission of
paper bills founded on real estate and loaned on interest. The
cry for paper money was incessant and universal. It was to be
the panacea for all troubles. But to all the clamors of the people
there could be but one response, that it was not in the power of
any legislature to pass any law that would secure paper from
depreciation. A law was passed, called the "tender act," by
which it was provided that executions issued for private demands
might be satisfied by cattle and other enumerated articles, at an
appraisal of impartial men under oath. This act was limited to
two years, before the expiration of which it was revived with al-
teration and continued for three years longer. The effect of this
law, where attempts were made to execute it, was that the most
Town Meetings, 1786-1797. 67
valuable kinds of property were either concealed or made over
to third parties, and whenever the sheriff appeared he could only
le\y upon articles of little value. Attempts were made by the
legislature to encourage the importation of money from abroad
by exempting goods from port duties. But all these efforts were
in vain. No encouragement could be given for the circulation
of money while the tender act was in force, because every man
who had money felt it was safe only in his own pocket.
The cry for paper money was like a raging fever. In every
town there was a party in favor of it, and against all laws which
obliged men to pay their debts. This same party also clamored
against courts and la\\yers. The abolition of the courts was
demanded, as being sinecures, whereby clerks, judges and law-
yers enriched themselves at the expense of the people.
To still the alarm and collect the real sense of the people on
the subject of paper money, the assembly formed the plan for
the emission of fifty thousand pounds, to be let at four per cent.,
on landed security ; to be a tender in payment of state taxes and
for the fees and salaries of public officers. This plan was imme-
diately printed and sent to the several towns, and the people
were desired to give their opinion for and against it and make
return at the next session of the assembly.
The excitement upon the subject was kept up by inter-
ested parties, who spread false reports in regard to the acts of
the government. When the assembly again met at Exeter they
were surrounded by a body of two hundred armed men, who in
a threatening manner, demanded an issue of paper money, an
equal distribution of property and a release from debts. Sen-
tries were placed at the doors and the whole legislature was
held prisoner, the mob threatening death to any person who
should attempt to escape before their demands were granted.
They continued their riotous demonstrations through the day,
when they withdrew and spent the night upon a hill a mile
away. The next morning they were attacked by the militia and
dispersed, some forty being made prisoners, who were subse-
quently discharged upon making humiliating submissions. The
dignity of the government being vindicated, its lenity became
conspicuous. The plan adopted by the assembly for the issue
68 History of Canaan.
I
f paper monej^ was not sustained in the returns made by a
■majority of the towns and all the questions touching upon it
Were determined in the negative. And in Canaan it was "Voted
that the handbill respecting paper be not adopted."
It was found by many patriots that the American Revolution
would not produce that sum of political happiness, which its
warmest advocates had formerly predicted. The efforts of the
factions in several of the states had produced alarming results.
But the powers of government being exerted with vigor, the
spirit of anarchy was suppressed and the hopes of good men
grew strong. Major Jones was appointed collector "to collect
what remains due on a tax bill for the year 1779 in certificates
agreeable to the scale of depreciation at the time it was due
to the treasury."
In 1787, twenty pounds was raised to defray town charges,
and ten shillings on the pound for highwaj^s. "Voted to sell
the necessary wood for Mr. Walters' support at Vendue to the
lowest bidder," and a committee was appointed to let out his
place as long as they shall th'nk proper. Joseph Walters was an
invalid soldier and needed daily care. He was poor also, but
owning land and being an old resident, he could not be warned
off the town. Mr. Baldwin was voted thirty pounds in labor and
produce this year and his estate was exempt from taxation, as it
I had been last year. The votes for a president on the thirteenth
, day of March, 1787: John Langdon, 23; John Sullivan, 9.
Joshua Harris was appointed the first coroner in town, this year,
by the president and council, and this office he held for ten years.
Oliver Smith held the office one year, in 1798.
In 1788, Mr. "Walters' care is bid off to Richard Otis for nine
pounds. "Mr. Otis is to support the fire, that is wood conven-
ient be found at the door cut suitable for the fire, and when
necessary the fire be made, and also two cows shall be well pas-
tured on the place in case there is feed enough grows, and that
they be provided for in winter, or so long as it is necessary that
this should be fed with hay, and fed therewith when it shall
be needful, to be kept on the place while they give milk." The
town was to pay the bill in wheat or other grain at the rate of
five shillings per bushel. ]\Ir. Otis was to have all the feed over
Town Meetings,, 1786-1797. 69
and above what was needed to keep the cows. But Mr. Walters
was to have the privilege of keeping two hogs, the town to inclose
a small spot to pasture them. John Currier's name appears for
the first time as surveyor of highways, Samuel Noyes as a select-
man, and Thaddeus Lathrop as a fence-viewer. The votes for
president this year were : John Sullivan, 1 ; John Langdon, 21 ;
Josiah Bartlett, 7. And here appear the first votes for senator:
Jonathan Freeman, 4 ; Colonel Payne, 18 ; and Bezaleel Wood-
ward, 7.
At this meeting, March 11, it was "Voted to build a Meeting
House. ' ' On May 9, a meeting was called to see about the build-
ing of the meeting house, and a committee was appointed to
report on June 10, at which time the people got into a con-
troversy as to the size of the house, the spot upon which to build
it, its shape and other matters, got badly out of humor and
went home. They said no more about a meeting house for
several years. On December 15, "in obedience to an act of the
State of New Hampshire, ' ' the legal voters met at Capt. Robert
Barber's and voted for representatives to the first Congress and
for the five electors for the first president of the United States.
The votes for representative were : General Sullivan, 11 ; General
Peabody, 10 ; General Bellows, 12 ; Judge Livermore, 18 ; Judge
Calf, 5. For the electors : Jonathan Freeman, Esq., 19 ; Colonel
Toppin, 19; Col.. P. Long, 19; General Dow, 19; Maj. Daniel
Tilton, 9; General Badger, 10. The "Selectmen are to provide
things for the support of the Widow^ Birt and her family, that
they are under necessity for." Her husband, "Ben Rob," had
served in many campaigns, and had come home wounded and
broken in health, and was now dead.
Maj. Samuel Jones was appointed treasurer without any
other bonds than his own for the present year. The selectman
are as loath to account as our tax collectors were before the
passage of the law that compelled them to close their books
every year. And "Mr. John Harris, Ensign Daniel Blaisdell
and Capt. Joshua Harris were chosen to settle with the select-
men for the years 1787-1788. Also to settle with former Select-
men which have not already settled, and act discretionary in the
matter. "
70 History of Canaan.
Jesse Johnson of East Enfield was appointed delegate to the
convention in 1788 to ratify the Federal Constitution. He repre-
sented the towns of Canaan, Enfield, Dorchester, Orange, Han-
over and Grafton.
In 1789, Jehu Jones warns Eliphalet Norris and Lydia Norris
and four children, also Francis Kenniston, who does not seem
to have paid much attention to the first warning; Ichabod
Honey, Betty Honey and Ebenezer Honey to "depart out of
this town" for fear they might become town charges.
At the annual meeting there are twenty-eight votes cast for
president of the assembly. "Voted not to raise any money for
schooling this year." Times are bad, money scarce and hard to
get, wages low. Other things must be had, so we will let the
school-master wait awhile and study at home by the blazing
back-log. But we will vote to pay the county tax of 1783 of
thirteen pounds, which we repudiated, and twenty pounds to
defray town charges.
Some of these good men worried lest the selectmen had been
or might be led into temptation, and become thievish, so they
voted "the selectmen for 1785 be put upon oath respecting the
towns money from the year 1781 to 1786, ' ' but they neglected to
tell us how hard they swore or what they swore about.
The poor they always had with them, and they needed care.
Wood for the poor was vendued by the card to the lowest
bidder. Ezekiel Gardner bid off one cord to draw to the
Widow Birt and cut it fit for the fire for six shillings. Capt.
Robert Barber bid off one cord for six. Parrott Blaisdell bid off
one cord for seven and six pence, the latter to be drawn to
Lieut. Thomas Miner's for Mr. Walters. In 1790, Mr. Walter,
whose serious illness had been a severe trial upon the sympathy
and good nature of the people, was finally disposed of. An
agreement was made with Thomas Miner, that he should receive
a deed of all Mr. Walter's interests in Canaan, and take him
and support him during his natural life, both in sickness and
health. And the selectmen conveyed to Mr. Miner and took
bonds for Mr. Walter's support. And David Dustin was to take
"Widow Birts son Will that lives with her for ten pounds."
"Uncle David," as he was called in after years, was a friendly
Town Meetings, 1786-1797. 71
man, kind-hearted, and the widow's son had a good home while
in his house. So, also, it was voted "to let Jehu Jones have the
order of the town upon the Treasurer for twenty pounds or
upward and excuse him from collecting the hard money bill
committed to him, he engaging to collect a bill in certificates in
room of it, which bill shall be made out to him hereafter by the
selectmen." And "that Jehu Jones pay back to those persons
who have paid him their tax on the hard money bill that the
Town excused him from collecting." Thirty pounds was raised
for the support of Elder Baldwin, "excepting those w^ho are
conscience bound that they can not support ministers that way. ' '
Wheat at five shillings a bushel was made a legal tender for
town taxes. And the selectmen were instructed "to provide
a measure for a standard to try half bushels A\dth. ' '
Richard Otis warns William Hukins, Samuel Folsom, his wife
Anne, and five children, Joshua Cushen, Deborah and Soloman
Cushen, Sarah Walter and Sarah Fox, to leave town, because
they are poor. The first jurors' meeting was held on March 30,
1790, and Thomas Miner was chosen the first grand juror from
this town and Ezekiel Wells the first petit juror.
This year the town sold the Lock lot "for the purpose of dis-
charging a debt the town owes in state notes and certificates.
Which were hired for the town's use in the year 1789." The
census of the town, taken in 1790, gives the number of inhabi-
tants as 483, an increase in four vears of 230.
In 1791, no money was raised for town charges, but the usual
rate was voted for highways. Thirty-seven votes were cast for
Josiah Bartlett for president. David Dustin was town clerk.
In 1792, nine pounds was raised for town charges and wheat
could be taken in settlement. Deacon Welch is exempted from
paying "pole tax for his son Dan that was taken away by death."
Widow Worth was cleared of all taxes due Mr. Oilman, he being
the constable and collector. "Voted if Grafton will agree to
the same we will for the Futer meet at Mr. Clifford's for the
choice of representative." On the 7th of May a special meeting
was called to act upon the amendments to the constitution of the
state. Sixty affirmative and thirteen negative votes were re-
ceived. Deacon Welch "is permited to erect a number of small
72 History op Canaan.
buildings on the highway opesit to his house and barn not to
extend more than twenty feet from Jehu Jones line for the term
of Twenty years." On August 27 was held the presidential
election and the following electors received the following votes:
Daniel Kindge, 25; Gen. Joshua Colby, 23; Jonathan Freeman,
34; Judge Thomas Cogswell, 36; Capt. Daniel Warner, 27; Gen,
Benjamin Bellows, 32.
In the warning for October 10 there is this article : "3'''^. To
see if the Town will agree to have the enockalation of the small
pox set up under propper Restrictions : " At the meeting they
voted * ' not to have the Small Pox set up by enockelation. ' '
About 1785, an institution for sanitary purposes was estab-
lished under the shadow of Cardigan Mountain. It was called
"The Pest House," a name suggestive of contagion, disease^
death. It was a place of refuge for persons afflicted with small-
pox, where they could receive the best treatment w^hich the lim-
ited knowledge of the disease could suggest. It has been said
that the house was once the residence of Col. Elisha Paine, a
proprietor and one of the first settlers in Cardigan, and in his
day a prominent and troublesome man, both socially and politi-
cally. This is a mistake. Colonel Paine built his house over an
ancient cellar hole nearer- the center of the town. Some time in
the eighties smallpox appeared in this state. The people were
terrified at its ravages and in many places fled at its approach,
and left the hapless victims to care for themselves. Benevolent
and thoughtful men began wearying themselves with projects
for the treatment of the scourge, and how a cordon could be
drawn about it, so as to confine it within narrow limits, and the
residents in exposed localities feel safe to return to their usual
labors. The idea of establishing a pest house was brought out
at an assembly of gentlemen who had met to confer upon the
demoralized condition of the people and if possible provide a
remedy. The suggestion was adopted at once and a committee
appointed to select the location for the house. Some of these
gentlemen were familiar with the topography of Cardigan
region. Its dense mountain loneliness had not yet attracted
settlements. And a pest house filled with smallpox patients
would be a signal to all who might wish to lay down their
Town Meetings, 1786-1797. 7S
burdens here to seek some other asylum. A cellar was dug and
wells were sunk and a house 36 x 30, two stories high, was erected,
together with convenient out-buildings. And to this lonely
asylum of wretchedness, the unfortunate victims of that terrible
disease w^ended their sad way, from various parts of the state,
in order that they might receive the needed care and kindly
treatment which was denied them at home.
It is reported that at one time some thirty students at Dart-
mouth College were sent there and some of the professors also
repaired thither. Among these exiles were some who afterw^ards
W'cre distinguished in their various' callings. Thomas G. Fessen-
den was a well-known agricultural journalist; Parker Noyes
became a distinguished lawyer; Philander Chase became a
bishop, and was founder of several western colleges; Seth Cur-
rier, brother of John, of Canaan, a merchant. They were of the
class of '96. These young men were detained at the pest house
six weeks, long, dreary, heart-breaking weeks of sickening dis-
gust to all of them, during which time they were not permitted
intercourse with friends outside. Some of the patients died, and
were quietly buried on the grounds, a short distance from the
house, but no stones ever marked the resting place. Nathan
Briggs, a farmer of the vicinity, was a patient for six weeks,
and was constantly reminded of the sickening danger by the
strong antiseptic remedies used to purify the air. The old man
used to tell of the homesickness and feeling of loneliness which
seized upon the young persons confined there, and seemed to be
almost as bad as the disease they were forced to face day by
day. It was in 1796 that Doctor Jenner made his first experiment
of transferring the pus from the pustule of a milkmaid, who had
caught the cow-pox from the cows, to a healthy child. The
result was published and the practice spread throughout the
civilized world. But it was not accepted everywhere. Two
years after Doctor Jenner 's experiment, the practice had not
been adopted in the pest house under the shadow of old Cardigan.
In February, 1793, the matter came up again and it was again
voted "not to have the Small Pox by enockalation set up in s**
town." So much excitement prevailed that a special meeting
was called in March "to see if the town will have the Small Pox
74 History of Canaan.
come into sd Town by way of enockalation under proper re-
strictions." And it was voted ''not to have the Small pox come
into sd Town by way of enockalation" under any proper or
improper restrictions. Again, after two years, an effort was made
to induce the town ' ' to adopt the practice of inoculation for small
pox," but the doubts in regard to the success or utility of the
practice were so strong among the intelligent voters of that age
that it was voted "to pass the article." It was about this time
that the pest house was gradually cleared of its patients, either
by death or successful treatment. And the buildings were left
for the winds and storms to howl among their decaying timbers
until they rotted away and became a part of the soil upon which
they stood. And the only knowledge we possess of this institu-
tion is the unwritten legends that come dowm from those sad
days.
The purveyor of the house was Daniel Blaisdell of Canaan,
who lived on the farm once Prescott Clark's. He contracted to
furnish vegetables and wholesome provisions to its inmates at
reasonable prices. In order that he might approach the house
without danger of contracting the disease, he arranged by build-
ing roads so that he could always approach the house to the
windward. Then driving his cart and oxen as near to the house
as prudent, he would stop and call loudly to announce his arrival.
Then, unloading, he would depart as he came, having little inter-
course with the inmates. It is further reported that he was a
faithful purveyor, and that his provisions were fresh, wholesome
and abundant.
The physician in charge was Doctor Tiffany from Connecticut,
a skillful, self-reliant man. He had brought with him as an
assistant, a young man named Storrs. One day, in the absence
of the doctor, Mr. Storrs decided to vaccinate himself in his
own way. He did so by injecting the virus between his eyes.
On the doctor's return the young man reported to him what
he had done. The doctor examined him with anxiety, for some
moments, and then very quietly said : " If you, my young friend,
have any communications to make to your friends, it will be
wise for you to do so without delay. You have committed a
fatal error, and I know of no remedy that can save you from
death." The young man died.
Town IMeetings, 1786-1797. 75
On October 10, 1792, the town voted "that the selectmen
settle with Mr. Joslin with Regard to ISlr. Treadway's taxes dis-
cretionary." Mr. Treadway had left town and did not pay his
taxes.
In 1793, the collectorship of the taxes was set np at public
vendue for the first time "to the lowest bidder and him to be
the collector providing he gits bonds to the Satisfaction of the
town." "That the man that bids of the collectorship shall not
be holden unless he hes the Constables both likewise." These
two ofSces continued to be held by one person for many years
afterwards. It was voted "that John Burdick procure a stand-
ard of weights and measures." And here is the first vote for
governor : Josiah Bartlett, 35 votes ; John Langdon, 7 votes.
Here is a curious vote. Some one had been "up against it";
somebody 's feelings or otherwise had been hurt, and even to this
day some people go to the legislature and enact laws out of spite
against some one whose property has offended them. "Voted that
if any mans Ram is found in his neighbors inclosures from the
tenth day of September to the middle of November, the owner of
such stray Ram shall pay One Dollar or forfeit his Ram which
he pleases."
Jacob Hovey's wife and child are still paupers, their care to
be paid for in "Grane."
There are two burying grounds at this time and it is voted to
fence them "with Boards and Posts." Lieut. William Richard-
son, Mr. Jon. Carlton, Lieut. R. Whittier, committee for the
"North Burying Yard"; John Burdick, Jehu Jones and Lieut.
Thomas Miner for the "South Deestrict. "
In 1794, the population of the town was, by the New Hamp-
shire Register, 483. John Harris is paid by the town "for
going after Jacob Hovey." Jacob may have deserted his wife
and left her a town charge. He is brought back and his family
no more appear as town charges. Hovey lived on the north side
of the Wolfeborough Road, afterwards Luther Kinney's farm.
The collectorship is bid oft' to Dudley Oilman for one half -pence
on the pound.
On the thirteenth day of March the inhabitants of Canaan,
Grafton and Orange met at Simeon Arvin's and elected John
76 History of Canaan.
Biirdick representative to the General Court. This is the first
Canaan man to serve in that capacity. On April 22, the town
met at the meeting house for the first time. Nine pounds was
raised to defray town charges.
On October 28, the town met at the meeting house for the
second time, and continue to thereafter, although the building
is still unfinished. The town voted "to make up this town's pro-
portion of iMinute Men forty shillings per month, togather with
what the State and Continent gives them when they are called
into actual service." John Worth is chosen "to officiate in the
office of Justice of the Peace in the town of Canaan and for the
County of Grafton." This is the first justice chosen in the town,
although William Ayer had held a commission from the state
for several ^-ears and continued to until he left to\vn.
At the annual meeting in 1795 they met at the meeting
house, but after transacting a little business they adjourned to
Simeon Arvin's. The present selectmen are "to settle with
Jehu Jones and other collectors as far back as they find anything
due the town. ' ' Money was found due the town uncollected, but
the collectors wanted further remuneration for making any
further efforts, and the town voted "not to pay them anything,"
and "to prosecute all Town Collectors which are delinquent in
settling with said to'WTi, as soon as may be convenient."
Thirty pounds was raised for town charges and eight shillings
on the pound for highways. John Currier is collector at the
rate of "three pence three farthings on the pound."
In 1796, twelve pounds was raised to defray town charges,
six shillings rate for roads and four for bridges. Clark Currier
is appointed collector of school money.
On October 16, the people met to cast their votes for six
electors for president of the United States : Beza Woodard, Esq.,
23 votes: John T. Oilman, Esq., 23 votes: Benjamin Bellows,
Esq., 22 votes; Oliver Peabody, Esq., 22 votes: Ebenezer Thomp-
son. Esq.. 20 votes; Timothy Farrer. Esq.. 25 votes.
On October 20, 1796, the people of Hanover appointed an
agent, Jonathan Freeman, to prefer a petition to the General
Court to have the land east of Moose ^Mountain annexed to
Canaan or some other town, as may be convenient. Canaan took
Town Meetings, 1786-1797. 77
no action nor appeared. This land was a part of a gore which
ran across the north line of the town from the Connecticut River
to Canaan. No action was taken upon this petition other than
the natural consequences, which would result from the situation
of the land. It belonged to Hanover and there it is now.
The first book of records of the town closes with a meeting on
the twenty-fifth of January, 1797, called in regard to preaching,
and the town vote to ' ' procure a book for records for the use of
the town." The town meetings through this first volume relate
to but few subjects, the election of town officers, roads, schools,
and preaching, which will be dealt with elsewhere. (This book of
the first records of the town has disappeared and no one seems
to know where it has gone. My father, in his life time, made a
copy of them for his more ready reference. It is the only copy
known. )
The inventory for the year 1793 contains 127 names, the list
is probably defective, one leaf may be missing. Quite a number
of familiar names are absent. This is the first year the select-
men have made an inventory. The largest taxpayer was Samuel
Jones, who had four acres of tillage, twenty acres of mowing,
twenty acres of pasturing, twenty-two animals, and his tax was
five pounds, six shillings and eleven pence. John Scofield paid
a tax of four pounds, sixteen shillings, and six pence, on four
acres of tillage, twelve acres of mowing, twenty-five acres of pas-
turing and fourteen animals. Thomas Miner had two acres of
tillage, nine acres of mowing, twelve acres of pasturing, two
animals and paid a tax of three pounds and ten shillings. These
three men were large landowners of undeveloped land.
The inventory for 1794 contains 141 names, three of them
non-residents. The total amount of tax raised was 161 pounds
and two shillings. Under the head of "money on hand or at
interest," "Samuel Noice" is taxed for fifteen pounds for 1793.
No other person has "Aloney on hand." In 1794 this fifteen
pounds is taxed to Allen Miner, which is a mistake, as it, no
doubt, should have been taxed to Samuel Noyes, who was a man
of means. It would appear that all the rest of the people traded
on "Grane," calves, pigs, or whatever they could produce for
"exchange."
87 History of Canaan.
Samuel Jones, John Scofield, Kobert Barber, Ezekiel Wells,
Caleb Welch and Thomas Miner are the largest taxpayers, in
order, all large owners of undeveloped land.
There are 141 names on the inventory for 1795. The sum total
of the tax is 182 pounds, 3 shillings and 8 pence. The largest
taxpayers, in order, were John Scotield, Samuel Jones, their
taxes being about $22 each; Caleb Welch, Joshua Harris, Eze-
kiel Wells and Eichard Clark 3rd.
CHAPTER VII.
Town Meetings, 1797-1818.
At the aumial meeting- on the fourteenth of March, 1797, the
vote for governor was forty-seven votes for John T. Oilman and
sixty-four votes for Moses Dow. Daniel Blaisdell had forty-
three votes for senator. On the next day the towns of Canaan,
Enfield and Orange met at the "Meeting House and chose
Daniel Blaisdell representative. ' '
At the annual meeting, William Richardson was chosen jus-
tice of the peace by a majority of nineteen. Six shillings on
the pound was raised for highways, and two shillings and six
pence to defray town charges and "making and mending
bridges."
The collection of taxes was struck off to Richard Clark, 3d,
at two pence on the pound. Ezekiel Wells, Daniel Farnum and
William Richardson were chosen hogreeves. The hogs were not
much restrained of their liberty, for that reason the duties of
these officers was not more than complimentary. This office was
held in so little honor that the men appointed to it were chosen
more as a joke, and in later years, to make it the more ridiculous,
as many as twenty were appointed, of which the first was called
the "General," and the others held subordinate positions on his
staff, as "major," "captain," "corporal." Hogs found in
trespass were placed in the pound. Some expense attended their
release, and this fact made men observant of the ways of their
hogs.
In 1798, the competition for the collection of taxes was
spirited. Several bidders appeared and the excitement was high.
Bidding began at three per cent, and went down until Richard
Clark, 3d, determined not to be beaten, offered "a onepenny on
the pound, for the privilege of collecting the money." The next
year Richard paid only "a happenny on the pound for the
privilege." William Richardson is justice of the peace this year.
In 1798, no money seems to have been raised to defray town
80 History of Canaan.
charges. In 1799, sixty dollars was voted to be raised, and six
shillings on the pound to repair highways and bridges. The
Widow Folsom and her children were "on the town." Mrs.
Folsom was bid off to Jolui Perley at "20 cents per week so long
as he keeps her. ' ' She was the widow of Samuel Folsom, men-
tioned in 1790, and there were eight children. The selectmen
wrote twice to her father. ' ' Capt. Steaven Harriman of Hopkin-
ton," to come to her relief and save the town any more expense.
No doubt he did, for her name does not appear again.
In 1800, Timothy Johnson is chosen collector of taxes, and
"he is to have one penny on the pound for collecting." One
hundred dollars is raised for town charges, and eight shillings
on the pound for highways. The selectmen are to "act discre-
tionary, respecting taxing non-resident proprietors." At this
time so much of the land was owned by non-resident proprietors,
who never came to see their possessions and would not pay their
tax that it led^the town into as much expense to get the tax as
the tax amounted to. the land being unimproved and unoccupied,
if sold at tax sale there was not likely to be any one to buy it.
Besides the greater portion of the land in town was still "com-
mon," had not been divided. The "Widow Judkins is bid off to
Prescott Clark at seventy-nine cents a week for one year.
Ruth Woodbury and her child were vendued to Samuel Welch
for $32.50 for five months, and another child was sold to Daniel
Farnum for twenty dollars ' ' until he is twenty-one. ' ' The hus-
band and father was James Woodburj^ a Revolutionary soldier,
who came to Canaan about 1780. He fell in love with Sally
Springer, and wanted to marry her, but she preferred Daniel
Blaisdell. The old man afterwards married and had a large
family, some of whom were paupers and lived on the to-wTi.
Daniel and Sally had a son James, who was a vain man, filled
with conceit, very pompous and overbearing. He would always
wear gloves when he could get them, and was usually on a swell
when the older people were about. One day, having on a little
larger swell than usual, old Esquire Richardson, who had been
a justice of the peace since 1798, took him down as follows:
^'Um, you needn't feel so damn smart with your old gloves on,
it's only an accident you didn't have ole Jim Woodbury for
Town Meetings, 1797-1818. 81
your father. ' ' The census of the town for 1800 was 835 inhabi-
tants, an increase in ten years of 352.
At this date there were four sawmills in town, Trussell's at
the "Village," Matthew Greeley's at Goose Pond, Robert Bar-
ber's, afterwards Welch's, and Scofield's dt West Canaan. The
mill at Goose Pond was built previous to 1790 by John Perley,
who had come from Gilmanton, and had passed into the posses-
sion of Mills Olcott, Esq., of Hanover, and then into Mr.
Greeley's hands. Clear pine lumber was worth $14 per thousand,
common lumber $5, and there was no market beyond the imme-
diate vicinity of the mills.
In 1801, Reuben Kimball took the Widow Miriam Judkins
for $80 during the rest of her life, $20 a year until paid, he to
give bonds. One hundred and thirty dollars is raised for town
charges and thirty cents for highways.
At the annual meeting a prayer was addressed to the grantees
of the town, asking them to fix a "Right or share in the town
lands at 310 acres and to deed the remainder of the territory to
the town." But the proprietors had not yet arrived at the un-
selfish conclusion that 310 acres was equal to 330, and the prayer
was answered in the negative.
In 1802, they voted not to have a town treasurer, the select-
men were to perform that duty. The same appropriations were
made for town charges and highways as last year.
In 1803, the same amount was voted for highways and $80
for town charges. They voted, with the consent of the proprie-
tors of the meeting house, to build a "Pound" on the "Com-
mon," between the meeting house and the Pond. "Thirty-six
feet square, of hewn timbers, eight feet high from top of sill to
top of plate, " to be finished in an acceptable manner by the first
of September. The building of it was bid otf to Prescott Clark
for twenty-five dollars. The old pound was built among a lot of
alder bushes. The timbers rotted away in a few years, and it
was removed. It was also voted to fence the burying grounds
"with good wall or posts and boards spiked on." There were
five of these grounds at that time, namely: The "Street,"
"Wells," the "Cobble," West Canaan and West Farms. "Lt.
Whittier, Wm. Richardson, Capt. John Currier, Capt. Ezekiel
82 History of Canaan.
Wells, and Lt. Thomas Miner" were the committee chosen to see
the work completed. In 1804 the town voted fifty dollars for
town charges and the same as before for highways. It also voted
forty-five dollars to procure "weights and measures as the law
requires. ' '
On June 19, 1804, Canaan Social Library was incorporated
into a proprietorship by the following men : John Hoyt, James
Doten, Caleb Welch, James Johnson, Jr., Ebenezer Clark, Caleb
Welch, Jr., Micah Porter, Hubbard Harris, Joshua Pillsbury,
Levi George, Joshua Harris, Richard Otis, Elias Porter, John
Currier, Ezekiel Wells, Jacob Trussell, Thaddeus Lathrop, Jr.,
Jacob Dow, Nathaniel Tucker, Nathaniel Bartlett, Moses Dole,
Robert Wilson, Richard Clark, 3d, Caleb Pierce, Micaiah Moore
and Nathaniel Barber. They could receive subscriptions to the
amount of $1,000. Jacob Trussell was to warn the first meeting.
Capt. Moses Dole was to purchase the books. Something like
two hundred volumes were purchased, and Doctor Tilton covered
them with sheepskin from Jacob Dow's tannery. Such books as
Boswell's "Life of Johnson," Cooke's "Voyages," Davidson's
"Translation of Virgil," Buchan's "Medicine," "Pilgrim's
Progress," etc., were among them. The following is a copy of
the subscription paper which led to the incorporation :
We, the subscribers, tacking in to considderation the Benefit of hav-
ing a Libra in this town, as sune as we Can get phifty shairs sind for
at two Dollars a shair. Tharefore we think it is Best to meat at the
meeting house on Monday, the 27th day of June, at wone o'clock p. m.
to set a time when the money shall be paid and what method the
proprators will tacke to get the books. 1803, Canaan, June 15.
Thirty-five shares were all that was ever issued.
In 1832, there w^as an article in the warrant to see "if the
town will vote $50 for new books for their Lyceum." It was
not acted on. Assessments were made each year, some paid and
others did not ; their shares were sold and the new owners failed
to pay assessments. The books became old and were finally
divided up amongst the members. Some of them are to be found
in the Town Library.
In 1805, $150 was raised for town charges, and the same as
before for roads. Joshua Richardson, John Currier and John
Town Meetings, 1797-1818. 83
Fales were chosen by the town to settle with Gordon Burley,
"on the vendue deed he hokls from the town of land of Joseph
Randlett." Randlett's land had been sold for taxes, during the
time he was having a dispute with Homer, the then owner of
Dame's Gore. The to^vn having no jurisdiction of the Gore
land, had presumed to tax what they had no right to. In a sub-
sequent meeting, the town voted to have the selectmen "settle
with Burley as reasonable as possible." This land was the
third one hundred acres of the right of Samuel Meacham, and
was located north of the old Nathan Cross farm. John Currier
was appointed to go to Wentworth "to find Ruth Woodburj- a
place to board."
In 1806, crows had become so troublesome that twenty cents
a head was offered for dead ones by the town. Thirty doUars
Avas raised for town charges, and the highway rate was raised to
fifty cents. The question of taxing non-resident land came up
again in the warrant, and the town dismissed the article. Eze-
kiel Wells was appointed pound-keeper of the new pound. He
lived then in the old house of the Wallaces, burned in 1898.
In 1807, $200 was raised for town charges, and forty cents
for roads. An ' ' able bodied man shall receive six cent per hour
for labor on the highways and the same for oxen." And prob-
ably the men performed as much labor in an hour at that price
as they did later for seventeen cents per hour. They also voted
to tax non-resident lands. The people objected to bearing the
burdens of others.
In 1808, $150 was voted for town charges and forty cents for
roads. In 1809, seventy-five dollars was raised for town charges
and thirty cents for roads. Some men were employed to build
a bridge over the river near Josiah Clark's mill. It required
a gallon of ]\Iicaiah Moore's rum to complete it, the workmen
drank it all, and then asked the town to pay for it, which was
declined with thanks.
In 1810, $200 was raised for town charges, and the same as
last year for roads. Joshua Harris was appointed the first post-
master of the town and held the office for three years. The
census of the town in this year, 1.094, showing an increase in
ten vears of 259.
84 History of Canaan.
In 1811, $200 was raised for town charges and "fifty cents on
a hundred dollars" for roads. William Campbell is to "find
bed and board for Widow Pattee and abigail, keep their clothes
good, until next March meeting for $1.89 per week. The town
to pay their doctor's bill." Mr. Fisk gets $100 for Euth Wood-
bury.
In 1812, $300 was raised for town charges and fifty cents for
roads. Eobert Williams, Jr., bid off the Widow Pattee and her
daughter for seventy-five dollars for the year.
Canaan was a strong federal town and was, of course, opposed
to the war with Great Britain. Party lines were closely drawn,
and much bad language uttered. Some personal altercations
occurred, which left bad feelings, and threats of chastisement
were heard. In reference to the war of 1812, both parties held
meetings and passed resolutions, but the Federalists only, being
largely in the majority, were able to put themselves upon record.
On the 27th of July, 1812, a town meeting was held. Thomas
H. Pettingill was moderator and John Currier clerk. A com-
mittee composed of Mr. Pettingill, Caleb Seabury, William Rich-
ardson and Jacob Trussell was appointed to make report of the
opinions entertained by the people. The committee introduced
their report with a lengthy "whereas," detailed the country's
grievances, and followed by "Eesolves" of a highly patriotic
nature, as follows:
Wliereas the constituted authorities of our country have declarea
this nation to be in a state of war with one of the great beliggrant
nations of Europe, and in pursuance of that declaration have caused
a call to be made for a number of training bands to hold themselves
in readiness to take part in the service of their country. Which call
we acknowledge they have a constitutional right to make for the pur-
pose of executing the laws of the union to suppress insurrection and
quell invasion. And, whereas, it hath been the motlern custom of
Europe degraded by the iron yoke of its present military despot, to
select by conscription such subjects as his sovereign pleasure dictates
to fight it battles. And, whereas, the tyrannical and slavish custom
hath of late been introduced into this land of liberty and equality,
and there is danger of its becoming the permanent usage for raising
troops. And, whereas, we trust there is yet in this town too much
of the true spirit of seventy-six, to suffer such a degrading and unequal
custom to prevail here while the citizens who compose the training
band, (although respectable) are by no means the most wealthy and
Town Meetings, 1797-1818. 85
although the general govei-nment compensates with a lebral hand, with
regret we perceive, that the compensation offered by law for the serv-
ices of the non-commissioned officers, and soldiers is by no means an
equivalent and while we conceive it to be equally our duty to obey every
constitutional call of our government and frown with indignity on every
uncinstaut infringement of our rights, we deem it also our duty not
to suffer the poorer class of our citizens to protect the lives and prop-
erty of the wealthy without due compensation. Therefore, resolved,
and voted that if the non-commissioned officers and privates, who are
to be detached from the training band in this town, shall be called
into actual service, for either of the above purposes, that the selectmen
be hereby authorized and directed to assess a sum of money on the
poles and ratable estate, liable by law to be taxed, sufficient to make up
said troops the sum of ten dollars per month, including the pay they
shall actually receive from the government, whether they volunteer
their services or are drafted. And it is our duty to believe that they
will not be called for any but the above purposes. And we earnestly
recommend the former, as to occupy the gi'ound of slaves is humiliating
to free men.
Voted to pass the second resolve, which is in the following
words :
Whereas, the publick concerns of our beloved country have of late
assumed a dangerous and alarming aspect. And our government hav-
ing in our opinion quit the highly honorable prudent and natural po-
sition taken by that man whose wisdom prudence and discernment
united all classes in the best means to promote the great interest of
the commonwealth.
And, whereas, the government of the United States, hath declared
this nation to be in a state of war with Great Britain, who was at the
time of that declaration the purchaser and consumer of about % of that
vast amount of our domestic productions exported abroad for market,
the income of which enriches our citizens and filled our national treas-
ury. And while we acknowledge their right by constitution to declare
war, and our duty to obey every constitutional injunction of our gov-
ernment, we claim with equal confidence the right guarranteed to us
by the same constitution, and that of the State of New Hampshire, of
freely expressing our opinions, of that as well as all others of a pub-
lic nature, without being put in fear by every engine of tyranny or even
of mobs with the disgrace of the American name hath been set on
foot and executed in the city of Baltimore and Savannah.
Therefore, being assembled to consult upon the common good. Re-
solved, in the opinion of this meeting, that in the present critical situ-
ation of the European world, it is the heighth of imprudence for this
nation to enter into and prosecute a war with either of the great con-
tending parties, in our opinion, a declaration of war against either
Great Britain or Prance, is and to the least discerning mind must be
86 History of Canaan.
considered as taking part with its enemy, and thereby subjecting this
nation to the ruinous effect of that destructive war, which at present
and for many years past, hath involved Europe in that wretchedness
and distress, which shalvcs human nature even to name, the termina-
tion of which no mortal eye can see nor the most sagestive mind can
conceive.
Resolved, that whereas, the present majority both in Congress and in
our Cabinet, have in the opinion of this meeting, either turned a deaf
ear to or have treated with neglect the remonstrations of the people
against the late declaration of war and measures of restrictions on our
own commerce. That at this critical period, it is not only the privilege,
but the solemn duty of every citizen (while he religiously submits to
the powers that be) to use all legal and constitutional measures to con-
vince the unconvinced, that a change of public officers is absolutely
necessary in order that the privileges liberty and prosperity, which our
ancestors purchased with blood and immence treasures may be handed
down to posterity unimpaired.
Resolved that every constitutional attempt to suppress the people or
their representatives from freely expressing their opinion as well
against as in favor of the measures of administration (which such
opinions grounded 'in truth) is in the opinion of this meeting a gross
infringement of the most valuable right of free men, and that every
ofl3ce holder or office seeker or any other person who either directly or
indirectly shall threaten any citizen with a coat of tar and feathers,
or any other art of mobbery, to deter him from freely expressing such
opinion, merits and ought to receive the sovereign contempt of a free
people, and we shall ever hold ourselves ready to aid government with
our lives and fortunes in suppressing any mob, under whatever name it
may assume or in whatever garb it may be clad.
A copy of these resolutions was forwarded to Hon. Nicholas
Oilman, one of our senators in Congress, and through him the
voice of Canaan was uttered in the halls of Congress, but the
war still went on.
In November of this year, New Hampshire had the high honor
of discovering Daniel Webster. His first election was announced.
Canaan gave him 159 ballots. His opponent receiving forty-six.
In 1813, the town voted $250 for town charges and fifty cents
for roads. The selectmen of Orange asked Canaan to receive the
jurisdiction of a part of that town. Canaan declined to accept.
Much expense and more annoyance had already occurred from
the litigous disposition of Nathan Waldo, Esq., whose influence
was paramount in Orange, and it was through this trait in the
man's character, that led a portion of the people of Orange to ask
Town Meetings, 1797-1818. 87
protection from Canaan. Upon the slightest pretext, and upon
no pretext, he was ready to appeal to the courts, and when
beaten upon one point would try another. But he was finally
beaten himself, and having wasted all his property, was carried
to Haverhill jail for debt, upon the limits of which he and his
wife died and were buried by the county.
In 1814, $200 was raised for town charges and fifty cents for
highways. Non-residents' lands were released from taxation
excepting hundred acre lots. This was done at the instance of
the proprietors. Robert Wilson takes the Widow Pattee and
her daughter for $50, and the selectmen are requested to provide
for James Woodbury and family and the Widow Buntin and her
family. Mr. Buntin had owned, at one time, Barber's mill.
In 1815, Lawj'er Pettingill is elected representative, town
treasurer and moderator. He held these offices for four years
in succession. For being treasurer he received the munificent
sum of two dollars. Daniel Blaisdell, for being first selectman,
the sum of $16.06; Daniel Pattee, second selectman, $9.01;
Nathaniel Bartlett, third selectman, $3.52; Moses Dole, town
clerk, $2.50.
The militia, having returned from Portsmouth, the town was
asked to make up "any addition to their wages," to $12 per
month. The town, in a long series of resolutions, in 1812 had
patriotically voted to give them a just amount for guarding
rich men's property, but they are not of the same opinion now,
and refuse to make up anything. The poor are vendued as
usual — James Woodbury is bid off by John Currier for nothing
per week; Mrs. Woodbury goes to William Gr. Richardson for
thirty-eight cents per week, and Widow Pattee and her daughter
to Jacob Jewel, who lived near the Gore, for $67.95. Two hun-
dred and sixty dollars was voted for town charges and the same
rate for roads as last year.
In 1816, $150 is raised for town charges, and the same as last
year for roads. The Widow Pattee is bid off to Daniel Pattee
for seventy dollars, the Davis family are left for the selectmen
to care for and Mrs. Wells, James Woodbury, Jr., and his
father go to "Biley" Hardy.
In 1817, $300 is raised for town charges, roads the same as
88 History op Canaan.
before. The Widow Pattee is bid off to Jonathan Foster for
$66.75, Mrs. Woodbury and James for $100 to Joseph Clark.
The town is asked to provide a work house for their poor. The
paupers have become so numerous that some cheaper way is
sought to take care of them, but the town refuses to do otherwise
than it has been doing for all the past years. Hiring their poor
taken care of by the lowest bidder. The selectmen are requested
to provide a pall for the use of the town.
In 1818, $400 is raised for town charges, roads the same as
last year. Widow Pattee and her daughter go to David Gould
for $66.50; James Woodbury to Mr. Gould for $68, and :\Irs.
Woodbury to Elisha Miner for $36.
And so closes the second book of town records. The men
prominent in these years are : Daniel Blaisdell, Ezekiel Wells,
John Currier, Caleb Seabury, Jacob Trussell, Daniel Pattee,
Elias Porter, Thomas H. Pettingill, Hubbard Harris, Daniel B.
Whittier, Nathaniel Currier, Jacob Dow, George Walworth,
Nathaniel Bartlett. Daniel Hovey, John Worth, Jim Woodbury
and young Jim.
In the year 1797 we find Clark Currier was licensed "to
keep tavern the present year," also in 1812 and 1813. "Lt.
Simeon Arvin ■ has our approbation to keep tavern, and sell
spirituous liquors by retail."' "Capt. Joshua Harris to be a
person well qualified to retail spirituous liquors." "Theophilus
Currier to keep a public house." "Wm. Parkhurst, of Canaan,
living on the Broad Street near the Meeting house, be a person
Avell qualified to sell spiritous liquors." Also, in 1798 and 1799,
Simon Smith is licensed to sell liquor on parade day, October 7,
1812, in the street, between Simeon Arvin s and Jacob Dow's.
Moses Dole holds a license for a tavern and retailer of rum from
1800 to 1821. Joshua Harris from 1802 to 1809. Simeon Arvin
holds a license from 1799 to 1814; Dudley Gilman in 1798-1800;
Mary Gilman in 1801 and Dudlev in 1802 : John Perlev in 1799 ;
Oliver Smith, 1798 : Hubbard Harris, 1799 ; John Wilson, 1802-
'03 ; Micaiah Moore from 1803 to 1812 : John H. Harris in 1805,
1815-1817; Joshua Harris in 1806; and the last two in 1817- '18;
Nathaniel Barber in 1806 ; Daniel Blaisdell, Jr., on parade day,
September 28, 1809, and 1810.
Cardigan Mountain and Canaan
CHAPTER VIII.
Town Meetings, 1819-1909.
The third book of town records begins with 1819. The Widow
Pattee was sold to Warren Wilson for $65, James AYoodbury
also for $67 ; Mrs. Woodbury and Lewis Lambkin 's children are
left to the selectmen to dispose of. Amasa Jones got $14 for
taking care of Mrs. Lambkin. The pay received by the select-
men the last year for their services was as follows : Elias Porter,
$13.93: John H. Harris, $11.13; Daniel Blaisdell, $13.33;
Thomas H. Pettingill received $2 for being treasurer and Daniel
Hovey $4.50 as clerk. Four hundred and ninety-nine dollai*s
was voted for town charges and to build and repair bridges.
The rate for highways is fifty cents. In 1820, $350 was voted
for town charges. Parrot Blaisdell of Orange took James Wood-
bury for $39, the other poor are left to the selectmen, as well
as Prescott Clark's children. The census of the town this year
shows 1,198 persons, a gain of 104 since the last.
In 1821, $750 was voted for town charges, roads at the same
rate. The poor are left to the selectmen to dispose of: James
Woodbury, Widow Pattee, Betsey Colby, — who is to be taken
to her husband and relieve the town, — Mrs. Lambkin and her
son, Abigail Flint, Prescott Clark and his four children. The
selectmen are to procure guideboards.
In 1822, the time for calling the annual meeting passed and
recourse was had to Daniel Blaisdell, as justice of the peace, to
call it. The selectmen were voted sixty-seven cents a day for
taking the inventory and fifty cents in other matters. They
voted "to purchase of John Fales a convenient place for a
burying ground. ' ' This is the first addition to the Street Ceme-
tery. One hundred dollars was voted to fence it and the other
grounds. Two himdred dollars w^as voted "for extra expenses."
The Canaan Musical Society was incorporated this year with
a charter from the legislature, dated June 27, 1822. John
Currier, Timothy Tilton and Moses Kelley were the incorpora-
V
90 History of Canaan.
tors. The society had the privilege of holding .$1,000 worth
of property. In 1823, $450 was voted for town charges. In
1824, $400 was voted and the same amount in 1825. In 1826,
$500 was raised for town charges; in 1827, $600; in 1828, $800.
In 1830, population was 1,428, a gain of 230.
In 1836, abolitionism was rampant over the country, both sides
did not hesitate to express their opinions of each other and many
of them, personal friends and neighbors, became enemies of the
bitterest kind. Canaan was not without its sympathizers on
both sides and feeling ran high. The opponents of the abolition-
ists were in power and they did not hesitate to "resolve" at the
town meetings, against the other side expressing their contempt
of the principles of the abolitionists.
At the annual meeting in 1836, the opponents expressed their
spite against Hubbard Harris in the following manner: "Voted
that if Hubbard' Harris refuses to present to the committee
chosen for the purpose of examining the doings of said Harris
while treasurer, the orders and papers in his hands for their
inspection, the selectmen are authorized to commence suit." In
October of the same year a town meeting was called and Dr.
Thomas Flanders, Capt. Joseph Wheat, and James Pattee were
appointed a committee to draft resolutions "suited to the con-
dition and state of abolitionism" in the town, which they did in
the following way :
Whereas, we the legal voters in the town of Canaan, understanding
the abolitionists in the town are about to petition Congress to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia, would take this opportunity to
express our opinion, on the subject in open town meeting, notified and
warned for the purpose of choosing electors of President and Vice-
President of the United States, and would respectfully remonstrate
against Congi-ess interfering with the institution of slavery in said.
District of Columbia, or any of the States of the United States. As we
believe it to be unconstitutional and inexpedient, as has been ably and
candidly shown by the Committee of the House of Representatives.
Resolved, that we view abolitionism in the present form to be the
seed of Toryism, the spirit of the Hartford Convention, the scum of
Anti-masonry, and the foe to Democracy, which requires the vigilence
of the people to detect its secret plans.
Resolved, that these remarks, remonstrances and resolutions, be
signed by the selectmen and town clerk and transmitted to some of our
delegation in Congress and also a copy be sent to the N. H. Patriot and
States Gazette.
Town :\Ieetings, 1819-1909. 91
Not satisfied with this they further reported:
That whereas abolitionism has of late attempted to hold incendiary
meetings headed by infamous hirelings from abroad, calculated to dis-
turb the Public Peace. Therefore, resolved, that a committee of Vig-
ilence be appointed to consist of 23 persons, that in case any more of
such meetings should be appointed, that they use such measures as
they in their wisdom should think proper to put a stop to such meet-
ings.
Resolved, that it be recommended to the several school districts not
to employ any instructor or instructors to teach any of the schools
in said districts (who may be tainted, or suspected of taint of this
cursed heresy).
The last was omitted from the record.
The following persons were appointed for the committee of vigilence:
March Baber John Fales jr
Daniel Pattee Peter Stevens
Daniel Campbell Ezra Nichols
Nathaniel Shepherd Wm. Campbell
James Pattee Daniel Pattee jr
Nathaniel Eaton Herod Richardson
John Shepherd Benj. Porter
Elijah Colby Americus Gates
Amos Miner Daniel Currier
Henry C. George Chamberlain Packard jr
Joseph Dustin Wesley P. Burpee.
John Fales
In 1837, there is an attempt to get the town to purchase a
poor farm. The article is dismissed and it is not until 1839
that the farm is purchased.
In 1840, the town votes not to pay anything for ringing the
bell. The census of the town this year was 1,576 persons, a
gain of 148,
In 1842, Phineas C. Dunham, who lived in the old tavern, the
Orand View House, was to receive "$6 for ringing the
meeting house bell for meetings on the Sabbath and for all
funerals, and that said sum be paid to said Dunham's wife in
monthly installments provided he rings said bell suitably and
regularly." He was a little inclined to be irresponsible at times
from the effects of too much stimulants.
In 1843, the town voted to accept proposals from any one who
would take the poor farm for the ensuing year. Bartlett Hoyt
92 History of Canaan.
was allowed $6.75 for coffin, grave clothes aucl digging grave
for his father-in-law, Eobert Wilson.
In 1844, the disposition of the poor farm is left with the
selectmen. The farm had become a burden. They let it to
James Tyler and received $130.
In 1844, Hannah Page was a town charge. She had owned a
part of the Jenniss farm. The town was asked to sell their inter-
est and distribute the proceeds as they had done with the surplus
revenue. This the town refused to do. Stephen Jenniss wanted
the farm and the town offered it to him if he would take care
of Hannah and take her off the town. He was to have the use
of the farm as long as she lived by taking care of her. At her
decease he was to have the farm. In 1845, the town was asked to
quitclaim to Jenniss the part of this farm taken by the Northern
Railroad and it refused. In 1854, the towa deeded the farm to
Jenniss.
There was some talk of a hearse this year, but the town
refused to purchase one. The selectmen wanted more pay per
day and asked for seventy-five cents. The town refused it. This
year they voted that Sawyer Hill should be known as Prospect
Hill. The name never stuck. There seems to be a fad among
some people to change old names which mean so much to new
ones which have no meaning at all. The new names last long
enough to be confusing and then die out, never to be heard of
more, like those who invented them. Before Benjamin Sawyer
settled there, in the old surveys it was called the "Hill east of
Goose Pond." Along about 1800 it was called Prospect Hill.
It then became Sawyer Hill.
In 1844, the temperance spirit appeared again in the warrant,
that the selectmen should not license any "person to sell spirit-
uous liquors." Examination of the old account books of the
traders and tavern-keepers, shows that the greatest number of
items in almost any man's account was for rum and molasses.
License to sell liquor was granted by the selectmen without
any apparent qualifications, except the ability to keep a stock
of it on hand. The fee charged was two dollars.
All the traders held licenses and the tavern-keepers. Licenses
were also granted to many others for muster day, to sell in the
Town Meetings, 1819-1909. 93
street. The common, the field north of C. P. King's store, and
A. W. Hutchinson's field, on the side of the Pinnacle, were used
as muster fields. James Wallace was a trader whose store was
located a few rods south of the present Wallace house. He sold
rum in 1818 and for many years. The store was moved and a part
of it is now the barn attached to Doctor Shrigley's house.
Nathaniel Currier whose store was at the upper end of the
"Street," sold rum. So did Capt. Joseph Wheat, Elder Wheat's
son, James Arvin, Simeon Arvin's son, at the lower end of the
street; Daniel Porter, John Clough, Seth Daniels, who lived on
George W. Davis' farm; James Pratt, Benjamin Blake. On
muster da}-, October 11, 1819, these men could have been seen
selling liquor either on the street near "Widow Hannah Ar-
vin's" or at their own stores.
Rum was sold on the street on election day — in fact, any day
that any one wanted it. John Worth at East Canaan, Guilford
Cobb on the street, Eleazer and Jesse ^Martin, James B. Wallace
and Albert Martin, Currier & AVallace. Perlej- & Pattee, Charles
Hutchinson, Jonathan Barnard, Calvin Pressey, Phineas East-
man, B. P. George, Eleazer Barney and James C. Pattee are those
whose names appear from 1818 to 1855.
In 1846, there were eight candidates for representative in the
field and after balloting all day they adjourned until the next
morning. Jonathan Kittredge's friends stood by him and he
was finally elected.
In 1847. the town voted to "prohibit Horses, Neat Cattle,
Sheep and Swine from going at large in any Street highway
or Common." This vote was reiterated in 1865 by imposing a
fine of $2.
In September of this year the Northern Railroad had
laid its rails as far as Grafton and in November the trains
ran as far as Lebanon. Before that date the -village at the
station consisted of but a few houses and most of those were on
the Turnpike. After this it began to assume the size of a vil-
lage and for many years was known as East Canaan, and not
until it had changed itself into a fire precinct did it leave off
the word "East."
At the annual meeting in 1849 the town balloted for three davs
94 History OF Canaan.
for to^\^l clerk and then voted to pass the article. This entry is
found on the record: "After three days hard labor and twenty
hard and hotly contested Ballottings, concluded to let the 'Old
Coon' remain in his (the) hole, James Burns Wallace therefore
remains town clerk imtil another clerk is chosen."
The town also voted six times for representative and then
voted not to send one. James Burns Wallace was a candidate
for that office, and they could neither defeat him nor elect him.
In the next year, 1850, "After three. unsuccessful ballotings
for town clerk, voted to pass the article, and Wallace remains,
he thinks the people of Canaan are a spunky lot of fellows."
There was no choice for representative this year, the indepen-
dent vote, represented by Caleb Dustin, serving to defeat both
Allen Hayes, the Wliig candidate, and W. P. Weeks, the Demo-
cratic candidate.
I
Benjamin P. George was employed this year to take charge of
the town house. ]Mr. G-eorge continued in this position as long
as he lived. He lived in a house on the site of C. W. Dustin 's.
Before this he had lived in the Gore, in a house now no longer
in existence, but the cellar hole still remains, next above the
house J. W. Hoyt built, and on the other side of the road. The
census of the town for 1850 shows 1,683 persons, a gain of 107.
In 1851, the town offered $100 reward to discover the person
who burned Sam Avery's barns, and William W. George was
appointed town agent to discover the person, but without avail.
Samuel Avery had three barns burned by an incendiary some
time previous to this date. Avery worked away from home most
of the time. No one was seen to go there, as the farm was off
the traveled road. One barn burned and he hired a man by
the name of Dudley to hew out timbers and build a new one.
This burned and Avery hired Dudley to build another. This
burned; and Avery, becoming tired of rebuilding, traded with
Levi Hamlet, in 1852, for the house now occupied by Mrs. Mary
A. Eobie, which Hamlet had built. Avery thought his wife set
fire to the barns, as she did not M^ant to live there. His son,
Thomas D. Avery, ran away to sea, was gone several years, came
back and bought the John Smith place, northeast of Hart's
Pond, sold out and went to Loudon.
Town Meetings, 1819-1909. 95
In 1853, the old poor farm, having been sold in 1846, the town
was asked to purchase another, the experience having been dis-
astrous, and the town refused. John ]M. Barber and Bartlett
Hoyt were appointed agents to purchase the first hearse, har-
nesses and house for the same, at an expense not to exceed $150.
In 1854, the town voted to accept and print 500 copies of the
report of the superintending school committee. This report was
the work of ]\Ir. C. C. Webster, who was then teaching in the
academy. Dr. Arnold IMorgan and John ]M. Barber were the
other members of the board, but they performed little service.
This first report of any town officers ever printed is as true today
as then — it is the best report ever printed.
In 1855, the town voted to print 400 copies of the auditors'
report. This is the first town report printed. In 1856, the town
voted to have the school committee's report printed with the
selectmen 's.
In 1857, the town voted to hire a farm for their poor and also
made the same vote in 1860. In 1859, the town voted to choose
the state, county and town officers on one ballot. Before this
they had been voted for separately. The "Canaan Grenadiers"
was formed this year, under state law, and the town accepted
them as a volunteer company. The south side of the town house
was shingled this year. The census for I860 shows 1,762 inhab-
itants, a gain of 79.
In 1861, the Rebellion having begun, the town voted to borrow
such sums of monej'' as would be necessary to take care of the
indigent families of volunteers. They paid out during the year
$800.42. In 1865, the town voted to issue $10,000 in bonds,
payable in from three to ten years at six per cent, interest, paya-
ble semi-annually.
In 1870, the town voted to apply the railroad tax on the town
debt, which at that time was $61,173.39. They also voted to
establish a cemetery in the northeast corner of the town near
Hiram Jones'. This vote was never carried out, although many
people had been buried there. But in 1909, the town procured
a deed of the land. The census this year showed the largest
population the town ever had, 1,877. a gain of 115 in ten years.
In 1876. the town voted not to establish the East Canaan fire
precinct. Thirteen years later, on November 4, the selectmen
96 History of Canaan.
were petitioned to lay out Canaan fire precinct, which was done
on the seventh.
In 1878, the town voted to hond its indebtedness, which at
that time amounted to $4J:,316.18. The interest was to be at
four per cent., free from taxation. Ten thousand one hundred
dollars' worth of bonds, payable in from one to seven years, at
the option of the town, and ten thousand dollars' worth of bonds
payable in from seven to fourteen years, were issued by the
town. The last of these bonds was paid in 1890.
In 1879, the town voted to notify the Northern Railroad to
protect the crossing at Welch's mill. In February, 1877, Enoch
Call had been killed at that crossing. It was many years after-
wards before there was adequate protection by discontinuing
that part of the road which crossed the track and building a new
one north of the grist-mill.
In 1880, the town pound was abolished by vote and ordered
sold. The census this year showed 1,762 inhabitants, a loss of
105 in ten years. The town also adopted a seal for its weights
and measures, which was the figure "2."
In 1884, the town adopted the act relating to blank inven-
tories. The law was carried out for a few years until now the
blanks are carried around and very rarely sworn to, and are
practically useless for the purpose for which they were designed
— to make a man give in all his taxable property to the
assessors.
In 1887, the town received its first trust fund for the benefit
of cemeteries. Hiram Richardson bequeathed $500, the income
of which was to be expended in the care of Sawyer Hill Ceme-
tery. In 1888, the increasing demand for better sidewalks led
the town to instruct the selectmen to spend part of the highway
money upon them. Chapter 79 of the Public Statutes relating
to sidewalks and sewers was accepted, and on September 5 the
selectmen laid out certain sidewalks at the depot. The census
of the town in 1890 was 1,426 persons showing a loss of 336 in
ten years, two less persons in town than sixty years before, in
1830. The library law was adopted in 1892 and the town re-
ceived $100 worth of books from the state. This was the begin-
ning of the town library. It was kept for some years in ]\Iiss
Emma A. Bell's house, the librarian, until it became so large that
Town Meetings, 1819-1909. 97
more room being needed the upper floor of the academy building
was fitted up. In 1907, Abram L. Williams bequeathed to the
library $500, to be expended in the purchase of useful books,
provided the town would raise a like amount for that purpose.
The town raised $125 at first, and the next year raised the
balance. There are now in the library about 3.000 volumes,
besides many unbound books and pamphlets. In 1894,' the town
received the Jesse Martin fund of $500, the income of which was
to be expended upon the care of the Martin and Blodgett lots
in the Street Cemetery,
The police court was established by vote of the town in 1895,
and Warren B. Richardson was appointed by the governor and
council, police justice. He resigned in April, 1907, and James
B. Wallace was appointed.
The Hiram M. Cobb bequest was received by the town in 1898
of $300, the income to be expended on the care of the Cobb lot
in the Street Cemetery. The William D. Currier mausoleum
was accepted as a part of the Street Cemetery in 1900. The
population of the town had slightly increased this year to 1,444,
from ten vears ago. The Pattee fund of ten shares of Northern
Railroad stock was received by the town in 1901. one half the
income to be expended on West Canaan Cemetery and the other
half to be used by the town. In 1902, the Lura G. Milton fund
of $500 was received, and the income was to be expended upon
the care of the Milton lot in the Street Cemetery. In 1905, the
Wells' fund of $200 was received and the income was to be ex-
pended upon the care of the Peter S. Wells lot in West Canaan
Cemetery. In 1907. the town received two bank books, one of
$100, the other of $300, bequests of Abram L. Williams, the in-
come of the first to be expended in cutting the bushes along the
roadside about the West Farms Cemetery, the income of the $300
to be expended in the care of the Williams. Longfellow and
Knowlton lots in the same cemetery. In 1908, the town accepted
$200 from C. H. Hackett, the income to be expended in the care
of his lot in the Street Cemeterv.
^<b^
A\N\'""
'wuiii,
'/»
'Mil,
>>1l
''Ml(lM)llMMtlll\\)'tl"IIIIM///,/,^
nvu Jt
vv^"
'&o^
,«.«•
9°Z
Canaan, 1910.
x^'^'
CHAPTER IX.
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys.
The Pitch Book was a book of records kept by the proprietors '
clerk, in which were recorded the pitches or claim of any owner
of a right to any parcel of land, setting forth to what right the
land should be allotted, the quantity, where it was located and
bounded generally, the date, and to whom the pitch was made,
to be hereafter surveyed. For a number of years this book was
the only evidence of ownership, except occupation, which the
early settlers had. When the lots or pitches were surveyed by
the committees appointed by the proprietors, these surveys were
recorded in the Proprietors' Book of Records.
The "Lot laing Committee" attended to the laying of the lots
and they w^re surveyed at the instance of the committee by a
surveyor for the person who had first recorded his pitch or claim,
or to other persons who were entitled to them by purchase of the
rights upon which such lands were laid, or by purchase from
those who had bought the rights, or by gift for certain purposes
by the proprietors. The old Pitch Book was lost. It no doubt
saw hard usage and went to pieces. One piece of it is still in
existence, in the handwriting of Ezekiel Wells. The earliest
pitch recorded in it bears date May 1, 1795. There is also in
existence the Pitch Book of lands in the Fourth Division, in the
handwriting of Jolin Currier, proprietors' clerk, consist-
ing of a few leaves of paper sewed together with a string. There
are two pitches recorded in the Book of Proprietors' Surveys,
one of which is as follows :
Oct 21. 1806. Then Nathaniel Whicher made return of a pitch of 50
acres of the 3rd. 100 of the Glebe lying east and west of the road that
leads to Dorchester by Thomas Bedwell's joining west on a tract of
land called the Green laud.
Ezekiel Wells Proprietors Clerk.
The charter signed on the ninth day of July, 1761, by Benning
Wentworth, divided the land in the town into sixty-eight shares
100 History of Canaan.
and two plots or parcels. Sixty-two shares were granted to
sixty-one men. Five shares were granted as follows: One share
for the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in Foreign Parts ; one share for the First Settled Minister of the
Gospel; one share for the benefit of schools in said town; and
one share for a Glebe for the Church of England, as by law
established. One parcel of 500 acres, accounted as two shares,
Benning Wentworth reserved for himself. One parcel was to
be laid out as a town plot, before any other division of lands, as
near the center of the town as the land would admit, for town
lots, one lot to each grantee of the contents of one acre. One
hundred acres was also given to Thomas Miner as encourage-
ment for building a sawmill in 1774.
On July 19, 1768, the proprietors voted to raise one dollar on
each right and to give one hundred acres of land with a stream
where it shall be adjudged most convenient, to any person who
shall appear and build a good corn and sawmill. In 1770, a
further tax was raised and the amount of land was increased
to three hundred acres, to induce someone to build a mill. The
first hundred was to be laid out upon a stream and the remaining
two hundred to be laid out in quality in proportion to the other
lands in town. The first hundred was laid out at the outlet of
Hart Pond and extended to within a few rods of the Mascoma
River, in a westerly direction. The second hundred was laid
out in two parcels to Joseph Bartlett, on the north side of the
"old town line," above the land owned by Josiah Barber. The
third hundred was laid out on the hill, on the east side of the
road, where lately E. C. Bean lived, and included the farm now
owned by J. A. Green. The one hundred acres given Thomas
Miner was laid out in two pieces, one of sixty-two acres, ad-
joining on the north of Joshua Wells' old farm, and extended
down the hill towards George W. Hazeltine's. The other parcel
of forty-three acres was laid out south of Josiah Clark's old
intervale farm and north of Mud Pond at East Canaan. The
deed to Miner gave him the right to pitch his land wherever he
saw fit. Both parcels were pitched by Nathaniel Barber, M'ho
must have purchased the right of Miner.
The proprietors' surveys do not show directly that the pro-
prietors conformed to that article of the charter respecting the
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 101
laying out of a town plot, as there is no survey of it recorded.
But two surveys, one recorded October 8, 1801, on the right of
Thomas Miner, began at the "South west corner of the Town
Plot," and another on the right of Thomas Parker, which is now
known as the "Currier Pasture" began at the "South-east
corner." There is also a "draft of a Town Plot," in which the
grantees are named and opposite is a number of the lot and
range. But there is no key to it to indicate what its meaning
may be.
The first meeting in which it was mentioned was in August,
1772, and it was voted "that the Town Plot be laid out in ye
most Convenient Place In sd Town. ' ' In October, Joshua Wells
was placed upon the committee, "In the room of Samuel Bene-
dict," to complete the laying out. Other matters took up the
attention of the proprietors, and the town plot did not come
up again until 1781. when it was again voted to lay it out. It
did not come up again until January, 1797, when Capt. Ezekiel
"Wells, Daniel Blaisdell, Esq.. and Capt. Eobert Barber were
appointed a committee to look it up and see what situation it was
in, report a plan and a location. In 1801 it was again voted to
lay out the plot and a committee Avas appointed to look into
"the state of the timber on the Town Plot." This is the first
intimation that it had been located. At last, in 1802. the com-
mittee reported a plan and the plot, and it was voted "that it
be annexed to the proprietors' records next after this meeting."
If the plot was pitched as those two surveys would indicate, it
was located northwest of Factor^'- Village. Several old deeds
refer to it as located in that section and forming a part of the
farms of George W. Daniels and Fred Butman.
The draft of all the pitches of the town does not leave any
place for it and although several votes were passed by the pro-
prietors in their meetings and committees appointed for the
laying out of the same, it was probably never laid out as planned.
Many of the charters of other towns contained this provision, and
it was inserted, no doubt, so that the settlers might build their
houses and form a settlement near each other.
The five hundred acres of the governor's right was located in
the southwest corner of the town adjoining the towns of Relhan,
now Enfield, on the south, and Hanover on the west. Capt. John
102 History of Canaan.
Scofield purchased the five hundred acres of ]\Iartha Wentworth,
the widow of Benning Wentworth, for two hundred dollars, on
February 22, 1797. The proprietors surveyed two hundred acres
of this right and laid it to Eleazer Scofield. The remaining three
hundred was laid out in a parcel of four hundred acres to
Mescheck Blake and was surveyed north of and adjoining the
first parcel in 1799. The one hundred acres remaining of the
four hundred parcel was laid out to the right of Eufus Randall,
and lay north of the governor's land, extending along Hanover
line. It was owned by John Scofield, the settler, and in the set-
tlement of his estate it was set otf to his son, John. This land
was all at one time the property of the Scofields. Afterwards
it was occupied by WiUiam and Israel Harris, Joseph Follens-
bee, Mescheck Blake, John ]\Iay and Joseph Stevens.
Of the sixty-two names entered as grantees, the name of
Thomas Gustin occurs twice. Whether this is a mistake, or it
was intended to give him two shares, is not known. But the
proprietors e^^dently inferred that he was to have two shares,
for they laid out land on his "first" right and also on his
"second." The Gustins were friends of the governor, so were
Richard Wibard, a councilor and judge of probate; Thomas
Westbrook Waldron of Dover, who was a representative at
Exeter in 1768 and a councilor in 1773 ; James Ne\'ins. who was
collector of customs at Portsmouth ; John Xewmarch, Daniel
Fowle, the printer, at Portsmouth; Thomas Parker, George and
William King, merchants. George King was deputy secretary
of state in 1772, and clerk of the supreme court of judicature
in 1773 and in the Louisburg expedition of 1745 was an artificer ;
Daniel Rogers, w^ho was a councilor in 1772 and a doctor by
profession; Capt. William Wentworth and his son, Capt. John
Wentworth, of Somersworth, a cousin of the governor. They
were all from the vicinity of Portsmouth.
The charter granted 23,000 acres, which was "to contain six
miles square and no more. Out of which an allowance is to be
made for highways, unimprovable lands by Rocks, Ponds, Moun-
tains and Rivers 1049 acres." It was bounded as follows: "Be-
ginning at the S. E. corner of Hanover, thence North 55° East
by Hanover six miles to the corner thereof. Then South 61°
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Sur\'eys. 103
East six miles, tlien South. -11° West six miles, then North 58°
West seven and one quarter miles."
The charter of Hanover gives the line as running North 45°
West. The difference between the town directions would leave
a gore of land which was not intended. In 1772, an addition was
made to Hanover, 180 rods wide. Hanover at that time claimed
this addition included a part of Dame's Gore and all of State's
Gore. But the adjustment of the line between the two towns
made the line run North 45° West.
The old maps made from surveys by both towns in 1805 run
the line North. 45° East. The Hanover surveys made the dis-
tance six miles to Dame's Gore and 165 rods on the Gore to the
northeast corner of Hanover. John Currier, the Canaan sur-
veyor, made the distance 1,897 rods to Dame's Gore. His min-
utes were: Hanover line, "Began at a stake & stones being the
south east corner of Hanover run N 41 E 45 rods to the top of
the mountain, then 1457 rods to Goose Pond Brook then 132
rods to hyme road, then 263 rods to the Beach tree the comer
of Canaan."
After the disputes over Dame's and State's Gores had been
adjusted and State's Gore annexed to Canaan, the line was con-
tinued 182 rods to Lyme on Hanover.
The town, in 1805, raised $186 for the purpose of establish-
ing the line between Canaan and Hanover, and according to
the survey of the town, made by John Currier, in 1805, this
line was run North 45° East 1,897 rods to Dame's Gore. The
map made by Hanover at this time gives the line as running
North 45° East six miles, then 165 rods on Dame's Gore.
The other lines have been disputed and do not now run
straight. Almost from the first settlement of the town disputes
and contentions prevailed with Enfield and Orange in relation
to boundaries. By the charter, the boundaries began at the
northeast corner of Lebanon and this same point is also the
corner bound of Hanover and Enfield. The north line of Enfield
was run out, their surveyors ran in upon Canaan nearly a mile,
which was the cause of unhappiness to those people who had
built themselves homes in the belief that they were living in
Canaan. After many discussions and much hard feeling, in
1771, Capt. John Wentworth. George King and John Peuhal-
104 History of Canaan.
low were appointed to settle the dispute, "and act everytMng
that should be thought necessarj^ Kelative thereto." The matter
dragged along for nine years, when in 1780 George Harris,
Samuel Jones and John Seofield were appointed to examine all
the papers in the ease and to make a new survey of the lines, if
thought necessary. This commission discovered what they
thought to be a clerical error in the charter of Enfield, by writ-
ing sixty-eight degrees instead of fifty-eight, as it was in the
charter of Canaan. By this error the lines of Enfield inter-
cepted and confounded all the lines of the adjoining towns. It
was found, also, that the line as claimed by Enfield left a gore
of land, ten degrees wide, between Enfield and Grantham, and
which was not claimed by the proprietors of Grantham. By cor-
recting this apparent error, it was insisted that all these con-
flicting claims would be reconciled and the charters made uni-
form. A petition was presented to the General Court and in
1781, in a joint meeting of the town and the proprietors, George
Harris was appointed their joint agent "to appear before the
honorable General Court this ]\Iarch instant at Exeter, then and
there to support a Petition, which he preferred at the last ses-
sion, relative to establishing a proper line between Canaan and
Enfield." The General Court appointed Jeremiah Page, Henry
Gerrish and William Chamberlain of Boscawen, a committee to
survey the disputed lines and boundaries and report thereon on
the ninth of July following. They reported that "the North-
easterly corner of Enfield and the Southeasterlj^ corner of
Canaan were at the same point of beginning, thence running
North 58° West seven miles and sixty rods to a birch stump
which is the Northeasterly corner of Lebanon and the South-
easterly corner of Hanover." This report was received and
filed away, but was not acted upon. Enfield thereon ceased to
claim any of the Canaan lands, and extended its jurisdiction over
the unclaimed gore on the north of Grantham, no one disputing
her right thereto.
In 1802, twenty years afterwards, this report was called up
and adopted by the legislature. This line was accepted by both
parties and a year or two afterwards the proprietors asked the
town to di^ade the expense of the surveys and litigation which
had been incurred. This the town declined to accede to. on the
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 105
groiiud that the proprietors, who Avere advertising their lands
for sale, were bound to give a good title for the money they
received. Having paid once for a title, the people did not feel
called upon to pay again.
The map of the survey of John Currier, in 1805, made this
line run North 58° West, 2.390 rods, but the minutes of his sur-
vey were as follows : Enfield line :
Began at the above bound, run S60E 34 rods to the top of the moun-
tain, then 7G7 rods to Enfield road, then 8 rods to Mascum River then
7 rods across said river, then 180 rods to the road by "Widow Sawyers,
then 171 rods to Mud Pond, then across the pond 152 rods to an ash
tree, then 280 rods to Otis road, then 791 rods to the south east corner
of Canaan.
The map of Enfield sum^ey, at this time, gives the same course
and distance as the Canaan map, each town assisting the other
in running the line. For eighty years no question of its cor-
rectness arose until in 1883, Henry H. Wilson, who had been a
continuous selectman, after close examination, became convinced
that the covered bridge over the jNIascoma, called Blackwater or
Scofield Bridge, was in Enfield and should be cared for by that
town. The interest in that cause was kept up two seasons and
several skillful surveyors were employed. At first the bridge
was thrown into Enfield, which was a triumph for Wilson and
Canaan. The defeated party then put on an additional surveyor
and there was a victory for Enfield. 3Ir. Wilson then put on
Prof. Charles H. Pettee. a civil engineer and surveyor, in whose
skill and exactness he had the greatest confidence, and decided
to abide the result of his labors. The bridge was in Canaan by
a few feet. The method pursued was as follows:
By placing a signal on Moose Mountain at a point known to be only
a few feet from the line, a trial line having been run with the compass
from the western bound to this point. Then a point on Grafton bills
beyond the eastern bound and on the prolongation of the town line
was found and a signal was erected, this point giving a view of east
bound in Grafton west line and Moose Mountain stations. Then the
position of Moose Mountain station was correc-ted by sighting on Graf-
ton station and running a line to west bound. Intermediate stations
on Howe and Coggswell Hills were determined from which the position
of the various roads was obtained and marked by temporary stakes.
The bearing of this line from Grafton station, Coggswell Hill and vari-
106
History of Canaan.
ous intermediate points was N 52%° W, from Howe Hill it was N
531^° W, stiowing a slight variation.
And to establish the line so that there should be no further
cause for dispute the selectmen of the towns traversed the seven-
mile line and placed thirteen stone posts firmly in the ground,
one at each highway leading from Canaan to Enfield. The ex-
pense of this campaign against the bridge to the towns was about
$175. It appears, therefore, that there is a variation of the
magnetic meridian of four and one-half to five and one-quarter
degrees in about 107 years, in comparing the two surveys of the
to\STi line.
The east line of the town is the west line of Orange, and a
part of the west line of Grafton. The town of Grafton, accord-
ing to the record of perambulations, extends on the line of
ja „ ijsc
Dei*\q c&ileJ wpon Oy ft\t 6«JectTneTi o^C&nA«n t6 m&Kp. & plan «^
*^'* C»TVA&n Accord'fv^ -fo An »cf of tha. le^ulAfure o\ I'ht Ofaf^ p4iie<j Ctee 30, tflOJt
Erv-f'tled An acT" fo C&u^e rHe sSverAt 'f&wn^ to mAkje jvrvsyi m order n n\»l^a
A map oY -rhe ifife,
Trvo piAH 'a A presehr ^cfwaV iurrey by CAte^yU AdmaAiuretrtflrtf"
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 107
Canaan 400 rods, the points of compass have varied from
North 41° East to North 44° East. John Currier, in 1805, sur-
veyed two lines. One claimed by Grafton and one claimed by
Canaan. He ran the line as claimed by Canaan, South 41° West
387 rods from the southwest corner of Orange, which made a
straight line with the old charter line between Canaan and
Orange. But Grafton claimed a line west of the charter line,
which took off a corner of Canaan amounting to about 240 acres.
Grafton had a dispute with Enfield over a strip extending along
its west side and, as Grafton lay to the east of Canaan, in order to
maintain its western boundary as a straight line against Enfield,
it was obliged to run into Canaan. John Currier surveyed this
disputed line in Canaan to run from the southwest corner of
Orange North 65° West 100 rods, thence South 43° West 385
rods, to the disputed corner of Enfield. The contention of
Grafton was not recognized. In 1812 the record of perambula-
tion is: "Met Henry Springer of Grafton and perambulated N
41 E about 400 rods to S. W. corner of Orange. According to
act passed Feb. 8. 1791."
In 1826, the record was North 40i/o° East; in 1844, it was
North 41° East; in 1868 North 43° East. The line on Orange
begins at the northeast corner of Canaan and has been perambu-
lated for years, South 61° West 226 rods to the southwest cor-
ner of Gushing 's Gore, then South 44° West 1,740 rods to the
Grafton line. John Currier's survey was of the "old line" and
the "new line." They both ended at the northwest corner of
Grafton and southwest corner of Orange.
The minutes of his survey are as follows: Orange line. "Begun
at a large rock then run S35W 1600 rods to the south west
corner of said Orange, then S39W 92 rods to the first road then
105 rods to the second road then 200 rods to Enfield Corner. ' '
The course of the Orange "old line" was South 41° West
1,612 rods, and of the "new line," South 35° West, 1,595 rods,
both starting from Dame's Gore, about 250 rods apart. At this
time Orange claimed the westerly line as its west boundary. The
Orange map of 1805 gave the line as running South 35° West
1.600 rods, and as part of Orange on the east end of the gore as
South 39° West 160 rods from the northeast corner of the gore.
The line on the south line of Dame's Gore was run North 65^
108
History of Canaan.
JleCfc
Deed of
Proprietors of Canaan )
to [ Aug 12. 1807
Proprietors of Orange j
Whereas disputes have arisen and for
a long time subsisted about the dividing
line . . .
Beginning at a stake and stones near
Daniel Blaisdell's field, N. W. Cor. of
Grafton, Established by Gerrish etc,
1781, N 35 E 5 m. 20 r to a rock about 3
feet across in present supposed line of
Canaan and Dames Gore to be N. E.
Cor. Canaan released all lands to Orange
East of new line. Daniel Blaisdell, Jo-
seph Flint, Treadway land, Brown lot
Morrill lot, Shepard lot, 402.63 wliole
amt. located.
Blaisdell N line 140 r. from Grafton
Corner, from said Corner to new road is
220 r. to S. edge of Pond is 234 r., to S.
line of Puffer 396, to Orange road 556
50 r. across Puffer land.
D a7ucS C:orelt»t-C-
\S/ie/"c»
O
Sa£»7ya.vr«S
reds lci4.C (o
O r a n O t T^Oa. cL-
'M
^
tirtriU^'
?/ tti) IZco-d-
t It. I «. 1.-0
GrajtoK Cor.
West 240 rods. There being so much dispute over the dividing
line, the proprietors' committees of the two towns came together,
had the line surveyed, and agreed upon a ' ' new line, ' ' in distinc-
tion from the old or charter line. The new line agreed upon ran
from Grafton corner North 35° East five miles and twenty rods,
to the rock corner on Dame's Gore. It ran through all the lots
which had been surveyed and bounded on Orange's "old line,"
leaving part of the land on Canaan side and part on Orange
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 109
side. Accordingly the proprietors of Canaan, by deed dated
August 12, 1807, released to the proprietors of Orange, who had
appointed a committee "to pass deeds and settle the title with
Canaan, ' ' all the land on the east side of this new line, amount-
ing to 778 acres and eighty-seven square rods. The first mention
in the records of the proprietors of Orange of this dispute
occurs December 12, 1798. At this time the Shepard lot was the
most nortliern lot located southeast of the old farm of Stephen
Worth. All north of it was undivided.
One hundred and eight rods of the north line of that lot was
released to Orange out of one hundred and sixty. This seemed
to have settled the dispute. For over thirty years this "new
line" was the accepted boundary. In 1840, the selectmen of
Orange sought, by petition dated June 10. 1840, to the "Hon-
orable Senate and House of Representatives," to have "that
part of Canaan situated east of the line as Canaan was first
surveyed hy the proprietors annexed to Orange." Canaan in-
structed its representative to oppose it "with all his might."
The hearing came up in 1841 and leave was given to withdraw
the petition, which the selectmen of Orange did. Then the mat-
ter slumbered for nine years, until September, 1850, when John
Flint of Lyme attempted to survey the disputed line for Canaan.
He "began at Grafton Corner and ran thence N 37%° E nearly
1692 rods to the rock corner, then S 61° E 152 rods to the S. E.
corner of Gore, then N 60° E 260 rods to Groton corner, a beech
tree." This was the old compromise line. "The bearing and
distance of the line Canaan claims as her east line will be N 43°
E nearly and nearly 1700 rods to the S. E. corner of the Gore."
Dame's Gore projected beyond the "new line" as claimed by
Orange, 152 rods. Between the "new line" and the "old line"
was a strip of land 152 rods wide at the north end and running
to a point at Grafton corner. Orange had claimed this strip as
far back as 1803 when the proprietors of Orange brought action
of ejectment against Josiah Clark and lost their suit.
Application was made to the court of common pleas to settle
and establish the line, which it did on November 13, 1850, having
appointed D. C. Churchill, Isaac Ross and X. T. Berry commis-
sioners. The line was established as follows:
110 History of Canaan.
Beginning at tlie northwest corner of Grafton, which is the south-
west corner of Orange, thence running North 42%° East, 1,700 rods to
a stake and stones, which we set up and establish as the southeast
corner of Dame's Gore, as it was when annexed to Canaan. Thence
running North 60° East 254 rods to the southwest corner of Groton,
being a beech tree standing on the west side of a brooli:. No trees were
found marked on the east end of the Gore, but we marked them with
spots on the sides and three marlvs acrost the tree with a marking
iron.
The expense of this survey was $430.94 to the two towns.
The strip disputed became Canaan land. The north line of the
town extends on the line of the towns of Dorchester and Lyme.
The perambulation of the line between Canaan and Lyme fails
to show any distance. But the survey made when State's Gore
was annexed to Canaan, began at the northeast corner of
Hanover and ran thence South 64° East 277 rods to the "corner
of Lime and Dorchester." This survey was made after Dame's
Gore was annexed to Canaan. The map of Lyme from the sur-
vey of 1805 gives the same distance but the direction was South
641/2° East.
The old town line of Canaan was bounded on the north by
Dame's Gore, a strip of land which lay between Canaan and
Dorchester. In the charter this line ran North 61° West six
miles. The north line of all the old pitches have this bearing,
but the proprietors pitched and surveyed manj^ lots of land on
the other side of the "old town line," which were in Dame's
Gore, and the south line of these pitches do not follow that
bearing. Some of them run North 64° West and North 65° West.
John Currier's survey in 1805 runs on the gore line South 61°
East 2,074 rods to Orange new line. Orange claimed its new
line ran through the Gore and into Dorchester, a distance of
sixty-two rods, taking off 220 rods on Dorchester's south line
and Dame's Gore north line. Orange did not establish its claim.
The minutes of Currier 's survey were as follows : Dame 's
Gore line :
Begin at a beach tree being the N. E. Corner of Hanover then run,
S61E 310 rods to Clark's Pond then S29W 40 rods then 116 rods to
the lower end of sd Pond, the Pond is 12 rods wide at the lower end, the
general course of the Pond is N23W about 200 rods, then on the town
line 368 rods to Mascum River, S34W is the general course of said river,
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. Ill
tlien 274 rods to Dorchester road theu 166 rods to Lary's pond on the
west side and 30 rods wide, runs north 60 rods, South 140 rods, the gen-
eral course is North and South, then 216, rods to Jones's road, then 266
rods to Indian River, then 228 rods to a large rock with stones thereon
being on Orange line.
About the time of the annexation of Dame's Gore to Canaan,
in 1846, application was made to the Court of General Sessions
by the towns of Dorchester and Canaan to settle the line between
them. Walter Blair, D. C. Churchill and N. S. Berry were ap-
pointed commissioners to settle the line and they established it,
and it was confirmed by the court October 31, 1848, as follows:
Beginning at a beech tree marked standing on the southerly side of
a small stream, running from a small pond, said tree being shown to
as the southwest corner of Groton, running thence North 64 degi-ees
"West 250 rods to a small beech, spotted on the side and marked cross-
wise with a marking iron, thence North 65 degrees West 250 rods to a
brown ash, standing between three small spruce trees about six rods
west of Indian River, thence North 59 degi'ees West 950 rods to a stake
and stones standing near the south end of a stone wall, thence 60 de-
grees West 309 rods to the South east corner of Lyme. It being a stake
and stones. Monuments were marked with spots on the sides and three
marks acrost the tree or stake with a marking iron.
The north line of the town, taking- the survej" confirmed by
the court, extends 2,036 rods. The perambulations of this line have
been for many years South 60° East, 1,536 rods to the northwest
corner of George W. Hadley's, then South 64° East 524 rods to
Groton and Orange corner. John Flint's survey in 1850 shows
the old town line to be South 61° East and the gore line evident-
ly from Hadley's South 641/0° East 490 rods. In 1845 and 1864
the line was perambulated North 60° "West 1,556 from Hadley's.
It will be seen that this town corners with Lebanon, Hanover
and Enfield at its southwest corner; with Hanover on the Lyme
line at its northwest corner; with Dorchester, Orange and Gro-
ton at its northeast comer, and with Enfield on Grafton line at
its southeast corner.
The following letter written by Ezekiel Wells and sent to the
state department, in explanation of the old map and survey of
1805, soon after the map was made, will serve to explain many
things about our boundaries :
112 History of Canaan.
Sir, iu answer to your letter accompanying the plan of the Town of
Canaan which you seem to wish us to correct or explain, we can only
make the following observations, (viz) as to the information which you
first give us that by the plan of Hanover you find that they run in upon
Canaan "about half a mile on one side & nearly a mile on the other"
seems to be too indefinite to admit of an explanation; but you add
that we have not given you any account of this contested line, and
say that you want an actual accurate survey of the true & contested
line with all the corses & distances marked on our plan, the line which
we have laid down on our plan between Canaan & Hanover is the only
line ever run between the two towns by any person, & is the line which
has been mutually holden to & perambulated by them ever since the
settlement of the Town, and their Charters bore date about fourty years
ago and the corse marked on our plan is the same corse given by
Hanover Charter and the Compass of our surveyor followed the old
line without variation to be perceived altho by sd compass in general
there is a small variation, and the distances on the plan is agreeable to
your Requirement, Horizontally if Hanover Selectmen have given you
an account of any line easterly of the one on our plan we are authorized
to say that they have done it without ever surveying any such line
or even ever seeing the ground on which they say it is run as you may
be further informed of by applying to Esq Blaisdel, and we further say
that the beach tree marked on our plan as the south west corner of
Canaan is the Established bound at which Lebanon Hanover, Enfield
and Canaan corners . . . secondly you say that we have laid down
on our plan what we call Orange old line but have not given the corse
nor distance of it this neglect if it was one we have corrected, you say
that we dont agree with Orange in the meeting of our road by more than
a mile, & you expect us to be correct, which we have once said that
■we wore & now without hesitation say it again. You say that by lay-
ing down the plans of Canaan Grafton and Orange togather you find
that Grafton runs in upon Canaan about 100 rods and request us to
make it certain whether the station at which you have marked A on
our plan is actually the south west corner of Orange and the northwest
corner of Grafton, to which we can only say that it ever has been con-
sidered as such by the selectmen of the two towns in their taxation; &
their jurisdiction has, we believe always bin bounded there since a
Committee from the Legislatux-e abought 24 years since established that
as Grafton corner altho the selectmen of Grafton say that their Charter
& act of incorporation ran in upon Canaan & Enfield (as you have
observed & as we have worked out on our plan) and this is all for they
peosebly consent to be bounded in their taxation at that station .
You perticularly wish us to let you know if the south east corner of
Canaan & the northeast corner of Enfield are at the same station; to
"Which we reply that they are & as laid down in our plan & as we sup-
pose in the plan of Enfield whose selectmen helpt us to survey the line
between us. The old line between Orange and Canaan was the Charter
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 113
line but the new line is the one permenently agreed upon by the propri-
etors of both towns & acgnized in by sd Towns. The line between
Canaan & Enfield and between Canaan & Dames Gore as also that
between Canaan & Hanover are the points of compass mentioned in the
several Charters and by compasses in general may vary from one to two
degrees as the lines was run abought 40 years since .
With dtie respect permit us to subscribe ourselves your most obedient
& very Humble servts.
The governor's plot having been taken out and the charter
fixed the location of it the proprietors appointed committees to
divide the land among the sixty-seven remaining rights, each
grantee owning one share or right in the undivided lands. But
few of the proprietors or grantees ever came to Canaan or paid
any attention to their claims, and their rights were sold at auc-
tion to satisfy taxes and assessments made upon the rights for
laying out roads, building bridges and dividing the lands.
Taxes were not laid upon the land because it was as yet un-
divided and without owner.
On January 3. 1771, a meeting was held in Colchester, Conn.,
at the house of Thomas Wells. Aaron Cady's right was sold
for eight pounds, fifteen shilling to Amos Wells; Gibson Har-
ris' right was sold for two pounds to William Caldwell; Jared
Spencer's right was sold for one pound, fifteen shillings to Sam-
uel Joslyn. On May 15, 1771, in Lebanon, at the Inn of Cas.
Hill, Nathaniel Cady's right was sold to Samuel Benedict for
four pounds ; William Fox, Jr. 's, right was sold to James Jones
for four pounds; Thomas Gates' right was sold to Thomas Miner
for four pounds, ten shillings; William Chamberlain's right was
sold to Bartholomew Durkee for four pounds, five shillings ; Wil-
liam Chamberlain, Jr. 's, right was sold to Benjamin Wheaton for
four pounds, five shillings, as was also the right of Jedediah
Lathrop, and was resold to Thomas Gates for five pounds.
The proprietors first voted to lay out hundred acre lots in
1768, known as a "First Division of Hundred acre Lots" of
upland and a ''First Division of Intervale" lots containing ten
acres. Subsequently there were two further divisions of hun-
dred-acre lots of upland, then a fourth division of upland into
seven- or eight-acre lots, a fifth division into seven-acre lots and
a sixth division into six-acre lots. There was also a second divi-
114 ' History of Canaan.
sion of intervale lots into one acre. The pitches on these divisions
were not always exact, sometimes more land was inclosed and
sometimes less than was allotted to the division. Along South
Road there was no allowance for the most part for roads. The
lots being laid out to the "Road." South Road (often called the
"Post Road"), in the early days, was laid out by the county
court about 1774. It was intended to be nearly a straight road,
extending across the south part of the town about two hundred
rods from the to^\^l line. It was laid upon undivided lands of
the grantees, and should the road ever be thrown up or its course
changed the land would not become the property of the adja-
cent owners. A distinction must be drawn between ownership
by the town and the grantees, also between the proprietors and
the grantees, men who were named in the charter. Very few
of the inhabitants of the town were proprietors and still less of
them grantees. The town means the inhabitants of the town, the
proprietors mean those who owned the original rights — they
may not have been grantees, but they became proprietors for the
most part by purchase.
The Proprietors' Book of Surveys is the source of title of all
lands in Canaan, the beginning of an abstract. To it all titles
lead for confirmation, as to points of compass and distances. It
is a book of records in which the proprietors' committees con-
firmed the lands as laid out. Many of the lands had been set-
tled upon before they were surveyed, some were resurveyed, the
old survey having been lost, and the date of record is sometimes
the date of resurvey. But this record shows that the proprietors
confirmed them to those who had settled upon or purchased them.
The register's office of this county does not contain any of these
old surveys, or pitches, only so far as subsequent owners have
followed the old descriptions, which are omitted often enough to
make much confusion. No plot or map was ever made of these
pitches or surveys by the proprietors, and it is not to be won-
dered at that they should make some mistakes ; and there are
some instances where they ran over on to land previously pitched,
but it was discovered, sooner or later, and the lines adjusted or
further allowances made of land somewhere else.
In beginning the search of a title at the present time, for the
purpose of establishing the bounds, deeds are found as far back
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 115
as 1864, in which the description is only by adjoining owners.
In the '50 's we begin to find points of compass and distances,
only in part, and further search must be made to tind all the
bearings and distances. It finally leads back to the Proprietors'
Book of Surveys, in which nearly every piece of land in town
is recorded and described by points of compass and distances.
Descriptions of property by adjoining owners is of very little
value; points of compass, owing to the variation of the compass
needle, which so far has constantly gone west, are not much to
be depended upon : but distances do not vary. — they should be
as they were a hundred years ago, allowing for the probability
of human error.
Once an owner loses his bounds, he must get back to some
record that will give him a definite course to follow. The old
pitches began at the corner of some other lot, for the most part,
and stakes and stones were used for the corner, sometimes trees,
and the intervale lots were often bounded by the river. Stakes
and stones have disappeared and trees, as well. Sometimes an
old stump is left, or there is someone who remembers where the
old stump was. — like the stump which was the beginning of the
1st Hundred of the Mill Lot by the dam at the "Corner." The
river is still there, but its course is changed in many places. Still
there may be instances where an old corner may be located. A
survey made to Moses Dole, in 1809, mentions an island in the
middle of the river. That island is there today, a little way
below the site of the old paper mill. Lots, in the beginning,
rarely gave any points of compass on the river, but they gave
distances. The intervale lots, laid out in the meadows, sometimes
included the river, the land extending on both sides. But. for
the most part, the rivers, ponds, and brooks were taken as boun-
dary^ lines.
The bearings of the lines of the old surveys having been deter-
mined many years ago, some of the surveys having been made
more than one hundred and thirty years, and the compass needle
having traveled westwardly, it becomes necessary to determine
how far it has traveled from the bearing run by the old surveyors,
before any new line can be run that will coincide with the old
line. So far as known there is no way to determine the
amount of variation. The line is where it always was, it has not
116 History of Canaan.
changed; but the needle will not point at the same number of
degrees it did when the old surveyor ran it. To say that the
needle has traveled so far in any definite number of years is not
correct. It cannot be averaged. By setting a compass on a
number of old lines this will be apparent. The forty acres of
the church right and lying on the north old town line, shows a
variation of three and one-half to three-quarters degrees. The
south line of the 1st Hundred of the Mill lot between A. M.
Shackford and F. B. L. Porter shows a variation of five and one-
half degrees. This lot was first surveyed in 1771 and resurveyed
in 1806. The south line of A. B. Howe's and the north line of
John Currier's, surveyed in 1805, shows a variation of seven
degrees. The south line of J. B. Wallace 's and the north line of
A. M. Shackford 's, on the east side of Hart Pond, probably sur-
A'eyed in 1846, shows a variation of seven and one-half degrees.
The latter is abnormal and extraordinary and cannot be ac-
counted for, but taking that variation for the other lines the
land surveys correctly. Broad Street, was first surveyed in 1788,
North 11° West, and resurveyed by the Grafton Turnpike Com-
pany in 1804, and again in 1828 by the town which relaid the
road over it, North 12° West, it now runs North 81/2° West. The
common, surveyed in 1793, shows a variation of three degree and
one half. The only way is to determine the variation of the com-
pass upon each piece of land sought to be surveyed. This can
be found by running a line between two established and well-
known corners, taking some old wall, kno^vn for a long time to
have been on the line. The old bearing having been found by
reference to old deeds, the present bearing having been found,
the difference between the two bearings can be used as the varia-
tion to run the remaining lines. But if two bounds are not
known, nor any walls or fences, reference must be had to the
adjoining land and the survey becomes more complicated.
There are a few surveys of old pitches missing from the old
book of surveys. The first one hundred acres of Israel Kellogg,
located about the shore of Hart Pond, south of the road by R.
H. Haffenreffer's, the third one hundred acres of the mill right,
where Jonathan Carlton lived, and where E. C. Bean lately
lived: the second one hundred acres of Clement Daniels' right,
extending along the road by where F. P. Carter lives, and on the
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 117
north side of the road from the Tontine settled by John Colcord,
and upon which Daniel B. "Whittier, the carpenter, lived in 1831 ;
fifty acres of the third one hundred acres of the school right and
fifty acres of the third one hundred acres of Josiah Gates, Jr.,
lying side by side on the north side of the old tOT\Ti line, being
a part of the old Danforth and Tristram Sanborn farms.
The divisions of land were not laid out in one parcel, as the
allotments would seem to indicate, as well as the votes of the
proprietors, nor were they adjoining. The first hundred of
Samuel Dodge. 3d, was laid out in five parcels of three, fifty,
fourteen, thirty-three, and nine acres, and many others in like
manner. Nor was land in each di^nsion laid to all the rights.
Neither of the George and William King rights received any land
in the fourth, fifth and sixth divisions of upland, or the second
division of intervale. Some of the pitches refer to the lots being
laid out in ranges, but there is nothing to indicate the lines of the
ranges or how many or how they extended. The only references
are to land in the "2nd. Kange." No reference to any in the
first. The implication drawn from the references is that the
lands in the first range extended along South Road to the
Enfield line, across the south line of the town. These lots are
laid out systematically, about 200 rods by 80 rods on the road,
and those on the north side of South Road are laid in like man-
ner. But the land referred to as being in the second range lies
north of these survevs and towards the west side of the town,
above West Canaan and extending to Hanover line. The land
supposed to be laid out in the second range are not all adjoining.
In 1797, the proprietors voted "that Ezekiel Wells shall have the
liberty of laying out a second hundred acre lot instead of a lot
the Governors lot has took which was No. 1 in the 2nd. Range
the lot belonged to sd Wells." This "No. 1" must have been
towards the southwest corner of the town. Some of the lots bear
numbers. "No. 1" was the "First Penhallow" lot, which, with
the second and third "Penhallow" lots, after they were laid out
on the three divisions of Richard Wibard's right, remained
unoccupied or non-resident land for many years, being sold for
taxes many times. These lots are what is known as the "Pen-
hallow Pasture." "No. 2" laid on the right of Daniel Fowle.
Ezekiel Wells lived here before he moved to the Street. "No. 3"
118 History of Canaan.
is south of and adjoining "No. 2," all on Town Hill. "No. 8"
was the first one hundred of Ephraim Wells, pitched to Samuel
Converse and owned by James Treadway, who, when he had
the Pitch Book, pitched six hundred other acres of land to him-
self, and which the proprietors afterwards nullified, to the extent
of four hundred acres. This lot w^as the farm which Jonathan
Dustin bought of James Treadway, but there is some conflict
between the pitch as surveyed and the deed to Jonathan Dustin.
The latter calls for fifty acres only of that right. There are
numerous mentions of numbered stakes : ' ' No. 2 in the 2nd.
Eange," "No. 4 in the 2nd. Range," located in the west side
of the town. Nos. 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 25, 27, 29, 33, are the
starting points of lots extending northerly of Town Hill and
northeasterly and east of Goose Pond. They are not regularly
placed and seem to have no connection with any definite system
of arrangement of lots. In attempting to make a plot of these
old surveys, there are many discrepancies. Lines were run at
different dates, the compass changed, old roads have been thrown
up, and the names of the owners of lots have changed many times.
The surveyor who ran the lines failed to find the bounds of an
adjoining piece from whence he wanted to start. The towns of
Dorchester and Hanover laid their land in lots, symmetrically
arranged and numbered in order. Canaan laid its lots without
order or arrangement, and of many different shapes. This arose
from letting the settlers who were on the land have whatever
they pleased, and in some cases instead of laying out the land to
a certain right the right was laid out to the land. In 1768, the
proprietors "voted that their committee lay out to those pro-
prietors already settled, ten acres of meadow^ and one hundred
acres of upland, where they have already made their pitch, to
be allowed towards their right or share in the township." "And
they shall lay the same amount to any who should appear and
make speedy settlement." In 1770. agreeable to the encourage-
ment from the proprietors, a number of settlers appeared and
made sundry pitches, and as these were to contain ten acres of
intervale to each right, some thinldng themselves injured in not
having their proper quantity, a committee was appointed to
adjust the injury, by making up to each "that may be deficient,
his proportion of intervale until his ten acres is completed, and
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 119
to be adjoining what he now improves or as near as may be
and not to interfere with other pitches. ' ' It was also voted that
each settler "already on his hundred acres of upland should
have the first choice of his lot before any other proprietor."
The remainder of the intervale, if any, was to be divided among
the whole of the rights equally. There are three instances where
a pitch was made and the right to which it belonged was for-
gotten. Thomas Miner's intervale and Micah Porter's, situated
on the INIascoma River. There was also a hundred-acre survey
in the southeast part of the town, laid to Francis Whittier, upon
a right the name of which does not appear. This is an extra
hundred, as all the rights have their full share of hundred-acre
lots.
In the first vote to divide the town land there was no con-
dition attached. In 1770, the time for making pitches of upland
and intervale was extended to the fifteenth of November, and to
entitle any proprietors making such pitch to the property thereof
as his estate, to be held by him or his heirs, he must cut and
girdle one acre of trees on the hundred acres of upland and one
acre on his intervale in good husbandlike manner, by the fif-
teenth of November. And in case any proprietor should make his
pitch of one hundred acres of upland and ten acres of intervale
at any time before the committee appointed shall lay out and
lot the same, such proprietor shall be entitled to his pitch so
made, and the committee are hereby empowered to confirm the
same by ordering a record thereof to be made by the proprietors '
clerk, also the fulfilling the conditions which entitles any pro-
proprietor to his pitch to be adjudged by the committee to lot said
hundred acres and report to be made accordingly under their
hands to the clerk to be recorded. The time was extended to
November 1. 1771. but for the future each proprietor making
his pitch must girdle two acres of his first hundred acres of
upland, and at the next meeting the proprietors voted that two
acres of intervale should be girdled. In June, 1773, the pro-
prietors voted that each proprietor should have the right to
make a pitch for his second hundred-acre lot of upland.
Asa Kilburn was appointed a committee to enter the pitches,
on the day and time of day the pitch was made. The proprietor
must attest that he has, after the time of pitching, cut bushes
120 History op Canaan.
and girdled trees, and also set the first two letters of his name
on a tree on said lot, and make his return to the clerk, and the
first one doing this shall have the lot. The time for pitching
second hundreds commenced in September and continued for
nine months.
In 1781, it was voted that those who neglect to have their
second hundred-acre lots properly laid out shall lose their chance
of holding by pitching and have their lots flung into a
"draught." The proprietors began to pitch their third hun-
dred-acre lots on May 7, 1782, and "each proprietor shall pay
the cost of laying out his own lot." But before making their
pitches in the third division, each person must show to the com-
mittee his right for pitching by deed or power of attorney or
letter from the proper owners.
More stringent conditions were imposed upon some of the pro-
prietors in pitching. Thomas INIiner must show a good and
authentic deed from one of the original grantees and fell or
cut twenty acres of land in ten months. This was really a rebuke
to Mr. ]\Iiner, who had pitched upon a lot without asking per-
mission of the proprietors. William Record, Leonard Horr and
Elijah Lathrop must produce good deeds, build houses and
proceed to cultivate the land. Silas Miller must clear and cul-
tivate four acres of land : Isaiah Booth must clear, cultivate and
build a house ; Jacob Hovey must cultivate and manure his land
The seven latter men w^ere squatters. Capt. Charles Walworth
can have a hundred acres if he will lay out another hundred-
acre lot in square form, pay the proprietors seven pounds and
leave a three-rod road through his land. Caleb Clark can have a
hundred acres if he pay the proprietors five pounds. William
and Caleb Douglass can have hundred-acre lots in the third
division, provided they make speedy settlement and build a
house.
The surveying and recording of the hundreds and intervales
dragged along until August, 1805. The proprietors voted that
as many persons who had made pitches had not complied with
the former vote ' ' in regard to getting their lands so pitched laid
out and recorded," and it being "impossible to ascertain what
quantity of undivided land there yet remain," "therefore voted
that any lands, upland or intervale, Avhich have been pitched
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 121
and improved or pitched only, and have not been laid out by
the proprietors Committee and recorded and shall continue in
that situation until the first day of November next shall be liable
to be pitched and laid out by any other person having lands
to pitch, notwithstanding any former pitches or possessor which
the law doth recognize as a good title." There was still undi-
\dded land and it was impossible to find it, for many claimed
land over the hundreds they were entitled to and there was no
w^ay of telling how much unless all the land should be sur\^eyed.
The proprietors' committee proposed to do this. In 1808,
another committee was appointed to ascertain the amount of
undivided land.
The time for recording was again and again extended until
Nov. 13, 1809, at six o 'clock, ' ' after which time no former pitches
shall avail the holder." It was not until July, 1812, that the
proprietors were able to make their fourth division of upland of
seven acres. The pitching was to begin at six o'clock in the
morning, "by cutting or girdling trees and by Marking the first
two letters of the owners name on a tree, and the one making his
return first to the Proprietors Clerk shall be intitled to said land
until the first day of October by that time to be surveyed or to
forfeit his pitch."
On the tenth of March, 1814, it was voted to lay out the second
division of intervale of one acre. The manner of pitching was
the same as before, but each person must have his land surveyed
by a certain time. In June, 1816, the fifth division of upland
was voted to be pitched of seven acres. In June, 1823, it was
voted to lay out six acres of upland as a sixth division to each
proprietors' right. This was the last division of lands.
An examination was made of the records and the surveys cor-
rected and computed by Daniel Blaisdell. and many small strips
and gores, marshy and swamp land, were found not yet divided.
John M. Barber, in 1823, was the owner of four rights, and
asked that a strip be set off to him to satisfy those rights. It
was done. Barber deeded the rights to the proprietors and they
were cancelled, as having received their full share of lands in
Canaan. Daniel Blaisdell asked that land might be set off to
him. This was done and twenty-two rights Avere cancelled, and
afterwards four more rights were cancelled in the same manner.
122 History of Canaan.
In 1824, Moses Lawrence deeded five rights to the proprietors
for thirty-five acres of land and these rights were cancelled.
At the time of liis death, Daniel Blaisdell was the owner of all
the rights uncancelled, excepting the rights of Richard Wibard,
George and William King, Daniel Rogers and William Went-
worth, wliich meant that he owned nearly all the undivided
land in town. In 1845, Elijah Blaisdell and Joseph Dustin,
son and son-in-law of Daniel Blaisdell, called a meeting of the
proprietors and appointed themselves a committee to dispose of
all the remaining land and to account to the proprietors for
their equal share in the proceeds. This was the last meeting of
the proprietors. Many deeds are found recorded from these
two men, nearly all of them small parcels and of irregular shape.
There are still many farms in town that have remained in the
possession of the descendants of the first owner, in the same
form. The farm of John Currier, upon which his grandfather,
John Currier, settled, is the first hundred acres of George
Lamphere, The farm of Warren E. Wilson, and the farm now
owned by Mrs. Colburn, were settled by her grandfather, Wil-
liam Harris.
What was known as the "Barber Farm," was the first hun-
dred of Isaiah Rathburn and was laid to John ]\I. Barber. It
extended from the Mascoma River to the line of his father,
Robert Barber's farm on the east. The latter 's farm extended
from the shores of Hart Pond to Indian River, beginning near
the corner of L. B. Hutchinson's and 0. H. Perry's land, ex-
tending down the shore of the Pond to the Wells line, then
southerly, including the Pinnacle, to the river, where Barber's
mill w^as located, then around on the Cochran farm, where Ezra
Nichols settled, to the comer of the fifty acres of Allen Whit-
man's, then in a straight line to the pond, three hundred acres.
The fifty acres of the first hundred of Allen Whitman extended
from the shore of the pond to the Dustin farm and from what
is now the north line of 0. H. Perry's, on the west side of Broad
Street (the line on the east side was changed) to the north line
of R. H. Haffenreffer. North of Whitman's was the first hun-
dred of Phineas Sabine, extending to the south line of F. B. L.
Porter's land. Then came fifty acres of Samuel Dodge. 3d, to
the North Church, then the first hundred of the I\Iill Right.
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 1*^3
Joshua Wells ' farm lav on the east side of Hart Pond to Richard
Whittier s land, extending towards the east, five hundred acres.
The proprietors' surveys also give us the clew to where the old
settlers lived, as the surveys are described by bounds on adjoin-
ing ovraers and occupants. A map of the old pitches has been
made, so far as possible.
The difficulty to be overcome is to join the lots lying along
the banks of the rivers. Both the Mascoma and Indian, because
of their extremely irregular and winding courses, made it very
difficult to measure their banks, and in many instances the dis-
tance must have been averaged, for lots on one side of the river
do not have corresponding lengths on the other. The farm of
Simon Blanchard, upon which John Scofield, Jr., lived, lying
northerly of South Road, and at the westerly end, and extending,
around the vicinity of West Canaan, consisted of 340 acres,
bounded by the river on the north and Mud Pond Brook on the
south. It is not possible to close the plot by allowing the dis-
tances on brook and river. It may be interesting to know who
owned the rights of the grantees during all those years, while
the land was being divided, when some of the proprietors, failing
to pay their taxes, their rights were sold at auction for non-pay-
ment. There was so much land it would seem that no one would
be anxious to have more than he could use, but such was not the
case. There was as much desire to be a large landowner as
today. There was little change in the ownership of the rights
from the original grantees, for the first few years. In 1780,
Ezekiel Wells owned four rights, Eleazer Scofield two, Capt.
Robert Barber one and one half, John Scofield, Jr., one, George
Harris nine, Charles Walworth six, Samuel Jones one, John
Scofield two, Caleb Clark nine, Jehu Jones one, Thomas Miner
four and one half, besides several hundred-acre lots amounting
to 2.500 acres ; Joshua Wells two rights, James Treadway and
Jonathan Dustin fifteen. In 1786, Joshua Harris owned one
right, Ezekiel Wells five, John Harris one. In 1823, Daniel
Blaisdell was the owner of forty-five rights, John M. Barber of
four, William Richardson two, and Moses Lawrence five. In
accordance with an act of the legislature, passed December 30,
1803, to cause the several towns to make surveys, in order to
make a map of the state, the town at their next annual meeting
124 History of Canaan.
dismissed the article approving of such survey, but at a meeting-
in March, 1805, they voted to put the making of the survey up at
auction, and reconsidered their previous vote. John Currier
made the survey, and this old map on tile in the office of the
secretary of state is a very interesting relic. The "plan is a
present actual survey by careful admeasurement horizontally."^
The principal roads are given, not all of them. The road to
Eames' mill is left out. This does not, of course, include the
gores, subsequently annexed to the town.
The first recorded survey in the Proprietors' Book bears the
date August. 1773, and the last July 6, 1837. After that date
the deeds of the proprietors' committees were recorded in the
county clerk's office. Most of the land in town was surveyed
and allotted before 1806. Daniel Blaisdell, John Currier, Eze-
kiel Wells and Moses Dole made most of the surveys. The "Lot
laying Committee" between those dates embraces the names of
Ezekiel Wells, John Currier, Joshua Wells, Joshua Harris, Sam-
uel Jones, John Scofield, John Scofield, Jr., David Blaisdell,
Robert Barber, Charles Walworth, William Richardson, Nathan-
iel Bartlett, Caleb Clark. The leading men among the proprie-
tors were Daniel Blaisdell, John Currier and Ezekiel Wells.
The land surveyed and set off, so far as it is possible to deter-
mine, amounted to 22,254 acres. Of this 417 acres was made in
allowances for roads. The allowance for roads to each hundred
acres ranged from three to nearly thirteen acres. The largest
allowance was to the first hundred of Isaiah Rathburn, the
"Barber Farm." Surveyors, in settling boundary lines and
partitioning land, have not taken these allowances into account.
The Proprietors' Book of Records is still in existence, badly
dilapidated, every leaf separated from the binding and yellow
with age and use. Its leaves had to be ironed to bring out the
ink, which from much handling had become very dim. It was
bound in sheepskin, with two leather straps, one at each end,
to tie it together. The records of the proprietors are mixed in
with the surveys ; nor are the surveys in order. Spaces were left
by different clerks and these spaces were filled up by subsequent
ones. Deeds from the owners of the original grantee rights to
the propriety are inserted at different places.
The Pitch Book and Proprietors' Surveys. 125
After all the divisions of upland and intervale had been laid
out on the rights, for certain considerations, the owners of them
conveyed them back to the propriety. In some instances, the
conveyance was made to the selectmen. So that now, should
there be found any undivided land left in town, the town might
be the owner of a part of it by reason of being the owner of some
of the rights.
CHAPTER X.
Public Rights.
The charter of the town provided that one share should be
given to the "First Settled Minister in said Town." In 1773
the proprietors of the town voted to lay out the school and min-
ister's lot. In 1781 they voted "a one hundred acre lot in the
first division and a one hundred acre lot in the second division
and one ten acre lot of Intervale" to three public rights, the
Church of England right, the first settled minister's right and
the school right. Samuel Jones, John Scofield, Caleb Clark and
Ezekiel Wells were appointed a committee to ' ' pitch and lay them
out." In 1782 this committee were requested to lay out the
third hundred-acre lots to the same ' ' Publick Rights. ' ' In 1797
the "laying out" had not been completed, and it was voted "to
compleat laying all the Publick Rites mentioned in the charter. "
The first settled minister's share was set off and assigned to Rev.
Thomas Baldwin in 1783, the year he w^as ordained an evangelist
and placed in charge of the newly organized Baptist Church.
In 1790, when Mr. Baldwin dissolved his connection with the
church and people of Canaan, a town meeting was called to
make a final settlement with him and the following vote was
passed :
Votecl that we do hereby ratify and confirm a vote passed in the
year 1783 (which vote is now lost) regarding the settlement of Elder
Thomas Baldwin, in which vote the town voted to approve and confirm
what the church had done in calling Eldr Baldwin to be ordained as an
Evangelist, and to exercise pastoral care over the Church and Con-
gregation so long as he should judge it duty to continue here, by which
he was considered as the minister of said town, though not confined for
any certain time.
At the same meeting Elder Baldwin, as testimony of his kindly
regard for the people with whom he had lived and labored for
twenty years and from whom he was about to separate, tendered
to the town a deed of one half of his land, which was accepted
in the lan^age following:
3
u
0
to
•a
c
o
c
O
Public Rights. 127
Voted to accept a deed of Eldr Baldwin of the right of laud allowed or
granted by Charter to the first Ordained Minister, excepting the first and
half of the third hundred acres which is considered as one half of sd
right.
Elder Baldwin had sold the hundred acres of the first division
on November 1, 1783, to Samuel Noyes for 58 pounds, 10 shil-
lings, soon after he became the owner of the right. According to
the Proprietors' Records, this land was surveyed to Samuel
Noyes November 5, 1805, and he lived on it. It was located in
the southwest corner of the town, adjoining Grafton and En-
field. Half of the third hundred he had sold to Daniel Blais-
dell and was included in a survey of 288 acres laid out October
26, 1805, and lay along the northwesterly corner of the first hun-
dred and was a part of Blaisdell's old farm. This half interest
was offered by the town to Rev. Aaron Cleveland to induce him
to settle here in 1799, but he did not accept. Mr. Baldwin
did not at this time give the town a deed because the town owed
him for preaching. The excuse for not paying the claim was the
hard lot of the people and the scarcity of money, cattle, calves,
wheat and other grains, which formed the circulating medium.
The claim ran along until 1800, when it was voted "to make a
settlement with Elder Baldwin agreeable to his request." John
Currier, Richard Whittier and Ezekiel Wells were appointed a
committee to settle. Mr. Baldwin came up from Boston, met the
committee and conveyed to the town by deed dated October 1,
1800, all his interest in the minister's right, excepting the first
hundred and half of the third hundred acres, they agreeing to
pay his claim and account, which had been unsettled for nearly
eleven years. The remainder of the minister's right was then
parceled out and sold.
Fifty acres of the second division was surveyed to John Worth,
Jr., July 6, 1807, and is where the present village of East Canaan
is. Forty-five acres of the same division were laid out to Ezekiel
Wells October 8, 1807, and began at a "stake on the east side of
the highway leading from Canaan to Grafton, about two rods
south of the bridge over the Indian River, thence about 200
rods by the road to Orange line, then on the Orange line N 34
E 14 rods to a small pond, then by the waters of the pond and
the brook that runs out of it 131 rods"; then in a very devious
128 History op Cx\.nAx\.n.
course "to the first bound." This is the land through which
the railroad now runs on the west side of Mud Pond. Twelve
and three-quarters acres in the third division was laid out to
Nathaniel Barber on February 10, 1809. It extends from the
Turnpike bridge, near C. 0. Barney's, up the river, and is the
meadow land north of his house. It was a part of Dea. Josiah
Clark's farm. Five acres of the third division was laid out to
Ezekiel Wells, "near where Captain Arvin lives," now owned by
George W. Davis, adjoining the old Howard farm. Fifteen acres
of the third division was laid out to Daniel Blaisdell November
13, 1808, on the east side of Goose Pond and adjoining on the
•easterly line of school lands. Seven acres of the third division
were laid out to Simeon Arvin October 11, 1810, near Barber's
sawmill. Seven acres of the fourth division were laid out to
Israel Harris June 11, 1814, on West Farms, near Hanover line.
One acre of the second division of intervale was laid out to
Charles Church of Lebanon May 27, 1814, and thirteen acres
of the third division were laid out June 3d to the same. Seven
acres of the fifth division were laid out to Moses Dole September
16, 1816, on the Mascoma River, below the paper mill site. Ten
acres of intervale of the first division were laid out to Na-
thaniel Barber October 16, 1801. This was sold by Barber to
Josiah Clark and is a part of Carey Smith's farm. Two and
one-fourth acres of the third division were laid out to Nathaniel
Barber May 15, 1817. This piece is between C. 0. Barney's
house and the river, extending down "Orange Pond Brook."
One hundred and seventy-five acres of this land was the property
of the town and was sold by them, there being 325 acres laid out
to the right altogether. This right, as well as the school right,
became the property of Daniel Blaisdell. Neither right received
any land in the sixth division of upland because Blaisdell deeded
them back to the proprietors and they were cancelled before
the sixth division was laid out.
The charter granted "One Share for the Benefit of Schools in
said tOA\Ti." And it will appear that our school never received
the benefit of a dollar from the sale of the 325 acres laid to that
right. The land was distributed as follows: The first hundred
acres of upland was laid out November 28, 1782, "on a hill east
of upper Goose pond, beginning at a stake, marked No. 33, thence
Public Rights. 129
S 15 W 100 rods to a stake, thence S 75 E 163 rods to a beech
tree marked, thence N 15 E 100 rods to a spruce tree marked,
thence N 75 W 163 rods to the first bound with an allowance of
three acres for roads." This lot remained unoccupied for sev-
eral years. In 1796 the town voted "to sell the improvement of
the School Lot (on Sawyer Hill) for three years to the high-
est bidder. " " The Above said improvement struck off to Dud-
ley Oilman for seventeen dollars for three years, said sum to be
Paid in Clearing and Fencing on said Lot." Mr. Oilman did
but little and at the expiration of his lease in 1799 it was voted
"to sell the income of the School Lot for four years to the High-
est bidder and rent to be laid out on sd lot in Clearing and Fenc-
ing yearly." "Struck off to Mathew Oreeley for fourteen dol-
lars and five cents yearly." Mr. Oreeley made a good trade,
cleared the great pines and spruces off to his mill, pastured the
open field and with stones and brush built a fence.
Mr. Oreeley 's lease having expired in 1803, the lot was again
put up and bid off to Jacob Tucker for $20 a year for three
years, "to be paid in building a stone wall in front, acceptable
to the selectmen. ' ' Mr. Tucker made good use of the land in a
way profitable to himself. Before his lease expired Warren Wil-
son, whose lands adjoined, asked the selectmen to sell him a
part of the lot. The town voted in 1805 "that the selectmen may
sell a piece of land off the school lot to Warren Wilson." But
he did not get the land at this time. In 1806 the town voted "to
leave the school lots for the selectmen to dispose of. ' ' And now
comes in another factor which caused great discussion and con-
tention in the town for many years.
On June 21, 1804, the Orafton Turnpike Company was in-
corporated, with thirteen incorporators, residents of the towns of
Lyme, Orford, Canaan, Orafton, Orange and Dorchester. Three
of the incorporators were from Canaan : Daniel Blaisdell, Ezekiel
Wells and Moses Dole. They were given the power to make by-
laws, build a toll road with gates and establish the following rates
of toll : For ten sheep or swine, one cent ; for ten cattle or
horses, one cent ; for one horse and rider, one cent ; for a sulky,
chair, chaise with one horse and two wheels, two cents; for a
chariot, coach, stage, wagon, phaeton, with two horses, four cents;
180 History of Canaan.
for the same with four horses, five cents ; pleasure parties in pro-
portion to their size; a cart or carriage of burden, one and a
half cents; and when drawn by two beasts, two cents. Daniel
Blaisdell was the treasurer; the other officers were from other
towns. There were two toll gates in town. The first gate was
erected at Worth's Tavern, which Dr. E. M. Tucker tore down
and erected a more pretentious mansion. The facility for evad-
ing toll was more than the company could bear, so the gate was
moved down near the house of Elijah Whittier, nearer the
Orange line. The second gate w^as at Gates "s Tavern, near Han-
over line; George C. Bradbury's. The Turnpike approached
Canaan across a corner of Orange and took possession of the old
highway, "beginning at the center of two stakes, standing in the
westerly line of Orange, near Orange Pond," surveyed in 1789
by Ezekiel Wells, and covered nearly the same ground as it
traversed the town to the northeast corner of Hanover. The
Turnpike was freely advertised as a bonanza, which, with its toll
gates and bridges, was to fill the empty pockets of its proprietors.
In 1806- '07 its books were still open and subscriptions solicited.
Many people had great faith in its future profits and took shares
of its stock. On the fourth day of July, 1807. a meeting was
held at the inn of Moses Dole and action was taken as to how the
Turnpike should be' constructed. Contracts for construction
were let to Thaddeus Lathrop. and John Currier agreed to build
one hundred and thirty rods for two hundred dollars, the pay-
ment to be made upon his shares. The Pike was to be thirty feet,
excepting causeways, which were to be twentj^-four feet wide. It
was first to be cleared two rods from the center each way of
stones, trees and stumps. The road should be two feet higher in
the center than the sides.
Dr. Caleb Pierce in the Pinnacle House subscribed for fifty
shares, but it does not appear that he paid for them or was even
a stockholder, but to please the doctor the company changed the
route of the Pike from the north side of his house next the pond,
laying a new road from near the Bickford road to the corner at
A. W. Hutchinson's. Daniel Blaisdell subscribed for fifty
shares, but took onl.y six. Micaiah Moore o^^Tied eighteen shares,
Moses Dole six, Nathaniel Barber four and one half, Robert
Barber two, Jacob Dow three, Reynold Gates two, Simeon Arvin
Public Rights. 131
eight and one half. Clark Cnrrier three, Joseph Bartlett two,
Jolm Bean three, Phineas Eastman one and one half, Joseph
Wheat two, Richard Clark, Jr., eight, Josiah Clark two, Thad-
deus Lathrop three, Jacob Trussell two and one half, Thaddeus
Lathrop, Jr., two, John Currier two, Thomas H. Pettingill one
half, Amasa Howard one half, John Fales two, John M. Barber,
Caleb Seabury, Jonathan Carlton, Amasa Clark, Abel Hadley,
Samuel Noyes, John "Worth. Jr., Joseph Wheat, Jr., Wales Dole,
John Currier, William G. Richardson, ]\Iathew Greeley, Benja-
min C. Sawyer. Moses Shepard. John Hoyt, Moses Lawrence. Eze-
kiel Wells, Daniel Carlton, Samuel T. Gates and William Rich-
ardson one share each. One hundred and seventeen shares were
owmed in Canaan of the three hundred issued. The stock was
to be paid for in assessments, as the money was needed in the
construction of the road. The par value was one hundred dol-
lars, ten dollars of which was paid by the subscriber upon his
agreeing to pay all future assessments and on receiving his stock.
In 1807 the public confidence in the success of the Pike was un-
diminished, and the subject got into town meeting. The dispo-
sition of the school lots was again in the warrant and the people
voted "to sell the School lots and lay out the money in a turn-
pike road." Later, at an adjourned meeting. Jacob Trussell
moved to reconsider the late vote and proposed to sell all the
public rights, school, minister's, glebe and propagation of the
gospel, and invest the money in some safe fund, the income of
which should be appropriated to the use of schools and the sup-
port of the gospel forever. But the "pike" had possession of the
meeting and Mr. Trussell 's proposition was voted down. They
then voted ' ' To sell all the public rights unsold. " "To purchase
shares in the Grafton Turnpike road to the amount of the sums
for which the Public rights may be sold for." "That the se-
lectmen be agents to take care of the sale of the Public Rights,
and see to the laying out of the property arising from the same."
"To sell all the remaining part of the Ministers and School
Rights. " " That the selectmen give notice of the sale of the Pub-
lic Rights at publick vandue by gi\'ing six weeks notice, by an
advertisement in the Dartmouth Gazette, and take notes for one
half for one year, the other half in two years with interest."
And "to purchase as many shares as the lands can be sold for
132 History of CanAxVN.
Hundreds of Dollars." "That the sale be the Monday preced-
ing the sitting of the Supreme Court at Plymouth."
The "Public Vandue" was held on the 30th of June, 1807,
by the selectmen, John Currier, Hubbard Harris and Amos
Gould, who, for the consideration of $503, conveyed the first
hundred acres of the school right to Nathaniel Barber. On the
same day Barber quitclaimed the same to Warren Wilson "for
a valuable consideration." Wilson lived on the present Lov-
erin farm. Soon after he sold sixty-three acres to William Rich-
ardson. The land is now owned in part by Eugene A. Shepard
and John D. Loverin. The second hundred acres was laid out
December 12, 1784, and surveyed as follows:
Beginning at a stake standing in the soutli line of the town, thence
S 58 E 84 rods to a stake marked No. 3, thence N 32 E 200 rod to a
stake and stones, thence N 58 W 84 rods to a stake and stones stand-
ing by a brook, thence S 32 W 200 rods to the first bound. With an
allowance of five acres for roads.
The brook referred to is Beaver Brook. This had remained
wild and unoccupied up to the time of the "Vandite," when the
selectmen conveyed it to Richard Otis for the sum of $290. This
land lies about one hundred rods southwesterly from Henry H.
Wilson 's old farm.
The ten acres of the first division of intervale was surveyed
to Nathaniel Barber October 16, 1801, and was included in an
eighty-acre intervale farm, which he sold Josiah Clark. Barber
had occupied this land for several years when a misunderstand-
ing in regard to the title occurred and the same selectmen sold
it by atiction to Micaiah Moore, and also ten acres in the first
division of intervale of the minister's right for $158. This title
was quitclaimed to Barber August 21, 1807.
Fifty acres of the minister's right was sold to Jonathan Carl-
ton for $145. The remainder of land due this right and subse-
quently laid is as follows : Twenty-eight and one-half acres
was laid out December 6, 1808. and twenty-one and one-half
acres was laid November 20, 1809, both to Jonathan Carlton,
located on the west side of Goose Pond and between the two
ponds. Both parcels were in the third division, as well as fifty
acres, which was included in the farm of Ashel Jones, now
owned by Alvah Dodge.
Public Eights. 133
Seven acres of the fourth division were laid out to Simeon
Arvin June 10, 1814, and is included in the old Howard farm.
Seven acres of the fifth division Avere laid out to Moses Dole
September 23, 1816, northwest of Factory Village. The second
division of intervale, one acre, was laid out to Charles Church
May 27, 1814, on the south side of the Mascoma River, where
Goose Pond Brook runs into it. These several divisions of land
were sold and deed given. The notes received by the town
amounted to a little over $1,500, but the sale did not put money
in the town treasury, the sale being on one and two years' time.
The selectmen decided to take shares in the turnpike without fur-
ther orders from the town. The following is a copy of the old
certificate of the town :
Town of Canaan 15 shares.
Know all men by these presents that I E. Kingsbury Junr, Esq of
Orford in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, for the
consideration of $150 paid to me before the delivery hereof by the town
of Canaan, in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, the
receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell
and convey to the sd Town of Canaan, its assigns, the following shares
in the corporation called the Grafton Turnpike Road, to wit the shares
numbered from 234-248 both inclusive. To have and to hold the
sd granted shares, with a right to give one vote for each share in all
matters proper to be transacted by sd Corporation, and all other priv-
ileges and appurtenances to the same belonging to the sd Town of
Canaan and to its assigns, and I the sd E. Kingsbury Junr, do covenant
with the sd Town of Canaan that I have full power to convey the afore-
said shares in manner aforesaid.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th.
day of July 1807.
E. Kingsbury Junb.
This old certificate turned up in 1904 amongst some old papers
that had been in the possession of David Bagley for many years.
It no doubt came to him from John Fales and to Fales from
Hough Harris, who was in later years a selectman. Persons in-
terested in the pike became clamorous; they talked like dema-
gogues of the present day, accusing the selectmen of trying to
defeat the will of the people. Many of the good people did not
take stock in the pike ; they lacked confidence in its success.
They told the people if they put their money in that pike they
would never see it again. The pike was not finished. Indict-
134 History of Canaan.
ments were already pending against it for damages ; their money
would soon be absorbed and assessments in money and labor
would be called for to make the road passable. These argu-
ments convinced nobody. The next year, 1808, the town voted
"to direct the selectmen to sign the articles of agreement of
G-rafton Turnpike Corporation, certifying that they will carry on
and pay their assessments on those shares taken by said town."
It is supposed that the selectmen obeyed this vote, signing the
agreement with the pike, and for more than a year the pro-
prietors went on with their improvements, encouraging them-
selves and the stockholders by brave words. But no dividends
had yet been announced, and the pike was still unfinished.
During the year 1809 no vote upon the subject is recorded, but
the people were good enough to promise that they would ex-
change the road from "Dr. Maxwell's to Capt. Arvin's whenever
the turnpike is opened and made passable. ' ' The road referred
to was laid through the swamp near the pond. In INIarch, 1810,
an article appeared in the warrant to see if the town would open
the road from S. Ar\'in's to the Wells farm "till svich times as
the turnpike shall be passable." It was dismissed. The road
was still unfinished and in an almost impassable condition ; but
there seemed to be some urgency in the case and to give the
people some chance to relieve their minds a meeting was called in
May and it was voted ' ' that the selectmen make the best distribu-
tion they can of those notes they hold against individuals to pay
the assessments on those shares taken by the Town of Canaan."
These assessments had been apportioned among the taxpayers
and money being hard to get, many objected. At the annual
meeting in March, 1811, the town voted "to raise a sum of money
sufficient to pay the assessments on the 15 shares taken by the
town in the Grafton Turnpike Co." Fourteen persons entered
their ' ' decent ' ' against paying these taxes :
Levi George. William Campbell.
Joshua Richardson. John Porter.
Jacob Straw. Stephen Williams.
William Longfellow, Jr. Joshua Meachan.
Nathaniel Bartlett. William Longfellow.
Reuben Gile. Lewis Lambkin.
Daniel Pattee. Robert Williams.
Public Rights. 135
Not one of these men lived on the pike. There had as yet
been no dividends and nothing- but the assessments had been
thrust at the stockholders. Nevertheless, in June following the
town voted "not to sell their turnpike shares nor any part
thereof." This vote was immediately reconsidered and Daniel
Blaisdell, Thomas Miner and Micaiah Moore were appointed a
committee to take the subject into consideration, "to see how
they can dispose of the Turnpike shares belonging to the town
and report September next." On November 11 they voted "To
sell 15 shares of the Grafton Turnpike Corporation and all the
privileges and immunities thereunto belonging to Daniel Blais-
dell Esq, for $100, he paying all assessments now laid by the
corporation and all future assessments, excepting $110 on each
share, which is already paid by the town." And that "the se-
lectmen execute a deed to said Blaisdell, on his giving bonds
with sureties, to indemnify the town agreeably to the above
vote."
"Voted to suspend the collection of the Turnpike tax for the
space of ten days, and then if the said Blaisdell shall comply
with the above votes, the selectmen are directed to stop the col-
lection eventually. ' '
On December 4 they voted "not to collect the Turnpike tax
that was assessed in ]May last amounting to $372 on the princi-
ple."
In the adoption of this vote we infer that the town and Mr.
Blaisdell had traded and that for $100 he received a deed of
property which had cost the town nearly $1,700 and against
which there were unpaid assessments of $372. Rather a bearish
speculation ! Looks as if the town, the school and the church
would have been happier to have adopted Mr. Trussell's resolu-
tion. A proposition was made and earnestly advocated to collect
and pay to the Turnpike Company the sum of $372 un condi-
tion that the directors give bonds to furnish and keep in repair
n good, passable road, including bridges, from Hanover line
through Canaan to Orange line, in place where the Turnpike is
now laid, to be free of toll to all inhabitants of Canaan, to pass
and repass for the term of twenty years. But they voted it
down. They were not ready to enter into any further contract
with the corporation. Their experience had not been agreeable.
136 History of Canaan.
The company had not provided a good road ; it was defective in
several places and unfinished, and the resolution was gently
passed out of sight.
Several years after the above vote an article was inserted in
the warrant to see if the town would allow the inhabitants liv-
ing on the line of the pike to work out their highway taxes on
said pike. But this article was coolly passed by unnoticed and
the Grafton Turnpike Company was left to keep its roadway in
repair from its own income, and thereafter the company, its
feverish struggles Antli assessments insteads of dividends, its
good or bad fortune, passes entirely out of our records. It wor-
ried along for several years, hoping for a surplus in its treasury,
but the turnpike business was overdone and to escape from their
difficulties thev asked the Legislature in 1828 to receive back
their charter and let them go into liquidation, and they went.
In 1823 the town voted that half the tax of those living near
the turnpike be laid out on it, provided the inhabitants pass
free of toll. In 1827 the town voted to accept the turnpike and
lay a road over it, provided the corporation surrender their whole
charter; and in 1828 the selectmen re-surveyed the road, "Be-
ginning at the center of two stakes, standing in the "Westerly
line of Orange near Orange Pond," and thence passing over and
including all the lands over which the Grafton Turnpike was laid
through Canaan to Hanover line, and proclaimed it a highway
over which all mankind were free to travel and enjoy themselves.
Seven assessments were made upon the stock. The first was
made July 4, 1807, of $15 on each share and the town paid $225
on November 30. On January 25, 1808, two assessments were
made, one for $15 and the other for $25, and the town paid
$600. The fourth and fifth assessments were made January 30,
1809, of $35 and $10. and the town paid $675. The sixth assess-
ment was made in January, 1810, of $14, and the seventh and
last assessment was made in January, 1811, of $13.85. The town
paid none on the last and only part of the sixth. It paid in all
$1,692.
The first dividend of $1.25 per share was paid in 1813 : the
next in 1814 of fifty -five cents ; another in the same year of fifty
cents. In 1815 there was a dividend of one dollar. There were
two dividends of one dollar each in 1816, one of sixty-six cents in
Public Rights. 137
1817 and one of fifty cents in 1818, making a total payment of
dividends of $6.46 on each share, or about $1,938 on all the
shares. It cost the people of Canaan the sum of $15,688.19 for
their experience with the ' ' Pike, ' ' of which amount about $755.82
was returned in dividends. The total cost of the shares of the
town was $2,067.75. Daniel Blaisdell paid part of the sixth
assessment and the seventh. It cost Micaiah Moore $2,481.30,
Simeon Arvis $1,102.28 and Richard Clark, Jr., the same. Each
share cost the owner $137.85, less the small dividends he re-
ceived.
The remaining two public rights, "for the Incorporated So-
ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts and
for a Glebe for the Church of England, as by law established,"
were inserted in the charter to afford a source of income for those
religious associations established in England. They were ex-
clusively English concerns and had no place in this country;
no more in olden times than now. No land was laid out to these
rights before the Revolution and the result of that struggle was
to forfeit all rights of property on American soil belonging to
English people or corporations to the American people. The
proprietors assumed ownership of these rights ; they were not
cancelled, but received their share of land in the several divi-
sions, excepting the propagating right, which received none in
the sixth division. In 1781 the proprietors voted to lay out the
glebe right, but it was not done. Daniel BlaisdeU became the
owner of these two rights and much of the land was surveyed
to him.
The first one hundred acres of the glebe or church right was
laid out in 1804 to Daniel Blaisdell, and was the old farm Moses
Lawrence lived on, and adjoined the east line of Josiah Barber's
"long lot" on the "old town line."
Forty acres of the second division was laid to Clark Currier
on Sawyer Hill in 1805, and another forty was laid out to
Thomas and Mark Cilley in 1809, and is part of the "Hoyt
Place" on the present Gore road.
Twenty-two and one-half acres of the same division were laid
out to Nathan Cross in the "Gore," as was also eight and one-
half acres of the third division in 1823. Fourteen acres of the
third division were laid out to Moses Dole in 1809, where the old
138 History of Canaan.
paper mill stood. Fourteen acres of the same division were laid
out to "Samuel Whitcher" in 1806. on the west side of the
Indian River, above the watering trough by the fair grounds.
Eleven and one-quarter acres of the same division were laid out
to Thomas ]\Iiner in 1806, on the south side of the river, op-
posite George W. Davis's, and fifty acres were laid out to Na-
thaniel "Whitcher" in 1806, near the Gore line. The first di^d-
sion of inten-ale of two acres was laid out in 1805, and extends
from the Turnpike bridge at the depot down the river, embrac-
ing the railroad station and yards and part of the village. The
fourth, fifth and sixth divisions were located in different parts
of the town. No land was laid in the second division of inter-
vale, and only one acre in the sixth division of upland. The
whole number of acres laid out to this right was 325.
Daniel Blaisdell sold the first hundred of the propagating right
to Stephen Worth and it was surveyed to him in 1807. It was
the old Watts Davis farm near Tug Mountain, on Orange line.
The second division was laid out in five different parcels, amount-
ing to 1051/0 acres. The third division was laid out in two
parcels, amounting to ninety-one and one-half acres. The first
division of intervale was laid out in two parcels, amounting to
thirteen and one-half acres, and the second division was one acre.
Seven acres were laid out to the fourth and fifth di\'isions. No
land was laid out in the sixth division, and the whole right
amounted to 3251/2 acres. In 1811 the town voted "to examine
the rights and title the town may have in the Church and Propa-
gating rights." No report was made. They probably came to
the conclusion that the town did not own them, although they
were hard pushed to get money to pay their assessments on the
turnpike.
The Protestant Episcopal Church is now the owner of these
last two rights in this country. It became the o^vner by pur-
chase from the two English societies. Some land in other towns
in this state is still held by that church under these rights, leased
by them and an income derived therefrom. Should any of the
land pitched to those two rights be still unoccupied and in a wild
condition it would be the property of that church. In this town
all has been occupied that was set off to those rights, and it would
be impossible to disturb the adverse title.
iSai
CHAPTER XL
The Commox, Broad Street, the Meeting House.
The proprietors' committee, in their efforts to determine the
center of the town for the purpose of laying out the town plot
mentioned in the charter, examined the land, struck out their
lines and found the western short of Hart 's Pond to be near the
center of the grant. But this land was already laid out to cer-
tain rights, nevertheless, the committee had an eye for the
picturesque and they decided that this beautiful sheet of water
should be one of the attractions of their new village. But how
should they ever be able to make such a swamp passable and
habitable ! They traveled through it by the aid of rotten logs,
fallen trees, ridges of moss, and then after much hard labor they
laid out "Broad Street" in 1788, eight rods wide, and nearly
one mile in length.
In the year 1800 the traveler across our Broad Street, which at
that time was famous for its great two-porched meeting-house
and for the great frames of unfinished buildings along its way,
saw standing upon the fields on either side and upon the shores
of Hart's Pond a continuous forest of huge pine trees, dead to
the top, leafless and the earth strewn with fallen branches.
These great trees had been girdled years before by the early
settlers and left to die, that being the manner of death allotted
to those monarchs of the forest. When dead and dry they were
more easily burned standing than if cut down.
Part of the land along "The Street" was divided into acre
lots: but those w^ho settled there bought of the first owner.
"Broad Street" passed through Robert Barber's farm, through
fifty acres of the first hundred of Allen Whitman, which W^illiam
Douglass bought for twelve shillings and two pence at tax sale
for the taxes assessed in 1782, through the first hundred of
Phineas Sabine, and through Daniel Colby's fifty acres of the
first division of Samuel Dodge, 3d. The first owners sold these
lots running to "Broad Street." The road was not granted; it
was and always has been the property of the adjoining owners.
140 History of Canaax.
There was but one clearing on the "Street "when it was laid
out. It embraced about three acres and was owned by William
Douglass, the shoemaker who lived in a log house built in the
orchard back of the old Pierce Tavern or Grand View House,
torn down in 1909. Mr. Douglass planted this orchard with
seeds brought from Connecticut, the first orchard planted in the
village.
To this day "Broad Street," now called "Canaan Street," is
one of the most attractive and beautiful places in the state. It
is 1,164 feet above tide water, 204 feet higher than the railroad
station. At one end of it is the ' ' Pinnacle, ' ' 263 feet above the
"Street." Towards the east is Mt. Cardigan, 3.156 feet. To
the north are Smarts and Moose Mountains, the latter 2,326 feet
high. Towards the west one looks off into the long valley of
the Mascoma River, and in the distance, through a break in the
hills, can be seen the highest peak of the Green Mountains. Ex-
tending along the whole length of the "Street" is Hart's Pond,
whose shores for the most part are surrounded by forests, which
rise still higher upon the hills.
After the town had voted to build a meeting-house and their
committee had reported upon the "spot" to place it, a long dis-
cussion arose upon the propriety and convenience in having an
open "common." The proposition was acted upon favorably
and a committee was appointed to wait upon William Douglass,
the shoemaker, and negotiate for a deed. This deed reads as
follows :
Know all men by these presents that I, William Douglass of Canaan,
in the County of Grafton, State of New Hampshire, cordwainer.
For and in consideration of the sum of Eleven pounds five shillings
lawful money to me in hand before the delivery thereof well and truly
paid by Caleb Welch, John Burdick and William Richardson, in behalf
of the proposed Meeting house in Canaan and in the county and State
aforesaid.
The receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have Granted Bar-
gained Sold and by these presents do give gi-ant Bargain sell aliene
enfeoff convey and confirm unto the said Caleb Welch. John Burdick and
William Richard.son in their capacity acting in behalf of the proprietors
their Heirs and assigns forever a certain tract of Land being and lying
in the Township of Canaan and situate as follows;
Beginning at the Northeasterly corner a few rods south of Mr. Wil-
liam Douglass Dwelling house adjoining easterly on Broad street so
The Common, Broad Street, the ^Meeting House. 141
called thence running S 12 °E 30 Roods to a stake and stones thence
running N 78°W 12 Roods to a stake and stones thence N 12°W 30
Roods to a stake and stones from thence to the first bound. Likewise
a piece of Land Lying Easterly from the above mentioned piece of
Land between Broad street & Harts pond so called and Bounded as
follows. Beginning at a stake and stones by the Pond thence running
S 78°W 14 Roods to a stake and stones thence S 12 = E 11 Roods to a
stake and stones thence N 72 °E 14 Roods to the pond from thence to
the first mentioned Bounds to have and to hold the sd granted, prem-
ises with all the privileges and apertainauces to the same belonging to
them the said Caleb Welch, John Burdick and William Richardson in
their capacity as aforesaid to their Heirs to their only proper use and
benefit forever and I the same William Douglass my Heirs Executors
and administrators do hereby covenant gi-ant and agree to and with
Caleb Welch John Burdick and William Richardson in behalf of the
proprietors of the proposed Meeting house in Canaan their Heirs
and assigns that until the delivery hereof I am the Lawful owner of
the sd premises seized and possessed thereof in my own Right in fee
simple and have full power and Lawfull authority to gi'ant and convey
the same in manner aforesaid that the sd premises free and clear of all
and every incumberance whatever and that I my Heirs executors and
administrators shall & will warant the same to them the sd Caleb
"Welch, John Burdick and William Richardson as aforesd their Heirs
and assigns against the Lawfull Claims and demands of any person or
persons whomsoever in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 26 day of December 1792.
WiLLLVM Douglass (LS)
Signed sealed and delivered
in presents of
Wm Parkhurst
Sally Parkhurst
Grafton Ss Canaan Jany 14th 1794
Personally appeared William Douglass signer and sealer of the
above instrument and acknowledged the same to Be his free act and
Deed
Before Me William Ayeb Just. Peace.
The price paid was about thirty-seven and one-half dollars.
A powerful argument used in favor of the second parcel was
that in course of time many people would have to be baptized,
because it was a divine ordination necessary to salvation : and
eventually everybody would have to come to the meeting-house
to hear the Word and witness God 's ordinances, so they had bet-
ter have a wide common opening down to the pond, that on oc-
casions of baptism there might be room enough for all the people.
This argument prevailed. The "Common," when William Doug-
142 History of Canaan.
lass sold it to the "Proprietors of the proposed Meeting House, '^
was a swamp crowded with stumps, trees, rotten logs and frogs.
It was deeded unconditionally. For several years afterwards this
swamp was drained off westwardly by ditches, until by cutting
and clearing away obstructions it became settled land. In the
fall of 1793 the use of the common was sold by auction to Simeon
Arvin for two years, at two dollars per year, he agreeing to level
the land and get out the stumps, but he failed to comply with
his contract and nothing was done. For several years it re-
mained in its natural condition, when Ensign Colby offered to
clear and level the land if he could have the use of it for two
years for his labor. The first year he did little else but cut and
clear away. The second year the ground was ploughed and
worked over, and he raised 123 bushels of shelled corn. As this
crop did not sufficiently remunerate him the proprietors gave him
the use of it another year, during which he raised 1,600 pounds
of pussed flax, which his mother and sisters worked up into cloth^
as was the custom in those days.
B. P. George enclosed a strip of it on the north side and fenced
it in, but the fence is gone now. The academy grounds enclosed
one rod of it on the south line and that fence is gone, too. Jesse
Martin cleared his field of stones and left them on the west side,
where they remained, occupying about twenty feet of space, until
his son-in-law, Hon. Caleb Blodgett, paid for having them built
into a wall in 1899. And the Canaan Street Improvement So-
ciety ploughed, leveled and seeded the piece on the west side the
same year, having leveled the piece on the east side two years be-
fore. The "Street," laid out eight rods wide, has been en-
croached upon by adjoining owners every time a fence or wall
has been built; even houses have been built into it, so that now
but a small part of it is as wide as it was laid out.
It was many years after the settlement of the town before our
ancestors decided to build a meeting-house. The subject came
up at their religious gatherings, but it was only in the form of
hopes and wishes. And even after the Baptist church was or-
ganized in 1780 their new house seemed just as far away. Thomas
Baldwin, who for several years had had charge over the church
and people, preaching in barns and other buildings at great in-
convenience, had long urged the necessity for a meeting-house,.
The C0.M.M0X, Broad Street, the Meeting House. 143
Avhieh should really be a "stated place for worship and dedi-
cated to God."
Dea. Caleb Welch and Dr. Ebenezer Eames also urged the need
of a place of worship. For a long time a majority of the people
were either indifferent or hostile to the project. They pleaded
poverty and hard times and desired to wait a little longer. At
length, at the annual meeting March 11, 1788, they voted unani-
mously "to build a meeting house, and the meeting adjourned to
April 2d. Nothing was done at that meeting; but a special meet-
ing was called May 9 for the purpose of arriving at some definite
conclusion. Lieut. William Richardson, Daniel Blaisdell, Thad-
deus Lathrop, Jehu Jones and John Harris were chosen a com-
mittee "to pick upon a spot to set a Meeting house and what
method shall be taken for the building of the same. ' ' The com-
mittee reported at once and the place proposed was accepted,
"which is about 60 rods from David Fogg's towards Mr. Dust-
in 's." This would fix the place a little northeasterly of Israel
Sharon's barn on the old Barber place. David Fogg's log house
was in the south comer of the old Lebanon road, where there is
now a clump of apple trees. Then Deacon Welch, Lieutenant
Wells, John Scofield, Lieutenant Richardson and Daniel Blais-
dell were appointed to prepare the spot ("prefix" is the word
used), "and likewise propose some convenient method to build
sd house." The meeting adjourned to Thursday, June 2.
The committee began to clear the ground and rocks, as di-
rected, but dissensions arose among themselves, and several
parties sprang up in town, each with its objections as to the de-
tails of the plan, locality, etc. An objection urged very earnestly
by one party was that it would not accommodate the people, most
of whom lived upon South Road, Town Hill and Sawyer Hill.
The discussion became so energetic and irritating that the project
was dropped to give time for "second thoughts." What trans-
pired at the adjourned meeting on the "2"*^ thirsday" in June
will never be known. No record was made. But it has tradi-
tionally come down through the old men, Elijah Miner, Ensign
Colby, Nat Gilman and others, that there arose a serious and bit-
ter contest regarding the location of the house, which resulted
in the postponement of further action on the subject. Mr. Bald-
win, who was the minister, and a few other good men continued
144 History of Canaan.
to urge the necessity for a house, but he left town before the
people became sufficiently united to start out seriously a second
time. After four rears of discussions, which oftentimes became
harsh and bitter, developing much passion and ugliness, the
people were summoned together on August 27, 1792, and voted to
build a meeting-house, ' ' provided the town can agree upon a spot
to set it, and the method how to build it." John Scofield, Wil-
liam Eichardson, John Currier, John Burdick, Dudley Gilman,
Ezekiel "Wells, John Worth, Abel Hadley and Richard Clark, 3d,
were chosen a committee "to find a spot to set sd Meeting house,
propose a method how to build it. Likewise to draw a plan of
sd house and make report at some future meeting. ' ' At the ad-
journed meeting on October 10 the committee reported, the
purport of which is left to conjecture from the results which
followed: "Voted to build a Meeting house in town by Pro-
prietorship." "Voted to accept the Report of the Committee
respecting the spot to set the Meeting House. ' '
"Voted to sell the Pue ground in order to bring the matter
into Proprietorship." John Currier, John Burdick, Dudley Gil-
man, William Ayer and Samuel Jones w^ere chosen to sell the
"Pue ground. " "Voted to accept the size of the Meeting House
proposed by the Committee. ' '
Dea. Caleb Welch was chosen treasurer, "to receive the obliga-
tions in behalf of the Committee."
Voted that each person that bids off a pue in sd Meeting House
when he gives his obligation, may take a bond for a deed.
The meeting dissolved and the meeting-house disappears en-
tirely from our town records, but not from the minds and de-
termination of the people. The town stepped aside and left the
details of the work in the hands of the proprietors.
The next step taken was to sell the pews upon the plan sub-
mitted and approved by the committee. "At a public Vandue
holden at the house of ]\Ir. Xath'l Barber in Canaan on Monday
the 5th. day of November, A. D. 1792, for the purpose of sell-
ing the pew ground in the proposed meeting house, the following
gentlemen bid off pews by number for the sum set against their
names respectively;
The Common, Broad Street, the ^Ieetixg House. 145
20 Jouathan Carltou £30
30 Joshua Wells 30
24 Capt. E. Wells 27
47 John Burdick 27
38 John Burdick jr 25
29 John Currier 24
22 Capt. Robert Barber 24
25 Lt. William Richardson 24
11 Thadeus Lathrop 23
10 Richard Clark 23
28 John M. Barber 23
2 Dea. Caleb Welch 24
46 Oliver Smith 23
12 Abel Hadley 24
31 Lt. Nath'l Bartlett 23
27 Warren Wilson 23
26 David Dustin 24
14 Nath'l Barber 23
4 Lt. Richard Whittier 23
19 J. Wilson 22
7 Lt. Daniel Blaisdell 22
8 Reynold Gates 23
44 John Kesley 22
39 Ezekiel Gardner 19
41 John Worth 15
43 Simeon Arvin 22
42 Richard Clark jr 22
37 Hubbard Harris 21
40 Simeon Arvin 21
3 Clark Currier 21
35 David Dustin 20
33 Nath'l Gilman 19
6 Joseph Flint 19
PEWS IN THE GALLERY.
20 John Burdick 14
1 Capt. E. Wells & 0. Smith 15
3 Samuel Heath ^ 13
19 Levi Straw 12
9 Nath'l Whittier 12
PEWS BELOW.
34 John Bean 16
36 Jehu Jones 16
5 Joseph Clark 20
18 John Scofield 15
20 Samuel Heath 15
18 Capt. E. Wells 17
13 Half to Henry Springer 5
10
6s
0
18
6
10
6
6
0
14
14
14
0
17
0
17
17
11
8
8
19
5
16
4
6
13
4
9
0
0
10
10
13
14
15
16
16
16
2
12
12
13
8
146 History op Canaan.
The land as above described was purchased of William Doug-
lass. The notice for the construction of the building follows:
1792 Advertisement.
Public Notice is hereby given that the building and finishing of the
new proposed meeting house in Canaan, will be sold at Public Vandue to
the Lowest Bidder (or the person who will do it for the least sum) at
the dwelling house of Capt. Robert Barber, on Wednesday Dec. 26 in-
stant at 10 of the clock in the forenoon. Evei'y person wishing for a
good bargain is invited to attend.
Daniel Blaisdele, Vandue Master.
Canaan Dec. 3 A D 1792.
Dec. 26. 1792 Vandue opened according to Advertisement and Pro-
ceeded as follows, viz: the building and finishing of the above said
Meeting House is struck off to Mr. William Pai'khurst for £561.
Oliver Smith, Proprietors Clerk.
1. The building and finishing of said Meeting House is to be struck
off to the lowest bidder, and he to be the builder and purchaser of said
house, providing he give his obligation with sufficient bond to the satis-
faction of the Proprietors.
2. The dimensions of said house are to be as follows: 42 feet in
width and 52 feet in length, and the posts to be 26 feet long betweeni
joints, & the roof in proportion thereunto.
Also two porches, one at each end, each porch to be 12 feet square
the posts to be 23 feet long.
3rd. The underpinning is to be raised one and a half foot, with
rough stones and gravel on the lowest corner, and leveled off properly,
and one foot three inches with hewn stones, and pointed with lime.
The steps at each door to be of hewn stone, well proportioned & prop-
erly placed.
The painting of the outside is to be done in the same manner and
exactly like the lower meeting house in Salisbury as to color. The
house is not to be painted until the summer after it is covered. The
windows are to have 40 lights of 7 x 9 glass. The Pews are to be made
and placed exactly according to the plan by which they are sold, and
the inside work to be done and completed in every respect equal to the
upper meeting house in Salisbury.
The frame of the house is to be raised and outside by the first day
of October next. And the Meeting house is to be built finished and
completed in every respect in a neat and workmanlike manner, by the
first day of September 1794.
The builder is to be compensated in the following manner: At the
time of giving bonds he shall receive an obligation signed by the pro-
prietors committee to deliver to him by the 10th. day of March next,
good authentic notes of hand signed by the prptrs of pews on said
The Commox, Broad Street, the ^Meeting House. 147
house to the amount of the sum for which he is to build and finish it
with sufficient power to collect the same; one quarter of said sum to be
raised in money oue quarter to be paid in lumber, and one half to be
paid in neat stock; The lumber is to be paid to the acceptance of the
prptrs, as to qualify and sorts, and at the following rate of prices,
viz; 18 shillings per m for good merchantable white pine boards, de-
livered on the spot, and 33 shillings per m for good merchantable
white pine split clapboards; and 7 shillings per m for good merchant-
able short shingles delivered on the spot, all other sorts of lumber
to be estimated at the same rates.
These prices were afterwards modified : ' ' Merchantable boards
16s, clear boards 27s per M. Clapboards 30s per M and shingles
seven & six pence per M all to be delivered on the spot. ' '
At a subsequent meeting the proprietors voted that half the
lumber should be delivered by the middle of June, 1793, and the
other half by the middle of September next. "One half of our
money payment shall not be called for until the first day of
August next, 1793. And the committee shall hold the obliga-
tions against the several prptrs until the 10th. day of March
next (1793)."
At the time of the building of the house, Douglass clearing
did not embrace much of the Common. On the east towards the
pond, there was no clearing except a roadway that led to the
water. A swampy jungle of bush alders and hemlocks obscured
the view. South, to the lower end of the street where Kobert
Barber then lived, nearly all the clearing was the street along
whose sides and even in the traveled way pine stumps obstructed
the traveler. On the west, towards David Dustin's, it was only
forest and jungle. It was not until September, 1793, that the
great timbers for the frame of the house were ready to be put
together. The sills were twenty inches square, the plates the
same, and all the other timbers in the same proportion. During
all this year the people and propriety had watched the work
which they thought slow and halting. Robert and John M.
Barber were sureties for Mr. Parkhurst and they were often
appealed to to hurry the work, but without effect. It still lin-
gered, one of the chief causes of the delay being found in the
free use of Sampson Ballard's extract of molasses.
On the day early in September, appointed for the raising, the
people for miles around were present. "Everybody was there."
148 History of Canaan.
A barrel of rum had been procured from Jesse Johnson at East
Enfield to steady the nerves and increase the emulation of the
workmen.
Mr. Parkhurst built and lived in the house for a long time the
residence of S. P. Cobb, and kept a store in it. He married
Sally Barber, daughter of Kobert, who had provided well for
his children. After the raising of the frame there was to be a
grand banquet to the workmen at his house.
It is said that Mr. Parkhurst, who was a handsome young man,
cool headed and of firm nerves, while working upon the ridge
pole, was called to assist in arranging the heavy plate, and that
he walked down the western rafter upright with his axe upon his
shoulder, and several times during the raising exhibited feats of
surprising coolness. At last, he proposed riding up astride one
of the hea\y timbers, but when near the top some of the rope
tackling broke, and he was precipitated to the ground. He was
seriously injured by the fall, and remained unconscious for a
long time. His wife, assisted by the neighbors, was preparing
dinner for the men engaged in raising the frame. The news of
the accident soon reached her, and she left her work to go to him,
supposing him to be dead. She came upon the ground weeping
bitterly. After a while he opened his eye and, upon learning
what had happened, said to her: "Sally, don't you see, if you
spend your time crying and wringing your hands, that you won 't
have dinner ready, and all these men will be hungry ? Now get
home as soon as you can, and I'll come after you in a little
while." He was carried home, but never recovered the use of
his limbs, nor did any more work upon the building. He made
money in after years by trading in patent rights. But he and
his family disappeared from our midst, like many others who
figured in our early annals, and left no trace behind.
But the work went on imder the direction of the committee
and the Barbers, and was completed the following day. The
first meeting held in the new house was on the 19th of September,
when it was not yet entirely covered. It was a business meeting,
called at 12 m., when they "proceeded to sell several more pews,"
and "to allow Lt. Daniel Blaisdell's act of 5 shillings" and "Dr.
John Harris' act of 9 shillings." During the winter and spring
of 1794. no work was done on the house, lint the workmen were
The Common, Broad Street, the Meeting House. 149
always getting ready. Major Levi George of Salisbury, was
liired to build the pulpit and do much of the panel work. The
contractors were directed "not to build the pulpit and canopee
like Salisburv^ but that he build them exactly like the Pulpit and
canopee of Chelmsford Meeting house." They also "voted that
the sides and wall of the house be colored a stone couler, the roof
a Spanish Brown, and the doors a sky blue." It was also "voted
to receive neat stock instead of lumber from any proprietor to
whom the change might be most convenient."
The house was still unfinished on the first of September, 1794,
the day it was appointed to be delivered to the proprietors. It
was not completed during the year 1795, and the work was still
incomplete up to February 1796, when they voted that William
Richardson, Lieut. Daniel Blaisdell and Capt. E. Wells be a com-
mittee to wait upon Captain Barber, respecting the completion
of the house. In November of this year the proprietors finally got
mad with Captain Barber and his son, John M., and deliberately
threatened that "if the meeting house is not completed by the
first day of May next, ' ' they will immediately prosecute the con-
tractors on their bond. It was completed and offered for accept-
ance. The proprietors were not entirely satisfied with the work
and after examination their committee made the following
report :
We do not accept of the work upon the house at large.
The frame gootl
The underpinning Bad.
The outside Good
The wall pews in the gallery Good.
The seats not Good.
The plastering Good.
The seats not Good.
The breastwork good.
The insides of the porches bad.
The floors in the Galleries not good.
The Singing seats bad-
The Pulpit Good.
The pews on the walls below Good.
The body Pews on the West side Good.
The body Pews on the East side Bad.
The Glass badly set.
The bottom floors good.
150 History of Canaan.
Though not "excepted" in all its parts, it was received and
occupied as a house of public worship, and for the transaction of
town business. There is no record of the dedication of the house
to God, either by sermon, prayer or anthem, neither the day nor
the reverend men who took part in it ; but their names are
doubtless written along with Ben Adhems, nor the banquet
which followed at Caleb Pierce's new tavern.
The house was built without steeple or bell, with three
entrances, one on each end, under the porticoes, and one on the
south. The pews were square boxes, those in the center placed
in squares of four, and a row of pews round the walls, raised
one step above the floor. The pulpit was reached by a flight of
ten steps, and from this elevation the minister could look into the
gallery. A picturesque and large-toned sounding board was
suspended over the desk. The original clapboards were split
from pine logs and theu sawed — shingles the same. The
timbers were cut, mostly, near the Common or near by, and the
boards were sawed by Jonathan Carlton at his mill at the village.
The nails were of wrought iron, cut out of nail iron of various
thicknesses, by the aid of a machine made for that purpose, and
set up in Mr. Carlton's mill.
In 1804, pew No. 48 was sold by auction to Jacob Trussel for
$36, and the committee had to "call" upon him several times
before he paid it. This pew was sold to pay the expense of
repairing the house. At the same time "Chose Dr. Caleb Pierce
to keep the kee and sweep and take care of the house for one
year, and to give him one dollar therefor. ' ' A division was made
for the "occupancy of the house, by the several denominations
in their several proportions, ' ' and to "fix on the days when each
should improve their opportunity." In 1812 the town voted "to
paint and repair the outside of the meeting house at the expense
of the town, whatever repairs are necessary. The town having
the privilege as usual of holding public meetings in said house.
It shall be painted with white lead and a Red Rough."
In 1814, it was "voted to repair the meeting house doors and
windows but not to exceed the sum of twenty five dollars cost."
In 1820 there was a strong feeling that the town should own
its building for public meetings and the warrant contained an
article to see "if the town will build or hire a house for town
The Common, Broad Street, the Meeting House. 151
meetings. ' ' Thej^ voted to spend $50 in repairing the old meet-
ing house for the privilege of holding meetings for five years.
And the proposal of the proprietors to repair the meeting house
from time to time for the privilege of holding meetings was
accepted. They also voted to take a lease of the house and repair
it and voted $25 additional.
In 1825 they voted to shingle the meeting house. In 1829,
"voted to raise $400 to repair the meeting house provided the
proprietors of said House will lay out and expend $200 more.
And also that the said proprietors convey to the said town, the
use of the said house for the purpose of holding all their town
meetings in." Jonas W. Smith and John Fales were appointed
to lay out the money in behalf of the town.
The 12th of April, the same year, at a meeting of the pro-
prietors of the meeting house, Daniel Blaisdell was appointed
an agent to convey such title to the house as would be satisfac-
tory to the town. Mr. Blaisdell made a deed according to his
instructions, in which he conveyed to the town, the control of the
house and "the right to use it for a town house forever," upon
consideration that the to^vn should make all necessary repairs
upon the house. On June 9, 1829, by formal vote, the town
accepted the deed. On this occasion the house was clapboarded
and shingled, the western porch removed and placed upon the
eastern one, forming the present tower, about fifty-three feet
high. The sounding board was also removed, apprehensions
being felt that it might fall and harm some one.
About the year 1841, a change was made in the interior of the
house. Some persons procured the written consent of the pro-
prietors to have the box pews removed and seats arranged as at
present. The Baptists, also, had permission at this time to put
a floor across the gallery and fit up the upper hall as a place of
worship, but they failed to realize all their wishes. The floor
was put in and the upper part left in dilapidation and con-
fusion, relic hunters carrying off the old pew doors and wide
panels until, more than flfty years after, in 1884, the Canaan
Lyceum Hall Association was formed, and a hard wood floor
was laid, for roller skating, about four feet above the floor the
Baptists laid, and it was otherwise finished and decorated for
the use of public and private gatherings. A stairway was
152 History of Canaan.
also added to reach the hall from the outside. In 1849, $200 was
appropriated by the town for repairs on account of damage
done by some ruthless persons.
When the first bell was placed in the belfrj^ is not known,
but in 1853 Eleazer Martin was appointed an agent to sell the
old bell and buy a new one of 1,200 pounds and hang the same.
This bell has tolled for the dead and dying, for young and old
to assemble, for the scholars in the academy, who always took
delight in turning it over as many times as possible, and it was
considered a great feat for any boy. It swung for many years,
pulled by a long rope running down to the ground floor of the
belfrj\ Its tongue has pealed the alarm for every fire in the
vicinity, and on almost every night before the Fourth of July
it has not been forgotten. Its tones are so clear that it can be
heard in Tunis. In 1894, a clock was added to the tower, just
beneath the bell, and the bell was fastened, that the clock might
strike the time of day upon it, so that it no longer swings. In
1870, the town voted $400 to repair the house.
CHAPTEE XII.
Dame's Gore and State's Gore.
In the granting of townships in New Hampshire and the ad-
justment of their boundary lines, there "were found to be numer-
ous strips, or gores of land, not large enough for a whole to^\Ti-
ship. These strips or gores Governor Wentworth granted
to those who had done him some personal service and were his
friends. One of these strips lay between Canaan and Dorchester.
It was discovered in 1772, when the southern line of Dorchester
was run and Gov. John Wentworth, in 1773, granted it to
Capt. Theophilus Dame, then high sheriff of Strafford County,
for his services in the late war, in the following terms :
Province of New Hampshire.
George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and
Irehmd King Defend of the Faith &ca —
To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting —
Whereas we have tho't fit by our Proclamation at St. James the
Seventh Day of October in the year of our Reign Anno Domini 1763 —
among other things to testify our Royal Sence and Approbation of the
Conduct & Bravery of the officers & Soldiers of our armies and Signi-
fied our Desire to reward the same & have therein com'auded & Im-
powered Our Several Governors of Our Respective Provinces on the
continent of America to grant without Fee or reward to Such Reduced
officers as have Served in North America during the late War and to
such Private Soldiers as have been or Shall be disbanded there and
Shall Personally apply for the Same Such Quantities of Land re-
spectively as in & by our aforesaid Proclamation are particularly
Mentioned Subjec-t Nevertheless to the Same Quit Rents & Conditions
of Cultivation and Improvements as other our Lands are Subject to
in the Province in which they are Granted; and whereas Theophilus
Dame of Portsmouth in our County of Rockingham & Province Afore-
said Esq, had our appointment as Captain and Served during the
late War and having personally applied & Solicited for such Grant
agreeable to our aforesaid Proclamation KNOW YE that we of our
Special Grace certain knowledge & mere motion do Signify our Ap-
probation as aforesaid & for encouraging the Settlement & Cultivation,
of our lands within Said Province of New Hampshire in New England
Have by & with the advice of our Trusty & well beloved JOHN WENT-
WORTH Esq Our Governor & Com'ander in Chielf of Our Said Province
154 History of Canaan.
and of Our Council of the Same agreable to our aforesaid in part re-
cited Proclamation, and upon the Conditions & Reservations hereafter
mentioned given & granted & by these Presents for us our Heirs & Suc-
cessors do give & Grant unto the Said Theophilus Dame and to his Heirs'
& Assigns forever a Certain Tract or Parcel of Land Situate lying &
being within our Said Province of New Hampshire and containing by
Admeasurement Four thousand Two hundred & Seventy Two Acres in-
cluding Ponds Roads & unimprovable Mountains according to a Plan
or Survey thereof exhibited by our Surveyor General of Land for our
Said Province by our Said Governor's order & returned into the Sec-
retarys office of our Said Province a Copy whereof is hereunto an-
nexed butted & bounded as follows (Viz) beginning at the North
"West Corner of Canaan from thence running South Sixty one degrees
East Six miles to A spruce Tree which Is the North East Corner of
Said Canaan thence running North fifty three Degs East One Mile &
Sixty Eight rods to the South East Corner of Dorchester thence North
Sixty one degrees West Six Miles to the South West Corner of said
Dorchester thence South fifty three degrees West one Mile & Sixty Eight
rods to the Bounds first mentioned TO HAVE & TO HOLD the Said
Tract of Land as above expressed with the Appurtenances to Him the
Said Theophilus Dame & to His Heirs and assigns forever upon the
following Terms (Viz)
First — That the said Grantee Shall cut Clear & make Passable for
Carriages &ca a road of three rods Wide thro' the Said Ti-act as Shall
at Any Time hereafter be directed or ordered by the Governor & Council
aforesaid which road shall be compleated in one year from the Date of
Such Order or Direction aforesaid on Penalty of forfeiture of this
Grant & its reverting to us our Heirs & Successors —
Second — That the Said Grantee shall Settle or cause to be Settled
Five Families in five years from the Date of this Grant in failure
whereof the Premises to revert to us our Heirs & Successors to be by
us or Them entered upon and regranted to such of our Subjects as
Shall effectually Settle & Cultivate the Same-
Third — That all White & other Pine Trees fit for Masting our Royal
Navy be carefully preserved for that Use & none to be Cutt or fell'd
without our Special Licence for so doing first had & obtained on Pen-
alty of the forfeiture of the right of the Grantee in the Premises his
Heirs & Assigns to us our heirs & Successors as well as being Subject
to the Penaltys prescribed by any Present or future Act or Acts of
Parliament —
Fourthly — yielding & Paying therfor to us our Heirs & Successors on
or before the Tenth day of May 1778 the rent of one Ear of Indian Corn
only if lawfully demanded —
Fifthly — That the Said Grantee his Heirs & assigns shall yield &
Pay unto us our Heirs & Successors Yearly & every Year forever from
& after the Expiration of Ten Years from the Date of this Grant
which will be in the Year of our Lord Christ Seventeen Hundred
Dame's Gore and State's Gore.
155
Eighty Three, ONE SHILLING Proclamation Money for every Hundred
Acres he so owns Settles or Possesses and So in Proportion for a
greater or lesser Tract of the Land afore Said — which money shall be
paid by the Proprietor Owner or Settler in our Council Chamber in
Portsmouth or to such officer or officers as shall be appointed to re-
ceive the Same and these to be in Lieu of all Other Rents & Services
whatsoever —
Sixthly — That this Grant Shall not interfere with Any of our Grants
made as aforesaid & now in force uor Interrupt the Grantees in their
Improvements making thereon agreable to the conditions thereof —
In Testimony whereof We have caused the Seal of Our Said Province
of New Hampshire to be hereunto affixed.
Witness JOHN WENTWORTH Esq Our Afore Said Governor & Com-
mander in Chieff the Seventh Day of May in the Thirteenth Year of
our Reign Annoque Domini 1773.
J' Wentwobth
>;**, .» "
^//,
1 S y^A
156 History of Canaan,
The proprietors of Canaan laid out land in the gore, thinking
that it was a part of Canaan. Several rights were allotted
land north of the "old town line." Joseph Eandlett was one
of these ; also Josiah Clark. Daniel Lary settled there, buying
his land of Dame. Caleb Clark bought five hundred acres of
Dame, in 1774-77. Captain Dame was not a thrifty man. It
passed from him into the hands of Rev. Jonathan Homer, of
Newton, Mass., for the consideration of 143 pounds and 12 shil-
lings, on November 5, 1787. It was described in that deed as
"Beginning at the north-east corner of the line lately run
by the proprietors of Canaan through the Gore, thence running
S 61 degrees E to the north-east corner of said line, then N 53
E to the south-east corner of Dorchester, then N 61 W to the
south-west corner of Dorchester, then S 53 W to the first bound.
Containing 4272 acres." It will be observed that the west
line ran from the southwest corner of Dorchester to the north-
west corner of Canaan. The direction of the line in the grant
and deed are the same, but it was discovered by Homer that
the bearing of that line was not correct, and he emploj-ecl John
Currier to survey it, and the line was run South 88° West, and
the east line was also changed. Homer was called a hard
man, perhaps because he wanted what he owned. There were
several squatters, so considered by Homer, who had settled on
his land, and would not atone to him. Joseph Randlett was one
of them, and he began an action of trespass against him.
Randlett called upon the town and proprietors to make good his
title, as he had purchased the land of them. At the annual
meeting in March, 1801, the town was asked to take into con-
sideration the claim of Dame's heirs against Randlett, and Col.
Henrj- Gerrish was appointed to settle the "disputed lines of
the town." Later in October the town appointed Daniel Blais-
dell and William Richardson "agents, empowered to defend
in the two actions, viz : one brought by the proprietors of Dame 's
Gore against Joseph Randlett, and the other brought by the
proprietors of Orange against Josiah Clark, in case the pro-
prietors of Dame's Gore and Orange will not enter into a ref-
erence, for the settlement of the same, and to take every measure
to maintain our lines according to our charter and the survey."
These suits dragged along until 1804, when the town was able
Dame's Gore and State's Gore. 157
to make a satisfactory settlement with Homer. The action
against Josiah Clark, was for ejectment from 100 acres and
damages to the amount of $500. Clark won, and judgment was
entered in his favor for the costs in February', 1804. Clark's
land did not belong to Orange.
In 1803 a petition had been presented to the General Court,
respecting a gore of land lying between Hanover and Canaan.
Ebenezer Hoyt had been appointed commissioner to determine
it. The town voted ''to remonstrate with the General Court
against the petition, of those praying for the land and to post-
pone the granting until the suit be determined between Col.
Dame's heirs and the proprietors of Canaan, which involves in
measure the same land." Homer had discovered that Dame's
Gore did not include all the land on the north line of Canaan,
that there was a small piece between Hanover, Lyme and the
gore, which Dame's grant did not include, probably because
at the time Captain Dame's patent was issued it was not known
that Lyme extended beyond the line of Hanover. Homer
wanted this piece, which afterwards became known as "State's
or Gates' Gore." Homer did establish his right to Dame's
grant, but it did not include the other piece.
The inhabitants of the gore being few, and under no govern-
ment of their own, or able to protect themselves against the en-
croachments of adjoining towns, thought best to make applica-
tion to the Legislature to be annexed to some town. Accord-
ingly, in 1808, Daniel Lary petitioned the General Court to be
annexed to Dorchester. Others of the inhabitants opposed this
and wished to be annexed to Canaan. Homer opposed the peti-
tion, and asked the Legislature to postpone any action in the
matter for three years until such a time as the people knew what
they wanted. Some of the inhabitants asked Canaan to accept
them, should the Legislature grant their request to be annexed
to Canaan, and in November, 1808, the town voted, "that Dame's
Gore may be annexed to Canaan, agreeable to the petition of the
inhabitants of the Gore to the General Court in June last";
but the Legislature refused to act upon or grant their petition,
and it was many years before they succeeded.
In 1833 the town voted to petition the General Court to annex
158 History of Canaan.
Dame's Gore. In 1837 the town was asked to vote for the an-
nexation of "that part of Dame's Gore lying West of the Mas-
coma, and also that part of Dorchester lying west of the river-
and south of a line drawn from the North-east corner of Enoch
Fifield's land westerly to Lyme line." The article was dis-
missed. In 1841 the town was asked to annex Dame's Gore,
and again refused. In 1844 they refused again; but at the
meeting on March 14, 1846, they voted to annex Dame's Gore,
but dismissed that part of the article which referred to the
annexation of State 's Gore, and on July 2, 1846, the Legislature
by enactment made Dame's Gore a part of Canaan.
By virtue of a resolve of June 20, 1815, William A. Kent,
treasurer of the state, appointed Ebenezer Hoyt, to ascertain
the quantity and appraise the value of a piece of land lying
west of the line of Dame's Gore, adjoining Hanover and Canaan.
This resolve authorized the treasurer to convey. And on De-
cember 27, 1815, he conveyed to Samuel Jones Gates and Adam
Pollard for $220, the triangiTlar-shaped piece described as fol-
lows "Beginning at the north-west corner of Canaan, thence
running N 45 degrees E 182 rods to the north-east corner of
Hanover, thence running S 64° E 277 rods to the corner of Lime,
& Dorchester thence W 2° S 380 rods by Dame 's Gore to the first
bound containing 149 acres and 100 square rods." This is State's
or Gates' Gore.
Of the earl}' settlers on Dame 's Gore Caleb Clark lived on the
West end, then came Joseph Bartlett on the east side of the
Eiver. David Jones of Epping who married Hannah Dow, lived
for a time at the Corner, but in 1794 moved to the gore and lived
on what was afterwards the harj farm. He was taxed in
Canaan for the years 1793- '95. On the east end towards Orange
was Josiali Clark, Daniel Lary and next Tristram Sanborn.
Jonathan Homer purchased the gore in 1787 and on September
20, 1788, he made a personal visit to the gore to take formal
possession of his new purchase. He made Josiah Clark his
agent, to see that no trespass was committed, trees cut or any
squatters allowed. At that time he showed his good will by
giving Lary and Clark the privilege to make sugar from the
maples on Sugar Hill. This hill Homer afterwards sold to San-
Dame's Gore and State's Gore. 159
born in 1817. Abner H. Cilley was an early settler. He was
industrious and obstinate, and succeeded in the face of many
annoyances from ]\Ir. Homer in making himself a pleasant
home. He was served with writs and summonses by the agents
of Homer who were instructed to bring suits for larceny or tres-
pass on every tree that was cut. Thomas H. Pettingill had good
gleanings there, so also did Elijah Blaisdell. But Mr. Cilley
lived and died at a good old age in his own house, the first
built on that part of the gore, which is still standing in good
condition, the property of R. H. Haffenreffer. Daniel Sher-
burne was an agent for Mr. Homer, and built the second house
on that part of the gore owned by Mr. Haffenreffer. The third
house was built by David Pollard, who was the father of eighteen
children, fourteen of which lived to grow up ; the fourth house
was built by Amos Kinney, the fifth by Elwell Eastman, who lived
there but a short time. Then B. P. George built on the west
side of the road. Edwin May also built and lived there. The
last man who was brave enough to finish a house on the gore
was John W. Hoyt, whose family resided there while he was
away in the army. Joseph Pollard, who married Abner H. Cil-
ley's daughter, lived there and took care of old Abner, receiving
the latter 's property for so doing. After Pollard closed his
house, all of the buildings were vacant for some time, until Mr.
Haffenreffer purchased as much of the gore as he could and
repaired all the buildings, that were not too much dilapidated.
But for all the hard labor and money that have been put upon
that land it still refuses to make anyone rich.
Mr. Homer died and Charles C. Curtis was appointed execu-
tor; he proceeded to sell the remainder of the land and accord-
ingly held an auction in May, 1846, and closed out all of Homer's
interests. Homer had sold land to Joseph Bartlett, Josiah P.
HajTies, Caleb P. "Wells. David Richardson, Mary Sanborn,
Samuel J. Gates, Nathaniel Derby, Adam Pollard, Amos Kin-
ney, Abner H. Cilley, Joseph Sherburne, Obadiah Eastman,
Tristram Sanborn and Josiah Clark. Curtis sold to E. and J.
Martin, Orrin and George Fales, Alexander Caldwell, John Rock-
well, Asa Ham, Jonathan Kittredge and John Lougee, John L.
Pressey, John B. Flanders, Joseph Hapgood, Wesley P. Burpee,
160 History of Canaan.
William P. Weeks, Moses Hadley and the balance remaining
was bid off to Curtis' son. Joseph Worthen and others, not
succeeding in getting Homer to build a road across his land
petitioned the court in 1821 and compelled him not only to lay
out the road, but to pay the costs of the action. He employed
John Currier, who surveyed a road across the gore May 23, 1821.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Surplus Revenue and Literary Fund.
In the year 1836 Congress voted to distribute thirty-six mil-
lions of dollars of surplus revenue, then lying in the treasury,
among the several states. These millions had accumulated from
the sale of public lands, and were still increasing. The national
debt had been all paid. General Jackson told his party that
this money was a source of danger to the liberties of the country.
The Democratic party in those days was hostile to internal
improvements, and opposed them everywhere. Railroads were
built by individual energy ; rivers were obstructed by snags,
sawyers, rafts, and sand bars, and even the harbors of the
lakes and the St. Clair flats were found pretty much in the con-
dition nature left them. This money was to be distributed in
four installments, three of which were paid when an angry cloud
hovered over our northern borders, threatening war with Eng-
land, and the fourth installment was retained to pay the ex-
penses of transporting troops to Maine, to Niagara, and to the
Indian Stream country in northern New Hampshire. The
amount paid over to our state exceeded over $800,000. The Leg-
islature voted to divide the money among the towns in propor-
tion to population. At the annual meeting on March 14, 1837,
the toAvn voted to receive the money, and William P. Weeks was
appointed financial agent in relation to it. The money, $3,003.75,
was ordered to be loaned at six per cent, interest, paid in ad-
vance, in sums of not over three hundred dollars nor less than
one hundred to any one individual, the interest to be appro-
priated to the schools, and to be divided among the several
school districts in town according to the number of scholars ; and
an inventory of the scholars was to be taken the following April
1st of all scholars under 21 and over 3 years of age.
The agent received the money and loaned it to such persons
as complied with the terms agreed upon ; no discrimination being
made in regard to the politics of the person applying for it. In
It
162 History of Canaan.
1837 the amount of interest was $180.22, and the next year it
was the same, things moved on smoothly and the scholars got
the benefit of the interest money. At this date there was a heap
of malignant cnssedness slumbering in the hearts of our people.
It came in with the mob that destroyed the academy, and cropped
out upon all occasions of excitement. In December, 1838, when
George Drake destroyed the windows in the academy, the town
appointed Caleb Blodgett, Thomas Flanders and James Pattee
an ' ' Investigating Committee, ' ' and it was their duty to try and
fix the outrage upon the abolitionists, Jonathan Kittridge,
Nathaniel Sumner, William W. George, and their associates.
So positive were they that tliis injurv^ had been done by the
abolitionists that they proceeded at once to pronounce sentence
upon them, by voting that ' ' all the surplus revenue in the hands
of the abolitionists be collected forthwith by the treasurer."
And that there might be no doubt where Jonathan Kittredge
stood they voted that he "be consigned over to the abolition-
ists." The committee reported that they had not been able
to fix any charge upon auj'body except the town, and the town
paid their charges, $59.68. At the same meeting they voted to
repair the Academy, the expense of which, amounting to $28.37,
was paid out of the surplus revenue. At the ^larch meeting in
1839 they voted "to collect a sum of the surplus revenue suffi-
cient to buy a farm for the poor, and to stock it, and to fur-
nish the house on said farm." James Pattee, Chamberlain
Packard, Jr., and Joseph Dustin were appointed a committee to
buy the farm.
The farm they proposed to buy was the old Deacon Welch
farm, then OA^Tied by Moses Pattee, consisting of one hundred
acres and also another piece of forty acres in the north part
of the town above John Currier's. The Pattee homestead had
cost the impecunious Moses about eleven hundred dollars;
but his brothers, Daniel and James, held a mortgage against
it. They were willing and anxious to receive their money
back, and as Daniel was chairman of the board of select-
men, it was not difficult for him to pursuade the "Board,"
and as James was chairman of the buying committee it Avas
not difficult for him to persuade the others that the farm was
worth much more than the sum it cost ]Moses, and that it would
The Surplus Eevenue and Literary Fund. 163
be greatly to the interest of (the Pattee family) the town and
the poor thereof to pnrchase it at the price asked. The town
became the happy possessor of these valuable pieces of real
estate on March 18, 1839, about a week after they voted. The
poor had a farm, the Pattees got their money back, and a large
hole was made in the sum total of the surplus revenue. But
there w^ere many voters who were not satisfied with this dispo-
sition of their money. They thought there was too much family
interest at work in getting rid of that farm for so much money. —
$1,450 for the land, and $550 to CRrry out the second part of the
"vote." The town worked this farm with the usual results to
such speculations — that mean losses every year — for a little
over seven years, and then was glad to find a purchaser on
August 8, 1846. at $1,200, in Moses French of Enfield. The
furniture and stock were sold for what they would bring at auc-
tion. The loss to the town in this operation amounted to 10 per
cent, per annum on its investment, without reckoning the di-
minished amounts paid to schools.
For two years, 1837 and 1838, the interest on the surplus reve-
nue distributed to the schools was $180.22 each year. In 1839
the amount fell off to $60 ; in 1840 it was $60 ; and in 1841 it was
$60 ; and the sum total of this revenue which accrued to the bene-
fit of the schools during the five years it attracted the greed
of the people was $540.44. After 1843 it ceased to appear in
the records, because it had then been absorbed into the pockets
of the taxpayers. One thousand dollars of the surplus revenue
went into Canaan Union Academy, and with it $300 of the lit-
erary fund, and never came out. In 1843 the amount of the
surplus revenue was $775.58. when the town voted to distribute
it, as a result of the trouble which had arisen over the collection
of the notes of the proprietors of the academy. In 1844, March
9, the amount of surplus revenue paid to Daniel Campbell was
$814.32, and then it disappears from the records. When Dame's
Gore was annexed, the town received $113.95 as the share of the
gore. This also was absorbed and disappeared into the town
treasury to pay the town debts.
In 1821, at the March meeting, the town voted "that the
notes for the school fund be lodged with the town treasurer and
kept and managed by him under the direction of the select-
164 History of Canaan.
men and the town." What this vote refers to is not known,
unless it is a resurrection of the old funds received from the
sale of the school lands in 1806, for the literary fund was not
created by act of the Legislature until June 29, 1821. This
law was designed to distribute the bank taxes collected by the
state amongst the schools in the several towns according to their
scholars. In 1822 the school fund comes up again and the town
voted "that all persons indebted to the school fund by note,
procure two sureties, and no notes to be renewed without two
sureties." In 1829 the town was asked to make some disposition
of the literary fund and the "old school fund," but they re-
fused. In 1830 the town voted that "the first selectman take
the direction of the school fund and put it to the best interest
of the town." In 1832 the town voted to divide the interest
and principal of the literary fund over $1,00 and distribute
it into the several school districts, according to polls and estate,
and to let out the school fund of $1,000 to best advantage with
sureties. In 1833 the town voted to purchase a poor farm not
to exceed $1,000, and immediately afterwards voted $300 to
purchase the poor farm, and also to place the school fund in the
treasurer's hands.
Elijah Blaisdell had the school fund and did not pass it
over, so the town appointed Luther Kinne agent to prosecute
Elijah to "final execution." Later, in July, the town voted
to use the $300 appropriated for the poor farm towards the road
around Clark Hill, and then tried to appropriate the school fund
to buy the farm, but the town dismissed the latter article. In
1834 the town appropriated the interest on the school fund and
$120 of principal of the literary fund "to be received from the
state." They, then, that there might not be any doubt as to
how the funds were to be disposed of in the future,
Resolved, That it is tlie duty of tlie treasurer to take charge of tlie
school and literary fund, keep a regular account of the saiue in a book
appropriated for that purpose, see that the notes are regularly renewed
at least once in two years on the first day of February and made amply
secure. Collect the interest and make a regular transfer of the money
received from the state, and so much of the interest of the permanent
school and literary fund as will make the sum of $120 annually, from
the amount of the literary fund to the amount of the school money
raised by the town, and to pay the same with the school money for the
The Surplus Revexue and Literary Fund. 165
order of the selectmen for the support of schools and for no other pur-
pose.
On January 19, 1837, the town
Voted that the money in the hands of John H. Harris, George Harris
and Nathaniel Currier, being a part of the school fund and belonging
to the town, be collected and appropriated to the payment of the ex-
penses and charges of the town the current year as far as it may be
needed, and that the selectmen of the town give their notes in behalf
of the town to the treasurer for the amount. And that the treasurer
collect the same as soon as may be.
So vanishes the school fund, the literary fund continues to be
received from the state and in 1839 amounts to $766.04, repre-
sented by notes of persons who had borrowed the money. And
the town continues to divide the interest among the several
school districts. In 1847, $233.96 of the town money is added
to the literary fund and in 1851 $300 of the principal with the
interest is appropriated for the use of schools "immediately."
The town, however, receives each year from the state "interest
on the literary fund" for the benefit of schools, which is raised
from the tax on banks, railroads, telephone and telegraph com-
panies. In 1865 the literary fund, which was loaned in several
notes at six per cent, interest, the income to be used for the
benefit of schools, amounted to about $1,000. The interest was
not always promptlj^ paid. The town decided to collect this
money, and "adding enough to it to purchase a state bond or
some other good paying security for $1,000, the same to be kept;
and the interest to be used for schooling." In 1879 the state
redeemed the bond and the town applied the money on the town
debt. So disappears the literary fund. It is still put down in
the selectmen's report of the financial condition of the town as
a permanent debt, and the town pays interest on it for the bene-
fit of the schools, being compelled to by the Avording of its re-
ceipt to the state treasurer.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Baptist Church.
From the earliest settlement of this town its people have
been strongly sectarian in religious matters. Personal recollec-
tions of the old people are, that they conceived it to be a vital
importance to make a public confession of religion, and to be con-
stant in their attendance upon its ordinances. Without reflect-
ing that (in many cases) it was only an outside garment for
Sunday use, the sentiment grows upon one that these solemn
faced old gentlemen, whose constant appearance at the meet-
ing-house, riding on horseback and bringing their wives upon
a pillion behind them, were men of God to whom no evil could
come nigh. My own increasing years and a more extended
knowledge of human frailties and infirmities has considerably
modified that sentiment. But that which used to excite my
admiration greatly was the individuality that marked the rug-
ged character of those men. There were none learned among
them — nor were they much given to reading, except in the Bible
and a few religious books they brought with them. Each man
was his own expounder of the faith and doctrine he held to.
They were all more or less given to expressing their views on
Sundaj^s, and having once announced their beliefs, they were not
inclined to modify them, however they might differ from re-
ceived opinions. There were strong voiced persons among them,
who gradually monopolized the time, and at length crowded out
the feeble. These men and women were never favorable to
being taxed to pay for preaching, because they considered them-
selves qualified to preach for nothing. The records for many
years give us only negative votes upon the subject. At length,
when young Thomas Baldwin, one of their own boys, sprightly,
eloquent and consistent, by hard study, and steady application,
had been set apart and ordained as an evangelist, and placed
over this young church and people they yielded gracefully to
him as their leader. The women loved and petted him, and
the men honored and respected him for his manly, yet gentle
Congregational Church
The Baptist Church. 167
character — and 35 pounds was readily voted for preaching- for
his support. But in the tiush of their pleasure at having a
leader, and while they were congratulating themselves upon their
unanimity, there was heard one little piping voice and then an-
other very feeble, sounding much as if ashamed of its own
weakness, and then another - — until five men came haltingly for-
ward and "descented" to raising the tax. They did not believe
it Scriptural to support a man for doing nothing but preach, — it
would be encouraging laziness. They liked for the brethren
to have a chance to tell of the Lord's doings, and not pay for
a man's speech when his hands were idle. "No, they wan't a
going to do no such thing." Everybody in that hard working
community ought to have a chance to free his mind in his own
way. It was put to vote, and those dissenting fellows were ex-
cused from paying any part of the tax. Each day while clear-
ing away the forests, or working the lands, these strong minded
men were rehearsing the thoughts they intended to speak at the
next Sunday gathering. Among them were many fluent speak-
ers — men, who with education, might have shone in the world
of letters. With such men for fathers it is no wonder that
many of the sons became preachers, and that several of them
should attain eminence in the denomination to which they at-
tached themselves.
The first preacher of whom we have any record was James
Treadway, who came here as a settler in 1770. "We know but
little about his doctrine, and what is known of the man, is not
any evidence of Christian principles, but rather a desire to bet-
ter himself during the temporary lethargy- of the proprietors,
who, when they realized that all men are not honest, promptly
rebuked him, and in a few years he disappears.
The first church established in Canaan was Baptist, the rec-
ord of this event has been laid aside, but it was probably about
1780, that is, that denomination seemed to have the most follow-
ers, and in the early days the most control over who should
preach. Before the meeting-house was built there was no
stated place of worship, they met where it was convenient. Late
in the summer of 1780 there came to to^^^l two Baptist evange-
lists, illiterate, but very zealous in their intercourse with the
people. Their homely talk roused a large interest in religious
168 History of Canaan.
matters. Their names have passed out of story and we cannot,
if we would, give their address. They remained here several
weeks. Some old professors were worked up and several young
persons converted, among the others was Thomas Baldwin. He
had already, since the death of his boy, Erastus, become a stu-
dious and serious young man. After these strangers had de-
parted a suggestion was uttered that a church organization would
be desirable, which led in a short time to the calling of a con-
ference. Elder Elisha Eansom of Woodstock, Vt., was consulted.
Other clergj-^men, including Rev. Samuel Ambrose, of Sutton,
were invited to take part, and a church was organized in Caleb
Welch's barn on South Road, that being the most convenient
place for that purpose. It has come down in tradition that Wil-
liam Plummer, afterwards governor, preached his Tory sermon
in the Deacon 's bam, in 1780. It was also the place where many
religious meetings were held in pleasant weather. Caleb Welch
and John Worth were elected deacons. Deacon Worth in\dted
himself to take charge of the singing, and it is said that he
clung to that office with great tenacity. About thirty persons
were admitted to membership. For a while the new church was
ministered to by preachers from neighboring towns, and when
these failed they relied upon the talent which circumstances
had developed among them. No effort was made to settle a
preacher for many months. Mr. Baldwin frequently conducted
the exercises, and at length decided to prepare himself for the
ministry.
In the spring of 1783 the church invited him to receive ordina-
tion and become their pastor. A council was called in June and
he received ordination as an evangelist, and was put in charge
of this church. Thomas Baldwin was a son of Thomas
Baldwin ; his mother was the second wife of Dr. Ebenezer
Eames, who built the first mill in tOA^-n. He was born in Bozrah,
Conn., December 25, 1753, and came to Canaan with his mother
and Doctor Eames in 1769. He worked as a carpenter for sev-
eral years, and built a house near the old James Pattee place on
South Road. Some of the old barns he framed, stood for many
years, that of Joshua Wells, on the old Wells farm and the
old Worth Tavern, which was torn down to make room for the
new house built by Dr. E. ^l. Tucker, where Mrs. St. Armand
The Baptist Church. 169
lives. He built a house on the intervale, about a hundred rods
from the house once occupied by B. M. Howard, now owned
by George W. Davis. He planted his apple seeds ; several trees
were standing a few years back, in the vicinity of the old cellar,
and hurried back to Colchester, Conn., where a young friend
was waitins" for him, Ruth Huntington. He was nearlv twentv-
two years old and she was several years younger. They were
married on September 21, 1775, and soon afterwards set out on
their return to Canaan. He had but one horse, which carried
his little store of goods and his young wife, she occasionally rest-
ing herself by walking with him along the single trail that led
through almost unending dense forests. Through Connecticut
and Massachusetts there were occasional settlements, with roads
passable for such vehicles as the people possessed. After pass-
ing into New Hampshire the places of refuge were seldom met.
Several times during their journey they camped by the wayside.
They arrived in Canaan about the last of October and were
duly received by the people and installed in their new home.
Here they lived several years ; here their children were born. In
the old record we read as follows: "May 19. 1777 Erastus Bald-
win son to Thomas and Ruth Baldwin, was born. ' ' In the grave-
yard on the Street is an old slatestone slab that used to bear the
following inscription,
ERASTUS
Son of Elder Thomas and Ruth Baldwin.
Died Nov. 2, 1777, in his 7th mouth.
This fading flower
Cut down and
"Withered in an hour
It is the oldest stone in the yard, but the storms of nearly a
hundred and thirty-three years have crumbled it to pieces so
that the words are not decipherable. It is said ]\Ir. Baldwin cut
this stone with his own hands, and this is the only relic of the
famous old elder which exists in Canaan. It was probably not
erected until several years after the child's death, and exhibits
a trace of vanity that is not objectionable. When the child
died, in 1777, the father had not become an "Elder. " but he had
already experienced religion in Deacon Welch's barn, chiefly
through the strong religious sentiment that pervaded the heart
170 History of Canaan.
and character of his wife. In this house was born to them three
other children, Sarah on June 8, 1780, Euth on August 31, 1782,
and Thomas, Jr., on August 29, 1784.
This house was bought by Oliver Smith, a very precise old
man ; when town clerk he used to place on record the day of the
week and the hour of the birth of each one of the numerous Smith
family. After Smith's departure it passed into the hands of
Stephen Jenniss, whose advice to his son will long be remem-
bered, "That in a dark night when it rains hard, the middle of
the road is the safest place to walk." When the railroad was
built, the old house was sold at auction to Mr. Weeks, who wanted
it for the memories of Doctor Baldwin that clung around it. He
took it down and built a house with its timbers at East Canaan.
After this he took it down again, carried the timbers to the old
Pinnacle House, then his residence on the Street, and built a
carriage house and sheep barn of them, where it stood for many
years until torn down a few years ago.
He was raised and educated in the doctrine of the Puritans,
and became a convert to Baptism on reading a book entitled,
"The Divine Right of Infant Baptism." The town records are
silent during the first three years of young Baldwin's service,
he was town clerk, but he. no doubt, considered his time more
valuable for saving souls that telling what was done in town
meeting. But a vote passed October 7, 1790, at a town
meeting held at the hoiLse of Capt. Robert Barber, gives some-
thing of w^hat was done as follows :
Voted that we do hereby ratify aud confirm a vote passed in the year
1783 (which vote is now lost), respecting the settlement of Elder
Thomas Baldwin, in which vote the town voted to approve and confirm
what the church had done, in calling Elder Baldwin to be ordained as
an evangelist, and to exercise pastoral care over the church and con-
gregation, so long as he should judge it his duty to continue here, by
which he was considered as the minister of said town, tho not confined
for any certain time.
The first mention of his receiving any pay for his services, or
rather not receiving anj^ was a vote passed in December, 1786,
when it was "voted that a vote passed to give Mr. Baldwin 40
pounds be reconsidered." On March 22, 1787. the town voted
"to give Mr. Baldwin 30 pounds in Labor and produce the
present year, ' ' and that his estate be exempt from taxation.
The Baptist Church. 171
In 1789 Mr. Baldwin received a call from the Baptist Church
in Tnnbridge, Mass., and about the same time one from Hampton,
Conn. In February the town voted "that Elder Baldwin is not
under obligation to this town any longer than it appears to him
to be his duty to stay and preach in it." It was also voted
"that Elder Baldwin would continue and preach in Town, so
long as he can see it to be duty." He set out early in the sum-
mer and on the way received a call from the second Baptist
Church in Boston. He preached at both Tunbridge and Hamp-
ton and received unanimous calls from both. He then went to
Boston and on July 4, 1790, preached his first sermon there and
then returned to Canaan. On March 9th, 1790, the town voted
"to raise 30 pounds for the support of Elder Baldwin, excepting
those who are conscience bound that they cannot support min-
isters that way" and "that any person who shall pay Elder
Baldwin and take his receipt, it shall answer to the Constable
for his proportion." On August 22, 1790, the church in Boston
gave him a unanimous call. He continued to minister to this
congregation until September 18, 1790, after being the first
settled minister in town for seven years, when he accepted the
call to Boston and was installed November 11, 1790. The church
here increased in numbers under his preaching, and at his de-
parture there were some seventy or eighty members. The general
feeling in the church is represented to have been good, although
as in all such bodies, there were some irrepressible persons who
became impatient at having their talents ignored.
Coming into Canaan a poor boy he left it a wealthy man, as
owner of the ^Minister's right, he realized from that, as well as
from the purchase of other rights, and from the sale of land
which he had purchased and mortgaged back. In 1794 he re-
ceived the degree of A. M. from Brown University, and in 1803
the degree of D. D. from Union College. He edited the Baptist
Magazine from 1803 to 1817. His election sermon, preached in
1802, went through three editions. His 250 page answer to
Hev. Samuel Wonston, showed his best efforts. He was founder
of Waterville College, Maine; on his annual visit to attend the
commencement in 1824, he preached twice at Hallowell, Me. The
next day, August 29, he spent in walking over the college grounds
and upon going to bed, slept for a short time, groaned and died.
172 History of Canaan.
aged 71 years, and was buried in Boston. He is described as
a large man, well formed, and pleasing countenance. In appear-
ance much like AYebster; of military carriage and a splendid
figure on horseback.
William Kimball, 85 years old, in 1881 remembered hearing
him preach in the old meeting-house in 1817. ' ' He drove up from
Boston in a chaise, accompanied by his daughter, stayed at
Joshua Harris' Inn; the people all thronged to see him and of-
fered him hospitality, but he remained at the Inn. He preached
once from the text 'Grieve not the Spirit.' The house was
thronged with eager listeners. Pushee led the choir, with his
violin, and the music was grand and full-toned. No more eloquent
prayers have ever been spoken in Canaan from that day to this.
They w^ere complete, and so effective that everybody but Pettin-
gill were in tears before they knew it. Everj'thing that needed
praying for was brought in, and got a short and eloquent bless-
ing without any effort. The beauty of his prayer was it was
short and comprehensive. I was a young man, but I have never
heard another prayer that has or can displace that in my mem-
ory. ' '
Ruth, his wife, died February 11, 1812. He married second
Margaret Duncan of Haverhill, jMass., who survived him many
years.
After the departure of Mr. Baldwin, there was no
stated preaching. Various "trials" had been made, but no
preacher had given such satisfaction as to induce the town to
vote upon that subject. At length, about the 17th of June, 1793,
there came along a young elder, whose gifts excited in them a
gleam of hope, and on this day the inhabitants held a public
meeting at the house of Capt. Robert Barber, to see, "1st. If
the town would agree to hire Elder Elisha Ransom to preach for
one year. 2nd. To see what sum of money the town will agree
to raise for the support of said Ransom : and 3rd. to see if the
to^vn will provide any house for said Ransom to live in." The
doings of the town are dispatched on this occasion in two brief
lines. "Choose Lt. Thomas ]\Iiner Moderator. Voted to dis-
solve this meeting," and Elder Elisha Ransom disappears forever
from our records. A committee on preaching had been pre-
viously appointed. They continued their search for a preacher,
The Baptist Church. 173
and on the 19th of November, of the same year, they reported
another candidate, but the town declined to accept their report.
However, the town voted 35 pounds lawful money "to support
a preacher of the Gospel for one year," and Dea. Caleb Welch,
Lieut. William Richardson and John Benedict were chosen a com-
mittee "to lay out the above sum of money in procuring Mr.
Hooper if he can be obtained, if not some other man agreeable
to the town." The time when Mr. Hooper was to begin was left
discretionary with the committee. The "hireing" never began;
Mr. Hooper disappears without coming to sight. During the
year 1794, but little effort was made to procure preaching. The
good people lamented the sad state into which they had fallen.
They talked of one another as being obstinate and by their
prejudices as being stumbling blocks to Christian progress.
Each one asked the other to yield, but declined to give up his own
preferences. It was a condition of society which has had its
counterpart many times since. Up to the 10th of March, 1795,
there was no success in procuring preaching. It was deemed
impossible to unite the people upon any one person. But on
this day. they made an effort and directed their committee to
send to Mr. Uriah Smith to come and preach upon trial. All
former votes were reconsidered and "30 pounds lawful money
was raised to hire preaching the ensuing year." Smith was
put "upon trial," and on the 29th of July, 1795, he was "hired
to preach with us three months," at the rate of $10 per month.
On November 2, Mr. Smith was hired to preach "till the Second
Sunday of March next," at the same compensation.
At the annual meeting in 1796, forty pounds were voted for
preaching. In consequence of this vote, five gentlemen entered
their dissent and protested against "raising money this way,"
to support a preacher of the gospel. In order to quiet their
opposition, it was voted that these five gentlemen, Thomas Miner,
Dudley Oilman, John Richardson, Robert Williams, and Asa
Paddleford might be excused from paying their rates, which
they refused to accept. They made themselves so busy in
creating public opinion, that on the 15th of March, seven days
after the former vote, when the town "voted to hire Mr. Smith
for six months at $10 per month, he to board himself" the dis-
senters showed a strong and growing opposition. This time they
174 PIisTORY OF Canaan.
reconsidered the vote to raise forty pounds and voted thirty
pounds, and the number who entered their dissent against pay-
ing the "thirty pounds" and also against hiring Mr. Smith had
increased to twenty-five. The best men in town their names are
below :
Thomas Miner Sluiltal Biirdiek
Robert Williams Hubbard Harris
Robert Wilson E. Scofield
Moses Hadley James Morse
Reuben Kimball Asa Kimball
John Richardson Joshua Richardson
Joseph Clark John Wilson
Henry Springer Daniel Kimball
Dudley Oilman Simon Blanchard
Asa Paddleford Caleb Wilder
Abel Hadley John Woi'th
Josiah Barber Joseph Flint
Levi Straw
The town adhered to its vote and refused to release them from-
paying the tax. Mr. Smith continued to preach and to receive
$10 per month until March, 1797, after which date he did not
appear again in the pulpit. He lived several years in town, after
he ceased to preach, and taught school in a schoolhouse that
stood in the old orchard of Jacob Tucker, nearty opposite the
house of Mr. Gideon Spencer on the old road to Dorchester..
Afterwards he moved to Enfield, where he died.
There was still but one church in Canaan, but it was not
strong enough to support itself and the great obstacle to securing
"stated preaching" was found in the unwillingness of the mem-
bers of this church to listen to preachers of any other belief.
It was not strong enough to pay the expense of a Baptist
preacher. There were Congregationalists, Universalists, and a
few Methodists, and also a few impracticable men, who like some
persons in these days, thought their own teachings good enough
for the people, and were not inclined to yield their rights to any
new comer. Each belief was jealous of the others, and refused
to cooperate lest they might lose individuality. The result was.
they had no stated preaching for several years. Whenever a
religious meeting was held, Dea. Eichard Clark, Dea. John
Worth, or Mrs. Miriam Harris would seize the opportunity ta
The Baptist Church. ~ 175
deliver their melancholy rhapsodies to an impatient audience,
and this had got to be so severe a trial, that they at last resolved
to form a societj' upon the "principles of equality," as they
termed it. Elder Tyler said Dea. Kichard Clark was a powerful
exhorter, would sometimes lose himself in his zeal. Spittle
would fly from both sides of his mouth, one corner at a time, and
his nose was a river of snot, which he used to blow about him first
from one nostril and then the other, stopping one with his
thumb. He was long winded and very annoying to Thomas
Baldwin.
To give the movement greater force a legal meeting was called,
on the 28th of August. 1797. At this meeting the opponents of
the society were so demonstrative, as nearly to break it up.
After severe discussion, the house was divided, when it was found
that the disorganizers were few in numbers but large in noise.
Then Jehu Jones, Joseph Wadley and Kichard Whittier were
elected a committee to confer with a like committee appointed
from the church, consisting of John Worth, William Richard-
son and Deacon Welch, who were to report a constitution for
the society at an adjourned meeting. On the 4th of September,
the committee made their report, which was accepted by the
town. It was signed by a large number of men in columns
according to their belief. I have thought it proper to print this
report, together with the names attached to it, to show something
of the form of thought which characterized the religious mind
of those days. The manuscript is the original draft of the report,
and the names were written by the individual owners. The
paper is much worn, as if it had passed through many hands,,
before it slept the long sleep, before it came into my possession.
" CONSTITUTION.
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Canaan, taking into
consideration the importance of having the gospel preached among
us, and the benefits and privileges that will accrue to us, our fami-
lies, and the community at large, thereby do for the better promoting
the same mutually and by our free consent enter into and join in a
society to act agreeable to the following sentiments rules and regula-
tions, namely
First, That we will support a minister by an equality, among our-
selves according to what we are possessed of.
176 History of Canaan,
Second. That we will pay our several proportions of the sum or
sums that the society shall raise from time to time for the support
of the minister as they shall direct.
Third, That the minister be one that can bring credentials of his
being a member of a regular gospel church, and in good standing with
them, and can give evidence of his call to the work of preaching the
gospel.
Fourth, That when the church have called a minister, and the
society like him they will manifest their agreement with them in
the matter.
Fifth, That it is the privilege of the minister and the church to lead
in the worship, but if the society take the singing from the church,
we will not contend so as to make a disturbance in the meeting, but
will endeavor patiently to bear it as a trial.
Sixth, That it is not our intention to debar any of the proprietors
or society from enjoying their privilege in the meeting house accord-
ing to their interest.
Seventh, That all prudential matters shall be determined by the
majority of the society, which shall consist of two thirds of the mem-
bers present at the meeting.
Eighth, There shall be a standing committee, whose duty it shall
be to warn meetings when applied to by seven members of the society.
Ninth, There shall be a clerk who shall make a fair record of the
doings of the society.
Tenth, That there shall be a treasurer, assessors, and a collector or
collectors for the society.
Eleventh, The above agreement made and entered into this 4th.
day of Sept., A. D. 1797 to stand for the term of oue year, as witness
our hands.
Baptists. Jacob Miller
John Worth Robbard Barber
Caleb Welch Richard Whittier
Ezekiel Wells Nathaniel Barber
Caleb Pierce John Currier
John M. Barber Stephen Worth
Joseph Wadley Caleb Welch jr
Ezekiel Gardner Thomas Miner
Nath. Whittier Joshua Clement
Joshua Wells Nathan Beebe
Oliver Smith Richard Clark
Hubbard Harris Simeon Arvin
Israel Harris Daniel Colby
William Harris Josiah Clark
Jehu Jones Richard Clark jr
Timothy Johnson jr Ebenezer Clark
Abel Hadley John Worth Jr
The Baptist Church.
177
Caleb Seabury
Elam Meacham
Enoch Sweat
David Pearson
Samuel Chapman
Samuel Noyes
Nathaniel Oilman
Reynold Gates
Samuel Welch
Thomas Morse
Samuel Welch jr
Thaddeus Lathrop
Eliphlet Clark
Joshua Meacham
Thomas Cole
Judah Wells
James Morse
Jabez Smith
William Parkhurst
Bailey Cross
Elijah Whittier
Jonathan Dustin
David Jones
Universalists.
J. M. Colcord
Joshua Harris
Congregationalists.
William Richardson
Levi Bailey
Reuben Currier
Hezekiah Jones
Eliphlet Norris
Joshua Pillsbury
Moody Noyes
Dudley Noyes
Richard Otis
Clement Ooddard
David Smith
John May
Moses Richardson
Richard Clark
Enoch Richardson
Joshua Richardson
Mathew Athaton
John Perley
Daniel Johnson
Warren Wilson
John Richardson
John Sweet
Jacob Richardson
John Wilson
Thomas Bedel
Timothy Johnson
At the meeting on the 4th of September, Oliver Smith was
chosen clerk ; Jolin Worth, Jehu Jones and William Richardson,
were appointed the ' ' standing committee ' ' to procure preaching.
They also voted $100 to pay for preaching for one year. The
committee were successful in finding a candidate who was willing
to serve in the pulpit.
His name was Ezra Wilmarth. He stayed several weeks, preach-
ing and visiting among the families, and won the good will of the
town to such an extent, that on the 28th of November, 1797,
they voted to hire him and pay him "fifty-two pounds as com-
pensation for preaching with us one year." They also agreed
to move his family to Canaan and provide a house for them to
live in. It was "voted to give Lt. Richard Whittier $13.50 for
bringing half a ton — either Mr. Wilmarth 's family or his
goods from Fairfax. Conn., to Canaan — if his family, the society
12
178 History of Canaax.
is to pay their expense on the road. Lieut. Whittier is to have
two-thirds of the money before he starts from home. ' '
"Voted to give Lieut. Thomas Miner ten dollars for bringing
half a ton from Fairfax to Canaan, meaning Mr. Wilmarth's
family or goods." The committee was ordered to make ''pro-
vision for ]\Ir. Wilmarth respecting a house to live in and some
necessaries of life, &c." Thirteen pounds were raised for "mov-
ing" Mr. "Wilmarth and providing him a house to live in when
he gets here. "Sunday the 14th day of January, 1798, the Rev.
Mr. Wilmarth returned to Canaan with his- f amih*, and moved
in with Mr. Josiah Clark. His time began on said day. ' '
Mr. Wilmarth went about his labors serene and happy in the
belief that he was appreciated for his faithfulness.
The people had concluded they had found the man they
needed. A to^^^l meeting was called in August, when John
Currier, Jehu Jones and Caleb Seaburj^ were appointed ' ' a com-
mittee on the part of the town to be joined by such of the lion,
church as they may appoint to consult and propose a method for
the settlement and support of Rev. E. Wilmarth." The com-
mittee made a detailed report of the method and then the town
appointed William Richardson. John Worth and John Currier^
a committee to present a call to ]\Ir. Wilmarth, ask his accep-
tance and confer with him respecting his settlement over them
in the gospel ministrj^.
Considerable diplomacy entered into the question right here
between the church and town. Deacon Worth and Richard
Clark, whose "gifts" in long prayers and longer exhortations,
never came at a timely moment, would not cut otf their priv-
ileges. Besides these brethren had pitched the tunes and sung
the solemn singing in their own way, without harp or sackbut.
Fiddles and fifes were an abomination to these pious souls. They
made no objection to ]\Ir. Wilmarth if all their rights were pre-
served. The town yielded all they claimed, and then a united
call was given to the preacher, who was asked to accept it and
name a day for his installation. Right here occurs a hiatus in
the records, the result of old Oliver Smith's usual negligence.
Several meetings were held of which he have no account and
some of the terms agreed upon between the high parties are
The Baptist Church. 179
left to conjecture. But it is plain enough that somebody was
getting jealous, and couldn't agree.
On the 17th of December the town voted to settle Mr. Wil-
marth, agreeably to the conditions reported by the committee
and which had been, assented to by all parties. Previous to this
date, several persons who disliked Deacon Worth's hum-drum
music, astonished that worthy man by taking the wind out of
his mouth without asking his consent. It was an insult he would
not forgive. They might as well stop his praying and exhorting
as his singing. So he rallied his forces, and called upon the
church to rise up and vote a rebuke of this audacious outrage.
He got himself appointed the avenger of the church and issued
the stately document which follows :
The church in Canaan hereby inform the town that in consequence
of their assuming the authority of governing the singing in a way
that they knew was disagreeable to the Church without any conde-
scension or regard to them in the matter and of the Selectmen's mak-
ing a tax or rate for the support of preaching without giving the
Church notice of it that they might take off their proportion according
to the proposal made by the Church which the town voted to comply
with, therefore they have withdrawn their call of Elder Wilmarth till
the town shall satisfy them on the above particulars.
John Worth,
By order of the Church.
Dec. 1st. 1798.
N. B. That although we agreed to bear a trial for one year we do
not feel willing always to bear it.
Then followed a letter from Mr. Wilmarth declining to set-
tle. It was addressed to Messrs. John Worth, John Currier and
Richard Whittier, Committee, Canaan :
Canaax, Dec. 3rd, 1798.
Gentlemen: As the worthy and respectable inhabitants of this town
have been pleased to honor me with a call to settle among them as a
minister of the gospel, and you were the committee thro' whom it was
communicated to me, I esteem it my dutj- to make a reply via you to
them.
I feel myself under a present necessity of answering you in the nega-
tive— and my reasons here follow:
1st. When the town voted the request it was with a promise that nine-
tenths of the town were in favor of it, and were I to give my answer
in the affirmative, it is possible, and even probable, that there would not
be such a proportion in favor of my settlement, and consequently I
180 History of Can a ax.
might fall into the disagreeable predicament of being rejected after
having consented.
2nd. The church in this town have seen fit to discontinue their call
and vote me a letter of dismission and recommendation to any other
church of the same faith and order — their reasons for withdrawing
their call will be communicated to you via their committee.
These, gentlemen, are some of my reasons for not, at present, accept-
ing your request. It is possible, however, that they may be removed.
Whether I ever settle among you or not, I assure you of my best
wishes for your welfare, as a people, and should I leave you, it will
be with painful anxiety for your future happiness. I am, gentlemen,
yours and the public's devoted humble servant.
Ezra Wilmaeth.
After this date, although the town yielded the points in dis-
pute and renewed its call to the preacher, a coolness grew up
between them which increased from day to day, until the year
expired. On the 17th of April, 1799, it was voted not to permit
"Mr. Wilmarth to make up the time he lost in preaching but
there shall be deducted twenty shillings for every day he has
lost."
Ezekiel Wells was appointed a committee "to ascertain what
Mr. Wilmarth has received and what there is due him. ' '
It took the committee until the 10th of May to make up a
bill of particulars, when it reported that "according to the
receipts exhibited by the collector.
Mr. Wilmarth has received £24:5:1
That he was absent five days, went away one day
before his time was out, and three days preached
only a half day 7:10:0
Deducted from 52:0:0
Leaves due Mr. Wilmarth 21 : 4 : 11
And Mr. Ezra Wilmarth stepped out of Canaan without being
settled which seems to have afforded mutual pleasure to all
parties, particularly to the gifted ones, John, Richard and
Miriam. On leaving Canaan he was settled over the church in
Rumney in April, 1799, and was dismissed in May, 1811,
Notwithstanding their promptness in dismissing him it was
two years and upwards before they paid him the balance due
and part of this he took in due bills and personal promises.
Dea. John Worth, who lived across the Pond on the Landon
place, was a poet, also, but the productions of his genius, like his
The Baptist Church. 181
dust, have long since mingled and become a part of the common
things of this life. All that has survived of his wonderful poetic
talents are the following lines, addressed to "Pride":
Pride, don't come on!
Thou hast undone,
Many a son.
Pride, don't come arter!
Thou hast undone
Many a darter!
Soon after Mr. Wilmarth's departure Rev. Aaron Cleveland,
great-grandfather of Grover Cleveland, a clergyman from Nor-
wich, Conn., visited friends in Canaan, and was invited to
preach. He preached in the unfinished meeting house, and being
a Congregationalist, like many of the settlers from Connecticut,
they offered him inducements to remain here. A town meeting
was called on the 12th of August, 1799, and "$100 was voted
to be raised and to be appropriated for the purpose of hiring
Mr. Aaron Cleveland if he can be obtained." Dea. Joshua
Pillsbury, Micah Porter and Richard Otis were chosen a com-
mittee to confer with him, and report their success to the town.
Everyone was confident that Mr. Cleveland would stay for the
"$100." They expected no refusal, for why had he wandered
so far from home, if he was not in search of employment. They
took another vote, as if to confirm their resolution. "Voted that
we will hire preaching. ' ' And another : ' ' Voted that we hire Mr.
Cleveland imtil March meeting, if he can be obtained." But
against the two last votes, there were vigorous protests from the
following gentlemen, "as the law directs," Jehu Jones, Reynold
Grates, Joshua Wells, Josiah Clark and Daniel Colby, the
first three from Colchester and the last from Newmarket and
Haverhill. Mr. Cleveland seems to have been willing to remain
in Canaan, but he pointed out to the committee that $100 was
small compensation for the continued services of a minister of
the gospel. They proposed to give him as a further inducement
the half of the minister's right which had been deeded to the
town by Elder Baldwin.
He remained here until September 1st, without accepting their
invitation. Then pressing duties calling him to Connecticut, he
sent the committee the following letter :
182 History of Canaan.
Messrs. Otis. Pillshury and Porter, Committee:
Gentlemen — In answer to your request that I should stay a week
longer than was proposetl, let me observe:
That should the town wish to convene again to make me some further
proposals, a meeting may be warned on Monday next and Mr. Otis will
attend, who proposes a journey to Connecticut immediately after. By
him, therefore, the proposals of this town can be forwarded to me,
which I shall lay before our Association and be directed by them re-
specting my future steps. Mr. Otis can also be present at the Asso-
ciation and represent the essential matters respecting the town, and
respecting myself.
And you may rest assured that the cause of Zion lies so near their
hearts that they will point out the line of my duty in the case. Re-
specting the proposal of the town as it now stands, this I should lay
before the Association. Should the town proceed no further, and
should be determined in the case as sd Association should advise.
It appears as a matter of importance to me that I should commence
my journey on the first week in September, as I have mentioned from
the first day I came to this town, and Mr. Otis going to Connecticut
will supply the difficulty of my longer stay at this time.
I am gentlemen, yours,
and Canaan's well wisher,
Aabon Cleveland.
The church sent Deacon Otis to urge their request, but the
town did not offer him any further compensation. The Asso-
ciation advised him to remain in Connecticut, and nothing fur-
ther was heard from him except the bill for his services in the
pulpit amounting to $50. And at the next annual meeting in
1800 the town voted "to raise money enough to discharge the
committee from the demands ]\Ir. Cleveland has made against
them for preaching."
No money was voted for preaching in 1800, excepting that
which was to pay Mr. Cleveland; they were without a pastor.
In 1801 Elder Samuel Ambrose, Elder Crowell, Elder Jones and
Eev. Mr. Webster occupied the pulpit. In 1801 they voted $60
for preaching from June to the next annual meeting and from
this time on to May, 1808, the town refused to pay for preach-
ing. Many persons were annoyed at the persistency of Deacon
Clark and Deacon Worth and their followers, in demanding
too much recognition for themselves. And when in 1802 the
warrant contained an article about preaching, Samuel Joslen,
before it was put to vote, entered his dissent. He said it was
The Baptist Church. 183
time enoiigh to get money, when it was found out who was going
to get it, and he did not intend to be involved in any more blind
taxes.
Thus far it appears that the good people of Canaan had assem-
bled together in the meeting-house, all denominations, with a
church organization, consisting mostly of Baptists, and a society
consisting of many others, not members of the church. Xo
denomination had separated itself, or organized itself into a
separate association. The denominational feeling had become
so strong that on February 16, 1802, the Baptists constituted
themselves into "The Baptist Church of Christ in Canaan."
On this date "Brother Richard Clark was chosen moderator and
brother John "Worth, Deacon and Clerk."
On June 17th following, Josiah Clark was chosen Deacon.
From the records it does not appear that the work of the church
or the labors of the brethren were of sufficient importance to
merit being written. There was stupor and indifference and
petty rivalries among the members, that prevented them from
seeing any good however little it might be in each other.
At the date above written desire was expressed on the part of
some of the brethren to have the church separate itself from all
other denominations, and constitute itself simply the Baptist
church in Canaan.
In the effort to revive the church the brethren engaged in it
appointed a committee to emasculate the list of members, so
that none but the worthy might have a place therein, and this
they did so thoroughly that if we take their record as truth, they
left but few disciples of John Calvin in town, and these were
Josiah Clark, Nathaniel Gilman, Richard Clark, Daniel Kimball,
Job Tyler, Esther Clark, Sarah Gilman, Pernal Clark, Lydia
Pearson and Abigail Cole who was excommunicated in 1836.
We know from other sources that the Baptists, in numbers,
exceeded all the other sects in town, between sixty and seventy
names being found on a former record. We should have liked it
better had thev retained all the original names, so that we
might know who and how many among the brave settlers were
written down ' ' as those who love the Lord. ' '
Up to August 19, 1804, the record is blank, but at this date
they voted to join the Woodstock Association. The number of
184 History of Canaan.
members at this date is stated as thirty-eight, but only these
additional names are found: Moses Kelley, Nancy Kelley,
Samuel Welch, Moses Hadley, and Molly Hadley. After this
statement there is more blank in the record, but it is evident
that it was blanker in the church. It was a little before this time
that the Congregational Church had been established. And the
Baptist denomination among themselves had lost control of the
organization. There seemed to be no controlling intelligence, and
few or no educated persons to manage affairs. They talked of
doctrine, and purifying the church ; it was all talk and no action.
They talked when they had nothing to say, and when the lis-
teners were all bored instead of edified. As in the former years
when the same men pursued the same course, they soon fell into
by and forbidden paths, and got lost in the great desert of the
world. To extricate themselves from this unprogressive condi-
tion, the brethren prayed to be enlightened. It was made plain
then as it has often been since that no religious sect in the town
of Canaan was strong enough in men and money to give proper
support to a respectable preacher.
The preaching by the resident orators was little attended to
and the candidates for the favor of the church and people gave
no satisfaction. They just appeared above the religious horizon
and vanished like a summer cloud. The singing, then as now,
was a fruitful theme of irritation. Benjamin Trussell, a musi-
cian of more than ordinary ability, a good singer, and performer
upon the violoncello, had moved into town and was invited to
contribute his part in the devotional exercises of the people.
Like a true musician, Mr. Trussell believed that singing is only
another form of praising God, and that the more sweet sounds
he brought to his aid, the greater was God's pleasure. He took
his violoncello into the seats, and tuned it before the congrega-
tion. Deacon Worth, who was counted as one of the guardians
of all the proprieties in the church, and a leader of the singers,
was more shocked than he had been on the occasion of the call
of Mr. Wilmarth. That was simply a vocal interruption, but
this was an invasion of the house of God, with the strains that
the devil used to tempt young people to dance. A few other
impulsive enthusiasts joined the deacon in denouncing the "devil
music," and threatened to call a meeting of the church and
The Baptist Church. 185
expel the offender. They talked a good deal of nonsense, and
some of the old singers, with Deacon Worth at their head threat-
ened to leave the choir, and not sing any more, only that this
was just what the other party wanted, and they would not afford
them that gratification. The gentle spirit of Christian forbear-
ance had nearly fled from the church, when good old Samuel
Meacham, an early and devout Methodist, raised his hands in
the midst of the half angry company and quietly remarked:
"Brethren, let us pray," and then, "We pray thee, good God,
turn the thoughts of these wrangling singers from themselves
unto Thee ! Fill their hearts with harmonv and love, and if there
be a single chord of music in Brother Trussell's bass-viol, that
will tend to increase our devotions to Thee, let us have it in all
its fullness, and, 0 Lord, forbid that we should ever cast away
any good or pleasant thing that falls across our lives, and now
give us thy blessing, and send us courage to clear out the angry-
thoughts that have invaded our hearts, and when we meet again,
may it be in love and affection. Amen." And Caleb Seabury
and Moses Dole responded "So mote it be." And the singing
after the mutual jealousies had become self-exhausted settled
itself.
Mr. Trussell's viol became a favorite, with everyone except the
inharmonious Deacon, and he never ceased to talk about it.
In 1807 there was no preacher, and no prospect of one unless
the people would unite upon some person and stand by him.
So they agreed to lay aside their dogmas and personalities and
form a "Union Society," while like all union societies in re-
ligion proved to be no union at all. Daniel Blaisdell was ap-
pointed to write an agreement, such as all would sig-n. A part
of the agreement is copied here, not particularly for any in-
trinsic merit it contains, but as showing the involved and long-
winded theology these people cherished, and how thoroughly
they were convinced of original sin, and depravity, and the diffi-
culty of making its meaning plain.
We, the subscribers, taking into consideration not only the salutary-
effects that moralitj' and religion rightly gi'ounded upon evangelical
principles, hath upon society in general, but especially upon the rising
generation, and being fully convinced that to have the gospel statedly
preached amongst us by a regular methodical preacher, who is not
186 History of Canaan.
only a man of good moral character, but is reputed to have his com-
munion from on high, will not only have a tendency to lay in the
hearts of men in general the strongest obligation to due subjection;
but we profess to view it as an institution of Heaven, whereby to con-
vince sinners of Adam's fallen family of their deplorable condition, and
bring them to embrace offered grace through a glorious Mediator, as
the only means to escape the displeasure of an angry God. And having
for a long time viewed with anxiety the deplorable situation of the
town of Canaan in this respect, and fearing lest we should not be able
to answer at the bar of injured Justice, for our neglect to our chil-
dren and society, do agree and covenant with each other, &c."
No subscrption was to be binding until two-thirds of the com-
mon inventory of the town assented to the union.
Eev. Mr. Young of Salisbury, had preached several Sabbaths
and many of the people were pleased with him, and were desir-
ous that he should come and settle wath them. They sent Rich-
ard Whittier and Richard Otis down to invite him to come up
and "preach two Sundays more," when they hoped to be able
to determine whether he was a suitable man. ]\lr. Young came
as desired and spent a week getting acquainted with the peo-
ple, and was received with much effusion. The "Union" em-
braced the Congregationalists and Methodists who were well
enough pleased with Mr. Young, but to make it agreeable every
way, it was agreed that Mr. Young should exchange at the re-
quest of the Congregationalists, once in eight weeks with "some
minister of that order," residing within a radius of thirty -five
miles. But it is doubtful if he ever had an opportunity to ex-
change with any one. He did preach here a few weeks after
this invitation, but there is no means of telling either of his suc-
cess, or the time of his exit. We do not know that he was "set-
tled."
In 1808 the town voted to raise $150 to hire preaching,
and that each religious denomination lay out their money agree-
ably to their conviction. The selectmen were directed to post
a notice for six weeks, at Captain Arvin's, Lieutenant Moore's
and Moses Dole's Inn, calling upon all the people to come for-
ward, and state to what denomination they wished to pay their
minister's tax, otherwise they would be taxed as Baptists. The
record shows that while this vote was being discussed, Reynold
Gates, Richard Clark. Jr., Josiah Barber and Stephen Worth
The Baptist Church. 187
^'has come forward aud entered their decent against paying^ a
tax to hire preaching."
Stephen "Worth had disputed with some of the brethren the
correctness of all Baptists beliefs. And was for his rashness
stigmatized "an infidel." The others were Baptists by birth,
education and conviction, and their "decent" probably arose
from sympathy with the long winded Clark.
This arrangement continued satisfactorily for a few years.
In 1811 the town voted $100, "and each denomination to lay out
the money their own way," a committee of three, Josiah Clark,
Baptist; Joshua Pillsbury, Congregationalist, and Caleb Sea-
bury, Methodist, were appointed to lay out the money. Again
in 1812 the town voted to raise $150 to hire preaching during
the year, and Caleb Seabury, Methodist; Daniel Blaisdell, Bap-
tist, and Amos Gould, Congregationalist, w^ere a committee to
"hire preachers of each denomination." And they added a
cruel amendment to this vote "that no part of the $150 should
be paid to Lt. Richard Clark." Lieutenant Clark was opposed
upon principle to paying money to preachers. He was a talking
man and the Lord had given him gifts sufficient unto the needs
of the people. He had asked the town to give him the whole or
part of the money, claiming that on all occasions when there was
no stated preaching, he had conducted religious services freely
-and often at much inconvenience. Many people were not pleased
with Mr. Clark's use of his gifts and took this occasion to ex-
press their opinion.
In 1813 they voted to raise $100 for preaching, and once only
after this, in 1819, did the town vote money for preaching and
that vote was vigorously protested. The "Union So-
ciety" went to pieces in 1812, and there was a relapse into
the old order of things, each denomination raising their own
money in their own way by assessment, and hiring their own
preachers. In 1813 a successful effort was made to unite the
church and people, and a committee w^as sent to Grafton, with
an invitation to Elder Joseph Wheat, to come and settle here,
which he accepted.
Elder "Wheat was a Baptist and preached to that church and
society for twenty-three years. From the time of his installa-
tion in March, 1814. until during the year 1827, he lived as the
188 History of Canaan,
pastor and teacher of the people, going out and in before them
as an example of an honored and revered man. Inquiries among
his descendants have failed to discover his birthplace. It is
supposed that he originated in Newmarket. In the war of the
Revolution he served seven years, and "was discharged when
twenty-three years of age. His subsequent career down to his
arrival in Canaan is unknoAvn to us. In 1813 he was preaching
in various places hoping to get a home, and on two or three occa-
sions occupied this pulpit. For many years previous to
this date there had been no "stated" preaching. The people
who professed to be Christians, were divided into cliques, and
there were several persons who aspired to do the preaching.
They could talk long and loud, and because of this "gift" they
successfully opposed the raising of money to pay "hireling"
preachers from abroad.
The people endured these gifted talkers with long suffering
patience, and there seemed to be no remedj' except in quiet sub-
mission or in active opposition. The same persons who had
disturbed and driven Elder Baldwin out of town, had exercised
their gifts upon Elder Uriah Smith, upon Elder Ezra "Wilmarth,
upon Rev. Aaron Cleveland and other candidates for the pulpit
down to 1813, when a united effort was made to break up the
gifted monopoly and introduce an era of things that should be
respectable, orderly and systematic. Elder Joseph Wheat was
then preaching occasionally in Grafton, 53 years old, ripe and
manly, with large experiences of human grief and suffering;
would he come to Canaan, take charge of the souls in this churchy
and gather up and soften the flinty hearts that were laughing
at the dissensions among the saints? They sent their com-
mittee, he came, and preached a sermon two hours long. He
told them he was a Baptist, but he was a Christian. They liked
him, organized a society, and gave him an invitation to join
his fortunes with theirs. The following is the preamble to
their agreement which was written by Hon. Daniel Blaisdell:
To all to whom these presents shall come, know ye, that we, the sub-
scribers, believing that the preaching of the gospel was intended by
the all wise Governor of the Universe as a mean whereby to com-
municate his special grace to a ruined world, and believing also that a
regularly preached gospel tends to promote good order, and strengthen
The Baptist Church. 189
the bonds of society. Do agree to form ourselves into a societj- by tlie
name of tlie First Baptist society iu Canaan, for the purpose of liiriug
Elder Joseph. Wheat to preach amongst us; And to that end we do
agree that if he can be obtained to remove to Canaan and preach to
us so many Sabbaths as fortj- five in a year, and attend to such lecters
and funerals and elsewhere as is common for a settled minister to do.
That we and each of us, will pay our proportion according to our in-
ventory, taken by the selectmen for the time being, of the sum of one
hundred and twenty dollars, to be assessed and collected by a collector,
and to be appropriated and paid over for the support of our said
minister and his family yeraly, the whole to be paid in cash, if paid to
the collector, but if any choose to carry to his house corn, wheat,
rye, flour or wool, he is to receive one half the sum due to him, and
give his receipt for the same. . . . provided nevertheless, that the
agreement and every part thereof shall be null and void, unless such
and so many persons shall join said society, so as that the assessments
made as aforesaid shall not exceed the sum of thirty cents on the poll.
This agreement contains the signatures of ninety-three men,
subscribing in sums from fifty cents to two dollars and fifty cents.
These men have long since passed off the stage of life.
"Thomas H. Pettingill agrees to pay Elder Joseph Wheat
$1.00 a year so long as he shall preach in Canaan." "Daniel
Blaisdell one half of inventory added if necessary." John
Currier, Nathaniel C. Pierce. Harry Leeds, Job Tyler, Josiah
Clark, Abraham Pushee, Timothy Tilton, Joshua Currier,
Amasa Jones, Adam Pollard, Oliver Smith and Nathan Willis,
one dollar each. John M. Barber, Samuel Willis and Daniel Pat-
tee will give two dollars each. Cyrus B. Hamilton will pay
$2.50. Then there are Daniel Colby and John Worth, and Levi
Bailey and Wales Dole and Amos Gould and William Campbell,
at fifty cents each ; then come I\Ioses Shepherd, Nathaniel Wil-
son. Ephraim Wilson, Abner H. Cilley, six Kichardson brothers,
and many more all eager to join the society so as to settle the
long vexed question of who was to do the preaching to this
patiently waiting people.
A committee of invitation — Daniel Blaisdell, John Currier
and Sewall Gleason — waited upon Elder Wheat and lost no time
in making known the wishes of the people that he become their
spiritual guide. The old man listened smilingly and approvingly
to their solicitations, and his eyes rested benignly and lovingly
upon the long list of names guaranteeing support to him and his
190 History op Canaan.
family. He came and was duly installed in that pulpit which he
abandoned only at the close of life.
Elder Wheat was a careful man in his intercourse with the peo-
ple. He had cheerful words and friendly advice for every one.
His labors in the pulpit were arduous; his prayers and sermons
were almost of indefinite length, and he delighted in the loud
music of his great choir, never omitting any of the stanzas in the
longest hymns. He labored everywhere, and was called often to
attend funerals. In those sad occasions he w^as a very effective
speaker, being naturally sympathetic and weeping with the
mourners. It was his custom M^henever he heard unfriendly
criticisms upon the life and character of a deceased person, to
say, ' ' we should tread lightly upon the ashes of the dead. ' ' The
preaching of Eder Wheat and the high reputation which he en-
joyed as a patriot soldier, were powerful influences in forming
the habits and characters of many of our people. He was gen-
erally modest in relating his exploits. As a soldier he had en-
dured great hardships. One incident in his camp life he used
to relate with much feeling. He was captured by the Indians
and taken through the woods to Canada. After a time he made
his escape and started out alone through the then unbroken for-
est, two hundred miles. There were a few houses and small
clearings along the upper waters of the Connecticut River, the
smallpox prevailed in Canada, and the people along the clear-
ings placed him in quarantine, not allowing him to come near
their houses by day or night. He would come near a house and
call to the people for food, then he would retire a considerable
distance while they brought out victuals, and placing it upon a
stump, eat and go on his way. He passed through Canaan on
that journey on his way to his friends in the southern part of the
state. On being asked if he ever killed any person during his
seven years' service, he would pause, draw" a long breath, and
say with a sigh, "Is 'pose I 've been the death of six hearty men. ' '
He was not an educated man ; in fact, he used to boast of his lack
of education, but he had a retentive memory, and his mind was
well stored with facts and fancies, which leaped out on all occa-
sions, and gave interest to his most tedious sermons. He would
sometimes say that, "Edication don't make a man any better
Christian, unless it's in him. College larn't folks can't come nigh
The Baptist Church. 191
to God, with their high-sounding- phrases. Bible larnin' was
good enough for him. He had traveled nigh on to fifty years
with it, and he thought he could get nigher to God with his
humble ignorance than the man with his head swelled full of
theology and divinity." His style was monotonous and sing-
song, with cadenzas uttered in a loud tone of voice, so that his
words could be heard at long distances. He was very effective
in prayer. He used to talk very familiarly with God ; seize him
by the hand and hold on till he got his blessing — a good old
man with all his ignorance. In summer he always wore a loose
wrapper, made of calico, that was always fljdng in the wind.
His congregation was not always wakeful. His style and long-
drawn utterances were favorable to drowsiness on the part of
those hard-working men and women, and when he ceased speak-
ing the sudden stillness would react with energy upon the
sleepers.
He was much liked and sought after in all the region about
wherever the Baptist Church prevailed. He w^as tender-hearted
and easily put himself en rapport with his audience. Under his
preaching many souls were converted and led safely through all
the ordinances into the folds of the church. He was a great
stickler for baptism ; there was no salvation without going down
deep into the water. It was his custom to wade far out until the
water nearly reached his arm pits and wiien he had said the
formula in that loud singing tone that echoed back from the
woods on the opposite shore, he would plunge the candidate
nearly to the bottom, bringing him up again with a jerk.
When he came to live here he bought a small farm and built a
house a short distance below ' ' Peggy 's Tavern, ' ' on the turnpike.
This farm he cultivated with his own hands, and by this means
added something to his small salary, which was paid very tardily
and oftentimes with ill grace, very much as ministers salaries
are paid now. He possessed a powerful constitution, capable
of sustaining great physical labor, but the infirmities of age crept
in upon him, and he gave up preaching, and took refuge in the
family of his daughter, Mrs. Samuel Gilman. who lived on the
Carlton Clark farm, where, after months of suffering, he quietly
went to sleep in 1836, at the age of 77 years. The legend upon
his tombstone is, "Although dead, he yet speaketh."
192 History of Canaan.
Richard Clark, grandson of that Richard who used to spread
his gifts freely before the people, — Richard the son, had also
exercised his talents as a speaker,— and Richard, the grandson,
had an ambition to preach like his fathers. He had but few
opportunities for study, but he improved them all, and being a
^ood-natured speaker, received ordination as a minister. He
occasionally preached the Baptist doctrine for Elder Wheat.
His mind was so absorbed by his ministerial duties that he lived
and died a poor man in his own hired house. He was born about
1793, and died at Rumney at an advanced age.
On December 2, 1824, "Brother Ebenezer Clark was chosen
clerk, upon the resignation of brother Richard Clark." Then,
for several years up to July 30, 1830, Brother Ebenezer Clark,
who was a clothier at Factory Village, entirely neglected the
duties of his office, even if he had any to perform. During these
years the record shows that forty-three names were added to
the church. Several extensive revivals occurred among all classes
of people, but the fruits thereof were divided among the Metho-
dists and Congregationalists. The treasurer's book, 1827-1838,
in the handwriting of Daniel Blaisdell, who was treasurer for
many years, shows that several different preachers were hired
and paid for. From the resignation of Elder Wheat to Elder
John Peacock's call, preachers were hired by the Sunday. Elder
Jesse Coburn preached several times in 1827, and also in 1828 ;
Elder Mitchell preached in 1827, Elder Coombs in 1828, Elder
Hall in 1829, and Elder Coburn again in 1830 ; the church num-
bered 89 members. These men received from three to five dol-
lars a Sunday.
The Baptist Society from the time of the agreement with
Elder Wlieat, continued to pay its pastor by means of the assess-
ments, and in the manner laid down in that agreement. The
list of persons assessed for the year 1827, contains tliirty-five
names, some of whom were of other denominations than Baptist.
It amounted to $42.47. For the year 1828 the tax amounted to
$44.67 ; for 1829, the tax was $48.29 ; for 1830, $41.72 ; for 1831,
$34.65; for 1832, $34.09; for 1833, $80.84; for 1834, $108.93;
for 1836, $93.18, and for 1837, $66.05. In 1838 the number of
members had dwindled to eleven, and although a tax of $62.58
was levied, there was $22.16 abated. The clerk has added.
The Baptist Church. 193
"Josiah Clark, Nathaniel Oilman, Samuel Welch, John Fales,
jr, are not as it appears members of the Society." In 1839 the
tax raised was $34.55, with ten members; in 1841 the tax was
$12.14. This was the last tax assessed, against the following,
who were all that were left of the society: Joshua Currier,
Ensign Colby, David Currier, Samuel Gilman, Daniel Kimball,
Eben F. Currier, John Flanders, Benjamin Bradbury, Daniel W.
Chase, and William Chase. In 1829 there was a desire to have a
parsonage; some thought it would give the church a better
standing to provide their minister Mdth a place to live; that it
would be more of an inducement for a good man to come and
preach. Subscriptions were taken, ranging from fifty dollars
by Daniel Blaisdell, to two dollars by March Barber and Phineas
Eastman. The whole amount subscribed amounted to $477.50
by 44 different men, and the names of Congregationalists and
Methodists are found on the list. They purchased the land now
occupied by L. B. Hutchinson. The old parsonage house was
for many years occupied by Albert Pressey; after his death it
was sold and then torn down to give place to the present build-
ing. From January to June, 1830, Elder Nichol preached occa-
sionally.
On July 15, 1830, the record continues, ''voted unanimously,
that we give brother John Peacock a call to labor with us so long
as his labors may be thought profitable by himself and the
church, for to take pastoral care of the church, and receive ordi-
nation as an evangelist. ' '
The ordination was appointed to take place on the 25th of
August, following. Elder Wlieat at this time had become infirm
both from age and the hardships of his earlier life. He occa-
sionally preached, but the interests of the church seemed to re-
quire the presence of a more active man.
The exercises at the ordination of Mr. Peacock, August 25,
1880, were as follows: Prayer, by Rev. S. Coombs of New Ches-
ter; sermon, by Eev. Oeorge Evans of New Hampton, from II
Tim. 6:5. "Do the work of an evangelist"; ordaining prayer,
by Elder Joseph Wlieat ; charge, by Rev. Shub. Tripp of Camp-
ton ; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Noah Nichols of Rumney ;
concluding prayer, by Rev. Amos Foster of Canaan. The con-
ference minutes of the Meredith association to which Canaan
14
194 History of Canaan,
belonged, says this year : ' ' The ancient church is no longer with-
out one to take her by the hand. ' '
Mr. Peacock was a man of earnest piety, of great activity and
full to overflowing with magnetic persuasion. He started out so
hopefully enthusiastic, that young and old flocked to listen to
him. Religion became respectable and was much sought after
in Canaan. And under liis leadership the church realized her
greatest prosperity. The congregation was increased by the at-
tendance of persons in the habit of staying at home ; the singing
was greatly improved, a lively Sabbath-school sprang up, and
members were added to the church, sixty-five, of whom forty-
nine were by baptism. It was noted, too, as a good sign, that
several chronic difficulties were cured, and it was believed for-
ever settled.
Mr. Peacock remained here two short years, far too short for
the prosperity of the church; and then he began his wanderings
as an evangelist, which did not cease until he was called home,
full of honor, at a ripe old age. His memory remained green
among the old people long after his departure, who never ceased
to recall his labors here but ^vith expressions of love and rever-
ence. He was a nervous, uneasy, good man, full of sympathetic
magnetism and never could rest anywhere. His passion was to
be always correcting somebody. "Whatever else they did, every-
body in his range must "come to Jesus and be baptized." A
great many did not escape him. He seems to have stopped about
everywhere in New England, preaching and praying and sin-
cerely believing that to be his chief aim in life. He was an
earnest, well-meaning man. and the world esteemed him good.
Below are a few extracts copied from the records of the
church :
Sept. 15; 1832, Elder Peacock has preached with us two years and ten
months, and now thinks it his duty to go to some other place. Voted
to dismiss Elder Peacock and companion, and recommend them to the
church in Danbury.
Then for a few months they were like sheep without a shep-
herd, and some went astray. The church numbered in 1832,
123 members.
March 1833. Gave Elder George Evans, a call to come and live with
us and Mr. Peacock.
The B^vptist Church. 195
Sunday May 1. 1833. Elder George Evans was recognised as pastor
of this church, and minister for the congregation, and received the
Right hand of Fellowship from Elder Cheney. We hope that Elder
Evans' labors with us may be blest of God to the awakening up of the
church, and the conversion of many sinners.
This is the honest prayer of the pious clerk Jonathan Swan,
To all which we say Amen, and may the conversion stick !
May 30. 1833, was the monthly meeting. Brethren and sisters related
their experiences in the church. It is a low time although some are
happy and rejoicing in the Lord.
There was a grievance with brother Moses Hadley, with whom we
labored awhile, but getting no satisfaction his case was waived for the
present. And then we took measures to increase the interest in the
Sabbath school.
After waiting one month in prayerful consideration of our griev-
ance with Brother Moses Hadley, on the 31st. of June. "We voted to
withdraw the Hand of Fellowship from him and from bro. Moses Had-
ley 3rd, also.
The business affairs of the church had been neglected, but this
year they appear to receive special attention.
We taxed ourselves to support the table and other church expenses,
and appointed Bro. B. Bradbury to collect and expend it.
"^e taxed ourselves $60 to repair the parsonage and appointed
Jonathan Swan and Bailey Welch to expend it.
During the year several brethren were given letters to join
other sister churches. John and Sarah Fales to Lyme. "Bro.
Isaac ]\Ierrill was recommended to any other church of our faith
and order." Joshua and Dorothy- Merrill recommended to the
church in Lowell. And "Sylvia Merrill having related her
Christian experience before us, she was, on Sunday, November
10, baptised in the name of the Lord, in Hart Pond."
From this time on, until near the close of the next year, our
friend, the clerk of this venerable church, was too busy with
Avorldly affairs to write up his records. He simply tells us that
Elkanah Phillips, and Jonson Welch and Elihu Derby were
received by letter. And on "December 17. 1834, Sarepta Currier
was received into our fellowship by baptism" and in the waters
of Hart's Pond, cold as the baths of Apollo, she sealed her faith.
At a church conference held this month, "but few were present."
The sisters held a prayer meeting while we retired to talk about
arreages, It was then made known that several bi'ethren were get-
196 History of Caxaax.
ting out into tlie bigliway of tlie world, and tliat we must send out
guides to lead them in. Elder Geo. Evans was appointed to visit bro.
J. L. Richardson, and some others who were using unfriendly and un-
christian words in relation to the colored pupils of the newly opened
Noyes Academy. It was also voted to admonish brothers, Amos and
John Kinne, Eliphlet Gilman. Bartlett Bryant, Richard Clark, and sis-
ters Rhoda and Sarah Blaisdell and sister Cole of Orange.
We also voted to give Joshua Currier ji', a letter of approbation as
a preacher.
Joshua E. Currier, was son of Deacon Joshua and ]\Iary Cur-
rier, born 1812 ; was converted and baptized by Elder Peacock,
studied for the Baptist pulpit, preached many years successfully
in the West, and during his later life, preached occasionally at
East Canaan.
For a vear, — a vear of srriefs to the brethren on account of
the tumults and riots incited by wicked men, and joined in by
many of our members, who seem to have forgotten God and all
their covenant obligations, and with hearts filled with malice and
wickedness, are striving to harm those who do not think mth
them. Perhaps God will soften their hearts and bring them
humbly to see their errors, and with that hope, we will blot out
the record of one full year, 1835. The church membership de-
creased from 138 in 1834, its highest record to 113.
January 1. 1836, It has been a very low time with the church, the
year that is past. In Nov. the church held a protracted meeting and.
the Lord as we trust met with us and revived the hearts of some of
his people. And some sinners appeared to be anxious to know that
they would be saved.
At this time "Mr. Sewall Kinne, a young man of earnest con-
victions, was invited to improve his gifts in preaching. And
brother Evans was appointed to convey this invitation to him."
Mr. Kinne was son of Luther and Esther Kinne, born in 1809,
studied at New Hampton, was ordained at Jefferson, where he
labored three years ; then preached two years in Dorchester, two
years in Danbury, then two and a half years in "Weare. He then
moved to Groton, where he preached twelve years. After that,
for three years, he preached in the schoolhouse in the Gates dis-
trict half the time. He died in Groton, August 19, 1872. A man
of good abilities, much respected for his equable and harmless
Ufe.
The Baptist Church. 197
The church voted "that it was the duty of the brethren who
remove so far away that they cannot attend with us, to write
letters and let us know their condition in spiritual things." On
"April 28, 1836, Voted to give Elder George Evans and Mrs.
Cliloe Evans, a letter of dismission." Mr. Evans had labored
here acceptably to the people, but to him it was a strain and
trial, because during his years here, the thoughts of the people
were far away from religion. Many things operated to dis-
courage him. He asked dismission that he might go and labor
in more congenial fields.
On June 30, Elder Harrison W. Strong and his wife, Serena,
were received into the church. He occupied the pulpit about ten
months, when he received a letter of dismission. It does not ap-
pear that Mr. Strong, by his preaching and example, left any
deep impress upon the scene of his labors, and he left because
many members of the church appeared to know more than he
did. During this year the hand of fellowship was withdrawn
from several brethren, others "were admonished for neglecting
their covenant obligations, by absenting themselves from public
worship and for refusing to bear any of the burdens of the
church." Committees were appointed to visit various other
derelict brethren and ascertain the state of their minds.
At a church meeting in November, Deacon Currier presented
a grievance, which had been presented before, on account of cer-
tain members assisting in the mo\dng and suppression of the
Noyes Academy. "Talked the matter over a little, with some
feeling. Got no satisfaction, brethren defiant, and unchristian.
Adjourned the meeting two weeks." On the "8th of December
We met and talked the matter over again, but the trials are not
removed," and were not. until death closed over the graves of
all the actors in that wild, sad scene. Eight months pass by
and more grievances are presented. ' ' Grief seems now to be the
chief virtue in the church. If it ^vill only purify our hearts, and
make us humble! Kind and courteous!"
Sept. 7. 1837 at 9 o'clock in the morning, the meeting was opened
with prayer, and then the brethren appointed to effect a settlement of
a trial between four of the brethren, that after much persuasion and
prayerful labor with the grieved brethren, the trial was taken out of
the way. And the church expressed their satisfaction by unanimously
rising to confirm the same, and when we had sung a hymn we ad-
journed.
198 History of Canaan.
It would have been more satisfactory had the names been
written of those whose griefs ' ' had been taken out of the way. ' '
The next record is a wail for help. "Our lamps are burning
dimly because the oil is not replenished. ' '
August 1. 1838, The church has for a long time been wading through
trials, many and severe. Elder Boswell, has preached a part of the
time with us this year. But we are now destitute and the Lord only
can tell what may become of us.
This looks as if faith was weak, and trust not strong. Cheer
up brother; day will break, and we shall have a glorious resur-
rection morning !
On the 24th of September, 1838, a council met for the ordina-
tion of Brother Joshua Currier, Jr., as an evangelist, with inten-
tion of serving as a missionary in the West. The council was
composed of delegates from the churches in Dorchester, Orange,
Grafton, Hill, Rumney, Alexandria, and Hanover. The candi-
date having related his Christian experiences, his call to the min-
istry and his views of Bible doctrine, the council voted their
satisfaction and proceeded to ordain him, assigning the parts as
follows: Reading the Scriptures, Bro. V. E. Bunker; in-
troductory prayer, Bro. D. W. Burrows ; sermon, Bro. Henry
Tonkin ; consecrating prayer, Bro. J. Clement ; charge, Bro. E.
Crockett; concluding prayer, Bro. L. Conant ( Congregation-
alist) ; benediction, by the candidate. Not a note of music is
mentioned. Was none heard? Did those solemn brethren be-
lieve a man could be properly set apart for the service of God
Avithout a hymn or an anthem? It looks like it; and the town
full of great harmonious voices ! Where was Moses and Norman ?
Jan 10 1839 the church related their experiences with some good
feeling, Elder Palmer C. Himes and his wife Adelphi W. Himes were
received into fellowship, and bro. Himes is recognised as Pastor of the
church.
The membership has decreased to 97.
"Lydia Flint was received into fellowship by baptism,"
through a hole in the ice. In March, Hannah Welch, Hannah
Cilley, and Mary Bradbury, were received into fellowship by
baptism, through a hole in the ice.
In April "there is a growing interest among the members.
The Baptist Church. 199
Our congregation has considerably increased since Bro. Himes
has preached to us. ' '
In November the church related their experiences and then
"voted to A\ithdraw the hand of fellowship from Hannah Cilley
on account of immoral conduct. ' ' This is the Hannah who only
last ;March. went down under the cold waters through the ice.
Our good clerk should have added that "Hannah's immoral con-
duct" consisted in dancing all night to the music of a fiddle.
Mr. Himes continued to preach here until May 5, 1842. Dur-
ing his ministry a good degree of union was established. Some
warnings were given to "derelict" brethren, but on the whole,
he left an honored name behind him and departed with the
prayers of all the brethren for his future happiness.
July 3 1842 the Methodists preached iu the meeting house The Bap-
tists met in the school house for a conference, and agi'eed to have a
monthly meeting July 7th. This is the first time in many months the
church have met. Brother Charles R. Nichols is with us now.
On the 7th "we met and were revived a little. We invited
Brother Nichols to preach to us a few Sabbaths." Mr. Nichols
remained and preached through the year, gi\ang much pleasing
instruction to the congregation. On the 18th of January, 1843,
he was ordained as an evangelist. Almost every meeting of the
church developed the fact that many of the brethren were more
or less human. Was the standard of morals and piety of life
placed too high, so that these everyday men and women, who
were always in the way of the temptations of business and social
pleasures, could not attain to it ? We fear so. Their covenants,
vows and church obligations, composed of platitudes and high
sounding phrases, which few of them could comprehend, very
soon ceased to have binding effect upon their minds. They
seized upon this religion with the firm determination to hold on
during life. Sober reflection afterwards failed to comince
them that their hearts were much different from their old life,
and so they fell away from their vows and became merely men
and women as before.
On the 29th of January, 1843, it was just previous to the
destruction of the world under the preaching of William Miller,
when comets were blazing across the heavens, and the lights
were dancing coldly in the North, three persons offered them-
200 History of Caxaax.
selves for baptism. They went through the ice into the cold
waters underneath, and came out baptized in the name of the
Lord. Before this event, their lives had not been exemplary,
not always kind neighbors, nor altogether honest, but fairish
sort of people. It was hoped they might grow to be better.
They attended church services faitlifully for a season, bearing
some burdens, but they proved after all they had endured to be
merely human, and in seven months one was dropped and the
other two ex-communicated from the church for a wilful neglect
of all covenants, vows and obligations, and never afterwards was
there any suspicions that these persons might have been Chris-
tian brethren. "Who were these? Ah. they have gone with the
great majority !
March 9, 1843. a committee reported upon their visit to Bro.
Peter Wells and Bro. Nathan Gould. Then voted to withdraw
the hand of fellowship from Brother Wells for total neglect of
the church, and all its interests, "but we voted to bear with
Brother Gould two weeks longer, hoping he may accomplish some
of his promises." Brother Nichols prepared a temperance
pledge for the church, but a large number of the brethren were
not prepared to sign it. Finally, on the 10th of April, "having
exhausted all argument out of self-respect, as well as from duty
to God and this church, we withdraw the hand of fellowship from
Bro. Nathan Gould for his continued neglect of all the ordinances
of the church."
On the 20tli of April, a few of the brethren met for prayer and con-
ference, ajid the Lord was with us. The snow being deep in drifts
hinders some from attending. Dea. Currier got his horse into a drift
and had to leave the road in coming to meeting.
At a church meeting held June 29. 1843, ''after some talk,
mostly against it, we voted nearly unanimously to withdraw the
hand of fellowship from slaveholders and from slaveholding
churches, believing it a wicked violation of God's law, to hold a
man in bondage."
In September ''the religious temperature of the church is very
low. Several are finding fault with Bro. Nichols, our young
minister. And we are not agreed as we ought to be. Looks as
though we might be destitute again."
On the 4th of October "Brother Peacock returned among us,.
The Baptist Church. 201
full of zeal for the jMaster's service, and as he proposed to re-
main A\dth us a few days, we became hopeful for the good he
might do us." He soon began a protracted meeting which was
continued for twelve days.
Mauy of the church members are quickened in their minds. Sinners
were solemn and expressed desire for religion. Things are in a low
state. The meetings at first were thinly attended, but increased in
numbers and interest. Brother Peacock preached twenty-four sermons
and attended twenty-four prayer meetings. Had evidence of the pres-
ence of God. Professors were revived, old hopes strengthened, evils cor-
rected and good impressions made on the people. Some became anxious
about their souls and one indulged hope. Had this meeting continued
much good would have resulted. This church has been destitute of
preaching for a long time and is very much discouraged.
Twenty- four sermons, and twenty-four prayer meetings ; and
only one to indulge a hope ! Seems as if the labor was not pro-
portioned to the harvest gathered in.
At the meeting in November, Bro. Benjamin Bradbury was
chosen to the office of deacon, the honors of which office he wore
with dignity and humble faith to the day of his death.
During the year 1844 church meetings were held irregularly.
The attendance was small, but generally union and harmony
prevailed. They had no preacher, but Brother Cutting of Lyme
occasionally occupied the pulpit.
In 1845 the report is about the same, very friendly and united,
"but we are like those who sleep. Brother Walker preached
to us occasionally until July, when we were left without preach-
ing. ' '
The year 1846 is not distinguished for any lively signs of
awakening. ''Church meetings were held regularly during the
year once in two weeks. There was union among those who met,
but the number of these is quite small, and easy to count. ' ' The
same may be repeated about the year 1847. Once a spasm of life
seized the brethren. A special meeting was called at Sister
Bartlett's,
To consider the expediency of establishing i-egular meetings on the
Sabbath. A proposition was received from the agent of the Baptist
State Convention to assist the church in sustaining preaching, if the
church thought there was sufficient encouragement to ask such aid.
After a full and free discussion of the subject, it was voted to ask for
the proffered assistance.
202 History of Canaan.
But we are left in ignorance of the further action of
either party. There were, however, some very lively Baptists
here at that time and it is fair to suppose that they had preach-
ing. The conference minutes for this year report: ''We are
without a pastor; prospects discouraging; preaching only few
Sabbaths; meetings held for prayer and conference, first Thurs-
day of every month. They still pray, 0 Lord, revive thy work!"
During the next three years the records are not written, but
it is certain that the church was held together by frequent meet-
ings, and they had occasional preaching. They were too feeble
to venture to promise a salary to any preacher. During the
year 1851, the church met irregularly with small attendance,
and not much enthusiasm. Elder J. Clements preached one
fourth of the time. It was a weary year for the brethren, as
was also the year following, when tired of trials, admonitions
and warnings, the church nearly collapsed.
The year 1853 is marked by three distinct records, which are
as follows :
July 9. A few of the members met to renew their covenant obliga-
tions and to consult about sustaining preaching. Brother Eastman
Preaches half the time for the present.
Aug. 2. After conference voted to send a letter to the Association,
by Brother Eastman.
Mrs. Hinkson brought trial against Mrs. Gates. Voted to admonish
Mrs. Gates.
Sept. 3. Church met and accepted the letter to the Association.
Sisters Gates and Hinkson were brought forward, and talked upon it
awhile. Then agreed to drop it, and forgive each other, and never
meddle with it again, and shook the friendly hand at the close of the
meeting.
Then for fourteen years the records of the Baptist Church are
blank. The good clerk, wearied of writing the same phase over
again and again, and so he wrote nothing at all.
In 1859 Elder J. Clements preached part of the time.
In 1867 the church was reorganized at East Canaan. After
great trials, an elegant church edifice was built; a corner-stone
was laid with solemn pomp in the southeast corner, and it was
dedicated in June, 1872, Rev. Doctor Gardner preaching the
sermon. It lingered along almost exhausted for many years,
making no history worth recording. At the time of Rev. E. M.
The Baptist Church. 203
Fuller's pastorate, new life was infused into it, and grew under
liis ministrations, but since its reorganization, it has not been
strong enough, financially, to support a preacher for any length
of time. There have been intervals when it has been without.
Freewell Baptist Church.
David Cross was born in Wilmot, lived in Canaan many years
on the Clifford farm ; was an elder when he came here and was
instrumental in organizing the Freewell Baptist Church of
Canaan and Orange. On the 12th of January, 1828, "twelve
precious souls met togather at his house and took the right hand
of fellowship as a church by signing the creed. ' ' In connection
with his name and because of his influence in organizing the
church here, the following simple story is copied from the rec-
ords of that lively church :
There were a few Freewell Baptist families from different churches
that took up their abode in Canaan and Orange about the year 1825,
and there being no church of their order there they felt to go alone
until such times as would be convenient for them to have a church or
branch of a church that they could unite with in full fellowship, so that
they could enjoy all the privileges that belong to God's house in a free
and open manner, believing that God owns such for his people.
Those brethren feeling as if the time of gathering a church was
drawing nigh, appointed the 4th day of July 1827, to meet and see if
they could have meetings set up for the purpose of declaring the deal-
ings of God towards them, and that they might be help-meets to each
other through life.
When met they agreed to spend the afternoon of each second Satur-
day, of each month as follows, — for each one to meet where they
could be accommodated and declare the state of their minds views
trials and determinations for the encouragement of each other, — be-
lieving God will own and bless them in such meetings, for as he says,
"where two or three are gathered together," etc, and Paul says, "forsake
not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is
but exhort one another so much the more as ye see the day approach-
ing."
At length the Lord began to pour out his spirit upon the hearts of
his people, in such a manner that sinners began to cry for mercy,
backsliders awoke, and saints rejoice in God the Rock of their salva-
tion.
In short our numbers began to increase so that when met for monthly
meeting in the house of brother David Cross on Jan. 12. 1828, there
were twelve precious souls that took the right hand of fellowship as a
204 History of Caxaax.
Church, to be called the First Freewell Baptist church of Canaan and
Orange.
The church flourished; it gathered into its brotherhood more
than one hundred members. It has never had a place for public
worship, but its full-blooded activity has been felt by other
churches. For many years it was the liveliest of them all and
held more members than all the others. One reason for its suc-
cess is doubtless its freedom from covenants, and the small cost
of maintaining its organization. The elders take what is given
them of the small collections made; they build no houses, but
preach in schoolhouses, forests or other convenient places. It is
a marvelous system of worship, and has great fascination for
that large portion of the people who wish for cheap and lively
religion. The schoolhouses have been croAvded with attentive
listeners, and scarcely a week would pass without conversions fol-
lowed by baptisms, witnessed by large numbers of spectators.
It works among the people who have little time to read and think
for themselves and draws them all within its folds.
Of all its preachers and elders, no one deserves more credit
than Elder Solomon Cole of Lebanon, who for years in summer
and winter drove his horse from Lebanon to Factory Village to
show sinners the path to God. Through a long life, devoted to
that religion, his was always the hand held out to any who
asked; a man of means, with a large business that required his
constant care, some part of each week saw him exhorting his
brethren in stentorian tones to praise the Lord. I do not believe
he ever wrote a sermon; his words came naturally from a heart
full to overflo\Aing. Unmindful of interruptions, he never
failed to carry the con^dction that he was an earnest man. Col-
lections were sometimes taken for him to buy him a new hat for
instance, but that like all others, went to the poor and needy.
He preached because he liked to, and no obstacle was too great,
no storm too severe for Elder Cole. As sure as Kelley *s Hall was
to be packed to its doors, so sure was Elder Cole to be there. He
preached in the schoolhouse, — anywhere the people asked him.
All who knew him admired him. He was sincere, and the word of
a sincere, honest man, whom the people believe to be such, goes
farther than gold or riches. I remember distinctly of one in-
cident, when I wanted to buy some clapboards of him. He said :
The Baptist Church. 205
' ' I will guarantee those to be clear ; as to those, I will guarantee
there is not a good one in the bunch." He died April 3, 1902.
The following are some of the men who preached this faith:
Joseph Flagg, born in Grafton about 1799 ; was an original mem-
ber of this church; he was ordained in 1831, in company with
Job C. Tyler, by the Weare Quarterly Conference ; married Re-
lief Springer, daughter of Henry ; he is represented as a man of
good talents, a very effective preacher, sincere and true in his
friendships and attachments ; he died in Vermont some years ago.
John Sweat was born in Gilmanton in 1813 ; he was the son of
Xathan. who for many years lived on the old Clifford farm; he
and Otis Willis of Hanover, married daughters of ]\Ioses Law-
rence, studied for the ministry, and were ordained together about
the year 1840; Mr. Sweat labored acceptably many years in
northern Vermont, and then went to live "wdth his daughter in
Hanover. Job Colman Tyler, son of Job and Ann (Pike) Tyler,
born ]\Iarch 1, 1799. a man of slight education, but very confid-
ing and intimate with God; he was very sympathetic and emo-
tional, always earnest and interesting, and in his prayers and
exhortations seemed to be standing in the immediate Presence;
he had a strong desire to be counted an elder, because his perfect
trust in God would give him more strength to help heavy-laden
sinners lift the cross; he was ordained by the Weare Quarterly
Conference in company with Joseph Flagg in 1831 ; his ill health
was a bar to his being settled in the ministry, because he could
not assume its cares and responsibilities; he was several times
chosen pastor of the church in Canaan and Orange, and so far
as he was able, performed its duties acceptably; he was often
called to weddings, to the sick bed, to funerals, and though not
great at preaching, his prayers were wonderful for elasticity and
confidence; he lived to be an old man, and died in Canaan,
September 1, 1879, at the age of 80 years and six months.
Nathan Jones was born in Wilmot, September 1. 1818; he
came to Canaan in January, 1845, and was for a greater part of
his life a resident of the town; was ordained an elder in ]\Iay,
1847, at Weare; from that time on he preached in Wilmot,
Canaan and Orange, until his death at Campton, January 13,
1894 ; he established a hammer shop on the stream that runs out
of Hart's Pond and worked at that trade for many years; he
206 History of Canaan.
Avas a close reasoner and a good debater, and was respected for
liis sincerity and perseverance; he married, first, Polly C. Bailey
of Newbury, with whom he lived nine years; he then married
Mary A. Gile of this toi^Ti, and was the father of six children.
Elder George Davis, born in 1812, died in 1872; he attained
to the name of ''Shouting Davis"; he was an irrepressible Chris-
tian, and his hea^y voice startled many a worshiper, who was
quietly listening to the preacher.
CHAPTER XV.
The Congregational Church.
In 1795 four Congregationalists of this town joined the Rev.
Eden Burroughs' church at East Hanover. In 1799 the town
wished to settle Rev. Ezra "Wilmarth as preacher, but the church
refused to conform and the town voted to raise no money for
preaching, which was a set-back for the long-winded deacons.
^Meantime Rev. Aaron Cleveland of Norwich, had arrived here
to visit Connecticut friends. He preached in the unfinished meet-
ing house. He was a Congregationalist, as were many of the
settlers from Connecticut. They offered j\Ir. Cleveland $105 and
150 acres of land, half of the Minister's Right under the charter,
to come and be their preacher. It was not much of a tempta-
tion to the old gentleman, and when he left town he had raised
such desires in the hearts of the brethren of his faith that they
sent a committee to Hanover to lay their hopes and desires before
the church in that town. As a result of this day's work, Rev.
Eden Burroughs and one of his deacons came over to Canaan,
where they found thirteen persons willing to enter into cove-
nant relations as Congregationalists, after which they were con-
stituted a branch of the Hanover church, and this relation con-
tinued until the spring of 1803, then Doctor Burroughs and Rev.
Mr. Dickenson of Meriden, came here and the "branch" w^as
lopped off from Hanover and became the Congregational Church
of Canaan. Joshua Pillsbury was the first deacon. This church
was never self-sustaining, even in its best days. It was always
a beneficiary of the New Hampshire Missionary Society. During
several years the church enjoyed preaching by missionaries and
neighbor preachers. Rev. Curtis Coe used to come up here from
Newmarket and spend a few weeks, preaching in the meeting
house, for each denomination had to use it; laboring lo\ingly
without pay or the hope of reward in this world. After him,
Rev. Broughton White come occasionally and preached pure
Congregational truth to the people. The labors of these men
were acceptable and fruitful. Additions were made to the
208 History of Canaan.
church, which gave the brethren courage and confidence to go
on with their work.
In 1814, Mr. Rolfe preached to them half of the time and a
part of 1815. The church then consisted of thirty members. In
1819 there was a strong feeling to form a society, to which any
and all persons could belong, of any denomination, like the Bap-
tists had done, its object being to assist the church in the
management of its affairs in a worldly way. Accordingly appli-
cation was made to the legislature for a charter, which was
approved on June 17, 1819, incorporating the ''First Congrega-
tional Society of Canaan." The incorporators were Amos
Gould, Elias Porter, Charles Walworth, Joshua Pillsbury, Joshua
Pillsbury, Jr., "and their associates and those who may here-
after be associated with them." They were incorporated into
a "religious society for the support of the gospel ministry, with
all the powers and privileges usually enjoyed by corporations of
a similar character and with the power of holding any estate,
the annual income of which shall not exceed $1200." "Any
person may join by signing the book of records and may leave
the same by giving six months notice, and discharging all taxes
legally assessed on him and his proportion of all debts con-
tracted by the society during his membership." Money could
only be raised at an annual meeting. The first meeting was
held at Dole's Tavern, August 12, 1819. Amos Gould was
moderator, Timothy Tilton clerk and Daniel Hovey treasurer.
Jacob Trussell, Elias Porter and Amos Gould were the first as-
sessors. The ten articles of the by-laws were read and adopted.
The next meeting was at the meeting house on March 6, 1820,
when they adjourned to James Wallace's. Jacob Trussell was
chosen collector and $60 was voted to be raised to ' ' hire preach-
ing." Elias Porter, Amos Gould and Samuel Noyes were
chosen a committee on preaching. On September 4, 1820, the
committee were empowered to engage Rev. Charles Calkins to
preach one year.
The names of the members of the society for that year were as
follows :
Amos Gould Josiali Barber, 2d
Elias Porter Moses Dole
Samuel Noyes Joshua Pillsbury
Charles Walworth Joshua Pillsbury, Jr.
The Congregational Church.
209
Timothy Tilton
Nathau How (Enfield)
Wm. Atliertou
Daniel B. Whittier
David Gould
Jacob Dow
Joshua Blaisdell
Samuel Sanders
Joseph Bartlett
Alfred Porter
Bartlett Hoyt
Abraham Pushee
Nathaniel Currier
Shubel Towle
Mathew Greeley
James Wallace
Joshua Harris
Abraham Kimball
James Blaisdell
Robert Hoyt
Levi Bayley
Elijah Blaisdell
Jacob Trussell
Jacob Richardson
John Hoyt
Daniel Hovey
Abram Page
Richard Otis
Nathaniel Derby
Thomas Wood (Orange)
James Eastman
The amount of money assessed against these men was $61.05.
And the collector was to "collect the same in case of refusal as
the law directs. ' '
On November 22, 1819, a tract society was formed with Dea.
Amos Gould as moderator and Josiah Barber, 2d, clerk. It was
called the ' ' Canaan Moral and Religious Tract Society, Auxiliary
to the N. E. Tract Society." Any one could become a member by
paying twenty-five cents ; the object was to distribute tracts.
Nearly all the subscribers were Congregationalists. Amos Gould,
Josiah Barber, 2d, Joseph Bartlett, Elias Porter, Richard Otis,
Jacob Trussell, Benjamin Trussell, and their wdves. James
Blaisdell, Charles Walworth, Jolm Hoyt, Robert Hoyt, Joshua
Pillsbury^ Jr., Polly Lathrop, Ephraim Noyes, George Richard-
son, David Richardson, Jacob Dow, Joshua Richardson, Jr.,
Thomas Wood, Timothy Tilton and his wife, Persis F. Austin,
Anna Richardson.
Rev. Charles Calkins came in 1820, he had been preaching in
Salisbury; Mrs. Hubbard Harris, his cousin, heard him there in
1819. on her wedding journey; he was a son of John P. Calkins,
one of the early settlers on South Road. He was not a great
man. and was too much afflicted with nerves to be successful as
a teacher and evangelist. The old Baptists of Canaan were not
men of refinement, nor were they apt to choose soft words in
reference to rival ministers. As a class they saw no good in
anything but baptism, all other isms w^re to be talked about
14
210 History of Canaan.
and treated with contempt. They never missed an occasion to
speak sharp words of Mr. Calkins and his church, thus en-
gendering annoyance and ill-feeling. Mr. Calkins remained
about four years, bearing as he thought a heavy burden all the
time.
John Farmer, in the New Hampshire Gazetteer of 1823, says of
Canaan: "There is a small Congregational Church, of which
Rev. Charles Calkins is pastor."
In 1823 he decided that preaching was not his strong point,
and his relations with the church were brought to a close without
regret on either side. For several months after this event there
was no Congregational preaching in Canaan. ]\Ir. Calkins en-
gaged Mr. Trussell to go with him to Waterbury, Vt., and build
a sawmill, the pay being contingent upon the success of the
mill. Wlien it was completed and ready to operate there came
a great rain, the swollen river crowded against the mill and car-
ried it off. This catastrophe, Mr. Calkins received as a demon-
stration of God's anger for abandoning His peculiar service. He
returned for a time to New Hampshire and preached in Bos-
cawen, but he was unsuccessful there also. He had evidently
mistaken his calling, and discouraged by his continued ill-suc-
cess, started out upon what was then a perilous undertaking, a
journey into the unsettled West. He reached western Pennsyl-
vania and there we lose all trace of him.
In the New England Conference minutes, Canaan belonged to
the Orange Association and in 1824 appears as a separate
church, but no pastor. The number of church members is given
as 34. Rev. Broughton Wliite came occasionally to preach and
when the brethren could do no better they waited upon the serv-
ices of Elder Wheat. There was a young man in Hanover who
had just completed his studies and was waiting for an opening
to preach. Mr. Wliite sent him over here in the spring of 1824.
He was about here more than a year, gaining friends by his sin-
cerity, his pleasant ways, his refined manners and the Christian
graces which adorned his life everywhere. Even those rough
natures that saw only pride and dandyism inside of a nice fitting
suit of clothes, withheld their surly remarks when they became
acquainted with the sentiments which governed the life of Amos
Foster. On his first visit. ]\Ir. Foster rode horseback from Han-
The Congregational Church. 211
over to Canaan, arriving here on Saturday afternoon. He
stopped at the house of James Wallace, whose wife was an ardent
Congregationalist. He found there also Mrs. Jacob Trussell,
whose husband was the miller at the callage. He accompanied
Mrs. Trussell to her house. The next morning Elder Wheat came
plodding along on his way to church. ]Mr. Trussell hailed him
with the remark : ' ' Elder, I 've got a young man here from Han-
over and he will preach for you a part of the day, if you like ? ' '
''Ha! wa'al," replies the elder, "le' me see," and turning
shortly about, he went into the house without rapping, and
without removing his hat or waiting for an introduction, ad-
dressed the young minister with: "Wa'al, W'hat part of the day
do you want to preach ? " " Oh, the part that will suit j^ou best. ' '
was the modest reply. The elder took a full survey of the young
inan, and Mithout making any further remarks started on his
way. But he lingered at the door of the church, talking with the
people, until Mr. Foster arrived, when the elder went to him
and said abruptly: "I guess you'd better preach all day, if
you want to," and escorted him into the pulpit, w^here he sat all
day listening, declining to take any part in the exercises. The
old man was greatly pleased, and afterwards displayed all the
friendliness he was capable of feeling during their lives. The
old man was very opinionated, and never was kno^^Ti to own up
that he was wrong in anything. As a general rule, he despised
"edication." He "never had no larnin'; he was like the 'postles
whom Christ selected for their ignorance, and thought he Vnew
he could get closer up to God than coUege-larnt men, because
his head and heart wan't full of dictionary words and high no-
tions that only make men proud." "He'd preached the gospel
nigh on to forty year and Bible larnin' was all he could make
any use of. ' '
The elder when once he commenced his ser\ices, was oblivious
to all outside influences. He had a great sonorous voice that re-
bounded from the sounding-board above him and filled every cor-
ner of the house. Once in that spacious pulpit, and he had
neither ears nor eyes, nor the perception of time, till his subject
was exliausted. The galleries were w^ell filled with singers,
young people from all over town, who came to Elder Wlieat's
meeting to have a good time singing his long psalms, and whis-
212 History of Canaan.
pering together during his long prayers and longer sermons. But
on this occasion their levity and playfulness annoyed Mr. Fos-
ter, and nearly interrupted the services. He supposed they
might be laughing at him, but when he learned they were only
engaged in their usual pastime, he thought the matter over, and
concluded to give these young persons some good advice. Not
long afterwards the elder invited him to preach again, and this
time he took for his text the famous paragraph: "Rejoice, 0
young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the
days of thy youth, ' ' etc. It is said to have been a very excellent
sermon, and was addressed very pointedly to the gallery, so
that for a time they were shamed into a decent observance of
the proprieties of the place. But tliey pretended also to be very
much annoyed at the rebuke administered to them. To show
their resentment and to make the minister and the congregation
feel it also, — they all stayed out of the seats in the afternoon
and there was no singing, neither was there any disturbance.
This event afforded a whole week's gossip for the town, and it
was improved to such good advantage that before Sunday came
around again, the principal singers went to Mr. Foster and
apologized for their rudeness. And he ever afterguards had good
singing and attentive listeners. The arguments and teachings of
that sermon had a life-long influence upon the life and conduct
of at least one man. Old people tell us of the early life of Jo-
seph Dustin, how his days and years were a continued profane
riot, and that on all occasions he led the crowd when any viol-
ence was contemplated. He had always scorned religion and
laughed at the clumsy way Elder Wheat had of bringing souls
to God. There was nothing cheerful or lo^^ng or refined in his
religion, and his God was a good deal like himself, — without
* ' edication or larnin ', ' ' and rendered blind and deaf by his own
thunder. But here was a style of argument and refinement of
expression, in speaking of God's love to man, that arrested Jo-
seph Dustin 's attention and struck such deep conviction into
his mind that it was time for him to begin a new life. It was
not long afterwards that he became a professed Christian and a
praying man, and for more than fifty years he did not fail to
proclaim his belief in the God who "took his feet from the hor-
rible pit and miry clay and placed them on the rock of Jesus
The Congregational Church. 213
Christ. ' ' But what created surprise was, that instead of uniting
with Mr. Foster's church, to whom he had always been much
attached, he should join the Methodists, after which he was al-
ways identified as one of the leading pillars. But this is readily
accounted for when we consider that his temperament was always
very demonstrative, and it is only among Methodists that religion
is allowed to fill a man bursting full, so that it runs over and
displays its happiness in shouts of Amen and hallelujah, and in
songs and praise. Mr. Foster was always earnest and there was
a gentle dignity in his manners that attracted all hearts to him,
but it was not common for his congregation to interrupt him with
shouts of approval.
On January 17, 1825, the committee of the church and so-
ciety sent a letter to Mr. Foster, giving him a call to be pastor
of the congregation, to which Mr. Foster on the 28th wrote this
reply :
Dear Brethren and Friends:
With no ordinarj' feelings of interest have I viewed the mysterious
and unexpected providences, which, at first, directed my steps to this
place; and with no less interest have I viewed those happy occurrences,
which have contributed to prolong my stay among you. At the com-
mencement and during the prosecution of my pi*eparatory and profes-
sional studies, it was my endeavor to place fully in view the solemn and
awfully responsible undertaking in which it was my object to engage.
And, when after having struggled with many and complicated embar-
rassments, which, through the interposition of a kind providence, I
was enabled to surmount, it pleased God to introduce me into the
Work of the Holy Ministry, I endeavored to give myself up to the
leadings of divine providence; that He, who orders all things rightly
and well, might make such a disposition of myself and my services as
should most subserve the promotion of His own Glory and the inter-
ests of his kingdom. Nor do I now wish to call back the surrender I
then made. If I do not greatly mistake my feelings, and the motives
by which I am governed, it is my great wish to pursue the path of duty,
without being governed by selfish or interested feelings — Wherever
the voice of providence calls, that voice I wish to obey. In relation to
the event in which my coming among you has resulted, I have only to
remark, that it is one of which I had not the most distant thought.
Of the wisdom of that providence however, which has directed to that
event, we must not have the presumption to entertain a doubt. He, who
orders all things after the counsel of his own will, knows what is best,
— and if he gives direction to all events, if the minutest occurrences do
not take place but by his preniission, and if not a sparrow falls to the
214 History of Canaak.
ground, without his notice, then it is a fact that all those circumstances
that have contributed to bring about this event, are under the im-
mediate government and direction of an all wise and over-ruling hand.
Shall the motions of this hand be disregarded? Shall those circum-
stances be attributed to the capricious operations of chance? Or shall
man presume to say that he can advise to a safer and better course
than here seems to be pointed out? If duty can be learned from the
leadings of providence in any cases, perhaps, it may be discovered in
this instance before us. I should not dare to oppose my judgment
against what here seems to be the plain and obvious dictates of the
divine hand. Another consideration has operated powerfully on my
own mind in relation to the subject of your communication, which is,
the high importance, that every town should enjoy the stated and
regular means of grace, and the necessity of making strenuous exer-
tions to supply destitute towns with these means. To the lovers of
vital godliness it must be delightful to discover the increasing inter-
est that is felt for the general prosperity of Religion. A deep sense of
the condition of millions of our race, who are destitute of a knowledge
of the Savior, seems to have been awakened; and altho' the means
brought into operation for the general diffusion of Christian light
thro the world, are very inadequate to the object to be accomplished,
yet laudable efforts have been made; and, that these efforts may be
continued, extended and increased, till the whole world shall be filled
with the knowledge of the Lord, must be the spontaneous effusion of
every pious heart. But while it is a matter of joy, that so much is
done for the advancement of religion abroad, still it must be obvious
that the claims of the destitute at home, should by no means be over-
looked. Those even in Christian lands, without the means of grace,
without repentance and faith, are in a condition equally as deplorable
as those who inhabit the deepest shades of heathenish darkness. To
cast an eye over the dreary wastes of our own domestic Zion, and view
the moral desolations, which sin has produced, must excite an anxious
sympathy for the inhabitants of those places. Many have been apprized
of the importance of doing something to repair those wastes, to supply
destitute flocks and congregations with the stated means of grace, that
the wilderness and solitary places within our own borders may be glad
and blossom as the rose.
The regular and systematic enjoyment of gospel means and ordi-
nances, furnishes the most efficient safeguard of moral principle; and of
course, is the best security of individual right. It induces sobriety
temperance, industry; and hence promotes peace, health, prosperity and
general happiness. That the gospel should therefore be supported in
every parish and town is of vital importance as to the temporal inter-
ests of the people. But when we look back at its influence on theii*
spiritual and eternal interests, none can possibly estimate its value.
It hence becomes very desirable that every parish and town should be
supplied with the stated administration of the word and ordinances of
The Congregational Church. 215
the gospel ; — and hence also, it becomes the duty of every well wisher
to human happiness to contribute his share in bringing about an event
so desirable. And when divine providence opens the way by which
one may be instrumental in accomplishing such an object, and renders
his duty obvious, who shall shrink from going forward in the cheerful
performance of this duty? With these views before me. My Brethren
and Friends, I, after a sober, deliberate and prayerful consideration of
the subject; and at the same time under a solemn sense of the obliga-
tions which I impose upon myself, and relying alone on the assistance
of divine grace to make me to discharge these obligations I am induced
to comply with the respectful invitation extended to me through your
committee to settle over you as your minister, in thus yielding to
your request, I can not but feel penetrated with a sense of my owTi
insufficency for the undertaking in which I consent to engage. Let
me entreat you to remember, that he, whom you have invited to be
your spiritual guide, is a frail, unworthy, sinful worm of the dust. He
therefore entreats an interest in your sympathies and prayers, in this
let him not be disappointed. His earnest supplications will ever be
engaged in your behalf. Many things, during my residence here, have
occurred, which have been the occasion of mutual rejoicing; and
created ties, which, I trust, the long lapse of eternity will only serve
to strengthen. Let it be our united prayers, that the connexion, which
may hereafter be formed may be crowned with still happier results.
Let us be duly impressed with a sense of the imperfection of human
nature, and be prepared to bring into exercise a spirit of mutual for-
bearance and forgiveness. Let every step in relation to this important
matter, be taken as in the near view of eternity; remembering, that we
are amenable, for our conduct, and the motives by which we are
actuated, at the tribunal of an omnipotent Jehovah. May we then find
that the solemn engagement into which we are about to enter shall
have met the divine approbation.
Wishing you grace, mercy and peace, I subscribe myself your
Brother and servant in the Lord.
Aiios Foster.
On IMarcli' 7, 1825, the society accepted of the doings of its
committee, John H. Harris, Moses Dole and Elijah Blaisdell, and
the contract they had made on February 28, 1825, with J\lr.
Foster. The committee appointed from the church on this oc-
casion to contract with ]\lr. Foster were Jacob Trussell, Elias
Porter and Samuel Drake. This contract provided to pay Mr.
Foster annually $250, for the term of five years, the first pay-
ment to be made on the first day of January, 1826. i\lr. Foster
agreed to assign to the committee ' ' for the benefit of said church
and society the subscriptions which have been heretofore made
216 History of Canaan.
to him, amounting to the sum of $200." ]\Ir. Foster was to re-
ceive any further sums from the New Hampshire ^Missionary
Society to an amount so as to make his salary $400. If the sums
received from the ^Missionary Society were not enough to make
his salary $400, he had the privilege to preach out of to^^•n, to an
extent so as to make up the $400, and no more.
Mr. Foster had married on the 29th of June, 1825, IMiss Har-
riet Amelia White, oldest daughter of Rev. Broughton White;
they lived in the house now occupied by ]Mrs. Caleb Blodgett.
The parsonage house was not fit for use, and was on the other
side of the street. He had to pay rent all the time he was here.
It was several times voted to pay his rent, but during all the
time he was here the church and society were in debt to him and
he left here with the society owing him. It is a wonder that Mr.
Foster, all through his long life should have entertained such
strong affection for the people of Canaan. Thej^ did not treat him
well ; in fact, they never really appreciated him. He came here
from school, in debt for his education. He lived here and worked
faithfully about nine years, and then his debt was not paid, —
was scarcely reduced — and when he left, he had borrowed
money from one of his brethren, who threatened to sue him if
it was not paid, — and suing a man without money in those
days, was to shut him up in jail. Up to that time our laws in
relation to debt were barbarous, relics of ages when poor men
had no rights and the grave was often more merciful than the
creditor. ]\Ir. Foster went from this town to Putney, Vt., and
it was friends in Putney who came to his relief when threatened
with such dangers.
No better description could be given of the condition of the
people and Mr. Foster's pastorate than that written by himself
and in his words, which is also a history of his life :
I was born in Salisbury, N. H., March 30, 1797, and was the son of
Richard and Esther (Jewell) Foster. When I was one year old my
parents removed to Hanover, N. H., where I spent most of the early
years of my life. From my childhood I was in the habit of attending
public worship, and this habit with the teachings of a pious mother
deeply impressed upon my mind a sense of the reality and importance
of religion. In the spring of 1815 there was a revival in Hanover under
the ministry of Rev. Josiah Towne; in that revival, I trust, I embraced
religion, and on the first Sabbath of January, 1816, I made a public
The Congregational Church. 217
confession. Then my thoughts turned to the question of becoming a
miui^iter of the gospel, but want of means stood in my way. Kimball
Union Academy was opened about this time, with a considerable fund
for the express purpose of assisting indigent students in the pursuit of
an education for the ministry. In the spring of 1816 I entered that
institution as one of its beneficiaries. In 1818 I entered Dartmouth
College and graduated in 1822. During my college course I was assisted
by the Ladies Benevolent Society of Acworth. I immediately after
graduation commenced my theological studies under the instruction of
Rev. President Tyler. In February, 1824, the Windsor Ministerial Associ-
ation held a meeting at Norwich, Vt., at which time I was licensed to
preach the gospel. Rev. Broughton White was present, he had just
come from Canaan, having spent a short time in missionary labor in that
place, and knowing the state of things there, he requested me to go and
spend a Sabbath with the people. In accordance with the request I
came to Canaan in March, 1824, and preached my first and as I supposed
my last sermon to that people. In April following, I visited the town
again by request, and preached a second time. I was now invited to
return and spend several weeks more. Accordingly in June I returned.
Soon after I received a commission from the N. H. Missionary Society
to labor in Canaan and Orange ten weeks.
At the expiration of this service, efforts were made to retain me for a
longer time. On the 17th of January, 1825, an invitation was given me
to become the pastor. An affirmative answer being returned, an Ecclesi-
astical Council was called on March 2, 1825, and I was then ordained as
the first pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in Canaan.
The sermon was preached by Rev. President Tyler of Dartmouth Col-
lege.
It is well to state some other interesting things which Mr.
Foster does not mention at his ordination. Rev. Broughton
Wliite gave the charge; Rev. Baxter Perry of Lyme, offered the
introductory prayer; Rev. Samuel Goddard of Norwich, Vt., made
the consecrating prayer; Rev. Josiah Towne of Hanover, gave
the right hand of fellowship ; Rev. Abraham Burnham of Pem-
broke, addressed the people, and Rev. Charles White of Thetford,
offered the concluding prayer. Elder Wlieat was an invited
guest. The several pastors and one delegate were present from
each of the following churches : Washington, Pembroke, Han-
over, Lyme, Norwich, Lebanon and Thetford. The singing was
conducted by Ashiel Smith from Hanover, who was a famous
conductor of singing schools and choirs. The seats were filled
with singers, for in those days singing was taught freely every
season. Benjamin Trussell played the bass-viol and Bracket
Tilton worked on the violin. Betsey Pratt sang treble firmly
218 History of Canaan.
and pleasantly. There were several counter-tenor singers, a
part that would not be agreeable now, and was not particularly
so then. Music was not yet arraigned for alto voices. The music
was selected from the anthems of ''Village Harmony" and the
"Bridgewater Collection." and included "Strike the Cymbal."
The solos were sung by Miss Pratt, Doctor Tilton and James
Currier. It was great music and very effective giving us an
idea of force and power of harmony in subjection. There was
a feast ser^^ed at James Wallace 's after the services. It was eus-
tomarv" on all convivial occasions to serve rum to the guests.
Out of respect to the habits of Mr. Foster and Mr. WMte, it was
dispensed with at this time, to the no small annoyance of a
number of those present.
Mr. Foster continues:
During the whole of my ministry in Canaan embracing a period of
nearly nine years, some sixty persons united with the church. At the
time of my leaving, it consisted of seventy members. In the meantime
several had been i'emoved by death or otherwise. The building of the
meeting house, dedicated Jan., 1829, promised much as to the prosperity
of our society. The congregation on the Sabbath was considerably in-
creased, more attention was paid to religion, the Sabbath school was
attended by larger numbers, our prospects every way seemed encourag-
ing. The state of morals was much improved while I was a resident
of Canaan. At first a desecration of the Sabbath was very prevalent.
Gunning, fishing, riding out for pleasure were common practices in that
day. Often on the Sabbath did I hear the report of guns from one
direction and another, and much disrespect for the sacred day was
manifest by those improprieties in which the young indulge themselves
In the house of God. Not only in regard to keeping the Sabbath, but
also in regard to temperance a change for the better took place. The
reformation of Jonathan Kitrredge, Esq., always seemed to me a signal
and happy event. It took place, I think, in the spring of 1826. Mr.
Kittredge had one of his fits of intoxication about the time of the state
fast. I frequently saw him pass my house, staggering as a drunken
man does. His appearance suggested the thought of preparing a sermon
on the subject of intemperance, which I did. "When Mrs. Plastridge
returned from the meeting, he was then becoming sober, he asked her,
"What did Mr. Foster preach about today?" She said "About Intem-
perance." "Oh," said he, "I am the cause of it." Wliich was true. He
came at once to see me. His agony of spirit was beyond anything of
the kind I had scarcely ever witnessed. I saw him often afterwards
and did all I could to encourage him in his reformation, which then
commenced. In a week or two after this, at the close of my afternoon
service on the Sabbath, Mr. Kittredge arose and gave the audience
The Congregational Church. 219
a most interesting and affecting account of himself, acknowledging his
past intemperate habits and expressing his determination by the Divine
help thenceforth to lead a sober, temperate and Christian life. He soon
removed to Lyme and after several years returned to Canaan. In princi-
ple and practice he was ever afterwards, so far as I know, a consistent
friend and supporter of the cause of temperance. Before I left Canaan
there were influences set to work which I thought were useful. A
Temperance Society was organized, and we had some able and inter-
esting addresses on the subject, by such men as President Lord of Dart-
mouth College, Dr. Muzzey of Hanover, Rev. Charles White and Dr.
Palmer of Thetford, Vt. With the people of the "early days" of Canaan,
I had no knowledge. But at first it seemed to me that there was a
strong sectarian prejudice existing among the different denominations.
As an illustration of this let me state an incident. It occurred in the
old Meeting house, on the day of my ordination. Dr. Tyler was preach-
ing the sermon on the text in Hebrews 5: 4, "And no man taketh this
honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." In
the midst of the sermon as Dr. Tyler was describing the qualifications of
one called to the ministry, a man in the side gallery at the right hand
of the preachei*, spoke in a loud voice that could be distinctly heard;
"It's all college call, it's all college call." It was designed as was sup-
posed to express his contempt of an educated minister. Before I left
Canaan it was evident this sectarian prejudice had diminished and I
think the effect was owing in a degi-ee at least, to the policy I adopted,
which was this, finding several Christian denominations in town, I said
to myself, "I will meet these Christian brethren more than half way
and I will not lift a finger to pull down another denomination with a
view to build up my own."
Adopting this principle practically, I have reason to hope, I gained
the confidence and esteem of all classes of people. Elder Wheat always
manifested fraternal kindness and good will, and my intercourse with
him was agreeable. I remember distinctly a call I made at his house
awhile after my settlement in Canaan. In the interview, he gave me a
little sketch of his own life, spoke of his having been in the war of the
Revolution, and of his religious experiences, among other things he re-
marked, "I haven't got no larnin', I was edicated in the school of the
devil." His wife sitting by, raisetl her head and closed the interview by
saying. "Well, you'll have t' die in your ignorance. It's hard to learn
old dogs new tricks." If silence gives consent always, the old gentle-
man accepted the retort, for no more was said. The Elder was a good
man, but I never knew of a revival of religion under his ministrations.
For Judge Daniel Blaisdell, I always entertained a very high esteem.
He was a man of very correct principles, sound judgment, and exemplary
conduct, and he made himself highly useful, both in his public and
private life. There were other citizens whose names come to my re-
membrance, and whom I held in high esteem. Dr. Tilton, Capt. Dole,
the Harrises, Joshua Pillsbury, Charles Walworth and Mr. Porter on
220 History of Canaan.
South Road. I often call to mind my first pastorate and the pleasant
associations and friendships I there enjoyed and it would have been
a pleasure to us both to have made that place our permanent home.
But circumstances such as I need not name rendered it necessary to
make a change.
]\Ir. Foster received a call to the pastorate in Putney, Yt., and
was installed February 13, 1833. After remaining in Putney
twenty years and seven months, on November 7, 1853, he be-
came the pastor of the church in Ltidlow, Vt. In 1857 he was
installed in Ac worth, N. H., where he labored as pastor nine
years and feeling the infirmities of age, asked for his resignation,
and was discharged June 13, 1866. He then returned to Ptitney,
having come into possession of a home there, and finding the
church without a pastor was asked to serve, which he did for
seven years, closing his labors December, 1872. He did mis-
sionary work, however, for about a year in Cambridgeport, Vt.
"Counting up my labors." said Mr. Foster, "from the time I
was licensed the time amounts to half a century." Seven chil-
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Foster. On the 29th of June,
1875, their friends and relatives united in celebrating their
golden wedding at Putney, Yt. He died Sunday, September 21,
1884, in his eighty-eighth year.
It has been stated that the Congregational church in Canaan
was never strong enough to sustain itself. It increased and
flourished in those years and promised to do more for itself
than it ever performed. Soon after Mr. Foster's arrival it be-
came apparent that there was need of a house of worship apart
from the other denominations. Although Elder Wheat and
the Baptists claimed the old meeting house, because they had
possession of it, they very kindly \delded the pulpit sometimes to
Mr. Foster, still there was considerable inconvenience in it and
some feeling. There was no question as to the title to the house.
It was the property of "the proprietors" and they embraced all
the beliefs in town. But the Baptists were most numerous and
had maintained an organization in it ever since it was built.
They disliked to yield it up and they did not. Several years
previous to this time the Methodists had formed a church and
though they were not in the habit of yielding any of their rights,
yet that they might have the good A^dll of the people while they
were weak, they prudently went to work and in 1826 dedicated
The Congregational Church. 221
a church on South Road, and there they shouted and sung ; and
many of them got as near to God and talked as familiarly and
lovingly to Him as if their names had been Elisha and Moses.
Simple times those were; and simple Christianity, seemed a sec-
ond time to have found a resting place upon earth. Brotherly
love prevailed and charity and forbearance abounded so largely
that they almost ceased to be virtues. My mother would some-
times allow me to go over there of a Sunday. It was sixty years
ago (1888). The experiences of half a century, traveling side
by side with my fellow-men, have not realized to me the truth
of the impression then made upon my boyish mind.
It seemed to be necessary that there should be another house,
wherein Mr. Foster could preach all the time. A religious society
makes slow progress when it has to alternate with another in
the occupation of a place of worship. They thought so here,
and finally through the enthusiasm of George Kimball, Esq.,
and the energy of Jacob Trussell, the project assumed form. A
deed of land from John Fales secured a location on the brow of
a bleak hill, where the air currents are always strong. The deed
was made to the First Congregational Society, dated ]\Iay 10,
1828, and was for eighty-one square rods of land, described as
follows: "Beginning at the northwest corner of Colby land on
east side of Grafton Turnpike, then east six rods on Colby line,
then north ten degrees west till it intersects with road to my
house, then southwest on road till it intersects the Turnpike."
The conditions were that a house should be erected within one
year for public worship, and used as such. For conditions
broken, the land would revert to Fales and his heirs.
The house was built in 1828 and dedicated in January, 1829.
Bailey Welch was the builder. He fell from the steeple to the
ground, but lived many years after. For this the town voted him
$100 at its annual meeting in 1829. The church was paid for
from the sale of the pews, as the Baptists had done. At the
annual meeting in March, 1829, the society accepted of the
house, ' ' so far as to take care of it. ' ' Josiah Barber 2d, "William
Kelly and Otis Fields were to furnish the wood and build the
fire. i\Ir. Foster's contract having run out, he continued to
stay, and in March, 1832, they tried to contract with him for
five years longer. But he severed his connection with the church
/
222 History of Canaan.
January 2, 1833. At the time he accepted the charge of the
church, there were on the records fifteen male and thirty female
members. At the time of his dismission the list contained the
names of Elias Porter and his family of five, Nathan Howe and
his wife, Richard Otis and Dea. Joshua Pillsbury, who died dur-
ing his stay; Joshua Pillsbury, Jr., and his family of three;
Amos Gould and his family of two ; Charles "Walworth and fam-
ily of two ; Ezra Chase, who was ex-communicated and family of
two ; Thomas Wood and family of two ; Joseph Morse and wife ;
Edward Carlton, ]Mrs. Clark, Betsey Doten, Ruth H. Kimball,
Caroline Waldo, John Hoyt and wife, Mrs. Jacob Richardson^
John Sawyer and wife, James Pattee, Eliza Carlton, Harriet
Hamilton, Mary Shephard, Samuel French, Samuel Drake, wife
and daughter, Josiah Barber, wife and daughter, Otis Field,
Caleb Oilman and his wife, Timothy Tilton and his wife, Hub-
bard and George Harris and their wives, Sally Smith, Mrs. Jo-
seph Bartlett, Mrs. Lathrop, Sarah Clapp, Mrs. Daniel Pattee,
hncy Dole, and her daughter Mary D. Plastridge, Rebecca Cur-
rier, Mrs. Lazarus Page, John Nevins and wife, Bartholemew
Heath and wife, Isaac Towle and his wife, Nathaniel Barber and
his wife, Hannah Towle, and "old" Mrs. Towle, Charles W.
Richardson, William B. Kelly, George Nelson, Alfred B. Dustin,
Sarah Harris, Polly Wallace, Jane Chapman, Zilpha Clark, .
Mary F. Harris, Sarah Stetson, Sarah Fletcher and Anna/
Flanders.
Mr. Foster had charge of Orange during the first part of his
ministry up to April, 1828, and some of the above were residents
of Orange. They severed their connection and organized a
separate church in Orange. Two cases of discipline are recorded
during his pastorate. Mrs. Hannah Felch, who "had embraced
sentiments and opinions, fundamentally erroneous and of very
dangerous tendency." "And her deportment before the world
had been such as to forfeit her claim to Christian character."
For these she was excluded from communion. The other was
Ezra Chase, who "had altogether neglected the duty of family
worship." "Withdrawn himself from the Lord's table."
"Used language and exhibited conduct wholly inconsistent with
Christian character. ' ' For this he was ex-communicated.
In April, 1833, the society joined with the church to give the
The Congregational Church. 223
Rev. Edward C. Fuller a call. An agreement was signed with
Mr. Fuller April 27, 1833, for $400 annually "so long as he shall
stay." Mr. Fuller was here through the stirring times attend-
ing the moving and destruction of the colored school, and was
one of the friends of that school. The church passed through
many trials and tribulations at that time because some of its
prominent members were arraigned against each other on the
question of the colored school. j\Ir. Fuller was not diplomatic
and his short sightedness led him into difficulties which caused
him to ask dismission, which was granted March 1, 1836.
Mr. Fuller found himself in the position of having recom-
mended a church member to another church, who was under
suspension at that time and who was afterwards ex-com-
municated. Jacob Trussell, for his part taken in the removal of
Noyes Academy, w^as, as hereafter related, tried and on the 7th
of IMarch, 1836, ex-communicated. Mr. Trussell obtained from
Mr. Fuller a letter of dismission to the church in Franklin. On
the same date the church chose George Harris and Timothy Til-
ton to join with the three deacons of the church, Nathaniel Bar-
ber, Samuel Drake and Amos Gould, in sending a letter to the
church in Franklin, "informing them of the accusations against
Jacob Trussell for which he is ex-communicated." And there-
upon the church resolved, "that we disapprove of the measures
taken by our late pastor by gi^ang Jacob Trussell a letter, as we
think ]\Ir. Trussell unworthy to be connected with any regular
church after taking into consideration his past conduct." The
sequel to this is written more than eighteen years afterwards,
on October 29, 1854. The church was requested "to tarry"
after meeting, and Esquire Kittredge read the following letter
from Mr. Trussell :
To The Congregational Church in Canaan.
Difficulties having lieretofore existed between your body and myself
in relation to certain events in the removal of Noyes Academy in 1834
which led to a dissolution of my connection with the church, I take the
liberty of saying to the church, that it would be a pleasure to me to have
a reconciliation of all past differences take place. Those difficulties
occurred in relation to a measure about which there was at that time
great difference of opinion and at a time when the public mind was in
a state of intense excitement. You are aware that a great majority of
the people approved of the course taken in the removal of the Academy,
including some who were members of churches beside myself. The
224 History of Canaan.
church in Canaan with which I was connected disapproved of those
measures and the part which I took therein was contrary to their
wishes, and injurious to their feelings. Without entering into any
discussion of the measure themselves, I feel free to say to the church,
that I am sorry to have wounded the feelings of my brethren, and
should be glad to have Christian fellowship restored between the church
and myself.
It will be seen that INIr. Trtissell was not sorry for anything
he had done, and there is no intimation that his opinions had
changed from the time he had led the mob. But the church ac-
cepted his excuse and restored him to fellowship and com-
munion, and he thereafter became one of the pillars and sup-
ports of the church. During ]Mr. Fuller's pastorate only four
united Anth the church. Then Rev. Liba Conant came as a can-
didate and on January 15, 1837, the church voted "to extend an
invitation" to him, and that the sum of $315 be paid him. He
was installed February 22, 1837. Fifty- three united with the
church during his ministry, and there were two cases of dis-
cipline. Nancy Morgan, from whom the right hand of fellow-
ship was withdrawn on account of her "miscondtict, " and Ros-
well Austin, Avho w^as ex-communicated. Mr. Conant remained
until the spring of 1845. He became interested in politics and
in 1844 represented the town in the legislature. His course was
not approved of and his ministerial usefulness was spoiled. In
1838 the church reached its strongest position with eighty-six
members. Then came Rev. Heman Rood, who stayed one year
and taught in the academy also. He left the people with no
interest and discouraged. From 1846 to 1851 the church was
without a settled minister, and its doors were seldom opened to
occasional preachers.
In 1851 Rev. Henrys Wood, editor of the Congregational Jour-
nal, offered to preach one year for a small salarv\ He stayed two
years. During his service the church was repaired, both outside
and in and rededicated July 10, 1853. Rev. Moses Gerould was
invited to preach four Sabbaths and entered on his labors July
24, 1853, at the end of that time, August 15, he was asked to re-
main on a salary of $500, which he accepted. Five days later
a committee was appointed, consisting of George Harris, Jona-
than Kittredge and Joshua Pillsbury, to revise the Confession of
Faith, and on September 4th the revision was adopted. In the
The Congregational Church. 225
afternoon eight men and fifteen women were present and signed
it. During the first five years of Mr. Gerould's ministry there
were only four deaths among the church members; no cases of
discipline; harmony prevailed. But the pastor began to feel
discouraged. "To deplore a want of general spirituality and
absence of the converting influences." None came forward to
unite with the church. Alfred Nesmith intended to, but died.
At the end of his sixth year, Mr. Gerould wrote : ' ' Small indeed
have been the fruits of these labors in the conversion of souls,
and less in the increase of the church. Whether this want of
spiritual success has been owing to the unfaithfulness of the
acting pastor, or to local causes or to something else, eternity
must decide. With the pastor, these years have not been j^ears of
indifference and inactivity, but he has striven to labor and pray
as earnestly as in other years. ' '
For the first three years, jMr. Gerould received from the New
Hampshire Missionary Society $200 each year, it was then cut
down to $150, and then to $100. In September, 1861, he again
writes: "Another ecclesiastical year of this church and its min-
isterial service has gone, never to be recalled; and we may ex-
claim, 'my leanness! my leanness!' Not one has been added to
the church ! Oh, that God would arise and have mercy upon Zion,
the time to favor her. the set time being come." "My heart is
smitten and withered like grass, ' ' when I think of her low estate.
' ' The word preached has seemed like water falling upon a rock. ' '
]\Ir. Gerould tried to close his labors with the church, but he
continued through the next two months, and in December com-
menced preaching through the winter "wdthout stipulated sal-
ary." The people gave what they could, and the Missionary So-
ciety continued its contribution, which was to cease in August
of the next year. He ' ' reluctantly ' ' commenced another year in
the following April, with more courage. During the ten years
of his ministry ten members died, twenty-one united with the
church, five by confession. In May, 1863, Mr. Gerould writes,.
after having closed his labors over the church the month before :
' ' How solemn the account the pastor must render of these years
of unblest labor ! Will the blood of these unconverted be found
upon his skirts?" "Oh, my God, enter not into judgment with
him who so many years has stood in that sacred desk for the pur-
15
226 History of Canaan.
pose of showing the people their trangressions and the house of
Jacob their sins, and yet has brought no more to that
'Fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel 's veins. ' ' '
From April. 1863, to April, 1864, there w^as no congregational
preaching. The Congregationalists united in worship and in
sustaining the Methodist Church. For four years this situation
continues, and the church became scattered. On the first of
May, 1867, Rev. Robert Sloss. fresh from Princeton Theological
Seminary, began to preach and continued through his vacation
of four months until August. On the following 16th of Decem-
ber, they voted to give the Rev. Robert Sloss a call and pay him a
salary of $800. But he never came back. From May 1 to Au-
gust, 1868, Rev. James H. 0 'Brian from Princeton Theological
Senimary, preached through his vacation. Then came another
student. A. W. Hubbard, who preached four months from May
1, 1869. At that time there were twenty-one members, and then
the house was closed, not to be opened again to this day for
congregational service. On February 24, 1879, a committee
came here to locate a Unitarian school ; they looked at the
Academy and Congregational Church and went away.
In 1885. the Catholics, under the leadership of Elder Joseph
Hebert, the blacksmith at the "Village," held several ser\'ices
there and made an otfer of $100 for the building. This was not
accepted, much to the disgust of Elder Joseph. Repairs have
been made from time to time by private subscription. In 1890
the house had become very badly dilapidated and Mathew H.
]\Iilton undertook to superintend the repairs and expend the
money raised for that purpose. It was shingled and painted and
the underpinning righted. In 1904, through the efforts of ]Mrs.
Sarah A. Blodgett, daughter of Rev. ]\Ioses Gerould, assisted by
Mr. G. H. Goodhue, a grandson of George Harris, for many
years clerk of the society and church, the plastering, which had
nearly all fallen from the ceiling, was cleared and the walls and
ceiling covered with steel, the roof shingled and the floor tim-
bers, which had become rotten, replaced by new ones. It is hoped
to replace the inside of the church as it was originally built.
In 1853 the pulpit was cut down and a seat, which was in
The Congregational, Church. 227
front of the pulpit facing the congregation taken out. There
were three steps leading to the pulpit also. It was built much
like the other churches in those days w^ith as strict adlierence to
the architecture of that period as possible, both inside and out.
The pews have doors, which were always the delight of the chil-
dren. In the northwest corner of the gallery is the "nigger
pew." In 1828, when the church w^as built, there were two
negroes in town, Nancy, a freed servant whom Mrs. George
Kimball brought from Bremuda, and Dennison Wentworth, a
black boy, living with Mrs. Plastridge at the old "Dole Tavern."
So scrupulous were those people not to mix the races, that this
pew was built for their special use. This did not look as if re-
ligion was an even thing all round, and some of the old people
who had never seen before any difference in anybody in church,
made amusing remarks about it. Mr. Kimball was not pleased
with the arrangement and declined to let Nancy occupy the pew.
They all sat together like one family. Dennison had associated
\^dth the boys and had been considered about as good as any of
them. He also declined the honors intended for him and the
pew fell entirely into disuse.
A letter from N. P. Kogers to George Kimball, dated August
5, 1829, in reference to Nancy and the trouble in changing serv-
ants, reads much as people talk now. The inference suggested
by that pew, that the help was not as good as the rest of the
family, would not tend to produce harmony. Mr, Rogers had
been to visit Kimball in Canaan and had driven home to Ply-
mouth.
We got home after a dismal ride. I was sick, wife tired, Daniel rest-
less, spirits depressed, visit over, journey euded, road rocky, hilly —
hilly as Satan; picketl raspberries all along the wayside; unwell several
days; money scarce; business dull. Wish we had as good a little
Bermudese as Nancy, instead of the white bird of passage. They are as
restless and troublesome as the French Jacobins, I can't keep one a
week. Our Lydia is about retiring to her Peeling and then we have got
the whole planet to circumnavigate for another. This notion of having
a president only one term is making these jades as restless as king
birds. They want to keep in perpetual rotation. When you next go to
Bermuda you must bring Mary a neat little Bermudean she-Othello,
as black as a blackberry and as clean as a penny. Blind her when you
start or she will find her way back in six weeks on foot. You are bet-
ter situated than anybody on earth. Your dwelling is an elegant re-
tirement in a truly original neighborhood. Your faithful servant is
228 History of Canaan.
cut off by her ebouy hue, and by the waves that wallup towards our
shores and the "vexed Bermoothes" from all propensity to quit your
service and run home among white clowns and send you polling after
another witch, to run away as soon as you have got her half learned.
Yon have no better enemies except poor Elijah (Blaisdell), and his en-
mity is as good as a milch cow to you in Canaan. You are a scholar,
with inexhaustible resources to amuse and entertain. You are an Episco-
palian, and your piety is not of a sort to disquiet or alarm you; and
your wife is a Christian, if j'ou are not, and may sanctify her unbeliev-
ing husband.
The sons of several of the old church members became preach-
ers, Ithamar Pillsbury, son of Joshua and Elizabeth Pillsbury,
was born on South Road about 1798. In 1812. he ran away and
enlisted in the army then marching for Canada ; was followed by
his father and brought back; was edticated partly at IMeriden;
graduated at Yale college in 1822, and studied divinity at Yale,
and became a Congregationalist preacher. He was appointed
city missionary for Boston, which position he held several years ;
afterwards was appointed city missionary in New York. Wliile
here he married a wife eighteen years older than himself. She
died and he married a young girl of eighteen, by whom he had
several children. He was a man of great energy and very earn-
est in what he undertook. At a late period of his life he went
to Illinois and located a tract of land which he intended to
colonize. He named it Andover. He laid out his lands upon
paper into streets and squares, ornamenting them with churches,
schoolhouses, public buildings, printing presses, and all the
resultants of a first-class community, and came East to sell his
lots. His success did not answer his expectations. But in what-
ever he engaged he continued to preach. He died at Andover,
111.
Caleb Clark, Baptist, was the son of Joseph and Abigail Clark,
in the Porter neighborhood on the Turnpike; born July 4th,
1797. When a young man was not of much account in the fam-
ily, but would often say smart things at the religious meetings.
Was a timid boy and youth, often fearful of being eaten up by
bears. Under Elder Wheat's dispensation, he received a "call"
to preach by way of a dream. He was sent to school to New
Hampton, and there trained to be a minister and then went forth
as far as Rumney ; here he settled down to preaching and farm-
The Congregational Church. 229
ing, until his death, much respected for his piety and simplicity
of life.
George Richardson, Episcopalian; born July 30, 1795, son of
Joshua and Betsey Walworth Richardson ; graduated from Dart-
mouth College in 1820. His brother, Charles Walworth Richard-
son, born June 11, 1801 ; after his brother George had been or-
dained, decided to devote his life to preaching the Congregational
creed. It is supposed that he was ordained in Lancaster. He
was in charge of the Congregational Church at Colebrook for
several years and was much respected for his pulpit efforts. He
was appointed chaplain of the twenty-fourth regiment of militia
in 1845. Afterwards he was settled at Lancaster and Guildhall
for several years. Then he had some connections with mission-
ary efforts in Maine, and was active as agent and correspondent
of some religious journals. In this town, he was for several
years placed in charge of the public schools, going on foot
through the twenty-one districts and accepting as compensation
twenty-five dollars. His last years were not happy. Not being
a thrifty man, his property slipped away and left him dis-
couraged. His personal habits became an offence against neat-
ness and good order. Indolent he was, and not possessed of that
great virtue which comes after godliness. His personal appear-
ance often indicated an aversion to the use of water. As he
grew older, he used to imagine himself a desirable match for
young ladies. His annoyances in that respect were laughable
and sometimes so great as to call for the interference of neigh-
bors. All the plans of his life seemed to have failed, and doubt-
less his disappointments, distress and poverty shattered his
mind, so that he was hardly accountable for his acts. He was
a man of good abilities, but lacked tact and skill to apply them
to useful purposes. He died in 1872, a wayworn, weary old
man, and was buried by the to^^•n.
William B. Kelly. Baptist, son of Moses and Nancy Kelly,
born in 1806, was a hatter and clothier by trade ; was converted
under the preaching of Rev. Amos Foster and then turned his
attention to divinity. He was ordained and installed over the
Baptist Church in Peterborough, where he died in 1836, and
lies buried in the Street Cemetery.
Thomas N. Jones, Congregationalist, son of Amasa, born about
230 History op Canaan.
1821, studied at Meriden and Grilmanton ; was first settled in Lou-
don for several years; then called to Reading, Mass., where he
labored until his death in 1869 ; an amiable, sincere man, who
made many friends and retained them through his life.
So stands today this old house, one of the landmarks of the
town. From whatever elevation or depression the street is
viewed it is the most prominent but one. But not like the old
meeting house, whose portals, although once dedicated to the
service of God. now resound ^Wth that "devil music,'" which good
old Deacon Worth so much abhorred. The old North Church is
still ready to receive the children and grandchildren of those
who struggled to upbuild it for the same service of God. More
memories for this generation cluster round its doors than any
other spot. AVitli no feelings of curiosity, but of veneration, do
we look upon it. We can well say with Daniel Webster. ' ' There
are those who love it" ; love those memories, which grow stronger
and stronger as we look across the way at the silent sentinels
which mark the resting place of our fathers and mothers, who
loved the old church before us and taught us to do the same.
u
JS
u
u
3
O
n
a
13
0
JS
CHAPTER XVI.
The Methodist Church.
]\Iethodism came into Canaan with the early settlers, but there
was only a trace of it; it was many years before it developed
itself. Samuel Meachan, who built the Gould house, long since
torn down, and lived on Town Hill, came into town wdth George
Harris, Samuel Benedict and Lewis Joslin in the spring of 1768
from Lebanon. N. H. He was a settler in that town as early as
1764 and came from Lebanon, Conn. He was an unsmiling,
sedate man, who had the appearance of being very thoughtful,
although the world is not much wiser for his thoughts because
they were unuttered. He was a Wesleyan from the beginning
He, with his family, brought his faith with him from Connecticut
and kept it. He waited patiently for his brethren, who came
afterwards, like the birds in summer, and made the whole atmos-
phere vocal with their songs and shouts of Glorias and Amens.
He had six sons and five daughters : Jeremiah, Joshua, who
lived on Town Hill beyond his father's house; Joseph, who mar-
ried Sarah Basford; Andrew, who married Abigail Eastman;
Elam, who married Polly Williams; and Thomas; Polly, who
married William Bradbury and was the mother of Deacon Ben-
jamin : Sarah, who married Amos Worthen ; Phoebe, who mar-
ried Ezekiel Wells; Miriam, who married Asa Kimball and was
in want all her life ; Betty, who married Moses Worthen.
Caleb Seabury was another good man who believed that way,
and his wife with him. They lived here more than tw^enty years
without reproach, honored in their lives, and departed peacefully
to their great reward in some other land.
Capt. Ezekiel Wells was another; not a very religious man,
not much given to prayer; somewhat profane, in fact, upon oc-
casion. But his wife was a daughter of Samuel ]\Ieacham. and
like that good old man, a sincere Methodist. Her influence
seemed to bring her husband Into the same fold, and he con-
formed as far as he was able to her discipline, and was accepted
for whatever he was because he was an influential man. These
three men conferring together formed the first class in Canaan.
232 History of Canaan.
Soon afterwards good old Da\dd Dustin joined them; then
"Esq." Arvin applied and was admitted into that sacred circle.
Arvin kept store at the north end of the Street then and sold
rum, and he was often drunk upon his own liquor, which seri-
ously scandalized the class and the brethren. It was common for
them all to drink Arvin 's rum, but he was drunk oftener and
worse than the others.
There was a man named Warren Bannister who came here in
1810 as the ^Methodist minister. He had some duties to perform
in regard to Arvin, disagreeable duties to him, because he was
neither brave nor shrewd. Arvin 's conduct annoyed them all,
but being a prominent man, Bannister feared to apply the dis-
cipline. He prayed over his dilemma and then with desperate
courage seized its horns and excommunicated the whole class to-
gether, serving the innocent and guilty alike. It occurred this
was the quickest way to get the sinner out ! Then he reorgan-
ized the class; Arvin and his friends were enraged, and much
ill-feeling cropped out in the community. Bannister invited Mr.
Dustin to rejoin the class. He replied. " Xo I he had been turned
out once without cause, and he would stay out, lest he might
be treated worse next time." Mr. Dustin lived and died a
Methodist, but never again joined the class. There was Elder John
Broadhead, for many years a presiding elder and resident here
in the early part of the centur\\ He lived in a house that once
stood on the ground that was covered by the house resided in by
Mr. Walker, afterwards burned, on South Road. He owned
the land down as far as the corner, where afterwards the first
Methodist church was built in 1826.
The elder was a Democrat of the sternest, most unyielding
kind. Even at that time, it was doubtful whether religion or
politics had the strongest hold on his conscience. It appears that
most of the Methodist clergy of the early days were Democrats,
a fact which at this day seems singTilar, since Jefferson, the
father of the Democratic party was an avowed infidel and a great
admirer of Voltaire. Democracy in those days was not the thing
of shreds and patches which is today honored with that name. It
meant then a system of government founded upon the direct
will of the people and opposed the principle of Federalism as
tending to consolidate the powers of the government in few
The ^Methodist Church. 233
hands. Elder Broadhead sometimes occupied the pulpit in the
meeting house. In his prayers and exhortations he seldom failed
to mingle religion with the politics to the infinite disgust of the
Federalists who heard him. It is said that it att'orded him great
satisfaction to lash his opponents from the pulpit, because it
gave them no opportunity for reply. Years afterwards (in
1829) he left the pulpit for the honors and emoluments incident
to the life of a representative in Congress. A famous old man
he was and held in honor in church and state. Canaan was a
federal town, the home of Daniel Blaisdell, who never liked
iMethodists any better than he liked Democracy. He and the
elder often encountered each other in debate and they seldom
separated until both had become more or less enraged. On one
of these occasions after an unusually stormy talk, the elder said
to some of the neighbors that he had a great mind to "thresh
Blaisdell." The next time they met was in passing through the
woods between their houses — Blaisdell lived on the Prescott
Clark farm — Blaisdell stepped out and said to the elder that
"he was ready for a threshing if he thought he was able to do
it." The elder replied "I think I can do it now and evermore,
but I won't at this time." He said he was mad when he made
the threat and thought the most Christian course was to own up.
At the beginnins: of the last centurv the countrv had been di-
vided into circuits, the Hanover circuit to the west and the
Bridgewater circuit to the east, and so far as they could be found,
ministers assigned for their special care. Canaan, Dorchester
Enfield, Springfield and a part of Grantham constituted the
Hanover circuit, and the minister spent a week in each town. It
was only once in four weeks they had services here.
In 1806 the X. E. Conference met in Canaan; it was ar-
ranged that there should be a grand camp-meeting on the shore
of Hart Pond, in Robert Barber's woods, near the Wells place.
Bishop Asburv' presided. ^Ministers and brethren from far and
near came to assist him. and there was a great multitude of peo-
ple present, curious to see and hear that famous apostle of Meth-
odism, who had been ordained a bishop by the sainted John Wes-
ley himself and sent here to do his Master's work. Great success
attended the labors here. Stevens says, "On Wednesday, May
11th, Asbury arrived in Canaan, where the conference began its
234 History of Canaan.
session. The next day about forty four members were present
besides probationers and visitors. On Sunday, May 15, 'I or-
dained,' says Asbur}^, 'eleven elders in the woods. At three
o'clock I preached in the Meeting house. It was a season of
power. ' ' The tenets of that faith were adopted into many fami-
lies and continue to this day.
After this period we lose sight of the active element in the
church. "We only know that they never ceased to work and pray.
There was a reaction ; no gushing or striking scenes w^ere heard
of. The tide ebbed and flowed smoothly. The Conference Re-
port for the year 1809 contains the first mention of a preacher
for Canaan, Ebenezer Blake, and the membership is put down
at 155. In 1810, under Warren Bannister and Joseph Lull, em-
bracing the Canaan and Bridgewater circuit, the membership is
170. It is not known how many of these were residents of Canaan,
although the report would indicate that all were. It is, however,
improbable. Canaan is not mentioned again until 1817 when
Eleazer Phelps is the preacher with a membership of 69. This
would seem to be nearer the right number taking into considera-
tion the number of families in town. In 1818 John Paine is the
preacher and the membership is 71. The records from 1815 are
very meagre, with an occasional omission, often consisting of only
a statement that a meeting was held. In 1815 Jacob Marston
was local preacher, Robert Williams, exhorter, with Thomas
Cotton, Benjamin Xorris, John Xe\nns, Moses Lawrence and
Jonathan Snow were leaders. John R. Dustin and Thomas Cot-
ton, stewards. In 1820 Joseph Killam reports 139 members. In
1822 and in 1823 the same. In 1825 Caleb Dustin and Giles
Campbell preached to the Canaan and Lebanon circuit with a
membership of 213, and in 1826 the number is increased to
235. The records for May 9, 1818, are ''Voted to give Samuel
Norris a recommend to the yearly Conference. ' ' He was admitted
the follo^\ang June, superannuated in 1840 and died in 1880.
Among the old band of Methodists we find the names of Solo-
mon Sias, Jacob Sanborn and B. F. Hoyt as presiding elders.
Then there was Moses Lawrence, John R. Dustin, Nathaniel and
Samuel Norris, Jacob Marston, Joseph Killam and Samuel Gile
as leaders, preachers and exhorters, and Robert Williams, who
in his last years lived in constant fear of the sheriff. The old
The Methodist Church. 235
man got into debt and had nothing to pay it with. The fear of
the sheriff was great npon him. He scarcely dared leave his
house, fearing he might be carried off. When he went for his
cows he would take his axe upon his shoulder. His neighbors
all knew of his fears, and one of them, Maj. Levi Greorge. thought
to give him a scare. One evening while driving his cows home
accompanied by his axe as usual, the Major came up behind him,
and seizing him by the shoulder said, "Mr. Williams, you are
my prisoner. ' ' The old man 's face became white with fear. He
turned suddenly upon the Major, who said to him quietly, "You
see, neighbor Williams, I don't fear your axe, but you needn't
be afraid, for I 've got no papers agin you. ' ' Those were the days
when poor men were shut up in jail for debt, as if that might
help it. After that ]\Iajor George himself fell into debt, by
way of an indorsement for his son-in-law, but he took precau-
tions before trouble came, to put his property into Lawyer Pet-
tingill's hands for the benefit of his family. Joshua Blaisdell,
the merciless, was sheriff and was ordered to arrest the Major.
When arrived at the house the Major said, "You can take me to
Haverhill as soon as you please, I have provided for my family
and shall be glad to go with you, because I don't want to be
bothered with thinking of you any more." The sheriff departed
with a promise to return soon, but much to the annoyance of
the Major he never troubled him afterwards. It was one of the
peculiarities of that sheriff' to annoy people who fell into his
power. If letting them alone was most a§Teeable, he would ar-
rest them, and if to arrest them gave great pleasure, he would
stand off with his papers in his pocket, leaving his victim a prey
to his own uncertain expectations.
At last there came over the church days of heaviness and in-
difference when neither preacliing nor prayers availed anything.
They were just drifting, drifting. In the year 1824 a long-
wished for revival commenced, primarily it was the result of a
sermon preached in the old church by Mr. Foster from Hanover,
who was sent here to minister to the Congregational church. All
religions had to use the same pulpit. The people had been lis-
tening weekly to the long monotonous sermons of Elder Wheat
or Elder Hardy, for whom they never had much respect, and to
Caleb Dustin and William McCoy, whose chief merit consisted
236 History of Canaak.
in constantly oifering "wine and milk without money and with-
out price," but otit'ered in so indifferent a tone and manner, that
none would accept it, thinking it was for somebody else. McCoy
preached in Enfield and South Road and once in four weeks on
the Street. Most of the people, particularly the older ones went
to sleep in the corners of the pews, and only waked up at the
slamming of the seats by the boys and girls as they rose to the last
prayer. The seats were narrow and the backs high and straight.
They had followed those old saints for years through all their
arguments, and had come to believe that there was no variation
nor shadow of change in their discourses, and for this cause they
regarded it as perfectly safe and proper for them to sleep away
the weary hours that lingered about this old temple. Mr. Fos-
ter's manner was very impressive and earnest. His sermon was
an eloquent plea, addressed to the young, urging them to live
soberly and flee for their lives to the throne of grace and seek
refuge there from impending danger. There was a charming
refinement and fascination in the style of this new preacher, that
interested the sleepers at the start and kept them aw^ake. And
the boys were not permitted to slam the seats when they rose for
the benediction. After the sermon the men and women gathered
in routs, and passed opinions upon the man and his doctrines.
They "guessed" he was "all right," and his talk was right to
the ' ' pint. ' ' ]Mr. Haynes said it was time for all of them to wake
up and remember that they had a Lord and INIaker to whom they
w'ere all accountable, and not trust their entire salvation any
longer to Elder "Wheat and Elder Hardy or Caleb Dustin. Moses
La^vrence said it was full time for them to do some praying on
their own account, and let us begin now said other brethren.
Those old fossils got waked up lively, and a great solemnity like a
shroud fell upon them, and they bowed before it. They all be-
gan to flee to the mountains, as if it was their last chance to es-
cape from remorse of conscience. There was great rejoicing for
many were converted, some, who seemed to be more reprobates
than the de\il, became submissively Christians. After this
great harvest of souls had become ripe, the churches went to
work to gather them in.
The Methodist church was most active, and was greatly in-
creased and strengthened in the numbers that entered its por-
The Methodist Church. 237
tals. The old members renewed J:heir vows, aud promised to
be forever afterwards more brightly shining lights in the Church
and before men. There was old Kobert Martin, and Benjamin
Haynes and Orpha Currier and Levi George, Benjamin Davis
and Thomas Miner and Amasa Jones and Jacob Dow and Moses
Lawrence and John E. Dustin, with all their families who
had been so long born again, as to have nearly forgotten it, and
being in grace, didn't believe they could ever fall, whatever
else might happen to them. With this firm belief in their own
sure salvation, they had grown snowy cold and prayerless, ex-
cept when their minister happened to be around, and then they
were ever lamenting that the state of religion was so low ■ — so
lost sight of in the affairs of life! They had so long stood in
the front ranks with their backs to the worldly crowd and their
broad shoulders caught all the cheerful rays of heavenly light,
and absorbed them like sponges, so that there seemed to be no
visible access to the Rock of Ages. And long they had thus stood
like the weatherbeaten stumps of the dead pine trees along the
highway of the town.
There was a density and opaqueness about those solemn old
saints and their notions about being "elected," that excited no
interest among the young and gay, and there were large numbers
of them in those days, who had festive seasons everywhere. And
then old people talked in parables and proverbs, about their own
security and then went about their business like other men who
had never boasted of their grace. Sometimes it seems as if that
generation of Christians did not die in their appointed time,
but lapped over into another age, and have been lingering all
the way down until now. They used to make the women wear
bonnets plain, sans ribbons or flowers, and calico dresses made
from scant patterns. They used to call these tricks, denying
themselves, bearing the cross, and being in contempt of the
world. But we used to think these plain and cheap clothes in-
dicated more stinginess than grace. Suppose the ladies now
shoiild be seized with a freak to appear in church, like those plain
primitive sisters, and they should fill the church full of cheap
calicoes and hats plain without ribbons or feathers. It would be
a sight ! Perhaps they would boast of it as an act of humility !
Well, those old men who always walked about like John Gilpin,
238 History of Canaan.
as if they "carried weights," in the wilderness of their hearts
heard the warning voices, and waked up as they had never been
waked before. They withdrew their faces from the sunlight and
fell upon their knees with their faces to the ground and let
the flood flow over them. And when they rose if they were not
washed clean of some of their nonsense, that, like barnacles to a
ship, had been clinging to them, at least they said they were
renewed, and declared with emphatic humility that they would
never again stand in the light of divine truth. And to sigTialize
their new earnestness and sincerity they proposed to build a
new house.
The great harvest of members that had been gathered in, made
it necessary that they should have a place of their own, where
they could assemble and counsel each other often. By the ar-
rangement with the other churches they were entitled to occupy
the old meeting house but once in four weeks ; that was not often,
enough to keep up a wholesome organization. So they drew
their plan and after some lively discussions upon the spot, lo-
cated it on South Road where the roads intersect. This spot
being central and of easy access would best accommodate the
brethren of Enfield and South Road, who were supposed to con-
stitute a majority of the church. It did not cost much to build
the house. The hearts of the people had been recently paralyzed
by fears of hell-fires. It made them generous. Some gave labor,
some gave lumber, others furnished provisions for the laborers,
and all gave something. Their zeal was great and on the 1st
day of January, 1826, the house was dedicated. Henry J.
Wooley, a young Irishman preached the sermon. He was a dark
haired man, an exhorter of wonderful power, and of strange
skill in the application of langi^age. His descriptions of hell
and its torments were weird and unique, giving the impression
of being personal experiences. Oftentimes in their prayer-
meetings and love feasts he would psychologize the sensitive
members of the meeting, and when they would awake from the
trance into which they had fallen, they would present marvelous
pictures of their experiences in foreign lands and spheres, some
of them not very agreeable.
One of the most notable things that occurs to me at this long
distance, was the choir and the music. Music has all my life
The Methodist Church. 239
long been to me a passion. It has absorbed a great many hours
of my life. The rehearsal of it has given great pleasure, and
I never tire of listening to it. ' ' Thinking in the midst of music
is one of the sweetest things in life, when the heart is at ease.
When we feel the harmony, are harmonized by it, and yet lose
not one thread of the golden woof we are weaving. ' ' I learned
to sing in those old days, and I often feel the vibration of those
old melodies, when my mind reverts to those old days. There
were singers then everywhere, every house was vocal with sing-
ing. There were no fifes or fiddles allowed in that house in the
first years ; their tones were not harmonious to pious ears. But
the seats were filled with young men and maidens, and in the
center stood Keuben Welch, a tall man of large bulk, a most in-
veterate stutterer, but what seemed strange was that a man
who was unable to articulate any sentence intelligibly, could
sing all day without any impediment. And I have wondered
since then, why, knowing he could sing any sentence, he did not
cany on his ordinary conversation by the aid of minims and
semi-breves, rather than stumble about his words like a person
who wants to but cannot sneeze. He used to hold a singing
book in one hand, the hymn book in the other, and mark the time
by each alternately, and his heavy bass voice would roll out over
them and control all the rest. The music they sung was solemn
and plaintive, such as was best adapted to the serious condition
of the Christian mind. They had no Bliss, no Sankey, no Gos-
pel Hymns; these delicious melodies which give us so much
pleasure were unheard by them. It was not known that any-
thing pleasing or cheerful could enter into divine worship.
For many summers and winters these old brethren came up to
worship God in the house they had built. They grew older and
passed away one by one, let us hope to enjoy the heavenly
felicities they believed in store for them. As the years passed
by the congregation diminished, it grew more and more in-
convenient to attend there. The members had gravitated away
from that house. Some days the audience would resemble ours
upon a rough day. Some days the doors would stand gaping
widely for those who should but did not come. It seemed to
have served the purpose for wliich it was built, and like an old
garment was left by the wayside. Phineas Eastman bought it,
240 History of Canaan.
took it down at the time the Northern Railroad decided to es-
tablish a station at East Canaan, removed to that place, and made
a store out of its timbers, and from that day the voice of prayer
has not been heard within its walls. Previous to this event, in
1841, Eev. George W. H. Clark, an earnest faithful man, was
appointed to take charge of the church here. During the fol-
lowing year under his auspices a very extensive revival occurred,
and very large numbers were added to the church, from the
north and east part of the town.
In June, 1842, a camp-meeting was held in the woods near the
Wells burying ground, where members were converted and
united with the church. Many of the new Christians were
disinclined to wor.ship in the house on South Road, it being far
to travel, and besides they wished to be where they could mingle
with other Christians. Tliis feeling increased rapidly and ere
long it was decided to build a new house on the Street, which
they could occupy and control together. A building commit-
tee was appointed, subscriptions solicited, land purchased and
in due time the people saw a new spire rising towards heaven.
Ever\'thing was completed, orderly and judiciously, and when
the new house was dedicated it was already free from debt.
This event occurred on the 2d day of October. 1844. The ser-
mon was preached by Rev. Mr. McCurdy.
]Mr. Clark, in 1892, wrote regarding his pastorate here :
I arrived iu Canaan July 9, 1841, after dark, went directly to the old
parsonage on South Road, called up the family opposite, as they had
retired, to get the key. I found the church in a very low state. My
preaching places for the Sabbath were three fourths of the time at the
old chapel on South Road, and one fourth at the church at the Street.
Held meetings in schoolhouses in different parts of my charge. A series
of meetings were held on South Road where twelve to fifteen were con-
verted in the fall. In March, 1842, when my Presiding Elder Rev. C.
D. Gaboon, came to the Third Quarterly Conference, I asked him if he
could not arrange for a camp meeting for his next visit. The presiding
elder came, June Gth, and brought with him John Mars, a colored man.
Camp meetings began with small attendance, but increased, some six
were converted by Friday night. Saturday morning it began to snow
and continued all day, but it was a great day of power. In our first
preaching service the presiding elder preached; fourteen were con-
verted; meeting held in the Enfield tent. Saturday morning Mars
preached and 125 came to the altar. Monday morning closed the meet-
ing. We went to the old church on the Street Monday evening. Mars
The ^Methodist Church. 241
was with me. We held meetings nearly every afternoon and evening
for four weeks. The whole country was moved religiously as never
before. In the Autumn we held a union meeting with the Congregation-
alists, Baptists and Free-will Baptists. Three weeks in the Congrega-
tional church about SO were converted. As a result of the work I bap-
tized about 132. Early in the winter we began talking about building
a church on the Street. That winter the timber was cut and carried to
the mill. In the spring before I left the job wa.s let for building. I re-
turned in a few weeks and saw it raised.
Mr. Clark died in Fairfax, Vt., February 27. 1897. In Canaan
his labors had been productive of harmony and good fellow-
ship, and in 1843 he was sent to another field. Then the Eev.
Erasmus B. Morgan fiery, fractious, irritable and opinionated,
was placed in charge of this church. He was a very positive man,
one of that rare class who believe they are called to improve upon
God 's own work, neither humble nor charitable ; exacting ; a wordy
man of narrow intellect, embracing not much beyond his own
intellect ; very passionate withal, and apt to take offence at
trifles. He began preaching on South Road, and sometimes oc-
cupied Heath's Hall on the Street. He had not been here long
before there was a called meeting of the church, and about
half of the brethren refused to attend further upon his minis-
trations. He was displaced by Elder Gaboon and a Mr. Eaton
put in charge, but the cross fires were too sharp for Brother
Eaton and he left. Mr. ]\Iorgan had a strong and earnest party
here and he was reinstated. And he, with those who believed in
him made war upon the other side. The feeling ran higher than
at a presidential election, and the lies and slanders that followed
were unbecoming professed Christians. The anti-Morgan lambs
were without a pastor. They prayed and talked well, but they
lacked a head. About February, 1844, a smart preacher named
C. V. Caples, a colored man. received charge of the indignant
half of the church, and then the wars of Morgan and Caples be-
gan, and are a part of the church historj-. Eeligion and so-
ciety got badly mixed, — djiiamite would have been dove-like com-
pared to the explosions that shook and shocked the community.
The joy and peace of believers was laid aside, and great bit-
terness and soreness resulted from the wicked words and deeds
that were not restrained. It is related that one of the Morgan
brothers in a prayer, asked the Lord "to seize on Sister
16
242 History of Cana^vk.
and shake her well over hell, but be careful and not let her drop
in."
Morgan revoked Caples' license to preach but Elder Gaboon
came in and vouched for him as a regular preacher. Mr. Co-
nant. Congregationalist, vouched for him : Elder Clements, Bap-
tist, however, called him an uncertain character. Mr. Caples
made charges against Mr. Morgan and cited him to appear and
answer at the next conference. The doors of the new church
were closed against Morgan, and he preached in halls and school-
houses. The moral atmosphere was heated and murky, too much
so for the leading combatants. On the 8th of July, 1844, ' ' Brother
Morgan packed up his goods" and retired discomfited, and on the
16th, of the same month, "Brother Caples goes off to the State
of Maine," and is no more seen in Canaan. The effect of
that controversy was like a great blister on the church, it was
years in healing but it purified many hearts and wrought out
much Christian charity.
In 1844 the Circuit was divided on the line of Canaan and
Enfield, leaving Canaan, Dorchester and a part of Hanover in
the Canaan Circuit. Rev. Reuben Dearborn stepped into the
breach left vacant by the retreating hostile forces. It was not
a pleasant place to put a new man, but he was equal to the oc-
casion. Carefully avoiding and ignoring the past troubles, he
gradually brought the brethren together and a degree of har-
mony prevailed. The church increased in numbers and for
many years was prosperous. They have had many preachers
since that day with many of whom the brethren felt no regrets
on parting after one year's intercourse, and there were others
whose stay might have been lengthened until this day with profit.
And they have always preferred to have the services of their
preachers. But a change has come over the spirit of this country
church. Once they were hardly content with two sermons and
a prayer meeting on the Sabbath, now their hunger and tliirst
after righteousness is appeased by one sermon, and no prayer
meeting on Sunday. They are content also to share their
preacher's services with East Canaan. In 1883 the pastor was
required to divide his time between the two churches. During
the term of Rev. Joshua Holman the present parsonage on the
The Methodist Church. 243
Street was purchased and repaired, and in 1869 the debt upon
it was removed.
In June, 1843, Stephen Eastman was licensed as a local
preacher. He was born February 10, 1818, and married Laura
L. Loverin of Loudon. He was the sixth of eleven children born
to James and Polly (French) Eastman. He attended two terms
at Canaan Union Academy and several terms at the Newbury
(Vt.) Seminary, joining the N. H. Conference in 1846 at Leb-
anon. Bishop Waugh presiding. He was stationed one year at
Hopkinton, one year at North Charlestown, two at Walpole,
then at Alexandria and Hebron where he closed his labors on
earth March 14. 1854. On May 14, 1847, Lamed L. Eastman
was licensed as a local preacher. He was born March 12, 1813,
the fourth son of James and Polly Eastman, married April 3,
1839, Lucy A., daughter of Henry Currier of Enfield. His life
as an itinerant was one of great mental and physical activity.
He relates his journeyings so modestly and concisely that it is
best told in his own words.
My education what I have, was in the town school and during a four
years' course of stud.v while in charge of a church. Several years before
joining the Conference I endeavored to improve to the best advantage in
qualifying myself for the gospel ministry. I joined the Conference in
1S48, at Manchester. Bishop Hedding presiding. Here I think Brother
Stephen was ordained Deacon. I was appointed to Alexandria and
Hebron, and reappointed in 1849. At the close of this second year I
was ordained Deacon and Brother Stephen, Elder, by Bishop Norris at
Newmarket. The two succeeding years I was appointed to Warner and
Wentworth. At the close of this term was ordained Elder by Bishop
Baker at Nashua. During these first four years I was favored with
gracious revivals, many were converted each year. The two follow-
ing years I was at Lancaster, where there was a great revival. The next
two years at Littleton, and here we had a good time also. The next
move was to Winchester, where we had two successful years. Then two
years each at Plymouth and Amesbury, Mass., at Peterborough and
Sunapee, and then three years at Methuen. Here my health began to
fail, still I consented, being strongly urged to be appointed a second
time to Warner. At the close of this year I asked for a supernumerary
relation to the Conference without appointment, that we might rest and
travel a little. We spent several months in Illinois and New Jersey, with
our children; returned to Moultouborough and supplied for the year out,
and was reappointed for the following year. Meanwhile I built me a
house in Methuen, and moved into it, but retained my relation to the
Conference, and preached at Kingston. The next year I rested until Sep-
244 . History of CanaxVN.
tember. We then went to Londonderry and supplied the year out;
rested again and then went to Groveton, and supplied the year out.
Was then made effective and appointed to Groveton again. This was
in 1875-6. And closed my effective service as a traveling minister. I
am still an unworthy member of the N. H. Conference, broken down
with labor and disease, having lost one eye by a cancer, and was near
losing life from the same cause. I am now able to do something for this
Children's Home, which is perhaps as trying a position as we ever occu-
pied. God has been and is wonderfully good to us, and we intend to
work for his cause while our day lasts. It seems but a little time since
we were all children, — now we are stooping with age. But let us be
glad we have lived and toiled for a time in the vineyard of the Lord.
The parents of Stephen and Lamed Eastman moved into
Canaan in 1795 from Hampstead, N. H. The father, James, was
bom April 28. 1780; the mother, Polly French, daughter of
Jonathan French of Enfield, was born December 29, 1787.
Caleb Fales was a ^Methodist preacher, son of John and Sally
Fales. He had a natural call to preach without being educated
to it. A man of fair abilities, and being of good name and
fame among his brethren. He was born about 1800, and when
last heard from resided in Sharon. Yt.
Robert "Williams, son of Robert, who emigTated from Barring-
ton or Dunbarton, and settled in Enfield, it is not known where
young Robert was born, he married Mercy Hardy of Lebanon,
sister of the late Mrs. William Campbell, by whom he had sev-
eral children. He was an industrious and thrifty farmer. o\^ti-
ing at different periods several farms in this vicinity. From
here he went to Illinois where he continued his farmer's life. He
died several years ago, leaving a handsome property to be
divided among his children. He was possessed of fine natural
abilities, and was an earnest, effective speaker. When or where
he was licensed to preach is not known but he was known as a
Methodist preacher, and was much respected for his piety and
eloquence. Early in the old temperance movement he espoused
that cause and died a rigid abstainer from alcoholic drinks. He
also enlisted early in the anti-slavery cause and did some good
and earnest lecturing in behalf of oppressed humanity. On a
Fourth of July more than sixty years ago, he was appointed to
give an anti-slavery lecture in the Congregational church on the
Street. At that time negroes and anti-slavery meetings were
The Methodist Church. 245
interdicted in Canaan. The "Vigilance Committee" appointed
by the town "legally" to disperse incendiary meetings, were
notified of this proposed outrage upon the nice royalty of public
opinion, and they hastened with drum and fife to disperse that
little band of earnest thinkers whose prayers and hopes for the
slave threatened to upheave the foundations of republican gov-
ernment. But that heroic committee for once came too late.
They were so long getting upon the track that when they arrived
at the church they learned that the speech had been spoken and
the audience gone home.
Enoch Davis was another local preacher, of whom nothing
can be learned except that he lived here some eighty years ago
and let his light shine very freely.
At East Canaan.
Leonard Davis was the only person at East Canaan who was
a member of the Methodist church in 1862. He was at that time
a member of the church at the Street and afterwards transferred
his membership. The church building now occupied by the
]\Iethodists was a union church, and was built by the citizens.
There was religious worship in the house but no church organi-
zation.
Eev. C. U. Dunning in the spring of 1862 was closing his
labors at Enfield, having preached and delighted the people at
East Canaan, a reciuest was sent to the annual conference asking
for him to be sent for a year. He came and was the first pastor
of the church. He remained until the spring of 1866, one year
under missionary' rule and three as preacher in charge of the
church which was organized into an independent church by
Bishop Osman C. Baker in 1863. it having been considered as
a part of the church at the Street. Dunning reported at the
close of his term, "Four years ago there were but fifteen persons
who were considered to be members of the East Canaan class.
By the blessing and good hand of our God upon us we are able
to report 60 members and 29 probationers. Within three years
three members and three probationers have deceased, all dying
in the triumph of faith. ' '
Under J. AV. Adams eleven persons were baptized. But a
very' unfortunate division took place and the church, which had
246
History of Canaan.
been strong and full of promise, divided into two weak ones. And
from this disaster the church never recovered. During the pas-
torate of Mr. Farnham considerable interest prevailed and
twenty persons were baptized, by Rev. J. Pike, presiding elder,
and in spite of this interest there were two less on the roll than
when he came. In 1873 the church was repaired at an expense
of $400. In 1883 the church was united with the church at the
Street. In 1892 $250 was spent in repairs and in 1900, $850
was spent in decorating the interior.
The following is a list of the preachers at the Street:
HANOVER CIRCUIT.
1801
Martin Ruter
1803
Andrew Kernagen
Thomas Branch
Joseph Fairbanks
Reuben Jones
Thomas Skeel
Joshua Crowell
Dexter Bates
1802
Oliver Beale
1804
Elijah Hedding
Thomas Skeel
1805
Dyer Burge
Joel Winch
1806
Joseph Barker
Paul Dustin
1807
Dan Young
1803
Joseph Broadhead
1808
Dan Carr
CANAAN CIRCUIT.
1809 Ebenezer Blake
CANAAN AND BRIDGEWATER CIRCUIT.
1810
Warren Bannister
1812 John W. Hardy
Joseph Lull
Richard Emory
1811
Abner Clark
1813 John Lewis
Leonard Bennett
John Paine
CANAAN CIRCUIT.
1814
Jacob Sanborn
1824 Joseph Killam
1815
Walter Sleeper
William McCoy
1816
Benjamin Burnham
1825 Caleb Dustin
1817
Eleazer Phelps
Giles Campbell
1818
John Paine
1826 Caleb Dustin
Isaiah Emmerson
Eleazer Steele
1819
Orrin Roberts
1827 Benjamin Paine
1820
Joseph Killam
Henry J. Wooley
1821
Ezra Kellogg
1828 Benjamin Paine
1822
Herschel Foster
Joseph Sylvester
John Foster
1829-30 Dan Fletcher
1823
Joseph Killam
1831 H. Wheelock
Nathan Howe
J. Sweat
The Methodist Church.
247
1832 Caleb Dustin
S. Hackett
1833 Caleb Dustin
L. H. Gordon
1834 Supplied Mr. Robbins
1835 John H. Stevens
1836 B. Brewster
1837-8 Haines Johnson
1839 A. Heath
1840 Charles Cowing
1841-2 G. W. H. Clark
Nathaniel B. Smith
1843 Erasmus B. Morgan
Kimball Hadley
1844 Reuben Dearborn
1845 John Jones
1846 Silas Quimby
1847 Russell H. Spaulding
1848-9 H. H. Hartwell
1850-1 Nathaniel L. Chase
1852 Smith Aldrich
or M. Newhall
1853 John Taggart
1854 T. J. Andrews
1855 H. A. Mattisou
1856 John English
1857 Nelson Greene
1858
Nelson Martin
1859-
-60 Joshua Holman
1861 Joseph Hayes
1862
C
. U. Dunning
1863-
-5
Reuben Dearborn
1866
J.
W. Adams
1867
George N. Bryant
1868
A
. S. Kendall
1869-
-7]
: A. C. Coult
1872-
-3
J. Mowery Bean
1874-
-6
S. J. Robinson
1877-
-9
J. H. Hillman
1880
A
. F. Baxter
1881-
-2
J. A. Steel
1883-
-5
Irad Taggart
1886-
-7
S. G. Kellogg
1888-
-9
J. H. Trow
1890-
-2
C. E. Eaton
1893
H
. G. Hoisington
1894-
-5
D. W. Downs
1896-
-9
C. A. Reed
1900-
-1
W. T. Carter
1902
A
. M. Markey
1903-
-4
Herbert F. Quimby
1905-
-6
W. A. Mayo
1907-
-8
Cyrus L. Corliss
1909
C.
, W. Taylor
Preachers at East Canaan;
1863-5 C. U. Dunning
1866-8 J. W. Adams
1869-70 C. H. Chase
1871 Supplied
1872-3 S. C. Farnum
1874-5 G. N. Bryant
1876 Supplied by F. W. Johnson
1877 0. P. Wright
1878 Supplied
1879-80 A. C. Hardy
1881 Supplied by H. S. Parmlee
1882 None
From 1883 the church has had the same pastors as the Street.
CHAPTER XVII.
Schools.
Looking back over all the years my mind uncovers the events
of early life like a ploughshare in the grass. There were school
scenes for all of us. A little square-roofed school house stood
upon the common; it was painted yellow. Many of us learned
our letters in that house under the arbitrary rule of old Olive
Cross, whose father built the Landon house, as well as the house
where he lived and where Mr. Brais now lives. I say old Olive
Cross, because I have no recollection of her as ever having been
young. Her years seemed to have been perennial and eternal.
A brother of John P. Calkins and uncle of Rev. Charles Calkins,
who lived in a log house near H. G. Elliott's old farm, once be-
seiged the affections of this prim Methodist teacher. Olive's
castle was impregnable — she declined to yield to his proposals,
as she did to every one else, and died an old maid. She was a
stem old Puritan, and required pure submission to her rules,
and her punislunents were such as the Inquisition could hardly
have improved upon. She was considered a very good woman,
very religious and proper in her manners, and seemed to have
earned the prescriptive right to teach the rudiments of educa-
tion to all the children in town. She won the confidence of the
parents by her zeal in watching for offences and in punishing of-
fenders. I have often thought if she had children of her own
she would have been gentler in her nature, and would have
learned that love in a school room, or in a family, is a more
powerful weapon than fear. But the parents of those days were
great sticklers for force. Children needed flogging as much as
horses, and they got it too. There were the Dows, the Wallaces,
the Athertons, the Averys, the Barbers, the Wellses, the Tiltons.
What would any of them ever have amounted to if they had not
been flogged? And what would a school have been good for,
unless it conformed to the parental discipline at home ? I have
often wondered if in the happy home to which, when her spirit
ceased from troubling, good old Oliver Cross was triumphantly
Schools. 249
removed, she ever has visions of the little girls and boys in that
old yellow school house, standing in the floor, their noses pinched
with split sticks, holding heavy books out at arm's length until
they fell to the tloor through weariness ; or with screws vibrating
between the fingers until the blood flowed, and that great, wide
ferule, that raised blisters wherever it fell. But these were facts
which seemed all proper and right and served to develop the
self-respect and intelligence of the pupil ! She was the embodi-
ment of despotic tj-ranny, and seemed to have absent spells while
she invented new tortures for the little ones. I sometimes ob-
serve the comity which exists in families, that is, the reciprocal
sentiments that pass between parents and cliildren. I never
saw a boy yet who discovered much affection for the "old man"
who "licked" him upon occasion. He did it again, and he lied
about it, too, if it would redeem the whip. In families where
they keep a whip you do not see much caressing. The little
bo3' when he comes home all tired out, does not drop into his
father's arms and kiss him as he falls asleep. Little boys think;
they observe the ways and the temperaments of men. A boy
always looks in a man's face when he passes by. He is ever
watching for little acts of courtesy, or a recognition from older
persons. Speak to him pleasantly and notice what a joy per-
vades his face and shines out in his eyes. He sees that the little
manhood that fills his jacket is recognized, and he goes on his
way happy.
Many men and women forget they were ever boys or girls, and
look down upon them so far oft' that they seem never to dis-
tinguish them from birds or cattle. Thank God ! I always loved
children ; I always liked to be with them ; I like to have them in
mv house, filling mv yard and plaving in the shade of mv
trees. They are like the birds among the branches thereof.
Their voices are music to me, because they are the voices of in-
nocence and happiness. And there is a far-off future for them
in the coming years, when they like me, will be grey-headed,
looking back over the events of half a century, and perhaps,
unlike me, singing,
"Oh! would I were a boy again.
When life seemed formed of sunnv vears. ' '
250 History of Canaan.
My recollection of the teachers in that old school house is that
they were all alike. They never appealed to the manhood and
self-respect of the piipils. Their laws like Draco's had penal-
ties, and could only be appeased by corporal suffering. There
was Edward Oleott, a rusticated student; and Elijah Blaisdell,
who spared nobody — somebody was being punished all the
time; and the Rev. Joseph L. Richardson, who afterwards be-
came notorious as one of the leaders of the mob that destroyed
the academy ; he used to believe that children could endure cold
and thirst as well as bodily tortures. He would tell us that
these things, although they appeared to be severe judgments,
were intended as blessings, and if we profited by them we should
receive a crown of righteousness at some future time ; but I
never seemed to appreciate his prophetic promises in our behalf.
In 1793, a meeting of the Center district was held for the fol-
lowing purposes :
"Caxaax, December 9, 1793.
At a meeting of the inhabitauts of the Center District holden at the
house of Capt. R. Barber For the purpose of consulting a spot to set a
schoolhouse and the time when and the method how to Build said School
House. Proceeded as follows:
1st Chose Capt. Joshua Wells Chairman.
2nd Voted to build a school house and set said school house on the
north side of the road leading from Capt. Barbers to Capt. J. Wells
as near the corner of the old road leading to Capt. Barbers mill as the
land will admit of.
3rd. voted to build the frame of the above said house 18 feet wide and
24 feet long and cover the same with boards.
4th voted to build the chimney with stone as far as the beams.
Meeting disolved.
Oliver Smith, Clerk.
This is the first mention of the building of a school house.
There were three districts in town at this time.
The first vote to raise money for schooling was passed in 1786,
when 16 pounds L. M. was voted. And Eleazer Scofield, Jehu
Jones and Richard Clark were appointed a committee to divide
the town into districts. There were no school houses, and the
children had been taught by their parents at home. The people
had begun to realize that more competent instruction was needed.
But their efforts are feeble. They are not yet willing to give
their children much of a chance. They thought that as their own
Schools. 251
education was obtained for the most part by hard knocks and
experience, there was no reason why their sons and daughters
cannot g-et it in the same way. Knowledge that could be learned
from books was no qualification, in knowing how to cut trees
and burn brush. So little did they value book learning, that no
mention is made of raising any more money for schools until
1789, when thej^ voted not to raise any.
At the annual meeting in 1795 we find that the town voted
to abate Asa Paddleford's school tax. It would seem that the
town had been supporting schools. The schools had not been
well fostered, although the town had been divided into districts
no school house adorned the forks of the roads. The schools
were held where any convenient place could be obtained, and
for the most part the teacher was paid by those who had sub-
scribed to have a school. One of the subscription papers is as
follows :
We the Subscribers, Do Agree to have a Woman's school, to begin as
early Next Spring, as we shall think Proper & to last Five months the
School is to be Kept where the School House Frame is Near Capt.
Joshua Wells's in Canaan, and that we & Each of us Do Promise to
bear our Equal Proportion in Getting, Boarding and Paying the Mistress
for Teaching According to the Number of Scholars We Subscribe to
send, as witness our hands.
Canaan, February 6 A. D. 1795.
SCHOLARS.
Jonathan Farnum 1% Levi Bailey li/^
Robert Barber 1 Joshua Wells 2
John M. Barber 1 Caleb Pierce 1
Peter Pattee 2 Enoch Sweat jr 2
Josiah Clark 3 Ebenezer Hanson 1
Richard Whittier 3 Oliver Smith 2
In this school Olive Cross commenced her long career as a
teacher, at $4 a month, "boarding round" with the scholars.
The frame spoken of, had been put up and covered in at the
forks of the old road leading to Orange a little westerly from
Joshua Well's. This frame was afterwards taken down and
rebuilt into the schoolhouse that used to stand near John
Worth's tavern.
In 1795 the town voted, "that the School rates collected by
252 History of Canaan.
Dr. Pierce Constable, shall be refunded back and paid the in-
dividual it was taken from." "That the northeast district
where Abel Hadley lives, or those who have not schooled out
their money, shall have the privilege of schooling it out in their
own district, and that they all have an order on the constable
if they have paid it." "That John Harris and Henry Springer
have back their school money." "That those who live in the
district where Lt. R. Whittier lives, who have sent their chil-
dren to the north district to school the winter past, shall pay
their money to that district. ' '
In the warrant for the annual meeting in 1796 there was an
article "to see if the town will vote to raise money to furnish
the town with necessary school houses. No action was taken
upon it. But this year for the first time the tow^n chose school
money collectors — John Currier, Ezekiel Wells, Jonathan
Carlton, Clark Currier.
In 1798 John Bryant taught on West Farms and the other
teachers were Job Wilson, Amasa Jones and Eliphalet Norris.
In 1799 Ezekiel Wells, Thomas Miner and Enoch Richardson
were appointed a committee to divide the school districts "that
are dissatisfied." Nine districts were made.
In 1800 Oliver Smith, Selding Pattee and Ebenezer Clark
taught school in southeast district one month. In 1801 John
Bryant taught on West Farms and at John R. Dustin's.
In 1803, a strong effort was made to provide the town with
suitable accommodations for the schools, and a vote was passed
"to raise a sum of $500 to build school houses in each district,
allowing each the privilege of building its own, if they build
within 7 months." The $500 was not assessed, through negli-
gence of the selectmen. But the next year (1804) the town
passed a similar vote, with this change, that the sum to be raised
be $1,000, "allowing each district the pri\dlege of building its
own schoolhouse, if built within seven months." A committee
of nine was appointed to ascertain the limits of each district.
And nine collectors were chosen to collect the money, one in each
district. Moses Dole, John Cogswell and Benjamin Haynes
taught the schools. A committee appointed the previous year
to redistrict the town reported that they had divided the town
into ten districts, and that the money appropriated was not
Schools. 253
sufficient to build the needed schoolhouses. And in the follow-
ing year (1805) the town voted an additional $500, "to finish
the schoolhouses. ' ' The town also made twelve districts and ap-
pointed twelve collectors. The tenth district, called also the
Center "Deestrick," as reported, was contained within the fol-
lowing boundaries: "Taking Jonathan Carlton (C. P. King)
'and thence northerly to ^lascoma river around by Joseph Flints
(G. W. Davis) and all Broad Street and Caleb Welch jr, by
request." The schoolhouse in this district was located near
Dudley Gilman's Tavern, not far from the site of the residence
of the late H. C. George, now Mrs. G. H. Robinson's. It was
built about the year 1800, and was the first schoolhouse built
on the Street. It was a large one-story building with two stacks
of chimneys. As the Street was to be the village it was called
the "Academy."
After being occupied for a term of years as a school, it was
burned one night by one of the pupils, named Zebulon Barber,
who came from the Gore. At this late day the reason for Zebu-
Ion's incendiary act does not appear. This school was taught
by "Master" Parker. The studies were not numerous, but em-
braced branches sufficient for what was then considered a fair
education — spelling from "Webster's Spelling Book," and
writing according to the method of those days. There were no
arithmetics; even Pike's had not found its way into our schools.
The pupils were instructed in "figures" and "cyphering" by
means of sums written out by the master, whose importance
increased in the same ratio as his figures. From a little book of
about one hundred pages called "The Ladies Accedence," the
rudiments of grammar were taught. . The reading was confined
to the few pages found in the spelling book, and to the New
Testament, from which two long readings each day formed the
opening and closing exercises. After the burning of "The
Academy ' ' the school was kept in a log house, situated in the field
a little back of Miss Emma A. Bell's barn, and was taught a
term by Lawyer Blaisdell, who often found scant gleanings after
Hale Pettingill had picked over the ground. This was the first
house built on the "Street" by William Douglass the shoemaker,
for a dwelling. And it was still doubtful whether this would be
254 History of Canaan.
the ' ' Village, ' ' so deep and unfathomable were the mud obstruc-
tions.
In 1810, thirteen school districts existed, and the same number
of collectors were appointed.
In 1811, the first school committee was chosen, "Esq" Pettin-
giU, John H. Harris, and "Esq" Blaisdell. The next year Abel
Brown takes the place of Jolm H. Harris.
In 1812, the "Center Deestrick" is divided at Moses Dole's,
he having his choice to which district he will belong "with his
property. ' '
In 1813, Pettingill, John H. Harris and John Currier are the
school committee. In 1814 there are fourteen collectors of school
money appointed. In 1816 there are fifteen school collectors
representing so many districts. In 1826 a committee was ap-
pointed that divided the town into fifteen school districts. This
was not satisfactory, so in 1828 the number was increased to
seventeen. In 1854 there were twenty districts. In 1861 they
had increased to twenty-one. This number continued until
1886. After the passage of the new school law the town in
1885 voted to redistrict the town. The superintending school
committee was abolished as well as the prudential committee for
each district and a school board was elected by vote of the school
meeting.
The town, in 1886. was redistricted into eleven divisions; in
1887 there were ten. This continued down to the establishment
of the High School district, which made two districts out of the
town. The town school district has been divided into ten
divisions, but most of the time there have been nine schools.
There are twelve schoolhouses in the town district. The High
School district comprises the southeast corner of the town.
CHAPTER XVIII.
NoYES Academy.
In the early part of 1834 several energetic citizens of Canaan,
and prominent among- them was the lawyer, George Kimball,
procured subscriptions sutScient to build a house, and to buy
half an acre of land, for grounds. It was located in the field
next south of the Congregational Meeting House, with an orna-
mental fence in front. There were sixty contributors to the
enterprise, and cliief among them stood the venerable farmer,
Samuel Noyes, for whom the contemplated school was named.
The amount subscribed was $1,000. of which sum only $80 was
subscribed by the opponents of the school, and only $20 of that
was ever paid, the friends of the school offering at that time to
assume the whole $80. Application was made to the legislature
for a charter which was granted July 4, 1834, to Samuel Noyes,
George Kimball. Nathaniel Currier, George Walworth and John
H. Harris, as incorporators of Noyes Academy. The charter
provided for the "education of youth." That the corporation
could hold estate not to exceed $15,000, to be divided into one
thousand shares of $15 each. Property by way of gift could be
held to any amount. The stock was not assessable. On the
4th of July it occurred to some of the enthusiastic and philan-
thropic donors of the institution, to propose having it established,
as they said, "upon the principles of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence," whereby its privileges and blessings should be open
to all pupils without distinction of color, coming with suitable
moral and intellectual recommendations. A general meeting of
the patrons of the school was warned to be held on August 15,
1834. Previous to this meeting the plan was proposed to many
of them individually and met their prompt acceptance.
The nation at this time was at the height of the anti-slavery
agitation. During this month anti-slavery riots had taken place
in New York City, and had been continued into New Jersey. The
people of Canaan sympathized with both sides and the line was
as sharply drawn between the abolitionists of Canaan and their
256 History of Canaan.
opponents as anywhere in the countrj'. Several abolition orators
came to Canaan and served to keep the people stirred on that
question, which was not solved for more than twenty-five years
after. The friends of the school realized there was going to be
a struggle, excitement was in the air ; both sides did not hesitate
to show their whole strength, and every effort was made to bring
it out and place every man either on one side or the other. This
was a question that it took a man of great ability to straddle.
An extract from a diary written at that time, shows that the
friends of the school were intent upon carrying out their pro-
posed plan : ' ' Thursday, Aug. 14th, 1834. Eode around town,
electioneering, exorted a promise from every man I called upon
to appear on Canaan Street tomorrow at 2 o'ck. "
Other trusty messengers were dispatched about town to notify
all persons interested to appear. At the general meeting the
plan was formally laid before it and discussed fully by friends
and opponents.
The opposition was led, with much bitterness of spirit, by
Hon. Elijah Blaisdell. a gentleman who was not a subscriber,
ha%dng no pecuniary interest in the institution. Other promi-
nent opponents were present — Dr. Thomas Flanders and Rev.
Joseph L. Richardson, all of Canaan.
After a deliberate hearing, a ballot was taken when thirty-six
of the fifty-one proprietors present voted in favor and fourteen
against it. Two did not vote at all. and declined to express an
opinion. Two of the fourteen negatives afterwards declared
themselves in its favor. One who was not prepared to vote at
this meeting afterwards gave in his assent. Two others hoped
the school would go on upon the proposed plan and flourish, and
six others who were not present afterwards sent in their decided
assent, making a total of forty-nine subscribers who favored
the proposed plan. The plan submitted was thus adopted, the
proprietors proceeded to elect a board of trustees, and fix on a
day for their meeting and organization.
An extract from the same diarj- brings us a little nearer to
those times :
Friday, August 15. Attended the meeting of the proprietors of the
Academy. N. Currier, Esq., was called to the chair, which he took with-
out making a speech, as he never pretended to be an orator. I was
\\
Notes Academy. 257
much gratified with, the proceediugs of the meeting, 17 trustees were
chosen. Mr. Kimball spolve with considerable warmth and energj- on
the wrongs of slavery. N. P. Rogers was present and spoke cheeringly
of the future of this school. Mr. Blaisdell with his usual malignant
disposition, bitterly opposed the object of the meeting, as subversive
of the cause of good morals. Elijah does not win confidence in his asser-
tions for his bitterness. Several resolutions were passed, among others
it was resolved and approved that Dr. Cox of N. Y. City a notorious
abolitionist, a friend, be among the trustees. Great events are on the
gale.
Paine says "there is a mass of sense, lying dominant in man,
which, often descends with him to the grave for want of some
stimulus to bring it forth to action. Nothing so well contributes
to that important end as agitated or revolutionary^ times. This
allusion seems to fit our present conditions."
But the enemies of the school — perhaps that phrase should
not be used, it is not probable that any one was opposed to the
Academy, as it was originated- — but the plan to introduce
negroes into this white community was revolting to the white
sense of propriety. Negroes were not recognized as a part of
the social system. This negative idea in regard to the negro was
not new at this time. There are hardly any old enough to re-
member the first negro who came to Canaan. It was a boy, who
came over from Hanover about ninetv-five vears ago, to live
with Captain Dole. How curiously he was examined — the flat
nose, thick lips, kinky hair, and more wonderful than all, the
blackness that enveloped his skin. The boys gathered about him
in a circle, and wondered to see him talk and laugh like them-
selves. But the novelty at length disappeared, and then Denni-
son Wentworth was only a ' ' colored boy. ' '
But the Christian men and women of those days were never
ready to recognize his equality before God. And when the Con-
gregational Church was built in 1828-29, that there might be
no misunderstanding, as to the sentiment of the builders or pro-
jectors, a pew was built in the northwest corner of the gallery,
and dedicated to the negro race as the "Negro Pen." and there it
remains today, a witness to the prejudice that was to culminate
in after years, in outrages and mobs all over the land, produc-
ing bitterness and wounds in society, that a whole generation
has scarcely been able to heal. The negro could go into that
17
258 History of Canaan.
pen, and listen to the prayers, the hymns and sermons of the
preacher, but he must come no nearer the altar of God.
The opponents of the negro part of the plan were not idle.
They gathered together in caucus, after the meeting of the
proprietors, and decided that a "town meeting" should be called
to procure if possible an unfriendly expression from the voting
population of the towTi. The names of the men who were most
prominent in this opposition were: Elijah Blaisdell, Joseph L.
Richardson, Dr. Thomas Flanders, the Pattees — father and son
— Jacob Trussell. AVilliam Campbell and many others. There
was another reason aside from the social aspect of the affair,
that led them to a public expression of disapproval of the negro
question in the school. The Southern politicians were getting
excited at the spread of Abolition sentiments, and it was a fondly
cherished belief of our good men, that they could contribute
something towards soothing their Southern brethren, by passing
resolutions, denouncing the Abolitionists, having them published
in the Neiv Hampshire Patriot, signed by the selectmen and
clerk and then sending carefully marked copies to their senators
and representatives in Congress. It was only a murmuring
ripple of popular opinion, not very loud as yet but harsh, a
murmur that was to develop an untamed wild beast.
Indications of the mob spirit are foreshadowed in an extract
from the diary before mentioned, under date of
August 26, 1834. There is certainly sometliing pertaining to aristoc-
racy in every village, Yea, in every community, of individuals. The
man of wealth has his retainers as well as the religionist his proselytes.
There are those who are ready to act in any capacity, even at the head
of a mob whose intentions have been declared. Jefferson says "the
mobs of great cities add just so much to the support of the pure govern-
ment, as sores do to the strength of the human body."
August 29, 1834. It seems that the principles of abolition are as con-
tagious as the cholera. All seems to be infected with the mania.
Amalgamation would be frightful, but that would be the result if these
principles were carried out.
A school is about to be opened here, where spirits of all colors are to
receive instruction together.
The master spirit of the age is 'benevolence. The earth, the at-
mosphere, everything seems pregnant with the spirit of benevolence.
What must be done, can be done. What ought to be done, will be done.
NoYES Academy. 259
A town meeting was warned to be held September 3d, "To
take the sense of the qualified voters relative to the contem-
plated Institution about to be established in this town, avowedly
for the purpose of educating black and white children and youth
promiscuously and without distinction and what measures to
adopt in regard to said Institution. ' ' The meeting was held on
the appointed day, and the following resolutions were passed :
Whereas divers of the inhabitants of the town of Canaan have
erected a building and obtained an act of the legislature incorporating
them into an association by the name of Noyes Academy for the avowed
purpose of literary instruction, and whereas George Kimball, Nathaniel
Currier and a few others, in contempt of the feelings and wishes of their
associates, and contrary to the views of the good citizens of the town,
(and as we believe of the adjoining towns) have determined by their
vote to dedicate said building and act of incorporation, to the establish-
ment of a school for the purpose of mingling promiscuouly, for the pur-
pose of instruction the Black as well as the white children of our coun-
try, and have by their vote and declaration, declared that they will re-
ceive such blacks into said Academy for instruction and into their fami-
lies as boarders on the same terms as the whites, and compel their own
children and boarders, and all who may attend said Academy to asso-
ciate with them, without regard to colour, thereby not only outraging
the feelings of the inhabitants of said town, setting aside the very dis-
tinction the God of Nature has made in our species in colour, features,
disposition, habits and interests, but inviting every black, who may ob-
tain means by the aid of his own friends and by the aid of a Society
heated by Religious and Political zeal, to a degree that would sever
the Union for the purpose of emancipation. Therefore resolved That
we view with abhorence every attempt to introduce among us a black
population, and that we will use all lawful means to counteract such
introduction.
Resolved that we most devoutly wish for the emancipation of every
black slave in our country, and that whenever any method shall be de-
vised, to effect that object consistant with tlie rights, views and inter-
ests of our Southern brethren, who are immediately interested, we shall
be ready to make any sacrifice to effect it, provided it is not to mix
them with our own free white population.
Resolved that while we contemplate with sorrow, the hard fate of the
African race, and lament that any of that race should be slaves, we are
not prepared to sever the happy union of these states and inbue our
hands in the blood of our brethren for the purpose, of having Black
Presidents, Black Governors, Black Representatives, Black Judges, nor
for the purpose of gratifying the religious zeal of any class of discon-
tented citizens.
Resolved, that we view with abhorrence the attempt of the Abo-
260 History of Canaan.
litiouists to establish a school in this town, for the instruction of the
sable sons and daughters of Africanus, in common with our own sons
and daughters and that we view with contempt every white man and
woman who may have pledged themselves to receive black boarders or
to compel their own children to associate with them.
Resolved, that we will not send our children to any Academy or High
school, where black children are educated in common with white chil-
dren, nor in any way knowingly encourage such schools.
Resolved, that we will not associate with nor in any way countenance
any man or woman who shall hereafter persist in attempting to establish
a school in this town for exclusive education of blacks, or for their edu-
cation in conjunction with the whites.
Daniel Pattee, John Shephard and Elijah Blaisdell were
chosen to procnre the publication of the foregoing preamble and
resolutions. And to nominate "seventeen" persons in different
parts of the town with instructions "to use all lawful means to
prevent the establislunent of said school and if established to
counteract its influence."
These men were :
James Eastman Jacob Trussel
March Barber Sylvanus jMorgan
E. Blaisdell Daniel Pattee, Jr.
Stephen Ward D. B. Whittier
John Shephard Samuel Paddleford
Elijah Miller Timothy B. Dudley
George Walworth William Campbell
Adam Pollard Joseph L. Richardson
Under date of the same day the diary says:
The people of Canaan assembled this day at the Town House to con-
sider the recent measures of the Abolitionists in reference to the School.
After listening for some time to the mobocratic vituperation of Elijah,
a long list of inflammatory resolutions pertinent to the occasion were
read and passed. Ah, me! the old Jacobins are determined not to have
the niggers here.
Great efforts were made to rally the disaffected and to create
disaffection. Mr. Blaisdell took hold of the growing sentiment
of opposition, petted it, rubbed it the wrong way of the fur, to
irritate it, then presented the resolutions, all of which together
with his speech, were duly reported in the New Hampshire
Patriot.
NoYES Academy. 261
No one raised an objection, no friends of the school took part
in the meeting. The number voting for the unfriendly resolu-
tions was 86, out of over 300 votes on the check list. The
friends of the school were jubilant and considered themselves
to be a strong and decided majority among the people. Poor,
deluded mortals! Little did they realize the aggrieved spirit
that animated those 86 votes. So firmly convinced that they were
attending to their own affairs, and that no one ought to molest
them, they took measures to open the Academy.
On the 11th of September, 1834, the trustees met for the first
time in the Academy, when such business as came before them
was transacted, and the following circular was passed to be
printed, and put in circulation :
To The American Public.
The undersigned Trustees of the Noyes Academy, in conformity with
the wishes of a large majority of the donors of said Academy, and with
the unanimous vote of the corporators, named in the act of the Legis-
lature, have come to the resolution to admit to the privileges of this
Institution, colored youth of good character on equal terms with whites
of like character. In adopting this principle the Trustees deem that
they are reducing to practice the spirit and letter of the Declaration of
our National Independence, of the Constitution and laws of New Hamp-
shire, and the Bills of Rights of all the States of this United Republic,
except those which have made literature a crime, and prohibited the
reading of the Bible under heavy penalties.
In the State of New Hampshire according to the laiv, character and
not complexion, is the basis of every distinction, either of honor or in-
famy, reward or punishment. But what greater punishment can there
be, what greater degradation, than to deprive the soul of its proper
sustenance, the knowledge of divine and human things? Much better
were it to kill the body than to doom the mind to ignorance and vice.
It is unhappily true, that heretofore the colored portion of our fellow
citizens, even in the free States, while their toil and blood have con-
tributed to establish, and their taxes equally with those of the whites,
to maintain our free system of Education, have practically been excluded
from the benefits of it. This Institution, propose to restore, so far as it
can, to this neglected and injured class the privileges of literary, moral
and religious instruction. We propose to uncover a fountain of pure and
healthful learning, holding towards all the language of the Book of
Life: "Ho! EVERY ONE that thirsteth let him come and drink."
We propose to afford colored youth a fair opportunity to show that
they are capable, equally with the whites, of improving themselves in
every scientific attainment, every social virtue, and every Christian
ornament.
262 History op Canaan,
If however we are mistaken in supposing, that they possess such
capacity; if, as some assert, they are naturally and irremediably stupid,
and incorrigibly vicious, then the experiment we propose will prove this
fact; and will in any event furnish valuable data, upon which the ex-
cited patriotism and piety of the land may predicate suitable measures
in time to come, or may i-elapse into undisturbed repose, and forever
forbear to form designs upon this agitating subject.
There are in the midst of this republic, of slaves and men nominally
free, a number much greater than the population of the six New Eng-
land States, and about nine times greater than the entire people of the
State of New Hampshire. This mighty mass of human beings, of in-
telligent spirits and active passions must remain here, for weal or for
wo, until the Creator of all shall come to judge the world. They must
not only remain here but they must in spite of all human efforts, go
on to increase in a ratio, which inspires apprehension in those who are
conscious of doing them continual wrong.
If, therefore, there really exists between them and the whites, that
natural and invincible antipathy, which many allege as an argument
against our plan, how important and necessary is it for the welfare of
this whole country that some of their own color should be humanized,
christianized and qualified to gain that access to their minds and that
control over their evil propensities which upon the above proposition
it is impossible for any white ever to acquire.
It is a familiar remark, that it would be an incalculable injury to this
country, if the restraint which the influence and instructions of the
Catholic Clergj' impose, were to be removed from the uneducated and
depraved among the Irish emigrants. The total number of those emi-
grants does not exceed one fifth of the colored Americans! If, on the
other hand, the alleged antipathy does not exist, then one of the most
common and formidable objections to the free and equal participation
of all our youth in the means and opportunities of improvement, van-
ishes at once and forever.
We propose to do nothing for the colored man — but to leave him
at liberty to do something for himself. It is not our wish to raise him
out of his place nor into it — but to remove the unnatural pressure
which now paralizes his faculties and fixes him to the earth. We wish
to afford him an impartial trial of his ability to ascend the steeps
of science and to tread the narrow way, which leadeth unto life. We
wish to see him start as fairly as others, unconfined by fetters, unin-
cumbered with burdens and boyaut with hope; and if he shall then fail,
we shall at the worst have this consolation, that we have done our
utmost to confer upon him those excellent endowments, which the wis-
dom of God and the solemn appeal of our fathers have taught us to
regard as the appropriate distinction of immortal and infinitely im-
provable beings.
We profess to be republicans, not jacobins, nor agrarians; we think
with a great and liberal Englishman, that political equality means
"not a right to an equal part, but an equal right to a part," not a right
NoYES Academy. ' 263
to take from others, but an equal right with others to make for our-
selves. We profess to be Christians and we look with humble reliance
for the blessing of Him, with whom "there is neither Greek nor Jew, Bar-
barian nor Scythian bond nor free, but Christ is all in all."
This declaration is intended to be preliminary to a detailed plan for
the instruction and government of the Academy, which with the terms
of tuition, the qualifications for admission, the time of commence-
ment, and the name of the instructor, will form the subject of a future
and early communication to our fellow citizens.
George Kimball, Canaan, N. H.
Nathaxlel Curelee, do,
Timothy Tilton, do,
John H. Haeeis, do,
David L. Child, Boston, Mass.,
Samitel E. Sewall. do,
William C. Muxeoe, Portland, Me.,
N. P. Rogers, Plymouth, N. H.,
George Kent, Concord, N. H.,
Saml-el H. Cox, New York City,
Trustees.
Canaan, N. H., Sept. 11th, 1834.
The same day there was a public meeting at the Congrega-
tional Meeting House. Rev. ]Mr. Bobbins, a ^Methodist minister,
was invited to open the meeting with prayer. He almost declined,
but finally consented. He prayed xery cautiously, asking God
to bless the enterprise if it was to be for His glory, but as he
did not believe it was God's intention to mix blacks and whites,
he prayed that all the efforts might be put to confusion. A
careful man. this Bobbins, but not honest as God and the law
require men to be honest. The meeting was then addressed by
Mr. Da"vnd L. Child of Boston, followed by Samuel E. Sewall of
Boston and N. P. Rogers of Plymouth.
This meeting was interesting to all the friends of the school.
The principal points upon which INIr. Child dwelt were: (I.)
The unlimited power and control of the master over the slave.
(II.) The capacity of the black to receive needed knowledge,
and (III.) the possibility of safe emancipation. He illustrated
these points with facts, some of them revolting to human nature.
''Sept. 12, 1834," the diary goes on: "An address was deliv-
ered at the Academy by Mr. Abdy from England, a traveler,
upon the subject of slaverj^ as it existed in Europe, contrasted
with it here. Mr. Child followed with some cheering words.
264 History of Canaan.
Then George Kimball, the lawyer, being filled with zeal, prophe-
sied glowinglv of the great benefits that were to result to the
human race from the small beginnings here in Canaan." At
length, "Sept. 14th. Tranquility is again restored to our vil-
lage. The Abolitionists are gone, and Elijah and Jacob have
retired from sight to their several occupations in life. Now let
us wait for the next moment for both parties have become so
hostile that aggressions must follow."
In those days there existed a class of men. whose minds were
constantly seizing upon new and unheard of horrors, with which
to influence and arouse the indignation of such as are always
shocked at the recital of outrage and wrong. This class of
persons like to pass from one state of indignation into another
with abruptness, and always find the succeeding condition more
intense than the preceding. This morbid feeling had been
strained to a high tension, by the recital of the outrages and
murder committed upon William ^Morgan, by the ]\Iasons of New
York, and by the revelations of imaginary horrors, that were
daily transpiring, within the guarded recesses of the lodge room.
It was not difficult to transfer the sympathies of these awful
imaginings to the actual horrors which were being daily recited,
in relation to the black slaves. Their wrongs were visible, tan-
gible realities, and seemed to cry to Heaven for redress. That
cry was heard in every hamlet and village in New England, and
awoke the sympathies of philanthropists into sudden and some-
times unhealthv acti\dtv.
It is possible, that the action of the trustees, inviting "col-
ored youth," to partake of the benefits of the Academy, might
have had its origin in a desire to secure to itself the benefits of
the fund which several philanthropic gentlemen had set apart
for the education of "colored youth," but certain it is, that some
two years before the establishment of "Noyes Academy" efforts
were commenced for the establishment of a ]\Ianual Labor School,
somewhere in New England, to promote the improvement of the
free people of color. Several thousand dollars, the sum was
stated as high as $15,000, were subscribed and several places
were recommended as suitable for such an undertaking. George
Kimball, Esq., who was an enthusiast in everything he under-
took, exerted himself with great assiduity, to influence the trus-
NOYES ACADEilY. 265
tees and patrons of Xoyes Academy to admit pupils without
regard to color, to the advantages of the institution.
When this decision was announced, as it was by the trustees
in their circular of the 11th of September, it was decided that
the subscription with all its patronage, should be bestowed upon
Xoyes Academy, thus securing to it a permanent fund and plac-
ing its success bevond a doubt. But the hostile sentiments which
met them at the threshold, and which soon developed into un-
governed rage, caused the withholding of these funds, and
it has not been possible to trace them with certainty. But it
is probable, when the difficulties in Oberlin College, Ohio, which
were caused by the same sentiments, were settled by opening
its doors to blacks and whites alike, that generous subscription
went to swell the funds of that institution.
But to go back to the facts. After the meeting of the trus-
tees on the 11th of September, a committee was dispatched to
Andover Theological Seminary, for a ''sound and accomplished
teacher." Doctors Skinner and Woods, reconunended Mr. Wil-
liam Scales, of the senior class, who accepted the position, and
appointed the first of March as the date of opening the school.
Encouraged bv the cheering call of the circular of the trus-
tees, fourteen colored youth and children resorted to the school,
advancing with trembling steps to the enjoyment of privileges,
to them at least unexpectedly presented. Besides these there
were twenty-eight white pupils, at the opening. And it looked
as if the school was going on in peace and prosperity. Of the
demeanor of the colored pupils, and it is upon good authority,
that "they were modest and inoffensive in their deportment, in
their manners polite and unassuming, their lives unblemished, in
their application and improvement their capacities and intel-
lectual attainments they compared favorably with the other
pupils." The friends of the school believed thej' saw in all the
signs a token of God's approbation of their endeavors, and they
rested securely upon their labors.
In examining a lot of old manuscripts, I find several letters
from friends, which sive a little insight into the affairs of the
school. Several short extracts follow: "Oct. 22, 1831:. ]May
Harris commenced the female department three or four weeks
ago. Has about twenty scholars." "Canaan, Oct. 28, 1834.
266 History of Canaan,
Mr. Currier has returned from Boston. He brings intelligence
that David L. Child, Esq., will come on in about six weeks and
take charge of the school. The receipt of this interesting news
affected each party in a different manner. There was a joyous
rubbing of hands among our friends. Kimball had to holler
long and loud. Old Dr. Tilton smiled all over. He has declared
that the only epitaph he desires upon his tombstone is that he
was 'The Slaves' Friend.' Col. Isaac Towle gave a grunt of
satisfaction. You know, he is a very positive man. His 'I will'
and ' I won 't ' settles all controversy with him. The hostiles were
not pleased, — in fact they were mad — very mad ! Trussell,
Arvin, old Cobb, and Blaisdell, were hardly peaceable for some
days. Their minds were much preoccupied. I am told that
persons who approached them upon business matters received
only such answers as 'Abolition scimi,' 'villains,' 'perjured
Masons,' 'unconstitutional acts,' &c. But for these men, who
like Cassius 'have a lean and hungry look' there would be gen-
eral cheerfulness among the people. Parson Fuller will teach
the school until the arrival of Mr. C. He entered upon the task
yesterday. Probably not more than twenty pupils attend. I
do not go yet."
"One thing further, I understand the circular is published,
and the picture of this town is drawn with a master hand. I
give you one sentence, which ought to melt and soften the hard
hearts of those creatures who are base enough to oppose this
wonderful scheme of Philanthropy." This sentence is the one
which refers to their doing nothing for the colored man, but to
leave him at liberty to do something for himself.
Miss Mary Harris was engaged to teach the female department.
"Canaan, Dec. 23, 1834. The school building stands where it
was placed, a monument of the rashness of the projectors."
As time passed on the excitement increased, until the town was
a scene of bitterness, suspicion and hatred mingled in society,
and all kindliness seemed to be crowded out. The friends of
the school were sanguine and fearless. The opponents were
sullen and thoughtful. Old Mrs. Nichols said: "Mr. Kimball
ought to 'a-been abed and asleep before he got us into such a
tarnation scrape." Col. Daniel Pattee was greatly alarmed and
threatened "extermination bv fire and sword."
NoYES Academy. 267
Mr. Wesley P. Burpee, with pugnacious gravity, bobbed his
head and declared, "This thing is iTuconstitutional, Sir! We
must put it down. Sir ! ' ' Many secret caucuses of these men were
held during the winter, and it was not until after long and
mature deliberation, that a positive plan was resolved upon.
Another letter of January 22, 1835, says: "Thirteen colored
persons are now attending school. Kimball has just returned
from Providence with six. He intends building a large boarding
house. ' '
During the winter Mr. Kimball devoted himself to collecting
funds for the school, and on his return in February, he an-
nounced that he had been more successful than he even hoped.
The school was now assured of permanence. He sold his house,
next north of the Currier store at that time, now the second,
and moved into the Wilson house at the corner, opposite A. S.
Green's, with the intention of boarding all the black pupils,
some twenty of w^hom were announced as coming on the first of
March, when it was anticipated the "Nigger school" was to
begin. He also announced his intention of building a boarding
house in the field near the Academy, for the accommodation of
black and white pupils. An earnest effort was now made by
the good people to raise money to purchase a bell for the Acad-
emy, but they were not successful. ]\Ir. Scales came on Sunday,
the first day of IMarcli. On JMarch 31st a mulatto came from
Boston to attend the school.
I now refer to the diary, date of April 10, 1835. "Oscar goes
to school." "One colored man by the name of Thomas Paul,
from Boston, has arrived. Did you suppose mother would board
the hlacJcs. No! She has enough else to do."
"May 21. Great exertions are making to rouse up a revival
of religion. Another colored person, a lady from Boston, has
arrived. Show 'em in! No aristocracy here."
A letter of June 10th says: "As yet only six 'colored youths'
have arrived. Two of them black as night. Kimball boards
them. This week is vacation. We cannot yet tell what the
result of this school will be. Nothing but rare courage and devo-
tion in the projectors to push their plans through good and evil
reports will preserve it. The fact that the whole slave popula-
tion of the South are coming here, shocks the sensibilities of the
268 History of Canaan.
toothless, eyeless, senseless part of the community. The old,
superannuated dotards sigh at the coming events, and wish they
had never been born. Because, forsooth, a black man has come
among us."
Rumors of the most absurd character were set afloat against
the school and the people. The village was to be overrun Avith
negroes from the South; the slaves were coming here to line the
streets with their huts, and to inundate the industrious town
with paupers and vagabonds. Other tales, too indecent to be
reported, were circulated with wicked industry. As the
Fourth of July approached violence began to be threatened,
and it was announced that on that day an attack was to be made
on the house. The day arrived and hundreds of men assem-
bled, some as actors, others as spectators. The building was
approached in a threatening manner by a body of about seventy
men, many of whom were from adjacent towns, armed with clubs
and other missiles and uttering fierce threats and imprecations.
They drew up in front of the house. The leader of this brave
band was Jacob Trussell, who announced to his followers that
the object of their "virtuous wrath was before them." Several
approached and attempted the door. There is in every man a
sense of right and wrong which makes even the most hardened
criminal hesitate to commit an unlawful act, even in the pres-
ence of his fellow conspirators. A sudden paralysis seemed to
seize them. A window in the second stoiy was suddenly thrown
open and Dr. Timothy Tilton, a magistrate, appeared and after
addressing a few words of warning, began to take down the
names of the visitors in a loud voice. Thus he called the names
of "Jacob Trussell. Daniel Pattee, Wesley P. Burpee, Daniel
Pattee, Jr., Salmon P. Cobb, March Barber. Phineas Eastman,"
and so on. Then the band of rioters hesitated, fell back a little,
and soon retreated, with undisguised speed, leaving behind them
only their leader, who stood his ground valiantly for a while
looking defiantly at the offensive building.
I will incorporate part of a letter dated July 15. 1835, relat-
ing to the movements of the allied forces of Canaan, Enfield,
Dorchester and Hanover. The letter says :
On the 4th of July the "Jacobins," we call them "Jac's" from old
Jacob, their leader, held a caucus in the hall of E. Martin, to concert
NoYES Academy. 269
measures for the ejectment of Kimball, Scales and the blacks from this
town. In the meantime a large number of persons from this and adjoin-
ing towns had collected, and waited to hear the result of their delibera-
tions. They thronged the street and fields of Canaan, clamorous and
excited. At last the hall door was thrown open, and out came old Camp-
bell, Daniel Pattee and sons, old Kinney, &c, &c, who proceeded immedi-
ately to the Meeting House, where Joseph L. Richardson, a man of fame
and years, harraugued them from the deacon's seat. He told them of
his love for the whole human race, of his indefatigable exertions in the
Legislature, to cause the petitions of his constituents to be "read a third
time and passed." But, alas! they were lost! He spoke of rights and
equity, of public nuisance and mobs, he deprecated any coersive meas-
ures on the part of any people. In fine, the tender sympathies of the
multitude were touched by the glowing imagery of this great and far-
famed man. May he live to a good old age and always imagine himself
quelling mobs. The fact is, the people had met on the Fourth, as notice
had been previously given for the purpose of tearing down the Acad-
emy. But they did not do it.
A procession was formed at the hotel headed by Ben Porter and
marched to the academy; an attempt was made to enter, when several
gentlemen who were, unexpectedly by the mob, inside, hoisted a window,
and proceeded to take the names of the leaders. The crowd dispersed
as speedily as possible, muttering curses and menaces, and adjourned
for one week. On Saturday, the 11th, they met at the old church in
large numbers as before. William Campbell was moderator; they were
noisy and excited, more so, if possible, than on the previous occasion.
The only point I could gather in their proceedings was that the "n/fifgrer"
was a nuisance, and must be removed from town. In the midst of
their confusion. Doctor Flanders told them that the corporation had
not in any respect proceeded according to law. There was a momentary
lull in the assembly and a committee was appointed to inquire into the
legality of the proceedings. This committee are to report at an ad-
journed meeting in two weeks.
When the people again assembled to hear the report of the
committee, there was as before much excitement and they were
united in one respect at least — hatred to the blacks. But they
were divided in sentiment when the cry was raised to destroy
the building. It was no doubt the intention of the leaders on
each of these occasions to destroy the building and break up the
school, but they could not rouse their followers up to that law-
less act. So it was resolved that a legal town meeting should be
called on the 31st of July to see what "measures the town will
take to expel the blacks from the town of Canaan," and to act in
relation to the black school.
270 History of Canaan.'
Aside from the political aspect of the question, the results of
which were of momentous importance to the country, there was
a large portion of the community, who could not tolerate the
negro in their society. To show the animus of the feeling that
prejudiced this class of the community, I copy from the New
Hampshire Patriot of June, 1835; the grammar belongs to the
press :
Since the establishment of the school, it has been no uncommon spec-
tacle to witness colored gentlemen walking arm in arm with what ought
to be respectable white females. And that respectable people opposed
to the school, as well as others, have been invited to parties where the
colored portion of the school were also invited guests. It is said that
one of the principal agitators of the slave question in this state, George
Kimball, Esq., and his family, sit at table with a half dozen colored
people, while a white girl attends upon them as servant. "We do not
wonder that the white people of Canaan should consider such an estab-
lishment a "nuisance," and that they should adopt all lawful meas-
ures for its removal. The people of this state have more than once
been reproached as favoring the pernicious schemes of the Abolitionists,
and as encouraging a practical amalgamation of colors, on account of
this school. And while we would counsel our friends in that part of
the State to persevere in their efforts until the "Nuisance" is abated, we
would suggest to them the propriety of mild and peaceable measures,
such as the public sentiment and laws of the State will justify.
From the other side we learn that ]\Irs. Hubbard Harris had
a tea party, and invited the blacks — they attended. This was
very shocking to several who attended. This party gave occa-
sion to much vQry bad scandal. Mrs. "Wallace had a tea party,
— • and did not invite the blacks. Kimball and wife, Mr. Scales
and a score more were present. Mrs. Flanders was also invited.
"What an insult!" exclaimed Mrs. Flanders, supposing the
blacks had had an invitation. She declared "she was so mad
she was insane for half an hour, ' ' the w^hich no one doubted who
knew her.
The 31st of July, 1835, is memorable in the annals of Canaan,
memorable for the disorder it evolved as well as for the remark-
able resolutions that were permitted to go upon its records,
where they remain as a perpetual memento of the slow progress
of public opinion. Joseph L. Eiehardson was moderator. The
house was crowded with men filled with rage, rum and riotous
intentions. Thev had worked themselves into the belief that a
No YES Academy. 271
"legal" town meeting could do lawfully what it was unlawful
for an individual to do. They were willing to shift the odium
of the outrage of what they were about to do upon the "legal"
town meeting. A committee was appointed to report a plan for
the action of the town. After much labor, that committee pre-
sented a series of resolutions, embracing within their tortuous
folds the plan that was to destroy the school, or rather as those
who were seeking an excuse for their acts to "abate the public
Nuisance." And now we come to the reports, the author of
which sleeps in obscurity:
Whereas believing certain individuals, by the practice of fraud and
deception have abused public opinion abroad in reference to the state
of feeling in this town respecting the colored school here, and believ-
ing that designing demagogues and desperate Politicians abroad in con-
nection with a few sordid spirits in this town who are influenced more
by the love of gain than the love of God and man, are determined to
continue their black operations in this town against the wishes of a
large majority of its citizens. Although they have once and again
expressed their disaprobation and have borne and forbourn until for-
bearance had ceased to be a "virtue." Therefore Resolved That from
what our own eyes have seen and our ears have heard respecting the
close intimacy that exists between some of the colored boys and white
females, we believe if suffered to go on, it will not be long before we
shall have living evidence of an amalgamation of blood. Resolved
That we consider the Colored School in this town a Public Nuisance
and that it is the duty of the town to take immediate measures to re-
move said nuisance.
Voted the town take immediate measures to remove the house in
which the colored school is kept.
"Voted that the Selectmen select the spot on which to set said build-
ing.
Voted that a committee be chosen to superintend the moving of said
building at the expense of the town.
Voted that a committee of 15 or 20 persons be chosen for said commit-
tee and the following were chosen viz.:
Jacob Trussell (still at 90 broken and defiant)
Chamberlain Packard Jr (killed by God)
Wm Campbell (a foolish old infidel)
Herod Richardson ]
Elijah R. Colby l (dead and rotten and now forgotten)
Americus Gates I
Daniel Pattee Jr (a blasphemous cripple)
Nathaniel Shepherd (Common drunkard)
Luther Kinne (Ossified legs)
Peter Stevens
272 History of Canaan.
Robert B. Clark (dead iu his bed)
Salmon P. Cobb (an old witch too mean to live or die)
Daniel Campbell
James Pattee (a drunkai-d)
John Fales Jr (an idiot)
Wesley P. Burpee (an awful death from cancer)
Benj. W. Porter (drowned)
Bartlett Hoit (killed by God after having stolen money sent him)
to keep his wife's father from starving or thrown on the town.)
March Barber (old foolish jealous and insane)
The words inclosed in the parentheses after each name are on
the town records but were put there by someone afterwards.
Voted that the measures adopted by the town for removing said
building, be commenced by the lOth day of August at 7 a. m. and be
continued from day to day, without intermission, so as to satisfy the
calls of nature, until the moving of said building be compleated.
Voted unanimously that the following Preamble and Resolutions be
sent to the editor of the Christian Register and Boston Observer, with
a request that he would give them an insertion iu his paper:
Whereas a report of the managers of the Mass. Antislavery Soc. has
been published in the Christian Register and Boston Observer bearing
date July 11th 1835, containing statements, that the inhabitants of
Canaan, N. H., are generally in favor of the colored school in said
town. Therefore resolved that the publication in that paper relating
to said school is without foundation in truth and a libel upon the
publick as more than four fifths of the inhabitants of this town in the
estimation of this meeting are decidedly opposed to said school and are
determined to take effectual measures to remove it.
Resolved that a copy of these proceedings be sent to the N. H.
Patriot and State Gazette and be signed by the Selectmen and Town
Clerk. With the request that all the papers in New England insert them
once.
The meeting then dissolved and the noisy crowd left the vil-
lage uttering threats and imprecations. But the chiefs in this
"legal" conspiracy, it is said, held a private conference in the
hall that lasted imtil morning. Wherein they discussed the
responsibilities they were assuming, and some of the more cau-
tious desired that they might receive counsel from some eminent
lawyer. They accordingly consulted Josiah Quincy of Rumney,
but his views conformed so greatly to their own, that they sus-
pected there might be more sympathy than law in his opinion.
They then consulted Ichabod Bartlett, who it was known was
NoYES Academy. 273
very outspoken against the Abolition excitement, but still was
a careful and safe adviser. Mr. Bartlett's opinion did not arrive,
however, until it was too late to save the building, but it is said
to have been of such a nature that many of those who were
engaged in the outrage of moving the building were rather
anxious that that act in their lives should be forgotten. He told
them, as I heard from the late Caleb Blodgett, Esq., who was
high sheriff at the time, and had recently moved into town, that
210 vote of the town could ' ' legalize ' ' a mob ; that the outrage
the}' were about, to commit was felony at common law ; that
each individual engaged in it was personally responsible for all
the damage that might accrue, and that each and every man
became lawless and criminal whenever he or they deprived others
of their property or of the right to live peaceably in the com-
munity. But, after all, he thought there was little danger to be
feared from prosecutions, because in the then exasperated state
of public opinion upon the slavery question, there was no jury
in the state who would find them guilty; but all high excite-
ments are reactionary, beware of the "second thought." For
this advice the town paid Mr. Bartlett $5. They had better
have paid him thousands and sought his advice sooner.
The particulars which follow are taken chiefly from letters
written at the time, by parties, as may readily be seen, who w^ere
not unfriendly to the school. As this is the only record of those
eventful days I adopt it as authentic, believing it to be a vera-
cious tale. The first letter is dated August 15, 1835, and com-
mences thus :
The whole world will soou be awake to the trausaetious here. Since
the 31st every cloud has been black with rumors. Upon the wiugs of
every breeze was blown an account of coming events. From the tongue
of every tattler escaped a direful foreboding. Emaciated groups of
human forms, were to be seen in sheds and secret places,* plotting and
planning affairs for the 10th. Sometimes a silence not unlike that
which precedes the earthquake prevailed. Scandal, "damnable innu-
endoes," hell-engendered lies, were eagerly received by the loquacious
humor of this public. This is not a vision. It is a fact. But I pass
now to the 10th. The day dawned, the sun never rose with more love-
liness. Its meridian splendor is not an apt comparison in dog days.
In the morn we greet him, at noon we flee from him. The cloud that
had so long hung threateningly over us, now assumed a most fearful
18
274 History of Canaan.
aspect. The people led by villains were mad, and in their madness had
become destroyers. I was standing at my desk writing. Saw a man,
Mr. B., pass with an iron bar. Soon I saw several more pass with bars
and axes. Now a wagon loaded with chains hurries along. I looked
out at the door. The street was full of people and cattle in all direc-
tions. A "string" of fifty yoke are just turning the corner by the old
Church, all from Enfield. William Currier at their head. Thomas Mer-
rill was also a leader. The destruction of that beautiful edifice has al-
ready begun. Trussell was the first man on the ground. He is Cap-
tain of the gang. His features show the smile of satisfied revenge.
He thus addressed them: "Gentlemen, your work is before you. This
town has decreed this school a nuisance, and it must be abated. If any
man obstructs you in these labors, let him be abated also. Now fall to,
and remove this fence."
The first blow was struck by Benjamin Porter, who seized an
axe and attacked the fence. He was an active lieutenant of his
master and was everywhere present encouraging the lookers-on
to labor. Stephen Smith was at work for Sheriff Blodgett that
day. Mr. Blodgett stayed at home. He would not by his pres-
ence, show sympathy with the brave band who were working
for applause from the South, but was interested in the progress
of the work. He sent Mr. Smith up to bring him reports. Mr.
Smith said that he stood looking at the wreckers, thinking what a
pity to see that beautiful edifice destroyed ! The master came
around that way and seeing a man idle he spoke out promptly:
''Smith, here take that axe and help clear away that fence."
Mr. Smith seized the axe and when the fence was cleared away,
wondered why he had allowed that man to influence him to do
that bad work. Many others have worked under the same subtle
influence, and had no regrets until the will of the master was
accomplished. The account continues:
When they first appeared and seized upon the front fence to pull it
away, they were met by Doctor Tilton, who, as a magistrate, com-
manded theni to disperse and begun to read the riot act.
There was a perceptable hesitation when Trussell stepped forward,
seizing an axe and exclaimed: "Well, we have heard all that before,
but it won't pass with us today. Boys, fall to here! If that man inter-
rupts you any more remove him." Then striking the first blow, he
encouraged his crowd to deeds unheard of before in this town. I need
not say that there was sadness among our friends. We were sad at the
unappeasable madness of the people, who blindly followed that revenge-
ful man, but in the days to come there will be reaction. The reading of
No YES Academy. 275
the riot act by Doctor Tilton was the ouly obstruction offered by the
friends of the school. They chose to suffer affliction and the destruc-
tion of their property rather than shed the blood of these misguided
men. They got the shoes under a little past 12 at noon. Trussell stands
upon the front to give orders. The team is attached. Ninety-five yoke
of cattle. It is straightened. The chains break. They try again and
again the chains break! Almost in vain do they try. Thermometer
ranges at 116 in the sun. At half past 7 they had succeeded in drawing
it into the road, when they adjourned till next day. The cattle were
in the meantime driven down to William Martin's meadow, where they
were turned loose for the night. I need not tell you of the band of
earnest philanthropists, — men and women, — who met together in
secret that dark night and wept and prayed because of the destruction
that had befallen their beautiful hopes. A man from Enfield, Joshua
"Devil" Stevens, as he was called, set fire to the building that night,
intending to destroy it, but the attempt failed.
The chains were weak, doubled they were still weak. A swift mes-
senger was dispatched to the Shakers at Enfield and to Lyman's Bridge
at Lyman for the cables iffeed there. He returned before morning.
Tuesdaj-, the 11th, the progress of destruction was more rapid. The
chains held firm when the order was given "to straighten the team."
A little before noon they had reached our store where they halted in
front, and at once demanded that a barrel of rum should be rolled out
or they would demolish the doors. Mr. C. and myself thought it best
to yield to their threats, but William said "No, he would sooner die
than yield an inch to these fanatical villains." He backed himself
against the door, determined to resist to the last. But he was removed
after much struggling, and they had the rum. Do you believe we did
not wish it might be hell fire to their bodies?
Another scene occurred here worth relating. Mrs. Wallace
came out of the house, mounted the fence, and began to har-
rangue that crowd as only an earnest woman can when the
spirit moves her. She was telling them some very wholesome
truths, when Mr. C. came up and seizing her from behind, carried
her into the house exclaiming, ' ' Get into the house and shut up
your mouth. Don 't you see, if you get 'em mad they '11 pull my
house down too."
Any person, man or woman, who, passing quietly along the
street, then, did not hurrah with them, was insulted by those
ruffians from Enfield, Hanover and Dorchester.
The cattle were allowed to rest in the heat of the day while
the company ate the food prepared for them by the selectmen.
Joseph Dustin was an abolitionist; he did not go to the hauling
276 History of Canaan.
the first day. He fed the company to the amount of $16.44,
which the town paid. The second day j\Ir. Blodgett requested
him in behalf of the town, to prepare a dinner for the crowd.
He killed a beef and cooked it all. It was eaten and paid for, by
the selectmen out of the town treasury.
It is said that the selectmen were never averse to the advice
of Mr. Weeks and j\Ir. Blodgett, who did not appear as open
advocates of ^dolence, but whenever any suggestion or motive
particularly diabolical was offered, these men would give it
strength and courage by clothing it in legal language.
Having rested and refreshed themselves the crowd were in no bet-
ter humor than before. The rum had not made them peaceable. The
team was hitched up and "straightened" with loud imprecations and
curses and progi-essed slowly. When they were about opposite Parson
Fuller's house, they rested for water. Mrs. F., a very plucky woman,
when she saw the intent to use her water bucket, rushed out and cut the
rope, thus dropping the bucket into the well, and declaring loudly that
"her bucket should not be polluted by the touch of such foul lips."
The men spoke to her with oaths and threats, she replied "She had been
used to such acts for some time past she would be disappointed if they
ever repented of their crimes or became gentlemen."
This day was hotter than the preceding, yet with retToubled ardor
these men persisted in their crime, until they hauled the house on to
the corner of the Common, in front and close by the old church. They
arrived upon the spot just at dark, so completely fagged out, both oxen
and men, that it was utterly impossible to do anything further. There
it stands, shattered, mutilated, inwardly beyond reparation almost, a
monument of the folly of and infuriated malice of a basely deceived
populace.
Four weeks from last Thursday, they are to assemble again to draw
it upon the spot chosen by the selectmen for its location. Many aggra-
vating circumstances accompanying this transaction cannot be related
here. The Institution is broken up. The aggressors declare boldly that
they fear no retribution at the hands of the law. They rely upon pub-
lic opinion and the authorities to sustain them in taking the accom-
plishment of their unlawful wishes into their own hands.
When the building had rested in front of the Church, the
company was called to order by Jacob Trussell, when several
sentiments appropriate to the occasion, were prepared and read
on the ground by Phineas Eastman, and received with great ap-
plause.
1st. The Constitution of the United States. Based on a compromise
between the North and the South, each pledging themselves to protect
Notes Academy. 277
each others rights and privileges, it can only be maintained by a due
regard to the rights of the respective parties.
The second .
3rd. The Revolutionary Patriot>t of the Xorth and South. They fought
togather for the privilege of making their own laws, their sous would
be unworthy of their sires, if they should surrender their rights into
the hands of the Abolitionists.
4th. The Patriots of Xew Hampshire. They will fight for the rights
and privileges of the Southern brethren which are guaranteed them by
the Constitution, so long as there is a man that can shoulder or handle
a gun.
5th. The Abolitionist.'^. They must be checked and restrained within
Constitutional limits or American liberty will find a speedy grave.
6th. Let there be a union of all honest men, throughout all the
United States, and an undivided and uncompromising opposition be
presented to irredicate Abolition wherever found.
These resolutions with a description of the day's doing were
sent to the Xew Hampshire Patriot, signed by Jacob Trussell,
conmiittee, and printed in that paper.
The second one was received with immense noise, it reads
as follows:
The Abolitionists, a combination of disorganizers led on by an Eng-
lishman sent to this country to sow seeds of discord between the North
and South, May he be removed from the continent as suddenly as the
Noyes Academy has this day been removed fi'om the control of the
Abolitionists.
It was then voted that Scales, the teacher, and the blacks
have one month in which to leave town. That if. on the re-
assembling of this company on the 10th of September, they
were found within its limits, they would be removed by force.
On separating. Mr. ]March Barber, in behalf of the town and
the committee, tendered his thanks to the people of Enfield,
Hanover and Dorchester, for their efficient and energetic as-
sistance. The chiefs from Dorchester were Benjamin Dow,
Joshua Burley. and Jacob Blaisdell.
There were seven young colored boys from Rhode Island, and
one young girl from Boston, a light mulatto, about 16 years old,
of quiet ladylike demeanor. She boarded with ]\Irs. George Har-
ris. She afterwards married a sailor named Castle, and lived
in Boston. One other young girl about the same age was Miss
Maria C, daughter of Edward Bracket of Concord, for many
278 History of Canaan.
years a barber in that place. She was sprightly and lively in
manner and voice. She had sandy hair, blue eyes and light
complexion. She arrived at noon on the first day of the attack
upon the house and went to board with Mrs. Harris. That night
there was much riotous noise in the street. The mob had their
grog, and many of them had doubled their rations, which made
them forget to go home ; and some of them forgot they ever were
gentlemen.
They traversed the village shouting ribald expressions and
coarsely threatened to attack the house that sheltered those two
young girls. There were resolute men among the abolitionists
but during that sad day of disorder they had advised themselves
that it would be prudent to remain in the background.
Col. Thomas Hill lived in the house long the residence of
Dr. Wheat, a stately man, tall and resolute. He called upon
Col. Isaac Towle, a man of good presence, and equally resolute.
These two went to a woodpile and hewed out two clubs suffi-
ciently large as to need but one blow upon an assailant. They
posted themselves about the house and remained until morning.
Probably the darkness made cowards of these prowlers. Several
times they came near but they neglected to make any attack.
It was an anxious night in more than one house.
The account continues:
Mr. Kimball was absent during all this storm. He returned on the
12th. after an absence of five weeks. Three students came with him, 12
more were coming, all white.
There is a spirit of recklessness here, and it says the blacks must
leave the town or die before the "last drawing." There are six little
boys, one girl, so white you would not see the difference in a crowd, and
four as large as myself. They know their rights, but perhaps dare
not maintain them. Just now there are threats of attacking Kim-
ball's house, where they board. Just so suTe as the mob assails that
house, there will be blood shed. The awful "beware" has been sounded.
I believe they intend to repair the academy and open a white school.
Again the writer says :
It is not yet in evidence that the men of Canaan are brave or per-
sistent in wrong doing. Knowing our own people as well as we do,
all through their lives, these men of brag, our fears were not excited
when they threatened, Richardson, Flanders, Burpee, Cobb, the Pattees
or old Campbell, and all the rest of them with Trussell added, would
never have caused us anything but regrets. Had the lawless and reck-
less people of Enfield, who volunteered to assist in this disagreeable
Notes Academy. 279
affair stayed at home, we should not now see Trussell and his tail now
triumphing over us. The high minded people of Enfield would hardly
esteem it an honor to have participated in this outrage, could they see
that they have simply been used by Trussell to avenge a private pique
of several years standing. Had it not been for Trussell and the foreign
element which rode over and insulted us for two days, we know that
the Academy would never have been touched. Jacob Trussell is an
intolerant bigot, opinionated, unforgiving, not a drop of warm blood in
his veins except what is warmed by the passions that animate him.
He never forgave an injury and he never had a friend. He never per-
formed an act of pure charity, and he never forgot to be selfish. He
is a member of the Congregational Church and of the Lodge of Masons
here, and into each of these memberships he carries the obdurate
obstinacy of his nature. His hatred of George Kimball, Nat Currier
and Hubbard Harris, is an unquenchable fire in his breast. These men
are all Anti-masons, the two last are seceding Masons. And here is the
secret of the destruction of our Academy. He has been the moving
spirit through it all.
He had twice before led the Canaan mob up to the door of the build-
ing with weapons in their hands, but the sight of our good natured
Dr. Tilton, standing there as a magistrate, to take down their names,
for future use, restrained them even in the presence of their leader,
and caused them quietly to disperse. And when having invited the
people from the neighboring towns to participate in the move, he knew
his third attempt would be successful, for with his "legal town meet-
ing" and these foreigners to back him, he was satisfied that Campbell,
old Cobb, the Pattees, Burpee, and others would not fail to be there.
He was not disappointed and our village is sad and gloomy with con-
tending emotions. Jealousy and distrust pervades the minds. Can we
ever forgive those insults, will this community ever be happy again?
"When a generation has passed away then who are here will see."
"How courageous one is on paper! Had you been here and taken a
stand 'not on a widows jointure land,' but on the front of the Acad-
emy, and had old 'kernel' Pattee seen you, he would have winked you
down for a 'tarnal abolitionist. Sir!'"
The days passed on without much interest to the friends of
the school. The fruits of all their labors through individual
malice ''turned to Dead Sea ashes upon their lips." They were
listless alike to threats or curses. There was an occasional rip-
ple on the surface, the most considerable of which was the ani-
mosity shown to Rev. Mr. Fuller, for the part his wife took on
the day of the ' ' Great hauling, ' ' when not having the fear of the
mob before her eyes, she audaciously removed the bucket from
her well, and thus prevented these misguided souls from slak-
ing their thirst. Mr. Fuller was repeatedly warned by ghostly
280 History of Canaan.
looking messengers upon white horses at the dead of night,
that unless he recanted his Anti-slavery^ principles ere the ap-
proaching 10th of October he would be severely dealt with
There is no evidence to show at that time, at least, that Mr. Ful-
ler heeded those solemn warnings.
A letter of August 26, 1835, says, "The Academy stands so
near South Church as to render the travelled road impracticable.
But for Trussell, the Academy would not have been touched."
Another letter of September 9, 1835, "Tomorrow is the day
for locating the Academy. Yesterday was preparatory drill.
Muster takes place the 11th. Those who come to assist in
moving the Academy will probably not go home."
On the 10th of September, according to the previous notice,
the same men of Canaan, together with their friends, from En-
field, assembled with their cattle, on the Common and proceeded
to the business before them, that is, to "locate" the Academy.
The spot had been previously selected by the selectmen. These
officers were, James Arvin, William Martin and Sylvanus B.
Morgan, all now gone to their long home. The last two were
men who honestly believed they were acting for the good of
the human race, in opposing l:he introduction of negroes here.
The first was an assistant worthy of his leader. A man of
ability, whose later years could not redeem the vicious habits of
his early manhood. His political friends sought to encourage
him, by giving him town offices, but his life was embittered
by early recollections and through them he lent a willing ear
to the destructive schemes proposed to him by a "brother."
The men who considered themselves leaders were all there
early. All of them ready with counsel, which under other cir-
cumstances, few of them cared to follow\ There was first and
foremost, Trussell, Campbell, March Barber, the Pattees, Bur-
pee, Flanders, Arvin, Old Cobb, Richardson, Eastman, Kinne,
Benjamin Porter, indeed, no name or face was missing. The thirty
days they had given themselves for thoughtfulness, had not
let in a single ray of softening light to their hardened under-
standings. There is no evidence that personal insults were
offered on this occasion. They proceeded promptly as if the
business they were about were a pleasure, and wdth loud cries
to the work, all the forenoon, five hours, with all their cattle,
No YES Academy. 281
they labored to haul the building across the road, and locate
it in the corner of the Baptist Parsonage field. Then at twelve
o'clock it was placed upon the spot. The cannon was then
dragged through the street, and discharged at the house of every
Abolitionist, breaking glass in abundance at every discharge.
Then they adjourned for dinner, which had been prepared by
Joseph Dustin, under the direction of the selectmen. The cattle
were taken to the side of the Street near Gordon Burley's and
fed. Speaking of this fact, Mr. Blodgett told me, that he and
William Martin, pitched a ton of hay out of Burley's field on
that occasion, quicker than any two men ever did the same
work before. After dinner and refreshment the men were called
to order, to receive the thanks and congratulations of the chiefs,
who by their wisdom and virtue had thus saved Canaan from
being the Asylum of the negro race. Several speeches were
made and received with noisy demonstrations. Phin Eastman
was garrulous and happy. Doctor Flanders was vindictive and
triumphant. They were much alike in their tone. But one of
them has been preserved. Mr. Trussell, it seems, could not trust
himself to do justice to his subject in an extempore manner.
Its gTeat magnitude and importance required thought. So he
put his thought upon paper and headed it "Farewell Address."
The manuscript was for years hidden away in the archives of
the author. But death often discloses lost gems. This eloquent
piece of thankfulness was thus restored to light that it might
be preserved as part of this veracious history.
Farewell Address of Jacob Trussell:
Gentlemen, the work is done! The object is attained! The contest
has been severe, but the victory glorious! No sable son of Africa re-
mains to darken our hemisphere! The Abolition Monster, 'that ascended
out of the bottomless pit, is sent headlong to perdition, and the mourn-
ers go about the streets. To you, Gentlemen, who have assisted in at-
taining this glorious victory, I present you hearty and sincere thanks,
for your prompt attention ami your unexampled exertions in repelling
an enemy, far more to be dreaded, than the pestilence that walks in
darkness, or the destruction that awaits at noonday. May the sun of
liberty continue to shine on you with increasing splendor, and never
be obstructed by the sable clouds of Africa. And should it be your mis-
fortune to be invaded by a similar foe, we pledge ourselves to unite
our exertions with yours in putting down by all lawful exertions, every
plot that threatens the subversion of our liberties, or disturbs the pub-
r
282 History of Canaan.
lie tranquility. May that being who presides over the destinies of na-
tions, reward you a hundred fold in this life and in the world to come,
life everlasting.
After the tumultuous applause which followed the delivery
of the "Farewell Address," had subsided, they again assembled
for labor, and the building was placed in order for underpinning.
About sunset the work was accomplished, when the procession
was again formed, with cannon in front and was paraded
through the Street, accompanied by the stirring peal of fifes and
drums. As before the cannon was discharged at the house of
every Abolitionist. At each discharge the broken glass jingled
in unison with the yell of triumph that went up from the
crowd, the firing and shouting was kept up until late at night.
Just before night one chivalrous fellow ascended the cupola of
the Academy, painted the black ball thereon white and nailed
a white flag to the spire. And the spirited people of Canaan
and Enfield caused this history !
On the 19th of September a town meeting was called to
hear the report of their committee on removal. To see if the
town would repair the house and set up a school and appro-
priate the School and Literary Fund for that purpose. And
adopt some measures to suppress the dangerous doctrine of the
Abolotionists.
The report of the committee chosen by the town to superin-
tend the removal of the building in which the colored school
was kept was accepted, and Jacob Trussell, Daniel Pattee and
Daniel Campbell were appointed to collect subscriptions to re-
pair the building. The other articles were dismissed.
On the 10th of October another town meeting was held, and
William P. Weeks, Caleb Blodgett and Thomas Flanders were
chosen to get an instructor to superintend a school in Noyes
Academy, for tuition fees to begin as soon as the house is in
shape. The following resolutions were also passed :
Resolved that the Chairman of the Superintending committee, chosen
by the town for the purpose of removing Noyes Academy, togather with
persons associated with him, merit and receive the thanks of the town,
for the prompt and energetic and praiseworthy manner in which he
and they discharged their respective duties.
That the selectmen send to the Post-master of Natchitochez and at
NoYES Academy. 283
New Orleans, each an Auti-slavery Almanac and direct their attention
to the name of Hubbard Harris Esq.
So far the work was complete. The school was destroyed, the
children who had gathered into it, fled from the scourge that
pursued them. The chief actor in the scene had still one more
duty to perform. It was to bring in his bill of items of ex-
penses. It is inserted here, in extenso, as below :
The Committee chosen by the town to superintend the removal of the
building in which the colored school was kept, have in discharging the
duty assigned them, incurred the following expenses on the credit of the
town:
Aug. 10, 1835 Joseph Dustin, furnished beef and lamb to the
amount of $ 16.44
Aug. 10, 1835 E. & J. Martin, furnished refreshment consisting of
Biscuit cheese &c to the amount of 13.64
Aug. 10 & 11 Amaziah Carter's bill of expense 14.48
Aug. 10, 1835 Daniel Balch's bill 3.03
Aug. 10, 1835 Nathaniel Ingi-am's bill for mending chains 2.00
Sept. 10, 1835 E. & J. Martin's bill 7.43
Sept. 10, 1835 Joseph Dustin's bill for victualling 29.37
Sept. 10, i835 Gordon Burley's bill for hay 15.00
Sept. 10, 1835 Rufus Richardson expenses in procuring chains at
Shakers 6.
And returning them &c supposed to be 5.00
Sept. 10, 1835 S. S. Smith & J. Norris bill 1.00
Sept. 10, 1835 Ichabod Bartlett's bill 5.
Sept. 10, 1835 Mr. Barber's bill (of Grafton) 1.00
$118.39
The addition is as the committee presented it. The follow-
ing additional bills were afterwards audited and paid by the
town treasurer:
Guilford Cobb for chains lost 7.50
Daniel Currier (Enfield) for chains lost 3.00
James Pattee repairing chains 5.25
Amaziah Carter procuring chains .75
D. Currier Chains .50
$17.00
And now, having "abated the nuisance," and located it upon
a spot selected by themselves, the bills audited and paid, the
resolutions of thanks passed, "Farewell Address" spoken, the
cannon fired and the windows broken, and all these duties per-
284 History of Canaan.
formed by virtue of a "legal town meeting" these patriotic
men and boys retired to the solitude of their beds and slept
upon roses, the sleep of the righteous ! Perhaps ! But at this late
day we do not propose to trouble their dreams.
There did, however, question arise, in days afterwards, which
somewhat puzzled them. They had taken the house from the
proprietors, and now what should they do with it? There was
talk of liabilities for personal damages, actions of trespass, etc.,
but the politicians, the men in office, the clergymen generally
and the public mind, now all known to be so unfriendly to the
proprietors, and especially to the color of their cause, that it
was not deemed pimdent to invoke the law, and there the case
rests to this day. In after years, it is said, that many of these
men regretted the part they took in that outrage. Joseph L.
Richardson, a man of education, elected to all the offices in
to-wTi, when upon a bed of sickness, and the vision of his past life
returned to him, regretted that part of his life, and wished it
had never occurred. The Faleses, father and sons, afterwards
became earnest Abolitionists. It is said that Capt. James Pattee
when the excitement had passed, and reason regained its con-
trol over him, was very demonstrative in regretting the part he
took in that great folly, but it is said that his regrets were caused
more by the fears of prosecution for trespass, etc., than from
a change of sentiment.
On the other hand, it is said, that some were hardly satisfied
with moving the building. Their vindictiveness would only be
satisfied by making all the Abolitionists endure some personal
affliction. Old Cobb was one of this class. He was deputy
sheriff under Blodgett, and w^as always ready to serve any
process against those obnoxious persons. It is well known that
on all such occasions he more than performed his threats. Many
families were reduced to distress and suffering through his in-
humanity and the only rebuke he ever received, was that he
"should keep within the law." He never repented the part
he took in producing the chaos of those days. It is said, that
for a long time after those events, he was in the habit of
hissing and spitting at clerygmen whom he knew to be Abolition-
ists, as he passed them on the highwa}'. Rev. Robert Woodbury
Notes Academy. 285
was one of those thus annoyed. Rev. Jonathan Hamilton an-
other. ^
Dr. Thomas Flanders, was noted for his violent sentiments and
his frequent threats, but he could not face the public opinion \
that came afterwards. He disappeared forever from the face
of this people.
James Doten was at that time an earnest Abolitionist. He
looked upon the excited crowd as they destroyed the building
and raising- his hands he said "he wished God would strike
them all dead for their crimes. ' '
James Tylor joined the Abolition Society, but a few days
afterwards was persuaded to withdraw his name, through the
influence of Mr. Weeks and Mr. Blodgett.
Jacob Trussell, like old Cobb, never repented the part he
took on that occasioii. He was expelled from the Congrega-
tional Church, and left town threatening that he would return
upon occasion, and lead the "people" upon any similar occa-
sion. In this connection it is proper, as a part of the history of
the times to present a digest of the proceedings of the Congre-
gational Church in relation to some of its members. One month
after the last "hauling" on the 10th of October, 1835, Col.
Isaac Towle presented the following paper, which was also read
to ]\Ir. Trussell, thus :
Brother Trussell, you have grieved not only me but other members
of our church in the course you have taken in regard to the removal of
Noyes Academy.
Charge 1st. In introducing resolutions to that effect at a meeting
of the people, contrary to the known wishes of many of your Brethren
in the Church.
2nd. By still persisting In moving the building as a leader of the
party, when one of your brethren, a Magistrate, commanded you and
others to desist.
3rd. By being instrumental in distributing ardent spirits to the
people when highly excited and at a time when many of the citizens
and Brethren of the Church, considered themselves in danger, in con-
sequence of threats against their persons and property.
Colonel Towle lived on the old Eandlett farm, had fourteen
children : he calculated to have them come along everj^ March ;
was a very positive man, a strong abolitionist and saw no good
except in the Congregational Church.
286 History of Canaan.
The foregoing articles of grievance were read before the
church by Brother Isaac Towle against Jacob Trussell. On the
31st of October the last charge was withdrawn. Jacob Trussell
refused to answer the charges, as he said "the previous steps"
had not been taken. The church considered this a mere pre-
text to evade the question, but to show their clemency towards
him, voted to adjourn two weeks, that Brother Towle might
again take "the previous steps" so as to remove any excuse on
Trussell's part.
The church met again on November 9th and a long and fruit-
less discussion ensued. Various propositions were offered for
the settlement of the difficulties. To none of which would Mr,
Trussell consent. It was then voted that the church w411 pro-
ceed to settle the dispute in their own way. Meantime as a pre-
liminary step, Brother Trussell was suspended from Church
Communion.
On November 27th an adjourned meeting of the church was
held in the church and open to the public. There was "a large
attendance." A long and desultory discussion ensued upon the
subject with Brother Trussell, and he not denying the charges
alleged against him, nor giving the brethren aggrieved any satis-
faction, but persisting in his own justification, together with
his trifling with the feelings of the brethren, and his abusive
language, it was
"Voted, that Mr. Trussell withdraw while the Church consult for a
few moments. "Whereupon the members of the Church after delibera-
tion voted to suspend Brother Trussell from the Church indefinitely.
And now there was discord between the church and the pas-
tor, Rev. Edward C. Fuller, growing out of this business. It
seemed that he had given a letter of Christian fellowship to Mr.
Trussell to transfer his relations to the church in Franklin, and
this is done while he is under discipline of suspension in the
church. The following is a copy of the original letter :
Canaan Jany 11. 1836
This may certify to whom it may concern that Mr. Jacob Trussell is
a member of the Church of Christ in this place of which the undersigned
is pastor. He is in regular standing with the exception of censure for
assisting in the removal of the Noyes Academy, and in all other re-
spects is recommended to the care and fellowship of any other church,
NoYES Academy. 287
where God in his providence may locate him. And when admitted into
the fellowship and care of another Church his relation to this Church
will cease.
E. C. FtJLLEK,
Pastor of the first Congregational Church in Canaan N. H.
On the first day of March, 1836, Bro. Bart Heath was ar-
raigned upon the same charges and passed through the same
ordeal as Mr. Trussell, but with less resolution. It was "voted
to excuse Brother Bart Heath for the part he acted in the re-
moval of the Academy, in consequence of his confessions and
explanations. ' ' A letter of ' ' recommendation ' ' was also granted
him. Brother Heath also expressed a strong desire to be forgiven
for any and all his expressions derrogating to a Christian, or
against his brethren, expressing his sorrow and asking forgive-
ness of the church, which was freely granted. Afterwards
on the 7th of March, "Voted that Brother Jacob Trussell be
excommunicated from this Church."
A committee of five was chosen to send a letter to the Congre-
gational Church in Franklin, informing them of the accusation
against Jacob Trussell for "which he is excommunicated from
this Church." Then finally it was resolved, "that we (members
of the Congregational Church) disapprove of the measures taken
by our late Pastor in giving Jacob Trussell a letter, as we think
Mr. Trussell unworthy to be connected with any regular Church
after taking into consideration his past conduct." The mem-
bers of the church most conspicuous in these proceedings were
Timothy Tilton, Nathaniel Barber, George Harris, Hubbard Har-
ris, Jr., Joshua Pillsbury, Isaac Towle, Samuel Drake, Jesse E.
Emerson, Caleb Gilman, Amos Gould.
Here we take leave of the church records and return to the
affairs of the world. So far as Noyes Academy is concerned, our
history is about finished. It only remains to record two or three
striking events. The town by vote, repaired the building, ap-
propriating the money from the Surplus Revenue Fund, and
the spirit that "hauled" it from its first foundation was evoked
to make good the pledges it made itself. A teacher was hired
and a few pupils attended for a few weeks, six or eight, and the
money or the disposition failing, the school was discontinued.
Several attempts were made to open it, but they ended in failure.
288 History of Canaan.
An attempt was made by the ' ' town ' ' or those who had abducted
the building, to compromise with the proprietors, but these stood
aloof, believing and hoping a day of redress would come, but
it never came. These unlawful acts which it was claimed public
opinion demanded, have been atoned for, but not in human
courts of justice. On the morning of December 31, 1838, it was
found that seven windows had been removed the night before.
Search was made for them; a pile of fragments of sash and
broken glass, pounded almost to powder, were found on the
shore of the pond.
A town meeting was called on the 17th, to see what "the town
will do towards repairing the injury done to the Academy by a
Midniglit Mob. Got up by a party who professes all the Eeligion
^Mortality and Humility and who preaches so much against the
Mob, Mobites and the ]\Iobs Committee." And Caleb Blodgett,
Thomas Flanders and James Pattee were chosen to "search out
and bring the perpetrators to justice." It was also voted to re-
pair the injury. This outrage was believed to have been com-
mitted by George Drake, who took this method to receipt a
blacksmithing bill, which he had against the present owners of
the Academy. The failure by the town to establish a school in
the Academy after they had taken possession of it, and the pro-
prietors had looked on at their failure, with probably no feel-
ings of sorrow, aroused the old feeling against the Abolitionists.
The diary again says:
The Abolition question at tliis time (1S39) was one continued tlieme
of excitement. The heart grows sick and disgusted at the repetition of
the slang and abuse of the self-constituted club of Jacobins, at the lower
end of the Street. Weeks, Blodgett and Flanders, sly and wicked be-
yond redemption, because of the unholy influence of their secret
councils, the soft Martins (E. & J.), the ferocious Pattees, the tiger act-
ing Campbells, that coterie of a D n, the devil, for diabolism can be
compared to none other now in existence.
The building had been standing several years a silent monu-
ment of all the bad feelings of the human heart. Its doors were
seldom opened to the student. Many persons had expressed a
wish that it might burn down, and its ashes scattered to the
four winds, and that the recollection of it might cease from
the recollection of man. On the night of March 7, 1839, a
NoYES Academy. 289
great light illuminated the heavens. All the people leaped from
their beds, and saw the building, the cause of so much sor-
row and sin, enveloped in flames. No efforts were made to ex-
tinguish it. And the ashes were indeed scattered to the four
winds.
James Eichardson of the class of 1841 of Dartmouth College,
was engaged to teach in the Academy in the spring of 1839,
after it was burned his school was transferred to Burley's Hall.
Five days after the burning the annual town meeting occurred.
The question of personal damages had recently been revived
and had caused some uneasiness among that "Committee of Re-
moval." Several of them, including Jacob Trussell, who at
this time was residing in Franklin, had asked the town to pro-
tect them, and on this occasion, a resolution was adopted of
which the following is a copy :
Resolved, that we, as a town, will defend Jacob Trussell, or any oth-
ers, engaged with him, in the removal of Noyes Academy, against any
suit or suits, that may be brought against said Trussell or others on
account of said removal.
In announcing this vote, James Arvin said : " Of all the Isms
that ever were introduced into Canaan, Abolitionism has done
the most mischief. It has arrayed brother against brother in
the same church, neighbor against neighbor, and engendered
more strife and contention than anything else combined. I am
gratified to know that we have put it down so that it will be
perfectly harmless for one year."
Before closing this history, which I have detailed tediously
perhaps, though with scarcely a shadow of the transcendant
brutality that attended it, I ought to say that as far as possible,
I have been impartial. Except two men, whose names are herein
present, there was not infatuation enough in the town of
Canaan to have perpetrated this outrage. It was charged to the
people of Canaan, but it was the deed of the whole community.
It was tauntingly called the "Canaan Mob," by men ashamed
of the imprudences of their allies, but it was one of the mohs of
New Hampshire. It was a legitimate outbreak of a very general
"public sentiment," and the honor or odium of it should be
shared accordingly.
19
290 History of Canaan.
People from Canaan indisposed to molest the school, were
taunted wherever they went for living in ' ' nigger town. ' ' Guide
boards were nailed to trees by the wayside, indicating so many
miles to "nigger to^\^l." Rev. J. L. Richardson, representative
for that year, appealed to the legislature for an act of some sort
to remove the "nuisance," as "public sentiment" was pleased
to call the school. The legislature unaccountedly refused to in-
terfere. Individual members, however, advised their reverend
brother, that as the constitution and law was against him, he
must take the matter into his own hands. "Public sentiment"
was found to be all right, and at the appointed time, it foamed
and boiled over on the ill-fated school.
A letter written at this time to Mr. Trussell by James Arvin,
will show the situation of the friends of the school, who were in
the minority, as well as informing Mr. Trussell of what he most
desired to hear that the town would stand back of him.
Canaan, Mar. 12th., 1S39. Dear Sir. Yours of the 3rd iust. was duly
received and I thot proper to defer answering it until I should be able
to give you the result of our elections. We have given our Political op-
ponents the soundest drubbing they ever received since our party got
in the ascendency; we chose our representative by 94 majority; our state
and county oflBcers by an average 80 majority, as also our representative
to Congi-ess by the same. I believe there is not a Whig abolitionist that
holds office in town excepting Nathl Currier, a weigher of hay, and it
was with some difficulty that the voters would consent he should hold
the office. Thus you see we have carried all before us today. The
trustees of Noyes Academy, allies of the Negro school, have waited in
vain until after our March elections for a more favorable prospect to
push on their unhallowed designs upon us. You may rely I think upon
those men that co-operated with you and stood by you through the
fiery ordeal you were doomed to pass while here in consequence of the
active part you took and the efficient services you rendered in the re-
moval of that building which is now reduced to ashes by some of the
abolitionists or their tools. You were appointed at the head of a com-
mittee to superintend the removal of that house, which was considered
a nuisance, and you were appointed by the toM'n and your duty assigned
by the town, and they are legally and morally bound in my opinion to
see you harmless, and, sir, we have passed a resolution today, in sol-
emn town meeting, which reads as follows. [It is given above.]
Thus you see Canaan is yet awake and still on right ground as it re-
spects the removal of that house and still duly appreciates the important
services you rendered us on that trying occasion.
I was pleased to hear from you and am happy in having it in my
Notes Academy. 291
power to give a copy of the resolution which amounts to what you
desired, I believe.
It is in evidence that Canaan would not furnish the requisite
team, so that cattle were invited from the neighboring towns,
some volunteering, others being impressed. It is safe to say
that had this same "public sentiment," out of Canaan, stayed
at home, and refrained from intermeddling, the school might
have been in successful operation to this day.
Among the colored people were four youths, whose names
deserve record in the story of the school, and some of them have
made names that will be illustrious in all future time, when the
names and lives of those weak mortals who opposed them, shall
only be recorded upon obscure tombstones. These youths were
Henry Highland Garnet, Thomas Paul, Thomas S. Sidney and
Alexander Crummell.
Garnet was 19, coal black, and until ten years of age was a
slave. His father, by hard toil, had ransomed himself, his wife
and children from American slavery. A year before he came
to Canaan young Garnet became a Christian and united himself
with the Presbyterian Church. He was afflicted with a knee
disease which threatened his life. This had been much aggra-
vated on his way through New England by exposure in bad
weather on the outside of the stage, the place allotted "all nig-
gers" by "public sentiment." He reached Canaan exhausted
and enfeebled by his hard journey, and with his crutch under
his arm, hobbled up to the school, tidings of which had reached
his ears; with all his discouragements he flew to the fountain
of knowledge opened to him at "Noyes Academy," where he was
distinguished for his modest, exemplary conduct, and won the
respect of everybody that knew him. But the human wild
beasts set themselves upon his track. He escaped like a startled
deer, and lived eminent for his learning, revered and beloved for
his sincerity and Christian benevolence, and when he spoke his
eloquence fiUed his audience like a current of electricity. He
became a doctor of divinity, and was appointed United States
Minister to Liberia, where he spent many years of his life in the
discharge of duties for which he was well fitted among his peo-
ple. He died and was buried in Liberia.
292 History of Canaan,
Two years after these events, Garnet returned to Canaan and
lectured in the Congregational Church. There was no disturb-
ance. The vigilance committee failed to appear. He was
listened to by an earnest, thoughtful audience, and received
much attention from the citizens. He was the guest of Mr.
George Harris and he had a reception the same evening. Among
the callers was Ben. Porter, who had been active in driving him
from town. He took Garnet by the hand and told him he had
heard his speech, and that he had come there to express to him
his sorrow and regret he had felt on account of his bad work on
the other occasion. He had only lacked a little moral courage
to make him go up at the close of the speech and make public
confession to the whole audience. Porter retired to private life,
taking no more interest in politics. A few years later he, with
his wife and family, emigrated to Michigan. He was drowned by
the wrecking of a steamer on Lake Erie.
Thomas Paul was the son of a late clergj^man of Boston, of
graceful manners, of amiable and courteous disposition, of re-
spectable talent and attainment, twenty years of age and lighter
in his complexion than many of those who denied him the right
to study.
Sidney was seventeen, quite white, a scholar of graceful per-
son and demeanor and an accomplished writer and speaker.
Crummell was sixteen, of full African descent, his father was
stolen from Africa, but he was released from slavery. He was
born in the city of New York; his mother and her ancestors for
several generations, were never subjected to servitude. But his
father early in life, although he came of a royal family, was
made a slave. His father was a native of Timanee, West Africa,
a country adjoining Sierra Leone, and lived there until he was
thirteen years old. Alexander Crummell's grandfather was
King of Timanee, and the incidents of his early life appear to
have impressed themselves very strongly upon his son's memory.
He was fond of describing the travels that he took with his
father's caravans in the interior of Africa and of the royal re-
ceptions given to them by the various kings. Young Crummell
in his early life was sent to the Mulberry Street school in New
York City, which was provided by the Quakers, afterwards re-
ceiving further and better instruction from white tutors pro-
NoYES Academy. 293
vided by his father. After leaving Canaan he studied for three
years at Oneida Institute, working at farming to pay his way.
In 1839 he became a candidate for Holy Orders and at the same
time applied for admission as a student in the General Theo-
logical Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He was admitted to
Priests Orders in Philadelphia. He pursued his studies in the
University of Cambridge in England. After this he sought a
home in Liberia, where he remained for many years, taking the
double duty of the Rectorship of a Parish and a Professorship
in the College. "While a citizen of this new Republic, he was
frequently called upon to officiate as orator of the day; and his
addresses were marked by great breadth of vision and foresight,
profound historical research and decided rhetorical power. It
is said of him that if he had not been called to the work of the
Christian Ministry, he might have become eminent as a states-
man. After spending the bloom of his days in Liberia, he re-
turned to the United States, to take up his work among his
race at the capital of the Nation, where he was Rector of St.
Luke 's Church, until the time of his death. He wrote two books,
the "Future of Africa" and "The Greatness of Christ," be-
sides many contributions to various periodicals.
Many remember the visit which this man paid Canaan in
1895, with his friend, Mr. Downing. He had not been in
Canaan since the night Oscar Wallace had driven him and Paul
down the Lebanon road, out of town to escape the dangers which
threatened their lives, and they were real, for he related how one
man had discharged a pistol through the door of the Cross
house at the Corner where they roomed and boarded with the
family of George Kimball. Upon his arrival on the street he
went to the hotel with Mr. Downing and was refused admission
on account of his color. Hon. Caleb Blodgett received and en-
tertained them and when his arrival became known, there was
not one but what was glad to shake his hand and listen to his
words from the pulpit of the Methodist Church. It was a
pathetic spectacle to see tliis old man, tall and spare, gray, al-
most blind, with a dignity befitting the position which he had
held among his fellow-men, delivering a sermon to the descend-
ants of those who sixty years before had driven him out of town.
The contrast between the two receptions received, the first when
294 History of Canaan.
a boy and the second as an old man, serve to prove that the
principles of truth and justice will always prevail. Although
shadowed in enmity and spite for a time they will in the end
rise and bury all bad feelings underneath.
These young men fled from the "wrath that pursued them,"
to Oneida Institute, New York, where they were received and
pursued their studies. A letter written on the 4th of July, 1835,
by N. P. Rogers, one of the trustees of the school, to the Libera-
tor in Boston, gives an interesting account of a celebration held
at Plymouth, where these young men were present.
The speakers on this occasion failed to respond and they were about
to give up that part of their exercises, when George Kimball, Esq., a
zealous Abolitionist of Canaan, send word that "if our Anti-slavery was
of the standard to deserve the honor," he would visit us with some fine
young men of Noyes Academy, whom he had prevailed upon to come
and offer their support on the occasion. "Hospitality," he said, "must
open its doors in the true spirit of emancipation or we could not expect
them." We promptly accepted the offer and on the third had the honor
of welcoming Brother Kimball and his wife and four young gentlemen
of the school to our homes. I will give you some account of their his-
tory, names and what is quite important now, their color.
Paul, son of a Baptist minister, a scholar and a gentleman, quite in
advance of the standard of our educated young men, of mitigated color,
complexion quite endurable.
Garnet, of full unmitigated, unalleviated, unpardonable blackness,
quite "incompatable with freedom," crippled, with severe lameness, nine
years ago a slave in Maryland, an enlightened and refined scholar, a
writer and speaker of touching beauty.
Sidney, an orphan literally, as well as by caste, more fortunate in
complexion than our friend Paul, even an accomplished scholar, grace-
ful and eloquent orator. It might raise the envj- and the emulation of
our young patricians at the higher Seminary, coveting the glories of
eloquence, to see and hear him speak.
Crummell, a mere boy in years, but in talent, learning and character
anything but a boy; black, sable as Touissant of the uudeteriorated
aspect of that land whence his father was stolen. I talked with him
on the subject of insurrection. He denounced it because of its midnight
slaughter of women and children. To open war for liberty, he had less
objection, but it was too like murder to fall upon unarmed men, a
scrupulosity more like knight-errantry than is common in these slircivd
times. I asked him before a Colonizationist what the colored people
would do with the colony at Liberia, if it were left to them. "Send
and bring them home," said he with animation, "every man of them."
"Every man you find alive," said young Garnet.
Mr. Garnet was introduced to the audience with a response, prefaced
Notes Academy. 295
with some beautiful remarks on tlie coutrast of his own feelings with
those proper to the joyous day, and supported them in an address of
some thirty minutes with great simplicity and pathos. His response
was in substance, that it was the duty of every patriot and Christian
to adopt the principles of the abolitionists, for the sure and speedy over-
throw of slaver3', that every man who walked the American soil might
tread it unmolested and free. There were many passages of touching
eloquence in his address, and when he told of the objects that met his
earliest vision and shed natural tears, at the remembrance of his own
and his parents bondage, I found many moistened eyes in the audience
besides my own. Yoimg Crummell followed Garnet in a spirited and
manly speech, which was listened to with much attention.
Mr. Sidney was called to the platform under a strong expression of
favor, which he amply repaid by a very eloquent address. The young
gentlemen tarried with us until Monday, the 6th, and offered us an
opportunity to disperse some of the prejudice and uneasiness we are
wont to feel at the fine appearance of our colored brethren. We had
the satisfaction of attending our young friends to the house of God on
the Sabbath, and their presence pi-oved no interruption to the services.
They amalgamated with the congregation. The pew doors of our
yeomanry, too respectable to be sneered down by the dandyism of the
land, were opened to them, and they had the satisfaction of associating
with their brethren and countrymen and fellow sinners, on proper and
Christian footing. This I call practical Anti-slavery.
New England at tliat time was degenerated into guilty and
dastardly servility to the South. She was enslaved by her
prejudices until she trampled her own laws and peace under
foot. The descendants of the founders of Puritan Seminaries
broke up the free scJiool. And such a school! Had it been undis-
turbed it would have taken the lead of all others in the country,
and enjoyed patronage unknown to any other. Abolitionists
everywhere would have sent their sons and daughters, animated
by the high toned principle and lofty purpose that distinguished
them from their abusers. The flower of the colored youth would
have found their way to it from every part of the country.
God would have blessed it with his abundant favor. Its break-
ing up and dispersion left the quiet and beautiful village to the
bats and owls. The stillness of the desert succeeded.
Rev. Mr. Fuller found his usefulness gone and he went, and
the meeting house was soon closed up and forsaken. Has not
the curse of that "legal mob followed this village to its latest
days?" Alas for Canaan! her prominent men have never been
her friends.
296 History of Canaan.
The following is from a letter written by the Rev. Amos Fos-
ter, the first pastor of the Congregational Church, before Mr.
Fuller :
The most I can say is to express my astonishment that a class of men
should be found so reckless, so regardless of law and human rights,
and so devoid of moral principles, as to engage in such an undertaking.
As the account shall hereafter be read on the page of history, it will
fix a most unfavorable impression on the mind respecting the charac-
ter of those most prominent in the undertaking. One of the principal
men engaged in the matter was a member of the church. He was ex-
communicated. On his return to Canaan he was, I learnt, restored to
his standing in the church, after making some partial retractions and
confession. But my impression is that he really maintained his former
opinions and did not in fact regret the course he had taken. I was
absent from Canaan while these unpleasant scenes were transpiring,
and of course could not be advised of the facts on both sides of the
question, as if I had been in the place. But from some things I heard,
I judge that some friends of the school were rather indiscreet and pur-
sued a course which provoked the indignation of those on the other side.
I refer to the partiality showed to the colored students and the positions
given them at the social gatherings. Certainly they should have been
treated kindly, but whether it was wise to invite them or any of the
Academy students to their social parties is, at least, doubtful. But I
do not say that by way of apology for those engaged in the crime of
removing the Academy. That terrible act yet dwells in the memory
of many now living, and the records of it will be read by hundreds who
will have a being in future years, and who, we may ask, will there be
to justify so outrageous an act? The moral sentiments of the people
will be so changed, I may say, so corrected, and the colored race will
be brought to sustain such a position among their fellow beings, that
the matter of wonder will be that there could once have been a class
of people in the world, as should commit such a crime as breaking up
an institution for the education of youth, both black and white. Since
the outrage in Canaan, we can see the wonderful change that has taken
place in the moral and political condition of the coloi'ed race.
CHAPTER XIX.
Canaan Union Academy.
A few weeks after the excitement attending the burning of
the old academy building had subsided (it was never known who
the incendiary was) a number of men assembled in Mr. Weeks'
office and proposed to erect a new academy upon the site of the
one burned. It was estimated that thirteen hundred dollars
would defray all charges. An attempt was made on April 15th
to get the town to appropriate money from the surplus revenue
to build a new town house and academy, but the article was dis-
missed and a vote was taken "not to build." Subsequently,
these men decided to make thirteen notes of one hundred dollars
each, each note to be signed by five men, and each man to be a
member of the new corporation on payment of one fifth of his
note. Thus there were to be sixty-five shares in the new build-
ing at twenty dollars each.
The names of the signers of only twelve of the thirteen notes
have been obtained. They are the following:
On the first note were Eleazer Martin, March Barber, James
Arvin, Bartlett Hoyt and Jesse Martin.
On the second, William Gordon, Ensign Colby, Thomas Fland- \^
ers, John Fales and William Kimball.
On the third, William IMartin, William P. Weeks, Guilford
Cobb, Henry Martin and Horace Chase.
On the fourth, Caleb Blodgett, William Doten, Tilton Nichols,
Joseph D. Smith and Salmon P. Cobb.
On the fifth, Joseph L. Richardson, Benjamin Bradbury,
Joshua S. Lathrop, Alvah Richardson and Benjamin Kidder.
On the sixth, Daniel G. Patten, Abram Page, Jr., Josiah Rich-
ardson, Joshua W. Richardson, James B. Wallace and Amos B.
Clark.
On the seventh, Joseph Dustin, John Shepherd, Josiah P.
Haynes, James Tyler and Nathan M. Currier.
On the eighth, Simeon Hadley, William Campbell, Peter S.
Wells, Daniel Campbell and Nathaniel Shepherd.
298 History of Canaan,
On the ninth, Amos Miner, Daniel Pattee, Jr., James Pattee,
Chamberlain Packard. Jr. and Sylvanus B. Morgan.
On the tenth, Francis Welch. Moses W. Jones, James Doten,
Jr., Nathan Willis and Elijah R. Colby.
On the eleventh, Nathaniel Barber, Nathaniel Currier, Wil-
liam W. George, Moses G. Kelley and John Jewell.
On the twelfth, Carey Leeds, Eliphalet C. Oilman, Jesse Clark,
Josiah Clark, Jr., Francis Robbins and C. S. Hubbard.
It was decided to take these notes to the town agent and ask
the loan of thirteen hundred dollars of the surplus revenue re-
maining on hand. The money was loaned from time to time
during the construction of the building. One thousand dollars
of the amount was loaned from the surplus revenue and three
hundred from the literary fund. Afterwards a charter was pro-
cured from the legislature and approved June 27, 1839, in
which Eleazer Martin, Jesse Martin, Caleb Blodgett, James Ar-
vin, Guilford Cobb, Ensign Colby, William P. Weeks, Daniel
Pattee, Jr., James Pattee. Joseph Dustin and William Doten
were named as incorporators, to establish an institution for the
"education of youth," imder the name of "Canaan Union Acad-
emy." With this money they built the academy, believing it
would prove a successful and profitable investment; but this
belief was a delusion, if not a snare. No steps were taken by the
dominant party to conciliate the large number of citizens who
were aggrieved ; no kind words were spoken, nor did anyone pro-
pose any method to harmonize the antagonisms : and there the
two nearly equal hostile factions stood, making faces at each
other, the one pointing to that building as a monument of acts
of aggression unatoned for and the other flinging back contemp-
tuous epithets ad libitum.
A piece of land was purchased from Jonathan Kittredge, but
was not conveyed until Februars^ 13. 1840. for $50. It was one-
half an acre, taken off the north side of the Baptist parsonage
land, a part of the same land that was deeded to Jonathan
Swan by the Baptist Society, and by it to Kittredge. The land
was described "to run from the east side of Broad street to Hart
Pond, with width equal at both ends." Dr. Thomas Flanders
contracted to erect the new building, and deliver it complete
into the hands of the trustees on the first of September, 1839.
Canaan Union Academy. 299
He engaged a number of efficient workmen and the work pro-
ceeded rapidly until the outside of the house was finished. And
here came in a little episode that created some amusement at the
time. The doctor boarded all his workmen. His wife was
pleased with the progress of the work, and spoke cheerfully to
all the men as long as the outside was unfinished. The finishing
of the inside was slower w^ork, which she could not appreciate.
She said the men were getting lazy, and she would have them
all discharged. On the 30th of May, 1839, she called upon Mr.
Weeks, who held the contract, and asked to be permitted to read
it. He placed it in her hands and turned away to attend to
other affairs. She sat down, read it through very deliberately,
then quietly tore it into small pieces, and placing them in a
heap on the table, passed out of the office saying: "I guess I've
taken the life out of that thing anyhow!" She went home and
when the men came in to dinner, they found nothing to eat.
She told them she had got done boarding lazy men, and they
must go elsewhere to board. When the doctor learned of the
affair, he went to a\Ir. Weeks and renewed the contract, and the
building was ready for occupancy at the time appointed.
The school was organized on the first of September. 1839,
with a formidable board of officers. William P. Weeks was
president of the corporation; Hon. Caleb Blodgett, vice-presi-
dent; Eleazer Martin, secretarj^; Rev. Joseph L. Richardson,
treasurer. The executive committee consisted of Guilford Cobb,
]\Iarch Barber, James Arvin, Sylvanus B. Morgan, James Pattee
and James B. Wallace. The board of visitors were Edwin D.
Sanborn of Dartmouth College, Leonard Wilcox of Orford, Wil-
liam H. Duncan of Hanover, Hon. David C. Churchill of Lyme,
Arthur Latham of Lyme, Rev. Liba Conant of Canaan, Rev.
Palmer C. Himes of Canaan, Rev. Abel Heath of Canaan, Rev.
Ephraim Crockett of Danbury, Caleb Plastridge of Lebanon,
John Jones and Hon. Converse Goodhue of Enfield. Mr. J.
Everett Sargent, an undergraduate of Dartmouth College, who
had taught the last term in the old building, was engaged as
principal. The trustees feeling very confident of success, en-
gaged to pay him $40 per month and board for three months.
Miss Mary A. Blaisdell was engaged as assistant. Great efforts
were made by the proprietors of the school to fill all the seats and
300
History of Canaan.
it opened with one hundred and twenty pupils. A catalogue of
the institution was issued. The following is a list of the schol-
ars, all are from Canaan except where otherwise indicated :
Gentlemen:
Albert G. Arviu
Edwin W. Atherton
Franklin W. Barber
Hiram Barber
Horace H. Barber
James P. Barber
John M. Barber, Jr.
Caleb Blodgett, Jr.
George W. Bryant
Roswell S. Chapman, Enfield
Joseph D. Clark
Hiram M. Cobb
Frank Currier
George Currier
Guilford Doten
Caleb Dow
Isaac W. Dow
Joseph Dow
John B. Dustiu
Albert Eastman
Stephen Eastman
George S. Eastman
Ransom Farnham, Topsham, Vt.
Abraham H. Flanders
David Fogg, Enfield
Harrison Fogg, Enfield
John S. Gilman
Stephen S. Gilmau
Ladies:
Martha M. Atherton
Caroline E. Atherton
Martha J. Barber
Rhoda Blaisdell, Orange
Emily R. Blodgett
Clarissa J. Chapman, West
Rumney
Mahala Choate, Enfield
Chastina Clark
Dorothy B. Clark
Abby P. Cobb
Adelia F. Cobb
Simeon Hadley
Henry S. Hamlet
Levi W. Hoit
James Huse, Enfield
John Ingram
James H. Kelley
Charles W. Kidder
Alfred H. Kittredge
Edw. C. D. Kittredge
John H. Lathrop
Albert Martin
Nathan C. Morgan
J. Monroe Pattee, Enfield
Wymau Pattee
Daniel F. Sanford, Mansfield,
Mass.
Alpha B. Stevens
Moses Stevens, Jr., Enfield
John A. Swett
Augustus W. Taylor, Danbury
Charles A. Welch
Horace B. Welch
Charles H. Wells
Horace B. Williams
Samuel Williams, 2d
Henry Wilson
John Worth, Jr.
Elizabeth F. Cobb
Lucretia B. Cobb
Phebe P. Cobb
Susan Frances Cobb
Elizabeth J. Conant
Sarah Ann Conant
Eliza Ann Currier
Marion M. Davenport
Mary Dow
Emeline Dustin
Harriet B. Dustin
Rebecca Dustin
Canaan Union Academy.
301
X
Caroline P. Eastman
Miriam Eastman
Abigail Fales
Sarala Fales
Sarah Ann L. Flanders
Offranda A. Follensbee, Grafton
Harriet S. George
Isabel M. George
Julia Ann Gile, Grafton
Lucy Gile, Grafton
Lydia H. Gile, Enfield
Arabella Harris
Frances S. Harris
Celinda Hazen, Hartford, Vt.
Olivia "W. Heath
Emily E. Jones, Enfield
Maria C. Jones, Enfield
Malinda Jones, Enfield
Nancy L. Kimball
Julia L. Kittredge
Susan B. Lathrop
Celina Martin
Hannah C. S. Martin
Roxilana B. Martin
Lucy Ann IMiner
Hannah S. Morse
Almeda Nichols, Enfield
Eleanor Nichols, Enfield
Julia Ann Nichols, Enfield
Mary E. Page
Rachel R. Page
Sarah Ann C. Pillsbury
Lucy Ann Richardson
Mary R. Richardson
Elsa A. Smith
Harriet A. Smith
Hannah L. Stevens, Enfield
Mabel E. Stevens, Lebanon
Tryphena Stark
Catherine R. Svs^an
Harriet 0. Wallace
Sophia J. "Wallace
Hannah S. Willis
Sixty-nine ladies and fifty-four gentlemen ; and the spring
term was to begin on the first Monday of March. The pro-
Bpeetus was as follows :
This institution in its location combines every advantage of a salubri-
ous climate and pleasant scenery. No pains will be spared by its of-
ficers or instructors to render it a favorable resort for young persons
who wish to pursue a thorough course of study. There are two rooms
for recitation, and the Scholars are classed according to the branches
pursued, but all are under the cai'e and direction of the Principal.
COURSE OF STUDY.
Instruction is given in the various studies required for admission to
College, in the French Language, and in all the English branches taught
in similar institutions.
EXPENSES.
The Tuition is $3.00 per term. After the present term an additional
charge of $1.00 will be made to those attending to the languages. Board
can be had in good families for from $1.00 to $1.50 per week. Students
who wish to board themselves can obtain convenient rooms near the
Academy, at a moderate rate.
TERMS AND VACATIONS.
There will be three terms in the year, the fall term to commence the
first Monday in September, the Spring term the first Monday in March,
302 History of Canaan.
aud the Summer term the first Monday in June, each to continue 12
weeks.
BOOKS.
English, Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Smith's and Sanborn's Gram-
mar; Olney's and Huntington's Geogi-aphy; Goodrich's History of the
United States; Adam's New and Davies' Arithmetic; Day's and Davies'
Algebra; Playfair's Euclid, Flint's Surveying, Comstock's Philosophy
and Chemistry, Burrett's Geography of the Heavens; Political class
book, "Watts on the Mind, Abercrombie's Intellectual Philosophy, Up-
ham's Mental Philosophy, Paley's Natural Theology. Ancient Lan-
guages: Andrew's and Stoddard's Latin Grammar, Andrew's Latin
Reader, Latin Tutor, Ccwper's Virgil, Anthon's Sallust, Cicero's Select
Orations, Fiske's Greek Grammar and Exercises, Jacob's Greek Reader,
Greek Testament, Leverett's Latin Dictionary, Dounegan's Greek Lex-
icon, Lampriere's Classical Dictionary. French: Bolmar's Levizac's
Grammar, Bolmar's Phrase Book, LeBrun's Telemaque, Voltaire's
Charles XII, Meadow's and Boyer's Dictionary.
REQUIREMENTS.
All students are required to attend at all the regular exercises, and
observe all the regulations of the Institutions, and at all times to main-
tain a correct moral deportment. In case of non-compliance, neglect of
study or immoral conduct, the delinquent will be reported to his parents,
and if he does not reform, will be immediately removed that others
may not suffer thereby. During each term there are weekly exercises
in compositions and declamations.
EXA5IIXATIONS.
There will be a public examination at the close of the fall and spring
term, in the various branches attended to, which the board of Visitors
will be expected to attend.
The other party also organized a school in Currier's Hall and
employed ]\Ir. I. X. Hobart, a classmate of Mr. Sargent, to teach
it. He drew in about sixty pupils; but these efforts were
strained. Many of the pupils who trod those unclassic floors
were there by reason of the social and political antagonisms,
which had not been allayed or softened as the years went by.
There always was a trace of stinginess in the people of Canaan
in matters pertaining to schools, and it is not surprising that the
interest in this school should fall off, when it became a matter
of paying out money for board and tuition.
Mr. David H. Mason of the class 18-41. who afterwards be-
came United States district attorney in Massachusetts, taught
the spring term of 1840, to a diminished number of pupils, so
Canaan Union Academy. 303
much so that the speculation looked likely to prove a failure and
on the 30th of ^lay, 18-10, the proprietors offered the building
and its privileges "to any suitable person who would take the
school upon his own risk. ' ' Mr. Mason accepted the school upon
those conditions and conducted it two terms. Thus suddenly
the hopes of these sixty-five men faded out. and they found them-
selves indebted to the town in the sum of thirteen hundred dol-
lars and accruing interest.
In the spring of 1811 the corporation opened the academy with
the following officers: William P. AYeeks, president; Caleb
Blodgett, vice-president; Eleazer Martin, secretary, and Jesse
Martin, treasurer. The executive committee were March Barber,
James Arv'in, Sylvanus B. ]\Iorgan, James Pattee, Nathaniel
Shepard, Peter WeUs, Daniel CampbeU, Nathaniel Currier, Wil-
liam W. George and Dea. Nathaniel Barber. The preceptor was
T. L. Wakefield, who graduated from Dartmouth College in
1843. Twenty-eight gentlemen and seventeen ladies attended.
The fall term of that year was taught by Edward E. Sargent, a
classmate of ]\Ir. Wakefield's, with forty-five gentlemen and
twenty-two ladies attending.
Socially, things were not much changed : there still existed a
good deal of sullenness, but there was a decrease of personal
vituperation. The proprietors were, however, not pleased with
their investment. The terms of the loan required the interest
on their notes to be paid in advance, and the town was now ask-
ing for the principal also. The most interesting query with
many of them was how to avoid payment and free themselves
from their obligations. The suggestion that was acted upon
and accepted was made by S. P. Cobb and J. L. Richardson,
namely, to sell the land and buildings to the town.
At the beginning of the annual meeting on March 8, 1842,
the interest on the surplus revenue and school fund was voted
to be divided as before among the schools. At the last part of
the day, after many had gone home and after all the articles
in the warrant had been disposed of, and nothing remained to
do but sort and count the ballots for state and county officers,
the motion was made to reconsider the vote regarding the disposi-
tion of the surplus revenue and school fund and voted: "That
the Treasurer of the Town of Canaan remit to the proprietors
304 History of Canaan.
of Canaan Union Academy the interest on the notes given by
them to the Treasurer of the town of Canaan or to the agent of
said town." They also voted: "That said notes be given up to
said proprietors when they make and deliver to said town of
Canaan a deed of academy land and buildings thereon, owned by
said proprietors." This led to an outburst of wrath and in-
dignation, seldom equalled and never excelled, against the men
who had borrowed the public money and had attempted by a
trick to vote away that money to pay their private debts. There
was a very radiant atmosphere in Canaan for the next two weeks,
as the following "whereas" and "resolved" witness.
At the close of the annual meeting the proprietors of the
academy appointed Joseph Wheat their agent to convey the
property to the town, and he hurried the matter so rapidly that
the deed was made and delivered to the town on the 23d of
]\[arch, the day before a town meeting was held, which put a
stop to their plans. At this meeting William Eastman was
moderator. Jonathan Kittredge, bravely seconded and assisted
by James Eastman, took the lead in the services and offered the
following preamble and resolutions, which seems to be weighted
down with indignant distinctness :
Whereas, at the close of the annual meeting on the 8th. instant a vote
was passed purporting to be a vote of the town of Canaan to the effect,
as recorded, that the Treasurer remit to the proprietors of Canaan Union
Academy the interest on the notes given by them to the treasurer of
the town of Canaan or to the agent of said town, and also that said
notes be given up to said proprietors when they make and deliver to
the town a good and valid deed of the academy land, and buildings
thereon; and whereas the design in passing said vote was carefully con-
cealed from the legal voters of said town in the article in the warrant
for said town-meeting under which said vote was pretended to be
passed, giving no sufficient notice thereof; and whereas, the absence
of a majority of said legal voters was designedly and fraudulently taken
advantage of by said proprietors to secure the passage of said vote;
and whereas, said vote was carried by the votes of said proprietors con-
trary to the wishes of a large majority of the legal voters of said town;
and whereas, the said vote is for the above reasons illegal and void,
therefore
Resolved by said town, in legal town meeting assembled, that the said
pretended vote be, and the same is hereby rescinded. That the town
will not accept of any deed of the academy, and the selectmen have
no right or authority to accept the same, or to perform any other act
Canaan Union Academy. 305
in relation thereto, obligatory upon the town. That the records of said
pretended vote be expunged and that the town clerk now in the presence
of the town draw black lines around the same and write across the
same the following words, "Expunged by order of the town this 24th.
day of March A. D. 1842."
Resolved that the said agent be authorized to collect said notes and
right of authority to give up to the said proprietors the said notes and
that he be directed not to give the same.
Resolved that Jonathan Kittredge be and is hereby appointed an
agent of the town to demand and receive of Wm. P. Weeks all the notes
in his hands, given to the town or to him as Treasurer or agent of the
town or for the towns money, and that his receipt for the same to said
"Weeks shall be his discharge from the town therefor on his procur-
ing bonds to the acceptance of the town.
Resolved that the Treasurer of the town has not, nor had he any
to take any other steps to secure the interest of the town in its public
money or in the said notes that he may think proper.
They also voted that the agent collect the notes or that the
signers procure sureties acceptable to the agent. George Harris,
Dexter Harris, James Eastman, Daniel Sherburne and AYilliam
E. Eastman were Kittredge 's bondsmen. And then to further
show the state of their feelings and rake up the old trouble,
Jonathan Kittredge, Joshua Richardson and James Morse were
chosen a committee "to look up and report the facts in relation
to the account of the Investigating Committee of 1839, appointed
to ascertain by what means the Academy was burned."
They voted to "divide the Surplus Revenue and School Fund
equally among the schools. " * A motion was then made to re-
consider all the votes and resolutions, and it was voted "not to
reconsider any of them."
The other party was much disturbed at the passage of these
votes. They met and talked earnestly together, but feeling quite
confident that they could maintain their position, they re-
quested "William P. "Weeks, Esq., to consult some learned coun-
sellor-at-law, and procure his opinion as to the binding force of
the vote passed at the annual meeting," concerning the remis-
sion of interest and deed of the academy. On the 11th of April,
Kittredge demanded the notes of Mr. Weeks, who refused to
give them up.
A special town meeting, called April 23d for various pur-
poses, gave rise to some lively talk. Mr. Kittredge was severely
20
306 History of Canaan.
criticised and unceremoniously dismissed as agent of the town,
127 voting for his dismissal and none against, upon a poll of the
house; but Kittredge did not stay dismissed. He had already
on March 29th, applied for a temporary injunction restraining
Mr. Weeks from doing anything, and had on the 11th of April,
after Mr. Weeks' refusal, filed a bill in equity against Mr. Weeks
to compel him to turn over the notes to himself as agent of the
town. Kittredge was also determined to bring suits against
the makers of the notes, and to push them to judgment, either
as agent of the town or as an interested citizen, and the party
was late in discovering that they had passed one more illegal
vote, as the subject was not named in the warrant for the town
meeting.
The "learned counsellor-at-law " (Mr. Josiah Quincy of Rum-
ney), whose opinion they procured, in view of the suits which
had been commenced against the makers of the notes, advised
them to compromise with the town's agent upon the best terms
they could obtain, as Mr. Kittredge was in a frame of mind to
push them to the utmost extent of the law, and his costs might
soon exceed the principal of the notes. The "learned coun-
sellor" held the same opinion of the action of the town and of
the proprietors of the academy as did Mr. Kittredge — that
it was unlawful for a part of the taxpayers of the town to vote
away the public money to pay the private debts of the proprie-
tors of the academy, without first giving notice, in the warrant
to that effect.
In August the proprietors held a meeting and offered to pay
into the town treasury the principal due on their notes to the
town, and to take back their deed, "provided, at their next meet-
ing, the town would vote to give the said proprietors the inter-
est due on their notes."
They made one desperate effort to check the strong measures
adopted by the town agent, by calling a town meeting on the 22d
of August, 1842, to reconsider the work of March 24th, but they
failed. William E. Eastman was chosen moderator, much to
their chagrin, and then it w^as voted ' ' to dissolve the meeting " ' ;
and thus the frost of public condemnation once more struck a
chill to their hopes and expectations. From August until the
next February no public steps were taken, but the proprietors
Canaan Union Academy. 307
rallied and got their partisans well in hand, so that on the first
of Februarj% 18-i3, feeling confident of their case, they called
a town meeting, at which it was voted
To give the proprietors of Canaan Union Academy the interest on
their notes given to the town, for the surplus revenue and literary fund,
on condition that they take back their deed of the academy land and
buildings to the town, and pay into the treasury the principal due on
their notes, and they shall give satisfactory bonds for the payment of
their notes to the town.
Passed by, yeas 149, nays 139. The bill in chancery and all
suits brought by Mr. Kittredge against the individual proprie-
tors, were ordered to be dismissed and stopped and "Jonathan
Kittredge is dismissed and discharged as agent of the town in
regard to said notes and all other matters in which he is author-
ized to act as agent for the town. ' '
This vote caused much dissatisfaction with a large number of
voters, who were not present at the meeting, inasmuch as it gave
to a few men the accumulated interest on the money of the whole
people. They said ' ' it was not a fair division, and if the public
business was to be done in that partial manner, they would all
turn out next time and make it musical for some of them."
It soon became evident that something must be done to soothe
and placate these stay-at-home fellows ; but they became trouble-
some. Various schemes were considered and abandoned, but
at the annual meeting in March, one month afterward, the fol-
lowing extraordinary vote, which seemed to meet the worst
features of the case, as it gave everybody a grab at the bag, was
passed :
To give all the inhabitants of the town, including widows and maiden
ladies, paying taxes, a sum of money out of the Surplus revenue equal
to the sum voted to the proprietors of Canaan Union Academy, Feb.
1, last;
And then
That the remainder of the money be equally, divided among all the in-
habitants, including said widows and maiden ladies, as also said pro-
prietors, who are in town on the 1st. day of April, and who are liable
to the assessment of public taxes, not including persons seventy years
of age.
The amount of surplus revenue in the treasury at this date
was $814.32, and the division pro rata, among the taxpayers was
308 History of Canaan.
$2.34. At the same meeting, the following respectful language
was adopted in regard to Messrs. Weeks and Kittredge, the
gentlemen emplo.yed as counsel in the suits brought against the
proprietors of the academy, that they be requested to dismiss
all suits now^ pending against any and all of said proprietors,
and that request was subsequently complied with.
On the 12th of March, 1844, the people declared that the pro-
prietors of the academy had got more than their share of the sur-
plus revenue and ordered them to pay into the town treasury
an amount equal to the excess they had received above the rest
of the inhabitants, but it does not appear that any one of those
proprietors ever complied with the request of the people. They
took all that ever came into their hands and kept it. At one of
the proprietors' meetings, the venerable and respected Joseph
Dustin, introduced the old fire-brand in these words :
That the school be opened for the benefit of the colored as well as
the white children, and that all his Methodist brethren vote on the
motion and not attempt to dodge it.
This provided a discussion characteristic of the times and peo-
ple. It was promptly voted down and from that day onward,
no colored person has been seen in any of our schools.
On May 10, 1845, the proprietors of the academy voted to
appoint J. E. Sargent "as agent of said proprietors to execute
and deliver to S. P. Cobb a good and valid deed of said academy,
buildings and land for the sum of $400." It does not appear
that this deed was ever executed, for what reason is not known,
but it seems queer that a company of men should embark in
such an enterprise and after spending so much money, and feel-
ing, not to say passion, in five years be so anxious to get it off
their hands.
But little remains of interest concerning the academy. The
institution was re-established in 1852, its fortunes ha\ang varied
with the years up to 1854, when, under the care of Charles C.
"Webster, it reached its greatest fame, with a total of 206 schol-
ars, 114 males and 92 females; with a classical depart-
ment designed to prepare for college, a higher English and com-
mon English department, and four terms a year. Eleazer Mar-
tin was president of the corporation; Jonathan Kittredge, vice-
Canaan Union Academy. 309
president; Jesse Martin, secretary, and Horace Chase, treasurer.
William P. Weeks, S. P. Cobb, Jonathan Kittredge, Arnold Mor-
gan and Caleb Blodgett were the executive committee of the cor-
poration. There were seven instructors and the scholars came
from all over the country, although for the most part from
Canaan and the surrounding towns. Mr. Webster gave up the
school in 1856, having been here three years, and removed to
Minnesota. Burrill Porter, Jr., continued it for another year,
with a corps of six teachers and 171 pupils. Since that it ceased
to be a corporation and became simply a private school, with
wide intervals of time when the building was closed. Occa-
sionally some one came along who would open a school and con-
tinue it for one or two terms, contributing nothing towards the
support or care of the building, and little towards their own.
Through the energy of J. D. Weeks and William A. Wallace as
trustees of the academy, the school was revived in 1870, and
continued with different teachers until 1878. Some of them were
Herbert Norris, J. Clement Story in 1876; William Sharp and
B. E. Goodrich in 1877. For fourteen years its doors were closed
and then in 1891 it was opened by Prof. Luther Purmot. Hugh.
Moore was the last person to open a school.
In 1854 the town was asked to paint the academy, fix up the
yard and put a fence around it; they refused to do it and the
fence was built by private subscription. Parts of it are still in
existence on the line between the academy land and the adjoin-
ing owner on the south. Repairs have been made to the build-
ing by private subscription from time to time. In 1904 the town
library having attained such proportions, it was deemed advis-
able to move it into the academy building, where it occupies the
upper floor. The town having appropriated part of the money
to fit it up for that purpose and the balance being raised by
voluntary contributions.
The question has arisen, who o^\tis the academy? In read-
ing this detailed statement of the facts, relating to the
doings of the proprietors of the academy, it is evident that
so long as the corporation existed it considered itself the owner
of the building. The town having refused a deed from the pro-
prietors, exercised no control over their doings. The money
which built the academy was borrowed, and the town was only
310 History of Canaan.
a creditor of those sixty-five individuals who signed the notes.
What was done with the money was immaterial to the town.
The town at first sought to replace this money in the funds from
which it had been taken, but a change of feeling led it to
distribute the balance of the surplus revenue among the other
inhabitants. Realizing that the proprietors had had more than
their share, they sought to make them pay the dilference back
to the town; this they never did. The town is in the position
of having paid for something which they would not accept,
and not enforcing their demand for their money to be re-
turned, but silently allowing it to remain. Some might say that
by their silence, they had accepted the disposition which had
been made of their money, and are really in the position of
being owners of the property, since their money paid for it.
At this day some are jealous of the apparent exercise of
ownership of some people over the building, but no one claims
it. If one person or another does anything to protect and
preserve this old landmark of the Street, it is done with a feel-
ing of respect for the memories which must cluster around its
portals. Unique in its position, it stands as a monument to
the expression of the most trying times in the history of the
town. Deserted and alone, it attracts the attention of every
newcomer, who wonders that it should be so neglected. Like
a bone that has been quarreled over by two dogs, it has been
dropped, never to be taken up again. The generation in whom
the worst parts of man's nature was aroused has passed awaj'.
More than sixty years have elapsed since it was a disturbing
factor; not one of the signers of the thirteen notes is alive today;
not one of the men who opposed their plans. The questions
disputed at that time and at the bottom of all their hard feeling
has long since been settled, and their children and grand-
children have grown up with no remembrance of the spite
and abuse thrown broadcast by their parents and grandparents.
The issue is dead and forgotten; the slave question has ceased
to be ; abolition, too ; and we of this day can little realize the
depth to which men's feelings were stirred. Such is the his-
tory of the attempts to establish a school of learning in
Canaan, and when we look back upon its stormy course at no
time having the good will and sympathy of all the people of
Canaan Union Academy. 311
the community, bitterly opposed and as bitterly favored, liv-
ing along from year to year on the persistence some men have
to accomplish their ends, and using the object in dispute only
as a means, blind to the good there might be in it itself, if spite
and revenge be eliminated, the good in it became secondary
to the success of their plans for revenge, resorting to trickery,
force and unlawful means to bolster up or oppose. Is it any
wonder that such a cause should fail, when dependent upon
such influences, that people who had not become involved should
hesitate to take any part?
CHAPTER XX
Lawyers.
There were no lawyers among the early settlers of Canaan,
and from the appearance of all the written documents that
have come into my possession not any very learned men. There
was very little use for law or lawyers so long as these men were
contending simply with forests and wild beasts. Disputes
relative to land titles were easily adjusted by the proprietors'
committees and the surveyor with his compass. It was many
years after the first arrivals before the people had need of
courts of justice or of lawyers. Every man felt himself con-
strained to be neighborly, friendly and forbearing, because
each one was dependent upon every other one for some of the
comforts in their rough life. In like communities, where the
labor of the day was followed by the rest of the night, there
was no place for the idle and dissolute either to rest or amuse
themselves.
George Harris, who followed close upon the footsteps of
Thomas Miner in 1767, was an intelligent business man with a
good education. Having the interests of the new colonists
greatly at heart, he exerted a wise influence over them, so that
while he lived, the uneven tempers were held in subjection, and
for many years there were more precautions taken against wild
beasts than dishonest men. In those first years, when it was
necessary to observe forms. of law, in order to give binding effect
to the wishes of some grantee, recourse was had to Bezaleel
"Woodward of Hanover, or Benjamin Wheaton of Lebanon,
both of whom held commissions as justices of the peace under
the king.
About the year 1779 William Ayer, holding a commission
as justice of the peace from the governor of Massachusetts,
came with his wife to make his home in Canaan. Nathan
Follensbee, a young friend, accompanied him : they came from
Amesbury, Mass., and on their arrival were very hopeful of their
future in the new settlement. Thev. secured lands on South
Lawyers. 313
Road, near enough to be neighbors, and built log houses for
their first shelter, as did all the early settlers, because of the
scarcity of sawed timber. Mr. Nathan's father and a hired
man came with them also and located upon the farm once
owned by Farrington Currier, and Mr. Ayer upon the next ad-
joining, afterwards owned by Daniel Farnum. After building
his log house, I\Ir. FoUensbee, with his father's assistance, felled
five acres of trees, burned over land and raked in the seed, but
the early frosts killed the crop ; then he returned to Haverhill
and brought back a wife, Anne Sawyer. They lived here several
years and had three sons born to them. It is related that after
the fire which had burned the brush and timber which her
husband had felled, that the ground was black with ashes and
coal, there was nothing green left growing near his cabin. Mrs.
Follensbee visited her neighbor, Mrs. Ayer, and told her how
dismally black everything was about her home, and begged of
her a handful of green turf, which she carried home in her
handkerchief and transplanted. The seasons from 1785 to '90
were severe; untimely frosts cut off the crops of the farmers
and even their seed was lost. Discouraged by the unpropitious
seasons, Mr. Follansbee sold his lands and moved to Hamp-
stead, where his eldest daughter, Martha, was born, July
30, 1793. She married Hubbard Harris, Jr., who was a trader
on the Street and built the house long the residence of Dr.
Arnold ]\Iorgan, now owned by Mrs. Henry Martin. One other
sister, Betsey, was born in Hampstead in 1795. Afterwards, not
pleased with his manner of life he was persuaded by his friend
Paddleford and Capt. James Huse, to return to this region and
buy lands on Shaker Hill in 1796. In 1797 his daughter Sarah
was born. She married George Harris, a brother of Hubbard.
Mr. Follensbee died in Enfield after a long and eventful life.
Mr. Ayer had received a good education and was somewhat
familiar with legal lore. He was not too modest to let his
townsmen know that he could make his services as valuable to
them as those of Wheaton and Woodward and at less trouble.
The legal business of the colonists consisted chiefly in the
making and acknowledging of deeds. The days had not yet
come when they could afford to spend their time and sub-
stance in litigation. Mr. Ayer served the people as justice,
314 History of Canaan.
conveyancer and adviser, and also in many town offices. He
was an honored resident of Canaan about twenty years, when
the failing health of his wife induced him to sell out his farm
to Daniel Farnum and return to Massachusetts. But there
were other men in town competent to perform all the legal
services which the people required in their business intercourse.
Thomas Baldwin was one of these men. Being a ready writer,
he was often called upon to make deeds and wills, some of
which are quaint and picturesque in their phraseology. I have
several of them in my possession written in a fair, round
hand.
Daniel Blaisdell, also, the first of the name, was a growing
man and became so familiar with legal forms and requirements
that he was generally selected to present questions to the
courts, duties which he performed satisfactorily and for small
compensation. He was not a learned man, but possessed a
good judgment and a retentive memory. Then there was
"Esq." John Currier, who was almost uninterruptedly engaged
in business of a public kind all his life. These were the law-
yers in those early days who were sufficient unto the wants of
the people. Lawyers as such found little encouragement to
stop here for several seasons, but chiefly because there was
neither time nor money to squander on such luxuries. In
nearly all bargains or trades it was agreed that payments should
be made in farm products, labor, et2.
At or about the time of the building of the meeting house,
there came into town a lawyer, who with strong assurance told
the people that they needed him, or at any rate he needed
them, for they appeared to be thrifty and ought to have a good
many nice questions in law to talk over, and he proposed to
stay and get his living among them. His name was Nathanial
Farrer, but the people did not take kindly to him. He secured
board with Capt. Moses Dole. He remained here a year or
more, and in that time occurred the first lawsuit in Canaan.
Capt. Robert Barber had bought a nice horse, at a low price,
from a stranger who was passing through town, and was much
pleased with his bargan. The captain was a short, pussy man,
wore breeches and a long waistcoat, like old Uncle John Barber,
and was a good sort of a man, but always busy, too much so to
Lawyers. 315
pay much attention to children; in fact, children got very lit-
tle away from home. About the only salutation they got from
him was "take care boy, don't meddle with things." A short
time afterwards a man from one of the Vermont river towns
appeared in our street, inquiring for a horse which he said
had been stolen from him. He described the horse and the
thief, saying he had traced them as far as this village. Being
directed to Captain Barber, he saw and claimed the horse as
his property, but Captain Barber declined to part with it
without consideration, whereupon the claimant set Lawyer
Farrer upon him. brought him into court and replevined the
horse. The captain paid the costs with an ill grace. He said
it was "all along of harboring a lawyer in town, whose only
means of living was by the misfortunes of honest people." The
captain's chargin at being cheated by a horse thief was very
great, and he continued to pour out the vials of his wrath upon
lawyers as the natural allies of thieves, until the sympathies of
the people were awakened in his favor and Mr. Farrer was re-
garded as a man who might make mischief among them. Be
that as it may, our hardworking ancestors were not yet ready
to engage in suits at law. They knew it to be expensive, and
so they continued to rely upon their friends, whose previous
faithful services were a sruarantv for the future. Mr. Farrer,
finding his cases did not multiply, and that his clothes were
getting seedy, left town, and there is no further trace of him to
be found in our annals. In part payment for his board bill
due Elias Lathrop, he pledged two blank books, unruled and
bound in sheep, with his name upon the fly-leaf. These books
are now in my possession, containing valuable memoranda con-
cerning the meeting house, and the reorganization of the Bap-
tist church in 1802.
For several years little variation was noticeable in the lives
of our people. They labored diligently upon their lands and
prayed for the prosperity of the church, which was without a
pastor, but was feebly, yet vainly, struggling to find a man to
take charge of their spiritual afiPairs. one whose teachings they
could follow with faith and trust; but it was many years yet
before those prayers were answered. For amusement they had
for a long time an adjourned town meeting, which they regu-
316 History of Canaan.
larly attended, and scolded about the dilatorious conduct of the
contractors in building and finishing the meeting house.
In 1808 Thomas Hale Pettingill, a graduate of Dartmouth
College in 1804, and just then admitted to the bar, visited rela-
tives in Canaan, and concluded it would be a good field for him
to work in. He was the son of Benjamin and Polly Pettingill
of Salisbury, born November 20, 1780. He read law with John
Harris of Hopkiuton. He built the house, later the residence
of Jesse Martin, and opened an office in one of the rooms in
the spring of 1808. At first he met with indifferent success.
The old prejudice against lawyers was active and demonstra-
tive; but he persevered, and when told they had no use for
his kind of man, he would shrug his shoulders and wait. He
had not long to wait, not more than a year, before he had the
whole town by the ears. His labors necessitated the appoint-
ment of a sheriff, and this officer planned how he could gain
a living by this office. The next thing of importance was a
court ; and from that day onward until now Canaan has never
been without a lawyer, with his attendant sheriff and court, and
the e\adence is conclusive that all of them escaped the fate of
Farrer. No one of them has ever since been starved out, with
the exception of George Kimball and John H. Slack. Mr. Pet-
tingill's diligence and success surprised his friends. His legal
machinery ground slow but sure. Many of the best and most
quiet citizens were taken in his toils, and paid him homage. One
record shows that from the 2d day of July, 1808, to Feb-
ruary 23, 1811, a period of two years and eight months, Mr. Pet-
tingill brought 193 suits before John Currier, Esq., the court's
fee in each case being charged at sixty-seven cents. The first
case this young lawyer brought was Nathaniel Tucker v J.
Smith. The case was a trivial one, a misunderstanding in the
settlement of a small account, but it served for a beginning as
well as if it were of national importance. Mr. Pettingill was
aggressive in his temperament, was not famous for courtesy or
neighborly kindness ; he was persistent in the pursuit of an
object, and no mere personal consideration turned him aside
from the attainment of his fixed purpose to get rich. He liked
directness and hated all shams, but he was never a great fa-
vorite with the people, although they appreciated his ability,
Lawyers. 317
and for three years he held three town otfices at one time. He
was representative in 1814, 15 and 16, moderator from 1813-20,
town treasurer from 1813-20, and member of the school commit-
tee from 1811-20. In his earlier years he was a Federalist.
In 1817 he published a burlesque upon Jefferson and his
friends, called "The Yankee Traveller; or, the Adventures of
Hector Wigier"; later he changed his opinions, became ashamed
of the literarv' venture and tried to recall it from circulation.
When he left town he had made no impress upon its institu-
tions nor upon the hearts of the people that would lead them
to cherish his memory. Many incidents are remembered of him
which illustrate his sharp wit and self-reliance. His imperious
disposition manifested itself in all the walks of his life. He
was the first candidate for the rights and benefits of JNIasonry in
the then new Mt. Moriah Lodge, which was organized in 1814.
The records show that he carried his temper into the lodge
room. Another lawyer, Elijah Blaisdell, of whom we shall
hear more further on, had located in Canaan ; he also was a
member of that lodge. Being of the same profession and of
similar traits and habits, they had frequent altercations. Then
there were complaints ; one day it was the complaint of Brother
Pettingill against Brother Blaisdell, and a committee appointed
to consider the same. At the next communication was a report
that the belligerants had settled their difficulty, and there was
nothing further to report. Next time it would be a complaint
Blaisdell v Pettingill, and the committee would go over the
same routine ; then there would be difficulties with Nathaniel
Pierce, and again with Doctor Tilton, and all ending in the same
way, and each showing arbitrary temper on the part of the
members of the bar.
A demand against Amasa Jones was left with him for col-
lection. He sent Amasa a letter which brought him quickly to
his office. Amasa objected to paying fifty cents for the letter
and began to plead his hard times. Pettingill took up his pen
and wrote figures. Amasa asked him why he wrote. Pettin-
gill replied, "I'm charging you ten cents a minute for the time
you keep me waiting, I can't atford to do all this talking for
nothing," and then Amasa made haste to pay the bill without
further objections to the price of the letter.
318 History of Canaan.
lu 1813 he subscribed one dollar towards the support of
Elder Wheat : three years afterwards, when ^Mrs. Stephen
Worth died, and the elder at the funeral charged Stephen with
being an infidel, greatly offending the whole congregation, Pet-
tingill, Colonel Wells, John M. Barber and William Eichardson,
withdrew their promises of support, and declared they would
never hear him preach again. Mr. Pettingill resided in Canaan
until 1822, and his going was much like his coming. His
father, grown old, desired him to come home and live with him.
He declined; his chances for wealth were too good to be
abandoned here. As a further inducement the old man told
him to sum up all his gains during his residence in Canaan
and if he would come to him he would double the sum. The
laAvyer counted up his gains, until they amounted to over ten
thousand dollars, which surprised the old man into the re-
mark that he feared Tom had not been very considerate; but
he made good his promise and in 1822, with reluctance. Lawyer
Pettingill turned his back upon the field of his legal triumphs,
leaving it in possession of his antagonist, Blaisdell, and settled
down in his native town of Salisbury, where he continued to
reside, with the exception of two years spent in Franklin, until
his death, August 8, 1856, at the age of 75 years. He married
Aphia Morse at Cornish in February-, 1810. They had one son
and two daughters.
Old Jim Woodbury w^as a Revolutionary soldier, whom Pet-
tingill often met, and to his salutation, the old man's uniform
answer was "I'm a leetle better than I was yesterday. Mr. Pet-
tingill." Pettingill's reply to this refrain was, "Well, Uncle
Jim, you've been a leetle better every day since I knew you, and
you are about as miserable now as a man can be and live ; you
must have been an almighty mean man before anyone else knew
you."
There was Henry French of Grafton, who applied to him for
a certificate to teach a district school. After a short examina-
tion, Pettingill gave French a certificate reading that "he was
fully competent to teach school in any district where there were
no scholars."
Elijah Blaisdell, born in Canaan October 29, 1782, was the son
of Hon. Daniel Blaisdell. November 14, 1802. he married ^Mary
Lawyers. 319
Fog'g of Hampton, daughter of John Fogg, and settled down
in Pittsfield as a shoemaker. At the age of twenty-seven, with
a wife and three children dependent upon him, he concluded
that shoemaking was not his strong point ! he might get rich, but
he never would become famous; so laying aside his last and
apron, he entered an otfice in INIontpelier, Vt., and for three
years applied himself to the study of law, and was admitted
to the bar. For a few years he loitered about in search of a loca-
tion. He tried Grafton and Danbury, but the people were not
sufficiently litigious. About 1812 he located on Canaan Street,
in the house afterwards occupied by Albert Pressey. About the
same time he was appointed "side" judge of the court of com-
mon pleas for the county of Grafton. He resigned in 1834 and
was appointed county solicitor and reappointed five years after.
He was also the colonel of a regiment of militia. His second
wife was Mrs. Mary Kingsbury of Plainfield. Here Pettingill
already had a court with all its machinery in full blast. Here
he lived and labored until 1833, when he sold out and removed
to Lebanon. He died in Lebanon October 10, 1856. In politics
he began a Federalist, and was elected to various town offices,
also to the Legislature in 1827-28. Upon the election of General
Jackson in 1828, he visited Washington to see the inauguration
ceremonies, and he was received with so much affability by the
old general that he became his warm supporter and forever
afterward voted and talked as a Democrat. In 1835, when for a
season Abolitionists had no legal rights and public opinion was
as merciless as an octopus, he returned to Canaan, and har-
rangued the assembled people upon the importance of "driving
the niggers out of our beautiful town," even if it became neces-
sary to destroy the academy building to accomplish that purpose.
He was made a Mason in Mount Moriah Lodge in 1814, and he
soon became upon all occasions the rival and antagonist of his
brother Pettingill. In their temperaments, these two men were
much alike, arbitrary and overbearing, impatient of restraint,
not scrupulous of the rights and feelings of others, and in the
innumerable suits w^hich they promoted, were always pitted
against each other. Their language to each other was far from
polite, and a stranger would suppose them to be bitterly hostile,
but when the time arrived for making up bills of costs, they
320 History of Canaan.
would come readily together to divide the spoils in great seem-
ing friendliness.
Mr. Blaisdell held the office of judge of probate for several
years, during the supremacy of the Democratic party. He was
sent to the Legislature in 1826 ; was selectman in 1822-24^-25-
28-31 and 32. But with all his long years and his opportunities
for usefulness, he left no memorial of services by which a suc-
<3eeding generation will recall his name as a benefactor.
George Kimball was born in Harvard, Mass., in 1787, son of
Benjamin and Nancy (Wilder) Kimball; he gTaduated at Dart-
mouth College in 1809 ; read law with Stephen Moody at Gil-
manton, and was admitted to the bar and settled in practice at
Union, Me., in March, 1813; from thence he went to Warren,
Me., in 1814. For many years he was a successful teacher in
the public schools in Concord and in Richmond. Va., and also
in the island of Bermuda in 1815, where he married a lady who
was the owner of many slaves. On his return he brought one
of them, named Nancy, as a servant for his wife, and through
all the vicissitudes of their lives, Nancy remained faithful and
true to her mistress. In 1824, he turned his attention to journal-
ism, and became editor of The Concord Register. He was a
gentleman of refinement and intelligence, companionable and
of amiable disposition, a good storyteller and a writer of fair
ability, but he was indolent, exceedingly fond of snuff and
good whiskey, too much so to meet with success in a calling that
requires active industrs^, tact and a quick perception. Of the
duties of editorial life, he was a dreamer and oftentimes when
his mind should have been active in his business, he would sit
for hours nibbling his pen or gazing into vacancy, and when at
last roused hy the call of the boy for "copy," he would start
up with "Yes, yes, boys, in a few minutes"; and instead of sit-
ting down to his work himself, would start off and beg his
friend, George Kent, to "help him out just once more."
In the fall of 1826, he had become weary of journalism ; it
interfered with his fixed habits of indolence. His friends ad-
vised him to return to the law, and that Canaan would be a
good place to locate. There were sheriffs here, and justices and
all the machinery for making a first-class reputation. Pet-
tingill was gone and Elijah Blaisdell alone remained as an
Lawyers. 321
antagonist. He came here and opened an office and in a few
months after received the appointment of postmaster. He was
a scholar and an agreeable speaker, but his manner of life had
not made him familiar with legal practice. Business flowed in
upon him, but in the details of legal forms he made mistakes
and was often obliged to ask leave to amend his declarations.
Blaisdell harassed and annoyed him and he as usual had re-
course to his old Concord friends for relief. ]Moody Kent was
his mentor and X. P. Eogers of Plymouth, his fidus Achates.
They partially directed his cases and carried him triumphantly
through many difficulties.
^Ir. Rogers was a man of rare talents. His mind was severely
disciplined by study, reading and observation. His brain was
active, and scattered gems of thought through the columns of
the papers of that day. Whoever was fortunate enough to se-
cure his friendship, found in him a great soul, true as the
magnet, full of noble and unselfish sentiments. As a letter
writer, he was without an equal in his time. He stood watch
over Kimball as if he was his own child, and his advice will be
worthy of attention ages hence. The following is dated May
3, 1829 :
I must request you to act as to Nell in loco guardiani (if this is gi-am-
mar), as to her school ("Nell" was Ellen Farrand, Mrs. Rogers' sis-
ter, who was teaching in Canaan) and assist her in her studies lul in-
terim (pater again). Converse well in her hearing, for you can advise
and instruct as well as Burns could, whether you "peek the sede" any
better than that adviser, I don't judge. One thing I want to say you,
don't run in debt at the store; estimate your stores of little articles, and
muster money and pay down for all you buy and buy at cash prices;
otherwise you will always be thinking about it or you will forget that
you owe and will spend what will pay the debts. Pay your sheriff
often, and make your magistrate work cheap, pay him but part entry
fee. Make out all your ex'ons yourself, and let him sign them, and pay
him nothing for signing blanks. Debt is the worst evil on earth, next
to dishonesty. Of all things a classical gentlemanly spirit should
keep free of dependence on the vulgar traders that we sometimes find
in the world. Of all tyrants in the world, the most tyrannical is
the brute that gets power by vending rum and tobacco. Don't suppose
that I have in my eye any of your neighbors, I have not. But I give
you and suggest this caution — that's all.
21
322 History of Canaan.
Here is another that is so well salted and spiced that I cannot
withstand the temptation to copy it entire :
Plymouth, Aug. 5, 1829. Dear K . Court, like a pay day or a
day to be liung ou, draws nigh apace, and I find among other perils
that await you and me, is the case of Gilman v. Button. Sit down and
write me the facts in the case as they occurred, and as we can prove
them. You must see the witnesses and hear their stories, and take fire
at them. We must prepare that case well. Ascertain whether the wit-
nesses will testify viva voce better than on paper, /. e., whether their
lies will appear most plausible in a deposition or from the tongue.
I want you to be as industrious as a pis-mire. There is no reason
why you and I, having common sense, should be less diligent than those
who have not got it. What a miracle it would be if we should devote
four hours each day to the study of the law, and now in our "sere and
yellow" time of life rise like a couple of Darien eagles to the very mid-
heaven of eminence! Would it not be worth while, eh I No more of
this, which prudence (if you had it) would lead you to burn. All that
your worldly friends think you lack is hawk-eyed cunning, sharpness
at money-getting, ambition and industry to cut and thrust in the law,
and to heap up gain, as some of them are doing. I tell them your hap-
piness and excellence and safety consist in your freedom from that in-
fernal disposition to clutch at everything you see, like most of them, —
though I want you to study law a little harder (I mean I am doing it)
and be as economical as Franklin and prudent in your bargains, not
sharp; to be sharp is imprudent. I am at the end of my sheet and
entirely your friend. N. P. R.
In the money matters, ]\Ir. Kimball was not a prudent man.
He had all the business he could attend to, but it only tended
to poverty. He had a bad habit of paying his sheriff and court
fees, and charging them to his client, and then instead of collect-
ing his costs, would borrow money, and buy everything on credit.
He was an enthusiast and, like liis Plymouth friend, a natural
reformer. He was largely instrumental in building the Congre-
gational Church in 1828. In connection with Rev. ]\Ir. Foster
and Jonathan Kittredge, he joined the new and untried temper-
ance movement, which has been moving ever since. The anti-
Masonic wave, which started from Buffalo in 1826, reached
through New Hampshire in 1829. With his friend, Rogers, he
plunged enthusiastically into its seething vortex and though
not a Mason, he successfully talked about the "wicked deeds
of that horrible institution, that was afraid of the light," and
through his influence, Nathaniel Currier, John Shepherd and
Lawyers. 323
Hubbard Harris, were induced to make public renunciation of
their Masonic obligations. This greatly enraged the Masons, and
Jacob Trussell and Elijah Blaisdell said "they might just as
well have renounced everv'thing else, for although members of
the lodge, neither of them could explain what they had re-
nounced. ' '
^h\ Kimball was naturally sympathetic. When Garrison ap-
peared as the champion of the enslaved race, Kimball with Rog-
ers, joined him and were ever after identified with the move-
ment. They were greatly instrumental in building "Noyes
Academy" and in changing its original features so as to admit
colored pupils. They had a right to do this; but the public
opinion of those days was as much enslaved as the negroes, and
was fierce and brutal in its instincts as the hyena. The beautiful
fabric which those unselfish men had erected and whose dedica-
tion to freedom of thought ought to have made it sacred, was
rudely thrown down, and the grand object for which it was so
carefully nursed into being, disappeared forever in one day.
The mob, which on the 10th of August, 1835, defied law, violated
private rights and destroyed the germs of what would have be-
come one of the most flourishing institutions of learning in the
country', was simply the creature of public opinion, remorse-
less and cruel, which pervaded the land through all its wide-
spread territory. It was not a Canaan mob, for with all their
evil passions then fired up, there was a lack of courage in the
men of Canaan to perform such deeds. They gave Ichabod
Bartlett five dollars to tell them if they had any legal rights
to destroy the "nigger school." He did tell them that everj'
man standing by and consenting thereto made himself liable
to the penalties of the law — provided public opinion should
ever allow a jury to find them gTiilty. This contingency was
so remote that it placed no restraint upon the mob. This
digression is made because Mr. Kimball was acting as the agent
of such men as Samuel E. Sewall, Samuel H. Cox, Arthur Tap-
pan, David L. Child, Benjamin Lundy, and the great body of
Abolitionists of the country, who cherished the hope that this
free academy might be instrumental in developing the capaci-
ties of the negro, and in some degree mitigating the social
rigors that environed his race. The ferocity of the mob spirit
324 History of Canaan.
amazed and for a time paralyzed the friends of that school.
The people were seized with the idea that Abolitionists were to
be exterminated with or without law^ At public meetings, find-
ing themselves in a minority and treated as public enemies, they
for a time refrained from attending them and waited for the
reaction of the public mind, which was sure to come.
Mr. Kimball found it to his interest to leave town. In 1836
he w^ent to Alton, 111., and in company with Hubbard Harris
engaged in mercantile business; Nathaniel Currier furnished
$6,000 as part of their capital. When the mob of Alton at-
tacked Lovejoy's office, killed Lovejoy and threw his press
and type into the Mississippi, Kimball was present, but not as
one of the defenders. He was not successful in trade, and he
returned to the East. He remained East a short time, for for-
tune did not favor him, being almost constantly embarrassed.
At his wife's solicitation, they returned to Bermuda about 1840,
where for twenty years he ,was a teacher and lawyer in the
town of Hamilton. In 1858 he died, a weary old man.
John Hancock Slack, A. M., son of John and Betsey (Ide)
Slack, was born at New London in June, 1789. and died at
Loudon County, Va., August 2, 1857, aged 68. He was gradu-
ated from Dartmouth College in 1811, and taught school at Hop-
kinton. He read law with Hon. Moses P. Payson of Bath, and
Hon. John Harris and Baruch Chase of Hopkinton, and was
admitted to the bar in 1817 ; practised at Andover, Pembroke,
Goffstown and New Castle (Hill) ; was a resident of Canaan in
1829 and 1830, where he taught a select school in the hall of
Gordon Burley's store; and occasionally, when other la\Ayers
were out of sight, had some practice. Lea\dng Canaan about
1830, he went to Canada and then drifted southerly to George-
town, D. C. ; thence to Fairfax County, Va., and afterwards to
Loudon County, where he died. He married Lydia, daughter of
Levi Hastings of Wilton, about 1825. When he resided here in
the old Baptist parsonage, which Albert Pressey last occupied,
he was a poor man ; he had never been successful, either as a
teacher or lawyer; he often appeared like a hunted man, and
many reports to his disadvantage were circulated and he seemed
generally to be under a cloud. He often said he was confident
he would live down all the evil that was said of him. At George-
Lawyers. 325
town he established a college and referred to many of the lead-
ing men of Washington as trustees and visitors. He started out
well, but had not the faculty of holding on, therefore, he often
fell by the wayside. He belonged to a class of men who make
good servants, but cannot serve themselves; they need a direct-
ing mind. Perhaps some part of the ill success which attended
his life was due to his partner. His home life was neither cheer-
ful nor tidy, and he seemed to think that apologies for personal
blemishes were due as a matter of course to visitors. To his
boy scholars, he was always kind and friendly; for myself I al-
ways had a warm place for him in my heart.
Jonathan Kittredge, LL. D., was the son of Dr. Jonathan and
Apphia (Woodman) Kittredge, born in Canterbury, July 17,
1793 ; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1813. He read law
with Bleecker & Sedgwick at Albany, N. Y., and Eoswell William
Lewis of New York City, and began practice at the last place
in 1817. It is not known how long he remained in that city,
but soon after the departure of I\Ir. Pettingill in 1822, he
opened an office in Canaan and resided here until 1827, when he
removed to Lyme, where he married Julia Balch on February
8, 1829 ; he resided there until 1836. Before he came to Canaan
he had contracted an appetite for strong drink, his case seemed
almost hopeless ; no man could have been worse ; he had thrown
otf self-respect, lost caste in society, his brethren of the bar
shunned him, and clients seldom sought his counsel. In those
days when rum was almost as common a drink as cider, and
many drunkards traversed the highwaj^s crookedly, the trail of
Mr. Kittredge was the crookedest. Some efforts were made to
reclaim and save him by a few friendly brethren of the bar, and
particularly by that great-souled gentleman, N. P. Rogers,
whose hand and heart always went out to the weary and heavy
laden; and there were some too, who for reasons of their o^\'n,
urged him on, apparently pleased with his self-abasement. The
appetite for drink clung to him like the shirt to Nessus, and
dragged him down until he could get no lower and no word of
reproach or kindness could rouse him to contend with the demons
that had seized him, but to the Rev. Amos Foster, is due his ref-
ormation in 1825, as elsewhere related. While at Lyme he wrote
and delivered an address upon temperance, January 8, 1827,
326 History op Canaan.
which when published, gave him almost a national reputation.
The address was reprinted in England, France and Germany,
and exerted a powerful influence for good upon the thought-
ful world. The State Temperance Society appointed him its
agent in 1832 and he edited its newspaper in 1834.
There was not much need of lawyers in Lyme, either before or
since that period, but ]\Ir. Kittredge continued to reside in that
tow^n among friends who tenderlj^ watched over him, until he
should gain courage and strength to meet his old enemy and
all his bad forces in the wide world's arena. In 1836 he re-
turned to Canaan, a period when society was almost resolved
into its original elements ; that is, the professed Christian men
of the town had gone back to original sin. Hatred, vituperation
and slander filled all hearts and mouths. It was here during
the next eight years he won an honorable reputation as an able,
skilful and well-read laA\yer, for fair dealing and humanity
as a man, for sincerity as a Christian and proved himself reso-
lute and fearless in the pursuit of an object. Bad men avoided
him, and w^hen charged with slandering him, slunk away and
denied it.
In politics he was a Whig, and disclaimed any sympathy with
Abolitionists or Free-soilers, but in the excitements of those
days, he never forgot that strength and numbers, even when
upheld by public opinion, were not always guarantees of jus-
tice ; and thus he soon found himself in full accord with the
opposition to the wild elements that disturbed society and called
itself patriotism. He was rough and uncouth in many ways,
even with his friends, and those who disliked him sometimes
called him "hog," or some equivalent phrase without defining
whether they intended it as a compliment to him or it. He was
considered a safe counselor, always true to his clients. Only
on one occasion did we ever hear his integrity impugned, and
that was in the settlement of an estate, when upon rendering
his final accounts, the judge after looking over the items and
seeing an enormous fee charged by the executor, exclaimed:
"Mr. Kittredge, Mr. Kittredge, that is a most outrageous fee!"
After some rough scolding, the fee was allowed, minus two hun-
dred dollars. He was a politician, of course, and sought his own
advancement; he was the leader of his party and could control
Lawyers. 327
all its elements. He succeeded very skilfidly in throwing out a
Democratic postmaster here and secured the place to himself,
which he held several years in a very lax manner. Five times
he was elected to represent the town in the Legislature in 1846-48
and 1851 and 1855. He held various town offices, especially such
as were agreeable to him ; was selectman in 1851 and moderator
eight years ; he went as delegate to the Philadelphia Convention
in 1848, that nominated General Taylor, and was an active
worker for his election.
In 1856 he was appointed chief judge of the court of com-
mon pleas, and held the office until the court was reformed out
of existence in 1858. He was respected as a lawyer and judge,
but he was not popular with either lawyers or clients. His
brusque manner with other peculiarities among other members
of the court, begat a hostility on the part of the bar that re-
sulted in reforming the whole court, and several of its members,
including Mr. Kittredge, were left out in the cold. In 1858
Dartmouth College conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. In
the spring of 1859 he moved to Concord, where he continued
to reside until his death, April 8, 1864, aged 71 years. His man-
ner of leaving the court was not agreeable to him ; he felt as if
he had been struck by his political friends and it soured him
towards man}^ with whom he had always worked. The act was
said to have been engineered through the Legislature by Cragin
of Lebanon, who had been treated coarsely by Mr. Kittredge
and took that method to be revenged. Both parties seemed to
enjoy great pleasure in "reforming" that court.
Jonathan Kittredge 's greatest victory was achieved over
himself in his earlier j^ears. He was held in honor and
esteem by the good people here ; he was a man of large ability.
I do not feel myself competent to give an anaylsis of his capa-
city as a lawyer, but I can speak of him at home and in his
neighborhood life and of his influence in affairs, some of his
disappointments and his old age. His famous temperance ad-
dress was given in the Congregational Church in 1829 ; I heard
him speak it. There was a time here once when the waves of
popular madness ran so high and wild that the law and the
right of individuals were trampled upon and justice and truth
were fallen in the streets. Jonathan Kittredge was the one
328 History op Canaan.
courageous man to buffet the howling mob and rescue truth and
justice from the evil passions that threatened them. His chil-
dren, Ellen ]\Iaria, born December 7, 1838, died August 11, 1839 ;
Edward C. Delevan, referred to elsewhere, and Jonathan Perry,
born in Canaan December 13, 1840, married Ellen S. Bond of
Worcester, Mass., December 26, 1872 : enlisted in Company B,
third New Hampshire Volunteers, August 23, 1861, was ap-
pointed hospital steward, September 9, 1862; mustered out Au-
gust 23, 1864; was in the drug business in Concord under the
name of Underbill & Kittredge.
William P. Weeks was the son of Brackett and Sarah (Pick-
ering) Weeks, born at Greenland, February 22, 1803; gradu-
ated from Dartmouth College in 1826. He read law with Hon.
William A. Hayes and Charles X. Coggswell of South Berwick,
Me. Admitted to the bar in 1829 in Maine : November of that
year he located here at the instance of his brother-in-law, Gor-
don Burley, whose large business affairs had become entangled
and Mr. Weeks was set to work to straighten them out. Three
other lawyers were already in practice on the Street, Blaisdell,
Kimball and Slack. He soon afterwards entered the office of
I\Ir. Blaisdell as a partner, and continued there for a short time,
two or three years. There seemed to be small room for him, but
he stayed on. believing that some or all of the others would soon
have occasion to emigrate, and he would have an open field. Mr.
Slack did leave within two years. Mr. Blaisdell in 1833, con-
cluded to make his future home in Lebanon, and two years
later ^Ir. Kimbell formed a mercantile partnership in Alton,
111., and quitted the field of his victories and defeats. When Mr.
Weeks came to Canaan there existed here two parties with strong
antagonisms, which arose chiefly from business complications,
but politics was also a large factor. It was a vicious sentiment
that delighted in tearing reputations, and showed itself in nearly
all the walks of life. As events developed, it was impossible for
any intelligent man to remain an indifferent spectator. He was
a Democrat by natural inheritance, and when his party called
the roll, he answered, and even until the day of his death, he was
a strong leader here. The only time he was ever ashamed of his
party was when the Legislature of 1854 passed resolutions hypo-
criticallv recitina- that the extension of slaverv into the terri-
Lawyers. 329
tories was good cause for the dissolution of the Union. It was
to catch the Abolition vote and failed of its object, because it
was plain that neither the men nor the party were sincere in
enacting those words. It placed the party in a false position,
and it lost prestige for consistency. He might have added, had
he lived, that in thirty successive years, it never regained its
lost character. During the sad years when the Abolition trouble
disturbed the social harmony he was a strong partisan. He took
no active part in the early disputes, but his counsel and advice
as well as sympathy were always at the service of the destruc-
tors. Threats of violence were freely made against the prom-
inent men and women, and particularly against the colored boys.
It was through his timely counsel that the ruffians laid aside
their clubs and stones. That party was made up of strong-
minded, wilful, determined men, with none too much intelli-
gence or education, but with brains enough to carry out their
plans in their own way, which was not always gentle. INIr.
Weeks always held these fierce spirits in restraint by quietly
quoting the penalties of the law to them. His practice w^as ex-
tensive and lucrative, but it was chiefly in the branches of law
relating to debt and credit, and the validity of titles. In these
matters he made himself an authority.
He was never counted a great lawyer, but lie was a correct
business man and carefully attended to all affairs placed in his
hands.
When the town voted to receive the surplus revenue, ]\Ir.
Weeks was appointed agent to receive and loan it to responsible
parties. When the Academy was rebuilt, with money borrowed
from the agent by the proprietors, they, finding the property
a poor investment, influenced the to^^Ti to take a deed of the
building and give up the notes. There was strong feeling on
the delivery of these notes. On being questioned, Mr. Wrecks
said: " G-entlemen, you need not be alarmed for those notes.
They are safe in my possession, and when you make a proper
call for them they will be forthcoming. ' '
On July 28, 1833. to him a most important occasion, he mar-
ried Mary Elizabeth Doe, daughter of Joseph Doe of Derry, and
as the years went by three sons and two daughters were born to
them.
330 History of Canaan.
In 1839, 1840. 1852. 1853 and 1854 he represented the to\\Ti in
the Legislature ; he was also in the State Senate in 1848—49, being
its president the last year: was also in the Constitutional Con-
vention in 1850, a famous body of politicians, who went up to
Concord, drank brandy and smoked cigars at Gass' Hotel for
several months, and ripped and tore away at the old Constitu-
tion so fiercely that scarcely a fragment was left, and when at
last they sent it out to the world the people saw nothing in their
labors to approve, and sat down hard upon it and sc^ueezed the
life all out of it. The cost of that mutilating convention was
about $60,000, the payment of which was the only new fact the
people realized concerning it. The honors attending the doing
of that body of men never matured — verdict of the voters —
killed by too much wet nursing.
Mr. Weeks, in the earlier years of his practice, was not always
scrupulous of the means he used against his adversaries, and
was unmerciful to debtors. Like many other young lawyers,
his first rule of practice, was fees, costs and charges, and his
second rule was to collect them. He had for a deputy for many
years S. P. Cobb, whose le^des were like the marches of the
legions of Attila, the grass disappeared behind him. During
the early days, and before the Northern Railroad was built, it
was customary for the merchants in town to go to Boston to
buy their goods. Before making this yearly trip it was neces-
sary for them to have money to pay for what they wished to buy.
All the merchants with the exception of Jesse ]\Iartin never had
money enough ahead to pay for their goods, so that just before
starting they would take their ledgers to ]\Ir. Weeks and
ask the loan of money upon their accounts. Mr. Weeks
always loaned them, never charging more than $10 on a hundred
dollars. The next daj^ he would set his partner or clerk to writ-
ing letters to those whose names appeared as debtors on those
books, asking them to call the next day and settle. These letters
were not mailed, but were placed in the post-office in plain sight
behind a string which held them up to the sight of every one.
Very few failed to appear the next day if they received the
letter, but as sometimes happened the debtor did not go to the
office or hear of his having a letter, for some days, but when he
did and hastened to ]\Ir. Weeks' office he was told. "I waited
twenty-four hours, and a writ has been made out, but I did not
Lawyers. ^31
have it served, so I saved you that much. It will cost you about
three dollars for the writ." Mr. Weeks was known to have had
as many as 100 writs returnable at a single term of court, and
not one of them contested, upon all of which he collected costs.
In the course of his forty years' practice he accumulated a
large property, all of which descended to his children. His
habits were all close. His sympathies were with the ^Methodist
Church, but he seldom attended the ser^dce after their clergy
began to pray for the slaves. He always read the Xew Hamp-
shire Patriot and conformed to all the legends of the Democratic
party. He never expressed sympathy for the Union cause dur-
ing the war. but always maintained with ]\Ir. Buchanan that the
government had no right to coerce a state. In business his writs
and summonses were always profitable; here he had no weak-
nesses. His liberality was not profuse. With all his success in
business, his gains multiplying year by year for the long period
he resided here, his name does not appear as a patron either of
religion, learning or arts, and the only monument erected to
record his \drtues is that which stands aboA'e his grave.'
In his later years he became in reality a banker, and his loans
were great accommodations to persons in need of money, and it
is only just to say that in his transactions as a banker he was
lenient and honorable with his clients. He was a great lover of
sheep and cattle and spent much time caressing his nice flocks.
There were times during his practice here when he formed co-
partnerships. The first has already been referred to, the other
two were with young gentlemen who had been students in his
office, both of whom have risen to eminence in their profession,
first at the bar. and then upon the bench of the state courts.
These young men were J. Everett Sargent and Isaac N. Blodgett.
Mr. Weeks died suddenly, on January 8, 1870. by hanging
himself from a beam in his barn, aged 66 years. He was a social
and genial man and good stor\"-teller.
Old Uncle Sam Whitcher carried the mail on horseback from
Lebanon to Plymouth and return weekly for many years. After
the postoffice department at Washington was burned, about 1838,
the old man came into ]\Ir. Weeks' office with a bundle of papers
and asked him to look them over and collect what was due upon
them. Upon examination they were found to be quarterly bills
for carrying the mail for the entire period the old man had been
332 History of Canaan.
in service. ' ' Have you never received any pay for your services
in carrying the mail, Mr. Whitcher?" asked the lawyer. "No
— them 's the bills, ' ' stuttered the old man. Mr. Weeks took off
his spectacles and looking the old man straight in the eye, said
very deliberately, "I\Ir. Whitcher, the vouchers in the postoffice
department at Washington were not burned, as was at first re-
ported ; they are found to be all safe. Shall I collect these bills ? ' '
The old man listened awhile for something more to be said, then
slowly gathered up his papers and as he opened the door to
depart, turned and said, "I — I guess you needn 't do nothing
about these papers till I come again. ' ' But he never came.
Jonathan Everett Sargent, son of Ebenezer and Prudence
(Chase) Sargent, the youngest of ten children, was born in New
London August 23, 1816. The father was a poor farmer and the
children had early in life to strike out for themselves. He
worked upon his father's farm until he was seventeen. This
was in 1833. His desire for knowledge grew upon him, and he
arranged with his father that the remaining four years of his
minority should be his own, to board by teaching school and any
other labor that would pay, and clothe himself and call for
nothing more from his father.
Mr. Sargent first came to Canaan as a teacher in Noyes Acad-
emy in 1838. He was the last teacher in the old building and
the first in the new Canaan Union Academy. He was then an
undergraduate at Dartmouth College of the class of 1840. At
the opening term of this school there were 123 pupils. The fol-
lowing is in Mr. Sargent's own language:
I first went to Canaan in Septeml>ei-, 1838, and taught that fall iu the
old academy building, Mr. Hol>art, a classTnate of mine, teaching in a
hall at the north end of the Street the same term. I also taught in
the old Academy the next winter. Three months after my return to
Hanover, the latter part of February, 1839, the old academy building
burned. A Mr. James Richardson, another classmate of mine, taught
school during the spring term of 1839 in Martin's Hall, over the store
of E. & .J. Martin, at the south end of the Street, and during that spring
and summer the new academy building was erected and was in readi-
ness the first of September. I was employed to teach the fii'st term
at $40 per month for three months. I returned to Hanover that winter
and remained till Commencement, 1840.
Mr. Sargent then entered the law^ office of Mr. Weeks and re-
mained there until 1841, when he went South and taught there
, Lawyers. 333
until the summer of 1842; then he returned to Canaan and
formed a partnership with Mr. Weeks. He had been admitted
to the bar in Washington. D. C. in April, 1842. In July, 1843,
he was admitted to the bar of Sullivan County. During the
season of 1843 he built the house now occupied by George E.
Cobb, married ^Nliss ]Mary C. Jones, daughter of John Jones of
Enfield, and moved into the new house on Thanksgiving Day of
that year. Here he lived until the summer of 1847, in partner-
ship with Mr. Weeks. In a letter to me he says: "I recollect
very well the first case I ever tried. It was in ]\Ir. Weeks ' office,
before Eleazer Martin as justice. It was a complaint for assault
and battery by a jNIr. Sanborn against a Mr. Whittier. They
lived at what is now East Canaan, not far from where the depot
stands. It was before the railroad was built. I appeared for
Sanborn, the plaintiff, and Mr. Kittredge appeared for the de-
fendant. I succeeded in getting the defendant fined $3 and
costs, which was a great success for my first effort. In the sum-
mer of 1847 I moved to Wentworth, where I lived and prac-
ticed law twenty-two years; since that time my residence has
been in Concord."
During his residence in Wentworth he achieved all the judi-
cial honors w^hich the state could confer. During his residence
in this town he was not unlike other young lawyers who have
started out in their life career with ambitions first to gain money
then to win honors. Lawyers are not much different from other
classes of money-getters, except in the value they put upon their
services. With them the making of the fee bill is reduced to an
exact science, and the facility with which his work is itemized
proves that in the study of the law this department of jurispru-
dence is seldom overlooked. He had a proficient teacher, and he
was too apt a pupil not to take advantage of all his opportun-
ities. He taught school here; he studied law here; be built a
house and married here ; he was an active politician and as such
became postmaster, and he took a deep personal interest in the
success of his party, which being the only party which could
point a moral in its platform, was always to be successful. It
seems here that wealth and its comforts began to pile up around
him, but the blushing honors which he sought did not envelop
him until after his departure, and then he had his fill, — a pleas-
ant neighbor and intelligent gentleman.
334 History of Canaan. •
In 1844 he was appointed solicitor of Grafton County. He
Avas sent as representative from Went worth in 1851, 1852 and
1853, and the last year was speaker of the House. He was
translated to the Senate and became its president in 1854. In
1855 the Know-nothings swept the state like a cyclone, and
every Democrat was swept overboard in the whirl. The same
year Governor ]\Ietcalf generously offered him a seat on the
bench of the court of common pleas. He held this office four
years, when his court was abolished and he was translated to
the bench of the Supreme Court, and became chief justice in
1873. In 1874 the Democrats elected the Legislature and that
court was immediately abolished for the benefit of the party.
Mr. Sargent then became simply an attorney, in partnership
with William M. Chase of Concord. He held various other of-
fices and trusts, and among them he worked up through all the
secret mysteries of INIasonry and was elected grand master of
]\Iasons in New Hampshire, a position as honorable, as exalted
and desirable as any other he ever held. Then he retired from
active business, and sat serenely back to enjoy the comforts and
honors which long years of economy and study had showered
upon him. a beneficent, courteous old gentleman, the most dis-
tinguished of all the great names which Canaan has furnished
to adorn the bar of the state.
George W. Murray, son of John and Ruhannah (Wells) ]\Iur-
ray, w-as born in Hill. July 31, 1830. He was educated at
Andover Academy, taught school in Bristol and Wilmot; read
law in the office of Xesmith and Pike at Franklin, and was ad-
mitted to the bar at the April term at Concord in 1855. In the
same year he opened an office at East Canaan, being led to
Canaan because of the appointment of ]Mr. Kittredge to the
court of common pleas, thereby removing the most prominent
laA\yer in town at that time. That village grew up around him
and during his thirty-five years' practice he won an enviable
reputation as a sound lawyer. In 1857 he married Jeanette F.
Barnes of East Lebanon, and six children were born to them.
His advice and assistance was sought by all who could afford his
charges, because it was believed his opinions were founded upon
an absolute knowledge of the law. Like William P. Weeks, he
became a sort of banker in the town, loaning much money to
those who had security.
Lawyers. 335
He was a Democrat until Fremont's campaign in 1856 and
ever afterwards was a Republican. He served two terms in the
Legislature, but although many men were his debtors whom he
had helped out in tight places, he was not popular among the
voters. He rarely sought office, knowing that the prejudice
against a man with a little money was not favorable to political
advancement unless some of that money was used. ]\Ir. jMurray
was a ^Methodist and the most generous contributor to the sup-
port of that church at East Canaan. He was liberal in many
ways where he saw that it was for the benefit of the town, but
more particularly for his own village; his love for that led him
at times to oppose everything that seemed to be for the benefit
of any other part of the town. It is said of him that he has been
the only lawyer in the state of Ne\\' Hampshire who acquired as
large a fortune by the practice of the law solely. His business
transactions, however, always netted him a profit. Very careful,
he never loaned money unless he knew where he was to get it
back ; this also made him enemies, for there are plenty of people
who remain one's friends until they borrow money of you. then
upon the first demand to pay they become more bitter enemies
than they were friends. As has been said, "if you loan your
friend money you will lose your money as well as your friend."
He died January 5. 1900.
Joseph D. Weeks, son of William P. Weeks, was born October
27. 1837, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1861. studied
law ^\ith Daniel ]M. Christie of Dover with whom he practised
for a short time ; was admitted to the bar in 1864. At the request
of his father he returned home, and was a resident in Canaan
all the rest of his life. It was hinted at the time that the real
reason for his being called home, was that his intercourse ^^'ith
the loyal men of Dover begat a desire to enlist in the Union
army, but his father used such arguments as induced him to
abandon his design, and he was discharged. He was a \'ictim of
the draft of '63 but paid John ]\Ioriarty $300 to go as his sub-
stitute. In the years of his practice here he ever manifested a
disposition to bestow favors upon friends and other needy per-
sons. He entered with enthusiasm into all schemes for the suc-
cess of the Democracy, to which he bore unswerving allegiance.
His legal attainments, although not profound, were equal to all
his needs. And he devoted more time to cattle, horses and farm-
336 History op Canaan.
ing than to books. He was generous and friendly and was never
charged with oppressing any poor wretch who happened to fall
into the fangs of the law. This trait gave him great power in
politics and he seldom met with defeat. Three times he was sent
as representative from this town, in 1869, 1870 and 1880, and
twice to the Senate, in 1875 and 1878. It was in the latter role
that he distinguished himself under the Weston regime, by plant-
ing old John Proctor in Natt Head's seat, thereby making that
body Democratic to the great disgust of the Republicans, who
called it a fraud, and perhaps it was, but his party liked him
all the better for it.
He was quite regular in attendance on ]\Iethodist preaching
and often held a handkerchief to his eyes — to protect them from
strong rays of light. He claimed that his attendance upon Sun-
day service was to set a good example; it was not often that he
could repeat the text, or the substance of the preacher's remarks
unless he involved himself in natural history. He w^as a liberal
contributor to the church and paid it in such a free manner as
to make one think it was doing him a favor in accepting it.
Either as a lawyer or as a man, he was large of heart, sympathetic
and friendly. He was very genial and entered heartily into all
schemes to ' ' drive dull care away. ' '
He contriluited Avillingly to everything that in any way af-
fected the Street, not only in money, but with his intluence.
Every^ one called him "Joe." A good story-teller, and the story-
lost nothing in the telling if it could be made better by any addi-
tions. He never married, but was often suspected of having
tender sentiments. It is not too much to assert that no man in
Canaan ever won a stronger grip upon the respect and esteem
of our people than he. With education and wealth, both of
which give men high standing, the uses he made of these gifts
won the hearts of men. Seldom a man applied to him in vain
for help financially or otherwise. He lived among the people
on the Street fifty-three years and died of apoplexy December
1, 1890.
William B. Weeks, a brother of Joseph D. Weeks, was born
in 1839 ; educated in Canaan Union Academy, and graduated
from Dartmouth College in 1861, read law \Wth his father, and
was admitted to the bar; practised in Canaan a short time and
Lawyers. 337
then emigrated to West Virginia, with the intention of making
a home there, but the war was raging everywhere and northern
men were not welcome. The people were not at all friendly and
in a few months he wandered back to his native hills, and became
an attorney in Lebanon, where he continued to reside. He
married Miss Henrietta Bridgeman of Hanover in 1866.
Isaac Newton Blodgett was the son of Caleb and Charlotte
(Piper) Blodgett. Caleb Blodget was born in Hudson in 1793,
and moved from Dorchester to Canaan in 1833, and for a time
lived in the old house torn down by 0. H. Perry across the
Street from H. P. Burleigh's, where Isaac was born March 6,
1838. Caleb Blodgett was sheriff of Grafton County for many
vears, a clear-headed man whose advice was worth attention.
He represented Canaan in the Legislature of 18-11 and 1842,
was a selectman from 1838 to 1811 and in 1849. He died Octo-
ber 5, 1872. Isaac N. was educated in Canaan Union Academy
and was tutored for a time by his brother Caleb, at Leominster,
Mass. ; read law in the office of William P. Weeks and Anson
S. Marshall, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1861. On
May 24, 1861, he married Sarah A., daughter of Rev. Moses and
Cynthia (Locke) Gerould of Canaan. For six months after the
date of his admission to the bar he was a partner with Mr.
Weeks, when he bought out the business and continued to prac-
tice in the same office until 1867. The building stood until the
winter of 1906 just south of Miss Emma Bell's and was moved
by H. P. Burleigh to be used by him for a carpenter's shop. In
1867, receiving an offer of partnership from Hon. Austin F.
Pike of Franklin, he moved there, and under the firm name of
Pike & Blodgett continued the practice of the law until 1878,
when on November 19th he was appointed associate justice of
the Supreme Court. On August 18, 1898, he became chief
justice and held that position until his resignation in 1901. He
Avas always a politician and a Democrat. He represented Frank-
lin in the Legislature in 1871, '73, '74 and '78 ; was a member
of the state Senate in 1879 and 1880 ; and of the Constitutional
Convention of 1876, 1889 and 1903. He was chairman of the
Democratic committee in the disastrous campaign of 1875, w^hen
the Senate "fraud" in favor of old John Proctor of 1874 re-
acted upon his labors and all the bright dreams of his party
22
338 History of Canaan.
vanished into thin air. He was several years town treasurer of
Franklin and proved himself a successful financier. He was
successful as a lawyer and the conduct of his cases won for him
respect and esteem from all parties. After retiring from the
bench it was his wish to pass the remainder of his life in the
quiet enjoyment of his last days. He did not wish to die in the
harness, like his brother Caleb. But his fellow citizens would
not leave him alone. He served two terms as mayor of Franklin
without opposition, and he was called in consultation and as
counsel by the brother members of his profession. He died at
his home in Franklin, November 27, 1905.
Frank Dunklee Currier, son of Horace S. and Emma (Plas-
tridge) Currier, was born in Canaan October 30, 1853 ; read
law with Mr. Pike of Franklin and was admitted to the bar at
Concord in April, 1874; spent one year with Mr. Murray at
East Canaan, and then opened an office for himself in the same
place. At the start he was fortunate in having a friend in Mr.
Murray, who being ill was advised to take a two years' vacation
from business. He turned many of his clients over to his young
friend. Before entering seriously upon the labors of his pro-
fession, he took a look at the marvels and natural wonders of
the country to the Pacific, including the mountain region. He
was studious and energetic and managed his cases with a skill
that gave him good standing as a lawyer, and his conduct was
such as to give his friends confidence in his future success ; but
his ambitions lay in politics ; its fascinations were more attractive
than the abstruse themes of law. There was a Greenback craze
and he was seized with it and was only rescued from being
swallowed up in its vortex by a promise from his friends that
he should be sent to Concord. He went to Concord one term,
in 1879, and like other young men became conspicuous for much
speaking. His ambition was to be conversant with all subjects,
wise or otherwise. He asked for another trip to Concord, but
the favor of the people was always uncertain; a breath of air,
or a five-dollar bill has made and unmade many a reputation;
he was defeated, but not discouraged. He still believed in po-
litical advancement, but had lost some confidence in popular
favor ; the same man is not always the favorite. Heroes of today
are often laid upon the shelf tomorrow. He was secre-
tary of the Republican State Committee from 1882 to 1890.
Lawyers. 339
His quick memory, wit and knowledge of men and localities was
of great ser\-ice in closing out the campaign. He was clerk of
the New Hampshire Senate from 1883 to 1887, exhibiting an
active intelligence and knowledge of legislative matters that
greatly facilitated business and gave him favor among the
senators; was delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1884. He was elected senator in 1886 and was the president
of that body; was naval officer at the port of Boston from 1890
to 1894. He was elected again in 1898 to the House of Repre-
sentatives and was chosen speaker of that body. In 1901 Dart-
mouth College gave him the honorary degree of A. ]\I. He was
elected congressman from the Second District to the Fifty-
Seventh. Firty-Eighth. Fifty-Ninth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-First
Congresses. As a presiding officer his ability is recognized by
the speaker of the House, who calls him oftener to the chair than
any other congressman.
Irving C. George, son of Henry C. and Eleanor H. George, was
born in Canaan in 1855 ; was educated at Canaan, Tilton and
Meriden; read law with Mr. Mugridge of Concord; was ad-
mitted to the bar at Plymouth in November, 1877, and located
at Ne^^Tnarket. He married at Newmarket, in 1878, ]\Iiss Nellie
A. Palmer, and had six children. At the request of his father
he returned to Canaan and opened an office here ; upon the death
of his father he returned to Newmarket, where he now is.
Joseph Clement Story, son of Otis J. and Harriet (Clement)
Story, was born August 20. 1855. His education was obtained
from the schools of this town, Kimball Union Academy and
Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts. He taught school
at Canaan in the old academy on the Street, in 1876 ; his rule
was strict, his ruler was stricter and many of us can remember
being obliged to stand on the tops of the desks when we did not
have our grammar lesson, or helping one another to hold a slab
or a book at arm's length in the middle of the floor, when some
of us did not return at recess or when the bell rang. He studied
law in the office of George W. Murray, Pike & Blodgett at
Franklin and E. B. S. Sanborn of Franklin; he attended Boston
University Law School in 1879, and was admitted to the bar of
this state in 1880 ; commenced the practice of law at Wentworth
in 1880, where he remained for three years, when he went to
Plymouth, where he ' continued the practice of his profession.
y
340 History of Canaan.
He married in March. 1881, Helen Smith. He died January 27,
1895, in Burlington. Vt.
William A. Flanders, son of Sylvester and Lois Flanders,
born in Canaan. February 26. 1835 ; educated at Canaan Union
Academy; read law in the office of G. W. ^lurray. and at that
time was a much better scholar than his teacher ; admitted to the
bar in 1861 and opened an office in Wentworth. where he was
not successful. He was a famous mathematician, good memory,
well stored with knowledge, but his wisdom was all vanity. — one
of those unfortunates who for lack of good ad^^ce fall by the
wayside and are lost in the rubbish that falls over them. In
1866 he married Miss Angelina ]\I.. daughter of Prescott Clark
of Canaan. He died in Wentworth in July. 1909.
Caleb Blodgett. elder brother of Isaac N. Blodgett. was born
in Dorchester on June 3, 1832. He came to Canaan in 1833 ^\-ith
his parents; he was educated at Canaan Union Academy, and
was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1856.
After graduation he taught in Leominster. ]\Iass.. \\-ith
the intention of making this his life work, but after a
few years he became tired of it and returned to Canaan,
where he began the study of law. He completed his studies in
the office of Barton & Bacon in Worcester. Mass., where he opened
an office. He also practised in Stoughton. Mass.. and in 1860
opened an office in Boston, Mass.. where he practised success-
fully twenty years. In 1882 Governor Long appointed him to
the bench of the Superior Court. Governor Russell otfered him
a place on the bench of the Supreme Court, which he refused,
believing that his health and ability were better fitted for the
trial and decision of jury cases, in which he held a unique posi-
tion. Not a jury la^vyer during his practice, when elevated to
the bench where those cases were the principal ones tried, he
became and was recognized as the ablest trier of civil cases with
a jury on the bench. He married ]\Iiss Roxalina B. ]\Iartin.
daughter of Jesse Martin of Canaan in 1866. Owing to failing
health, he resigned from the bench September 1. 1900. and died
on December 11. 1901. at his residence on Canaan Street, where
he had spent his summers for many years. His love for his
native village was great; no suggestions were ever made to him
for its benefit but he was always ready to contribute, not only
Lawyers. 341
with money, but with his personal presence. His generosity
towards the Street is proverbial; he was ready at all times to
make up any deficiency. * ' If you want any more, come to me, ' '
I have heard him say many times. He took great pleasure in
books in his library, which he had built just before his death on
the north end of his barn.
Frank B. Clark, son of Henry W. and Emily E. (Rowe)
Clark, was born in Enfield September 30, 1873. His education
was obtained from the Enfield High School and a three years'
course at the New Hampshire State College, after which he
taught school, and in September, 1896, began the study of law
in the office of Charles A. Dole at Lebanon ; was admitted to the
bar in July, 1899; he came to Canaan September 15, 1899, and
has continued the practice of the law here since that time. He
was married September 15, 1897, to Bernice E. Trescott, daugh-
ter of James A. and Abbie E. (Lamphiere) Trescott; she was
born in Lyme, May 3, 1870. They have four children, Hugh
T., bom in Hanover, Augiist 1, 1899 ; Earl L., born in Canaan
April 26, 1901 ; Frank K., bom May 1, 1905 ; Bernice P. A., bom
July 29, 1909. Mr. Clark has been a member of the school board
of the High School District for five years, and tax collector for
1909 and 1910.
James Burns Wallace, son of William Allen and Mary (Cur-
rier) Wallace, was bom in Canaan August 14, 1866 ; was edu-
cated in the district schools of the town, Canaan Union Academy,
Hanover High School, New Hampshire Agricultural College;
from 1881-82, St. Johnsbury Academy, graduating in the class
of 1883 ; then entered Dartmouth College and graduated from
the academic department in the class of 1887; taught one term
of school on the Street in the winter of 1885 ; went to New York
City in the fall of 1887, and for thirteen years was an instructor
in mathematics in Cooper Union ; was employed in the Seventh
National Bank, and in the Bank of the State of New York until
August, 1888. when at the instance of his cousin, William J.
Wallace, presiding judge of the United States Court of Appeals,
entered Columbia Law School in the fall of 1888. He studied
there two years, and the last year was in the law office of Tracy,
McFarland, Ivins & Piatt ; was admitted to the bar in New York
County in November, 1890, and continued in the practice of the
342 History of Canaan.
law in that city until 1905, when he removed permanently to
Canaan. In 1900 was admitted to practice in the courts of New
Hampshire, and although never having hung up any shingle,
does not refuse. to practice his profession. He married Decem-
ber 22, 1889, Alice Hutchinson, daughter of Lucius B. and Alice
M. (Rollins) Hutchinson of New York City. He has been trus-
tee of the town library since 1907; was a member of the town
school board in 1907 and 1908 ; representative to the General
Court in 1909, and was chairman of the committee on liquor
laws and a member of the committee on revision of statutes;
was appointed justice of the police court June 19, 1907. Mr.
Wallace is a thirty-second degree Mason, with membership in
Summit Lodge of Canaan; St. Andrew's Chapter, and Washing-
ton Council at Lebanon ; Sullivan Commandery at Claremont,
and the New Hampshire Consistory at Nashua ; he is also a mem-
ber of Kimball Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Lebanon,
and a noble of Bektash Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Concord.
CHAPTER XXI.
Soldiers.
Canaan ought to be a loyal and patriotic town. It has been
largely fertilized with the remains of patriotic men. In all her
graveyards repose the dust of those who in the gloom of the un-
certain result of the Revolution, enlisted in the three New Hamp-
shire regiments and went forth from pleasant homes to fight
and win liberty and independence for themselves and the un-
born millions with whom their most prophetic visions would
never have dared to people this great country. They went
forth cheerfully, supplying their own necessities. It is a list to
be proud of and each one of them is deserving of more honor
than we are able to bestow. Their example and habits of
thought doubtless did much towards forming the character of
our people. As citizens, they are known to have been law-abid-
ing, and to have exercised a powerful influence for good morals.
They were not educated men, but they were reverently religious
and were constant attendants upon the service of God. The re-
mains of forty-three of these soldiers lie buried in Canaan;
some of the graves are marked by stones and many of them
rest in unmarked graves and their ashes mingle with the com-
mon soil of the town.
Thomas Baldwin, died in Waterville, Me., and was buried in
Boston, Mass. Joseph Wheat, Joshua Richardson, John I\Iay,
Reynolds Gates, Robert Martin, Salmon Cobb, Eliphalet Rich-
ardson, Enoch Richardson and Ezra Nichols, were buried in the
Street Cemetery; the last two have no headstones, but Enoch
Richardson is undoubtedly buried beside his wife. Daniel Blais-
dell, John Worth, Daniel Colby, Henry Springer, Ezekiel Wells,
Jonathan Dustin, David Dustin, Josiah Clark, Joshua Wells,
Jonathan B. Cross, Richard Whittier and Robert Barber, lie
buried in the Wells Cemetery ; the grave of the last is not
marked by any stone, and the headstone of Ezekiel Wells is not
over his grave. Warren Wilson, Samuel Meacham and Richard
Otis lie in the Cemetery at West Canaan. William, John and
344
History of Canaax.
Moses Richardson, brothers, Nathaniel Bartlett, Moses Sawyer,
Daniel Kimball, Mathew Greeley and James Woodbury, lie in
the cemetery on Sawyer Hill. William Longfellow and Abra-
ham Knowlton (Mrs. Knowlton died in Pembroke) lie buried
on West Farms. Thomas Miner lies in the Cobble Cemetery.
From the recollections of men who were contempory with
many of these veterans, valuable information was obtained;
from Charles W. Richardson, son of Joshua ; George Harris and
Mrs. Harris, a daughter of one of them; from Joseph Dustin
— of the War of 1812, son of one and grandson of another;
from Jacob Richardson, son of William, an officer; and from
Jacob Trussell, whose memory was very retentive up to the day
of his death, at the great age of ninety-one years and eleven
months.
The names of these soldiers are given below:
Elisha Bingham
Daniel Blaisdell
John Richardson
William Richardson
Joshua Richardson
Eliphalet Richardson
Enoch Richardson
Ezra Nichols
William Longfellow
Moses Sawyer
Warren Wilson
Caleb Welch
Richard Otis
John Worth
Beuoni Tucker
William Ayer
John Beedle
Daniel Colby
Robert Martin
Robert Hoyt
Henry Springer
John Follensbee
Samuel Jones
Daniel Kimball
Gideon Rudd
Thomas Miner
John Scofield, Jr.
Jeremiah Meacham
Benjamin Robert Birts
Asa Kilburn
Richard Clark
Parrott Blaisdell
Joshua Wells
Abraham Knowlton
Joshua Springer
Samuel Meacham
Josiah Clark
Joshua Harris
Mathew Greeley
Jonathan Dustin
John May
Robert Barber
Ezekiel Gardner
Samuel Lathrop
Nathan Follensbee
John Hoyt
Samuel Hinkson
Joseph Walters
John Bartlett
Jehu Jones
Caleb Welch, Jr.
Samuel Gates
Francis Smith
Thomas Gates
Thomas Baxter
Asa Williams
James Jones
Jedidiah Hibbard
Soldiers. 345
Thomas Baldwiu Jacob Clifford
Mesheck Blake Nathan Durkee
Nathau Springer Daniel Hovey
Reynold Gates Richard Whittier
James Woodbury Jonathan B. Cross
Joseph Wheat Jonathan Lock
Salmon Cobb Theophilus Currier
David Dustin Daniel Parker
Ezekiel Wells Moses Richardson
Nathaniel Bartlett
Parrott Blaisdell and Joshua Springer were mustered out in
Vermont; Nathan Follensbee lies in Enfield, while his brother
Jolm (who a hundred j^ears ago lived on the Howard farm),
Mescheck Blake. Robert Hoyt, and John Beedle, have passed
beyond recognition and their names only are known.
In 1780 twenty men of Canaan marched to Rutland and
Royalton, Vt., under the command of Capt. Joshua "Wells, and
then marched back again. The enemy did not wait for them,
but they came back greatly exasperated against their captain,
whom they charged with being ig-norant of his duties and very
overbearing, giving many vexatious orders for the purpose of
exercising his authority. The following is a pay roll made for
part of Capt. Joshua Wells' Company in Col. Chase's Regiment
of Militia, who were called forth in an alarm October 20, A. D.
1780:
A Pay Roll Made for Part of Capt Joshua Wellse's Company in Col
Chases Regiment of Militia who were Called forth in an Alarm Oct
20 A D 1780
Days Milds
out. travel.
Capt Joshua Wells 9 90 Nathaniel Bartlett
Lt Saml Jones 9 90 Caleb Welch Jr
Ensgn Thomas Baldwin 9 90 Jonathan Sprague
Sergt Caleb Welch 9 90 Daniel Blaisdell
Samuel Hinkson Private 9 90 Thos Miner
John Scofield Junr 4 30 Sami Gates
Jehu Jones 9 90 Ezek Gardner
Samuel Meacham 9 90 Benj Robert Birts
Robert Barber 9 90 Joshua Harris
John Bartlett 9 74 Francis Smith
N. B. Thirty Mild allowetl out of said Travail on account of Draw-
ing Provisions on the way for a distance of Thirty Milds.
A true Return Errors Excepted, Signed in behalf of the Company
Canaan Deer 15 A D 1783
Joshua Wells Capn
Days
out.
9
Milds
travel
74
9
74
9
90
9
90
9
90
9
90
9
90
4
30
9
90
9
90
346 History of Canaan.
Thomas Baldwin came home an ensign, Samuel Jones a lieu-
tenant, Caleb Welch a sergeant, and Thomas ]\Iiner was after-
wards called " lef tenant. " Thomas Miner was in Captain Rus-
sell 's Rangers in 1776 ; sergeant in Colonel Chase 's Regiment at
Saratoga in 1777. and one of the scouts mentioned in the fol-
lowing :
To the Hon the General Court of the State of Xeio Hampshire —
The Petition of the Town of Canaan Humbly Sheweth that we the
inhabitants of Said Town the Summer past Conceived our Selves in
Danger From the Canadain and other Savages (our Fi-ontier being in
great measure Neglected) and therefor by a vote of the Town Did agree
to Raise and pay Three men for Six months to Scout and Guard &c
to which men we have paid and are obligated to pay ten pounds Each —
the men were raised by no order nor by the authority of No State but
only by the vote of the Town — Altho they went into a Regiment
Raised by The authority of Vermont but Should your honors think
they Rendered any Service to This or the United States your Petitioners
pray that their Money Paid sii Soldiers may be Reimbursted them or
abated on thier Taxes. All which is Humbly Submitted and your
Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever Pray &c
Thomas Baldwin 1 Come in hehalf
Wii Ayeb f of Said Totmi
Canaan State of New Hampshibe June 8th 1782.
(Reed and ordered to lay)
Abraham Knowlton was in Captain Lunt's Company, Colonel
Little's Regiment, in Massachusetts and was at Bunker Hill.
Early in 1776 he enlisted in the naval service and made one
cruise under Captain Williams. In the latter part of the year
he enlisted under Captain Skinner and made two cruises on the
schooner Lee. On the last cruise he was captured, carried to
Halifax, imprisoned a year, then impressed on the British ship
of war Culloden, and sailed for Wales, where he was taken sick,
was taken ashore and detained as a prisoner until the close of
the war.
The following anecdotes are told of Enoch Richardson by
the Rev. Charles W. Richardson: "He was. perhaps as daring
and persevering a patriot and soldier as has been found in any
war. When quite young, at the battle of Bunker Hill, he was
one of the bravest. He said many soldiers would say they did
not know that they ever killed one of the enemy, but said he :
'I know that I killed one at Bunker Hill. I was one of the last
Soldiers. 347
who left the breast works when our ammunition failed. I had
put my last charge in my gun, and attempted to fire it, but my
gun. an old-fashioned flint-lock, missed fire; snapping two or
three times. I dropped on my knees behind the breast works,
catching out my jack-knife and picking the flint with it, by
which time the soldiers near me had all retreated. At that in-
stant a red-coat soldier, who had run forward of the British ad-
vancing column, came up to the breast work and thrust his gun
and bayonet over at me, exclaiming: "D n you! now I've
got you ! " I struck his gun aside, springing on my feet and fired
my gun, the muzzle touching his body, making a hole through
him, I should judge, as large as my arm. As my last charge
was gone and my gun old, I jumped over and seized the dead
man's gun and cartridge box, sprang back and loaded and fired
his few remaining cartridges, sending his British bullets among
the British as they advanced, and then I turned and retreated.'
This same Enoch Richardson was one of the soldiers who went
in that daring expedition up the Kennebec River, and through
the awful, woeful forest to Quebec. He was one who entered the
city, but as it became necessarv' to escape immediately, he
jumped down about eighteen feet, where his fall was broken by
about three feet of snow and made his escape, and after a long
time made his way back to his home after great hardship and
suffering. When he was a soldier at Ticonderoga, the time of his
enlistment, and of two of his brothers and some of their old
neighbors expired a very short time before the taking of Bur-
goyne's Army. They came home across Vermont by hilly and
rough roads without shoes, and begged what food they had by
the way, as their money was worthless. They arrived home weary
and destitute. Three days after their arrival a recruiting officer
came for volunteers to hasten to Ticonderoga, as there was a
prospect of capturing Burgoyne's whole army. This Enoch
Richardson put down his name, turned around and walked di-
rectly back over those hard and hilly roads and was there at
the surrender of Burgoyne's Army. Few soldiers ever had such
courage and perseverance as Enoch Richardson, whose remains
are in Canaan Broad Street Cemetery. I have often, when a
child, listened with, as it were, a breathless attention to anecdotes
of that war by my father Joshua, who was one of the army who
348 History of Canaan.
were successful in driving the British out of Boston. He said
that just previous to the cessation of hostilities, and the agree-
ment to evacuate Boston, our army threw shells into the town
for three nights in succession, and that from the hill they oc-
cupied, Copp's Hill, he could hear the rip and tear of the roofs
of the buildings as those shells entered. The last evening of the
time the British were allowed in which to get on board their
fleet and depart was a busy, noisy night in Boston. He said that
he and many of the soldiers remained up and listened all night
to the rattle of wheels on the pavements, to the voices of men
and women, to the barking of dogs, etc., two miles distant, as
the air was favorable to make the sounds distinct. It was a
kind of music under the circumstances which pleased our soldiers
well.
"He used often to tell of toils and hardships and sufferings
at or near Ticonderoga. He was with our army in its retreat
some time previous to the surrender of Burgoyne. The British
were successful in fortifying a high eminence, where they could
play upon a portion of our army without any danger of being
reached in return. Our troops were under the necessity of leav-
ing in great haste, and were pursued some distance and annoyed
by the enemy. Men were frequently killed and wounded by
cannon shots. While on the march one soldier, marching at his
side, was shot through the body by a cannon ball and pitched
against him as he fell, pushing him out of the ranks. They were
under the necessity of passing through a considerable forest to
reach a place where they could obtain food and rest. This forest
was infested by Indians, in what numbers they did not know,
and this part of the army was under the necessity of scattering
and getting through the woods as best they could. He was in
the rear and after they got into the woods and night was ap-
proaching, he and a few with him, found a soldier who had .just
been killed and scalped by an Indian. It soon became dark;
they lost their small path and not agreeing in their opinions,
which way the path was, they became separated and my father
found himself alone hunting for the path in perfect darkness.
He got down and crept on his hands and knees, feeling for the
foot-path and immediately caught hold of a man's leg. He and
the other were both frightened, thinking of the Indians in the
Soldiers. 349
woods but lie soon learned that the man he had found was his
brother, John Eichardson. He told him to stay where he was
till he crept on and found the path which he believed was near.
He soon found it and called softly to his brother and they felt
their way along together, until the path led them out into a small
low meadow. At lenglh the path seemed to be gone, and he
being forward, suddenly stepped off into a creek of deep mud
with a little water, falling on the breech end of Ms gun and
driving it down, muzzle foremost the whole length into the mud.
He clambered out with the assistance of his brother, being care-
ful to save his gun and they traveled up the creek until they
felt out a place where they could get across. They soon saw a
light up on higher ground and carefully picked their way tjll
they arrived at the place where there was a house and barn
filled with soldiers who had arrived there and were packed close
in almost every place where a man could lie down for rest imder
shelter; and none of them had any food that day unless it was
some small and hasty lunch in the morning as they were starting.
But he said there was an officer and assistant there with a light
beside of a cask of good wine, which they had obtained and they
told him and his brother that it was the rule for each one as he
arrived to drink a pint of wine, which they did, and find the
best place they could and lie down. The house was full and
the barn also. In the house his brother crowded down between
two soldiers. He could find no place for a time, but at length
he discovered some low shelves, far enough apart so that a man
could crowd in between them, but not long enough for him to
straighten himself in. He crowded himself in between two of
these shelves ^^'ith his feet drawn up considerably and lay until
his limbs began to ache from contraction and then he crept out
and got his feet down on the floor between some of the men and
stood a short time, and then crawled in between the shelves
again. He passed the night without any sleep. By morning
some provisions had been obtained, though they were then poorly
supplied, and soon after they reached Fort Edward. ' '
Enoch and his brother were stationed at Newcastle for three
months, in November. 1776, Enoch was a corporal there and at
Saratoga. He was sergeant in the Rhode Island campaign from
March, 1778, to January, 1779. John was stationed at Great
350 History of Canaan.
Island in November, 1775, and was also at Saratoga and Rhode
Island. On the evening of May 2, 1777, dispatches were received
by the Committee of Safety of this state, informing them that
the garrison at Ticonderoga was threatened with capture by the
enemy, and urging immediate reinforcements to that important
post. The matter was considered by the committee and on the
following day the chairman, Hon. Josiah Bartlett, dispatched
messengers to Colonels Ashley of Winchester, Benjamin Bellows
of Walpole, and Jonathan Chase of Cornish, entreating them
"by all that is sacred to raise as many of your militia as possible
and march them to Ticonderoga." In accordance with that re-
quest. Colonel Ashley marched with 109 men, Colonel Bellows
with 112, Colonel Chase with 159, and Capt. Josiah Brown with
fifty-four men from Col. Enoch Hale's regiment.
In the pay roll of Colonel Chase's regiment are the names of
Ezekiel Wells and Daniel Kimball, sergeants ; James Jones, cor-
poral; William Richardson, xlsa Williams and Josiah Clark,
privates. These men were in the company commanded by
Joshua Hendee of Hanover. They marched to Ticonderoga INIay
7, 1777, 112 miles, and finding the alarm premature, were dis-
charged after service of forty days. For this service they re-
ceived eight pounds, six shillings.
The second alarm from Ticonderoga was more serious than
tlie first. Maj. Francis Smith of Plainfield took command of
Colonel Chase's regiment and marched to Ticonderoga on the
27tli of June and with him were the following men: Thomas
Baldwin, who was discharged an ensign after seven days' serv-
ice, and Corp. Thomas Grates. The latter was one of the
grantees in the charter. Jeremiah ]\Ieaeham and Asa Kilburn,
who served eight days each; Jedidiah Hibbard, William Rich-
ardson, John Scofield, Samuel Lathrop and Daniel Hovey. The
ferriage of 209 horses over the Connecticut River is put down
at two cents each, amounting to three pounds, nine shillings and
eight pence.
Ticonderoga was garrisoned by 3,000 men under General St.
Clair. General Burgoyne was approaching with an army of
8,000, and on the -Ith of July planted a battery on Mt. Defiance,
750 feet above the American works. St. Clair, seeing that re-
sistance would be hopeless, abandoned the fort on the night of
Soldiers. 351
July 5th and escaped with the garrison into Vermont. The
British pressed upon the fugitives and overtook them at Hub-
bardton, seventeen miles from the fort. Here a sharp engage-
ment ensued in which the Americans fought so obstinately as to
check the pursuit. We learn from Rev. Charles AV. Richardson's
tale that the brothers Enoch and John Richardson were there.
In September, 1777. there was a call for help from the army
of General Gates at Saratoga. Colonel Chase's regiment re-
sponded with enthusiasm; Joshua Wells was captain; Jedidiah
Hibbard, sergeant-major; John Scofield, Josiah Clark, Richard
Clark and Enoch Richardson were privates. These men are be-
lieved to have joined in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga.
On July 23, 1777, Capt. Joshua Hendee of Hanover, of Colonel
Hobart's regiment, with two-months men, marched to join Gen-
eral Stark's brigade. In this company were Sergeant Ezekiel
Wells and Privates Nathaniel Bartlett, Josiah Clark and Elisha
Bingham. Ezekiel Wells also served in the defense of Ports-
mouth two months from September 27, 1777. In Captain
Webster's company were John Hoyt, sergeant, and Robert Bar-
ber. Thomas Baxter, Ben Rob Birts, and Gideon Rudd were in
Captain House's company. Colonel Chase's regiment of Stark's
brigade, in September, 1777, from Canaan.
Among the absentees from Colonel Cilley's regiment at Valley
Forge, January, 1778, was Thomas Baxter, who was then thirty
years old, left sick at Albany in hospital. He enlisted in 1777
for three years under Colonel Chase. Birts was crippled in
his campaigns. He enlisted in 1777 for three years when twenty-
six years old. He returned to Canaan, where he had a
wife and child, and became a charge upon the town.
Gideon Rudd married Delight, eldest daughter of John
Scofield, the old settler, who "for divers good causes
me thereunto moving, but more so especially for the love and
good will I bear unto my well-beloved daughter Delight, wdfe of
Gideon Rudd, ' ' conveyed to her one hundred acres of land. Mv.
Rudd lived in Hanover afterwards, and his name is commem-
orated in the "Rudsboro Road." John Richardson served in
Rhode Island in August, 1778, under Captain Page of Colonel
Gates' regiment. In 1779 volunteers were slow in coming for-
ward. An earnest call was made for reinforcements. It was
352 History of Canaan,
not advisable to enforce a draft; Congress voted $200 and the
state $300, — $500 for recruits. William Ayer of Plaistow. after-
wards of Canaan, served in General Whipple's brigade in the
expedition to relieve Rhode Island in 1778. He was at Winter
Hill in Colonel Burnham's regiment as second lieutenant in
December, 1775. Nathaniel Bartlett was at Saratoga, was a
sergeant in Captain Runnell's company on the western frontier,
and served from Bunker Hill to 1780.
John Beedle was in Captain Osgood's company of rangers
and joined the Northern army in July, 1775; afterwards he
was in Captain Russell's company of rangers for service in New
Hampshire, then in Captain Richardson's company for the de-
fence of the frontier adjacent to the Connecticut River.
William Richardson was in the Revolution before he came to
Canaan. He was in Capt. Ezekiel Gile's company of Col.
Stephen Peabody's regiment, as second lieutenant; enlisted
January 1, 1778, for service in Rhode Island, and was dis-
charged January 6, 1779. He enlisted from Hampstead in
Hezekiah Hutchins' company of volunteers, as a corporal, and
marched from Hampstead to Saratoga in September, 1777. He
was appointed second lieutenant in the Rhode Island campaign
when he was thirty-two years old. He was at Bunker Hill and
Ticonderoga at every alarm. He died February 25, 1829, nearly
83 years old.
Daniel Blaisdell enlisted from Hopkinton in Captain Clem-
ent's company and served at Newcastle and was at Ticonderoga.
His brother, Parrott, M'as in Captain Marston's company and
marched to Rhode Island in June, 1778. He re-enlisted in Cap-
tain Downe's company and served up to January 1, 1779.
Elisha Bingham was in Captain Hendee's company for two
months and was at Stillwater as a corporal. Jonathan B. Cross
enlisted from Methuen, Mass. He resided in Enfield and was
town clerk of that town in 1784, but the pay rolls give him as
serving from Canaan.
Josiah Clark served at Fort Washington and Kittery Point
from November, 1775, to February. 1776. in Captain Salter's
company. He was at Ticonderoga, Bennington. Stillwater and
Saratoga. William Longfellow, said Abram L. Williams, was a
minuteman in 1775 at Bunker Hill, served under Moses Little,
was a sergeant on his second enlistment ; was in New York and
New Jersey in 1776, Trenton in 1777 ; the same year went pri-
Soldiers. 353
vateering with Paul Jones and was captured in August and
confined in England; was exchanged from Mill Prison. An-
other account told by one who heard him tell it. is. that he was
captured and imprisoned. A plan of escape was made to dig
underground. The dirt was to be carried out in the seats of their
pants and the man who could carry most was to get out first.
Longfellow was a very large man and weighed about three hun-
dred pounds. There was only one other man larger than he.
He was a very harsh and rough man and at the time of his
death, when sitting in a chair gasping for breath, with his wife
at his side feeding him medicine with a spoon, he said, "Faster,
faster, you old devil." He died half an hour afterwards. He
had an old straight sword four feet long which was sold after his
death.
Richard Clark w^as at Saratoga in Colonel Chase's regiment
in September, 1777. Daniel Colby served at Great Island in
Captain Downe's company in 1775.
Nathan Follensbee enlisted from Plaistow when seventeen
years old in 1779, and under Major Scott in 1781, was in Cap-
tain Webster's company.
IMathew Greeley enlisted from Salisbury in 1777 for three
years in Captain Morrill's Company, Colonel Scammell's regi-
ment. He served up to November, 1781. He fought with Wash-
ington, Gates and Greene ; was one of those who conveyed Major
Andre to Tappan and was at Stony Point under Clinton, when
they passed up the Hudson and marched weary and foot-sore
over the narrow defiles and ragged rocks under the guidance of
the negro Pompey. He would tell of the boy and his curious
antics.
Joshua Harris was at Ticonderoga in June, 1777.
Jedidiah Hibbard was at Ticonderoga and at Saratoga ; was a
sergeant-major.
James Jones enlisted from Lebanon; was at Bunker Hill and
Ticonderoga twice.
Samuel Jones was at Fort Washington in November, 1775 ;
joined the Northern Continental Army in 1776 and was an ap-
plicant for prize money at Portsmouth of the ship Prince
George. He signed a petition for more pay in 1777, on the
ground that "forty shillings was better when war began than
23
354 History of Canaan.
six poimdvS now." He was a second lieutenant at Tieonderoga
in October, 1776, and in July, 1780, was enlisted in the first
New Hampshire Regiment, and is described as being forty-eight
years old, five feet four inches tall and of dark complexion.
Daniel Kimball was a sergeant at Tieonderoga in 1776 ; was
at West Point in July, 1780, an ensign in Capt. Abel Stev-
ens' Company and adjutant and ensign on Colonel Xichol's
staff.
Robert Martin from June 26, 1777, to Januarj^ 7, 1778, was
a drummer with the troops at Rhode Island. He was at Mount
Independence at the surrender of Burgoyne, and for a time
was at Newcastle in Captain Calfe's Company in 1776, and from.
1785 to January 14, 1787.
Jeremiah Meacham joined the Northern Continental Army in
Captain Hay ward's Company in 1776; was at Tieonderoga from
October 28 to November 18. 1776, and in June, 1777.
Richard Otis was a corporal in Captain Canfield's Company
at Tieonderoga in June, 1777, and in July.
Eliphalet Richardson was at Saratoga in September, 1777, and
served also in the Rhode Island campaign in 1778.
Joshua Richardson served in the Rhode Island campaign.
Gideon Rudd was engaged in the New York service in 1779.
Moses Sawyer was at West Point in 1780 in Captain Butler's
Company with Jolui Hoyt. The latter was a sergeant at Ben-
nington and Stillwater and was at Saratoga.
'John Scofield, Jr.. was in Colonel Chase's Regiment at Tieon-
deroga in June, 1777, with Daniel Hovey, Ezekiel Gardner,
Jacob Clifford, Nathan Durkee and Samuel Lathrop. They were
also at Saratoga the September following.
Henry Springer was enlisted in Captain Stone's Company
from Haverhill, Mass., for three years in 1777, and in 1780 he
enlisted to 1781, in Captain Dennett's Company.
Benoni Tucker enlisted for the campaign in Canada in July,
1776.
Joseph Wheat was on the pay roll of Captain Everett's Com-
pany in 1776 ; he marched to reinforce the army in New York in
December and in April, 1777, was in Captain Walker's Com-
pany. At the alarm in June, 1777, from Tieonderoga, he was
in Captain Emmerson's Company. He was also in the same com-
Soldiers. 355
pany in Rhode Island in August, 1778. In June, 1779, he en-
listed for one year in Captain Hawkins' Company, which was
the Ninth Company of the Third New Hampshire Regiment. He
was corporal in Captain McGreggor's Company in April, 1780.
Asa Williams was at Ticonderoga in Colonel Chase's Regi-
ment in 1776 and again in June, 1777. He took up his resi-
dence in Enfield in 1779.
Warren Wilson was in Captain Sinclair's company at West
Point in 1780.
John Worth served in the Rhode Island campaign.
Joshua Wells was in Captain Dearborn's company August 1,
1775, and as captain with ten other Canaan men. Jedidiah
Hibbard, Thomas Miner, John Scofield, Jacob Clifford, Josiah
Clark, Richard Clark, Nathan Durkee, Samuel Lathrop, Ezekiel
Gardner and William Richardson marched to Saratoga in Sep-
tember, 1777, and joined General Gates. His brother, Ezekiel,
was at Ticonderoga in ]\Iay, 1777, and a sergeant in Captain
Hendee's company at Stillwater and in Captain Lovejoy's com-
pany in September, 1779. Richard Whittier was at Saratoga in
1777 as corporal, and was a sergeant in Captain Robinson's com-
pany' in the army in New York.
Robert Barber and Sergt. John Hoyt were in Capt. Ebenezer
Webster's company. Robert Barber was appointed an ensign
in the fourth company of the fourth regiment by Gov. John
Wentworth in 1770. On September 6, 1777, the following let-
ter was addressed to Capt. Robert Barber :
Sir, Agreeable to a request of Congress, and pursuant to order of the
Committee of Safety of this state. You are hereby required forthwith
to Draught or otherwise engage the one sixth part of your companies,
not already in the war, including the Alarm list that are fit to bear arms,
and able to march and perform their duty; to march from their homes
at the farthest by the 15th. of this month, September, and proceed to
Bennington and put themselves under the command of General Stark
or the commanding oflficer there, or thereabouts, to serve until the last
day of November next unless sooner Discharged. They are to be under
the officers of this Regiment. The officers to have the same wages as the
Continental Army and the soldiers $15.00 per month, and 3d per mile
for travel to Bennington one months pay to be advanced, every man
to equip himself with a good Firearm and also a Bayonet and Cartridge
box if possible. Given under my hand at Newmarket the day and year
above written.
James Hills Lent. Col.
356 History of Canaan.
The United States Pension Bureau has published a roll of
the Revolutionary War pensioners for 1834 and for 1840 :
List of the Pexsioxers ox the Records ix 1834.
Daniel Lary, private, Massacliusetts Continental line, died May 13,
1827, aged sixty-eight years.
William Longfellow, private, Massachusetts Continental line, died in
1834; was eighty-three years old.
Richard Otis, private, Connecticut Continental line, died in 1834;
was eighty-nine years old; transferred from Windham Co., Vt.
Eliphalet Richardson, private, Massachusetts Continental line, died
October 3, 1831, aged eighty years.
Enock Richardson, private. New Hampshire Continental line, sus-
pended act 1820, a^ed sixty-six; died, 1820.
Joseph Wheat, private. New Hampshire Continental line, suspended
act 1820, aged sixty.
James Woodbury, private, Massachusetts Continental line, suspended,
seventy-eight years old.
List of Revolutionaby Pexsioxebs and with Whom They Resided
June 1, 1840.
Bridget Wheat, age eighty-three; resided with Joseph Wheat.
Warren Wilson, age seventj'-seven ; resided with Joseph Wheat.
Elizabeth Currier, age seventy-four; resided with Theophilus Currier.
Josiah Clark, age eighty-two.
Nathaniel Bartlett, age eighty-three; resided with John Pressey.
Daniel Parker, age eighty-three.
Joshua Richardson, age eighty-two; resided with Joshua W. Rich-
ardson.
Daniel Colby, age eighty-seven; resided with Andrew Elliott.
Sarah Poland, age seventy-nine; resided with Elijah Gove.
Sarah Longfellow, age eighty-eight; resideil with Stephen Williams.
Lydia Whitney, age eighty-eight; resided with Isaac Whitney.
Daniel Kimball, age seventy-seven; resided with David Townsend.
Nathan Follensbee, seventy-eight, and Mathew Greeley, aged eighty,
are put down from Enfield.
Jonathan Locke was a recruit, as the following order shows :
Canaan Mar 13. 1790
To William Gardner Esq Treas, Pleas pay to Jehu Jones or bearer the
sum of twenty pounds with the interest due thereon being a Town
bounty paid by the Town of Canaan to one Jona Lock a Recruit in
1782.
Samuel Jones Wm Richardson Selectmen
To be allowed on M^ Jones tax for 1784.
Soldiers. 357
The ^Iilitla. After the Revolution.
The militia law passed in 1792 divided the militia of the state
into brigades, regiments and divisions. Each regiment was
divided into two battalions. The towns of Lebanon, Enfield,
Canaan and Grafton formed the first battalion of the Twenty-
Third Regiment; and the towns of Hanover. Lyme. Dorchester
and Orange the second battalion. In 1796 the office of major
of the first battalion is shown to be vacant by the adjutant-gen-
eral's report. In 1808 it is the same. There is no evidence that
any militia assembled for training in Canaan before 1808, but it
is probable they did. as a petition was presented to the president
and council in January, 1786, requesting the appointment of
Capt. Robert Barber for field officer, and intimating that Sam-
uel Jones, who wished for the position, was not desirable. Be-
fore 1792 this town was included in the Twenty-Fourth Regi-
ment. John Currier was commissioned lieutenant iu the fourth
company of the Twenty-Fourth Regiment on September 20,
1794. He was appointed captain in the same company, from
which he resigned in 1800.
In 1784 Samuel Jones was second major.
In the latter part of the year 1808 the Legislature passed a
new law, which led to a new arrangement of the militia of the
state. Free, able-bodied, male citizens, from sixteen to forty
years of age. were to be enrolled without exceptions; there
should be at least a company of light infantry or grenadiers to
each battalion; one cannon, with carriage, harness and ap-
paratus, should be furnished each company of artillery, also
music, money and a color. There should be no more than one
company of cavalry to each regiment; that these companies
should be furnished music, money and colors ; that each company
should turn out for inspection of arms and military exercise on
the last Wednesday of June, annually ; also annually in August
or September, and as often as the commanding officer should
think proper, not exceeding four times a year. Each regiment
should be called out annually during the months of September or
October; that suitable meats and drinks, or thirty-four cents
in lieu thereof, should be furnished each non-commissioned of-
ficer and private \Wthin the several towns and places on regi-
mental or battalion musters; that the captain-general appoint
358 History of Canaan.
as many aids as he thought proper, with the rank of lieutenant-
colonel ; that gun houses should be provided for the cannon at
the expense of the state ; that each town should be kept provided
with certain amounts of powder, balls, flints and camp-kettles.
The Adjutant-General's report for 1808 mentions the existence
of thirty-six regiments, and it would seem that there were no
companies training in Canaan recognized by the state. That
there were muster days is evident by the vote of the town in
August, 1808, which is the first vote on the records to refer to
the militia. The warrant contained an article, "to see if the
town will find non-commissioned officers refreshments on ]\Ius-
ter Day." The article was dismissed. It was customary on
muster days to drink as much rum as possible, and booths were
set up along Broad Street where the thirsty might obtain strong
drink. The selectmen issued licenses to persons desiring to sell,
and the first one mentioned was to Daniel Blaisdell, Jr., in 1809
at the training on the 28th of September. William Parkhurst
also received a license. Licenses were issued to these two men
again in 1810.
Between 1808 and 1812 one new regiment was formed, the
thirty-seventh, composed of men from Canaan. Dame's Gore,
Orange, Enfield and Grafton. The officers at that time were:
Caleb Seabury, lieutenant-colonel commandant : Levi George,
major, first battalion; and Benjamin Choate of Enfield, major,
second battalion. At the annual meeting in March, 1812, the
town voted, ' ' That each company have their choice whether they
have 34c, or suitable meats and drinks on ]\Iuster Day, and each
captain take the minds of his company at June training. ' ' This
refers specifically to the law of 1808, which the town has first
taken notice of.
The Thirty-Seventh Eegiment held its musters in Canaan, and
Canaan men were its officers. It was probably organized and
recognized by the state in 1809. The adjutant-general's report
for 1868 says, that in 1810 there were thirty-seven regiments of
militia in the state. John H. Harris was appointed captain of
the First Company of Infantry of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment
on October 1. 1810, and resigned in 1812. In 1820 the officers
were Otis Barney of Grafton, colonel ; Daniel Pattee of Canaan,
lieutenant-coloned ; and William Livingston, major. Joseph
Soldiers. 359
Diistin resigned as a lieutenant in the Sixth Brio-ade Second
Division of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment in 1824. Under the
law of 1830, Joshua Blaisdell was division inspector of the Sec-
ond Division, Second and Sixth Brigades. Josiah P. Barber
was colonel of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment. Elijah Blaisdell
lieutenant-colonel, both of Canaan, and Fauntleroy Caswell,
major. Under the revised statutes of 1840, the officers for 1843
were Eliphalet C. Oilman, colonel; 0. A. J. Yaughan, adjutant,
and Horace S. Currier, quartermaster, all of Canaan. Yaughan
had been appointed adjutant in 1841, and in 1844 was appointed
lieutenant-colonel. He read law in the office of Jonathan Kit-
tredge, and in 1857 moved to Laconia.
On August 29, 1838, John M. Barber was appointed ensign
of the Fourth Company of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment. He was
appointed captain of the First Company, April 5, 1841. and re-
signed March 29, 1842. There were fortv-three men in this com-
pany. He was appointed fourth sergeant in the Granite Pha-
lanx, of which J. Everett Sargent was captain, June 26, 1843.
John B. Dustin was sergeant, and in the absence of his captain
twice delivered an address to his company. It serves to explain
the object which was sought to be accomplished by the militia,
and is as follows :
Gentlemen, Officers and fellow soldiers. You are called together on
this occasion by the laws of the State and country, for the performance
of a duty, and the accomplishment of an object of no small moment to
the interests of our common country and to the peace and safety of us
all. I presume none of us are prepared to question the propriety and
utility of the law which requires us thus to meet once in each year to
revive, quicken and renew our martial spirit and to acquire that
knowledge of military discipline which shall the better prepare us to
defend our rights as men and as freemen and the better to secure to us
those blood-bought privileges which our fathers bequeathed to us as the
richest blessings of our inheritance.
If the law then requiring us thus to meet is right and proper surely
this duty on our part should be esteemed a privilege and an honor,
rather than as an irksome and laborious task. And thus it is con-
sidered by all those who truly know and feel the real spirit and value
of martial exercise. To be sure the manner in which our military
performances are sometimes and I may say frequently passed over, or
absolutely shunned by many of our fellow citizens, I>oth of those in
military rank and honors and those of less distinction down to the com-
360 History of Canaan.
mon soldiers, is not at all creditable to our military system. But you
know there are those always and in all professions who are far more
ready to receive the honors of office than they are to perform the duties
which their offices demand at their hands.
But this is no objection to the real merits of our militia system.
By training the great body of our citizens to act the part of soldiers
we at once avoid the dangers arising to free institutions from a stand-
ing army, and render ourselves invincible by any foreign force that
may arise against us. For tyranny would stand but a poor chance to
success in conducting her battles with soldiers who fight for hire, and
care not whether the victory or defeat attends them provided the pay
be good — against citizen soldiers who know the value of their country
and their homes, and know also and feel that death is much better to
them than defeat. We would hope, gentlemen, that you feel in some
good degree the importance of the true martial spirit. And from your
appearance this day we are led to feel a strong confidence that there
will be a still greater increase of this spirit in your future perform-
ances. When a company or regiment are both ready and willing to
learn their duty and then do it, when they go through their military
performances with spirit and pride and just aml)iti()u, there is a maj-
esty in it, which enkindles a flame of patriotism in the heart of every
true lover of his country. Gentlemen, the inspecting officer informs
me that there are but few and very slight deficiencies in your arms or
equipments today. The general appearance of the regiment will cer-
tainly suffer nothing by a comparison with its appearance on former
occasions, or in comparison with those of other neighboring regiments.
We hope to see still greater improvement in your appearance hereafter.
Let more of your c-ompanies be uniformed, more of them drilled in a
truly soldier-like manner, and let us see every man in the old Thirty-
Seventh proud to show himself a soldier. My present limits will not
permit of going into any topics in any degree foreign from my subject.
I will merely remark that though we may and should as citizens take
an interest in all the great questions which agitate our country and
though we may have our individual preferences as to the candidates
for governor or president, who may from time to time be held up as the
candidates for those offices, yet as soldiers we are to love our country,
and whether Polk or Clay or Captain Tyler, or the Mormon prophet,
is president, we are to love our country with a soldier's love and defend
her with a soldier's devotion. Gentlemen, in conclusion, may you have
a safe return after this day's exercises are closed to your homes and
families, and may you feel more than ever resolved to maintain and
preserve our free institutions which render those homes so happy and
those friends so prosperous.
Gentlemen, had I a general's commission to found a speech upon I
could, of course, give you a much longer, if not a better address, but
as I have not I will no further weary your patience, except by wishing
you and yours a happy life in a happy home and in a free country.
Soldiers. 361
An artillerj' company was org-anized in 1820. The militia sys-
tem of New Hampshire was then doing its level best to make
citizen soldiers of every man. It was complete in all arms but
one. They lacked a six-pounder gun — brass one. They wanted
it badly. At the date above named a meeting was called of all
interested, to assemble in the hall of Capt. Joshua Harris' Tav-
ern on the Street, to organize an artillery company and to
appoint a commission to ask the state to loan them a gun.
John Jones of East Enfield was elected the first captain,
Nathaniel Currier of Canaan, lieutenant; and Jolm Barney of
Grafton, second lieutenant. After the election of officers they
all drank freely of Captain Harris' rum, at the expense of
Capt. John Jones and went home.
The application to Governor Bell was successful. Orders were
sent to purchase land and build a house upon it, in which to store
the gun. Captain Harris gave the deed of the land, and the
house was built upon contract by Shubel Greeley of Goose Pond.
Thus those citizens obtained their gim and were proud of it.
They used upon occasion to exhibit their delighted patriotism by
dragging it up and down the Street, and make a thundering
noise firing off blank cartridges wadded with green grass. They
kept this up for eighteen years, and about the last use they made
of it was in the grievous days when liberty of speech was be-
lieved to be a crime, and that the ladies ought not to be allowed
to meet together even in secret, to pray against slavery and op-
pression.
They would harness themselves to it and drag it through the
Street, and fire if off at the closed doors of the offending aboli-
tionists, yelling like wild Indians as the glass rattled from the
sash, and that was about the last triumph under the old militia
system. Soon afterwards the artillery company was disbanded.
and the state conveyed its title to the town. Capt. Robert B.
Clark was commander of the cavalry, or "troop," they called it.
The troop was organized some years previous to 1820, and
practiced horsemanship about twice a year. They were placed
upon the retired list about the time the artillery fired its last
wad.
In 1851 the Legislature passed a law, that the militia of the
state should not be subject to active duty, except in ease of war,
362 History of Canaan,
invasion, riot, or inability of the civil officers to execute the
laws. This led to the militia becoming mere names on paper,
and it soon ceased to have much vitality. At this date Caleb A.
Sleeper was colonel ; Daniel Follensbee, lieutenant-colonel ; A. A.
Currier, major, and William B. Follensbee, quartermaster. In
1857 the system of 1851 was abolished, and a new one instituted
by the Legislature. This seems to be the end of the Thirty-
Seventh Regiment, it did not reorganize under the new law. In
1859 an independent company was formed called the "Canaan
Grenadiers," and was accepted by the town, Jacob Peters was
captain, Gilman W. Clark, lieutenant, and Augustus F. Blake,
ensign. It numbered thirty-seven men. This company existed
until the outbreak of the Rebellion.
War of 1812.
In the war of 1812 fears were entertained of an attack upon
Portsmouth by the British fleet. In April, 1812, the President
of the United States, ordered the Secretary of War to request
Gov. William Plumer to order into the service of the United
States such part of the quota of the militia as he should deem
necessary for the defence of the sea coast of the state. Volun-
teers for the defence of that port did not offer with sufficient
alacrity, and a draft was ordered. The quota for Canaan was
fifteen men, for two months' service. Five men at once volun-
teered, namely; James Dustin, born in 1791, son of David and
Rebecca (Cross) Dustin, leaving the trade of a tanner with
Jacob Dow. After his discharge, he in company with Abner
H., Joseph, Aaron C, Reuben and Daniel Colby, sons of Daniel,
emigrated to Ohio, which was then the West. Jehiel Clark, born
December 3, 1790, son of Richard, 2d., cousin of Colonel Josiah,
enlisted as fifth sergeant. He married and lived on the farm
afterwards owned by Col. Isaac Towle. Xever was a prosper-
ous man. Washington Wilson, son of John and Sarv% bom
October 11, 1792. Joseph Dustin, brother of James, our
"Brother Joe," born October 25, 1795. Frederic Noyes, son
of Dudley, who in 1795 lived on the Howard Farm, and at this
time on the Farrington Currier farm.
Nine men were drafted, of these only the following names have
been preserved. Elijah Flanders, eldest son of Joshua, usually
Soldiers. 363
called "Corker," born in 1794 on the farm next north of Joseph
Bartlett's, brother of Sylvester. He procured a substitute a
day or two after reaching Portsmouth and came home. James
Blaisdell, son of Daniel and Sally, born January 17. 1784, who
went as a substitute for Nathaniel Derby. Nat. Barber, known
as "Devil Nat," for his wild tricks, brother of Zebulon of Dor-
chester. He had been a soldier before, and went as a substitute
for Timothy Sanborn. Amos Richardson, son of William. Jo-
seph Blake, who was appointed an ensign, David Lary and Rufus
Wilson, son of Warren. These men all enlisted in Colonel Sias'
regiment, and Capt. John D. Harty's company, some on the
27th and 28th, and others on the 29th of September, 1814, for
sixty days. They were stationed at w^hat is known as "Ports-
mouth Plains, ' ' about a mile southeast of the court house. Four
others are reported to have enlisted but their names are not on
the rolls. Samuel Williams, a brother of Robert, who married
Pernal B. Worth. Samuel Sa-wyer, and a man named Gile.
Paul Cook, who was afterwards a partner with his brother-in-
law, Abraham Pushee, harness maker at the ' ' Corner. ' ' Cook af-
terwards died in Lyme. These men marched to Concord where
they were mustered into service. David Dustin went along to
carry their baggage. They were marched to Portsmouth and
in two or three days were discharged and ordered home, the
threatened attack having been a false alarm. Nathaniel Currier,
many years a trader on the Street, was on duty as a soldier near
Oswego, N. Y., one season during the war. Dan Welch, brother
of Simeon, son of "Bomination" Welch, born on the Rufus Rich-
ardson farm, was in this war. He married Huldah Gould and
died in Lowell, Mass., a poor man, without a pension. She ap-
plied for a pension, but died waiting for it. The Old Ladies'
Home in Lowell pursued that pension, caught and captured it.
Joseph Dustin and Dan Welch, both gifted men, left Portsmouth
destitute of money. They proposed to each other that they become
traveling evangelists, and in that way work their passage home.
They began praying and exhorting, by the wayside or in houses,
whenever they could find two or three gathered together. They
were successful and returned home, neither tired nor hungry.
Josiah Clark wanted to enlist and go to Portsmouth but had a
lame foot and could not march.
364 History of Canaan.
Mexican War.
In Company H, Capt. Daniel Batchelder, of the Ninth. United
States Infantry are the names of four Canaan men, who en-
listed j\Iay 1, 1847, for the war, James Andrews, Benjamin Bean,
Sanford Gardner, and Bernard McCluskey. They sailed from
Newport on the North Bend, May 21, 1847, landed on the
21st of June at Vigara, on the 14th of July began their march
and were the first regiment to enter the fortress of Chepultepec,
on the 12th of September. Asel Burnham was in either Cap-
tain Bodfish's or Captain Rowe's company of the Ninth Regi-
ment.
War of the Rebellion.
May, 1861.*
The most exciting subject now is the war. There are occasionally
flag raisings. Union badges and flags are everywhere seen. The old
flagstaffs of the political parties serve the common sentiment. The
young ladies wear rosettes of red, white and blue, and the boys wear
medals decorated with the immortal colors. Every individual act of
patriotism is gi-eeted with three loud huzzas. All the old patriotic songs
are being learned by the young patriots. There are no more any Repub-
licans or Democrats. The Preceptor of our Academy has closed out
and opened a recruiting office; he belonged to the inevitable Smith fam-
ily, and enlisted for the war. There is a wildness about this enthusiasm
that astonishes everybody, and it is very contagious; old and young
throw up their hats and hurrah for the union. Clergymen have aban-
doned the everlasting negro question, and now preach upon the war.
They pray for the confusion of traitors. Even here, where money was
supposed to be as scarce as honesty and patriotism at as large a dis-
count as veracity, the people will not tolerate traitors. They do not
allow men to talk treason now. A few days ago a man who had no
sense came into an adjacent village with a load of potatoes and at-
tempted to exercise the freedom of opinion by abusing Government.
But the men and dogs took after him so finally that he was obliged to
leave his potatoes and flee to safety. iSimilar scenes are occurring
every day.
My old mother, whose patriotism increases with her years, often
wishes she were a man. She would go and fight the rebels. She
has just prepared 300 bandages for the use of the wounded and is
going about town inviting other ladies to do likewise. She is talking
now of getting up a lot of white, linen caps for the soldiers in the hot
sun. Every day she is impatient to hear the news, and she prays that
President Lincoln may hurry up matters and give the rebels a great
♦Written in a letter of that date, by W. A. W.
Soldiers. 365
battle, a crushing battle that shall smite them to the earth. Our
Postoffice exhibits a scene of excitement every day. Men who never
took a paper now take a daily, and they are always present when the
mail arrives. And those who are not able to take a daily are there
also, and are impatient until some one reads the telegraph reports of
the night before. A hundred questions are asked of the probable re-
sult of the war, and today there has been great rejoicing because the
telegraph reports the President to have said that the war shall not cease
till the Flag of the union waves over every fort, arsenal, custom house,
and other public building within the national domain. Every one con-
curs in such sentiments. It is wonderful what universal burst of en-
thusiasm has escaped from northern hearts. There seems to be but
one breast and its great throb reaches East, west, north and south, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Canadas downward. It is thrill-
ing to see a nation rushing to the service of its government, in such
compact, glittering, intelligent, relentless masses. The world never be-
fore saw so sublime a spectacle, because the world never before saw so
great a treason, so great a necessity for prompt, impulsive action. I
would be glad to go, but my weak back would falter by the wayside
under the weight of arms and blankets. In after years, when the events
of this great treason are rehearsed by the winter firesides, these soldiers
will enjoy a glorious and enviable pride in saying, "I was there — I
helped put out the fires of treason." And what epitaphs the heroic acts
of those soldiers are to furnish for the eye of future generations!
Whole lives of uselessness are now to be illustrated by one act of pat-
riotic devotion, that shall fill fame's trumpet so full, as it sends its
swelling candenzas with prolonged reverbrations down to the remotest
posterity. These are the times of great thieves and greater heroes, and
each will win immortality in their degree.
Sixteen men volunteered in 1861, Charles Robie, Joseph Syl-
vester. Elijah W. Johnson, Job B. Jenness, Andrew J. Danish,
Placid Adams, Thomas McNabb, William Tolbert, George B.
County, Stephen Shephard, Frank T. Dustin. Peter Pieron,
Henry Hoffman, James Kimball, Anthony Welch and William
E. Allard.
On August 9, 1862, the town were requested to meet to see
what should be done /in regard to furnishing the town's qitota
of soldiers. They voted to pay each volunteer a bounty of
$100. Whereupon David Barnard offered to give the first man
who should volunteer $5. Twenty men came forward and gave
in their names as volunteers for three years, and the individuals
named opposite gave each man $5 :
366
History of Canaan.
Johu N. Ford,
Almond R. Decato.
Thomas S. Marshall,
William R. Call.
Nathaniel W. Bean,
Philip G. Preseott,
George M. Richardson.
John J. Burns,
Abel Hadley,
John W. Philbrick,
Sidney L. Colby,
Thomas E. Jones.
Charles T. Langley,
Frank IMorey,
Orville Goss,
Moses H. Marshall,
Leedns Hebei't.
Johu B. Lovering,
Chas. D. Washburn,
Orson Makepeace,
paid $5 by
David Barnard
Dexter Harris
William A. Wallace
Warren W. Wilson
William A. Wallace
Levi George
Horace S. Currier
Dexter Richardson
Frank Currier
Darius Barnard
George Hinkson
Charles Day
Thos. D. Avery
Lewis C. Pattee
J. S. Davis
Isaac Davis
A. H. Cilley
Stephen Morse
Eleazer Barney
Joseph Dustin
Caleb Jones attended this town meeting fired with patriotism,
and when the call was made for volunteers, he gave a pledge that
if his boy Tom would not go he would, for he was bound to have
the family represented, and he put down his name as proxy for
Tom who took his place in the ranks and came home to die from
the effects of exposure in camp life.
William W. George proposed to give each volunteer a dinner
at Sanborn's Hotel the day they left for camp. Fourteen of
these men received the bounty of $100. Orson Makepeace,
Charles T. Langley and William R. Call never enlisted. John
N. Ford and Sidney L. Colby went afterwards. Thomas S.
Marshall went but did not receive the bounty. Oliver B. Childs,
William Digby, Aaron Sargent, Allen H. George and Ephraim
Adams received the bounty besides the above fourteen, enlisting
about the same time. The town voted to give volunteers for nine
months ' service $100 and $50 more if called out of the state. The
selectmen with L. C. Pattee, William L. Harris, William P.
Weeks and William W. George were appointed a committee to get
recruits to make up the town's quota, and they were to receive
one dollar for each recruit, but if the recruit went to the select-
men he was to receive the dollar. Every man who brought a
Soldiers.
367
volunteer was to receive five dollars, and the families of the nine
months' men were to be taken care of the same as the three year
men. The following men enlisted for nine months receiving
$155, all in the Fifteenth Regiment:
Everett W. Dow
Levi Martin
Hiram Jones
Austin Dunham
David Legro
Alvah Oilman
Dexter E. Bradbury
Abiel Sharp
James Furlong
William Adams
Gilbert J. Robie
Rufus S. Goss
William W. Dustin
Don C. Washburn
Albert Bradbury
Edgar D. Aldrieh
William A. Gordon
Edwin D. Aldrieh
Fred B. Wells
In 1863 the town voted to pay each drafted man $300, agree-
ably to the law of the state passed June, 1863. The following
received $300 :
Joseph D. Weeks
George T. Wells
Wm. A. Flanders
E. H. Pressey
Byron Edwards
S. B. Morgan
David H. Butman
George D. Harris
H. A. Nichols
Samuel A. Colby
J. S. Jones
H. R. Norris
L. K. Currier
Albert F. Davis
Edwin Shephard
George W. Davis
Charles N. Morse
Burns Edwards
George Tilton
Jas. M. Eaton
Denis County
For these drafted men the following substitutes were
furnished :
John Moriarity
Tx)ftus Reed IMager
Henry Wallace
James Simpson
Alfred Marland
Adelbert O. Williams
Enos Gloggett
James Harris
John Lamontaine
Daniel Dohert>-
John Mulholland
Alfred Jones
for J. D. Weeks
Tilton Nichols
George W. Davis
Wm. A. Flanders
George D. Harris
Edwin Shephard
Geo. T. Wells
Mathew H. Clark
Sam L. A. Colby
H. R. Norris
George Tilton
S. B. Morgan
368 History of Canaan.
George Thomas for L. K. Currier
Thomas Ayers " Albert H. Davis
Albert H. Currier " David H. Butman
Robert Smith " J. M. Eaton
James Smith " Byrou Edwards
Edwin Gerush " Burns Edwards
Theodore Shoemaker " E. H. Pressey
John Marshall " John S. Jones
On December 7, 1863, the town voted to borrow $14,000 to fill
out the quota of the town in response to the call of the President
for 300,000 men on October 17, 1863, and the selectmen were
requested to contract with William W. George and Albert M.
Shaw to fill the quota, at $500 per man unless they could be found
for less. Elijah W. Johnson and Jolm ^V. Hoyt volunteered and
received $555, Robert M. O'Connell, a veteran, received $600,
and George F. Taplin received $250. The town paid Hollis B.
\Yhitney $500 for one volunteer and W. W. George $10,633.50
for nineteen volunteers.
In 1864 the town voted to pay reenlisted men who had gone
to fill out the quota $100. and who were now in service, and to
pay C. X. Homan $300, who had been drafted. The following
were the reenlisted men :
Timothy A. Dunham Peter Perron
Alonzo Mitchell Frank W. Carroll
Joseph Graville Charles Prew
Albert York Tj-ler Heath
Placid Adams
The town voted that the "selectmen put in volunteers (to fill
out quota) provided that any persons in town that are enlisted
shall pay to the selectmen $200 for exemption papers for three
years to the number of 24, and the first 24 men who make appli-
cation to the selectmen, shall be the ones that are entitled to the
benefit and balance to be paid from the town treasury, and to
pay future drafts $300 or their substitutes. Bounties repaid to
be divided equalh" with town and ones receiving benefit of fore-
going vote." Twelve thousand dollars Avas voted to be raised
to accomplish the foregoing. The following men received $76,
who paid $200 for substitutes :
Soldiers. 369
James P. Barber George E. Cobb
Elijah Smith D. G. S. Davis
Geo. L. Whittier Aaron Aldrich
William Hall Daniel Hazeltine
Benj. P. Nichols Chas. H. Leeds
Daniel H. Campbell Wm. G. Somers
Jeremiah Whittier Geo. W. Murray
Geo. W. Randlett Elijah Whittier
Augustus Shephard Warren F. Wilson
Albert E. Barney Moses E. Currier
H. H. Wilson Newton B. Gates
Chas. Davis Geo. C. Bradbury
On August 29, 1864, a town meeting was called "to see what
the town would do to fill out the quota required by the call of
the President for 500,000 men.'"' The town resolved to pay the
largest bounty provided by the act of August 19, 1864. They
resolved to pay $400 bounty to all persons having residence in
the town three months prior "who volunteer," and to hire $4,000
to accomplish it. Five hundred dollars bounty was paid the fol-
lowing volunteers :
Daniel Stickney Sidney L. Colby
John Holt Jas. W. Atherton
Geo. P. Clark Edson J. Fifield
James Wilson Everett W. Dow
"William W. George furnished five volunteers and three sub-
stitutes, also fifteen volunteers, and substitutes for 24 enrolled
men.
On November 30, 1864 the town voted that the "Selectmen
should put men into the military and naval service in anticipa-
tion of a call, ' ' and to hire $20,000.
At the annual meeting in 1865 William W. George was ap-
pointed "Military Agent of the town with exclusive control."
The men arranged by regiments is as follows, some of the
names occur twice because of reenlistment :
SECOND EE6IMENT.
George B. County, Company B; enlisted May 27, 1861; mustered in
June 7, 1861, for three years; transferred to Fifty-Seventh Company,
Second Battalion, Infantry Company, September 9, 1863; discharged
May 26, 1864.
Charles A. Pratt, Company C; enlisted May 20, 1861; mustered in
June 1, 1861, for three years; deserted. Concord, May 24, 1863.
24
370 History of Canaan.
Benjamin W. Adams, Company I; enlisted May 20, 1S61; mustered
in June 7, 1861, for tliree years; deserted, Concord, April 8, 1863; ap-
prehended February 28, 1864; discharged April 14, 1865.
Dennis County, Company I; enlisted May 18, 1861; mustered in June
7, 1861, for three years; discharged, disabled, January 1, 1863. (See
First New Hampshire Light Battery.)
Michael C. Miner, Company I; enlisted May 19, 1861; mustered in
June 7, 1861, for three years; mustered out June 21, 1864.
Lyndon B. Woods, Company I; enlisted May 25, 1861; mustered in
June 7, 1861, for three years; mustered out June 21, 1864.
Jonathan Merrill, Company I; enlisted May 20, 1861; mustered in
June 7, 1861, for three years; wounded severely, Gettysburg, July 26,
1863; discharged, disabled. May 2, 1864; mustered out June 21, 1864.
RECRUITS.
William Thompson, Company K; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three
years; promoted corporal May 1, 1865; mustered out January 19, 1865.
Joseph Saunders, Company K; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three
years; wounded. Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; mustered out June 26, 1865.
Carlos Smitz, Company K; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three years;
transferred to navy April 29, 1864; served on Mt. Yemon and Con-
necticut; discharged August 11, 1865.
John McCullom, Company F; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three
years; promoted corporal Januai'y 1, 1865; to sergeant September 1,
1865; mustered out December 19, 1865.
Robert McConnell, Company H; enlisted December 11, 1863, for three
years; discharged, disabled, May 22, 1865.
Patrick Ledlow, Company — ; enlisted December 6, 1864, for three
years; deserted December 10, 1864.
John W. Hoyt, Company E; enlisted December 29, 1863, for three
years; wounded. Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; transferred Company C,
Twelfth Regiment, June 21, 1865; absent detached service December 19,
1865; discharge to date December 19, 1865.
John (alias William) Dorsey, Company F; enlisted November 30,
1863, for three years; deserted April 11, 1864; apprehended; promoted
corporal January 1, 1865; promoted sergeant June 25, 1865; discharged
December 19, 1865.
Francis Bearo, Company F; enlisted November 30, 1863, for three
yeai's; discharged December 19, 1865.
James Green, Company F; enlisted November 30, 1863, for three
years; deserted. Point Lookout, Md., January 3, 1864.
Thomas Presly, Company F; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three
years; transferred to navy April 30, 1864; served on Mt. Yemon and
Tacony; discharged July 25, 1865.
Thomas Kerby, Company F; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three
years; transferred to navy April 30. 1864; served on Quaker City: dis-
charged July 25, 1865.
Soldiers. 371
John Kelley, Company F; enlisted December 3, 1863, for three years;
wounded June 3, 1864; deserted on furlough November 10, 1864.
Henry Preston, Company F; enlisted November 30, 1863, for three
years; deserted, Bermuda Hundred, Va., June 1, 1864.
EE-ENLISTED VETEBANS.
George Young, Company K; enlisted December 4, 1863, for three
years; transferred to Company B April 28, 1864; discharged May 25,
1865.
William Whitmer, Company F; enlisted November 30, 1863, for three
years; deserted. Point Lookout, Md., January 18, 1864.
The Second Regiment was at the battles of First Bull Run,
Siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savage Station,
Peach Orchard, Glendale, First Malvern Hill, Second Malvern
Hill, Bristow Station, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericks-
burg, Manassas Gap, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Swift's
Creek, Drury's Bluff, First and Second Cold Harbor, Peters-
burg, Proctor's Creek, Chesterfield, Darbytown, Spring Hill and
the occupation of Richmond.
THIRD REGIMENT.
Horace L. Davis, Company E; enlisted July 22, 1861; mustered in
August 23, 1861, for three years; detached; musician Second Brigade
Band, Tenth Army Corps; mustered out August 23, 1864.
James Simpson, Company A; enlisted October 12, 1863; killed,
Drury's Bluff, May 13, 1864.
Stephen Hadley, Company E; enlisted July 26, 1861; mustered in Au-
gust 23, 1861, for three years; wounded slightly, Drury's Bluff, May
13, 1864; again. Deep Bottom, August 16; mustered out September 9,
1864.
Tyler Heath, Company B; enlisted August 14, 1861; mustered in
August 23, 1861, for three years; re-enlisted January 1, 1864; killed,
Drury's Bluff, May 15, 1864.
Abel Hadley, Company E; enlisted September 1, 1862, and mustered
for three years; died of disease, Morris Island, S. C, September 16, 1863.
RECRUITS.
Orville Goss, Company E; enlisted August 16, 1862; mustered in
September 5, 1862, for three years; appointed corporal November 19,
1863; wounded severely, Drury's Bluff, May 13, 1864; discharged, dis-
abled. May 10, 1865.
John N. Ford, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862; mustered in
September 6, 1862, for three years; killed, Charles City Roads, Va.,
October 27, 1864.
372 History of Canaan.
Edwin Gunseh, Company G; enlisted October 8, 1863; mustered in
September 6, 1862, for three years; discharged, Philadelphia, Pa.,
October 28, 1864.
Zephraim Forties, Company K; enlisted February 1, 1865; mustered
in September 5, 1862, for three years; mustered out July 20, 1865.
John Mulholland, Company D; enlisted October 14, 1863; mustered in
in September 5, 1862, for three years; mustered out July 20, 1865.
John W. Philbrick, Company E; enlisted August 11, 1862; mustered
in September 5, 1862, for three years; wounded, May 15, 1864, Drui-y's
Bluff, and February 11, 1865, Sugar Loaf Battle; discharged June 26,
1865, Goldsboro, N. C.
BE-ENLISTED VETEBAKS.
Charles Prew, Company E; enlisted January 1, 1864, for three years;
mustered out July 20, 1865.
Albert York, Company E; enlisted January 1, 1864, for three years;
appointed sergeant; appointed, first sergeant January 10, 1865; wounded.
Fort Fisher, N. C, January 15, 1865; mustered out July 20, 1865.
This regiment was at Secession ville, S. C, Port Royal, James
Island, Morris Island, Fort Wagner, and its siege, Dmry's
Bluff, Half-way House, Bermuda Hundred, Deep Bottom,
Petersburg, Laurel Hill before Richmond, Fort Fisher.
■&)
THIRD BEGIMENT,
Henry S. Hamlet, Company D; enlisted March 1, 1862; mustered
in March 18, 1862, for three years; musician; appointed corporal;
captured May 16, 1864; died, Millen, Ga., November 12, 1864.
Beletsou Hoffman, Company K; enlisted October 16, 1863; wounded.
Cold Harbor, June 4, 1864; died disease. Point of Rocks, Va., August 7,
1864.
John Lamontaine, Company C; enlisted October 20, 1863, for three
years; mustered out August 23, 1865.
Albert H. Currier, Company C; enlisted October 20, 1863, for three
yeai's; missing. Deep Bottom, Va., August 14, 1864; returned; mustered
out August 23, 1865.
Warren W. Hamlett, Company F; enlisted March 15, 1862; mustered
in November 3, 1862, for three years; wounded, August 16, 1864, Deep
Bottom; mustered out March 23, 1865.
Orra H. Hardy, Company F; enlisted March 26, 1862, for three
years; musician; died disease, Beaufort, S. C, November 20, 1863.
Alfred Marland, Company^ K; enlisted October 15, 1863, for three
years; pi-omoted first lieutenant. Company H, February 17, 1865;
mustered out August 23, 1865
Oscar F. Washburn, Company K; enlisted March 18, 1863, for three
years; promoted corporal; died disease. Fort Munroe, August 13, 1864.
Samuel Sleeper, Company K; enlisted March 26, 1862, for three years;
discharged April 16, 1865.
Soldiers. 373
Thomas Ayers, Company B; enlisted October 21, 1863, for three years;
transferred to navy April 27, 1864.
George Thomas, Company H; enlisted October 16, 1863, for three
years; deserted July 6, 1864; sent to regiment May 29, 1864, from hos-
pital Beaufort, S. C, N. F. R.
Theodore Shoemaker, Company I; enlisted October 17, 1863, for three
years; deserted, White House, Va., June 1, 1864.
EE-ENLISTED VETERANS.
Peter Perron, Company I; enlisted September 18, 1861; re-enlisted
February 14, 1864, for three years; wounded July 26, 1864; discharged
July 20, 1865.
Timothy A. Dunham, Company I; enlisted September 18, 1861; re-
enlisted February 18, 1864, for three years; mustered out August 23,
1865; wagoner.
This regiment was at Port Royal, Pocotaligo, Fort Wagner,
Fort Sumter, Drury's Bluff, Bermuda Hundred, Cold Harbor,
Deep Bottom. Fort Andrews, Fernandina, Morris Island, Peters-
burg, Fort Fisher.
FIFTH REGIMENT.
Elijah W. Johnson, Company I; enlisted August 23, 1861, for three
years; discharged January 28, 1862; was a recruiting officer of this
regiment in 1861; received sixty-three recruits and was appointed first
lieutenant October 12, 1861.
Richard K. Martin, Company I; enlisted August 27, 1861, for three
years; corporal; killed, Antietam, September 17, 1862.
Ezra Cutler, Company I; enlisted September 23, 1861, for three
years; deserted October 19, 1862.
George E. Cilley, Company I; enlisted October 11, 1861, for three
years; discharged, disabled, February 28, 1862.
Placid Adams, Company I; enlisted September 12, 1861, for three
years; re-enlisted January 1, 1864; discharged December 6, 1864.
Henry Evans, Company I; enlisted September 27, 1861, for three
years; discharged, disabled, August 16, 1862.
Job B. Jenniss, Company I; enlisted September 9, 1861, for three
years; wounded, December 13, 1862, Fredericksburg; May, 1863, Chancel-
lorsville; July, 1863, Gettysburg; deserted. Point Lookout, February 12,
1864.
Ephraim Adams, Company I; enlisted August 14, 1861, for three
years; wounded, June 3, 1864, Cold Harbor; transferred Second Bat-
talion, V. R. Company, October 25, 1864; discharged June 22, 1865.
George W. Kimball, Company I; enlisted September 16, 1861, for three
years; wounded, Chancellorsville, May, 1863; killed, Gettysburg, July
2, 1863.
Alonzo Mitchell, Company I; enlisted September 2, 1861, for three
374 History op Canaan.
years; re-enlisted January 1, 1864; killed, Deep Bottom, Va., July 27,
1864.
Thomas McNabb, Company I; enlisted September 12, 1861, for three
years; wounded, Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Cold Harbor, June
3, 1864; discharged, disabled, November 3, 1864.
Willie Martin, Company I; enlisted September 25, 1861, for three
years; wounded, Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862; discharged, disabled, August
18, 1862.
Charles Robie, Company I; enlisted September 19, 1861, for three
years; discharged, disabled, October 29, 1862.
Henry H. Sherburne, Company I; enlisted July 27, 1861, for three
years; died, disease. May 6, 1862.
Daniel C. Smith, Company I; enlisted September 16, 1861, for three
years; deserted June, 1862.
Joseph Sylvester, Company I; enlisted August 23, 1861, for three
years; deserted, December 4, 1862, Falmouth, Va.
Andrew J. Darush, Company I; enlisted August 21, 1861, for three
years; discharged, disabled, October 9, 1862.
Stephen Shephard, Company I; enlisted September 12, 1861, for three
years; killed, June 1, 1862, Fair Oaks.
RECRUITS.
Henry Wallace, Company K; enlisted October 12, 1863, for three
years; deserted, Point Lookout, Md., April 15, 1864.
Patrick Shea (alias Welch), Company H; enlisted October 3, 1863,
for three years; transferred to navy April 23, 1864; discharged, dis-
abled, October 15, 1864.
Frederick Flury, Company I; enlisted September 10, 1861, for three
years; deserted August 30, 1862.
Francis Augustus, Company G; enlisted August 16, 1864, for three
years; deserted, Petersburg, October 12, 1864.
Owen F. Bacon, Company H; enlisted August 11, 1864, for three years;
px-omoted corporal; wounded slightly April 7, 1865; mustered out June
28, 1865.
Darby Carrigan, Company H; enlisted August 8, 1864, for three years;
mustered out June 28, 1865.
Daniel Doherty, Company I; enlisted October 6, 1863, for three years;
transferred to navy April 20, 1864; discharged July 12, 1865.
Alfred G. Jones, Company H; enlisted October 1, 1863, for three years;
mustered out June 21, 1865.
Loftus R. Mager, Company H; enlisted October 1, 1863, for three
years; discharged, disabled, April 20, 1865.
John Moriarity, Company H; enlisted October 1, 1863, for three years;
promoted corporal; mustered out June 28, 1865.
Orrin Wade, Company I; enlisted August 9, 1864, for three years;
discharged, imbecility, December 23, 1864.
John Marshall, Company H; enlisted October 6, 1863, for three years;
wounded June 16, 1864; dishonorably discharged September 30, 1864.
Soldiers. 375
James McGee, Company I; enlisted August 8, 1863, for three years;
sent to regiment August 27, 1864; N. F. R.
Lindor Maruize, Company K; enlisted August 16, 1864, for three
years; deserted to enemy October 28, 1864; apprehended; sentenced to
be hanged; commuted to dishonorable discharge and five years' im-
prisonment.
Robert Smith, Company I; enlisted October 6, 1863, for three years;
died, DeCamp Hospital, July 17, 1864.
James Smith, Company I; enlisted October 6, 1863, for three years;
mustered out July 15, 1865.
James Harris, Company G; enlisted October 3, 1863, for three years;
deserted, November 14, 1863, Point Lookout.
BE-ENLISTED VETERAXS.
Joseph Gravelle, Company I; enlisted September 25, 1861, for three
years; re-enlisted January 1, 1864; deserted. Point Lookout, March 31,
1864.
The Fifth Regiment took part in the battles of Rappahannock
River. Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, White Oak Swamp,
Charles City, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancel-
lorsville, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Deep Bottom.
SIXTH REGIMENT.
Thomas J. Carlton, Company B; enlisted for Enfield October 7, 1861,
for three years; re-enlisted for Canaan December 28, 1863; promoted
second lieutenant. Company H, January 9, 1864; wounded June 3, 1864;
September 30, 1864, at Poplar Springs Church; appointed first lieuten-
ant. Company B, August 1, 1864; appointed captain January 10, 1865;
resigned June 17, 1865.
William E. Allard, Company B; enlisted November 27, 1861, for three
years; deserted August 13, 1862, on marcli from Fredericksburg; went
to Canada.
Lucian N. Gordon, Company B; enlisted November 9, 1861, for three
years; wounded December 13, 1862; appointed sergeant; re-enlisted from
Enfield December 23, 1863.
James Kimball, Company B; enlisted November 6, 1861, for three
years; deserted August 16, 1862.
Edwin E. Shattuck, Company B; enlisted November 27, 1861, for
three years; discharged, disabled, December 1, 1862.
Anthony Welch, Company B; enlisted December 7, 1861, for three
years; killed, Bull Run, August 29, 1862.
John W. Towle, Company B; enlisted December 9, 1861, for three
years; wounded, August 29, 1862, Bull Run; discharged December, 1862.
RECEUIT.
John Carter, Company H; enlisted June 29, 1864, for three years;
transferred from Eleventh New Hampshire June 1, 1865; promoted
corporal July 1, 1865; mustered out July 17, 1865.
376 History of Canaax.
The Sixth Regiment took part in the battles about Camden.
Second Bull Run, Chantillj^, South Mountain, Antietam, White
Sulphur Springs, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Jackson, Wilder-
ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg.
SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Frank T. Dustiu, Company C; enlisted October 22, 1861, for three
years; transferred Second Battalion, V. R. C, May 7, 1864; discharged
November 8, 1864.
Henry J. Gile, Company C; enlisted October 7, 1861, for three years;
killed. Fort Wagner, S. C, July 18, 1863.
Daniel F. Hinkson, Company C; enlisted October 7, 1861, for three
years; killed Fort Wagner, S. C; promoted corporal July 18, 1862.
This regiment up to June, 1863, saw little field service. After
that it was in the battles of Morris Island, Fort Wagner,
Olustee, Drury's Bluff, Chester Hill, Bermuda Hundred, Deep
Bottom, New jMarket Heights, Petersburg, Laurel Hill, Darby-
town Road, Richmond.
NINTH REGIMENT.
George W. Richardson, Company B; enlisted July 5, 1862, for three
years; absent in confinement, Fort Nelson, June 6, 1865; no discharge
furnished; corporal.
Jerome Gay, Company B; enlisted June 30, 1862, for three years;
deserted, September 24, 1862, Antietam.
James S. Holt, Company F; enlisted June 12, 1862, for three years;
died, disease, February 16, 1863.
BECBUITS.
Jacob Christensen, Company F; enlisted July 5, 1864, for three years;
transferred to Sixth New Hampshire June 1, 1865; mustered out July
17, 1865.
Daniel Conway, Company I; enlisted July 5, 1864, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment. City Point, Va., February 10, 1865.
James Green, Company A; enlisted December 24, 1863, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment January 26, 1864.
James Murphy, Company — ; enlisted December 8, 1863, for three
years; deserted en route to regiment December 31, 1863.
George Lester, Company — ; enlisted December 24, 1863, for three
years; deserted en route to regiment, N. F. R.
Martin Smith, Company A; enlisted December 24, 1863, for three
years; deserted, Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., January 26, 1864.
Ferdinandt Meyer, Company F; enlisted July 5, 1864, for three years;
transferred to Sixth New Hampshire June 1, 1865; mustered out July
17, 1865.
Soldiers. 377
Henry Rider, Compauy C; enlisted December 23, 1863, for three years;
transferred to Sixtli New Hampshire June 1, 1865; died, disease, Sep-
tember 19, 1865; mustered out July 17, 1865.
William Kehoe, Company A; enlisted December 24, 1863, for three
years; deserted January 26, 1864.
Oliver Yarden, Company D; enlisted December 23, 1863, for three
years; deserted. Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., January 27, 1864.
Frank Jackson, Company D; enlisted December 23, 1863, for three
years; deserted, Loudon, Ky., March 6, 1864.
James H. Walker, Company F; enlisted June 19, 1862, for three years;
wounded July 30, 1864; killed, September 30, 1864, Poplar Springs
Church.
This regiment was at the battles of South Mountain, Antietam,
White Sjilphur Springs. Fredericksburg, Vieksburg, Jackson,
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg.
EU^VEXTH KEGIilENT.
Allen H. George, Company H; enlisted August 17, 1862, for three
years; honorably discharged, disabled. May 23, 1864; appointed second
lieutenant September 4, 1862.
George H. Richardson, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862, for three
years; corporal; transferred to Company F, "V. R. C, August 3, 1864;
discharged June 30, 1865.
Frank Morey, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862, for three years;
corporal; promoted sergeant May 1, 1864; wounded slightly June 16,
1864; mustered out June 4, 1865.
John 0. Barnes, Company H; enlisted August 17, 1862, for three years;
died, wounds. May 15, recevied at Fredericksburg May 12, 1864.
Nathaniel W. Bean, Company H; enlisted August 11, 1862, for three
years; died, disease, Alexandria, Va., June 29, 1864.
Oliver B. Childs, Company H; enlisted August 11, 1862, for three
years; wounded felling trees February 17, 1864; mustered out June
4, 1865.
William Digby, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862, for three years;
transferred to Second United States Artillery October 14, 1862; died
August 23, 1863.
Ledus Hebert, Company H; enlisted August 7, 1862, for three years;
wounded slightly May 6, 1864; promoted corporal May 1, 1865; mustered
out June 4, 1865.
Thomas E. Jones, Company H; enlisted August 11, 1862, for three
years; wounded severely May 6, 1864, Wilderness; discharged, disabled,
July 6, 1865; died July 27, 1865.
John B. Lovring, Company H; enlisted August 6, 1862, for three
years; mustered out June 4, 1865.
Moses H. Marshall, Company H; enlisted August 8, 1862, for three
years; transferred to Eleventh Company, Second Battalion, I. C, March
5, 1864; discharged August 15, 1865.
378 History of Canaan.
Thomas S. Marshall, Company H; enlisted August 6, 1862, for three
years; discharged, disabled. May 6, 1864.
Philip G. Prescott, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862; discharged,
disabled, July 15, 1863, Washington, D. C.
Aaron Sargent, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862, for three years;
killed near Petersburg, June 16, 1864.
Almond K. Decato, Company H; enlisted August 9, 1862, for three
years; mustered out June 4, 1865.
Charles D. Washburn, Company H; enlisted August 6, 1862, for three
years; discharged, disabled, February 25, 1864.
EECBTJITS.
John Carter, Company E; enlisted June 29, 1864, for three years;
transferred to Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers June 1, 1865; ap-
pointed corporal July 1, 1865; mustered out July 17, 1865.
Elijah W. Johnson, Company H; enlisted December 29, 1863, for three
years; transferred to Company E, Twenty-First V. R. C, January 24,
1865; discharged August 8, 1865.
Joseph Sherry, Company E; enlisted July 1, 1864, for three years;
transferred Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers June 1, 1865; promoted
corporal; mustered out July 17, 1865.
John Taylor, Company D; enlisted June 30, 1864, for three years;
transferred to Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers June 1, 1865; mustered
out July 17, 1865.
George F. Brooks, Company — ; enlisted July 20, 1864, for three
years; deserted en route to regiment.
Joseph D. Bliss, Company — ; enlisted July 20, 1864, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment November, 1864.
August Champagne, Company — ; enlisted June 30, 1864, for three
years; deserted en route to regiment.
Thomas H. Desmond, Company — ; enlisted June 30, 1864, for three
years; deserted en route to regiment.
Samuel Evans, Company — ; enlisted July 29, 1864, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment.
John McCauley, Company — ; enlisted July 2, 1864, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment.
John Piero, Company — ; enlisted June 24, 1864, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment.
James Richards, Company — ; enlisted July 2, 1864, for three years;
deserted en route to regiment.
Charles H. Allerton, Company — ; enlisted June 30, 1864, for three
years; deserted en route to regiment.
Horace A. Johnson lived in Canaan and was credited to Hebron.
The Eleventh Regiment was in the battles of Fredericksburg,
Vicksbiirg. Jackson. Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna,
Soldiers. . 379
Polotopomy, Bethesda Church, Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, Wel-
don Railroad, Poplar Springs Church, Cold Harbor.
TWELFTH REGIMENT.
George F. Taplin, Company F; enlisted August 18, 1862, for three
years; discharged, disabled, December 5, 1862; re-enlisted November 3,
1863; wounded June 3, 1864; discharged, disabled, April 18, 1865.
John W. Hoyt, Company C; enlisted December 29, 1863, for three
years; wounded June 3, 1864; transferred to Company E, Second New
Hampshire Volunteers, June 21, 1865; discharged December 19, 1865.
This Regiment was in the battles of Swift's Creek. Drury's
Blutf, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping
Heights, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Bermuda Hundred, Rich-
mond.
FOURTEENTH REGIMENT.
Enos Glogelt, recruit Company K; enlisted September 29, 1863, for
three years; wounded October 19, 1864; discharged November 20, 1865.
This Regiment was at Deep Bottom, Antietam, Winchester,
Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek.
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
Company F; nine months' men mustered out August 13, 1863.
William Gordon, captain; enlisted October 2, 1862; mustered in
November 11.
Fred B. Wells, first sergeant; enlisted September 8, 1862; mustered
in October 10; re-enlisted. Company B, headquarters troop, Department
of the Gulf, July 5, 1863; discharged July 24, 1864.
Alvah Oilman, corporal; enlisted September 8, 1862; mustered in
October 15; died. Baton Rouge, June 3, 1863.
Everett W. Dow enlisted September 2, 1862; mustered in October
10.
Abiel Sharp enlisted September 15, 1862; mustered in October 10;
wounded June 14, 1863.
Don C. Washburn enlisted September 5, 1862; mustered in October
10; wounded May 27, 1863; discharged August 13, 1863.
Levi Martin enlisted September 5, 1862; mustered in October 10.
James Furlong enlisted September 5, 1862; mustered in October 10.
Edwin D. Aldrich enlisted September 5, 1862; mustered in October 10;'
killed, Port Hudson, La., May 27, 1863.
Albert Bradbury enlisted September 15, 1862; mustered in October 10.
Hiram Jones enlisted September 15, 1862; mustered in October 10.
William Adams enlisted September 15, 1862; mustered in October 10.
William W. Dustin enlisted September 2, 1862; mustered in October
380 . History of Canaan.
10; died, July 21, 1863, New Orleans, of wouuds received at Port Hud-
son, La., June 11, 1863.
Edgar D. Aldrich enlisted September 8, 1862; mustered in October
10.
Dexter F. Bradbury enlisted September 8, 1862; mustered in October
10; died, disease, St. James Hospital, New Orleans, July 9, 1863.
Austin Dunliam enlisted August 30, 1862; mustered in October 10;
wounded May 27, 1863.
Gilbert J. Robie enlisted September 8, 1862; mustered in October 10;
died, disease, Memphis, Tenn., August 3, 1863.
David Legro enlisted September 1, 1862; mustered in October 10;
wounded May 27, 1863.
Rufus S. Goss enlisted September 1, 1862; mustered in October 10.
This Regiment was on duty about Carrollton and Port Hud-
son, La.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.
Andrew J. Darush, Company G; enlisted December 3, 1864; dis-
charged by order December 28, 1864.
John Moores, Company G; enlisted December 10, 1864; mustered out
August 11, 1865.
Henry Thomas, Company G; enlisted December 10, 1864; deserted
January 14, 1865.
Cornelius Creed, Company H; enlisted February 25, 1865; mustered
out July 29, 1865.
John M. Lee, Company H; enlisted February 25, 1865; deserted
March 15, 1865.
John S. Webster, United States Navy; enlisted June 8, 1863, for one
years, as landsman; served on Ohio. Princeton, Saratoga, Powhattan;
discharged July 7, 1864.
NEW HAMPSHIRE BATTALION. FIRST NEW ENGLAND CAVALRY. TROOP K.
Asa A. Hall, enlisted October 9, 1861; wounded August 9, 1862;
captured June, 1863; re-enlisted for Strafford January 2, 1864.
TROOP M.
James H. French enlisted December 3, 1861; transferred to Company
K January 1, 1862; appointed bugler; re-enlisted January 2, 1864, for
Manchester; discharged August 31, 1866.
They were at Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Chantilly,
Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Bristow Station.
FIRST REGIMENT. NEW HAMPSHIRE CAVALRY. RECRUITS.
James Bond enlisted February 27, 1865; deserted en rmite to regi-
ment.
Soldiers. 381
George Langdon enlisted February 15, 1865; deserted May 13, 1865.
Charles Bradley enlisted February 15, 1865; mustered out July 15,
1865.
They were at Cold Harbor, "White Oak Swamp, Weldon Rail-
road, Winchester, Cedar Creek.
FIKST LIGHT BATTERY, XEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS, RECRUIT.
Dennis County enlisted November 7, 1863; transferred to Twelfth
Company, Heavy Artillery; mustered out June 9, 1865.
This Batterv" served with the Reserve Artillery until November
5, 1864, when it consolidated with the Heavy Artiller}'. After
November 1863, it was at Brandy Station, Wilderness, Spottsyl-
vania, North Anna River, Sheldon's Cross Roads, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Deep Bottom.
FIRST REGIMENT, HEAVY ARTILLERY.
James W. Atherton, Company H; enlisted September 3, 1864, for
one year; mustered out June 15, 1865; sergeant; enlisted June 8, 1863;
one year United States Navy as landsman on United States ships Ohio,
Princeton, Saratoga. Powhattan. Xeptime; discharged July 7, 1864.
Greorge P. Clark, corporal, Company H; enlisted August 31, 1864,
for one year; mustered out June 15, 1865.
Everett W. Dow, corporal, Company H; enlisted September 1, 1864,
for one year; mustered out June 15, 1865.
Sidney L. Colby, Company H; enlisted September 1, 1864, for one
year; mustered out June 15, 1865.
Edson J. Fifleld, Company H; enlisted September 1, 1864, for one
year; mustered out June 15, 1865; promoted corporal February 26, 1865.
John Hoyt, Company H; enlisted September 1, 1864, for one year;
mustered out June 15, 1865; promoted corporal January 19, 1865.
Daniel Stickney, Company H; enlisted August 31, 1864, for one year;
mustered out June 15, 1865.
James Wilson, Company H; enlisted August 31, 1864, for one year;
mustered out June 15, 1865.
Dennis County, Company M; enlisted November 7, 1863, for three
years; mustered out June 9, 1865.
Frank W. Carroll, Company H; enlisted September 16, 1863, for three
j-ears; discharged, disabled, June 5, 1865.
RECRUITS.
Andrew Blair, Company M; enlisted November 11, 1864; mustered
out June 9, 1865.
James Lahey, Company — ; enlisted December 23, 1864; deserted
en route to regiment.
382 History of Canaan.
John Miller, Compauy — ; enlisted December 3, 1864; deserted en
route to regiment.
Jolin Gilmau, Company M; enlisted December 2, 1864; deserted, New
York City, April 29, 1865.
This regiment was assi^ed for duty in the defences about
"Washington.
Adelbert O. Williams served in Company H, Thirtieth Massachusetts
Infantry; enlisted December 3, 1861; discharged for disability March
30, 1862.
Sylvanus J. Dow served Company I, Twelfth Massachusetts Infantry;
enlisted June 26, 1861, for three years; mustered in same day as
corporal; appointed sergeant January 1, 1864; first sergeant-major
March 1, 1864; wounded; discharged July 8, 1864; term expired.
The names of the volunteers furnished by brokers, is as fol-
lows :
James Green Asa A. Hall
John Kelly John M. Lee
Patrick Welch Jerome Gay
Henry Preston Jas. H. French
Thomas Presley Andrew J. Darush
Frank Jackson Jas. H. Walker
Thomas Kirby Francis Augustus
George Young John Miller
Charles H. Allerton Jas. S. Holt
The substitutes furnished by brokers to make out the quota
of the towTi were :
Francis Bearo James McGee
John McCullom George Young
Wm. Thompson Oliver Yarden
Orrin F. Bacon William Dorsey
Orrin Wade Joseph Saunders
Henry Rider Wm. Whitmer
Thos. Kirby Darby Carrigan
Wm. Kehoe Jacob Christensen
Martin Smith Joseph Sherry
John Carter Danl. Conway
Saml. Evans James Murphy
Thos. Prew Geo. F. Brooks
John Moores August Champagne
James Bond John Mahr
Chas. Bradley John Perron
James Lahey Henry Kelley
Soldiers. 383
John Gilman George Lester
Zephriam Forties Joseph D. Bliss
Robert McConnell Thos. H. Desmoud
Orra C. Hardy John McCauley
Patrick Ledlow Jas. Richards
Chas Smith Cornelius Creed
Saml. Sleeper George Langdon
Linder Marulze Andrew Blair
Ferdinant Meyer "Warren W. Hamlett
John Taylor Thos. Presley
James Green Oscar F. Washburn
In the adjutant-general's report the Canaan enrollment on
April 30, 1865 was 139 men, the total quota under calls since
July, 1863, up to that time was 93 men. The total credit by
enrollment and draft was 108 men. there being a surplus of 15
men. The number of male citizens in town between 18 and 45
years liable to military duty was 139, the estimated number who
entered the army and naw from April 15, 1861, to April, 1865,
was 49 as reported, but the latter number must be a mistake. The
number of men the town was required to furnish during the war
can not be told nor the number it did furnish. But so far as
the records go everj' name has been taken that has been credited
to Canaan, some whose residence was unknown are known to have
enlisted from this town. This record includes only the names
of those who enlisted from this town and went to fill out the
quota required. Some of them were residents, others were
hired by the brokers employed by the town to obtain men in
place of those drafted or volunteered. Some men reenlisted after
their term of service had expired. Many of the hired substi-
tutes deserted.
The foregoing lists contain the names of 183 men.
CHAPTER XXIII.
EOADS.
The settlers traveled from house to house by means of paths,
which by constant treading and use became harder and harder
and more distinctly roads. There were no wheeled carriages and
the people went on foot or horseback. They traveled straight,
with no reference to inequalities of hill or valley. The first paths
were worn along South Road, between the houses of the settlers,
and to Lebanon, where they had to go for grain. As other
settlers came and built their tog huts in other parts of the town,
paths were trod to their houses. When the corn mill was built
a path was made to Eames' mill from the south part of the
town, subsequently a road was laid over this part, "as now trod
to Eames ]\Iill. ' ' This road ran through the north field of the old
Barber farm, nearly on the east line of M. E. Cross', across his
road to the town house, through his field and so on towards
the northeast to the mills at the outlet of Hart's Pond. Traces
of this road are still visible just inside the west line of wall on
J. B. Wallace's land.
Another road to the mill led along the north side of Hart's
Pond, and was called the ''old Cardigan Road," over much the
same course as the road now used, until it reached the corner,
then turning and running south by Joshua Wells', turning again
southwesterly over the hill towards the Bickford place and so
on towards Orange over the bridge by the fair grounds. An-
other path led to the mill from Dorchester, and came out near
the Putney house on the previous road.
The road across Sawyer Hill dates back to an old path trod
between Nathaniel Bartlett's and South Road, by the houses of
Ezekiel Wells, Samuel Meacham, Warren Wilson, William Rich-
ardson, Clark Currier and Amasa Clark.
These paths, which gradually became roads capable of travel
with ox teams and horses, were built for the accommodation of
the settlers only; there was no traveling for pleasure, and with
the exception of Governor Wentworth when he passed over his
u
o
u
c
o
C
<»
Roads. 385
road to Hanover, no one passed through the town expecting to
find any direct route to any other town. Hills were not avoided,
the early settler knew where his neighbor lived in a straight
line and he went that way, not round about, with no regard for
any other traveler but himself. These paths and roads wore
out early, and it was not like the western prairie, where there
is no sign of tree or rock, and when the ruts get too deep, an-
other track is made along side of the old one with no labor.
The settlers would have had to cut trees and remove stones,
and even when they did begin to build new roads for team travel,
they did not avoid hills, but kept as near the old path as possible.
The first road tumpiked and rounded up was from South Road
to the Street. The old settlers were nearly all proprietors,
owned one or more rights of the grantees, and as the charter pro-
vided an allowance for roads to be made in the surveys and
pitches of land, they considered it their duty to lay them out
and make repairs. For nearly two years after the settlement of
the town there does not seem to have been much money spent
upon roads, nor any laid out, whatever repairs had been made
were done by the settlers without expense. Up to 1776 the
town had voted no money for roads. In that year it voted 15
pounds, the proprietors had raised all the money and built
all the roads. From 1776 to 1787 both town and propriety voted
money for roads and bridges. After that date the propriety
seems to have left that public duty to the to^\Ti, and from that
time on, for forty years, the records of the town are mostly the
record of the acceptance, survey and discontinuance of roads.
At the first meeting of the proprietors in 1768, three dollars
tax on each proprietor's right was raised for roads. This
amount was to be worked out at the rate of four shillings per day.
The proprietors' committee were to see that it was worked out.
At the first town meeting in 1770, Ezekiel Wells was appointed
surveyor of roads, the duties of his office were to survey the
roads to be laid out, and not to superintend their construction,
as is done today by that officer. In 1774 the town appointed
two surV'Cyors and their duties began to tend towards the laying
out and constructing.
In 1770 the proprietors raised six shillings on each right for
25
386 History of Canaan.
roads, and later in the year a further tax of 18 shillings was laid.
In 1771 Jolm Scofield was paid 16 pounds, 8 shillings for labor
on the highway, Samuel Jones 2 pounds. 10 shillings and 2 pence,
Samuel Benedict 12 shillings and 8 pence, Joseph Craw 8 shil-
lings. They were the road committee. In 1772 James Jones re-
ceived 8 shillings for labor. This was all for the repairs on the
old paths. The Governor's Road from the Pemigewasset River
to Dartmouth College was voted to be built at a proprietors'
meeting May 19. 1772, and they "Voted a Tax of Two pounds
lawfull money be & hereby is laid on each Proprietors Right &
Share of land in sd Canaan to defray the Charges & Cost of
Clearing & making the Governors Rode thro sd Town." (a)*
Joseph Craw, Samuel Benedict and Samuel Jones were appointed
a committee to lay out the "sd one hundred and twenty four
pounds in making sd Rode forthwith,'' and a day's work was
to be worth 5 shillings and 6 pence. In July they voted to lay
a road from the "Lower Meadow across Town Hill to ye road
that goes to the Mills." There is no survey of this road rec-
orded nor of the road voted to be laid the following October,
"from the Mills southerly to the town Line."
In 1773 a road was wanted through a comer of Relhan (En-
field) and application was made to the Court of General Ses-
sions. There is no evidence in the court records that this road
was obtained. In June, 1773, they voted "to lay out a road from
the road that leads (from ye Lower Great Meadows across Town
Hill to ye Mills) on ye North Bank of Masquamy thro M"" John
Scofields Entervale lot to Ezekiel Wells Enterval lots shall lay
out a road for sd Wells."
In 1774 Caleb Clark was to pay five pounds in labor for a
lot, "one half to be done on the road and the other half to be done
on the bridge to be built acrost the *river by John Scofields at the
Loer Interval." In October they voted "That the Rode that goeth
from Thomas Miners Intervale to W John Scofields should be
laid out in a more straight form and a bridge built under the
care of the comite across the river." "That there should be a
Rode laid out from Capt. Wale worths (Walworths) to the rode
that goeth from Samuel Chapmans to Mr. Eames mill." No one
of these was ever recorded nor are they in existence now. The
♦Refers to layout of roads.
Roads. 387
"Lower Meadow/' "Lower Great Meadows," and "Loer Inter-
val," are the same and were in the vicinity of West Canaan, so
was John Scofield's intervale. Thomas Miner's intervale was
near G. W. Davis's. Captain Walworth lived at the east end
of South Road, and Samuel Chapman and Ezekiel Wells on Town
HiU.
In 1777 the town chose three surveyors of highways, ' ' Richard
Clark in the Northeast District, Charles Walworth in the South
district, Samuel Jones in West District. ' ' The care of the roads
had given one man too much work and we wdll see that as the
roads increase the number of surveyors also increases. This
is also the first indication of dividing the town into districts, it
was a division made by custom and not by any vote of the town.
In 1780 the proprietors voted to "lay out a Rode from Samuel
Jones to Barbers Mil where they think it most Convenient for
the South part of the Town." This led by the old graveyard
down past the old Haynes house, and is now thi'own up. In
1786 the proprietors raised 60 pounds for roads and bridges,
' ' Forty pounds of this amount was to be laid out on the road ap-
pointed to be laid out by the court through the town. ' ' No road
was recorded on that date on the court records. Fifteen pounds
was to be laid out on the road "from Lime to Grafton." Five
pounds was to be laid out on the bridge, "from Town Hill so
called over the river."
Four shillings a day was to be allowed for labor in summer
and three shillings in winter, three shillings for ox work. This
is the last vote made by the proprietors about roads. That
question had become too large for them, there are too many roads
and the proprietors are few, and it is left to the town hereafter.
The town this year raises its road money for the first time by
the rate, ten shillings on the pound.
It was also voted to lay out a road to "John Curriers land,"
(he lived then on West Farms), also from "]Mr. Calkins house,"
who lived at West Canaan, "to Town Hill." In April a com-
mittee was chosen to survey all the roads in town. Whether
they ever reported or not or performed this work is not known.
In August, 10 shillings on the pound were raised "to make good
the Post Road through the town," and six days' notice was to
be given of the time to work. In November the committee "to
388 History of Canaan.
compleat the Post Road in this town, call on the inhabitants to
make good the Bridge over the Maseoma river on said day by
way of a land tax. ' ' The ' ' Post Road ' ' called the County Road
and "South Road" also, and even to this day, was laid out by the
County Court about 1774. The old deeds of that date refer to
it, but it was probably laid out by the General Sessions Court Oc-
tober 26, 1785, as a Post Road. In 1791 the post route over it was
called No. 2. That court was the Court of General Sessions and
had jurisdiction of highways. Upon petition signed by inhabi-
tants living near the proposed road, the court appointed commis-
sioners, who held a hearing and if impressed with the necessity
or desirability of such road proceeded to appoint a day to meet
upon the proposed route and lay out the road. The County was
not organized until 1773.
There is a small record book of His Majesty's Court of Gen-
eral Sessions for several terms, from April, 1774, to April,
1775, at Haverhill. The next term appears to have been held at
Plymouth in November, 1782. John Wentworth. the provincial
governor, left in May, 1775, and no court was held during the
Revolution. There is no record of South Road ever having been
laid out by this court. That it was laid out before the proprie-
tors made the survey of land along the Enfield line is evident,
for the old surveys run to the road, and the range line followed
the road for a distance of 800 rods. It became the traveled
highway from the lower towns to the north. From the height of
land in Grafton it plunged down into the "Gulf" up over the
long hill by the Joneses, down again over Moose Brook, and so
on up and down, over Town and Saw^-er Hills, till it passed
beyond our boundaries. This road has remained unchanged, only
it is not so much the traveled road to Lyme now. Congress
in 1793 established post routes through the state, one of these
routes started from Concord and went through Boscawen,
Salisbury^ Andover, Newchester, Plymouth. Haverhill, Piermont,
Orford, Lyme. Hanover, Lebanon, Enfield, Canaan, Grafton,
Alexandria and Salisbury to Concord. Each post rider was re-
quired to perform his route weekly. The riders received twelve
pounds each. Postage on single letters was fixed at six pence for
forty miles and four pence for less than forty. Once a week
citizens in Canaan could send a letter to other sections in the
Roads. 389
state, by the rider. If directed to a town on one of the other
routes, six to twelve days would be required for its delivery.
In 1786 a road was laid out from the "old Wolfeborough road"
to Mr. Bradbury's land, and a bridge was built over the Indian
River. Six highway surveyors were appointed this year and
the next year, 1787, eight. The old roads are beginning to be
inconvenient, easier travel is required, and a committee is ap-
pointed to see ' ' where the road should be turned by Daniel Blais-
dells land." "To alter the road from Mr. Joslens house to
Enfield line, and a road was laid out from the 'Brick Yard'
on West Farms, 'to John Harris land,' also from David Foggs
to the Post road on Quaker Hill." Daniel Blaisdell lived on
the turnpike below the depot. Mr. Joslen lived at the west end
of the South Road near West Canaan, John Harris' land was
north of the brick yard. David Fogg lived at the corner of the
Lebanon and switch roads from the Street.
In 1788 is found the first appropriation for making the roads
passable in winter "Voted to raise 5 shillings on the pound for
the purpose of breaking rodes and clearing out fallen trees the
ensueing winter, if sd money is not laid out in sd time to be
laid out on the Roads next Spring. ' ' They also voted to petition
the selectmen of Grafton to lay out a road "from the Main Road
that leads thro sd Grafton, to meet the road that leads to Capt.
Barber's Mill" (1) . A survey of a road from "Thomas Baldwin's
dwelling house to Enfield line was accepted, and to give Mr.
Baldwin the allowance of land left for a road by the proprietors
of sd town in exchange for the above said road." They voted
to lay out a road from "Thadeus Lathrops to strike the public
road." Thaddeus Lathrop lived on the east side of the road
from the village opposite the house of J. W. Colburn (3) . A com-
mittee was appointed to complete the bridge over the Mascoma,
"by Lieut. E. Wells," and another committee was appointed
to complete the bridge "on the Post road over Maskum river."
In 1789 no new roads were laid out or voted. In 1790 nine
highway surveyors were appointed but no new roads laid. In
1791 the selectmen were requested to lay out a road to "Mr
Thadeus Lathrops" and a committee was requested to alter a
road from "where Mr. Calkins formerly lived to ^Major Jones
Saw mill, if thev think best."
390 History op Canaan.
In 1792 nine higliway surveyors were appointed, as follows :
John P. Calkins for Sugar Hill.
John Scofield for the south district.
Asa Paddleford for West Farms.
Samuel Meacham for Town Hill.
Ensign Joshua Richardson for N. W.
Richard Clark for north district.
Jonathan Dustin for Dogester district.
William Douglass for Centre district.
Oliver Smith for middle district.
Elijah Wicher for Eastern District.
"Voted to build a bridge over the Maseoma river, near where
the old one stands." "To send a petition to the town of Han-
over requesting them to make a Good Passible Road Through
the Corner of Their To\ati which Lies betwixt Canaan and Lyme
as the Road Goes." "Voted not to open the road through the
Intervale from Mr. Flints to the bridge." The inhabitants
north of the Wolfeborough road were incorporated into a sep-
arate highway district.
Lieut. William Richardson, Maj. Samuel Jones and Capt.
Ezekiel Wells were appointed a committee to survey "necessary
Roads." The building of the bridge over the Maseoma was to
be sold to the lowest bidder.
In 1793 "Voted that the former committee chosen to survey
the road from Grafton line to Sawyer hill (viz) William Rich-
ardson, R. Barber and J. Harris, make a proper return of their
poceedings to the town clerk and him to record the same." It
was never recorded. The tovm voted to allow for labor done on
the highway three shillings, six pence per day for the months
from ]\Iay to August, and two shillings per day for oxen.
"Voted to build a bridge over Mud Pond Brook upon cost of
the Town." "To sell the same to the lowest bidder for wheat
at 5 shillings per bushel." This bridge was struck off to John
Currier for $47. Thomas Miner, Joshua Wells and Robert
Barber were to "lay out a road from West Farms to the center
of the Town." "Voted that the road from John M. Barbers to
J. Flints be opened and recorded." This was not recorded until
1795 and extended from the south end of the Street to the
Switch (8). A committee was appointed to inspect the bridge
built bv Thomas Miner over the Indian River. In 1794 there
Roads. 391
were ten highway surveyors and districts. "Voted not to ac-
cept the road from Mr. Flints to Shiibal Burdicks." "Voted to
present a petition to the Sessions respecting the road from Pros-
pect Hill to Lyme." This matter was brought up at the town
meeting in Hanover and it was postponed. There is no mention
of this among the court records. The town voted "to accept the
survey of a road from Ebenezer Eames to Dames Gore" (5).
"Voted to accept survey of road from Enfield line near Asa
Paddlefords by the Brick Yard to North Branch Bridge" and
from "Steven Eastmans to Daniel Morses." To lay out a road
from "the Meeting house to the Widow Steven's or near by in
the most convenient place." Nothing is known of this road nor
of the one accepted later from "Widow Stevens to Joshua
Stevens. ' '
Almost everyone wanted a road at this time to go anywhere,
and any one could call out the committee and ask the town to
accept of" the road, all at the expense of the town. The town be-
gan to realize that much unnecessary work was done which
had to be paid for so they voted to put a stop to it in the follow-
ing: "that if any man calls out the committee, and lays out a
road, and the town does not accept of said Road, that the man
which calls out said committee, pay them himself for their
services. ' '
In 1795 they voted "to petition the County Court to have the
road made passable from Prospect Hill to Lyme through Han-
over." This petition was dated August 22. 1796. Lyme ap-
pointed Jonathan Freeman its agent to go before the Court of
Common Pleas. The road from "]Mr. Flints to Mr. Peaslee's
South bound" was accepted. In 1796 the highway surveyors
were increased to twelve, and no new roads were laid out or
asked for.
In 1797 Ezekiel Wells was made agent of the to^wn at the
next term of the "Inferior Court Respecting the Lyme Road,"
on a petition for a road from Lyme to Canaan meeting house.
This petition was dismissed February 26, 1798 (2).
The road to Lyme through the northeast corner of Hanover
had been a source of much annoyance to the people of Lyme and
Canaan. Hanover persistently refused to lay out the little piece
of road in that town to join on to the ends of the road from
392 History of Canaan.
Canaan and Lyme. A petition dated July 6. 1796, was sent
to the selectmen of Hanover by the selectmen of Canaan, in-
forming them, "that the cryes of the injured Travellers are con-
tinually ringing in our ears, on account of the intolarableness
and almost impractacableness of Travelling the Road." Xo at-
tention was paid and Canaan applied to the court. The court
required notice to be given Hanover. After the dismissal of
the petition for what cause is not known, the inhabitants of
Lyme and Canaan at once petitioned Hanover to lay out the
road, and on AugTist 31, 1798, the selectmen of Hanover, ap-
pointed a place to meet the selectmen of the other two towns in
Lyme on the 20th of September "and see where a suitable
place for sd road can be found. ' '
The town "Voted to lay a rode from ]\Ioody Noyes on his line
to Joseph Flint's land, and from thence in the most convenient
place to sd Flints." This is the same road not accepted in 1794
when Sliubel Burdick lived on bloody Noyes' farm. "To lay a
road from ]\Ir. Flints to the ^Meeting house in the most convenient
place and that the road be established when the committee lays
it" (9). It was laid in 1798 and ]\Ioody Noyes conveyed a strip
of land four rods wide and two hundred long to the selectmen of
Canaan for it. A road was laid out ' ' from the road that goes by
J\lr. Carlton's in the most convenient and best place by Nathaniel
"Whichers to the road that goes to Dorchester by Nathaniel Gil-
mans." This was recorded in 1800 (12). In 1798 no roads
were voted nor in 1800. In 1801 the town voted not to "change
the road from Ezra Nichols to the ^Meeting house." This re-
quested change was afterwards granted. "Voted to reconsider
Ezra Nichols road to Nath Barbers." "To establish a road from
John M. Barbers ta Nichols. ' ' Ezra Nichols lived on the Coch-
ran place, and Nath Barber at A. W. Hutchinson's.
The town voted "to lay out a road from West Farms to the
Meeting house," to exchange road from Joshua Harris' northerly
down the hill (8) from where it "is now trod, into the Range
way between Harris and James Doten to the North end of
Dotens land" (9). "Voted to give Moses Richardson $12. on
condition that he give a deed to the town of a road four rods wide
from near his house to Francis Kinneson," and "Daniel Farnum
$10 for a four rod road through his land and Francis Kinneson 's
Roads. 393
land," "where the road was rim to Moses Eiehardsons land."
This road went from South road to the road to Grafton (17).
The highway from West Farms to Prospect Hill was accepted
(16), and one from Clark Currier's by Richard Clark. 3d's. to
Reynold Gates's, and from said Clark's by Levi Cilley's to Am-
brose Chase 's ( 14 ^ . also from Clark Currier 's to Josiah Barber 's
(15). Directions were given to open a road from Deacon
Harris' barn to Thaddeus Lathrop's. In 1802, "Voted to move
road to the north line of Jonathan Carlton's lot" (20). The
road was first laid in 1800. The bridge over Goose Pond Brook
on the West Farms road was bid off to Jonathan Carlton for
$36, to be 16 feet wide of 2i/^ inch plank. The road from
Captain Wells' orchard to Moses Chase's house through J. and
Elam Meacham's land to the old road was discontinued, and a
road to Moses Chase's another way was voted to be laid out
(20a). This is the tirst vote of the discontinuance of any road
by the town, many roads hereafter were voted discontinued and
passed out of use, many others by not being used have been closed
and fenced in by adjoining owners.
The laying out of roads in the early days was sometimes done
by committees and sometimes by selectmen, contrary' to the
law. Nor were roads discontinued legally. Some roads were
laid out by the courts, and some became roads from constan|
travel by the public. Efforts made in the interests of private
indi\dduals to close roads have, when opposed, met with dis-
aster, and the roads have continued open. It is oftentimes
a question for the courts to decide and is the only safe method
to pursue in closing a highway for a long time traveled over
by the public.
In 1803 John Currier, William Richardson and Daniel Far-
num were appointed a committee to lay out necessary roads.
There were fourteen highway surveyors, and thirty cents was
raised by the rate for roads. The town "Voted to open road
from the head of Broad Street to Thadeus Lathrops on as
reasonable terms as they can with the owners of the land. " "To
raise $75 for a new road from Joshua Wells to Orange line
towards Grafton" (21). "To Discontinue road from Nathaniel
Gilmans to Joseph Randletts as soon as new road is passable."
New road was recorded 1802 (19).
394 History of Canaan.
In 1804 fifteen surveyors were appointed, but no new roads
•were voted, and the town refused to build a bridge from Levi
George's to Town Hill. Mr. George lived opposite George
Ginn's. In 1805 there are 17 surveyors, the town offers fifty
cents per day from June to August and thirty-four cents after
that time for work on the road. The town "voted to build a
bridge over the Mascoma at or near William Campbell's saw
mill, and the committee to call upon the inhabitants to build the
same." This is the bridge refused in 1804. In 1806 they
voted again "to build a bridge at William Campbell's new mill
over the river" — the bridge near the old tray factory. The
town voted ' ' That Capt. George keep two gates free on the road
from his house to Wm. Campbell's for two years." "To ex-
change old road for land to Wm. Campbell's new mill to the
place where new bridge is to be built" (25). "To examine
road that leads from near Jehu Jones and comes out to the road
below Lt. Follensbees mill" (22), and that the survey, "of
Jehu Jones road to Welches Mill be opened by surveyor."
The September Term of the General Sessions, laid out a
road from South Road to Enfield line. This is the first road
recorded in the court record as laid out in Canaan (26), and
the next is in 1822.
In 1807 six cents per hour was paid on the highway for men
and oxen. There are seventeen surveyors. The survey of
Blake's road was accepted (23), in the southwest corner of the
town and also a survey of South Road (24).
In 1808 Daniel Pattee, Joshua Harris and John Currier were
chosen to fix a place to build a bridge "over the North Branch
of Mascoma and make survey of road from where it crosses said
river to where it intersects old road." "The old road from near
Codfish Hill to river where old bridge was," was discontinued
(28) and also the road from near Joshua Harris to Town
Hill Bridge, which was the last seven or eight courses (8).
This road led from South Road north to the river, on the line
between Joshua Harris', afterward Sylvester Jones' and James
Doten's. After the road was discontinued Joshua Harris
pitched upon it in the right of Daniel Harris and it became a
part, of his farm. The road through "George Waleworths land
so far as it goes 'was thrown up', he giving liberty to travel to
KoADS. 395
the burying ground and keeping gates or bars convenient to
pass" (22). This is the road by the Cobble Graveyard to
South Road.
In 1809 they voted to exchange the road beside the pond from
Wells' to Broad Street as soon as the turnpike is passable. And
also "to explore ground for a road from Broad Street on direc-
tion to Lebanon City to Canaan line." This refers to what is
now called the "Lebanon Road." As a continuous road it was
never laid out so far as known. There was a road or path from
Eames' mill by John M. Barber's (Israel Sharon) down the hill
to the bridge and across the fiat to William Campbell's, known
in early times as the road across Town Hill from east to west.
From there on it passed through interval lots of Wells and
Eleazer Scofield to Enfield line. There were numerous changes
in these roads until it is probable the present road was the final
development.
In 1810 the committee "are to measure Mr. Walesworths lot
of land and if there is any allowance for a road they are to lay
out and open the road from Jehu Jones to Welchs Mill which
was discontinued." The road from the north end of Broad
Street near the burying ground, southerly as far as David Dus-
tin's house was discontinued, a part of the old path to Eames'
mill, and a road from "Dustin's to the Street near Capt.
Moore's" was opened but not laid until 1821 (48). The
road "from the brook near David Lawrence's house northerly,
as far as the old schoolhouse on the northwest corner of Samuel
Welch, Jr. 's land," was changed to a place further west and
also the "road from the brook as far northeasterly as Welch's
house," was changed to near Eliphalet Richardson's orchard
(39). John Currier was allowed fifty cents a rod for building
extra fence on account of these changes.
In 1811 it was voted, "to make a road passable on the best
ground from some place on Broad street by the Brick yard to
Enfield line, near Asa Paddleford's." "To settle with Job
Tyler for a road through his land" (32). "To discontinue road
from William Chase's barn northerly as far as Levi Cilley's
house, also from Luther Kinney's northerly by Richard Clark,
Jr.'s, to Turnpike at Hovey pasture" (14). And the "road from
Richard Clark, Jr.'s, north by Josiah Clark's to turnpike near
396 History of Canaan.
Saml. Gates" (14) was discontinued. They voted "to lay a
road from near Caleb Seabury 's to the road that leads from Clark
Currier's to Amasa Clark's." "To exchange road from Wells
barn easterly as far as Abel Hadley's orchard, for a road on the
west side of said Hadley's orchard to the turnpike." One hun-
dred and eighty dollars was to be laid out on the road to Enfield
by Jolm H. Harris, "that was fined by the court." Roads, like
persons, in those days were indicted and fined for being bad.
Abel Brown's request "to remove a road by building a bridge
over a run of w^ater in Dist. No. 8, and to straighten road from
the bottom of the hill, near Lawrence mill to the turnpike on the
south line of land lately sold to Saml. Church," was granted.
The old Scofield bridge and the log bridge, a little east of it,
were rebuilt. It was voted that the "selectmen lay out a road
from Ezekiel Wells, Jr. 's, to old Post guide on County road that
leads to John Willises " ( 35 ) ; " from the Meeting house to back
road near John M. Barber's (31) ; and discontinue road to bury-
ing ground near Daniel Colby's"; "to alter road on hill, south
of John M. Barber's." "To assist the Town Hill district so
much as to make their part of the new road from Center district
to old road in Town Hill district." "To lay out a road on the
east route, according to plan exhibited by selectmen acrost Clark
Currier's land."
In 1812 the road from "Dea. Josiah Clark's bridge to turn-
pike, near John Worth, Jr. 's barn," was accepted (34), and the
road from "Saml. Whittier's to Dea. Clark's bridge," was ex-
changed for it.
The road from Clark Currier's to the burying ground was ex-
changed for the road from the burying ground to Amasa Clark's.
Esquire Pettingill was asked to procure a continuance for those
roads which were indicted. If the road could be fixed before the
return of the indictment and trial, there would be no fine. The
road from the old brick yard easterly, ' ' crossing the Intervale to
the County road at the Post guide, and the road from near
Stephen Clifford's, easterly to northwest corner of E. Wells,
3d's, orchard," were discontinued. In place of the latter was
(35).
In 1813 the road from the north end of "Broad street to Gore
line, near Asel Jones's," was straightened. One hundred and
KoADS. 397
sixty dollars was raised this year for making roads and bridges.
The road from "Thadeus Lathrop, Jr/s. to the bridge between
the two sawmills," was discontinued. The committee were or-
dered to explore the gronnd for a new road from Greeley's mills
to the West Farms' road. The report on straightening the road
from Gore Road to Broad Street was not accepted. The selectmen
were requested to lay out a road from Seth Daniels' to Welch's
Mills (37), to straighten the road from the meeting house to
Judah Wells', and a survey of a road from Mescheck Blake's to
Hanover was accepted (36). The road from Esquire Currier's
to Wood's mills was straightened and Currier allowed $30.
In 1814 Stephen Goodhue petitioned Canaan for a road from
Canaan's meeting house to Plymouth and the town voted to op-
pose it. In 1815 the road from Joseph Clark's to the turnpike
was laid, and the road from Ensign Colby's to Daniel B. Whit-
tier's was discontinued (20). John Fales was given the "old
road against his land southerly, which is discontinued, lying be-
tween the two brooks, for the- present contemplated road crossing
his land." Eliphalet Richardson is given "one rod off, westerly
side of old road from southerly side of the Mill brook, four rods
northerly as far as where the new road leaves the old one to
sd Richardson 's orchard. ' ' The two last votes refer to the road
at the Corner, voted to be changed in 1810 (39).
In 1816 the town quiets John Currier in the possesion of the
old road, between his land and Bailey Welch. And D. B. Whit-
tier, Nathaniel and Ephraim Wilson are quieted in the posses-
sion of another old road (20).
In 1818 it is voted to lay out a road "from Adam Pollard's by
Caleb C. Bartlett's to highway near Nathl. Bartlett's" (43).
The survey of a road by Stephen Worth's is accepted (42).
In 1820 the road from :\Iarch Barber's to the meeting house
was straightened (44). March Barber lived on the old Benjamin
Norris farm and the old road came up over the hill southwest of
Israel Sharon's in a straight line to meet the road from the
Switch and continued to the south end of Broad street over the
latter road. The old road was given to J. M. Barber from the
north side of James Wallace's land, down the hill to the Nichols
or Cochran land. The road as straightened, is now the traveled
road from the to\\'n house to the Norris bridge.
398 History of Can.v.vx.
The road from Deacon Clark's bridge to the fair grounds was
continued by Job Jenniss's to Orange line (45).
The road to Sewall Gleason's had been indicted on the north
end of Sawyer Hill and a postponement was asked to repair it.
The bridge across the river at Caleb Welch's mill was rebuilt.
It was voted to lay out a road across Capt. Joshua Harris' land
to David Dustin's land (48).
This was laid out in 1821 and is the present road from the
town house to M. E. Cross'. In 1821 it was voted to ascertain
the boundaries of the old Mill road, and in 1822 it was deeded
to Joshua Harris for the land which the new road took. In
1821 it was voted to make a survey of a road from Job Jenniss ' by
Deacon Clark's field and east side of his house to corner of Rob-
ert B. Clark's field. William Campbell had agreed to repair the
Scofield bridge and desired to be relieved from his obligation,
the town agreed to relieve him if he would give the town ' ' 1500
feet of good merchantable pine plank 2i/2 inches thick and 16
feet long, and no plank to be received unless as thick as above
specified." The road from Abel Aldrich's to Enfield line was ac-
cepted and Aldrich had the privilege of straightening the road
if he would give the land (47). In 1823 the old road was
discontinued.
In 1822 the Lebanon road was indicted and the town voted
$150 to repair it. The County Commissioners laid out a road
from Hanover line by William Harris's into Enfield to the
Lebanon road (49). The town voted to lay out a road for Amos
Richardson, but would not accept of his survey and the road
was not laid until the next year (50). This road led off the
Lyme road in the northwest part of the town. In 1823 the road
near Lewis Simmons' was straightened.
In 1824 the road from Amasa Clark's to Hanover line was
straightened; this road led off from the turnpike at the north
end of Sawyer Hill.
In 1825 Ezekiel Wells was given the old road through his land,
for the land the old road took. In 1826 the survey of the road
from Reuben Giles' to John May's, was accepted, but was not
laid out until 1827 (54). In 1825 the selectmen were requested
to make minutes of the survey of a road from Deacon Clark's
bridge to Ezra Gales'.
EoADS. 399
In 1826 Jacob Richardson's petition for a road to Amos
Gould's was granted, in 1827 the road from Nathan Cross' to
and along the Gore line to Josiah P. Haynes', was accepted (57).
This began at the old road from Nathaniel Gilman's. The road
from Lieutenant Miner's on South road to the bridge, was left
with the selectmen to open in their discretion.
Daniel Blaisdell's petition for a road was granted. In 1828
$100 was raised to build bridges injured by the freshet. In
1827 the town voted to accept the Grafton Turnpike and the
selectmen were ordered to lay out a road over the same (58).
In 1831 the Clark Hill road was voted to be laid out, but it
was not until 1833 that it was accepted and recorded (65). It
began at the turnpike, taking- a westerly course and ended at the
turnpike near the Gore line. It is now the traveled road and
took the place of the turnpike which continued by Fred Avery's
house. In 1830 a road was laid out from the south end of Wells'
bridge to South road (59), and in 1831 the old road from the
same point was discontinued over the saddle to the county road.
The road from the foot of Gilman hill across the meadow to near
Moses Flanders', was discontinued and a new road laid to take
its place (62).
In 1832 $50 was laid out on the new Gore road and the road
from the CongTegational meeting house to John H. Harris's at
the corner, was opened four rods wide. At a meeting in Septem-
ber, there was an article in the warrant to discontinue the road
from Daniel Blaisdell's to Job C. Tvler's, the town refused to
discontinue it, but in 1836 the town agreed to throw up the old
road when Tyler should build sixty-seven rods of new road.
There was a dispute between Ephraim Wilson and John Fales
over the ownership of an old road at the Corner which had been
thrown up. Wilson began proceedings against Fales for tres-
pass. The town voted to relinquish all claim to the land to Wil-
son by his paying the town $5; Fales was to move his barn otf
Wilson's land: the town was to give Fales $40, and he was to
give up his claim. Wilson lived in the Fred Cross house at the
Comer. In 1834 the old road from the top of the hill west of
Indian river, at the begining of the new road to intersection of
new with old, near the line of Joshua Martin 's. was discontinued
400 History of Canaan.
and a new one laid {G6). This was in the northeasterly part of
the town from the Plymouth road.
In 1836 the survey of the road from Deacon Clark's bridge to
Deacon Sleeper's, was accepted {6S), but the road was not laid
and recorded until 1839. This is the road from the depot, known
as the river road to Dorchester. Joshua S. Lathrop petitioned
for a road and it was laid out in 1840, and is now the road from
a little below E. M. Adams' to Dorchester (71).
It was voted to lay out a new road on the petition of John
Hoyt and others, and another on the petition of Benjamin Wells.
In 1841 the selectmen were requested to laj" out the Lathrop
road on the east side of the Mascoma to the turnpike near Joseph
Wheat's shop or Trussell's bridge.
In 1842 the town was asked to lay out a road from Deacon
Sleeper's house to the new road from Canaan to Dorchester,
and also a road from Harrison Pillsbury's to the Lebanon road,
near March Barber's. In 1847 the town was asked again and
again refused. But the latter road was laid out by the court
in 1848 (77).
In 1844 the road from Campbell Hill to the Lebanon road was
discontinued. Luther Kinney petitioned for a road and Joseph
Wheat also and the town voted to lay out both roads.
In 1845 the town voted to make alterations in the turnpike
from Harrison Porter's to Gates' Gore. This discontinued the
turnpike from beyond Fred Avery's house to where the Clark
Hill road intersects the turnpike. The town voted not to lay
out a road from Simeon ^Arvin's to the Dorchester road, near
Andrew Dewey's, but afterwards reconsidered and the road was
laid in 1846 (75). The town refused to lay out a road from
Daniel Campbell's to the Lebanon road. Jeremiah Whittier's
petition for a road was dismissed, but it was afterwards laid out.
In 1847 the town was asked to lay out a road from Eaton's
mills to the Lebanon road at West Canaan ; it was refused, but it
w^as laid out by the court in 1848 (76). Levi Wilson's petition
was dismissed and this road was laid out by the court in 1848.
The road from the east line of Currier and Wallace's land, near
Stephen Wells ' to the Dorchester line was discontinued, also that
portion of the old road superseded by the new road (75) from
Pillsbury's to Jenniss'.
Roads. 401
In 1848 the road from the depot to the turnpike was voted
to be laid out.
In 1849 the "Potato Road" was laid out by the court (79).
The road from James Arvin's to March Barber's, was voted
not to be discontinued, but in 1861 it was discontinued and the
selectmen were requested to lay out forty-two rods of it, subject
to gates and bars from the end of Broad street (94). The old
road from Chamberlain Packard's to Harrison Pillsbury's was
discontinued.
In 1852 Daniel B. Cole's petition for a road was dismissed,
but the road was laid in 1855 (88). Joshua L. Lathrop's peti-
tion for a road was granted and the road laid in 1853 (84).
Watts Davis' petition was also granted and the road laid in
November (83).
In 1854 Otis Jones petitioned for a road and it was granted.
In 1857 the court laid out a road from near A. C. Love joy's,
down the valley of Committee Meadow brook to the Shaker Hill
road in Enfield, a few rods east of the schoolhouse in district No.
9 (89).
In 1857 the railroad having built a bridge over the river
above Scofield or Blackwater bridge, so changed the current of
the stream that it undermined the foimdations of Scofield bridge,
and William W. George was appointed agent of the town to
settle with the railroad. It was adjusted by the railroad putting
in stone abutments on the north side of Scofield bridge, to pre-
vent the wearing of the water against the roadway.
In 1859 the road from Moses Knights' to Hanover line was dis-
continued.
In 1865 the road laid by the county commissioners on the
east side of Goose Pond, on John Shepard's land near the brick
knoll, where the new^ road intersects the old road, was discon-
tinued north 100 rods to near the intersection of the Gates
road.
In 1866 John L. Perley petitioned for a road and for the dis-
continuance of an old road ; both were granted.
In 1867 the road about fifty rods from Wells' hill, near where
the French shanties formerly stood, to the intersection of the
road by John Stevens' to Enfield, was discontinued, and also a
part of the road east of Wells' hill to S. B. !]\lorgan's.
26
«
402 History of Canaan.
In 1868 the road near Kelly & George's store, northeast about
eight rods, was discontinued to the intersection of the new
road.
In 1869 the road from F. H. Wells' sawmill, following the
brook to Enfield line, was discontinued.
In 1870 the road from near Warren Wilson's to tray fac-
tory, Town Hill road, was discontinued.
In 1884 the road from "near the watering trough below N. C.
Morgan's over the hill to Enfield line," was discontinued. Also
the road from Lary Pond to Hiram Jones'.
In 1886 the road from the "Jerusalem road to Orange, near
David Cole's house," and the road "beginning at the intersection
of Levi Hamlet road, thence northerly to road leading by G. W.
Murray place," were discontinued. The latter road had been
discontinued by vote of the town many years before.
In 1888 the town voted to discontinue "road on west side of
road leading across Sawyer hill, near J. E. Cilley's; thence
west to the Gould farm."
In 1892 the road on the "east side of the brook, near Lovejoy's
mill; thence west to the road from Enfield by the mill to West
Farms, ' ' was discontinued by vote.
In 1894 the "road over the crossing at Welch's ]\Iill, " was
discontinued, and in 1896 the town voted not to discontinue it.
In 1896 the town voted to discontinue the road from "G. W.
Davis's to the intersection of the Lebanon road." Mr. Davis,
under advice of counsel, had purchased the land on both sides of
this road; his counsel advising him that by so doing, he could
close the road by vote of the town. The matter was carried into
court and the case was decided against Mr. Davis. Judge Chase
writing the opinion. The court held that highways should be
laid out either by the selectmen or by the court ; this power was
not conferred upon towns to be exercised by direct vote or by
a committee chosen by the town. This was a highway solely
because it had been used as such for twenty years, and could
not be discontinued without the consent of the court. Upon the
facts shown the court would not consent to close the road.
In 1897 the town voted to discontinue the road through Wells'
Cemetery. An addition had been made to the cemeterj^ on the
other side of the road, which made it advisable to build a new
EoADS. 403
road around the west side of the cemetery, so that there might
not be any traveled highway through it.
In 1902 the town discontinued a ' ' piece of road north of Henr>-
Sorrell's house; thence east past the old sawmill site of Love-
joy's mill, to west end of road formerly discontinued."
In 1906 the "road from Campbell's to Stephen Peaslee's old
mill" on the road from Factory Village to Dorchester, was dis-
continued, as well as a short piece leading westerly from the
turnpike opposite the post office at Factory Village.
LAYOUTS OF ROADS.
(a) Road from Pemigewasset River to Dartmouth College October 30,
1771: W 10 N 260 to Hue betweeu Cokermouth (Wentworth) and
Dorchester W 260. W 23 S one mile. W 4 miles. W 15 N 1% miles
to line of Canaan and Hanover. That part of Governor's or Wolfeboro
road in Canaan.
(b) Report of road commissioners in 1785 for a road from Boscawen
to Dartmouth College: . . . thence by spotted line 15 rods from
Nathaniel Hovey's sugar camp, thence nearly straight course to bridge
over Mud Pond Brook, thence as road is now trod 10 rods (South
Road), thence on straight course by Eleazer Scofield's house, thence
to stump 3 rods to the south side of Joseph Bean's barn.
1788.
(1) Road from Grafton to Barber's Mill. Isinglass Hill road to grist
mill at East Canaan: Beginning on Grafton line between Danl Blais^
dell's and Whittier's, then N 41 W 208 r., N 28 W 26 r., N 18 W 72 r., N
48 W 28 r., N 28 W 18 r., N 9 W 46 r., N 45 W 30 r., N 32 W 180 r., to
Robert Barber's mill.
(2) Road from grist mill by Wells Cemetery: Beginning opposite
Joshua Well's house S 97 r., S 19 E 44 r., S 14 W 20 r., S 19 E 48 r., S 14
W 20 r., S 9 E 48 r., S 11 W to Barber's mill. First course discontinued.
(3) Broad Street: "N 11 W 288 to the road near Mr. Elias Lathrop's
farm." See Turnpike.
1793.
(4) Road from Wells' east side of Hart's Pond to Nathaniel Gil-
man's: Beginning near Joshua Wells' house. Data not complete on first
course; probably N 14 E 20 r., N 80 r., N 22 E 40 r., N 40 E 204 r., N 24
E 112 r., N 22 E 192 r. It then met (19).
(5) Road to Dorchester by John Currier's: Beginning near Eames'
mill at corner, then N 30 E 75, then N 27 E 326. From this on the data is
lost, but the old surveys would indicate that it followed the range lines
N 24 E 20, then crossing Abner Colby's land northeasterly to the south-
west corner of Prescott Clark's land, then on his land and Josiah
404 History of Canaan,
Barber's N 29 E about 300 r. to the gore line, then in the gore N 6
E 50 r. to Joseph Bartlett's house N 65 E 73 r. The first course was
discontinued and (39) took its place. The last course is not used.
It was a part of the Governor's road. This road existed as early as
1784 as a traveled way.
(6) This road led from John Currier's in a nearly straight course
across his land to Caleb Clark's, then to meet the road from Wells' to
Dorchester, following the range lines, S 75 E 44 r., S 68 E 100, S 61 E 73,
S 72 E 100 r., then in the same course to the Wells road. From Caleb
Clark's or the Putney place to Currier's it was discontinued.
1795.
(7) From north end of Broad Street to Corner, N 33 E 60 r.
(8) From south end of Broad Street to Post Road, N 85 W 104, S 71
W 61, S 52 W 40, S 27 W 17, S 6 W 13, SHE 25, S 18 W 36, S 10 W
13, S 4 W 28, S 2 W 9, S 21 W 10, S 4 W 10, S 43 W 8, N 89 W 19,
S 54 W 37, S 21 W 30, S 36 W 16, S 52 W 4, S 71 W 52, S 55 W 22,
S 20 W 38, S 31 W 58 to Post Road, near Captain Harris' store (Jones'
place). The first course was discontinued in 1861, but the selectmen laid
out N 85 W 42, subject to gates and bars (see 94).
Mabch 13, 1798.
(9) Road from County Road near Moody Noyes' ( S. W. Currier's)
to Dea. Josiah Clark's (A. W. Hutchinson's) : Beginning County Road at
a bound on the line between Thomas Miner's and Moody Noyes', 2 rods
on the east and 2 rods on the west, N 30 E 200 to northeast corner Noyes',
N 38 E on west side of line between Joseph Flint's (G. W. Davis') and
Simeon Arvin's, 41 r., N 64 E 40, S 80 E 12, N 44 E 46, N 20 E 30. N
34, N 4 E 36, N 46 E 119, to Clark's Corner at the south end of Broad
Street.
Moody Noyes deeded this land to the town December 17, 1799: Be-
ginning 4 rods west of the corner of Thomas Miner's on South Road, N
30 E 200, E 4 r. to Miner's, then southerly by Miner's 200 to South Road,
then W 4 r.
JuxE 8, 1799.
(10) Near John Kimball's down Eastman Hill: Beginning at the
Lyme Road, near Lieutenant Bartlett's house, N 12 E between Bartlett's
house and barn 130, N 29 E 23, N 41 E 38, N 20 E 24, N 27 E 24, N 25 E
50, N 6 E 21, N 35 W 164 to Hanover line; 4 rods wide. Bartlett lived
about 60 rods south of H. B. Gates'. Part of this road has been thrown
up.
Februakt 22, 1800.
(11) From David Bucklin's to Charles Whittier's: From Simeon Had-
ley's to highway leading from Grafton to Canaan meeting house, begin-
ning northeast corner of Hadley's land, N 35 W 36, N 86 W 10, N 62 W
42; 3 rods wide.
Roads. 405
May 29, 1800.
(12) From Dorchester road by Nathaniel Whittier's (Randlett place)
to Jonathan Carlton's (C. P. King) : Beginning northeast corner Jona-
than Dustin's land, N 61 W 99 on the north side of Dustin's to north-
west corner S 54 W 120, S 85 W 42, N 67 W 108, N 81 W 26, N 85 W 50 to
highway near Carlton's. All discontinued.
August 1, 1800.
(.13) Part of Jerusalem Spring Road: Beginning old road to Orange,
southeast corner Peter Pattee's land N 41 B 1% miles and 20 rods to
northeast corner Harry Leeds', running range line between Pattee and
Rich lots, between Dow lot and Levi and Job Wilson and David Brown;
4 rods wide (see 27).
November 10, 1800.
(14) Beginning Lyme road, near Clark Currier's (Edgar Ricard's), N
59 E 38 between Currier's house and shed, N 9 E 60, N 24 W 44, N 14 E
30, N 4 E 58, N 26 W 24, N 43 E 43, N 13 W 82, N 33 E 36, to a beech
stump about 5 rods northw'est of Richard Clark's house; N 33 W 64,
5 63 W 42, N 73 W 60, to highway from Lyme road by Runeld Gates'
to Hanover line.
Also from beech stump, S 35 E 76, S 29 E 158, S 35 E 25, S 18 E 44,
S 15 E 55, S 6 W 32. S 25 E 23, S 14 E 104, to stake near Ambrose
Chase's barns.
May 29, 1801.
(15) Road from Ricard's to Charles Lash way's: Beginning 25 rods
northeast of Clark Currier's house iu road from Currier's to Richard
Clark's 3 rods, S 61 E 44 to line of land between John Currier's and Clark
Currier's, S 75 E 130 on said line; S 42 E 26, S 49 E 20, N 82 E 44,
S 64 E 30 to stump near Ambrose Chase's house (near Collins'), S 6
E 36 to land of William Richardson, E 96, S 54 E 20, S 79 E 16, S 54
E 46, S 22 E 14, N 21 E 22, S 71 E 16, S 85 E 22, to line between Jo-
siah Barber's and Moses Colby's; S 61 E on said line 72 to highway from
Barber's to meeting house; 4 rods wide.
June 16, 1801.
(16) From West Farms to Prospect Hill: Beginning on road from old
brick yard to Daniel Morse's on line between John Currier's and William
Longfellow's, N 40 E 46, N 61 E 39, S 74 E 16, N 51 E 80, E 203, N 35 E
34, S 74 E 62, S 44 E 30, N 80 E 24, S 58 E 18, to Goose Pond Brook;
N 57 E 92, S 33 E 24, S 63 E 20, S 84 E 28, N 74 E 48, S 67 E 36, to road
near John Wilson's, Wilson to give land south of road so not to be nar-
rowed by John Perley's house (Goose Pond).
November 4, 1801.
(17) Daniel Farnum, James Kinneson, Moses Richardson to selectmen
of Canaan, deed for road 4 rods wide: Beginning nortli side Post Road,
406 History of Canaan.
near Farnum's (Charles Whittier's), N 48 E 60, N 45 E 66, to road from
Joshua "Wells' to Mr. Clifford's iu Grafton.
NOVEMBBIK 7, 1801.
(IS) Road from South Road to near William Hall's: Beginning north-
west corner 3rd 100 Nathaniel Cady, owned by Josiah Barber, a little
north of Barber's house on Dorchester road, S 61 E 180 to Ebenezer
Davis' north end, across Barber's and Moses Lawrence's (Decato's).
This road leads from the Dorchester road above the old poor farm to
meet (38). It ran on the old town line.
November 20, 1802.
(19) Beginning southwest corner of Nathaniel Oilman's land, thence
northwest in line of Oilman's and Thomas Beedle's to northwest corner of
Charles Greenfield's, being 184 rods, thence same course 16 rods, N 11
E 74, N 64 E 98, N 42 E 42, S 58 E 64, S 61 E 40, to road near Joseph
Rundlett's house. This road begins where (4) ends; leads down Gil-
man Hill to Birch Corner. Oilman and Thomas Beedle were adjoining
owners, Beedle on the west side of the road. Beedle's line in the old
surveys runs N 20 E, while Oilman's ran N 25 E.
(20) Beginning old road on line between Nathaniel Whittier's and Na-
thaniel Whittier, Jr.'s, near said junior's barn, N 61 W 30, N 86 W 50, S
84 W 67, to Jonathan Carlton's (C. P. King's) line, N 69 W on Carlton's
line 126 rods to old road leading from Dorchester (by John Currier's).
This road has been thrown up.
(20a) Beginning old road on line Moses Chase's land, S 90, near Sam-
uel Chapman's, northwest corner south on Chapman land, 78 to south-
west corner, S 10 E 76, S 4 W 64, to old road from east to west across
said hill; from Reuben Puffei*'s to Campbell Hill, by Defosses'.
December 15, 1802.
(21) Beginning at old road at bridge in first hollow, a little east of
Joshua Wells' house, S 31 E 114, S 53 E 64, SHE 15, S 36 E 38, S 57 E
40, S 53 E 9, S 10 E 41, S 37 E 40, SHE 20, to bridge over Indian;
S 38 E 23, S 21 E 28, S 38 E 48, S 18 E 25, S 30 E 41, S 46 E 20, S 27
E 14, S 53 E 14, to Orange line. Superceded by Grafton Turnpike.
It may possibly be the old road to the Bickford place. However, it
plots out over nearly the same ground the turnpike covers, from Wells'.
December 9, 1802, Town Htll.
Minutes of roads surveyed by John Currier for the making of a map
required by the state in 1804: "Road from Grafton to Hanover, N 51
W 214 rods to Farnum road, N 23 W SO, N 35 W 54, N 10 W 50, N 37
W 38, N 35 E 68 rods to Cobble Road, N 20 E 26, N 48 E 32, N 5 E 24,
N 52 E 34 rods to Follensbee's mill, N 6 E 50, N 12 W 44, N 8 E 27,
N 20 W 39, due N 109 to Wells' corner, due W 54, N 55 W 44, N 70 W 85,
N 79 W 47 to Arvin's corner, N 14 W 122 to meeting house, same course
Roads. 407
192 rods, N 33 E 64 to Carlton's corner, N 64 W 12, N 81 W 44, N 46
W 32, N 35 W 42, N 42 W 44 to Mascuni River, same course 120 rods,
N 22 W 23, N 49 W 58, N 70 W 28, N 55 W 30, N 22 W 78 to Wilson's
corner, N 21 E 178, N 30 W 60, due N 30 to Currier's corner, same
course 33 rods, N 29 W 82, N 55 W 44, N 36 W 36, N 77 W 60, to Bart-
lett's corner, same course 49 rods, N 49 W 33, N 35 W 30, N 5 E 52,
N 10 W 56, N 39 W 32, N 30 W 22, N 7 W 30, to Hanover line.
"Road from Cyrus Carlton's to Dorchester, beginning at the post guide
at the corner: N 47 E 36 to Currier's corner, N 20 E 240, N 23 E 74,
N 74 E 34, N 50 E 34, N 33 E 30, N 11 E 90, N 21 E 34, N 41 E 42, N 30
E 30, N 14 E 84, N 6 E 76, N 80 E 92, due E 14 rods, N 78 E 25, N 80
E 34, to the gore line.
"Road from Wells' corner to Orange line: Due E 10 rods, S 53 E 76,
S 66 E 78, S 69 E 84, S 47 E 35, S 29 E 30, S 72 E 28, N 66 E 33 to In-
dian River; S 69 E 38, S 82 E 162, S 62 E 17, S 50 E 9, N 77 E 15, S
66 E 18, to a maple stub near Orange line."
May 16, 1804.
(22) Beginning at South Road, near Jehu Jones' house, N 28 E 60 on
Jones' line, N 85 E 12, N 10 E 32, N 26 E 68, N 86 E 14, S 72 E 26, N 61
E 20, N 84 E 28, S 80 E 8, S 45 E 22, N 81 E 51, to road that leads from
Canaan meeting house to Grafton. This road led by Cobble graveyard
to near Alvin Davis' and is now discontinued.
June 15, 1805.
(23) Beginning Enfield line by path from Elijah Paddleford's to Me-
shech Blake's, N 12 E 40, near John May's house, N 8 E 157, N 34, to
Blake line; 4 rods wide. This road leads by H. L. Webster's to Enfield
line.
JuxE 17, 1805.
(24) Beginning Enfield line, near bridge over Ma.scoma, near Asa Pad-
dleford's, E 36, N 72 E 52, S 86 E 50, N 73 E 54, to Judah Wells' corner'
N 56 E 40, N 15 E 40=, N 73 E 44, S 57 E 44, S 30 E 60, S 40 E 42, S 17 E
43, S 38 E 69, S 85 E 144, S 59 E 177, to corner near Micah Porter's,
then same course 113 rods^ S 54 E 58, S 60 E 183, S 56 E 76, S 70 E
26, S 2 E 30, N 64 E 26, S 59 E 130. to Daniel Farnum's road (17), S 45
E 31, S 73 E 44, S 58 E 152, to Grafton line.
South Road, as re.surveyed. "Excepted Apr 7. 1807" by town.
June 30, 1806.
(25) Survey of road exchanged by town from the first corner, about 12
rods east of William Campbell's old saw mill, by his new mill: Begin-
ning at said corner S 16 E in line between Ezekiel Wells' and Chadwick's
and Campbell's on east side of said line 46 rods to bridge near new mill,
S 33 W 17, N 60 W 22, S 52 W 9, to said old road; 4 rods wide. Said
^ Currier's Survey, N 74 E.
2 Currier's survey, N 15 E 12, to Mud Pond Brook, same course 28 rods.
' Currier's survey, same course, 133 rods, to J. Porter's corner.
408 History of Canaan.
line Is the center thereof from bridge to old road on south side of River
Road to old Tray factory from Campbell's old mill to meet old road from
South Road to river now discontinued.
1806. Septembeb Term of Genebax, Sessions.
(26) Beginning at south side of South Road of Canaan, nearly opposite
house of Joshua Harris, standing in line between Micah Porter's and
Hough Harris' land, S 30 W 116, S 43 W 84, to road laid out by selectmen
of Enfield on Canaan line. Road laid 2% rods east of said line. Locke-
haven Road.
December 24, 1807.
(27) Beginning northeast corner of Hariy Leeds' land, N 40 E 54, N
50 E 44, N 42 E 28, to where Stephen Worth is beginning to build a
house. Continuation of (13) to Tug Mt. House.
Also from a road from said road to Orange line, east side of said road
34 rods north of Leeds' corner, S 6 E 41, S 23 E 48, to Orange line; 4
rods wide. This road is south of al)oye and easterly.
May 1, 1808.
(28) Beginning north side of road from meeting house to Prospect
Hill in first hollow, a few rods north of Codfish Hill, S 63 E 8, S 49 E 34,
S 69 E 73, to west side of Grafton Turnpike, near John Llado's mills.
From near Fred Butman's to Factory Village.
March 14, 1809.
(29) Beginning northwest corner Samuel Sanborn's house in old road
that leads from Timothy Clough's to Joshua Meacham's, N 45 E 20, N 24
E 4, N 15 E 48, to old road. Sanborn lived on Placid Adams' farm.
September 5, 1810.
(30) Beginning gore line about 100 rods east of Clark Pond, where
road is now traveled from this town to Dorchester, S 2 E 36, S 28 W 12,
S 4 E 35, S 38 W 12, to brook that runs out of pond; S 67 W 13, S 74 W
29, to old road near house of Luther Kinney, S 26 E 40, to Levi Cilley's
land, S 53 W 98, S 55 W 20, to turnpike at south side of schoolhouse,
from near R. H. Haffenreffer's in gore to Clark Pond, by Stephen
Morse's old place to turnpike by Daniel Goss'; 4 rods wide.
June 28, ISll.
(31) Begiiming west side of highway, 20 rods southerly from bridge
over small brook, southerly from John M. Barber's about 80 rods, S 63
W 16 to west side of Mascoma, S 53 W 38, S 79 W 26, S 67 W 32, S 80 W
59, to said old road leading from river to William Campbell's; 4 rods
wide. Part of it is Lebanon road, by Norris place.
Roads. 409
July 10, 1811.
(32) From Job Tyler's to the turnpike: Beginning at higliway near
Tyler's house on south line of his land, N 41 E 6, N 19 E 11, N 36 E 9, E
42. N 74 E 10, N 53 E 9, N 44 E 12, N 64 E 35, N 50 E 26, N 43 E 16, N
39 E 38, N 63 E 6, N 34 E 10, to small brook, N 62 E 52 to turnpike; 3
rods wide. From David Bucklin's to H. A. Oilman's, below depot.
September 5, 1811.
(33) Beginning southeast corner Richard Clark, Jr.'s house, S 60 W
94, to turnpike; road from Mrs. Lydia Shattuck's by Clarence Kinney's.
November 2, 1811.
(34) Beginning at old road on north bank of Indian River, south of
house lately owned by John Follensbee, N 63 E 22, S 85 E 66, S 87 E 87,
N 34 E 14, to west side of Grafton Turnpike, crossing turnpike 4 rods,
thence same course 36 rods, N 26 E 12, N 70 E 18, N (99) 20 (probably
due east), N 82 E 36, N 46 E 30, to west side of river, 4 rods south of
bridge over river on old road to Orange, from thence easterly, crossing
river in a direction to intersect the old road on the east banlv of said
river, with privilege of crossing old bridge so long as same is passable;
4 rods wide; from grist mill through to East Canaan by F. D. Cur-
rier's, over the hill to bridge by fair grounds.
1812.
(35) Beginning northwest corner of Ezekiel Wells 3rd's orchard, S
54 W 60, to near bank of Mascoma, S 71 W 9, to high bank on north bank
of Mascoma, S 20 W S, to high bank on south bank of Mascoma, "W 36, S
71 W 18, S 41 W 68, to old road, a pine stub, 20 rods north of bridge over
Mud Pond Brook. There is no road now that satisfies this.
May 18, 1813.
(36) Beginning north end of old road, near Elisha Blake's house, N 23
W 42, to near east end of Meshech Blake's house, N 94, to west line of
land owned by Daniel Dow, to northwest corner, N 15 E 68, N 10 W 92,
to Hanover line; 3 rods wide; southwest corner of town.
August 19, 1813.
(37) Beginning center of road against southeast corner of Seth Dan-
iel's house (O. W. Davis'), S 76 E 90, to Simeon Arvin's land, S 88 E 12,
to east side of saddle, N 80 E 45, S 70 E 16, S 53 E 35, S 86 E 24, to
Stephen Jenness' land by the fore side of his house, N SO E 31, N 76 E
65, S 70 E across the river 16 rods, S 84 E 15, S 52 E 42, N 88 E SO, to
road by Caleb "Welch, Jr.'s, house; whole distance, 1 m., 81 rods; 4 rods
wide; from O. W. Davis' to grist mill.
410 History op Canaan.
July 1, 1815.
(38) Beginning northeast corner of Moses Lawrence's, S 61 E 164, to
northeast corner of Ebenezer Davis', S 60 E 22, to road leading to Dor-
chester, near Nathan Cross' house; 4 rods wide. This road leads from
(18) to (19).
(39) Beginning on the west side of the brook, between John Fales'
shop and house where Pushee lives, N 36 E 28, to line of Eliphalet Rich-
ardson's, thence same point across Richardson's land 21 rods, thence
same point to top of hill 16 rods, then N 52 E 28, to old i-oad near Es-
quire Currier's house; 3 rods wide; up hill from corner to John Cur-
rier's.
Also, beginning 1% rods below a large rock near old road in Eliphalet
Richardsons's pasture, before the house that Bailey Welch lately pur-
chased of David Richardson, S 49 W 21, S 88 W 13, S 86 W 46, to old
road 4 rods above bridge over brook running to John Fales' shop, thence
to the water course in the bridge, then across said bridge, then to a heap
of stones in westerly edge of brook on road that leads to Esquire Cur-
rier's. Road from Putney place to Corner.
(40) Road from Corner to turnpike down the hill: N 62 W 15, S 85 W
22, N 67 W 22, N 51 W 23.
July 1, 1816.
(41) Between Daniel and Asa Kimball's, S 49 W 58, to southwest
corner of Asa's land, then same course 80 rods to door yard of Amos
Gould, IVz rods north of northeast corner of his dwelling house; 2 rods
wide.
October 23, 1817.
(42) Beginning at old road (27), 29 rods north of Harry Leeds'
northeast bound, N 8 E 22, N 11 E 5, N 12 E 22, N 32 E 11, N 43 E 6, N
50 E 47, to house the late residence of John Worth, deceased, N 24 E 44,
N 33 E 21, N 20 E 28, N 46 E 53, to east line Stephen Worth's land, then
in his east line 29 rods to northeast corner, N 20 E 114, N 29 E 60, N
32 E 160, to south line Dame's Gore; 623 rods long. Road from Jerusa-
lem north to schoolhouse.
JuxE 10, 1818.
(43) Beginning north side of road against Sewal Gleason's barn, east
end, N 26 W 4, N 5 W 8, N 2 E 6, N 14, N 10 E 12, N 35 W, to south-
east corner of Nathaniel Bartlett's house 41 rods, N 53 W 50, N 58 W
80, N 36 W 36, to stump by old road near Adam Pollard's house; 4 rods
wide. From old Hinksou place across H. B. Gates' field.
June 5, 1820.
(44) To straighten road from bridge, near March Barber's, to meet-
ing house: Beginning south side road 18 rods east of bridge, N 48 E 60, to
north line of Ezra Nichols' (Cochran's), N 80 E, on said line 12 rods to
road by Nichols (9).
Roads. 411
Second piece: Beginning at the fence on north side of road from
James Arvin's (A. W. Hutchinson's) to John M. Barber's (Sharon's),
opposite east side of road coming from Ezra Nichols', N 13 W 22, to
Barber's field, N 41 E 89, to parade near schoolhouse.
OCTOREB 30, 1820.
(45) On line of old road near Josiah Clark's (Carey Smith's) house, S
10 E 10, S 321/2 E 42, S 4 E 10, S 49 E 100, to Orange line; 3 rods wide.
May 23. 1821.
(46) Road across Dame's or Homer's Gk)re: Beginning at Canaan line
at end of road, from Luther Kinney's to Dorchester, N 10 E 23, N 33 E
14, N 19 E 44, N 36 E 17, N 22 E 18, N 45 E 9, N 25 E 16, N 15 E 8, N 10
E 22, N 2 E 311/^, to Dorchester line to south end of Dorchester road,
222% rods; 4 rods wide. John Currier, surveyor. Laid out for Homer
James Worthen, H. G. Lathrop, chairmen.
November 20, 1821.
(47) Beginning end Jonathan Sawyer's wall, on line between Canaan
and Enfield, at end of Enfield road, N IS E 70, N 4 W 60, to County
Road.
November 21, 1821.
(48) Beginning 4 rods east of David Dustin's house, S 85 E 48, N 76 E
39, to meetinghouse common. Road is laid 2 rods south of above line.
May 4, 1822.
(49) February term of Court of , General Sessions. Beginning on Han-
over east line, where road in Hanover intersects Canaan, S 29 E 72,
through James Ralston's to Israel Harris' heirs' land, S 29 E 19, S 14 E
26, to William Harris', S 14 E 24, S 15 W 28, to Sylvanus Payne's land,
S 46 to Enfield line; S 8 E 54 on Asa and Benj. Choate's, then same point
78 rods on Daniel Huse's, to corner Choate's, then S 29 W on line be-
tween Choate's and David Huse's, 137 rods to county road leading from
Follensbee's to Lebanon; 3 rods wide.
Aprll 23, 1823.
(50) Road to Amos Richardson's, between house and bai'n of Sewal
Gleason, on south line of old road, S 24 W 71, to south line of Gleason
land, same course 104 rods to south line of Amos Richardson's; 3 rods
wide. From old Hinkson place south.
May 24, 1826.
(51) Beginning southeast corner of Daniel Sherburne's dwelling
house, S 26 W 22, to highway that leads from Widow Abigail Clark's to
turnpike; 3 rods wide.
412 History of Canaax.
Septembeb 9, 1826.
(52) Benefit aud request of Elijah Gk>ve: Center gate 16 rods north of
William Harris' house, N 2G E 19, N 53 E 22, N 21 E 22, to center of
Blake Brook; 2 rods wide. Discontinued April 17, 1827.
Decembeb 9, 1826.
(53) Benefit of George Flint: Beginning at Flint's barn, on piece of
land he purchased of Judge Blaisdell, and on line of John R. Dustin's
land, that he purchased of Blaisdell, S 30 W 36, S 15 W 44, S 27 W 16, N
77 W 8, N 47 W 16, to corner of Bartholomew Heath's, N 80 W 8, S 73 W
30, N 37 W 38, S 64 W 80; then by south line of land on which Nathaniel
Barber lives to causeway near bank of Barber's land 80 rods, then
through lane by Barber's house to road near Daniel B. Whittier's; 3
rods wide.
May 4, 1827.
(54) Beginning at the center of the road at the northwest corner of
Giles' house, S 83 W 14, S 59 W 16, S 82 W 9, N 64 W 25, N 39 W 6, N 59
W 28, N 72 W 10, N 56 W 31, N 62 W 9, N 31 W 14, N 56 W 28, N 32 W
23, N 15 W 27, N 80 W 12, S 45 W 28, S 78 W 25, S 45 W 18, S 56 W 19, S
76 W 10, S 53 W 20, S 35 W 51, S 82 W 28, S 59 W 11, S 70 W 10, S 50 W
25, N 83 W 40; intersecting road between Paddleford house aud school-
house.
May 9, 1827.
(55) Beginning west line of road from John Shephard's to Daniel
Kimball's, one rod north of north line of Kimball's house, W 58, to
Silas Dustin's.
June 2, 1827.
(56) Beginning in line between David Currier, Jr.'s, aud Aaron Nich-
ols', in Currier's door yard, N 68 W, in Currier's and Nichols' line, 143
rods, N 80 W 13, S 40 W 11, S 68 W 14, W 10, N 84 W 11, N 77 W 106, N
70 W 38 to intervale, N 80 W 14 to river, S 82 W 18, S 71 W 12, S 81 W 19i^
to John R. Dustin's land, S 30 W 14, S 78 W 13, to George Flint's private
road (53), S 10 W 14 on private road, S 31 W 12, S 88 W 14, N 75 W
10 N 44 W 12, N 78 W 8, S 69 W 20, N 50 W 6, N 32 W 28, N 69 W 7, S
76 W 21, S 78 W 14, W 14, N 66 W 52, S 88 W 27, N 50 W 14, N 73 W
12, to road by Daniel Whittier's at end of Nathaniel Barber's land to
his house.
June 21, 1827.
(57) Beginning east side of road from Nathaniel Oilman's house to
Dame's Gore, as you descend hill towards Nathan Cross' meadow, about
4 rods southerly of corner of Cross pasture, S 55 E 34, S 85 E 20, S 83 E
12 to east side of Cross meadow, S 48 E 42, S 84 E 12, N 70 E 22, S 68
E 108 to Flanders' dooryard, S 74 E 39 to line of Ashel Jones', then same
point 28 rods, S 86 E 22, S 85 E 14, N 81 E 76, S 85 E 11 to east line
Jones' land, N 8 E 16, N 58 E 31, N 76 E 14, N 88 E 26, S 69 E 8 to La-
Roads. 413
tbrop path, S 60 E 17, S 32 E 6, N 75 E 12, N 85 E 7, S S2 E 15, S 50 E
18 to i-iver, N 82 E 36, N 52 E 12, N 19 E 36, N 35 E 19, N 58 E 10 to
south line of gore, near corner Josiah Hayues' and Caleb Wells', where
they now live in gore; 4 rods wide. Began at Birch Corner and went
to Henry Tormey's.
November 7, 1828.
(58) Beginning at the center of two stakes standing on the westerly
line of Orange, near Orange Pond, N 47 W 41, N 30 W 166, N 20 W
100, N 40 W 152, N 33 W 80, N 61 W 96, N 81 W 26, N 52 W 28, N
58 W 40, N 65 W 100, 4 rods wide, then N 12 W 240, 8 rods wide, then
N 12 W 80, N 26 W 124, N 2 W 80, N 20 W 50, N 7 E 20, N 66, N 7 W
120, N 14 W 116, N 10 W 120, N 16 W 100, N 22 W 68, N 14 W 54, N
24 W 154, N 12 W 108, N 3 W 32, N 14 W 118, to Dame's Gore line,
near southwest corner thereof; meaning to be on same ground that
Grafton Turnpike was laid out. The turnpike was first surveyed in
1804, and was 4th Grafton Turnpike from Andover to Orford bridge.
AuGtrST 27, 1830.
(59) Beginning near south end of the Wells bridge, S 60 W 32, S
50 W 16, S 33 W 16, S 74 W 6, to the South Road; 3 rods wide.
September, 1830.
(60) Beginning north corner Samuel Whittier's apple house, S 77
E 13, S 70 E 28, on Samuel Whittier's, S 57 E 14, on Moses Whittier's,
2 rods east of Samuel Whittier's house, 2i^rods; laid out south of line.
Samuel Whittier lived on Bickford place.
October 16, 1830.
(61) From Moses Sawyer's to Hanover line, 2 rods from northeast
corner of Sawyer's house on west side of highway, N 30 W 4, N 75
W 12, N 55 W 12, N 34 W 30, to Hanover line; 2 rods wide.
December 9, 1830.
(62) Beginning near bridge east of Nathan Cross' house, S 31 E 18,
S 15 E 30, S 12, to a road, then on said road S 58 E 66, S 61 E 21, to
maple tree on road; 4 rods w'ide (57).
June 10, 1833.
(63) Beginning 87 rods east from Indian River, near small bridge
on new road from Canaan to Plymouth, S 40 W 8, S 50 W 11, S 62 W
8, S 66 W 9, S 68 W 8, S 84 W 10, S 83 W 8, S 45 W 10, S 46 W 8, S
53 W 7, to river, then beginning on west bank of river, N 38 W 7, N
57 W 4, N 30 W 8, to highway; 4 rods wide.
414 History of Canaan.
Septembek 2, 1833.
(64) Beginning southeast coruer of James Folleusbee's, S 68 E 32,
through Jeremiah Whittier's land, S 59 E to road from Canaan to
Dorchester, through Rufus Hoyt's; 4 rods wide.
SEPTEilBEB 3, 1833.
(65) Clark Hill Road: Beginning on turnpike near Joseph L. Rich-
ardson's (Daniel Goss') barn, N 59 W 30, N 61 W 8, N 28 W 14, N
48 W 8, N 51 W 6, N 34 W 10, N 36 W 7, N 51 W 9, N 66 W 10, N 44
W 11, N 37 W 7, N 8 W 8, N 6 W 7, N 3 E 6, N 7 E 11, N 1 E 6, N
11, N 10 W 18, N 41, N 2 W 42, to turnpike near corner of Nathaniel
Derbj-'s field; 4 rods wide; took place of turnpike from Daniel Goss'.
Septembee 1, 1835.
(66) Beginning on New Plymouth road, foot of the hill, north side
of Joshua Martin's, S 18 E 13, S 13 E 13, through Martin's, S 6 E 10,
S 10 W 64, to pair of bars and through Aaron Whittlesey's; 4 rods
wide.
October 1, 1836.
(67) Beginning on east side of turnpike, where road to Widow
Abigail Clark's intersects, near John Flanders' house, S 7oM> W, across
turnpike and Flanders', 12 rods and 20 links, to Flanders' fence, east
of new road round Clark Hill; 3 rods wide.
April 16, 1839.
(68) Beginning west end Deacon Clark's bridge, N 29 E 9, N 12,
N 5 W 22, N 4 W 15, N 19 E 14, N 32 E 22, N 52 B 14, N 35 E 13, N
37 E 8, N 38 E 16, N 26 E 10, N 20 E 10, N 6 E 12, N 13 E 17, N 18
E 8, N 5 W 14, N 8 E 14, N 25 E 10, N 30 E 14, N 5 E 14, N 7 W 8,
N 22 E 9, N 43 E 14, N 58 E 21, N 35 E 12, N 26 E 30, N 7 E 58, N
25 E 42 and 34, N 35 E 13, N 26 E 10, N 26 E 37, N 30 E 54, to Stephen
Sleeper's house; road from bridge, near fair grounds, up river.
July 13, 1839.
(69) Beginning on east side of turnpike, about 8 rods below water-
ing trough, N 65 E 10, N 73 E 72, N 27 E 17, N 28 E 36, N 35 E 18,
N 34 E 18, N 50 E 20, N 38 E 12, N 20 E 34, N 33 E 23, N 43 E 22,
N 46 E 25, N 10 E 14, N 5 E 26, N 3 E 24, N 30 E 30, to road leading
from turnpike to Dorchester.
Decembee 11, 1839.
(70) Beginning west side Sawyer Hill Road, at corner Daniel Kim-
ball's mowing field, W 75, to Joseph Kimball's house; 3 rods wide.
Roads. ^15
1841.
(72) Begiiiniug 15 rods south of the Frenchman's house, S 52 W
76, S 20 W 12, S 30, S S E 34, S 3 E 26, S 40 W 10, S 06 W 7, to
turnpike by Eliphalet Gilman's; 3 rods wide.
June 10, 1845.
(73) Beginning on north bank of road from John Worth's to Orange,
opposite Benjamin Y. Hilliard's barnyard, N 44 E 4, N 5 E 3, N 33
W 8, N 5 E 10, N 39 W 11, N 14 W 4, N 30yo W 16, N 26 W 17, N 60
W 36, near Moses Whittier's bars; 2 rods wide.
March 3, 1846.
(75) Beginning east side Simeon Arvin's house, N 42 E 33, N 31^^
E 8, N 40 E 9, N 57 E 5, N 63 E 10, N 80 E 11, N 85 E 9, N 63 E 12,
N 311/2 E 51/0, — SO E 5, — 78 E lOi/o, N 60 E 12, — 471/2 E 11, N 46
E 15, N 41 E 12, N 36y2 E 91/2, N 4I1/2 E 29y2, N 44 E 17, N 37 E 6y2,
N 30 E 17, N 66^/^ E II1/2, N 70 E 13, N 52 E 40, to Dewey's road at
junction of Dorchester road; whole district, 318 rods; 4 rods wide.
Septembee 23, 1840.
(71) Beginning by side of fence near road southwest from Joshua
S. and Thad S. Lathrop's barns, N 19i/^ E 63, to birch, N 29 E 26, to
spruce, N 31 E 10, N 40 E 26, N 38 E 6, N 49 E 7, N 60 E 6, N 63
E 8, N 401/2 E 9, N 31 E 5, N 17 E 27, N 21 E 24, to Dame's Gore line,
N 21 E 9, N 4 E 18, N 10 E 8, N 6 E 10, N 25 E 8, N 24 E 4, N 45 E 6,
N 571/2 E 10, N 461/2 E 12, N 371/2 E 8, N 44 E 12, N 431/2 E 10, N
48 E 7, N 23 E 8, N 161/2 E 51/., N 10 E 7, N 3 E 7, N 23 E 35, N 31
E 8, to gore line, N 23y2 E 23, N 21/2 E 16, N 1 W 15, N 12 W 14, N
23 W 9, N 8 W 101/2, N 14 W 12, N 46 E 24, N 30 E 7, N 31 E 12, N 26
E 10, N 25 E 32, N 36 E 29, to side of road by Jesse Jones'; Dorchester
road by T. W. Young's.
October 9, 1846.
(74) Beginning north side of road opposite bars on hill east of Har-
rison Pillsbury's, S 82 E 12, S 87y2 E 91/2, S 771/2 E 19, S 861/2 E I71/2, N
891/2 E 15, S 87% E 31%, S 74 E 12, E UVz S 86y2, E 17%, S 82 E 18%,
S 791/2 E 15, S 8iy2 E 6, S 891,4 E 50, to north side of road near bridge
below Simeon Welch's shops; 4 rods wide. See (37).
August 31, 1848.
(76) Court of General Sessions: Beginning on north side of Leb-
anon road, 52 rods southwest of south end of Wells' bridge in Canaan,
N 23 E 7y2, N 6 E 22, N 1% E 17, N 21/2 E 12, N 2% W 16, N 22y2
E 2 to south side of Mascoma, on north line of Warren Wilson's, N
43 E 5, across river, N 30 E li'^, N 24 W 22, N 20 W 22, N 15%
W 25, N 9 W 161/2, N 8 W 14, N 24i/^ E 91/2, N 401/2 E 11, N 17 E
416 History of Canaan.
81/2, N 1/2 E 81/^, N 5 W I2I0, N 9 \V 16, N 16 W 11, N 2614 W 14,
N 28 W lOVa, N 1% W 23, on north line H. C. George's, N 1% W 3,
N 21/2 E 12, N 171/2 E 17, N 2614 E I31/0, N 25 E 13, N 201^ E lOVs,
N 161/2 E 21, N 1714 E 16, N 23% E 16, N 2514 E 15, N 441/2 E 614,
on north line Ezekiel and Peter Wells', N 49 E 11%, N 49% E 281/^,
N 49% E 20, N 52 E 14 1/2, N 12 W 2, to north line Huse, Conant &
Co.'s, N 12 W 11, on north line David and James Pattee's, N 12 W
3, N 21/2 W 131/2, N 11 E 6%, N 41 E 30, N 25 E I21/2, N 12 E 13, N
27 E 71/2, N 431/2 E 13, N 42 E 12, N 44 E II1/2, N 35% E 10%, N
61/2 E 20%, N 24 1/2 E 11%, N 11 E 8%, — 9% E 10, N 8% E 5, N
30 E 17, on north line John Barker's, N 35 E 13, N 47% E 14, to south
side of road, 7 rods west of bridge across brook at outlet of Goose
Pond, below Eaton's mills; then beginning north side of road, 3 rods
east of east end of bridge, near a new building, N 40 E 10%, N 68%
B 26, N 18 E 20, N 5% E 12, N 1% E 14, N 5% E 15, N 20 E 22.
N 25 E 43, to north line Nathaniel Eaton's, N 16% E 38, N 20% E
24, N 8 E 8, to north line of John Shepherd's, N S E 9, N 15% E
11, N 34 E 5, N 40 E 5%, N 36 E 10%, N 5 E 16, N 14% E 10, N 19%
E 39%, N 5 E 16, to north line of D. Towle's, N 5 W 9, N 6% W
11, N 11 E 8, N IS E 8, N 9% W 11, to north line W. H. Duncan's,
N 17 W 8, N 6% W 12, N 1% W 15, N 14% W 10, N 18% W 9, N
16 W 9, N 23% W 11, N 33 W 8, to north line Amos Gould's, N 14 W
8, N 25% W 12, N 32 W 12, N 43% W 13, N 45 W 35, N 23% W
27, N 10 E 8, N 7% E 8, N 10 W 11, N 7 W 8, N 18 E 10, N 6 W 9,
N 4% W 16, N 7% W 22, N 16% W 18, N 1% W 17, N 10 W 16, N
6% W 20%, to north line of Caleb Bartlett's, N % E 54, N 2 W 22,
on land of James Eastman to Hanover line, N 12 E 8, N 28% E 4,
N 59 E 7, N 28 E 61, N 26% E 19%, N 11% E 8, on Eastman's land,
N 22 E 18, on Eastman's to south side of old County Road, 11 rods
north of James Eastman's house, occupied by Ira Eastman; $505.50
damages; Goose Pond Road from West Canaan.
October 1, 1848.
(77) Court of General Sessions. Beginning at a stake standing in
the road, S 10% W, from the northeast corner of Martin & Currier's
store and three rods therefrom, thence S 67 W 10 r., to stake on Miner
and Fairfield's land, S 60 1-3 W 12 r., 10 1., to southerly line of Fair-
field's land, S 60 1-3 W 2 r., on Currier and Martin's land, S 47% W 12
r. on the south line of Currier and Martin; S 47% W 1 r., to land of
Joseph Wheat, S 32 W IS r. to the west line of Wheafs, S 32 W 9
r. to Martin and Currier's land, S 17 1-3 W 21 r. to the south line
of Currier laud, S 17 W 8 r. to George Harris' land, S 17 W 8 r. on
Harris' land, S 6% W 5 r. to south line of Harris', S 6% W 1 r. to
Joseph Wheat's land, S 9 W 7 r. to the south line of Wheat's, S 9
W 2 r. to the south line of J. H. Harris', S 11.25 W 6 r. to the south
line of John Fales', S 11.25 W 4 r. to the line of George Harris',
S 6 1-3 W S r., 7 1., to south line of Harris', S 6 1-3 W 2 r., on Wil-
Roads. 417
liam Kimball's, S 10% W 8 r., 7 1., S 25.25 W 39 r., S 10 W 15 r.,
S 4.40 E 19 r., S TVo W 7 r., to south line of Kimball's, S 19.20
W 20 r., to Caleb Blodgett's south line, S 21 1-3 W 75 r. to Joseph
Dustin's, S 4 W 24 r., S U W 46 r., S 7% W 14 r., S 17 2-3 W 13 r., 9
1., to south line of Dustin's, S 1 1-3 W 16 r., on March Barber's land,
S 214 E 11 r., S 9% E 9 r., 15 1., S 41^ E 11, to near the southeast
corner of J. H. Harris' land, S 4^^ E 12 r. on A. Cochran's land, S
11 2-3 E 12 r., S 20 E 11 r., 10 1., S 15 E 10 r., 8 1., S 3 E 12 r., S
51/2 W 16 r., 12 1., S 3 W 9 r., 14 1., S 4 W 19 r., S 4 W 2 r., S SVj
E 10 r., 17 1., S 5 E 11 r., 16 1., on Cochran's, S 18 W 13 r., 13 1., over
highway (4 rods out) to stake on Cochran's, S 211/2 W 21 r., 17 1., S
23 E 43 r., 11 1., S 13 E 19 r., 5 1., to Harrison Pillsbury's land, S
31 E 7 r., 16 1., S 33 2-3 E 9 r., 14 1., S 7 E 9 r., 8 1., S 11 1-3 W 8
r., S 151/2 W 10 r., S 14 W 7 r., S 6% W 7 r., S 25 1-3 E 46 r., to stake
and stones standing on north side of the road leading by Harrison
Pillsbury's to South Road, and N 63i/^ E 14 r., 5 1., from the railroad
track at crossing southwesterly from Pillsbury's house; the above line
to be the center of the road; road to be 3 rods wide; from Factory
Village to Switch.
October 1, 1848.
(78) Court of General Sessions. Beginning north side of road by
John Jones', S 75 2-3 E lio rods from southeast corner of Daniel
McKinney's blacksmith shop, N 15 E 11 r., 3 1., N 10% E 8 r., 24 1.,
and 9 r., 17 1., N 1 1-6 W 4, 18 1., and 10 r., 9 1., N 17 E 32, N 42 E
9 r., 12 1., N 33 E 9, N 9 E 11 r., 9 1., N 19 1-3 E 13, N 16 E 10 r., 21
1., N 14 E 11 r., 4 1., N 41 E 13 r., 10 1., N 39 E 15, N 40% E 41, N
24° 25' E 10, N 18 E 48, N 20 E 20, N 31/2 W 45, N 8 2-3 W 25 r., 5
1., N 15% W 16, N 6 W 10, N 13 1-3 W 10, N 16% W 41, and 18 and
8, N 121/2 W 8, N 10 W 8, N lOVo W 24 and 3 and 9, N I41/2 W 49,
N 6 2-3 W 76 and 17 to north line of Warren and Henry Wilson's land
on south side of South Road.
October 1, 1849.
(79) Court of General Sessions. Beginning at Canaan on bank of
South Road, at intersection of road leading by William Doten's, to
railroad, S 6 E 110, on Theophilus Currier's, S 6 W 66, on Currier's,
S 4 W 11, on Currier's, S 13 E 10, on Currier's, S 15 E 6, on Currier's,
to south line, and north line Daniel Gile's, S 17 E 8, S 19 E 9, S 18
E 10, S loii; E 16, S 1/2 E 15, all on Gile's, to south line of Canaan,
S 11 W 64, in Enfield on Gile's east line and west line Mathew Bry-
ant's, S 41^ — 22 on Bryant's, S 5 W 2I1/2, to north side of road by
Daniel Gile's, S IV2 W 2, across road, S 14 W 20, S 4iL. W 15, S 11
W 13; Potatoe Road.
Febrlwry 18, 1851.
(80) Beginning on road from Canaan to Dorchester, on land of
Dustin and Somers, N 2i^ E 31, N 61/2 W 9, N 814 W 13, in north line
27
418 History of Canaan.
of Dustin's and Somers', N 5 W 59, across Benjamin P. Wells', N 109,
across Rufus Atwell's, N 80 across Uriah F. Lary's, to road by Asahel
Jones' and Lary's, to Dorchester, near where old Sanborn house
stood; 3 rods wide; Lary Road.
August 21, 1852.
(81) Beginning north of Hiram Philbrick's house, east side of road
from Factory Village, by Thad. Lathrop's, to Dorchester, N 88% E
40, N 801/2 E 10, N 561/2 E 20, N 56 E 13, N BSVz E 10, N 75 E 12i^,
near mill of Stephen Peaslee; 3 rods wide.
^ September 1, 1852.
(82) Gates Road: Beginning east side Goose Pond Road (76),
on John Shepherd's, N 64% E 8, on Shepherd's, N 441/2 E 18, N 51 E
29, to south line of Olcott lot, N 33% E 26 on Olcott's, N 30 E 13, to
south line Nathaniel Eaton's, N 30 E 6 on Eaton's to south line Amos
Gould's, N 26 E 16, N 27 E 22, N 26 E 281/2, N 271/2 E 19, to side of
Gould Road; 3 rods wide.
November 30, 1852.
(83) Beginning east bank of road from Levi Wilson's to Dorchester,
near house said to have been built by Stephen Worth, S 55 E 6i/^,
S 88 E 7, S 561/2 E lli/o, N 60 E 7, across Lorenzo Jameson's, S 60
E 2, N 791/2 E 71/2, E 22, N 73 E 9, N 871/2 E 12, N 54 E 6, across
Edward Currier's to Watts Davis'. See (42) (27) (13).
October 26, 1853.
(84) Beginning on southeast side of road by George Davis' house
to Dorchester, near William Gordon's, on land of Jones & Co., S 441^
E 11, S 481/2 E 8, S 35 E 9, S 61/2 E 20, S I51/2 E 15, S 9 E 8, S 10
W 23, S 231/2 W 8, S 20% W 7, S 1 E 15, S 31/. E 10, S I71/2 E 10, S
38 E 10, S 31/2 E 8, S 514 E 7, to south line Stephen Morse's and
north line of Charles Day's, S 18 E 12, on Day's, S 29 E 6, S 27 E 12,
S 18 E 10, S 27 E 16, S I61/2 E 14, S 19 E 16, S 61/2 E 12, S 2i/i W
15, on Samuel Dow's, S 34 E 7, S 51 E 10, to north line of T. S. La-
throp's, S 47% E 12, on T. S. Lathrop's, to Joshua L. Lathrop's north
line, S 471/2 E 1, on J. L. Lathrop's, S 31 E 9, S 441/0 E 7, S 37 E 13,
S 22 E 18, S 56 E 7, S 31 E 17, S 26 E 8, to east line of J. L. Lathrop's
and west line Reuben Goss', S, on Goss', 24% E 13, to west side of road
from Factory Village by Goss' to Dorchester; 3 rods wide; Clark Pond
Road.
November 5, 1853.
(85) Beginning near watercourse on line Richard Hutchinson's and
Jonathan Barnard's, N 85% W 23 r., 15 1., on Barnard's, N 85% W. on
Jonathan Sanborn's, to east side of depot road, north of Sanborn's wheel-
shop; 3 rods wide.
Roads. 419
December 23, 1853.
(86) Across Pattee & Perley's, Goose Pond: Beginning east side
of road from Pattee & Perley's to Tavern House, occupied by G. West-
gate. N 17 W 8, N 4 W 6, to road leading from tavern to Canaan Street
and East Canaan; 2 rods wide.
August 19, 1854.
(87) Beginning south side of road from West Farms to Lebanon,
on James Brocklebank's, S 8 E 8, on Brocklebank's, S 61/2 W 9, S
31% W 14, S 16 W 6, S 9 W 11, S 1 E 20, S 2 E 9, to north line of
Shakers', S 2 E 9, on Shakers', S 7 W 16, S 1 W 10, S 6 E 9, S 3 W
10, S 51/2 W 26, S 151,^ W 13, S 291/2 W 20, S 371/2 W 31, S 51/2 W 5, S 17
E 5, S 27 E 3, to. Enfield line; 3 rods wide.
September 13, 1855.
(88) Daniel B. Cole's road: Beginning on the northwest side of
road from Cole's to Orange meeting house, N 31 W III/2, to west line
Lorenzo Jameson's, N 35 W 11, N 68 W 14, N 531/2 W 27, N 54 W 15,
N 62 W nV2, N 31 W 14, to east side of road from Leander Jame-
son's to Dorchester; 3 rods wide.
1857.
(89) April Term County Court. Beginning at a stake standing op-
posite and near the house of A. C. Lovejoy in Canaan, S 18 W 41 14
on Lovejoy's, S 6 E 83 on C. M. Dyer's. S 6 E 32 on Henry and Wil-
liam M. Currier's, S 11 W 86 on Lovejoy's, S 11 W 30 on William Cur-
rier and William C. Smith's, S 11 W 48 on William Currier's, S 11
W 311/2 on Seth P. Follensbee's, to Canaan and Enfield line, S 11 W
38, S 11 W 64, to north end of Shaker Hill Road in Enfield. Down,
valley of Committee Meadow Brook.
JtjNE 13, 1857.
(90) Beginning near Charles Hutchinson's house on road from
Alpheus Preston's to Goulding's mills to Canaan depot, N 7 E 34 r.
to turnpike; from Barney Brothers' store north.
June 10, 1858.
(91) Beginning on William Digby's, south of his house, N 71 W
10, N 42 W 8, N 61 W 14, across Bailey Welch's, N 61 W 75, to road
from Page's mill to Dorchester, across Horace Chase's; 3 rods wide.
June 14, 1859.
(92) Beginning near John B. Cunningham's, N 77 W 20, to near
meeting house, N 58 W 40, to near John Milton's; 3 rods wide.
420 History of Canaan.
October 19, 1859.
(93) Beginning at Jonathan Barnard's, opposite his stable and on
north side of road from Depot Street to turnpike, N 60^2 E 6, to turn-
pike, then across turnpike to westerly line of Richard Hutchinson's,
N 611/2 E 76, on Hutchinson's, N GSVs E 24, and 4, on Alfred Davis',
N 74 E 10, N 381/2 E 7, N 8 E 14, N 10 E 20, to bank of road leading
from Orange to depot, opposite watering trough; 3 rods wide; road
from Barnard's by Edwin Flint's to watering trough.
1861.
(94) Beginning 9 rods below southeast corner of Arnold Morgan's,
on line of Morgan's and Mary Clark's, S 85 E 42, to old turnpike, near
Edwin B. Miner's (A. W. Hutchinson's), it being course of old road
lately discontinued; subject to gates and bars; 2 rods wide. See (8).
November 5, 1861.
(95) Beginning southeast corner of F. M. Wells' barn, west side of
road from Wells', N 5 E 10, on Wells', then on laud of Shakers, N
10 E 22, N 28 E 10, N 10 E 11 and 10, N 8 W 6, N 3 E 20, N 23 E 5,
N 46 E 9, N 27 E 6, N 4 E 10, N 25 E 15, N 28 E 15, N 8 E 21/2, to
Harry Follensbee's, N 8 E 3I/2, to Leonard Hadley's, N 33 E, on Had-
ley's. The line between Hadley's and Follensbee's 162 rods to road
leading over West Farms.
June 1, 1866.
(96) Beginning at road on east line Stephen Swett's, one and one
half rods from Swett's southeast corner, S 9i/4 E 8, through land of
John T. Milton, to west side of road from depot to street.
February 18, 1868.
(97) Beginning stake 6 feet north of old pine stump, east side of
road from Canaan to Lyme, 6 r., 6 1., south of south bank of Mascoma,
near bridge, E 141/2 N 3 r., 3 1., E 191/2 N 2 r., 4 1., E 441/2 N 2 r., 17
1., E 53% N 10 r., 13 1., to watercourse in road from Factory Village
to Dorchester; 3 rods wide.
September 2, 1891.
Road laid in place of a part of Gore Road: Beginning at a stake
and stones on the east side of Gore Road, and near a ledge in said road,
thence N 25 E 13 r., 11 1., N 4 E 5, N 10 W 11, to stake and stones on
east side of Gore Road. The selectmen laid this piece without men-
tioning any width.
May 30, 1893.
Road to N. J. Hill's: Beginning at stake and stones on east side of
turnpike, one rod from southwest corner of E. C. Aldrich's laud, thence
Roads. 421
N 38 E 111/^, N 43 E 15 r., and 23 1., to stake on a line with E line of
N. J. Hill's laud and one rod south of southeast corner of Hill's land;
2 rods wide.
September 6, 1894.
Road that took place of road over railroad track to Welch's mill:
Beginning 51 feet northeast of Fernald's mill, being an iron pin in
side of road, and 10 feet north of said pin at a hemlock stake, it being
center stake of roadbed, thence west by a stake marked 9 feet that
stands in bank 2G feet northwest of said mill shed, then west in
straight line to west line of Fernald's land, then west by a stake
marked 12 feet and land of A. G. Arvin's, and by a stake marked 3276
on top of hill to Indian River, and across said river to an iron pin in
side of road east of W. H. Welch's house and about 4 feet northwest
of two spotted elm trees; width to be 3i/4 rods on north side of
Fernald's mill shed and across his land, 5 rods wide across Arvin's
land to the river, rest of road 3^^ rods.
November 4, 1897.
Wells Cemetery Road: Beginning stake and stones in west side of
road from Fernald's mill to Wells Cemetery, 142 feet north of south-
west corner of wall around land of William Welch, thence N 45 W
11 r., and 13 1., N 30 W 8 r. and 20 1., N 391/2 W 3 r., and 6 1., N 9 W
4 r. and 15 1., N 24 E 7 r. and 16 1., N 11 B 6 r. and 17 1., N 5 r. and 19 1.,
N 21 W 4 r., and 21 1., N 40 W 4, N 29 W 4 r. and 16 1., N lli/^ W 22 r.
and 19 1., to south side of turnpike; 40 feet wide.
August 11, 1909.
Beginning at a gate on the south side of South Road on land of
Charles Whittier, thence S 19 W 6 r. S % W 12 r., S 131/0 E 6 r., S
12 W 6 r., S 27% W 8 r., S 17 W 8 r., 121/2 feet and on Whittier's to
Frank Lashua's land, thence S 19 W 11 r., S 3% W 14 r., S 41l^ E 20 r.,
41/^ feet on Lashua's to Whittier's, thence S 271/2 E 26 r., 4 feet, on Whit-
tier's, to a point 11 Vz feet west of Charles Abbott's barn.
CHAPTER XXII.
Doctors and College Graduates.
The first man to come into town with doctor in front of his
name was Ebenezer Eames. He was a grantee and having built
the first mill in town received the offer of the proprietors of
three hundred acres of land called the MiU Right. Whether
he ever practiced as a physician or not is not known, but it is
to be presumed that if he knew anything of medicine the set-
tlers made use of his knowledge as occasion required. He was
a miller and a blacksmith, the latter title is given him in an old
deed. He was the miller up to 1787, when he sold the First
Hundred of the ]\Iill Right with all the buildings and privileges
to Henry Finch, taking back a life lease. Finch was his son-in-
law. The mill continued to be run by them until January 3,
1795. when they sold out to Dudley Gilman and left town.
Dr. John Harris came from Colchester, Conn., about the same
time. He resided many years in a small house on the corner
opposite the Congregational ^Meeting House,' near a clump of
lilac bushes, which were placed there by himself. But the
health of the people was against his success. It is not known into
what part of the surrounding country he drifted.
Dr. Caleb Pierce came from Enfield, bought out William
Douglass, built the old hotel on the Street, but he was not
successful as a landlord, was a verj' talkative and vain man,
like his son Xat, was not popular and the young people held
their dances at Dudley Oilman's Tavern. He died, in 1813, of
spotted fever in the Pinnacle House which he had bought of
Robert Barber.
Dr. Amasa Howard came here in 1807 and in 1810 built the
house 0. H. Perry remodeled and now lives in. He left town in
1815, moved to Springfield and sold his house to Jacob Dow. He
is reported to have been a very skilful physician. He was also
a surveyor, but his obdurate habits of drinking were a bar to
his success. It is reported further that he kept on drinking and
moving and died in delirium.
Doctors and College Graduates. 423
Dr. Timothy Tilton for over twenty years traveled up and
down on the back of a black pacer, drank wine, went to jail,
laughed at or with his creditors, and never troubled his debtors,
and in all the sad and weary phases of his life preser\'ed the
good nature and wit which well became him. He came here in
1813 while Doctor Pierce lay dead with spotted fever, and re-
mained here until his death December 28, 1836, aged 60 years.
He was an active Abolitionist, and took a prominent part in
resisting the attacks on Xoyes Academy. On his headstone was
at his request engraved "The Slave's Friend.'" He brought
his family from Alexandria. His oldest child, Harriet Brown,
was born in Xewchester, April 27, 1807, married Dexter Harris
in 1825 and died October 16, 1878; William Brackett, born in
Bridgewater, February 20, 1810; Joseph Chase, born in Bridge-
water December 25, 1812, married Mary Jane Chapman July 4,
1837, and built the house now occupied by F. L. Sawtelle, in 1832.
She died in Concord, September 7, 1851, aged 38 years; Dr.
James Aaron, the last child was born in Canaan, December 18,
1815, graduated from Dartmouth Medical College in 1842, and
practiced medicine in Xewburyport, Mass., where he died in
1881.
Dr. George Nelson, who graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1822, in the class with Rev. Amos Foster, graduated from the
Dartmouth Medical College in 1828 and came here soon after;
was received into the Congregational Church here June 24,
1829. He left here in February, 1835, and in 1836 was in
Louisiana. He died in 1875, aged 78 years. His career here
was rather a stormv one, and he was not successful. A letter
written in 1833 says: "Dr. Xelson is ruined. He will sue Burley
and Cobb, Tilton, Trussell and D. B. Whittier for Slander."
Dr. Cyrus B. Hamilton and Dr. Daniel Hovey practiced here
about a year. Dr. Daniel Stark came here too poor to pay his
matriculation fees. Doctor Jones, who married Sophia IMartin,
daughter of Eleazer, remained a few years and sold out to Dr.
Arnold ^Morgan. Doctor ^Morgan was bom in Xortlifield, Yt.,
December 10, 1816: his father was a Free "Will Baptist preacher :
he lived in Cavendish until 1840, then moved to Windsor. He
attended the X'orwich Militarv Academv one term, was fitted
424 History of Canaan.
for college but never went. He studied Avith Doctor McEwen, and
graduated from Dartmouth Medical College in 1840. "There are
but few young men who are so well fitted for the profession,"
said one of his professors. He began practice in Quechee, Vt.,
was there five years and went into the mercantile business in
Pennsylvania. He came to Canaan in January, 1849. He prac-
ticed here for twenty -nine years and died in Savannah, Ga.,
April 14, 1878, where he had gone in search of health.
His widow and son, Ben, went West leaving his mother, who
died here ; one daughter, Lizzie M., married Henry H. Pattee ;
another, Frances A., married, September 4, 1869, Frank E. Bar-
nard, son of Darius. He had sold out his practice to Dr. George
E. Leet who remained on the Street several vears and then
moved to East Canaan, where he lived for a few years and moved
to Concord.
Dr. Ara Wheat was bom in Grafton in 1816 and was the son of
Capt. Joseph, and grandson of Elder Joseph Wheat. The fam-
ily very soon after his birth moved to Canaan. Some time in the
thirties he went to Ohio and returned to begin the study of medi-
cine with Dr. Jones. He graduated from Dartmouth ]\Iedical
College in 1860 and began the practice of his profession here.
He married Isabel M. George, daughter of William W. George.
They had two sons, William G. and Allen A. He gave up active
practice in 1892 and removed to Springfield, Mass., where he
died September 18, 1896. His wife died August 25, 1872, aged
42 years and 17 days.
Dr. Edward M. Tucker was born in SpringTale, 'Me., April
22, 1839. He was educated at Dover, X. H., and in Boston, Mass.
He studied medicine in 1864, under Dr. Levi G. Hill in Dover,
and continued his studies under Dr. J. F. Fisher and Dr. Ed-
ward Cowles, while hospital steward in the army. He enlisted
in the Third Massachusetts Battery and was wounded at
Shepardvstown, Va., September 20, 1862. He was taken to the
hospital in Philadelphia, and was discharged from service on ac-
count of disability after a partial recovery. He passed the ex-
amination as a surgeon and reenlisted September 8, 1864, in
Company I, Forty-Fourth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps. He
was transferred to an independent company of the Veteran Re-
Doctors and College Graduates. 425-
serve Corps and was discharged December 18, 1865, to reenlist
as hospital steward in the regular army. He held that position
until December, 1871, attending three courses of lectures at
Georgetown Medical College. He attended the Medical Depart-
ment of Bowdoin College from which he graduated in 1872.
He began practice in Canaan, July 28, 1873, and remained here
until October, 1907, when he removed to Derry, N. H., where
he died December 8, 1908. He married, Februar}-, 1879, Mary
Albina Kimball of Grafton, X. H. ; she died in Canaan, Septem-
ber 5, 1902, aged 50 years, 2 months, 29 days. They had one
child, Luie A., living in Derry.
Dr. Frank A. Bogardus was born in Carroll, X. Y., April 4,
1869. He has been married twice ; by his first wife he had one
child that died young; his second wife, Blanche M. Coburn,
daughter of John B. and Hattie F. (Doten) Coburn, he mar-
ried August 31, 1905. She was born in Canaan, August 3, 1876.
They have had two children, Charles B., who died young and
Stanley, born February 1, 1908. Doctor Bogardus was educated
in the High School at Catskill, X. Y., after which he taught
four vears, some of the time studving medicine with Dr. Charles
L. Dodge. He then entered Baltimore Medical College, grad-
uating in 1894. He first settled in practice at Hill, X^. H.,
remaining there less than five months; on Au^ist 14, 1894 he
came to Canaan and has since been in practice here.
Dr. Persons W. Wing was born in Glens Falls, X. Y., April
11, 1877, son of Walton S. Wing, and grandson of Halsey R.
Wing, the first surrogate of Warren County, X. Y. He attended
the Glens Falls Academy, and Peekskill ^Military Academy, grad-
uating in 1897. He studied one year at Cornell University,
and entered Long Island College Hospital in 1898, graduating
in 1902. He married, June 25, 1902, Elizabeth H. Clarke of
Sandy Hill, X". Y. He practiced medicine in Grafton, X^ H.^
before coming to Canaan, in May, 1908.
Graduates from Dartmouth College.
The following list embraces all the Canaan graduates from
Dartmouth College, so far as known. It is not a long one, but
426 History of Canaan.
it is respectable and honorable, both as to numbers and standing
of those named.
The first graduate was George Richardson, of the class of
1820, son of Joshua and Betsey Richardson, born July 30, 1795 ;
died at Charlestown, March 17. 1829. After graduating he
taught one year in Moor's Charity School, Hanover; was prin-
cipal of New Hampton Academy from 1821 to 1825, having
been recommended by the faculty of the college to the trustees of
that institution to become its first principal. It is not known
with whom he studied divinit}^ but it must have been during his
residence at New Hampton, as he was ordained a deacon in the
First Episcopal Church, and preached his first sermon at
Charlestown, July 5, 1825. He preached at North Charlestown
and at Drewsville on alternate Sundays. He was ordained a
Presbyter at Charlestown, July 26, 1828, by Bishop Alexander
Viets Griswold, of Rhode Island, surviving his full induction to
the ministry less than eight months. A man of letters, respected
for his sincerit\' and earnestness. He was the first clergyman
w^ho read the Episcopal service in this town. It was at the house
of Lawyer Kimball in 1828, at the solicitation of Mrs. Kimball,
who was an English lady from Bermuda, and a communicant in
that church; he married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Joseph
Dennison, of Leyden, Mass.
Daniel Blaisdell, class of 1827, son of Elijah and Mary (Fogg)
Blaisdell, read law with Joseph Bell of Haverhill, and became a
resident of Hanover. From 1835-75, treasurer of Dartmouth
College ; state senator from 1863-65, representative several terms
and held various town offices. Died in 1875, aged 69 years.
James Joshua Blaisdell, Rev., born February 8, 1827, class of
1846, brother of the above, graduated from Andover Theological
Seminary in 1852. Served as chaplain of the Fortieth Wisconsin
Volunteers during the Rebellion. Made a D. D. in 1873,
by Knox College. Professor of Rhetoric and English Lit-
erature, at Beloit Cellege, Wis., from 1859-64, professor of
Intellectual and ]\Ioral Philosophy, from 1864 until his death at
Kenosha, Wis., October 10, 1896, by suicide.
George Warren Gardner, class of 1852, was born in Pomfret,
Vt., October 8, 1828, and as he said "born again in Canaan,
Doctors and College Graduates. 427
18-12, Elder Peacock sponsor." Prepared for college at Canaan
Union Academy and at Thetford. Was the first principal of the
New London Institution from 1853-61. Ordained a minister of
the gospel at New London in 1858. Settled as pastor of the First
Baptist Church in Charlestowu, Mass., September, 1861, and re-
mained there until 1872. Was chosen corresponding secretary
of the American Baptist Missionary L'nion, and served until
1876. Was called to the pastorate of the Firet Baptist Church
in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1876. Received the honorary degree of
D. D., in 1867 at Dartmouth. Traveled extensively in 1870. In
1880 was preaching in Marblehead, Mass. Doctor Gardner was
present at the dedication of the Baptist Church at East Canaan
in 1872, and preached the sermon on that occasion. His father
was a shoemaker, and resided many years at the "Corner."
Caleb Blodgett, son of Caleb and Charlotte, class of 1856.
(See lawyers.)
Amos Noyes Currier, A. M., class of 1856, born October 13,
1832, son of Eben F., professor of Latin and Greek languages
in Iowa Central L^niversity, 1857-61 and 1865-67, was a volun-
teer in the war of the Rebellion. 1861-65. In 1867-70 professor
of ancient languages in Iowa State L^niversity. In 1870 pro-
fessor of Latin language and literature in the same university
and acting president in 1898.
Edward Cornelius Delavan Kittredge, bom December 29. 1834,
in Lyme, class of 1857, son of Jonathan and Julia (Balch) Kit-
tredge. Read law and practiced in New York. Died June 20,
1879, at Demarest, N. J., aged 44.
Marcus Manilus Pillsbury. class of 1858, son of Harrison
Pillsbury. Remained upon his farm in Canaan several years
after graduation. Then engaged in selling books, and kindred
merchandise in New York. He was last engaged in the manu-
facture of edge tools at Napanock. N. Y., with an office in New
York City. He died in 1908, leaving a widow and two daughters,
both married.
Samuel L. Gerould. born July 11. 1834, class of 1858, son of
Rev. Moses and Cynthia (Locke) Gerould. Studied for the
Congregational ministry; was sergeant of the Fourteenth New
Hampshire Volunteers from 1862-63. Was pastor of the church
/
428 History of Canaan.
in Goffstowii many years, and then settled over the church in
Hollis where he remained until his death.
Joseph Doe Weeks, class of 1861, son of AVilliam P. and Mary
(Doe) AYeeks. (See lawyers.)
William B. Weeks, brother of above and in same class. (See
la^\"V'ers. )
James Burns Wallace, class of 1887. (See lawj^ers.)
Nathaniel S. Currier entered Dartmouth in the class of 1841,
and remained two years, but did not graduate. Died in Homer,
La., in 1852, aged 30 years.
Ithamar Pillsbury graduated from Yale in the class of 1822.
William B. Arvin, son of Simeon and Hannah Arvin, born
in 1812 in the house now o\ATied by A. W. Hutchinson ; graduated
from West Point in 1836. He was appointed a lieutenant of
infantry and ordered to Florida, to fight the Seminoles. After
one campaign he resigned his commission and located at Newark,
Ohio, as a lawyer.
Dr. Thomas Flanders graduated from Dartmouth Medical
College in 1832.
Dr. Ara Wheat graduated from the Dartmouth Medical Col-
lege in 1860, and Dr. Lewis W. Morey in 1876.
Dr. A. H. Flanders, son of Dr. Thomas Flanders, studied at
Har^^ard Medical College and graduated from Union College.
He was born in the Pinnacle House. Practised in New York
City. Built a house on Fort Nonsense, Morristown, N. J.,
where he died. He married and had one daughter, Grace, mar-
ried and living in Morristown, N. J.
George Dexter Harris, born in Canaan, December 16, 1840;
was the son of Dexter and Harriet B. Harris; was appointed
assistant acting surgeon November 12, 1863, and served on the
L^nited States Steamship Mag)iolia, resigned May 1, 1865. Grad-
uated from Dartmouth Medical College in 1864; commenced
studying with Dr. Thomas H. Currie and Dr. Alfred R. Bullard
in 1860. After his resignation he returned to Canaan and after-
wards went into the drug business in Boston where he died Octo-
ber 8, 1890, unmarried.
William Martin Chase, son of Horace and Abigail (^Martin)
Chase, was born in Canaan, December 28, 1837 ; was educated at
Doctors and College Graduates. 429
Canaan Union Academy, and graduated from the Chandler
Seientifie Department of Dartmouth College in the class of 1858.
For about two years he was assistant preceptor of Henniker
Academy. He then entered the law office of Anson S. Marshall
of Concord, where he studied until his admission to the bar in
August, 1862. He soon afterwards formed a partnership with
Mr. Marshall which continued until the death of the latter. He
was also for a time a partner of Hon. J. Everett Sargent, who
became chief justice of the Supreme Court. Later he was a
partner with Frank S. Streeter of Concord, until 1891, when
he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court. He re-
ceived the degree of A. M. from Dartmouth CoUege in 1879,
and the degree of LL. D.. in 1898, and was appointed trustee
of that institution in 1890. On December 28, 1907, having
reached the age limit, he resigned from the Supreme Court. He
was in the Senate from the tenth district in 1909. He married
and has one son, Arthur H., who is the state librarian at Con-
cord, who is married and has two children, Marjory and Robert.
"Wilfred Hiram Smart, son of Frank B. and ]\Iary B. (Jones)
Smart, was born in Dorchester, April 22, 1883. His education was
obtained at the Canaan High School, New Hampton Literary
Institution from which he graduated in 1903, entering Dart-
mouth College in the fall of that year; he graduated in the class
of 1907. He entered the Harvard Law School the next fall
and will graduate in 1910. He was married June 30, 1906, to
Rachel G. Smith of Meredith. Has been the agent of the Mutual
Life Insurance Company of New York for some years.
Earl C. Gordon, son of George H., and Emma F. (Xoyes) Gor-
don, was born December 12, 1887. His education was obtained
from the Canaan High School, Xew Hampton Literary Institu-
tion, from which he entered Bates College, where he spent one
year, and then entered the class of 1911 of Dartmouth College.
Was assistant clerk of the senate for the session of 1909.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Temperance in Canaan.
The old orchards of Canaan were famous in their early ma-
turity. The seeds were brought from Connecticut and Massachu-
setts. After building a house and clearing a spot of land, the
next duty of the settler was to plant an orchard. The farms laid
out by the newcomers, almost without exception, were not con-
sidered complete until the apple trees were started. The soil
was moist and rich, and well adapted to the growth of fruit
trees. They grew rapidly in the new soil, enriched by the ashes
from the burned forests, and they bore fruit so abundantly that
cider mills were erected at convenient places all over town. As
the yield of apples increased, so the appetite for cider, and some-
thing stronger increased, and with this increasing appetite some
of the bad traits of human nature were developed. The gather-
ings of the people were usually held at places where they could
gratify their appetites, and there as the day progressed, the
looker-on would observe the various phases which the use of cider
and other drinks produced. Some men became hoggish and
wallowed in their filth; some men became devilish and needed
only hoofs and horns to be such in fact ; some became idiotic and
foolish and drooled in their silliness ; others were a prey to ugli-
ness, very few went home sober, or even knew w^hen it was
time to go home ; some who had left strong-minded and muscular
wives at home, preferred enjoying the evening air until the
fumes of inebriety were evaporated. These things were not con-
fined to the low or vicious, but it was a great social evil ; it was-
a part of the hospitality of the house to offer cider, wine or rum
to strangers as a beverage. There were drunkards among all
classes of people. Many a man died of strong drink upon whose
headstone may be read some cheering verse from the Bible.
There were a number of strong men who fell by the wayside
in their encounter with apple-juice; there was Dea. C. W. and
his sons. Esquire A. and all his sons; E. and J. W. ; Doctor T., J.
D., and L. W., and others, over whose remains might well have
Temperance in Canaan. 431
been inscribed, "Woe to him that tarrieth long at the wine cup."
There came a time when the men who planted these great or-
chards, knew not what to do with the fruit. Some years, when
their bins had been filled with apples for family use and their
casks were all filled with eider, the quantity left ungathered was
almost fabulous. Cattle, hogs and horses were turned loose to
grow fat upon them. The year 1822 by those who remember it,
has always been called the great apple year. Many hundred
barrels of cider were made and many hundred bushels of ap-
ples rotted on the ground. Joshua Wells, before his death, used
to recall that year and gave the cider product something as fol-
lows : Joseph Bartlett, 150 barrels ; Dea. Caleb Welch, 30 bar-
rels; John M. Barber, 100 barrels; Joshua Wells, 200; Capt.
Moses Dole, 30; WiUiam Campbell, 50; Col. Daniel Pattee, 60;
Josiali Barber, 60 ; Reynold Gates, 75 ; Abel Hadley, 25. Cider
was everywhere. The difficulty being to find casks to hold it, it
was free to all. Men drank it and became ugly, both in body and
mind — red noses, bleared eyes, and bloated bellies were the
sights that marked the devotees to these frequent libations, and
there was no man brave enough to rise up and crj' out: "Taste
not, touch not. ' '
Years went by and the same unhealthy signs traversed our
streets, sometimes upright, sometimes on hands and knees, and
this tippling was not all confined to one sex. It was well known
that wives, mothers and maidens had appetites and often in-
dulged them. Many good men and women regretted the slavery
which, like fiery serpents, was winding itself about souls and
bodies ; but the remedy for it was not apparent.
In the town lived a young lawyer named Kittredge. He had
long scorned to follow anybody's example. He preferred to be
a leader, and if anybody in the country excelled him in his
methods of getting drunk, he didn't know^ it; and if anybody
ever showed more contempt for the usages of society, the people
were ignorant, of it. Oftentimes he was a weary, heavy-laden
man. Why should he not rest when and where he pleased! on
the grass ! in the ditch ! by the roadside ! And if he happened
to reach his own home before he sank down to rest, why should
he take off his muddy boots, liis jammed hat, or bedraggled
432 History of Canaan,
clothes, as he crawled into bed and lost consciousness! He fell
low down — verv- low ! He lost practice, caste, character, and
was looked upon as a pariah. But he was not entirely lost.
By a supreme effort of his wull, he crushed out the snakes and
cast out the demons that possessed him, and became a man again.
From his own severe experience, he believed he could benefit the
world by speaking against the evils of drunkenness.
It was in the year 1829 that an attempt was made to organize
an association to oppose the excessive use of alcohol. The meet-
ing was held in Mr. Foster's church. Mr. Kittredge delivered a
thrilling address upon the evils of drunkenness, which was sub-
sequently printed, and then there was a general discussion upon
the merits of the question; whether it was right and proper for
this community, where rum was as much a drink as cider or
water, and about as cheap, to abstain from its use, when nine out
of ten knew they could not do it. A pledge was laid before the
meeting, but it was so worded that sickness and depression of
spirits were to be an excuse for indulgence.
Good old Elder Wheat could not sign it, because through all
his long life he had used rum and it had given him courage and
strength to work. Mr. Trussell would not sign it, although he
was not a hard drinker, because it restrained a man in his
liberty to do as he pleased — freedom in all things was his
motto. Bart Heath drank rum because he loved it ; he know it
was good for him. His wife drank it also; and it was good for
her, too. Now he wasn't going to throw away any good thing
in this world, because it would be parting with his rights. Doctor
Tilton would sign, with a mental reservation, that the pledges
should be no bar to his present habits. Deacon Drake wouldn't
sign it, because he didn 't wish to submit himself to so powerful a
temptation as an invitation to drink would subject him. George
Kimball, the lawyer, was not a drinking man. He favored the
pledge and his argument ran somewhat as follows: "Spirit is
expensive and useless and, moreover, hurtful. Its cost we all
know. Its uselessness is provable by the fact that it contains
no nourishment, nothing that can give vigor or strength. It is
good when a man is melted, in that condition, there might be
propriety in drinking spirit ; but until the natural state becomes
Temperance in Canaan. 433
a state of fusion, I should object to the use of ardent spirits.
Instead of giving strength, it only deceives men into a false
estimate of their powers, like madness and poor human nature
has to pay for it afterwards. It produces poverty, engenders
sickness, is dangerous to the reputation, to the contentment and
happiness in families, and is destructive to usefulness ; to friend-
ship, and is an enemy to the body and soul. I denounce all kinds
of excitable spirits, except when a man is ready to perish. We
may give wine to one of heavy heart, if it be pure. I denounce
cider except in small lots and pure. I denounce the filthy or-
chards that encumber the best part of farmers' lands where he
ought to raise corn and grain. ' ' Mr. Kimball was not applauded
for his murderous allusion to the orchards, nor did he get credit
for the peculiar "exceptions" he allowed.
"When a man is melted, as he called it, a man in those days
would hardly take alcohol to cool his blood.
There was a strong objection to the pledge simply as such.
Personal "rights" and "liberty" to do as they pleased, were
powerful words, and kept their hands off that paper. My recol-
lection is that it received no signatures at that meeting. The
men went home to talk it over and the women also. They looked
about them and saw three stores and two taverns on the Street
where rum was sold over the counter by the glass. Several other
taverns about town offered facilities for indulgence. Not a day
passed but some one or more men staggered home from these re-
sorts, either too drunk to be civil, or too stupid to reflect whether
their appetites might be more dangerous to their liberties than
the pledge which had been offered them. There was a man who
had sold rum all his life and he used to boast that he had never
tasted any of his own liquors and knew no difference between
them; "rum, gin or brandy, were all the same to him." He sold
it! But he was not honest. He would tempt men on to drink,
and then charge them with bills of goods which they never pur-
chased, but which he would compel them to pay for, because
having drank his rum, they had become oblivious to business ob-
ligations as well as to the decencies of life. These sad sights and
scenes presented themselves daily to the world, and one by one a
generation of drunkards went down to the grave, some of them
23
434 History of Canaan.
lingering along life V road, like decaying pine stumps, rotten and
ragged, waiting for the slow tread of time to crush out their
strong vitality. But the words spoken at that first temperance
meeting were like good seed scattered broadcast over the earth;
and through all the years have yielded an annually increasing
harvest down to this day. Wisdom, folly, philanthropy and
fanaticism, since that day have taken a hand in the crusade
against rum. Something has been gained, but the worm of the
still is undying, crushed out today ; tomorrow it shows its leprous
features in another place. The combined and concentrated wis-
dom of all our law-makers, and of all the political philanthropists
for the suppression of the sale of liquors from that day to this,
has resulted in the conviction that men will have it.
In the year 1855 it was thought better to deal it out through
an ''agent," so that the profits therefrom might be a part of the
public income. John M. Barber was the first town agent, and
the rules controlling the distribution and sale were as follows:
"You shall purchase and sell only such liquors as are pure and
unadulterated. All liquors costing less than one dollar a gallon,
your profit shall be 25 per cent., all over that amount 15 per
cent. Purchase as you need and not have an unnecessary quan-
tity on hand." The year 1880 was also a famous cider and ap-
ple year. There were eight cider mills in town. Harris J.
Goss' mill made 413 barrels; E. C. Flanders made 42 barrels
at his mill; Larva's mill made 346 barrels and Mr. Lary
gathered 715 bushels of apples from his own orchard. Charles
H. Wells' mill made 339; John Currier made 42 barrels
at this mill, and Enoch Fifield and Charles Day divided
48 barrels between them. At Gates' mill 361 barrels were
made; Daniel Hinkson made 41 at this mill. William
Hall's mill turned out 410 barrels. George L. Whittier made
65 barrels there. Henry H. Wilson's mill turned out 419
barrels, Philip Prescott's 351, and William Huggett's 329 bar-
rels. That vear the barrels were worth twice as much as the
cider. The cider sold at $1.25 per thirty-two gallons. Probably
the apple crop that year was not far from 41,000 bushels.
CHAPTER XXV.
How Some of Our Houses Were Built.
Jonathan Carlton moved from Amesbnrv", Mass., to Canaan
about 1780 and "pitched" upon the top of the hill, where he
died. He put up a log house and therein some of his children
were born, while the only door to the house was a strip of hem-
lock bark, set against the opening. He "cleared that farm."
Being a millwright, he accepted the proprietors' offer of "lOO
acres of timbered land," which was the third hundred of the
mill right, and built the first sawmill on Mascoma River, near the
present factory village. These lands were then covered with a
heavy growth of white pine of great size. The first timber he
sawed was for his o\\'n house, the great house on the hill, now
owned by C. P. King. He also sawed the lumber and boards for
the meeting house ; also for Captain Wells, who was then build-
ing the "Wallace house, and for Dr. Caleb Pierce, who was then
preparing to build the old hotel (Grand View).
About the same time Capt. Robert Barber built the Welch
mill, as it was afterwards called, and sawed the boards for his
new house, afterwards the Pinnacle House. Captain Barber was
more fortunate than some others; upon his land he found a
number of hard pine trees, which he sawed into flooring for his
house and which remain to this day. Captain Barber also built
a sawmill below ]\Ir. Carlton's on Mascoma River, the ruins of
which may be seen not far from the ruins of the old paper mill.
The nails used in these buildings were cut from wrought-iron
hoops, manufactured for the purpose, with a cutting machine
set up in Mr. Carlton's mill. The rum used to raise the build-
ings came from Jesse Johnson's at East Endfield, who for many
years kept the only store in all the region round about.
Simeon Arv^in was of Irish parentage and came here in 1790.
A few years afterwards he kept a store in a red building near
where now stands the house of the late George Harris, now his
grandson's, G. H. Goodhue. He married Hannah, daughter of
436 History of Canaan.
Jonathan Diistin, and raised a family of boys and girls. In
1804 he bought the farm of Nathaniel Barber at the south end
of the Street, where A. "W. Hutchinson now lives. A ]\Ir. Clark
owned a blacksmith shop just north of Arvin's store, which he
afterwards sold to Nathaniel Currier, who finished it up into a
store, where he traded for many years. This shop was near the
site of the stone house. Arvin sold his store to Micaiah Moore,
brother-in-law to Blacksmith Clark, but it did not prosper after
Arvin left it. Both jMoore and Clark sold out and went West
to "the Ohio," disappearing forever from among us. Arvin
also owned the Welch mill.
Josiah Clark married Pernal Barber and built the house where
A. W. Hutchinson lives ; he bartered farms with Nathaniel Bar-
ber, his wife's brother, and moved down on the intervale, near
the fair grounds. /
Daniel Colby lived in a log house near the cemetery on the
Street, where he raised a family of fifteen children and died at
the great age of ninety-nine years. As full of crochets and
eccentricities as any man could be.
Ee^Tiold Gates, son of Josiah, was a good worker. He came to
Canaan about 1768, when a boy, from Colchester and without
friends. Major Jones took care of him and when he married
Lydia Clark, the major gave him one hundred acres of wild land.
He took up land in the northwest part of the town and before his
marriage, had his bread made at William Kichardson's on Saw-
yer hill. Several times on his way home in the evening, he was
chased by wolves and, to save himself, would drop a loaf; some-
times he found himself breadless on arriving at his log cabin.
He lived north of where H. B. Gates now lives. His nearest
neighbor was Nathaniel Bartlett, who came shortly after and
settled the adjoining farm and married Susanna, a sister of
Gates' wife, both daughters of Caleb Clark. These two men car-
ried on their lauds together. Bartlett came from Amesbury,
and before his marriage, lived with William Richardson. One
day he had set his dinner pail down, a bear came along, got into
it and slipped the bail over his head, and away went bear and
pail. He was heard of several times afterwards. The cellar hole
How Some of Our Houses Were Built. 437
alone remains of Bartlett's house, about sixty rods south of
where H. B. Gates now lives, in the field.
Allen Whitman of Colchester, Conn., one of the original
grantees of Canaan, never came here to look after the lands that
Avere surveyed and assigned to him, and which were taxed for
the making of roads and other expenses. The first division of
one hundred acres was surveyed in two lots of fifty acres each,
one on the easterly shore of Hart's Pond, the other on Town Hill.
The first half has a history sufficiently interesting to induce its
being traced out, as upon it are situated some of the old land-
marks of the town.
In 1782 it was taxed at 12s., 2p., and on the 3d of January,
1786, it was sold by John Hall Bartlett for non-payment of the
tax, to William Dougless, a shoemaker, who received a deed ac-
knowledged "before me, William Ayer, J. P." and
Beginning at a stake and stones standing by the side of Hart Pond, —
thence S 80°W 113 rods to a stal^e and stones, then S 10°E 22 rods to
a stake, then S 80°W 15 rods to a stake, then S 10°E 46 rods to a stake
and stones, then N 80°E 118 to a heap of stones by the pond, then by
the pond to the first bound.
The boundary lines of this land are still preserved to a cer-
tain extent. It is the land between the north line of 0. H.
Perry's on the west side of the Street, and the north line of R.
H. Haffenretf er 's, and from the pond to the old Dustin and Bar-
ber farms, now occupied on the west by M. E. Cross and Mary
E. D. Weeks.
On October 23, 1790, "William Douglass, cordwainer," in con-
sideration of £100, L. M. conveyed to "Samuel Dustin, yoeman,"
of Canaan, a brother of David, and son of Jonathan, the same lot
of fifty acres, with the following additional description: "Ly-
ing southerly of Mr. Jonathan Dustin 's land, that he now lives
on, and joins on Capt. Robert Barber's land, and westerly on the
road or path now trod from ]\Ir. Eames' Mill, to the south side
of the town."
January 20, 1791, "Samuel Dustin, yeoman, in consideration
of £100 paid by William Douglass, cordwainer," conveys a
house and fifty acres of land, situated on the west side of Hart
Pond, and lying southerly of Mr. Jonathan Dustin 's land, that
438 History of Canaan.
he now lives on, and joins on Capt. Robert Barber's land, and
westerly on the road or path now trod from Eames' mill to the
south side of the town ; said land being part of the first one hun-
dred acres of the right of Allen Whitman.
The first break in the body of the fifty-acre lot, occurs Novem-
ber 26, 1792, when William Douglass, "in consideration of the
sum of eleven pounds, four shillings, lawful money," conveyed
to the committee of the proprietors of the "proposed Meeting-
house, ' ' the land now known as the ' ' Common, ' '
On July 14, 1793, "William Douglass, cord, sold to William
Parkhurst, trader, for £74-10s., L. M., a certain fifty-acre lot or
farm, bounded easterly on Hart Pond, so-called, northerly on
Jonathan Dustin's land, westerly on the road from Eames' mill
to the south side of the town, and southerly on land of Robert
Barber, it being part of the first hundred acres, laid out in the
original right of Allen Whitman, excepting three acres and one-
quarter, which I have already deeded to the proprietors of the
Meeting house, and on which said Meeting house now stands."
On August 5, 1793, William and Sally Parkhurst conveyed to
Caleb Pierce of Canaan, physician, for £150 lawful money, the
same fifty acres of land, and bounded as in the deed from Doug-
lass to Parkhurst, with the following addition : ' ' With the build-
ings thereon, excepting three and one-quarter acres, which be-
longs to the proprietors of the Meeting house, deeded to them by
William Douglass, and being the same land on which the said
house now stands."
Doctor Pierce built the old tavern and opened it in 1794; it
was first known as Pierce's tavern, then Moore's store, Clark's
tavern, J. Harris' inn, Cobb's tavern, and so on down to Crystal
Lake House and Grand View Hotel. The lumber to build it was
sawed at Jonathan Carlton's mill at the village.
The second division of this land occurred in 1793. Caleb
Pierce sold five acres adjoining on Robert Barber's line, on the
west side of the Street and the corresponding land on the east
side to the pond, to Col. Ezekiel Wells, who up to that time,
had resided on Town Hill. While building his house, he moved
in with Doctor Pierce, who was from Enfield, and at that time
occupied the only house on the Street. Colonel Wells erected
How Some of Our Houses Were Built. 439
the frames of two large houses, one on each side of the Street,
and was ambitions to own the largest house in town, but he was
not able to finish the houses he proposed to erect. The frame
on the east side remained uncovered for several years, and was
sold to a Mr. Tucker, who took the frame down and moved it
elsewhere. The house on the west side, he covered in and two
rooms were finished in panel. He lived in this house; some of
his children and one grandchild were born in it. Then it
passed into the hands of Gideon Morse and Josiah Clark in 1809.
The last sold it to Col. Asa Robinson of Pembroke, in 1815, and
he, desiring to return to Pembroke, traded it with James Wallace
in 1817, then in business in Pembroke, for property valued at
$1,000. The house was burned November 4, 1898. In 1815
Josiah Clark sold to William Atherton "one acre exact measure,"
"Beginning at the northeast corner of Robert Barber's land on
the Broad Street," in consideration of $100. On August 10,
1805, Caleb Pierce conveyed to Micaiah Moore, "trader of Lime,"
for $1,600, a tract of land bounded as follows :
Commencing at a stake on Hart Pond, running westerly by tlie Dow
land to Broad Street, crossing said street to the northeast corner of
Jacob Trussell's old joiner shop, northerly 10 rods one foot to a stake
and stones, then S 80 °W SO rcxls to a stake and stones by a strip of laud
formerly owned by Thomas Dow, then S 10°E 10 rods one foot to a
stake and stones, then S 22 rods to a marked stake, then S 80°W 15 rods
to a stake by the road leading from David Dustin's to John M. Barber's,
then S 10°E 46 rods by said road, to a stake and stones by said Barber's
land, then by said Barber's land easterly, to the southeast corner of a
five acre lot that Ezekiel Wells now lives on, then N 12°W 12 rods, then
N 82 E 46 rods to a stake and stones, then N 12 W Sy^ rods to a stake
and stones, being the southwest corner of the Meeting House land, then
easterly by lands I sold Capt. Ezekiel Wells to Hart Pond, then by said
Pond to the first bound, reserving three and one quarter acres of Meet-
ing House grounds, the road that leads through it, and the land under
Jacob Trussell's old joiner's shop, so long as it will stand without re-
pairing.
On February 7, 1809, Micaiah Moore mortgaged for $500 to
John Currier, the same land, reserving the meeting house land
a,nd "one-half acre and buildings I live in, being all the land
I bought of Caleb Pierce." Moore afterwards redeemed this.
In 1811 Moore sold to Eliphalet Clark of Boston, for the sum of
\
440 History of Canaan.
$1,750, fifteen acres of land, which sale included the old tavern,
orchard and lands adjoining on both sides of the Street. The
property was next conveyed to Joshua Harris, Avho occupied it
as a store and tavern until 1822, when he transferred it to Salmon
P. Cobb, and since that day it would require much labor to trace
the title through the many changes of ownership.
James Doten owned it from 1838 to 1842, then George Powers ;
after him came David Heath, Harvey Angell, Guilford Cobb.
Ann Dunham lived there in 1852. When Joseph Dustin and
William W. George bought it for Amos Kidder in 1855, it was
standing empty. Kidder never paid for it. Then came Charles
Jones, who had a tinshop there in the old hall. Charles Day
ouTied it w^hen Willard Dunham, Peter Godet and Frank and
Mercy Fox lived there. In 1878 William Gordon bought it of
Charles Day. He christened it Crystal Lake House. After him
came Mrs. Derby, Mr. Dale, Mr. Landon, Albert R. Wilkinson,
who called it the Grand View Hotel ; after making many repairs
to it, he sold it at auction to R. H. Haffrenreffer, who tore it
down in the winter of 1908-09, and used the timbers and boards
to build a summer cottage. Thus ended one of the oldest hos-
telries on the Grafton Turnpike, where the coaches from Boston
used to stop for change of horses.
In 1790 William Parkhurst built the house now occupied by
Col. A. A. Haggett. He had married Robert Barber's daughter
Sally and the old man gave him the land. He kept store in this
house. After him it was occupied by Daniel Blaisdell for a time.
On March 15, 1800, Parkhurst conveyed to Robert Barber for
$350, "all the buildings that I built on said Barber's land in
said Canaan, on the easterly side of Broad Street, so-called, with
all the fences and appurtenances thereto belonging."
On January 17, 1809, Robert Barber conveyed to Dr. Caleb
Pierce ' ' the Home Farm, embracing 180 acres, in consideration of
$3,000, bounded northerly on Hart Pond, westerly by land of
Simeon Arvin, easterly by land of Joshua Wells, and the high-
way leading to Grafton, southerly by the road leading by Jona-
than Follensbee's (formerly Oliver Smith's) and land of said
Smith and John Tenney to Arvin 's corner." This is the "Pin- \
nacle" property. The remainder of his farm Barber had sold
^pw Some of Our Houses AYere Built. 441
to Simeon Arvin. Doctor Pierce occupied the house until 1813,
when he died of spotted fever. His family continued to live
there until 1824, when it passed into the hands of Dr. Thomas
Flanders. The house once occupied by H. P. Burleigh, was
moved by him from the site where it was built, just north of 0.
H. Perry's barn. Jacob Dow built it in 1802 and 1803. He
married Phoebe Wells, daughter of Ezekiel, in September, 1802,
and his first child, Phebe, born June 21, 1803, who May 9, 1824,
married David March, was born in her grandfather's house,
while her father was building his new house, clearing the pine
swamp and jungle of bushes which extended to the pond, and
while Jacob cleared and drained the land and worked it into
beautiful and fruitful fields, she became the mother of fourteen
children. This house burned two years ago.
Henry Morse began the house where F. B. L. Porter now lives
in 1844 and finished it in 1845 ; after living there a year, he sold
it to William Kimball.
John M. Barber, son of Robert, pitched on 113 acres, 153
rods of land in December, 1794, extending to the west of his
father's farm. It was in the right of Isaiah Rathburn, and like
many of the old settlers, his first house was of logs. He married
Sally Sanborn and moved into a small house near the site of the
large house, wherein had lived David Fogg and his wife, Ruth
Dustin. They had disappeared and given place to John M. and
Sally, who like all the strong workers of those days, believed in
the propagation of the species. Children came along at regular
intervals until the little house was full: March, Deliverance,
Polly, Sally, John, Jesse, Catherine, Irena and Miriam. He built
the ell part of the new house about 1800, and moved into it.
He was one of the most hardy of the early settlers, seldom
wearing an overcoat or mittens in cold weather. He was heard
to say that he raised potatoes on the ground where stood the
tallest, most beautiful grove of pine trees in town at the time it
was cut. In 1807 he hired Moses Richardson to bring down from
Sawyer Hill the dressed underpinning for the addition he was
contemplating. For this new house, he had selected a location
unsurpassed for its scenic beauty. In the background was the
old forest, lively with varieties of large and small game. It was
442 History of Canaan. ^
in those woods that old Uncle David Dustin killed a bear and the
wad. of his rifle set fire to the underbrush that could, not be
quenched, until a hundred, acres of old growth timber had been
burned and become valueless. Mr. Barber was as usual quite
indignant at the ' ' accident, ' " but as every man in those days had
aU the timbered land he wanted, and there was no sale for lum-
ber, he, like a good neighbor, soon recognized the fact that "ac-
cidents wiU happen," and was easily placated. It was in those
woods that a bush called wickoby used to abound, the wood cork-
like, the bark as Major Trussell used to say, "tough as horn,"
and was sought for by Caleb Welch, the miller, to tie up his meal
bags. These woods were in early days a grand place to shoot
small game, but Uncle John Barber would not allow hunting in
them with guns unless we would agree not to use tow for wad-
ding. These woods renewed themselves and in 1888 were cut
down and sawed into lumber. John ]\I. Barber built his house
of the best pine lumber, sawed at his father's mill. His work
went on slowly, for the "Embargo" of Jefferson in 1807, and
the "Non-Intercourse" of Madison in 1809, increased the price
of nails, iron and other necessary materials, so as to discourage
its completion. In 1810 money was scarce and Mr. Barber con-
cluded, like many others, to wait for better times. But the better
times never came for him. The house remained unfinished. He
never drove another nail into its timbers. Afterwards when
Hiram Barber came into its possesion, comfortable improvements
were made. Three generations of Barbers occupied that house,
and then it passed into the hands of Charles Day. After his
death, the timber was cut off and the land then passed to Israel
Sharon. The house burned on the night of the 29th of De-
cember, 1891.
Josiah Barber built the big house on the old "Poor Farm"
and lived there. It was his boast that he would build a bigger
stack of chimneys than any of his neighbors, the big chimneys
exhausted his means to such an extent that he never entirely com-
pleted the big house. His son. Josiah P. Barber, Avas called
"Black Siah Barber." "Smiling Siah Barber" was the latter 's
cousin. His father lived in Epping. "Smiling Siah" used to
visit his uncle and assist him in his work. The old man gave him
How Some of Our Houses Were Built. 443
a piece of land as an inducement to settle here. The young man
built the church house next below his uncle's, on the right; got
married and lived there many years, when he sold out and moved
to Nashua, where he lived to be over eighty years old. Beyond,
still stands the old house of Joseph Bartlett, who came here about
four years after Josiah Barber and bought out Caleb Clark's
heirs. Clark was the first settler in that region. This old house
is almost a ruin. It was afterwards occupied by Orrin and
George Fales, the former married Bartlett 's daughter, Polh'.
The old farm where Charles Deeato lived was settled by ]\Ioses
Lawrence and the old house was built by him. Bartlett and
Lawrence were Barber's neighbors and each strove to outdo the
other in building their houses. Not one of them ever finished
the inside of his house. Barber owned a sawmill on the Mascoma
Hiver above the bridge on the road from Charles Lashua's. This
mill afterwards passed into the hands of Moses Lawrence, who
came to Canaan about 1800, lived here about thirtv-eight vears
and died in Ohio. He was an ardent Methodist, believing all
other doctrines sinful. He had six daughters and three sons.
Two of the sons were John and Richard; Otis Willis, Fardey
Norris and his cousin, Joseph Norris of Dorchester, married three
of the daughters. One went away unmarried; also the boys.
He built the small house near the Swett house for one of his
sons. The style of these old houses was much alike. There are
many of them standing now. With two stories, square-shaped
and large square rooms, with a large hallway in the center, and
four rooms on a floor, and two large chimneys, one on either side.
Some were built with four-sided roofs, none of them had blinds
on the outside, but had shutters inside disappearing into the par-
titions on either side of the windows, and when shut, the room
was as dark as night. Their style of architecture verged on the
colonial, more so as the means of the owner permitted. A little
later, the style although still trying to preserve the colonial re-
sulted in smaller houses, two stories high, but oblong and only
one room deep and two rooms w^ide, with a hall in the center,
but these two rooms were large ones, like the old Barber home-
stead. Then came a still further narrowing in width, like John
Currier's, the Haggett and Dow houses. To all of these was
444 History of Canaan.
added an ell, of au altogether diflt'ereut style, in fact no style at
all, and which for the most part, was the kitchen and living room
of the family. Later and along in the thirties, came the story
and a half house, some of them built with four rooms on the
first floor, and finished rooms on the second floor. The attics of
the two-story houses were not fiiiished, nor were all of the rooms
on the second floor.
The "Stone house," the only one of its kind in town, was
built about 1842 by Edmund Hazen. The stone came from the
pasture back of the paper mill. It was built for a blacksmith
shop and later Simon Dodge finished it into a house.
Gordon Burley built and kept the store which stood just north
of Charles Seavey's house. He sold it in the latter part of
December, 1834, to Eleazer and Jesse Martin who came from
Grafton. Eleazer came with his family in the early part of
January-, 1835, and moved in with Mrs. Wallace. He afterwards
moved into the house now owned by F. B. L. Porter. Jesse iMartin
bought the house Thomas H. Pettingill built and which had been
occupied by Mr. Foster. It was then a one-story house and Mr.
Martin built it over.
It may be interesting to know where the farms of the old
settlers were, begining from the settlement of the town to 1813.
The roads upon which some of them lived have been long since
thrown up. Here and there as one traverses the fields and
woods, an old cellar hole appears ; upon close observation an old
road can be found. Beginning at the southeast corner of the
town and following the Enfield line along South Road, we first
find Samuel Xoyes, then Daniel Famum, afterwards owned by
Dudley Noyes and Daniel Hinkson, now Frank La.shua's. Then
comes Amos Stevens in 1787, afterwards owned by Timothy
Jolmson and then by Daniel Davis, Elijah Miner and Reuben
Welch. Next came Capt. Charles Walworth and on the oppo-
site side of the road was his son George 's farm, where the Cobble
graveyard is. Then came the farm of Dea. Caleb Welch ; on the
north side of the road was Jehu Jones. Next was the farm of
Theophilus Currier, through which the Potato Road runs. On
the north side of the road was the farm of two hundred acres,
of Thomas Miner. East of Theophilus Currier was William
How Some of Our Houses Were Built. 445
Ayer. On the west side of the Potato Road was James Morse,
on the opposite side was Shubael Burdick, who sold to INIoody
Noyes. Next came Thomas Baldwin, who sold to Samuel Jones
and he sold to ^Micah Porter. Opposite was Richard Otis, who
sold to James Doten. Next came Samuel Jones, afterwards the
Daniel Pattee farm ; next was the farm of John Scofield, extend-
ing to Mud Pond Brook, afterward Samuel Jones', then Daniel
Pattee, his son James, and beyond him Joshua Pillsbury, who
swapped with Warren Wilson. On the opposite side of the road
was George Harris and his son Joshua; next was John Scofield,
Jr., who sold to Col. Levi George. Next was the farm of Eleazer
Scotield, afterwards Simon Blanchard, who sold to Lois Evans.
Robert Williams lived on the Blanchard farm also. The Scofield
land included the vicinity of West Canaan. On the other side of
Mud Pond Brook was the farm of Richard Aldrich, then came
Samuel Joslyn, afterwards owned by Judah Wells, also known
as the Richard Aldrich farm. Then came Asa Paddleford's
farm as far as the governor's right of five hundred acres then
from the Mascoma River, north of Asa, came James Paddleford.
John Scofield owned the governor's right and his heirs sold to
John May, William and Israel Harris, Daniel Dow, Elam
Meacham, Joseph and Benjamin Blake to the Hanover line.
Extending along the north line of the town, east of Mascoma
River, was Joseph Bartlett, then came Moses Lawrence, Eben-
ezer Davis, Nathan Cross, Joseph Randlet, Daniel Lary, Josiah
Clark, Amasa Jones, Tristram Sanborn. Then coming down the
River Road on the east side of the town was Stephen Worth
in Jerusalem. Then Harry Leeds, Ezra Chase. On the Jeru-
salem Road, was David Brown, Levi Wilson, John Worth, Jr.,
Eliphalet Norris, William Wood, Jabez, Job and Jeremiah Wil-
son to the Nathaniel Barber farm, afterwards Josiah Clark's.
West of David Brown was Peter Pattee.
Beginning on the Turnpike at Grafton line, was Elijah Whit-
tier, Daniel Blaisdell and Parrott, his brother, to the bridge over
the river at the depot, then following the Turnpike was John
Worth, Jr. 's, tavern, and not a house from there to the top of
Doten Hill; then on the Bickford Road was Ezekiel Gardner,
John Sweet, afterwards Samuel Whittier's, on the Turnpike
446 History of Canaan.
came Joshua Wells, theu Kobert Barber in the Pinnacle House;
next Josiah Clark, William Parkhurst, Dr. Amasa Howard,
Jacob Dow, William Atherton, Ezekiel Wells after he moved
from To^^-n Hill; above the town house was William Douglass;
towards the west was Jonathan Dustin, extending to the ]\Ias-
eoma Kiver, then on the Street Moses Dole, Nathaniel Currier
in 1816, Daniel Colby and Dr. John Harris opposite the ceme-
tery. Thaddeus Lathrop lived opposite J. W. Colburn's. At
the corner northerly towards Dorchester, was Ebenezer Eames;
afterwards Cyrus Carlton built A. S. Green's house and ran the
mill; then John Currier, David Pearson, Wales Dole, Jonathan
Carlton, Ensign Colby on the Robitoille place, Jonathan Carl-
ton, Jr., lived on the Green place, then came ' ' Smiling Siah Bar-
ber," then Josiah who built the poor farm to Joseph Bartlett's.
On the road easterly from the comer was Eliphalet Richardson
on the Hafifenretfer place, Samuel Welch on the Putney place;
then John Worth and John Colcord at the corner of the roads.
On the west side of the pond between Wells and Colcord lived
Richard Whittier. North of Colcord was Bailey Cross, Joshua
Richardson, Jonathan Dustin, Jr., George Flint on the Elijah
George place. To the west was Nathaniel Whittier on the Rand-
lett place, Eliphalet Clark on the Levi Hamlet place, and oft' the
present road on Gilman Hill, was Nathaniel Gilman. Benoni
Tucker and Thomas Beedle, with Charles Greenfield. Then
came Nathan Cross on the Murray place.
Extending along the Hanover line and on West Farms, north
of the governor's right, was Shaker land, then Reuben Gile, who
sold to his son Stephen and moved away in 1828. Stephen moved
to Morristown, Vt., with Jacob Straw in 1826. Stephen had
married Lydia Straw. Afterwards S. B. Morgan owned some of
the Gile farm. John Day that upon which Henrj^ H. Wilson
lived; north of him was Timothy Clark, afterwards his brother
Theodore 's, Clement Stoddard lived there first. Next came John
Currier, who sold to Jacob Tucker, then Abraham Knowlton.
Next was Henry Springer, Elijah Paddleford, and after him
William Longfellow. Then came Jacob Straw, afterwards
Abram Longfellow. Then came Robert Williams ; next William
Straw, a brother of Jacob, of Hopkinton. Next came Daniel
How Some of Our Houses Were Built. 447
Morse, afterwards Eobert Williams, who sold to Stephen East-
man as well as AVilliam Straw, and extended to Hanover line
adjoining the Eastman farm in Hanover. Then came common
land to the north side of Goose Pond. Then came John Willis;
then William Bradbury to the line of Gate's Gore settled by
Samuel J. Gates. East of Bradbury was Keynold Gates; east of
him for two hundred acres was Caleb Clark; south of Clark
and Gates was tifty acres of Adam Pollard and 376 acres of
Nathaniel Bartlett. South of him was Matthew Greeley, after-
wards Sewell Gleason, at the Hinkson place. South of him was
Clark Currier on Sa^^^er Hill. Then came William Kichardson,
his brothers, Enoch, John and Eliphalet, then Eobert and War-
ren Wilson, afterwards Joshua Pillsbury and Moses Shepard.
Next south came Jacob Richardson, John Wilson at Edwin
Shepard 's, then Lewis Lambkin, Richard and David Kimball,
Samuel Clough, Moses Chase, afterwards Reuben Putfer and
Samuel Chapman, where Lewis Defosse lived, then Samuel
Meacham and Ezekiel Wells. East of Ezekiel Wells was William
Campbell and east of him was waste land, east of which was the
Barber farm to the Street.
Daniel Porter settled the farm now in the possession of Sigis-
mond Wolf son. There Avas an old road which led easterly from
Clark Currier's, now Ricard's. On this road east was Amasa
Clark, then Ambrose Chase, afterwards John Hoit, and John
Fales. Nathaniel Richardson settled the Err Collins place.
Richard Clark, 3d, settled on the Delancy King place, Joseph
Clark at F. F. Avery's. Levi Cilley on Fred Sharkey's old farm
and Luther Kinne on C. H. Sweet's, at the corner of the road
from Josiah Barber's. From the switch where Joseph Flint's
farm was easterly, afterwards Seth Daniels, was Oliver Smith,
Stephen Jenniss, Robert Barber's mill; John Follensbee at the
present grist mill. On the road south from the grist mill lived
Job Tyler, Moses Hadley, William Ayer, Thomas Cole, Moses
Kelley, Jacob Miller, Jolm Bean, Joshua Springer, Joshua Cur-
rier, David Currier. Amos Gould lived on the left below the old
Hinkson place ; Joshua Meacham lived on the Nathaniel Shepard
place; Edwin May lived on the Caleb Jones place; having pre-
viously lived in the Gore.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Wheel Carriages, Tanneries, Pots and Pearl Ashes.
Caleb "Welch brought a two-wheeled gig wagon into town when
he came about 1769. The first four-wheeled vehicle seen here,
was owned by Simeon Hadley. The body was roughly con-
structed and placed upon the axles without springs. On the
rough roads of those days, it was not a great comfort to ride in
it. Capt. Joshua Harris owned the first chaise. It was of a
deep shining green color. He brought it from Connecticut in the
first years of this century. He owned a very staid old horse,
whose habits had worn into accord with the old man. It was
his custom to leave that horse and chaise unhitched where he
could eat grass, whenever he called upon his neighbors. The old
man was famously absent-minded. On returning from those
calls, he would uniformly forget his team, and would walk home
with his head bent down talking to himself. Sometimes he would
find his horse standing at his door; at other times he would go
back and find him still feeding beside the roadside. The old man
kept a diary in which he recorded things concerning town afl'airs
as well as of individuals, doubtless much that would be interest-
ing now. In the endeavors to find it, it only served to show that
it had been lost forever, gone to rags. It was traced to the
family of his son and to his granddaughter, and then it disap-
peared.
Captain Dole, who bought out Dudley Oilman and kept an
"Inn" at the north end of the Street, where is now the Hotel
Lucerne, owned a chaise which attracted much attention. It
had a nearly closed top and was a grand affair.
Tanneries.
The first tannerv was established bv Lieut. Richard Whittier
on the north side of Succor Brook. It was discontinued a hun-
dred years ago. The remains of it are still to be seen on the site
where the steam mill was located that cut off the timber in 1904,
Wheel Carriages, Tanneries, Etc. 449
Mr. Wliittier left his wife and five children in Methueu, Mass.,
and came to Canaan in 1788, where several of his neighbors had
already settled, and purchased a hundred-acre lot of land on the
east side of Hart's Pond, called the first one hundred of the
right of William Fox, Jr. He remained long enough to cut
over five acres of timberland, that being required by the pro-
prietors, and returned to Methuen to close up his affairs and get
ready to bring his family into his new home. Various and un-
toward events delayed his setting out, and it was more than a
year before he was able to return to Canaan.
Capt. Joshua Wells, who lived near the old orchard back on
the hill from the present Lovejoy house, was to be his nearest
neighbor. On the north side of his land lived John Colcord and
Bailey Cross. And still farther on towards Dorchester, Nathan
Cross had made a clearing, on the farm since kno-\vn as the Mur-
ray farm. It was in September or October of the year 1789,
that he returned alone, for he was not yet prepared to give his
family a home. The following letter, which is unique in its con-
struction and rather unusual in its orthography, is one of the
fragments of those days, which indicates the writer's purpose
to make a home in Canaan.
Cap. Wells: Sir. I baveing a opportuuity to write a fiie lines I would
imbrace it. Sir; I sbould be glad you would git some person or parsons
to loope the high limes upon my feel trees and seet them on fire the
first opportunity, they be drye, and I will satisfy you and them when
I come up. Sir, I expect to set out the first day of September, this
from your friend
Richard Whittier.
methuen, August the 15 Day 1789
Sir, I should be glad to board at your house.
He came and put up a log house, and later in the sea.son his
family joined him. He burned over the land he had cleared,
and having put in crops of grain, he journeyed back to IMethuen
with his family, to settle up his affairs for a final move to his new
home. But those were slow days, and small events often caused
long delays. There is another letter very personal and peculiar
which exhibits some of the customs and habits of thought in those
•days.
29
450 History of Canaan.
Metliuen August the 2nd, 1790.
Sir: having a opportunity to send a fue lines, I now imbrace it to
let you now of my affairs, that day I left your house it was very warm,
but I had the headake very much, so I did not ride in the middle of
the day, but I rode in the evening wich made me very late home, and
it grew cold and I took cold and have been vei-y sick, so that I have
cepte house till a day or two agoe, and now gi-ow some better, my
family is all well, and I hope these lines will find you and your fam-
ily in good health, mrs. Whittier sends hur regards to you and. mrs.
Wells, hoping to be better acquainted; my sons gives their Regards
to your sons; my daughter gives hur cind regards to your daughters.
Sir, I have nothing new to write, it is very weet and worm, we have
great shours and heavi thunder, it is somewhat sickly but not many
deaths. Sir, I have sent Letter to Daniel peaslee to bring my oxen
down and he will bring them to your house the night before he set out
with them, and if you will keep them I will Repay you. Sir, I am
alike to be disipinted of sum of my stock and lode by Reason of my be-
ing sick and sceasness of munney, that I am afraid I shall not get up
to Canaan till the eight or teenth of September, and if my grain should
warnt Reaping before I come. Sir, if you will git mr. Runnels, or mr.
Welch, or mr. Nathaniel Worth, or mr. Gardner or mr. Stickney. or
sum of them, or all of them, to Reap it and secure it I will satisfy them,
and if they fail anny boddy Els that will do it. but I am in hopes I
shall be there before it will want Reaping. This from your affectionate
friend,
RiCHAKD WHITTIEB.
plese to give my regards to mr, miller, tell him I should be glad
to have him look at that fence that he made if he pleese.
Mr. ^Miller was Jacob Miller, who came from Methuen with
Mr. Whittier and helped him clear the farm. His daughter mar-
ried Nathaniel Barber, who lived on the same farm at one time.
Mr. Miller built a house on the farm Barak Smith lived on.
He did not arrive until late in the fall, when he found that
Mr. Wells had reaped and stored his grain and Mr. Miller had
"looked at that fence," and repaired it. It was too late in the
season to build a comfortable house, but the neighbors were kind
and afforded shelter to his family. There were three sons bom
in that first log house, Asa, who twenty-five years ago was living
in Erie, Pa., and built the old house on the site of Hotel Rand,
Abiah and Moses. The labor of clearing the land, the cares of the
family, and his duties as a citizen, prevented his building a
new house for a time, but in the course of four or five years,
with the aid of his boys, he got out the timber, sawed his boards
Wheel Carriages, Tanneries, Etc. 451
at Capt. Robert Barber's new sawmill and put up the frame of
the new house and covered it in so as to make him a comfortable
home. Two more children were born to him : Leonard in 1797
and Rufus in 1800. He was by trade a tanner, and soon after
his family was made comfortable, he built his tannery about a
hundred rods north of his house. He carried it on for several
years, but it was not remunerative and he gave it up. Mr. Whit-
tier lived in that house until he died about the year 1812 and
was buried in the Wells cemetery, where a broken stone records :
"In memory of Richard Whittier," no date, no age.
Several years afterwards it passed into the hands of Lazarus
Page, who sold it and moved to Lowell, Mass., in 1827. Since
that time it was owned and occupied by a great number of peo-
ple and not for long by any one. It had a cheery aspect for sum-
mer, but it was a dreary place in winter. When it burned, Au-
gust 24, 1879, it was occupied by H. E. Elliott. It was a sad sight
to see ; it was like assassinating an old friend. For more than
two generations we had looked at that house and barn across the
pond. The land upon which it stood is now owned by Mary H.
Wendelstadt, who has built a cottage nearer the water. The
well on the sight of the old house is one of the deepest, being
twenty-eight feet, and its water is of the purest and coldest.
So perfectly and symmetrically were its sides stoned that in
attempting to place a pipe in it, no hole could be found large
enough to insert a half-inch pipe below the surface and a crowbar
had to be used to dislodge one of the stones, more than a hun-
dred and fifteen years after it was built.
Theophilus Sanborn of Dorchester married Fanny Cross and
built a tannery on the right bank of Cross Brook and carried on
the business six or eight years and then abandoned it for lack of
stock. This was about 1805.
About the year 1802 Jacob Dow of Concord married Phebe
Wells and built a tannery on the Street, where he carried on the
business until his death in 1831.
Daniel Porter came from Danvers, Mass., in 1825 and bought
Peggy's Tavern, situated on the old Turnpike. He built a tan-
nery in the field opposite his house, but he abandoned the busi-
ness many years before his death.
452 History of Canaan.
Franklin P. Swett of Gilmanton built the last tannery in
Canaan at the Corner below the present mill. The business was
discontinued in 1861. The buildings fell down and were re-
moved.
Pots and PeiVRl Ashes.
The manufacture of pots and pearl ashes was once an impor-
tant business here. It was mostly confined to the vicinity of the
Street, where nearly all the business of the town was transacted.
The earliest building erected for this purpose was owned by
Simeon Arvin, in the southeast corner of the field once owned by
Bela B. Whitney and now owned by 0. H. Perry at the south
end of the Street. Then Joshua Harris put up a factory in the
field back of the store of the late Jesse Martin, which stood north
of and on land where Charles Seavey now lives, the factory was
near the pond.
Nathaniel Currier built a factory in the field back of his store,
now occupied by C. P. King, and towards the pond, about 1817.
He also carried on the business at the village. Nathaniel Cur-
rier came to Canaan in the latter part of 1815, and bought land
on the Street January 2, 1816, where he was a successful trader
for many years. He was an active Abolitionist during the
strenuous years of the town and died in 1863, aged 73 years. His
son, Horace S. Currier, father of Hon. Frank D. Currier, was
a trader at the village in company with Albert Martin. They
sold out to James H. Kelly and William W. George. Martin
w^nt to California in 1858. Horace S. Currier was employed
in his father's store and afterwards formed a partnership with
James B. Wallace, also a clerk in his father's store. They
carried on a successful business until the death of INIr. Wallace
in 1853. Horace S. Currier died in 1866.
The last factory was erected by James Wallace, in the field
opposite the house once owned by Stephen S. Smith, and now by
O. H. Perry, about 1822. In 1829 it was pulled down and turned
into a cooper's shop, where huge wagonloads of barrels for
packing pork were regularly sent to market, by Aaron
Quimby's four-horse team. On the death of Mr. Wallace in 1831,
the cooperage passed into the hands of Stephen S. Smith. In
those days ashes were a commodity, like any other article, and
Wheel Carriages^ Tanneries, Etc. 453
were paid for at the rate of twelve and one-half cents per
bushel for hard and ten cents for soft wood ashes. Money was
not easy to get and the demand for ashes became greater than
the demand for firewood. The ashes were very abundant from
the great fireplaces built to receive three and four-foot logs.
Stoves had not come into common use and the value of ashes
as a manure was unknown. Mr. Wallace was also a trader. His
store stood just south of the old house. After his death the
old store was sold to Whittier & Balch, traders, at the upper
end of the Street, where they moved it and is now the shed
of the present Shrigley house. The back store was sold to J. C.
Tilton and another man who occupied it as a wheelwright shop.
In 1828 John Fales and Elijah Blaisdell, who owned the mill
privilege at the outlet of Hart's Pond, contracted with Moses
Richardson to build the frame of the '^ Tontine" at the Corner.
It was to be one hundred feet long, divided into five equal sec-
tions, for $100. The timber was of clear pine, sawed at Greeley's
mill at Goose Pond and hauled thence and put up according to
contract. It was christened the "Tontine." Daniel B. Whittier
who lived on the Frank Carter farm called it the "Spontoon."
WiUiam and IMoses Kelley put in a hat factory, Eliphalet Page
a harness shop, John Fales a blacksmith shop, a grist mill, and
Nathaniel Barber, cabinet-maker, a carpenter shop, filled the re-
maining space. Horace B. Welch and Lyman S., his brother,
in 1851 began to make felloes; the former went to California
and for many years, up to 1883, it was used by Lyman S. Welch
for the manufacture of felloes. When it burned May 28, 1883,
the fire also destroyed the house occupied by Leroy Colby across
the road, between the Robert R. Morey place and the brook. Mr.
Welch transferred his business to Lebanon. In 1885 Ira Fifield,
with capital furnished, built the present building for a shop,
where all kinds of jobs could be done, the latter abandoned it and
the building and water privilege passed back into the hands of
Mr. Welch, who had given up his business in Lebanon. Mr. Welch
used the mill for making shingles and plaining boards, and dealt
in finished lumber in a small way up to the time of his death.
Since that time the business has been owned by R. H. Haffen-
reffer. The paper mill was first used as a casimere or woolen
454 History of Canaan.
mill where the people could have their rolls carded and the
woven cloth finished. At the time of the moving of Noyes Acad-
emy it was owned and operated by Nathaniel Currier. There
was a bell in its belfry and it was to be rung when the signal
was given that the academy was under way. The signal to be
given was the firing of guns. But the one who was to ring the
bell did not do so, and Betsey Ham, who in 1842 married
Joseph H. Tilton of Meredith, rang the bell. Mrs. Tilton's
father was Joseph Ham, who at that time was employed in
Nathaniel Currier's potash works at the village. This old build-
ing was running as early as 1828, so Mrs. Tilton says, when
she went to Factory Village into the family of Jacob Trussell,
it was called the "Factory," and from it the village around
began to be called Factory Village. Back in the 30 's the village
was called "Slab City." In June, 1857, it passed into the hands
of Capt. William Gordon, whose family came the next August.
He got it to running as a paper mill in the summer of 1858, being
obliged to install new machinery and remove the old carding and
woolen machinery. Captain Gordon ran it until 1862 when he
leased it to William W. George and Horace S. Currier, and went
to the war. He came back August 13, 1863, and ran the mill
until 1870, when he sold it to William W. George. It passed
into the hands of Stephen Peaslee, who refitted it with new
machinery and enlarged its capacity. It never paid after Mr.
Peaslee sold it and several owners subsequently kept up the
manufacture of straw board. On December 3, 1890, it was de-
stroyed by fire.
Hammer Shops.
Phineas Eastman, Dan Balch and Jonathan Kittredge started
the manufacture of steel hammers on the stream that flows out
of Hart's Pond. William Butterfield, who built and lived in
the house once owned by Sarah Richardson, succeeded to the
business. He was succeeded in 1855 by Nathan Jones, who
built the lower shop and sold the upper one to J. S. Lincoln.
For twenty-five years, until 1880, Elder Jones made nail, shoe,
blacksmith and farrier's hammers by hand with the aid of such
simple machinery as he had until more advanced methods of
Wheel Carriages, Tanneries, Etc. 455
manufacture made it impossible for him to any longer continue
the business with a profit, then the shop was closed and now
only the ruins of its foundation remain.
Lincoln's Awl Shop.
Josiah S. Lincoln married Hannah Hoit; he came to Canaan
and bought the old Jonathan Carlton farm of Elias Wolcott in
1861, he tried to farm for one year, and then turned his brains to
making awls. He hired the upper hammer shop of Nathan
Jones, who was using the lower hammer shop that was built
by William Butterfield. Lincoln fitted up the upper shop and
bought small rods of steel, set his forges and went to work. He
would hammer the end dowTi, cut them off the length he wanted,
grind them on an emery wheel, put them in a small barrel with
steel dust, which had a drum and belt to keep it turning, until
they were polished and then box them for market. In 1863 he
bought the upper shop of Jones. In 1867 he sold his farm to
Alden E. Alford and bought the house built by Allen Hayes
opposite Sarah Richardson's, which burned when William Kim-
ball lived in it. Wlien Frederick Simonds came back from the
war in 1863 or 1864, he went into the shop to help Lincoln. The
business was continued a few years and the shop and water
privileges were sold to Lyman S. Welch.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Incidents.
I On the occasion of the burning of Noyes Academy on March
^ 7, 1835, Doctor Flanders with many others came up very much
excited, inquiring here and there, ' ' Who did it ? " " Can 't some one
tell us who was the villain?" "Ho, it must have been the d — d
Abolitionists!!!" etc. Jonathan Kittredge came upon the
ground while these queries were being put, remarking as he ap-
peared, "Well, that's a better light than I ever expected to see
from that institution." The doctor rushed up to him in great
rage, and spoke thus, "You are a d — d Abolitionist, Sir!" "It
was you who burned that building!" Kittredge was of course
not pleased with that charge, and he sued Flanders for defama-
tion and slander, before a justice from Lyme, taking him on
behalf of the state, himself appearing as prosecutor. This court
held Flanders to answer the charge at Plymouth. Meantime on
the 12th at the annual town meeting, a motion was made and
carried, as follows, "Voted that we hereby consign Jonathan
Kittredge over to the Abolitionists."
This was but one of the long series of provocations that were
heaped upon Mr. Kittredge by the patriots. He had some
peculiarities of manner, in walking, spitting and coughing. In
these he was followed, mimiced and mocked by several persons,
and particularly by young John B. Dustin, who possessed a
peculiar faculty for mimicrj-. Mr. Kittredge had borne pa-
tiently all these insults, hoping they would cease of themselves,
but when the charge of arson was laid to him, he thought it time
to protect his reputation. Hence, the prosecution of Flanders
who, finding himself outside the pale of "public opinion," in a
spot where the old cry of "Abolitionist" would not relieve him,
one day, in the absence of ]\Ir. Kittredge, summoned thirty or
forty witnesses, taldng their depositions before Mr. Weeks, in
order to prove justification for his slanderous words, but it was
of no avail. All this testimony was of a negative character.
He thereupon, on the return of Mr. Kittredge, waited upon him
Incidents. 45T
and proposed a settlement. Mr. Kittredge consented to stop
the suit on one condition, that if Flanders would sign such a
retraction of his slanders as Kittredge might dictate. Flanders
had no choice but to submit to any terms that Kittredge might
impose. Mr. Kittredge drew up the paper in which, commenc-
ing with a ' ' Whereas, ' ' he recited the defamatory and slanderous
words that had been leveled at him, and closed it somewhat as
follows: "In uttering these slanders, for the purpose of injuring
the good name and fame of Mr. Kittredge, I have lied like a dog^
I confess it with humility and shame, and I sign this confession
and publish it to the world, in order that the suit now pending
against me may be settled and discontinued. Thomas Flanders."
This document ^Nlr. Kittredge published in the Concord papers.
It was indeed a source of humiliation to the "patriots." On the
27th of May jNIr. Kittredge surprised his enemies by summoning
young John B. Dustin to answer the charge of libel before
Justices Turner and Flint of Lyme. John was sixteen years
old, tall and reckless, and had made himself very offensive by
his abuse of Mr. Kittredge. The trial caused great excitement.
AVeeks was counsel for respondent. Kittredge for himself and
the state. The trial commenced at ten in the morning and con-
tinued through the night until four o'clock in the morning, when
the testimony being all in the court adjourned till one p. m. for
deliberation. At one the decision was announced, that John B.
Dustin recognize in the sum of $600 for his appearance at the
November court to be holden at Plymouth. His father and
Weeks came forward and bailed him.
The trial was held in Willis' Hall, which was crowded until
the close. Kittredge had received several anonymous letters,
containing threats against his person and property, accompanied
with oaths most horrid. The last one Avas received after he
had issued the warrant. The evidence tended to fix the author-
ship on John. But the case never went any farther. It was
shown that the young man was acting by advice of older vil-
lains, who were jealous of Kittredge 's success, and for a con-
sideration the case was compromised and dropped. After this
Kittredge and young Dustin became fast friends. John had
ability beyond his years, and quickly learned the ways of the
458 History of Caxaax.
world. Kittredge often employed him to serve bis writs, which
service he performed in a satisfactory manner.
Our laws in regard to debt were at one time very severe. The
poor man had no rights which a grasping creditor could not
reach, when execution for a debt was to be imprisonment if not
paid. There was a young tanner named David March. Just
about that time he married Phebe Dow ; he was industrious and
steady but he owed a sum of money in Croydon. His creditor
sent the sheriff here, who took ]\Iarch away from his young
wife and from his labor and carried him to jail at Haverhill.
The day he started I was the small boy looking on, and just
beginning to think. Someone expressed sympathy, hoping he
might soon return. ]\Iarch replied, "If I were dishonest I should
feel disgraced to be in the hands of the sheriff, going to jail,
but the laws are not friendly to the poor man." No, indeed,
they were not; and it was not until years afterwards that an
enlightened public sentiment demanded the abolition of that
wolfish law that put poor debtors in jail. I remember another
case that occurred about 1831, and which to me seemed to be
a very hard one. Old Doctor Tilton, who used to ride a black
pacing horse, and was welcomed into every house in to^vn, was
in debt. In fact, he never was out of debt. He was a learned
man, a good lawj^er as well as physician: but all his learning
could not save him from the sheriff's hands, and he was sent
to Haverhill. His indebtedness was an endorsement for a
friend. He used to say he hoped "the time for sending men
to jail for debt would soon come to an end. It was no benefit
to the creditor nor to the community to take an able-bodied man
from his business and shut him up because he was unable to
pay his debts." The doctor remained in Haverhill several
months.
David Greeley, son of ]\Iatthew, was the clothier, at the village.
Col. Daniel Pattee, Maj. Levi George, Jo ]\Iorrell whose occupa-
tion was lajing up stone wall, drinking rum and bragging about
his accomplishments, and Bill Wood, would go down to David's
shop, make a night of it, and go home sober in the morning.
One night when the colonel was bragging heavily of his capac-
ity, they made a paste of flour and nmi and nibbed it into his
Incidents. 459
hair, and each one struck him with a codfish and christened him
"Grand Bashaw," which he afterwards retained. Next morn-
ing one of the neighbors called in and found his wife cleaning
the paste from his head.
Nat C. Pierce in 1818 built the pound on the Pinnacle for $30,
giving the land therefor. In placing the capstone over the gate
it slipped and crushed his hand badly. A few months before
the pound was built Xat had been raised in Mt. Moriah Lodge,
No. 22. He swore very profanely at the stone, and so loudly
that some of his Masonic brethren had him cited before the lodge,
to declare why he should not be expelled for useless profanity,
the stone was deaf, dumb, lifeless and senseless, therefore his
swearing was wanton and unnecessary, and they expelled him,
but afterwards restored him on his pledge to refrain from drink-
ing rum and thus mistaking a stone for the heels of a colt.
He was a great beau among the girls, and he would drink rum
and boast of his success among them. "He'd staved with the
CI' «.
Pattee girls, the Harris 's, the George 's, the Wells ', and meant to
stay with every decent girl in town, before he got married and
then take his choice. ' ' He finally chose Dolly Pattee, and David
Greeley married her sister. They emigrated to Princeton, Ber-
nard County, 111., where they took up lands, lived, labored, pros-
pered and died. Old Squire Arvin used to furnish the rum.
There was one office in the early days, the duties of which could
hardly have been agreeable. But then, as now, there were men
whose capacities and temperaments adapted them to all the legal
offices. The tithing-man w^as the terror of all the little boys and
the Sabbath breakers. It was their special duty to see that all
the members of each family attended public worship and to mark
all violations of the Sunday laws. Some of these officers delight-
ed in the legal espionage with which their appointment clothed
them and never lost an opportunity to use their power to annoy
their fellow-citizens. The office and the officer at length be-
came so obnoxious that the duties were narrowed down to simply
keeping order among the boys and girls during divine worship ;
and at length the office was abolished, and the vexatious annoy-
ances of the man with the long white wand, with a ball at one end
and a fox-tail at the other, have passed away forever. When the
460 History op Canaan.
sermon became tiresome and meu nodded in unconsciousness^
they would find themselves rudely awakened by a rap from the
ball in the hands of the soft-footed man, whose feet w^ere muf-
fled that his aproach might be like that of the thief in the night.
To the ladies he was a little more considerate. Their awakening
was secured by the brush of the fox-tail drawn gently under their
noses. Many relics of tyranny and paganism were reproduced
in our New England habits and customs by the men who had
scorned to submit to them in another land. Several generations
passed away before all these ott'ensive offices and rules were
abolished and the pure freedom of thought and action which
we enjoy today was established.
But there was a humorous side to this annoyance which would
sometimes crop out in the characteristics of the man who filled
the office. Capt. Joseph Wheat was tithing-man during the
earlier portion of his father's ministry. The old elder, when
once he settled into his two hours ' labor, was oblivious to all out-
side occurrences. On one occasion Captain Jo., seizing his wand,
started out to quell a riotous disposition among several chil-
dren, whose guardians had ceased from their labors and gone to
sleep. As he cast his eyes about the house, he was astonished to
perceive the whole congregation nodding, Avholly unconscious and
careless of the thunders that resounded from the pulpit. He was
quick-witted and eccentric, particularly Avhen seized with a pro-
fane sentiment. On this occasion he never said a word, but
jumped up and jerked both his solid feet down square upon the
fioor. The concussion brought the whole astonished congregation
to their feet. The old man stopped preaching, also, — lost his
balance, in fact — but rallied in a moment and sternly de-
manded, ' ' Jo, why do you disturb this meeting ? Is that the way
you keep order ? " " Sir, ' ' says Captain Jo., ' ' it lies between you
and me to entertain and instruct this congregation. You've been
telling them awful truths for more than an hour and they all
went to sleep. I gave one solid jump, and they roused up as if
Satan were already shaking his spread wings to carry them
off. Your argaiments are very^ persuasive, but you see mine are
powerful. ' '
John Sullivan got mad at one of his neighbors, mad enough to
Incidents. 461
go to a lawyer and swear that he must have some law. He didn't
care what it cost. The other fellow would have the bills to pay
and the more there was, the better he would be satisfied. "But,
you have no case," said the lawyer, "and you'll get beat if you
begin on him." "Don't care a fig for that, — its law I want on
the feller; give him as much as you can, blast him." A summons
was served upon the "feller" to appear and answer. He did
answer satisfactorily, and John was adjudged to pay the several
items of costs : ' ' How much is it ? " he asked and laying down a
V, told his legal friend to take it out of that. ' ' The costs amount
to $19.20, ' ' said his exact and muletive friend. ' ' Howly Moses ! ' '
exclaimed John, "There's two dollars more, that's seven dollars,
call it square and let me go." "Nineteen dollars and twenty
cents, and not a cent of discount," was the slow response. John
reluctantly drew his wallet, took out several bills, pinching them
as he laid them down. "There's the money; now I'm done vrid
ye, and if all the dirty haythen in this wicked world insult me,
I '11 never go to law any more ; I 've got enough of it. ' '
There was years ago a bank started in this town. It was called
the Goose Pond Bank and its place of business was not far from
the Rainey house. Jacob Trussell was the president. They pro-
ceeded to issue money, but the government got after them. Jo-
seph Smith, Simon Blanchard and John Pearley were caught
stamping money in Blanchard "s barn. Selden Pattee, a brother
of Robert Wilson's wife, and Rice Howard fled. Jacob Drew,
who was a good deal at Tmssell's courting one of the girls, dis-
appeared when the arrests were made. Daniel Follensbee of
Grafton was also under suspicion of being one of the gang.
John Pearley served eight years in state prison for passing coun-
terfeit money.
Some years ago Mr. and ]\Irs. Dimond of Orange sued the town
for damages upon the highway, between the houses of Richard
Hutchinson and George Hinkson. The town pleaded in defense
that they were wrongfully parties to the suit, inasmuch as the
Northern Railroad had graded the highway over the track, and
had not properly finished their work. Having been repeatedly
warned they had always neglected to comply with the law. The
suit was continued in court for several terms, the railroad prom-
462 History of Canaan,
ising all the time to settle with the parties and make the highway
safe for travel. It remained unchanged until Onslow Stearns
desired the nomination for governor. He was naturally anxious
to be elected, and he started out upon a tour of inquiry as to
the friendly views of the voters. When he reached Canaan he
met William W^. George and asked him what his chances were.
The reply was: "Very small! Very small indeed!" "That's
not very encouraging!" "No," continued Mr. George, "not for
you. The fact is we have no confidence in you. For years you
have promised to repair that road and relieve us from the burden
of these suits and we don't believe j^ou mean to do either. The
people of Canaan have very foolish notions about truthful men.
They've tried you and don't believe in you." "Is that all there
is against me?" "Well, ain't that enough?" "Well, suppose
I go and settle those suits and fix the road, will you forget all
about it and be kind to me?" "Well, we will see the road fixed
first, then perhaps there won 't be anything to remember. ' ' That
same season the road was repaired and the costs of the suits were
assumed by the railroad, and Mr. Stearns was elected governor.
Benjamin Spencer came with a small family from Colebrook,
in search of employment to Canaan in 1825. He was a black-
smith by trade. He explained his wishes and his skill as a;
worker in iron to several persons, hoping to win their attention.
James Wallace thought favorably of his capacity and built a
shop for him on the north side of the road between Arvin's cor-
ner and the Pinnacle House, then the residence of Dr. Thomas
Flanders. He worked faithfully at his trade for months and then
suddenly disappeared without leaving his address. It was not
long after this that an officer appeared with an order of arrest,
charging Spencer with uttering a note for a considerable sum,
and presenting the same to the Grafton Bank of Haverhill and
receiving the money thereon; but he disappeared before it was
discovered that the name of Ephraim H. Mahurin, a well-known
citizen, the high sheriff of Coos County, attached to the note as.
endorser, w^as a forgery. Spencer received the money and left,
but it was believed that he must have had an accomplice, because
he was illiterate, with no skill in the use of the pen. It was be-
lieved impossible for him to have written Mr. Mahurin 's name?
X'
\
Incidents. 463
so as to deceive the cashier of the bank. Suspicions attached to
Doctor Flanders, from some remarks made by his enemies, and
dwelt upon until they ripened into a belief that the doctor was
really the guilty person. There was a comparison of his hand-
writing by experts — they were not called by that name then —
some of them even swore to their belief in the doctor's guilt.
Doctor Flanders, like many others, felt a strong interest in secur-
ing the arrest of Spencer, who had fled so rapidly, but not in a
manner to cover up his tracks. Joshua Wells was deputized to
follow him and bring him back.
Mr. Wells started in pursuit in his high-backed sleigh, dri^dng
a nice, well-kept roan horse — roan horses were always his weak-
ness— tracking and following his victim like one of his own
hounds, all the way into western Pennsylvania, where he came
up with Spencer, resting unsuspicious of danger, arrested him
and started on his long return journey, delivering his prisoner
safely into the custody of the jailor at Haverhill. Spencer was
tried for the crime of forgery and convicted, but utterly refused
to name any person as his accomplice. He owned that he lacked
skill as a penman and that was all. He was sentenced to state
prison for two years. He entered that prison and after his two
years' service, came out and said nothing. He came back to
Canaan, spent a few days in the family of Mr. Wallace and then
disappeared. He acknowledged his action in the crime — that
he got some money by it, but lost everything else, honor, char-
acter, business and all hopes of ever being able to hold up his
head. He had been duped — had yielded to temptation, but he
was not vindictive, and the law must be satisfied with one victim.
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Wells, both very friendly to him, urged
him to speak, but it was of no avail — he never named the man
who instigated him. He did write a statement, however, vindi-
cating Doctor Flanders, declaring his innocence of any know-
ledge of the forgery. This statement was left in the hands of
Mr. Wells, to be used at his discretion. He laid it away and for-
got it, and its existence was for a long time unknown. It was
found by his son, Charles H. Wells, among some old notes, re-
ceipts and other papers. It is in Spencer's own handwriting, and
is printed to relieve the memory of Doctor Flanders of the odium
464 History of Canaan.
which unjustly attached to him during all his after life. The
doctor was not popular. His impulsive temper often broke out
without reference to propriety, and often gave offence. But he
was regarded as a man of integrity, and incapable of committing
an act of dishonor. These suspicions greatly annoyed him. To
get away from them, some years afterwards he left town and
died an old man in the town of New Durham. This is the state-
ment:
Town Plot, Oct. 3(1, 1827.
To the President, Directors, and Company of the Grafton Bank:
No doubt you feel yourselfs injured by me and want to seek all the
recompense you can. Very good; that is your privilege. But let me
tell you not to seek of an innocent man. Because I have done wrong
I will assure you my feelings have been wouiided as bad as my char-
acter, and was it in my power to make all restitution for all the in-
jury done anybody by me I should be willing. Let me be called what
I will yet I am not voyd of the natural feelings of mankind, and when
I heard of Dr. Flanders being stripped of his property and his character
my heart almost bleeds within me. My bosom is moved with pity and
compassion, and can I pity, and not relieve I must try. I will tell you
the truth as it is in Christ and lie not. Dr. Thomas Flanders is as
innocent from sigiaiug Ephraim H. Mahurin's name to that note you al-
lege against him or even seeing or knowing anything about it as the
angels in heaven. I know it and God knows it; and I fear his enemies
are intriving wrong evidences against him, and that is as bad as I
have done. Mr. James Williams, if I am informed right has sworn
to an absolute falsehood, and others have done no better. I am your
well-wisher and never meant you no harm.
Bexj. Spexcer.
(The "Town Plot" referred to is Canaan Street.)
Elder Wheat's Rebuke of Infidelity at the Funeral op
Mrs. Stephen Worth.
The following was an incident in the history of the old meet-
ing house, related by a person who was an eye witness of the
scene. Stephen Worth, about the year 1797, married Molly, the
widow of his brother, and settled down upon the farm where
Watts Davis worked out his hard and disagreeable life, in what
is known as Jerusalem. Stephen loved and cherished his wife
all her days, and was a sincere mourner when she died in 1816.
The funeral was held in the meeting house one Sunday, which was
thronged with sympathizing friends. Elder Wheat preached a
Incidents. 465
long sermon on death and the darkness of the grave, taking for
his text a whole chapter, and placing special emphasis upon the
phrase, "Where the worm dieth not and the fire is not
quenched."
For the first hymn the elder requested the choir to sing that
screed by Doctor Watts, which is supposed to have been written
when the doctor was oppressed by nightmare or indigestion. The
verse reads:
"My thoughts on awful subjects roll,
Damnation and the dead !
What horrors seize the guilty soul
Upon a dying bed. ' '
Abraham Pushee was a young saddler here, a good singer and
very skilful upon the violin, which instrument, greatly to the
chagrin of Deacon Worth and Richard Clark, he had insisted
upon bringing into the choir. When the elder read the hymn,
Pushee refused to sing it. The sentiment it expressed was too
horrid to be adapted to any music in his books. Turning to the
singers, he requested them to sing the next hymn, commencing:
"Why do we mourn departing friends," to the grand old tune of
^' China." When the choir struck at the first line of the hymn,
the elder jumped to his feet and exclaimed: "That is not the
hymn I wish you to sing!" but the choir kept on singing, paying
no attention to the elder's exclamation.
After his sermon he made a general address to the mourners.
Then he became personal, and the ludicrous incidents which fol-
lowed are related by an eye-witness.
He said he "had always been told that Brother Worth was a
courteous man, kind and considerate to everybody, lovin' and
honorin' his wife as a true husband; but I learn with sorrow,"
he continued, raising his voice, ' ' that he is a convert to the hell-
damnin', heaven-darin', God-pro vokin ' doctrines of Tom Paine,
the infidel author of the 'Age of Reason' Now, my duty to
my God and my people, required me, even here in the presence
of the remains of his lamented partner, who this day is restin'
peacefully in the arms of Jesus, to rebuke the devil and all."
And there is no telling what the good elder might not have said,
30
466 History of Canaan.
had he been permitted to finish his rebuke, but at this point an
interruption occurred. Hon. Daniel Blaisdell rose in his pew
with great energy and stood leaning forward with one hand ex-
tended, and mouth open to speak, with his wife, hanging to his
coat tails. But Stephen Worth, the chief mourner, got the start
of him, exclaiming, as he rose up that, "the time and place for
such unfeeling remarks, even if they were well deserved, were
ill chosen." He had never before heard of that awful book;
both the "Age of Reason," and Tom Paine were strangers to
him. He hoped they were good men and more considerate and
charitable to others than the elder was towards him. He had
done his duty as a husband and Christian in the fear of the
Lord ; and this attack upon him looked as if the evil one had en-
tered into the . ' '
Another interruption occurred right here. His brother John
was so overcome that he was seized with a sudden illness and
had to be taken out in a dead faint. Confusion was very great
all over the house. Everybody was standing up in astonishment,
and talking indignant nonsense. When quiet was restored, Mr.
Worth concluded his remarks by saying he would "get those
books and read them; for it couldn't be any worse for him to
read them than for the elder, and then he could judge for himself
if they were bad books. ' '
Captain Wells and John M. Barber were greatly offended at
the elder's remarks, and refused ever after to hear him preach.
Many others were also very angry, but expended their ill-feeling
in talk. The elder, like the rest of them, was in confusion and
when the uproar subsided a little, he quite grimly declared that
he had spoken from report. He was glad to learn that Brother
Worth was not an infidel, and even if he were, perhaps it would
not become him to judge him. Then the long services which had
occupied nearly all day, were brought to a conclusion and the
body laid away in the ground.
Afterwards, when Judge Blaisdell met the elder, he asked him
"what evil spirit beset him to attack Stephen Worth at that
funeral. It was an unheard of outrage, such as only a crazy
or drunken man would commit. Had he — ? " " Well, he had —
for his stomach's sake. It was good for him, and gave him
Incidents. 467
courage and confidence." "Yes," retorted the judge, "and
your courage, as you call it, caused you grievously to afflict a
good man, whose heart is heavy with grief at the loss of a wife
he loved. You, old man of God ! to make a public scandal on
such an occasion ! Go. now ; commit no more such folly ! ' '
Elder Wheat preached in Canaan for seventeen years after
that event, but never made a similar speech at a funeral. He
was a good man, faithful to all the light that shone for him.
The good he did will send its influence away down through the
ages, and his memory will be green when others are forgotten.
To show how important a character he was, the young men and
maidens sought his counsel and assistance. The record of the
marriages performed during his ministry was 308 in number.
Suit for Slander.
In this suit for slander, it will be noticed that the plaintiff re-
cived more abuse than cash from the defendant's lawyer. Ben-
jamin and Keziah were married in 1820 and toiled happily on
life's journey for several years. Then getting a little unsettled,
they moved over to South Eoad, and lived in the same house
with James, whose wife was named Rhoda. This was eighty
years ago or more. It was pleasant and neighborly bet^veen the
families for a season, but for all that, the house was never large
enough for them. One day a neighbor came in and asked Mrs.
Keziah if she had heard of the stories her friend in the other
part of the house had been circulating ? To be sure, it was none
of her business, but it would trouble her to keep it, so she "out
with it." It was how Mrs. Keziah had been to Mrs. Ehoda's
cream pot, to her soap barrel, to her meal chest, and to her hen's
nests and had declared that "she was no better than any other
thief."
There were verv grievous times under that roof after that
neighbor's visit, and then Benjamin, to vindicate the good name
of his wife, was persuaded to cite Mrs. Rhoda before a justice,
either to prove her stories or acknowledge herself a slanderer.
This she persistently declined to do ; but in due time obeyed a
summons and appeared before Hon. Daniel Blaisdell, who held
his court in the hall of Cobb's Tavern. Mrs. Rhoda was there
468 History of Can.van.
represented by Elijah Blaisdell, Esq., who, from a shoemaker,
had by hard study and labor, risen to be a lawyer in the village.
Mrs. Keziah was represented by C. B. Hay dock of Hanover.
Mrs. Rhoda had no witnesses to prove her assertions, but she
testified very positively as to her losses ; and ' ' I know that I have
told the truth, for nobody else has had a chance to steal my soap
and eggs and things; and if Mrs. Keziah ain't guilty, she
wouldn't be so awful touchy about it, there now!"
Mrs. Keziah just as positively denied all the allegations, and
declared Rhoda to be a common gossip and slanderer, who
wouldn't tell the truth even to keep friendly with the neighbors;
and to prove these charges, she introduced several of the neigh-
bors, who swore that J\Irs. Rhoda was a common gossip, tattler
and liar, and had always made mischief among her acquaintances,
and this was no worse than some of her other stories, only she
hadn't been brought into court before.
Blaisdell's defence of his client was not an argument, but
simply a torrent of abuse and vituperation poured upon Keziah ;
and he claimed judgment for his client because she had only
spoken the truth. Mrs. Keziah said afterwards she always
hated the sight of Blaisdell after that speech. Up to that time
she had never believed that for five dollars a man, who pre-
tended to be decent, could be so mean a liar. The hall was
crowded wdth men and women, all anxious to hear the outcome of
this famous dispute. I was there also, a little boy. standing upon
one of the side benches. Suddenly there was a crash, loud
shrieks and a rush for the doors and windows. Everybody
wanted to get out at once — not everybody either, only the timid
and scary ones. The timbers of the flooring had given way, and
the middle of the floor had sunk down about two feet, and was
only held together by a few nails.
There sat Judge Blaisdell, cool as the north wind, and de-
liberate as Stephen Smith, when he begun to tell a story. His
legs were crossed and he had slipped down so that his big belly
rested against the table. "Men," he said, "don't crowd the
door. There is no danger; follow each other out carefully and
quickly and in five minutes you will feel better than you do now.
And you women, struggling together there — just step back
Incidents. 469
upon the bench near that boy, and then watch me! You'll be
all right in a minute. ' '
The hall Avas soon cleared of the excited crowd and then the
judge very deliberately climbed up out of the wreck; and with
no unnecessary delay, reorganized his court in another room,
where, after the lawyers had each claimed the innocence and.
virtues of their clients, he proceeded to give judgment, which
w^as that this matter, little in itself, had grown big by being
talked about, and it had made several persons unhappy. It
was not right for Mrs. Khoda to charge her neighbor with steal-
ing unless she had proof of it, because by so doing, she had placed
herself in jeopardy. ' ' She is brought before this court on a charge
of wilful and malicious slander. Her answer is, that she stated
the truth, — it is not slander, — but she offers no proof in sup-
port of this charge ; while her neighbors come in here and swear
her to a common gossip, liar, and slanderer. Mrs. Rhoda,
your ease is a bad one. There is a slow-moving finger pointing
at you from all around and behind each finger is hissed one
poisonous word — ' Slander ! ' It grieves me to announce my
judgment in this ease, as between two women who ought to live
together in unitj' ; but the evidence of your neighbors is con-
elusive that you are a slanderer, that you carry a viperous
tongue, which you do not tr\' to rule. You are fined ten dollars
and the costs of this court; and when you go home, take this
advice along with you, and act upon it: When you find your
tongue inclined to utter another slander, sieze upon it and bite
it before another word is spoken. And so may you continue to
live in peace and in the love and respect of your household. This
court is adjourned without date. ' '
The Crime of Isaac Dole.
In 1831 ]\Irs. ]\Iary Wallace was left a widow with seven chil-
dren. Her life had been all devoted to her family, and she was
unpracticed in the ways of business. James Wallace, her hus-
band, had died suddenly, without advising her of the condition
of his affairs. She was named executrix of the estate, which she
Avas desirous of settling by paying all demands as soon as pos-
sible. Isaac Dole, the chief character in this story, had been for
470 History of Canaan.
several years a deputy sheriff. He lived on the mountain in
Lebanon, and was in the practice of loaning money to needy
persons. He had accumulated a fortune, all of which, except
the farm he occupied, was in cash, which he loaned like a banker.
This incident occurred soon after the death of Mr. Wallace, and
related to the payment of a note which proved to have been
forged, with a long story of the frauds practiced upon lone
women by bad men. James Wallace had on more than one occa-
sion borrowed money of Dole. These loans, the executrix had
reason to believe, were all paid and the notes cancelled. The
last one for $200 had been paid a short time before Mr. Wal-
lace's last illness, which was sudden and fatal, and the cancelled
note was filed among his papers. The spring following his death
she received notice from Dole, that he held a note against the es-
tate for $200, and desired to know when it would suit her con-
venience to pay it. She was a good deal surprised and annoyed,
but having no suspicion of the dishonesty on the part of Dole, she
invited Mrs. Martha Harris to ride to Lebanon wdth her in order
to pay the note. They started out and had ridden as far as
William Campbell's on Town Hill, when they met Dole on his
way to visit her. They all stopped at Mr. Campbell's; the note
was produced, the money paid, and they returned home. No
suspicion of forgery was aroused that day, and had Mr. Dole
on receiving the money, asked that he might retain the can-
celled paper, she would have given it to him, and this story
would never have been written.
After the return of the ladies, the peculiarity of the shape of
the paper upon which the note was written was a subject of
conversation. The signature, "James Wallace," was genuine.
The body of the note was in the handwriting of Dole. But the
writing was crowded into a space much too small to correspond
with the boldness of the signature, below which there were two
inches of blank paper. While talking upon the subject next day,
the Rev. Mr. Foster came in and asked that he might examine
the note. It w^as handed to him, and almost immediately he
looked up and exclaimed. "Mrs. Wallace, this paper is a for-
gery ! ' ' and he tapped the paper with considerable energ^^ with
his forefinger. ' ' It was cut off from the bottom of a bill of goods
Incidents. 471
which your husband had receipted and here," continued he,
"are the lower parts of the long letters in the words, 'received
pajTuent, ' which could not be cut off without leaving the paper
too small to write the note upon." Upon close examination,
they were all satisfied that Mr. Foster was correct; and George
Kimball, lawyer, was called in to advise upon the case. The re-
sult was, that that same day Jonas Smith of Canaan arrested
Dole in his own house upon the charge of forgery, and at the
same time attached the real estate of Dole, upon a civil suit for
the recovery of the money paid.
There was a young lawyer in Canaan, who never refused a
fee and who made a rule of his practice to look well after the
interest of his clients — a man who, through long years of suc-
cessful practice, was always true to his clients. Dole came to him
and stated the trouble that had come upon him, and that if he
could not make some arrangement with the widow he would be
ruined. "Now," said he, "put your wits to work and the fee
shall be ample." The lawyer listened patiently to the story
and then waited a moment before speaking. "Mr. Dole, as your
counsel, I must ask you to be very candid with me, and tell me in
one word, if the charge of forgery be true ? If I know the exact
truth, it will enable me to change the ground of defence with
more confidence. ' ' Dole told him to go to work as if the charge
was true. "Indeed," said the lawyer. "I suspected as much!
and you have got the widow's money in your pocket now! and
the question is," continued the lawyer, "how to keep it there!"
^ ' Exactly, ' ' said Dole, "I see you are good on a trail. " " Now, ' '
■continued the lawyer, "Mrs. Wallace has got that fatal paper.
If we could get it into our possession, we would doubtless make
terms with her ; suppose we go down and call upon her, perhaps
we can persuade her to let us examine it."
They started out down the street, and called upon the widow,
whom they found alone. Meantime she had seen them approach-
ing, and had sent her little boy, anticipating a visit, to invite
La^^yer Kimball to the interview. She greeted her visitors
politely, but with a strong feeling of antagonism. The lawyer
stated the object of their call, and with great suavity, asked her
to allow him to look at the paper which she alleged to be a for-
472 History of Canaan.
ger}'. She replied to him very quickly : ' ' Do you think, sir^
that it would be safe or prudent for me to place that paper in
the hands of two such disinterested and honorable men as you
and Mr. Dole? Even if I were disposed to gratify you, which
I am not, you ought to know that when the complaint was made
on that piece of paper, it passed out of my possession." They
then changed their plans. Mr. Dole suggested he could make
it an object for her to stop the suit, as there was some uncer-
tainty in the result of it. He would refund the money with
interest and give her a hundred dollars as a bonus. She still
declined their offers Avith some asperity of tone. Then Mr. Dole
seeing that smiles and offers of bonus had failed, changed his
batteries and made a demand for her dead husband's books and
papers, intimating if she did not give them up some unpleasant
things might happen. She was a resolute, brave woman, and
she was alone, but she began to feel apprehension lest these two
strong men, the fate of one of whom lay in her hands, might
not possess themselves of those papers, which were in the desk
in that same room, and among them the original note, cancelled,
which was to be put in evidence whenever the ease came to trial.
She had been looking very anxiously up the street for the ap-
pearance of her counsel, and was greatly relieved when Mr. Kim-
ball at last appeared, accompanied by Mr. Foster, and both
swinging hastily down the street. Then, turning to the two
men, who stood waiting and hoping their threat might produce
a favorable effect, she said, almost trembling with anxiety:
''Gentlemen, as this is a matter of great importance, I do not
feel brave enough to decide it alone, but as I see some of my
friends approaching, I'll consult them, and with their approba-
tion, will comply with your manly request." They had not
noticed the disappearance of the boy and they supposed they had
that lone widow entirely in their power, and were only waiting
for her to yield quietly to their threats. The possession of those
papers was of the utmost importance to ]\Ir. Dole. His future
life hung upon them, and he came prepared to use all means,
even force, if necessary, to get them into his hands. They sup-
posed Mrs. Wallace was upon the point of yielding; and when
she called their attention to the approach of her two friends,.
Incidents. 47 B
they were struck into dismay and astonishment. The lawyer
glanced out of the window, and turning to his client, said earn-
estly: "True enough. Dole! it's Kimball and Foster! They'll
be here in five minutes ! ^Yhatever we do must be done quickly. ' '
But there remained nothing for them to do but retreat; their
opportunity had passed and did not return. They both turned
towards the door, but before they disappeared, stopped, with a
sudden courtesy, that contrasted sharply with their previous
threat, said: "Mrs. AYallace, the urgency of our case has com-
pelled us to be ungentlemanly. You will excuse us, for life and
reputation seems at stake ; but if you can decide to accept of our
proposal, we shall be glad to hear from you at your earliest con-
venience." They then left the house, taking a course that did
not bring them into contact with the approaching party.
]\Ir. Foster and Mr. Kimball did not arrive any too soon, the
strain upon the mental faculties of Mrs. Wallace had been so
severe that a reaction had begun. They found her suffering
from nervous prostration, and it was some minutes before she
could describe to them her interview with Mr. Dole and his law-
yer. They complimented her upon her prudence and braverj^,
and were duly grateful to the gentlemen for delaying the use of
force until it was too late. After a full consultation, the gentle-
men decided that it was not safe to leave those books and papers,
upon which so much depended, in a house only guarded by a
woman and young children, so they conveyed them to a place
of safety and all the plans of the criminal who had come to
Canaan, very hopeful of compelling or buying immunity for his
bad acts, were frustrated.
Xothing now remained to him but to take his chances of es-
caping conviction in the courts by due course of law. Mr. Dole
was advised to make an aggressive defence in the preliminary
examination, which must now inevitably take place, and with
that idea to retain several eminent lawyers, whose high stand-
ing might serv'e to overawe the justice. A swift messenger was
sent to Haverhill to secure the services of Joseph Bell, who was
eminent both as a lawyer and for his large presence. William T.
Heydock, Esq., brother-in-law of Mr. Bell, and a la\vyer, was
also retained. Indeed, he had secured a very imposing array of
474 History of Canaan.
counsel, and his last hope was by the mere weight of numbers,
with their well-known intelligence and matchless impudence, to
€rush the prosecution, which was supported by George Kimball,
assisted by X. P. Rogers of Plymouth, both of whom entered into
the case as if success was vital to their reputations.
The examination took place at Lebanon, before Justice J.
Hinds of Hanover. It drew together a large audience, many of
whom were friends of Sheriff Dole, and were very demonstrative
in the arraignment of a man like Dole, who had long been an ac-
tive citizen in the community.
Mr. Dole was arraigned before the justice for the crime of
f orgerj^ ; and Mr. Kimball moved that, upon the allegations and
proofs offered, the prisoner be held to await the action of the
grand jury. This motion was vehemently opposed by Mr. Bell,
who at the start assumed that no forgerj- had been committed,
for even the prosecution admitted the signature to be genuine,
and called the attention of the court especially to the improb-
ability of a man with wealth, respected and honored like the
respondent, committing such a crime. Two hundred dollars was
a paltry^ sum for such a man to risk his reputation and life
upon ! Then he went into a bitter invective against the plain-
tiff. Among others, he said this was a scheme of hers to extort
money ; that she had offered to compromise the suit on refunding
the face of the note and one hundred dollars, and that upon the
refusal of his client to comply with her demands, she had
threatened him with the vengeance of the law. This prosecution
was the result of that threat. It was a great outrage upon the
rights and liberty of a worthy citizen, and he closed a long
speech with the very confident expectation of the discharge of
the prisoner. The impudence of that speech, uttered in Mr.
Bell's most sonorous tones and crushing style, gave the prosecu-
tion some anxiety, and they carefully watched its effect upon the
justice; but they were greatly reassured when, after a moment's
pause, he very quietly asked Mr. Bell if he desired to put in
testimony in proof of his assertions. Of course he expected to be
called upon to prove something ; else, why did he so bravely enter
court. But he pretended to be astonished and annoyed at the
quiet remark of the judge, as if his word were not of sufficient
Incidents. 475
weight to control the action of the court! But over-bearing im-
pudence was the ground of his defence, and when this system
of defence failed to influence the court, he knew that his case
was hopeless. Mr. Bell did not attempt to prove by the la\\yer
that the plaintift' proposed a compromise for money, but he in-
duced two of Dole's children, a son and daughter, to appear and
swear that they were witnesses of the transaction between James
Wallace and Isaac Dole, their father; that the note was genuine,
■and the money paid upon it was honestly due their father.
They were sharply cross-examined by Mr. Rogers, who at the
moment held in his hands the genuine and the forged notes, can-
celled, both of even dates and amounts. His skilful queries pro-
duced confusion in their minds, so that they were uncertain
whether the money was paid or borrowed by Dole, or received
■or paid by the executrix. Then followed two speeches by the
lawyers, which were variously opposed by the audience, but
which produced no visible effect upon the court. Mr. Bell's
speech exhibited a slight modification in tone, and was devoted
<}hieflv to shameless slander of the widow, whose monev had been
stolen, and to panegyrics upon the character of Dole as a citizen
and officer, and upon these grounds urged that he be discharged
from arrest.
Mr. Kimball spoke last. He reviewed the character of Dole,
and noted the hesitation of his witnesses, and closed his argument
by eloquently urging upon the court to make an example of a
had man, and save the community from his further depreda-
tions by holding him to await the action of the grand jury. The
trial occupied all day and was for a long time a theme for dis-
cussion in the community. Dole was ordered to recognize in
$1,000 for his appearance in Haverhill. He gave the required
bond upon the spot and then set himself to work to extricate
himself from the certain fate that seemed to await him.
I insert the following letter, written the day after the trial. It
is dated from Plymouth:
Dear Kimball: We got safely home at 11 o'clock. More I think of
our trial at Lebanon, the mightier the concern seems to me to i)e, and
your part In it seems a higher and more striking character. The whole
seems a magnificent dream. But it is a terrible reality, and poor Dole
stands convicted of forgery and -subornation of perjury committed on
476 History op Canaan.
the offspring of his own body. He has sacrificed his children to save
himself from the consequences of his own crime. "We ought to have
said something more on the enormity of this crime. We ought to have
warned nil around us of the frightful consequences of imbibing the
horrid principles of poor Dole. But we had much to do, and could not
but omit many things.
Make out the costs of prosecution and send on to Justice Hinds, and
direct him to make his record and how to make it, and to copy the whole
and send it to you recognizances and all. Then you will have the
record safe and I will have the proof safe and the county will have the
$1,000 safe, and the community be safe and secure of being relieved of
Dole by his absconding. You must have copies as soon as you can, or
the complaint, record, etc., will be plundered.
Among Dole's subaltern counsel — some one among that throng, un-
known to fame, who surrounded him and expected to swell the train of
his triumphant discharge, but who in fact were only of his crew when
he went down — some one of them will be shrewd enough to conjecture
that if the record of the recognizance were stolen, Mr. Dole might retire
(having paid his counsel) without forfeiture. You will see to this.
The more I think of your speech the grander it seems to me; which I
mention merely to remind you that you have to answer for rejecting
offers of mercy, made under great lights, and with extraordinary means
of knowing duty.
Sat verb II m sa pic nil.
\ N. P. Rogers.
During the interval imtil the sitting of the court. Dole ex-
pressed great confidence in a favorable result in his case. He
sold his real estate and got his resources well in hand. An in-
cident showing his state of mind was related to me at the time.
A man in Dorchester owed him money on a note. Dole notified
him to pay it, saying he w^ould call upon him. The debtor and
creditor started from home the same day, and met on the road
not far from Mr. Ben Choate's in Enfield. They went into Mr.
Choate's house where the money w^as paid and the note cancelled;
but as they were about to separate, Dole turned to the Dorchester
man and asked that he might be allowed to retain the cancelled
note. He said in explaining : ' ' Since I was arrested for forgery,,
everybody who owes me, expresses the suspicion that I am prac-
ticing the crime again. It annoys me, and I want to retain this
paper which is of no value to you as an evidence of your trust in
me with Mr. Choate as a witness." He told the truth and he
felt it too. More than one person, upon being called upon to
Incidents. 477
pay, expressed suspicion that he was paying his note a second
time, but could not prove it because he did not have his cancelled
papers.
At the appointed time ]\Ir. Dole rode to Haverhill, and put up
his horse at Towle's Hotel. The same day he was seen in earnest
consultation with some friends from Lebanon, and he had a long-
interview with his counsel in Mr. Bell's office. The grand juiy
met in the upper room in the old court house. On the afternoon
that Dole's case was considered he ordered his horse harnessed,
saying he would take a turn about town. He drove about the
village common several times, each time riding slowly past the
court house, watching it with apparent carelessness. The last
time he approached the house, about four o'clock in the after-
noon, he paused a moment and looked up at a south window.
There was a movement in the jury room. A window was raised,
and a red handkerchief waved for a moment outside and then
disappeared. Dole carelessly turned his horse's head, and rode
slowly through the street until he reached the bank building,
where he received a nod of recognition from his council, Mr. Bell.
Then urging his horse, he drove rapidly down the road that led
across the river at Bradford, and beyond the jurisdiction of the
court at Haverhill. He was never seen again in public in New
Hampshire. He fled westwardly and his family followed him.
It was afterwards known that he kept a hotel in Lockport,
N. Y., under another name. His wife died soon after; his daugh-
ter became insane: and his son, after a time, studied and prac-
ticed as a lawyer.
"When the case was called in court and no answer returned,
his recognizance was forfeited. His bondsmen came promptly
forward, and were discharged on payment of the $1,000. Judg-
ment was also rendered in the civil suit for the recovery of the
$200. which had been secured by attachment of real estate, and
thenceforth the name of Isaac Dole became linked with the crimes
of forger}' and perjury, the memory of which not even Lethe's
waters can wash out.
And now in regard to the waving of the red handkerchief:
I give the story as I saw and heard it at the time, for I, a boy,
saw Dole as he rode about the common at Haverhill, and disap-
478 History of Canaan.
peared on the road towards Bradford. Dole was a Mason. One
of the grand jurors from Lebanon w'as also a Mason and a friend
of Dole, and was the person with whom he had had a long con-
sultation on his arrival at Haverhill. While his case was under
consultation, he was to be prepared for the worst. He was to
ride about in the neighborhood of the court house and watch for
a signal, w^hich was to be a red flag if the jury found a true bill
against him. He watched, took due notice, and governed himself
accordingly. He fled; preferring liberty even with a blighted
name, to the degradation of a term of service in the penitentiary,
Dea. Jonathan Swan, after 1820, lived in the small house on
the Street, afterward owned by Mrs. Durrell, and in which Al-
bert Pressey lived until it was sold to Mrs. Rouillion and torn
down. Deacon Swan w^as a worthy man, industrious and a Bap-
tist. He emigrated to Iowa about 1850, with his family, and
died in 1873, aged 87 years.
Lemuel Wilson, son of Jeremiah AVilson, was the second son
of Eobert. Lemuel had a brother Samuel; their mother's name
was Betsey Carlton and they moved to Michigan in the early part
of the last century. The father, Jeremiah, died when the boys
were quite young. The mother, in her deep grief, conceived the
idea that in order to secure the favor of God, she must return
to Canaan and she and her children be baptized in the waters
of Hart Pond, near the place of her birth. Accordingly, in the
year 1827, she took her boys, then grown to manhood, and wended
her slow way to Canaan, and they were all baptized by Elder
Wheat in Hart Pond, in the presence of a great congregation of
witnesses. They returned to their home in Michigan. ]\Iany
years afterward Lemuel, who had drifted to California, was
persuaded to abjure his early Baptist predilections and pro-
fess himself a Roman Catholic. His recollection of the baptism
was so dim that the priest deemed it necessary to inquire if it
was a fact, and the query seemed to turn upon the point whether
Elder Wheat's baptism was sufficient to save him in his double
character of Baptist and Catholic.
Maj. Samuel Jones lived in a large square house on South
Road, which afterwards passed into the possession of James
Pattee. It was burned at midday in December, 1828, through
Incidents. 479
the carelessness of two boys, who were grinding apples for Elias
Porter. There was a large eider mill and numerous barns and
sheds so near that nothing could be saved. It was a grand sight ;
no wind. The flames went straight up and left only a pile of
ashes. In one of the chambers were sixty bushels of wheat, two
hundred bushels of corn in the crib, tons of hay and un-
threshed oats. Only part of the furniture was saved.
The orthography of Hart or Heart Pond may be interesting.
John Farmer in his Gazetteer, printed in 1824, spells it Heart
Pond all the way through. ]\Ir. Farmer was an enthusiastic
antiquarian, and was regarded as good authority, and so that
name is still used by some, out of deference to its supposed heart
shape, which is more in the eye than in the pond. All the old
grants bordering on this pond spell it "Hart." Daniel Colby,
when a young man, 150 or 160 years ago, used to come up here
from Massachusetts with his father and tAvo others, named
Tribble and Hart, and trap beaver and otter upon the shores of
this pond. Ensign Colby, an old man who died forty years ago,
said the word was spelled H-a-r-t by the early visitors, and was
probably named for one of the old trapper's partners.
A letter dated May 30, 1838, says: "We have made one grand
improvement on our Street this spring. "We have caused to be
set out two rows of beautiful rock maple trees, on each side of the
street, its whole length. They will give it beauty and serve as a
point of admiration with all lovers of artificial scenery." While
many of these trees have grown to be stately and proud, a great
number were mutilated and destroyed by vicious persons not
resident here, but who deemed any annoying act they might com-
mit, proper and right as against the abolitionists of the street.
It was this bad temper that first broke the unity of the two rows
of maple trees. It was so bad as even to affect the temper of
horses. It was seriously related that on one occasion, INIaj.
Levi George, who lived on South Road, started with his wife to
do some trading at Martin's store. When he reached the school-
house on the edge of the common, his horse gave a snort, turned
suddenly round and trotted back home, so offensive was the scent
of abolition to his nostrils. It is not known what became of that
480 History of Canaan.
horse, but he was printed in the New Hampshire Patriot as being
instinctively intelligent.
In 1857 James H. Kelley, F. P. Swett, Franklin Barber, James
C. Furber and others, fenced a three-cornered park where the
three roads meet at the ' ' Corner, ' ' set out trees, set up a martin
house, and made an arrangement for a fountain and flower
beds, but it was never completed.
MM
■ i J
X
e
o
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Secret Organizations.
Freemasonry.
Mount Moriali Lodge flourished for many years, and drew into
its mysterious folds all the prominent men. Its influence was
felt in society, religion, politics. It grew unwieldly from the
number of men of small minds wlio secured its honors, and then
bickerings and jealousies crept in, its benign influences were
smothered and it passed away like a dream when one awaketh.
It was in the back parlor of Seth Bullock's hotel in Grafton,
that eight earnest brethren met to confer upon their wants. A
petition was written and signed on October 27, 1813, by Richard
Currier. 3d, Seth Bullock. John Kimball and thirteen others and
forwarded to the Grand Lodge for a charter for a lodge to be
called ]\Iount ]\Ioriah. Bro. Joseph ]\Ierrill was chosen an agent
to attend the General Assembly of the Grand Lodge at Ports-
mouth and present the petition. Brother Merrill faithfully per-
formed his duty and returned with the desired authority. On
the second day of February. 181-1, the brethren assembled at
Moses Dole's hall in Canaan, to listen to and act upon the re-
port of Brother Merrill. He said he had stated the wants of
the brethren here, how they were few in number and scattered
over a wild wide country, — and that they needed the bonds of
an organization to bring them together for social and mental
improvement, whereby much good would be effected and their
solemn obligations to each other and to the world would be better
appreciated.
The brethren of the Grand Lodge had kindly listened to his
story and had then graciously authorized their grand master to
grant us a letter of dispensation, which he would now read. It
was in the words following:
! -^ By authority ve.sted in me as Grand Master of
„ J T T ?• Masons ia and throughout the State of New Hamp-
Grand Lodge j ^j^.^.^^_
Be it known. That I, Edward J. Long, on application and proper
recommendation of Richard Currier 3rd., Seth Bullock, John Kimball
31
482 History op Can.van.
and others, all Master Masons, for a new Lodge to be constituted and
holden at Canaan, in this State
Do hereby empower said Currier and others to assemble at said
Canaan as a Lodge of Masons; to perfect themselves in the several
duties of Masonry; to make choice of oflScers; to make regulations and
by-laws, and to admit candidates into the first degi'ee of Masonry; all
according to the ancient customs of Masons.
This warrant of dispensation to continue in full force and authority
for three months from the date hereof.
Given under my hand and the seal of the Grand Lodge, this 27th day
of January A. L. 5814.
Edward J. Long, O. Master.
Attest Charles Tappax, Grand Secretary.
An informal meeting was held, Bro. Caleb Seabury being
chairman, when after appointing Bros. Timothy Tilton, Moses
Dole and Caleb Seabury, a committee to report a code of by-laws
and to procure furniture for the lodge, "we adjourned to meet
on Wednesday preceding the full moon in March, it being the
second day, A. D. 1814, at Masons hall, in Canaan."
The brethren are now much interested in the business in which
they are engaged, — and they travel many miles on horse back,
and on foot, over rough roads and by blazed paths to be present
at the first selection of officers, because the success of the under-
taking demands that their first officers shall be intelligent, active,
and interested in the work, — we assemble, fourteen of us, good
men and true, — and the dingy old manuscript blurred with age
and dust, uncovers to us the following names :
Caleb Seabury. Dr. Timothy Tilton.
James Slocum. Moses Dole.
Jesse Johnson. Joseph Merrill.
Richard Currier. Jonathan Jones.
Daniel Currier. Seth Bullock.
Henry Currier. James C. Drake.
John G. Colt. John Jones.
The lodge was opened in due form on the first step in Mas-
onry,— and then the following officers w'ere chosen, namely :
Bro. Timothy Tilton, master; Bro. Richard Currier, senior
warden ; Bro. James C. Drake, junior warden ; Bro. Joseph Mer-
rill, secretary; Bro. Moses Dole, treasurer; Bro. Samuel Phillips,
senior deacon ; Bro. John Jones, junior deacon ; Bro. Daniel
Secret Organizations. 483
Currier and Jonathan Jones, stewards ; Bro. Jesse Johnson, Seth
Bullock and Caleb Seabury, standing committee.
And now the organization is complete and we are ready fof
work, and here it is. The first candidate presented, asking for
the rights and benefits of our ancient institutions, is the lawyer
on Broad Street, Thomas Hale Pettingill, whose writs and sum-
monses were almost as numerous as autumn leaves or the pine
stumps on the broad street and much more expensive. We
made him an entered apprentice in due form and then our work
being done, we adjourned, congratulating each other that we —
vain men — had firmly established an institution that should
abide the lapse of ages. Sic transit — the actors in these scenes
have all gone to that bourne from whence no traveler returns.
Meetings were held under the dispensation and candidates were
initiated into the first degree of Masonry during this year. On
February 14. 1815. the Clrand Lodge appointed Henry Hutchin-
son a special deputy to install the officers and constitute Mount
Moriah Lodge, No. 22, on Wednesday, February 22, 1815. On
that date the lodge received its charter. It was not until the
following October that any work was done in the second and third
degrees. Its meetings were held on Broad Street in the hall over
the store of Nathaniel Currier, a part of the time, and for many
years in the old Wallace house. Up to December. 1815. they
initiated nineteen candidates, for which they did not settle
with the Grand Lodge, and on June 11, 1817, were reported de-
linquent since 1814. They had not sent any representative nor
had any of their officers attended the assembly of the Grand
Lodge. After this reprimand they were not negligent in their
duties for many years.
In 1821 the district deputy visited the lodge and found they
had appointed two fellowcrafts as stewards the previous elec-
tion. In 1823 application was made to the Legislature for a char-
ter, which was granted on July 2, in the following terms :
An act to incorporate certain persons by the name of tlie Mount
Moriah Lodge No. 22 in the Town of Canaan.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court that Abraham Pushee, Ebenezer Chase, Stephen Fol-
som, Timothy Tllton and Samuel Morgan and all persons who may here-
after become members of said Lodge be and they are hereby incor-
484 History of Cax.v.vx.
povatetl and made a body corporate and politic forever by the name of
Mount Moriah Lodge No. 22 in the town of Canaan and the said body
corporate is hereby impowered to hold and possess real and personal
estate not exceeding in value the sum of two thousand dollars and is
vested with all powers, rights and privileges incident to corporations
of a similar nature.
Sect. 2. And be it further enacted that Abraham Pushee may call
the first meeting of said Lodge by giving fourteen days notice in the New
Hampshire and State Gazette of the time and place of such meeting.
At such meeting or any subsequent meeting the members of said Lodge
may choose a secretary and elect such other officers and establish such
by Laws, rules and regulations as may be deemed, necessary for the
government of said Lodge and for carrying into effect the object of the
same provided said by Laws, rules and regulations be not repugnant to
the Con.stitution and I^iws of this State.
In 1825 Alpheus Baker of Lebanon, district deputy grand
master, reported as follows: "On the first of February I at-
tended Mount ]Moriah Lodge at Canaan. I found the brethren
assembled at an early hour. I found their records well kept,
and they seemed desirous of all necessary information for tran-
sacting the business on the different degrees. I heard them lec-
ture on the first degree and found them generally correct ; but
on the fellowerafts. ' they were deficient; I then gave them a dis-
pensation for raising the Eev. Amos Foster of that town, and
found they were deficient in the work and lectures of that de-
gree. Their master was not present, although he had summoned
his lodge, on some very important btisiness. The brethren told
me they had not the lectures on the second or third degree."
On this date Dr. Timothy Tilton was master, Jacob Trussell
and Daniel Hovey wardens, James Wallace secretary, and
Daniel B. Whittier treasttrer. In 1826 Alpheus Baker reported
the lodge well attended and in a flourishing condition. In 1828
the records of the lodge were reported well kept, and the breth-
ren very correct in the lectures. The lodge continued to make
reports until 1835. Then for five years it lay dormant through
the trying times attending the destruction of Xoyes Academy
and the division of the people into two factions on the slavery
question. These contentions were carried into the lodge and
harmony ceased to prevail, neighbors and friends and brothers
became bitter enemies and the tenets of the faith were not suf-
Secret Organizations. 485
ficient to keep tliem together. The formation of Social Lodge
at Enfield in 1827, took from Mount Moriah all the Enfield mem-
bers, and some of the most prominent ones: Eichard Currier,
3d, Nathan Currier, Dexter Currier, Ebenezer Chase and others.
]\Iany moved away, many of those who had kept the lodge to-
gether so long died. The last entry upon the old treasurer's
book was made in 1828. Neither the records of the secretary nor
the charter of the lodge can be found.
There is in existence the report of a committee appointed to
settle with the treasurer, dated in 1832, Avhicli showed $335.45
in his hands. The lodge was always in a prosperous condition, so
far as its treasurer's records show, but the funds w^ere often rep-
resented by more due bills than cash. Candidates were often
initiated upon the giving of their notes for the fees, which after-
ward some of them failed to meet. The old by-laws dated July
23, 1817, are in the handwriting of Dr. Timothy Tilton. Their
meetings were held at two o'clock in the afternoon, and "the
lodge shall be closed by eight in the evening. ' ' When a negative
was given against a candidate, the standing committee were to
receive the reasons for said negative. Every member was fur-
nished with a white ball and a black one, and as the ballot box
was passed the members voted which they saw fit. If one nega-
tive was received the one so voting was to inform the standing
committee of his reasons and if they judged the reasons sufficient
the negative was to be effectual. And if the one giving the nega-
tive vote did not give his reasons, the negative was of no avail.
All apprentices must work five months as such before they could
be admitted to the next degree, and then they must work three
months before receiving the third degree. The fees were twelve,
three and five dollars. Every brother present on a regular lodge
night was to pay twelve and one-half cents as a fee for the even-
ing. The expenses of a special meeting were to be paid by the
brother desiring it. No more than three ceremonies could be
gone through with at one meeting. In 1823, upon the incorpora-
tion of the lodge, a new set of by-laws was made and printed,
and at the end of the lodge copy was the names of the members ;
as associated under the act of incorporation of June, 1823 :
486
History of Canaan.
Abraham Pushee.
Ebenezer Chase.
Stephen Folsom.
Samuel Morgan.
Timothy Tilton.
Daniel B. Whittier.
Richard Currier, 3d.
Jacob Trussell.
Jacob Blaisdell.
Elias Porter.
Samuel Withington.
William Atherton.
Daniel Hovey.
Ebenezer Clark.
Salmon Cobb.
Nathaniel Currier.
Elijah Miner.
James Wallace.
Moses Dole.
Bela Johnson.
Nathan Currier.
Grover Burnham, Jr.
Benjamin K. Oilman.
Benjamin Shattuck.
Willard Sayles.
James Doten.
Elijah Blaisdell.
David Barnard.
Francis Dustin.
Hubbard Harris.
John Blaisdell.
Robert Barber.
William Martin.
Frederick Hill.
Timothy Blaisdell.
Guilford Cobb.
Dudley Austin.
Jesse D. Arvin.
Dexter Currier.
Rufus Whittier.
John Shepard.
Asa Whittier.
Samuel Hoyt.
Ichabod S. Johnson.
James Saunders.
James Doten, Jr.
Micajah M. Smith.
Caleb Gushing.
The treasurer's book contains these names: David C. Peck,
Thomas H. Pettingill, Samuel Noyes, Jacob Barney, Samuel S.
Stevens, Amos Morse. Clark Aldrieh. Ralph Roby, Nat Pierce,
Daniel Currier, Amos Foster, Elihu Granger. James Pattee,
Caleb Dustin, Theodore Tyler, William B. Kelley, Moses Kelley,
Cyrus Adams, Aaron Wise, Thomas Page, Thomas Lathrop,
Nathan Hobart, Samuel Saunders, Rowel Colby, Jr., Hilsey R.
Stevens, Joseph S. Pratt, Ezra Kelley, Edward Evans, John
Cooke.
The last surviving member was John Blaisdell, who died in
1892 or 1893. On June 9, 1840, the Grand Lodge declared the
charter forfeited. This closed the first chapter of Mount Moriah.
For twenty-six years the old members were unaffiliated ; some
of them died, others moved away, and no new ones came until
in 1866, after the return of Jacob Trussell, who had always been
a prominent Mason, he, with William Martin, Charles U. Dun-
ning, David Barnard, William A. Wallace, Stephen R. Swett,
Isaac N. Blodgett and Allen H. George, petitioned the Grand
Secret Organizations. 487
Lodge for a charter of a new lodge to be established at Canaan.
The Grand Lodge refused to grant a new charter for a lodge at
Canaan, but suggested that the charter of old ]\Iount Moriah
might be revived and then they would consent if the lodge be
moved to Grafton. This was agreed to and Mount Moriah was
again established and this time at Grafton Center in June, 1866.
Some of the Canaan Masons attended Mount Moriah and some of
them continued to go to Social Lodge at Enfield; there was but
little difference in the distance. Isaac X. Blodgett, who was an
officer, used to walk from the Street to Grafton Center to attend
the meeting and back again, reaching home after midnight. At
first there was much energy and hard work displayed in making
the lodge successful. But private animosities and desires to hold
offices soon began to crop out and the attendance to decrease. On
February 22, 1870, Stephen Fellows Avas impeached for un-
masonic conduct and privately reprimanded. In May the district
deputy notified the lodge of his intention to visit the lodge, and
upon his arrival he found only the master and secretary present.
The reason for the absence of the other officers and members was
a shooting match in the near vicinity. The master at that time
said the condition of the lodge was due to the total absence of
Masonic spirit of one member, and advised giving up the char-
ter. Cromwell Kimball had made the remark: "If I can't be
master of the lodge I will ruin it." Charges were preferred
against him and the Grand Lodge, after a hearing, expelled him.
This was the last of JMount Moriah. No meetings were held after
1870. I have been unable to determine what became of the
charter, as it is not in the office of the grand secretary and the
Grand Lodge records do not show that it was ever forfeited.
The records of the revided lodge are at Concord. Before the
revival of Mount Moriah, many of its possible candidates had
gravitated to Social Lodge and as the trouble increased, still
more found favor where more harmony and Masonic spirit pre-
vailed. For more than thirty years Social Lodge had jurisdic-
tion over Canaan, several efforts were made to gain the consent
of Social Lodge of Enfield, to establish a lodge here unsuccess-
fully until in 1901, the consent of King Solomon's, Kearsarge,
and Social Lodge was obtained, and a petition was sent to the
488 History of Canaan.
Grand Lodge for a dispensation and the establishing of a new
lodge. The dispensation was granted December 30, 1901. On
January 15, 1902, Summit Lodge was opened under the dispensa-
tion by the district deputy grand master for work. At the meet-
ing of the Grand Lodge in ]May, a charter was granted and on
October 8, 1902, Summit Lodge, No. 98, was constituted by the
officers of the Grand Lodge.
The charter members were: E. M. Tucker, A. M. Shackford,
C. F. Everett, E. M. Adams. G. W. Chase, E. S. Hadley, H. B.
Wooster, C. A. Kimball, R. A. Burgess, G. H. Gordon, C. P.
King, S. R. Swett, W. B. Martin, Carey Smith, G. E. Muzzey, 0.
B. Sargent, J. A. Greene, 0. L. Rand, F. D. Currier, T. M. Hoyt, /
A. H. George, G. 0. Hadlock.
Its meetings have been held in the Knights of Pythias Hall.
The first master was Charles F. Everett. The subsequent mas-
ters have been George H. Gordon, Charles P. King, Edwin S.
Hadley, Will A. Dean and James F. King. The roster of the
lodge contains the name of sixty-eight who have been members,
but death has claimed seven of them.
Patrons op Husbandry.
Mascoma Grange, No. 68.
This Grange was organized in Enfield, October 26, 1875, and
was afterward transferred to West Canaan, where its meetings
are now held. Levi F. Webster was the prime mover in its or-
ganization, and was its master for ten years. There were forty-
three charter members: Levi F. and Ann C. Webster, Mr. and
Mrs. Leonard B. Warren, Harvey B. Jones, Ruth K. Jones, John
C. Currier, Rufus Webster, Nathan C. and Carrie L. Morgan,
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan S. Holt, Henry H. and Betsey L. Wilson,
Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Hadley, Charles Dwinells, Webster and Ann
Currier, Moses E. and Julianna Withington, Eben R. & Emily
J. Dustin, Mr. and Mrs. David N. Ladd, ^Ir. and Mrs. Samuel
Carlton, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Huse, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J.
Hadley, Ira G. and Emma Webster, Horace M. and Julia Jones,
Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Walbridge,
Secret Organizations. 489
Haiinali Currier, John Hosmer, David Noyes, Moses A. Brockle-
bank.
There have been initiated in all 272 ; and the present member-
ship is 133.
Indian River Grange.
The first meeting was held at the house of Alvin Davis, De-
cember 10, 1875, when the thirty-five charter members were
instructed by Deputy D. E. Boyden. These members were : Mr.
and ]\Irs. J. H. French, ]\Ir. and Mrs. Alvin Davis, Mr. and ]\Irs.
Reuben Bachelder, Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Dimond, Mr. and Mrs.
Enoch Eastman, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cogswell, Mr. and Mrs. G.
W. Davis, Mrs. William Aldrich, Hubbard Aldrich, J. H. Blake,
Fred B. Clark, John Pressy, Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Cilley, Mr. and
Mrs. John Fernald, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. H.
J. Goss, Mr. and ]\Irs. William Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel
AVhittier, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hoit, Alton Xourse, James M<ir-
rill.
The inducements held out to join were that by banding them-
selves together in a body, thej' would be able to buy necessaries
at a price much lower than was asked of a single individual.
The high prices following the Civil War being particularly hard
upon the farmers. The meetings during the first year were held
at the houses of Alvin Davis, J. H. French, William Aldrich and
John Fernald. These were rather social gatherings than any-
thing else. The need of a hall w^here the members could assemble
was apparent, and in the summer of 1876, a committee was ap-
pointed to construct a hall and in the early part of 1877 Grange
Hall was completed and occupied.
In 1875 two members were initiated, in 1876 seven, in 1877
four, in 1878 three. In 1879 one, and six members were sus-
pended for non-payment of dues. The next four years was a
period of depression. ^Meetings were held infreciuently and very
little interest was manifested. To such a low ebb had their
affairs reached that during the years 1884. 1885 and 1886, less
and less and finally no meetings were held, the charter was finally
surrendered and Indian River Grange ceased to exist.
In the early part of 1887, at the solicitation of the state mas-
ter and secretary, the revival of Indian River Grange was sug-
490 History of Caxaax.
gested and effected. At an informal meeting, March 25, 1887,
these two officei*s being present, a petition was signed by thirteen
old members and sixteen new ones.
The grange was still in a very low condition during the year
1887, only six meetings were held and only one member initiated.
In 1888 fourteen meetings were held and ten new members
joined. The next two years was a period of inactivity, with no
additions to membership. In 1891 six new members were re-
ceived by petition. In 1892 and 1893, more members were sus-
pended for non-payment of dues and the grange could hardly
keep its head up. But the period of depression was nearly ended
and in the early part of 1895 prosperity began to show itself.
During tliis year all the regular meetings were held as well as
several special for the conferring of degrees. In 1896 twenty-
eight new members joined and the total membership was sixty-
one, twenty-seven males and thirty-four females. The member-
ship has constantly increased every year. In June. 1899, it
reached the centurj- mark. The membership has steadily in-
creased. In 1901 eleven new members were initiated. During
the last ten years 183 members have been initiated; death and
withdrawals have left the number of members at the present
time at 184. The town has never had any "Old Home Week"
celebration. Several times articles have been in the warrant and
each time passed. The grange in 1904, held an entertainment
as an observance of that event. William Hall, Hubbard Ford,
Alvin Davis, and Mr. and >\Irs. George W. Davis are the only
remaining charter members.
'■o
Knights of Pythias.
A petition to establish a lodge of this order was started in the
summer of 1893, with twenty-eight names, who were to be the
charter members. Few of these knew anj^thing about the prin-
ciples of the order and those who did not, were induced to sign
by the representations of those who did, that it was an order
that would be of benefit to them. The names of the twenty-eight
signers w' ere as follows : A. L. Young, G. H. Kinne, F. W. Bar-
ney, J. F. Weutworth, E. M. Allen, G. H. Gordon, B. E. Goss, H.
Secret Organizations. 491
A. Gilman, Gary Smith, H. H. Woodward, W. C. Stor}-, James
Dubia, A. J. Barney, M. T. Furber, C. 0. lugalls, A. H. Barney,
E, Fitzgerald, M. M. Wiggin, A. P. Follensbee, C. 0. Barney,
H. J. Goss, R. E. Allen, F. A. Trumbull, G. E. Cobb, C. P. King,
F. E. Howe, J. E. Martin, B. F. Davis.
On the evening of the lltli of August, 1893, a lodge of
emergency was opened in Grange Hall, at which the officers of
the Grand Lodge were present, with the result that jNIt. Cardi-
gan Lodge, No. 31, was duly instituted. Meeting-s were regTilarly
held in Grange Hall for a time, when it became apparent that it
was not a satisfactory- meeting place and a committee was ap-
pointed to make arrangements for Barnard Hall. Accordingly a
five-year lease was secured and extensive changes made. The
first meeting held in the new hall was on December 30, 1893.
The lodge continued to hold its meetings there for seven years.
During these years the lodge prospered beyond expectation. In
December, 1894, when the lodge was sixteen months old it had a
membership of forty-eight knights, one esquire and two pages.
The debt incurred in fitting up Barnard hall had been paid off
in October. In 1895 the membership increased to fifty-eight.
At the close of 1897 the membership was seventy-four, and at
the last meeting in 1898, the membership was ninety. In Decem-
ber, 1899, the membership was 101, and the lodge had nearly
$1,000 in its treasury. The increase in membership and funds
led to talk of a new hall, and an offer was made in March, 1900,
for the Grange building. This oft'er was accepted and a com-
mittee, consisting of H. A. Gilman, G. H. Gordon and E. M.
Allen, was appointed to make the necessary- repairs and changes.
Another story was added to the building, which is occupied as
the lodge room and ante-rooms. Mrs. Lura G. ]\Iilton, whose son,
Frank E. Milton, had been a member and who had died in 1894,
donated $500 towards the improvement of the building in mem-
ory of her son, and the hall has since been called ]\Iilton Hall.
The first meeting held in the new hall was on September 7, 1900.
The membership at the end of this year was 109. Since that time
fortj^-nine members have been initiated, making a total of 168
members admitted by initiation and four by card. Suspension,
death and withdrawals have decreased the number, so that now
the total membership is 123.
492 History of Canaan.
Pythian Sisterhood.
In February, 1900, Mrs. Adelaide H. Currier and Mrs. Mary
A. K. Tucker circulated a petition for the formation of a Sister-
hood. There was a Lodge of Knights, and why not have the
auxiliary branch for the ladies? Twenty-seven ladies signed the
petition and on the institution of the assembly, became the char-
ter members. Their names were : Adelaide H. Currier, Mary A.
K. Tucker, Lillian A. Barney, Mrs. I. B. Stevens, L. Idella Smith,
Dell J. Goss, Blanche M. Coburn, Mrs. F. A. Doten, Emma F.
Gordon, Ella M. Richardson, Romie E. Jones, Emma L. Sher-
burne, Roxie L. Allen, Bertha D. Hadley, Frances R. Kimball,
Mrs. A. E. Smith, Georgie A. Sanborn, Minnie ]\L Folsom. Lucy
R. Clarksou, Elvira Woodward, Kate R. Davis, Addie M. Follans-
bee, Mary E. Howe, Emma J. Dubia, Lora M. King, Helen M.
Merrill, Blanche E. Bogardus.
An informal meeting was held on March 7, 1900, which was
adjourned until the following March 13, when the officers of
the Grand Lodge were present and Mascoma Valley Assembly,
No. 22, was instituted. At the next meeting the name of the
lodge was changed to Prosperity Assembly. They first held
their meetings in the Grange building where the Knights were^
and afterwards moved with them into Barnard Hall and then
back again into ^lilton Hall. At the end of the first year they
had thirty-six members, the next year eighteen more joined, in
1902 three, 1903, three, in 1904 two and in 1905 two, making a
total membership of sixty-four. The next year there were none
initiated because of the agitation at that time as to whether they
were to be recognized by the Grand Lodge of Knights as the
auxiliary body. The Grand Lodge refused to recognize them and
it became necessary to reorganize, which was done February 14,
1907. Under the old system the Knights could not become mem-
bers of the Assembly ; under the new they could. Since the be-
ginning, 107 have become members, death and withdrawals at
the present time have left sixty-three ladies and twenty-four
knights.
CHAPTEK XXIX.
Old Families.
The Sco fields.
Jolm Scofield was in his lifetime a prominent man in the
affairs of this town. A well-poised, sincere man, and the people
had great trust in his integrity and good common sense and con-
ferred upon him all the offices and honors in their power to
bestow. These offices he held almost continuously during the
eighteen years he remained here and he had the pleasure of see-
ing his sons, Eleazer and John, Jr., as they grew up to be men,
honored for the same sterling qualities that distinguished him-
self. Mr. Scofield lived to see the patriots successful in all
their plans and the country freed from the rule of George the
Third, of whom Thackeray says : " ' George, be a king, ' were the
words which the king's mother was forever croaking in the ears
of her son. And a king the simple, stubborn, affectionate,
bigoted man tried to be." Mr. Scofield wore knee buckles and
breeches. Tall and of most enduring constitution. No respect
for the weather; all kinds were alike to him; summer's heat and
winter's cold. He was an Englishman and a Baptist. Mr.
Scofield was not a soldier in the Revolution. "On the nine-
teenth of April in seventy-five," he was sixty years old, and
beyond the age limit for service in the field. He was buried on
the spot chosen by himself for that purpose, upon his own lands
and a headstone of clay slate, which he wrought out with his
o\\Ti hands, excepting the date of his death, was placed over his
grave, where it remained, exposed to the storms of more than
ninety years, quietly marking the resting place of the brave
dust that was gathered beneath, and might have continued to
remain for ninety years longer a silent sentinel there, but for the
foolish vanity of a man who thought to win renown for anti-
quarian research by lugging that stone off, and placing it in the
dusty and damp cellar of the New Hamp.shire Historical Society
at Concord, where the dust accumulated upon it so as to obscure
494 History of Canaan.
the inscription. And that man signalized his ignoble feat by
attaching to the stone a sketch of Mr. Seofield, which was only
remarkable for its blunders and mistakes in dates. Disce
omnes cui bono. This stone remained in the box it was received
in in the cellar of the society until 1905, when the town at its
annual meeting, saw fit to recognize the services and trials of
this man by requesting that it be returned to Canaan.
The town also voted to place a fence around the spot where
Mr. Seofield 's dust lay, the better to preserve his grave and those
buried beside him. The stone was placed in the Town Library
on account of its condition, it not being deemed advisable to
place it at the head of his grave. On the stone is carved this,
inscription :
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN SCOFIELD
Who died July 5th. 1784
In his 69th. year
Blessed are yc dead who die in, the Lord.
On the footstone, now standing at the foot of his grave, was
carved "Mr. John Seofield." The grave is located in the south,
part of the pasture of the old James Pattee farm on South Road,
which Daniel Pattee bought in 1799. This farm was cleared
by Samuel Jones, Mr. Seofield 's son-in-law.
At some unknown date a burial place was laid out in that lone-
pasture. Years ago there were eleven mounds, arranged due
east and west. At only one of them, Mr. Seofield 's, was there a
gravestone. Field stones are placed at the head and foot of
some of the others. Five of them were short, indicating children.
Mrs. Seofield was buried beside her husband and a Mrs. Floyd is
said to have been buried in another. And this is all that is
known of those buried there.
Mrs. Seofield, whose maiden name was Sarah Crocker, she
who so bravely walked with her children, while her husband
hauled his handsled from Lebanon, in that dreary December
day in '&Q, survived her husband in her old homestead for twelve-
years. She died September 4, 1796, and her grave was never
marked. The reason for this apparent neglect to mark the old
graves was cogent with the people. There were no skilful work-
Old Families. 495
ers in stone among them, and they could hardly afford the ex-
pense of sending abroad for monuments of marble or granite.
Nearly all the old stones set up in our cemeteries are the handi-
work of some member of the family of the deceased, wrought
from stones which still have • their counterparts in this town.
The last will and testament of Mrs. Scotield, witnessed several
years before her death, is copied below. It is written in the
handwriting of Thomas Baldwin and is witnessed by him. The
spelling and capitalization of the original are retained.
In The Name of God, Amen, The Last Will & Testament of Sarah
Scofield of Canaan in the County of Grafton and State of New Hamp-
shire.
Im primis, my Soul I Commend to God that Gave it. Trusting and
Beleiving thro the Merits of His Dear Son to be accepted of Him in
Peace. My body I resign to the Earth, to be Decently Interred Trust-
ing and Believing I Shall receive it again in the Morning of the Resur-
rection Refined for Immortality.
My funeral charges together with all my Just Debts to be Paid out
of my Estate. Item, I Give and Bequeath all my wearing apparel to
my Children and Grandchildren, to be Equally Divided into Four
Parts (viz) To my Beloved Daughter Merriam Jones one Quarter (and
She to have the first choice). To Temperance Scofield my Beloved
Daughter in law one Quarter, to my Beloved Daughter in law Lydia
Scofield one Quarter, and to my Beloved Grand-daughters, Sarah Crock-
er and Esther Jones, one quarter to be equally Divided between them.
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Meriam Jones my
bed underbed two coverlids one pair of Sheets one pair of Pillow cases.
Item I give and Bequeath al the remaining part of my Estate of
Whatsoever Nature or kind to my beloved Sons Eleazer and John
Scofield to be Equally Divided between them. With this Proviso that
they pay To my two Grandaughters above named two pounds Ten
Shillings Each to be paid out of my Household stuff or other ways to
their Satisfaction Immediately after my Discease. all and every of
the Bequested Premises I Will and Injoin that they be Divided and
in joyed as above expressed.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this
23rd day of Jany A D 1786, Signed Sealed And Confirmed in Presents of
her
Thomas Baldwin Sarah + Scofield.
EzEKiEL LuNT mark
Ezekiel Lunt was a resident of Enfield. This will was never
probatecl. Its terms were carried out without legal formality.
The sons of Mr. Scofield were Eleazer, born in 175-1, and John,
496 History of Canaan.
born June 12, 1756. There were two daughters, Delight, who
died in 1777, the wife of Gideon Rudd of Hanover, and Miriam,
two years j'ounger than John, all born in Connecticut. Before
the death of their father, these young men exhibited traits of
character which won the respect and confidence of their towns-
men. Their opportunities for education were very limited, there
being no public schools. But few of the people became distin-
guished for their learning, because the necessities of life com-
pelled them to labor. They learned to read and write painfully,
and if not disturbed could slowly reckon figures. The new set-
tlements did not afford even so good advantages as the older set-
tlements in Connecticut from whence they came and the young
people had to depend chiefly upon their own efforts and the in-
struction of parents at home and the parents of these young peo-
ple were but indifferent scholars. ]Mr. Scofield passed through a
routine business education, while his wife was ignorant, both of
letters and penmanship. But what the boys lacked in mental
training was made up to them in good advice, which they stored
up and followed all the days of their lives.
Eleazer married Temperance Calkins, whose father, John P.,
lived in a log house on the South Road, about ninety rods west
of his father-in-law, Mr. George Harris. They had a family of
three sons, Eleazer, Nathan, Benjamin, and two daughters, all
born in Canaan. He built and lived in the house John Moore
now owns. John married Lydia Clark, a sister of Dea. Josiali
Clark. They had four sons and five daughters, all born in
Canaan. John Scofield, Jr.. was an earnest patriot of the Revo-
lution. He was made captain of a militia company and marched
on foot from Canaan to Saratoga, and had the gratification of
being present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He always after-
ward was known as Captain Scofield, and as he grew in years,
lie got to be "old Captain Scofield."
The sister Miriam, married Maj. Samuel Jones. After living
together several years, two children being born to them, they
separated by mutual consent, a lack of harmony being the chief
reason, and the major carried her back to her mother's house.
It is reported that it gave him greater pleasure to restore her to
her mother's house than he manifested when he took her away.
She was a confirmed invalid and continued with her own kindred
Old Families. 497
until her death, and was alwaj^s known as "Aunt Miriam."
Major Jones sold out ; emigrated to New York and married
again. One son, many years afterward, revisited the scenes of
his father's early labors. Soon after the old settler's death, Mr.
Eleazer and Captain John, who had assisted in cutting the first
trees for actual settlement in Canaan, began to talk to each other
of emigrating, selling out their lands and making a home in
Canada. Strong as were their attachments, they seemed willing
to yield them all and push on and begin as settlers anew farther
The industry and perseverance of the people had made this a
flourishing community. Every season was adding to its num-
bers and respectability. Schools were organized in the new
districts and a common education was possible under dilficulties.
Religion had many sincere votaries and the Baptist Church in-
creased in numbers, although many of the good men were not
within its fold.
The lands were being sub-divided, and distributed freely at
low prices to induce settlements. It would not be long before
every man would be reduced to a hundred acres or even less.
They felt crowded, and sterling men as they were and hon-
ored and respected as such, were sired of the same disease which
attacked "the old man" thirtj'-five years before when he exiled
himself from the pleasant town in Connecticut and by devious
wanderings at length found a home upon the banks of the Mas-
coma at Canaan. They had heard that the soil of Canada was
rich and easily worked, but few stones, and extended in long
level stretches of forest. It was not until after the death of
their mother, some years, that their desires began to assume
definite shape. About the year 1800 Captain John and his son
John Bunyan, traveled up to Canada for exploration, and de-
cided upon the spot that should be their future home. They
found it a great unbroken forest, with natural features far su-
perior to these. They returned well pleased, and two or three
years afterward, packed up their household goods, their lares
and penates, their wives and children, cattle, sheep and hogs, a
bag of apple seeds, for it was a rule with all our ancestors, to
plant an orchard as soon as the first acres were felled and started
32
498 History op Canaan.
out for their new home about a mile within the Canada line in
the town of Dunspatten, now St. Armands.
They took up a large tract of land and in one year cleared
thirty acres with their own hands. They built houses and barns,
planted orchards and crops of all kinds, and increased and mul-
tiplied, as perservering industry always does. The entire race
disappeared from among us, and their names never again ap-
pear in our records. Eleazer, his wife, three sons and two
daughters, Captain John, his wife, four sons and five daughters,
and Aunt Miriam, all departed together, leaving us only the
graves of our first settler and his w^ife.
Captain John's children were: Sarah, bom January- 21,
1779, she married David Tallman and had eight children ;
Miriam, born May 4, 1780, married Kobert Barber and had two
children; John Bunj'an, born March 31, 1781, died September
24, 1814, married Wealthy Basford and had seven children;
Lucinda, born June 28, 1784, died December 2, 1857, married
Benedict Tyler and had seven children; James, born August
10, 1786, died March 8, 1849, married Olive Basford and had
eleven children; Jesse, born March 31, 1789, died October 23,
1828, married Eliza Martin and had one son ; Lydia, born No-
vember 23, 1791, died July 2, 1860, she married Salmon Baker
and had eight children and afterwards married David F. Car-
penter; Lewis, born September 18, 1794. married Eliza Bowen
and had one son; Betsey, born October 4. 1797, married John
Ingalls and had four children.
Capt. John Scofield owned and lived upon the farm which
he sold to Levi George of Salisbury in 1803, on the north side
of South Road, opposite where George Ginn now lives. He
owned the land on both sides of the old road leading to the
mill. He deeded the land on both sides "to the road." That
road was thrown up by the town, consequently the land reverts
to the heirs of Captain Scofield. Every subsequent deed has fol-
lowed the same description and no owner has recognized or as-
sumed to give a description to a subsequent purchaser that in-
cluded the road.
There were others who emigrated and went to make up the
Canaan colony in Canada, either with the Scofields or soon af-
Old Families. 499
ter. Robert Barber, Jr., who had married Miriam Seofield;
Allen ]\Iiner and his wife. Sally Flint, daughter of Joseph Flint,
and three children: David Clark, son of Captain Caleb, married
to Sarah Basford; Preseott Clark, his brother, married to Mary
Basford. Two other Basford girls had married into the Seo-
field family; they were the daughters of Joseph Basford, a
Eevolutionary soldier, who had settled in Orange. He was not
long a resident of Orange. Like many other settlers in that
town, he left to get rid of the exactions of Nathan Waldo, and
settled at East Lebanon, where he was employed by Elisha
Paine in his mill at the outlet of Mascoma Lake. William Gates,
son of Re}Tiold, a young man about eighteen years old, joined
the colonists, and after the death of David Clark in 1810, mar-
ried the widow. Preseott Clark had eight children.
The Dustin Family.
The Dustin family were originally from Haverhill, ^Mass.
Jonathan Dustin was a millwright and carpenter. He and his
son David served in the Revolution and after their discharge
in 1780, emigrated to Canaan and became purchasers of rights
in the proprietary. In the old survey's, he is described as Lieut.
Jonathan Dustin. The family always resided upon the farm
known by that name, which Jonathan purchased of James Tread-
way in 1780 for "400 pounds L. M.," and David, the son,
deeded to Joseph the grandson in 1840. It is now owned by
M. E. Cross. Jonathan was the owner of the right of Phineas
Sabine and when he came to Canaan, built his log house in the
field northeasterly of where the present house of Mr. Cross is.
William Douglass had the only house there before him in this
section. ]\Ir. Dustin 's land was on the west and north of Doug-
lass', and extended on the east to the shores of Hart Pond.
Jonathan Dustin died July 4, 1812 ; he lived to be over ninety-
three years old. His children were David, Hannah, who married
Simeon Arvin, Ruth, named after her mother, who married
David Fogg November 23, 1788, Susanna, Daniel, Samuel, Jona-
than. Jr. David Dustin died September 10, 1840, aged seventy-
nine years, he married Rebecca Cross, daughter of Jonathan
Cross of Methuen, Mass., and then of Canaan. She died Novem-
500 History of Canaan.
ber 24, 1849, aged eighty-two years. "Uncle David," he was
always called, a kind friendly man, whom the yoiing people
always liked. He had several sons. James, born in 1791, who
served an apprenticeship with Jacob Dow, the tanner, and was
a volunteer of the AVar of 1812. He emigrated to Ohio. Caleb,
bom August 24, 1799, lived and died in Canaan January, 1891,
at a ripe old age of over ninety-one years. He married first Nancy
Miller, daughter of Jacob, January 27, 1824 ; she died December
3, 1857, aged fifty-five years. They had three children : Emily,
who died February 28, 1841; Caroline E., who died March 8,
1841, and Loraine H., who married William G. Somers, ]\Iarch
12, 1849. He died April 13, 1880, aged fifty-seven. They had
one son, William B., who died February 29, 1868, aged three
months. Caleb Dustin was engaged in the lumber business with
his son-in-law. He married second, Mary G. (Kelley) Gilman,
daughter of ]\loses Kelley and widow of Col. Eliphalet C. Gil-
man. Franklin Dustin, another son of David, went to St. Au-
gustine in the '30 's and never returned. Dudley B., the young-
est, was to take care of the old folks and have the farm, but Dud-
ley and Betsey Pierce had a cjuarrel and she went with another
man. Dudley grew restless and uneasy, and believing there were
better chances in the world than the farm offered, sometime in
1825, gave up his place to his brother Joseph, and followed the
western trail, until he reached the banks of the Williamette in
Oregon, wiiere he long resided and died, February 2, 1878, aged
seventy-five years. He first went to Ohio ; then to Iowa, where
he lived until 1849. In Oregon he received 320 acres of land
and became a man well filled with worldly riches, which de-
scended to his four sons. There were two Betseys, daughters
of Jonathan and Ruth, one of them died young and the other
married Rev. Jonathan Hazeltine of Hebron, November 30, 1820,
a Methodist preacher, who, when public opinion protected mobs
and outlawed abolitionists, braved the whole of that bad element
by denouncing the sin of slavery everywhere.
Joseph Dustin, another son of David, was born October 25,
1795, and died at one o'clock April 3, 1877. He was an old
man with a young heart, and all the days of a long life mani-
fested a hearty interest in all questions that occupied the pub-
lie mind. Politics, religion, schools, town affairs, — upon all
Old Families. 501
subjects he had decided opinions and up to the day of his death,
was engaged in active business. He possessed a very tenacious
memory of men and events, and possessed a large fund of in-
formation upon the occurrences of his last seventy years. No
man has ever had so precise knowledge of all matters relating
to the titles to real estate in Canaan. In connection with Hon.
Daniel Blaisdell, he became the owner of all the undivided land
in town. These lands consisted of corner lots, gores, and small
patches, that fill in between hundred-acre surveys, and the
looking up these surveys made him an authority upon boundary
lines and titles. He was cheery and aft'able, and as his years
increased, he delighted more and more in the society of chil-
dren and youth. He had large charity for young men who
were sowing their wild oats. For he had been young himself
once and had sown an abundant crop. While still a young man,
he became interested in religion. He had been Godless, often-
times recklessly wild, exhibiting great contempt for the teach-
ings of Elder Wheat's ponderous sermons, and the long prayers
of his solemn deacons. But his hour of repentance came and
he was a changed man ever after. He became an enthusiastic
Methodist and was a liberal and cheerful supporter of the in-
stitutions of that church, sometimes making up from his own
purse any deficiency there might be in the year's appropriations.
He married on Thanksgiving day, November 27, 1818, Sally,
daughter of Judge Daniel Blaisdell. Fifty-nine yeai*s they
traveled the long road upon which they set out, and as ' ' Brother
Joe" and ' ' Sister Joe, ' ' they ended their long lives. Brother Joe
carried the mail for many years and no boy ever failed to get a
ride. He held many town offices and was a selectman in 181-1
and 1817.
Mrs. Dustin survived her husband and died March 18, 1885.
She was born June 17, 1799. They had two sons and three
daughters : James, who died September 20, 1826, aged six years ;
John B., born September 13, 1821, died single, April 18,
1851; Emeline. born December 12. 1822, died April 20, 1891,
married Simeon Hadley, they moved to Lowell, Mass., where he
died in 1853; they had two children, Lizzie and Emma, who
married a Sleeper, and had two children, Ethel and Grace, who
502 History of Canaan.
married a Stevens and had one child, Hazel; Rebecca A., who
lived and died at home unmarried April 4, 1889, aged fifty-nine,
and Harriet B., who married ]\Iark Purmont, and after his death
in 1878, came back to the old farm. She kept a millinery store
before her marriage at East Canaan, and was burned out when
Barney Bros, store was destroyed in December, 1872. She af-
terward, with the assistance of her father, built the building
now occupied by the post office and carried on the same business.
Daniel Dustin, son of Jonathan, married Deborah Barber
February 8, 1789, and had one daughter, Susanna, born April
8, 1791. Samuel Dustin married Eunice Martin, February 19,
1791, and had two children, Nathan, born November 14. 1791,
and Sophronia, born ]March 24, 1795.
The Blaisdells.
Part of the following about the Blaisdell family is taken
from a manuscript prepared more than half a century ago by
Joshua Blaisdell, who died more than forty years ago. Mr.
Joshua Blaisdell was the son of Daniel, the early settler of this
town. It is a dingy and much worn account and so far as it
relates to the origin of the family the credit of it is due to him,
as well as the authenticity. Mr. Blaisdell says:
The family originated in Denmark and came to England after ttie
Danes were subdued by Alfred the Great, and his successors, many of
whom settled in the northeast part of Wales. Fi'om this quarter our
family came to this country. They had been forgemen since they set-
tled in Wales. Ralph Blaisdell married into the royal family (but how
far "into" the record does not state). "Sir Ralph Blaisdell of Wales"
Lord Eldon states, "was a noble generous knight." Several of the name
were members of Parliament. The name should be "Blaisdale," with a
Scripture name before it. We gloried also in a coat of arms, which I
cannot describe, only as it had the name "Blaisdel" inscribed, on it, and
this was the way my father spelled it up to 1808, when he was elected
to Congress, and his name was so spelled in his certificate of election,
after which he spelled it "Blaisdell."
Three brothers came from the northeast part of Wales and landed in
Newbury, Mass., previous to 1675. Their mother accompanied them,
the father died before the family left England. His name was Enoch.
Some time after their arrival she married a second husband named
Satterlee. About the year 1811 my brother Elijah (of Canaan) visited
Newburyport and had an interview with the daughter of a son by this
Sally (Springer) Blaisdell
Hon. Daniel Blaisdell
Hon. Elijah Blaisdell
Old Families. 503
marriage. The daughter wus over one hundred jears old, and was
called Granny Satterlee.
Enoch first, was a forgemau. The names of his three sons were
Enoch, Abner and Elijah. Enoch settled in Maine, and for most part
was ancestor of the Blaisdells in that state and in Strafford and Rock-
ingham Counties in this state. Abner went to New York. Elijah set-
tled at Amesbury, Mass. It is not kno'WTi how many sons he had, but
there were several of the name in Amesbury, and it is not easy to as-
sign them any other origin. There certainly was one named Elijah,
and nearly equally as certain there was a Jonathan. Jonathan went to
Kingston to a place called Fishing Falls. He had two sons called
Jonathan and William. Jonathan, Jr., had two sons, William and
Ralph, who settled in Salisbury in 1740. Jonathan, Sr., was a black-
smith and went to Kingston on account of the superior facilities for iron
working. His son Jonathan, born July 13, 1723, was also a blacksmith.
Elijah (third of the race) married a widowed woman and remained
in possession of the old place in Amesbury. They had born to them
four sons and one daughter, Elijah, Jonathan, Enoch, Jacob and Abi-
gail. Jonathan once visited my father (Daniel) in Canaan on his way
to search for a western home. Enoch also followed him to Ohio. Jacob
was a forgeman as usual. He went to Burton and afterwards to In-
diana. The reason for his leaving for the west was that the boundary
lines between Burton and Eaton were changed somewhat, and he lost
some property thereby. He declared he would stay no longer in a state
where property was not protected. Abigail died when young. Elijah
the father was a brave soldier, he lost an arm in battle and lived and
died in his own home.
Elijah (fourth of the race) married Mrs. Mary Keazer Sargent,
widowed daughter of Capt. Timothy Keaser, a sailor out of Newbury-
port. He lived and died at Amesbury, a schoolmaster. They had three
sons born to them, perhaps more, Parrot, Daniel and Sargent. When
Daniel was seven years old his father died leaving his family destitute.
Some years after the father's death the widow moved her family to
Henuiker, N. H., and thence to Hopkinton, where she married Nathaniel
Whittier. Daniel was twelve years old when his mother left Amesbury.
He lived in Henuiker two years and three years in Hopkinton, during
which time he served a campaign as a soldier of the Revolution at
fortj' shillings per month and twelve shillings blanket money. He left
the army at seventeen years of age and went to Canaan.
Parrot Blaisdell, spelled "Parrit," was born in Amesbury, Mass.,
November 11, 1759, married on Thursday, May 5, 178.5, Mrs. Ruth
(Folsom) Ball, daughter of Josiah and Abigail Folsom, born in Haver-
hill, Mass., March 22, 1759. He lived in Canaan, Orange, Hanover and
Moutpelier, Vt, and died at Fort Covington, N. Y., August 3, 1836. He
no doubt came to Canaan about the time of his brother Daniel, for his
name appears on the inventory of 1782, which would show he was here
in 1781. They had three sons and seven daughters:
504 History of Canaan.
1. George H., born the first day of March, 1784.
2. Abigail, born on Wednesday, Febniary 8, 1786, on the old Cochran
farm: she died at Stoneham, Mass., at the home of her granddaughter.
She married Russell Putnam.
3. Ruth, born December 23, 1787; died December 4, 1836, "at quarter
past four." She married Henry Howe.
4. Polly, born January 7, 1790; died November 20, 1790.
5. Polly, born May 22, 1791; died at Potsdam, N. Y., November 22,
1865; married her cousin, Joshua, son of Daniel Blaisdell.
6. Sally, born on Thursday, January 29, 1793; married Otis Standish.
7. Azurbah, born December 15, 1794, married Pierce B. Smith.
8. Parrit, Jr., born May 4, 1796; died August 3, 1839, at Fort Coving-
ton, N. Y., "of collery also his son Edwin of collery August 4, 1839."
He had one son and one daughter. He was a sailor.
9. Clarissa, born October 4, 1798; married John C. Wolf.
10. Elijah, born May 5, 1801. He was editor and publisher of the
Tergeiiiics Vermoiitcr in 1848. His cousin Joshua says of him: "He is
hale fellow well met, drinks a glass with a friend and pays the bill, is a
tattling I)ragging man, has one son of good promise and two others and
one daughter."
Another account of the Blaisdells is here given, furnished
me by Alfred 0. Blaisdell from investigations made by Dr. W.
O. Blaisdell :
The family were from Lancashire, where in Preston, there were at
one time fifteen families of that name. Ralph Blaisdell and his wife
came to this country in 1635, having embarketl at Milford Haven, Wales,
on the ship Angel Gabriel. The ship seems to have belied her name, for,
arriving on the coast of Maine in a severe storm, she liecame a total
wreck. All on board were saved. Ralph and his wife settled in York,
Maine. In 1642 he sold his property as shown by the county records
and moved to Salisbury, Mass., that part which was afterwards Ames-
bury, where for several years he kept an inn. He had but one son,
Henry, who married Mary Haddon, and also a second wife, Elizabeth.
By the two wives he had nine children, six boys and three girls. He
combined the trades of farmer and tailor. One of his sons Jonathan,
born October 11, 1676, was a blacksmith and at the age of twenty-two
married Hannah Jameson of whom the seventh was Enoch, born July
9, 1714. Enoch married Mary Satterlee, had eight cliildren of whom
the third was Elijah, born December 31, 1740. Elijah married Mary
Sargent March 14, 1759, and lived in the west parish of Amesbury until
a year or two after his marriage when he moved to Warner, N. H. He
was the father of Daniel, Parrot and Sargent.
In the town records for 1787, appears a "greeting to Samuel
Joslyn, Constable of the town of Canaan." "You are required
Old Families. 505
forthwith to notify and warn to depart from said Town of
Canaan, the following-named persons now residing in sd Canaan
that they not become chargeable in sd town, viz. : Sargent
Blaisdell and his wife Susanna and you are to make due return
of tliis warrant and of your doings unto the selectmen of
Canaan." Samuel read the warrant in the hearing of the per-
sons named, but it does not appear that he caused any of them
to "depart from" Canaan. The name of Sargent Blaisdell 's
wife does not agree with Joshua Blaisdell 's tale, but there is no
doubt that he was Daniel's brother. Mr. Joshua says: "Sar-
gent Blaisdell married Mary Blue, a woman with a lively
tongue. They lived in Canaan, Enfield and Grafton. It was in
the latter town he left his wife with three children, Sargent,
Peter and Mary, and the last heard of him he was at Cherry
Valley under the assumed name of Sargent Johnson. Sargent,
Jr., found his father there, and resided there. Peter died in
Canaan, was not considered a bright boy. Mary married and
lived in New York state. The facts in regard to his elopement
were these, which occurred probably about the years 1789-90.
Daniel lived near to Samuel Noyes in the southeast comer of
the town. Mr. Noyes had lost a horse by a thief. Sargent was
at work for Noyes and was sent upon another horse to search
for it. He also sent Daniel upon his own horse and charged
them not to come back without the thief. Sargent in taking
leave of his wife, repeated the order. She told him 'Go along
and never show your face in this house again, without that
thief.' Daniel went towards Hopkinton and caught the fellow.
Sargent took a different route and, finding no trace of the
thief, pushed on and was never seen here afterward. He left a
good farm, implements and tools and took nothing but his horse,
like a true knight."
The mother of these three boys, Mary Keazer, married in
Hopkinton a third husband, Nathaniel Whittier, and died in
Canaan May 15, 1806, aged seventy-nine years. She had four
children by Mr. Whittier: Elijah, Samuel, Nathaniel and Abi-
gail, who became the wife of Thomas Cole. Elijah married
Nancy Kenniston, who was afflicted with a trace of insanity,
which was transmitted to some of her descendants. Samuel
506 History of Canaan.
married Mehitable Bedel October 23, 1796, who, in her old age,
^yandered from the Bickford place and was found drowned in
Hart Pond. Nathaniel married Polly Sleeper. All had large
families in Canaan.
Among the early settlers in Canaan, no one was more dis-
ting-uished for good sense, for integrity and for uprightness in
his relations to society than Daniel Blaisdell. He, with his
brother Parrot, had done service in the War of the Revolution,
and being honorably discharged about the year 1780, in com-
pany with other soldiers, emigrated from Amesbury, Mass., to
this town, and here made his home during all the years of his
long and honorable life. He was eighteen years old at the time
of his arrival, with but little knowledge of books, but possessing
a constitution inured to toil and hardship. He came here like
many others, because it was reported to be a goodly land, where
a man might make himself a home by the labor of his own hands.
The soil was rich and fruitful and only needed persevering
labor to be made to bring forth abundantly. After looking about
among the scattered settlers for a few days, he engaged to work
for Joseph Flint for six months at six dollars per month. ^Mr.
Flint had been a merchant in Xewburyport. About a year
previous to this time he had come here from Hopkinton and
began to clear up the farm where George "W. Davis now lives.
The work was very laborious and the master was hard and ex-
acting upon all who fell under his control. Early and late they
toiled, — daylight calling them to breakfast and candle light to
supper. He used to tell young Blaisdell if he would remain
in his service he would make a man of him and having a large
family of girls, he supposed their company to be sufficiently
magnetic to make the young man forget the hard labor to which
he was subjected. He served his time faithfully and well and
then hired himself to Capt. Charles Walworth, who lived on
South Road. The captain was strongly religious, having im-
ported his Puritan sentiments with him from Connecticut. He
was a man of great natural kindness and often gave his young
friend good advice. While employed with Captain Walworth,
some of the ungodly young people got up a ball, to which they
invited Blaisdell. The captain objected to his going, using all
the arguments then in common use, against the sinfulness of
Old Families. 507
dancing, — all of which failed to convince the young man.
Then the captain told him if he would stay from that wicked
gathering of scoffers, he would the next day, show him some-
thing that would be of great advantage to him. Daniel stayed
away from the ball, but his heart was there all the evening,
because little Sally Springer was to be there, and he had begun
to believe that the angels had not all left the earth. The next
day the captain took him down into a densely timbered region
(the farm where Prescott Clark once lived), and advised him to
buy it, build a log house, get married, and make himself a home ;
in two years he could pay for it with the crops. He bought
one hundred acres, agreeing to pay Mr. Walworth $300 there-
lor, and went to work clearing it up and it is said, the first
crop of wheat paid for the land. He built himself a log house,
and then wooed and married the little girl (who was an angel to
him), Januarj" 28, 1782, being scarcely twenty years old, and
in due time they had sons and daughters born unto them — a
house full. He worked hard and was rewarded with increase
in various ways. He became a teacher; he studied politics and
was elected to various town offices ; he stored his mind with much
practical knowledge, which he imparted freely to all his neigh-
bors. He often acted as a justice and his decisions were re-
garded as just and right. In twenty-one years eleven children
were bom to him. ]\Iore than a hundred years ago a tax was
levied by the Legislature which was very burdensome to some of
the new towns. Caleb Seabury Avas said to have been the occa-
sion of it. He was sent to Exeter as a representative. He
thought he would signalize his term of office by assuring the
Legislature of the great wealth of Canaan. Its soil yielded spon-
taneously and enriched its people. The effect of this speech or
talk was the passage of the law which burdened the people with
taxes. The next year Mr. Blaisdell was sent to Exeter to ask
for the modification of the law. He told them that it was true
that the lands of Canaan were exceedingly rich and fruitful.
It was like all other new soil upon which the timber forests had
been reduced to ashes. If they would make wheat, rye and corn,
legal tender for taxes, it would relieve the people greatly, but
there was no monej' and no market for their commodities.
Lands, cattle, hogs, ashes, grain, etc., were the circulating
508 History of Canaan.
medium. Nearly all purchases were made by way of exchange.
In this way he pleaded with them, until they consented to
modify the law, which greatly pleased the people and made him
more popular than ever. Before Mr. Baldwin left town, Mr.
Blaisdell had passed through the mysterious process which men
call ' ' a change of heart, had joined the new Baptist Church and
was ever afterward a consistent Baptist, and advocate for the
stated preaching of the gospel." His manner of stating his
opinions was somewhat diffuse and like a small piece of butter
on a large slice of bread, was a good deal spread out. He some-
times stated it thus: "We believe that the preaching of the
gospel was instituted by the all-wise Governor of the universe
as a means whereby to communicate his special grace to a
ruined world; and we believe, also, that a regular, peaceful gos-
pel, tends to promote good order and strengthen the bonds of
society." He was prominent in all the services of the church,
and also in all the connections of his party. As a Christian,
the Baptist Church was his strong tower; a belief in its tenets
could alone save lost souls. His political faith was as fixed
and unalterable as his religion. The Federal party had the
immortal Washington for its head, and through that organization
alone, could our free institutions be perpetuated. It was the
sacred privilege of Federalists to hate Thomas Jefferson, as it
was the duty of Baptists to avoid the devil, and flee from the
wrath to come. These two principles governed all his actions
in religion and politics. His first appearance in public life was
as a legislator at Exeter in 1793. He was sent again in 1795 and
remained there until 1799, representing the towns of Canaan,
Grafton and Orange. He represented Canaan in 1812 and 1813,
and in 1824 and 1825, and was a judge in the Court of Common
Pleas for Grafton County. His sturdy sense and fearless expres-
sion of opinions attracted attention and won the applause of his
party. He enjoyed the honors he was winning and had vivid
dreams of future greatness. Several years he was elected senator
and five times he was elected councilor and one term he served in
Congress from 1809-11. While in Congress he was an active
partisan and opposed all measures involving the peace of the
country. He was an aggressive politician and many times came
in conflict with the leaders of the war party. Being a rough de-
Old Families. 509
bator with few courtesies of speech, he received from John Ran-
dolph the sobriquet of "Northern Bear," a title which clung to
him all the days of his life.
Two letters are inserted here which have lain perdue for two
generations. The spelling is a little unusual, also the use of
capitals, showing defects in his early education. These have
been corrected. The first letter might, wdth propriety, be made
to refer to scenes and events of more recent date and both ex-
hibit in strong light the unyielding nature of the man.
Washixgtox City, Jan. 18, 1810.
Dear Sir:
I received yours only last evening, which I read with pleasure. You
complain of Democratic orators dealing out falsehood; I thought you
knew them better than this, for if I should find them dealing in any
other commodity, I should think them insane, or that they had deserted
their cause. This I apply to their leaders, and not to all who call
themselves Republicans, for there are many among them who are well
disposed men, and need only to be here one week, and hear the threats
in Congress, to convince them they have been misled. A leader among
them, three days since, in Congress, made a war speech, an<l in reply
to a gentleman who had spoken against war, said: "Some gentlemen
seem to regret the loss of blood and treasure more than submission to
Great Britain. I, also," said he, "regret the loss of the blood of some
of our citizens, but if we go to war with England, Canada must be
taken, and we very well know what men must be engaged in taking that
country." And many more such expressions, which would make the
blood of our New England Republicans boil. I immediately went to
him and required an explanation. He looked beat and paddled off as
well as he could.
Let nothing deter you from duty at, and before the second Tuesday of
March. For the darkest time is just before day.
I am sir, &c.,
DA^'IEL Blaisdell.
To John Currier, Esq.
The next letter is interesting as showing the hostility of the
Federal party to all measures for the defense of the nation at
a time when England, supposing us to be weak, had become, day
by day, more arrogant in her demands.
Washington City, Feb. 27, 1810.
Dear Sir:
I send you Mr. Epps' war speech, which seems to have originated in a
fit of madness, that the Senate had seen fit to cut Mr. Mason's American
510 History of Canaan.
navigation act of tliat part wliicli tliey intended, instead of the Embargo
or uon-iutercourse. It was sent bacl\; from the Senate to our House on
Thursday, with only three out of thirteen sections left. The two first
to interdict the armed ships of England and France from our harbors.
Arid the other to repeal the non-intercourse act. To be sure, sir, it was
a curiosity to see the embargo hands, with distorted features, rise in
turn, and declare that it was treason against the party that had brought
forward and supported commercial restrictions, to thus dispose of it
without a substitute. Some of them said they would much rather the
hall would fall in and crush them to death, than abandon the system in
that way. And after a Sunday evening caucus at the president's, they
(as it would seem) are prepared to plunge the nation into immediate
war, for Epps did not deny, but owned it must have that effect.
Seventy-four supported the measure and forty-nine opposed it. If so
many of their war measures, resolutions and proclamations had not
evaporated, all must see that w'e must have a war with England soon,
for France is onlj- mentioned to deceive the people. The president on
Saturday, before the caticus, said openly, our affairs with France were
in a fair way to be settled. Tell your demos if there is any dependence
to be placed upon their leaders they may fix their knapsacks to go to
Canada.
From yotir friend,
Daniel Blaisdell.
To John Currier, E.sq.
At the expiration of his term in 1811, Mr. Blaisdell returned
home, firmly believing it to be a Christian virtue to oppose the
coming war. Public meetings were called for the purpose of
concentrating pu])lic opinion. A series of resolutions, longer
than one of John Worth's prayers, and more tiresome, setting
forth the iniquities of the Democratic leaders and calling upon
good men to defeat them, were passed. The excitement ran
fearfully high and continued for years. ]\Iany worthy neigh-
bors became estranged and the lives of many of them were too
short to outlive the ill-feeling engendered.
For more than twenty years he went in and out among his
neighbors and friends, exercising great influence in their af-
fairs, honored and respected by all, even by the Democrats,
whom, as a party, he never ceased to denounce as the enemies
of his country. The struggles of his early life had given him
habits of industry, temperance and economy. He lived first
"one hundred and two rods down the road toward Grafton"
from the bridge at East Canaan by Mud Pond. He then built a
Old Families. 511
modest house ou the farm afterward owned by James Doten and
since burned, at the top of Doten Hill and readapted himself to
the career of a farmer, and about 1818, lived in the Haggett
house. His knowledge of law made him a safe counselor. He
was sometimes called upon to carry business for his neighbors up
to the courts. At one time he was solicited to carrj- a case to
the court at Exeter. He started on horseback, as was the cus-
tom then, and on the road was overtaken by Gen. Benjamin
Pierce, who was traveling the same way. Personally they were
friendly, but very hostile in politics. Blaisdell was a man of
even temperament, not easily excited and whom mere words
could not offend ; but he never yielded a point once settled in his
mind. Pierce, in temperament, was the reverse of Blaisdell. but
he was equally tenacious of his opinions. Blaisdell believed only
Federalism and Baptism. Pierce believed only Democracy.
They traveled together, discoursing pleasantly as they rode until
they approached the subject of politics. Pierce quite earnestly de-
nounced the Federalists as the enemies of the country and as
desiring to destroy the liberties of the people by consolidating
all power in the hands of a few families. Blaisdell, very coolly
replied by accusing the Democracy of demagogism. of debauch-
ing the virtue of the youth of the country and, like Satan, of
desiring to lead all things down to himself. This reply in-
furiated Pierce. He declared that he ' ' would not ride with such
a traitor any further" and, jumping off his horse, dared Blais-
dell to take his chance of a "thrashing on the spot." Blaisdell
declined to take the chances offered, not only because they were
not favorable to him, but because he saw nothing to fight about.
He said some soothing words to the governor, who finally re-
mounted his horse and the two jogged on to Exeter as though
nothing had occurred; but the}' talked no more politics on that
ride.
There was never much poetrj' in his life. His habits of
thought had always been so earnest, so convincing to his reason,
that any position he ever assumed, whether in morals, politics
or religion, became to him matters of fact. He never yielded a
point to an opponent, because he never allowed himself to be in
the wrong. It pleased him to see labor rewarded and mean,
tricky people punished. But young folks never loved him, be-
512 History of Canaan.
cause he never seemed to see them. He would speak of "the
rising generation," with a look so far away, as if he never ex-
pected to give place to them, or as if they were to drop from
some distant sphere and slowly approach to greet him as he dis-
appeared. We used to look upon him as the embodiment of
dignity and wisdom, — a man with whom we could take no
liberties. He was a wilful man, who liked to have his way. Like
most men in his day, he ignored the presence of children. I
do not remember of any boy who felt proud of his caresses or
approving words. He never uttered them and he very seldom
saw any boys. His own life from boyhood until long after he
thought himself a man, was of hard toil, without school or books
and all the way up hill. Did he never yearn for a word of
encouragement? I often wonder when the manner of these
men's lives occurs to me, how they could always pass by tne
children, — the boys who are coming right along to crowd them
out of the way? In his day the old judge was a great power
in politics, and he had the faculty of keeping his party in office
nearly all his life. He never thrust himself forward for office,
nor would he allow more than one of his boys to be in office at
the same time. This policy made him strong. He did not use
his political influence to keep his family in office. In this re-
spect he understood human nature better than some of the
leaders in later years. The people respected his advice be-
cause they knew him to be unselfish.
It was more than eighty years ago, — jiist before ]\Iarch elec-
tion. There had been a sly caucus at Col)b's tavern in which
Wesley Burpee, Daniel Pattee, William Campbell, with a few
others figured, and Elijah Blaisdell had been nominated for
representative. It was intended for a surprise and only such
as were friendly to Elijah were present. Old Bill Wood and
Levi Wilson had been there after their daily rum; going home
about sunset, the judge hailed them for "the news up to the
street." "0, nothin' much." replies Uncle Bill, "only we had
a caukis, and sot up 'Lijah for representative." "What!"
thundered the old judge, " 'Lige Blaisdell for rep! impossible!
But who's done it? He 'aint fit for it, more'n my old boss, and
Old Families. 513
I tell you tie shan't have it." And he didn't get it. The judge
mounted his old horse and rode up to Wallace's store, where a
crowd had begun to gather. He dismounted, and after salut-
ing them, inquired if anji:hing of importance had transpired.
They confirmed his first intelligence with more particulars.
Then he smoothed his brow and replied: "Men, this Avill never
do; because I was fit to hold office, it don't follow that all the
Blaisdells are fit for it, and I ought to be pretty well acquaint-
ed with them all. And then the way this nomination was made
is unfair. A man that plays tricks even in politics, is un-
worthy of your votes. We must get together, Saturday night
at this store and talk it all over, and depend upon it we'll have
a good man nominated." The other Blaisdells stayed at home
that year. That Saturday night was memorable in the annals
of Canaan Street. There was a large gathering and they drank
rum freely; everybody did, except this matter-of-fact old judge.
Asahel Jones, who belonged to the other party, appeared among
them. He was accused of being a spy and he was ordered to
prepare for instant death. They secured him, placed a rope
about his neck and shoulders and drew him up to a beam in the
store, several times letting him down hard. Asahel was badly
hurt and worse frightened, and begged hard for a reprieve.
Finally he was permitted to start for home. He went over the
hill, 'round the pond, crying ' ' Murder ! help ! " On the road
the cold air began to freeze the rum out of his skin and he was
sorely chilled. He grew mad as he thought how he had been
assaulted and battered by those fellows on the Street, no better
than he. Next morning he presented himself before his friend,
Elijah Blaisdell, and complained of his assailants, three of whom
were arrested and made to pay $20 for the wicked sport they
had enjoyed. After the election of General Jackson in 1828,
Elijah became a Democrat. The old judge was much annoyed
at his son's apostasy from his own faith, but he pretended to
be greatly pleased, "because," said he, "now we shall know
where to find him all the time."
His children married and settled in town, and the third
generation numbered sixty-nine persons. Of his eleven sons
and daughters, Elijah, the lawyer, had twelve children; James,
33
514 History of Canaan.
the sheriff, six : Daniel, the musician, seventeen ; William, the
painter, seven ; Joshua, the sheriff, six : Parrott. the farmer,
twelve ; Jacob, the doctor, none ; Jonathan, the trader, three ;
Sally, wife of Joseph Dustin. five ; Rhoda, third wife of Eben
Clark, deacon, who used to manufacture woolen cloth at the
village, one ; Timothy, the broker, seven. These families for
years all resided in one neighborhood, and it was a common
remark that the old folks could visit all their numerous off-
spring in one day. The name was once nearly as common as
blackberries (Barney at East Canaan), but it has disappeared
entirely from among us now, and is found only on old tombs and
graveyards.
Blaisdell, Daniel, b. Amesburj^ Mass., January 25, 1762 ; d.
January 10, 1833 : m. by Thomas Baldwin January 29, 1782,
Sally Springer, dau. of Joshua, the ferryman, of Haverhill,
Mass., b. October 15, 1761 : d. June 10, 1838. Eleven eh.
1. Elijah, b. Canaan. October 28, 1782; d. October 10, 1850;
m. November 14, 1802, at Pittsfield, Mary Fogg, dau. Dea.
John. b. Hampton, September 6, 1781 : d. Twelve ch.
He m. 2d, Mrs. ]Mary Kingsbury" of Plainfield.
1. John, b. Pittsfield, May 13, 1803: d. Vineland, X. J.,
over 90 years old.
2. Daniel, 3d, b. Pittsfield, August 25, 1806; d. 1875; m.
Charlotte Osgood of Haverhill. Grad. Dartmouth Col-
lege, 1827. Lawyer in Hanover from 1834-75. Treas-
urer of Dartmouth College. Ch. : Alfred, now liv-
ing in Brooklyn, X. Y., and Charlotte, who m. Professor
Euggies of Dartmouth College.
3. Hannah, b. Grafton, December 13, 1808; d. June 27,
1811 ; buried near Ebenezer Hoyt Place in Grafton.
4. Elijah, b. Danbury, March 11, 1811.
5. Hannah, b. Canaan, August 5, 1813.
6. Elizabeth, b. Canaan, ]\Iay 15, 1815 ; m. a Morey and in
1892 lived in San Francisco.
7. Mary Ann, b. Canaan, August 9, 1817 ; d. September 14,
1817. .
. Old Families. 515
8. Mary Ann, b. February 24, 1819; d. Beloit, 1905; m.
Joseph. Tyler of Boston. Ch. : Joseph, sugar manufac-
turer in Philippines, and Columbus, m. and d. at Seattle.
9. Rhoda. b. ]\Iarch 27, 1821; single; was teacher in Beloit,
Wis.
10. Sarah, b. January 26, 1823 ; single ; died 1906. Teacher
in Beloit, Wis.
11. James Joshua, b. February 8, 1827; d. October 10, 1896;
m. Susan Allen of Lebanon. Lived in Beloit, Wis. Two
ch. : James and Philip.
2. James, b. September 20, 178-1; m. February 17, 1805;
Abigail Tyler, dau. Job. Six ch. : Abigail, Sarah, George,
James, Sargent, .
3. Daniel, Jr., b. December 28, 1786; d. September 17, 1871;
m. October 2-1, 1805, Sally Clark, dau. Josiah and Pernal,
b. July 1, 1789 ; d. March 7, 1866. Seventeen ch.
1. Elijah, b. March 30, 1806; was a doctor.
2. Clark, b. January 8, 1809: m., had three ch. : one named
Clark.
3. Daniel, b. June 4, 1811.
4. Josiah, b. June 4, 1811 ; d. June 22, 1811.
5. Sally, b. June 5, 1813 ; d. single.
6. Jonathan Homer, b. February 13, 1816 ; d. San Jose, Cal. ;
single.
7. Suel Swett, b. August 28, 1818 ; single, lived Fairlee, Vt.
8. Mary, single.
9. Justin.
10. Justus, d. San Jose: m. 1st. Clara Tyler: one dau.: m.
2d, a Bruce.
11. Judge.
12. Abigail.
13. Harriet X., d. February 4, 1832, aged 3.
14. Malvina.
15. Harriet X., d. June 6, 1856: aged 9.
16. X'ancy, and one d. unnamed.
4. William, b. March 11, 1789: m. Hannah Follensbee of
Grafton and had seven ch. ; Alvah, who m. Margaret Dun-
bar at X'ashua : m. 2d and had three ch. William A., son
516 History of Canaan.
of William, Horace, Harrison, Alzoa, and two nameless.
At the funeral of one of them Elder Wheat preached
the sermon, and stated his belief that "this infant was
unregenerate, and is now writhin' in burnin' flames of
hell." William was angry. Left the Baptist Church and
joined the Congregationalists, and ever afterwards re-
fused to listen to Elder Wheat's preaching. He was a
painter.
5. Joshua, b. April 20, 1791 ; m. December 19, 1813, his cousin
Polly, daughter of Parrot, b. May 22, 1791; d. at Pots-
dam, N. Y., November 22, 1865. M. 2d, his cousin, Mrs.
Mehitable Springer Frost, and d. Thetford, Yt., Septem-
ber 29, 1872. Was deputy sheriff from 1818 to 1833.
Lived in HaverhiU, N. H., Fort Covington, N. Y., 1842.
Potsdam, X. Y., 1844—66 as a merchant. Ch. : four sons
and two dau. His second wife was a daughter of Joshua
Springer of Canaan, b. in 1792 in old district No. 8. She
was married three times, living all the time in Thetford,
Vt., first to Judge Buckingham, second to Deacon Frost,
she survived them all and lived nearh- helpless for some
years, but retained all her faculties. She d. in Thetford,
Vt., October 12, 1883.
6. Parrot, b. August 4, 1793; m. June 1, 1814, Khoda French
Currier of Enfield. They had 12 children, two Marys,
Theophilus, two Rhodas, Timothj', Emily, James, two
nameless and Guilford.
7. Jacob, b. October 20, 1795 ; m. March 7, 1825, Eliza Harris
of Canaan, dau. of Hubbard ; b. July 17, 1800. No chil-
dren. Both died at Keysport, N. Y. Being a seventh
son he was advised that it was necessary that he should
become a doctor.
8. Jonathan, b. February" 19, 1798; m. 1st, Persis Ames; 2d,
Hannah, dau. of Dr. Ezra Bartlett of Haverhill. Three
children.
9. Sally, b. June 17, 1799; m. November 27. 1818. Joseph
Dustin of Canaan; d. March 25, 1885. Five children.
10. Rhoda, b. September 1, 1801 : d. January- 10, 1891. Was
a teacher about town until 1832 when she married Dea.
Old Families. 517
Ebenezer Clark April 19, 1832. One daughter. They
separated and afterwards were divorced, because of dif-
ferences of opinion respecting spiritualism.
11. Timothy Keazer, b. May 9, 1804 ; d. September 24, 1853 ;
m. 1st, September 23, 1824, Phcebe Cobb; d. :March 23,
1832; aged 36; m. 2d, Harriet Merrill of Haverhill, b.
November. 1813 ; d. December 20, 1848. Had one child
buried in the grave with his first wife, and three sons
and two dau. by his second wife. He was a strong
Abolitionist and member of the Congregational Church.
He was a storekeeper in Haverhill after the second mar-
riage where he failed in the panic of 1837. He afterwards
lived in Boston, was agent of the Connecticut Mutual Life
Insurance Company until his death. Ch. : Sarah, m. a
lumberman; Harriet, b. Haverhill, November 11, 1834,
m. April 30, 1856, Charles H. Cram of Chicago ; b. Han-
over, March 22, 1832. Nine ch. : Clara, b. January 19,
1857: d. March 18, 1900. Nathan Dow, b. August 2,
1859 ; m. Mary Queen, manager for Silver, Burdett & Co.
in New York. Charles H., b. November 12, 1863 : m.
Ysabel Del Valle, a merchant and ranchman. Harriet
Blaisdell, b. August 26, 1864; m. 1st, Dr. T. W. MiUer;
m. 2d, Dr. W. W. Quinlan; lives Chicago. Bessie, b.
April 28, 1868; m. W. C. Reynolds, in the paint busi-
ness. Timothy, b. April 26, 1870; m. Georgie Shores,
railroad supplies in Chicago. Rupert, b. Februarj^ 10,
1872 ; m. Cora Neidig, merchant and ranchman. "Walter,
b. January 10, 1874; m. Nina Del Yalle, merchant and
ranchman in California. Mildred, b. August 11. 1876;
m. J. Y. Paulson: d. March 5, 1900; lives with mother
in Haverhill. Timothy, son of Timothy, was in the Re-
bellion, contracted consumption and d. single. Edward
and Frank.
The Claris.
Richard Clark came from Newmarket in 1773, bringing with
him three sons, Richard, Eliphalet and Josiah. The old man
settled on the farm afterwards owned by John Currier, then sold
out to Nat Tucker and pitched upon the hundred acres embraced
518 History of Canaan.
in the Havward farm, then known as the first hnndred of Israel
Kellogg, which extended from the outlet of Hart Pond to the
road running from Wells' and south of the old road from the
Corner. He lived and died there and lies buried in the Wells
cemetery. His sons, Richard and Eliphalet. built houses upon
the farms lately owned by Jacob Randlett and Levi Hamlett.
Eichard died there : but Eliphalet went to Boston. The two
Eichards were strongly religious, never failing to give earnest
testimony of their faith upon all occasions. Josiah at the age
of thirteen, went to work on the Gore with his Uncle Caleb.
He was set to cutting alder bushes, where black flies and mos-
quitoes were numerous. He endured their stings until he be-
came disgusted with settler life and then resolved that he would
run away back to Newmarket. But he did not, because Capt.
Eobert Barber, an old neighbor from Newmarket, arrived with
his family, including his daughter Pernal. in whom Josiah was
much interested. Then came the call for three regiments to
fight for independence. Old Eichard had become an invalid
and could not go, but Josiah, young and strong, nerved up with
the patriotism of a boy of sixteen, shouldered his gun and
marched until he was discharged, and like a great number of his
comrades, with his pockets filled with worthless continental
script, was obliged to beg food to bring himself to his father's
door. Arrived at home he rested a few days, when a message
was sent over the country calling for recruits to join the army
under Gates near Saratoga, to arrest the progress of Burgoyne'
towards Boston. He started back with Enoch Richardson on
foot. They fought with Stark at Bennington and were present
at the battle of Saratoga and saw the surrender of Burgoyne.
Then he came home and went to work. Once more he seized
his gam in 1780, when the cry for help came from burning Rut-
land, and marched with Thomas Baldwin, Daniel Blaisdell,
Thomas Miner, Samuel Meacham and others, twenty-two of them
under the command of Capt. Joshua Wells, whom none of them
liked, and arrived at Rutland in time to see the village in ashes
and the Indians retreating, taking along one prisoner, a citizen,
to Canada. This company traveled ninety miles and were out
nine da vs. In 1782 Josiah married Pernal Barber and settled
Old Families. 519
on the Gore near the Lary farm, and had for neighbors Tris-
tram Sanborn and Daniel Lary. Here he settled down to a
tranquil domestic life. Five children were bom to him :
Judith, who died in 1797, and was the first person buried in the
WeUs cemetery. Captain Wells gave an acre of land for that
purpose and buried his own dead there ; Betsey, who married
John Worth; Robert B., who lived on the farm since occupied
by David Kimball; Sally, who married Daniel Blaisdell, Jr., and
Josiah. But the earth and trees on the Gore were too stingy
for his necessities. After thirteen years' patient labor, he came
back to Canaan and lived with his wife's father until he built
him a house. He bargained for land with Mr. Barber and built
the house where A. W. Hutchinson now lives. While here he
with his wife, united with the Baptist Church, and was ap-
pointed a deacon. Nathaniel Barber, brother to his wife, lived
on the intervale at East Canaan. The brothers often worked
together. Several seasons Nat lost his crops from frosts, and
he became discouraged. One day, while working together, Nat
bantered Josiah to trade farms. They made the exchange and
Deacon Josiah 's home was on the interv^ale until his death, June
7, 1851, at the great age of ninety-three years. Pernal, his wife,
through all that long sixty-nine years, survived him four years
and was then placed to rest beside him at the great age of nine-
ty-one years. Deacon Josiah 's son Josiah, was born in 1795.
He was a hard-working man all his long life of more than ninety
years. His opportunities for education were few and at long dis-
tances, both in time and on the road. But few of the young men
of his day were more favored than he. He went a few months or
weeks in the winter to some pedagogue, who could scarcely read
without spelling, and whose chiefest virtue as a teacher was the
habitual use of the "ruler,'' thumb screw, or some other in-
strument of torture. Very few of the old people taught in the
schools of Canaan ever laid claim to more knowledge than suffi-
cient for their daily labors. As a boy and scholar, he lived in
the ''Centre Deestrick" — (so spelt in the handwriting of
"Oliver Smith, T. C"). This district embraced all the territory^
within a radius of about two miles from the meeting house. The
schoolhouse stood near Dudley Gilman's tavern. Most of the
520 History of Canaan.
children got a whipping every day, either at home or at school,
sometimes at both, and these whippings were oftener bestowed
in school for not comprehending the large words in the lessons,
than for any offensive conduct. Those old masters were muscu-
lar and knew more about "larrupin' " the boys and girls than
they did of the contents of books.
Mr. Clark obtained his title from being appointed colonel of
the Thirty-Seventh Regiment, New Hampshire ]\Iilitia, which for
many years mustered in Arvin's field on the side of the Pin-
nacle, or on the ridge back of Nat Currier's store. Those were
joyous gatherings, at which every one treated himself to rum
and sheets of gingerbread; and headaches were not the conse-
quence of this sort of indulgence. In 1830 there was much
rivalry inside the parties. The men who managed the politics
would not work together. As in many of the years since, there
were men who knew that their talents and abilities were deserv-
ing of recognition and because of being passed by from year to
year, like balky horses, they hung back and refused to pull. In
this year Colonel Clark's name was brought up and he was sent
to Concord as a representative and also in the year following.
But he was too industrious in his habits to sit idly by listening
to motions and debates in that hall, when he might be engaged
in some useful labor. He sought a shop where he might have the
use of tools, and then got permission to absent himself from
time to time during those tiresome talks. He did not neglect
his duties, but w^hen he came home he brought a wagonload of
ox-bows as the fruit of his industry, and he thought and so did
his neighbors that his ox-bows were more useful than his laws.
For many years he lived a quiet life on the intervale farm. In
1814, at the age of 19, he married Betsey, daughter of Levi
Bailey. They had five children, Sally, Dorothy, Jesse, Judith
and Joseph. She, dying afterward, in 1827, he married Sally,
daughter of Nathaniel Gilman, and two sons, Gilman and Hor-
ace, were born to them. And yet again, upon the death of Mrs.
Sally, he married Mrs. Sally Hazeltine, who died some years ago.
Caleb Clark came to Canaan with his brother Richard, in
1773. He settled first on the Gore, where he owned five hun-
dred acres of land having purchased the same of Theophilus
Old Families. 521
Dame on the west side of Clark Pond: he also owned land in
the part of Dorchester, known as ^Martha's Vineyard, and ad-
joininj? his Gore land. He also owned land "on the hill north-
erly of Eames ^Mill," where he died in October, 1793. His two
sons, David and Prescott Clark, resided in the same neighbor-
hood. Prescott lived on the road near Charles Lashna. These
two brothers married sisters. Prescott 's wife was ]\Iary Bas-
ford, and David's, Sarah Basford. Prescott had eight children,
and with his wife and family moved to Canada in the spring
of 1806. The two brothers resided in Dnnham, P. Q.. where
they died of spotted fever in 1810. On their gravestones is the
following: "Prescott Clark, died January 11, 1810, aged 42;
David Clark, died Jamiaiy 19, 1810, aged 44."
Clark, Joseph d. November 2, 1853. aged 81: (d) : m. No-
vember 30, 1794; Abigail Welch, b. 1770: d. November,
1846: (d). Eight ch. : Caleb, b. July 4. 1796: Chase, b.
April 11, 1798: Polly, b. February 6, 1800; Sally, b. August
8, 1801; Hannah, b. February 6. 1804; Tilton, b. October 1,
1805; Samuel, b. November 2, 1807: d. October 29; 1872;
(d). Esther, b. June 24, 1811.
Clark, Prescott, m. Lvdia Bailev had four ch. : Amos, b. October
12, 1812; d. July 27, 1883; (b) ; m. Frances D. March, b.
November 3, 1813; d. August 14, 1854: m. 2d, Sophronia
C. Morey, b. November 29, 1811; d. January 3, 1898; (b).
Three children: Sarah E., b. September 10, 1844; d. October
8, 1860. John H., b. June 11, 1846; d. July 18, 1887, Com-
pany F. Eighteenth New Hampshire Regiment. Jennie
S., b. 1857; m. 1889, Russell A. Miller; d. February, 1909.
Richard, son of Prescott, b. IMarch 12, 1814; d. 1903. Pres-
cott, Jr., third son of Prescott, b. April 13, 1816; d. Sep-
tember 4, 1893 (b) ; m. October 11, 1840, Susan Sanborn of
Holdemess. Ch. : Arthur B., d. June 18, 1850, aged 5 mo.
7d. and Frank P., d. December 13, 1901, aged 53 y., 5 mo.,
7d. (b) m. January 23, 1872. Nellie P. Gray. Ch. : Charles
R., b. May 2, 1877. Chestina, dau. of Prescott, b. August 21,
1818, m. Colonel Satford of Vermont. Angle L., m. Au-
gust 31, 1843, William A. Flanders, son of Sylvester. Fred,
b. 1857, b. November 27. 1881, Mary F. Jones.
522 History of Canaan.
Clark, Richard, m. a Marston. He was born in Greenland, N.
H., in 1693. He had four sons, Caleb, David, John and
Richard. John never came to Canaan, but the other three
did. Caleb bought 300 acres of land of Theophilus Dame
October 9, 1773, extending across the Gore and in 1777 he
bought 100 acres more adjoining it. Captain Caleb d. in
1793; his wife's name was ]\Iary. His children were David,
Prescott, Susanna, who married Nathaniel Bartlett ; Lydia,
who m. Reynold Gates; Elizabeth, who married Jehu Jones;
Mary, Avho married Josiah Bartlett; Caleb. Joshua, Jacob,
Joseph, Anne. Prescott Clark's children were: Polly, b.
May 29, 179-1; m. William Chambers in Canada. Charlotte,
b. May 31, 1796; m. Levi Clement in Canada. David 3d, b.
April 15, 1798. John Basford, b. February 10, 1805; d.
March 2, 1888. Betsey, b. January 15, 1802. Horatio Nel-
son, b. March 3, 1804. Leah, b. March, 1806 ; m. Jeremiah
Potter in Canada. Henrj' Harris, b. April 2, 1809.
Richard, son of Richard, b. 1725; d. 1815; (d) ; m. Elizabeth
Burley and had six children : Lydia, who m. John Sco-
field, Jr., Anna, Josiah, Richard, Jr., Eliphalet, who m.
December 4, 1818, Charlotte Gates, Ebenezer. Colonel
Josiah said his "grandsir was buried by the military,"
and there was a great gathering of people from all around
to attend it, and there was a great drunk after it on
Canaan Street.
Josiah, son of Richard, b. 1758 ; d. June 7, 1851 ; m. 1782,
Pernal Barber, this is the way she spelled her name in
deeds but it is spelled Purnel in other places, clan, of
Robert; d. September 29. 1855, aged 91. They had five
ch. : Judith, d. June, 1797, aged 13, the first person buried
in Wells eemeterj^; Betsey, who m. John Worth (see
Worth) ; R.obert B. ; Sally, who m. Daniel Blaisdell, Jr.
(see him), and Josiah.
Robert Barber, b. August 17, 1787; d. January 29, 1857; (b) ;
m. 1st, 1810, Betsey Currier, dau. of Theophilus; d. May
10, 1826, aged 35, they had ten ch. He m. 2d, February
27, 1827, Mrs. Eliza (Hewes) Currier of Lyme; b. De-
cember 6, 1794; d. September 28, 1849; had two ch. He
Old Families. 523
m. 3d, 1852, Mrs. Mary (Flint) Wallace; no cli. By his
first wife he had Sophronia, b. November 29, 1811 ; d.
January 3, 1898 ; Eliza, b. October 10, 1813 ; d. June 19,
1836, m. October 1, 1834, Leonard Davis, and had a dau.
Arvilla (see him) ; Mary J., b. December 11, 1815; Eobert
Barber, b. February 26, 1818 ; d. in Dover, March 2,
1890, m. Elvira G. Stevens, b. in Wentworth, July 4,
1818 ; d. April 25, 1869. His children were Jemima L.,
who m. Fred Bane; Wyman R., who m. Mary Buckner;
Frank B., b. May 27, 1851 ; m. November 20, 1877, Lillea
]\I. Davis, b. December 8, 1858 ; one ch., Alice Benson, b.
July 24, 1881. Richard 0. and Austin E.. Frank B., lives
in Dover. Josiah 3d, fifth ch. of Robert B., b. February 26,
1818; d. November 14, 1850; m. Harriet Braley of Graf-
ton, No ch. Eleanor Webster, b. February 12, 1820; d.
July 24, 1907; m. August 18, 1847, Da^dd KimbaU, b.
March 14, 1817; d. February 1, 1909, one ch., Ella A.,
m. October 14, 1875, Daniel G. S. Davis, had one son,
Orel K., b. July 3, 1879 ; m. Mary Martin and lives with
his mother on the old Robert Clark farm.
Richard C, son of Robert B., b. May 30, 1822: d. August 9,
1844. Emily Swett, b. March 30, 1824; d. Januaiy 15,
1880; m. Hibbard P. Ross, lived in Groton, Mass.; two
eh. d. young, Willie and Artemus. Betsey Currier, dau.
of Robert, b. ^May 5, 1826 ; d. Cambridge, Mass. : m. April
3, 1854. Willard AV. Balcom. Theoda Hewes, b. December
11, 1827; m. July 19, 1855, John Sanford Shepard (see
him). Pernell Elisa, b. April 29, 1834: m. February 22,
1871; Freeman Wight of Boston, b. October 3, 1834;
d. January 13, 1909, was in the fur business for many
years in Boston. Two ch. : Freeman Clark, b. June 28,
1872; m. December, 1900, Mattie Eva Spatford; no ch.
Robert Franklin, b. September 2, 1881 ; m. April 13, 1903,
Blanche L. Mclntire ; had one ch. d. young.
Josiah, son of Josiah, b. January 9, 1795 ; d. July 3, 1892; (b) ;
m. 1st, December 28, 1814, Betsey Bailej', dau. of Levi,
b. November 8, 1793; d. April 16, 1825; three children.
He m. 2d, September 19, 1827, Sally Oilman, dau. of
524 History of Canaan.
Xathauiel; d. March 16, 18-43, aged 47: had two chil-
dren. He m. 3d. Mrs. Sally Hazeltine, widow of William
of Groton, d. December 31, 1838, aged 44. His ch. :
Sally, d. :\Iarch 3, 1824, aged 3. Dorothy, m. Roswell
Elliott; 2 ch. : Belle and Carrie who m. Wallace G. Goss;
Jesse, d. July 6, 1887, aged 71 y., 4 mo. ; he m. Sarah M.
Elliott, dan. of Asa and Betsey Elliott ; d. June 20, 1852,
aged 24 y., 9 mo. ; Judith, m. a Woodard and Joseph, d,
single: Gilman and Horace were the other sons by Sally
Gilman.
Eichard, Jr., son of Richard, b. October 28. 1761 ; m. Septem-
ber 16, 1788, Esther Jones, dau. of James and Sarah (Pad-
dleford) Jones, b. December 9, 1768. They had four eh. :
Jehiel. b. November 3, 1790; Lucy, b. Julv 23. 1792;
Ebenezer, b. April 7, 1795: m. April 19, 1832, Rhoda
Blaisdell, dau. of Daniel. His first wife, Nancy A., d.
December 8, 1822, aged 22; (a) ; by whom he had one ch.,
Andrew J., d. February 23, 1823, aged 6 m; (a). His sec-
ond wife, Ruth, d. September 21, 1831; (a) ; by whom he
had two ch. Lucius G., d. September 11, 1827, aged 10 y.
and Richard, d. November 21, 1830, aged 4 m.; (a) ; Rich-
ard, fourth ch. of Richard, Jr., b. December 9, 1798.
Clark, Anna, d. Januarj^ 31, 1832, aged 12; (d) ; must have been
of the last family, also Mary Ann, dau. of Richard and
Abigail Clark, who m. April 2, 1838, Jolm Rockwell and
d. October 21, 1851, aged 41. (d).
The Genealogy of John Currier.
I. Richard Currier was born in England in 1617 and was one of
the original settlers of Salisbury, Mass. He had two chil-
dren, perhaps more, Hannah and Thomas. Richard died
m 1687.
II. Deacon Thomas, b. Amesbury, March 8, 1646, m. December
3, 1668, Marj-, dau. of William Osgood; he died 1687; she
died 1712. Their children, born in Amesbury, were:
1. Hannah 4. Samuel
2. Thomas 5. William
3. Richard 6. John
Old Families. 525
7. Joseph 10. Daniel
8. Benjamin 11. Mary
9. Ebenezer 12. Ann
III. Joseph, b. 1674, m. December 9, 1708, Sarah Brown. Their
children, born in Amesbury, were :
1. Nathan 6. Hannah
2. Joseph 7. Ann
3. Ephraim 8. Mary
4. Abner 9. ]\Iiriam.
5. Sarah
IV. Nathan, b. November 6, 1710 ; m. April 14, 1736, Mehitable
Silver. Children born in Amesbury.
1. John, b. December 12, 1733; d. July 17, 1736.
2. Seth, b. March 10, 1735.
3. John (of Hopkinton), b. May 1, 1737.
4. Sarah, b. December 9, 1738.
5. Anna, b. January- 8, 1740 ; d. 1781, in Hampstead ; m.
Peter Morse of Warner, father of James Morse, b. 1739 ;
d. 1787, (see him).
6. Daniel, b. December 13, 1748.
7. Hannah, b. August 5, 1750; m. Zebulon Davis.
8. Nathan, b. July 27, 1756.
V. Deacon John, moved to Hopkinton, N. H., 1766 ; m. in Ames-
bury, Sarah Clark; he died December 23, 1804. Ten chil-
dren :
1. John (of Canaan), b. January 6. 1762: d. May 10, 1826.
2. Clark (of Canaan), b. June 2. 1763; d. July 6, 1813.
3. Seth, b. December 8, 1764: d. Canaan, Me., January 1,
1842 ; Dartmouth College, 1796.
4. Anna, b. August 24, 1766; d. February 12, 1816.
5. Amos, b. August 25, 1768 ; d. November 29, 1846, grand-
father of John F. Jones of Hopkinton.
6. Sarah, b. August 16, 1770; d. July 26, 1834.
7. Hannah, b. July 8, 1772; d. Januan- 20, 1793.
8. Stephen, b. Januarv^ 11, 1774, d. .
9. Persilla, b. Aug. 16, 1776 ; d. December 7, 1854.
10. James, b. Januarys 20, 1778 ; d. April 19, 1813.
526 History of Canaan,
VI. "September 21, 1783. Then Jolrn Currier and Lois Morse
were married in Hopkinton." Lois Morse was a cousin
to John, dau. of Peter and Anna (Currier) Morse. She was
brought up in the family of Deacon John of Hopkinton,
She died October 17, 1816, aged 55 yrs. 10 mos. He m,
2d, March 5, 1822, Mrs. Abi Plummer Richardson, widow of
Eliphalet Richardson, who survived him until January 3,
1851, aged 83 yrs.
Dea. John Currier of Hopkinton was a large owner of Canaan
lands purchased at low prices from the original grantees, who
had ceased to have a taste for forest speculations. It does not
appear that he ever visited Canaan to examine his real estate.
About the year 1781 he sent his two boys, John and Clark, to
look after his interests, with instructions if they found the
place agreeable, to "pitch" upon some of the lands and improve
them as settlers. The young men were well pleased with their
prospects. John built a log house on West Farms on the 100
acres his father had bought of Jolui P. Calkins, cleared up an
acre or two, and returned to Hopkinton for his cousin as a wife,
and it seems he did not go any too soon. They had six daugh-
ters and one son born to them.
1. Anna, b. June 30, 1784.
2. Sarah, b. December 26, 1785.
3. Hannah, b. August 27, 1789.
4. James, b. November 2, 1791.
5. Lois, b. May 30, 1795.
6. Permelia, b. January 8, 1798.
7. Clarissa, b. October 10, 1799.
All his children were born on West Farms, for it was not
until August 25, 1804, that he bargained farms with Jacob Tucker
and went to live on the hill on the farm still in the possession
of his descendants. Jacob Tucker afterwards sold his farm to
Abraham Longfellow. Esquire John was one of the most promi-
nent men in Canaan during the forty-five years of his life here.
He was very influential, not only in the Proprietary, in the
division and lotting of land, but in the affairs of the town, was
a lieutenant and captain in 1793 and 1794 in the Fourth Com-
o
X
3
o
c
o
Old Families. 527
pany of the Twenty-Fourth Regiment. He was clerk of the
proprietors from 1808 to 1821, one of the "Lot laying Commit-
tee" from 1805 to his death, and many of the lots were surveyed
by him. He made a survey of the town in 1805 traversing all
the boundary lines. He was sent to the General Covirt in 1810,
1811 and 1817. He was selectman in 1800 to 1803. 1805, 1807,
to 1812, 1816 to 1817, 1819 and in 1823, fifteen years.
1. Anna, m. John Stanley of Hopkinton, JNIarch 3, 1802, and
had eight children; she d. March 9, 1858.
1. Julia, b. December 10, 1804.
2. Lois, b. December 21, 1806.
3. John Currier, b. Lyman, N. H.^ December 13, 1809.
4. Henry, b. June 26, 1813.
5. Lyman, b. September 13, 1814.
6. James, b. April 14, 1819.
7. Nancy, b. April 4, 1823.
8. Lavina, b. November 13, 1826.
Julia Stanley, m. John Smith, January 16, 1834, and d.
June 18, 1835, leaving no children.
Lois, m. April, 1832, George Hazeltine, and d. March 7,
1861 ; a daughter of Julia, d. September 27, 1850,
aged 17 yrs. There were two other daughters, Ellen S.
and P. Jennie and a son, George Henry.
John Currier, m. June 21, 1843, Jane Beattie of Ryegate,
Vt. Their children were :
1. William J. B., b. April 13, 1844.
2. Margaret Ann, b. September 3, 1845.
3. Catherine Jane, b. September 23, 1846.
4. Robert James, b. March 28, 1848.
5. Harriet E., b. June 9, 1849.
6. Hannah G., b. May 11, 1853 : d. November 24, 1875.
Henry Stanley, m. Feb. 5, 1846 ; Chloe Bartlett of Water-
ford, Vt. Three children :
1. Ellen Francis, b. January 25, 1848.
2. Martha Marian, b. April 22, 1851.
3. Carrie Louise, b. November 28, 1856.
Lyman Stanley, m. November 26, 1842, Laura A. Way of
Barnet, Vt. Their children were :
528 History of Canaan,
1. L. Edgar, b. January 26, 1848.
2. P. Jennie, b. March 25, 1850.
3. Charles A., b. April 13, 1853.
4. Alfred, b. January 2, 1857.
5. Herbert A., b. March 9, 1862.
James Stanley, m. October 28, 1857, Julia F. Byron of Maid-
stone, Vt. Their children were :
1. Frederic James, b. August 29, 1858; d. August 1867.
2. Julia Emma, b. September 14, 1860 ; d. in August 1867.
3. Stella J., b. June 16, 1869.
4. Susie L., b. December 6, 1873.
Nancy Stanley, m. 1st, December 11, 1845, W. S. Hinman,
no children ; m. 2d, March 26, 1854, Lester S. Eichards.
She d. West Concord, Yt., May 13, 1872. Children
were :
1. Oliver S., b. January 31, 1855.
2. William John, b. Januarj^ 7, 1860 ; d. January 26, 1864.
3. George Sherman, b. July 31, 1866 ; d. April 20, 1868.
Lavina Stanley, m. 1st, January 27, 1848, William G. Pad-
dleford; no children: m. 2d, October 28, 1857, Spof-
ford A. Way. Her children were :
1. William J., b. December 1851.
2. Frank A., b. December 27, 1858.
3. Allen, b. July 21, 1860.
4. Anna, b. January 13, 1864.
2. Sarah, dau. of John (of Canaan), m. 1809, George Flint of
Canaan; she d. at Cleveland, 0., February 15, 1841; he
d. Cleveland, 0., October 20, 1869. Two children:
1. John Currier, b. November 10, 1810 ; m. 1833, Emma
Storrs of Lebanon : b. April 14, 1814. He was killed by
a falling tree while chopping alone in the forest, June
22. 1838 (a). Three children.
1. Edwin, b. May 15, 1834: m. October 10, 1862, Sarah
Buck of Cleveland, 0., b. June 6, 1838 ; now living
in Canaan. No children, but adopted a son, George,
now dead.
2. Horace C, b. December 29, 1836; m. March 13, 1861,
Old Families. 629
Agnes Nichols; one child, Emma, living in Avon,
Loraine Co., 0.
3. Oscar Wade. b. September 14, 1838 ; d. September 1862,
single. "Was adopted by a brother of Senator Ben.
Wade of Ohio, and died while studying law in his
office.
2. Louisa, b. August 15, 1815 ; d. in Old Ladies' Home, Man-
chester, September 13, 1903 ; single.
3. Hannah C, m. November 3, 1810, Daniel Hoyt, b. July 7,
1787. She d. August 4, 1863. He was drowned in Goose
Pond in 1813, July 29, while poling logs. Their ch. :
1. Lois Maria, b. January 14, 1812 ; d. December 23. 1879 ;
m. September 5, 1837, Levi French of Enfield, b. No-
vember 13, 1812; d. February 27, 1871. Their children
were :
1. George Hoyt, b. Januarj^ 15, 1839 ; m. November 14,
1866, Luella Clement of Underbill, Vt. Their chil-
dren :
1. Guy Clement, b. June 10, 1869.
2. Helen May, b. May 23, 1871.
2. Darwin Gallatin, b. May 14, 1845 ; m. 1st, June 5, 1866,
Hattie P. Wrieht; she d. Mav 27, 1868; one child,
Hattie W., b. March 20, 1868. He m. 2d, Emma L.
Mead November 2, 1869 ; one child, Emma Lillian,
b. Mav 20, 1875.
3. Lois Maria, b. September 6, 1851 ; d. December 23, 1869.
2. George F., b. March 13, 1813; d. August 22, 1815 (a).
Hannah C, m. 2d, David Goodhue of Underbill, Yt., one
ch.
VII. 4. James, m. January 4, 1837, Louisa Wier. dau. of Wil-
liam and Nancy (Morse) Wier of Grafton, Yt. ; b. Jan-
uary- 4, 1802; d. July 25, 1884. He d. Canaan May
22, 1846. Three children. She m. 2d, May, 1847, Isaac
W. Perkins of Lyme. He d. September 22, 1855 ; no. ch.
1. A son died in infancy, b. December 12. 1837.
2. Mary Duncan, b. November 20, 1838 : m. Januaiy 8, 1865,
William Allen Wallace, son of James and Marj^ (Flint)
Wallace of Canaan, b. September 28, 1815. He d. Feb-
34
530 History of Canaan.
ruary 15, 1893. She d. December 25, 1898. One son.
James Burns, b. August 1-1. 1866, m. December 21, 1889,
Alice Hutchinson, dau. of Lucius B. and Alice Maria
(Rollins) Hutchinson: b. June 22, 1867. Xo children.
3. John, b. January 8, 18-il : d. October 5, 1909 ; m. January
27, 1896, Mrs. Mary Puffer. Xo children.
John Currier passed all his days upon the farm which his
father and grandfather had tilled before him and where they
had lived and died. Three generations followed in each other's
footsteps. Born in the old house his grandfather built, he was
but five years old when his father died, leaving a large farm,
for his mother and sister, then eight years old, to carry on.
The burden was almost too much for his mother, who married
the next year. Her second husband died when John was four-
teen years old and from that time on, he had to assume the
duties of the head of the household. His mother was strong
willed and verj^ set in her purposes and this characteristic was
early instilled into and imbibed by him. His mother would never
have any assistance in her household, and up to the last year of
her life, insisted upon doing her own work. Her son was
obliged to do the same, so far as he was able in his earlier years
and as he grew older, the old lady was persistent in her efforts
to hire as little help as possible. His early years were a cease-
less round of hard toil, with few pleasures. His mother's
tastes were simple, and she insisted upon there being no ex-
travagance. Everything was saved, it might be useful sometime.
This trait followed him through his whole life. "While she lived
he was constant in his duty to her and her slightest wish was
always granted. He was educated in the district schools of the
town and Canaan Union Academy, attending at times when
the farm work was not important. His sister would often go
away to visit relatives, but he never went. He never would go
away from home to stay over night without protest, and then to
return as soon as possible. He first became interested in town
affairs in 1877, when he was chosen selectman, again in 1878
and 1879. The politics of the town changed and he was not again
in office until 1881, when he was chosen overseer of the poor and
held the office the following year. He was on the board of select-
0
Old Families. 531
men in 1886, also in 1892, and in 1S94 he began the long-
est term of continuous service of any one in the history of the
to^vn, being chairman of the board all the time, a period of
fifteen years, making in all twenty years as selectman. He was
the most prominent man in town alfairs for the last ten years
and his knowledge of them was not surpassed by any one. He
was familiar with the ownership and location of everj' piece of
land in town. His memory of events and persons was phenom-
enal and often served him to good purpose in town affairs.
Great confidence was placed in his judgment. He made many
wills and in consequence was called upon to administer many
estates. He was trustee and treasurer of the Methodist Church
on the Street for many years. The Currier family were Con-
gregationalists, and his sympathies were Avith the old church at
the upper end of the Street. Although not a church member, he
was almost a constant attendent upon the Methodist service.
Until within the last two years of his life, he was a man of great
endurance, strong and powerful. He never smoked but once,
and that made him so sick he never tried it again. His was an
active life and he rarely stopped to think of himself. The last
two years he contended with a disease which at times was yevj
painful, but the end was peaceful. He was not of a nervous
disposition and was never known to lose his temper, never seemed
to be irritated in his dealings with men, and however much they
might be angered, there was always a smile upon his lips. I, his
nephew, can pay no better tribute to him. than to say he was
my "Uncle," in all ways, "Uncle John," and such he grad-
ually became to every one.
5. Lois, m. January 26, 1818, Uriah Welch of Canaan, son
of Samuel Welch, b. July 5, 1793: she d. January- 24,
1821 (1831 on tombstone) ; he died August, 1839. He m.
2d. January-, 1821, Sarah French. Kemoved to Concord,
August 13, 1839. and while at work on the Free bridge
over the Merrimac River fell in and was drowned. Their
children were :
1. George Porter, b. December 29. 1820: was a printer in
Boston.
532 History of Canaan.
2. John Currier, b. October 18, 1826 ; d. January 18, 1827.
3. Unnamed infant.
6. Permelia, m. December 4, 1823, Samuel C. Sawyer of En-
field; she d. February 23, 1856, in the Insane Asylum at
Taunton, Mass. They had six children: Anne, Olivia,
Augusta, Mary, Burns, John.
7. Clarissa, m. November 13, 1828, Ezra Oilman of Canaan,
both d. in Manchester; he, April 26, 1855; she July 21,
1869. Their children were :
1. James Currier, b. January 31, 1831 ; d. 1909 ; m. Nancy
Smiley of Bedford in 1868; d. 1908 in Manchester; no
children.
2. Daniel Hoyt, b. December 8, 1836 ; m. 1860, Mary Ben-
nett of Indian Orchard, Mass. ; one son, Elmer A.
Daniel was killed by falling bricks in the Hazeltine
house, Manchester.
VI. 2. Clark, younger brother of Esquire John, came to
Canaan from Hopkinton, 1872. He settled on the
hundred acres his father purchased of George Harris
and now occupied by Edgar Ricard. He m. in
Canaan, 1787, Margaret Norris whose father, Eli-
phalet, was a clothier at the Comer. They had four
children. Mrs. Cunder died about the year 1825.
She was insane for many years previous, shut up in
a pen and treated harshly by her family.
1. John, b. February 25, 1789, m. about 1812, Eliza Hewes
of Lyme, by whom he had one daughter, Sarepta, m. to
E. J. Morrill of Franklin. John lived with his wife
some years and then disappeared from this part of the
world. Several years afterwards he was recognized
by a neighbor in Troy, N. Y. He denied his name and
refused to give reasons for his strange conduct.
2. Margaret, b. August 22, 1791 ; m. August 25, 1816, David
Norris of Cornith, Vt. Several children; she d. 1869.
One, Clark C, d. November 2, 1817, aged 17d, is buried
on Sawyer Hill.
3. Sally, b. April 18, 1796 ; m. December 25, 1816, Nathan
Cass of Canaan, moved to Concord, Mass., had several
children and d. February- 23, 1880.
Old Families. 533
4. Infant dau. d. August 1800, aged 5d. ; first person buried
in Sawyer Hill Cemetery.
5. Hannah, b. 1807; m. 1828, Smith of Corinth, Vt.
Several children.
VI. 4. Anna, sister of John and Clark, m. Moses Flanders of
Hopkinton, lived and died on a great farm in En-
field. She d. February 12, 1816. Their children were :
1. Sally, m. Samuel Day.
2. Hannah, m. David Dav.
3. Moses, d. unm.
4. Timothy, d. while attending Dartmouth College.
5. Mary, m. Daniel Smith, left two daughters:
1. Anne, m. Levi F. Webster of Canaan, one son;
Herbert L., b. May 31, 1866; m. December 31, 1891,
Ida Belle Sargent, b. 1866.
2. Mary F., b. June, 1841.
The Doles.
In the cemetery on the Street is a group of graves of the Dole
family. It is many years since any additions were made to that
group. The head of the family was Capt. Moses Dole, who
came to Canaan in 1801, from Cheshire County, having recently
married, March 1, 1801, Miss Lucy Poor of Charlestown. He
bought the tavern and farm of Dudley Gilman and hung out a
sign on which was painted, "Mr. Dole's Inn, 1802." That old
tavern occupied the site of the present Hotel Lucerne. The
sign swung there more than a quarter of a century, inviting-
travelers to partake of his hospitality. He was a courteous gen-
tleman, and Mrs. Dole was distinguished for her refinement and
intelligence. Socially and politically, they exercised a large in-
fluence. The captain was held in high esteem and was elected
to various offices of trust, the duties of which he discharged with
fidelity. He was chosen representative to the general court in
1808, 1809, 1818, 1819, 1820; selectman in 1804; town clerk
from 1801 to 1806 inclusive, and from 1808 to 1817 inclusive,
sixteen years longer than any other, with the exception of
George H. Gordon. He was a member of Mt. Moriah Lodge;
was bom September 17, 1777, and on the 2d of June, 1828. was
534 History of Canaan.
buried with Masonic honors. Mrs. Dole, born January 16, 1774,
had died October 6, 1826, with an epidemic which raged fatally
among young and old during that season. They had two chil-
dren, Joseph and Marv'. Joseph, bom October 31, 1801, died
May 16, 1817 ; Mary was born October 28, 1803, married first,
August 15, 1823, Dr. Charles Plastridge, brother of Doctor
Caleb of East Lebanon ; he died October 16, 1826, aged 29. She
remained here until 1829, and is the Mrs. Plastridge referred to
by Mr. Foster. She married second in 1828, Hon. Joseph Saw-
yer, and became a resident of Piermont. Five daughters and
one son were born to them.
Mr. Sawyer died in 1858, and being left nearly destitute, she
took up her abode with her daughter in Cambridge, Mass. At
the time of her death, February 1, 1885, she was on a visit to
her daughter, ]\Irs. Kimball in Pontiac, Mich. She was strongly
religious, having inherited her convictions, and was a member
of the Congregational Church from the year 1816.
The Martins, Robert.
Robert Martin came to Canaan in 1819 from Pembroke. He
was a distinguished soldier of the Revolution, serving faithfully
in the campaigns in Rhode Island ; in the disastrous attack upon
Mount Independence, was present at the surrender of Burgoyne,
and for a time was stationed at Newcastle. His son William
and grandson Henry, came with him, the latter a boy of ten.
They bought the great intervale farm, which had been cleared
by Joseph Flint, who sold it to Seth Daniels. Mr. Flint came
here from Hopkinton. He had previously been a merchant in
Newburyport, Mass. He died in 1809 and was buried in the
Street cemetery and was the father of nineteen children, all of
whom grew up. The last one to die was Mrs. William Atherton,
January 23, 1873, aged 79 years. Mr. Daniels gladly availed
himself of the offer of the Martins, to purchase the farm and in
1819, being seized with the western fever by having received
glowing accounts of the fertility of the soil in western New
York, he started out with his family to seek a new home. Rob-
ert Martin died in 1839 and was buried on Canaan Street.
William Martin was a farmer and blacksmith. In 1845 he sold
XI
«
o
u
a
a
o
"3
0
e
3
o
X
c
0
3
O
X
T3
0
Old Families. 535
his farm to Harrison Pillsbury and bought the house built by-
Gordon Burley, in which he died, aged 83 years. He was a good
man, greatly respected for the sincerity of his convictions, a life-
long Democrat, faithfully supporting all the decrees of his
party. A Methodist without stain, undeviating until his preach-
ers began to pray for the abolition of slavery. He looked upon
this as a crime against his southern brethren and it greatly
grieved him. But he was a sincere and worthy man; friendly
and generous according to his means. He became a member of
]\It. Moriah Lodge in 1824, and was buried by Social Lodge of
Enfield. He was a selectman of the town in 1826, 1827. 1831
and 1835. Henry Martin, the grandson, was a life-long Demo-
crat like his father, and only once was ever known to fail to re-
spond during the Greeley campaign, when he stayed at home.
He was a blacksmith and his shop, since taken down, stood
north of Mrs. Levi George's. He married first Persis Marston,
granddaughter of that Richard Whittier who first cleared the
farm on the east side of Hart Pond. He married second Lucy
Burleigh. He was a schoolmate of the writer, in the old yellow
schoolhouse on the common, under the severe, but chaste dis-
cipline of that lovely old maiden, Olive Cross. "We traveled
through long lives by different routes, but these all finally meet
and end at the same place.
Martin, William, son of Robert d. July 20, 1866, aged 82 y. 9
mo. ; (a) ; his wife, Mary Stannell, d. January 19, 1869, aged
82 y. 10 m. ; (a) ; his son, Henry, d. December 24, 1894, aged
81 y. 1 mo. 10 d. ; first wife, Pei*sis W. Marston, b. 1808 ;
d. 1865; m. 2d, February 15, 1866, Lucy J. Burley, dan. of
Benjamin of Dorchester; by her he had Helen A., b.
July 1, 1867; m. June 28, 1893, William A. King; one son,
Ronald; Mary m. Ernest A. Barney, son of Albert E., and
George H. m. Clara Jewel, one ch. : Jane. Abigail, dau.
of William, b. January 26, 1818; d. March 27, 1901; m.
1st Horace Chase (see him) ; m. 2d, Hiram Barber.
The Wallace Family.
The family of Wallaces in Canaan were descended from the
Scotch-Irish Wallaces who emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland,
536 History of Canaan.
about 1650, to Coleraine in the north of Ireland, where Joseph
"Wallace lived until he emigrated to America in 1726, with his
wife Margaret whom he had married about 1718, and one son
"William, then about six years old. "With Joseph came a sister
Jean, and a brother John. Joseph lived in Londonderry, X. H.,
until his death in 1755 ; his wife died the next year ; his son
"William moved to ]\Iilford, N. H., in 1756 with his wife, Mary
Bums, and oldest son. Joseph ; there were other children besides
"William, two or three daughters, but he was the only son.
"William was born in Coleraine, Ireland, in 1720 and died in Mil-
ford May 24, 1793. His wife, Mars', was the daughter of
John Burns who had emigrated from the north of Ireland
in 1736 and was of Scotch-Irish descent. They were mar-
ried in 1752. She was born in 1730 and died in Milford,
May 24, 1815. They had five children :
Joseph, b. September 9, 1753; d. December 29, 1838: m. Novem-
ber, 1779, Letitia Burns, and had eight children.
J*ohn, b. March 20, 1756; d. July 23, 1835; m. September 12,
1780, Mary Bradford, and had ten children.
Mary, b. August 17, 1759: d. May 14, 1786: m. Israel Burnham,
and had one child, "William, b. April 5, 1764; d. October 10,
1790, single.
James, b. in Milford, October 17, 1766 ; d. in Milford July 23,
1828; m. 1st, September 19, 1786, Betsey Holton Kimball
of Amherst, daughter of Maj. Eben Kimball, b. December 5,
1766 ; d. in Milford, October 13, 1807 : m. 2d, February 22,
1817, Sophia Tuttle of Littleton, Mass. He was a merchant
in Milford and also a manufacturer of pots and pearl ashes.
He had nine children by his first wife, the oldest, James, was
b. in Milford August 24, 1787, d. in Canaan August 7, 1831,
through the fatal carelessness of the physician : m. June 21,
1811, Mary Flint of Middletown. Mass., daughter of Lieu-
tenant John and Betsej' (Fuller) Flint: she was b. January
5, 1791, and died in Canaan October 1, 1866. She m. 2d,
1852, Robert Barber Clark, b. August 16, 1787 : died January
29, 1857.
James "Wallace attended Phillips Andover Academy from No-
vember 2, 1802, to December, 1803; moved to Salem, N. H., after
Old Families. 537
his marriage and lived there two years ; he then moved to Pem-
broke, where he lived four years, engaged in business as a mer-
chant. In October. 1817, he moved to Canaan with his wife
and three children, having traded with Gen. Asa Robinson of
Pembroke for the old house Ezekiel Wells built. He represented
Canaan in the Legislature in 1827 and 1828, was a selectman in
1824, 1825, 1826. 1829, 1830, and postmaster from 1822 to 1827.
In Canaan he manufactured pots and pearl ashes and was also
a merchant. His store was located south of the old house. He
had eight children.
John Flint, b. in Greenfield April 7, 1812; d. at sea of yellow
fever in August, 1853, and was probably buried at sea, as
nothing was ever heard of him after he left San Francisco
for New Orleans.
He left home at the age of nineteen to go to sea, and was
gone four years; was forty-three months on the water crossing
the Pacific four times ; visited Canton, Boston, to the Azores,
Cape de A^erd, St. Helena, Ascension, along the coast of South
America to Queen Charlotte Inlet, Sandwich, Society and New
Zealand Islands. He remained at home but a short time and
never returned here. He then shipped upon a whaler from
New Bedford and did not return to the United States, except to
start again, until 1841. Nothing was heard of him again until
March 16, 1852. His brother's diary of that date, written in
a mining camp in California says: "John arrived at the Bar.
Stayed until Sunday. Twenty-one years he has been a wan-
derer by land and sea. Present address Sandwich Islands."
On the 4th of the next month my father went to Barnes
& Ray's ranch near Stockton, Cal., and stayed over night
with him. He was then emploj'ed there by the month. He
stayed again with him on the 21st. and saw him again on
the 20th of May, when he had decided to go to San Jose. On
the 8th of July he went to see him again and found he had gone
to the Sandwich Islands. There was no trace of him after this
for a year, when my father learned of his being in Los Angeles.
He tried to find him only to learn that he had gone to San Fran-
cisco; he followed there to learn he had shipped for New Or-
538 History of Canaan.
leans and was sick; he followed to New Orleans to await the
arrival of the vessel. Upon its arrival the captain upon being
questioned, would not give any information. The inference was
that he had died and it being known that he had quite a con-
siderable sum of money and valuables with him, they were
stolen and his death concealed. He never married.
James Burns, b. in Salem, October 25, 1813 ; d. in Canaan,
October 4, 1853 ; m. January 10, 1851, Susan Owen Chandler
of West Randolph, Vt., b. October 15, 1822; d. in Thomas-
ville, Ga., in 1901. She m. June 20. 1860, Dr. Thomas R.
Reid of Thomasville, Ga. He was a persistent letter-writer
and correspondent ; nearly all his life he kept a diary.
His early years cannot better be described than in his own
words, at the time he was twenty-one. "Oct. 25, 1834. I am
no longer a minor. I have attained the age of 21, and no bones
broken. Was it fashionable now as formerly, or rather was
this cold water reform, anything like 'Jackson and Reform' or
Past office reform, I should not hesitate to crack a bottle of old
cognac. But I prefer to be a reformist, an abolitionist, a pure
Radical. During the long period of my minority, there are but
few incidents within my recollection of any importance before
1826. I was like all other boys full of mischief, and perhaps
that disposition is still a trait in my character. I was sent to
an Acadenn- in Thetford, Vt., in the spring of 1826. The time
passed away as it usually does at such places, cheerfully. At
the expiration of the term, I of course went home, from thence
I was sent to Plainfield Academy, where I spent another three
months. In the Fall of 1826, my uncle, Avho then resided in Mil-
ford, X. H., requested of my father that I should live with him.
I forthwith 'packed up.' For three long years, I remained with
him acting in the complicated capacity of foot-boy, valet de
chamhre, ostler, informer, cow-boy. In fact I was both Squire and
Knight, visiting home but once during my sojourn with my uncle.
In 1829, in the Fall, I think in the month of September, my uncle
deceased, consequently my official capacity was at an end. And
bidding farewell to a land that had become endeared to me by
many recollections, I again set sail for the land of Canaan.
Mi Rr.
"^J^'
'^H
1. 2. 3, Mary (Currier) Wallace. 4. Louisa CWier^ Currier 5. Mary Flint) 'Wallace.
6, James Burns Wallace.
Old Families. 539
1830 again foiiud me rambling over the fields of Canaan.
During this year I was alternately in my father's store, and at
school. Three years absence had made many alterations in the
town. Some of the old inhabitants had moved away and others
had appeared to fill their places. So I was obliged to regret
their loss and form new acquaintances. 1831, Aug. I buried my
father, from that period to the present a new era has been opened
to my views. My younger brother had previously engaged as a
printer in the office of the Post at Haverhill, N. H. Im-
mediately after my father's decease I went to Concord, and
engaged as a clerk in a store of Asaph Evans, in which capacity
I acted for the space of three months. It was in Hills building I
was situated. I paid a visit to the printing ofiiee. The employ-
ment I thought would suit me. I had previously heard the
rumbling of the presses and conversed with several of the print-
ers. I became afflicted with the printing mania, and thenceforth
resolved to be a printer, made application to Mr. Hill, who
without much 'talk' agreed to employ me, provided. According-
ly in November, 1831, I entered the office of Hill & Barton, the
publishers of the N. H. P. & S. G., as a — not a devil, but a
printer, which employment perfectly coincided with my dis-
position and feelings. From my youth I had been very fond
of reading. In my situation I could gratify that propensity.
And it was not the least of my enjoyment, after the round of
labor had passed off, to sit me down, one, two, three, sometimes a
dozen hours, to spend in perusing such books as I could obtain
from the extensive collection of Mr. Hill. Adapting the manner
of David Hume, 'that as a man can not write long of himself
without egotism,' I will hasten this sketch to a close. I was
never destined to the command of a regiment of Hussars, or to
pick type forever. In the Fall of 1832, whether it proceeded
from my sedentarj^ ambition, or from my sedentary habits, or
from some other cause more immediate, or remote, I am unable
to determine, I sickened of fever and fled the office, attribu-
ting meanwhile my sickness to the confined life I led. From the
kind attention of my physician, and the kinder attention of my
mother, I in a short time recovered, returned to the office, and
after bidding farewell to the knights of the stick and type, took
540 History of Canaax.
a retrograde movement again to the land of Canaan. Immedi-
ately after my return I contracted a bargain with Gordon Bur-
ley, to enter as clerk in his store, a man who has subsequently
rendered himself so infamous in the annals of Canaan. Three
months I tarried with him and left him in perfect disgust. This
was in the winter of 1832 & 3. April 1, 1833, entered the store
of Nathl Currier, where I remained eleven months. During this
year 1833, the attention of the north was roused to the investiga-
tion of the system of slavery as carried on within the limits of
U. S. A. Not since my recollection has a national subject re-
ceived the attention which this has. In j\Iarch, 1834, I left
Canaan for Middlebury, Vt. I entered a store in that place
acting as clerk. From some cause which is not immediately con-
nected with my tale, after remaining there two months I de-
parted for the land of Canaan. One would think from the many
times that I had landed at C, I was so intensely attached to it,
as to leave all else to a general wreck before I would abandon
it. But it is far otherwise. On the other hand, I find it to be
a convenient starting point. It is as of as much importance in
my terrestrial voyages as the Pole star. ' '
In the winter of 1834 to 35 he taught school in Canaan "in
old Hadley's Sleepy Hollow," and attended dancing school.
Abraham Pushee, who was a renowned dancing master and
fiddler, opened a dancing school with an attendance of eighty.
On January 27, 1835, he went to work as a clerk for Whittier
& Balch in their store. On the 27th of March, Whittier sold
out to Balch and he remained with the "Jr Partner." He re-
mained with Balch until October. Nathaniel Currier had pro-
posed to him to go to Louisiana with Hubbard Harris on a trad-
ing trip, with ready-made clothing, socks, etc. He was to carry
$8,000 to $10,000 worth of goods. He left Boston on October
30 and reached New Orleans on November 19. He was sick
thirteen days on the voyage. On the 6th of December he
reached Natchitoches by boat up the Mississippi. He made a
trip of fourteen days to Washing-ton, Ark., on horseback, and
after his return went to David Pratt's store in the Parish of
Claiborne, traveling sixty-five miles through the wilderness to
find only two buildings, — Pratt 's store and a house of enter-
Old Families. 541
tainmeut kept by one Drew, a superannuated planter. The first
man whom he met was Doctor Nelson, who had left Canaan the
March before.. David Pratt was Mrs. Nathaniel Currier's oldest
brother. His daughter, Elizabeth Pratt, was with him. From
Pratt's store he set out for Spring Hill, Ark., and traveled three
days to find three buildings in the pine woods. "We crossed
creeks and bayous, plunged through cane brakes and mud so
deep that we could not travel faster than a walk. The inhabi-
tants are scattered here and there, so remote from each other
and society, that their mode of life is little calculated to please
a Yankee. The food is principally corn bread (chicken dough)
and fried pork fried in soap grease. I was fourteen days on the
road, traveled about 400 miles. Five merchants shipped their
goods back north. There was an influx of merchandise. Harris
is with me. " This was Hubbard Harris, brother of George. He
returned to New Orleans and on January 9 started by boat
up the Mississippi to Columbus, Ohio; from there he staged
across to Philadelphia, arriving on the 31st of January, 1836.
"Feb. 2. I made arrangements today to leave for New York on
the Camden & Amboy K. R., but owing to the extreme cold the
cars did not arrive from N. Y. I am obliged to go in an open
sleigh, 4 P. M. and will arrive in N. Y. tomorrow morn." On
February 12 he reached Canaan. In March he went back into
Balch's store. This store stood just above Mrs. Caleb Blodgett's
house and is the shed of Mr. Shrigley's building. It was built
by James Wallace and during his lifetime was used by him as a
store at the lower end of the Street. After his death it was sold
to Whittier & Balch. In the latter part of March Balch sold
to Hiram Smart. In July, 1837, Smart sold out to him and he
began business for himself, but it was not profitable and being
unable to obtain a lease of the building, he traded back to Smart
in October and the store was closed. On January 1, 1838, he
formed a partnership with Nathaniel Currier, under the name
of Currier & Wallace. Later he formed a partnership with
Horace S. Currier at the Street and at the time of his death,
they were in business at the depot.
He represented the town in 1852 and was town clerk from
1846-51. No children.
542 History of Canaan.
3. William Allen, b. in Pembroke, September 28. 1815; d. in
Canaan February' 15, 1893; m. January 8, 1865, by Rev.
Reuben Dearborn in Canaan, Mary Duncan Currier, dan.
of James and Louisa (Wier) Currier, of Canaan; b. Novem-
ber 20, 1838 ; d. in Canaan December 25, 1898 ; one child :
James Burns, b. in Canaan August 14, 1866 ; m. December 21,
1889, Alice Hutchinson, dau. of Lucius B. and Alice M.
(Rollins) Hutchinson; b. June 22, 1867; no. ch.
4. Oscar Flint, b. in Canaan March 14, 1818; d. there May 27,
1842 ; single.
5. Amelia Melvina, b. in Canaan December 14, 1820; d. in San
Francisco. CaL, ]\Iarch 20, 1868; m. Daniel G. Cummings;
b. March 5, 1812. She was his second wife ; one ch. He went
to California in the latter part of 1854, and she followed in
April, 1855, with her daughter.
Clara Amelia, b. May 14, 1846; d. Yokohama, Japan, Novem-
ber 19, 1900; m. April. 1868, in San Francisco, CaL,
George E. Rice, who died in Nagasaki, Japan, December
17, 1901. She was employed in the English School of
the Japanese government until it was abolished. He
was eleven years in the employ of the United States gov-
ernment at Yokohama, Japan ; three years as marshal and
eig'ht years as vice-consul general. They resided in
Yokohama, Japan. Three children :
Mabel Amelia, b. at Hakadate, Japan, December 23, 1868 ;
m. Henry "W. Eraser; d. July 27. 1909, in New York
City. Was with the Hong Kong, Shanghai Bank in
Hong Kong and in New York City. No. ch.
Lillian Amelia, b. Hakadate. Japan, December 23, 1868 : m.
December 12, 1888, Frank Gillett of Walthamstow,
England; b. January- 14, 1854; d. December 9, 1900.
During his life they resided in Yokohama, and upon
his death she went to his home in England and has re-
sided there since ; one ch.
Evelyn Frances, b. October 12, 1889.
Clara Edwina, b. September 21, 1871 ; m. November 30, 1892,
William Wallace Campbell of Quebec ; b. in Quebec,
August 22, 1860; reside in Kobe, Japan; he is agent
Old Families. 543
of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, White Star and
Oriental Steamship Companies. Two cli. :
Dorothy, b. May 18, 1895.
Archibald Kenneth, b. October 2, 1896.
6. Sophia Jane, b. May 13, 1823 ; d. in Canaan, July 5, 1842 ;
single.
7. Rodney Holton, b. February 22, 1826 ; d. April 6, 1826.
8. Harriet Olivia, b. January 22, 1830; d. in Canaan June 4,
1904 ; bur. in Oakland, Cal. ; m. 1st, February 18, 1850, Al-
bert Martin, son of Eleazer, of Canaan; b. in Grafton Feb-
ruary 2, 1821 ; d. in San Francisco, Cal., November 28, 1883.
They resided in San Francisco for many years until his
death. He was in the banking- house of Tallant & Co. After
his death she came back to Canaan and married May 20,
1889, Matthew H. Milton, b. October 28, 1819 ; d. in Canaan
in 1905. She was his second wife. She went to California
with her daughter and brother in 1859 ; her husband had
preceded her the year before ; one ch. by her first husband.
Lillie Wallace, b. in Canaan, May 9, 1851; d. in East Oak-
land in 1905 ; m. August 27, 1868, Charles H. Daly ; b. in
Australia December 13, 1841 ; two ch. :
Gertrude Elizabeth, b. August 8, 1869 ; d. August 13, 1872.
Mabel Harriet, b. October 18, 1873 ; d. June 12, 1902.
William Allen Wallace.
William Allen Wallace was the son of James and Mary (Flint)
Wallace. He was a descendant on his father's side of the
Scotch covenanters who came from Scotland to the north of Ire-
land, and with the other emigrants from Londonderry, came to
America and settled Londonderry. N. H. His mother came from
Middleton, Mass.; her father was Lieut. Jolm Flint a Revolu-
tionary soldier and her grandfather, John Flint, was in the same
army. Her grandmother was Huldah Putnam, a sister of Gen.
Israel Putnam.
My father came to Canaan from Pembroke in 1817, with his
father and mother and two older brothers, when he was two
years old. His father was a stern man whom he feared rather
than loved, who was too much engaged in his business to pay
544 History of Canaan.
much attention to his children. This left their care to the
mother, who was a sincere Christian woman whose first duty was
to her children, then to her church. His education up to the
time he was fifteen years old, was obtained at the schools in
town, and he was prepared to enter Dartmouth College. ]\Ir.
J. L. Bunce of the New Hampshire Post, a paper printed at
Haverhill, N. H., adverstised for a boy. He begged his parents
to let him learn to set type and in May, 1831, his mother car-
ried him to Haverhill and he was duly installed in that oifice
as the youngest apprentice. He was the first of the family to
leave home and the last to return. In August of that year,
his father died and his mother being occupied in caring for the
estate, closing up the store and cooperage business, his college
life was overlooked. He remained at Haverhill two years, when
the oifice was sold out and hauled off to Concord. He says,
"about all I learned in the Post office was to set type, to work
the rollers, and to sweep the office. This last operation I re-
duced to a science, and have often since been complimented for
the skill with which I manipulated a broom over a dusty floor
without raising a cloud." He went to Concord as a part of the
office and remained about a year, not liking the owner, he left.
He fell into the hands of a man who cared nothing for him, and
when at the end of his service the only advice he received was
to "Go and be hanged." He went; but was not hanged. In
April, 1834, he engaged to work with Alfred Beard of the
Nashua Telegraph, a genial, pleasant gentleman, whom every-
body loved, but none more so than those who labored for him.
He remained there two years and then took to wandering. He
says: "I was often disgusted with myself for the instability of
my resolutions. I was possessed with the idea that I was not ap-
preciated at my full value ; but with empty pockets, I got over
that. There is nothing like a flat purse to take the conceit out
of a boy."
In 1836 he had gro'^vTi uneasy and wanted to be doing something
else. His oldest brother had gone to sea and he thought to do
the same. His brother Burns wrote him: "The idea of being
a sailor is not ennobling, means can be furnished you to go to
school six months, be contented until your time has expired."
Old Families. 545
In May he went to Plymouth to school where he remained until
December. He was obliged to rise at 5 o'clock in the morning,
study an hour before breakfast, and whenever he wished to
smoke to go out of to\^Ti. The first of December found him in
the office of the Bunker Hill Aurora, Charlestown, Mass. ; the
last of December he was back again in Nashua, and on the first
of January, 1837, in Charlestown again, when he was almost
induced to enlist in the United States navy, and but for his
brother Burns, would have been a sailor. However, he went
back into the printing office and remained in Charlestown for
about a year. He then went to East Bridgewater, ]\Iass., and
remained about six months in the employ of George H. Brown.
He returned home through the summer and in October went
to Boston, where he remained the rest of the year. In Decem-
ber he wrote: "A printer cannot, like almost any other me-
chanic, take his tools and set himself down by the roadside
wherever he pleases and establish himself. He must wait, long
years of anxious toil, frequently thrown out of work, and when
at length grown grey in the service, his best life's blood ex-
hausted and his eye growing dim, he thinks of passing his days
in quiet, he examines his funds and finds, not full coffers, but
as when he first set out, nothing but emptiness. I am a printer.
I have been a journeyman over two years, and if not where I
first began, I am so near it that you can scarcely perceive the
difference, except that I have grown somewhat older. I have
come to the conclusion I will stav in Boston as long as I can get
work." One day in January, 1839, he found himself in Wor-
cester, Mass., with $2.11 in his pocket. He went into the old
Spy office and became its foreman. On the publication of the
Daily Spy in 1846, he became one of the editors. In 1848 he
went with the great host up to Buffalo and joined in the nomina-
tion of Martin Van Buren for the purpose of defeating Lewis
Cass for president. He says: "I was always proud of that
pilgrimage, for it broke up the seemingly interminable Demo-
cratic succession in office, and was one of the moving events
which led to the abolition of slaver\^" In Julv, 1848, he became
associated with Mr. Earle in the management of the Spy.
Mr. Earle was not an easy man to get along with. The Spy
35
546 History of Caxaax.
was not a mint and the financial system was a source of irrita-
tion to my father. In December, 1848, he wrote: "I often
think I could bring my mind down to estimate the value of
money, because my friends tell me some day I shall see the
necessity of it. But it is no use, my head is too full of wild
thoughts, vagaries, dreams. It is only when I get out into the
world, and then I have only learned its value when sometimes,
at a moment's notice I have found mj^self in the cars, and half
way to Springfield, Boston or Norwich, without a cent, and have
had to borrow of the conductor to pay my passage." His money
went as fast as he got it and his friends took advantage of his
little regard for it by borrowing of him. Mr. Earle was one of
those ; and this eventually led to their estrangement. In the
early part of '49 a cousin wrote him : " If I were a young man
I would go to California." In answering it, he said: "The
idea has taken strong hold of me. My mind is haunted with the
visions of that golden land. I say to myself, why should I stay
here, where only toil and labor are mine, and a mere pittance
(which to be sure is more than I carry with me into another
world), all I get for my toil. There are many associations and
kind friends which it will be hard to part from, but partings
and change are the order of nature. I can lose my life by going
and I may by staying. I shall feel no more peace of mind here
than I would there. It has long been my desire to leave New
England, to go beyond the reach of influences that have made
my heart, I was going to say, desolate, but it is not so. There
is no feeling of desolation in my heart and cannot be as long as
there is a good God above, and the woods and fields and glorious
beauty all round me. In my younger days my chiefest delight
was in rambling alone in the woods and fields and my recollec-
tions of thankfulness to the glorious Giver of all that is beau-
tiful in the world, still have their influences upon me. My home
is among the mountains and my youth was spent there. I
studied the works of God, those old mountains seemed like altars
and the trees and flowers pointing straight to Heaven, seemed
like worshipers before the Majesty above. But I left them in
their silent beauty and grandeur, to wander among men and
engage in the strifes of the world. There is a vacuum, a long-
Old Families. 547
ing after the past, and an intangible dream of love, an attach-
ment stronger than time, back there in my young years, the
memory of it and its sad termination, have made my life an
active one, but a lonely one. My heart has not been hardened,
though I have often feared it had, nor have any of its fine cords
been blunted, but I often feel lonely and all my thoughts are
tinged with sadness. I do not expect ever to get rid of it. But
I do wish to change my residence. I want to run away from my
fate. And for that reason, I am impelled to go and dig gold."
In March, 1849, he wrote again: "I am inwardly impelled
strongly and constantly to go west. I am going to do something
besides dabble in politics. Mr. Earle says I am sanguine, ner-
vous and impulsive, and it is useless to try to make me other-
wise." In July, 1850, he wrote : "I am about to leave this city,
probably forever, after eight years and a half of service in the
old Spy office. I shall leave it with regret and yet with the con-
sciousness that I have already been here too long. I would like
to change my business. And will buy me a farm where I can
enjoy the sweat of my labor, unannoyed by the political struggles
that haunt an editor's life. On the 22d of this month I shall
leave. ' '
After leaving Worcester, he went home to Canaan, visited
relatives in Warrensburg, N. Y., and Burlington, preparing to
go. In September, 1850, he started for the West on a tour of
discovery for something to do, reaching Chicago by way of the
Great Lakes. He returned to Canaan with his mind fully made
up to go to California. On November 7, 1850, he wrote: "This
may be the last day I spend in the house of my childhood. My
thoughts are not all sad for I feel an assurance that some day
I may return. I know I am not formed to buffet the world.
Quiet labor I enjoy. I shall go forth trusting in Providence that
my future may be useful to some of the loiterers by the way-
side. Privation and hardship and severe toil, I anticipate, but
the hope that animates, will I trust, give me strength to bear and
overcome the difficulties and dangers." He left home the next
day, proceeded to New York to take passage on a vessel bound
for the Isthmus. On the 17th they passed under the guns of
Morro Castle, ran up the bay and visited Havana. On the 24th
548 History of Canaan.
they arrived at Chagus, where ten of them hired a boat for $150
to go up the river. On the 1st of December they reached Pana-
ma, where they took passage in the Constitution, a vessel badly
out of repair. There was much sickness on board, the accommo-
dations and food being of the poorest kind. On the 14th they
entered the Bay of Acapulco, where they landed and bought
eggs for a dime apiece. My father bought eleven hens to take
to California. They left Acapulco on the 16th, with 190 pas-
sengers. On the 29th of December he landed in San Francisco.
He remained there three days and with five others in company
with him, started up Napa Creek to lay claim to some unoccu-
pied land to begin farming. They pushed on three miles be-
yond Napa, then a small village of fifty houses, hired a farm
of a Mr. BrowTL and on the 15th of January, 1851, began spading
up the soil with three spades. One of their number made a rake.
The next day they set out onions, planted ruta-bagas and tur-
nips. They succeeded in spading about a quarter of an acre,
and made up their minds it w^as too slow. They went eight
miles and bought two mules for $100 each, determined, if they
could buy a plow, to plow all they could fence. He w^rites : ' ' Why
am I here in a region so little known, engaged in farming?
Most people think there is nothing else to do in California but
to dig gold, and the mines are the destination of almost everyone.
I could have gone there with my New Hampshire friends and
perhaps I should not have regretted it. But as we have tools
and seeds fresh from home and did not wish to lose them after
learning the price of vegetables in the various markets, we re-
solved to find land for cultivation. But farming is expensive
and we must wait some months before we can get our crops to
market. In the meantime we must live, and provisions are not
cheap. Knowing this and believing that the woods and rivers
might atford a small income, we sought for a country abound-
ing in fish and game. This we have found, and as soon as our
seed is in the ground we shall take advantage of what is before
us. In the mountains twelve miles distant are grizzlys, whose
flesh sells for fifty cents per pound, and whose hide is very
valuable ; elk, deer and hare abound. We have a boat and take
our stores to San Francisco in one day. We did propose at first
Old Families. 549
to go to the mines and carry on gardening and mining. We
thought we should find plenty of land without an owner and we
might squat anywhere. There is not a foot of land and never
will be. We are about sixty miles from San Francisco and have
large quantities of turnips and onions in the ground. Turnips
bring about twelve and one-half cents each."
In the four months he had been in Napa valley he had gained
nineteen pounds, sleeping on the ground and climbing moun-
tains, hunting and farming, chasing coyotes, wolves and bears
from their hens, ducks and mules. The latter ran away and
they spent ten days hunting them. "You know I always sang
a heavy bass; and could never sing anything else. Since I
came here I can run a scale from double D in the bass, to B flat
in alto without changing a muscle. I do not know what it is
attributable to, unless it be the healthy development of my sys-
tem, that gives my nerves and muscles, free and equal action."
He remained here until the last of June, when with two of his
companions, they started for the mines up the Sacramento River.
They reached Dry Creek on the 8th of July, and on the morrow
began rocking at Winslow's Bar on the Yuba River. After their
first week's labor they were able to pay for their tools and pro-
visions and divide four dollars each. The severe cold at night
and extreme heat in the middle of the day, caused my father
to take a severe cold and on the 29th they returned to Napa
to divide up the profits of farming. The chickens which they
had paid $5.10 for in Acapulco, they sold for $75. About the
only profit made. They had worked eight months and did not
pay expenses. On the 8th of October he determined to leave
Napa and seek his fortune in some other field. He paid $6
for a ride in a cart to Benicia and $100 by steamer to San Fran-
cisco, where he remained until the 13th and then started for
Big Bar, a placer mining district on the Moquelumne River,
where he began to work a race. But mining did not pay and on
the 28th of December he wrote : "I sometimes think I will leave
this country and return to the Atlantic. More money is to be
made here than elsewhere, but money is not all I would live for.
I have talent and education which ought to serve me better than
they do here. I have aspirations which are stifled by physical
550 History of Canaan.
pain and labor and my pride is often sorely hurt by some double-
jointed ignoramus who laughs at my futile attempts to unearth
some huge rock. Were it a question of politics, law or divinity
even, I would have no fear of my abilities to meet it. I have
but one passion, it is not for gold ; it is not for honors or fame ;
it is for music. I love the forest, for the wind sighs mournfully
through its branches. The pattering rain lulls me to sleep. ' '
On the 25th of February, 1852, he wrote: "Now, how can I
say anything to stay a man from coming to this place? There
is plenty to eat, to drink, to wear, to be had for money. But
these are not what men come here for, golden fortunes are the
inducements to all; they start with a feeling that they will en-
dure all necessary hardships in their strife for gold, and feel
confident of success. They arrive at San Francisco, at Stock-
ton, or Sacramento. Here commences the real strife ; from
either of these points they begin to feel that the elephant is not
far off. At either place they are not forty miles from gold.
They hire their goods packed to their diggings, themselves walk-
ing through the sandy plains, and over the tiresome hills. They
are in the mines where they have so often sighed to be. Here
they are to commence a new life in earnest. Now look at them.
Here is a hill a mile and a half long, which they must descend.
On their backs (for now they must be their own jackasses) are
slung tent, clothes, camp kettles, picks, shovels, pans and their
personals. Slowly and wearily they arrive at the foot of the
hill, and lay down their packs to rest. They look anxiously
around. The earth lies in heaps and furrows, in every direc-
tion. 'What shall we do next?' Says one. 'I am hungry and
tired ; let us stop here. ' They sit down upon the ground, satisfy
their hunger with bread and pork, and perhaps sleep. They
wake in the morning refreshed and eager to begin the search;
for gold has glimmered through all their night visions. With
pick, pan and shovel they start out to prospect — to find a place
where they may dig and wash dirt. They traverse the bars and
river's bank up and down, washing out a pan of dirt here, an-
other there ; all day long they walk up and down, and return at
night weary to their pork and bread. With their weariness
comes a feeling of discouragement; for they have scarcely seen
Old Families. 551
the color of gold all day. lu the morning they start again.
This day perhaps they will strike something — and perhaps
they will not. And this last is perhaps much more intelligible to
men now than in other days. Well, this day brings no better
success. They see the tracks of the elephant all around — the
beast cannot be far off. They eat their supper in silence and
with forebodings. They are not only sick at heart, but sore
afraid. The great tears roll down their cheeks as they sit with
their elbows on their knees, regretting the dollar a day, the
cheerful homes and sympathizing friends they have left so far
away. There is no joy for them in anything around. The an-
ticipations of great riches with which they started have become
so modified, that had they sufficient to get back, they would
leave instantly. But "they must work; for there are no poor-
houses in this countrv. Thev conclude there is nothing for
them here. They make inquiries and are told that some eight,
ten or fifteen miles away, the miners are getting one or two
ounces a day. That is the place for them. They pack up their
chattels, and looking wistfulh^ up the long hill on either hand,
start on their weary way — one hill only leads them to another,
worse than the first. They inquire of every one they meet, how
far they are from their destination, and each one names a dis-
tance longer than the first. They at last reach the two-ounce
diggings. The earth lies in heaps and furrows, as at the first
place and they know not what to do here. They find that here,
as at other places, a few holes and claims are paying well, but
that most of the miners are not averaging over four dollars. To
them California has become a great humbug, — the largest field
for repentance, and the most unavailing — the worst place to
find a friend, and the hardest to get out of. Xow what is to be
done? They hear of great strikes in different directions; but
always at a distance. If they are foolish, they pack on after
the rainbow's dip. otherwise they settle down, and cleave the
earth and rocks like other men. As I said before, perhaps they
will be fortunate; but this is the most unintelligible word, per-
haps, in all this great country. I dare say that at this time,
three men out of everj- five are getting little more than a living,
simply because they are men wholly unfitted for the task they
552 History of Canaan.
have undertaken. Did they understand this, they would think
twice before they rushed ofit' here, they would make experiments
to ascertain whether they were able to pick, dig or shovel, in
water, mud, or dry dirt, week in and out, as they have to do here.
You reason, others get gold, why should not I ? You can, if you
will do what I propose, namely : take a common railroad pick
and a shovel, go out into your field and select the stoniest spot
you can find ; mark out ten feet square and go at it. Sink a hole
down to the ledge or bed rock. It may be five, ten or fifteen
feet. Start early in the morning and work till sunset, until you
finish the job. If you do not like this job, I will propose another,
the easiest I have experienced. Take your pick and shovel, to-
gether with two buckets (common water pails), go down near the
river, say fifty, or one or two hundred yards distant, fill your
buckets with dirt, and carry them to the river; you ought to
carry two hundred buckets in a day. When you get through
the first day judge whether you will be able to do it a w'hole
season. These are the two ways of getting out the gold. Re-
member that hard labor is not the only thing a man must en-
counter. Your intercourse is with men, with dirt and with
Nature in her wildest forms. Yet they are not companions with
whom man may commune a lifetime. Their sublime grandeur
excites one, but does not satisfy the longings of the human heart.
You must do your own cooking, washing and mending, for here
are neither wives, mothers, nor sisters. You must roll yourselves
in blankets, and when traveling, sleep in your clothes. Fleas
swarm all over the country, and sometimes before he has thought
of it, one gets lousy. When I speak of receiving so much as
my share of a week's labor, I simply mean because I work in
partnership with others. You ask me when I will get sufficient
gold to induce me to return. Really I can not tell. The thought
often comes to me that my talents and education ought to be
of more service than digging here. Notwithstanding I am get-
ting gold faster than ever before, a feeling of uselessness comes
over me, and I long to be back. ' '
He remained at Big Bar until April, 1852 ; the rains and floods
carried away everything in March and they could dig only in the
canons. He returned to Stockton and on the 8th of April, w4th
Old Families. 553
two Worcester men, started for Big Creek Flat on the Touwa-
lumne River, eight miles from Jacksonville. Here he took out
$45, became discouraged, returned to Oak Springs intending to
return to the states, "Tired to death of the under life." On the
21st he returned to Stockton, stopped two days with his brother
John and started for San Francisco. On the 26th he started
for the mines again with a firm determination "of not leaving
there without something." On the 7th of May he arrived at
the old cabin again, found one of the party, worked a week and
divided $8.50. He then started for ]\Ioccason Creek to see if he
could do any better. The first week he took out $25 the next
$26.80. On ^lay 30th he wrote : ' ' How many of these weary
hot days must I dig to be able to return to my friends. I have
not been fortunate here. The nature of the labor makes it im-
possible for a constitution like mine to succeed. ' ' He made dur-
ing this month $89. In July he left Woods Creek, Dutch Bar,
taking a miTle train for Stockton and San Francisco on his way
to Panama and home. He put off at Yuba Beuna to find his
brother, and then returned to San Francisco, where he re-
mained three months. On the 27th of September, 1852, he went
to Los Angeles. The next day he wrote: "This is my anni-
versary, 'I wish I was a boy again when life seemed formed of
sunny years. ' ' '
On the 12th of October he went into the office of the Los
Angeles Star. In 1853 he became the editor and proprietor. He
wrote: "The paper was a folio, five columns to the page, about
half the size of the Daily Union, printed with bourgeois and
nonpareil, and one-half the sheet was dedicated to the natives in
the Spanish language. The price was $6 per year ; advertising
$2 per inch. There was money in it and danger also. Human
life was held at a cheap rate in those years. Thieves and mur-
derers were turned loose from Mexican prisons on condition that
they left the country. In the autumn of 1852 these cholos be-
came so daring that we appointed a tribunal which we named
Vigillantes. Quite a number of the scamps were hung on the
hill in front of Fremont's old fort in view of the whole city.
On one occasion five were hung upon one gallows. On being
told by Doctor Osborne that if they desired to leave any mes-
•'>54 History of Canaan.
sage for their friends they had better take that opportunity, as
they would soon start for a country where the post office con-
nections were uncertain, one of the victims with a noose around
his neck, addressed several of his comrades standing in the
crowd by name thus : ' ' We made a mistake in coming to this
country, amigos. They are too active for us. Go back, every
one of you, to Sonora, and obey the laws, or you will soon be
traveling this same road. And now," he added, turning to the
doctor, who was to float them off, ''sons of dogs, do your worst."
But there was another element in that country equally as
dangerous as those cholos, — the slave-holding intolerance of free
speech. A large proportion of the new people were from Ar-
kansas, Missouri and Texas, and they brought all their southern
prejudice with them. California, in that day was as surely a
slave state as Texas. To be sure she adopted and was admitted
with a free constitution; but the influence of the slave power
was so potent that for four years afterwards annually the Legis-
lature enacted a law giving the owners of slaves, brought there
for mining purposes, one year longer in which to secure profits
from the labor of their slaves.
The courts were all friendly to this legislation, and if an ap-
peal were made to them to interfere, the judges "reserved an
opinion. ' ' Pistols and knives were the chief ornaments of men,
and the ladies had not yet arrived. It was a time for constant
active watchfulness, and it was years before confidence was
firmly established among the motley crowd that had gathered
there to form a social community. In August, 1854, after an
absence of four years, he started for home by way of the Is-
thmus. On August 25 he arrived in New York, and on the 30th
reached Canaan, where he spent thirteen days with his mother
and sisters. His brother Burns had died in the meantime. Dur-
ing September he "visited relatives in Warrensburg and Syracuse,
N. Y., and in October went to Worcester. In Providence on the
12th of October, he wrote: "I have now no ambition, but to re-
turn to California. I want the free mountain air, my horse,
rifle, woods and flowers. ' ' He made two visits to Professor Gray
of Harvard College with flowers he had collected in California,
and so pleased was the old man that he cried. The variety and
Old Families. 555
beauty of the California flowers had never been shown him
before, and he directed him how to collect and preserve fur-
ther specimens which were to be sent him. On the 28th he
went to Milford, N. H., to visit relatives, then to Warrensburg,
X. Y., then to Providence, and to Danvers, Mass. On Novem-
ber 24, he wrote : "I, alone, am a wanderer up and down the
earth, stopping- like a rail car here and there for refreshments."
On the 5th of December he left New York for Panama and San
Francisco, where he arrived on the 31st. January 10, 1855,
found him again in Los Angeles.
On the 25th of January he received the appointment as school-
master and taught until the 17th of June, "when he began to
prepare for another journey home, wearied with teaching dull-
ards from the frontiers." While teaching, he with some of his
friends became interested in Spiritualism, and attended seances,
but was never able to get much satisfaction out of that belief.
It was new to that wild country and appealed to many men
so far away from their kindred. The medium took advantage
of those who had distant friends; his belief in mediums was
never strong, and gradually died out. On the 4th of July he
went to San Francisco, stopped with his sister Melvina and on
the 16th set sail for the Isthmus; on August 1st he crossed the
Isthmus and on the 11th landed in New York. On the 18th
"started for the home of my childhood. Found old Atherton
encroaching upon my lines, that we have occupied for forty
years. Nearly all the trees were planted since my father's
death. It is twenty-five years since I left my schoolmates here.
Mother has filled the house with boarders for the school, of
young people whose fathers and mothers were my playmates.
I return from wandering over the face of the earth and find my-
self classed as old by those with whom it seems natural for me
to associate. Though my hair is silvered, they knew of me from
their parents, and they received me with the respect due to
age and to travel, not with the familiarity of companionship.
Surely I am getting old. I am the last of my family. My
mother has married again, my sisters have married and their ,
names no longer belong to me. My brothers and my father lie
in yonder churchyard. There is a row of mounds there and all
556 History of Can.v.vn.
mj' kin are resting there. But I do not grieve; for what are'
these bodies, more than old garments we cast off? These beau-
tiful scenes of my childhood, I become more enamoured of each
time I approach them. The further I wander the more do I
turn towards it." He remained at home but a short time and
on the 6th of September visited relatives in Danvers and Salem.
From there he went to Providence, New York, Philadelphia,
Pittsburg, Cleveland, Syracuse, and on October 2, returned to
Canaan to leave again on the 8th. On the 13th he reached New
York and on the 20th set sail again for California. "I cannot
wait, I must travel this world alone." On the 15th of Novem-
ber he landed in San Francisco, and on the 23d was back again
to take up his old quarters in Los Angeles. On the 25th he be-
gan school at San Gabriel at $90 per month. He continued to
teach more or less during the time he lived in Los Angeles
while he was not editing a newspaper. In 1856 he was ap-
pointed school commissioner. In April he purchased the Los
Angeles Star and edited it for a short time as proprietor. A
month afterwards he sold it. "I could not advocate Buchanan
for president, and the politicians wanted a Democratic press. I
then edited a Spanish campaign paper called El Clamor Publico,
and through its instrumentality carried the county for Fremont.
The starting of the paper was a dangerous move. Grant Owry
(who has since been a delegate in Congress from Arizona), came
into town one day from Tuscon with a lot of his fellows, and
said he had come to ' ' clean out the black abolitionists, ' ' and had
"brought along the ropes." He was met at the plaza and ad-
vised to take his band and ropes back into the desert, and told
that no outrage upon any person whomsoever would be per-
mitted; that the men of Los Angeles were capable of taking
care of themselves, and, if occasion required, of him and his
band also. He found us all "loaded," even the most peaceable
of us, and took himself back silently to the left bank of the Gila
River." "I was the first man who dared announce himself a
Republican in southern California in 1856, spending much time
and money upon this Spanish paper, but never happened to be
on the winning side in that country; worse men than I got all
the offices." "When a member of the school board, the city
Old Families. 557
council authorized them to build a schoolhouse of brick, two
stories high, and to open and establish the first public school in
that city. He was elected an honorary member of the Cali-
fornia Academy of Sciences, for labor in the field as a botanist.
"I was present at a ball in Don Abel Steams' casa, when the
managers expelled General Fremont and a woman he conducted
there, and who was not his wife. At one time I was in the Mor-
mon county of San Bernandiuo with Judge Hayes and was ap-
pointed by him special United States district attorney, in the
absence of the proper officer, who was then in Rebellion against
the government."
As a gatherer of news, he first made known the horrible de-
tails of the Mountain Meadow massacre. In January, 1857, he
began writing as correspondent for the Alta California, a news-
paper published in San Francisco. During this year he was en-
gaged in teaching school, making many trips into the moun-
tains in search of flowers. On one of them he met two bears
in the trail, one a short distance behind the other, both of which
turned out. Further along he met a panther whom he and his
mule turned out for. In June, 1858, the proprietor of the Alta
California sent for him to come to San Francisco. On the 28th
he left the latter city for the Fraser River and the scenes of the
latest gold excitement. It was the desire of McCrellish, pro-
prietor of the Alta to stop the flood of emigration from Cali-
fornia to those mines, and no better way was known than to send
some one who could describe the hardships to be endured with
so little chance of success. His own description of his journey
was written and forwarded to the Alta, some parts of which may
be interesting :
"The summer of 1858 will long be remembered in the annals
of many a sad fellow upon the Pacific coast, who with bright
hopes and excited imagination, threw away what fine chances
remained to him in California and Oregon, and wishing to be
the first man there rushed off, expecting to gather wealth from
the golden sands of the Fraser River. Hustling themselves into
crowded ships to get to Victoria, and here buying or building
canoes, they paddled across the stormy Gulf of Georgia, 75
miles to the mouth of Fraser River, where with muscles firmly
o5S History of Canaan".
braced, they stemmed the fierce torrent that rushed down
through the Cascade Mountains. Many of those adventurers
lost their lives in those whirling waters. ]\Iany lost the earn-
ings of years. A few gathered gold and came away to enjoy
it. I was upon the editorial statf of the Alta California at San
Francisco. In the interests of humanity it was desirable to
check the increasing rush to the mines, which could be produc-
tive only of misery and poverty- in thousands of cases. With
this object in view, I was directed by the manager of the paper
to proceed to Victoria, and thence to the scenes of excitement
along the Fraser River, as high up as Fort George, in L. 60° X.
"I took passage with two companies of soldiers bound up the
Columbia River 120 miles to Fort Vancouver. Here was one
of the sublimest spectacles the lover of nature ever beheld. The
snow-crowned monarchs towering far above the clouds, their
cold white summits glittering in the sunlight rose before us.
Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens, were there in all
their grandeur, their massive vastness seemed to fill the horizon.
They were sixty to one hundred miles apart, and their great tops
seemed to kiss each other, and the breeze which swept from them
seemed laden with chilly particles. I have looked upon the
tall peaks of the Sierra Xevadas, but these stand alone in all
their magnificence and fill the heart with awe, a sense of fullness
comes upon you as you gaze upon them towering up to the
gates of Heaven."
On the 6th of July he reached Victoria : ' ' 2,000 men have
gone up, 200 went home on the Panama" the steamer he went
on. On the 13th he reached Fort Hope where he remained a
week, and then proceeded by steamer to Fort Yale, where the
sun rose at 2.30 in the morning. After remaining there a week
he returned to Fort Hope, and on the 10th of August was back
at Victoria. On the 25tli he was at Xapa, the place where he
first started farming in California. He wrote of X'apa "re-
visited," "this was once my dreamland, here on the banks of
this little river my first dreams of wealth in California took
form and grew and were on the point of being realized, but ' the
next dav came a killing frost.' It was from here I first wrote
letters to my friends, assuring them that two seasons at least
Old Families. 559
would close my exile. Those daj's were very happy, because
there was so much to hope for; and the memories of them as we
came up thronged upon me like pleasant shadows. ' ' From there
he went to White Sulphur Springs, where McCrellish had sent
him to recruit. He returned to San Francisco and was requested
to make preparations for a trip overland to Salt Lake City across
the plains. ' ' There is excitement in the anticipated dangers and
strange scenes I shall encounter. I love it, and shall start out
with much pleasure. ' ' He left San Francisco on the 2d of Sep-
tember, 1858, by boat and reached Sacramento the next day. On
the 4th he started by coach with nine others : the next morning
they had made but twenty miles and stopped for breakfast.
"The host was an Irislmian, and he will never be nearer death
than he then was until he meets it. Davis took offense at his
impudence and would have shot him." The road wound along
the south fork of the American river. ' ' There was novelty and
grandeur in those masvsive, round, naked, white rocks." At
Placer\411e they watched for the mail, to learn that it had been
attacked by Indians at Goose Creek mountains, the animals were
run off and the clothing of the party taken. They climbed to
the summit of the Sierras and down again through Eagle Valley,
across the Twenty-Six Mile Desert to the sink of the Humboldt
River, Alkali Lake. On the 11th they came upon a party of
300 Pah-ute Indians standing along the road, begging for to-
bacco, further along they came upon some Shoshones and on
the night of the 12th an attempted attack was made upon them
by Indians, but as they were prepared the Indians left. On the
23d they reached Salt Lake City. He remained there two weeks
meeting and conversing with the Mormons in the streets and in
their homes, and sending back letters for the Alta, of what he
observed. On the morning of October 2d, he proceeded overland
to St. Louis, having received word from McCrellish to go there.
The route taken was the one General Johnston took the summer
before when he had been sent by the government to subdue the
Mormons, and the countrv showed the traces of their fortifica-
tions. They were continually stopped by soldiers and were
obliged to give an account of themselves. They passed through
Echo Caiion, across Bear River, by Fort Bridger, to Green
560 History of Canaan.
Eiver, along the banks of the Sweetwater, with the Eattlesnake
Moimtams on one side, through the valley of the Platte to Lar-
amie, Fort Kearney. On the 23d of October he reached St.
Joseph. Mo., and on the 31st St. Louis, by boat from St. Joseph.
To a friend he wrote : "My journey from Salt Lake was long and
fatiguing, we ran through a hundred Indian villages, crossed the
Rocky Mountains, and all the other mountains on the continent,
ate buffalo meat, and chased buffalo bulls, saw the prairie all on
fire, and tried to catch prairie dogs ; chased mountain goats and
ran away from prairie wolves." He left St. Louis the next day
for Cincinnati, thence to Columbus, Cleveland and to Sj-racuse
which he reached November 10, where he visited his uncle five
days, and then to Albany and Xew York, from there he went to
"Worcester and on the 22d of November reached Canaan. "After
ten years absence a snowstorm greets me in my old home.
While breathing the warmer breezes of the South, I have come
to look with dread upon the snow king.""
He spent Thanksgiving in the old house, the first for twenty
years. He stayed at home until December 11, and then went
to Worcester, then to Boston and Cambridge visiting friends,
and on the 16th was back in Worcester, to meet W. P. Weeks and
to exact a settlement with Eaton, to whom he had sold his in-
terest in the Spy, and who had not paid him. He remained
there until December 24, and then went to New York where he
spent the holidays. On January 6, 1859, he was in Philadelphia
and on the 12tli set sail for Norfolk and Petersburg, in the in-
terests of the Alta. He visited Richmond and Fredericks-
burg. On February 10 he was in Washington, where he re-
mained until February 19, when he went to New York to see
Albert Martin, his brother-in-law and a son of Eleazer Martin,
off for California. On March 2 he was in Worcester and on
the 5th called on Doctor Gray at Cambridge and gave him all
the plants he had collected. He returned to Canaan and on
the 14th bade good-by to his mother, intending to return to
California. He got as far as the depot and came back. He
had made up his mind to join the Masons and called upon
Jacob Trussell, who gave him a letter to the lodge in Enfield.
During the following months he took the several degrees in So-
Old Families. 561
cial Lodge. On May Day he wrote, "I am still lingering like
the snowdrifts in this northern latitude. There are some little
arrangements which it becomes me to make, to render more easy
the path of the old lady who has long lived here rather than to
take her away. To remove her it would be necessary to take the
old house, the trees and the land along with her, whose heart
strings 'round them cling. The fence posts are rotted off, the
stone wall has fallen down, the orchard is dying, moss and lichens
have overgrown the roofs, rocks and trees ; the woodpeckers and
the wrens, who always know where the wood is decaying, flit
around, always keeping a large branch between themselves and
danger. The old lady insists that she is still smart, and is able
to take care of all these things; but she sometimes complains of
weariness ; her step is often feeble and she is becoming tremulous.
She says it is not so, but I, who see her at intervals of long years,
observe that like the fences and stone walls she needs to be
eared for. Therefore, I am waiting here. Besides these evi-
dences of decay and age, several little annoyances have arisen,
Avliich seemed to make it imperative to remove. One of these and
perhaps the worst, was occasioned by the obstinate pertinacity
of an old fellow who thinks the principle of squatter sovereignty
applicable to the condition of things in this law-abiding state.
He not only seized upon my land, but built his house upon it,
and kept so mean a fence that his chickens and stray animals
were always in the old lady's garden. I had to have a quarrel,
of course ; for how could I tolerate a squatter in my very garden ?
I threatened several things, and did get quite angrj'. I would
chop his house down, or dig a deep ditch, or build a high wall, or
sue the beggar and — pay all the costs myself. I made several
rash resolves, but at length grew considerate ; put up a close
stout fence of huge rocks, with which all our lands abound and
am now convalescent.
"I don't know that I am losing any time by stopping here, I
think, in fact. I am making a little daily progress homeward, be-
cause I am in a country^ where it is profitable to watch the
various pulsations of the human heart, — in labor, trade and re-
ligion,— the three elements that make up human nature in three
parts. These are very distinct employments but they have a
36
562 History of Canaan.
negative connection. Religion may sanctify and purify the mis-
erable and friendless wretch for a first -class passage to the Spirit
Land, but it is only successful trade and labor well rewarded
that secures content and peace of mind. Faith in Divine Provi-
dence is at a discount unless unattended with strong and saving
effort. 'God's love and care' are very pretty sentiments to talk
about, but these people know very well that if they do not pile
up the stones and burn the stumps in their fields, all the pro-
tection they get comes by way of the poorhouse. In this country
everybody but old Daniel Campbell and Nat Currier go to meet-
ing; but they put faith only in bone and muscle. There is no
excitement, no wildness, no enthusiasm on any subject. The men
hoe com and potatoes, make hay, and plod to church to get the
news of the week. The women make butter and cheese, get up
'circles' where some sewing is done and much sympathy is ex-
pressed for the poor in Africa and Hindustan, believe in the
minister, pray for their friends, and go to church to hear the
gospel, of course. Each day is the same, except that the wind
is sometimes south and northwest. To sleep, to eat, to labor, to
pray, to gossip, is the occupation of the people. No one gets
angry but me, no one fights, but many talk ! Indeed, if we were
to lose the power of speech, our little jealousies and envying-s
would have no utterance. It is marvelous what a relief it is to be
able to express one's sentiments distinctly, particularly where
there is no danger of personal injury. Do you care to hear of
this quiet countiy? It makes no noise in the world, because
there is no class here to disturb the peace. The people live by
will. They dine each day at 12 o'clock, and the hour is an-
nounced by the village bell. They toil hard upon the stingiest
and stoniest land, and pay their debts, not so much perhaps from
a principle of honesty as from a desire to avoid exposure. They
seldom make presents, and they do not give away their subsis-
tance. The winter was long and the spring backward, and the
frost nipped all the fruit buds, so that we have no apples. Then
the drouth came on and for two months there was no rain to
ripen the corn and potatoes and fill up the grass bottoms and
many fears have been expressed that there was to be a general
caving in of nature. The grumblers have been active in their
'p
Old Families. 563
vocation, but I think the harvest will 2iot disappoint the hus-
bandmen. Indeed, the most inveterate grumbler among them,
old Nat C. 'who never knew" so bad a season since 1816, when the
corn and potatoes were killed in July by the frosts,' now very
contentedly says he has a better crop than he had last year.
"Sometimes I think I am staj'ing here too long or that I am
going away too soon. I don't know how my happiness depends
upon it, yet I would not go alone, if I had the courage and con-
fidence of a young man. There is poetry and sentiment and
many imaginary pleasures in w'aiting; but like the redoubtable
Miles Standish, I am ten-ified at the ghost of a 'thundering No!'
from the lips of a pretty woman. The sensation is truly dis-
mal, and can only be appreciated by similar unfortunates."
The ' ' thundering No ' ' had so many terrors for him that after
making two attempts to leave w^ithout tempting his fate, he came
back each, time, in the same state in which he had departed. He
continued to linger here until the 14th of October, when he wrote,
"I shall leave the old country and go back to the old scenes that
have so long had charms for me. ' ' My mother had refused him
and he started for California. He went to Philadelphia, and
returned to New York, where he met his sister Harriet and her
daughter, Lilly, who took passage with him to join her husband
in San Francisco. On the 28th of October, 1859, at Aspinwall
he wrote:
"I had rather be at home building stone fences, digging rocks
and picking up dry leaves and occasionally walking up the hill.
Perhaps I might have won happiness. I shall have to travel
this once more and that is the end." On the 12th of November
they landed at the wharf at San Francisco, where he stayed a
week and then took steamer for Los Angeles. December 16 he
went to San Pedro and on the 20th he wrote, 'I loiow I am not
to remain here." On January 23, 1860, he started for San Fran-
cisco again to go to Sacramento, where the Legislature was in
session, at the request of the Alta California. The Alta in Feb-
ruarj^ asked him to go to the Geysers and Cinnabar mines. He
took steamer and on February 23 was at Petaluma, from there
he took stage up the valley of the Russian River to Healdsburg.
From there he proceeded alone on horseback to the geyser coun-
564 History op Canaan.
tiy, sometimes finding it more agreeable to walk clown the
declivities than to lean back and hold on to the hair of his horse 's
tail. Everywhere was indication of prospectors; hardly a rock
but what had been struck by a hammer. Claims had been staked
out. The discovery of quicksilver was more startling than that
of the precious metals. He remained there writing articles for
the Alta until March 13 when he returned to Petaluma and on
the 16th was back in San Francisco.
On that day he wrote his mother: "I have but just returned
from the mountains where I expected to be gone only six days.
I was absent four weeks on compulsion. I went down into one
of the worst mountain canons in the state and it came on to rain,
hail and snow so that I was fastened up. The snow covered the
tops of all the bushes, so that it was impossible to find the road,
and during ten days I remained in the house, looking out in vain
for the sun to peer down in vipon us. At last he came, melted
the snow, and raised the rivers, so that for several days we
could not ford them. Do you wish to know what I was doing
there ? Nothing. I went partly for my own pleasure, partly to
look after some rich quicksilver mines, supposed to be buried in
the rocks of that country. I found the cinnabar in great quan-
tities and some day it will be very valuable. But probably I shall
not live to see it. It was a w^ild region, and I was well repayed,
although I endured more hardship, and grew old faster than
upon any other expedition I have ever undertaken. It was
among the geysers, the boiling and steaming springs of sulphur,
alum, ammonia, and various other chemicals are constantly is-
suing from the earth. The earth is all on fire there, and as we
walk over it carefully, it has the resonance of a hollow chamber
beneath. I trod very carefully over those burning cones, for it
reminded me of what you used to teach me of ' the smoke of their
torments ascending forever' and of the fire and brimstone lake.
Here was almost positive proof of its existence. In the midst
of all this fire the most beautiful flowers M'ere blooming, and
beautiful trees growing. Two da,ys since I came down out of this
summer and winter region. I don't think there is another place
like it in the world, — so difficult to get at or to get away from,
nor so fearfully interesting w^hen you are there. ' '
Old Families. 565
On the 23d of March he dined with his sister Harriet in San
Francisco. He remained there until the 11th of April when he
was sent to Sacramento on political business, to oppose what
was called the Bulkhead bill. In the meantime the Alta had
been thinking of sending him overland to St. Louis, and on the
17th he began his preparations, but was unable to get stage for
a month. On the 21st he was in Sacramento again to carry con-
gratulations to Governor Downey for vetoing the Bulkhead bill.
On the 6th of May he returned to Los Angeles. On the 18th he
wrote, "Have been waiting for two weeks for overland stage to
take me to St. Louis, am impatient to get home. I have been a
wanderer so long, homeless and unsatisfied." On the 20th he
went to San Pedro to receive the governor, and on the 24th of
May started from Los Angeles overland by the Butterfield route.
On the 26th they were crossing the Colorado desert, on the 28th at
the Colorado River ferry he stayed a week. On the 4th of
June he was at Gila City. On the 11th the stage was full, so
he could not get away. While waiting here he wrote his mother,
' ' I did not intend to write you till I had crossed the country ; till
I was realizing the dreams of my life in my old home with the
dim and intangible shadows of the past glancing around me ; till
I could see the old graveyard and the slabs that indicate my des-
tiny; the old church where I sang psalms and never listened to
the sermons of the sanctified saint 'who washed his garments
from the blood of sinners who ceased not to harden their hearts ' ;
the old mother whom I love the stronger as I go down myself
into the vale of years, and whose pathway it is left for me to
smooth and make pleasant. I, who have never known her, the
first to leave her in early boyhood, and, after her children one by
one, have left her shattered frame drifting upon the rocks of old
age, the last to return and give her confidence as she travels
down to the foot of the hill of life and till I have greeted an-
other and a younger in whom I feel a strong interest, and whom
I wish to be near. I have been dreaming today, oh, so delight-
ful of the old home and the rest I shall take there, the solace from
care, from fatigue, from the world, with my books, my music, my
friends, and my thoughts, that I feel exalted, and I have waked
suddenly and find myself still bound upon the desert banks of
566 History of Canaan.
this Colorado River, the least interesting river in the world,
which swells by us a flood of muddy waters, brought down from
uninhabitable regions. ' '
On the 15th he had taken stage and reached Tucson, then to
Messilla, N. M., Fort Chadboume, Texas, Belknap, Sherman and
Fort Smith, Ark. From here he wrote home, June 29, 1860 : "I
am coming along slowly and shall reach you after awhile. I have
had a very hard journey, and have sometimes thought I should
never get through. I arrived here two days ago and intend to
rest, for I am weak and nearly sick. I can scarcely walk and my
throat troubles me badly, but I shall not remain here long, I am
anxious to get to a stopping place. I have taken some pretty
hard journeys in my life but this is the hardest and most dan-
gerous. I never wish to go over that ground again. I have
been on the way over sixty days and have not heard from any-
body in that time. "
On the 6th of July he reached St. Louis after having traveled
a distance of 3,096 miles from San Francisco. He went to
Columbus, Ohio, and from there to Philadelphia, which he
reached July 9 and then home. He remained home until De-
cember 4, when he started for New York, Philadelphia and Wash-
ington. On February 12 he was in Philadelphia again and
on April 13 was in Washington ; from there he went into Vir-
ginia, to Fairfax Station, Manassas, Centerville and Bristow.
This trip seems to have been made more for his own amusement,
writing not so much for the Alta as for other papers. He came
back home and remained through the summer and winter until
January. On August 2, 1861, he printed the first copy of The
Reporter, setting up his own type and from his own press print-
ing the copies for free distribution. The second copy was printed
on August 6, the third on August 21, of which he said "it has
made a great sensation. One would think half the town were hit
by the talk." The last copy was printed September 14, in
which he says: ''The Beporter is under no obligations to reveal
its intentions. He prints for his own amusement, upon his own
account, and at such times as he sees proper. So please don't
ask him any questions. If his own efforts recoil and make him
sick, he is not going to own it. If any other person takes a
Old Families. 567
disgust at what he says, perhaps it will be wise for that person
to make a great fuss about it ; call The Reporter hard names and
bad names ; threaten not to speak to him ; nor to sing with him ;
at any rate be furiously indignant, and when the indignation
has effervesced, it will be quite proper for such persons to be
ashamed of themselves." In October he received a proposition
from McCrellish, editor of the Alta California, to spend the
winter in Washington as correspondent, which he accepted. On
December 7 he went to Washington, had difficulty in finding a
place to live. ' ' The country is full of soldiers ; camps and regi-
ments are met and passed everywhere, particularly after leav-
ing Philadelphia. The crowd here is as ignorant of what is
going on as they are in Milton's store after reading the Journal.
Everybody is wondering what will happen next. A hundred
dollars a month w'ould be no temptation for me to stay here."
He wrote his first letter to the Alta on December 9, and the
editor at the top of it made this comment: "The following is
the first letter from our AVashington correspondent, W. A. Wal-
lace, who will remain at the Capital during the present session
of Congress. The letters of this gentleman written for the Alia
several years back, won for him a high reputation. The readers
of the Alta in 1858 will particularly recollect his vivid letters
from Fraser River written during the summer and fall of the
great exodus to that locality. We have called him again from
his peaceful home, away up among the valleys at the foot of the
Green Mountains, where he had retired to a quiet life, and was
attending the declining steps of a dear old mother, whose sands
of life were ebbing away. At the summons, 'telegraph.' he has
left his quiet home, and repaired to the din, bustle and hurry of
Washington life, to give the readers of the Alta a lifelike his-
tory of the momentous events which roll day by day over the
national Capital. We shall close this introduction of an old
favorite writer for the Alta, and let him tell in his own language
how he was employed at the time the summons reached him to
repair to the busy scenes of active life." A part of this letter
was as follows : "You directed me to pack my valise and abandon
the cheerful old home, around which a thousand pleasures have
circled during the short time I was permitted to enjoy it. Every-
568 History of Canx\an.
thing about that home is old and cheerful. The old lady who
worries herself about labors which she ought to resign, but which
her habits will never allow her to forego; the old books, whose
well-read pages are familiar to all of us ; the old apple trees, from
which until this year, we have always made cider ; the old neigh-
bors, who all feel an interest in each other's business; the old
graveyards where our fathers and brothers lie ; and the old
church, whose gospel is now preached out, and closed up. But
doubtless our Christian people will not permit so great a means
of salvation to fall by the wayside, and after I am gone their
hearts will become softened, and the old fires will be again re-
kindled— ^oh, there are a thousand associations clinging like
ivy around the old home, that fill me with regrets to leave. But
this is a world of eternal changes; we are always having to say
good-by to some friend. I had flattered myself that my travels
were over, that weariness and fatigue were for somebody else and
I should henceforth enjoy a euthanasia of happy reflections
under the shade of my own trees, clearing the rocks from my
fields, and watching the growths of my pigs and garden. The
old longings to be in wild and strange places would occasionally
come over me powerfully but they would soon be checked by my
pleasant surroundings. ' '
On the 10th he wrote.: "The crowd in this town depends upon
the New York papers almost exclusively for their news. I be-
lieve we are farther from the news than you are at home. We see
the soldiers here all the time, but we hear no guns, and no battle
is near us. The squads of soldiers that file in the streets hurry
through without stopping, and we know no more of them. I have
heard it intimated in high circles that Mr. Lincoln is not equal
to his position, that he allows himself to listen to the cautious
counsels of covert traitors, and his constitutional scruples are an
attribute to these counsels. It is said that he puts much con-
fidence in James Guthrie and James R. Speed of Kentucky, who
pretend to be Union men but who are, in fact, traitors, and are
using their influence upon the President to delay the advance of
the Federal armies." He returned home the last of December
to go back again to Washington on January 3, 1862. On Jan-
uary 17, he wrote: "I get disgusted with the administration, at
Old Families. 569
the millions of money that have been wasted upon its favorites,
and I have written to the Alia such letters as will, if they are
published, show that one man, at least is not afraid to write
against corruption. I can't express all my sentiments in lan-
guage of sufficient force. But probably it will be just as well
as if I did, for I presume any who might care for what I would
say under other circumstances would now count me a sort of
fanatic, an enemy of the government or something else or worse."
On January 22 he wrote : "I have just received a dispatch from
the Alta, telling me I must not leave here for sickness or small-
pox. The work is hard and tiresome. I have to travel in all
weathers and since I came here have, on but few occasions, re-
tired before 12 o'clock at night. There is an end to all things
and I suppose there will be an end to my staying in Washing-
ton, and when the end comes I will go cheerfully to work on the
old farm." On February 19 he came back from Washington
but returned. On March 29 he was offered the position of col-
lector of revenue for southern California, and refused it. In
April he returned home and the Alta wished him to live in Wash-
ington and be their correspondent, but in June he returned
to Canaan and did not again take up the pen as war correspon-
dent of the Alta. On Januarv 8, 1865, he married Marv- Duncan
Currier and settled down to peace and quiet on the old place,
writing for various papers and magazines, picking stone and
building wall. In 1870 he began to collect historical matter for
the town historv' which he kept up all his life. Nothing can
better illustrate his life from this time than his o^ti writing.
In 1880 he wrote : ' ' The record says it is sixty-five years since I
came hereabout. It hardly seems so long, and yet the events
I recall took place in another generation, so many years since
I was a boy, and used to think our horizon bounded the work,
and were it not for the graves of the old people, whose lives I
recognize, all the life would appear a dream. I had a father,
mother, brothers, sisters, a houseful of us. One by one they
are gone, scarcely a footprint upon the sands remain ; only Har-
riet, and she so far away and so silent that she seems to have gone
with the rest out of sight. I loved them all, but it did not keep
them here. Do they ever, any of them, or any person, come
570 History of Canaan.
about me? I almost doubt it. although I have wanted for many
years to believe it. There is but one event which makes it certain
to me, when I go to that Unseen Countr\', I shall realize all the
life there may be in it. I shall know if friends recognize each
other, or if it be only spirit intercourse, or if it be the silence of
the grave from whose solemn darkness no soul ever returned."
In December, 1880, before starting for the golden wedding an-
niversary of Mr. Foster in Putney, Vt., he wrote : "I told him we
should certainly meet him, and many other old and dear friends,
after we get through here. His own ideas and beliefs in the
future state might make him doubt our assertion, but we ex-
pected some time in years to come to give him a joyful greeting,
and that he, before that day comes, would see the inconsistency
of a great and good Creator, resolving in cold blood to send nine
tenths of all his children into endless torment, because two of
them, many thousand years ago discovered that there were pleas-
ures in the world hidden from them, and a sight of their own
nakedness brought them to light. I think Mr. Foster is too good
a man to treat his own children under the laws he lays down for
the use of his God, and I don 't believe his God is any worse than
he is. He has been preaching endless torment sixty years and he
is the father of a family. I think he has more faith in God's
love and affection than in his wrath and justice, which were the
attributes of the God of Elder Wheat and Eichard Clark."
"September 29, 1883. I am alone tonight in this great house,
and the rooms seem peopled with silent memories of all the busy
lives that have thronged it in the long years since we entered its
walls. My father was a stem man, unapproachable to young
persons, I feared him more than I loved him. My mother was
a patient worker and a sincere Christian all her life. She
had positive opinions, and expressed them fearlessly; she loved
her children and made many sacrifices for them. She ought to
wear a cro^^^l of glory in the bright home she now owns. And
my brothers and sisters — they flit around me like shadows and
disappear, leaving only mj' Mar\- and my boy, as the living
active representatives of all who have gone before. And I have
got to that point in life when I can almost see the end, when they
will be looking back upon me as I look upon the already departed.
Old Faimilies. 571
I onlv wish that mv life mav be such that thev will remember
me with affectionate respect, and feel some pride in recalling the
associations that linked us together in life.
'■ Januarv' 8, 1884. Our nineteenth marriase anniversary; but
c 7 Cr ft'
unlike the first a strong southeast wind prevails, driving a wet
snowstorm before it. That night John drove us down, and after
staying round ^\ith mother and i\Irs. Tilton awhile by the kitchen
fire he w^ent off timidlj' and shyly to bed. Tonight we sit here
with nineteen years of varied experiences behind us, and while
looking forward for a few days and looking back over all these
years, and the long road we have traveled, with the rough hills
and deep valleys, that sometimes obstructed the way, and the
gently undulating plains, that stretched far on and far on. it
seems now that it had all the way been plains, green with pleas-
ant memories, that stretch way on in the future farther than the
keenest vision extends. God bless us as He has done, and keep us
from doing foolish things, and make our mutual faith and confi-
dence strong and lasting. Amen !
"January 13, 1884. Minister preached a sermon on the devil.
I wanted to ask him if he had ever seen that devil, and if he re-
sisted him, so that he fled. The strongest proof of a devil is
that he is so often mentioned in the Bible, devil, satan, adversary,
enemy, all these names pointed to a person. I fear if I believed
in him that I should become a dreadful coward, and should al-
ways be looking under the bed nights before getting into it.
"February' 4, 1884. It seems to me life is not long enough to
spend even a year of it in sulking at the en^^ous and jealous
remarks of neighbors whose numbers are not so great, that we
can well spare even one from our social circle. If the past could
only bury itself, and be forgotten, what a happy time we would
all have in the near future. It seems as if to hate and slander
were the normal conditions of human nature, and as long as men
are happy in it. there will not be much change in our lives.
"September 28, 1884. My anniversary comes around again,
oh, so quickly. I don't think I am any better than I was a year
ago, perhaps not so perfect. I am not a Methodist so I don't
go on to perfection, neither do I 'fall from grace,' but I rather
promised myself a year ago, that if I was here another year,
572 History of Caxaax.
I would congratulate myself on being a good reformer, but I
rather failed in my own estimation. Twice I've been madder
than a disturbed hornet. First when F — G — played dignity on
poor Etta, second when the Silver Lake livery broke into my
garden and destroyed the fruit of my toil and of my season's
labor. Then I raged, but I shed no tears. I said 'for the
future you will board your own horses, or I shall arrest them,'
and they have not frequented our house since. I will make no
pledges for the year to come, only I hope these horses Avill not
compel me to tie them up in my yard.
"January-, 1885. Twenty years we have been going on to-
gether ! I remember many years ago before that quiet event, of
reading with avidity, ' The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ' the
best of Holmes' books: the young man was called John, and the
schoolmistress took a walk, and the conversation becoming per-
sonal, after a severe struggle he asked the young woman, would
she like a longer walk over the long road. It recurred to me one
day when walking with my Mary and I asked her the question
more than once before she consented, and we fixed the day for
the first of January, 1865, when we would start out on that road.
But for some untoward event we did not come to time, but dur-
ing the week the cake was made, ]\Ir. Dearborn was invited and
a few minutes after seven in the evening, he closed the service
and excused himself saying we had no further use for his ser-
vices, and he had another engagement, and then we started out
on that road. And for twenty years, which today seems but
a short time, we have traveled on, with no turning. Sometimes
it has been rough and shadows have flitted about, but sun-
shine and the consciousness of honest purposes have prevailed.
Twenty years we have had close communion together, in health,
sickness, pain and distress, and we are here today to thank God,
for the pleasures and happinesses that has been our lot. Is life
all jo}'? is it only one great hope! 0, no; no life is like that,
sorrows come and misfortunes, and pains and deaths. "We have
laid old friends away in the ground to await resurrection in some
brighter form, hours and days have seen us anxiously watching,
almost hopeless, the doctor's fees have been paid and life flows
smoothly on again. The long road grows longer, but it is fra-
grant with sweet confidences and pleasant hopes, and still the
Old Families. 573
years go by and the burden of age is growing heavier day by day.
"January- 18, 1885. We have been packing up for a little
trip to Concord tomorrow, to the printers' banquet, and so long
it is since we went anywhere, it seems a great effort to start.
Once I could go round the world with a satchel and not be half
so worried as this makes me. It is because the years are rolling
on.
"September 28, 1885. Seventy times the j-ears have rolled
round in my life, and looked me in the face. A man at seventy
ought to be a good man. He ought to have completed his char-
acter and won the respect, reverent esteem or otherwise of the
people with whom he mingles. Pretty much all his life is be-
hind him. He has not much to look forward to except the
end, which may be nearer than he thinks. And I thank God that
my good habits have enabled me so far to take care of myself,
to be no burden nor care nor anxiety to any one. I hope I may
have the courage to see and face the end, as fearlessly as for
years I have been looking towards it.
"November, 1885. And here I am now just entering upon
that eventful period of life called old age, and the boys and
girls still call me Allen. Isn't that rather calling me back to
'youth and that time when first I heard the tuneful chime?' It
seems as if, counting years, my life was all behind me. merely
that I have not much now to live for, except to get ready to live
forever. And who knows for what port we are bound when we
put on immortality. I cannot lift the veil that hides the beyond,
nor do I believe any one else alive can do it. but I want so to
employ my days, that when the change comes, and I pass out of
human sight, if there be any spirit relation in another sphere, I
may find myself in the company of good men and women,
whom love of God and man has made blest. I have no desire to
go where they sing hallelujahs forever; not I. But I should like
pleasant music and quiet converse. I have no time to speculate
upon hereafter, let us live so that its coming to us shall cause
no anxiety. But I am glad to be here now ; that the Indians did
not kill me in the mountains nor the rebels in Virginia. We
will live hopefully for the future and pray that all changes may
bring us nearer to one another. Selah.
574 History of Can^van.
"September 28, 1888. My anniversary; shall I ever see an-
other ? Who can tell ? Will my work ever be done ? Very doubt-
ful. I can see and feel the changes which friends either do not
see or they are considerate not to mention. I am glad to have
lived so many years, and to have left a mark that will do honor
to the name. Life may be long, but we will make it serene.
"September 28, 1815, 10 o'clock p. m.— September 28, 1890,
10 p. m. All other hours between these two dates I have been
here. AVhen a person has reached the age of 75 years, what is
there in the future for him to look forward to? Only to see
that his affairs are in order, and live in peace and charity with
all mankind. The next journey may be to the graveyard. I have
seen so many changes in this world that nothing surprises me.
My boy is, I hope, so far settled in life that he will only need my
good wishes in the future. My dear Mary whom I have loved
and honored for thirty years, and to look back they seem so
short ! She is here always by my side ; she looks at me anxiously
at times. Perhaps she sees my failing strength, certainly I
am losing the strong grip I once held on my muscles. Memory is
still clear, eyes poor, dimness comes over them, hearing strong,
voice grows tremulous at times, and singing sometimes tires me.
I walk upright and neighbors speak of my activity as boyishly
wonderful, but they don't see the weariness that comes over me
after even slight exertion. There is small desire to go into com-
pany, home seems to be the happy place. Many things do not in-
terest me today as of yore, politics are stale, with no honesty. Re-
ligion seems a great sham, its votaries are inconsistent, unchari-
table, hypocritical, given to slanders and defamation. The Chris-
tianity of the world seems to be all outdoors. I fully realize
there can be but little more work here for me. I realize, also, that
I shall never, perhaps, be able to finish what I have begun, and
I realize more than ever that I have not and never had the
power of continuity of thought that would have led me on to suc-
cess. Like Hyatt Smith I just fall short of achieving the de-
sired end. But who knows whether in the great accounting a
man's capacity will be considered. 'I am nearer my journey's
end that I have been before.' I am thankful for all the pleas-
ures vouchsafed me.
Old Families. 575
"September 19, 1891. The high wind last night blew over
mv mother's aeacia. the onlv one in town. She brought it from
Piermont (Jo Sawyer's) in May. 1831, when she carried me
to Haverhill to enter a printing office, an event which changed
the whole face of my life. Studies which it had been decided
I should pursue were laid aside and never again taken up. My
reading became of a desultory character such as all printers'
boys fall into, and I became a man of general information and
with no habit for study in any particular direction, my mind is
superficial. But that old tree ! I could have cried if it would
have done any good. She cherished it and I grew old in the
love of all things which she cherished. Trees are like people,
they grow old and fall down.
"September 28. 1891. The idea of helplessness oppresses me,
I want to grow old gracefully and quietly. ' '
That was the last he wrote about himself, though he still
continued to record events which interested him up to T\'ith-
in a week of his death. He had kept a diary nearly all his
life. His habit was to A^Tite it up at the end of the week. In
later years it did not record events so much as his own thoughts
upon them, the event serving as a text. My father did grow
old gracefully and quietly as he wished. I think he minded it
more than my mother or I. As a boy I can remember his ac-
tivity as almost phenomenal. He was up at daj'light, three a. m.,
every morning in summer and worked until breakfast in the gar-
den, then all day long, only stopping to eat; no rest, rarely go-
ing to bed until ten o'clock at night, and then to read himself
to sleep. As he grew older he realized that he got tired quicker
and would take a nap after dinner. His habits of life were
very regular, if he found anything did not agree with him he
did not continue its use. He smoked, chewed and took snulf,
for thirty years, stopped, and not in my lifetime did I ever see
him use tobacco, but he always liked the smell of it and would
give me cigars, much to my mother's disg-ust. Our house was
always a ^Nlecca for tramps. His early experiences led him to
help anyone, greatly against my mother's wish sometimes,
for she had been brought up as a farmer's daughter, where
everyone was expected to work. He was very fond of dumb
576 History of Canaan.
animals being particularly sensitive when seeing them beaten
by someone else. I have seen him threaten to chastise a man
beating his horse, in language which the horse-beater resented so
much that his anger w^as quickly changed from beast to man.
Xevertheless, his temper was quickly aroused by both man and
beast, and at times by his own animals. When old Josie would
kick him and the pail full of milk against the side of the barn
(the kick never came until she knew he was about done milking),
or when old ]\Iattie, who lived to be thirty-three years old, bit
the back out of a workman's coat, "Darn you," he said, "you
bit me last week," and proceeded to belabor her. What made
him realize his growing old more than anything else, was the
weakness of his voice when singing. Up to the time he was sev-
enty, his was one of the strongest voices I can remember of hear-
ing. There was not a singer in his day in town that understood
music so well; his voice was a clear tenor and full. There was
hardly an entertainment or funeral in town at which he was not
called upon to sing. He was always interested in politics, was
always a Republican, his life led him to keep in it, but he cared
verj" little for office, his profession led him rather to criticise
those in office, and many a one has felt the force of his pen.
Nothing gave him more delight than to bring forth a reply from
the person he attacked. My father 's life after his marriage became
almost entirely a home one. When business compelled his ab-
sence he nearly always returned before he was expected, so
great was his love of home. ]\Iy grandmother tried to bring
up my father as a minister; she was a strong-minded Congre-
gationalist and Abolitionist. My father imbibed Abolitionism,
but never became even a church member. Church creeds he
had little respect for. He thought the use of common sense
would obtain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven as well as
anything. Sermons preached about hell-fire and damnation
were to him spectacular and without reason. He always liked
to attend church, and was the leader of the choir for many
years. Charles F. Living"ston of Manchester, with whom he
worked and roomed for nearly two years, when they were boys
on the New Hampshire Telegraph at Nashua, and with whom his
friendship grew stronger as they grew older, said of him: "In
Old Families. 577
the line of his profession, he was good as a compositor, excellent
as a foreman and manager, and superior as a reporter and
editor. As a writer, he was clear, clean and concise." He was
town clerk in 1864, '65, and '66, and superintending school com-
mittee twice. He died of angina pectoris, suddenly, as he had
wished, not after a long illness, Februaiy 15, 1893, at the age
of 77 years, 4 months and 17 days. He was the oldest member
of Social Lodge of Free and Accepted IMasons of Enfield, N.
H., at the time of his death, and was buried with Masonic
honors in the cemetery- on the Street.
Mj mother survived him nearly six years, but always felt his
absence. In November, 1898, when the old house was destroyed,
which had sheltered the Wallaces for over eighty-one years,
she was burned in securing a trunk containing valuable papers,
from Vv-hich she did not recover. She died, December 25, 1898.
The Wilsons.
There were four brothers, Robert, Warren, John and Levi,
sons of Nathaniel Wilson, who came from Gilmanton about the
year 1783. and settled in Canaan. They were told, as many of
the early settlers were, that lands were cheap and of exceed-
ing richness. John and Warren settled on Sawyer Hill, on the
farms now owned by John D. Lovring and the old Chandler
farm. Warren afterwards exchanged farms with Dea. Joshua
Pillsbury, who owned the present George Ginn farm ; he m. March
25, 1783, Anna Berry; he d. October 10, 1851, aged 89; she d.
October 31, 1819, aged 63. They had nine ch. : Betsey, b. Jan-
uary 5. 1784: d. August 23, 1865; m. David Richardson (see
him). Nathaniel, b. July 23, 1786; d. December 19, 1789;
Ephraim, b. July 21, 1788; d. December 12, 1789. Nathaniel,
b. April 14, 1790; d. May 7, 1873: m. March 9, 1818, Betsey
Burley of Dorchester: d. September 28, 1862, aged 65. They
had seven ch. : Gordon, Henry H., Warren F., one d. young,
Helen, Rufus and George. Nathaniel lived on the George Ginn
farm, and his first house was in the field towards Enfield line;
afterwards he built the house now occupied by ilr. Ginn. His
son, AVarren F., succeeded to the farm, worked it for many
years and then moved to Enfield. Warren F. was b. November
37
578 History of Canaan.
I, 1838; d. March 18, 1906; m. Kate E. Strate, b. August 19,
1839, and had ch. : Leon W., b. January 22, 1873 ; d. June 23,
1894; Hattie S., b. July 2, 1863; Ida B., b. 1871; m. October
II, 1894, Will A. Hoit; Fred B., b. 1865; m. September 21, 1886,
Ella F. Childs, dau. of Oliver B. and Mary S. Cliilds.
Henry H., son of Nathaniel, bought the farm, which he aft-
erwards sold to Lineius Dennis on West Farms. He was for
years a prominent man in town afltairs. His first term as se-
lectman was in 1862, and was continued in office in 1863. He
was always a Democrat, and the next year saw the Republicans
in office. He was elected again in 1869 and served continuously
to 1874. He served again in 1884 to '86, and in 1892, a period
of twelve years ; and the town showed prosperity under his guid-
ance. He m. 1st., Betsey Day, and had two ch. : Frank P., d.
February 6, 1862 ; aged 10 yrs. 4 mos., and Harriet F., d. April
23, 1862, aged 3 yrs. 7 mos. He married a second time, and
during the last years of his life lived in Enfield, where he
died. Ephraim, son of Warren, b. March 7, 1792; m. 1830,
Lucy Harris. Levina, b. March 20, 1798. Rufus, b. April
21, 1796. Warren, b. April 20, 1798. Lavinia, b. April
8, 1800.
John Wilson, brother of Warren, m. Sarah Barber, dau. of
Zebulon of Dame's Gore, July 16, 1792; and had six ch. :
Washington, b. October 11, 1792; d. January 28, 1854; m.
May 6, 1837, Mehitable Tucker; ch. : James, d. June 9, 1889,
aged 49; m. April 19, 1889, Cynthia Atwell. George H., d.
November 21, 1906, aged 59 yrs., 5 mos., 21 d. Jacob, son
of John, b. October 29, 1795. Charlotte, b. January 26, 1798 ;
Elizabeth, b. April 13, 1800. Presele, b. February 6, 1802;
John B., b. May 27, 1806; d. April 24, 1877; m. Sophronia
Averill, b. November 4, 1811; d. October 18, 1897; ch. : Albert
H., b. September 17, 1842 ; d. August 1, 1885 ; m. Ola Smith, dau.
of R. R. Smith; ch. John. Warren E., son of John B., Loraine,
dau. of John B. ; b. April 27, 1848; d. May 14, 1898; m. Andrew
E. Bean, b. September 28, 1845. Effie A., b. December 3, 1856;
d. November 1, 1895 ; m. Charles 0. Ball, b. February 14, 1860 ;
Angie, d. February 23, 1857 ; aged 21 ; m. Hiram E. Putnam, son
Old Families. 579
of Caleb S., d. May 2, 1857, aged 21 ; Orissa C, m. Jonathan A.
Sanborn (see him). Abbie Bell, m. a Pond.
Robert Wilson, brother of Wan^en ; m. 1787, Ednah Richard-
son, dau. of William, d. April 18, 1800 (a), and had five eh.:
Prudence, b. April 26, 1792 ; d. July 18, 1796 ; Levi, b. June 15,
1794; Jeremiah, b. May 14, 1796; m. July 2, 1815, Betsey Carl-
ton, and had two ch. : Lemuel and Samuel. Prudence, dau. of
Robert, b. April 6, 1798, m. Bartlett Hoyt, had one son Levi.
They moved to Genesee, N. Y. Robert, son of Robert, b. March
31, 1800; d. August 28, 1800. Robert, m. 2d, March 29, 1801,
Sally Dole, sister of Moses Dole, and had one son Joel, b. August
2, 1802. She was an invalid for a long time and he hired Phoebe
Pattee, a daughter of Peter, to do the work. Several children
were bom to Robert and Phoebe, while she lived in his house,
and he claimed them as his own. When Sallj^ got well she re-
fused to live in that "crowd" and came back to live with her
brother, who cared for her and when she died buried her. But
before she died old Robert married Phoebe, June 14, 1810, and
kept on having children. Phoebe is said to have died of hysterics
brought on by holding in her temper too long while she was spin-
ning, December 3, 1851, aged 75. Old Robert fell into bad hands
after his property was gone and was buried by the town. He
died April 26, 1843, aged 77 (a). One dau., Edna, d. March 10,
1894, aged 78 yrs., 6mos., 22 d. ; m. December 3, 1835, Nathan
Willis (both a), and had thirteen ch. : Holmes, m. in the South
and was in the Southern Army ; Otis F., went West and m. there
twice; Lizzie m. John Follansbee and had no children; John
Chase, m. Emma Da\ds of Plaintield; William Henry, m. out
West ; Clarabelle never m. ; Perry m. out West ; Ara m. out West ;
George Harvey, m. a Webster; Ardella, m. a Heath; James, m. a
Cummings; Leona, d. single (a). L^rsula, dau. of Robert and
Phoebe; m. Harvey Tucker; Phoebe m. a Holmes, Matilda m. a
Brown, and Jane m. a Brown of Bristol.
GENEALOGY.
GENEALOGY.
The following are not intended as complete records of any
family. The labor necessary to complete them would take more
time than is at the disposal of the compiler. They ^\ill, however,
serve as a starting point for some future genealogist. They
have been collected from the town records, some of which are not
now in existence; from tombstones, family Bibles and recol-
lections of old people. The records of the older settlers have
been made as complete as possible. The letter (a) represents
that the person is buried in the Street Cemeterj^, (b) Wells,
(e) West Canaan, (d) Sawyer Hill, (e) West Farms, (g) Cob-
ble, (h) Birch Corner, (i) Porter, (j) Jones, (k) Dorchester, be-
yond the Jones Cemetery.
Abbott, Jane, d. June 9, 1864, ag. 21 (c).
Adams, Jobn S., d. June 15, 1876, ag. 68 (b); his wife, Mary J., also
the wife of C. D. Washburn, d. Nov. 21, 1885, ag. 56y., 2m. (b).
Adams, Angeetta, dau. of John R. and Mary A., d. Oct. 24, 1860, ag.
2m., 6d.; Matta J., dau., d. April 4, 1862, ag. 3m., 17d.; Addie E., dau.,
d. March 25, 1863, ag. 4y, 23d. (c)
Akerman, Ernest S., d. Oct. 3, 1906, ag. 24 (b).
Aldrich, Richard, d. March 16, 1829, ag. 69 (c) ; his wife, Orpha, d.
May 15, 1855, ag. 87.
Aldrich, Abel, d. Nov. 9, 1848, ag. 60; his wife, Rebecca, d. Sept. 23,
1859, ag. 72 (c). Children: Gilford, d. July 8, 1849, ag. 17 (c) ; Asahel
B., m., March 7, 1837, Persis Ferguson of Sharon, Vt. Children: Persis
Phinette, d. Jan. 21, 1853, ag. 15y., 7d. (c); Edwin D., d. May 27, 1863,
ag. 17y., 8m., 4d. (c).
Aldrich, Welcome, brother of Leonard, William and Aaron, d. Dee.
29, 1879, ag. 65; m. Hannah C. Burnham, dau. of Grover and Hannah
(Currier) Burnham; d. April 15, 1890, ag. 69}'., 4m., 17d. Children:
Sidney, d. Aug. 20, 1868, ag. 18y., 4 m.; Edwin C, d. Sept. 11, 1906, ag.
54y., 3m., 17d.; all (b) ; m., Aug. 19, 1877, Abbie E. Knowles, b. 1854;
Mary E., m. David Bucklin.
Aldrich, Leonard, d. Aug. 17, 1872, ag. 56; m. Mary E. Hadley, dau.
of Jacol) and Caroline (Newton) Hadley; she m. (second) a Preston;
d. May 4. 1888, ag. 72y., 6m. Children: Leonora S., d. March 28,
1856. ag. 5y.; Etta C, d. Jan. 6, 1865, ag. 5y., 3m.; Elbjnie, m. Francis
Welch (see him); Ora L., d. May 12, 1907, ag. 49y., 6m., 20d. (b), by
his wife, Etta S., he had: Eva May, b. Aug. G, 1881; d. Dee. 17, 1886.
Aldrich, William, b. Feb. 15, 1819; d. May 23, 1897; m. Louisa M.
Davis, dau. of Samuel, b. March 6, 1831. Children: Hubbard W., b.
1854; m., Jan. 29, 1879, Flora M. George.
684 History op Canaan.
\
Aldvich, Aaron, d. July 10, 1887, ag. 66; m. Lucretia D. Evans; d.
Aug. 15, 1899, ag. 75.v., 6m. (b). Children: Anna D., d. Aug. 8, 1872,
ag. 20; Mina M., d. Sept. 19, 1866, ag. 12y., 6m.
Aldrich, Harry, d. Aug. 26, 1845, ag. 21y., 8m., 16d. (a).
Aldrich, Milton, of Lebanon, b. Dee. 5, 1797; m. Eunice Buell of Gro-
ton, b. Feb. 28, 1806. Children: Harvey, b. Dec. 9, 1823; d. Aug. 26,
1845; Almon, b. Canaan, April 6, 1826; Lyman, b. July 30, 1828; Mareia
Ann, b. Jan. 7, 1831; Emily, b. Feb. 22, 1833; Adelaide, b., Enfield, Dec.
11, 1835; Emergene, b., Enfield, July 10, 1838; Julia, b., Enfield, Dee. 27,
1841.
Allen, T. Wilfred, b. 1833; d. 1906; his wife, Emma A., 1). 1839; d.
1905 (b). Children: Edwin M., m. Roxie L. Davis. Child, Lena
F. Robert E., son of T. Wilfred, b. Keene, Dec. 7, 1872; m., Oct. 23,
1897, Estella M. Davis, b. March 25, 1876; dau. of B. F. Davis of Grafton.
Child, Franklin M., b. July 31, 1899.
Arvin, Simeon, d. May 19, 1816, ag. 49; m. Hannah Dustin, dau. of
Jonathan; d. June 13, 1852, ag. 79 (b). Children: William B., b.
March 26, 1791; d. March 6, 1813 (b); Simeon, b. 1793; m. and had
three ch., two of them Elizabeth and George; Ruth, b. March 27, 1795;
m. John Jones of Enfield. Children: Mary C, m. Hon. J. Everett Sar-
gent and had one ch., John, d. young; Emily, m. Foster; Han-
nah, b. 1797; m. John Burnham of Lebanon; had one son, John; Susan-
nah, b. May 8, 1809; d. Aug. 12, 1867; m. Guilford Cobb, sou of Salmon
(see him) (a); William Briekett, b. 1812; d. ; James, d. July 9,
1852, ag. 59y.; m., April 25, 1825, Sarah B. Follensbee of Grafton; d.
August 15, 1864, ag. 76 (b). Child: Albert Gallatin, b. November 17,
1826; d. ; m. Malana Shepard, dau. of Nathaniel; had two
daughters and lived in Hanover.
Atherton, William, d. Jan. 31, 1863, ag. 74y., Im., 24d.; m. Lavinia
Flint, dau. of Joseph, b. April 27, 1794. Children: Mary E., d. August
21, 1890, ag. 69y., 4d; George William; Harriet Augusta, d. Sept. 11,
1827, ag. 3m., 23id. (all a.); James Wilbur; Edwin; Martha, m. in Cali-
fornia; Caroline, m. in California.
Austin, George W., son of Arthur A. and Mary A., <1. April 16, 1896,
ag. 24y., 7m., 9d. (c); Gertrude A., dau. of same, and wife of Truman
J. Clark, b. 1873; d. 1908 (c).
Avery, Samuel, d. Nov. 24, 1871, ag. 70y., 6m., 12d.; his wife, Elizabeth
F., d. Jan. 15, 1872, ag. 75y., 4m., Id. (a).
Bachelder, Nancy, dau. of Bailey and Sarah A.; d. March 6, 1862, ag.
4y., 24d. (e).
Bagley, Charlotte, wife of Moses, d. May 16, 1892, ag. 72.
Bailey, Levi, d. April 22, ag. 77; his wife, Anna, d. Jan. 23, 1831, ag.
61 (b). Children: Lydia, b. Sept. 13, 1789; Salley, b. Feb. 25, 1792, d.
Aug., 1821 (b); Betsey, b. Nov. 8, 1793; d. April 16, 1825; m. Dec. 28,
1814, Josiah Clark, Jr.; all (b) ; Levi, Jr., b. Aug. 10, 1799; m. Feb. 19,
1823, Betsey Stevens of Grafton, d. Jan. 4, 1844, ag. 40y., 11m. (b).
Children: Rial, m. Mary Ann Rogers; Adelaide, m. Joseph Peters.
Genealogy. 585
Baker, James, d. March 18, 1890, ag. GGy., 8m., 21cl. (d); m. April 14,
1851, Mary J. Flanders, d. March 23, 1902, ag. 79y., 17d. Children:
Climena L., d. Sept. 5, 1852, ag. 3m., 25a.; James M., d. June 10, 1892,
ag. 40y., 3m. (d).
Baker, Ellen E. (Parmenter), wife of Enoch, d. July 6, 1854, ag. 22y.,
2m., 2Sd. Child: George P., d. April 4, 1856, ag. 4 (b).
Barber, Capt. Robert, b. between 1740-'50; d. about 1809; his wife,
Sarah March, survived him about one year. She was appointed admin-
istrator of his estate, and before it was settled John M. was appointed
on both estates. His estate was appraised at $1,301.74. Came to
Canaan in 1777 with a yoke of oxen and a sled. Their children w^ere:
John M., Nathaniel, Robert Purnell, Sarah and Catherine, who married
Artemus Lawrence and went to Ohio. The latter had one son, William,
who died about 1832.
Barber, John M., b. Feb., 1767; d. March 24, 1855 (b) ; m., June 20,
1791, Sally Sanborn, d. June 12, 1838, ag. 68. He w-as born before his
father came to Canaan; lived and died on the old Barber farm, from
whomi it got its name, now owned by Mary E. D. "Weeks; he was a
farmer. Had nine children: March; Deliverance, b. April 14, 1796; d.
Jan. 29, 1799, fell in the fire; Mary, b. June 9, 1798; d. July 4, 1858; m.
Benjamin Kidder. Child: Emily C, d. Nov. 15, 1857, ag. 21 (b) ; Sally,
b. Sept. 8, 1800, d. Sept. 6, 1865, was lame; John, b. Sept. 9, 1802, d.
March — , 1805, scalded liy boiling sap; Jesse, b. Dec. 31, 1804, d. Aug. 24,
1858, lame, went in wheel chair; Catherine; Irena; Miriam, b. Feb. 14,
1814, d. Sept. 13, 1833 (b).
Barber, Purnell, dau. of Robert, m. Josiah Clark. (See Clark.)
Barber, Robert, son of Robert, m. Miriam Scofield, b. May 14, 1780, and
had two children. They went to Canada with the other Scofields.
Barber, Sarah, dau. of Robert, m., March 5, 1792, William Parkhurst,
and had one child: Catherine, born here Aug. 24, 1792.
Barber, Nathaniel, son of Robert, d. June 3, 1857, ag. 85y., lOni. His
wife Nelly, d. June 2, 1819, ag. 49; m. (2) Feb. 27, 1820, Sally Patten.
Two children: Dea. Nathaniel, d. Aug. 23, 1862, ag. 66y., 10m; m. Dec.
23, 1817, Elizabeth B. Miller, dau. Jacob, b. 1800; d. June 18, 1886.
Children: Frank, m. Eunice Fales, and Horace H., m. Marie Garfield, one
son, Winthrop G., d. young; Nelly, d. Dec. 27, 1809, ag. 6y., 8m.
Barber, March, son of John M., b. June 21, 1794; d. Oct. 14, 1868; m.
Nov. 14, 1816, Mehitable Fifield, dau. of Winthrop and Mehitable Fifield,
b. July 18, 1793, d. Oct. 25, 1875; he lived first on the farm where Benja-
min Norris afterwards lived; then he succeeded to his father's farm,
where he died; he had five children: Capt. John M. Franklin, b. Oct.
7, 1819, d. May 4, 1882, married and had one child, Frank; Hiram;
Martha Jane; James P.
Barber, Catherine, dau. of John M., m. William Doten. (See Doten.)
Barber, Irena, dau. of John M., b. Aug. 14, 1810; d. May 3, 1852; m.
Stephen S. Smith, b. April 18, 1804; d. July 5, 1887; lived in the house
now owned by 0. H. Perry, just off the Street; was a cooper and mason
586 History of Canaan.
by trade; had six children: Elsa A., d. Feb. 21, 1841, ag. 5y., 6m.;
Charles M., d. March 26, 1831, ag. 7; Harriet A., b. Feb. 10, 1832, m.,
Oct. 10, 1878, Charles E. Cogswell, b. Jau. 29, 1824; Mariam E., d. Oct.
19, 1903, ag. 64y., 7m., 2d. (a), m. Sept. 7, 1864, Horace B. Teimey, b.
Feb. 21, 1837. Child, Irene A., b. 1868, m. April 13, 1886, Arthur W.
Hutchinson. Sophia, dau. Stephen, b. Dec. 7, 1840, d. ; m. Nov.
3, 1880, Hendrick Hall, b. Nov. 19, 1837; William P., m. Mattie Conger,
lives in Marysville, Cal. Children: M. Irene, b. Jan. 10, 1878; Inez C,
b. April 3, 1881.
Barber, John M., son of March, b. April 29. 1818; d. Aug. 15, 1885;
m. (1), Jan. 13, 1842, Sarah S. Chapman, dau. of Noah and Abigail
(Currier) Chapman, b. July 2, 1819; d. July 16, 1848; they had one
child: William P. C, b. Sept. 3, 1845; d. Dec. 16, 1847. He m. (2),
July 4, 1849, Mary M. Fales, dau. of Orrin, d. Nov. 29, 1907, ag. 84 (a).
One child: William M., b. May 25, 1852; d. Aug. 26, 1909 (a); m. (1),
Dec. 25, 1872, Anna Belle Shattuck, d. ; no children; m. (2) Julia
A. Sullivan and had two children. John M. lived in the house now oc-
cupied by David H. Whittier and was a gunsmith and wheelwright; his
son was in the flour commission business.
Barber, Hiram, son of March, b. Aug. 23, 1823; d. Feb. 18, 1892 (a);
m. (1), Oct. 8, 1850, Lucy A. Fales, dau. Orrin, b. Jan. 24, 1830; d.
April 22, 1881. Three children: Henry H., who m. ; has one
dau. m., and is in the dry goods business in Milford; George E., who m.
Elizabeth Weaver, has one dau., Helen, and is in the dry goods business
in Derby, Conn.; Alice, single. Hiram m. (2), May 2, 1883, Mrs. Abigail
(Martin) Chase, dau. William Martin, b. June 26, 1818; d. March 29,
1901; no children. He succeeded to his father's farm and took care of
his parents for it, paying $1,000 besides. He sold to Charles Day and.
moved on the Street, where Bela B. Whitney afterwards lived, after
his second marria.sie he moved into the Chase house, next above.
Barber, Martha Jane, dau. of March, b. June 14, 1829; m. Alfred M.
Shackford (see him).
Barber, James P., b. Sept. 20, 1830; d. Dec. 21, 1904; m. (1) Mary S.
Wier, dau. of Thomas; d. Oct. 13, 1861, ag. 21 (a); m. (2) Pauline R.
Colburn, d. Jan. 14, 1808, ag. 33; m. (3), Sept. 21, 1876, Abigail A.
Hoyt, d. July 27, 1890, ag. 68 (a). Children: Byron J., d. Aug. 15,
1861, ag. 5m., 5d.; Jennie M., d. April 12, 1868, ag. 11m.; Nellie J., b.
Oct. 6, 1864; m. Fred B. Currier and had one child, Bernard B. Marion
Belle, dau. of James P., b. Dec. 10, 1865; m. (1), Sept. 1, 1886, Dexter
H. Nichols, b. April 21, 1852; d. Aug. 8, 1888; no children; m. (2),
Bert Blood.
Barber, Josiah, d. about 1830; m. (1) Anna, l)y whom he had five
children: Josiah Perous, b. April 16, 1792; Sally Perous, b. Dec. 4, 1793,
m., March 12, 1815, John Hoit, Jr. (see him); Nancy Clark, b. April 10,
1796; Betsey, b. April 10, 1802; Polly, b. Oct. 19, 1803, d. May 15, 1851,
m., Sept. 23, 1839, Nathaniel Derby, d. Feb. 24, 1875, ag. 88y., 8m. His
first wife was Irena Clark, whom he m. Oct. 10, 1821; she d. May 15,
Genealogy. 587
1839, ag. 47. Josiah, by his second wife, Salome, had five children:
Clarissa Ann, b. Feb. 15, 1814; Salome, b. March 28, 1816; Moses, b.
April 24, 1818; Louisa, b. June 18, 1824; Daniel, b. Sept. 8, 1826.
Barnard, Jonathan, b. Aug. 28, 1819; d. May 8, 1888; his wife, Mary
Ann, d. Feb. 15, 1870, ag. 43. Children: Francis H., d. Nov. 27, 1849,
ag. ly., 10m.; Ellen L., d. Feb. 19, 1859, ag. 5y., 2m.; Hattie F., d. Aug.
24, 1859, ag. ly., 11m.; Cora Bell, d. ; Clara, m. a Chase; Georgi-
anna, m. Clara's husband.
Barnard, David, son of Thomas and Ruth (Eastman), b. April 27,
1819; d. Jan. 11, 1888; m. (2) Susana Leavitt Youngman, b. March 29,
1825. Children: Burns M., m. Nellie Stevens, dau. Wyman. Children by
his first wife: Eugene A., m., Nov. 11, 1885, Alice A. Grimes; Emma J.,
m., June 17, 1885, Fi-ed F. Avery.
Barnes, Fred O., d. Dec. 21, 1878, ag. 19y., Im. (d).
Barney, Aaron, son of Jacob and Lois (Walker), of Grafton, b. June
2, 1810; d. March 24, (b) ; m., Dec. 29, 1836, Sarah Ann Chase, dau.
Ezra, b. June 11, 1816; d. Jan. 8, 1891. Children: S. Addie, b. Oct. 4,
1849; d. Jan. 10, 1876; Charles O., b. July 21, 1844; m.. July 21, 1873,
Mary E. Wilmarth, b. Sept. 23, 1851; d. Feb. 4, 1887. Children: Lester,
O., b. July 24, 1874; d. March 12, 1890; Alice M., b. July 8, 1879; d.
March 21, 1899; Addie; Edward A., b. July 22, 1881; m., Nov. 30, 1909,
Bessie Hutchinson; Ralph T. Elsina H., dau. Aaron, i>. 1854; m., Oct.
4, 1874, Walter B. Martin.
Barney, Polly M., wife of Melvin A., d. April 10, 1883, ag. 37.
Barney, Oti.s, d. Dec. 8, 1849, ag. 76; his wife, Alathea, d. Jan. 7, 1868,
ag. 75 (b).
Barney, Eleazer, son of John of Grafton, b. March 29, 1814; d. Sept.
7, 1884; m. Emeline A. Durrell, dau. of Daniel and Augusta (Tilton)
Durrell, d. Feb. 14, 1906, ag. 82y., 10m., 8d. Children: Helen, who died
young; Albert E., who m. (1), July 2, 1862, Rosina E. Hutchinson, dau.
of Richard, d. Sept. 11, 1863, ag. 19y., 3m.; m. (2), Jan. 22, 1867, Abby
Hutchinson, sister of his first wife. Had two children: Ernest A., b.
July 11, 1869, who m. Mary Martin, dau. of Henry and Lucy J. (Bur-
ley) Martin; John E., b. March 15, 1876, m. Lydia J. Kirkpatrick, b.
Aug. 23, 1880, had two children: Marjory, d. Feb. 5, 1906, ag. ly., 8m.,
20d. (b), and Pauline, b. May 22, 1907.
Barney, Arthur J., son of Eleazer. m. (1) M. Josette Hosley, d. Jan.
2, 1878, ag. 27y., 3m., 9d.; m. (2), April 10, 1881, Lillian A. Smith. He
had two children by his first wife: Harry A., m. Feb. 6, 1907, Mary
A. Hornbrooke, and has one child: Maurice H., b. Dec. 20, 1907. Clar-
ence E., m., June 19, 190^6, Grace A. Safford.
Barney, Bertha E., dau. Eleazer, b. 1856; m. (1), Dec. 22, 1875, Her-
vey S. Dow, son of Samuel H. and Emily R. Dow, b. 1849; d. Oct. 8, 1890;
m. (2) Albert L. Hadley. Children by first marriage: Edith Meriam,
b. Jan. 27, 1878, m., Jan. 25, 1898, Perley J. Columbia, four children.
Archie, son of Hervey S. and Bertha E., d. Dec. 3, 1886, ag. 3d.; Pearl
E., b. 1880, m., June 11, 1901, Reginald C. Stevenson, b. 1880; one child.
588 History of Canaan.
Barney, Charles, d. Aug. 3, 1887, ag. G9; m. (1), Feb. 20, 1S53, Eliza-
beth J. Wells, d. Nov. 18, 1854, ag. 22; m. (2), Nov. 5, 1856, Harriet
Wells, d. June 3, 1909, ag. 77y., 7a2i., 3d. Children: Lizzie I., m. Carey
Smith; Allen W., b. May 14, 18C2; d. Sept. 28, 1903.
Barry, Jane, wife of William, d. Nov. 23, 1861, ag. 52; also a dau.
Nella, d. Sept. 8, 1850, ag. 2y.
Bartlett, Joseph, d. July 19, 1837, ag. 72y., 10m. (a); his wife, Matty
or Molly, d. Jan. 20, 1818, ag. 19 (a); he m. a second wife, Ruth. He
purchased 100 acres of the old fariu of Caleb Clark, April 2, 1793, and in
the deed he is recorded as from Newtown, N. H. His children were:
Lois and Polly. Lois was b. Nov. 3, 1792; d. Nov. 18, 1819 (a); m.,
March 10, 1810, Joseph Burley of Dorchester, b. April 28, 1784; d.
March 21, 1866. They had five children: Joi^eph Bartlett, b. Feb. 11,
1811; m., April 21, 1840, Louisa York, and had five children: Annie
McKim, Louisa, Joseph Bartlett, George Mathias, who d. young, and
Fannie, who d. young. The second child of Lois was Lois, b. May 2,
1818, and d. young. Third child of Lois: Mathias, b. Nov. 22, 1814; d.
April 27, 1816; John, b. Sept. 2, 1816; d. Aug. 19, 1861; he married.
Fifth child of Lois was Louisa Maria, b. Jan. 15, 1819; d. April 8, 1S74;
m., Dec. 7, 1843, John Foster of Rumney.
Bartlett, Polly, dau. of Joseph and Molly, b. Jan. 25, 1795; d. Feb. 24,
1885; m., Nov. 30, 1820, Orrin Fales, son of John, d. Jan. 28, 1858, ag.
58. Children: Orrin Gilbert, b. Nov. 19, 1826; d. May 3, 1841 (a);
Mary M., m. John M. Barber (see him); Lucy A., m. Hiram Barber
(see him); Clara J., b. Feb. 23, 1841; d. Dec. 1, 1890; m., April 5, 1864,
Charles S. Wilson. Child: Luella. Hannah E., dau. Orrin, m. J. Blood;
Lois, m. James H. Thrasher; George, d. in Pepperell, Mass., by his
second wife, Maria, he had Charles H., b. Feb. 1, 1862. Joseph B., d.
Feb. 9, 1863, ag. 23, who resided in Nashua at the time of his enlist-
ment, Sept. 19, 1861, in the Eighth Regiment; he -died at Fort Independ-
ence, Boston Harbor (a).
Bartlett, Nathaniel, d. March 18, 1841, ag. 84 (d) ; he m. Susannah
Clark, dau. of Caleb; her oldest son was of that name and she signed
a deed of her interest as an heir in Caleb Clark's farm; she d. Aug.
13, 1825, ag. 69y., 8m., 24d.; her age is given as 76 on her tombstone.
Their children: Caleb Clark, m. Sarah Huse, dau. Nathan, d. Jan. 12,
1865, ag. 73y., 7ni. Their children were: Eliza H., b. Oct. 14, 1826; d.
Jan. 3, 1903; m., Oct. 24, 1866, John W. Kimball, b. Aug. 8, 1824; d.
April 14, 1901; Belinda L., d. Feb. 22, 1875, ag. 38; m., Sept. 6, 1866,
Ephraim F. Withington, b. Jan. 21, 1830; d. Sept. 18, 1880 (d), and had
one child, Sidney B., m. Mary A. (Jepson) Story, d. (a); Cor-
delia H., m., Sept. 22, 1852, Samuel Carlton. Children: Mary J., d. Aug.
14, 1855, ag. ly., 10m., and Charles H., d. June 9, 1859, ag. ly., Im. (d) ;
Caleb Sidney, son of Caleb C, d. May 19, 1866, ag. 44. Eliza H. succeeded
to the old farm of her father. Caleb, which was a part of Nathaniel's old
farm. The last house on the old Lyme road in Canaan. Polly H., dau.
of Nathaniel, d. Nov. 9, 1870, ag. 86; m. Luther Kinne (see Kinne).
Genealogy. 589
Betsey, d. June S, 1862, ag. 73y., 2m; in., March 29, 1815, John Fhinders,
d. Feb. 22, 18G4, ag. 74. Nancy H., m., Jan. 23, 1S21, Amos Gould of
Piennout.
Bartlett, Molly, consort of John H. Bartlett, d. Jan. IG, 17S9, ag.
37 (a).
Bartlett, Nathaniel E., d. Aug. 26, 1873, ag. 63y., Im.; m. Su.^an Slade,
b. June, ISOl; d. Oct.. 13, 1886; he came from Vermont. Children:
Frank T., and Myra H., b. Nov. 30, 1854; m., March 7, 1877, Wymau P.
Clark, b. May 6, 1855; no ch.
Bartlett, Sally, has a broken stone, no dates (d).
Bean, Lucia P., wife of Daniel F., d. Aug. 13, 1849, ag 28 (a).
Bean, John, and Polly, his wife, had: Folsom, b. March 2, 1789; John,
Jr., b. March 28, 1791; Moses, b. Jan. 11, 1793; Susannah, b. March 13,
1795. His name appears on the inventories of 1793-'95, and in 1798 he
owned land in the southeast corner of the town.
Benson, Grace E., dan. Eugene E. and Belle K., b. 1899; d. 1900 (a).
Berry, Charles D., d. Sept. 21, 1876, ag. 56; his wife, Sarah, d. Oct. 21,
1871, ag. 55 (a). He was the father of John W. Berry. Lived in house
now burned, across the Pond, on Richard Whittier's old farm.
Bert, Dorcas, wife of Alanson, d. March 8, 1843, ag. 40 (a).
Bickford, Jonathan, d. May 24, 1873, ag. 61 (b); his wife, Sabriua C,
d. March 15, 1901, ag. 87. Children: Joseph S., d. June 14, 1864, ag. 22
(b) ; Sarah M., b. Nov. 21, 1837; d. Oct. 21, 1898; m. Freeman S. Parker
and had three children: Laura, Cora Bell, d. Dec. 17, 1880, ag. 15y., 6m.
(b); George W. Ida M., dau. of Jonathan, d. Nov. 1, 1870, ag. 18y.,
10m.; Jane, m. Charles Wells (see him); Amelia A., b. 1840; m., Nov.
28, 1871, Ozias Millet; Mary E., b. 1838; m., Dec. 3, 1867, William H.
Bell; Carrie.
Blaisdell, Martha E., wife of Hiram G., d. March 8, 1869, ag. 22; their
dau., Linnie N., d. Dec. 11, 1867, ag. 8m., 22d. (a). He m. (2), April
26, 1870, Caroline A. Westcott, b. 1854, and had two children: Fannie
Ellen, m., June 27, 1906, Frank W. Chase, and Lora A., d. Dec. 27, 1905,
ag. 24y., Sm., lid.; she m., Nov. 6, 1897, Moses B. Wheeler and had three
children (a).
Blaisdell, Samborn, d. July 16, 1862, ag. 68; his wife, Mehitable, d.
Sept. 11, 1867, ag. 62 (j).
Blake, Polly F., wife of Joseph, d. Aug. 17, 1863, ag. 69 (d).
Blanchard, Israel, b. Nov. 14, 1825; d. Jan. 20, 1902 (c).
Blodgett, Caleb, b. Dee. 13, 1793; d. Oct. 5, 1872; m., Sept. 17, 1824,
Charlotte Piper, b. Feb. 12, 1804; d. Feb. 1, 1873 (a). Children: Caleb,
b. June 3, 1832; d. Dec. 11, 1903 (a); m., Dec. 14, 1866, Roxalana B.
Martin, dau. of Jesse, and had one son, Charles H., who married and
has one son, Caleb; lives in Melrose, Mass. Isaac N., son of Caleb and
Charlotte, b. March 6, 1838; d., Franklin, Nov. 27. 1905; m., May 25,
1861, Sarah Gerould, dau. of Moses, and had one child, Anna. Emily R.,
dau. of Caleb, d. Aug. 23, 1851, ag. 23 (a) ; m. Miles Jackson who d.
Oct. 29, 1853, ag. 53 (a); their f-on, George, d. Sept. 28, 1848, ag. 4m.,
590 History of Canaan.
28d. (a). He m. (2), April 12, 1852, Elsie T. Miner, dau. of Amos
Miner.
Bogardus, Wilmer S., son of Dr. F. A. and Blanche E. (Sargent), d.
Dec. 30, 1899, ag. 11m., 16d.
Booth, Isaiah, m.. Feb. 18, 1784, Anne; one child: Joseph C, b. July
1, 1784.
Bojnngton, Huldah M., d. Sept. 8, 1884, ag. 60.
Bradbury, William, b. Haverhill, Mass., April 2, 1759; d. Dec. 27,
1834 (d) ; m. Polly Meacham, dau. of Samuel, b. Feb. 9, 17G8; d. June 26,
1836. Nine children: Judith, m. Willianr Gordon; Betsey, m. a Rand-
lett; Sarah, d. April 11, 1875, ag. 77y., 4m.; m., Dec. 14, 1815, Abner
H. Cilley, d. Feb. 4, 1872, ag. 78 (d). Children: Horatio G., d. April 25,
1864, ag. 29 (d) ; George J., b. 1840; m., Nov. 27, 1864, Clara J. Jewell, d.
Jan. 7, 1866, ag. 19y., 10m. (a); m. (2), Dec. 24, 1868, Mrs. Ada E.
Lowell. Diancy, and another daughter that m. a Wardsworth. David,
son of William and Polly, m. a Richardson; Mary, single. Samuel, m. a
Gould; Roswell, m. an Emerson; William, d. Oct. 15, 1853, ag. 54 (d);
m., Dec. 11, 1817, Rebekah Gould, b. 1793. Twelve children: Joshua and.
Rebekah, d. young; Albert A., b. Oct. 9, 1838; d. 1901; m., May 29, 1869,
Adeline E. Morse, dau. of Jesse, b. 1844; d. 1900 (c). Children: William
J. and Addie R., m. Frank S. Fifield, son of Edson J.; Amos Porter, b.
1842, son of William, m. Adelia Elmer, b. 1846; Harriet Ann, m. (1), Dec.
22, 1842, Elbridge G. Stone; m. (2) Plummer Smith. Children: Lucy A.,
b. 1845; m., Aug. 9, 1864, William A. Lihbey, b. 1843, of Piermont. Han-
nah, dau. William, m., Oct. 28, 1852, Alexander Jefferson; Aaron, b.
May 5, 1828; d. July 4, 1861; m. Annette Richardson, dau. of Jacob and
Elsie (see her); Mary, m. William K. Hadley, son of Silas; Celia,
m., Aug. 21, 1849, Caleb B. Atwood; Fannie W., b. 1834; m., Sept. 25,
1862, Charles H. Kelley. William, .son of William, m., March 15, 1855,
Velina S. Spear; Dexter F., m., Nov. 12, 1857, Betsey A. Clark. Benja-
min, son of Dea. William, d. Nov. 25, 1893, ag. 89y., 10m., 21d. (d); m.
(1) Lydia Pollard, dau. David, d. March 17, 1875, ag. 6Sj'., 2Sd. Chil-
dren: Amanda E. J., d. Nov. 2, 183S, ag. 8w.; Louis N., d. March 24,
1900, ag. 67y., 8m.; George C, m. (1), Sept. 11, 1853, Elzina WTieat, d.
Oct. 11, 1864, ag. 33y., 2Sd. (a); m. (2), Jan. 2, 1869, Mattie P. Story,
dau. of Otis J., b. 1845. Benjamin, m. (2), July 16, 1876, Hannah S.
Boston.
Bradbury, Samuel, m., Nov. 5, 1815, Phoebe Porter. Children: Phoebe,
b. Sept. 4, 1816: d. March 3, 1879; m. George Davis, d. July 26, 1872, ag.
60y., 6m., 26d. (a). Children: Phoebe, d. June 28. 1856, and Leroy S.,
b. 1842; d. 1894 (a); m. Emma M. Merrill and had three children:
Kitty, m. (1) John Harrigan, and had one child; m. (2) Albert Richard-
son; Etta Bell, d. Feb. 3, 1866, ag. 21d, and an infant, d. April 11, 1868.
Samuel, son of Samuel, b. Dec. 16, 1817; Polly, b. Feb. 12, 1819; Enos
Wells, b. Dec. 24, 1820.
Briggs, Howard C, son of C. B. and A. E., b. March 13, 1884; d. May
12, 1903 Ob).
Genealogy. 591
Brocklebank, Moses A., d. Sept. 8, 1898, ag. 79y., 5m., IGd. (c) ; m.,
Oct. 13, 1879, Sophronia Stevens of Enfield, d. Oct. 19, 1878, ag. .54: their
dau., Laura R., d. May 17, 1862, ag. lly., 5m., 20d.; Nellie A., d. Feb. 12,
1894, ag. 36y., 4m.; m. (1) Oscar Harris; m. (2) Henry Choate.
Brown, Susan F., dau. of B. and S. P., d. Sept. 15, 1873, ag. 21 (b).
Brown, Abel, b. Feb. 28, 1780; m., Jan. 3, 1811, Sally Folsom, b. Oct.
19, 1785. Child: Adaline Colby, b. Feb. 23, 1812.
Brown, John G., son of Charles and Mary, d. July 22, 1880, ag. 19 (b).
Bucklin, Mary E., dau. of Welcome Aldrich, wife of David, d. Aug. 14,
1871, ag. 29y., 9m. (b) ; Allie S., son, d. May 1, 1871, ag. 4m., 14d.;
Arthur M., b. 1864; m., July 4, 1883, R. Clara Akerman, b. 1863.
Burke, Michael, d. Nov. IG, 1902, ag. S2y., 7m. (c); his wife, Honora,
d. April 13, 1872, ag. 49; son, John W., d. Aug. 22, 1881, ag. 32 (c).
Burnham, James, d. March 16, 1849, ag. 74y., 7m. (e); by his wife,
Elizabeth, he had Elzina, d. May 16, 1827, ag. 10; Dea. Silas d. May
4, 1887, ag. Sly., 6m. (c); m. (1), Jime 15, 1837, Ruth P. Colby, d.
March 9, 1849, ag. 36y., 2m. (e); m. (2), Jan. 15, 1849, Lydia San-
bom, d. March 29, 1871, ag. 52 (c). Adelia A., wife of William H.
Clough, d. March 24, 1891, ag. 42y., 4m., 7d. (e). James, probably the
son of James, d. July 10. 1827, ag. 27; and Joseph d. Nov. 9, 1838, ag.
41, his wife, Lucy, d. March 6, 1836, ag. 37.
Burnham, Mason, b. Oct. 18, 1823; d. Sept. 1, 1891; his wife, Ruth L.,
b. July 27, 1824; d. Feb. 11, 1894.
Burnham, Nellie W.. dau. of George W. and Mary L., d. Oct. 2, 1862,
ag. 5y., 2m., 21d; another, Liona E., d. Sept. 25, 1862, ag. 2y., 10m.,
Id. (c).
Butman, Mary, wife of Paul, d. April 23, 1850, ag. 45 (a). Children:
Laura, m. (1) a Sanborn; m. (2), Aug. 18, 1861, David T. Ford; Frank,
b. Dec. 27, 1824; d. Aug. 14, 1896 (d) ; m., Feb. 6, 1849, Susan T. Colby,
dau. of Adonijah and Susanna Colby, b. Feb. 2. 1824; d. Oct. 21, 1893.
Children: Frank H., d. Sept. 30, 1881. ag. 28y., 4m. (d) ; m., Jan. 1,
1874, Eva Gorham; George E., b. 1863; d. 1890 (d) : Alma A. Clough,
wife of another son, Charles H., b. Sept. 3, 1861; d. Feb. 4, 1895 (d).
Another son of Frank: Fred E., is married and has three children:
Blanche, 0«car and Grace.
Butterfield, son of William and Harriet Jones, d. Sept. 11, 1849, ag.
4w; another son, George, d. Aug. 11, 1849, ag. 2y., 4m. (a).
Call, Enoch, d. Feb. 23, 1877, ag. 76y., 4m., 18d. (d); by his wife,
Ruth, he had: Sarah J., b. 1845; m., Nov. 29, 1865, John Wheeler of
Dorchester; William R.. b. 1838; m., Sept. 21, 1869, Abbie F. Harris.
Campbell. William, d. Aug. 7, 1863, ag. 88 (c) ; his wife, Hannah
Hardy, d. July 7, 1862, ag. S3y., 6m. Children: Capt. Daniel, d. Dec. 11,
1850, ag. 52y., 10m. (c) ; m., July 11, 1821, Polly Wells, dau. of Ezekiel
and Polly, d. Sept. 4, 1882, ag. 81y., 4m.; their children were: Daniel H.,
d. May 19, 1885, ag. 57y., 8m., 26d. (c) ; m. Angelina F. Webster, d. Jan.
26, 1886, ag. 55; their children were: Daniel W., b. 1855; m., April 30,
1882, Mary J. Clough, dau. of B. W. Clough, b. 1860; Sarah F., b. 1859;
592 History of Canaan.
m., June 15, 1887, Elmer E. Brown; Ella, m. a Carr; Mary, m. Frank
Howe. Charles A., b. 1867; d. 1895; m., Dec. 7, 1887, Hannah A. Goss
of Hanover; had four children. Alba A., son of Capt. Daniel, d. Oct.
10, 1853, ag. 19. Polly, dan. of William, b. March 31, 1807; d. Jan. 8,
1821. William, Jr., d. May 28, 1839, ag. 31. Betsey, d. Sept. 12, 18G2, ag.
G2; m., Nov. 22, 1821, Nathaniel Shepard, d. Oct. 27, 1881, ag. 82y., 11m.
Hannah, m., Jan. 31, 1822, Timothy Sanborn.
Carlton, Jonathan, m. Molly; she d. Nov. 5, 1821, ag. 01. Children:
Daniel, b. April 21, 1783; child, Moses. Jonathan, d. Dec. 3, 1878, ag.
78y., 2m.; m. Eliza Shattuck, d. March 26, 1852, ag. 53y., 4ni. (a) ; Francis
C. and Mary had a son. Miles, d. Sept. 26, 1821, ag. 9'm. (a).
Carlton, Thomas L., and Edna, had a sou, Albert, b. Nov. 3, 1839.
Nancy, wife of Thomas J., d. April 2, ISCO, ag. 24 (c).
Carter, William, d. April 12, 1871, ag. 84y., 10m.; he m. Abigail and
had a son, George, d. Dec. 25, 1856, ag. 21.
Caverley, Harriet D., b. 1819; d. 1909 (c).
Chamberlain, William A., b. March G, 1855; d. June 14, 1906 (c).
Chase, Ambrose, d. about 1803 (d), and Hannah, had Hannah, b.
March 13, 1801, and William, who m. Abigail and had Elisa, b. June 11,
1811, Hannah Hawthorne, b. May 26, 1813, and John R., b. March 31,
1815.
Chase, Joseph, d. Sept. 6, 1820, ag. 46; Nancy E., his wife, d. Jan. 20,
1857, ag. 82. Children: Sarah, m. Uriah F. Lary (see him) ; Horace W.,
b. March 18, 1809; d. Jan. 3, 1877 (a); m. Abigail Martin, dau. of*
Robert, Dec. 24, 1835; b. June 26, 1818; d. March 29, 1901. Children:
William M. (see lawyers); Henry M., b. Aug. 27, 1857; d. May 22, 1902
(a) ; m., June 1, 1878, Addie B. Smith, and had a daughter.
Chase, William, d. Oct. 14, 1857, ag. 61y., 3m.
Chase, Ezra, d. Jan. 14, 1864, ag. 84 (b) ; his wife, Sarah E. Morrill,
d. March 17, 1848, ag. 63y., 9m. Children: Betsey M., d. Nov. 21, 1888,
ag. 79; m., Aug. 1837, Gideon Lowell, d. Sept. 2, 1863, ag. 62. Children:
Frank B. and Belle. Samuel B., son of Ezra, b. March 6, 1819; d. Nov.
15, 1893; m. dau. of Otis Barney. Sarah Ann, dau., d. Jan. 8, 1891, ag.
74y., 6m.; m. Aaron Barney (see him); Charles C. Francis M., sou of
Ezra, d. March 29, 1875, ag. 63 (b) ; m. Eliza J. and had Clarence J. A.,
d. Dec. 24, 1857, ag. 7w., 7d., and Viola J., d. Dec. 14, 1860, ag. 8y.,
2m., Id.
Chesley, Eleazer, d. Sept. 29, 1876, ag. 80y., 5m. (c) ; Ann, his wife, d.
Aug. 15, 1869, ag. 67. Their son, Eleazer B., d. April 2, 1868, ag. 31.
Childs, Oliver B., m. Mary Stone, b. Feb. 5, 1844; d. Jan. 21, 1903.
Almira T., b. Dec. 9, 1844; d. Nov. 7, 1879; m. George Barker. Mary Ella
F., dau. of Oliver B., d. Aug. 8, 1898, ag. 36y., 9m., 18d.; m. Fred B.
Wilson.
Clark, Amasa, son of Moses, b. in Warner, Aug. 10, 1777; d. Feb. 17,
1854 (d); m. Sally Ladd in Hopkinton, from the family of Daniel Flan-
ders, came to Canaan in 1804. She d. Nov. 30, 1858, ag. 75. They had
six children:
Genealogy. 593
1. Laura, b., Hopkiiiton, Feb. 14, 1803; m., Jan. 26, 1825, Noah Saw-
yer of Canaan; three children: one of them, Seraph, d. Jan. 11, 1835, ag.
8; Stephen, b. 1835; m., Jan. 7, 1871, Mary E. Cilley, dau of Mark, b.
1835.
2. Zilpha, b. Oct. 2, 1804; m., Feb., 1837, John Hobbs. Jr., of Andover;
one child, Catherine, who married and died, leaving three children.
3. Samuel Stillman, b. April 15, 1807; d. April 25, 1876; m., 1833,
Clarissa Porter of Canaan, b. Jan. 2, 1804; d. March 4, 1863, leaving
three children. He died April 25, 187C; was blind many years. Chil-
dren: 1. George Porter, m. (1) Pettingill; she was divorced;
m. (2) Ellen Bradish of Haverhill; several children. 2. Sarah, b. 1841;
m., 1868, Benjamin Clay of Danbury; resides California. 3. Eliza P.,
b. 1841; m., June 13, 1870, Sigismoud Wolfson of Germany; four chil-
dren: Mabel M., d. Nov. 8, 1897, ag. 22y., 10m.; Clara F., d. April 15,
1874, ag. 29; Maurice S., d. Sept. 22, 1873 (d), ag. ly., Im., 21d.; Carl,
who m. Lillian Jewel and lives with his father and mother in Canaan
on old Porter farm.
4. Carlton Currier, b. Oct. 3, 1814; m., June, 1841, Lucinda Bowen
of Grafton; no children; m. (2), Oct. 19, 1871, Mrs. Mary Sargent, who
soon died, Sept. 14, 1874, ag. 47y., 5m., leaving an infant that died a
few months after. He died Dec. 17, 1875 (d). Child: Alma C, d. March
14, 1876, ag. ly., 11m., 16d.
5. Sarah, b. June 19, 1818; d., unm., Feb. 24, 1841 (d).
' 6. Mary, b. Oct. 20, 1820; m., Feb. 3, 1859, Joel Osborne of Chelsea,
Vt; she died Oct. 28, 1863; no children.
Clark, Theodore, d. June 13, 1858, ag. S5y., 6m., 8d.; bought his farm
of his father, Timothy, who came from Pelham; his second wife, Betsey,
d. Sept. 26, 1884, ag. 87y., 7m., 8d. Children: Daniel, d. April 17, 1892,
ag. 78y., 5m., 8d.; m. (1) Dorcas Hadley, dau. of Stephen 1st, d. March
18, 1876, ag. 61 (e) ; m. (2), Nov. 19, 1876. Elizabeth Hale. Children:
Emeline, d. Feb. 5, 1904, ag. 63; m. John W. Philbrick, sou of Hiram;
Irena, b. 1846; m., Aug. 6, 1865, Alexander Evans, b. 1836: Benjamin
0. T., b. 1849; d. Oct. 7, 1867 (e); m., July 4, 1861, Carrie E. Philbrick,
dau. of Francis and Abigail Welch, she was kuown afterwards as "Inda
E."; Betsey, b. 1834; m. (1), Oct. 12, 1857, Anthony Welch; m. (2)
Hiram Philbrick; m. (3) Willard Colburn, d. July 13, 1893, ag. 60y., 2m.,
24d.; Rachel G., b. 1850; m., Oct. 11, 1865, Elijah W. Edwards, m. (2)
John Ford; Leonard A., b. 1851; m., Oct. 8, 1874. Malvina Shattuck;
Henry W., b. 1859; m., Sept. 1, 1879, Hattie J. Shattuck, b. March 7,
1864. Children: Dorcas, b. March 20, 1883; m. Ira A. Tarbell, and
Josie m. Albert Goss; Mahala D., d. July 1, 1879, ag. 22y., 10m.; m. John
Ford (e). Betsey, dau. of Theodore, d. March 1, 1824, ag. 2; Reuben,
d. Oct. 29, 1884, ag. 66y., 2m., 24d. (c). Children: Jennie D., d. March
6, 1884, ag. 24y., Im., 23d.; m. a Dunham.
Clark, Dorinda, first wife of Reuben, d. July 27, 1842, ag. 23 (e) .
His second wife, Miriam J., d. Sept. 13, 1898, ag. 68y., 8m., 6d. (c).
Clark, Helen A., wife of Frank E., d. May 15, 1903, ag. 31 (e).
594 History op Canaan.
Clark, Jacob S., b. 1799; d. 18S1; his wife, Haunah S., b. 1811; d.
Feb. 11, 1898 (a). '
Clark, Mary E., dau. of O. A. aud G. A., b. Nov. 3, 1904; d. Feb. 18,
1905.
Clai'k, Warren W., son of John B. and Susan B. (Waterman), d. Jan.
15, 1857, ag. 6y., 7m., 2d., and Warren T., d. Oct. 2, 1862. ag. ly., Sm. (c) ;
John S., son of John B., b. 1843; m. (1) Mary A. Morey; m. (2), Aug.
30, 1891, Mary A. Woodbury, b. 1853; Truman J., b. 1856; m., Oct. 27,
1906, Gertrude A. Austin, b. 1873; d. Dec. 27, 1908, ag. 35y., Im., 8d.
Child: Lizzie M., b. 1907; d. 1908 (c). Horace A., son of John B., b.
1848; m., Jan. 10, 1874, Mary E. Stark, dau. of Jonathan of Hanover.
Clement, 0. F., Co. B, Fourth Vermont Volunteers, (c).
Clement, Annie B., wife of Fi'ank A., b. 1874; d. 1895 (c).
Cleveland, William A., b. Nov. 22, 1816; d. Sept. 4, 1887; his wife,
Dcidamia, b. Dec, 7, 1824; d. Oct. 18, 1903. Children: Clara A., b. July
11, 1865; d. June 22, 1898; m. a Wright.
Clough, Samuel, d. Nov. 23, 1SC2, ag. 82 (d) ; his wife, Jerusha
Clark, d. Sept. 22, 1853, ag. 74. Children: Miriam, d. July 20, 1827, ag.
19; Mary A., d. Sept. 14, 1884, ag. 61y., 11m., 21d.; m. Williams;
Clark, b. 1818; d. 1892 (c) ; m. Elsie (Miller) Richardson, b. 1817; d.
May 30, 1897. Children: Sarah J., wife of John P. Daines, b. 1852; d.
1905; one son, Byron. Emma A., dau. of Clark, b. 1858; m., June 19,
1877, Albert Packard, son of John, b. 1S5S. Children: Ethel, Burton.
John F., son of Samuel, b. 1820; m., March 13, 1844, Hannah E. Pack-
ard, dau. of Chamberlain, b. Feb. 1, 1827; d. Oct. 6, 1894 (d). Chil-
dren: Allen J., d. Feb. 5, 1907, ag. 62y., 8m.; he m., April 19, 1864,
Sarah Ann Whittier, dau. Elijah and Matilda, and had a son, Bert.
Mary A., dau. of John F., b. 1854; m., April 9, 1879, Daniel Goss, Jr.,
son of Daniel and Loraine, b. 1852; one son, Albert, m. Josie Clark, dau.
of Henry; one dau., Beatrice.
Clough, Clark, d. April 1, 1853, ag. 26 (d).
Cobb, Salmon, b., Mansfield, Mass., Oct. 22, 1760; d. Nov. 4, 1851;
m. (1), Oct., 1785, Abigail Pi-att, b. Oct. 1765; d. May 1, 1804; m. (2),
May 1, 1811, Bathsheba Briggs, b. April 29, 1770; d. May 26, 1863. He
was a Revolutionary soldier before he came to Canaan (a). Children:
Seven by first and one by second wife: Polly, b. March 15, 1788; Abi-
gail, b. June 2, 1790; Fanny, b. Aug. 19, 1792; d. Sept. 12, 1879, single;
Salmon P., b. Dec. 19, 1793; d. Sept. 3, 1878 (b) ; m. Betsey Fisher, b.
Dec. 31, 1801; d. Dec. 20, 1869. Children: Hiram, d. Feb. 21, 1824, ag.
5m., 3d.; Elizabeth F.. b. 1828; d. 1884, single; Abl.ie P., d. May 6,
1849, ag. 21; Adelia F., m. James H. Davis (see him); Caroline, and
Phoebe, d. Jan. 29, 1901, ag. 66y., 9m., 14d.; Lucretia B., d. Oct. 22,
1906, ag. 69y., 4m., 7d.; m.. April 24, 1860, Albert A. Haggett; two
children, one dau. died, and one dau., Minnie L., living with her father,
single. Phoebe, dau. of Salmon, b. Oct. 25, 1795; d. March 23, 1832 (b) ;
m., Sept. 23, 1824, Timothy K. Blaisdell, son of Daniel (see him). Guil-
ford, b. July 17, 1799; d. April 23, 1853 (a); m., 1832, Susan Arvin, dau.
Genealogy. 595
of Simeon, b. May 8, 1809; d. Aug. 12, 1867. Children: Hiram M., b. July
21, 1828; d. April 12, 1897; m. Malvina Suell, b. Jan. 24, 1839; d. Jan.
14, 1907; Susan Frances, b. Dec. 4, 1833; d. Aug. 21, 1903, single. Hiram,
son of Salmon, b. March G, ISul. Edwin, b. March 8, 1812; d. Nov. 16,
1870 (a); m., March 19, 1837, Emma E. Brooks, b. July 27, 1815; d.
June 28, 1885. Children: Emma E., b. May 27, 1840; m., Jan. 1, 1862,
Wyman Stevens. Children: Ellen E., b. Aug. 11, 1862; m. Burns M.
Barnard. Henry P., b. May 6, 1864; d., single. George E., son of Edwin,
b. Feb. 20, 1844; m., Nov. 8, 1879, Lucia A. Folsom, b. May 21, 1860.
Children: Fannie L., b. July 5, 1880; m., June 19, 1904, Ernest D. Fleet-
ham, b. Sept. 14, 1869. Children: Constance, b. Sept. 12, 1906; Ernest D.
Jr., b. Feb. 2, 1909.
Colburn, Leonard, d. Oct. 16, 1828, ag. 85 (d) ; his wife, Elizabeth,
d. April 6, 1815, ag. 73 (e).
Colburn, Willard, d. July 13, 1893, ag. 60y., 3m.; his first wife, Man-
daua B., d. May 21, 1881, ag. 47y., 6m.; m. (2) Betsey Clark, dau. of
Daniel.
Colby, Daniel, d. July 23, 1853, ag. 99y., 7m.; his wife, Mary Folsom,
of Haverhill, Mass., d. March, 1850, ag. 92. He had fifteen children, one
of them, Lucy, b. Feb. 25, 1799; d. Feb. 19, 1876; m., Jan. 19, 1815,
Joshua Wells (see him). Ensign, d. Aug. 17. 1866, ag. 87 (a); m.,
March 16, 1806, Silvia Fales, d. March 12, 1850, ag. 62. Children:
Mary, b. Oct. 22, 1806; d. May IS, 1881; m. Thomas J. Hardy, d. Sept.
20, 1883, ag. 78 (a). Alvin, b. April 2, 1808. John H., b. March 20,
1818; m., Sept. 2, 1838, Emeline D. Hadley. Children: Sidney L., b.
1846; m.. Dee. 24, , Sophia L. Morse, b. 1850. Joseph, d. Feb. 22,
1825. Abner Chase, son of Daniel, m., Nov. 12, 1795, by William Ayer,
Betsey Laff Flagg. Aaron H., m., March 23, 1814, Sally Haynes.
Colby, Adonijah. b. Gihfianton; d. Jan. 14, 1849, ag. 71 (a); m. (1)
Susan Taylor, d. Dec. 5, 1818, ag. 39; m. (2), Dec. 2, 1819, Susanna
Richardson, dau. of John, b. July 16, 1790; d. Oct. 23, 1855. Children:
John, d. Sept. 30, 1887, ag. 60y., 5m.; Susan T., d. Oct. 21, 1893. ag.
69y., 7m., 21d.; m. Fl'ank Butman, son of Paul and Mary Butman (see
him). Capt. Elijah R., son of Adonijah, d. Feb. 20, 1864, ag. 53y., 10m.,
6d. (a); m. Lucinda A. Lathrop, b. Oct. 2. 1809; d. May 7, 1899; she m.
(2) Thomas Sanborn. Nancy R., dau. of Adonijah, b. Sept. 10, 1816;
d. July 1, 1887; m.. Dee. 17, 1846, Henry E. Joslyn.
Colby, Moses, old stone defaced (a) ; d. about 1S04.
Colby, Enoch, had a dau., Sarah, b. Aug. 7, 1808; may have been
wife of Harry Leeds.
Colby. Willaby, d. Sept. 28, 1858, ag. 79 (d); Elizabeth Tewksbury,
his wife, d. April 29, 1849, ag. 66. Children: Sarah, wife of Israel
Porter, d. Dec. 1, 1896, ag. 86; Willaba, d. May 31, 1848, ag. 26; Mary
C, m., Nov. 28, 1845, Darious W. Copp of Sanbornton, and d. Sept. 22,
1884, ag. 61y., 4m., 9d.; he d. June 8, 1891, ag. 64 (d). John S., d. Sept.
30, 1887, ag. 60y., 11m.; single. Elizabeth, d. Jan. 28, 1881, ag. 69; m. a
Jones.
596 History of Canaan.
Colby, Martha A. (Houston), wife of Moses T., d. April 25, 1903, ag.
6Sy., 2m., 24d. (c). Children: Ella J., d. Aug. 23, 1883, ag. 20; Charles
M., d. June 25, 1860, ag. 2; Edna R., d. Dec. 6, 1874, ag. 4; Lizzie M., d.
April 4, 1877, ag. 10. The last three buried in Hanover.
Cole, Joseph H., b. May 11, 1815; d. June 24, 1849; m., 1843, Melissa
J. Lowell, b. May 1, 1820; d. July 26, 1807. Children: Daniel W.. b.
Oct. 16, 1847; d. March 4, 1868 (a); m., April 27, 1867, Ellen Dean;
Anion H., b. Dec. 11, 1843; d. Nov. 4, 1867 (a) ; Etta M., b. Jan. 24, 1850;
d. Oct. 21, 1874 (a); Alvin B., b. Oct. 12, 1845; m., Feb. 6, 1875, Lizzie
M. Boyce. Melissa J. Lowell m. (2), 1852, William Digby. b. Nov. 4,
1825; d. Aug. 23, 1863. Children: Florence H., b. Aug. 30, 1854; d. Aug.
13, 1856 (a); Rosilla E., b. Sept. 28, 1857; d. Feb. 14, 1862; Joseph W.,
b. Nov. 7, 1859; d. July 23, 1867 (a).
Cole, Norman W., d. Sept. 29, 1891, ag. 29y., 11m., 22d.; Viola M.,- d.
March 7, 1883, ag. 18y., 6m., 14d. Children of Justus and Caroline
(Digby) Cole.
Collins, Nellie M., dau. of J. 0. and C. F., d. Aug. 29, 1S83, ag. 3y.,
9m. (a).
Collins, John, b. April 3, 17SS; m., April 5, 1819, Sally Stevens, b.
Sept. 1, 1797; d. Jan. 16, 1824. Children: James Stevens, b. March 16,
1820. Olive Stevens, b. Nov. 27, 1822.
Columbia, Charles, d. Aug. 21. 1900. ag. 40 (b) ; Anthony, d. Nov. 30,
1893, ag. 80y., 10m., 2d.; his wife, Lasett, d. May 19, 1883, ag. 93y., 6m.
Conant, Henry F., son of Rev. Liba and Deborah, d. Nov. 28, 1836,
ag. 7 (a).
Copp, Henrietta, d. Feb. 9, 1879, ag. 14y., 9m.. Elsworth W., d. Dec.
19, 1878, ag. 8y., Im.; children of Lemuel M. and Lucy E.
Corliss, Joseph Folsom, son of Daniel and Rachel, d. Nov. 21, 1816,
ag. 20 (b).
Crosby, Benjamin J., son of Stephen and Rhoda, d. Jan. 25, 1850. ag.
21 (b).
Cross, Bailey, son of Jonathan and Molly (Bailey) Cross of Methuen,
d. March 12, 1812, ag. 41 (b), on tombstone; town records say d. Feb.
28, 1813; m., March 14, 1802, Susannah Bagley; she m. (2) Stephen
Worth. Children: Leonard, b. Feb. 14, 1803; lived in Geo'-gia; m;
Luther, b. Sept. 16, 1804; a doctor, lived St. Catherine, Ont.; m., no
children; Lemira H., b. Aug. 31, 1806; m. Henry J. Deaver; Calvin,
b. Aug. 16, 1808; d. 1902; m. and had a dau. who m. Dr. Goodnow of
St. Catherine, Ont. Amey, b. June 12, 1811; d. March 1, 1813; Susanah,
b. May 12, 1813; m. Anthony Groves. The other children of Jonathan
and Molly were: Nathan, d. Sept. 21, 1857, ag. 73 (b); Jonathan B.;
Rebecca, m. David Dustin; Elizabeth, m. Caleb Welch; Olive, the school
teacher, d. single; Fanny, m., Sept. 7, 1815, Theophilus Sanborn of
Bridgewater.
Cummings, Martha, wife of William, d. Oct. 9, 1852, ag. 101 y., 7m.,
lid. (b).
Currier, Nathaniel, son of William and Nancy, b. Oct. 6, 1791; d. Sept.
Genealogy. 597
12, 18G3 (a); m. Rebecca V. Pratt, d. July 24, 1872, ag. 78 (a). His
mother, Elizabeth P., d. March 21, 1832, ag. 79 (a). Nathaniel's chil-
dren were: William P., d. June 6, 1838, ag. 21; Horace S., b. April 25,
1818; d. June 17, 1866 (a); m. Emma C. Plastridge, d. April 6, 1888,
ag. 65; their children were: William Darwin (a); m. Kate M. Woolfe
Jennie W., who m. M. P. Pratt, and had two children, Louise and an-
other dau. Frank D., b. 1854; m.. May 31, 1890, Addie H. Sargent,
d'au. of Horace Rollins of Grafton; Charles Warren, b. Feb. 23, 1863; d.
Dec. 6, 1891 (a), and Maud Mabel, b. March 16, 1860. Oliver C, third
son of Nathaniel, d. Sept. 13, 1826, ag. 5. Frank, d. Jan. 13, 1889, ag.
65 (a); m., March 16, 1874, Ella R. Milton, and had two children:
Helen R., b. March 13, 1875, single; and John Pratt, b. 1880; m., July
25, 1903, Ruby I. Goss, b. 1885, and has two children: Dorothy E., b.
May 4, 1904, and Helen, b. Nov. 19, 1905. Oliver P., d. Dec. 25, 1826, ag.
4w. George K., d. Jan. 22, 1907, ag. 78y., Sm., 5d. (a); m. Mary Louise
George, b. 1847. Henry K. W., d. Aug. 10, 1831, ag. 16m. Nathaniel
S., d. Homer, La., Oct. 19, 1852, ag. 30 (a). Henry K., d. Dec. 28, 1883, ■
ag. 46 (a); m. Mary ; one son, Nathaniel, b. June 9, 1863, who
is married, and one dau., Lizzie, d. Feb. 28, 1862, ag. 2y., 6m. Eliza-
beth P., dau. of Nathaniel, m., Dec. 5, 1856, John C. Dunklee; one dau.,
Helen, m. and had two children.
Currier, Reuben, m., An?. 8, 1792, Abigail Clough, and had Reuben,
Jr., b. Aug. 10, 1793; d. March 1, 1797 (b); Henry, b. Nov. 8, 1794,
Theophilus S., b. April 11, 1797.
Currier, Dea. Joshua, b. Southampton, Mass., d. June 18, 1871, ag.
92y., Im. (h); tombstone says d. June 16, 1871, ag. 93; his wife, Mary
Farrington, d. April 2, 1864, ag. 85. Children: Betsey, b. 1808; d. Aug.
10, 1829; Farrington, d. Aug. 11, 1891, ag. 86y., 3m.; Ijis wife d. June 16,
1873 (c); child, Amos; Eben F., m. Sophia Noyes, d. June 14, 1873, ag.
72. Children: Moses E., b. Feb. 5, 1836; d. April 8, 1887; m., Oct. 19,
1865, Arabel Hadley. Dorothy Jane, b. 1813; d. April 28, 1821. So-
phronia D., b. 1815; d. Oct. 5, 1829; Ann, d. Jan. 3, 1818, ag. 7m.; Wil-
liam Ayer, d. Feb. 10, 1818, ag. 17m.
Currier, Theophilus, d. Sept. 28, 1837 (g), ag. 85; m. Elizabeth Fol-
lensbee; his dau., Betsey, m. Josiah Clark (see him). Theophilus, Jr.,
d. Oct. 9, 1865, ag. 72y., 10m., 17d. (g); m., Dec. 24, 1817, Sarah P.
Tyler, dau. Job Tyler, d. April 20, 1866, ag. 73. Richard, son of
Theophilus, d. Jan. 18, 1822, ag. 36 (g). John Wesley, sou of Theophilus,
Jr., b. Dec. 22, 1828; m. Catherine B. Doten (see her). Elizabeth, dau.
Theophilus, Jr., m., April 4, 1841, Moses French. Fanny, m. John Cun-
ningham; Alonzo, m. his cousin.
Currier. David, d. July 19, 1839, ag. 70y., 3m., 2d. (b) ; m., Feb. 2,
1797, Ruth Stevens of Enfield, d. Nov. 1, 1846, ag. 71y., 9m., 15d. Chil-
dren: Edward, d. Jan. 13, 1892, ag. 86y., 7m., Id.; Aaron, d. June 10,
1880, ag. 66:; Hannah, m., Dec. 2, 1819, Grover Burnham. David, d.
July 2, 1862, ag. 59y., 5m. (b) ; m. Rhoda Tyler, d. March 31, 1894,
ag. 86y., 8m., 26d. Children: Rhoda M., d. Sept. 16, 1842, ag. 2y.,
598 History of Canaan.
Id.; Ruth, b. 1830; m., Oct. 22, 1879, Carey Leeds. Dorothy, dau. David
and Ruth, d. Sept. 26, 1885, ag. 86y., 8m. (b). Abigail H., d. Jan. 28,
1892, ag. 88y., 14d. (d).
Currier, Simeon, son of Samuel and Mahala (Blaisdell), b. Feb. 23,
1839; d. Oct. 14, 1900.; Co. H., Seventh Vermont Volunteers (c). Child:
Samuel W., m. Etta Hadley. Children: Eva and Hammond.
Daines, Peabody M., b. 1S14; d. 1887 (c) ; m. Hannah Peters. Children:
Marcia M., b. 1851; d. Nov. 6. 1889; Sadie R., b. 18G4; d. 1885; Louisa,
d. Oct. 2, 1860, ag. 16y., 8m., 6d. (c), and John P., who m., Dec. 14, 1889,
Sarah J. Brocklebank, b. 1852; d. 1906; had Bryon; m. a second time.
Dalpha, Lida, dau. of D. J. and M. A., d. Sept. 20, 1886, ag. 4m. (a).
Davis, James H., d. Sept. 14, 1864, ag. 34y., Cm., 22d. (b); m., Feb.
23, 1854, Adelia F. Cobb, dau. Salmon P., d. Dec. 12, 1867, ag. 33y., 6m.,
5d. Children: Frank A., d. Nov. 5, 1860, ag. 5y., 2d.; Charles H., d.
April 9, 1862, ag. 2y., 5m., 4d.
Davis, Samuel, of New Grantham, d. Feb. 7, 1867, ag. 90 (b) ; m.,
March 11, 1817, Miriah Hadley, dau. Simeon and Lucy, d. June 5, 1872,
ag. 76. Children: Isaac, d. May 9, 1894, ag. 74y. Im.; m., Oct. 14, 1841,
Eliza Ann Tyler, dau. of Job C. Tyler, d. Aug. 12, 1882, ag. 58; m. (2),
June 26, 1884, Mrs. Lydia (Rogers) Wright; she m. (3), Feb. 8, 1898,
James Morrill. Children of Isaac and Eliza: Herbert C, b. Oct. 20,
1845; m., 1864, Nettie Merriam. Three children: Herbert Eugene, b.
Oct. 29, 1865; Everett Tyler, b. March 2, 1867; Fanny Elsie, b. Sept.,
1880. Julia A., dau. of Isaac, b. April 8, 1854; m. (1) Charles Swett;
m. (2), Dec. 4, 1893, Ben A. Goss. Charles, son of Samuel, b. Dec. 5,
1823; m. (1), Feb. 28, 1850, Caroline T. Miner, dau. of Elisha, b. March
2, 1826; d. Aug. 1, 1896; m. (2), Jan. 3, 1906, Mary J. Martin, b. 1851.
Children: Wesley, Milan E.. b. 1853; m., Dec. 26, 1876, Jennie P. Worthen;
Roxie L., m., Nov. 29, 1888, Edwin M. Allen. Children: Lena F., b.
Aug. 9, 1890. Martin, son of Samuel, d. Oct. 4, 1866, ag. 40; killed at
Ruggles Mica Mine, Grafton; m., March 8, 1849, Lydia Aldrich of Hill.
Alfred, son of Samuel, b. 1829; m., March 8, 1849, Abigail Aldrich of
Hill, b. 1829. George W., b. 1834; m. Emeline L. Kilton, b. 1844. Chil-
dren: Arthur L., b. 1863; d. 1905; m. (1), Dec. 24, 1887, Katherine R.
Murray, dau. of George W., b. 1864. Children: Verne L., b. July 5, 1890;
Lilla L., dau. Geo. W., b. 1868; m., Jan. 21, 1891, Irving B. Andrews, b.
1859; Lizzie Jane, b. 1871; m., June 15, 1904, Fred D. Taylor, b. 1870;
Nettie E., m. Frank H. Webster; two children. Alvin, son of Samuel, b.
1840; m. Sarah C. Richardson, dau. of Willard, d. Nov. 30, 1897, ag. 56y.,
8m., 4d.; m. (2), July 8, 1903, Abbie B. Boutwell. Children: Fred U., b.
1866; m. (1), Oct. 14, 1889, Hattie E. Worthen, b. 1871; m. (2), Feb. 4,
1897, Martha J. Bullock, b. 1873. Willie M., b. 1868; m.. May 16, 1891,
Belle M. Dresser, dau. of John of Enfield, b. 1872. Harry A., d. April
7. 1903, ag. 30y., 10m., 9d. L^on A., b. 1881; m., March 28, 1904, Eva
M. Sanborn, b. 1882. Laura E., b. 1879; m., July 16, 1902, Ralph W.
Gordon, b. 1882. Child: Lawrence D., b. Oct. 12, 1902.
Genealogy. 599
Davis, Watts, d. Feb. 22, 1869, ag. 76; his wife, Mary, d. June 24,
1877, ag. 84.
Davis, Leonard, d. April 14, 1S91, ag. 81; m. (1), Oct. 1, 1834, Eliza
Clark, dau. of Robert B.; had one ch., Arvilla F. M.; d. March 30, 1861,
ag. 25y., 6m. (b) ; m. (2) Nancy Stevens, dau. of Peter; d. Aug.
19, 1883, ag. 70. Children: Peter Lyman, d. Jan. 24, 1851, ag. ly., 4m.
(b); Wesley P., b. 1852; m., Feb. 21, 1883, Ida M. Coburn; Daniel G.
S., d. July 17, 1887, ag. 46y., 11m., 21d.; m. (1), May 14, 1870, Susan
Augusta Fowler; d. June 25, 1872, ag. 36; and an infant son d. June
25, 1872; m. (2) Ella Kimball, dau. of David; one son, Orel K., b.
July 3, 1879; m. Mary Martin.
Davis, sou of G. E. and M. J., d. Jan. 4, 1907, ag. 15d. (b).
Dean, Velous, d. Aug. 5, 1858, ag. 23 (b).
Decato, Etta, d. Feb. 23, 1892, ag. 14; Luella d. Oct. 13, 1884, ag.
ly., 8m., 20d.; children of Thomas and Mary B.
Derby, Elihu, d. April 25, ISOO, ag. 73y., 5m., 7d. (d).
Derby, Foster May, son of Alvin H. and Catherine E., d. July 9, 1852,
ag. 2y., 6m.; Lucy Cassandra, dau., d. June 30, 1852, ag. 4y. 6m. (d).
Dickson. Macauley, b. March 16, 1847; d. April 18, 1902.
Dodge, Ella S., dau. of Alvah and Mary C, d. July 30, 1877, ag. 20y.,
11m., 14d. (j). Elmore J., son of Alvah, d. June 20, 1904, ag. 46y.,
28d. (b); his wife, Hattie R. E., b. 1853; d. 1892. Children: Harry,
b. 1881; d. 1890.
Dole, Wales, d. May 7, 1861, ag. 76, (a) ; m., Dec. 30, 1813, Sarah
Burley, dau. of Gordon of Dorchester; d. May 21, 1844, ag. 52 (a); m.
(2), July 5, 1846, Lois Blodgett. Elizabeth S., wife of Stephen
Dole, d. Jan. 1, 1834, ag. 80; probably parents of Wales (a).
Doten, James, son of James and Elizabeth (Kempton) Doten, b.
Plymouth, Mass., Sept. 28, 1766; d. March 26, 1859; m., in Plymouth,
Oct. 25, 1789, Martha Torrey of Plymouth, b. 1767; d. July 29, 1810
m. (2) Mary ; d. Feb. 27, 1832, ag. 60; all (g). He
came to Canaan in 1797; had nine children: Martha Torrey, b. Dec.
20, 1791; d. Nov. 26, 1792; Mary Torrey, b. Feb. 23, 1795; d. Feb. 6,
1873; m., in Canaan, Nov. 19, 1822, Grover Burnham. They resided in
Enfield; had six children. Martha, dau. of James, b. April 21, 1796;
d. Oct. 27, 1841 (g); m., March 12, 1818, Thomas Burley of Dorchester;
had two children; Maria, b. July 14, 179S; d. Nov. 9, 1S90; m.. Jan.
20, 1822, Heman Killiam; m. (2) James Crofoot; had four ch. by
each husband; Betsey, b. June 14, 1801; d. Oct. 21, 1851 (g) ; single;
James, b. Oct. 30, 1803; d. May 17. 1877; m., Nov. 12, 1829, Rebecca Jones
of Enfield, b. Sept. 12, 1808; d. March 29, 1885. Their seven children
were: Guilford, b. Oct. 14, 1830; d. 1905; m., Feb. 17, 1864, Mrs. Betsey
Lowell Flagg, dau. of Daniel and Abby Lowell; b. Feb. 17, 1840; d.
June 25, 1862. Three children: Nelly May, b. Jan. 16, 1865; m., Sept.
15, 1885, Alfred A. Stevens, b. 1849; Frank Albin, b. Oct. 29, 1866; m.,
Aug. 13, 1894, Ethel E. Dubia, dau. of James and Emma J. Dubia; ch.,
L. Linwood and . Hattie Maude, dau. of Guilford, b. June 28,
600 History of Canaan.
1874; m., Oct. 3, 1893, Frank A. Trumbull, b. 1867. George Williams,
son of James and Rebecca, b. May G, 1833; d. Nov. 27, 1833. Ambrose
Cushin, b. Dec-. 31, 1836; d. June 7, 1873; m., Jan. 11, 1868, Augusta
Leeds, dau. of Carey; one ch., Mabel Pattee, b. Nov., 1870. Matilda Jane,
dau. of James and Rebecca, b. May 18, 1840; d. March 9, 1841. Lizzie
Maynard, b. Feb. 12, 1842; d. Feb. 13, 1871; m., March 2, 1869, Harrison
C. Bryant. Ellen Frances, b. Aug. 6, 1846; d. Jan. 6, 1850. Hattie
Frances, b. Oct. 7, 1851; m. (1), Feb. 17, 1876, John B. Coburn; he
died Sept. 20, 1885; she m. (2), March 13, 1890, Henry P. Pitcher.
Three children by first husband: Blanche M., b. Aug. 3, 1876; m., Aug.
31, 1905, Dr. Frank A. Bogardus. Two children: Charles B., b. Sept.
19, 1906; d. Oct. 22, 1907; Stanley, b. Feb. 11, 1908. Harry R., b.
April 10, 1882, and Elizabeth are the other two children of Hattie F.
William, son of James, b. Nov. 14, 1805; d. ; m. (1), Nov.
27, 1827, Catherine Barber, dau. of John M., b. Oct. 23, 1807; d. Oct.
17, 1833; m. (2), Feb. 16, 1834, Mrs. Sarah Morse; d. April 24,
1879, ag. 85y., 10m., 22d., in Hanover. Two children: Helen Maria,
b. Nov. 12, 1829; m., Feb. 4, 1854, Martin Van Bureu Morse, b. Hanover
April 3, 1829; four ch. Catherine Barber, b. Oct. 17, 1833; m., Sept.
9, 1855, John Wesley Currier, son of Theophilus, Jr., b. Dec. 22, 18i28;
d. May, 1884. Their four children are: Willie Doten, b. June 4, 1859;
Nellie Bertha, b. Dec. 18, 1860; Grace May, b. May 1, 18G5; Fred Roscoe,
b. Manchester Oct. 1, 1873. Eleanor, dau. of James, b. Jan. 30, 1808;
m., Nov. 29, 1827, Henry Morse, son of Gideon and Hannah Johnson
Morse, b. July 8, 1799; d. : six ch. Loiza, b. April 27, 1810;
d. Aug. 1, 1810; was the last ch. of James.
Dow, Charles S., b. Jan. 29, 1865; d. July 28, 1905; by his wife,
L. A., he had Robert W., d. Oct. 30, 1892, ag. 5m. (b).
Dow, Jacob, d. Aug. 4, 1831, ag. 56 (b) ; m., Sept., 1802, Phebe Wells,
dau. of Ezekiel; d. Feb. 19, 1867, ag. 84y., 10m. Children: Phebe, b.
June 21, 1803; d. ; m., May 9, 1824, David March of Croydon;
Isophena, b. Oct. 9, 1804; d. Jan. 6, 1892 (b) ; single; Rozetta, b. April
21, 1806; d. Sept. 4, 1807; Jacob Trussell, b. Dec. 31, 1807; d. in the
field July 24, 1880 (c) ; m. Nancy Ann Blaisdell of Dorchester; d. June
22, 1894, ag. 77y., 5 m., 22d. Their children were: Edwin B., d. March
14, 1841, ag. 4y., 9m.; Emma S., d. June 23, 1863, ag. 23y., 4m.; Everett,
b. 1842; d. 1900; Sylvanus J., m. a Whaley. Elvira, dau. of Jacob, b.
Nov. 23, 1809; m. Sylvester P. Gould. Armena, b. July 12, ISll; d.
Aug. 13, 1831; Sarah, b. April 10, 1813; Mary, b. March 10, 1815; d.
July 7, 1817; William Walles. b. Jan. 27, 1816; Mary, b. 1818; d. Dec.
8, 1852; Rozetta, b. Aug., 1825; d. June 3, 1828; Isaac, Joseph, Caleb.
Drew, Sally, wife of Jo.seph H., d. Jan. 10, 1839, ag. 22; dau., Rose-
anna, d. Jan. 1, 1838, ag. 5 (b).
Drew, Almary K., wife of Hiram T., b. 1854; d. 1895; sou, Calvin S.,
d. April. 28, 1891, ag. 18.
Drugg, Thomas, Company E, Twenty-First United States Infantry (c).
Genealogy. . 601
Dunham, Almon, son of Phineas C. and Anna, d. Oct. 1, 1S31; Francis
R., son, d. Sept. 16, 1826; Hiram Uline, son, d. Oct. 6, ISoO (a).
Dunham, Phineas O., d. April 1, 1889, ag. 76 (e) ; his wife, Louisa,
d. June 4, 1883, ag. 68; son, Eugene, b. Nov. 25, 1864; d. Aug. 26, 1883.
Duplesse, Ira I., son of Israel and D. M., b. Sept. 13, 1901; d. April
3, 1906 (c).
Durrell, Daniel, d. July 7, 1838, ag. 53 (b); Eunice, his first wife, d.
June 20, 1827, ag. 35; Nancy C. Jones, dau. of Jehu, his second wife, d.
Nov. 25, 1862, ag. 63y., 4m. Children: Eunice S., m., Jan., 1840,
David Goodhue of Essex, Vt.; Augusta E., m., Feb. 15, 1841, Ebenezer
Barney of Danbury; and Emeline A., m. Eleazer Barney (see him);
Elizabeth J., d. Oct. 7, 1864, ag. 31; m., Dec. 19, 1860, Hiram S. Worth,
son of Edmond and Sally; Daniel I., b. 1848; d. Oct. 25, 1890; m., Feb.
16, 1862, Helen A. Leeds, dau. of Richard E. and Mary P.
Dustin, John R., d. Feb. 16, 1859 (a), ag. 75: m., June 14, 1805, Phebe
Oilman, d. Oct. 26, 1868, ag. 85. Their children were: Sylvester, d.
; Hannah, b. Feb. 3, 1808; Alfred Bartlett, b. Dec. 3, 1812; d.
Aug. 26, 1895 (a), single; John Wesley, b. Sept. 27, 1816; d. July 25,
1882 (a) ; m. Mary Jane Parker; no children, but brought up Charles
W. Dustin, d. Dec. 5, 1905, ag. 52y., 6m., 12d. (a) ; m. Sarah A. Fifield,
dau. of Ezekiel, and had three children: Gertrude, b. March 14", 1880;
m. R. R. Prescott; Minnie, m. James Mansur, and Blanche, b. March
6, 1887, m. John T. Knuckey. William Wallace, fifth child of John R., b.
April 29, 1819; d. ; m.. Oct. 19, 1844, Jerusha Clifford of Dor-
chester; Melvina Jane, b. April 29, 1821; d. Dec. 4, 1893 (a), single;
Franklin Tilton, b. Sept. 15, 1825; d. Feb. 15, 1899 (a), single.
Dwinels, James, b. Dec. 17, 1859, ag. 59y., 5m., 20d. (c); his wife,
Louisa, d. Oct. 18, 1857, ag. 51y., 6m., 24d.; their children were: George,
d. Feb. 25, 1841, ag. 5y., 2m.; Sarah C, wife of Stephen Hadley, 3d, d.
June 28, 1868, ag. 31y., 3m. (c); Catherine, d. Feb. 23, 1841, ag. ly.,
7m., 26d.; Catherine M., d. Aug. 18, 1843, ag. 8d.; Julianna G., wife of
Moses E. Withington, b. Feb. 23, 1833; Moses, b. Jan. 31, 1828; d. June
14, 1900 (c). Charles W., b. 1835; m. (1), May 16, 1861, Albina L.
Richardson, dau. of Jacob and Elsie, d. Nov. 25, 1874, ag. 30y., 2m.;
had two children: Cora B.. d. April 25, 1875, ag. 8y., 5m.; and Daisy,
m. (2), April 3, 1876, Mrs. Julia A. (Men-ill) Richardson, b. Oct. 1,
1837; d. April 5, 1902 (c) ; no children.
Dyke, Lyman, d., ag. 83; Company I, First New Hampshire Heavy
Artillery.
Eastman, Phineas, m. Susannah Cogswell; d. Aug. 27, 1842, ag. 68 (a).
Children: Elwell, b. Dec. 31, 1795; Phineas, Jr., b. Oct. 30. 1798; d.,
Manchester, May 24, 1858; ch.: Cogswell, m. Dow of Haverhill;
Peggy, b. Dec. 18, 1800; d. Sept. 9, 1802 (a); John, b. Feb. 28, 1802;
Simeon, b. Oct. 1, 1804; Moses, b. March 14, 1803; Rachel, b. May 4,
1814; Maiy Ann, m., Sept. 1, 1845, Clark C. Walworth (see him);
Persis T., m., Jan. 6, 1857, C. W. Webster of Wells River, Vt.; Josephine,
m. Albert Hoyt; Caroline, d. single.
602 . History op Canaan.
Eastman, Stephen, d. April 8, 1797, ag. 49; bis wife, Miriam, d. Dec.
28, 1817, ag. 6Cy., 3m. (e). James, d. Dec. 17, 1851, ag. 71y., 8m.; his
wife, Polly French, d. July 13, 1874, ag. 86y., 6m. (e); had eleven chil-
dren; he came here in 1795 and settled on the west side of the town,
and was the father of James, who m. Susan L. Williams (see her). Chil-
dren: Larued, m., April 3. 1839, Lucy Ann Currier of Enfield; Stephen;
Sophronia, m. Smith; Mary, Miriam; Rhoda, m. Piper;
Bartlett; Moses P., son of James and Polly, d. June 1, 1843, ag. 13y.,
5m.; J. Fi-ench. d. April 22, 1871, ag. 47 (e).
Eastman. Allie S., son of J. B. and M. C; d. June 28, 1868, ag. 4m.,
lod. Margaret, wife of Zebulon Barber, m. March 12, 1815; d. Nov.
1854, ag. 34 (j).
Eaton, Ebenezer, d. Dec. 27, 1851, ag. 78; his wife, Susannah, d. Dec.
28, 1853, ag. 78. Natbauiel, d. July 6, 1861, ag. 56; his wife, Lueinda M.,
d. Dec. 18, 1843, ag. 39; his son, James M., m., Nov. 15, 1862, Mary E.
Richardson, dau. of Alfred, d. Nov. 25, 1865, ag. 23y., 10m., and their
dau. Mary Frances, d. Feb. 22, 1866, ag. 2y., Im.. 16d. Mary H., dau.
of Nathaniel and Luciuda, d. April 9, 1848, ag. 19. Nathaniel, m. (2),
Susannah, and had a sou George M., d. June 3, 1854, ag. 9y., 5m.
(all d).
Edwards, Nancy M. (Hadley), wife of Elijah W., d. Nov. 17, 1864, ag.
58y., 11m., 13d. (e); he m. (2), Oct. 11, 1865, Rachel G. Clark, dau. of
Daniel; their dau. Lueinda, d. Sept. 26, 1848, ag. ly., 6m., lid. Benton,
sou by Rachel, d. Aug. 30, 1877, ag. 10m., 2d. Two other sons, Byron
and Burns W., went West. Elijah W. and Nancy M. were m. Dec. 25,
1839; he d. 1878, ag. 57y., 6m. Perry, d. Jan. 2, 1891, ag. 21y., 6m., son
of Elijah and Rachel Clark (e).
Elliott, Joel, d. Feb. 22, 1873. ag. 82 (b); his wife. Betsey, d. Oct.
8, 1861, ag. 61. Freeman E., their son, d. Oct. 18, 1861, ag. 21; he m.
(2), May 4, 1862, Mrs. Dorothy (Springer) Chase, dau. of Henry and
Hannah Springer. Child: Emeline, m. William Welch.
Elliott Roswell. d. Feb. 28, 1864, ag. 58y., 5m.; his wife, Dorothy B.
Clark, dau. of Col. Josiah, d. Dec. 2, 1878, ag. 59y., 3m. (b).
Elliott, Henry E., d. 1909: his wife, Martha A. Peaslee, d. April 22,
1901, ag. 74y., 5m., 22d. Children: Henry E.; Hattie, m. Friend Pressey,
b. Oct. 6, 1856, d. Sept. 19, 1902.
EmersonrCaleb, D., d. Jan. 9, 1851, ag. 53 (a).
Emerson, Charles E., son of Charles H. and F. M., b. Jan. 26, 1873;
d. Aug. 11, 1891 (e). •
Evon, Irene S.. wife of Alexander, d. Sept. 25, 1886, ag. 3Sy., 3m (e).
Fales, John, b. Feb. 13, 1768; d. Oct. 10, 1858; m. Sally Carlton, b.
March 16, 1768; d. Aug. 15, 1841. Eleven children: Silvia, b. Oct. 19,
1788; d. Aug. 15, 1841; m. Ensign Colby (see him); John, Jr., b. April
28, 1790; d. June 22, 1861 (a); m. . Children: Dorothy H., b.
Feb. 25, 1813; m., Feb. 25, 1841, Joshua S. Lathrop (see him); Mary
C, b. March 17, 1815; d. July 4, 1860; m. Joseph Sherburne (see him);
Willard A., b. March 3, 1817; Eliza, b. April 9, 1818; d. Feb. 22, 1892;
Genealogy. 603
m. Horace W. Miller, son of Jacob; no children; Sarah, b. March 29,
1820; m. in the West; Abigail, b. Aug. 19, 1822; Eunice C, b. Feb. 27,
1828; m. Frank Barber, son of Dea. Nathaniel Barber. Arnold, son of
John, b. April 25, 1792; d. Oct. 19, 1868; m., Oct. 29, 1815, Sarah Greeley.
Children: Henry, b. March 11, 1827, and a dau. Polly, dau. of John, b.
April 29, 1794; d. Aug. 17, 18C3 (a); m. Joseph Blake; Laura, b. Dec.
13, 1795; d. Aug. 8, 1886; m., Sept. 3, 1865, George W. Leavitt, d. Oct.
4, 1875, ag. 71; no children. Horace, b. Aug. 12, 1797; d. June 12,
1881; m., March 30, 1841, Caroline Eldredge, d. May 8, 1885; Orrin,
b. Aug. IS, 1799; d. Jan. 28, 1858; m., Nov. 30, 1820, Polly Bartlett (see
her); David, b. Sept. 30, 1801: d. Nov. 9, 1875; m., April 13, 1824,
Sophia Hadley; Caleb, b. Nov. G, 1804; d. June 25, 1882; Jabez H., b.
Nov. 4, 1806; d. Feb. 3, 1882, in Baltimore, Md.; m., July 8, 1829,
Ruth Miller, dau. of Jacob, d. Sept. 7, 1881, ag. 75. Children: Loraine
H., b. Jan. 31, 1831; m., Oct. 20, 1859, John B. Dickey; Martha Jane, b.
May 2, 1835; Joseph H., d. June 24, 1842, ag. 5y., Im.; Susan C, b.
April 8, 1839; m., March 9, 1880, Frank C. Morse, b. 1852; Sarah, b.
Aug. 16, 1808; d. April 12, 1856; m., Sept. 8, 1853, Cyrus Perkins..
The following were taken from the Fales' Bible: Mariah Fales,
Dec. 2, 1818; Caroline Fales, b. March 27, 1819; Inda Fales, b. Aug,
2, 1820; Louisa Fales, b. 1822 (?); Caroline Fales, b. March 10, 1825
Julia Fales, b. July 6, 1826; Angeline S. Folsom, b. March 17, 1821
Horace Folsom, b. Feb. 21, 1819; Joseph H. Fales, b. :\Iay 14, 1844
Emily D. Fales, b. May 17, 1856; Augusta Ann Fales, b. Sept. 6, 1842
Caroline Fales, b. June 4, 1834; John D. Fales, b. June 26, 1831.
Farnum, Jonathan and Phebe, had children: Sally S., b. Feb. 8,
1828; m., June 10, 1847, Sargent Randall of Enfield; Hannah C, b.
Dec. 12, 1829; Lucy S., b. May 1, 1831; John, b. April 26, 1833; George
W., b. Jan. 24, 1839; Luther C, b. March 2, 1843.
Farnum, Daniel, d. Aug. 29. 1810, ag. 62 (g).
Fellows, Mercy Towusend, wife of Dea. Peter, d. Aug. 31, 1863, ag.
61y., 6m. (a).
Fifield, Georgiana M., dau. of Benjamin and Adaline, d. Oct. 12, 1848;
ag. 9y., 15m.; also Alice, d. June 14, 1855, ag. 18m. (a).
Fifield, Daranzel, son of Ezekiel, b. Feb. 12, 1848; d. Nov. 6, 1897 (a);
his wife. Delia S. Columbia, dau. of William, b. May 2, 1852; d. May
29, 1895 (a).
Finch, Henry, m., Dec. 24, 1786, Mary Baldwin. Child: Ebeuezer,
b. April 4, 1788. He was the miller that succeeded Ebenezer Eames at
the '"Corner." His wife may have been the mother of Thomas Baldwin,
who came with Eames.
Fish, Theoda, wife of Otis, d. Dec. 23, 1853, ag. 62 (b).
Flagg, Lois, d. Jan. 14, 1841, ag. 37; Albion W., d. June 25. 1862,
ag. 25 (b).
Flagg, Hannah W., wife of George Eiffert, b. Nov. 30, 1840; d. June
30, 1906.
Flanders, Margaret, wife of Joshua, and dau. of Adam Pollard; d.
604 History of Caxaan.
March 7, 1S4S, ag. 75 (a). Children: Sylvester, d. July 11, 1890, ag.
82y., 27d.; m., March 5, 1834, Sarah S. Morse, dau. of James, b. June
7, 1802; d. April 3, 1880. Children: William A., b. Feb. 26, 1835; d.
1909; m., Aug. 31, 1863, Augeline L. Clark, dau. of Prescott and Susan,
b. April 13, 1843. Children: William Arthur, b. April 24, 1865; d. Nov.
20, 1866; Frederick, b. Jan. 10, 1867; Susan, b. Nov. 9, 1868; William
A., b. May 30, 1870; George M., b. March 16. 1872; Gracia, b. Sept. 5,
1873. George M., sou of Sylvester, b. April 7. 1837; m., Nov. 20, 1859,
(Mary C. Aklrich, b. June 3, 1841; their children: Bertha Maria, b. Oct. 8,
1863; Sarah Elsie, b. June 12, 1868; Georgia, b. July 4, 1871. Julia
Y., dau. of Sylvester, b. Nov. 2, 1839; m., Nov. 29, 1860, William Hall.
Elijah Clark, son of Joshua, b. 1S20; d. 1901 (aj; m. Louisa H. Pol-
lard, dau. of Adam Pollard. Children: Augu-stus Benton, d. July 28,
1863, ag. 12y., 8m., 19d.; Julia A.; Alice M., b. 1854; m., Feb. 25, 1880,
Wallace G. Fogg, son of George W.; has one son, George W. Lydia B.,
dau. of Joshua, d. July 22, 1877, ag. 71; m.. May 7, 1838, Abram Davis
(a); Sarah J., b. 1817; d. 1890; m., April 29, 1851, William Burnham,
d. June 17, 1886, ag. 72y., 3m. (a).
Flanders, John, son of Elijah and Sarah, of Weare, d. Feb. 22, 1864,
ag. 74y., 8m. (d) ; m., March 29, 1815, Betsey Bartlett, dau. of Nathan-
iel, d. June 8, 1862, ag. 73y., 2m. Children: Betsey A., m. Horace
Kinne (see him); Irad, d. March 3, 1826, ag. 10m., 13d.; Mary Jane,
d. March 23, 1902, ag. 79y., 17d.; m., April 14, 1851, James Baker (see
him) ; John C.
Flint, Joseph, of Hopkinton, d. April 13, 1807, ag. 61; his wife, Molly
Harriman, d. Jan. 2, 1812, ag. 61. Children: Lucy, b. Aug. 29, 1780; d.
Aug. 26, 1865; m. Daniel B. Whittier, son of Richard (see him); Polly,
m. Ezra Nichols (see him); Sally, b. June 19, 1768; m., Oct. 10, 1790,
Allen Miner; Edward, m., Oct. 20, 1791, Betsey Clark.
Fogg, Samuel, d. Oct. 23, 1874, ag. 77 (c) ; his wife, Lucy, d. Aug. 10,
1875, ag. 73; Harrison, b. June 30, 1823; d. Sept. 5, 1896 (c) ; m., Sept.
7, 1886, Jeanette E. Preston, dau. of Alpheus, b. Sept. 19, 1851; d. June
14, 1906.
Follensbee, Col. Lucian A., d. April 16, 1892, ag. 76y., 6m.; his wife,
Sarah C. Sargent, d. Aug. 18, 1875, ag. 60y., 10m., 12d. (h).
Follensbee, Perley R., son of Parker and Sally (Blanchard), b. March
2, 1835; d. Feb. 27, 1905; his wife, Mary A., b. Sept. 18, 1836; d. March
7, 1908. Children: Clara D., b. Dec. 6, 1865; d. May 30, 1882; Nettie
M., b. July 28, 1872; d. April 25, 1896; m. Will C. Tenney; Herbert E.,
b. Feb. 27, 1871; d. July 28, 1901; m. Maggie Ricard, one son.
Follensbee, Seth P., d. June 10, 1872, ag. 71 (c) ; his wife, Frances G.,
d. Sept. 6, 1863, ag. 52. Children: Arabella, d. Feb. 25, 1852, ag. 20;
Abi, d. Feb. 10, 1856, ag. 22; Henry H., d. Sept. 15, 1868, ag. 28; Ida, d.
Jan. 29, 1862, ag. 13.
Follensbee. Orrin M., son of Parker, b. Dec. 5, 1849.
Folsom, Joseph and Mary. Children: John C, b. March 29, 1819;
Rufus H., b. Jan. 25, 1827; Cyrus, b. Feb. 11, 1829; Mary J., b. April 4,
Genealogy. 605
1821; Elizabeth S., b. March 20, 1S23; Harry H., b. Feb. 21, 1825;
Hiram, b. Feb. 9, 1831; Naveissa, b. Orange, April 7, 1833.
Fester, Rev. Amos, b. March 30, 1797; d. ; m., June 29, 1825,
Harriet Amelia White, b. March 26, 1802; d. Oct. IS, 1882. Children:
Harriet Eliza, b. May 27, 1826; Broughton White, b. Sept. 7, 1828; Ellen
Maria, b. Oct. IS, 1830; Frances Jane, b. May 3, 1833.
Fox, Harvey, b. Aug. 30, 1844; d. Dec. 16, 1900; Company H, Eleventh
New Hampshire Volunteers; Fannie O., wife of Harvey H., b. May 22,
1871; d. Sept. 10, 1904 (c).
Fox, Elizabeth, d. Aug. 10, 1901, ag. 66y., 5m. (a).
Fulsom, Samuel and Anna. Children: Samuel, Jr., b. March 2, 1784;
Betsey, b. May 20, 1782; Sally, b. Oct. 5, 1785; Josiah, b. Dec. 27. 1787;
Steaven, b. Feb. 17, 17S9; Jeames, b. Feb. 27, 1791; Sheleb, b. June 20,
1792; George, b. May 20, 1794.
Garland, Hermie T., son of H. J. and S. M., d. Aug. 25, 1S80, ag.
3y., 8m.; Louise J., wife of Joseph H., d. July 27, 1882, ag. 58y., 5m. (b).
Gates, Reynold, d. Dec. 26, 1836, ag. 75 (a); m.'by Thomas Baldwin,
Nov. 10, 17S5, Lydia Clark, dau. of Caleb; d. Nov. 16, 1795 (a); he
m. (2), April 9, 1800, Charlotte Basford of Essex, Vt. He came here
in 1768 with Samuel Jones. Children: Capt. Samuel Jones, b. July
26, 1786; d. , (d) : m. Eunice. Children: Horatio, d. Oct. 28,
1887, ag. 77y., 10m., 18d. (d) ; m., March 29, 1835, Sybel Hews, d. Dec.
3, 1898, ag. 91. Children: Newton B., d. Nov. 18. 1SS6. ag. 50y., 21d.
(a) ; m. Sarah A. Bean. Children: Horatio B., b. 1872; m., Feb. 20, 1907,
Nettie M. Morrison, b. 1885; Leora A., d. July 20, 1883, ag. 19y., Im., Id.;
Maud S., d. July 27, 1888, ag. 20y., 11m., 13d. (a); m. Eugene A. Shep-
ard; Pertie J., b. 1874; m., June 10, 1S95. Eugene A. Shepard; Grace
L., b. 1878; m., June 17, 1S99, Charles E. Kenyon, b. 1S76. William H.,
son of Newton B., d. Jan. 28, 1863, ag. 22y., 10m., 7d. and Eunice F.,
d. Jan. 21, 1874, ag. 27y., 8m; Lydia, dau. of Samuel J., d. Aug. 29,
1825, ag. 10; Hannah B., d. May 19. 1S39. ag. 24; m., Oct. 15, 1835,
Benjamin W. Porter, son of Daniel; William, d. June 22, 1S39, ag. 22;
Reynold, d. Sept. 16, 1825, ag. 6; Charlotte, d. Sept. 2, 1825, ag. 4;
Amanda M., d. Oct. 6, 1825, ag. 2; Reynold, d. Dec. 20, 1832, ag. 2y.,
2m., lid.; Billa, son of Reynold, b. Dec. 1, 1787; Marvin, b. March 16,
1791; Joshua Clark, b. March 7, 1795; m., June 27, 1816, Rhoda Clark;
Charlotte, m., Dec. 4, ISIS, Eliphalet Clark.
George, Col. Levi, b. March, 1767: d. Feb. 4, 1848 (c) ; m. (1). 1790,
Polly Pettingill, dau. of Capt. Benjamin of Salisbury, b. 1770; d. Jan.
30, 1809; m. (2), July 2, 1809, Betsey Sanborn, d. July 17, 1851, ag. 71.
Nine children: Mary, d. June 5, 1818, ag. 27; m., April, 1818, David
Ross; Betsey, b. 1793; d. Jan., 1869; m., March 3, 1810, Jacob Young,
went to Pennsylvania; Hannah, d. Dec. 6, 1806, ag. 12; Benjamin
Pimelton, b. June 15, 1797; d. July 28, 1878; m., Nov., 1821, Keziah
Blake, dau. of David, b. Feb. 6, 1801; d. May 22, 1879. Children: Levi,
d. Aug. 27, 1871, ag. 49; m., Sept. 9, 1849. Harriet May, dau. of Edwin.
Children: Estelle Augusta, b. Jan. 14, 1S51; m. Augustus Hay ward.
606 History of Canaan.
Clarissa, b. 1799; m. and went West; Lucinda, b. 1801; d. Nov. 1855,
single; Charlotte T.. b. Aug. 15, 1803; d. March 2C, 1882; m., March
20, 1823, William Whittier (see him); Isaac Kimball, b. March 6, 1806;
d. Dec. 1891; m., 1835, Sireua Aldrich; Henry Clinton, b. May 8, 1808;
d. Nov. 28, 1887; m. (1), 1835, Eunice P. Walworth, d. Nov. 23, 1841,
ag. 29; m. (2) Mary Calef of Salisbury. Children: Henry Clinton, b.
1844; d. in the anny, 1863; Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment from
Salisbury; m. (3), 1852, Eleanor L. Hinkson, dau. of Daniel and Cyn-
thia, d. April 27, 1894, ag. 72y., 11m., 27a. Children by first wife:
Mary Ann, b. Oct. 13, 1837; single, lives in Los Angeles, Cal.; Carlos C,
b. May 22, 1839; d. Sept. 24, 1863, in the army; Eunice W., b. Sept. 16,
1841; m., Feb. 14, 1867, Fi-ank W. Stickney, b. April 8, 1840. Children:
Clinton G., b. May 24, 1868; m., Jan. 1, 1896, Frances W. Sawyer; Carl,
b. May 17, 1876; m., Jan. 1, 1902, Grace E. Murray; child: Clin-
ton Murray, b. 1904. Irving T., son of Henry C. and Eleanor L., b.
June 27, 1854; m., 1880, Nellie Palmer; lives in Newmarket, N. H.
Children: Grace I., b. 1881; Henry C, b. March 1, 1882; Thomas
Miner, b. April, 1883; d. ; Bertha, b. April, 1885; Wallace Bruce,
b. March, 1886; Eleanor Hinkson, b. Oct. 3, 1887.
George, William W., was born in Sunapee in 1807; when a boy he went
to Croyden as an apprentice to the trade of manufacturing woolen
cloth. He came to this town in 1832, having married Lucy B. Whipple
in Croyden. With Nathaniel Currier he established the manufacture
of woolens at the Village and also carried on a lumber business. He
was fifteen years deputy sheriff, was once a candidate for state senator.
He was representative in 1847 and 1866; was selectman in 1844-46,
1855, 1856, 1858, 1865 and 1866. He d. Aug. 8, 1871, ag. 63y., 7m.;
she died April 21, 1895, ag. 77. Isabelle M., d. Aug. 25, 1872, ag. 42y.,
17d.; m., Oct. 28, 1856, Dr. Ara Wheat; Harriet S., d. Sept. 4, 1901, ag.
69; m., Dec. 15, 1850, James H. Kelley; Frances K., b. 1S34; d. 1896;
m. Jan. 15, 1852, Charles Day, b. Sept. 16, 1822; d. March 22, 1885;
had two children: Flora B., b. March 18, 1853, and Mamie. Col. Allen
H., b. Aug. 18, 1836; d. Feb. 20, 1904; m., Jan. 18, 1866, Jane E. Wheat,
dau. of Solomon. Children: William W., Agnes L., b. April IS, 1876; d.
July 3, 1881 (all a).
George, Col. Elijah, b. Sunapee; d. June 6, 1895, ag. 86y., 9m., 2d. (a);
m., 1826, Caroline M. Eastman, b. March 3, 1802: d. Oct. 4, 1883. Chil-
dren: Louisa, b. Sunapee, 1837; m. John Gile of Enfield; Moses East-
man, b. 1838; Artemesia, b. 1843; Charles, b. 1844; Celinda A., d.
March 15, 1856, ag. 16y., 23d; Frank A., d. Oct. 9, 1865, ag. 14y., 5m.,
28<1.; Endora E., d. April 17, 1858, ag. ly., 5m., 13d.; Mary Jane, b. and
d. 1857 (a); Mercyline, b. 1841; m.. Jan. 21, 1860, H. J. Morrill; Carrie
M., b. 1845; m., Dec. 6, 1871, Alphonso Eastman.
Gile, Amos, d. May 7, 1869, ag. 74; his wife, Mehitable, d. Aug. 20,
1847, ag. 56; m. (2), June 20, 1860, Mrs. Betsey Davis; a dau. Lucy, d.
Aug. 27, 1857, ag. 26; and a son, Henry J., d. July 18, 1863, ag. 26;
Marv A. m. Nathan Jones.
Genealogy, 607
Gile, Lovicy, wife of Jesse, cl. Feb. 28, 1870, ag. 53. Warren N., son
of Ira S. and Maria F., dau. Amos, d. Aug. 13, 1884, ag. 20y., Im., Id.
(a); she m. (2) John Worthen.
Gillis, Albert S., b. Poultney, Vt., Jan. G, 1826; d. June 20, 1882 (a);
his wife, Lizzie, b. Poultney, Vt., Nov. 5, 1840; d. April 22, 1885.
Oilman, Nathaniel, d. Dec. 27, 1851, ag. 84y., 9m. (b); his wife, Sally,
d. Oct. 1, 1841, ag. 70. Children: Lieut. Samuel, b. May 1, 1794; d.
March 20, 1SC6 (a); m., Nov. 14, 1816, Lydia Wheat, dau. of Elder
Joseph, d. Sept. 5, 1832, ag. 37. Children: Minerva W., d. Jan. 23, ag.
23; Hannah W., d. Oct. 21, 1832, ag. 2y., 5m.; Laura Phelps, b. Feb. 14,
1821; John T.; Lucia. Col. Ezra, son of Nathaniel, h. Dec. 29, 1795; d.
Manchester, April 26. 1855 (a); m., Nov. 13, 1828, Clarissa Currier,
dau. of John. b. Oct. 10, 1799; d. July 21, 1869 (a). Three children:
James Currier, b. Jan. 31, 1831; d. Bedford, 1909; m., 1868, Nancy
Smiley of Bedford; Louisa, b. March 3, 1835; d. Oct. 17, 1849 (a);
Daniel Hoyt, b. Dec. 8, 1836; d. ; m., 1860, Mary Bennett; one
child, Elmer A., who m. and has one dau.; Sally, dau. of Nathaniel,
d. March 16, 1843, ag. 47; m. Josiah Clark (see him); Jesse; Col.
Eliphalet C, d. April 19, 1861, ag. 51 (a); m. Mary G. Kelley, d.
Feb. 10, 1888, ag. 79y., 7m., 12d.; dau. of Moses and Annie (Tyler)
Kelley; Alvah, d. June 3, 1863, ag. 46y., 6m.; m., June 29, 1842, Dor-
othy C. F. Gile, d. Sept. 6, 1875, ag. 53. Three children: Sidney
A., d. Feb. 24, 1866, ag. 20y., 7m.; Horatio A., b. 1847; m., Dec. 18,
1869, Maria M. Stevens, b. 1846. Children: Fred B., d. Dec. 8, 1897,
ag. 25; Charles H., b. 1875; m., Jan. 4, 1897, Ellen S. Underhill; Sid-
ney B., and Josie; Arvilla, dau. of Nathaniel, m. ; Caleb, m.,
Feb. 17, 1820, Sally Smith of Gilmanton; Betsey, wife of Winthrop Gil-
man, d. Sept. 19, 1833, ag. 88 (g).
Oilman, Dudley, and Mary, had Moses, b. May 28, 1790; Steven, b.
An?. 28. 1792; Uriah Smith; Edward Harriman, b. July 25, 1797.
Oinn, Mildred P., dau. of John and Mabel L., d. Nov. 26, 1904, ag.
4m., 26d.; Harold R., b. Dec. 20. 1905; d. March 8, 1907 (c).
Oleason, Winsor, d. July 10, 1878, ag. 82; his wife, Elmira Silsbury,
b. Jan. 2, 1803; d. April 27, 1885. Emily S., their dau.. wife of George
H. Lathrop, b. Feb. 20. 1830; d. Nov. 25, 1899 (a).
G<.bar, Charles O., b. July 1, 1869; d. Jan. 30, 1899; m. Martha Flan-
ders, dau. of Sanford. Child: Lola A., b. Nov. 21, 1894; d. Feb. 16,
1896 (b).
Gordon. Capt. William, b. April 11. 1S21; d. Aug. 16, 1904; m., Oct.
5, 1843, Augusta J. Sleeper, b. Oct. 17. 1823; d. March 21, 1897. Child:
Charles S., b. Nov. 8, 1844; d. Nov., 1909; m., Nov. 9, 1866, Matilda A.
Bucklin, two children. Frank L. b. Jan. 13, 1846; d. Aug. 9, 1846;
Clemmie A., b. Oct. 5, 1847; m. (1), Dec. 11, 1873, John B. Cheney;
m. (2), Oct. 22, 1887, Jacob F. Richardson. Frank L., h. May 10, 1849;
m., Sept., 1885, Ella M. Rogers; Ella A., b. May 2, 1851; d. Aug. 28,
1852; Willie, b. March 10, 1853; m.. May 14, 1876. Lizzie F. Eastman;
Mary Ella, b. Oct. 27, 1855; d. April 8, 1876; m., Dec. 14, 1873, Wilfred
608 History of Canaan.
D. Fellows; George H., b. Sept. 27, 1859; m., Sept. 24, 1881, Emma F.
Noyes, b. Aug. 14, 18G1. Child: Ralph William, b. Feb. 25, 1882; m.,
July 16, 1902, Laura E. Davis, dau. of Alvin; Leila Mildred, b. Dec. 15,
1883; d. May 15, 1894; Earl Clifton, b. Dee. 12, 1SS7; Harold George,
b. Dec. 21, 1889; Vaughu Lawrence, b. May 7, 1892; m., Nov. 9, 1909,
Katherine A. Campbell; Mamie Gladys, b. Oct. 7, 1893; Ethelyn Augusta,
b. July 1, 1899; Ruth Cheney, b. Jan. 10, 1902.
Goss, Joshua, d. April 8, 1854, ag. G4 (e) ; m. Hannah Gile, d. Dec.
29, 1868, ag. 75. Child: Jonathan, d. ; Company G,
Eighteenth New Hampshire Volunteers; m. Mrs. (Ro.ss) Lillis.
Reuben, d. Sept. 24, 1882, ag. 67 (a); m. 1) Susan (Lathrop)
Beal, dau. of Harris G. and Susan (Stevens) Lathrop, d. Sept. 3,
1865, ag. 47y., 4m., 4d.; m. (2) Caroline E. Sherburne, dau. of Jo-
seph, d. March 12, 1904, ag. 65 (a); one son, Charley, d. young; the
other child, Harris J., b. 1845; m., Jan. 8, 1870, Lizzie B. Norris,
dau. of Benjamin, b. 1847. Two children: Ben A., m. Dell J. Swett,
dau. of Isaac Davis; and Ruby L, m. John P. Currier; two children.
Beruice E., dau. of Reuben, b., June 27, 1887, Sarah A. Bullock, dau.
of James B. of Grafton, two children. Lena. Calista S., dau. of Reuben,
d. Aug. 14, 1897, ag. 46y., 5m., 9d.; m. (1), July 19, 1863, Alonzo Bucklin;
m. (2) Milo Bucklin; m. (3) William S. Durgiu; Elizabeth B., b.
1843; m., Feb. 19, 1865, Elijah Smith (see him); Wallace R., b. 1854;
m., Feb. 20, 1875, Carrie E. Elliott, dau. Roswell. Daniel son of Joshua,
d. April 12, 1890, ag. 69y., 8m., lOd.; m. Loraiue P. Williams, b. July
8, 1828; d. Dec. 10, 1896. Children: Daniel, b. 1850; m., April 9, 1879,
Mary A. Clough, dau. John, b. 1854. Children: Albert, b. Sept. 25, 1880;
m. Josie Clark. Child: Beatrice. Abby F., dau. of Daniel and Loraine,
d. March 8, 1864, ag. lOy., 4m., 8d., drowned in Scales Brook; Lizzie
L., d. March 12, 1884, ag. 19y., 6ra., 25d.; Emma, d. young; Nellie S.
m. Delevan K. Williams (see him) ; Richard married and died in En^
field; Levi, d. June 20, 1866, ag. 35; m., June 23, 1855, Dorothy A
Philbrick, dau. of Hiram, d. March 30, 1856, ag. 24y., 3m. (a) ; Orville
d. ; m., Aug. 21, 1856, Hannah Philbrick. Children: Dora, m
David Towle (see him); Anna D., m., Sept. 17, 1873, Burns W. San
born; Sarah, m. Bailey Batchelder; Abbie, m. Royal Abbott; Roxanna
m. March 30, 1856, Sylvester Withingtou.
Goss, Jethro, d. Nov. 10, 1857; Susannah, his wife, d. June 8, 1862,
ag. 86 (e). Children: Russell, d. April 3, 1885, ag. 74y., 4m., 23d (e);
m., Feb. 27, 1833, Rachel S. Clark, d. Dee. 20, 1865, ag. 54; Levi M.,
son of Jethro, d. June 25, 1897, ag. 84 (e); his wife, Elmira C, d.
Aug. 29, 1884, ag. 69. Children: Walter, d. Feb. 14, 1858, ag. 2y., 5m.,
Gd.; Susie May, d. Sept. 23, 1889, ag. 3 (e).
Gould, Nathan, d. Jan. 18, 1854, ag. 72y., 3m. (c) ; his first wife,
Abigail, d. April 19, 1830, ag. 40y., 6m., 23d. Children: Nathan, b. Jan.
20, 1815; d. April 4, 1837; Hannah, m. John Packard (see him);
Nathan, m. (2) Sarah C, d. Pel). 12, 1853, ag. 51y., 6m., 4d. Child:
Joseph T., d. Aug. 30, 1857, ag. 17y., 11m.
Genealogy. 609
Gould, David, m., Sept. 19, 1817, Susan Beal. Children: Alanson, d.
Aug. 28, 1821, ag. 2; Diadema, d. April 19, 1824, ag. Im.
Gordon, Judith, wife of John Gould, d. June 16, 1862, ag. 73.
Graham, George, b. 1850; d. 1895; George W., sou by Margaret, b.
1879; d. 1880 (a).
Greeley, Mathew, son of Shubal and Hannah (Pettingill), b. Salisbury,
Sept. 3, 1759; d. June 24, 1842 (d) ; m., Jan. 1, 1782, Abigail Emmons, b.
Dec. 17, 1761; d. July 10, 1847. Children: Shubael, b. May 18, 1782; d.
Rumney, March 24, 1867; m. (1), Jan. 1, 1804, Anna Hoit, dau. John
and Hannah, b. April, 1779; d. Oct. 1, 1805 (d) ; m. (2), Aug. 25, 1808,
Lydia Whitney, dau. Isaac and Lydia (Taj-lor), b. Oct. 27, 1782; d.
Rumney, March 29, 1867. Children: Nancy, b. June 13, 1812; Ira, b.
Dec. 28, 1813; Susan B., b. March 15, 1815; and six more: David, m.,
June 22, 1809, Judith Pattee, dau. Daniel; Ephraim, b. July 5, 1786; d.
May 28, 1846; m. (1) Sally Clark, dau. of Timothy; Mathew, b. Nov.
1, 1788; d. July 9, 1847; m., Oct. 16, 1816, Orra C. Byington; Abigail, b.
July 2, 1794; d. March, 1796; Abigail, b. Feb. 7, 1796; m. Isaac Whit-
ney; Achsah, b. March 23, 1798; d. Jan. 2, 1838; m., Oct. 19, 1828, Silas
Dutton, b. July 16, 1802; d. May 30, 1850; John D., b. Aug. 23, 1802; m.,
Sept. 1, 1832, Semia Sanborn; Lydia, b. Oct. 9, 1804; d. Jan. 10, 1851;
m. Daniel Huse; Ira, b. July 27, 1806; d. March 27, 1807; Hannah, m.
Shubael Towle; Sally, b. May 28, 1790; d. Oct. 19, 1868; m., Oct. 29,
1815, Arnold Fales, son of John and Sally, b. May 25, 1792; d. March
14, 1868.
Greenough, Robert, d. June 21, 1858, ag. 34y., 5m. (a).
Hadley, Abel and Lydia, had Simeon, b. Hnpkinton, May 3, 1783;
Jacob, b. Canaan, Oct. 23, 1785; Lydia, b. Nov. 2, 1887.
Hadley, Simeon, m., March 5, 1788, Lucy Martin. Children: Moses,
b. Jan. 10, 1792; Miriah, d. Jan. 5, 1872, ag. 76; m., March 11, 1817, Sam-
uel Davis (see him).
Hadley, Moses, b. May 1, 1769; d. June 20, 1858; m., May, 1793, Mary
Martin, b. April 10, 1772. Children: Joshua, b. Aug. 29, 1795; m., Jan.
18, 1815, Ruth Davis, of Grafton; Relief, b. Oct. 15, 1797; m., March
15, 1815, Dr. Samuel S. Stephens; Sophia, b. Oct. 13, 1799; m., April 13,
1824, David Fales; Amos, b. July 9, 1802; m., July 3, 1823, Mehitable
Briggs of Orange; Moses, b. March 22, 1806; d. Dec. 3, 1872 (h) ; m.
Almira Procter; d. Dec. 16, 1885, ag. 80 (h). Children: Angle E., b.
1857; m., Sept. 18, 1875, Daniel L. Straw of Grafton; George, d. May
29. 1893, ag. 62y., 10m., 26d.; m. Mary A. Leavitt. Children: Albert
L., d. April 14, 1906, ag. 48y., 15d.; m. (1), Feb. 6, 1884, Lillian M.
Lovejoy; three children; m. (2) Bertha (Barney) Dow, dau. of Eleazer
Barney; Edwin A. Norman, son of Moses 1st, b. March 22, 1813; d.
May 29, 1890 (b) ; m., Feb. 3, 1836, Lucy D. Davis, dau. of Samuel, b.
March 9, 1818. Children: Lucian, b. 13, 1844; Arabel, b. Nov. 21,
1842; m., Oct. 19, 1865, Moses E. Currier, son of Eben F. and Sophia
N.; Mariann, b. Jan. 12, 1837; d. April 8, 1887; Marcia, d. June 30,
1874, ag. 35; m., Oct. 25, 1864, Augustus Shepard (see him); Malvina,
39
610 History of Canaan.
b. Feb. 10, 1847; d. Nov. 10, 1864; Eva M., b. 1852; m., Feb. 25, 1875,
Walter A. Swett, son of Horace; Etta M., m., April 4, 187S, Samuel W.
Currier, son of Simeon; children: Eva, Hammond. Hamlin E., b. April
15, 1860; m. (1), Sept. 29, 1883, Minnie S. Wbaley, d. April 3, 1889, ag.
27; m. (2), April 28, 1900, Clisty Whaley; two children, Howard and
Marcia, by first wife; Lyman, son of Moses 1st, b. 1815; d. April 4, 1881;
• m., May 30, 1836, Lois Eaton of Grantham, d. Nov., 1889.
Hadley, Stephen, m. (1) Abigail Coburn, d. March 7, 1825, ag. 43 (e) ;
m. (2) Sarah Williams, dau. of Robert, d. June 30, 1834, ag. 36y (e).
Children: Stephen, Jr., d. Nov. 25, 1876, ag. 67; m., June 20, 1860, Har-
riet N. Towle, dau. of Shubel; she m. (1) Reuben Clark; Susan M.,
m. David Towle; Nancy M., m., Dec. 25, 1839, Elijah W. Edwards, his
first wife (see him) ; Dorcas, m. Daniel Clark (see him) ; Leonard, d.
Jan. 24, 1892, ag. S5y., 4d.; m. (1) Sally Marshall; m. (2) Mary G.
Williams, dau. of. Stephen, b. Jan. 29, 1826; d. Sept. 22, 1886. Chil-
dren: John M., d. Dec. 1, 1847, ag. 19y., 11m (e) ; Eben, d. Jan. 4, 1873,
ag. 42y., 2m.; m., Feb. 28, 1855, Jane Philbrick, d. Jan. 6, 1875, ag. 37y.
7m. Children: Jennie, b. 1856; m., June 23, 1874, John Hopkins; Lin-
nie C, d. Feb. 14, 1887, ag. 18y., 3m., 4d. (c) ; Abel, son of Leonard,
died in army; Stephen, m. (1) Sarah Dwinnels; m. (2) Myra Biathrow,
d. July 13, 1891, ag. 38 (c). Children: Warren B., d. May 23, 1888, ag.
16 (c) ; Dennis, son of Leonard, d. June 3, 1847, ag. 10. Moses M., son
of Stephen and Sarah Williams, b. Hanover, April 28, 1828; m., March
20, 1855, Mahala D. Fisher; one child, Charles; Aaron, b. Hanover, June,
1829; m. Belinda Sanborn of Canaan; had one son; Gilman, son of
Stephen and Mary, b. 1830; d. Oct. 20, 1834; Calvin, d. March, 1836 (e) ;
Andrew J., b. Hanover, Aug. 11, 1832; d. 1909; m. Carrie Blaisdell, Aug.
7, 1870; one dau., Florence; Sarah, b. Hanover, June 22, 1834; m.. May
11, 1859, Sherburn L. Corning of Manchester; both mutes; two children:
Amos G. and Minnie L.
Hadely, Simeon, d. Oct. 5, 1859, ag. 39; his wife, Emeline Dustin, b.
1822; d. 1891. Child: Isabel R., d. Sept. 29, 1857, ag. 1.
Hadley, Obadiah, son of Nathaniel; m. Achsah G. Kimball, dau. of
Abram, b. 1823; d. Sept. 25, 1890; his first wife, Caroline Stephens, d.
June 26, 1851, ag. 27y., 10m. (d). Children of Achsah: Ida A., b. 1859;
m., March 30, 1887, Edwin A. Muzzey; Orra, d. Jan. 14, 1881, ag.
16y., 9m.
Handerson, Anna M., wife of Charles H., d. Oct. 20, 1893, ag. 45y.,
6m. 20d.
Hanson, Ebenezer and Lucy. Children: Hannah, b. Sept. 1, 1791;
Jeremy S., b. Feb. 7, 1793; William G., b. April 18, 1795; John, b.
March 9, 1797; Mariann, b. Aug. 4, 1799; Lucy, b. Oct. 13, 1802; Ben,
b. March 4, 1805.
Hardy, Gilman, d. June 19, 1868, ag. 76 (c) ; his wife, Rachel C, d.
Aug. 14, 1844, ag. 57; his second wife, Mary Colby, dau. Daniel, d.
Dec. 30, 1858, ag. 50. Children: Mary E., d. Jan. 8, 1848, ag. 3 (d);
Genealogy. 611
Thomas J., d. Sept. 20, 1883, ag. 78; his wife, Mary Colhy, d. May 18,
1887, ag. 74 (a). Gilman m. (4), Sept. 5, 1860, Matilda Jones.
Hardy, Almira, dau. Daniel and Betsey, d. Feb. 18, 1904, ag. 6w. (c).
Harris, George, b. Feb. 1723; d. Nov. 13, 1790 (g); "Made his exit
out of time," so the old record says, aged 67 years. "The memory of the
just is blessed," says his tombstone. M. (1) Sally; m. (2) Mrs. Anna,
d. Jan. 16, 1812, ag. 63; "Let not her virtues die" is on her tombstone.
Children: Capt. Joshua, b. Norwich, Conn., May 10, 1754; d. Aug. 10,
1835 (a); m., June 1, 1781, Hannah Hough, d. April 2, 1783, ag. 22 (g) ;
m. (2), April 1, 1784, Miriam Johnson, d. Feb. 29, 1840, ag. 79 (a).
Nine children: John Hough, b. Feb. 18, 1782; d. Aug. 2, 1858; m., June
4, 1804, Lucy May, dau. of John and Mary, d. Nov. 2, 1864, ag. 80y. 5m.
He kept a store at one time in a little house that now forms the ell
of Wallace G. Fogg's house. It was sold to Daniel Pattee, who built on
the two story addition, afterwards he lived where A. S. Greene now
lives. Children: Mary Freeman, b. June 12, 1806; d. July 4, 1840,
single; Lucy May, b. May 4, 1808; d. ; m. Wil-
son. Children: Harriet, m. Bush; George, m. ;
Hannah Hough, b. Feb. 24, 1811; m. James A. Furber. Chil-
dren: Sarah; Loraine; George C. and Ida. Sarah Sheldon,
dau. of John H., b. March 10, 1813; m. (1) Rev. William B.
Kelley and had one child, Williamine Loraine, b. Aug. 28, 1836, m. (1)
Roger D. Smalley; m. (2), Oct. 13, 1869, Andrew Oliver; Sarah S.,
m. (2), Aug. 24, 1839, Calvin P. Fairfield of Lyme. Children: Payson
E., b. July 22, 1841; m., Nov. 6, 1875, Caroline P. Churchill, resides
in Lyme. Children: Arthur Perry, b. April 23, 1877; m., Dec. 23, 1902,
Amelia B. Griffith. Children: Marion, b. April 22, 1908. Helen Francis,
dau. of Payson E., b. July 26, 1879; m., June 25, 1908, Melbourne B.
Tewksbury. Children: Edwin, b. Feb. 25, 1909; d. March 25, 1909;
Marion Harris, dau. of Payson E., b. March 1, 1881; m., Sept. 5, 1907,
Fred W. Lovejoy; Anna Churchill, b. April 24, 1884; m., June 12, 1907,
P. Leon Claflin. Children: Dorothy, b. March 14, 1908; Alice Eva, b.
Nov. 29, 1909. Sarah Loraine, dau. of Calvin P. and Sarah S., b. May
19, 1843; d. Feb. 12, 1849; Ella Harris, b. March 24, 1847; m., Oct. 25,
1876, John P. South worth. Children: Calvin Porter, b. Sept. 1877;
d. Nov. 1877; Sarah Loraine, b. Feb. 6, 1S79; Adelia Maria, dau. of
Calvin P. and Sarah S., b. June 5, 1852; d. Oct. 31, 1904. Marcia Maria,
dau. of John H. and Lucy, b. July 7, 1815; m. (1) Johnson; m.
(2) John Stiles of Kankakee, 111; one child by first: Alta. Eliza Ann,
dau. of John H., b. Feb. 8, 1818; m., Dec. 1837, David J. Pov/ers of Pal-
myra, Wis. Children: Loraine, William, Frank. Lemira Loraine,
dau. of John H., b. Aug. 6, 1820; d. Oct. 9, 1885; m., July 4, 1838, Allen
Hayes of Windsor, Vt., afterwards of Canaan. Children: John Henry,
lives in Enfield; Idella May, m. a Burleigh. George May, son of John H.,
b. Jan. 31, 1823; m. . Children: Frederick M. and Kittie. John
Adams, son of John H., b. April 9, 1826; m., Jan. 22, 1852, Mary Ann
Swett, dau. of Elisha, of Canaan; no children. Polly, dau. of Joshua, b.
612 History op Canaan.
Jan. 12, 1785; Jesse, b. March 11, 1786; James Shepard, b. Jan. 27, 1788;
Sally, b. Jan. 30, 1790; Hannah Hough, b. Feb. 13, 1795; m. Daniel
Hovey (see him); George, b. July 2, 1796; d. July 16, 1806 (g) ; Betsey,
b. March 19, 1800; Lenora Wheaton, b. July 28, 1802; Mary, dau. George,
b. Jan. 23, 1767; m., Nov. 9, 1785, Oliver Smith (see him); Hubbard,
b. Dec. 31, 1769; d. Oct. 19, 1845 (a); m., Jan. 14, 1794, Kitty Dexter,
b. Dec. 16, 1771; four children; m. (2) Mehitable, d. March 2, 1846, ag.
74 (a). Children: Hubbard, b. Nov. 27, 1794; m., 1819, Martha Follens-
bee, dau. Nathan; George L., b. May 15, 1796; d. March 29, 1871 (a) ; m.,
1822, Sarah Follensbee, dau. Nathan of Enfield, d. July 25, 1892, ag.
94y., 10m. (a). He came back to Canaan in 1825 and in 1831 built
the house now occupied by his grandson, G. H. Goodhue. He also
built the Hotel Lucerne the same year. Children: Arabella, d. July 7,
1848, ag. 23; m., Sept. 13, 1846, Albert Martin, son of Eleazer; he after-
wards m. (2) Harriet 0. "Wallace; Sarah Frances, d. Nov. 22, 1890, ag.
58; m., Sept. 13, 1854, J. Merrill Goodhue, d. Oct. 12, 1881, ag. 54.
Children: George H., b. 1856; d. 1910; m., June 27, 1894, Grace I. Wis-
well, b. 1873. Children: Merrill and Elsie. Eliza, dau. of Hubbard, b.
July 17, 1800; m., March 7, 1825, Jacob Blaisdell (see him) ; Dexter, b.
May 16, 1805; d. June 17, 1865 (a); m. Harriet B. Tilton, dau. of Dr.
Timothy, d. Oct. 16, 1885, ag. 78. Children: Eliza B., b. April 29, 1828;
d. Dec. 18, 1906; m. Benjamin P. Nichols (see him); George Dexter,
b. Dec. 16, 1840; d. Oct. 8, 1890, in Boston (referred to elsewhere);
Oscar W., b. 1845; m., May 16, 1873, Nellie A. Brocklebank; had several
children, one son Dexter. Lois, dau. of George, b. Nov. 28, 1770; d.
Jan. 19, 1820; m., Nov. 22, 1793, James Morse (see him); Lucy, dau.
George, m. (1), May 30, 1771, Capt. Charles Walworth (see him); m.
(2), 1786, Henry Hall of Canaan. Four children: Sally, b. May 8,
1787; Polly, b. April 16, 1788; Henry, b. June 5, 1791; Joshua, b.
Oct. 23, 1792.
Harris, Israel, b. Bozrah, Conn., June 22, 1775; m., Feb. 23, 1797,
Miriam Eastman, b. May 6, 1778.
Harris, Benjamin and Sally, had children: Elizabeth, b. May 24, 1799;
Lydia, b. Sept. 30, 1800.
Harris, William, b. 1772; d. 1852; m., Aug. 11, 1813, Olive Babbitt,
b. 1788; d. 1859. Children: William Lathrop, b. Nov. 15, 1814; d. 1901;
m. Sarah Pierce, b. 1819; d. 1895. Children: Georgiauna, b. 1844; m.,
Oct. 4, 1868, James H. Little of Lowell; Octavia, b. 1840; d. 1842; Octa-
via, b. 1843; d. 1851; William, b. 1852; d. 1852; Willie, b. 1854; d. 1856;
Emma J., b. 1851; d. 1866; Sarah J., b. 1847; m.. May 13, 1869, Moses
S. Perley; Isaac Babbitt, son of William, b. July 17, 1820; Jason
Baton, b. Dec. 7, 1822.
Harris, Anna, m., Aug. 24, 1800, John May, Jr., son of John.
Haynes, Benjamin, d. Oct. 26, 1836, ag. 67; by his wife, Ruthy, he
had Sumner, b. June 2, 1800; Josiah Porter, b. Oct. 1, 1802; Francis
Asbury, b. Nov. 21, 1805; John, b. Sept. 19, 1810; George, b. May 16,
1813; Martha Jane.
Genealogy. 613
Hayward, Wilmer H., d. June S, 1879, ag. 21y., 2m. 4d. (h).
Hazeltiue, William, d. Sept. 20, 1853, ag. 31y., 8m.; Sally his wife,
d. Dec. 31, 1838, ag. 44 (b) ; George W., b. 1834; m. Melissa A. Whit-
ney, b. 1844; d. 1905. Children: Minnie E., b. 1866; d. 1880; Alberto C;
Grace E., b. 1876; m., June 8, 1897, J. Frank King, b. 1871.
Heath, Sally, wife of Nathaniel, d. Dec. 24, 1840, ag. 47 (a).
Heath, Susan, wife of Eben, d. Dec. 17, 1863, ag. 64 (a).
Heath, John R., d. Aug. 15, 1883, ag. 56 (c) ; m.. May 1, 1850, Miranda
Eastman, d. March 29, 1889, ag. 59; a son, Lyman E., d. Feb. 5, 1852, ag.
4m., and an infant, d. March 29, 1862, ag. 15d.
Hebert, Esther, wife of Joseph, d. Jan. 31, 1871, ag. 49 (a); Joseph,
m., (2), Dec. 26, 1872, Loviua Kemp.
Henderson, Isabelle E., wife of James, b. April 23, 1844; d. May
22, 1905 (c).
Hill, Moses, d. Aug. 15, 1852, ag. 26 (d) ; Frank, b. Oct. 31, 1823; d.
Sept. 15, 1901; m. Odil Durocher, b. Dec. 23, 1828; d. March 31, 1902.
Children of Frank, Jr., and E. Hill: Villa A. T., d. June 20, 1892, ag.
lOy., 3m.; Fi'eddie A., d. June 10, 1892, ag. 8y., 11m., 4d.; Willie G., d.
May 19, 1892, ag. 16y., 15d.; Harry O., d. June 5, 1892, ag. 12y., 3m.;
Charles, son of Frank, Sr., b. Feb. 2, 1866; d. March 13, 1893.
Hinkson, Daniel, d. March 26, 1846, ag. 67 (g) ; his wife, Cynthia,
d. Dec. 26, 1848, ag. 67 (g). Children: Daniel, d. Oct. 30, 1881, ag.
75y., 10m. (c) ; m. Rachel C. Packard, Nov. 27, 1834; she d. Aug. 9,
1905, ag. 93y., 4m., 3d. Children: Delia L., b. May 14, 1837; d. 1909;
m. Edwin Shepard, b. April 10, 1829; d. Oct. 23, 1905; Betsey M., d.
Dec. 29, 1839, ag. 6w.; Daniel F., d. July 18, 1863, ag. 20y., 4m., 18d. (c) ;
Chamberlain P., b. Nov. 25, 1845; d. Dec. 10, 1900 (c) ; m. and had a
family; lived in Hanover. Leander, son of Daniel 1st, d. Dec. 11, 1855,
ag. 44 (g).
Hoit, John, d. Oct. 17, 1832, ag. 80 (d) ; m. Hannah Rogers, d. March
15, 1813, ag. 59y., Sm., by whom he had Daniel, d. July 29, 1813, ag. 26
(d); John, Jr., d. Sept. 20, 1864, ag. 79y., Im., 20d.; m. (1), March 15,
1811, Eliza Clark, d. Aug. 25, 1814; by her he had: Abigail, b. April
17, 1812; Daniel, b. Dec. 25, 1813; m., Oct. 7, 1837, Susan Bartlett;
John, Jr., m. (2), March 12, 1815, Sally Barber, and had Nancy, b.
Jan. 4, 1816; she m. Harrison Rogers; and John Gilman, b. March 6,
1817; d. Sept. 10, 1825; George, d. Sept. 17, 1825, ag. 3; Joel, d. Sept.
18, 1825, ag. ly., 3m.; Hannah P., d. Sept. 14, 1825, ag. 6y., 3m.; Stephen
B., d. Sept. 20, 1825, ag. 4y., 8m.; John, Sr., m. (2), May 25, 1815, Abigail
Clark of Orford; a dau. of John, Sr., m. Josiah G. Lincoln.
Hoit, Nathan W., d. June 18, 1834, ag. 11m (a).
Hoyt, David, d. May 30, 1877, ag. 75y., 3m., Id.; his wife, Judith, d.
Aug. 11, 1855, ag. 55.
Hoyt, John W., d. Dec. 20, 1897, ag. 66; his wife. A. E., had Frank
A., d. Oct. 19, 1883, ag. 7y., 4m. (a).
Hoyt, Persis Cross, dau. of Jonathan and Molly (Bailey) Cross,
wife of Robert, d. April 3, 1858, ag. 83.
614 History of Canaan.
OHoyt, Rufus S., d. March 12, 1S52, ag. 50; his wife, Eliza, d. Sept.
21, 1847, ag. 40. Children: Rufus A., d. Feb. 4, 1852, ag. 19; Benjamin
Henry, d. July 30, 1854, ag. 20; Josephine A., d. Nov. 7, 1857, ag. 22;
Eliza Jane, d. March 28, 1847, ag. 10; Warren E., m. Lydia Goodrich,
b. Aug. 9, 1847; d. Jan. 29, 1899. Children: Ned Leon, b. June, 1878; d.
Sept. 5, 1879 (c) ; Will A. m. Ida B. Wilson (see her).
Holt, Ann R., wife of Henry, Jr., d. Dec. 2, 1853, ag. 28 (a) ; William,
b. 1832; d. 1905; George F., b. 1857; d. 1906; Sadie A., dau. of Charles
and Jane, d. April 21, 1879, ag. ly., 5m.
Hopey, Fath R., dau. of A. M. and M. E., b. March 24, 1902; d.
Sept. 9, 1904 (j).
Hovey, Daniel, m., Jan. 12, 1817, Hannah Hough Harris, dau. of
Joshua, and had George Harris, b. Sept. 24, 1817, and Edward Olcott,
b. June 23, 1824; d. July 6, 1824 (a).
Howard, Edward and Hannah, had Salley Knight, b. June 5, 1804.
Howard, Elvira H., dau. of Caleb S. and Sarah P., d. March 31,
1881, ag. 44 (c).
Howe, Nathaniel, d. Nov. 6, 1856, ag. 85; his wife, Elizabeth, d. April
2, 1858, ag. 86 (c).
Huggett, William, b. 1841; d. 1908 (c) ; m., Nov. 19, 1873, Hattie
Dana; son, Elmer E., m. Edna E., b. June 29, 1868; d. June 29, 1886;
m. (2) .
Hunt, Phylendy R., d. July 17, 1856, ag. 51.
Hutchinson, Levi, son of Jonathan and Mary (Wardwell), was a hat-
ter from Pembroke and Chichester; b. Aug. 12, 1781; d. May 4, 1873
(b); m., April 10, 1805, Sarah Page, b. Oct. 15, 1783; d. June 26, 1840.
He came to Canaan in 1834, with his family. Three children: Charlotte
P., b. Oct. 6, 1809; d. May 1, 1851; m., Aug. 18, 1833, Sylvester P. Gould.
Children: Martha H., b. Dec. 18, 1833; m. William Paine; no children;
and Mary, b. June 13, 1836; d. 1851. Richard Wood, son of Levi, b.
Sept. 10, 1811; d. Feb. 27, 1889; m., Dec. 12, 1841, Mary Sanborn, dau.
of Jonathan, b. April 30, 1820; d. May 30, 1899. Children: Rosina, b.
June 13, 1844; d. Sept. 11, 1863; m. July 1, 1863, Albert E. Barney (see
him); Abby Ann, b. Oct. 29, 1846; m., Jan. 22, 1867, Albert E. Barney;
Mary Emma, b. March 19, 1849; m., Jan. 11, 1869, Joseph F. Stock-
bridge, no children; Charlotte L., b. Feb. 15, 1851; Charles B., b. March
SI, 1853; d. Sept. 19, 1864; Arthur W., b. Jan. 27, 1858; m. (1), Dee. 30,
1882, Lizzie M. King, d. Feb. 6, 1884, ag. 19y., 5m., 22d.; m. (2), April 13,
1886, Irene A. Tenney, b. Sept. 7, 1868. Three children: Bessie, b. Dec.
22, 1886; m., Nov. 30, 1909, Edward A. Barney; Mariam, b. Jan. 14,
1890; Fred Richard, b. May 25, 1893; Charles, son of Levi, b. July 24,
1813; d. June 26, 1890; m., March 22, 1838, Mary Wells, dau. of Joshua,
b. April 30, 1817; d. Dec. 21, 1897. Children: Lucy Jane, b. June 27,
1839; m. John Flanders. Children: Minnie, m. Edward Prentiss; three
children: Laura, d. young; Edward and Laura; Gratia, dau. of Lucy
J., b. Feb. 12, 1864, lives in Salt Lake City.
Jackson, Solon P., son of Heber and Sybil H.; d. Nov. 1, 1862, ag. 2;
Genealogy. 615
Lilla A., dau., d. Nov. 7, 1862, ag. 7; Carroll, a son, d. Nov. 13, 1862,
ag. 9 (d).
Jameson, Leander, b. Sept. 22, 1818; d. March 24, 1897; his wife,
Diana Kimball, dau. of Joel, b. June 26, 1820; d. March 4, 1894 (b).
Children: Fred; Ada; Jerome, b. 1848; m., Jan. 1, 1S72, Evelyn J.
Stonning. Children: Wilbur, Edith.
Jenness, Dorothy, wife of Richard, sou of Stephen, d. May 17, 1849,
ag. 25; Roseanna, dau., d. Nov. 5, 1849, ag. 2y., 10m.; Sally, wife af
Joseph H. Drew, d. Jan. 10, 1839, ag. 22 (b).
Jenness, Job B., son of Stephen, d. Oct. 16, 1905, ag. 79; m., March 28,
1847, Sarah Chellis, d. Oct. 25, 1868, ag. 40. Children: Oscar P., d. July
28, 1863, ag. 16; Lucy Jane, d. Oct. 18, 1867, ag. 17; Allen, d. Sept. 8,
1879, ag. 9; Oscar, d. Aug. IS, 1865, ag. 1; Malvina, b. 1850; m., Sept.
3, 1869, George W. Peabody; Gk^orge B., b. 1855; m., March 12, 1876,
Hattie E. Flanders.
Jepson, Francis, d. Nov. 24, 1901, ag. 75y., 3m.; his wife, Caroline M.
Smith, d. Nov. 20, 1890, ag. 59y., 2m. (a); one dau., Mary A., d. March
10, 1906, ag. 51 (a) ; m. (1) Charles 0. B. Story and (2), Nov. 14, 1892,
S. B. Withington.
Johnson, James, son of Timothy and Anna, d. Jan. 13, 1801, ag. lOy.,
9m., lid. (g); Ellen R., wife of L. F., b. May 21, 1858; d. March 1, 1892
(c); Lura C, wife of Wilson D., d. Nov. 2, 1885, ag. 19y., 2m., 12d. (c).
Johnson, Lieut. E. W., b. May 9, 1824; d. ; Mary, his wife, b.
Feb. 29, 1822; d. April 2, 1888; dau. of Stephen Jenness. Child: Henry.
Jones, Jehu, b. Colchester, Conn., Dec. 17, 1749; d. 1813; m., Dec. 10,
1776, Betsey Clark, dau. of Caleb, b. March 13, 1755; d. . Chil-
dren: Betty, b. Dec. 4, 1777; Amasa, b. Oct. 11, 1779; m., June 26, 1808,
Sally Crocker. Children: Albert Amasa, b. March 5, 1809; Louisa
Maria, b. Sept. 4, 1811; Harriet Stoddard, b. Dec. 3, 1813. Asahel, son
of Jehu, b. Aug. 21, 1781; d. June 23, 1851 (a) ; m., Oct. 15, 1809, Bernice
Crocker, b. Dec. 10, 1785; d. July 25, 1880. Children: William Pearl, b.
July 23, 1810; Hiram, b. Feb. 16, 1818; d. Feb. 6, 1899 (j); m., March 1,
1843, Sarah Hoague, b. June 29, 1815. Children: Mary B., b. March 26,
1853; m. March 19, 1875, Frank B. Smart, son of Daniel, b. Dec. 10,
1852. Children: Leroy E., b. April 14, 1876; printer in Boston; Winni-
fred S., b. April 22, 1883; m., June, 1908, Adolph Langton; Wilfred H.,
b. April 22, 1883; m., June 30, 1906, Rachel G. Smith of Meredith.
Lydia Ann, dau. of Hiram, b. Dec. 21, 1846; d. Aug. 13, 1868; Lucina
A., b. May 29, 1849; m.. May 1, 1882, Hiram Herbert Stevens, b. April
17, 1849; d. Sept. 2, 1909. Children: Julia C, b. Sept. 4, 1883; m., May
19, 1906, Herbert F. Withington. Child: William H. Charles R., son
of H. H. and Lucina A., b. April 17, 1890. John A., son of Asahel, b.
Nov. 13, 1812; d. June 9, 1886; Company E, Fifteenth New Hampshire
Volunteers; Julia Caroline Amelia, b. June 10, 1821; d. Dec. 7, 1906;
m. Abial Smart, d. April 26, 1895, ag. 81. Julianna, dau. of B. and A., b.
Oct. 27, 1814; d. Sept. 6, 1818. Thomas W., b. April 28, 1823; d. May
1902. Mary, dau. of Jehu, b. Sept. 6, 1783; d. Dec. 4, 1848; m., Oct.
616 History op Canaan.
24, ISOS, Tristram Sauboru, sou of Tristram. Sarah, b. Sept. 1, 1786;
Jabez, b. Sept. 28, 1788; Pliilura, b. Aug. 25, 1790; m. George Walwortla
(see him); James, b. Sept. 16, 1793; Jesse, b. May 15, 1796; m., April
17, 1826, Sarah Davis; Nancy Claris, b. July 13, 1798; d. Nov. 25, 1862;
m. Daniel Durrell (see him).
Jones, Polly, wife of Nathaniel, d. Dec. 1, 1870, ag. 91; their son, Caleb,
d. Jan. 21, 1881, ag. 71y., 6m. (d) ; his wife, Elizabeth Colby, dau. of
Willaby (d); d. Jan. 29, 1881, ag. 68y., 7m. Children: John S., d. Jan.
22, 1894 (dO, ag. 56; Thomas E., d. July 27, 1866, ag. 25 (d) ; m., Aug.
11, 1862, Sophia E. Hoffman. Children: Charles T., b. April 1, 1865;
Melissa A., dau. Caleb, d. Oct. 19, 1884, ag. 50y., 7m., 26d.; m. Edwin A.
Morse, son of Jesse; Irena, d. Aug. 28, 1878, ag. 34; m. Edwin A.
Morse (d).
Jones, Sylvester, son of Isaac, b. March 5, 1811; d. Jan. 26, 1885; his
wife, Nancy M. Currier of Enfield, dau. of Henry, d. June 10, 1879, ag.
54. Children: Emelie Currier, d. Sept. 16, 1863, ag. 18 (c) ; Florence
M., b. 1853; m., Jan. 10, 1872, Charles H. Emerson.
Jones, Charles S., son of Ira, d. Jan. 3, 1886, ag. 58y., 11m., 3d., (a);
m., June 20, 1850, Maria L. Pressey, dau. of John L. and Sarah; Frank
B., b. April 14, 1856; d. March 15, 1904 (a); his wife, Ida M., was b.
Jan. 21, 1855; Lena, dau. of Bert and W. R., d. Sept. 28, 1893 (d).
Jones, Mary S., d. April 30, 1873, ag. 80 (a), mother of Elder
Nathan, d ; by his first wife, Polly C, who d. May 13, 1849, ag.
32, he had Satira, d. Feb. 25, 1867, ag. 24; Alvin S., d. Sept. 13, 1849,
ag. ly., 4m.; Almeda, d. June 24, 1865, ag. 24y., 8m., 19d.; m. Charles N.
Morse, son of Stephen (see him). Ednah, b. 1845, d. 1904; m., Oct.
25, 1862; Edson J. Fifield, d. Feb., 1888, ag. 47y., 9m.; son of Joseph and
Sarah (Pollard) Fifield. Children: Elmer, Darwin, Frank and Wil-
liam, Adin G., b. 1872; d. 1873; Nathan m. (2) Mary A. Gile, dau. Amos,
and had Arden, b. 1851; m., Dec. 26, 1870, Sarah M. Bagley, adopted dau.
of David and Murilla. Lizzie A., dau., d. Oct. 13, 1873, ag. 12y., 10m.
Keenan, Christopher, d. Feb. 10, 1853, ag. 24.
Kelley, Moses, settled here in 1801; d. Oct. 2, 1850, ag. 73 (a); his
wife, Nancy Tyler, dau. Job, d. Aug. 20, 1863, ag. 82. Children; Moses
G., d. Sept. 27, 1875, ag. 71 y., 2m. (a). His first wife, Lydia W, d.
Nov. 8, 1861, ag. 44y., 5m. Children: George W., d. Sept. 8, 1843, ag.
ly., 6m.; Marion Isa, b. 1846; m., April 30, 1864, Caleb N. Homan.
Rev. William B., son of Moses, d. June 9, 1836, ag. 30; m. Sarah Sheldon
Harris, dau. of John H. Children: Williamine Loraine; m. (1) Roger
D. Smalley; m. (2) Andrew Oliver. Sarah S. m. (2) Calvin P. Fair-
field (see her). Joseph T., son of Moses, d. June 12, 1862, ag. 51y., 8m.
Moses G., m. (2), April 23, 1865, Mary Ann Marcy of Windsor, Vt.,
James Hamilton, d. April 10, 1882, ag. 61 (a); m., Dec. 15, 1850, Har-
riet S. George, dau. of William W., d. Sept. 4, 1901, ag. 69. Children:
Jennie E., b. 1851; m., Oct. 16, 1876, J. Edward Lincoln, b. 1853; Hattie
L., b. 1856; m., Jan. 15, 1878, Austin V. Dow, b. 1846; a son d. Nov. 2,
1863, ag. lOw.; George H., b. Oct. IG, 1864; m., June 19, 1889, Helen G.
Genealogy. 617
Cheney; another son of James H. d. Sept. 11, 1S66, ag. 8m., 12d. (a);
Mary G., dau. of Moses and Nancy, d. Feb. 10, 1888, ag. 79 y., 7m., 12d.;
m. (1) Col. Eliphalet C. Gilman; m. (2) Caleb Dustin, sou of David.
Ann P., dau. of Moses, m. Cyrus Perkins. Children: Elizabeth D., m.
Benjamin Morey; Cyrus E.; Isaac N.; Charles, m. Julianna Niles; and
Henry I. Flavilla, dau. of Moses, m. John Worth, Jr.
Kelton, Lorenzo F., d. Jan. 9, 1872, ag. 14. Aimer F., d. Jan. 10, 1872,
ag. 12. Edwin A., d. Jan. 3, 1872, ag. 2y., 5m., 20d. Children of Amos
and Hannah M. (a).
Kent, Daniel, d. Jan. 6, 1852, ag. 84; his wife, Elizabeth, d. Jan. 14,
1864, ag. 90y., Im., 12d. (a).
Ketchani, Sukey, wife of Samuel, and an infant d. March 28, 1813,
ag. 30. (d).
Kimhall, Daniel, d. Jan. 29, 1843, ag. 80 (d); m. Maiy Stevens, d.
Nov. 7, 1838, ag. 70. Childreu: Asa, b. July 3, 1787; m., Oct. 7, 1810,
Miriam Meacham, dau. of Samuel; Daniel, Jr., b. Oct. 16, 1789; d. Feb.
4, 1872; his wife, Louisa, d. Aug. 19, 1859, ag. 68y., 7m. Joseph, son of
Daniel, 1st, and his wife, Miriam, had a dau. Anner, d. July 9, 1839, ag.
13m. (d); Mary, d. Aug. 12, 1867, ag. 70; Pamelia S. ("Aunt Milly"),
d. Feb. 18, 1868, ag. 72; m., Oct., 1837, David Townseud, d. Aug. 25, 1857,
ag. 73 (d); she m. (2), Sept. 23, 1860, Samuel Stephens of Enfield;
Moses d. County Farm, Dec. 23, 1860, ag. SO; m. Arvilla Stark of Han-
over, d. April 5, 1860, ag. 48; one child: Elizabeth Ann, d. March 23,
1856, ag. 14 (a). Caleb P., son of Daniel, 1st, killed by lightning while
ploughing iu the field. May 15, 1843, ag. 35 (d) ; m. Susanna Richard-
son. Childreu: Nancy L. R., d. Aug. 28, 1852, ag. 25 (d); another dau.
m. a Richardson, d. Jan. 7, 1850, ag. 50. Parkhurst K., d. Sept. 28,
1888, ag. 78y., 4m. (d) ; m. Lucy K. Miller, d. March 21, 1873, ag. 62.
Childreu: Charles T., d. March 22, 1860, ag. 12y., 8m.; Horace W., b.
Jan., 1845; d. Aug. 30, 1907; m., Aug. 30, 1863, Mary A. Call, dau. of
Enoch, d. Aug. 12, 1867, ag. 20 (d).
Kimball, Abraham, d. July 2, 1855, ag. 70 (a) ; came from Weare,
where he had married Eunice "Watson, d. Jan. 7, 1876, ag. 81 (c) ;
he was a lame shoemaker at Goose Pond and lived east of the Levi
Davis house; was a member of Mr. Foster's church (Congregational)
and a frequent attendant on Sundays. Children: Adeline, b. April 12,
1816; d. Dec. 12, 1891; m. Jesse Morse, b. Feb. 21, 1813; d. April 9,
1878; son of Jesse and Dorothy (see him); Arvilla, b. March, 1819; m.
Peter S. Wells; Abigail Ann, b. 1824; d. Oct. 23, 1873 (c) ; m., Nov.
18, 1859, William E. Allard; Achsah G., b. 1823; m. Obediah Hadley
(see him) ; Abram Fred, d. May 5, 1907, ag. 86y., 9m.; m., Jan. 19, 1850,
Hannah L. Emory of Lyme, d. Aug. 29, 1882, ag. 48y., Im., 9d. Chil-
dren: Carrie E., b. 1862; m., March 24, 1877, Chellis E. Collins, son of
Err and Mary Collins; Fred B., b. 1858; m., Jan. 4, 1881, Dora M.
Columbia, dau. of William and Elizabeth (Hall); b. July 17, 1858, d.
Sept. 2, 1903 (a). Children: Freddie B., b. Nov. 20, 1891; d. Sept. 2,
1894 (a); Eugene E. and Buruis J. John W., son of Abraham, b. Aug.
618 History op Canaan.
8, 1824; d. April 14, 1901 (d) ; m., Oct. 24, 1866, Eliza H. Bartlett, dau.
of Caleb C, b. Oct. 14, 1826; d. Jan. 3, 1903; Alfred H., b. 1833; d.
Nov. 2, 1861.
Kimball, Asa, and Betsey, had William, b. Nov. 6, 1787; d. Feb. 19,
1882 (a); m., Feb. 18, 1824, Sarah Richardson, d. June 5, 1844, ag. 40.
Children: William Henry, d. March 18, 1847 (a), ag. 6w., 18d. Nathan-
iel, son of Asa, b. March 14, 1790; Hannah, b. May 24, 1792; Relief, b.
April 17, 1794.
Kimball, Daniel, d. Jan. 6, 1852, ag. 84; his wife, Elizabeth, d. Jan.
14, 1864, ag. 90y., Im., 12d.
Kimball, Burns C, sou of D. H. and N. L., d. April 16, 1847, ag. 4y.,
6m. (d); Oscar M., d. Jan. 31, 1880, ag. 32 (d).
Kineston, Samuel, and Abigail had William, b. Nov. 24, 1782 (b).
King, James M., b. March 30, 1830; d. March 30, 1903; m. Mary E.
Hutchinson, b. Sept. 7, 1834. Child: Edwin R., b. April 8, 1858; d.
Oct. 14, 1901. Charles P. m. Lora M. Milton; two children, Marion and
James F. Lizzie M. m. Arthur W. Hutchinson (see him). James F. m.
Grace E. Hazeltine. Vinia E. m. Elmore H. Plummer.
King, Georgie T., son of T. and P., d. Nov. 12, 1890, ag. ly., 3m. (c).
Kinne, Luther, son of Amos, b. Dec. 15, 1779; d. Dec. 7, 1849 (d) ; m.,
May 2, 1802, Pasha Miller, b. Oct. 7, 1783; d. Jan. 14, 1830; m. (2)
Polly Bartlett, d. Nov. 9, 1870, ag. 86. Children: Esther, b. Jan. 15,
1803; d. Sept. 20, 1806; Eunice, b. Nov. 13. 1804; d. Sept. 7, 1806; Amos,
b. June 2, 1807; d. July 20, 1885 (a) ; m., Jan. 11, 1831, Sally A. Rogers,
dau. of William, b. Sept. 8, 1811; d. March 29, 1900. Children: Eunice,
b. Sept. 6, 1833; d. Feb. 13, 1834 (d) ; Martin Van Buren, b. June 18,
1836; m. (1), Sept. 17, 1856, Celina A. Kinne, dau. of John, b. Sept. 15,
1836; d. April 19, 1892; m. (2) Nelly Moore; m. (3) Addie Colburn.
Child: Nellie, b. Jan. 10, 1861. Mary Ann, dau. of Amos, b. Aug. 2,
1838; d. Nov. 13, 1908; m., Oct. 22, 1856, Stephen D. Smith, b. May 29,
1833; d. . Children: Perley B., Lucilla A., Edna J. Rosina Jane,
dau. of Amos, b. April 4, 1841; m., April 14, 1859, Charles A. Colby, b.
April 13, 1839. Child: George M., b. Sept. 4, 1865. Ada Isabel, dau.
of Amos, b. March 26, 1850; d. April 20, 1906; m. (1), March 14, 1872,
Parker H. Stocker, b. Oct. 1, 1845; d. Nov. 23, 1884; ch.: Lilla M., b.
Oct. 14, 1876; m. (2), June 11, 1890, William H. Huggins. Sewell G.,
son of Luther, b. Nov. 2, 1809; d. Aug. 19, 1872; m. Henrietta R.
Stevens, b. June 30, 1820. Children: John N., b. June 7, 1842; Baron
Stowe, b. March 20, 1853. Luther, Jr., son of Luther, b. May 30, 1812;
d. May 10, 1884; John M., b. April 15, 1814; d. Feb. 16, 1886; m. Achsah
Blake, b. Dec. 13, 1815; d. March 29, 1853; m. (2) Leafy Blanchard, b.
Aug. 24, 1828; Louisa, b. Aug. 11, 1816; d. July 30, 1824; Estber, b. Jan.
3, 1820; d. Jan. 10, 1881; m. Stephen Morse (see him). Horace, b.
March 24, 1823; d. Jan. 3, 1884 (d) ; m. Betsey Ann Flanders, b. June
20, 1817, dau. of John. Children: Climena, d. Aug. 11, 1854, ag. 5y., 7m.;
Clarence L., b. 1856; m. (1), Jan. 11, 1882, Gertrude A. Eastman, d.
Genealogy. 619
Dec. 22, 1SS6, ag. 25y., 2m. (d) ; m. (2), May 4, 1892, Welthea W.
Goodell.
Knowlton, Abraham, d. July 15, 1819, ag. 64 (e). His wife, Esther
Billings, d. Feb. 25, 1812, ag. 54.
Lambkin, Lewis, m., Nov. 26, 1801, Nancy Miller. Children: Lewis,
d. June 9, 1832, ag. 17y., 2m., 24d.
Lamott, Adolphus, d. Feb. 10, 1S90, ag. 76; m. Nancy A. Plant;
d. April 9, 1888, ag. 76y. Children: James, b. 1838; m., Dec. 17, t863,
Kate McBean, b. 1839. Children: Irving W., d. July 4, 1879, ag. 9y.,
9m., 14d. Mary Ann, dau. of Adolphus, b. 1846; d. March 2, 1902, ag.
56 (a); m., April 13, 1863, Benjamin W. Adams, son of Placid; m. (2)
a Currier; m. (3), April 28, 1885, Horace S. Groves. William m. Jen-
nie ; d. March 5, 1894, ag. 30.
Langley, Sarah J., wife of Charles T., d. April 15, 1864, ag. 24y.,
IQm., 14d.; dau., loua, d. Aug. 27, 1867, ag. 8y., 3m., 25d. (a).
Lary, Daniel, d. May 13, 1827, ag. 71. His wife, Elizabeth, d. June
13, 1812, ag. 58. His second wife, Esther, d. May 16, 1834, ag. 57y., 8m.
He was one of tlie early settlers in the Gore and is buried just across
the line in Dorchester.
Lary, Uriah F., d. Aug. 7, 1869, ag. 72; m., Nov. 23, 1826, Sarah
Chase, dau. of Joseph; d. July 17, 1891, ag. 87y., 10m., lid. Children:
Benjamin P., d. July 27, 1899, ag. 69y., 9m., 3d.; Walter P., b. Nov.
30, 1843; d. July 25, 1895; m., Sept. 23, 1893, Jennie M. Hubbard; Dema,
b. 1846; m., Aug. 13, 1870, Cassius M. Dustin; Daniel W., d. Jan. 24,
1860, ag. 8y., 5m., 21d.; Alonzo L., son of Uriah, b. 1831; m., Oct. 7,
1855, Emily M. Clark, b. 1840; d. 1907 (b) ; has a son, Austin L.; m.,
Dec. 26, 1894, Margaret McKewen. Joseph C, son of Uriah, b. 1828;
m., Jan. 2, 1872, Frances M. Learned, b. 1847. Children: Freddie L.,
d. Sept. 15, 1879, ag. 6y. 9m. (all j); Harley, Asa and a dau.
Lathrop, Thaddeus, b. Feb. 3, 1742; m., Oct. 28, 1761, Anna, b. Oct.
15; 1744; d. Dec. 18, 1815 (a). Children: Mary, b. July 4, 1762;
Elisha, b. Sept. 16, 1764; Anna, b. Aug. 13, 1766; m., July 27, 1800,
Dr. Samuel Hilliard of Cornish. Caroline, b. June 1, 1770; Pamela, b.
Sept. 15, 1775; Tliaddeus, Jr., b. Feb. 12, 1778; m., Nov. 1, 1804, Betsey
Lathrop. Children: Nancy Greeley, b. Nov. 1, 1805; d. Oct. 21, 1812;
Susan, b. July 13, 1807. Harris Gordon, son of Thaddeus, 1st, b. April
30, 1784; d. March 31, 1864 (a); m. Susanna Stevens; d. Jan. 22, 1869,
ag. 69. Children: Daniel S., d. March 30, 1819, ag. 8; Harris, d.
May 28, 1825, ag. 15 (a); Thaddeus S., b. April 23, 1823; d. Jan. 13,
1888 (a); m. Sarah C. Chase, b. Nov. 10, 1814; d. Oct. 20, 1868; her first
husband was Nehemiah Muzzey. Children: Henry S., d. Dec. 28, 1906,
ag. 58y., 11m., 20d.; m., Nov. 26, 1884, Luvia I. Blood. Children:
Lulu Mabel, b. 1885; m., April 25, 1906, Ben A. Noyes, b. 1885; and
Don. George H., son of Harris, b. April 13, 1826; d. Dec. 8, 1903 (a);
m. Emily S. Gleason, dau. of Winsor and Sophia (Clark) Gleason, b.
Feb. 20, 1830; d. Nov. 25, 1899 (a). Chilldren: Clara, m. William H.
Sharp; d. ; had a son. Earl C. Belle, b. 1857; m., Aug. 26, 1878,
620 History of Canaan.
Charles W. Neal, b. 1S47. Emma L., b. May 10, 1860; m., Jan. 15, 1878,
Lyman J. Sherburne, son of Joseph (see him). George Elwin, b. July
22, 1864; m. and has two children. John H., son of Harris, d. Nov. 7,
1878, ag. 57 (a); m. Urvilla M. Ross; d. Feb. 16, 1901, ag. 75y., 6m., 8d.
(a). Children: Frank R., d. Sept. 10, 1871, ag. 18; Ellen Eliza, d. July
19, 1852, ag. ly., 9m.; Hattie Alma, d. Nov. 19, 1867, ag. 7y., 3m.; Delia
C, b. 1857; m., Jan. 31, 1880, George Sloaue, b. 1847. One son, d. Sept.
3, 1S81 (a); Charles L., m. (1), Dec. 31, 1885, Anna B. Morse, dau. of
Orrin; d. March 22, 1889, ag. 20 (a); m. (2), March 7, 1892, Angie Ed-
wards. Two children: Earl, b. March 15, 1889, and Daisy. Lucinda A.,
dau. of Harris, b. Oct. 2, 1809; d. May 7, 1899; m. (1) Elijah R. Colby;
d. Feb. 20, 1863, ag. 53; m. (2) Thomas Sanborn. Susan, dau. of Harris,
d. Sept. 3, 1865, ag. 47y., 4m., 4d.; m. (1) a Beal; m. (2) Reuben Goss
(see him). Thomas, son of Thaddeus, 1st, b. June 2, 1787, and Mary, his
wife, had James Burr, b. Coha.ssett, Mass., Feb. 22, 1812; Benjamin
Gorton, b. Canaan July 6, 1815. Margaret, dau. of Thaddeus, m. Caleb
Clark.
Lathrop, Elisha, d. May 10, 1867, ag. 60; m. Nancy M. Richardson;
d. May 22, 1902, ag. 85. Children: George E., b. March 10, 1853;
d. Pioche, Nev., Sept. 1, 1907; Malvina C, b. Jan. 27, 1839.
Lathrop, Joshua S., b. April 23, 1812; m., Feb. 25, 1841, Dorothy
Fales, b. Feb. 25, 1813. He went West Oct. 27, 1855, with his family.
Annie, b. July 28, 1843; Horace W., b. May 16, 1848; d. Oct. 23, 1888;
and Lucinda A., b. July 30, 1851.
Lawn, Robert, d. Jan. 20, 1892, ag. 92 (c) ; his first wife, Rebecca,
d. Oct. 31, 1865, ag. 40; second wife, Mary, d. Jan. 27, 1892, ag. 75;
dau., Margaret, d. Aug. 1, 1862, ag. lly., 4m., lid.
Laxson, Flora, dau. C. H. and M., b. 1890; d. 1891 (a).
Leeds, Harry, b. Feb. 25, 1779; d. April 18, 1831 (b) ; m., Oct. 28,
1802, Rhoda Follensbee, b. June 13, 1782; d. Sept. 16, 1863. Children:
Rhoda, d. July 1, 1803, ag. 17d.; Jerusha, b. April 14, 1804; d. Sept. 7,
1806; Sarah Ann, b. Fet». 2, 1806; Betsey, b. Nov. 22, 1807; m., Dec. 9,
1829, James Follensbee of Enfield. Children: Clara P., b. 1835; m.,
Oct 12, 1864, George H. Wood of Windsor, Vt. Harry, son of Harry,
b. May 24, 1809; d. Nov. 24, 1886; m., May 3, 1838, Sarah Colby, dau.
Enoch of New Boston; d. Dec. 13, 1893, ag. 85; son, Charles H., b.
Feb. 4, 1844; d. Nov. 29. 1867. Orinda, b. Jan. 23, 1811; Carey, b.
April 28, 1813; m., Feb. 6, 1834, Almeda E. Clark; m. (2), Oct. 22,
1879, Ruth Currier, dau. David and Rhoda (Tyler) Currier, b. 1830.
Children: Augusta, m. Ambrose Doten (see him). Tryphoena m.
Burns W. Pattee; Mary, d. single; Richard Clark, b. May 3, 1815; by his
■wife, Mary P. Rice, had Helen A., b. 1840; m., Feb. 16, 1862, Daniel
I. Durrell, son of Daniel; Lizzie; Horace, who m. Lizzie Jones and
had one son, and Hubbard. Elmina, dau. of Harry, b. Dec. 13, 1816;
d. Nov. 6, 1892; m. Ruel Hay ward; d. Aug. 26, 1877, ag. 66y., 6m., 21d.
(b). Two children: Orinda L., b. 1841; m., Jan. 12, 1868, Frederick
S. Simonds; d. Aug. 14, 1899, ag. 71y., 3 m., 23d.; one son, Charles F.,
Genealogy. 621
b. 1S70; Frederick S. m. (1) Mary E., d. May 1, 1S67, ag. 31y., 6m.;
Augustus R., b. 1850; m., April 13, 1875, Estelle A. George, b. 1851.
Mary, dau. of Harry, b. Feb. 24, 1821.
Lougfellow, William, b. Newbury, Mass.; d. Sept. 5, 1834, ag. 79 (e)
(ag. S3, pension rolls). His wife, Sarah, d. Feb. 1, 1842, ag. 90 (e).
His first wife, Hepzibah of Byfiekl, Mass., m., 1781; d. April 17, 1805,
ag. 90. Children: Abraham, d. Nov. 25, 1850, ag. 5G; William,
drowned at sea near Boston in 182G, ag. 38; Susan, d. April 27, 1848,
ag. 58; Elisabeth, d. March 12, 1843, ag. 58. Came from Boscawen and
bought his farm in 1799 of Elijah Paddleford, the Harry Follensbee
farm.
Lovejoy, Augustus and Sally; had a son, b. April 22, 1850.
Lovrien, Joseph H., d. Aug. 26, 1870, ag. 87 (c). His wife, Hannah,
d. Jan. 27, 1864, ag. 79. Children: Lydia, m. Daniel Whitmore; d.
Sept 8, 1872, ag. 47y., 5m. (c). Their children: Fannie E., d. Feb.
13, 1876, ag. 19y., 7m.; Lillie E., d. Nov. 17, 1870, ag. 5m. Susan, wife
of Moses Sanborn, b. Aug. 4, 1812; d. Sept. 18, 1883.
Lovring, John D., b. March 27, 1845; m. Clara F. Clement, b. Dec.
31, 1852. Children: Ernest D., b. Dec. 11, 1878; m. Grace F. Cun-
ningham, b. Sept. 19, 1881; d. July 30, 1900; and Wilbur F. Nora E.,
d. Jan. 11, 1876, ag. ly., 11m. (c).
Low, Mary (Jenness), wife of Moses, d. 1864, ag. 86; dau., Mary
Ann, d. May 1, 1888, ag. 82 (a).
Lowell, Elisabeth, wife of Daniel G., d. Nov. 26, 1862, ag. 25 (a).
McCormick, George P., d. March 21, 1888, ag. 58y., 5m.
•Mc-Connell, Jane, wife of Robert, b. Nov. 29, 1824; d. Feb. 8, 1907;
Charles H., son, d. April 29, 1880, ag. 26y., 8m., 4d. (c).
McLaughlin, John, d. March 3, 1858, ag. 76y., 9m. (d).
Marrs, Eliza A. (Tupper), wife of Daniel M., b. 1840; d. 1908 (c).
Marshall, Jane M., wife of Moses, d. Nov. 8. 1879, ag. 59y., 3m., 12d.
(d).
Marshall, Thomas S., d. Nov. 25, 1881, ag. 69. Dorothy A., his wife,
d. Feb. 10, 1890, ag. 71. Children: George, d. March 4, 1852, ag. 11m.;
Frank, d. Sept. 1, 1863, ag. 8 (a).
Martin, Levi, d. Feb. 26, 1898, ag. 74. His wife, Chestina, d. June
1, 1876, ag. 56 (c).
Martin, Hannah (Klttredge), wife of Dea. Nathaniel Martin of Dor-
chester; b. Aug. 4, 1780; d. July 12, 1857 (a).
Martin, Jesse, son of Sylvester and Mary of Grafton, b. July 2, 1805;
d. June 28, 1869 (a); m. Emily A. Green, b. Oct. 21, 1808; d. Nov. 6,
1870. Children: Roxalani B., m. Caleb Blodgett (see him); Susan
A., b. Jan. 26, 1842; d. Oct. 9, 1883 (a).
Martin, Eleazer, d. March 27, 1865, ag. 75y., 6m. (a) ; son of Syl-
vester; his wife, Polly, d. Sept. 13, 1848, ag. 53. Children: Albert
m. (1) Arabella Harris; m. (2) Harriet 0. Wallace; Arthur.
Massuere, Charles H., son of Charles B. and Selinda, d. May 31, 1854,
ag. ly., 8m.; Francis H., son, d. May 15, 1850, ag. 2m.
622 History op Canaan.
May, John, came from Plymouth, Mass.; d. Feb. 19, 1836, ag. 79y.,
8m.; m. Mercy Foster; d. April 27, 1830, ag. 72 (a). Children: John,
Jr., m., Aug. 24, 1800, Anna Harris. Children: Lucy, m. John H.
Harris (see him). Edwin, sou of John, b. Dec. 11, 1793; d. Oct. 31,
1844; m., Dec. 31, 1821, Rhoda French, b. Nov. 26, 1801; d. May 4,
1879. Children: Harriet, b. Jan. 7, 1823; m., Sept. 9, 1849, Levi
George (see him); Albert, b. Nov. 8, 1824; d. June 8, 1864; m. Susanna
Morse; Emily, b. Dec. 23, 1829; d. June 18, 1858; m., July 28, 1856,
John A. Cook of Lyme; no ch. Caroline Augusta, b. Dec. 18, 1834;
d. Feb. 7, 1855; Edwin Harvey, b. Aug. 6, 1839; d. April 25, 1840; Marcia
Ann, b. Jan. 20, 1842; d. Nov. 11, 1883; m., Sept. 16, 1871, Caleb Cheney,
b. 1827. Children: Albert, b. Aug. 23, 1872; m. Lilla Day; Ethel, b.
Nov. 4, 1876; m., 1894, William H. Searles. Children: Blanche, Alice.
Mabel, dau. of Marcia A., b. June 27, 1880. William, son of John, went
West. Charles; George, d. young; Thomas, d. Plymouth, Mass.; Foster,
m. Sarah Elkins. Children: Helen M., d. May 27, 1841, ag. 11;
■'Sarah A., d. May 20, 1841; Eddie F., d. Feb. 10, 1852 (a); Lucy and
Sally, ch. of John.
Meacham, Samuel, d. Jan. 22, 1811, ag. 72 (c). Children: Jere-
miah, m. Nov. 27, 1794, Abigail Davis; Joseph, m. Sept. 6, 1801, Sarah
Basford; Joshua, m. Pamela Chapman; Andrew, m., June 18, 1801,
Abigail Eastman and had two ch.: Olive, b. Feb. 9, 1802, and Andrew
Main, b. April IS, 1805. Elam, son of Samuel, m. Mary Williams (see
her) ; Thomas; Polly, m. William Bradbury (see him) ; Sarah, m.,
March 12, 1800, Amos Worthen and had a ch., Sally, b. March 9, 1801;
Phoebe, m. Ezekiel Wells (see him); Miriam, b. June 14, 1794; m.,
Oct. 7, 1810, Asa Kimball; Bettish, m. Oct. 12, 1797, Moses Worthen.
Meewen, Lydia Ann, dau. of John and Lydia, b. Sept. 2, 1812.
Meloon, Abigail, wife of Jeremiah, d. Oct. 10, 1849, ag. 79y., 7m. (c).
Merrill, Betsey, wife of Benjamin, d. Dec. 29, 1853, ag. 79; dau.,
Elvira, d. Jan. 19, 1845, ag. 38 (a).
Merrill, Samuel, d. March 9, 1885, ag. 79y. 4m. (a).
Miller, Jacob, d. April 6, 1843, ag. 72 (b) ; m., Oct. 6, 1799, Eliza-
beth Davidson Ball of Orange; d. May 29, 1838, ag. 59; son, Horace W.,
d. Aug. 1, 1894, ag. 75y., 6m., 15d.; m. (1) Julia A. Nichols, dau. Aaron;
d. Oct. 17, 1845, ag. 22y., 9m.; m. (2) Eliza Fales, dau. John (see her);
Nancy, m. Caleb Dustin; Ruth, m. Jabez H. Fales; Elizabeth, m. Dea.
Nathaniel Barber.
Milton, Joseph, b. July 22, 1789; d. Sept. 22, 1864. Priscilla Trussell,
his wife, b. Aug. 3, 1781; d. Sept. 29, 1846 (a). Children: Mathew H.,
b. Oct. 28, 1819; d. March 19, 1905; m. (1) Antoinette Fellows, b. April
22, 1825; d. May 10, 1888. Children: Loraine H., d. March 23, 1862,
ag. 16y., 7m.; Adda, d. Sept. 18, 1851, ag. 9y., 27m., 5d.; Ella, m. Frank
Currier (see him); Fred, b. July 30, 1859; d. May 31, 1897 (a); Lora,
b. 1863; m., May 8, 1889, Charles P. King, b. 1863. Children: Marion,
b. Nov. 12, 1889; James, b. Nov. 14, 1895. John T., son of Joseph, d.
Jan. 4, 1886; m., Dec. 9, 1850, Lura Gage; d. Feb. 26, 1902, ag. 76y., 2m.
Genealogy. 623
Children: Frank E., d. Maj' 27, 1894, ag. 42; and Bella A., d. May 25,
18S3, ag. 29 (a). Jacob, son of Joseph, d. Medusa, N. Y.; had two ch.
Miner, Thamas, of Canaan was descended from Thomas, son of Clem-
ent, son of Thomas. The latter came from Chew Magna, Somerset-
shire, England, bom in 1617. He married, April 23, 1634, Grace, daugh-
ter of Walter Palmer, born in 1608, who had come with her father to
Charlestown. Thomas and Grace resided in CharlestowTi until 1636,
when they removed to Hingham, where Clement was bom, March 4,
1638. In 1645 they joined the first planters of New Ix)ndon, Conn.
Thomas Miner of Canaan was born about 1743 and died July 12, 1827.
He married in 1765 Elinor Lamb, who died Jan. 7, 1814. Eight children
were born to them. He built the house now occupied by C. F. Everett
and sold it to Caleb Gilman. He afterwards bought George and Joshua
Harris' tavern of Joshua Harris, a large square-roofed house, where he
lived until his death and was buried in the "Cobble," with no headstone.
His son, Amos, took down the old tavern, replacing it with the house
afterwaMs occupied by Sylvester Jones.
The children of Thomas and Elinor were:
Allen, b. Norwich, Conn., Sept. 13, 1766; d. May 29, 1843; m. by Wil-
liam Ayer, Oct. 10, 1790, Sally Flint, dau. of Joseph Flint, b. June 19,
1768; they joined the Canadian colonists and he became a doctor of
medicine. Child: Lucy, b. Oct. 10, 1791.
Lovica, b. Feb. 20, 1771; d. July 26, 1806; m. Ezra Nichols (see him).
Thomas, b. Feb. 13, 1773; d. Mai-ch 26, 1849.
Elijah, b. Oct. 29, 1777; d. Sept. 9, 1869; m., Jan. 1, 1804, Temperance
Clifford, dau. of Samuel of Grafton, b. June 19, 1782. Six children were
born to them in Canaan before he moved to Dorchester in 1818. He was
a member of Mount Moriah Lodge. Their children were: Allen, b. Oct.
3, 1804; Lewis, b. Sept. 13, 1806; Marvin, b. Feb. 7, 1809; Lyman, b. Oct.
6, 1811; Avery Ann, b. May 28, 1814; and James Munroe, b. Nov. 18, 1817.
Cynthia, b. April 25, 1781; d. Dec. 26, 1849; Elisba, b. March 18, 1784;
d. Aug. 8, 1844 (g) ; his wife, Elizabeth Tyler, d. April 8, 1860, ag. 70
(g). Children: Thomas T., d. April 10, 1823, ag. lly., 4m. (g) ; Caroline
Tyler, d. Aug. 1, 1896, ag. 70y., 4m., 30d.; m., Feb. 28, 1850, Charles
Davis, son of Samuel. Sophia, dau. of Thomas, b. July 27, 1786; d.
; Amos, b. Dec. 28, 1792; d. Aug. 24, 1866; his wife, Fanny Tyler,
dau. of Job, d. May 2, 1863, ag. 70y., 11m. (a). Children: George, d.
July 21, 1879, ag. 63y., 8m., 17d. (a) ; m., April 4, 1841, Nancy Fi-ench
of Enfield, d. July 16, 1869, ag. 53y., 10m. Children: George Byron, d.
March 6, 1877, ag. 34 y., 10m., 6d. (a) ; m. A. E. . Children: Bur-
tone, d. Dec. 13, 1891, ag. 19y., 10m., Id. Henry H., son of George, d.
Aug. 25, 1845, ag. lid. Elsie T., dau. of Amos, b. Sept. 18, 1828; d.
May 19, 1896; m. (1) Miles Jackson; m. (2) a Wiswell and had Grace,
who m. G. H. Goodhue; m. (3) Nathan W. Morse, son of Jesse and
Dorothy (Hibbard) Morse. Ellen, m. Samuel Smith; Clinton; John, m.
and lived in Hanover; Leonard, m. (1) Helen Choate; m. (2) Helen
Morse, dau. of Nathan W., d. Nov. 21, 1892; she m. (2) Merrill Owen.
624 History op Canaan.
Edwin B., son of Amos, d. Oct. 15, 1869, ag. 53y., 11m.; m., Marcli 3, 1840,
Lucy Wells, dau. Joshua, d. July 25, 1868, ag. 48y., 7m. Children: Allen
E., d. Jan. 30, 1866, ag. 24y., 3m.; Charles W., d. June 27, 1848, ag. ly.,
14d., and Lucy Jane, dau. of Amos, m. Daniel Johnson. Child: George
M., d. Feb. 10, 1854, ag. 2y., 10m. (a).
Mooney, Katie S., wife of Levi J., b. June 17, 1836; d. Jan. 14, 1904
(c); dau. Maud A., d. April 19, 1880, ag. 3y.. Sm., 17d. (d).
Morey,. Stephen, b. Dec. 14, 1804; d. April 20, 1849; m. Sophronia
. Children: Robert C, b. Aug. 9, 1848; d. Dec. 16, 1849.
Morey, Robert R., son of Harley and Lucy (Tenney) Morey, d. Feb.
16, 1909, ag. 79; m. (1) Emeline C. Maynard, d. Jan. 15, 1863, ag. 23y.,
11m.; m. (2), Feb. 12, 1867, Louise R. Maynard, b. 1840; d. 1905; m. (3),
April 7, 1906, Clara L. Putney, d. Sept. 28, 1907, ag. 46y., Im.; m. (4),
Dec. 2, 1908, Mrs. Mary J. Dow, b. 1850; d. April 6, 1910. Children:
Persls L., b. 1858; d. 1863; Mary A., b. 1861; d. 1881; Nellie L., b. 1876;
d. 1883.
Morgan, Olive B., wife of James, d. March 4, 1886, ag. 85y., 5m. (a).
Morgan, Sylvanus B., b. March 24, 1793; d. Oct. 26, 1873; m. Nancy
Currier, dau. Nathan of Enfield, b. Jan. 30, 1801; d. . Children:
Nathan C, b. Dee. 6, 1821; d. May 14, 1888; m., Sept. 28, 1858, Carrie L.
Carpenter of Plymouth, Vt., b. March 10, 1833. Two children: Ada C,
m. Walter C. Story (see him), and Alva. Converse Goodhue, son of
Sylvanus, b. Jan. 7, 1827; d. Nov. 3, 1880; m. Helen Bridgman. Chil-
dren: Alice, m. George Huntoon, lives in Jacksonville, 111. Thomas
Benton, son of Sylvanus B., b. Dec. 9, 1834; d. April 19, 1891; m. Louise
L. Carpenter, sister of his brother's wife. Two children: Edna, m. E.
C. Stiles; and Clarence, d. young.
'Morrill, Samuel A., son of Clara J., d. March 22, 1868, ag. 2m., 18d.(b).
Morse, Daniel, son of Daniel, uncle of Jesse, d. Jan. 1, 1831, ag. 67 (e) ;
his wife, Mary, d. April 23, 1822, ag. 52, and his second wife, Mary, d.
Nov. 8, 1842, ag. 58. Children: Silas M., b. Sept. 5, 1787; d. April 7,
1788; Silas M., b. March 25, 1790; Lucinda, b. May 7, 1792; Rachel, b.
Jan. 13, 1795; Irene, b. Sept. 17, 1796; d. Jan. 6, 1804. Daniel lived at
the end of the Pond from which Committee Meadow Broolc flows.
'Morse, Jesse, son of Jesse and Dorothy (Hibbard), b. Feb. 21, 1813;
d. April 9, 1878 (c); m. Adeline Kimball, b. April 12, 1816; d. Dec. 12,
1891; dau. of Abram. Children: Edwin A., b. 1837; m. (1), July 4, 1864,
Irena Jones, dau. Caleb; m. (2) Melissa A. Jones, dau. of Caleb, d. Oct.
19, 1884; m. (3), Oct. 8, 1885, Mrs. Eva S. (Gorham) Butman, b. 1855.
Emily C, dau. of Jesse, d. Sept. 20, 1883, ag. 56 (c) ; m. Horace S.
Groves, d. Aug. 10, 1901, ag. 66y., 5m.; he m. (2) Mary A. Lamotte, d.
March 2, 1902, ag. 56 (a). Addie E., b. 1844; d. 1900 (c) ; m. Albert
Bradbury. Orrin H., b. May 19, 1839; d. March 8, 1888 (a); m. Anna-
belle Sherburne (see her). Franklin Pierce, m. Helen French.
Morse, Stephen, of Haverhill, b. Jan. 1, 1815; d. Sept. 24, 1904 (a);
m. (1), Dec. 4, 1837, Esther Kinne, b. Jan. 3, 1820, dau of Luther, d.
Jan. 10, 1881 (a); m. (2), May 16, 1882, Augusta A. Weare, b. April 17,
Gkniealogy. 625
1832. Childreu: Charles N., b. Oct. 11, 1839; m., Oct. 20, 1861, Almeda
Jones, dau. of Nathan and Polly, b. Oct. 1, 1840; d. June 24, 1865 (a).
ChiMren: Flora; Minnie; George; Carl E., d. July 29, 1864, ag. &m., 21d.
(a); m. (2), Nov. 29, 1866, Ellen Augusta Greeley, b. Dec. 26, 1843; d.
Nov. 2, 1892; m. (3), Oct. 18, 1898, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Malian, b. March
12, 1847. Persis P., dau. of Stephen and Esther (Klnne), d. June 10,
1866, ag. 24 (a) ; m., Sept. 26, 1863, Samuel N. Homan. He m. (2) Ruth
A., dau. of Stephen, d. July 22, 1870, ag. 21. Her child, Mabel R., d.
Aug. 8, 1870, ag. 28d. (aj. Ellen, dau. of Stephen, b. Dec. 26, 1843.
George, b. May 21, 1850.
Morse, James, son of Peter and Anna (Currier) Morse, b. Sept. 26,
1769; d. Nov. 12, 1818 (g) ; m., Nov. 22, 1793, Lois Harris, d. Jan. 19,
1820, ag. 45 (g). Children: James, Jr., h. Jan. 15, 1795; d. Dec. 1, 1801;
m., April 5, 1821, Lucy Tyler, dau. of Job, b. July 29, 1796; d. May 25,
1869. Children: James, b. Jan. 21, 1822; m., Nov. 25, 1849, Arvilla
Smith, b. Dec. 5, 1823. Two children: Georgianna, b. July 19, 1851, and
James Byron, b. July 26, 1852; d. Sept. 9, 1852; Lucy, dau. of James and
Lucy, b. Sept. 5, 1823; d. Oct. 11, 1857. Byron, b. Jan. 27, 1825; d. Aug.
5, 1840 (g). Bmeliue, b. Feb. 15, 1827; d. Aug., 1830. Caroline, b.
June 15, 1830; d. March 25, 1840. Emeliue W., b. Nov. 21, 1833; m.
• Holcomb, and had four children: Elisa Jane, b. Nov., 1857; Lucy
Evelyn, b. 1859 ; Mary Cordelia, b. 1862 ; James Norton, b. June 8, 1864.
Mary R., dau. of James and Lucy, b. June 15, 1836; m., 1862, Abner R.
Brush; one child: Caroline, b. Aug. 6, 1863. Elsie T., b. Sept. 25, 1838;
m. Joseph J. Jerrole, b. 1833; had seven children: Frank Herbert, b.
March 5, 1859; d. Sept. 8, 1861; Alonzo Edmund, b. Aug. 9, 1859; Mary
Anna, b. July 16, 1861; Lucy Emeline, b. Dec. 3, 1864; Franklyn Michael,
b. March 7, 1867; Elsie Mabel, b. April 27, 1871; Hattie, b. March 21,
1876. Julia, dau. of James, Sr., b. March 15, 1798; d. July 13, 1863; m.,
Aug. 5, 1822, Rev. Job C. Tyler, son of Job, b. March 1, 1799; d. Sept.
I, 1879; one child: Elsie A., b. Feb. 27, 1825; d. Aug. 12, 1882; m., Oct.
14, 1851, Isaac Davis, sou of Samuel (see him). Lois, dau. of James,
Sr., b. March 9, 1800; d. Oct. 1, 1853; m., March 20, 1825, Calvin Pressey,
b. April 13, 1797; d. March 15, 1866 (see him). Sally, dau. of James, Sr.,
b. June 7, 1802; d. April 3, 1880; m., March 5, 1834, Sylvester Flanders,
b. June, 1808; d. July 11, 1890 (see him) (b). Nancy, dau. James, Sr., b.
Feb. 22, 1805; d. in Wentworth, May 30, 1874; m., Nov. 13, 1834, Benja-
min Martin, b. Dec. 1, 1809; d. Oct. 10, 1864; two children: Roseanna,
b. Jul.v, 1836; Benjamin F., b. Aug. 23, 1840; m., Feb. 11, 1872, Mary
Jane Colburn, b. Aug. 16, 1850; two children: Charles, b. Jan. 31, 1873;
Amanda Louisa, b. Aug. 13, 1874. Betsey, dau. of James, Sr., b. Oct.
II, 1807; d. April 21, 1854; m., April 3, 1839, John B. Smith, b. April 8,
1809; d. May 1, 1854; one child: Alvira. b. Aug. 1, 1840; d. Jan. IS, 1842.
Lucy, dau. of James, Sr., b. Nov. 11, 1809; d. June 24, 1886 (b). George,
b. March 19, 1812; d. 1832 or '33. John, b. June 4, 1816; m.. Aug. 31,
1840, Ann Philbrick, b. April 10, 1822; d. May 21, 1867; m. (2), Feb. 7,
1869, Melissa Wilcox, b. 1839. Three children by first wife, and one by
40
626 History of Canaan.
second: Mary F., b. Aug. 16, 1S41; d. Sept. 3, 1S54; George H., b. June
23, 1846; m., 1870; Julia T., b. June 5, 1850, m., July, 1873, Joseph Ster-
mon. Children: Cora Belle, b. Aug. G, 1874; Elizabeth May, b. Aug. 26,
1872. Mary, dau. James, Sr., b. Nov. 12, 1818; d. Nov. 19, 1820.
Morse, Sarah, d. Aug. 30, 1865, ag. 79. Martha E., dau. Valentine, d.
Oct. 6, 1886 (d), ag. 33. William C. b. Feb. 23, 1861; d. June 25,
1903 (a).
Monroe, Agnes (Ryan), wife of Caleb P., b. Oct. 10, 1836; d. Nov. 16,
1899 (a).
Murray, John, b. Jan. 10, 1797; d. March 26. 1871; m. Rheuanah
Yv^ells, b. May 3, 1795; d. April 15, 1860. Children: Sarah W., b. June
10, 1825; d. Nov. 8, 1865; George W., b. July 31, 1830; d. Jan. 5, 1900;
m. Jeanette F. Barnes, b. March 30, 1833. Children: Julia W., m., May
25, 1880, Oren P. Wright; one son d. young; Ellen P., b. 1863; m., Jan.
1, 1890, William A. Plummer, b. 1866; Charles Edward, b. Dec. 5, 1866;
d. at Holderness School, Feb. 13, 1891; Katherine R., b. 1864; m. Arthur
L. Davis; one son, Verne; Claude M., b. 1872; m., Oct. 27, 1898, Mabel A.
Plummer, b. 1871. Carl B., b. 1872; m., Aug. 21, 1901, Flossie J. Stevens,
b. 1876.
Nesmith, Erastus, b. 1803; d. 1870; his wife, Lucy R., b. 1809; d.
1898; son, Alfred J., d. Feb. 1, 1858, ag. 24 (a).
Nichols, Ezra, by his first wife, Betsey, had Ezra, b. Oct. 16, 1790 (a) ;
by his second wife, Lovica Miner, dau. of Thomas, b. Feb. 20, 1771, d.
July 26, 1806, he had Betsey, b. Sept. IS, 1795, and Nancy, b. May 18,
1800; by his third wife, Polly Flint, dau. of Joseph, he had Lovica Flint,
b. March 13, 1813; d. June 9, 18S3 (a) ; m., March 8, 1842, Albert Coch-
ran, d. Aug. 25, 1875, ag. 64 (a). Children: Abby; Clarendon A., b. 1845;
d. ; ni., Jan. 1, 1869, Mary A. French, b. 1850; Lizzie L.
Nichols, Enoch, d. March 11, 1871, ag. 82y., 9m.; m. Charlotte Powell,
d. Sept. 15, 1875, ag. 86y., 5m., 26d. Children: Benjamin P., b. Jan. 3,
1827; d. Oct. 8, 1880 (c) ; m. Eliza B. Plarris, b. April 29, 1828; d. Dec.
18, 1906. Children: Dexter H., b. April 21, 1852; d. Aug. 8, 1888 (c) ;
m., Sept. 1, 1886, Marion B. Barber, dau. James P.; Kate; Ralph, b.
April 27, 1867; Almanda P., d. May 30. 1904, ag. 84y., 11m., 27d.; m. a
Fogg.
Nichols, Aaron, d. April 24, 1859, ag. 58; child, Tilton, d. May 27,
1873, ag. 58; his wife, Lydia, d. July 15, 1874, ag. 61y., 5m. Child:
Mandana L., d. Dec. 5, 1863, ag. 24y., 6m. Julia A., dau. of Aaron
and N , d. Oct. 17, 1845, ag. 22y., 9m.; m. Horace \V. Miller.
Nichols, Mary Ann, dau. of Benjamin and Lydia, d. Jan. 6, 1837,
ag. 9m.
Nichols, Sarah M., wife of John N., d. June 18. 1882, ag. 66. Child:
Josephine S., d. Sept. 23, 1883, ag. 33y., 7m.; m. John Burrill (a).
Norris, Benjamin, b. April 1, 1811: d. Dec. 3, 1897; m. Zaphira Ross,
b. Jan. 10, 1813; d. Jan. 3, 1890. Child: Horace R., b. 1840; m., Nov. 26,
1868, Jennie M. Smith, b. 1847. Child: George, d. . Lizzie B.
m. Harris J. Goss (see him).
Genealogy, 627
Noyes, Samuel, d. Juue 9, 1845, ag. 90y., 10m. (b) ; by his wife, Lydia,
d. Jan. 23, 1833, ag. 75, he had Relief, b. Feb. 8, 1791.
Noyes, Moody, had Moody, Jr., b. June 26, 1793; Betsey, b. Juue 12,
1795; Theodore, b. Oct. 29, 1796.
Noyes, Amos L., d. Feb. 4, 1884, ag. 66y., Im., lid.; his wife, Hannah
Peaslee, d. Oct. 21, 1889, ag. 64y., 6m., 15<1. Children: Mattie H., d.
Sept. 29, 1886, ag. 29; m. George Bailey; son, Alfred; Chas. E., b. 1854;
m., Feb. 29, 1872, Eldorah V. Whittier.
Noyes, Amos, b. in Grotou, Vt., April 9, 1822. Abigail, b. July 15,
1827. James, b. Jan. 27, 1829. Sophia Ann, b. Jan. 2, 1831. Joseph, b.
Oct. 2, 1833; children of Stephen.
Otis, Richard, and his wife, Sarah, had children: Ethelinda, b. in
Norwich, Conn., Aug. 18, 1766; m. by William Ayer, Dec. 29, 1791, Judah.
Wells (see him) ; Esther, b. Feb. 14, 1768; m. by Thomas Baldwin, Nov.
26, 1785, Clement Stoddard. Children: Ruth, b. Feb. 4, 1787; Polly, b.
Jan. 3, 1792; Lucy, b. July 13, 1794. Israel Sabin, son of Richard, b.
Jan. 27, 1770; Elisha, b. April 5, 1772; m. and had a child, Roxanna, b.
Dec. 10, 1794. Richard, Jr., b. July 4, 1774; m., Feb. 7, 1799, Sally
Chandler, and had Sally, b. March 1, 1800. Lucy, b. Aug. 6, 1776. Ezra,
b. July 7, 1778. Annis, b. Aug. 11, 1780. Erastus, b. Oct. 24, 1784.
Paddleford, James, d. Sept. 3, 1826, ag. 29 (c).
Page, Abraham, m. Dec. 13, 1806, Hannah Richardson; he lived in
the old school house at the Corner, which Arden Jones afterwards lived
in. Childi-en: Eliphalet R., b. Lebanon, April 26, 1807; d. ; by
his wife, Sarah F., he had children: Elizabeth, b. Aug. 3, 1833; George,
b. Dec. 21, 1834; d. Aug. 22, 1836 (a); Caroline, b. Sept. 8, 1836; George
Washington, b. Feb. 23, 1839; Sarah Jane, b. Feb. 16, 1841; m.
Edmoudston; two sons lived in California; Clara bel Hammond, b. Oct.
6, 1842. Sarah Ann, dau. of Abraham, b. in Meredith, March 20, 1808; d.
Nov. 1, 1855; m., Sept. 13, 1838, Josiah Richardson; Almira, b. June 29,
1809; d. single; Hannah, b. Sept. 14, 1812; d. April 11, 1828 (a); Abra-
ham, Jr., twin of Hannah, had a son, Charles, who owned a saloon in
Lowell. Leonard, d. Sept. 11. 1826, ag. 12y., 9m. (a). Samuel, b. in New
Hampton, May 1, 1815, was an Advent preacher. Charles, b. in Canaan,
May 24, 1817, was an Advent preacher.
Page, John, only son of Lazarus and Hannah, d. Sept. 21, 1826, ag.
7y., 21d. (a).
Packard, Chamberlain, d. March 23, 1861. ag. 76y., 10m. (c) ; m.
Hannah Corser, d. March 30, 1861, ag. 76y., 7m. Children: Octavia, d.
Dec. 15, 1844, ag. 40; m., July 11, 1822, Ezekiel Wells, Jr. (see him);
CTiamberlain, Jr., d. Dec. 31, 1867, ag. 62 (c) ; killed by a railroad train;
his wife, Louisa W. Hinkson, d. May 2, 1880, ag. 75; a dau., Hannah E.,
d. Oct. 6, 1894, ag. 67y., 8m., 5d.: m., March 13, 1844, John F. Clough
(see him). Rachel, d. Aug. 9, 1905, ag. 93y., 4m., 3d.; m., Nov. 27, 1834,
Daniel Hinkson (see him). John, d. May 2, 1870, ag. 57; m., June, 1843,
Hannah S. Gould, b. Feb. 1, 1821; d. June 3, 1880. Children: Albert, b.
1858; m., June 19, 1877, Emma A. Clough, dau. of Clark, b. 1858. Chil-
628 History of Canaan.
dreii: Burtou C; Ethel; M;md E., b. June IS, 18S2. Samuel, sou of
Chamberlaiu, d. April 11, 1817, ag. ly., 10m. Betsey, d. March. 29, 1831,
ag. 8y., 5m., 24d. Louisa, d. April 9, 1831, ag. ly.. Im., 28d. Erastus,
sou of Chamberlain, m., April 27, 1835, Hannah Washburn.
Pattee, Capt. Asa, came from Waruer with his son, Colonel Daniel,
and settled ou the old farm John Seofield cleared, and which Samuel
Jones aftei-^.'ards owned. Capt. Asa d. May 24, 1825, ag. 91 (c). Colonel
Daniel brought with him his wife and family. He had six sous and
seven daughters by his first wife, Judith, who d. Oct. 23, 1820, ag. 54,
and one son by his second wife, Dorcas, who d. June 18, 1868, ag. 83.
He died March 2, 1850, ag. 86 (c) ; he was a selectman in 1829 and in
1830. His children were:
(1) Miriam, who d. Aug. 28, 1813, ag. 21.
(2) Judith, m. David Greeley, the son of Mattiew, June 22, 1809.
(3) Dorothy, m. Nathaniel C. Pierce, son of Dr. Caleb. She had Caleb,
b. Feb. 24, 1813; m. Martha Paddleford; and Louisa Maria, b. May 5,
1816. The last two families went to Illinois.
(4) Sylvanus Barnard, b. April 18, 1797; d. July 22, 1886 (e) ; m.
March 3, 1819, Betsey Howe, dau. of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Howe, of
Enfield; she was b. 1801; d. Oct. 3, 1848. He m. (2) Maria P. Leslie, d.
Aug. 28, 1874, ag. 62; he had three sons and one daughter. Lived in
Enfield. Capt. Hiram, d. Nov. 25, 1855, ag. 29y., 9m., lid. (c) ; the
daughter m. a Howe. James C, d. June 14, 1882, ag. 54y., 11m; by his
■wife, Ann M., he had Hiram, who m. Alice Mosher. Calvin M., d. Fe'b.
16, 1892, ag. 35; m., June 23, 1876, Lou C. Garland. Hattie, and Sadie,
d. Dec. 27, 1889, ag. 24; m. W. A. Mitchell.
(5) Daniel, Jr., b. in Canaan in 1799, d. in Canaan, May 12, 1875 (c) ;
m., Dec. 28, 1820, Judith G. Burley, dau. of Gordon Burley, of Dorchester.
She d. May 26, 1883, ag. 83y., 4m. They had six sons and three daugh-
ters. Wlien 28 years old he was commissioned captain of a company
of artillery in the Thirty-Seventh Regiment. Was selectman in 1841,
1842, 1843, 1849. Lived at West Canaan. Lewis C. m. Rebecca Perley,
in 1858; carried on an extensive lumber business at Goose Pond and
West Canaan for many years, and was one of the organizei-s of the
Pattee Plow Company of Monmouth, 111., with his brothers James H.
and Henry H., b. 1840. He represented Canaan in the Legislature in
1863. Fred L., son of Lewis C, is in the lumber business at West
Canaan; is married and resides in Winchester, Mass. Gordon B.
was engaged in the lumber business in Ottawa, Canada, under the
name of Perley & Pattee. James H. went to Monmouth, 111., and
resided there as well as his brother, Henry H., whose first wife was
Lizzie B. Morgan, dau. of Dr. Arnold Morgan of Canaan; he m. June 18,
1867; she d. Marc-li 12, 1879, ag. 33. Allen W. d. April 11, 1855, aged
12y., 6m. John B. d. Sept. 23, 1824, ag. 3y. (d). Louise M. m. Ithamar
P. Pillsbury, who v/as one of the Pattee Plow Company, and resided in
Monmouth, 111. Eliza D. m. John Q. Perley of Enfield. Elizabeth D.
d. Aug. 18, 1830, ag. 4y., 4m. (d).
Genealogy. 629
(6) Moses D., d. April 11, 1851, ag. 47 (c) ; m. Haunah Huse, of.
Enfield, in 1832; was a fanner and had four children. Judith, d. Feb.
19, 1831, ag. ly., 3m., 19d.
(7) James, b. June 25, 1S02; d. Sept. 28, 1872 (c). His first wife was
Rebecca Currier of Enfield, v/hom he m. Dec. 28, 1825; she d. March 12,
1841, ag. 36. His second wife was Rosamond Jones. He had five sons
and one daughter by his first wife and one daughter by his second. He
was a selectman in 1850 and 1854. Wyman, his son, was b. in Canaan
Aug. 26, 1826; d. in Enfield in 1902; m., 1857, Mary Jane Burley, b. Dor-
chester Dec. 10, 1827; had two children: James W., b. July 27, 1864,
who is m. and lives in Enfield, and John. Wyman was in the lumber
business in Canaan from 1848 to 1859, and represented this town in
the Legislature in 1855 and 1856. In 1859 he moved to Enfield,
From 1860 to 1864 he was sheriff of Grafton County, representative
from Enfield in 1875 and 1876, town treasurer for thirteen years,
auditor of the Northern Railroad fifteen years, director of the Peter-
boro and Hillsboro Railroad and Mascoma Insurance Company and
of the National Bank at White River Junction, Vt. James F., son
of James, m. Marion F. Blake and d. in 1871. Ann R., b. 1835; m.,
April 23, 1860, James M. Currier of Enfield and resided in Springfield.
Burns W., d. Oct. 28, 1888, ag. 51; m. Tryphcena Leeds of Canaan; he d.
in Enfield, where he lived. Children: Jennie L., d. May 16, 1861, ag. 11;
Fred D., d. Nov. 12, 1862, ag. 10m. George W., d. May 23, 1840, ag. lly.,
5m. Another son of James, George W., d. March 2, 1851, aged lid., and
a daughter, Angeline C, d. May 20, 1840, ag. 8m.; by his second wife he
had Ella, who lives in Enfield.
(8) John, d. April 25, 1807, ag. ly., 16d.
(9) Hannah D.. d. Jan. 27, 1836, ag. 27y., 11m.; m. Capt. Albert Cur-
lier (c).
(10) Louisa M., d. Jan. 20, 1816, ag. ly., lOm.
(11) Jesse, d. March 14, 1823, ag. Im. (c).
(12) Betsey, who m. a Currier.
(13) Rhoda J., who m. a Stevens.
Pattee, Daniel F., d. July 22, 1854, ag. 22 (c). Peter, d. Nov. 16,
1800, ag. 52 (b).
Pearley, Nat, had a wife, Dorothy, and a wife, Lydia, by whom he had
Stephen, b. March 18, 1806.
Peaslee, Jonathan, d. March 6, 1876, ag. 88; his wife, Miriam, d. Jan.
17, 1880, ag. 83; their son, Stephen, d. June 6, 1893, ag. 66; m. Susan
Homan, dau. of Joseph and Sarah (Noyes); their child, Fi-ed W., b.
1860; d. 1885, m. . George E., d. Feb. 9, 1859, ag. 6m., 28d. Charles
H., d. Sept. 28, 1872, ag. 6y., 9m., 6d. Harry 0., b. 1874; d. Feb. 19, 1889
(all a). Sanford, son of Jonathan (a), children: Allie and Frankie
(a).
Peters, William, d. Dec. 18, 1881, ag. 87y., 3m.; his wife, Fanny, d.
March 5, 1865, ag. 65y., 10m. Hannah, wife of John Peters, son of Wil-
liam, d. June 30, 1856, ag. 28; a dau., Druzilar, d. Feb. 27, 1858, ag. 6.
630 History op Canaan.
Eliza L., wife of Jacob Peters, d. July 25, 1857, ag. 30. Ohildreu: Mary,
d. April 10, 1850, ag. 3; Joseph B., d. Oct. 7, 1854, ag. ly., 9m.; Charles
F., d. Feb. 11, 1857, ag. ly., 21d. Anna Frances, dau. of J. C. and L. S
Peters, d. Nov. 1, 1859, ag. 17y., 9m. (all c). "Willie F., son of John, b.
1857; m., March 3, 1879, Emily F. Brown.
Philbrick, Hiram, d. April 20, 1S7G, ag. 76y., 8m. (e); his fii-st wife,
Mary, d. Dec. 5, 1863, ag. 56 (a); one sou, Charles A., d. July 29, 1858,
ag. 28y., Sm. (a). John W., b. 1844, m. Emeline Clark, dau. Daniel and
Dorcas, b. 1841; d. 1904; Hiram m. (2), March 3, 1864, Mrs. Betsey
(Clark) Welch, dau. Daniel and Dorcas Clark; a son, Daniel H., d. Jan.
10, 1866, ag. 10m., 27d. (e).
Pierce, Caleb, m. in Enfield, Feb. 10, 1788, Betsey Clough. Children:
Lucy, b. Nov. 20, 1789; Nathaniel Currier, b. Aug. 27, 1791; m. Dorothy
Pattee; went to Illinois. Their children: Caleb, b. Feb. 24, 1813; m.,
April 30, 1840, Martha Paddleford; Louisa Maria, b. May 5, 1816; Bet-
sey, dau. of Caleb, b. July 14, 1806; m. a Blake.
Pillsbury, Deacon Joshua, d. Feb. 21, 1825, ag. 82 (c); his wife, Eliza-
beth, d. March 17, 1816, ag. 60y., 6m. Children: Deborah, d. July 8, 1826,
ag. 40. Joshua, Jr., b. March 31, 1789; d. Oct. 19, 1858; m. Sarah
Fletcher, b. Jan. 26, 1793; d. Oct. 30, 1874. Children: Joseph D., b. Nov.
4, 1817 (a); d. Andover, 111., Oct. 25, 1847. Mary B., h. Nov. 4, 1817; d.
June 20, 1867 (a), single. Sarah, dau. Deacon Joshua, m. Simon Dodge.
Children: Ella S., b. 1842; m., June 14, 1866, Otis G. Turner; Arthur,
Clarence, Lena and another girl and boy.
Pillsbury, J. Daniel Webster, son of Joseph D., b. June 30, 1847.
Miriam, m., June 1, 1800, Charles Walworth. Betsey, m. Dec. 22, 1814,
Thomas Evans.
Plummer, William, b. April 29, 1818; d. March 21, 1904; his wife,
Lucy E. Smith, b. Dec. 21, 1823; d. July 24, 1903. Child: Elmore H., b.
1857; m., June 6, 1880. Vinia E. King.
Plummer, Reuben S., b. 1849; m. Millie E. W^hittier, b. 1856.
Pollard, Adam, d. May 11, 1847, ag. 63y., 11m., 13d.; his wife, MaiT,
d. Sept. 27, 1880, ag. 88y., 9m., 7d. (d). Children: Louisa, b. Feb. 20,
1821; m. Elijah C. Flanders (see him); Sybil, m., Aug. 29, 1852, Heber
Jackson of Hanover; and Solon K.
Pollard, David, was b. in New Boston, and his wife, Sarah Gale, was
b. in old Haverhill, Mass. They had eighteen children; four of them,
Perley, Hannah, and two others, d. in infancy; Lydia, d. March 17,
1875, ag. 68; m. Benjamin Bradbury; Benjamin, m. Sarah Jewett; Sarah,
d. Oct. 25, 1884, ag. 79y., Im., 1.5d.; m. (1) John Calef; two children:
a son d. young, and Ann; m. (2) Joseph Fifield. Children: Edson J.,
m. Ednah Jones, dau. of Nathan (see her), and William H. Caroline,
m. Alvah Richardson. Sylveuia, m. Joseph Welch. David went West, m.
and d. there. Isaac, d. April 8, 1862, ag. 62; m. Maria Emerson. Chil-
dren: Charles W., b. 1847; m., July 3, 1875, Nellie J. Harper; m. (2)
Susan Blanchard. Rodney went West and d. there. Horace went West.
Martha, m. Jeremiah Clough. Walker went West and d. there. Wil-
Genealogy. 631
liam went West and d. Oft. 4, 1909. Hannah, d. single. Fred R., b.
1833, lives in Lebanon.
Pollard, Joseph J., son of Benjamin; d. ; m., April 7, 1861,
Sarah E. Bridginan, dau. of Benjamin; d. Feb. 8. 1ST3, ag. 36. Children:
Roj-al S., d. May 24, 1887, ag. 21y., 8m.; Elnora, b. 1859; m., Oct. 20, 1SS7,
Melvin A. Aldrich, d. March 5, 1892, ag. 26y., 10m., 5d. Eva, b. 1864;
m., April 1, 1882, Henry W. Columtiia.
Pollard, Isaac, d. Oct. 13, 1S70, ag. 60 (c).
Porter, Micah, d. July 7, 1811, ag. 68; his wife, Mrs. Ruth Bates, d.
Nov. 16, 1819, ag. 84 (g); he had several children: John, William, Reu-
ben, Hannah, who m. William Laud, and Betsey, who m. a Straw; Noah,
Josiah, David, Elias, who had a dau. Eliza by his wife. Sarah, d. April
10, 1805, ag. 5m. (g). IMicah lived where S. W. Currier now lives, and
his sons lived around him.
Porter, Daniel, b. Danvers, Mass., d. Oct. 19, 1852, ag. 81; his wife,
Ruth M., b., Beverly, Mass.. 1774; d. in Canaan, 1857. Children: Clar-
issa, b. in Beverly, Mass., Jan. 2, 1804; d. March 4, 1863; m. Col. S. S.
Clark, son of Amasa (see him); Eliza R., b. in Beverly, Mass., April
28, 1799; d. May 31, 1881. Daniel R., d. May 11, 1837, ag. 28. Benja-
min W., m. (1), Oct. 15, 1835, Hannah B., dau. of Capt. S. J. Gates, d.
May 19, 1839, ag. 24, and he went We.st. William H., d. Dec. 3, 1845,
ag. 31y., 27d. (all i).
Porter, Thomas J., son of Daniel and Clarese, d. March 14, 1876,
ag. 70.
Porter, Osman, d. Feb. 27, 1878, ag. 62 (a); m., March 18, 1841, Lucy
S. Bailey, b. Nov. 11, 1820. Child: Fred B. L., b. April 11, 1859.
Powell, Hannah D., b. May 5, 1836; d. March 31, 1894. Adna J., b.
Nov. 6, 1870; d. Sept. 13, 1888 (b).
Pressey, Calvin, son of Moses and Hannah (Tucker), d. March 14,
1866, ag. 67y., 10m., 14d. (b) ; m. (1) Mary Tucker, d. Feb. 18, 1824, ag.
31. Children: Albert, d. Jan. 10, 18S7, ag. 64y., 6m., 26d; by his wife,
Elvira, he had Horace and Eva. John, son of Calvin, by his wife, Mary
(a), had Celia C, d. April 8, 1879, ag. 27; m. Dixi C. Cross; Friend, m.
Hattie Elliott; and Samuel. Calvin m. (2), March 20, 1825, Lois
Morse, dau. of James, b. March 9, 1800; d. Oct. 1, 1853. Children: Julia
M., b. Nov. 21, 1825; m., July 18, 1853, Alviu Tucker of Enfield. James,
b. Feb. 28, 1827. Mar.v. b. Oct. 29, 1828. George, b. March 12, 1833; m.
(1) Elizabeth A. Sanborn, dau. of Jonathan and Mary, d. Oct. 5, 18G1,
ag. 2Sy., 10m.; m. (2) Addie A. Pillsburj', d. Aug. 11, 1864, ag. 24y.,
11m., and had a dau., Addie L., d. Sept. 14, 1864, ag. Im., 9d.; m. (3),
Sept. 19, 1865, Eunice C. Cummings. William D., son of Calvin and
Lois, b. May 6, 1837; d. Nov. 2, 1854. Luca V., b. April 15, 1842. John
L., son of Moses and Hannah, d. Aug. 25, 1874, ag. 70y., 2m.; his wife,
Sarah, d. April 23, 1885, ag. 75y., Im., 6d. (a). Children: Sarah B., b.
1839; m., Sept. 4, 1860, George W. Randlett, son of Jacob and Effie;
Maria L. m. Charles S. Jones (see him). Moses, son of Moses, b. 1806;
d. 1885; m. Laura E. Hibbard, b. 1807; d. ISSl (b). Children: George
632 History of Canaan.
p., b. 1831; Miranda R., b. 1837; Henry A., b. 1839; d. June 15, 1864;
Elwiu H., b. 1843; Albert L., b. 1846; d. 1848 (b).
Preston, Alpheus, d. Aug. 28, 1867, ag. 58; m. Almira Tucker, d. July
11, 1861, ag. 52 (b). Children: John Earl, b. Dec. 27, 1828; d. April
IS, 1883; his wife, Margaret Elizabeth, b. May 19, 1839; d. March 28,
1903; Nelson, m., July 4, 1857, Paulina Lowell and had Florence J., d.
April 7, 1858; George N., d. Feb. 19, 1888, ag. 25y., 8m.; Willie, d.
March 23, 1878, ag. Sni., lid. (a). Munroe, son of Alpheus, m. Sarah
Robinson, and had a son Frank. Elizabeth, d. May 17, 1909, ag. 69y.,
10m., 6d.; m. George E. Muzzey. Children: Nella A., d. April 20, 1862,
ag. 2y., Im.; Charley M., d. Oct. 15, 1864, ag. ly., 3m. (a). Mai'tin, d. in
the army. Marcellus; Lydia; Jenette E., m., Sept. 7, 1886, Harrison
Fogg (see him).
Prockter, Lucia Ann, dau. of Jonathan and Ruth, d. April 2, 1818,
ag. ly., 10m. (a).
Puffer, Minnie B., b. 1878; d. 1904 (a).
Putnam, Caleb S., d. Jan. 16, 1873, ag. 70; m. Elvira W. Wheelock,
d. Feb. 13, 1888, ag. 81y., 3m., 8d. Children: Elvira, m. Charles H. Wells
(see him) ; Sidney; Persis, m. John Follensbee of Enfield; Hiram E., d.
May 2, 1857, ag. 21; m., Nov. 23, 1856, Angle M. Wilson, d. Feb. 23,
1857, ag. 21; Martha, m. William Huntoon; Fiorina W., b. Feb. 5, 1845;
d. May 28, 1903; m. (1) Theodore Tyler, son of James; m. (2), Dec.
27, 1861, James C. Felch; had two dau., Cora and Ella (b) ; she m. (3)
Sumner R. Truell, b. Sept. 20, 1842; d. Dec. 29, 1899 (b) ; Hattie S.,
m.. May 8, 1869, Joseph C. Abbott.
Rainey, Albert I., son of Peter, d. Dee. 16, 1902, ag. 39; m. Eva A.
Fisher, d. . Children: Loney E., Mary A., Albert R.
Rand, Oscar Shirley, son of Oscar F. and Frances C. (Dow), d. Feb.
25, 1902, ag. 28y., 2m., 22d. Herman S., son, d. April 1, 1881, ag. ly.,
5m., 15d. (b).
Randlett, John W., son of George J. and Sarah E., d. Feb. 2, 1864,
ag. 2y., 10m. (a).
Ricard, Ada M. (Laughlin), wife of Edgar, b. Oct. 1, 1854; d. Sept.
10, 1904 (d).
Rice, Charles, d. Oct. 3, 1857, ag. 69.
Richardson, William and Elizabeth, both d. 1791 or '92, ag. about
84 on monument (a); not buried (a); their children:
Richardson, William, b. Newbury, Mass., March 8, 1746; d. Feb. 25,
1829 (d): m. (1) Prudence Morse, d. April 3, 1779; m. (2) Esther
Sawyer, d. May 11, 1840, ag. 85; came to Canaan, 1784, with Ms five
brothers, John, Joshua, Moses, Eliphalet, Enoch. Children: Jacob, b.
Feb. 15, 1772; d. June 30, 1864 (d) ; m. Mary R. Morse, d. May 1, 1850,
ag. 75. His children were Susan, Sarah, d. June 5, 1844, ag. 40 (a) ; m.,
Feb. 18, 1824, William Kimball (see him) (a); Nancy A. B., b. April
12, 1809; d. April 23, 1885; m. Ozias Daniels, b. Oct. 5, 1807; d. April
24, 1878 (d); one son, George Washington, m. Eugenia E. Hall; two
children: Ida Louise, d. July 29, 1893, ag. ISy., 6m. (a), and Grace, who
Genealogy. 633
m. Edwin P. Stone. William, sou of Jacob, d. Oct. 30, 1860, ag. 59 (d) ;
m., Sept. 7, 1826, Dhoda Colby, d. May 6, 1879, ag. 78; his children:
Dexter, d. May 9, 1900, ag. 69 (d) ; m. (1), March 13, 1854, Mrs. Lucy
Ann (Hill) Kimball, d. Jan. 7, 1881, ag. 50; m. (2), April 13, 1882,
Sarah E. Callemore; one son, William M., b. 1860; d. ; m., Oct.
25, 1874, Ida M. Smith; m. (2) Martha M. J. Wrigbt, Feb. 17, 1SS8.
Mary Ann, dan. of William and Rhoda, b. 1846; m., May 25, 1865,
George 0. Hall. Children: Bertha, m. (1) a Barnes; Alfred, d. April
18, 1881, ag. 68 (d) ; m., Jan. 1, 1839, Eliza B. Welch, b. Dec. 10, 1812;
d. April 6, 1904. Children: Mary E., d. Nov. 5, 1865; m., April 16,
1862, James M. Eaton, a son of Nathaniel. Sarah M., b. May 14, 1845;
Jacob, Jr., son of Jacob, d. Sept. 25, 1852, ag. 37; by his wife, Elsie
Miller, he had Annette, b. 1840; m. (1) Aaron Bradbury, and had
a son, Melvin A., m., Nov. 1, 1888, Martha A. Daniels; and a dau.,
Rosie E., d. April 30, 1874, ag. 16; William C. b. 1860; m., Feb. 22,
1883, Lucy M. Daniels, b. 1S62; she m. (2), March 11, 1864, Philip
G. Prescott, b. Sept. 28, 1835; d. Oct. 13, 1903 (d). Children: Allie
S., d. July 6, 1875, ag. 2y., 9m., and Alice F., d. Sept. 12, 1876, ag.
8w. Mamie B., b. 1881; m.. May 10, 1898, Elmer W. Preston, b.
1873. Willard, son of Jacob, d. Feb. 15, 1887, ag. 69y., 4m. (b) ;
m., March 24, 1839, Almira Towle, dau. of John. Children: James
Burns, d. May 2, 1909, ag. 69y., 6m., 24d.; Ella, b. 1849; m., Feb. 7, 1870,
Charles H. Hunter. Sarah C, d. Nov. 30, 1897, ag. 56y., Sm., 4d.; m. Al-
vin Davis. Edna, dau. of William, b. July 29, 1773; d. April 16, 1800; m.
Robert Wilson; d. April 26, 1843, ag. 77 (see him). Ruhannah, dau. of
W^illiam, b. in Hampstead, June 10, 1775. Nathaniel, b. in Hampstead,
June 3, 1779; d. Nov. 15, 1849 (d) ; m. Hannah Tucker, d. April 4, 1856,
ag. 72. Children: Caleb, b. Jan. 7, 1805; Esther, b. Sept. 25, 1808; Alvah,
b. Aug. 22, 1810; m. Caroline Pollard. Joshua, Jr., son of William, b.
Feb. 25, 1785; d. May 22, 1869 (d) ; m., Feb. 12, 1812, Lois Hoyt, b. Jan.
4, 1790; d. April 7, 1853; m. (2), June 7, 1859, Mary M. Jackson. Chil-
dren: Herod, b. Dec. 13, 1812; Hannah Hoyt, b. Sept. 26, 1815; d. March
14, 1864 (a) ; m., June 3, 1848, James Hackett, d. Sept. 8, 1840. Children:
Corcellus H., b. in Tunbridge, Vt., April 20, 1839; m., and has a family,
lives in New York; she m. (2) Jacob P. Tenney, d. Nov. 17, 1893, ag. 80.
Children: Mary M., d. Sept. 1, 1862, ag. 11; Grace L., d. Nov. 14, 1867,
ag. 9y., 2m. (a). Persis Austin, dau. of Joshua, Jr., d. Api'il 17, 1821,
ag. 2y., 6m. Persis Austin, d. Dec. 10, 1854, ag. 29; m. James Carroll,
d. Dec. 28, 1850, ag. 31 (d). George H., d. Sept. 7, 1872, ag. 37 (d) ; m.,
Jan. 28, 1857, Julia A. Merrill of Hanover, b. Oct. 4, 1837; d. April 5,
1902: she m. (2) Charles W. Dwiuels; a son, Fred G., b. 1861; m., June
1, 1899, May Idella Fox, b. 1879; two children. Maria, dau. of Joshua,
Jr., m. a Yeaton; a dau. Lois Maria is buried on Sa-wyer Hill. Hiram,
d. Sept. 25, 1826, ag. 5. Amos, son of William, b. Dec. 21, 1796; m.,
Feb. 24, 1820, Elsa Eldredge and had Isaac Gleason. b. March 9, 1821;
Mary Ann, b. April 18, 1824. William had a daughter, who d. young.
Richardson, John, brother of William, d. 1811 (d) ; his first wife.
634 History of Canaan.
Elizabeth, d. Aug. 17, 1821, ag. 64; he had: Elizabeth, b. April 9, 1780;
m., March 18, 1798, Joseph Sawyer; Mary, b. May 13, 1782; d. Feb. 11,
1862; Sarah, b. June 30, 1784; Abigail, b. May S, 1786; Susaima, b.
July 16, 1790; d. Oct. 23, 1855; m., Dec. 2, 1819; Adouijah Colby (see
him). John, by his second wife, Nancy, had: Ira, b. March 10, 1811;
Eunice, b. Sept. 6, 1812.
Richardson, Joshua, brother of William, d. March 2, 1841, ag. S3 (a);
m., March 25, 1792, Betsey Walworth, dau. of Amos and Elizabeth
(Harris) Walworth of Norwich, Conn., a dau. of Gibson Harris, b. June
5, 1763; d. July 26, 1850. Children: Charlotte, b. April 30, 1793; d. Dec.
13, 1850 (ag. 67 on tombstone) (a), single; Prof. Rev. George, b. July
30, 1795; d. March 17, 1829 (a); m. Elizabeth Deunison, dau. of Capt.
Joseph of Lyndon, Mass; Emily Betsey, b. Jan. 5, 1798; d. Jan. 14, 1824
(a); Rev. Charles Walworth, b. June 11, 1801; d. Nov. 18, 1871 (a),
single; Joshua Washington, b. Jan. 20, 1804; d. Sept. 7, 1857 (ag. 58
on tombstone) (a) ; had a son Henry.
Richardson, Moses, brother of William, d. Jan. 21, 1822, ag. 59; m.
Nancy Pollard, d. Dec. 25, 1804.
Richardson, Eliphalet, brother of William (d), d. Oct. 3, 1831, ag.
80; his wife, Abi, d. Jan. 3, 1851, ag. 83 (d).
Richardson, Enoch, brother of William, d. 1820, ag. 66; his first wife,
Elizabeth, d. Aug. 16, 1800, ag. 46 (a); had a second wife, Phebe.
Children: Moses, William G., lived in Lyme; John, m., Oct. 26, 1817,
Susan Norris, lived in Leroy, N. Y. ; Betsey, m., Feb. 8, 1810, John F.
Huse, of Lyme. Enoch, lived in Leroy, N. Y. ; and Sarah. David, m.,
Dec. 26, 1803, Mrs. Betsey Wilson, d. Aug. 23, 1865. ag. Sly., 7m., ISd.,
dau. of Warren. Children: Plummer and Abi Plummer, both b. Aug. 30,
1804; Joseph, b. Feb. 22, ISIO; Benjamin, b. Jan. 8, 1812; Rufus King,
b. Nov. 30, 1814; d. July 15, 1887 (b) ; m. Sarah Marston, d. Feb. 12,
1856, ag. 39. Children: Abby R., d. Feb. 21, 1855, ag. 2y., 6m.; Eliza-
beth, d. Feb. 17, 1855, ag. 9m., 6d.; Louisa P., d. April 11, 1858, ag. 18;
Hudson M., d. July 10, 1864, ag. 26y., Im.; Carrie M., d. April 12, 1890,
ag. 46y., 10m.; m. Charles Seavey, had two children: Eugene and Henry,
b. Oct. 1866; Belle, dau. of Rufus, single.
Richardson, John W., d. Oct. 19, 1892, ag. 63y., 5m.; his wife, Adeline
R., d. Sept. 13, 1883, ag. 53. Child: Warren B., m., Sept. 25, 1878,
Ella M. Davis.
Richardson, Theodore, d. July 4, 1845, ag. 72 (a) ; by his wife, Nabby,
he had, Mary, d. March 27, 1854, ag. 52 (a) ; Hannah N., b. Aug 4, 1815;
d. July 5, 1876; m., June 8, 1845, Charles D. Washburn, b. Sept. 1, 1819;
d. June 13, 1903. Children: Delia S., b. Aug. 8, 1852; m. Eben D. San-
born, b. Jan. 11, 1855; d. March 16, 1883; Georgia, b. Dec. 19, 1854; m.,
Nov. 21, 1874, Lewis T. Sanborn, b. June 14, 1847; d. Aug. 30, 1877;
Charles and Horace.
Hidiardson, Rev. Caleb H., son of Samuel and Lydia, d. April 25,
1868, ag. 81 (d) ; his wife, Loanna, d. Dec. 1, 1873, ag. 92; a dan., Lydia
P., d. Dec. 14, 1871; m. a Waldron.
Genealogy. 635
Richardson, Jo^^epll L., d. March IG, 1S42, a.u. 40y., 8m. (d); his fir^vt
wife, Hannah G., d. April 9, 1S38, ag. 34y., Im.; m. (2), Aug. 12, 1S38,
Sophronia Eastman; she m. (2), June 2, 1S43, Daniel L. Smith.
Richardson, Samuel D., d. Oct. 29, 1884, ag. 78; his wife, Sophia, d.
Aug. 20, 1874, ag. 68 (d).
Richardson, Adeline R., dau. of Moses and Anna (Lawrence) Boyn-
tou, d. Sept. 13, 1883, ag. 53y., Sm., 4d.
Ring, Harry F., son of Abner R. and Mary, d. April b, 1816, ag. 13;
Lucy P., dau., d. Oct. 24, 1817, ag. 5m. (e).
Roberts, Smith, d. Dec. 24. 1SG5, ag. 42 (e) ; his wife, Mary Ann, d.
May 10, 1871, ag. 49; sou George S., d. April 11, 1863, ag. 11.
Robie, Gilbert J., b. 1834; d. 1863; m. Mary Ann Loveren. h. 1834; one
son, Horace G., b. 1861.
Robinson, Laurenza, dau. of Jacob and Mary, d. Aug. 25, 1848, ag.
ly., 8m. (a).
Rogers, William, b. 1867; d. 1905. Charles H., d. Sept. 27, 1861, ag.
64y., 11m. (a); his wife, Abigail S., d. May 27, 1852, ag. 50y., 7m. (a).
Rogers, John L., d. March 27, 1895, ag. 91y., 7m., Id., son of Samuel
and Rebecca (Haines) (b).
Ross, Willie J., son of James W. and Sarah J., d. Nov. 26, 1864, ag.
3y., 10m.; dau., Martha A., d. Aug. 2, 1865, ag. 7m., 2d. (b).
'Sanborn, Tristram, d. Jan. 28, 1S35, ag. 75; his wife. Comfort, d.
Nov. 23, 1842, ag. 82. Children: Tristram, d. March 11, 1857, ag. 67;
m., Oct. 24, 1808, Mary Jones, dau. of Asahel, d. Dec. 4, 1848, ag. 66.
Children: Ann J., d. June 7, 1859, ag. 45y., 7m., 3d.; m. Rufus Atwell, b.
June 16, 1816; d. Sept. 2, 1880. Children: Guy E.. d. Nov. 1, 1846, ag.
9d.; George P., b. Feb. 11, 1850; d. Jan. 12, 1884; Sarah M., d. Aug. 16,
1864. Abigail, dau. of Tristram and Mary, d. Nov. 17, 1818, ag. ly., 10m.
Joshua, son of Tristram and Comfort, b. 1802; d. 1877; his wife, Mary
P. Sawyer, b. 1S06; d. 1867. Children: Maria, b. Feb. 11, 1833; d. Nov. 25,
1858; m. Palmer Woodard; Jane, b. 1843; d. 1863; Emmer, b. 1847; d.
1868; another child d. July 17, 1863, ag. 20y., 4m. Sue E., dau. of
Tristram and Comfort, d. Aug. 15, 1840, ag. 4Sy., 5m. J. Clark, son of
Tristi-am, b. 1810; d. 1900; his wife, Sarah, b. Jan. 19, 1896, ag. 79y.,
10m., 12d. Herbert A., d. May 31, 1872, ag. 5. Georgie M. d. March 2,
1873, ag. 4. Charles H., d. Feb. 25, 1893, ag. 24y., Sm., 22d. Betsey,
dau. Tristram and Comfort, m., Dec. 25, 1820, Isaac Sanlwrn of Sand-
wich. They are all descendants of Tristram and Comfort (j).
Sanborn, Jonathan, d. Nov. 25, 1870, ag. 76 (b) ; m. Mary A. CheJlis,
d. May 3, 1850, ag. 55; his second wife, Achsah, d. Nov. 28, 1872, ag.
79. Children: Jonathan A., d. Sept. 7, 1872, ag. 43 (b). Orissa C. Wil-
son, dau. John B.. his wife, d. June 19, 1864, ag. 25, child: Lizzie J.
Aimer L., son of Jonathan, d. March 20, 1875, ag. 30y., Sm. Elizabeth
A., d. Oct. 8, 1861, ag. 28y., 10m.; m. George Pi-essey. Mary, m. Richard
Hutchinson (see him). Thomas, b. Feb. 7. 1817; d. July 20, 1S92 (b) ;
m. (1), Nov. 26, 1840, Arrosina Rollins of Grafton, d. Oct. 30, 1864, ag.
48y., 6m., 3d.; he m. (2) Lucinda A. ( Lathrop) Colby. Children:
636 History op Canaan.
Addie Adella, d. Oct. 1, 1862, ag. 5y., 2m., 19d.; Morrison J., b. 1841;
m., July 7, 1866, Rodosca K. Hinksou, dau. of George, d. March 1, 1883,
ag. 41. Children: Lula Adella, d. Feb. 11, 1874, ag. 4y., 3m. Alma L.,
son of Jonathan, d. Feb. 20, 1875, ag. 30; m., Oct. 6, 1872, Mary E.
Robin.sou. Gariophelia, dau. of Thomas, m. Herbert Garland. Abigail
A., dau. of Jonathan, b. May 2, 1835; d. Jan. 16, 1892; m., Oct. 16,
1853, Benjamin F. Andrews of Orange, b. March 19, 1827; d. July
16, 1900 (b). Child: Dexter 0., b. 1854; m., Oct. 24, 1872, Ida A. Whit-
tier, dau. Elias. Hezekiah H., sou of Jonathan, b. Dec. 29, 1835; d.
Sept. 16, 1856.
Sanlx>rn, Emeline F., dau. of Daniel and Mary B., d. Sept. 1, 1834
ag. 9 (a).
Sargent, Betsey, first wife of William, d. July 30, 1853, ag. 66 (a);
his second wife, Frances M., d. June 17, 1887, ag. 77y., 4d. He d. Jan.
1, 1893, ag. 75.
Sawyer, Jonathan, d. April 16, 1860, ag. 76 (c) ; Ms wife, Sarah H.,
d. Aug. 18, 1857, ag. 73. John R., d. Aug. 6, 1862, ag. 45; his wife, Mary
C, d. Nov. 12. 1866; Matilda, adopted dau., d. Nov. 7, 1858, ag. 17y.,
10m. (c).
Sawyer, Azubah, d. April 5, 1893, ag. 87y., Sm. (b).
Scales, Stephen, d. Aug. 28, 1855; his wife, Ruth, d. May 31, 1850, ag.
71. Children: Abigail, d. Nov. 10, 1835, ag. 18; son, Isaac H., d. April 3,
1831, ag. 21 (e).
iShackford, Edrick, b. July 16, 1814; d. Jan. 10, 1885 (b); m. Caroline
Huntoon, b. April 20, 1814; d. Jan. 4. 1904; Warren O., son, b. Sept. 1,
1842; d. Oct. 23, 1865; Ann A., dau., b. April 10, 1846; d. Sept. 12, 1865;
Byron W., son, b. July 15, 1844; d. Sept. 19, 1865; m., Feb. 23, 1865,
Emma F. Cogswell. Alfred M.. b. Jan. 23, 1839; m.. May 1, 1859, Martha
Jane Barber, dau. of March. Children: Addle M., b. Aug. 11, 1860;
m., Sept. 9, 1884, Arthur P. Follansbee; no children. Susan A., b. Oct.
30, 1862; m., Oct. 27, 1880, Will A. Tucker. Children: Howard H.
Edrick S., Joseph M., m. Edith Nelly, one child; Lawrence C; Alfred B.
Shaw, Elias P.. son of E. H. and M. A., d. March 23, 1867, ag. 15y.,
23d.; Mary E., dau., d. Nov. 25, 1863, ag. 7y., 4m., 3d. (b).
Shepard, Moses, d. Dec. 8, 1826, ag. 54 (d) ; his wife, Abigail, d.
March 26, 1838, ag. 66. Children: John, d. May 9, 1868, ag. 71y., 6m.
(d) ; m. Roxanna Blodgett, d. June 3, 1871, ag. 73. Children: John
Sanford, d. Nov. 3, 1867, ag. 43 (d) ; m., July 19, 1855, Theoda H.
Clark, dau. of Robert B., b. Dec. 27. 1827. Children: Roxie Bell, b.
Oct. 17, 1856; Heraian Alphonse, b. July IS, 1858; John Sanford, Jr.,
b. Dec. 28, 1860; m. and lives in Fi-anklin; Eliza Theresa, b. March 16,
1863; Seth Blodgett, b. Jan. 5, 1865; m. and lives in Franklin; Arthur
Delbat, b. Feb. 20, 1866; d. July 5, 1867. Ann B., dau. of John, d. Dec.
6, 1873, ag. 47; m., June 4, 1860, William P. Stone; one son, Edwin P.,
b. 1870: m., Sept. 18, 1899, Grace M. Daniels, dau. of George W. Moses,
son of John, d. Sept. 3, 1829, ag. 18m., 22d.; Edwin, b. April 19, 1829; d.
Oct. 23, 1905 (d); m., Jan. 1, 1860, Delia L. Hinkson, b. May 14, 1837;
Genealogy. 637
d. 1909. Heury, b. June 16, 1S31; d. March 14, 1S99 (d). Augustus, b.
1S34; m. (1), Oct. 25, 1SG6, Marcia Ami Hadley, dau. Normau, d. June
30, 1874, ag. 35; a sou, Eugeue A., b. Aug. 2, 1867; m. (1) Maud S.
Gates, d. July 27, 1888, ag. 20y., 11m., 13d. (a); m. (2) Pertie J. Gates,
b. 1874; two children: Alice Maud, b. July 10, 1900; Sarah, b. 1902.
Augustus, m. (2), Jan. 7, 1875, Phoebe Ann Smith. Polly, dau. of
Moses, d. May 2, 1883, ag. 82 (d) ; m. Benjamin Blake. Ellphalet, d.
Nov. 27, 1814, ag. 12. Abigail, d. Dec. 26, 1877. ag. 66 (d) ; m. John F.
Blake. Nathaniel, d. Oct. 27, 1881, ag. 82y., 11m. (c) ; m. Nov. 22, 1821,
Betsey Campbell, d. Sept. 12, 1862, ag. 62.
Sherburne, Daniel, son of Joseph and Olivia, b. in Epsom, April 13,
1782; d. Aug. 31, 1860; his wife, Abigail, b. in Gilnianton, Feb. 9, 1787;
d. March 22, 1863; moved from Epsom here in 1822. Children: Annah.
b. Dec. 5, 1808; d. Dec. 25, 1831 (d); m. Daniel W. Clark, d. March 1,
1845, ag. 37. Joseph, b. June 13, 1811; d. June 29, 1864 (a); m. Mary
C. Fales, b. March 17, 1815; d. July 4, 1860. Children: Caroline E., d.
March 12, 1904, ag. C5y., Im., 17d.; m. (1), Oct. 19, 1862, Elijah Bullock;
m. (2), Aug. 1, 1870, Reuben Goss, d. Sept. 24, 1888, ag. 67 (a); Henry
H., b. Jan. 10, 1841; d. May 6, 1862. Annabelle A., b. 1843; m., Nov. 20,
1864. Orrin H. Morse, son of Jesse, b. May 19, 1S39; d. March 8, 1888.
Children: Anna, d. March 22, 1889, ag. 20; m. Charles L. Lathrop; Fred-
die A., d. Sept. 10, 1878, ag. 13y., 8d. (a) ; Clarence H., b. July 30, 1SS7;
Mary E., b. 1845; m., July 7, 1864, Rollin E. Davis of Vermont; Ella, and
Lyman J., b. 1856; m.. Jan. 15, 1878, Emma L. Lathrop, dau. of George H.
and Emily. Children: Edith, b. July 3, 1880; m. R. L. Harris; Mary E.
b. April 10, 1891, and Alice. Olivia Anna, dau. of Joseph, b. July 7, 1849;
d. Aug. 2, 1861. Mary, dau. of Daniel, b. June 13, 1811; d. Sept. 15,
1843 (d) ; m., April 18, 1837, Joshua M. Hadley. Ivory Little, b. May
29, 1817; Caroline, b. Jan. 13, 1821; d. Deo. S, 1824 (d).
Silloway, Andrew, d. April 13, 1853, ag. 56; Elizabeth Ann. dau. of
Andrew and Almira, d. Oct. 9, 1849, ag. 3y., 8m., 16d. (a).
Smith, William, and Anna of Connecticut, d. Jan. 22, 1801, ag. 73, had
Eliphalet, b. Sept. 18, 1748; William, Jr., b. Jan. 7, 1758; Joshua, b.
April 20, 1760; d. Brentwood, Feb. 19, 1795; Francis, b. April 7, 1762;
Anna B., b. Aug. 12, 1764; Oliver, b. Oct. 21, 1766; m., Nov. 9, 1785, by
Thomas Baldwin, to Mary Harris, dau. of George, b. Jan. 23, 1767.
Children: Hannah, b. Jan. 12, 1786; Polly, b. Feb. 9, 1788; Sally, b.
Feb. 16, 1791; Ursula, b. Jan. 12, 1793; Oliver, b. Dec. 17, 1794; d. Feb.
24, 1795; Oliver, b. March 8, 1796; d. Sept. 5, 1788; Eliza, b. Sept. 25,
1798; d. Sept. 21, 1800; Oliver, b. Sept. 24, 1800.
Smith, Uriah, of Woodstock, m., Dec. 31, 1795, Caty Vale of Pomfret,
by Aaron Hutchinson, V. D. M.; a sou, Steven, b. Dec. 20, 1796.
Smith, Han-iet N., b. Sept. 15, 1823; d. March 16, 1893 (b).
Smith, Moses, d. Feb. 7, 1855, ag. 89 (b). His wife, Mary, d. March
6, 1844, ag. 78. Children: Mary, b. July 1, 1800; d. Dec. 3, 1815;
Sarah, b. July 7, 1S02; d. March 3, 1872; Stephen S.. b. April 18,
638 History of Canaan.
1804; d. July 5, 18S7; m. Irena Barber (see her). Elsa, b. May
8, 1808; (1. Oct. 23, 1833; Zeuitb, m. a Hood.
Smith, Moses, son of Nathaniel and Polly of Sanbornton, d. Oct. 23,
1878, ag. 81. His wife, Betsey, d. May 3, 1872, ag. 67y., Im. (a);
dau., Marilla C, b. 1833; m. David Bagley 3d, b. 1827; d. 1903 (a);
adopted .son, Henry, b. 1852; m., Nov. 13, 1871, Mary J. WMttier;
Sarah m. Arden Jone.s, son of Nathan.
Smith, Francis H., d. Oct. 7. 1850, ag. 83 (b). His wife, Mehitable,
d. June 13, 1838, ag. 03. Children: Sarah W., d. Feb. 19, 1824, ag.
23; Elizabeth, b. June 24. 1807; Leonard, b. May 10, 1810; Ruth
Emery, b. March 15, 1812; John, b. May 30, 180.5; d. March 23, 18G1;
William Jarvis, b. April 29, 1803.
Smith, Joseph Beluap, son of John and Sarah, b. Sept. 26, 1835; d.
18G1; also George and another son, William J., d. May 21, 1843, ag.
5 (a). Betsey, wife of John, d. Sept. 9, 182G (a). Frank W., son of
Franklin and Louisa A., d. Aug. 18, 1849, ag. 5m., 25d.
Smith. Elijah, son of Mieajah M. ami Abigail (Cole) of Orange, d.
Aug. 11, 1908. ag. 7Gy., Gm. (b) ; m. (1), April 11, 1857, Mary Eliza
Davis, dau. of Leonard and Nancy; d. Oct, 29, 1863, ag. 25. Children:
Aldeu E., m„ March 22, 1878, Rosie E, Bullock; Carey, b, 18G1; m.,
Sept. 13, 1891, Lizzie Idella Barney, dau. of Charles, b. 1859. Child:
Ned, b. Feb. 16, 1893. Elijah m. (2), Feb. 9,' 1865, Isabelle M. (3oss,
dan, of Reuben, and had Cora B., b. 1871; m„ Nov, 20, 1892, Sidney R.
Smith, son of Richard R., b. 1870. Children: Herman S„ b, July 23,
1896; Ray, b. June 23, 1898, Harry R., son of Elijah, d. Jan. 24,
1908, ag. 27y., 9m., 21d.; m., March 10, 1901, Fannie E. Cross, b. 1884.
Child: Harriet A,, b, Sept. 2, 1908.
Southard, George H„ b. 1869; d. 1904.
Springer, Henry, d. Feb. 10, 1833; m., Dec, 12, 1780, Hannah Straw;
d. Dec. 3, 1821, ag, 59. Children: John, b. March 3, 1781; Susannah,
b. March 7, 1783; Levi, b. Oct. 18, 1785; Betsey, b. Aug. 1, 1787; Lois,
b. April 9, 1789; Hannah, b. Jan. 31, 1796; Dorothy, b. Nov, 21, 1797;
m. (1) a Chase; m. (2), May 4, 1862, Joel Elliott. Relief Noyes, b.
Dec. 26, 1799; another same name, b. May 27, 1802. Mary Elizabeth,
dau, of Ezra and Sally (Miller), dau. Jacob, d. March 6, 1841, ag. 4.
Stanley, John E„ d. Jan, 2, 1880, ag. 57y., 2ni., 18d. (b).
Stebbins, Sarah Jones, dau, of Enos and Candar, b, Dec. 13, 1811.
Stevens, Samuel H,, son of Jotham and Ruth (Barnes), b. Aug. 23,
1821; d. June 1, 1903, His wife, Belinda W,, b. June 27, 1827; d, Dec.
14, 1863. Children: Charles C, d, Dec. 5, 1863, ag. lOy., Im., 4d.;
Georgia Anna, d, June 20, 1857, ag, 8m„ lOd. Neldora A., d. Dec. 17,
1863, ag. 5y„ Gm., 5d.; Benjamin H„ d. Jan. 14, 1864, ag. 16y., 8m., 27d.;
Franklin H,, d, June 20, 18G4, ag, 14y., Im., ISd. Samuel H. m, (3),
March 26, 1873, Sarah I. Allbe; m. (4), June 3, 1890, Nancy M. Batch-
elder, Ira B,, son of Samuel H, and Belinda, b, 1860; m, Capitolia B.
Colburn, dau. of Willard and Mandana, b. 1860. Children: Frank H.,
m, Fanny Bryant; Leon and Alice,
Genealogy. 639
Stevens, Peter, d. Juue 5, 1860, ag. SO (b). His wife, Jemima, d.
Jau. 15, 1S59, ag. 79.
Steveus, Rhoda J., wife of John, d. March 23, 1854, ag. 53y.
Stickuey, Daniel, b. 1827; d. 1893. His wife, Caroline, b. 1837; d.
1902 (b).
Stiles, Nathaniel, d. Dec. 2, 1851, ag. 43 (b).
Storey, David, sou of Nathan and Elizabeth, d. July 29, 1810, ag. 3y.,
7m. (e).
Story, Otis J., son of David and M. (Currier), b. Aug. 7, 1818; d.
Sept. 21, 1891; m., April 4, , Harriet Clement, dau. of William and
Harriet, b. March 29. 1816; d. Oct. 11. 1894. Children: Abbie, m.
Sidney R. Hannaford; Mehitable P., m. George C. Bradbury (see him);
Clara A., m., March 12, 1870, George A. Huntoon; Harriet P., m., Nov.
22, 1876, George W. Story; Charles O. B., b. 1851; m. (1), Feb. 26,
1873, Mary S. Jepson, dau. Francis. Children: Franlv H., d. Nov. 14,
1877, ag. 7w. (b). J, Clement, b. Aug, 20, 1855; d. Jau. 27, 1895; m.,
March, 1881, Helen Smith; Walter C, b, Oct. 16, 1858; m., March 27,
1880, Ada C, Morgan, dau, of Nathan, b, March 26, 1860, Children:
Carroll M., b, April IS, 1881; d. Oct. 17. 1904; m., July 22, 1902, Elsie
Chase. Children: Leslie and Robin, Carl W., son of Yv^alter C, b.
Nov. 18, 1882; Ethel C, b, Aug, 22, 1884; Leslie, b, July 15, 1886; d.
Sept, 14, 1886; Leon, b, July 15, 1886; d. Sept. 5, 1886; Mary A,, b. Feb.
3, 1892; Bertha M., b. Nov. 8, 1899; d. June 13, 1904.
Straw, Mrs, Molly, d. March 20, 1813, ag. 55 (d).
Sturgeon, Rose Anna, wife of Eli, d. Feb. 15, 1890, ag. 39, Child:
Willie D., d. April 9, 1883, ag. 13.
Swan, Charlotte A,, dau, of Jonathan and Charlotte, d, Jan, 6, 1841,
ag. 16 (a).
Swett, John, m,, July 3, 1787, Mary Hawks and had Experience, b.
Jan, 15, 1788; Lui, b. April 21, 1790; Lore, b, June 17, 1793. Charles
F., son of Franklin P, and Sarah E., d, Jan. 19, 1851, ag, 3y,, 3m. (a).
Sykes, Emily S,, d, June 20, 1882, ag. 44 (a).
Talbert, Emily D. (Kimball), m., Nov. 29, 1856, William H. and d.
Jan. 3, 1905, ag. 69. Georgie B, Daniels, dau. Henry, m,, Dec. 1,
1883, William P., son of William H,; d, Sept. 13, 1885, ag. 21y., Im.;
dau., Isabelle N, Pope, m,. May 11, 1879, William P.; d, Jan, 20, 1880.
ag. 19y., 6m, (all c).
Tanner, Thomas, sou of Jonathan and Susannah, b. Dec. 4, 1794.
Taplin, Dr. N. P., d, June 13, 1891, ag. 71 (b). His first wife, Eliza
M. Rogers, dau. Dr. John. d. June 17, 1867; Eddie F., son, d. May 29,
1873, ag 13; George F., d. Dec, 23, 1870, ag. 24; member of Company E,
Twelfth New Hampshire Volunteers. He m. (2), Oct, 7, 1868, Ella M.
Washburn; Charles C, b. 1854; m., July 4, 1871, Hattie Drown; son,
John.
Temple, Charles, d. Nov. 27, 1886, ag. 72 (b). His wife, Roxanna, d.
Dec. 8, 1870, ag. 55. Child: Miria A,, m. George W. Chase. Children:
640 History of Canaan.
Charles T., b. Dec. 8, 1875; d. May 10, 1897 (a). Mary Ann, d. Feb.
4, 1862; ag. 52; sister of Charles.
Thompson, Valentine, b. March 7, 1833; d. Nov. 15, 1896. Alice S.,
dau. of Valentine and Elsie F., d. Aug. 14, 1865, ag. 3y., lOd.; Ernest
H., son, d. Dec. 24, 1866, ag. 4y., 4m., 20'd.
Tibbitts, Jesse and Abigail, had Joseph, b. Feb. 10, 1807.
Towle, Shubel, son of Abraham, d. July 30, 1865, ag. 77 (d); m.
Hannah Greeley, dau. Mathew. Children: Harriet N.; m. (1) Reuben
Clark; m. (2) Stephen Hadley, Jr. John R., m. Mary M. Child:
MaiT A. C, d. Oct. 25, 1839, ag. lOw. (d).
Towle, John, d. Feb. 24, 1858, ag. 74; m. Miriam Watson; d. May
6, 1864, ag. 81y., 3tai. Children: David, d. April 6, 1887, ag. 80y., 9m.,
28d.; m.. May 24, 1838, Susan M. Hadley, dau. of Stephen and Abigail.
Children: Angeline L., b. 1838; m., Nov. 11, 1859, Ephraim F. Withins-
ton; Lueinda E., d. Sept. 16, 1848, ag. ly., 11m., 16d. (e) ; Cynthia, d.
1861, ag. 14y., 6m.; Martha E., d. 1861, ag. 3y., 5m.; Stephen H., b. 1839;
m., April 14, 1863, Ann M. Morey; David, d. Nov. 3, 1903, ag. 49;
m., Sept. 4, 1875, Dora Goss, dau. Orvill and Hannah; d. July 27, 1881,
ag. 22y., 9m., 18d.; Ephraim; John W., d. 1908 (a). His first wife,
Mary S., d. Jan. 6, 1884, ag. 36. Children: Mary E., d. Dec. 26,
1863, ag. 6m.; Allie J., d. Aug. 17, 1881, ag. 4y., Im. (a); m. (2). Elsiua
A., dau. of John, m. Hollis Whitney (see him). Sarah W., m. Albert
W. Whitney (see him). Mailha Jane, d. April 21, 1889; m., Aug.,
1837, Nathan W. Morse, b. 1817; d. . Children: Frank W., d.
Dec. 24, 1849; Nathan D., d. Feb. 4, 1867; Martha Ellen, m. (1)
Leonai-d Miner; m. (2) Merrill Owen. Almira, dau. John, m. Willard
Richardson (see him).
Towle, Col. Isaac and Rebecca, had Charles, d. Sept. 6, 1831, ag. 3;
Mary Ann, d. Nov. 10, 1835, ag. 3m.; George, d. Nov. 19, 1836, ag. 6 (a).
Townsend, Ziba, d. Dec. 7, 1856, ag. 90. Nancy, his wife, d. July
4, 1856, ag. 80 (a).
Trowbridge, Cynthia C, wife of James, d. Aug. 31, 1863, ag. 56 (a).
Trussell, Jacob, b. Aug. 2, 1779; d. July 3, 1871 (a). His first wife,
Persis E., d. March 26, 1863, ag. 82; m. (2) Mrs. Mary (Eaton) Smith
of Manchester, June 18, 1864.
Trussell, Benjamin and Sally, had Charles, b. Jan. 20, 1798; Cyrus,
b. March 15, 1799; Sally, b. Aug. 15, 1801; Farnum, b. Oct. 8, 1802;
Lorenzo, b. Oct. 2, 1804; John Langdon, b. Aug. 30, 1806; Ira Man, b.
May 26, 1808; Albert, b. Feb. 4, 1810; Horatio, b. Sept. 12, 1811; Eliza-
beth, b. Feb. 7, 1813; William, b. Oct. 9, 1814; Mary Ann, b. Oct. 21,
1816; Rozina, b. Jan. 10, 1819; Rozelta, b. Jan. 10, 1819.
Tucker, Moses, d. Sept. 1, 1849, ag. 78. Moses, son of Moses and
Del>orah, d. Oct. 11, 1878, ag. 75y., 6m. Sarah, his wife, d. Sept. 3,
1881, ag. 86y., 6m., lOd. Children: Jonathan K., b. 1834; m., June
4, 1865, Abigail W. Varnum of Dorchester, b. 1843; Eunice, d. Feb.
27, 1869, ag. 75; Marilla D., wife of Moses C, d. Aug. 25, 1874, ag. 39y.,
4m.; a dau., Sarah E., d. March 3, 1865, ag. 3y., 3m.
Genealogy. 641
Tucker, Luzefor, son of David, d. Sept. 2, 1881, ag. 35 (a); m.,
March 16, 1869, Mary E. Bill; d. Feb. 7, 1905, ag. 51y., 11m., 28d. (a).
Tyler, Rev. Job Coleman, sou of Job and Ann (Pike), b. Haverhill,
Mass., March 1, 1799; d. Sept. 1, 1879; m., Aug. 5, 1822, Julia Morse; d.
July 13, 1863, ag. 65y., 3m., 28d. Children: Eliza Ann, m. Isaac Davis
(see him). Jame.'*, son of Job and Ann, d. Sept. 26, 1879, ag. 78. His first
wife, Polly, d. July 27, 1844, ag. 38; second wife, Clara, d. Aug. 12, 1872,
ag. 53. Fannie S., dau., b. 1853; m., Nov. 30, 1871, Isaiah E. Emer-
son. Rhoda, dau. of Job and wife of David Currier, d. March 31,
1894, ag. 86y., 8m., 26d. Sarah P., dau. of Job and wife of Theophilus
Currier, Jr., d. April 20, 1866, ag. 73. Theodore, son of James, d.
Aug. 28, 1858, ag. 23; m. Louisa Putnam. Lucy, dau. Job, m. James
Morse, Jr. Nabby, dau. Job, m. James Blaisdell (see him). Nancy
m. Moses Kelley (see him). Fanny m. Amos Miner.
Underbill, John, d. Feb. 21, 1883, ag. 82 (b) ; m. (1), Jan. 12. 1823,
Hannah Hadley; d. Oct. 2, 1839, ag. 37; second wife d. Aug. 7, 1875,
ag. 85; Frank T. m. Susan A., b. 1847; d. 1898 (c) ; their dau., Addie
B., b. 1867; d. 1898; and Anna, a dau., b. 1872; d. 1883.
Underbill, Edgar S., son of Robert, d. July 25, 1909, ag. 58; m. Carrie
L. Burnham, dau. of Dea. Silas; d. Oct. 5, 1877, ag. 20; Robert d.
Aug. 11, 1892, ag. S2y., 5m., 17d.
Vermont, Thomas, d. April 25, 1902, ag. 55 (c).
Wadley, Washington, son of Joseph, b. Dec. 13, 1797.
"Walworth, Amos, was a grantee of the town; was here once. His
half brother, Capt. Charles of Colchester, came here in 1768. Betsey
Walworth, who m. Joshua Richardson, was a dau. of Amos. Charles
came here to look after his brother's lands. His father, William Wal-
worth, Jr., lived at Fort Hill, Groton, Conn.
Capt. Charles d. July 12, 1782, ag. 37 (g) ; m.. May 30, 1771, Lucy
Harris, dau. of George. Children: Lucy, b. March 13, 1772; m., 1832,
a Chase; Emma, b. July 25, 1773; Sally, b. Oct. 30, 1774; Charles, Jr.,
b. June 1, 1777; m., June 1, 1800, Miriam Pillsbury; lived on South
Road, opposite his brother, George. George, b. April 4, 1779, m. Philura
Jones, dau. of Jehu. They went West and settled at Anamosa, Iowa,
in 1839, with all their family of nine children with the exception of
their eldest son, who went to Boston. Their children: James J., m.
Elizabeth Nason and had one son, Arthur C; George d. single in Texas;
Clark C, m. Sept. 1, 1845, Mary Ann Eastman, dau. of Phineas, Jr.
Children: Ella, Lula, Alice and a son d. young. Eunice m. H. C.
George (see him). Mary Ann m. Edmund C. Booth, both deaf and
dumb; Emily Jane m. Libius Flfield, a minister; Dennison married
twice; William H. H. m. and had two children: Caroline Augusta, m.
(1) Rev. Mr. Drummond; m. (2) Rev. Daniel Fiske. Simeon, son of
Capt. Charles, b. Jan. 26, 1781; Susannah, b. May 1, 1782; d., ag. 96;
lived unm. Her last years, many of them, were spent with Joshua Hall
of Rumney, her half brother, her mother having married Henry Hall
of Canaan in 1786, by whom she had four children.
41
642 , History of Canaan.
Washburn, Nalium, d. July 23, 18G2, ag. 75 (c). His wife, Polly,
d. Jau. 30, 1841, ag. 51. Luther B. d. Sept. 17, 1853, ag. 40 (c).
His wife, Laurella, d. April 27, 1863, ag. 52. Don Carlos d. Aug. 22,
1863, ag. 24y., 9m., 17d. (e) ; Charles D., b. Sept. 1, 1819; d. June 13,
1903 (a); m. (1) Harriet N. Richardson, b. Aug. 4, 1815; d. July 5,
1876 (a); m. (2), Feb. 6, 1879, Mary J. Adams. Children (first wife):
Georgie A., b. 1855; m., Nov. 21, 1874, Lewis T. Sanborn.
Waterman, Elisha, d. March 19, 1871, ag. 88. His wife, Lucy, d.
Feb. 13, 1878, ag. 92 (c).
Watson, J. S., d. Nov. 22, 1S93, ag. 52. His wife, Allie V., d. Nov.
17, 1893, ag. 42 (a).
Webster, Alpbeus S., d. Oct. 1, 1853, ag. 48. His wife, Betsey
Sawyer, d. Jan. 18, 1849, ag. 35 (c); m., Sept. 12, 1849, Mary F. Jones
of Enfield. Child: John S., d. Jan. 12, 1908, ag. 62y., 11m., lOd.; m.
Ethel M. Parmenter.
Webster, Harry, d. Dec. 16, 1855, ag. 50y., 11m., lid.; m. Eliza Little;
d. Oct. 21, 1888, ag. 77y., 4m., 24d. Children: Emily F., d. March
24, 1841, ag. 2; Hiram L., d. Dec. 19, 1846. ag. 4y., 6m., 6d.
Weeks, Capt. Brackett, b. Oct. 18, 1775; d. Oct. 26, 1832 (a); m.
Sarah Pickering and had: William Pickering, b. Feb. 22, 1803; d. Jan.
8, 1870 (b); his wife, Mary E. Doe, b. Aug. 30, 1812; d. Jan. 14, 1889.
Children: Joseph Doe, b. Oct. 27, 1837; d. Dec. 1, 1890; Susan H., b.
March IS, 1853; d. April 30, 1881; Mary E. D. Marshal and William
B. Elizabeth Pickering, dau. of Capt. Brackett, b. Greenland Sept. 29,
1801; d. Ticonderoga, Vt., March 14, 1872; m., in Canaan by Rev. Amos
Foster, about 1830, Gordon Burley, b. Aug. 25, 1795; d. Middleton, Oct.
1, 1864. He was the son of Joseph of Dorchester. He kept store on the
Street for a time. Their children: Lucretia Morse, b. Hebron, Sept.
19, 1828; d. Glen Falls, Aug. 24, 1848; m. W. F. Jones; no ch.; Henry
Gordon, b. Canaan June 2, 1832; m., Oct. 27, 1870, Jane Richards. Two
children: Henry Gordon and Charles Richards. Brackett Weeks, b.
Aug. 18, 1834; m., June 20, 1861, Minerva Smith, and had five children.
Charles William, b. Concord, March 27, 1836; d. Nov. 16, 1837; Mary
Elizabeth, b. Feb. 20, 1841; m., July 10, 1877, John C. Hollenback, a
lawyer in Ticonderoga, Vt.
Welch, Dea. Caleb, d. about 1815. By his wife, Elizabeth Cross, dau.
of Jonathan and Molly (Bailey) Cross of Methuen, Mass., he had:
Daniel, b. Dec. 12, 1795; m. a Gould; had a dau., Sophronia; d. in Lowell.
The records refer to another, Dau, who d. earlier. Caleb, Jr.; Simeon,
d. July 29, 1876, ag. 72 (b) ; m. Deborah Richardson, dau. of Ephraim
and Sarah; d. April 14, 1884, ag. 79y., 2m. Children: Francis, d. May
2, 1900, ag. 74y., 10m., 12d.; m. (1), Sept. 22, 1862, Elbyne Aldrich, dau.
Leonard; m. (2), March 2, 1878, Mrs. Caroline (Digby) Cole; a dau.,
Emily D., b. 1846, m. (1) Charles H. Isham and had a son, Ferdinand;
d. April 19, 1864, ag. ly., Im. lOd. She m. (2), June 7, 1866, Carroll M.
Couch, b. 1843. William, son of Simeon, d. June 23, 1907, ag. SOy., 7m.,
5d.; m., July 16, 1854, Emeline Elliott, dau. Joel. Children: William H.,
Genealogy. 643
b. 1855; m. (1), Nov. 18, 1876, Almira A. Prestou; dau., Ethel, b. Sept. 1,
1880; m. (2), Feb. 5, 1901, Alice M. Rice, b. 1873. Charles, son of Wil-
liam, single. Eliza, dau. of Caleb and Elizabeth, b. Dec. 12, 1812; d.
April 6, 1904; m. Alfred Richardson (see him). Reuben, son of Caleb
and Elizabeth, by his first wife, Zephy, had Mary Ann, b. June 14, 1810;
■d. Oct. 20, 1826; Lydia Ann, b. Jan. 19, 1813; d. ; m., June 19,
1834, Benjamin F. Nichols of Enfield; John Noyes, b. Oct. 22, 1815; d.
Sept. 22, 1818. Reuben's second wife, Relief, d. July 4, 1818, ag. 28.
Caleb had another dau., Sophia, who m., April 17, 1851, Samuel Dow, d.
July 28, 1864, ag. 67. Joseph, Luther and Mary.
Welch, Jennie E. wife of James M., b. Aug. 14, 1868; d. Jan. 2,
1905 (b).
Welch, Fi-ancis, d. March 6, 1888, ag. 74y., 11m., 18d. (d) ; by his
wife, Abigail Colby, d. June 30, 1874, ag. 56y., 9m., he had Lydia J., b.
Aug. 30, 1848, d. Sept. 10, 1890; Carrie E., called Indie, d. May 7, 1905;
ag. 64y., 6m., 15d.; m. (1) Charles A. Fhilbrick, d. July 29, 1858, ag.
28y., Sm., sou of Hiram; m. (2), July 4, 1861, Benjamin 0. T. Clark,
son of Daniel and Dorcas (see him); m. (3) John A. Jewell.
Welch, Samuel, son of Joseph of Ipswich, b. June 26, 1742; d. Sept.
20, 1817 (a); m. (1) Cheney, d. 1776; had five children: Lydia,
b. 1768; m. David Pearson of Canaan; Abigail, b. 1770; d. Nov. 1846;
m., Nov. 30, 1794, Joseph Clark (see him); Polly, b. 1772; m., 1800,
Nathan Tucker of Salisbury, Mass.; Samuel, b. Aug. 27, 1774; d. 1848;
m., 1804, Lydia Gill; Richard, b. 1776; d. Sept., 1817; m. and settled
in Hartlaud, Vt.; Samuel m. (2), 1777, widow Anna (Chase) Cheney,
d. May 22, 1795; six children: Daniel, b. 1778; m. Hannah Montgomery
of Hampstead; Betsey, b. April 19, 1780; m. Smith; Anna Chase,
b. 17S5; m. Jonathan Choate and d. soon after, leaving an infant dau.;
Bailey, b. April 18, 1788; d. Aug. 20, 1863 (a) ; m., July 2. 1810, Priscilla
B. Barbour, b. March 26, 1782; d. Oct. 9, 1871 (a). Children: Arnold,
b. Nov. 27, 1811; d. Feb. 1, 1848; m. (1) Rebecca S. Sargent, dau. of
Edward Sargent of Windsor, Vt; d. Aug. 29, 1836, ag. 25; m. (2) Han-
nah A. Pierce, b. April 2, 1812; d. Sept. 10, 1847. Children: Henry
Clay, b. July 8, 1839; m. (1), April 8, 1863, Sarah Cushing Lewis, dau.
of Rev. James D. and Eunice R. (Jenkins) Lewis of Falmouth, Mass.,
b. Schenectady, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1840; d., Cleveland, O., Nov. 4, 1884. Chil-
di'en: Lewis Chamberlin, b. Falmouth, Mass., June 30, 1864; d. Han-
cock, Mich., Oct. 15, 1884; Eunice Jenkins, b. Cleveland. 0., Aug. 14,
1866; d. April 23, 1889; Caroline Briggs, b. Cleveland. 0., Dec. 2, 1868;
George Arnold, b. Cleveland, O., May 29, 1879. Henry C. m. (2), Nov.
23, 1886, Amelia B. Roberts, dau. of James H. and Sarah F. (Reed)
Roberts. George Pierce, son of Arnold, b. Oct. 12, 1841; m., June 25,
1873, Marian Howard Oliphant, dau. of James W. and Maria (McAllas-
ter) Oliphant. Children: George Oliphant, b. March 25, 1875; d. Aug.
21, 1875; Henry James, b. Dec. 15, 1881; m., Sept. 11, 1907; Alice An-
drews, dau. of Upson A. and Harriet B. (Warmington) Andrews, b.
Dec. 1, 1886. Child: Henry James, Jr., b. Feb. 5, 1909. Arnold, Jr.,
644 History op Canaan,
son of Arnold, rt. July 8, 1846, ag. 14m., lOd. Charles Arnold, b. Sept.
1, 1847; d. April 10, 1848. Willard Choate, son of Bailey, b. Feb. 26,
1814; d. May 12, 1895; m. (1), Oct. 9, 1836, Maria L. Smith, d. March
4, 1847, ag. 37; m. (2), June 9, 1850, Sarah F. Jennings, dau. of Lewis
and Abigail Jennings. Children: William H. H., b. May 19, 1841; d.
Aug. 30, 1866; Louisa Maria, m., Dec. 12, 1876, J. Alonzo Ford; Emma
Rebecca, b. Feb. 9, 1846; m., May 17, 1867, Samuel M. Tucker, sou of
Samuel and Eliza H. Tucker. Child: Ross Francis, b. March 1,
1868. Arnold S., son of Willard, m., Oct. 21, 1874, Helen Scotchburn.
Willard C, Jr., b. May 11, 1854. Alvin Colby, son of Bailey, b. April
28, 1817; d. Oct. 21, 1888, at Williston, Vt.; m., April 27, 1845, Abbie
B. Chittenden, b. March 27, 1820; d. Feb. 12, 1877. Children: Jane
Maria, b. in Underbill, Vt., Nov. 13, 1847; d. March 11, 1906; m., Sept.
22, 1879, Dr. A. L. Bingham; no children. Mary Abbie, b. May 26, 1851;
m.. May 11, 1870, Charles A. Murray of Burlington, Vt. Children:
Elizabeth E., b. March 28, 1871; m., April 20, 1897, Frank C. Weeks;
one child, Charles M., b. in St. Albans, Vt., Aug. 24, 1898. Katherine
C, dau. of Charles A. and Mary Abbie, b. Jan. 29, 1874; m., Nov. 20,
1895, Daniel G. Emery; their children: Mary C, b. Chelsea, Mass., Dec.
12, 1897; Gwendolin M., b. Dec. 25, 1898. James Franklin, son of
Bailey, b. April 18, 1821; d. Nov. 22, 1850; by his wife, Mary S. Merrill,
b. Newbury, N. H., Aug. 6, 1822; d. Nov. 30, 1909, he had May B., d.
July 16, 1867, ag. 19; Frank C, b. July 28, 1850; m. (1), April, 1868,
Josephine Gilpatrick, d. Jan., 1869; m. (2), May 15, 1871, Mary S.
Knapp, d. Nov. 7, 1877; m. (3), May 9, 1879, Martha S. W. Hall. Mary
5. m. (2), 1852, Zenas D. Holden, and d. Nov. 30, 1909, ag. 87y., 3m.
Charles Austin, son of Bailey, b. Dec. 6, 1824, d. Aug. 20, 1880; m. (1),
Sept. 2, 1845, Sarah E. Davis, b. March 24, 1823; d. March 15, 1861;
m. (2), Nov. 4, 1862, Elvira A. Boynton, b. Feb. 11, 1825; d. Dec. 24,
1877. Children: Lovena Agnes, b. June 7, 1846; m., Nov. 29, 1866, John
K. Reed, son of William C. and Sarah E. Reed. Child: Minnie B., b.
1871. Charles Edward, son of Charles Austin, b. July 14, 1850; d. Aug.
4, 1850. Edward Austin, b. Aug. 9, 1852; m. . Lincoln R., son of
Charles Austin and Elvira A., b. Lowell, Mass., April 19, 1865; m.. May
14, 1891, Sarah L. Joyce, dau. of James H. and Alletha (Gibbs) Joyce,
b. June 20, 1867. Child: Austin Horace, b. Dec. 2, 1896. Horace Bar-
bour, son of Bailey, b. July 23, 1831; d., Sacramento, Cal., Sept. 17,
1882; m. ; Lyman Stanley, b. April 2, 1827; d. Dec. 9, 1903 (a).
James, son of Samuel, b. March 12, 1791; d. March, 1841; settled in Hart-
land, Vt; his first wife d. 1841. Uriah, b. July 5, 1793; d. Aug., 1839; m.,
Jan. 26, 1818, Lois Currier (a), dau. of John (see her). Samuel m.
(3), Dec. 19, 1797, Susanna Cheney.
Wells, Thomas, was of Essex, a shire town in England, and resting
on the North Sea. Tradition says he fled to America, concealing him-
self in an empty cask, stowed among the water casks of an outgoing
vessel. He landed in Massachusetts, but passed immediately to Rhode
Island. Hugh, his son, was born in Essex, married there and ulti-
Genealogy. 645
mately came to New England. Thomas, his son, boni about 1620, in
England, settled at Hadley, Mass., where he died in 1676, aged 56. His
wife afterwards married Samuel Belding. The children of Thomas and
Mary were: Lieut. Thomas, b. June 10, 1652; m. Hepzibah Buell and
d. in 1691. She suffered from an Indian raid, June 6, 1693. Mary, m.
(1) Stephen Belding, and (2) Joseph Field. Sarah, b. May 5, 1655, m.
David Hoite. Jonathan. John, who was drowned Jan. 20, 1680; and
Ephraim, b. about 1674, m., Jan. 23, 1696, Abigail, dau. of John Allis.
He lived in Colchester, Conn., where his wife died. He d. Sept. 13,
1748. His son, Ephraim, m., Feh. 2, 1726, or 1727, Lydia Chapman.
He was a farmer and kept an inn at Colchester, Conn., where he died
in Sept., 1786. He was a grantee of Canaan. Their children, so far as
known, were: Ephraim, Jr., also a grantee; Thomas, a sailor, was seized
by a iH-ess gang, forced on board a British ship, and held there three
years. He was in Calais at the date of the great eai'thquake which
destroyed Lisbon in 1755, and was nearly wrecked by the tidal wave
that followed it. A letter written by him at that time to his brother,
Joshua, is still in existence. During the Revolution he was in com-
mand of a privateer sailing from Norwich. He was a grantee of
Canaan. Joshua, boi*n in 1735, married Mrs. Jerusha Scoville Leeds
and died in Canaan Sept. 1, 1804. Ezekiel, b. July 22, 1745; m. Phoebe
Meacham, dau. of Samuel Meacham of Canaan, and died here Dec. 7,
1818; she d. Sept. 12, 1856, ag. 92y., 9m. Ephraim, Jr., Joshua and
Ezekiel were residents and proprietors in Canaan. Ephraim, Jr., came
here but only to dispose of his interests, and then depart. His land
Tvas located at the north end of Sawyer Hill. William Richardson,
Joshua Richardson and Clark Currier purchased it. Joshua and
Ezekiel came to Canaan previous to 1769, evidently to look out for their
father's and brothers' interests. They took prominent parts in dividing
and surveying the lands. Joshua was good at waiting; the girl of his
choice had married Capt. Carey Leeds, a sailor. Capt. Leeds having
died, Joshua on March 13, 1786, lost no time in hurrying to Colchester,
where he arrived April 20, married the widow the same day and has-
tened back with a family of five children. He was kind and tender to
her all her days, and he perpetuated her virtues upon the crumbling
stone that marked her grave: "Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Jerusha
Wells, late consort of Capt. Joshua Wells, who died Nov. 28, 1797, aged
60 years.
"She exemplified in life those virtues which adorn the female char-
acter. As a companion she was social, loving and sincere. As a
parent, tender, affectionate and kind. As a friend, constant and faith-
ful. She was beloved and respected in life and much lamented in
death.
"An angel's hand can't snatch her from the grave,
Millions of angels can't confine her there.
Cease then to weep, dry up your tears,
She shall arise when Christ appears."
646 History of Canaan,
A daughter by her first husband, Sarah Aun Leeds, d. Aug. 18,
1794 (b).
Three children were born to them: Lydia, h. Nov. 6, 1788; d. Oct.
11, 1848; Joshua, b. Aug. 24, 1792; d. Aug. 23, 1873 (b) ; m., Jan. 19,
1815, Lucy Colby, b. Feb. 25, 1799; d. Feb. 19, 1876. Children: Lucy, b.
Dec. 16, 1819; d. July 25, 1868; m. Edwin B. Miner, March 3, 1840 (see
him); Charles H., m. (1), Jan. 3, 1849, Elvira W. Putnam, d. Oct. 13,
1858, ag. 30; m. (2) Lucy Jane Bickford, d. Oct. 8, 1889, ag. 54. Chil-
dren: Frank C, b. 1852; m., Sept. 30, 1872, Etta Braley; Allen C, h.
1857; m., Jan. 19, 1878, Melissa L. Westcott, b. 1861; Julia, b. 1862;
m.. May 10, 1885, Fred W. Lovejoy, b. 1860; three children: Marion,
Helen, Wendell. Freddie, son of Charles H., d. Sept. 25, 1858, ag. 3;
Mary, dau. of Joshua, b. April 30, 1817; d. Dec. 21, 1897; m., March, 1838,
Charles Hutchinson, son of Levi, d. June 26, 1890, ag. 77 (see him).
Hannah, b. April 17, 1794, died Jan. 3, 1795, dau. of Capt. Joshua.
Capt. Joshua settled about half a mile above the present Wells house,
and planted five hundred apple trees, many of which are standing today.
Ezekiel settled near the house where Sylvanus Dow now lives. He
fwas deputy sheriff from 1787 to 1798; proprietors' clerk from 1797 to
1808; selectman in 1787, 1796 to 1798; moderator from 1795 to 1801,
1803 to 1805; treasurer of the town, surveyor of both town and pro-
prietary, tithingman, poundkeeper, and was a prominent man in the
town. On Nov. 25, 1779, he m. Phoebe Meacham, at that time fifteen
and a half years old. He fully obeyed the command to "increase and
multiply," for in ten "years they had nine children, and in 1809, Mrs.
Wells had borne eighteen. They were as follows: Ezekiel, b. Nov. 16,
1779; d. May 25, 1863 (c) ; m. (1), Nov. 27, 1800, Polly Colby; b.
Aug. 7, 1779; d. Nov. 9, 1874; m. (2), July 11, 1822, Octavia Pack-
ard, d. Dec. 15, 1844, ag. 40; built and lived in the house S. J. Dow
now owns. Children: Ezekiel, 3d, d. Nov. 7, 1882, ag. 79; his wife,
Nancy, d. Sept. 26, 1867, ag. 69. Polly, d. Sept. 4, 1882, ag. 81y.,
3m., 29d.; m., July 11, 1821, Daniel Campbell (see him). Peter
'S., b. Sept. 8, 1807; d. Dec. 14, 1887 (c) ; m., March, 1819, Arvilla
Kimball, h. March 23, 1819; d. March 15, 1893. Caleb, son of Ezekiel
and Octavia, d. March 31, 1836, ag. 13y., 4m.; Ezekiel, d. Feb. 28, 1852,
ag. 24; Alvin J., d. Feb. 5, 1853, ag. 22; Octavia M., d. March 15, 1854,
ag. 19; Alanson, d. Aug. 3, 1840, ag. ly., 10m.; Polly, d. Oct. 30, 1844,
ag. 3. George F., b. 1833; d. 1907 (c) ; his wife, Mary A., d. Jan 4, 1891,
ag. 52y., 11m., 22d.; dau., Ada E., b. 1863; m., May 22, 1887, Arthur E.
Moouey, b. 1866. Phoebe, dau. Ezekiel, b. April 15, 1782; m., Sept. 15,
1802, Jacob Dow; she d. Feb. 19, 1867. Ephralm, b. June 29, 1784; m.
Nancy Graves, d. July 27, 1846. A second daughter, b. Sept. 25, 1785, d.
Oct. 14, 1785. A third son, b. June 12, 1786, and died. A fourth son, b.
March 8, 1787, and died. Twins, b. March 8, 1788, one stillborn, the other
died a few days after. A seventh son, b. June 1, 1789, and die(L Enos,
b. Feb. 14, 1791, d. Oct., 1862. Betsey, b. Dec. 26, 1793; d. Jan. 20, 1795.
Sally, b. Dec. 6, 1794; d. June 13, 1S83; m., Oct. 14, 1810, William Rogers,
Genealogy. 647
b. Feb. 20, 17SS; d. April 11, 1S63. They are both buried iu a small
graveyard at the head of Goose Poud. They lived a short distance above
iu Hanover, on the road to Lyme. They lived iu Cauaau where F. B.
L. Porter now lives. They had ten children: Sally A., m. Amos Kinue
(see him); William M., b. Aug. 30, 1S13; d. Jan. 29, 1892; m. Sarah
Gibbs, b. Aug. 31, 1821; Nancy G., b. Aug. 24, 1815; d. Oct. 7, 1864; m.
Hiram Pressey, b. March 26, 1812; d. ; Mary D., b. May 8, 1818;
d. May 15, 1884; m. Richard Fitts, b. Oct. 10, 1813; d. ; Hannah
W., b. Aug. 23, 1820; m., Oct. 26, 1848, John T. Hurlbutt, b. Aug. 8,
1819; Jane, b. June 24, 1823; d. May 7, 1867; m. Benjamin Piper, b.
Oct. 10, 1816; d. Sept. 25, 1878; Wallis L., b. Sept. 23, 1826; d. Oct.,
1908; m. Mary J. Mitchell, b. Oct. 4, 1822; Louise M., b. April 25, 1830;
d. July 21, 1831; Lafayette W., b. April 18, 1832; d. Feb. 24, 1907; m.
Abbie A. Saunders, b. March 6, 1842; George W., h. Jan. 31, 1836; m. (1)
Mary E. Dickerson, b. Dec. 4, 1833; d. March 8, 1868; m. (2) Ann Pol-
lock, b. June 14, 1834. Hannah, dau. of Ezekiel, b. Jan. 7. 1796, m. a
Goodwin and d. June 23, 1831. Polly, b. March 20, 1798; m. John
Flanders of Benton. Caleb Pierce, b. April 15, 1800, died. Betsey
Pierce, b. March 4, 1802; d. Sept. 30, 1816. Delia Fayette, b. June 20,
1806; d. July, 1831. Mahala, b. May 1, 1809; m. an Eaton and died.
Wells, Judah, who is often mentioned in the early records of Canaan,
was of Colchetser, Conn., where he m. (1), in 1755, Eunice Olcott; m.
(2), in 1760, Ann, dau. of Isaac Bigelow; m. (3), Dec. 29, 1791, Ethel-
inda Otis, dau. of Richard Otis of Canaan, by William Ayer, justice of
the peace. He was a relative of Joshua and Ezekiel Wells. He came
to Canaan before 1793, and bought the farm known as the Aldrich
farm, west of the Mascoma River on the Enfield line, the farm which
Samuel Joslin first settled and sold to him. Ethelinda was b. in Nor-
wich, Conn., Aug. 18, 1766. They had two children: Otis, b. Dec. 7,
1792, and Juda b. Jan. 27, 1795.
Westcott, James A., d. Feb. 24, 1883, ag. 64 (a) ; m. Permelia Chase
of Danbury; a dau., Phebe A., m., April 2, 1876, William E. Allard.
"SMieat, Elder Joseph, d. Oct. 28, 1836, ag. 77 (a) ; his wife, Bridget,
d. Nov. 9, 1845, ag. 99. Children: Capt. Joseph, d. Sept. 9, 1855, ag.
69y., 10m.; his wife, Lydia Bullock, d. Oct. 18, 1868. Children: Lafay-
ette; Dr. Ara, d. Sept. 18, 1896, ag. 80y., 6m.; m., Oct. 28, 1846, Isabelle
M. George, dau. of William W., d. Aug. 25, 1872, ag. 42y., 17d. Children:
William G. ; m. and has Harold and Isabelle. Allen, son of Ara, b. June
14, 1863. Elzina, dau. Capt. Joseph, d. Oct. 15, 1864, ag. 33; m. George
C. Bradbury (see him). Solomon, d. Oct. 4, 1848, ag. 29; m., Nov. 9,
1845, Emily Mackey of Thetford, Vt. Children: Elizabeth A., d. May
9, 1848, ag. 10m.; Jane E., b. 1846; m., Jan. 18, 1866, Allen H. George
(see him). Lydia, dau. of Elder Joseph, d. Sept. 5, 1832, ag. 37; m.,
Nov. 14, 1816, Samuel Oilman (see him). Elvira H., d. Nov. 27, 1836,
ag. 25; m., Dec. 20, 1835, Smith Rowe of Grafton. Capt. Alvah, d.
Sept. 29, 1852, ag. 39; m., Feb. 10, 1841, Sarah King of Orange. Lois,
who m. a Casiwell; Sally who m. a Smith; Benjamin; Nathaniel.
648 History op Canaan.
Whitmore, Normau, d. May 31, 1863, ag. 70y., Im.
Whitney, Silas, d. April 21, 1866, ag. 75; m. Sally Butler, d. March
31. 1871, ag. S3. Childreu: Moses S., d. May 8, 1863, ag. 37; Bela B,
b. Oct. 21, 1819; d. May 24, 1897; his first wife, Louisa Jameson, d.
Sept. 2, 1856, ag. 34. Children: Emma, m. Heath, had a dau.,
Lora, who m. and had a son. His second wife, Sarah H. Burley, dau. of
Benjamin, d. Aug. 11, 1879. ag. 57y., 2m.; had Flora M., d. Aug. 3, 1862,
ag. 9m.; Albert, d. Sept. 15, 1863, ag. 7m.; Flora M., b. Nov. 6, 1860; d.
; m. and had a dau. Fred, m. and has a son Philip and dau.
Harriet. Bela B., m. (3), May 2, 1880, Mrs. Melinda (Colby) Darling,
dau. of Sargent and Ruth, d ; and m. (4), Feb. 20, 1889, Emeline
B. (Colby) Bell.
Whitney, Isaac, and his wife, Lydia Taylor, who d. March 24, 1843,
ag. 91 (e), had Esther, b. June 12, 1775; d. Nov. 2, 1847 (e) ; Isaac,
b. March 17, 1784; d. March 15, 1866; m., Feb. 8, 1819, Abigail Greeley,
dau. of Mathew, b. Feb. 7, 1796; d. May 30, 1891. Four children: Al-
bert W., b. Jan. 11. 1822; d. March 31, 1897 (e); m., Oct. 17, 1842,
Sarah W. Towle, dau. of John and Mary, b. Aug. 13, 1822; d. Oct. 1,
1907. Children: Charles A. O., b. June 16, 1849; d. July 18, 18-57;
Clara A., b. April 16, 1852; d. 1909; m., Aug. 11, 1870, Joseph Tucker.
Children: Albert W., d. Aug. 5, 1878, ag. 5y., 10m. (a); Arthur, Leon,
Carrie. Mina W., dau. Albert W., b. Nov. 12, 1858; m. Henry C. Me-
leudy. Alice M., b. Nov. 21, 1860; m. Alden Hardy. Hollis B., son of
Isaac, b. May 22, 1824; m., Dec. 17, 1843, Elsina A. Towle, dau. of John,
d. June 8, 1896, ag. 70 y., Sm., 4d. (d). Childreu: Henry 0., b. Nov. 12,
1845; m. Susie E. Ames. Children: James H., b. 1885; m., Oct. 20,
1908, Lettie M. Austin; James M., b. Oct. 8, 1849; d. Aug. 24, 1874; m.
"Ellen M. Butman. Louisa A., dau. of Isaac, b. Sept. 12, 1828; m., Nov.
25, 1847, Franklin S. Smith. Lucy J., b. May 24, 1835; m., June 6, 1852,
Edwin E. Shattuck, b. July 8, 1830. Children: Frank E., b. Feb. 17,
1853; d. June 21, 1857. Malvena L., b. Nov. 6, 1854; m. Leonard Clark.
Children: Mary B., Carrie C, George L. Burlingame, Emma. Isaac W.,
son of Edwin, b. May 11, 1856; m. ; Frank E., b. Nov. 2, 1858; m.
Jennie Robinson. Child: Frank E. Edwin H., b. May 11, 1856; d. 1909;
m. Fannie Dowling. Hattie J., b. March 7, 1864; m. Henry W. Clark
(see him). Lodena A., b. Oct. 19, 1870; m. John E. Smith; child:
Perley E.
Whittier, Richard, (b), and Betsey, had Daniel Bodwell, b. in Haver-
hill, Mass., Nov. 6, 1778; d. May 20, 1834 (a); m., Jan. 7, 1802, Lucy
Flint, dau. of Joseph, b. Aug. 29, 1780; d. Aug. 21, 1865. Their chil-
dren: Almira, b. April 27, 1804; d. May 9, 1831 (a); m.. May 27, 1827,
Dr. Charles Heaton of Dorchester; Pcuth C, b. Aug. 12, 1807; m., Nov.
22, 1831, Daniel G. Patten of Boscawen; Albion, b. Oct. 12, 1814; d. Oct.
8, 1861 (a) ; his wife, Emeline, d. May 25, 1851, ag. 31 (a) ; Augusta, b.
March 19, 1821; went to California and m. Simeon, son of Richard, b.
Oct. 20, 1780; Dorothy, b. Oct. 30, 1782; Richard, Jr., b. Oct. 25, 1784;
Moses, b. Feb. 18, 1788; d. Aug. 22, 1791; Asa, b. May 5, 1791; Abiah, b.
Genealogy. 649
April 6, 1793; Moses, b. April 16, 1795; Leonard, b. July 10, 1797; Rufus,
b. May 23, 1800; d. Sept. 28, 1828; his wife, Abi D. P., d. Oct. 30, 1828, ag.
24 (a). Cbildreu: Horatio N., d. Sept. 4, 1826, ag. 7w.; Augustus L., d.
May 23, 1829, ag. 23m.
Whittier, Nathaniel, d. Feb. 21, 1814 (b) ; m. Mrs. Mary (Keazer)
Blaisdell, mother of Daniel, d. May 15, 1806, ag. 73; had four children:
Elijah, d. Juue 22, 1848, ag. 79 (b) ; m. Nancy Kenistou; had eight
children: Polly, b. March 3, 1789; m. Stephen Jenness; Salley, b. March
11, 1791; Elijah, Jr., b. Dec. 17, 1792; Abigail, b. Dec. 25, 1795; m..
May 12, 1814, Levi Wood; Mehitable, b. Jan. 28, 1797; m. Wilks Ed-
wards; Nathaniel, b. March 10, 1799, d. young; William, b. June 20,
1804; d. Feb. 4, 1890; m. Charlotte T. George, dau. of Col. Levi, d. March
26, 1882, ag. 78. Children: Louisa, b. March 1, 1824; Luciuda G., b.
Jan. 20, 1826; d. Oct. 20, 1852; m., June 12, 1849, Andrew J. Powell;
had a dau. Ida A., d. June 2, 1807, ag. 17y., 3m. Elijah, b. Feb. 9, 1828;
d. Feb. 18, 1839; George L., b. Feb. 4, 1830; d. Feb. 22, 1890; m. Louisa
C. Rowell, d. March 5, 1906, ag. 75y., Im., 13d.; had a sou Charles, b.
1858; m., Feb. 3, 1884, Mary E. Wallace, b. 1862; d. 1908; two children:
Hattie L., d. April 12, 1889, ag. ly., 9m., 14d.; Maude M., b. 1885; m.,
Aug. 8, 1906, Harvey A. Blanchard. Ira A., son of William, b. Aug. 27,
1832; d. April 27, 1834; Martha J., d. Oct. 30, 1836, ag. 2; David H., d.
April 2, 1840, ag. 4; Mary A., d. April 23, 1840, ag. 6; Hermon D., d.
Jan. 17, 1850, ag. 7y., 8m.; Isabelle, d. Jan. 22, 1850, ag. ly., 5m.
Samuel, son of Nathaniel and Mary, m., Oct. 23, 1796, Mehitable
Beedle, d. July 14, 1854, ag. 84; Nathaniel, m. Polly Sleeper; Abigail,
m., March 4, 1798, Thomas Cole; had a dau. Abigail, d. Nov. 26, 1880,
ag. 80y., 8m.; m. Micajah M. Smith. Elijah, (b), m. (2) Lucretia
Aldrich, d. June 25, 1869, ag. 76. Three children: Nathaniel, b. June
21, 1825; m., Nov. 7, 1862, Nancy J. Andrews, both of Orange; Belinda,
m. Joseph Briggs; Webster, m. Lucinda Chapman. Abijah A., d. Feb.
1, 1850, ag. 16.
Whittier, Elijah, d. June 24, 1890; m. Ruth B. Eastman, b. 1826;
son of Elijah and Melinda.
Whittier, Elijah, m. Melinda Roberts, d. July 7, 1826, ag. 31. Chil-
dren: Elisha R., d. Jan. 27, 1903, ag. 75y., 11m., 6d.; m., April 26. 1849,
Melissa Ladd. Children: David H., b. 1849; m., Aug. 28, 1870, Emma P.
Cross, one son, Clinton. Sarah Ann, dau. of Elijah, b. 1840; m., April
19, 1864, Allen J. Clough; had a son Bert; she m. (2) Stephen R. Swett.
Dexter.
Whittier, Enoch, d. Nov. 29, 1878, ag. 69; m., March 5, 1835, Sally
Morrill of Thornton, d. Feb. 17, 1901, ag. 86 (h).
Whittier, Jeremiah, d. March 26, 1858, ag. 75; his wife, Nancy A.,
d. March 6, 1868, ag. 84; a dau., Harriet J., d. June 30, 1866. ag. 20 (h).
Whittier, Samuel W., d. Juue 15, 1885, ag. 66 (h). Miriam B., wife
of Simeon, d. March 11, 1842, ag. 24 (h). Nathaniel, d. Jan. 23, 1892,
ag. 71. Nathaniel Whicher, 3d, d. Oct. 28, 1816, ag. 11. An old stone in
Wells Cemetery.
650 History of Canaan.
Wliittier, Zenas, d. Nov. 26, 1874, ag. 76 (b) ; m., Sept. 3, 1820,
Mehitable E. Merrill, d. Feb. 15, 1856, ag. 56. Children: Henry C, d.
Dec. 7, 1832, ag. 4m.; Isabel, d. June 16, 1836, ag. 21d.; Jane, d. July
13, 1826, ag. 2d.; E. M., d. June 18, 1829, ag. 4m.
Whittier, Carrie J., wife of Aaron, b. 1858; d. 1896 (a).; dau. of
Willard Colburn; his first wife, Mary Ann, d. March 14, 1871, ag. 21;
buried in Orange.
Whittlesey, Polly, wife of Aarou, d. May 9, 1846, ag. 64 (h).
Wier, Thomas, b. 1814; d. 1899; Mahala E., his wife, d. Aug. 2, 1889,
ag. 77y., 10m., 25d. Children: Emma L., d. Oct. 17, 1801, ag. 14 (a);
Ellen F., m., Dec. 7, 1880, Frank H. Lowell; Sarah; Ma,rtha, m. Joseph
J. Follansbee.
Williams, Robert, b. 1749; d. May 14, 1823, at Shakers in Enfield;
buried there; m., Jan. 13, 1777, Sarah Pinkham, d. about 1819; buried
on West Farms. Came from Barrington to Enfield; lived with
Shakers before he came to Canaan in 1797; left Shakers, because he
had to give up his property. Bought farm of John Harris on West
Farms and gave the laud for the West Farms Cemetery. Several of
the older children were born in Barrington. Children: Mary, b. 1778;
d. 1816; m., March 1, 1798, Elam Meacham, son of Samuel. After his
wife died he moved to Pennsylvania with his children and married
again, having two children. In Canaan he lived opposite the Knight
house and his wife was buried on the Ezra Day farm. His children
were Elam, who was a preacher among the Mormons in 1847; Polly,
m. a Gallaway, who was killed; she joined the Mormons, angry at her
brother, David, who opposed her course. John was an ironworker in
Erie, Penu.; Nancy, m. a Couch and lived in Richland City, Wis.; a
child, William. Sarah, m. Elam Hanchett, and d. in the 40's in Illinois;
three children: Nathaniel, Samantha, Diantha. Sylvester, d. LaSalle
County, 111., 1848; m., Delila Burch. Children: Roseanna, m. Ferdi-
nand Renne, lived in Oregon; Marinda, m. Aaron Woodbury, lived in
Citronella, Ala.; Frances, m. John Kelly, lived in Chicago. David, son
of Mary and Elam, m. Sarah Joslyn. Six children: Darius; William,
m. Eleanor Craddock and had five children; James, m. Amanda Burn-
ham and had three children; Roseanna, m. Porter Hubbard, one child;
Sylvester, killed at Chickamauga. Thomas, son of Robert, b. 1782;
m. Deborah Pinkham, his cousin, d. Nashua, April 2, 1837, lived sev-
eral years in Canada, where their children were born; came to Lowell
in the 30's. Robert, son of Robert, b. Feb. 6, 1784; d. Riley, 111., Feb.
8, 1872; m., June 29, 1808, Mercy Hardy, b. Hopkinton, Oct. 30, 1787;
d. Hampshire, 111., Dec. 13, 1852; they resided on Town Hill while in
Canaan. Sold to his son Sylvester in 1841 a farm in Hanover on which
was a new brick house. Children: Sylvester, b. April 16, 1809; d. 1874,
at Marengo, 111.; m. (1) a Partridge. Children: Orion H.; Gratie; and
by a later wife, Mary. Was a member of the New Hampshire, "Vermont
and Troy Conferences and finally o'^mer of his father's farm in Illinois.
Valorous C, b. Canaan, March 8, 1811; d. Marengo, 111., May 11, 1887;
Genealogy. 651
ni., March 1, 1834, Luaua D. Rundlet. Cared for his father's Grafton
farm a ferw years and went to Illinois about the time his father did.
Owned a farm at Riley, 111. His wife lived, several years after his
death. Five children: Sylvester D., Valorous T., Robert M., J. Frank,
Albert J. Horace P., b. Canaan, April 16, 1813; d. Aug. 4, 1881, at
Kinsley, 111. Four children: Flora, Owen, Eva, Etta. Sias K., b.
Lebanon, June 25, 1818, d. July 5, 1890; m., Dec. 31, 1846, Mary D.
Heafield, b. Aug. 22, 1824; d. July 17, 1887. Bought a farm near his
father in Illinois. Children: Eugenie, Rosamond, both m. and have chil-
dren. John G., b. Lebanon, July 17, 1820; d. Missouri, May 19, 1889;
m. and had children, the oldest Sylvester. Drifted from Illinois to
Missouri. Isaac F., b. Lebanon, Jan. 20, 1823; d. near Vicksburg, Miss.,
May 8, 1858; m. and had four children in Illinois. Stephen, son of
Robert, b. Enfield, Oct. 13, 1789; d. Canaan, Nov. 6, 1853 (e) ; m., Dec.
1812, Elizabeth Longfellow, b. Byfield, Mass., June 10, 1785; d. March
12, 1843. Lived on South Road on John Moore farm. His father
owned it at the time Col. Levi George owned the place opposite George
Ginn's. Robert sold it to his sister, Lois Evans, of Allenstown. Eras-
tus Packard bought of hex*. Children: Lorenzo D., b. Sept. 9, 1813; d.
at sea, Jan., 1838. Went to Cuba summer of 183G, after cedar shingles.
In 1837 went on a fishing voyage and never returned. William Long-
fellow, b. Feb. 10, 1815; d. May 19, 1882 (c) ; m. (1) Mary Ann Hardy
of Enfield, d. Dec. 26, 1841, ag. 24y., 11m.; no children; m. (2) Mary
Ann Clough of Canaan, b. Sept. 9, 1823; d. Sept. 14, 1885 (c) ; lived in
Grafton and in Northern Vermont; then returned, to West Farms and
lived on the old Moses Sawyer farm opposite the Cemetery. Children:
Adelbert 0., b. Grafton, May 22, 1844; d. Providence, May 27, 1893; m.,
June 22, 1867, Flora A. Wier of Lyndonville, Vt, b. Oct. 9, 1847. En-
listed Company H, Thirtieth Massachusetts Infantry, Dec. 13, 1861;
re-enlisted in 1863, Company F, Fifth New Hampshire. Children: Min-
nie B., Charles H., Austin, Arthur, Arthur, Mabel. Everett 0., b.
Canaan, Nov. 2, 1846; m., Dec. 5, 1874, Lizzie M. Copp of Hanover; lives
in Enfield. Children: Ida M., Edna A., Mary L., Everett D., Georgia A.,
Lester R. Phineldo 0., b. Newark, Vt., Jan. 4, 1847; m. Nellie B.
Marsh, at Groton, Vt., Jan. 29, 1868, b. Aug. 26, 1847; d. 1907 (c).
Lived on Peters farm on Goose Pond Road. Children: Lena B., b. Dec.
19, 1868; m., March 12, 1890, James F. Eastman, her cousin, b. Nov. 18,
1856; Mamie P., b. Hanover, Nov. 13, 1871; d. Canaan, Aug. 25, 1872;
Maitland, b. Canaan, Nov. 10, 1879; Daniel H., b. July 8, 1882; m.
Flossie M. Earle of Canaan; two children. Lorenzo D., son of William L.,
d. Oct. 4, 1850, ag. 3m; Delevan K., b. Jan. 2, 1852; d. Hanover, Nov. 4,
1898 (c) ; m. Nettie Goss, dan. of Daniel and Loraine. Children: Heniy
W., m. Eliza Melendy, and Val M. Rebecca, b. Canaan, Aug. 3, 1853; m.,
April 7, 1876, Frank P. Clark of Andover; three children: Oren A.,
Ethel A. and Charles H. Susan L., d. Oct. 16, 1854, ag. Iw. Zylpha
M., b. Canaan; d. Manchester, Nov. 30, 1886, ag. 29y., Im., 14d. Ad-
rista E., d. Nov. 24, 1858, ag. 6w. Abraham Longfellow, son of Stephen,
652 History of Caxaax.
h. Aug. 24, ISlS; d. June 11, 19CG; m. (1), Feb. 13, 1S45, Cliastina
Buruham, b. March 18, 1821; d. Aug. 13, 1861; m. (2), Feb. 19, 1865,
Irene S. (Hadley) Heath, b. March 31, 1827; d. June 22, 1904. Was
born on his great-gi'audfather's fanii; soon afterwards the family
moved to the "William Longfellow farm, also his great-grandfather's.
When seven years of age he weut to live with his uncle, Abraham
Knowlton, on the John Cun-ier farm. In 1844 he bought of his uncle
the Jacob Straw farm. Built a new house in 1852, on a part of the
Robert Williams farm. In his will he left three hundred dollars to the
town, the income of which to be used to keep the family lots in West
Farms Cemeteiy in good condition, also one hundred dollars, the in-
come to be used to cut the bushes along the road. He left five hundred,
dollars to the Canaan Town Library to be expended in useful books,
provided the town would raise a like amount. The balance of his
property he left to Dartmouth College. Had four children: Delevan
P., b. March 23, 1848; d. April 20, 1852; Lorenzo D., b. April 2, 1854;
d. Dec. 16, 1870; Fremont D., b. Aug. 1, 1856; d. in Brattleboro, Vt.
Was a carriage builder there. Chastina B., b. June 22, 1859; m. Dwight
T. Cowing, lives in Hadley, Mass. Children: Bertha C, Ethel T., Ruby
M., Florence B., Josephine W., Marian M. Samuel, son of Stephen, b.
May 18, 1820; d. Enfield, Feb. 4, 1878; m., March 16, 1S4S, Ursula Day,
b. Nov. 6, 1823; d. Canaan, Jan. 9, 1904. Attended Canaan Union
Academy and taught one winter in Mississippi. Was a selectman of
Canaan and Enfield and representative of Enfield. He bought the
Longfellow farm and also the Reuben Gile farm. Moved to Enfield.
In fall of 1861 enlisted in Company C, Seventh New Hampshire Volun-
teers; was promoted to first lieutenant in 1862; was in hosiery business
in Enfield under the firm name of Dodge, Davis & Williams. Children:
Abbie Jeanette, b. Canaan, Dec. 25, 1849; m. Rev. Francis Parker, b.
Gloucester, July 19, 1847. Louis Melville, b. Canaan, Sept. 17, 1851; d.
April 26, 1900; m., Feb. 27, 1878, Ella E. Brigham. Four children:
Robert Longfellow, Elizabeth Langdon, Henry Trumball, Ursula
Louise. Miriam Elizabeth, b. Canaan, April 10, 1853; Susan Augusta,
b. Canaan, July 6, 1855. Henry Herbert, b. Enfield, Aug. 20, 1858; d.
April 9, 1862; Frank Burton, b. Nov. 29, 1864; m., June 23, 1897, Grace
E. Parker. Their children are: John P. and Samuel L. He is a mer-
chant in Enfield. Susan Longfellow, dau. of Stephen, b. June 25, 1824;
m., Nov. 14, 1849, James Eastman, b. Jan. 1, 1820; d. Aug. 28, 1899.
Lived first in the old homestead of his father, James, with his brother,
Richard B., then sold to Richard and bought Robert Williams' old
farm, which he sold to John Clough, and then bought the Bartlett
Bryant farm in Hanover. Children: Stephen, b. Canaan, Oct. 13, 1851;
d. June 16, 1898; m., Jan. 1, 1880, Almeda D. Colby, dau. of Moses T.,
b. May 17, 1856; five children: Arthur H., Susan E., Mary F., Grant C,
Grace H. Martha, b. Hanover, Oct. 20, 1855; d. Manchester, Nov. 15,
1891; m.. May 24, 1882, Dr. C. A. Manning. Two children: Susan
Pearl, and Roy Eastman. James F., b. Nov. 18, 1856; m., March 12,
Genealogy. 653
1890, Lena B. Williams, b. Dec. 19, 18G8; lives on old homestead in
Hanover; two children: Martha J. and James F., Jr. Mary Goss, dau.
of Stephen, b. Jan. 29, 1826; d. Sept. 22, ISSC; m. Leonard Hadley (see
him). Stephen, Jr., b. March 14, 1827; m. Rebecca G. Hazeltine, d.
March 5, 1855, ag. 22y., Sm. (e) ; one child: Mira. Samuel, son of
Robert, b. 1794; d. ; m., Jan. 1, 1823, Purnel B. Worth, dau. of
Dea. John Worth; lived on his father's farm in the neighborhood of
West Farms; she was b. Oct., 1802; d. June, 1875; moved to Genoa,
111., in 1851. Child: Horace B., b. Canaan, Jan., 1824; d. fall of 1866;
m., 1853, Hattie Huntley; lived in Genoa, 111.; two children: Willie and
Clarence. John Worth, son of Samuel, b. Canaan, Feb. 25, 1826;
drowned, 1848; Purnel Loraine, b. Canaan, July 8, 1828; d. Enfield,
Dec. 10, 1896; m. Daniel Goss of Hanover, son of Joshua (see him).
George Evans, b. Sept. 7, 1830; d. in the 60's; m. Mary Oakes, after he
went to Illinois with the family, then went to Atlantic, Iowa. Frances
Elizabeth, b. Canaan, July 8, 1832; d. Jan. 31, 1890; m. (1), Dec. 9,
1852, in Illinois, John Gilkerson; m. (2), July 4, 1867, John Johnson;
three children by first: Hiram, John, Jr., and Ida May; one child. Grant,
by second. Katherine, dau. of Samuel, b. Canaan, 1834; d. ag. 18m. (e).
Franklin, b. 1837; d. ag. 4 (e) ; Andrew P., b. 1837; d. ag. 6(e) ; Lorenzo
P., b. 1843; d. ag. 18m. (e) ; Ellen M., b. July 21. 1842; m., April 19,
1866, Joseph Northgraves; five children: Gertrude M., Isabel F., Albert
N., Jennie, Charles K. They lived in Illinois, Texas and Iowa. Sarah,
dau. of Robert, b. 1798; d. June 30, 1834; m. (1) Stephen Davis; m. (2)
Stephen Hadley of Hanover. By her first husband she had two chil-
dren: Mary, b. June 21, 1818; m. John Dustin, d. Nov. 9, 1900; Arabella
A., b. Canaan, Jan. 17, 1823; m. a Trodd; five children: Martha, Isa-
belle, Henry, Sarah, Mary J. (see Hadley). Calvin, son of Robert, d.
single. Nancy, dau. of Robert, b. Canaan, April 23, 1804; d. Manches-
ter, March 21, 1880; m., Hanover, July 21, 1827, Timothy Parker, b. Oct.
31, 1807; d. Manchester, June 15, 1865. Children: John Carlos, Henry
Carlton, Dewit C, Nancy A., Amasa H., Sarah S., Horace W.
Wilson, Levi, d. Feb. 28, 1856, ag. 58; m., Dec. 26, 1803, Mrs. Betsey
Wood, d. Jan. 24, 1853, ag. 73 (b). Children: Louisa, b. Feb. 9, 1805;
William, b. Feb. 9, 1805.
Wilson, Frederick E., b. 1860; d. 1907 (b).
Withington, Samuel, and Hepsibah, had William Dame, b. Feb. 28,
1823.
Wood, William, and Betsey, had Polly, b. May 19, 1780; Betsey, b.
March 26, 1782; William, b. Jan. 28, 1784; Polly, b. Jan. 15, 1786; Sally,
b. March 27, 1788; m., April 21, 1816, George Johnson; Rosel, b. May
22, 1790; Levi, b. April 8, 1792; m., May 12, 1814, Abigail Whittier; Eli,
b. Aug. 6, 1794; Lois, b. Dec. 26, 1801.
Wooster, David H., son of H. F. and C. H., d. Feb. 18, 1883, ag. 2y.,
2m., 19d. (b).
Worth, John, d. April 4, 1845, ag. 70; m., Dec. 10, 1801, Betsey Clark,
d. Oct. 12, 1862, ag. 82. Children: Catherine E., d. July 29, 1836, ag. 22;
654 History op Canaan.
Eliza C, d. July 22, 1S35, ag. 26; m., Oct. 12, 1S34, Andrew Pettingill.
Child: Julia M., d. April 25, 1857, ag. 21; m., Aug. 21, 1851, George S.
Shepard; dau., Jenny M., d. Feb. 26, 1857, ag. 5m. (b). John, Jr., sou of
John, m., Oct. 21, 1840, Flavilla Kelley. Perual Barber, dau. of John, m.
Samuel Williams (see him). Edmuud, sou of John, by his wife Sarah,
had Arabella, d. Aug. 27, 1853, ag. 20; m. Alfred Barney, son of John.
Child: Arabella, d. Aug. 22, 1853, ag. 27d.; Hiram S., son of Edmund,
m. Elizabeth Durrell (see her). Sarah, m. (2), March 9, 1839, Benjamin
T. Hilliard of Eufield; he m. (2), March 24, 1857, Mrs. Martha Buswell
of Lawrence, Mass.
Worth, Mrs. Lydia, wife of John, d. May 12, 1835, ag. 30. Abigail,
dau. of John and Lucy, d. Oct. 13, 1792, ag. 13.
Worth, Stephen, m. (1), March 16, 1797, Mrs Molly Worth, d. July 15,
1817; m. (2) Susauua (Bagley) Cros.s. Children: Abigail, b. Feb. 18,
1798; Life C, b. March 28, 1799; Polly, b. Dec. 6, 1800; d. July 15, 1817;
Lucy M., b. April 3, 1802; Lydia G., b. Aug. 24, 1803; Caroline B., b.
Jan. 7, 1806; Asa, b. March 1, 1808; Sally F., b. Nov. 21, 1811; Elvira,
b. Feb. 22, 1813; d. March 11, 1813.
Worth, Nathaniel, d. Sept. 13, 1791; m., Dec. 12, 1789, Mary Bartlett;
a son Nathaniel was b. April 18, 1791.
MARRIAGES FROM THE TOWN RECORDS NOT PLACED.
Where the Residence is Not Mentioned it is of This Town.
Abbott, Hazen, of Groton, Vt., to Rachel Cass of Lyme, Sept. 18, 1825.
Aldrich, William, of Grafton, to Abigail Folsom of Grafton, Oct. 12,
1797.
Angler, James H., to Cynthia P. Heath, May 17, 1843.
Adams, Andrew R., Vermont, to Mary S. Wright, Vermont., June 15,
1861.
Avery, Alonzo, Boston, to Mary J. Cilley, Andover, Nov. 8, 1866.
Atwell, Horace, Enfield, to Emily B. Spear, New Ipswich, May 18, 1873.
Barney, Jacob, of Grafton, to Lois Walker, of Grafton, Feb. 25, 1800.
Barney, Jabez, of Graftou, to Abigail Briggs, of Orange, March 2, 1819.
Barnard, Darius, to Mary A. Noyes, of Enfield, March 12, 1857.
Barnard, George, of Lebanon, to Caroline R. Bartlett, of Dorchester,
March 22, 1857.
Batchelder, Jonathan, to Sally Tucker, Dec. 31, 1818.
Batchelder, Reuben, of Orange, to Mercy May, Dec. 3, 1854.
Bennett, David, to Polly Cole, both of Orange, Dec. 14, 1817.
Bennett, Ebenezer, Jr., of Audover, to Luciuda Stickuey, Dec. 30, 1855.
Biathrow, Horace A., to Sarah A. Wheeler, both of Lyme, March 9,
1853.
Bishop, Joseph, to Philoma Columbia, Feb. 23, 1851.
Blake, Augustus F., to Harriet A. Flagg, Nov. 29, 1854.
Blood, William, of W. Fairlee, Vt., to Rhoda Brown, of Hebron, March
28, 1814.
Marriages. 655
i
Bockwell, Oliver B., of Grautham, to Deborah Gage, of Enfield,
April 1, 1S27.
Bohouon, Moses, of Salisbury, to Lois Waldo, of Orange, Jan. 1, ISOl.
Bowers, Lyman, of Lawrence, Mass., to Sabrina C. Wilson, Oct. 8, 1849.
Bullock, Elislia, of Orange, to Jeruslia Leeds, May 22, 1800.
Bro, Joel, to Lucinda Columbia, July 2, 1854.
Brown, Don C. of Hanover, to Delia L. Merrill, of Lowell, Mass ,
Oct. 7, 1857.
Bridgeman, Isaac, to Lucy Chandler, both of Hanover, Jan. 4, 1820.
Bridgeman, Atiel, to Abigail Sawyer, both of Dorchester, June 12, 1825.
Briggs, Nathaniel, to Sally Whittier, both of Orange, Oct. 14, 1824.
Bullock, Coomer, to Zelinda Peck, both of Grafton, Dec. 29, 1796.
Blaisdell, Chai-les E., to Jerusha Blaisdell, both of Dorchester, Jan.
24, 1850.
Beal, Ira, of Manchester, to Harriet Andrews, of Orange, Jan. 28,
1849.
Burnam, Daniel B., of Enfield, to Axa Davis, of Grafton, Feb. 27, 1834.
Batchelder, Bradford C, to Frances A. Rogers, March, 1837.
Buffum, William C, to Sarah Spoouer, both of Grafton, Oct. 5, 1837.
Brock, Benjamin, of Newbury, Vt., to Martha Johnson, of Enfield,
Nov. 3, 1839.
Bryant, Roswell C, to Lucy E. Huntoon, both of Enfield, April 7, 1839.
Buffum, James, to Sarah Roberts, both of Grafton, Sept. 20, 1840.
Bailey, John, of Springfield, to Eliza A. Nichols, of Enfield, April
15, 1841.
Barnett, Levi, to Mrs. Hannah Gile, both of Enfield, Sept. 22, 1845.
Bean, Nathaniel W., of Eiifield, to Hattie A. Hamlett, Nov. 14, 1860.
Blair, Lewis, to Helen Allard, Aug. 22, 1860.
Basse, Edson P., of Newtonville, Mass., to Minnie M. Hoffman, Sept.
18, 1864.
Brooks, Oliver J., to Emily A. Bickford, April 5, 1867.
Brocklebank, Edson B., to Sarah J. Clough, Sept. 13, 1868.
Blaisdell, Henry G., of Dorchester, to Lillie D. Leonard, of Glover, Vt.,
July 3, 1869.
Broughton, Charles H., of Enfield, to Susan M. Sharp, Sept. 12, 1870.
Bryant, Joseph M., of Hanover, to Louisa M. Goss, of Enfield, Aug.
17, 1871.
Bailey, Henry, of Groton, to Abbie A. Norris, of Dorchester, Aug. 14,
1S71.
Bushway, John, to Delia Bushway, Sept. 4, 1875.
Blood, William A., to Almira R. Smith, March 22, 1880.
Burley, Benjamin, to Polly Norris, both of Dorchester, Feb. 27, 1821.
Clifford, Joseph, to Susanna Saunders, both of Grafton, Oct. 4, 1798.
Clifford, Timothy, to Ruth Buffum, both of Grafton, May 27, 1802.
Chase, Jesse S., to Hannah M. Johnson, both of Dorchester, April
14, 1822.
Colburn, S. H., to Elizabeth Mackress, both of Lj^me, Feb. 7, 1822.
656 History of Canaan.
Conaut, Latham, to Polly Beal, both of Lyme, Feb. 17, 181S.
Columbia, William, to Elizabeth Hall, Aug. 3, 1851.
Church, Hilliai-d, of Enfield, to Mary J. Quimby, of Spriugfiekl, Sept.
27, 1851.
Clement, Leonard, of Columbia, to Almira B. Porter, Nov. 3, 1853.
Columbia, Frank, to Sophia Clough, March 11, 1855.
Carter, Jeremiah, of Dorchester, to Cordelia Wells, of Plymouth,
Aug. 19, 1855.
Crocker, David, of Salisbury, to Ann Jones, April 3, 1858.
Crocker, Seldeu L., to Lucy F. Staples, Juue 19, 1858.
Chaplin, Allertou, to Mary A. Hauscum, both of Lyme, Nov. 17, 1858.
Carr, Jacob, to Olive Pollard, April 24, 1803.
Choate, Moses S., of Enfield, to Hannah C. Martin, March 8, 1849.
Chase, John, to Sarah Hoyt, Jan. 1, 1815.
Clifford, David, of Grafton, to Betsey Noyes, Feb. 27, 1800.
Colby, John, of Grafton, to Mary J. Flanders, Aug. 19, 1832.
Currier, Lorenz, of Enfield, to Eliza R. Smith, of Grafton, Oct. 18,
1849.
Corliss, Cyrus, to Almira Read, both of Bristol, Sept. 30, 1832.
Clifford, Ira, of Wentworth, to Sally Davis, of Grafton, Jan. 24, 1833.
Chase, Simon P., to Ann Houston, of Orange, April 1, 1838.
Chellis, James, to Lucinda Fellows, both of Orange, Oct. 27, 1839.
Chase, Joseph J., of Haverhill, to Harriet H. Fitz, of Chester, July,
1839.
Carr, Lewis C, of Boston, to Betsey Currier, of Manchester, Oct.
22, 1848.
Colby, Samuel A., to Susannah L. Kimball, Aug. 19, 1860.
Church, Hilliard, to Mary E. Gilbert, both of Enfield, Aug. 8, 1863.
County, George B., to Hannah Crowley, Sept. 28, 1863.
Colby, James M., of Hanover, to Arabella E. Martin, Nov. 6, 1864.
Chellis, Sumner, of Orange, to Emma C. Sherwill, of Orange, Dec.
5, 1866.
Cilley, Nathan G., of Orange, to Mary A. Church, of Enfield, Oct. 19,
1867.
Cooms, Albert E., of Orford, to Rosa F. Scruton, of Alexandria, Feb.
12, 1871.
Carroll, Calvin C, to Lizzie Black, of Dorchester, Dec. 27, 1871.
Cross, Franklin M., to Ella E. Stanford, of Royalton, Vt., Sept. 11,
1871.
Copp, G. O. F., to Mary A. Brown, both of Enfield, Dec. 23, 1871.
Cross, George B., to Lydia Martin, both of Hanover, Aug. 24, 1872.
Columbia, John, to Mary Morse, May 17, 1873.
Collins, James D., to Carrie F. Church, Oct. 2, 1876.
Cook, Paul, to Betsey Berry, Jan. 15, 1817.
Coi-liss Kimball, of Alexandria, to Betsey Heath, Jan. 29, 1818.
Cross, Sylvester, to Olive S. Lovejoy, of Hanover, Sept. 19, 1846.
Currier, James, of Salisbury, to Abigail Hovey, July 4, 1803.
jNIarriages. 657
Day, Daniel, to Jaue Danforth, of Orange, Dec. 15, 1817.
Dunham, Orison, to Mebitable Putney, April 13, 1841.
Dome, Eslay, to Polly Stevens, Sept. 19, 1797.
Dupuis, Zeb, of Hanover, to Sopbia Columbia, June 6, 1863.
Day, Leonard, to Alma Hall, of Northampton, Mass., June 11, 1863.
Decato, Joseph, to Agnes Hill, Jan. 13, 1873.
Deveraux, William H., of Lebanon, to Mary E. Walcott, Jan. 14, 1874.
Deeato, John, to Mary A. Hill, Jan. 6, 1877.
Drake, John H., to Sarah L. Abbott, Dec. 20, 1879.
Drake, George W., to Marilla Read, both of Grafton, June 23, 1824.
Drake, John, of Grafton, to Betsey Cogswell, of Enfield, July 22,
1814, or Dec. 18, 1815.
Derber, Y/alter, to Dilla Eldridge, both of Hanover, Dec. 28, 1817.
Dov.mer, George, of Lebanon, to Susanna Bullock, of Orange, March
9, 1797.
DeMoranville, Charles, Jr., to Abigail Clifford, both of Grafton, July
12, 1808.
Dickerson, Suel, to Hannah Dickerson, both of Newchester, Jan. 6,
1824.
Doloff, Franklin, of Lawrence, Mass., to Sarah M. Derby, June 29,
1853.
Derush, Andrew J., to Mary A. Cilley, of Orange, Dec. 29, 1855.
Dunham, Austin, to Imogene Knight, March 31, 1860.
Dunham, Willard L., to Lucy Fox, Aug. 18, 1860.
Evans, Thomas, to Betsey Pillsbury, Dec. 22, 1814.
Emerson, Charles A., to Hannah B. Ames, of Newport, Feb., 1851.
Eastman, Daniel, to Matilda Burton, May 16, 1868.
Eastman, Henry, to Hattie H. Brock, both of Orange, Jan. 21, 1871.
Eaton, Edward, to Diana Hadley, Feb. 28, 1844.
Fifield, Ezekiel, to Sarah Ann Hardy, Feb. 9, 1847.
Fifield, David, of Bradford, Vt., to Sally Kimball, Jan. 12, 1815.
Flagg, Jacob, of Orange, to Lois Wilson, May 10, 1826.
Flanders, Dr. Thomas, to Susanna Follensbee, of Grafton, Jan. 9,
1815.
French, Henry, to Sally Sawyer, both of Grafton, June 18, 1815.
Flint, Dr. Benjamin, of Rumford, Me., to Sarah Gushing, of Orange,
Feb. 1, 1816.
Fellows, Benjamin, to Pensy Bridgeman, both of Hanover, March 11,
1816.
Flanders, Elijah, to Betsey Winslow, both of Lyme, Jan. 1, 1817.
Foss, Topham, of Danbury, to Anne Reed, of Grafton, Aug. 31, 1824.
Frost, Amasa, of Wentworth, to Clarissa P. Clay, Jan. 4, 1851.
Follensbee, James M., of Worcester, to Julia A. Kittredge, Mai-ch
3. 1854.
Flagg, William, to Mary A. Currier, Nov. 24, 1853.
Follensbee, John B., of Enfield, to Mrs. Persis B. Keenan, June 7,
1854.
42
658 History of Canaan.
Fellows, Moses, of Dorchester, to Elvira Cole, March 25, 1857.
Fellows, Truman, of Dorchester, to Emily D. Cole, March 26, 1857.
Foss, John C, of Lyme, to Pomelia Fifield, March 4, 1835.
French, Amos, of Lebanon, to Susan M. Johnson, of Enfield, Oct. 9,
1837.
Ford, Horace, to Amelia C. Andrews, both of Orange, June 24, 1838.
French, John, of Orange, to Mary J. Flanders, of Danbury, June 12,
1842.
Ferguson, Franklin, to Nancy E. Blodgett, of Warren, Dec. 19, 1860.
Ford, George N., of Danbury, to Amanda M. Davis, of Grafton, April
21, 1861.
French, Nathan, of Unity, to Ellen Bailey, of Enfield, Nov. 27, 1861.
Fox, John F., of Enfield, to Elizabeth Morse, of Sharon, Oct. 14, 1864.
Fellows, Gilbert G., to Maria H. Booth, both of Franklin, Jan. 19,
1867.
Ford, Richard T., to Mary E. Brown, both of Grafton, July 8, 1869.
Fizette, James, to Clara Brown, Sept. 6, 1870.
Follensbee. Ephraim H., to Aphia P. Wheeler, of Groton, Nov. 20, 1870.
Ford, Herman A., to Clara A. Perkins, of Lyme, June 22, 1872.
Flanders, Moses, to Roxanna Russell, of Dorchester, April 3, 1823.
Folsom, John, to Rebecca Colby, June 9, 1791.
Ford, Luther, to Charlotte Evans, Sept. 16, 1838.
Foster, Benjamin F., to Ruth H. Kimball, April 19, 1832.
Foster, Hezekiah, to Sophia Adams, April 16, 1815.
Freeman, Daniel, of Lebanon, to Mrs. Catherine Lawrence, Nov.
12, 1826.
"Fulsom, George, of Exeter, to Polly Colliy, Nov. 27, 1800.
Gile, Samuel, to Polly Green, both of Enfield, Jan. 25, 1806.
Gody, Joseph, to Harriet Columbia, Sept. 16, 1855.
Gile, Ira S., of Lebanon, to Maria F. , Nov. 12, 1857.
Gile, Nelson of Lebanon, to Amelia B. Dresser, of Enfield, Feb. 16,
1870.
Gilbert, John F., of Pembroke, to Irene Thompson, of Orange, March
4, 1850.
Gilman, John B., to Betsey B. Clark, of Danbury, Feb. 21, 1843.
Gage, Daniel B., of Enfield, to Jerusha Ford, of Orange, Nov. 27, 1845.
Green, Edwin, to Emma Pillsbury, of Enfield, June 11, 1865.
Gale, John A., to Jane Knowlton, both of Danbury, July 25, 1869.
Glode, Peter, to Alvina Columbia, Dec. 20, 1869.
Godette, William, to Flora Columbia. July 31, 1875.
Gile, Stephen, to Lydia Straw, Dec. 31, 1818.
Hazen, Samuel, to Betsey Bewel, both of Dorchester, Jan. 26, 1815.
Hazen, N. H., of Walcott, Vt., to A. S. Snow, of Boston, Jan. 19, 1851.
Howard, Henry, to Sally Powers, both of Grantham, Oct. 29, 1826.
Hadley, Amos, to Mehitable Briggs, of Orange, July 3, 1823.
Heath, Samuel W., of Bristol, to Harriet N. Lord, June 11, 1850.
Hill, Moses, to Lucy A. Kimball, Nov. 20, 1848.
Marriages. 659
Hills, Tiles, to Margaret Burgous, Dec. 17, 1853.
Hazeltine, David, to Pauline Deau, Aug. 20, 1854.
Hamlet, Henry S., to Sarah M. Lary, Nov. 30, 1854.
Haskell. William H., of Maine, to Abby Fales, Oct. 28, 1856.
Hall, Anthony, to Adaline Hall. May 13, 1856.
Haven, George W., of Newport, to Marcia A. Emerson, May 22, 1849.
Hink.«;on. George, to Pluma Bullock, both of Grafton, Jan. 3, 1837.
Hill, Napoleon J., to Melvina Bennett, March 29, 1880.
Hoyt, Daniel, to Susan Bartlett, Oct. 7, 1837.
Hoyt, Ebeuezer. of Orange, to S. Jennie Sargent, of Grafton, Aug.
7, 1870.
How, Joseph, to Hannah F. Fi-ench, both of Enfield, Oct. 17, 1839.
Hatch, Horace, of Lebanon, to Ann Colcord, of Enfield, Oct. 2, 1839.
Hill, Thomas J., to Mary E. Merrill, Oct. 24, 1841.
How, Nathaniel, to Mary J. Choate, both of Enfield, Feb. 2, 1840.
Hall, John A., of Groton, to Arvilla H. Dimond, 1842.
Holt, John A., of Lyme, to Emeline Whittier, June 18, 1846.
How, Charles B., to Harriet C. Sargent, both of Manchester, April
30, 1859.
Harvey, Timothy M., to Mary A. Martin, both of Grafton, March
27, 1863.
Hoffman, Edwin A., of Lebanon, to Adelaide L. Roberts, of Enfield,
March IG, 1865.
Hazeltine, Hollis B., to Emma L. Loverin, Oct. 11, 1865.
Hale, Moses T., of Groton, to Mary A. Buswell, of Orange, Feb. 6, 1866.
Heaton, Arthur, of Orford, to Amanda Childs, Oct. 13, 1867.
Holt, George E., to Sarah J. Braley, both of Grafton, Nov. 17, 1869.
Huntress, John E., of Boscawen, to Eliza J. Littlefield, of Danbury,
Dec. 2, 1869.
Hebert, Noah, to Mary Bouney, July 1, 1872.
Hebert, Joseph, Jr., to Ina Downer, of Thetford, Vt., May 24, 1873.
Hoyt, Moses, to Olive G. Hoyt, Dec. 5, 1875.
Hadley, Henry M., of Pembroke, to Nettie M. Phillips, Nov. 27, 1876.
Hadley, William H., of Hanover, to Mary Bradbury, Aug. 19, 1849.
Hadley, Silas, of Hanover, to Sally Kimball, July 4. 1S22.
Hadley, Dan W., to Ann K. Dunham, Jan. 12, 1844.
Hadley, Joshua, to Ruth Davis, of Grafton, Jan. 18, 1815.
Haroon, Samuel, to Eunice Colby, Jan. 10, 1804.
Hardy, Thomas, Jr., of Medford, Mass., to Sarah P. Stevens, June
17. 1846.
Heath, Wilbur R., to Ruth I. Nute, of Dover, Jan. 1, 1850.
Hinkson, Samuel, to Abigail Allen, April 21, 1785.
Hoague, Joseph, to Zilpha Day, May 13, 1847.
Hovey, Jacob, to Sally Stevens, Oct. 4, 1791.
Irvin, Simeon T., to Lucy A. Caswell, Nov. 20, 1869.
Johnson, Mathew H., to Hannah E. Sargent, of Springfield, Jan.
6, 1853.
660 History op Canaan.
Jones, Thomas, to Adeline Day, Maj' 5, 1847.
Jessamine, George, to Mary Norris, both of Dorchester, 1834.
Jenness, Francis, to June Columbia, April 5, 1871.
Jackman, Joseph, of Laudaff, to Esther Sawyer, of Dorchester, March
10, 1810.
Kimball, Archalus, to Lydia Clough, Oct. 4, 1824.
Kimball, Asa, to Hannah Barber, both of Grafton, Jan. 23, 1814.
Kimball, Phineas P., to Lucy Miller, Jan. 1, 1833.
Kimball, Samuel, to Nancy Whittier, of Enfield, Oct. 31, 1835.
Kinne, Elisha P., of Hanover, to Chloe "Waterman, Oct. 22, 1817.
Kimball, John, to Almeda Hutchins, Sept. 1, 1875.
Kim'ball, Moses, to Nancy Kirk, of Alexandria, Feb. 1, 1866.
King, Nathaniel, of Craftsbury, Vt., to Sophia Kimball, April 9, 1818.
Kilton, George, of Grafton, to Mary A. Foss, of Grafton, Sept. 28, 1855.
Kni.ght, George T., of Warren, to Arvilla A. Colby, of Haverhill,
Dee. 18, 1864.
Kimball, Sylvester, of Wentworth, to Jennie L. Kimball, of Enfield,
Oct. 12, 1870.
Knapp, Mason, cf Sharon, Vt., to Helen M. Emory, of Orange, Sept.
6, 1866.
Kemp, Alvah J., of Dorchester, to Mary J. Clough, of Lyme, April
21, 1868.
Lathrop, Jason, of New York, to Susanna Judkins, of Danbury, Feb.
16, 1817.
Leavitt, Moses, to Joanna Reed, both of Grafton, March 5, 1799.
Lathrop, Harris G., to Mrs. Charlotte Hadley, Oct. 17, 1854.
Lovejoy, Isaac, of Hanover, to Mrs. Laura Hadley, Sept. 7, 1856.
Loverin, Moses, of Grafton, to Eliza E. Wright, of Hanover, Sept.
26, 1839.
Lowell, Elijah C, to Sarah Batchelder, lx>th of Orange, Sept. 8, 1844.
Lawrence, Arthur J., of Nashua, to Augusta B. Johnson, Oct. 16, 1864.
Lowell, Allen G., to Vina L. Terrell, Sept. 20, 1879.
Langley, Orra H., to Ellen D. Fowler.
Lowell, Frank H., to Ellen F. Wier, Dec. 7, 1880.
Langworthy, George K. of Middlebury, Vt., to Arvilla K. Hubbard,
Aug. 28, 1832.
Lary, Josiah, to Dolly Sanborn, of Dame's Gore, May 9, 1820.
Lock, David, Jr., of Epsom, to Polly Carlton, Nov. 29, 1819.
Marshall, John, of Bradford, to Mary Clark, Nov. 19, 1835.
Merrill, Enoch, of Warren, to Eliza Ann Currier, Feb. 1, 1843.
Morey, Lewis, to Dorothy P. Gould, March 18, 1818.
Murray, Samuel, to Betsey Flanders, Feb. 2, 1819.
Martin, Simeon, to Mehitable Sanborn, both of Dorchester, Dec.
31, 1816.
Martin, Levi, to Chloe Bullock, Oct. 8, 1817.
Mason, Philip, to Betsey Read, both of Grafton, March 16, 1797.
Martin, Perry, to Hannah Quimby, both of Grafton, Jan. 7, 1799.
jMarriages. 661
Moi-se, Moses, to Sally Eaton, March 8, 1823.
Mather, Ezekiel, to Sally Piper, both of Dorchester, May 17, 1826.
Merrill, Nathaniel, of Vermont, to Hannah Martin, March 8, 1820.
May, Joshua, to Emily Wheat, April 5, 1853.
May, Albert, to Susanna E. Morse, of Hanover, Nov. 24, 1853.
Martin, John, to Esther V. Williams, July 13, 1851.
Martin, Jonathan H., to Mary A. Richardson, both of Grafton, July
5, 1838.
Martin, James, Jr., to Martha Richardson, both of Grafton, Dec. 5,
1839.
Morse, John, to Hepsibah A. Philbrick, both of Enfield, Aug. 31, 1840.
Miner, Leonard N., to Helen N. Choate, of Enfield, Sept, 2, 1846.
Merrill, Levi, to Louisa Hall, Jan. 24, 1862.
Mitchell, Alonzo, to Rosette Abbott, March 21, 1864.
Morey, Jonathan, of Wilmot, to Mary E. Palmer, of Andover, Oct.
29, 1864.
Maigeux, Adolph, to Julia A. CJolombe. April 30, 1864.
May, Obadiah, to Rozett Barnot, Jan. 2, 1867.
Mathews, Charles B., to Ella C. Fellows, of Groton, Sept. 7, 1868.
Morse, John W., of Vermont, to Julia A. Washburn, Oct. 20, 1869.
McGrath, John, to Augusta Westcott, both of Dorchester, Dec. 24, 1871.
Noyes, E. P., to Hannah Flagg, of Grafton, Dec. 31, 1857.
Nye, Willis C., of New London, to Mary E. Adams, June 30, 1875.
Nichols, Benjamin F., of Enfield, to Lydia Welch, June 19, 1834.
Norris, Joseph, of Dorchester, to Rachel Lawrence, Nov. 2, 1820.
Norris, Jacob, to Mary Richardson, of Dorchester, Oct. 3, 1802.
Paddleford, Asa, to Susan Decatur, both of Enfield, Sept., 1843.
Parks, Abel, of Hanover, to Sally May, Jan., 1844.
Pillsbury, John, of Danbury, to Sarah Gould, March 24, 1839.
Pollard, Benjamin N., to Sarah A. Temple, Dec. 18, 1864.
Pollard, John, to Mehitable Freeman, Sept. 14, 1821.
Pressey, Charles H., to Huldah G. Bartlett, Oct. 22, 1835.
Puffer, Daniel, to Chloe Barber, July 15, 1805.
Parker, Ebenezer, of Canterbury, to Emily M. Huntoon, of Orange,
Jan. 13, 1842.
Pool, Samuel, of Haverhill, to Susan Heath, of Orange, Nov., 1843.
Phelps, Charles M., of Sutton, to Elida M. Cilley, of Orange, April
27, 1863.
Piper, Isaiah, of Gilmanton, to Sarah E. Kilburn, of Orange, March
8, 1866.
Philbrick, Cyrus H., to Harriet C. Cook, of Concord, Jan. 14. 1871.
Paul, Frank, to Mary D. Mahony, Aug. 10, 1872.
Parsons, Sherburne, of Grafton, to Nancy J. Whittier, of Orange,
Jan. 17, 1874.
Purmort, Miner T., to Hannah C. Day, both of Enfield, Dec. 24, 1873.
Pattee, W. Fred, of Alexandria, to Hattie I. Gove, Sept. 4, 1875.
Piper, Samuel, to Clarissa Clark, both of Dorchester, Dec. 24, 1817.
662 ' History op Canaan.
Pierce, Earl, to Betsey DeMorauville, both of Grafton. March 12, 1801.
Pratt, Henry, to Eliza A. Hadley, June 8, 1851.
Palmer, Joseph D., of Bradford, to Clarissa G. Tyler, Nov. 20, 1851.
Plummer, Benjamin F., of Hanover, to Helen M. Daniels, Nov., 1851.
Parkhurst, Lueian C, of Vermont, to Harriet J. Butterfield, June
15, 1856.
Philbrick, David, of Hampton, to Betsey A. Edv/ards, of Enfield,
Aug.. 1837.
Philbrick, Porter K., of Wilmot, to Nancy M. Hoyt, of Enfield, Dec,
1837.
Pearley, Joseph G., to Abigail C. Clough, both of Enfield, May 27, 1838.
Putney, Joseph, of Wentworth. to Ann Davis, of Grafton, Jan. 11,
1838.
Pray, Oliver, of Orange, to Ruth G. Stevens, of Grafton, March 31,
1841.
Pettingill, Ephraim H., to Susan Dinsmore, Oct. 22, 1840.
Ray, John F., to Huldah A. Page, July 16, 1873.
Richardson, , to Susan Norris, Oct. 26, 1817.
Read, James P., to Elizabeth Wright, both of Grafton, Oct. 22, 1823.
Robinson, Amos, of Lebanon, to Lovinia Bullock, of Orange, Jan.
26, 1797.
Richardson, George A., of Vermont, to Orris J. Brooks, of Hanover,
Nov. 1, 1854.
Robinson, Joseph C, to Mary Bradbury, both of Massachusetts, Oct.
19, 1856.
Rogers, Harrison, of Mansfield, Mass., to Nancy Hoyt, June 12, 1837.
Rush, Elijah H., of Vermont, to Mary A. Smith, of Rochester, Sept.
18, 1S4S.
Rowell, John B., of Plainfield, to Mary A. Currier, April 11, 1S64.
Rogers, Charles H., of Enfield, to Sarah J. Riddle, of Grafton, Oct.
6, 1866.
Ranzer, Joseph W.. of Vermont, to Julia Abbott, Aug. 6, 1870.
Roberts, Jonathan, of Rumney, to Nellie S. Doloff, of Dorchester,
Dec. 26, 1871.
Rogers, Simeon R., to Mary A. Hardy, of Danbury, Aug. 14, 1875.
Randlett, Jacob, to Betsey Bradbury, Nov. 5.
Sargent, Aaron, of Grafton, to Mary I. Stevens, Oct. 21, 1846.
Sawyer, Joseph, to Elizabeth Richardson, March 18, 1798.
Shepard, Reuben F., to Amelia Kimball, Nov. 30, 1843.
Sherlock, William, to Sirene Martin, Jan., 1840.
Sherwell, Walter, to Betsey Danforth, both of Orange, Dec. 7, 1815.
Smith, Daniel L., to Sophronia Richardson, June 2, 1843.
Smith, Joseph D., to Mary Huse of Enfield, Nov., 1837.
Springer, Henry, to Patience Saunders, both of Grafton, Sept. 4, 1823.
Squire, Reul»en, of Vermont, to Sally Slocuni, Dec. 31, 1806.
Straw, Jacob, Jr., to Deliverance Bowen, of Lebanon, Oct. 23, 1825.
Sweat, John, to Hannah Lawrence, March 1, 1827.
Marriages. 663
Sanders, William H., of Sanborutou, to Sally Reed, of Grafton, Sept.
30, 1832.
Sanl)oni, William C, to Susan Paddleford, of Enfield, Sept. IS, 1S49.
Skinner, B. F., of Hillsborough, to Malvina E. Morse, of Enfield,
Jan. 1, 1857.
Seavy, Andrew, to Anceline L. Pierce, both of Andover, May 9. 1855.
Sanborn, George W., to Ljiura A. Butnian, June 6, 1S55.
Sawyer, Peter, to Eliza A. Bridgeman, Dec. 14, 1854.
Stephens, Joshua, Jr., of Enfield, to Sally March, of Springfield,
March 23. 1815.
Soomer, William, of Lebanon, to Polly Swett, of Hanover, July 28,
1816.
Smith, Enos, to Martha Silloway, both of Grafton, Feb. 12, 1824.
Stevens, Roland, to Hannah Clifford, both of Grafton. Aug. 15, 1802.
Shattuck, Nathan, to Sarah Briggs, both of Orange, March 14, 1822.
Sanborn, John, to Lydia Piper, both of Dorchester, Jnly 7, 1822.
Sanborn, Edward, to Sally Martin, both of Dorchester, May 9, 1822.
Story, George, of Enfield, to Sarah W. Johnson, of Dorchester, Feb.
6, 1823.
Sanborn, Joseph S., to Ruth W. Johnson, both of Dorchester, Feb. 6,
1823.
Sanborn, Joshua, to Mary Sawyer, both of Dorchester, Aug. 24, 1826.
Sanborn, Ira, of Sandwich, to Betsey Sanborn, of Dame's Gore, Dee.
25, 1820.
Stevens, Joseph P., to Laura Sales, both of Grafton, Aug. 2, 1818.
Smith, Sylvanus, of Northampton, N. Y., to M. A. E. Columbe, Aug.
8, 1850.
Smith, E. W., to Nancy M. Hadley, of Manchester, Feb. 21, 1852.
Sweet, George L., to Mary Clough, of Groton, Nov. 16, 1852.
Smith, Rodney V., to Deborah Claflin, April 5, 1853.
Skinner, John, to Eliza Chesley, both of Enfield, May 8, 1854.
Sweat, Thomas, to Delia Woodward, both of Dorchester, Sept. 19,
1833.
Swasey, Benjamin K., to Mrs. Mary D. Sanborn, Dec, 1837.
Sanborn, Jasper S., of Springfield, to Patience Spooner, of Grafton,
Nov. 5, 1837.
Smith, Warren, of Bradford, to Mary Stone, of Hanover, April 29,
1839.
Sleeper, Alfred, of Grafton, to Mary How, of Danbury, Oct. 17, 1839.
Stewart, Urie W., of Cambridge, Mass., to Elizabeth R. Page, of Man-
chester, Sept. 1, 1845.
Sanders, Oliver H., to Alice Allen, May 23, 1866.
Smith, George H., of Woodstock, Vt., to Augeline C. Varnum, Jan.
23, 1869.
Smith. David F., of Lyme, to Persis W. Chase, of Rhode Island, June
26, 1869.
664 History of Canaan.
Shaw, Livingston C, of Stoneham, Mass., to Rosa C. White, of Dor-
chester, Feb. 14, 1872.
Sleeper, Benjamin C, of Alexandria, to Mary Aldrich, Nov. 11, 1S74.
Taber, Luther A., to Lydia W. Bulloclv, of Grafton, Oct. 22, 1844.
Thurston, Stephen, to Nancy Davis, March 15, ISIS.
Tuclter, Nathaniel, of Norwich, Vt., to Betsey Straw, Sept. 15, 1822.
Tucker, James, to Mehitable Keniston, Feb. 7, 1805.
Tucker, John, to Hannah Beedle, March 12, 1797.
Tyler, Job, to Mrs. Lydia Dustin, May IS, 1820.
Taylor, Samuel, to Lydia Pillsbury, both of Danbury, Feb. 28, 1814.
Thurston, Jesse, to Eliza Clark, Aug. 1, 1824.
Tucker, Daniel B., of Thornton, to Elizabeth Elliott, April 11, 1850.
Thompson, Caleb, of Lyme, to Elizabeth A. Wilmot, March 22, 1852.
Townsend, George B., to Frances M. Allard, Sept. 28, 1856.
Tenney, Gustavus, of Alexandria, to Pluma Pettingill, of Grafton,
June 16, 1860.
Tibbetts, Charles H., to Sarah H. Thurston, of Gilmantou, Oct. 31,
1859.
True, Joseph G., to Dolly C. Chellis, both of Orange, Oct. 26, 1865.
Talhert, Frank, of Enfield, to Elnora Baker, of Royalton, Vt., June 4,
1867.
Towne, William H., to Mary M. Hiscock, Oct. 9, 1879.
Vimieux, Benjamin, of Massachusetts, to Olive Golumbe, Jan. 1, 1865.
Waldo, Walter, to Rody Gove, July 17, 1809.
Whipple, Joseph, Jr., of Hebron, to Lydia Blaisdell, of Dorchester,
Jan. 29, 1817.
Williams, Samuel, Jr., to Jane Bullock, both of Grafton, Jan. 26, 1797.
Williams, Oliver, to Jemima Barney, both of Grafton, Oct. 24, 1799.
Williams, William, to Hannah Merrill, both of Enfield, March 26, 1811.
Woodworth, George, of Dorchester, to Louisa Hovey, of Lyme, Aug.
14, 1825.
AVood, Amos, to Silva Sargent, both of Lebanon, Feb. 23, 1819.
Willis, Roswell O., to Lydia Stark, both of Hanover, June 24, 1819.
Whitmore, Daniel, to Marie Wells, Nov. 9, 1851.
Winslow, John, of Lyme, to Lydia E. Woodworth, of Dorchester,
Aug. 17, 1853.
Wear, Joseph, of Andover, to Ann A. Calif, March 26, 1854.
Withington, Horace H., of Hanover, to Lydia A. Fellows, Oct. 29, 1857.
Washburn, Harvey, to Laurett Aldrich, Nov. 13, 1839.
Woods, Levi C, to Belinda D. Colby, Aug. 19, 1860.
Wood, George H., of Vermont, to Clara P. Follensbee, of Vermont,
Oct. 12, 1864.
Webber, John D., to Mrs. Harriet A. Wa.shburn, Nov. 4, 1865.
White, James T., of Vermont, to Lizzie H. Chandler, of Lyme, Nov.
20, 1865.
Washhurn, Nahum, to Nancy Chandler, of Hanover, Oct. 5, 1841.
Marriages, 665
Weutworth, Jacob, of Berwick, Me., to Zilpha L. Mori'ill, Jan. 12,
1S46.
Wheat, Benjamin, of Dunstable, to Sarali BuIIoclv, of Grafton, Jan.
IS, 1816.
Wliittlesey, Jolin R., to Ann Whittier, March 28, 1836.
Wilson, Joseph, to Sarah Saunders, of Lebanon, Sept. 7. 1802.
Woodward, George B., of Manchester, to Mary J. Clarlv, Sept. 10, 1843.
Yorlv, Daniel, to Hannah Davis, Feb. 2, 1819.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
Votes for Go^'ernoPw
From 1784 to the formation of the Constitution in 1792 the
chief executive of the state was called president. This town
does not seem to have left a record of any votes before 1787.
The absence of all records during that period may be accounted
for, because Canaan probably did not know whether it was going
to belong to Vermont or not.
The * shows which candidate was elected.
1802*John T. Gihnan, 87.
John Langdon, 17.
1803*John T. Gilman, 104.
John Langdon, 30.
1804* John T. Oilman. 110.
John Langdon. 42.
William Tatton, 1.
1805*John Langdon, 54.
John T. Oilman, 104.
1806* John Langdon, 46.
Jeremiah Smith, 73.
Joshua Richardson, 1,
1807* John Langdon, 39.
Jeremiah Smith, 34.
E. B. Clark, 11.
J. T. Oilman, 3.
Daniel Blaisdell, 3.
1808*John Langdon, 51.
Jeremiah Smith, 49.
John Currier, 5.
R. B. Clark, 5.
Oliver Peabody, 4.
1809*Jeremiah Smith, 145.
John Langdon, 47.
1810* John Langdon. 42.
Jeremiah Smith, 140.
1787*John Langdon,
23.
John Sullivan,
9.
1788*John Langdon,
21.
John Sullivan,
1.
Josiah Bartlett,
7.
1789* John Sullivan,
4.
John Pickering,
24.
1790 John Pickering,
14.
*Josiah Bartlett,
3.
John Sullivan,
2.
1791*Josiah Bartlett,
37.
1792* Josiah Bartlett,
53.
1793*Josiab Bartlett,
35.
John Langdon,
7.
1794* John T. Oilman,
53.
Beza \Yoodward,
3.
1795
1796*Jolm T. Oilman,
42.
Timothy Walker,
10.
1797* John T. Oilman,
47.
1798*John T. Oilman,
18.
Oliver Peabody,
34
1799
1800*John T. Oilman,
57
Timothy Walker,
12
Oliver Peabody,
1
670
History op Canaan,
1811* John Langdon,
Jeremiah Smith,
Caleb Ellis,
1812*William Pliiraer,
John T. Gilman,
1813*John T. Gilman,
William Plumer,
1814* John T. Gilman,
William Plumer,
1815*John T. Gilman,
William Plumer,
Daniel L. Morris,
1816*William Plumer,
James Sheaf,
1817*William Plumer,
James Sheaf,
Josiah Bartlett,
1818*William Plumer,
Jeremiah Mason,
1819*Samuel Bell,
William Hale,
1820'*Samuel Bell,
William Hale,
Scattering,
1821*Samuel Bell,
Scattering,
1822*No vote.
1823*Levi Woodbury,
Samuel Dinsmore,
1824*David L. Morrill,
Jeremiah Smith,
Scattering,
1825*David L. Morrill,
Jacob Blaisdell,
1826*David L. Morrill,
Benjamin Pierce,
Scattering,
1827*Benjamin Pierce,
53.
Isaac Hill,
5.
123.
Scattering,
11.
1.
1828*John Bell,
180.
46.
Benjamin Pierce,
45.
145.
1829*Benjamin Pierce,
77.
134.
John Bell,
156.
37.
1830*Mathew Harvey,
77.
157.
Timothy Upham,
162.
49.
Joseph Dustin,
1.
147.
1831*Samuel Dinsmore,
87.
43.
Ichabod Bartlett,
144.
1.
1832*Samuel Dinsmore,
112.
42.
Ichabod Bartlett,
114.
143.
Arthur Livermore,
25.
34.
1833*Samuel Dinsmore,
134.
128.
Arthur Livermore,
54.
4.
1834*William Badger,
120.
42.
Scattering,
2.
124.
1835*William Badger,
146.
41.
Joseph Healey,
99.
93.
1836*Isaac Hill,
173.
104.
Scattering,
0.
11.
1837*Isaac Hill,
213.
7.
Thomas Flanders,
1.
75.
1838*Isaac Hill,
158.
16.
James Wilson,
148.
1839*John Page,
196.
105.
James Wilson,
115.
43.
1840* John Page,
189.
59.
Enos Stevens,
115.
87.
1841*John Page,
187.
7.
Enos Stevens,
141.
173.
1842*Henry Hubbard,
154.
1.
Enos Stevens,
52.
127.
John H. White,
16.
31.
Daniel Hoit,
19.
15.
Amos Miner,
2.
115.
1843*Henry Hubbard,
133.
Appendix.
671
Anthonj' Colby, 56.
John H. White, 47.
Daniel Hoit, 35.
1844* John H. Steele, 89.
Daniel Hoit. 124.
John H. White, 61.
Anthony Colby, 36.
Henry Hubbard, 1.
1845*John H. Steele, 90.
Daniel Hoit, 106.
Anthony Colby, 96.
1846*Anthony Colby, 85.
Nathaniel S. Berry, 83.
Jared W. Williams, 132.
1847*Jared W. Williams, 143.
Anthony Colby, 120.
Nathaniel S. Berry, S6.
1848*Jared W. Williams, 168.
Nathaniel S. Berry, 205.
1849*Samnel Dinsmore, 156.
Levi Chamberlin, 102.
Nathaniel S. Berry, 62.
1850*Samuel Dinsmore, 164.
Levi Chamberlin, 102.
Nathaniel S. Berry, 64.
1851*Samuel Dinsmore, 137.
Thomas E. Sawyer, 112.
John Atwood, 74.
1852*Noah Martin, 189.
Thomas E. Sawyer, 84.
John Atwood, 72.
1853*Noah Martin, 193.
James Bell, 67.
John H. White, 44.
1854*Nathaniel M. Baker, 195.
James Bell, 72.
Jared Perkins, 54.
1855*Ralph Metcalf, 202.
James Bell, 22.
Asa Fowler, 4.
Nathaniel M. Baker, 139.
1856*Ralph Metcalf, 206.
Jolm S. Wells, 196.
Ichabod Goodwin, 11.
1857*William Hale, 232.
John S. WeUs, 181.
1858*William Hale, 235.
Asa P. Cate, 168.
1859*Ichabod Goodwin, 229.
Asa P. Cate, 211.
1860*Ichabod Goodwin, 273.
Asa P. Cate, 167.
1861*Nathaniel S. Berry, 226.
George Stark, 153.
Levi Bartlett, 2.
1862*Nathaniel S. Berry, 193.
George Stark, 159.
Paul S. Wheeler, 16.
1863* Joseph A. Gilmore, 117.
Ira Eastman, 191.
Walter Harriman, 75.
1864* Joseph A. Gilmore, 209.
Edward W. Harring-
ton, 186.
Onslow Stearns, 1.
1865*Frederick Smith, 203.
Edward W. Harring-
ton, 151.
1866*Frederick Smyth, 208.
John G. Sinclair, 143.
1867*Walter Harriman, 197.
John G. Sinclair, 202.
1868*Walter Harriman, 253.
John G. Sinclair, 228.
1869*Onslow Stearns, 194.
John Bedell, 229.
672
History op Canaan.
1870*Onslow Stearns,
John Bedell,
Scatlerintr,
1871*James A. Wesfcoa,
James Pike,
1872 James A. Weston,
*Ezekiel A. Straw^
1873*Ezekiel A. Straw,
James A. Weston,
1874* James A. Weston,
Luther McCutchins,
1875*Person C. Cheney,
Hiram A. Roberts,
Scattering,
1876*Person C. Cheney.
Daniel Marcy,
1877*Benjamin F. Pres-
cott,
Daniel Marcy,
1878*Benjamin F. Pres
cott,
Frank A. McKean,
1879*Natt Head,
Frank A. McKean,
1881*Charles H. Bell,
Frank Jones,
1883*Samuel W. Hale,
M. V. B. Edgerly,
1885*Moody Currier,
207.
John M. Hill,
164.
228.
1887*Charles H. Sawyer,
157.
16.
Thomas Cogswell,
146.
235.
1889*David A. Goodell,
186.
202.
Charles H. Amsden,
202.
240.
1891*Hiram A. Tuttle,
156.
207.
Joseph M. Fletcher,
5.
167.
Charles H. Amsden,
206.
219.
1893*Jolm B. Smith,
148.
215.
Luther McKinney,
156.
155.
1895*Charles A. Busiel,
173.
204.
Henry 0. Kent,
120.
204.
189 7* George A. Ramsdell,
171.
3.
Henry 0. Kent,
89.
272.
1899*Frank A. Rollins,
223.
202.
Charles F. Stone,
123.
-
1901*Chester B. Jordan,
225.
238.
Frank E. Potter,
130.
175.
Scattering,
4.
-
1903*N. J. Bachelder,
203.
242.
H. F. Hollis,
101.
188.
1905*John McLane,
204.
235.
H. F. Hollis,
94.
165.
1907*Charles M. Floyd,
194.
222.
X. C. Jameson,
73.
240.
Scattering,
8.
'ii:\.
1909*Henry B. Quinby,
240.
200.
C. E. Carr,
153.
196
Scattering,
5.
Representatives.
1774^76 None, embraced Lebanon, Hanover, Relhan, Canaan,
Grafton, Cardigan.
1777 None, embraced Hanover, Canaan, Cardigan.
1783 , embraced Relhan, Canaan, Cardigan, Dorchester,
Grafton.
1784 William Ayer, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester, Grafton.
Appendix.
673
1785 Ebeneazer Hoyt, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester, Grafton.
1786 Jesse Johnson, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester, Grafton.
1787 Jesse Johnson, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester, Grafton.
1788 None.
1789 Jesse Johnson, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester, Grafton.
1790 Ebeneazer Hoyt, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester Grafton.
1791 Ebeneazer Hoyt, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan,
Dorchester, Grafton.
1792 William Richardson, embraced Enfield, Canaan, Cardi-
gan, Dorchester, Grafton.
1793 Daniel Blaisdell, embraced Canaan, Grafton, Orange.
1794 Jolin Bnrdick, embraced Canaan, Grafton, Orange.
1795-99 Daniel Blaisdell, embraced Canaan, Grafton, Orange.
1800-07 Ebeneazer Clark, embraced Canaan.
1808-09 Moses Dole.
1810-11 John Currier.
1812-13 Daniel Blaisdell.
1814r-16 Thomas H. Pettingill.
1817 John Currier.
1818-20 Moses Dole.
1821 John H. Harris.
1822 None.
1823 John H. Harris.
1824r-25 Daniel Blaisdell.
1826 Elijah Blaisdell.
1827-28 James Wallace.
1829-30 Nathaniel Currier.
1831-32 Josiah Clark, Jr.
1833-34 George Walworth.
1835-36 J. L. Richardson.
1837 James Arvin, 140.
William P. Weeks, 110.
John Shepard, 8.
43
Eleazer Martin, 1.
1838 James Arvin, " 148.
March Barber, 133.
W. P. Weeks, 9.
J. L. Richardson, 1.
1839 W. P. Weeks, 193.
R. B. Clark, 98.
Dunham, 1.
1840 W. P. Weeks, 182.
March Barber, 98.
Josiah Haynes, 1.
R. B. Clark, 1.
1841 Caleb Blodgett, 182.
March Barber, 134.
Chamb'n Packard, 2.
1842 Caleb Blodgett, 155.
John Sweat, 51.
John B. Towle, 9.
1843 James Arvin, 141.
674
History of Canaan.
W. E. Eastman,
86.
No Representative.
H. C. George,
15.
1850
Allen Hayes,
106.
Jonathan Kittredge,
13.
W. P. Weeks,
144.
James Eastman,
3.
Caleb Dustin,
60.
John H. Harris,
3.
Scattering,
6.
Jonathan Swan,
1.
No choice.
Caleb Blodgett,
1.
No Representative sent.
1844 Liba Conant,
169.
1851
Jonathan Kittredge,
170.
William jNIartin,
105.
(1)
Peter S. Wells,
132.
Jonathan Kittredge,
1.
Ara Wheat,
5.
1845 No. of baUots.
No Rep. sent.
Ara Wheat,
146.
1846 Jonathan Kittredge,
126.
(2)
Peter S. Wells,
95.
Chamb'n Packard,
97.
Scattering,
3.
W. W. George,
57.
1852 W. P. Weeks,
197.
J. E. Sargent,
5.
(1)
Jonathan Kittredge,
129.
Scattering,
6.
Elzina Wheat,
2.
Next morning.
Scattering,
3.
Jonathan Kittredge,
128.
Chamb'n Packard,
62.
J. B. Wallace,
172.
VV. W. George,
8.
(2)
Ara Wheat,
84.
Scattering,
7.
Scattering,
15.
1847 Jonathan Kittredge,
201.
1853
W. P. Weeks,
184.
(1) Eleazer Martin,
122.
(1)
Allen Hayes,
94.
Nathaniel Currier,
1.
Scattering,
8.
(2) W. W. George,
158.
J. E. Sargent,
116.
Peter S. Wells,
149.
Scattering,
34.
(2)
Charles Barney,
55.
1848 Jonathan Kittredge,
182.
Scattering,
5.
Eleazer Martin,
145.
1854 W. P. Weeks,
180.
W. W. George,
5.
(1)
Jonathan Kittredge,
75.
Scattering,
3.
Caleb Dustin,
45.
1849 Eleazer Martin,
141.
J. B. Wallace,
100.
Peter S. Wells,
152.
Job C. Tyler,
53.
(2)
Eleazer Barney,
56.
Jonathan Kittredge,
6.
Nathan Jones,
53.
Scattering,
9.
1855
Jonathan Kittredge,
224.
Seven ballots.
(1)
Jesse Martin,
138.
No choice.
Appendix.
675
Wyman Pattee, 206.
(2) S. B. Morgan, 125.
1856 Wyman Pattee, 215.
(1) W. P. Weeks, 191.
Eleazer Barney, 210.
(2) Jesse Martin, 181.
Xathan Jones, 4.
1857 Elea-zer Barney, 213.
(1) W. P. Weeks, 170.
Scattering, 4.
Nathan Jones, 208.
(2) L. C. Pattee, 158.
Scattering, 1.
1859 James H. Kelley, 226.
(1) Franklin P. Swett, 206.
William Doten, 220.
(2) Hazen K. Farnum, 218.
Scattering, 5.
Next day.
(2) Hazen K. Farnum, 228.
William Doten, 225.
Scattering, 1.
1860 Horace S. Currier, 271.
(1) Franklin P. Swett, 166.
(2) William L. Harris, 270.
William Doten, 163.
Scattering, 2.
1861 George W. Murray, 222.
(1) William Doten, 141.
Scattering, 4.
(2) Charles Day, 223.
Arnold Morgan, 144.
Scattering, 3,
1862 George W. Murray, 175.
(1) Lewis C. Pattee, 119.
Harry Follensbee, 77.
George Harris, 1.
(2) George Harris, 184.
Arnold Morgan, 127.
C. S. Putnam, 66.
Joseph Dustin, 1.
Second vote.
(1) Harry Follensbee, 199.
George W. Murray, 192.
Scattering, 7.
(2) George Harris, 199.
Arnold Morgan, 194.
Scattering, 7.
No Representative.
1863 Lewis C. Pattee, 199.
(1) Harry Follensbee, 184.
Arnold Morgan, 194.
(2) Caleb S. Bartlett, 184.
Scattering, 2.
1864 Harrys Follensbee, 210.
(1) Lewis C. Pattee, 190.
Scattering, 1.
(2) Caleb S. Bartlett, 210.
Arnold Morgan, 190.
1865 Frank Currier, 198.
(1) Frank P. Swett, 141.
Scattering, 3.
(2) William G. Somers, 203.
Augustus Shepard, 138.
Scattering, 3.
1866 William W. George, 205.
(1) Stephen Peaslee, 141.
(2) George W. Murray, 212.
676
History of Canaan.
1867
George Hinkson,
Scattering,
Jonathan Barnard,
101.
6.
180.
1873
Otis J. Story,
Benjamin Norris,
W. L. Harris,
152
221.
151
(1)
William W. George,
142.
G. W. Davis,
210
•
N. P. Taplin,
S. E. Swett,
James C. Felch,
27.
20.
18.
1874 Frank Currier,
G. W. Davis,
William Hall,
163
214
160
Thomas Sanborn,
221
(2)
Stephen Peaslee, 205.
George W. Murray, 129.
Scattering, 26.
Second ballot for first.
1875
Thomas Sanborn,
W. B. Richardson,
Henry McGrath,
H. S. Dow,
188
212
196
205
Jonathan Barnard,
174.
1876
W. B. Richardson,
273
N. P. Taplin,
W. W. George,
Scattering,
59.
33.
59.
Albert H. Wilson,
Stephen Peaslee,
H. S. Dow,
198
194
267
1868
Caleb Dustin,
250.
1877
0. L. Rand,
166
(1)
(2)
1869
(1)
Stephen Peaslee,
Jolin Q. Perley,
James C. Felch,
James C. Felch,
Horatio Gates,
231.
247.
231.
224.
205.
1878
A. E. Barney,
Levi F. Webster,
Allen H. George,
C. H. Tower,
A. E. Barney,
0. L. Rand,
235
164
229
161
256
166
(2)
Joseph D. Weeks, 220.
John W . Richard-
Bien
L. S. Welch,
. J. D. Weeks,
252
174
son,
204.
L. S. Welch,
220
1870
Hiram Barber,
196.
Charles Davis,
158
L. C. Follensbee,
194.
F. D. Currier,
238
J. D. Weeks,
241.
1880
F. D. Currier,
220.
1871
Elijah Smith,
Elijah Smith,
Nathan Willis,
238.
242.
187.
AVarren F. Wilson,
Charles Day,
J. D. Weeks,
239
201.
252.
Stephen Peaslee,
M. H. Milton,
243.
179.
1882
No.
J. D. Weeks,
S. D. Smith,
203
210.
1872
Stephen Peaslee,
Otis J. Story,
Benjamin Norris,
W. L. Harris,
241.
209.
238.
210.
1884
1886
Guilford Doten,
S. R. Swett,
George W. Story,
L. S. Davis,
144.
187.
130.
154.
Appendix.
677
1888 Warren E. Wilson,
George W. Story,
1890 A. M. Shackford,
H. J. Goss,
1892 G. H. Lathrop,
G. H. Gordon,
1894 H. A. Gilman,
G. H. Gordon,
1896 F. A. Doten,
K. R. Smith,
1898 A. W. Hutchinson,
169.
F. D. Currier,
232
207.
1900 C. 0. Barney,
228
137.
0. L. Rand,
131
205.
1902 Daniel Goss,
89
132.
H. B. Gates,
210
177.
1904 F. A. Bogardus,
108
126.
S. R. Smith,
184
187.
1906 C. M. Murray,
278
105.
H. P. Burleigh,
71
210.
1908 J. B. Wallace,
222
117.
E. M. Allen,
177
Select]men.
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
John Scofield, Joseph Craw, Samuel Benedict (Assessors).
John Scofield, Joseph Craw, Samuel Benedict (Assessors).
Ebenezer Eames, Joseph Craw, Samuel Benedict.
Asa Kilburn, Ebenezer Eames, Joseph Craw.
Asa Kilburn, Joseph Craw, Charles Walworth.
Asa Kilburn, Ebenezer Eames, .
Asa Kilburn, Ebenezer Eames, Samuel Jones.
Ebenezer Eames, Richard Clark, 3d, Samuel Jones.
George Harris, Thomas Baldwin.
William Ayer, William Richardson.
William Richardson, George Harris.
William Richardson, Caleb Welch, Eleazer Scofield.
William Richardson, William Ayer, Ezekiel Wells.
Samuel Jones. William Richardson, Samuel Noyes,
John Worth, William Richardson, Samuel Jones.
John Worth, Samuel Jones, William Richardson.
John Worth, William Richardson, Dudley Gilman.
Dudley Gilman, Thomas Miner, John Harris.
Richard Whittier, Thomas Miner, John Harris.
John Harris, William Richardson, Joshua Harris.
678 History op Canaan.
1795 Samuel Jones, John AVorth, Richard Whittier.
1796 Ezekiel Wells, Daniel Farnum, Richard Whittier.
1797 Ezekiel Wells, William Richardson, Daniel Farnum.
1798 William Richardson, Ezekiel Wells, Daniel Farnum.
1799 Richard Whittier, Gideon Morse, John Currier.
1800 Gideon Morse, John Currier, Ebenezer Clark.
1801 Gideon Morse, John Currier, Ebenezer Clark.
1802 Gideon Morse, John Currier, Ebenezer Clark.
1803 John Currier, Ebenezer Clark, William Richardson.
1804 Ebenezer Clark, James Morse, Moses Dole.
1805 Ebenezer Clark, James Morse, John Currier.
1806 James Morse, Levi Bailey, John M. Barber.
1807 John Currier, Hubbard Harris, Amos Gould.
1808 Jolm Currier, Hubbard Harris, Amos Gould.
1809 Jolm Currier, Hubbard Harris, Amos Gould.
1810 Jolm Currier, Hubbard Harris, Joseph Bartlett.
1811 John Currier, Hubbard Harris, Caleb Seabury.
1812 John Currier, Hubbard Harris, Caleb Seabury.
1813 Daniel Blaisdell, Daniel Pattee, Clark Currier.
1814 Daniel Blaisdell, Daniel Pattee, Nathaniel Bartlett.
1815 Daniel Blaisdell, Daniel Pattee, Nathaniel Bartlett.
1816 Daniel Pattee, Jolm Currier, Elias Porter.
1817 Daniel Pattee, John Currier, Elias Porter.
1818 Daniel Blaisdell, Elias Porter, John H. Harris.
1819 Daniel Pattee, John Currier, John H. Harris.
1820 John H. Harris, George Walworth, Jacob Richardson.
1821 John H. Harris, George Walworth, Jacob Richardson.
1822 Elijah Blaisdell, Nathaniel Currier, James Wallace.
1823 John H. Harris, John Currier, Richard Clark, 3d.
1824 Elijah Blaisdell, James Wallace, Nathaniel Currier.
1825 Elijah Blaisdell, James Wallace, Nathaniel Currier.
""■ 1826 James Wallace, Nathaniel Currier, William Martin.
1827 William Martin, Ebenezer Clark, Benjamin Haynes.
1828 Elijah Blaisdell, John H. Harris, Joshua Wells.
1829 James Wallace, Daniel Pattee, March Barber.
"^ 1830 James Wallace, Daniel Pattee, March Barber.
1831 Elijah Blaisdell, John Shepard, William Martin.
1832 Elijah Blaisdell, John Shepard, Joseph L. Richardson.
Appendix. 679
1833 Joseph L. Richardson, George Walworth, William Camp-
bell.
183-i Joseph L. Eichardson, George Walworth, William Camp-
bell.
1835 James Arvin, AVilliam Martin, Sylvanus B. ^Morgan.
1836 James Ar^dn, William Martin, Sylvanus B. Morgan.
1837 Joseph L. Richardson, March Barber, Daniel Campbell.
1838 Joseph L. Richardson, Daniel Campbell, Caleb Blodgett.
1839 Joseph L. Richardson, Daniel Campbell, Caleb Blodgett.
1840 Caleb Blodgett, James Eastman, Chamberlain Packard, Jr.
1841 Caleb Blodgett, Chamberlain Packard, Jr., Daniel Pattee,
Jr.
1842 Daniel Pattee, Jr., James Arvin, Peter Wells.
1843 Daniel Pattee, Jr., Peter Wells, William W. George.
1844 William W. George, Peter Wells, Joseph Dustin.
1845 William W. George, Joseph Dustin, James Arvin.
1846 William W. George, Joseph Dustin, Samuel Williams.
1847 Joseph Dustin, Nathaniel Currier, Nathaniel Shepard.
1848 Nathaniel Currier, Nathaniel Shepard, Caleb Dustin.
1849 Caleb Blodgett, Daniel Pattee, Jr., John H. Swett.
1850 Eleazer Martin, Peter S. Wells, William Doten.
1851 Jonathan Kittredge, Moses G. Kelley, Samuel Williams.
1852 Peter S. Wells, March Barber, Chamberlain Packard, Jr.
1853 March Barber, James Pattee, Benjamin Y. Hilliard.
1854 March Barber, James Pattee, Benjamin Y. Hilliard.
1855 William W. George, Hazen K. Famum, John S. Shepard.
1856 William W. George, John S. Shepard, Roswell Elliott.
1857 Roswell Elliott, Augustus C. Love joy, Horatio Gates.
1858 William W. George, Roswell Elliott, Horatio Gates.
1859 Eleazer Barney, Charles Day, William G. Somers.
1860 Eleazer Barney, Charles Day, William G. Somers.
1861 William G. Somers, Henry C. George, Stephen Morse.
1862 Franklin P. Swett, Henry- H. Wilson, Job S. Davis.
1863 Franklin P. Swett, Henry H. Wilson, Job S. Davis.
1864 John S. Shepard, John M. Barber, Job S. Davis.
1865 Eleazer Barney, Franklin P. Swett, William W. George.
1866 Eleazer Barney, William W. George, Isaac Davis.
1867 Peter S. Wells, Benjamin Norris, John W. Currier.
680 History of Canaan.
1868 Isaac Davis, Elijah C. Flanders, Moses E. Currier.
1869 Henry H. Wilson, Charles Davis, Levi F. Webster.
1870 Henry H. Wilson, Charles Davis, Levi F. Webster.
1871 Henrj^ H. Wilson, Charles Davis, Levi F. Webster.
1872 Henry H. Wilson, Charles Davis, Levi F. Webster.
1873 Henry H. Wilson, Ephraim F. Wilson. Daniel H. Camp-
bell.
1874 Henry H. Wilson, Ephraim F. Wilson, Daniel H. Camp-
bell.
1875 Eleazer Barney, Otis J. Story, Moses T. Colby.
1876 Eleazer Barney, Otis J. Story, Moses T. Colby.
1877 Isaac Davis, Moses T. Colby, John Currier.
1878 Isaac Davis, Moses T. Colby. John Currier.
1879 Isaac Davis, Nathan C. Morgan, John Currier.
1880 Isaac Davis, Albert H. Wilson, James H. Kelley.
1881 Isaac Davis, Albert H. Wilson, Lewis C. Follensbee.
1882 Isaac Davis, Hollis B. Whitney, Lewis C. Follensbee.
1883 Isaac Davis, Hollis B. Whitney, George W. Hazeltine.
1884 Henry H. Wilson, Isaac Davis, Harris J. Goss.
1885 Henrys H. Wilson, Isaac Davis, George W. Hazeltine.
1886 Henry H. Wilson, John Currier, George W. Hazeltine.
1887 John D. Loverin, Milan E. Davis, Guilford Doten.
1888 Leroy S. Davis. John D. Loverin. Alvin Davis.
1889 Leroy S. Davis, Oscar L. Eand, Daniel Goss, Jr.
1890 Leroy S. Davis, Oscar L. Rand, Daniel Goss, Jr.
1891 Leroy S. Davis, Harris J. Goss, Charles W. Dwinels.
1892 Henry H. Wilson, John Currier, Warren E. Wilson.
1893 Warren E. Wilson, Daniel W. Campbell, Eugene Shepard.
1894 John Currier, Eugene Shepard, Arthur A. Austin.
1895 John Currier, Eugene Shepard, Arthur A. Austin.
1896 John Currier, Eugene Shepard, Arthur A. Austin.
1897 John Currier, Claude M. Murray, Horatio B. Gates.
1898 John Currier, Claude M. Murray, Horatio B. Gates.
1899 John Currier, Claude M. ]\Iurray, Horatio B. Gates.
1900 John Currier, Albert L. Hadley, WiU A. Hoit.
1901 John Currier, Will A. Hoit, William Hall.
1902 John Currier, Will A. Hoit, Frank B. Smart.
1903 John Currier, Will A. Hoit, Frank B. Smart.
Appendix.
681
1904 Jolm Currier, Horace G. Eobie, Frank B. Smart.
1905 John Currier, Frauk B. Smart, Envin M. Adams.
1906 John Currier. Frank B. Smart, Erwin M. Adams.
1907 John Currier. Frank B. Smart. Erwin ]\I. Adams.
1908 John Currier. Erwin M. Adams, Arthur E. Mooney.
1909 Frank B. Smart. Eugene A. Shepard, Horace G. Robie.
1910 Frank B. Smart. Eugene A. Shepard, Horace S. Robie.
MODEEATORS.
1770-72
John Seofield.
1802
1773-76
Asa Kilburn.
1803-05
1777
John Seofield.
1806
1778-85
No records.
1807
1786
Samuel Jones, Caleb
1808-09
Welch, George Har-
1810-11
ris.
1812
1787
Richard Clark.
1813-20
1788-90
Samuel Jones.
1821
1791
William Ayer.
1822
1792
William Richardson,
1823
Thomas Miner,
1824
John Burdick,
1825
Samuel Jones,
1826
Dudley Gilman.
1827-28
1793
Samuel Jones, John
1829
Burdick, Thomas
1830
Miner.
1831
1794
William Richardson,
1832-34
Samuel Jones.
1835-36
1795
Samuel Jones, Ezekiel
1837
Wells.
1838-42
1796-97
Ezekiel WeUs, Wil-
1843
liam Richardson.
1844-45
1798
Ezekiel Wells.
1846
1799
Thomas Miner, Josh-
1847-48
ua Harris, Ezekiel
1849-50
Wells.
1851
1800-01
Ezekiel Wells.
1852-54
William Richardson.
Ezekiel Wells.
Joshua Richardson.
Simeon Arvin.
Daniel Blaisdell.
William Richardson.
Daniel Blaisdell.
Thomas H. Pettingill.
Elijah BlaisdeU.
Daniel Blaisdell.
Abraham Pushee.
Daniel Blaisdell.
William Atherton.
Daniel Blaisdell.
Elijah Blaisdell.
Jacob Trussell.
Daniel Blaisdell.
Jonas W. Smith.
Elijah Blaisdell.
Caleb Blodgett.
Joseph L. Richardson.
William P. Weeks.
Caleb Blodgett.
Jonathan Kittredge.
William P. Weeks.
Jonathan Kittredge.
William P. Weeks.
Jonathan Kittredge.
William P. Weeks.
682
History of Caxaan.
1855-56 Jonathan Kittredge.
1857 Wyman Pattee.
1858 Jonathan Kittredge.
1859-60 James P. Barber.
1861 George W. Murray.
1862-63 Isaac N. Blodgett.
1864:-66 George W. Murray.
1867 Isaac N. Blodgett.
1868 James P. Barber.
1869 William P. Weeks.
1870-75 Henry H. Wilson.
1876-79 Albert E. Barney.
1880 S. R. Swett, Bien.
Henry H. Wilson,
1881-82 Henry H. Wilson.
1883 Joseph D. Weeks.
1884-86 Henry H. Wilson,
Bien. F. D. Cur-
rier.
1887 Henry H. Wilson.
1888-96 Frank D. Currier.
1897 S. R. Swett.
1898-1910 Frank D. Currier.
Town Clerks.
1770-72 Samuel Benedict.
1773-76 Caleb Welch.
1777-85 Thomas Baldwin.
1786-88 David Fogg.
1789-90 John Worth.
1791 David Dustin.
1792-96 Oliver Smith.
1797 Caleb Pierce.
1798-1800 Oliver Smith.
1801-06 :\roses Dole.
1807 Jacob Trussell.
1808-17 Moses Dole.
1818-24 Daniel Hovey.
1825-33 Timothy Tilton.
1834^36 James Arvin.
1837-38 Eleazer Martin.
1839-45 James Arvin.
1846-51 James B. Wallace. -
1852-54 Jesse Martin.
1855 James H. Davis.
1856-57 Mathew H. Milton.
1858-59 C. S. Putnam.
1860-62 John M. Barber.
1863 David Barnard.
186^66 William A. Wallace.
1867 Charles Barney.
1868 Albert E. Barney.
1869-74 Charles Barney.
187.5-83 Alfred :\I. Shackford.
188^85 Warren E. Hoit.
1886-87 Willie A. Tucker.
1888-94 George H. Gordon.
1895 Charles H. Tower.
1896-1910 George H. Gordon.
Appendix. 683
Census of 1790.
lis 1 i=
^ •*''C 3 ^ t- en 7!
Ayer, William 2 3 3
Barber, Joseph 1
Barber, Eobert 4 2 4
Bartlett, Josiali H 1 2 2
Bartlett, Nathaniel 1 1 4
Bean, John 1 1 1
Blasdall, Daniel 1 4 1
Blasdall, Parot 2 1 4
Blood, Enock 1
Baldwin, Thomas 1 1 5
Booth, Isaiah 1 2 2
Bradbury, William 1 2
Brdshaw, Joshua 1 4 4
Clark, Caleb 1 2
Clark, Currier 2 1 1
Clark, Josha 1 1
Clark, Richard 2 1 4
Clark, Richard, Jr 1 1
Colby, Daniel 1 3 3
Colkins, John P 1 4 4
Currier, John 1 1 4
Cushing, Joshua 1 1 2
Duglas, William 1 5 2
Dustin, Daniel 1 1 1
Dustin, Jonathan 4 3
Dustin, Jonathan, Jr 1 1 1
Eastman, Stephen 1 1 2
Finch, Henrj- 2 1 3
Flint, Joseph 4 4 6
Falsom, Joseph 1
Fulsom, Josiah 4 1
684 History of Canaan.
Fulsom, Samuel . . .
Gates, Rowland . . .
Gardner, Ezekiel . . .
Gilnian, Dudley . . .
Hadley, Abel
Hadley, Simon . . . .
Harris, Benjamin . .
Harris, George
Harris, George, Jr. .
Harris, Jolm
Heath, Samuel . . . .
Hovey, Jacob
Jones, David
Jones, Jehue
Jones, Samuel
Kimball, Asa
Kenester, Francis . .
Lathrop, Elias . . . .
Lathrop, Thaddeus
Miclianm, Samuel .
Miller, Jonathan . .
]\Iinor, Thomas . . . .
Morse, Daniel
Nichols, Ezra
Norris, Eliphlet . . .
Noys, Samuel
Otis, Richard
Paddleford, Asa . .
Richardson, Enoek .
Richardson, William
Roynalds, Hezekiah
Samburn, Moses . . .
Sawyer, Benjamin
Free white males
of 16 yrs. upward
including heads
of families.
t. a
Free white fe-
males ineluding
heads of families.
1
3
3
1
2
1
1
1
3
1
2
4
1
2
2
1
1
1
4
1
3
1
1
2
3
1
4
1
2
1
6
1
4
5
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
4
4
5
2
4
3
2
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
3
2
3
1
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
3
1
1
8
3
2
4
Appendix.
685
^ «
^•5 a
CO 3 c4
Seofield, Eleazer 2
Scofield, John 2
Sergeant, Samuel 1
Smith, Jabez 1
Smith, Oliver 1
Smith, William 1
Springer, Henry 1
Stevans, Amos 2
Stieknor, Jonathan 1
Stoddard, Clemont 1
Webster, William 1
Welch, Caleb 4
Wells, Ezekel 2
Welch, Samuel 2
Wells, Ashel 2
Wells, Ezekiel 2
Wells, Joshua 2
Weeker, Nathaniel 2
Wlieeker, Richard 2
Wilson, Warren 1
Woodbury, James 1
Worth, John 3
Worth, Nathaniel 1
0)
05 ^
CO
2
3
3
2
1
1
4
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
3
1782
John Scofield.
Ebenezer Eames.
George Harris.
Joseph Flint.
Caleb Welch.
William Ayer.
Samuel Jones.
Richard Clark.
Robert Barber.
Elijah Lathrop.
Thadeus Lathrop.
"".H.£
®5 a
ja a*-
IE ©"S
t- g 4)
3
5
3
3
2
4
3
1
2
3
4
4
3
2
4
4
2
2
2
3
3
Total, 476. 134 126 216
First lN\rENTORY ox Recoeds, 1782-86.
686
History of Canaan.
Jonathan Stickney.
Kichard Otis.
Thomas Baldwin.
Jehu Jones.
John Scotield, Jr.
Eleazer Seofield.
Samuel Meacham.
Ezekiel Gardner,
Mathew ]\Iann.
Josiah H. Bartlett.
William Douglass.
John Bartlett.
Nathaniel Bartlett.
Charles Walworth.
William Smith.
Samuel Hinkson.
David Fogg.
Joshua Harris.
Benjamin Sawyer.
Ezekiel Wells.
John P. Calkins.
Samuel Gates.
William Manning.
James Woodbury.
Henry Springer.
Frances Smith.
Leonard Hoar.
Benjamin R. Burts.
Elias Lathrop.
Gideon Brockway.
Josiah Barber.
Daniel Blaisdell.
James Treadway, n. r.
Ephraim Wells, n. r.
Jonathan Paddleford, n. r.
All the above appear in the inventory of 1786 with the ex-
ception of John Seofield, Jonathan Stickney, Matthew Mann,
Samuel Gates, AVilliam Manning, Frances Smith, Leonard Hoar,
Gideon Brockway, Josiah Barber, Ephraim Wells and Jonathan
Paddleford with the following additional names. These inven-
tories are copies and do not contain the names of all the men in
town.
1786
Caleb Clark.
William Richardson.
Joshua Richardson.
Warren Wilson.
Joseph Stickney.
Caleb Clark, Jr.
Joshua Wells.
Joshua Smith.
Josiah Folsom.
Joseph Kinney.
Benjamin Harris.
Lucy Walworth.
John Currier.
Richard Clark, Jr.
Richard Clark, 3d.
Clement Stoddard.
Isaiah Booth,
Parrot Blaisdell.
Nathan Follensbee.
Nathaniel Whitcher.
Reynold Gates.
Abel Hadley.
Humphrey Nichols.
Appendix.
687
Elijah Paddleford, n. r.
Asa Paddleford, n. r.
Asahel "Wells.
Samuel Noyes.
Oliver Smith.
George Harris, Jr.
Sargent Blaisdell.
Sarah Scofield.
List of Voters ix the Town of Canaan Qltalified to
Vote for State and County Officers on the
Second Tuesday of March, 1825.
Arvin, James.
Aldrich, Milton.
Aldrich, Abel.
Aldrich, Jedidiah.
Atherton, William,
Annis, Benjamin.
Ar\'in, Jesse.
Blaisdell, Daniel.
Blaisdell, Elijah.
Blaisdell, James.
Blaisdell, Daniel, Jr.
Blaisdell Parrot.
Blaisdell, Jacob.
Blaisdell, John.
Bartlett, Nathaniel.
Bartlett, Caleb C.
Barber, John M.
Barber, Nathaniel.
Barber, Josiah P.
Bailey, Levi.
Bailev, Levi, Jr.
Bartlett, Joseph.
Barber, Josiah.
Barber, Josiah, Jr.
Barber, March.
Bradbury, William.
Currier, David, Jr.
Currier, John.
Currier, James.
Chase, Moody.
Clark, Josiah.
Carlton, Jona.
Colby, Daniel.
Clark, Joseph.
Cass, Nathan.
Currier, Theophilus.
Currier, Theophilus, Jr.
Currier, Joshua.
Cilley, Thomas.
Colby, Adonijah.
Clark, Eliphalet.
Campbell, William.
Campbell, Daniel.
Clark, Amasa.
Currier, David.
Cilley, Abner H.
Clough, Samuel.
Cross, Nathan.
Clark, Robert B.
Chase, Ezra.
Clark, Eichard, Jr.
Currier, Nathaniel.
Colby, Ensign.
Carlton, John.
Clark, Ebenezer.
Clark, Theodore.
Clark, Josiah, Jr.
Cobb, Solomon.
688
History of Canaan.
Cobb, Guilford.
Collins, John.
Caswell, Otis.
Cilley, Mark.
Dustin, David.
Dustin, John R.
Doten, James.
Doten, James, Jr.
Davis, Ebenezer.
Dole, Moses.
Dow, Jacob.
Dustin, Joseph.
Derby, Nathaniel.
Davis, Moses.
Dole, Wales.
Davis, Nathan.
Dustin, Caleb.
Dustin, Francis.
Dustin, Dudley.
Drake, Samuel.
Drake, Thomas.
Eastman, James.
Eastman, Phineas.
Eaton, Ebenezer.
Flanders, Moses.
Folsom, Joseph.
Fales, John.
Flint, George.
Flanders, John.
Flanders, John, 2d.
Flanders, Thomas.
Fales, Oren.
Folensbee, Moses.
Foster, Amos.
Gale, Ezra.
Gile, Richard.
Gilman, Ezra.
Gould, Nathan.
Gilman, Caleb.
Gates, Raynold.
Gile, Reuben.
Gilman, Nathaniel.
Gleason, Sewell.
Greeley, Mathew.
Gould, Amos.
Gould, David.
Gove, Elijah.
Goss, Joshua.
Gilman, Samuel.
Gile, Stephen.
Goodrich, Joshua.
George, Levi.
Hadley, Simeon.
Hadley, ^Nloses.
Hadley, Moses, Jr.
Hadley, Amos.
Hinkson, Daniel.
Harris, Joshua.
Harris, Hubbard.
Harris, John H.
Haynes, Benjamin.
Haynes, Josiah P.
Hoyt, John.
Harris, William.
Hovey, Daniel, Dr.
Hovey, Dudley.
Harvey, David.
Hoyt, Robert.
Hoyt, Rufus.
Hoyt, Bartlet.
Heath, Bartholomew.
Jameson, Jeremiah.
Jones, Amasa.
Jones, Asahel.
Jennes, Job.
Jennes, Stephen.
Kimball, Daniel.
Kimball, Abraham.
Appendix.
689
Kimball, Daniel, Jr.
Kelly, Moses.
Kimball, Asa.
Kinne, Luther.
Kimball, William.
Kimball, Aaron.
Longfellow, William.
Longfellow. Abraham.
Lawrence, ]\Ioses.
Leeds, Harre.
Low, Moses.
Morse, James.
Martin, Robert.
Martin, William.
JNIay, John.
Milton, Joseph.
Miner, Thomas.
Miner, Amos.
Miner, Elisha.
jNIiller, Jacob.
May, Edwin.
Martin, John.
Noyes, Samuel.
Xoyes, Stephen.
Nichols, Ezra.
Nichols, Aaron.
Otis, Richard.
Pattee, Daniel.
Pressey, Calvin.
Pressey, Moses.
Pattee, Daniel, Jr.
Page, Lazarus.
Pilsbury, Joshua.
Pilsbury, Joshua, Jr.
Paddleford, Samuel.
Paddleford, Charles.
Paddleford, James.
Porter, Elias.
Pollard, Adam.
44
Packard, Chamberlain.
Porter, Daniel,
Pattee, James.
Pattee, James, 2d.
Pattee, Moses.
Quimby, Jonathan.
Richardson, Joshua W.
Richardson, William.
Richardson, Joshua.
Richardson, Nathaniel,
Richardson, Jacob.
Richardson, Moses.
Richardson, Joshua, 2d.
Richardson, David.
Richardson, Amos.
Richardson, Charles,
Rogers, William.
Richardson, Ephraim.
Richardson, Solomon.
Stevens, George.
Smith, Francis H.
Straw, Jacob.
Shepard, Nathaniel.
Shepard, John.
Sawyer, Moses.
Sanborn, Timothy.
Sherburn, Daniel.
Sweet, .
Smith, Joseph.
Sanborn, Theophilus.
Smart, William.
Trussell, Jacob.
Tyler, Job.
Tyler, Job C.
Tyler, James.
Tilton, Timothy,
Wilson, Levi.
Wells, Joshua.
Whittier, Samuel.
690
Hjstoet op Canaan.
Whittier, Moses.
Whittier, Daniel B.
Whittier, Rufiis.
Welch, Caleb.
"Welch, William.
Walworth, Charles.
Walworth, George.
Wilson, Warren.
Wilson, Robert.
Wells, Ezekiel.
Wells, Caleb P.
Wood, William,
Welch, Bailey.
Welch, Uriah.
Wheat, Joseph.
AVallace, James.
Wilson, Washington.
Wilson, Joel.
Williams, Stephen.
Williams, Samuel.
Worth, John.
Wilson, Ephraim.
Wilson, Nathaniel.
Welch, Dan.
Welch, Simeon.
Whitney, Isaac.
Wiggins, Broadstreet.
We hereby certify the foregoing to be a true list of the voters
in the town of Canaan according to the best of our knowledge.
Selectmen's office, February 19, 1825.
Elijah Blaisdell^
' James Wallace I Selectrnen
Nathl Currier J
Enrollment List, 1864.
The enrollment list for AugTist 22, 1864, contained these
names of men between the ages of 18 and 45, not aliens, capable
of bearing arms:
Aldrich, Edgar D.
Avery, Thomas D.
Brooks, Frank.
Butman, Thomas W.
Bradbury, Lewis N.
Blake, Augustus.
Barber, Frank W.
Bartlett, Caleb S.
Barber, James P.
Blodgett, Isaac N.
Bucklin, Alamando.
Chase, George W.
Clark, George P.
Currier, Moses E.
Columbia, William.
Currier, John.
Currier, Henry.
Currier, Frank.
Clark, Byron.
Crockett, John F.
Clark, Benjamin 0.
Cobb, Hiram M.
Clark, Henry W.
Currier, John W.
Appendix.
691
Davis, Daniel G. S.
Davis, Alfred.
Duphonot, John.
Day, Joseph F.
Davis, Alvin.
Dwinnells, Charles.
Derby, Joseph C.
Deeato, Albert.
Dunham, Willard L.
Davis, James H.
Davis, John R.
Davis, Walter S.
Doten, Ambrose.
Doten, Guilford,
Eaton, Nathaniel.
Fifield, Edson.
Felch, James C.
Felch, Ben*jamin F.
Follensbee. Joseph.
Follensbee, Lewis C.
Flint, Edwin.
Gates, Newton B.
Garven, Solomon.
Hall, WiUiam.
Hadley, Eben.
Heath, Leonard.
Hall, Frank.
Hazelton, George W.
Hadley, George W.
Hoit, Benjamin W.
Hobart, William E.
Kinne, Freeman F.
Kendall, Charles W.
Kimball, Horace W.
Kimball, John W.
Lary, Alonzo L.
Lary, Benjamin P.
Lary, Walter F.
Lary, Joseph C.
Langley, Charles T.
Muzzey, George E.
Morse, Edwin.
Morey, Horace.
Morse, Orrin H.
Miner, Allen E.
Muzzey, John S.
Pollard, Benjamin N.
Pollard, Frederick R.
Pollard, Joseph D.
Plummer, James B.
Pattee, Lewis C.
Perley, John Q.
Pattee, Burns W.
Pressey, George.
Parker, Freeman S.
Richardson, Dexter.
Richardson, James B.
Randlet, George W.
Shepard, Calvin W.
Shepard, George S.
Smith, Richard R.
Sanborn, Morrison I.
Smith, Leonard W.
Sanborn, Jonathan A.
Smith, Elijah.
Smith, Daniel.
Towle, Stephen H.
Tucker, Moses C.
Tucker, Jonathan A.
Tilton, Smiley.
Weeks, William B.
Webster, Levi F.
Whittemore, Daniel.
Wilson, Warren F.
Whittier, George L.
Wadleigh, Gustavus B.
Wilson, James.
Worth, Hiram S.
692
History of Canaan.
Webber, John D.
Welch, Lyman.
Abbott, Hazen.
Aldrich, Aaron.
Butman, Frank.
Baker, James.
Barnard, Darius.
Barber, Hiram.
Barney, Alfred.
Campbell, Daniel H.
Clough, John F.
Clark, John B.
Cilley, Stephen F.
Columbia, Lewis.
Davis, Isaac.
Decato, Charles.
Day, Charles.
Dodge, Simon.
Eastman, Richard B.
Edwards, Elijah W.
Elliott, Henry W.
Ford, Adonirum.
Flanders, Elijah C.
Farnum, Hazen K.
Fales, George.
Goss, Daniel.
George, Levi.
Hazelton, Eiehman.
Hadley, Gilbert S.
Heath, John R.
Howard, Waterman.
Hadley, Azro B.
Jackson, Heber.
Jepson, Francis.
Kinne, Horace.
Kimball, Abram F.
Kelley, James H.
Lincoln, Josiah B.
Morgan, Nathan C.
Milton, Mathew H.
Miller, Horace W.
Nichols, Benjamin P.
Peaslee, Stephen.
Pressey, Albert.
Shepard, John S.
Stickney, Daniel.
Somers, William G.
Swett, Frank P.
Thompson, Valentine.
Taplin, Nathaniel P.
Tilton, Elbridge.
Whitney, Bela B.
Whitney, Albert.
Whitney, Hollis B.
Wilson, Henry H.
Whittier, Elisha R.
Welch, William.
Whittier, Elijah.
Welch, Frank.
Worcester, Benjamin.
Wells, Charles H.
Smith, William P.
Cobb, George E.
Leeds, Charles H.
Jessamin, Henry L.
Barney, Albert.
Leeds, Hubbard C.
Swett, Harlan P.
Whittier, Jeremiah M.
Plummer, George F.
Wilson, Albert H.
Aldrich, Ezra A.
Prescott, Philip G.
Gordon, William.
Bradbury, Albert.
Dow, Everett.
Gross, Rufus S.
Legro, David.
Appendix. 693
Martin, Levi, Harris, Tilton F.
Washburn, Charles D. Jones, Charles S.
Sharp, Bial. Pattee, Henry H.
Cilley, George E. Shattiiek, Edwin E.
Miner, George B. Weeks, Marshall.
Burbank, John L. Webster, Daniel.
Dunning, Charles L. Davis, Leroy.
Fifield, William H.
Of these men the following should not have been enrolled :
Thomas D. Avery had but one finger on one hand, had tried to
enlist but they would not have him. Walter S. Davis, trouble
with his eyes. William E. Hobart had but one hand. Stephen
M. Towle was an epileptic. Philip Prescott was wounded and
dismissed. James H. Davis and Charles Langiey were incapaci-
tated. Frank Barber and Isaac Davis were over forty-five years
old. Frank Swett was in Idaho. Charles and Albert Decato
and John Duphonot were aliens. Charles W. Kendal resided in
Wilmot.
Town Appropriations
For
Charges.
1770-1776 No appropriations.
1800- $100.
1777
£3, L. M.
1801 $130.
1778-
1785 No records.
1802 $130.
1786
£16, L. M.
1803 $80.
1787
£20, L. M.
1804 $50.
1788
£30, L. M.
1805 $150.
1789
£20, L. M.
1806 $30.
1790
£10, L. M.
1807 $200.
1791
None voted.
1808 $150.
1792
£9, L. M.
1809 $75.
1793
None voted.
1810 $200.
1794
£9, L. M.
1811 $200.
1795
£30.
1812 $300.
1796
£12.
1813 $250.
1797
2s. 6d. on
pound.
for
1814 $200.
charges highways
and
1815 $260.
bridges.
1816 $150.
1798
None voted.
1817 $300.
1799
£60.
1818 $400.
694 History op Canaan.
1819 $400. 1864 $6,000.
1820 $350. 1865 $6,000.
1821 $750. 1866 $2,000. $3,000 for old debts.
1822 $200. 1867 $5,000.
1823 $450. 1868 $4,000.
1824 $400. 1869 $4,000.
1825 $400. 1870 $6,000.
1826 $500. 1871 $4,000.
1827 $600. 1872 $5,000.
1828 $800. 1873 $6,000.
1829 $500. 1874 $6,000.
1830 $600. 1875 $6,000.
1831 $1,200. 1876 $6,000.
1832 $400. 1877 $6,000.
1833 $600. 1878 $6,000.
1834 $1,100. 1879 $6,000.
1835 $800. 1880 $6,000.
1836 $800. 1881 $6,000.
1837 $1,200. 1882 $10,000.
1838 $1,000. 1883 $6,000.
1839 $1,200. 1884 $3,000.
1840 $1,000. 1885 $3,000.
1841 $800. 1886 $3,000.
1842 $1,000. 1SS7 $3,000.
1843 $800. 1888 $3,000.
1844 $1,000. 1889 Passed article.
1845 $1,000. 1890 $100.
1846 $1,000. 1891 $1,000.
1847 $1,000. 1892 Passed article.
1848 $1,500. 1893 Passed article
1849 $3,200. 1894 $1,000.
1850 $2,500. 1895 $1,000.
1851 $2,000. 1896 $500.
1852 $1,000. 1897 $1,000.
1853 $2,000. 1898 $1,500.
1854 $2,000. 1899 $1,000.
1855 $3,000. 1900 $500.
1856 $3,000. 1901 $300.
1857 $2,000. $500 extra to apply 1902 $300.
on town debt. 1903 $500.
1858 $2,500. 1904 $500.
1859 $2,500. 1905 $500.
1860 $3,000. 1906 $500.
1861 $3,000. 1907 $500.
1862 $3,000. 1908 $1,000.
1863 $4,000. 1909 $500.
INDEX
INDEX
Abbott, Charles 421
Hazen 654, 692
Jane 583
Joseph C 632
Julia 662
Rosette 661
Ro.val 60S
Sarah L 657
Abdy. Mr 263
Adams, Addle E 5S3
Andrew R 654
Angietta 583
Benj. W 37U, 619
Cvriis 486
Erwin M 488. 681
Ephraim 366. 373
J. W 245. 247
John S 583
Matta J 583
Marv E 661
Mary J 642
Placid 365, 368, 373, 408
Sophia 658
William 367. 379
Akermax. Ernest S 583
R. Clara 591
Aldrich. Aaron 369. 584, 692
Abel 398,583,687
Adelaide 584
Almon .584
Anna D 584
Asahe! B 583
Clark 486
Edsrar D 367, 380, 690
Edwin C 420, 583
Edwin D 367. 379, 583
Elbyne 583. 642
Bmergene 584
Emilv 584
Etta C 58.?
Etta S 583
Eva M 583
Ezra A 692
Gilford 583
Harry 584
Harvev 584
Hubbard W 489. 583
Jedidiah 687
Julia 584
Laurett 664
Lenora S 583
Leonard 583
Lucretia 649
Lydia 598
Lyman 584
Marcia A 584
Marv 664
Marv C 604
Marv E 583
Melvin A 631
Milton 584, 687
Mina M 584
Ora L 583
Orpha 583
Persis P 583
Richard 445. 583
Sidney 583
Sereifti 606
Smith 247
Aldeith. Welcome 583
William 489, 583. 654
Alfort). Alden E 455
Allard. Frances M 664
Helen 655
William E 365. 375, 617, 647
Allbe. Sarah 1 638
Allen . Abigail 659
Alice 663
Edwin M 400. 584, 598, 677
Emma A 584. 598
Ethan 61
Lena F 584
R. E 491
Roxie L 492
Susan 515
T. Wilfred 584
ALLERTON. Charles H 378. 382
Allis. Abigail 645
Ambrose. Rev. Samuel 168. 182
Ames. Hannah B 657
Persis 516
Susie E 648
Amherst Gex VII
Amsdex, Charles H 672
AXDKE. Major 353
AXDREWS. Alice 643
Amelia C 658
Benjamin F 636
Dexter 0 636
Harriet 655
Irving B 598
James 364
Nancv J 649
T. J 247
AxGELL, Harvey 440
AxGiER, James" H 654
Axxis. Benjamin 687
Arvix. Albert G 300, 420, 584
Elizabeth 584
Emily " 584
George 584
Hannah 93, 435, 499. 584
James 93. 286, 280, 289, 290, 297
298, 299. 303. 401. 411. 584
673. 679. 682. 687
Jesse D 486. 687
Simeon 75. 76. 88. 128. 130. 133
137, 145. 176. 186. 232
404, 409. 415, 435, 440
452. 584, 681
Susanna 584, .594
William B 428, 582
ASBCRY, Bishop 233, 234
ASHLEY, Colonel 350
Athatox, Mathew 177
Athertox, Caroline E 300
Edwin W 300, 584
George W 584
Harriet A 584
James W 369, 381, 584
Martha M 300
Marv E 584
WilUam 209. 248. 439. 446. 486
533, 555, 584. 681. 687
Atkixsox. Theodore VIII. 4, 5
ATWELL. Cynthia 578
George P 635
Guy E 635
698
Index.
ATWELL. Horace 654
Rufus 418, 635
Sarah M 635
Atwood, Caleb B 590
Johu 671
Augustus Francis 374. 382
Austin, Arthur A 680
Dudley 486
George W 584
Gertrude A 584, 594
Lettie M 648
Persis P 209
Roswell 224
AVERILL. Sophronia 578
AvEEY. Alonzo 654
Elizabeth F 584
F. F 447. 587
Samuel 94, 584
Thomas D 94, 366, 690. 693
Ater, William 6. 41. 56, 57. 58. 60. 64
65. 76. 141, 144. 312. 313
344. .346, 352,- 437, 444. 447
672, 677. 681. 688. 685
Ayers. Thomas 368, 373
Babbitt, Olive 612
B.iBcocK. Joseph 346
Bacheldee, Nahum J 672
Nancv 584
Bacox. Owen F 374. 382
Badger, Gen. William 69. 670
Bagley. David 638
Charlotte 584
Henry 638
Moses 584
Sarah 6.38
Sarah M 616
Susanna .-)n6
Bailey. Adelaide 584
Alfred 627
Anna 584
Betsey 520. 523
Ellen 658
George 627
Henry 655
John 655
I^evi 177, 189, 209, 251, 584, 678
Lucy S 631
Lydia 584
Polly C 206
Rial 584
Sally 584
Baker, Alpheus 484
Bishop 243. 245
Climena L 585
Ellen E 585
Elnora 664
George P 585
James 585, 604. 692
James M .")S5
Nathaniel M 671
Salmon 498
Balch, Daniel 283, 454
Julia 325
Balcom. Willard W 523
Baldwin-, Erastus 168. 169
Mary 603
Ruth 169. 170
Sarah 170
Thomas, Rev 21. 26. 27 33
44, 50, 52, 54, 55, 63, 68. 71
126, 142, 143, 166. 168, 170, 171
175, 181, 188, 343, .345. 346, 350
389, 445, 495, 508, 518, 677, 682
683, 686
Ball. Charles 0 578
Elizabeth D 622
Ruth F 503
Ballard. Sampson 147
Bane, Fred 523
Bannister, Warren 232, 234, 246
Barber, Alice 586
Anna 586
Betsey 586
Byron J 586
Catherine 441. 585, 600
Chloe 661
Clarissa A 587
Daniel 587
Deborah 502
Deliverance 441. 585
Frank 585, 603
Franklin W 300, 480, 585, 690, 693
George E 586
Hannah 660
Henry H 586
Hiram 300, 442. 535. 585
586, 588, 676, 697
Horace H 300, 585
Irena 441, 585
James P 300, 369. 585
586, 682, 690
Jasper 60
Jennie M 586
Jesse 441. 585
John M 45. 63, 121, 122, 123, 131
145, 147, 149. 176, 189
251, 314, 318, 390, 392
395, 396. 397. 408, 411
431, 441, 466. 585. 586
588. 678. 679, 682. 687
John M., Jr 95, 300, 359, 434
Joseph 683
Josiah 45, 47, 100, 137, 174. 186, 222
393, 404, 405, 406. 431
442, 446, 586, 686, 687
.losiah, Jr 208, 209, 221
Josiah P 359, 442, 586, 687
Louisa 587
jjj. 283
March' '. '. '. 191, 19.3, 260,' 268,' 272,' 277
280, 297, 290. 303, 397, 400. 410
417, 441, 585, 673, 678, 679. 687
Martha J 300, 585, 636
Mary 441, 485
Miriam 441, 585
Moses 587
Nancy C 363, 586
Nathaniel ..43.82.88,100,128.130
132. 144. 145. 176, 223
287, 298, 303. 363, 392
412, 436. 445, 450. 453
519. 585. 622. 687
Nellie J 586
Nelly 585
Pernal 518, 585. 654
Polly 586
Robert, Capt 35, 41, 42, 44, 56. 57
60. 61. 62, 63. 69. 70
77. 81, 101, 122, 123
124, 130, 139, 145. 146
147. 149, 172, 176, 232
251, 314. 315, 343, 344
345. 355. 357, 390. 422
435. 437, 439, 440, 446
486. 519, 585. 683 685
Robert, Jr 498. 499
Sallv 441. 585, 613
Sallv P 586
Salome 587
Sarah 578, 585
William M 586
William P. C , 586
Winthrop G .585
Zebulon 253. 602
Index.
699
Baebour, Priscilla B 643
Barker, George iiSS
John 416
Joseph -46
Barnard, Burns M 595
Clara 587
Cora B 58V
Darius 366, 654. 692
David 365, 366, 486. 587, 682
Ellen L 587
Emma J 587
Eugene A 587
Francis H 587
George 654
Georgianua 587
Hattie F 587
Jonathan 93, 418. 419, 587, 676
Mary A 587
Barnes. Fred 0 587
Jeanette F 334, 626
John 0 377
Barxet. Levi 6.55
Barxev, Aaron 587, 592
Addie 587
Alathea 587
Albert E 369. 587, 614
676, 682, 692
Alden H 491
Alfred 654, 692
Allen W 588
Arabella 654
Arthur J 491. 587
Bertha E 587. 609
Charles 588, 674
Charles 0 28, 491. .587, 677
Clarence E 587
Ebenezer 601
Edward A 587. 614
Eleazer 93, 366.587, 601
674, 675, 679, 680
Elsina H 587
Ernest A 535
F. W 490
Harrv A 587
Helen 587
Jabez 654
Jacob 486, 654
.Temima 664
John E 587
Lester 0 587
Lillian A 492
Lizzie 1 588, 638
Marjory 587
Maurice H 587
Otis 358. 587
Pauline 587
Pollv M 587
Ralph T 587
S. Addie 587
Barnot. Rozett 661
Barry. .Jane 588
Bartlett. Belinda L 585
Betsev 589. 604
Caleb C 397, 416. 5SS, 687
Caleb S 588, 675, 690
Caroline R 654
Chloe 527
Cordelia H 588
Eliza H 588. 618
Frank T 5S9
Hannah 516
Huldah G 661
Ichabod 272. 273. 283
John H 60. 64. 344. 345
437, 589. 686
Joseph ...47,100,131,158,159,209
431, 443, 445, 446, 588, 678, 687
Bartlett, Joseph. Mrs 222
Joslah, Hon 69, 71, 75, 350
522, 669. 670
Josiah Hall 60, 683, 686
Levi V 611
Lois 588
Mary 654
Matty 588
Molly 589
Myra H 589
Nancy H 589
Nathaniel 42, 57, 60. 82. 87, 88
124. 1.34. 145. 343, 345
351. 356. 384. 397, 404
410. 43(i. 447, 522, 585
678, 683, 686, 687
Nathaniel E 589
Polly 588, 603, 618
Polly H 588
Ruth 588
Sallv 589
Sister 201
Susan 613. 659
Susanna 436
Barton & Bacon 340
Basfokd. Charlotte 605
Joseph 499
Mary 499,521
Olive 498
Sarah 231. 499. 521. 622
Wealthy 498
Bailey 608
Batchelder, Bradford C 655
Daniel. Capt 364
Jonathan 654
Nancy M 638
Reuben 489. 654
Sarah 660
Bates. Dexter 246
Mrs. Ruth 631
Baxter. A. F 247
Thomas 52 344. 351
Beal. Ira 655
Polly 655
Susan 609
Beale. Oliyer 246
Bean. Andrew E 578
Benjamin 364
Folsom 589
J. Mowry 247
John 131. 145, 447, 589, 683
Lucia P 589
Moses 589
Nathaniel W 366, 377. 655
Sarah E 605
Susanna 589
Bearo. Francis 370. 382
Beattie. Jane 527
Bedell, .Tohn 671. 672
Beebe. Jonathan, 3d 4. 46
Nathan 176
Beedle, Hannah 664
.Tohn 344,345,-352
Mehitable 506, 649
Thomas 177, 406. 446
Belding, Samuel 645
Stephen 645
Bell. Charles H 672
Emeline B 648
Emma A 96
.James 671
John 670
Joseph 473
Samuel . . .' 670
William H 589
BELLOWS. Col. Benjamin 350
General 69. 72. 76
700
Index.
Benedict. Samuel. . .19, 23, 27. 31, 49, 55
57, 101. 113, 173. 231
386, 677. 682
Bennett, David 654
Ebenezer, Jr 654
Leonard 246
Malvina 659
Mar.v 532, 607
Benson. Grace E 589
Berry, Anna 577
Betsey 656
Charles D 589
X. S 671
N. T 109. Ill
Sarah 589
Bert. Dorcas 589
Besse. Edson P 655
Bewel. Betsey 658
BiATHROw, Horace A 654
Myra 610
BiCKFOBD. Amelia A 589
Carrie 589
Emilv A 655
Ida M 589
Jane 589
Jonathan 589
Joseph S 589
Lucy J 646
Mary E 589
Sabrina C 589
Sarah M 589
BiGELow. Ann 647
Bill, Mary E 641
Billings. Esther 619
Bingham. A. L 644
Elisha 53, 344, 351
Jonathan 54
BiRTS. Ben Rob 52, 60, 61, 344
345, 351, 686
Widow 70
Bishop, Joseph 654
Black. Lizzie 656
Blair, Andrew 381, 383
Lewis 655
Walter Ill
Blaisdells 502-517
Blaisdell, Abigail 503, 504. 515
Abner 503
Alfred O 504
Alvah 515
Alzoa 516
Azubah 504
Carrie 610
Charles E 655
Charlotte 514
Clara 515
Clarissa 504
Q]{j|.]j 515
Daniel . .. . .40, 41, 42,' 4.3.' 44.' 45, 46
47, 57, 64. 69, 74, 79. 80
87, 88, 89. 101, 108. 121
122. 123. 124. 127. 128
129. 130. 135. 137. 1.38. 143
145, 146. 148. 149, 151, 185
187, 188, 189, 192. 193. 219
233, 314. 318, 343, 344, 345
352, 389, 399, 412, 445, 466
467, 501, 502, 505, 506. 514
518, 519, 669, 673, 678, 681
683, 686, 687
Daniel, Jr 88, 358, 514
515, 522, 687
Daniel, 3d 426. 514
Edward 517
Edwin 504
Blaisdell. Elijah 45. 47, 48, 122, 159, 164
209, 215. 228, 250, 253
254, 256. 257, 258, 260
264, 317, 318, 320, 323
328, 453, 468, 486, 502
504, 512, 513, 514, 515
673, 678, 681, 687, 690
Elizabeth 514
Emily 516
Enoch 503
Fannie E 589
Frank 517
Oeorge 515
George H 504
Guilford 516
Hannah 514
Harriet 517
Harriot N 515
Harrison 516
Henry 504
Henry G 655
Horace 516
Jacob 277, 486, 514, 515
516, 612, 641. 670. 687
James 80. 209. 363. 513
James J 426. 515
Jerusha 655
John 486. 514. 687
Jonathan 503. 514. 516
.Jonathan H 515
Joseph 515
Joshua 209, 359, 502, 516
Josiah 515
Judge 515
Justin 515
Justus 515
Linnie N 589
Lora A 589
Lydia 664
Malvina 515
Martha E 589
Mary 505. 515. 649
Mary A 299, 514, 515
Mehitable 5.89
Nancv 515
Nancv A 600
Parrott . . .70, 89, 344, 34.5. 352, 445
503. 504. 506. 514
516, 683. 686. 687
Peter 505
Polly 504. 516
RalDh 502, 503. 504
Rhoda . .196, 300, 514, 515. 516. 524
Ruth 504
Sallv . . . 196,. 501, 504, 514, 515, 516
Samborn 589
Sarah 515. 517
Sargent 65, 503, 505. 515. 687
Suel S 515
Timothv 486. 514. 516
Timothv K 517. 594
W. O.". 504
William 503. 514. 515
William A 515
Blake. Achsah 618
Augustus F 362. 654. 690
Benjamin 93, 445, 637
Ebenezer 234, 246
Elisha 409
J. H 489
John F 637
Joseph 363, 445, 603
Keziah 605
Marion F 629
Meschack 102,345,397,407
Polly F 589
Index.
701
Blanchard, Harvey A 649
Israel 589
Leafv 618
Simon 123, 174, 445, 461
Bleekkh & Sedgwick 325
Bi.iss. Joseph D 378, 383
BLUDGETT, Caleb. . .142, 162, 273. 274, 276
281, 282, 284, 285, 288, 297
298, 299, 300, 303, 309. 337
417, 541, 589, 621, 673. 674
679, 681
Mrs 216
Caleb, Jr 293. 337, 340, 427
Charles H 589
Emily R 300, 589
Isaac N 331. 337, 486
487, 589. 682. 690
Lois 599
Nancy E 658.
Roxanna 636
Sarah A 226, 337
BLOOD. Bert 586
Enoch 683
Luvia 1 619
William 654
William A 655
Blue. Mary 505
BOCKWELL. Oliver B 655
BODFisii, Captain 364
BoGARPis. Blanche A 425
Blanche E 492
Charles B 425. 600
Frank A 425, 590, 6(iO, 677
Stanley 425, 600
Wilmer S 425, 590
BoHOXox. Moses 655
BoxD. Ellen S 328
.James 380. 382
BoxxEY. Mary 650
Booth, Anne". 590
Edmund C 641
Isaiah 120. 590. 683. 686
.Joseph C 590
Maria H 658
BosTox. Hannah S 590
Bos WELL. Elder 198
BOTTWELL. Abbie B 598
BowEX. Deliverance 662
Eliza 498
Lucinda 593
Bowers, Lyman 655
BOYCE. Lizzie M 596
BoYixGTox, Huldah M 590
BoYXTOx, Adeline R 635
Elvira A 644
Brackett, Edward 277
Maria C 277
Bradbfry. Aaron 590, 633
Addie R 590
Albert A 367. 379, 590, 624, 692
Amanda E 590
Amos P 590
Benjamin 193, 201. 231. 297, 590. 630
Betsey 590, 662
David 590
Dexter F 367. 380, 590
Enos W 590
Fannie W 590
George C 130. 369. 590, 639, 647
Hannah 590
Harriet A 590
.Joshua 590
.Judith 590
Lewis N 590. 690
Mary 198, 590. 659 662
Jlelvin A 633
Rebecca 590
Bradbury, Rosie E 633
Roswell 590
Samuel 590
Sarah 590
William 65. 231, 389, 447
590. 622, 683. 687
William C 633
William J 590
Bradford, Mary 536
Bradish, Ellen 593
Bradley, Charles 381, 382
Bradshaw. Joshua 683
Braley, Etta 646
Harriet 523
Sarah J 659
BRAXch, Thomas 246
Brewster B 247
Bridgmax, Abel 655
Eliza A 663
Helen 624
Henrietta 337
Isaac 655
Pensy 657
Sarah E 631
Briggs, Abigail 654
Bathsheba 594
Howard C 590
Joseph 649
Mehitable 609, 658
Nathaniel 655
Sarah 663
Broadhead, John 232, 233
Joseph 246
Brigham, Ella E 652
Bro, Joel 655
Brock. Benjamin 655
Hattie H 657
Brocklebaxk, Edson B 655
James 419
Laura R 591
Moses A 489, 591
Nellie A 591. 612
Sarah J 598
Brockway, Gideon 686
Brooks, Emma E 595
Frank 690
George F 378. 382
Oliver J 655
Orris J 662
Broughtox. Charles H 655
Browx. Abel 396.591
Adeline C 591
Clara 658
David 108, 445
Don C 655
Elmer E 592
Emily F 630
John G 591
Josiah, Capt 350
Mary A 656
Mary E 658
Rhoda 654
Sarah .525
Susan F 591
Brush, Abner R 625
Caroline 6'^5
Bryaxt. Bartlett 196
Fannie 638
George N 247
George W mo
Harrison C 600
John 252
Joseph M '.'. 655
Mathew 417
Roswell C 655
Buck, Sarah 528
Bucklix. Alamando G90
702
Index.
Bdcklix, Allie S 591
Alonzo 608
Arthur M 591
David 404. 409. .".8.S
Mary E 591
Matilda A 607
Milo 608
BncKXEn. Mary 52.3
Bdell, Hepzibah 645
BUFFUM, James 655
Rutli 655
William C 655
Bullock, Cliloe 660
Coomer 655
Elijah 637
Elisha 655
Jane 664
Lovinia 662
Lydia 647
Lydia W 664
Martha J 598
Pluma 659
Rosie E 638
Sarah 665
Sarah A 608
Seth 481. 482,483
Susanna 657
Bunker, y. E 198
BuNTiN, Widow 87
BURBANK. John L 693
BuRCn. Delila 650
BUEDiCK. John 23. 27. 75. 76, 140
144, 145. 673, 681
John. Jr 145
Shuliel 174. 392, 445
BCRGE, Dver 246
BURGESS, R. A 488
BuEGous. Margaret 659
BUEGOYNE SURI!ENDBR,347, 348, 350, 354
BuRN'HAM, Rev. Abraham 217
Adelia A 591
Amanda 650
A-sel 364
Benjamin 246
Carrie L 641
Chastina 652
Daniel B 655
Elizabeth 591
Elzina 591
Grover 486. 597, 599
Hannah C 583
Israel 536
James 591
John 584
Joseph 591
Liona E 591
Lucy 591
Mason 591
Nellie W 591
Ruth L 591
Silas 591
William 604
Burke, Honora 591
John W 591
Michael 591
BuRLEY, Annie M 558
(Burleigh). Benjamin 655
Betsey 577
Brackett W 642
Charles R 642
Charles W 642
Elizabeth 522
Fannie 588
George M 588
Gordon 83, 281, 283, 289, 423
444, 535. 540, 642
BuRLEY, Harry P 337.441.677
Henry G 642
John 588
Joseph 588
Joseph B 588
Joshua 277
Judith G 628
Louisa 58,8
Louisa M 588
Lucretia M 642
Lucy J .535
Mary E 642
Mary J 629
Sarah .590
Sarah H 648
Thomas .599
Burns, John 536
John J 366
Letitia 536
Mary .536
BURPEE. Wesley P 91. 159. 267. 268
272, 278. 280. 512
BuRRiLL. John 626
Burroughs, Rev. Eden 207
Burrows, d. w 198
Burton, Matilda 657
BUSHWAY, Delia 655
John 655
BusiEL. Charles A 672
BuswELL, Martha 654
Marv A 659
Butler, Sally 648
BuTMAN, Blanche 591
Charles H .591
David H 367, 368
Ellen M 648
Eva G 591
Frank 591, 595
Frank H 591
Fred E 101, 591
George E 591
Grace 591
Laura 591
Laura A 663
Mary 591
Oscar 591
Paul 591
Thomas W 690
BuTTERFiELD. George 591
Harriet J 662
William 454
Byington. Orra C 609
BYRON, Julia F 528
Cady. Aaron 3, 48, 113
Aaron. Jr 3, 48
Nathaniel 3, 48, 113, 406
Cahoon, Rev, C. D 240, 241
Caldwell, Alexander 159
William 113
Calef. Ann 630
Ann A 664
John 630
Mary 606
Calfe, Captain 69. 354
CALKINS. Rev, Charles. 208. 209. 210. 248
John P 209, 248, 387.390
496, 683, 686
Temperance 496
CALL, Enoch 96, 591
Mary A 617
Ruth 591
Sarah J 591
William R 566, 591
Callemore, Sarah E 633
Campbell, Alba A 592
Archibald K 543
Index.
703
Campbell, Betsey 592. 637
Charles A 592
Daniel 91, 163, 272, 282, 288
297, 303, 512, 562
591, 646. 679, 687
Daniel H 369, 591. 680
Daniel W 591. 680
Dorothy 543
Ella 592
Giles 234. 246
Hannah 592
Katherine A 608
Mai-v 592
Sarah F 501
William . . .84. 91. 134. 189. 258. 260
269, 271, 278. 280. 297
394, 396, 431. 447. 470
591, 679. 687
William, Mrs 244
William W 542
Caxfield. Captain 354
CAPLES. C. V 241. 242
CARLTON". Albert 59l'
Betsev 478. 579
Charles H 588
Cvrus 30. 407. 446
Daniel 131. 592
Edward 222
Eliza 222
Frances C 592
John 687
Jonathan . .56. 75, 116. 131. 132, 145
150. 252. 253. 392. 393
405, 406, 435. 446. 455
592, 687
Jonathan. Jr 446
Mary J 588
Miles 592
Mollv 592
Moses 592
Nancy 592
Polly 660
Sallv 602
Samuel 488, 588
Thomas J 375
Thomas L 592
Carpenter. Carrie L 624
David F 498
Louise L 624
Caer. C. E 672
Daniel 60, 246
Jacob 656
Lewis C 656
Cakrigan, Darby 374, 382
Carroll. Calvin C 656
Frank W 368, 381
James 633
Carter, Abigail 592
Amaziah 283
Frank P 116, 453
George 592
Jeremiah 656
John 375. 378, 382
William 247. 592
Cass. Nathan 532. 687
Raeher 654
Castle. Mrs 277
Caswell. Fauntleroy 359
Lucy A 659
Otis 688
Cate. Asa P 671
Caverly. Harriet D 592
Chamberlain, Abner 3, 45, 47
Benjamin 3, 45
David 3, 48
John 3, 47
Chamberlain, Levi 671
William 3, 44, 46, 104, 113
William A 592
William. Jr 4. 48. 113
Chambers. William 522
Champagne. August 378, 382
Chandler. Lizzie H 664
Lucy 655
Nancy 664
Sally 627
Susan O 538
Chaplin, AUerton 656
Chapman. Clarissa J 300
Jane 222
Lucinda 649
Lydia 645
Mary J 423
Pamela 622
Roswell S 300
Samuel 26, 27. 28, 49. 50
60. 177. 387. 447
Sarah S 586
Chase, Abigail M 592
Ambrose 393, 405, 447, 592
Arthur H 429
Baruch \[ .324
Betsev M .^qo
C. H !!!;.'. 247
Charles C 592
Charles T 640
Clarence .T . .592
Daniel W . . . A^Pi
Dorothy S 602
Ebenezer 483, 485, 48P
Eliza J 592
Elsie 639
Ezra 222, 445, 592, 687
Frances M 592
Frank W 589
George W 488. 639. 690
Hannah 592
Hannah H 592
Henry M 590
Horace W 297, 309. 419, 535. 592
Jesse S 655
John 656
John R 592
Col. Jonathan 34, 345, 346
350, 351, 353
Joseph 592
Moodv 687
Moses 393, 406, 447
Nathaniel L 247
Permelia 647
Persis W 66,^
Philander 73
Robert 429
Samuel B 592
Sarah 592, 619
Sarah A 587, 592
Sarah C 619
Simon P 656
Viola J 592
William 193, 395, 592
William M 428, 592
Chellis, Dolly C 664
.Tames 656
Mary A 635
Sumner 656
Cheney, Albert 622
Anna 643
Caleb 622
Elder 195
Helen G 616
John B 607
Mabel 622
704
Index.
Cheney, Person C 672
Susanna 644
Cheslev, Ann 592
Eleazer r)92
Eliza 663
Child. David L 263. 266
Mary M 640
Childs, Almira T 592
Amanda 659
Ella F 578
Marv E. F 592
Oliver B 366, 377, 592
Chittenden, Abbie B 644
Governor 59
Choate. Asa 411
Benjamin 358. 411. 476
Helen 623. 661
Henr.v 591
Jonathan 643
Mahala 300
Mary J 659
Moses 656
Chbistensen, Jacob 376. 382
Christie. Daniel M 335
Church. Carrie F 656
Charles 128
Colonel 351
Hilliard 656
Marv A 656
Samuel 396
Churchill, Caroline P 611
D. C 109. 111. 299
Cilley. Abner H.. .159, 189, 366, 590 687
Diancv 590
Elida M 661
George E 373
George J 590. 693
Hannah 198. 199
Horatio G 590
J. E 402
Levi 393, 395. 40S. 447
Mark 137. 688
Marv A 6.j7
Marv E 593
Marv J 654
Nathan G 489. 656
Stephen F 692
Thomas 687
Claflin, Alice E 611
Deborah <J63
Dorothv 611
P. Leon 611
Clapp. Sarah 222
CLARK. Abigail 228. 411, 414. 521. 613
Abner 246
Alice B 523
Alma C 593
Almeda E 620
Amasa 131, 384. 396. 398
447, 592. 687
Amos B 297, 521
Andrew J 524
Angeline L 521. 604
Anna 522. 524
Anne 522
Arthur B 521
Austin E 523
Benjamin O. T 593, 643. 690
Betsey 519. 522. 593, 595
604, 615. 630, 653
Betsey A 590
Betsey B 658
Betsey C 523
Burlingame 648
Byron 690
CLARK, Caleb 32, 42, 52. 61, 120
123, 124, 126, 158, 386
401, 443, 520, 683, 686
Caleb, Jr 228, 518, 521, 620
Carlton C 191, 593
Carrie C 648
Charles H 651
Charles R 521
Chase 521
Chestina 366, 521
Clarissa 661
Daniel 593. 610
Daniel W 637
David 499, 521, 522
Dorcas 593
Dorinda 593
Dorothy 520, 523
Dorothy B 300, 602
Earl L 341
Ebenezer. . 42. 82, 176. 192, 252, 486
514, 517, 522, 524, 673
678, 687
Eleanor W 523
Eliphalet 177, 439, 446, 522, 605, 687
Eliza 523, 599, 613, 664
Eliza P 593
Elizabeth 425, 522
Emeline 593, 630
Emily M 619
Emily S 523
Emma 648
Esther 183,521
Ethel A 651
Frank B 341, 523
Frank K 341
Frank P 521, 651
Fred 521
Fred B 489
George L 648
George P 309. 381, 593, 690
Rev. George W 240, 241. 247
Gilman 524
Gilman W 362, 520
Hannah 521
Hannah S 594
Helen A 593
Henry H 522
Henry W 593. 648. 690
Horace 520, 524
Horace A 594
Horatio N 522
Hugh T 341
Irena 586, 593
Jacob 522
Jacob S 594
James 19, 57
Jehiel 362, 524
Jemima L 523
Jennie D 593
Jennie S 521
Jerusha 594
Jesse 298, 520, 524
John 522
John B 522, 692
John H 521
John S 594
Joseph . . .88, 145, 174, 228, 397, 447
520, 521, 524. 643, 687
Joseph D 300
Joshua 522, 683
Josiah 43.83,100,109,128,131
132, 156. 158. 176, 178
181, 183, 187, 189, 193
251, 343. 344, 350, 351
352, 355, 356, 362, 363
395, 396. 404, 411. 414
Index.
705
Clark, Josiah. . . .436, 438, 445. 446, 517
518, 519, 522, 523, 597
607, 687
Josiah, Jr. . . . 298. 519, 584, 673, 687
Josie 593, 594, 60S
Judith 519, o-'ii. 522, 524
Laura 593
Leah 522
Leonard A 593. 648
Lizzie M 594
Lueina G 524
Lucv 524
Lydia 436, 496, 522, 605
Mahala D 593
Mary 522, 593. 660
Mary A 524
Mary G 648
Marv E 594
Mary J 523, 665
Miriam J 593
Mrs 222
Nancy A 524
Oren A 651
Pernell 183, 436
Pernell E 523
Polly 521, 522
Prescott 74. 80, 81, 89, 233
403, 499, 521, 522
Rachel G 593, 602
Rachel S 608
Reuben 593, 610, 640
Rhoda 514, 605
Richard 47, 52. 62, 63, 145, 174
176, 178, 182, 183, 187
250, 344, 351, 353, 355
390, 405, 465, 517, 518
522, 570, 681, 683, 685
Richard, Jr 43, 131, 137, 145, 176
186, 362, 395, 409, 522
524, 686, 687
Richard, 3d. .54, 78. 79, 82, 144. 177
192. 196. 393, 447
677, 678, 686
Richard C 523
Richard 0 523
Robert B 272. 361, 398, 519. 522
523, 536, 669. 673. 687
Ruth 524
Sally , . .515, 519, 520, 521, 523. 609
Samuel 521
Samuel S 593, 631
Sarah 525. 593
Sarah E 521
Sophronia 523
Susanna 522, 588
Theoda H 523. 636
Theodore 593. 687
Tilton 521
Timothv 446, 593
Truman J 584, 594
Warren W 594
Warren T 594
Wyman P 589
Wyman R 523
Zilpha 222, 593
Clarkson, Lucy R 492
Clay, Benjamin 593
Clarissa I' 657
Clement, Anne B 594
Clara F 621
Harriet 639
Joshua. Rev 30, 176, 198, 202
Leonard 650
I.,evi r)22
Oliver P ^594
45
Cleveland, Rev. Aaron 127, 181. 188, 20'r
Clara A 59*
Deidamia 594
William A 594
Clifford. Abigail 657
David 656
Hannah 663
Ira 656
Jacob 345, 355, 406
Jerusha 601
Joseph 655
Mr 71
Temperance 623
Timothv 655
CLorOH. Abigail .597
Abigail C 662
Allen J 594, 649
Alma A 591
Bert 594, 649
Clark 594
Emma A 594, 627
.Jeremiah 630
John 93
John F 594. 627
Lydia 660
Mary 663
Mary A 594, 608, 651
Mary J 591, 660
Miriam 594
Samuel 447, 594. 687
Sarah J 594, 655
Sophia 656
Timothy 408
William H 591
Cobb. Abbie P 300, 594
Abigail 594
Adelia F 300, 594, 598
Caroline 594
Edwin 595
Elizabeth F 300, 594
Fannie L 595
Fanny 594
George E. . .9, 333. 369. 491, 595. 692
Guilford 93. 283. 297. 298. 299
440, 486. 584, 594. 692
Hiram 594, 595
Hiram M 97. 300, 595. 690
Lucretia B 300. 594
Phoebe 517, 594
Phffibe P 300
Polly 594
S. Frances 300, 595
Salmon 343. 345, 486, 594
Salmon P 148,266,268,272
278. 280. 284. 297
303, 308, 309, 320
423, 438, 594, 687
COBURN. Abigail 610
blanche M 425. 492, 600
Elizabeth 600
Harry R 600
Ida M 599
.Tesse 192
John B 600
Cochran, Abby 626
Albert 626
Clarendon A 626
Lizzie 626
CoE, Rev. Curtis 207
Cogswell, Betsey 657
Charles E 586
Charles N 328
Emma F 636
Frank 489
John 252
Susannah 601
706
Index.
COGSWELi/j Thomas 72, 672
COLBCRX. Addie 618
Capitola B 638
Carrie J 650
Elizabeth 395
J. W 446
Leonard 595
Mandana B 595
Marv J 625
Pauline R 586
S H 655
Willard 593, 595
Colby, Aaron C 362
Aaron H 595
Abigail 643
Abner C 362. 403. 595
Abner H 362
Adoniiah 595. 634, 687
Almeda D 652
Alvin 595
Anthony 671
Arvilla A 660
Belinda D 664
Betsey 89
Charles A 618
Charles M 596
Daniel ..176,181,189,221.343,344
353, 356, 396, 436. 446. 595. 683
Edna R 596
Elijah R 91, 271, 298, 595, 620
Ella J 596
Elizabeth 595, 616
Enoch 595
Ensign .... 7, 143, 193, 297, 298, 397
446, 479, 595, 602, 687
Eunice 659
George M 618
James M 656
John 595, 656
John H 595
John S 595
Joseph 362.595
Joshua 72
Lizzie M 596
Lucv 595, 646
Martha A 596
Mary ■ -610
Mary C 595
Moses 595
Moses T 680
Nancy R 595
Polly 646, 658
Rebecca 658
Reuben 362
Rhoda 633
Rowel 486
Ruth P 591
Samuel A 367, 656
Sarah 595, 620
Sidney 1 366. 881, 595
Susan T 591, 595
Willaba 59o
Willaby 595
COLCORD. Ann 659
John 117,446,449
J. M 1"7
COLE, Abigail 83, 196. 505
Alvin B 596
Amon H 596
Caroline D 642
Daniel B 419
Daniel W o96
Elyira 658
Emily D 65S
Etta M 596
Joseph H 596
Cole, Norman W 596
Pollv 654
Solomon 204
Thomas 177, 447, 505, 649
Viola M 596
CoLLixs. Chellis E 617
Err 447
James D 656
John 688
Nellie M 596
Columbia, Alvina 658
Anthony 596
Charles 596
Dora 617
Flora 658
Frank 656
Harriet 658
Henry W 681
John 656
Julia A 661
June 660
Lasett 596
Lewis 692
Lucinda 655
M. A. E 668
Olive 664
Perlev J 587
Philoma 654
Sophia 657
William 656
COLT, John G 482
CoNANT, Elizabeth J 800
Henry 1 596
Latham 656
Rev. Liba 198. 224, 299. 674
Sarah A 300
CoxGER. Mattie 586
Converse. Samuel 118
CoxwAY, Daniel 376, 382
COOK, Harriet C 661
John A 622
Paul 363,656
Cooke, John 486
CooLEY, Abigail 64
coombs. Rev. S 192, 193
CooMS. Albert E 656
Copp. Darious W 595
Ellsworth W 596
G. O. F 656
Henrietta 596
Lizzie M 651
Corliss. Cvrus 656
Cvrus L 247
Joseph F 596
Kimball 6o6
COEXIXG. Amos G 610
Minnie L 610
Sherburne L 610
Corser, Hannah 627
COTTOX, Thomas 234
CoccH. Carroll M 642
William 650
COULT, A. C 247, 898
COUNTY, Dennis 367, 870, 381
George B 365, 369. 656
COX, Samuel H 263, 323
CowixG. Bertha C 652
C. 247
Dwight T 652
Ethel T 652
Florence B 652
Josephine W 652
Marian M 652
Ruby M 652
Ceaddock, Eleanor 650
Index.
707
Cram. Bessie 517
Charles H 517
Charles H., Jr 517
Clara 517
Harriet B 517
Mildred 517
Xathan D 517
Timothy 517
Walter 517
Craw, Joseph 19, 20. 2,S. 24. 27. 28
31, 49, 55, 57, 386. 677
Creed, Cornelius 380. 383
Crocker. Bernice 615
David 656
Sally 615
Sarah 494
Selden L 656
Crockett. E 198, 299
Crofoot. James 599
Crosbv. Benjamin J 596
Cross. Amey 596
Bailey 177, 446. 449, 59G
David 2(13
Dixi C 631
Elizabeth 596. 642
Emma P 649
Fannie E 638
Fanny 451. 596
Franklin M 656
Fred 399
Georee B 656
Jonathan B 343, 345, 352, 596
Lemira H 596
Leonard 596
Luther 596
M. E 384,437. 499
Nathan 83. 137. 410. 411. 413
445. 446. 449, 596. 687
Olive 248, 251, 535. 596
Rebecca 499. 596
Susanna 654
Sylvester 656
CROSSMan. Daniel 19, 24, 27
CROwell. Joshua 182, 246
Crowley. Hannah 656
CRUMiiELL, Rev. Alexander 291, 292
294 295
Cdmmixgs, Clara A '.542
Daniel G 542
Eunice C 631
Martha 596
Clnxixghaji. Grace F 621
John B 419. 597
Currier, a. H 368, 372
Aaron 597
Abner 525
Abigail H 598
Adelaide H 492
Albert 629
Alonzo 597
Amos 525, 597
Amos H 525, 597
Ann 488,525.597
Anna 525. 526, 527, 533
Benjamin 525
Bernard B 586
Betsey 522, 597, 656
Charles W 597
Clarissa 526, 532, 607
Clark 76. 88, 131, 137, 145
252, 384, 393, 396, 405. 447
525. 532, 645, 678, 683
Daniel 91, 283. 482. 486, 525
David 193. 412. 447, 597, 687
Dexter 485. 4S6
Dorothy E 597
Currier, Dorothv J 597
Eben F 193, 597
Ebenezer 525
Edward 418, 597
Eliza A 300, 660
Eliza H 522
Elizabeth 356, 597
Elizabeth P 597
Ephraim 525
Eva 598,610
Fanny 597
Farrington 26, 313, 597
Frank 300, 366, 597, 622.
675, 676. 690
Frank D 338, 452, 488, 597
676, 677, 682
Fred B 536
Fred R 600
George K 300. 597
Hammond 598, 610
Hannah 489, 524, 525. 526
529, 533, 597
Helen R 597
Henry 269, 597
Henry K 597, 690
Henry K. W 597
Henry and William 419, 482
Horace S 338, 359, 366, 452
454. 541, 597, 675
James 218, 526, 529, 656. 687
Jennie W 597
John 43. 44, 45, 69, 76, 81
82, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89. 99, 103
105. 107. 110, 116, 122, 124
127. 130, 156. 160, 176, 177
178, 179, 189. 252, 254, 314
316, 387, 393. 394, 395, 397
403, 406. 410. 414. 434, 439
446, 509, 517, 524, 525, 526
532, 533, 652. 669, 673, 678
680. 681, 683, 686, 687, 690
John C 488
John P 597, 608
John W 597, 600, 679. 690
Joseph 525
Joshua 26, 189, 193, 196
197, 200. 447, 530, 597. 687
Joshua E., Jr 196
L. K 367. 368
Lizzie 597
Lois 526, 531, 644
Lorenz 656
Lucy A 243, 602
Mary 525
Mary A 657. 662
Mary D 529, 542
Maud M 597
Miriam 525
Moody 678
Moses E 369, 609. 680, 690
Nancy 624
Nancy M 616
Nathan 485. 486, 525
Nathan M 297
Nathaniel 88. 93, 165.' 200
209, 255, 263, 266. 279. 290
298, 303. 322, 324, 361. 436
446, 452. 454. 483, 486, 540
562, 596, 597^^3. 674, 678
679. 687. 690
Nathaniel S 428, 597
Nellie B '. 600
Oliver C ] .597
Oliver P 597
Orpha 237
Permilia .' .'526, 532
708
Index.
CCERIER, Persilla 525
Rebecca 222. fi29
Reuben 177, 597
Rhoda F 516
Rhoda M 597
Richard 524
Richard. 3d 481, 482. 485. 486
Ruth 598, 620
Sally 532
Samuel 404, 524
Samuel W 4(i4. 598. 610
Sarah 525, 526, 528
Sarepta 195, 532
Seth 525
Simeon 598
Sophronia 597
Stephen 525
Theophilus 88, 345. 356. 417
444. 597, 687
Theophilus, .Tr 597, 641, 687
Theophilus S 597
Thomas 524
Webster 488
William 273, 524
William A 597
William D 97, 597
William P 597
Willie D 600
Currier's Hall 302
Currier's Store 267
Currier & Wallace 93, 541
Curtis, Charles C 159
CusHEN, Deborah 71
.Toshua 71, 683
Solomon 71
Gushing Caleb 486
Sa ra h 657
Cushing's Gore 107
Cutler. Ezra 373
Cutting Bros 201
Dale. Mr 440
Daines. Bvron 594. 598
.John P 594
Louisa 598
Marcia 598
Peabodv M 598
Sadie R 598
Dalpha. Lida 598
Daly. Charles H 543
Gertrude E 543
Mabel H 54.S
Dame, Theophilus 153. 520
Dana. Hattie 614
Danforth, Betse.y 662
,Tane 657
Daniels. Asa 3, 45
Clement 3, 44, 45, 48. 116
George W 101. 632
Georgia B 639
Grace 632. 636
Helen M 662
Ida L 632
Lucv M 633
Martha A 633
Ozias 632
Seth 93, .397, 409, 447. 533
Darling, Melinda 648
Darush, Andrew J 365. 374. 380
382. 657
Davenport. Marion M 300
Davis, Abigail 622
Abram 604
Albert F 367. 368
Alfred 598. 691
Alvin 407, 489, 490, 598
633, 680. 691
Amanda M 658
Davis. Ann 062
Arabella A 653
Arvilla F. M 523. 599
Arthur L 598, 62P
Axa 655
Benjamin 237
Benjamin F 491
Betsey 606
Charles 369, 598, 623
676. 680
Charles H .598
Daniel G. S 369, 523, 599, 691
David 444
Ebenezer 406, 410, 445. 688
Ella A 623
Ella M 634
Eliza 523
Emma 579
Enoch 245
Davis, George 206, 418, 590
George W. . . ,128, 138, 169, 367, 409
489, 490, 506, 598, 676
Everett T 598
Fanny E 598
Frank A 598
Hannah 665
Harry A 598
Herbert C 598
Horace L 371
Isaac 366. 598. 625, 641
679. 680. 692, 693
.7. S 366
James H 594, 598. 682
691. 693
.Tob S 679
.Tohn R 691
.Tulia A 598
Katherine R 492
Kitty 590
Laura E 598, 608
Leon A 598
Leonard 245, 523, 599
Leroy S 590, 676, 680, 693
Lilla L 598
Lillea M 523
Lizzie J 598
Louisa M 583
Lucy D 609
Martin 598
Mary 523. 599, 653
Mary E 638
Milan E 598. 680
Moses 688
Xancy 664
Nathan 688
Nettie E 598
Orel K 523, 599
Peter L 599
Phoebe 590
Rollin E 637
Roxie L 584. 598
Ruth 609, 659
Sallv 656
Samuel 598, 609
Sarah 616
Sarah E ,644
Stephen 653
Verne L 598. 626
Walter S 691. 693
Watts 138. 418. 464. 599
Weslev 598
Wesley P 599
Willie M 598
Day, Adeline 660
Betsey 578
Charles 366, 418, 4.34. 440. 442
606, 675, 679, 692
Index.
709
Day, Daniel 657
David 533
Flora B G06
Hannah C 661
John 446
Joseph F 691
Leonard 657
Lilla 622
Mamie B 6U6
Samuel 533
Ursula 652
Zilpha 659
Deax. Ellen 596
Pauline 659
Velous 599
Dearborn, Rev. Reuben 242. 247
Captain 355
Deaver, Henrv J 596
Decato, Albert 691, 693
Almond K 378
Charles 692. 693
Etta 599
John 657
Joseph 657
Luella 599
Susan 661
Defosses. Lewis 447
Del Valle, Nina 517
Ysabel 517
De Moraixville, Betsey 662
Charles 657
Dennett, Captain 354
Dennison. Elizabeth 426. 6.34
Derber, Walter 657
Derby. Elihu 195, 599
Foster M 599
Joseph C 691
Lucy C 599
Mrs 440
Nathaniel 159, 209, 363
414. 586. 688
Sarah M 657
Desmond, Thomas H 378. 383
Devereaix. William H 657
Dexter, Kitty 612
Dewey, Andrew 400, 415
DiCKERSON, Hannah 657
Mary E 647
Reverend 207
Suel 657
Dickey, John B 603
Dickson. Macauley 599
DiGBY, William 366, 377, 419, 596
Florence H 596
Joseph W 596
Rosella E 596
DiMOND, Arvilla H 659
Mr. and Mrs 461, 489
DiNSMORE, Susan 662
DODGE, Alvah 132
Arthur 630
Clarence 630
Ella S 599. 630
Elmore J 599
Harrv 599
Hattie R 599
Lena 630
Samuel 3, 6, 20. 23. 48. 117
Samuel. 3d 4. 47. 122. 139
Simon 444. 03u, 692
DOE, Mary E 329, 642
Dohertv, Daniel 367, 374
Dole, Charles A 341
Elizabeth S 599
Crime of Isaac 469
Joseph 533
Dole, Lucy 222
Mary ." 533
Moses 45, 82. 87
88. 124, 128, 129. 133, 137
185. 186. 208. 215. 219. 252
257. 314. 431, 440. 448, 482
486. 533. 673, 678, 682, 688
Tavern 130, 481, 533
Wales 131, 189, 446, 599, 688
Doloff, Franklin 657
Nellie S 662
Dome, Eslay 657
DORSEY, William 370, 382
Doten, Ambrose C 600, 620. 691
Betsey 222, 593
Catherine B 597. 600
Eleanor 600
Ellen F 600
Frank A 492, 599, 677
George W 600
Guilford 300,599,676,680,691
Hattie F 600
Hattie M 599
Helen M 600
James 82, 285, 298, 392, 394
440, 445, 486, 599, 688
James, Jr 486
L. Linwood 599
Lizzie M 600
Loiza 600
Mabel P 600
Maria 599
Martha 599
Martha T 599
Mary 599
Mary T 599
Matilda J 600
Nellie M 599
William 297, 298. 417
585, 675, 679
Douglass, Caleb 120
William 61, 64, 120, 139
140, 141, 146, 147, 253, 390
422. 437. 446, 499, 683, 686
Dow, Archie 587
Armena 600
Austin V 616
Benjamin 277
Caleb 300, 600
Charles S 600
Daniel 409, 445
Edith M 587
Edwin B 600
Elvira 600
Emma S 600
Everett 367,369,879,381,692
Hannah 1.58
Hervey S 589. 676
Isaac 600
Isaac W 300
Isophena 600
Jacob 82, 88. 130. 209
237, 248, 422, 441, 446
451, 500, 600, 640. 688
Jacob T 600
Joseph 300, 600
Mary 300, 600
Mary J 624
Moses, Gen 72. 79
Pearl E 587
Robert W 600
Rozetta 600
Samuel 643
Sarah 600
Sylvanus J 382, 600
William W 600
Dowling. Fannie 048
710
Index.
DowNE, Captain 352. 353
Downer, George 657
Ina 659
Downing. Mr 293
Downs, D. W 247
Drake. George 162. 288
George W 657
James C 482
John 657
John H 657
Samuel 215. 222. 223
287. 432. 688
Thomas 688
Dresser, Amelia B 658
Belle M 598
Drew. Almary 600
Calvin S 600
Jacob 461
Joseph H 615
Roseanna 600
Sally 600
Drown, Hattie 639
Drugg, Thomas 600
Ddbia, Ethel E 599
James 491. 492
Dudley. Mr 94
Timothy B 260
Dunbar, Margaret 515
Duncan, Margaret 172
William H 299. 416
Dunham , Almon 601
Ann 440
Ann K 659
Austin 367. 380. 657
Eugene 601
Frances R 601
Hiram U 601
Louisa 601
Orison 657
Phineas C 91
Phineas O 691
Timothv A 368 373
Willard" L 657, 691
Dunklee, Helen 597
John C 597
Dunning. Charles L 603
C. U 245. 247, 486
DCPHONOT, John 691. 693
Duplesse. Ira I 601
Dupuis, Zeb 657
DUEGIN. William S 608
Durkee, Bartholomew 113
Nathan 345. 355
Durocher, Odil 613
DURKELL, Augusta E 601
Daniel 601, 616
Daniel 1 6ol, 620
Elizabeth J 001. 654
Emeline A 587, 601
Eunice 601
Eunice S 601
DUSTINS 499. 502
DUSTIN, Alfred B 222. 601
Betsev 500
Blanche 601
Caleb 94. 234 236, 246
247. 417, 486. 500.617
622. 674. 676. 679. 688
Caroline E 500
Cassius :M 619
Charles W 94. 601
Daniel 502. 683
David 70. 71. 143. 145. 147
232, 343, 345, 363, 395, 398
411, 441. 499. 596, 082, 688
Dudlev B 500. 688
ICben R 488
DuSTiN. Emeline 300, 501, 610
Emilv 500
Emily J 488
Francis 500, 688
Franklin 500
Franklin T 365, 376, 601
Gertrude 601
Hannah 499, 584, 601
Harriet B 300, 502
James 362, 500, 501
John 653
John B 359,457,501,653
John R 234,237,412,601,688
John W 601
Jonathan 35, 57, 63, 118
123, 177, 343, 344, 390
405, 437, 446, 499, 683
Jonathan, Jr 446, 499, 683
Joseph 47, 48, 91, 122
162, 212, 275, 281, 283
297, 298, 308, 344, 359
362. 363, 366, 440, 499
500, 501, 514, 670, 679
Loraine H 500
Lydia 664
Melvina J 601
Minnie • 601
Nathan 502
I'aul 246
I^ebecca A 300, 502
Ruth 63, 441, 499
Samuel 437 499, 502, 514
Silas 412
Sophronia 502
Susanna 502
Sylvester 601
William W 367, 379, 601
DUTTON, Silas 609
DwiNELs. Catherine 601
Charles W 488, 601, 680, 691
Daisy 601
George 601
James 601
Julianna G 601
Louisa 601
Moses 601
Sarah 610
Sarah C 601
Dyke, Lyman 601
Eames, Ehenezer. .3, 5, 13, 26, 27, 28, 34
46, 50. 52. 53. 57, 143
168. 391. 422, 446, 677. 685
Joseph 3. 45
Eaele. Flossie M 651
Eastman. Abigail 231, 622
Albert 300
Allie S 602
Alphonso 606
Arthur H 652
Bartlett 602
Caroline 601
Caroline M 606
Caroline P 301
Cogswell 601
Daniel 657
Elwell 601
Enoch 489
George S 300
Gertrude A 618.
Grace H 652
Grant C 652
Henrv 657
Ira 671
James . . .47. 209. 243. 244, 260. 304
416. 602, 652, 674, 679, 688
James F 602, 651, 652
John 601
Index.
711
Eastman. Josephine 601
Larned 202, 243, 602
Lizzie F 607
Margaret 602
Martlia 652
Martiia J 653
Marv 602
Marv A 601. 641
Marv F 652
Miranda 613
Miriam 301. 602. 612
Moses 601
Moses F 602
Obidiali 159
Peggy 601
Persis T 601
Phineas 93, ISl, 193, 239. 268
276, 280, 281. 454. 601. 688
Rhoda 602
Racliel 601
Ricliard B 692
Ruth B 649
Simeon 601
Sophronia 602. 635
Stephen 243,300,602,652,683
Susan E 652
William E 159, 304, 305, 306. 674
Eatox. C. E 247
Ebeneazer 002. 688
Edward 657
George M 602
James M 367, 368, 602. 633
Lois 610
Lucinda M 602
Mary F 602
Mr 241
Nathaniel 91. 416. 418. 602. 691
Sally 661
Susannah 602
Edgerly, M. V. B 672
EDWARDS. Angie 620
Benton 602
Betsey A 662
Burns W 367. 368, 602
Bvron 367. 368. 602
Elijah W 593. 602, 610, 692
Perrv 602
Wilk's 649
Eldridge, Dilla 657
Elsa 633
Elkins , Sarah 622
Elliott. Andrew 356
Betsev 602
Carrie E 524. 608
Elizabefh 524, 664
Emeline 602.642
Freeman E 602
Hattie 002. 631
Henrv E 602
Henry W 602
Joel 602. 638
Roswell 524. 602. 679
Sarah M 524
Ellis. Caleb 670
Elmer. Adelia 590
Emerson. Caleh D 602
Captain 354
Charles A 657
Charles E 602
Charles H 616
Isaiah 240
Isaiah E 641
Jesse E 287
Marcia A 659
Maria 630
Emery, Dan G 654
Gwendolin 644
Emery. Mary C 644
Emmons. Abigail 609
Emory, Hannah L 617
Helen M 660
Richard 246
English, John 247
Evans, Alexander 593
Asaph 539
Charlotte 658
Chloe 197
Edward 486
George 193, 194, 196, 197
Henry 373
Lois 445, 651
Lucretia D 584
Samuel 378,382
Thomas 630. 657
Everett, Captain 354
C. F 488
Evon, Irene S 602
Fairbanks, Joseph 246
Fairfield, Adelia M 611
Anna C 611
Arthur P 611
Calvin P 611.616
Ella H 611
Helen F 611
Marion 611
Marion H 611
Pavson E 611
Sarah L 611
Fales. Abby 659
Abigail 301, 603
Arnold 603 609
Augusta A 603
Caleb 244, 603
Caroline E 603
Charles H 588
Clara J 588
David 603,609
Dorothy 620
Dorothv H 602
Eliza 602, 622
Emilv D 603
Eunice C 585. 603
George 159. 443, 588, 692
Hannah E 588
Henrv 603
Horace 603
Inda 603
Jabez H 603. 622
John 11. 83. 89. 91. 131
133. 151, 193, 221, 224, 297
397, 41o, 447. 453. 602. 688
John, Jr 91, 193, 195. 272. 284
John D 603
Joseph B 588
Joseph H 603
Julia H 603
Laura 603
Loraine H 603
Lucv A 580. 588
Maria 588
Martha J 603
Mary 595
Marv C 602. 637
Mary M 586. 588
Orrin 159, 443. 588. 603. 688
Orrin G 588
Pollv 603
Sarah 195. .•'.(H 603
Silvia 595. 602
Susan C 603
Willard A 602
Farmer, John 210
Farnum, Daniel. .60, 79, 80, 313, 314. 392
405, 407, 444. 003. 678
712
Index.
FARXCM. George W 603
Hannah C 603
Hazen R 075. 079. 692
Jonathan 603
Lucy S 603
Luther C 603
Phoebe 603
Ransom 300
Sally S 603
S. C 246, 247
FARRER, Nathaniel 314. 315
Farringtox. Mar.y 597
Felch. Benjamin F 691
Cora 632
Ella 632
Hannah 222
James C 632. 676. 691
Fellows, Antoinette 622
Benjamin 657
Eliza C 661
Gilbert G 658
Lucinda 656
Lydia A 664
Mercy 603
Moses 658
Stephen 487
Truman 658
Wilfred D 607
FERGnsoN, Franklin 658
Persis 583
Fernald, J. H 489
Fessexden. Thomas G 73
Field, Joseph 645
Otis 221. 222
Fifield, Adin G 616
Alice 603
Dayidson 616
Dayid 657
Edson J 369, 381, 616, 630. 691
Elmer 616
Enoch 434
Ezekiel 657
Frank S 590. 616
Georgianna M 603
Ira 453
Joseph 630
Libius 641
Mehitable 585
Pomelia 658
Sarah A 601
William 616
William H 630, 693
FixcH, Abigail 65
Henry 422, 603. 683
FrsH, Theoda 603
Fisher, Betsey 594
Eva A 632
Mahala D 610
PiSK. Mr 84
FiSKE. Daniel 641
FiTTs, Richard 647
FiTz. Harriet H 656
Fitzgerald. E 491
FizETTE. James 658
Flagg, Albion W 595, 599
Hannah 661
Hannah W 603
Harriet A 654
Jacob 657
Joseph 205
Lois 603
William 657 ^
Flaxders, Abraham H 300, 428 '^
Alice M 604 /
Anna 222
Augustus B 604
Bertha M 604
Flaxders. Betsey 660
Betsey A 6U4, 618
Elijah 362, 637
Elijah C 434, 604, 630, 680, 692
Frederick 604
George M 604
Georgia 604
Gracia 604, 614
Hannah 533
Hattio E 615
Trad 604
John 193, 414, 589, 604
614, 647, 688
John B 159
John C 604
Joshua 362, 604
Julia A 604
Julia y 604
Lydia B 604
Margaret 603
Martha 607
Mary r,ii3
Mary J 585, 604, 656, 658
Minnie 614
Moses 399. 533, 658. 688
Sally 533
Sarah A. L 300
Sarah E 604
Sarah J 604
Sarah M 604
Susan 604
Susanna 270. 299
Sylyester 340. 604. 625
Theodate 64
Thomas 90. 162, 256, 269
281. 282. 285, 288 ,
297, 298, 428, 441'
456, 462, 657, 670
Timothy 533
Fleetham. Constance 595
Ernest D 595
Fletcher. Daniel 246
Joseph M ^. . . 672
Sarah 222, 630
Flixt, Abigail '. 89
Benjamin 657
Edward 604
Edwin 424. 528. 691
George 412, 446, 528, 628
Horace C 528
John 109. Ill, 543
John C 528
Joseph 60. 61, 64, 108. 145. 174, 253
390, 447, 506, 533. 604. 683. 685
Layinia 584
Louisa 529
Lucy 604, 648
Lydia 198
Mary 536
Oscar W 529
Polly 604. 626
Sally 499. 604, 623
Floyd. Mrs 494
Charles M 672
Flcry. Frederick 374
Fogg. Dayid 60. 63. 65. 143. 3no
389, 441. 499. 682, 686
George W 604
Harrison 26, 300, 604. 632
Lucy 604
Mary 318. 514
Samuel 604
Wallace G 604
Follaxsbee. Abi 604
(Follenshee) Addie M 492
Arabella 604
Arthur P 491
Index.
713
FoLLAXSBEE. Betsev S13
Clara D ." 604
Clara 1' Gl'o. 664
Daniel :{6L'. 461
Elizabeth 597
Ephraini H 657
Frances G 604
Hannah 515
Harry 420. 675
Henry H 604
Herbert E 604
Ida 604
James 414, 620
James M 657
John .... 344, 345, 394, 409, 447. 632
John B 657
Joseph 46. 102
Joseph J 650, 691
Lewis C 676, 680. 691.
Lucian A 604
Martha 313. 612
Mary A 604
Moses 688
Nathan ..312.344 345.353.356.686
Xettie M 604
Oflfranda A 301
Orrin M 604
Perley R 604
Rhoda 620
Sarah 313. 612
Sarah B 584
Seth P 419. 604
Susanna 657
William B ■ 362
FOLSOM. Abigail 654
( Fulsom I Angeiine S 603
Betsey 605
Cyrus 604
Elizabeth S 605
(George 605. 658
Harry H 605
Hiram 605
Horace 603
Jeames 605
John 658
John C 604
Joseph 604. 683. 688
Josiah 605, 683. 686
Lucia A 595
Mary 595
Mary J 604
Minnie M 492
Navessa 605
Rufus H 604
Sally 591, 605
Samuel 71. 684
Samuel, Jr 605
Sheleb 605
Stephen 483. 486
Steven 605
Widow 80
Ford. Adoniram 692
Charles H 489
David T .-,91
Herman A 658
Horace 658
George N 658
J. Alonzo 644
Jerusha 658
John 503
John N 371
Luther 658
Richard T 658
Forties. Zephraim 372 383
Foss. John C 658
Mary A 660
Topham 657
Foster, Rev. Amos 193, 210-222, 229. 235
236. 296. 322, 325, 423
432. 444. 470. 484. 486
570, 605, 688
Ben.iamin F 658
Broughton W 605
• Ellen M 605
P'rances J 605
Harriet E 605
Herschel 246
Hezekiah 658
John 246. 588
Jonathan 88
Mercy 622
FOWLE. Daniel 3. 27. 102, 117
Fowler, Asa 671
Ellen D 660
Susan A 599
Fox, Elizabeth 605
Fanny 0 605
Harvey 605
John F 658
Lucy 657
Mary 1 633
Sarah 71
William. Jr 3. 46, 113 449
Eraser, Henry W 542
Freeman, Daniel 658
Jonathan 72. 76
Mehitable 661
Fkench, Amos 658
Darwin G 529
Deacon 46
Emma L 529
George H 529
Guy C 529
Hannah F 659
Hattie W 529
Helen 624
Helen M 529
Henry 30, 657
James H 380, 382
John 658
Levi 529
Lois M 529
Mary A 626
Moses 163, 597
Nancy 623
Nathan 658
Polly 243, 244, 602
Rhoda 622
Samuel 222
Frost, Amasa 657
Mehitable S 516
Fl-ller. Rev. E. C 223, 266, 279, 286
287, 295, 296
E. M 203
FuRBEi!, George C 611
Ida 611
James A 480, 611
Loraine 611
M. T 491
Sarah 611
Fl-rloni;. James 367, 379
Gage. Daniel B 658
Deborah 655
Lura 622
Gale. Ezra 398. 688
John A 658
Sarah 630
Gardner, Ezekiel 50. 61. 70. 145. 176
344. 34.5. 355. 445. 450, 684, 686
George Warner 426
Reverend 202
Sanford 364
William 356
Garfield. Marie 585
714
Index.
Oakland, Herman T 605
Herbert 63G
Lou C 628
Louise J 605
Garnet, Henry Highland. . .291. 292, 294
Gaevin, Solomon 691
Gate.s, Amanda M 605
Americus 91, 271
Bella 605
Charlotte 522, 605
Eunice 605
Eunice F 605
General 351, 35.5
Grace L 605
Hannah B 631
Horatio 605, 676, 679
Horatio B 436, 605, 677, 680
Joshua C 605
Josiah, Jr 4, 6. 13, 20, 23. 27
46, 57, 117
Leora A 605
Marvin 605
Maud S 605, 637
Mrs 202
Newton B 369, 605, 691
Pertie J 605. 637
Reynold 130, 145, 177. 181
186, 343, 345. 405
431, 436. 447. 522
605. 684. 686. 688
Samuel J 130. 158, 159, 344
345, 396,447, 605, 686
Samuel T 131
Thomas 4, 5, 46, 113, 344, 350
William 499
■William H 605
Zobulon 61
Gay, Jerome 376. 382
Geoege. Agnes L 606
Allen H 366. 377. 486
488, 606, 647, 678
Artemisia 606
Beniamin P 93. 94. 142. 159, 605
Bertha 606
Bet.sey 605
Carlos C 606
Carrie M 606
Celinda A 606
Charlotte T 6o6, 649
Charles 606
Clarissa 606
Eleanor H '. 606
Elijah 606
Endora E 606
Estelle A 605, 021
Eunice W 606
Flora M 583
Frances K 606
Frank A 606
Grace 1 606
Hannah 605
Harriet S odl, 606, 616
Henry C 91, 339, 416
606, 641, 674, 679
Irvine; T 339, 606
Isabello M 300. 424. 606. 647
Isaac K 606
Levi 46. 82. 134. 149
235, 237, 366. 688. 692
Louisa 606
Lucinda 606
Mary 605
Marv A 606
Mary J 606
Marv L 597
Mercyline 606
Moses E , 606
George. Thomas M 606
Wallace B 606
William W 162, 298. 303, 366, 368
369, 401, 440, 454, 462
606, 674, 675, 676, 679
Geeould, Rev. Moses 224, 337
Samuel L 427
Sarah 589
Gerrisii. Col. Henry 104, 156
GIBBS, Sarah 647
Gilbert, John F 658
Mary E 656
GiLE, Amos 606
Daniel 417
Dorothy C. F 607
Ezekiel 352
Hannah 608. 655
Henrv J 376, 606
Ira S 658
John 606
Julia A 301
Lovicy 607
Lucy 301
Lydia H 301
Mary A 206, 606, 616
Meh'itable 606
Nelson 658
Reuben 46, 134, 398, 446, 688
Richard 688
Samuel 234
Stephen 658. 688
Warren N 607
Giles. Benjamin 49
Gilkeeson, Hiram 653
Ida M 653
John 658
Gill. Lydia 643
Gillett. Frank 542
Bvelvn P 542
GiLLis, Albert S 607
Lizzie 607
GiLiiAN. Alvah 367. 379. 607
Arvilla 607
Betsev 607
Caleb" 222. 287. 007, 623, 688
Charles H 607
Daniel H 532. 607
Dudlev 30. 75. 88
129, 144, 173. 174, 422
448, 607, 677, 681, 684
Edward H 607
Eliphalet C 196, 298, 359
415, 607, 617
Elmer A 532, 607
Ezra 532, 607. 688
Fred B 607
Hannah W 607
Horatio A 491. 607. 679
James C 607
Jesse 607
John 382. 383
John B 658
John S 300
John T 76. 79. Oil". 669. 670
Josie 607
Laura P 607
Lucia 607
Lvdia 191
Mary 88. 607
Marv G 500
Minerva W 607
Nathaniel 71. 143. 145
177. 183. 193. 393. 403
406, 412, 446, 607, 688
Nicholas, Hon 86
Phoebe 601
Sally 520,523.607
Index.
715
GiLMAX. Samuel lO.S. 007. 047. 088
Sarah 183
Sidney A <><)7
Sidney B <">U7
Steven 007
Steven S 300
Uriah S 007
GiLiioRE. Joseph A 071
Winthrop 007
GiLPATiucK. Josephine 644
Gixx. George 498
Harold R 007
Mildred P 007
Gleasox. Elmira 007
Emilv S 007. 619
Sewall 189. 398. 410
411. 447. 088
Wlnsor 607
Glode, Peter 0.58
Gloggett. Enos 367. 379
GOBAR, Charles O 607
Lola A 007
GODDAKD, Rev. Samuel 217
GODETTE. William 0.58
GODY. Joseph 0.58
GooDELL. David A 672
Welthea W 619
Goodhue, David r)29. 601
Elsie 012
George H 226. 43.5. 612. 623
J. Merrill 612
Merrill 612
Stephen 397
Goodrich. B. E 309
Joshua 688
Lydia 614
GooDWix. Ichabod 671
GoRDox. Charles S 607
Clemmie A 607
Earl C 429. 008
Ella A 007
Emma F 492
Ethelyn A 608
Frank L 007
Ceorge H 488. 490. 491. 533
608. 077. 082
Harold G 608
Judith 601)
L. H 246
Lawrence O .598
Leila M 608
Lucian N 375
Mamie G 608
Marv E 607
Ralph W 598, 608
Ruth C 608
Vaufirhan 1 008
Willie 607
Capt. William 379, 440. 454
590, 007. fi92
William 297, 418
William A 367
GOHHAM. Eva S 591, 624
Goss, Abbie 608
Abbv F 608
Albert 593, 594. 608
Anna D 008
Beatrice 594. 608
Ben A 598, 608
Bernice E 49ii. 608
Calista S 608
Charley 608
Daniel 408, 594, 608
653, 677. 680. 692
Dell J 492
Dora 608. 640
Elmira C 608
Goss. Elizabeth 008
Emma 008
Hannah A 592
Harris J 434. 489. 491
608, 626, 677, 680
Isabelle M 638
Jethro 608
Jonathan 608
Joshua 608, 688
Lena 608
Levi 608
Levi M 608
Lizzie L 608
Louisa M 655
Nellie S 608
Nettie 651
Orvill 366. 371. 608
Reuben 418. 608, 620, 637
Richard 608
Roxanna 608
Ruhv 1 008
Rufus S 307. 380
Russell 008
Sarah 008
Susannah 008
Susie S 008
Wallace R 524, 008
Walter 608
Gould. Abigail 608
Alanson 609
Amos 132. 187. 189. 208. 209
222 223 287 410 416
418. 447. 580. 678, 088
David 88. 209. 009. 688
Diadema 609
Dorothy P 660
Hannah 608
Hannah S 008. 627
Huldah 363
John 609
Joseph T 608
Alartha H 614
Nathan 200. 608. 688
Rebecca 590
Sarah 661
Sarah C 608
Sylvester P 600. 614
Gove. Elijah 356. 412. 088
Hattie 1 061
Rody 004
Graham. George 609
George W 009
Granger. Ellhu 486
Graves. Nancy 646
Gray. Nellie P 521
GRaville. .Joseph 308. 375
Greeley, Abigail 009, 048
Achsah 609
David 458. 609. 628
Ellen A 625
Ephraim 609
Hannah 009. 640
Ira 609
John D 609
Lvdia 609
Mathew 81. 129. 1 31. 209. 344
353. 350. 447. 009. 688
Nancy 609
Sally 009
Sarah 603
Shubael 361. 609
Susan B 609
Greene, A. S 30. 267, 446
(Green ) Edwin 658
Emily A 621
J. A 100. 488
.James 370. 376. 382. 383
716
Index.
Geeenk, Nelson 247
Gkeexfield. Cliarles 406, 446
Greexol-gh, Robert 609
Griffith. Amelia B 611
Grimes. Alice A .".87
Gross. Rufus S 6fl2
Grotes, Anthony .596
Horace S 619. 624
GuxscH, Edwin 372
GcsTix, Thoma.s 3, 6. 4.3. 45. 46
48. 49. 102
Thomas. Jr 3. 48
Hackett, Corcellu.s H 97, 633
James 633
Hadlev, Aaron 610
Abel 61, 64, 131, 144. 14.5. 174
176. 252, 366. 371. 396
431, 609. 610, 684. 686
Albert L 609. 680
Amos 609, 658, 688
Andrew J 488, 610
Angle E 609
Arabel 597, 609
Azro B 692
Bertha D 492
Calvin 610
Charlotte 660
Charles 610
Dennis 610
Diana 657
Dorcas 593. 610
E. L 488
E. S 488
Eben 610. 691
Edwin A 609
Eliza A 661
Emeline D 595
Emma 501
Etta M 597, 610
Eva M 610
Florence 610
George W Ill, 609, 691
Gilbert S 692
Gilman 610
Hamlin E 610
Hannah 641
Henrv M 659
Howard 610
Ida A 610
Isabel R 610-
Jacob 609
John M 610
Joshua 609, 659
Joshua M 637
Kimball 247
Laura 660
Leonard 420. 610. 653
Linnie C 610
Lizzie 501
Lydia 609
Lvman 610
Malvina 609
Marcia 609, 610
Marcia A 639
Mariann 609
Mary E 583
Miriah 598. 609
Molly 184
Moses 160. 174. 184, 195
198. 447.^10. 688
Nancv M 602. 610, 663
Norman 198, 607
Obadiah 610, 617
Orra 610
Relief 609
Sarah 610
Silas 659
Hadlev, Simeon. .297. 300. 404. 448. 501
609, 610. 684. 688
Sophia 603, 609
Stephen 371, 610, 633
Stephen, Jr 610, 640
Stephen. 3d 601
Susan M 610, 640
Warren B 610
William H 659
William K 590
Hadlock. G. O 488
Haffexreffer. R. H. . .159, 437. 440. 453
Haggett. Albert A 440 594
Minnie L 594
Hale, Elizabeth 593
Enoch 350
Moses T 659
Samuel W 672
William 670, 671
Hall. Adaline 659
Alma 657
Anthony 659
Asa A 380. 382
Bertha 633
Elder 192
I Eugenia E 632
Frank 691
George O 633
George W 691
Hendrick 586
Henry 612
John A 659
Joshua 612
Louisa 661
Martha S. W 644
Polly 612
Sallv 612
William 369, 434, 489, 604
676, 680, 691
Ham, Asa A 159
Betsey 454
Hamiltox. Cyrus B 189, 423
Harriet 222
Rev. Jonathan 285
Hamlett. Hattie A 655
Henry S 300, 372, 659
Levi 94, 402, 518
Warren W 372, 383
Haxchett, Diantha 650
Elam 650
Nathaniel 650
Samantha 650
Haxdersox. Anna M 610
Haxxaford. Sidney R 639
Haxscum. Mary A 656
Haxsox, Ben 610
Ebeneazer 251. 610
Hannah 610
Jeremv S 610
John 610
Lucy 610
Mariame 610
William G 610
Hapgood. Joseph , 159
HARDY. A. C 247
Alden 648
Almira 610
Bilev 87
Elder 235. 236
Gilman 610
Hannah 591
John W 246
Marv A 651. 662
Mary E 610
Mercy 65. 244
Orra H 372, 383
Rachel C 610
Index.
717
Haedy, Sarah A 657
Thomns J nOo, OIU. 650
Haroox, Samiii'l 659
IlARPEii. Nellie J 680
IlAiiiiiOAN. John 500
IlAKltlMAX, Mollv 604
Capt. Steven SO
Walter 671
Harris. Abbie F 591
Anna 611. 612. 621
Arabella .301. 612. 621
Benjamin 61, 612. 684. 686
Betsev 612
Daniel .3. 5. 13. 19. 46, .304
Dexter 305. 366, 612
Ebenezer 3, 46
Eliza 612
Eliza A 611
Eliza B 612. 626
Elizahetb 516. 612
Emma J 612
Frederick M 611
George 3. 5. 13. 19. 23
24. 26. 28. 30. 34, 40
41. 48, 57, 61, 104. 123
165. 231. 312, 445. 406. 611
612. 677, 681. 684. 685. 687
George D 367. 612
George H 222, 223, 224, 287 202
305, 313. 344, 416, 435
George L 612, 675
George M 611
Georgianna 612
Gibson 3, 13. 48. 113
Hannah II 611. 612. 614
Harriet 611
Hubbard . . .82. 88. 00. 132. 145. 174
176. 222. 486. 612. 678. 688
Hubbard. .Tr 279. 283. 287
313, 323. 324. 540
Isaac B 612
Israel 102. 128. 176, 445. 612
James 367. 375
James S 612
Jason E 612
.Jesse 612
.John. Hon 316. 324
John. Dr 40. 69, 75. 1 23. 143
148. 252. 422, 446, 677 684
John A 611
John H 30, 88. 89. 165. 215. 219
254. 255. 263. 358. 396. 416
611, 622, 673. 674. 678. 688
Joshua . .40, 41. 4rf 44. 45. 54. 62. 68
60. 78, 82. 83. 88, 123
124. 172, 177, 209, 210, 344
345, 353. 361. 392. 304. 308
404. 408. 440. 445. 448 452
6ir, 623 677, 681, 686, 688
Kittie 611
Lcmira L 611
Lenora W 612
Lois 612. 625
Lucv 578. 612, 641
Lucv M 611
Lvdia 612
Marcia M 61 1
Martha 209. 270. 470
Marv 612, 637
Marv F 222, 265 266, 611
Mehitable 612
Miriam 174, 180 470
Octavia 612
Oscar W 591.612
Polly 611
R. L 637
Sally 611. 612
HARRIS. Sarah 222. 277. 313
Sarah F 301
Sarah J 612
Sarah .S 611. 616
Tilton 693
William loi'. 176. 308. 411
412. 445. 612. 688
William L 366, 612. 675. 676
Hartwell. H. H 247
Hakty. Capt. John D 363
Harvey, David 688
Mathew 670
Timothy M 659
Haskell. William H 659
Hastings, Lydia 324
Hatch, Horace 659
Havex . George W 659
Hawkins. Captain 355
Hawks. Marv 639
H.\YEs. Allen 94. 455, 611. 674
Idella M 611
John H 611
Joseph 247
William A 328
Hatnes, Benjamin 236. 237. 252
612. 678, 688
Francis A 612
(ieorge 612
John 612
Josiah P 159. 297. 413
Martha J 612
Ruthy 612
Sally 595
Sumner 612
Hayward, Augustus R 605. 620
Captain 354
Orinda 620
Uuel 620
Wilmer H 613
Hazeltine, Alberto C 613
Daniel 369
David 659
Ellen S 527
George 527
George H 527
George W 100, 613, 680, 691
Grace E (513, 618
Julia 527
Hollis B 659
Jonathan 500
' Minnie E 613
P. Jennie 527
Rebecca G 653
Richman 692
Sally ; .520.' 523.' 613
William 613
Hazkn. Celinda \ ,, , 301
Edmund 444
N. H ::.".:. '6.58
Samuel 658
Head. Nat ..'. 672
Heafield. Mary D 651
Healey, Joseph 670
HE.vrH. A 247. 299
Bartholomew 222. 287 412
432' 688
Betsey 656
("ynthia P 654
David 440
Irene S 652
John R 613. 692
Leonard ". 691
Lora 648
Lyman E 613
Olivia W 301
i^ally 613
Samuel 145. 684
718
Index.
Heath, Samuel W 658
Susan 613, 661
Tyler 368, 371
Wilbur R 659
HEATOX. Arthur 659
Chaiips 648
Hebert. Esther 613
Joseph 226. 61.3, 659
Leedus 366. 377
Xoah 659
HEDDIXG, Elijah 243. 246
HENDEE, Capr. Joshua 350,351,352
Henderson. Isabelle E 613
Heydock. W. T 473
Hews. Eliza 532
Svbel 605
HiBBAED, Jedediah 26, 27. 30, 32, 34
344, 350, 351. 353, 355
Laura E 631
Hill. Agnes 657
Cas 113
Charles 613
Frank 613
Freddie A 613
Frederick 486
Harry O 613
Isaac 539, 670
John M 672
Mary A 657
Moses 613. 658
Napoleon J 420, 659
Col. Thomas 278
Thomas J 659
Villa A 613
Willie G 613
HiLLiARD. Benjamin T 654
Benjamin Y 415. 679
Samuel 619
HiLLMAN, J. H 247
Hills. James 355
Tiles 659
HiJiES. Adelphi W 198
Rev. Palmer C 198. 299
Hinds. Justice J 474
HiNKSON. Betsi^y M 613
Chamberlain P 613
Daniel 410. 411. 434. 444
QVS. 627, 688
Daniel F 376, 613
Delia L 613, 636
Eleanor L 606
George 366. 461. 659, 676
Leander 613
Louisa W 627
Mrs 202
Rodosca K 636
Samuel . . . .60. 61. 344. 345. 659. 686
Hinman. W. S 528
HiscorK, Laura E 664
HOAGiE, Joseph 659
Sarah 615
HOBAET. Colonel 351
I. N 302. 332
Nathan 486
William E 691, 603
HOBBS, Catherine 593
John 593
HOFFMAN. Beletson 372
Edward A 616
Henry 365
Minnie M 616
Sophia E 616
HOISINGTON, H. G 247
HoiT, Abigail 613. 655
(HoTtt Albert 601
Albert A 586
Anna 609
HoiT. B. F 234
Bartlett 91, 95. 209, 272
297, 579. 688
Benjamin H 614
Daniel 529,613,659,670,671
David 613. 645
Ebeneazer 42, 157, 158
514, 659, 673
Eliza J 614
Frank A 613
George 613
George F 529
Hannah 455
Hannah P 613
Joel 613
John 82. 131. 209. 222. 344, 354
355, 440. 447. 613. 688
John, Jr 586. 613
John G 613
John W 94. 137. 159. 368
370, 379. 381, 613
Josephine A 614
Judith 613
Levi 579
Levi W 300
Lois 633
Lois M 529
Moses 659
Nancv 613. 662
NancV M 6,662
Nathan W 662
Ned L 614
Olive G 659
Persis 613
Robert 209, 344. 345, 613, 688
Rufus 414
Rufus A 614. 688
Rufus S 614
Samuel 486. 489
Sarah 656
Stephen B 613
T. M 488
Warren E 614.682
Will A 578. 614. 680
Holcomb. Eliza J 625
James M 625
Luev E 625
Mary C 625
HOLDEX, Zenas D 644
Hollenback. John C 642
HOLLis, H. F 672
HOLMAX. Joshua 242, 247
HOLT, Ann R 614
George E 659
George F 614
James S 376.382
John 369
John A 659
Nathan S 488
Sadie A 614
William 614
HOMAN. Caleb N 616
Mabel R 625
Samuel N 625
Susan 629
HOMEB, Jonathan Rev 156
HOXEV, Ichabod 70
Hooper. Rev. Mr 173
HOPEY, Path R 614
Hopkins. John 610
HORXBEOOKE. Marv A 587
HOEE, Leonard 35, 60. 120, 686
HOSLEY, Josette 5S7
HOSMER, John 489
Hough, Hannah 611
HOUSE. Captain 351
HOUSTOX, Ann 656
Index.
719
HovEY , Abigail 656
Daniel 88. 89. 208. 209
345. 350. 354. 423. 484
486 612, 614. 684. 688
Dudley 688
Edward O 614
George H 614
Jacob 75. 120. 659. 684
Louisa 664
Howard, Amasa 131. 422. 446
Edward 614
Elvira H 614
Henrv 658
Rice 461
Sally K 614
Waterman 692
Howe. A. B 116
(Howl. Betsey 628
Charles B 659
Elizabeth 614
P. E 491
Joseph 659
Mary 663
Mary E 492
Nathaniel 014. 659
Nathan 209, 222. 246
HCBBARD. A. W 226
Arvilla K '. '.660
C. S 298
Henry 670. 671
Jennie M 619
Porter 650
HUGGETT. Edna E 614
Elmer E 614
William 434.614
HUGGINS. William H 618
HUKixs. William 71
HUNT, Phylendy R 614
HUNTEK, Charles H 633
Huntington, Ruth 169
Huntley, Hattie 653
HuNTOON, Caroline 636
Emily M 661
George 624
George A 639
Lucy E 655
William 632
HUNTRESS, John E 659
HUELBUTT, John T 647
HusE, Daniel 411, 609
Harry ; 488
James 300. 313
John F 634
Marv 662
Sarah 588
Conant & Co 416
HUTCHiNS. Almeda 660
Hezekiah 352
Hutchinson, Abby A 587, 614
Alice 342,530,542
Arthur W 93. 130. 392. 404, 411
436, 519, 586, 614. 618. 677
Bessie 587, 614
Charlotte L 614
Charlotte P 614
Charles 93, 419, 614, 646
Charles B 614
Fred R 614
L. B 122 193, 342
Levi 014
Lucy J 614
Mariam 614
Marv 614
Marv E 614
Richard W. . .418, 420, 461, 614. 635
Rosina 587. 614
Ingalls. C. O 491
John 498
INGR.\M, John 300
Nathaniel 283
IRVIN, Simeon T 659
ISHAM, Charles H 642
Ferdinand 642
JACKMAN, Josenh 660
Jackson. Carroll 615
Frank 377. 382
George 589
Heber (i30. 692
Lilla A 614
Mary M 633
Miles .-;S9, 623
Solon P 615
Jameson. Ada 615
Edith 615
Fred 615
Hannah 504
Jeremiah 688
Jerome 615
Leander 419. 615
N. C 672
Wilbur 615
Jefferson. Alexander 590
Jenner. Doctor 73
JEPSON, Francis 615. 692
Mary A 588, 615, 639
JENNESS, Allen 615
Dorothy 615
Frances 660
George B 615
Job 688
Job B 365, 373, 398, 615
Lucy J 615
Malvina 615
Mary 615
Oscar P 615
Roseanna 615
Sally 615
Sarah C 615
Stephen 170, 409, 447, 049, 688
Jennings, Sarah F 644
JERRULE, Alonzo E 625
Frank 11 625
Franklin M 625
Hattie 625
Joseph J 625
Lucy E 625
Mary A 625
Jessamine, George 660
Henry L 692
Jewell, Clara 535
Clara J 590
Jacob 87
John 298
John A 643
Jewett, Sarah 630
Johnson, Alta 611
Augusta B 660
Bela 486
Daniel 177, 624
Elijah W 365, 368, 373, 378, 615
Ellen R 615
F. W 247
George 624, 653
Grant 653
Haines 247
Henry 615
Horace A 378
Ichabod S 486
James 615
James, Jr 82
Jesse 41, 70, 148, 482, 483, 673
John 653
Lura C 615
720
JoHxsox, Martha.
Mathew H. .
Miriam .
Ruth W. .
Sarah M.
Sarah W.
Susan M
Timothy . ' " ■ ■
Timothy, Jr ' "
Jo.VEs, Albert A '
Alfred G . . .
Almeda . .
Alvin S. . . . . ' '
Amasa ....
Ann
Arden ....''
Asahel . . [
Betsey . .
Caleb . . . ;
Charles
Charles S. ,
Charles T
David ....'.'
Doctor ..
Ednah ....'.'
Emelie C. .
Emily E.
Esther ...'.■
Florence Ji
Frank ...
Frank B. . .'
Harriet S. .
Harve.v B. . .
Hezekiah
Hiram
Horace
Ida M. .
Irena
J. s. . . . :
Jabez . .
James
Index.
. so
6r,9
611
663
6.55
663
■ ■ . . 6.58
177. 444
176
615
367. 374
616. 625
• ■ ■ • -SO.' 189,' 2.37 '^.52
317. 445, 615, 688
656
Apj-^;- •■616. 6.36
'06. 412. 418, 61.5, 688
• 615
366,447. 615
• 440
616,631,693
.616
JoxEs. Paul .
Philura
Pollv ..
Poll.v C.
Rebecca
Reuben . .
Romie E
Rosamond
Ruth K..
Sarah . . .
Satira
Samuel
M.
Jehu
Jesse . . . .
John . . . . .
John A. . . .
John F.
John S. . . .
Jonathan
Julia . . .
Julia C. A.
Julianna ..
Lena
Lizzie A. .
Louisa M. .
Lucina A.
Lydia A. . .
Malinda . "
Maria C. .
Mary
Mary
Mar.v
Mary
Mary .,
Matilda
^Ielis.sa A.
Miriam . .
Moses W.
Nancy C.
Nathan
344
76,
176.
345,
444,
B.
C. .
F. .
S. .
158, 177, 684
423
616, 6.30
616
301
495. 524
616
672
616
613
488
30, 177
367,379
488
616
616. 624
367. 368
••••■■• .4,48. 616
..^4,6.13.46. 113
• "^o- ^-^3, 386. 616
• -IS. 42, 52. 54, 61
DO 7(1. 71. 72 75
123, 14.3. 145. 175
1< <, 181, 250 344
356, 394, .39.3: 407
522, 615, 684, 686
209,' 361,' 482,' Is!
615
525
616
482
488
615
015
616
616, 620
615
• ■ ■ .61
615
300
301
615, 635
615
333, 484
521, 642
616
610
616, 624
11. 495
298
• • • • -.601. 616
•■182. 205,454
606. 616. 674
Sylvester
Thomas
Thomas E
Thomas X." ' ' ' '
Thomas W.
William F.
William p
JOEDAX, Chester's ■■
JosLix. Samuel ' ' '
JosLix, Henry E
Lewis
Richard !
Samuel . ." .' .' .' .' " '
Sarah .
JovcE, Sarah L
JuDKiNs. Susanna" '
u'idou- .
Keazer, Timothy
Keexe.v, Christopher '
Persis B
Kehde. Mary
William
Kelley, Ann p.
Charles II ' ' ' '
Ezra
Flavilla
George H
353
616. 641
616
616
599
246
492
629
488
616
•ii.'i3,i9.'2i.'24'-^7'si^ln
42.44,49,52 Hs .54' i' 5?
12^111: ?i6«?irf^!^
346. 353, 356,' 357 He' 11?
||9- 390, 436. 445 4?|; III
496. 6 M, 678, 681. 684. 685
394,616,623
■ 660
366,377, 616
229
615
642
615
672
647
555
19, 231
Georgre \V '^16
Hattie L 616
Hattie L.
Henry
James H. . .
Jennie E. .
John .' .'
Joseph T.
Lydia W. ...'.'
Marion I
Mary G . . . . '
Moses
Moses G . . . .
Nancy . . . .
William B. . .'
Williamine L
Hall .
Kellev & George.'
Ivelloog. Ezra.
Isi-ael
Stephen
^, s. G .■;••
Keltox. Aimer f'
Edwin A. . . . .
Lorenzo F
Kemp, Alva J. .".'.■;
Lovina
Kexdall. a. S
-Ai;. 52
■y2, or 60, 75 113
182, 389, 445. 504
650
644
660
80,81
503
616
657
505
377, 382
617
590
486
617. 6.54
616
Charles' W 247
691,693
.616
poo
■ -300. 480. 606.' 61 6
675, 6Sm. 69''
.;,; 616
3,1.382,650
616
616
: 616
■•■• ...00, 607.617
• -89, 184 447,486
^^ 616, 641, 689
.298,4.53,616,679
-J OJ
■221. 222. 229," isl
486, 611, 616
611
204
401, 452
• ■.■■■■ 246
■•■3.48. 116.518
3. 46. 47
247
617
617
617
660
.613
247
Index.
721
Kent. Daniel 017
Elizabeth 017
George 208. TJO
HeniT 0 072
Moodv :r;20
William A lo8
Kenyon. Ctiarles E ODo
Keebv, Thomas 370, 382
Kerxagex. Andrew 246
Kesley, John 145
Ketchem. Sukey 017
Kidder, Amos 440
Benjamin 297, 585
Charles W 300
Emily C 585
Jason 46
KiLBiRX, Asa 26, 27. 28. 34. 53
119. 344. 350. 677. 681
Sarah E 661
KiLLAM. Joseph 234 246
KiLLiAM, Ileman 599
KiLTox. Emeline L 598
George 000
Kexeston, Abigail 618
Frances 65, 7U, 392. 405. 684
Mehitable 65, 664
Nancy 505. 649
Samuel 018
William 018
Kimball. Aaron 089
Abigail A 617
Abram F 617. 692
Abraham 209, 017, 688
Achsah G 610. 617
Adeline 617. 624
Alfred H 618
Amelia 662
Anner 617
Archalus 660
Arvilla 617. 046
Asa 174. 231. 41o. 617 618
622. 660. 684. 689
B. A 488
Betsey H 536
Burns C 618
Burnis J 617
Caleb P 617
Carrie E 617
Charles T 617
Cromwell 486
Daniel 45. 174. 183. 193
344, 350, 354. 356. 410
412, 414, 017. 618. 688
David 447, 519, 523
Diana 615
Elizabeth A 617. 618
Ella A 523. 599
Enoch 617
Eugene E 617
Frances R 492
Fred B 617
George 221. 227. 255. 257. 203
70
316
. . .221. 227. 255. 257
264. 260, 267. 209
278, 279, 293, 294
320, 328, 426, 432. 471
George W 373
Hannah 018
Horace W 017. 691
James 305. 375
.Tennie L 660
John 404. 481. 660
John W 588. 01 7. 691
Joseph 414. 617
Louisa 617
I'Ucy A 633. 658
Mary 617
Mary A 425
46
KIMBALL, Moses 617. 660
Nancy L 301
Nancy L. R 617
Nathaniel 618
Oscar M 618
Pamelia S 617
Parkhurst K 017
Phineas P 660
Relief 618
Reuben 81. 174
Richard 447
Ruth H 222. 658
Sally 637. 659
Samuel 660
Sophia 660
Susanna 056
Sylvester 060
William 172. 297. 417. 441
455. 618, 632, 689
William H 618
King, Charles P 93, 405. 435. 452
488. 491, 618, 622
Edwin R 618
Georgie T. . . 618
George and William. . .4. 47, 48. 102
103. 117. 122
James 622
James F 613. 618
James M 618
Lizzie M 614, 618
Lora M 492
Marion 618, 622
Nathaniel 660
Ronald 535
Sarah 647
Vinia E eis,' 630
William A 535
KixosBCRY. Mary 316. 514
Kixxe. Ada 1 618
Amos 159, 196, 618. 647
Baron S 618
Celina A 618
Clarence L 618
Climena 618
Elisha P 660
Esther 618. 624
Eunice '. 618
Freeman F 691
G. H '.490
Horace 604, 618, 692
«Tohn 686
John M 618
John N 618
Joseph 686
Louisa 618
Luther 75. 164, 196. 269
271. 280, 395, 400
408. 411. 447, 588
618, 689
Martin V. B. . .' 618
Mary A 618
Nellie 618
Rosina J 618
Sewell G 196,618
Kirk, Nancy 660
KiRKPATRiCK. Lvdia J 587
KiTTREDGE. Alfred H .300
Edward C. D 300, 328, 427
Ellen M 328
Jonathan 47, 9.3. 159, 162, 223
224. 298, 304, 305, 306
307, 308, 322, 325, 359
4.54. 456, 457, 674, 681
682
Temperance Address 325
Reformation 218, 325, 431
Jonathan P ' 328
722
Index.
KiTTREDGB. Julia A 301, 657
Knapp. Mary S 644
Mason 660
Knight, George T 660
Imogene 657
KxiGHTS, Moses 401
Knowles. Abbie E 583
Knowltox, Abraham 97. 844, 346
446, 619, 652
Jane 658
Ladd, David N 488
Melissa 649
Sally 592
Lahev, James 381, 382
Lamb. Eleanor 12, 623
Lambkin, Lewis 89, 134, 447, 619
Lamontaine, John 367. 372
Lamotte, AdolDhus 619
Irving A 619
James 619
Mary A 619. 624
William 619
LAMPHEiiB. George 4, 48
Landon. Mr. . . . r 440
Langdox George 381. 383
John 68, 69, 75 669. 670
Langley, Charles T 366. 691, 693
lona 619
Orra H 660
Sarah J 619
Langtox. Adolph 615
Lang WORTHY, George K 660
Lary. Alonzo L 619. 691
Asa 619
Austin L 619
Benjamin P 619. 691
Daniel .. .157, 158, 356, 445, 519, 619
Daniel W 619
David 363
Dema 619
Elizabeth G19
Esther 619
Freddie L 619
Harlev 619
Joseph C 619, 691
Josiah 660
Sarah M 659
Uriah F 418, 592, 619
Walter P 619, 691
Lashua, Charles 442
Frank 421. 444
Latham, Arthur 299
Lathrop, Anna 619
Annie 620
Belle 619
Benjamin G 620
Betsev 619
Caroline 619
Charles L 620. 637
Clara 619
Daisy 620
Daniel S 619
Delia C 620
Don 619
Earl C 620
Elias 41, 57, 61, 315, 684
Elijah 35, 120, 685
Elisha 62,619,620
Ellen E 620
Emma L 620, 637
Frank R 620
George E 620
George H 619, 677
Harris 619
Harris G 48, 411, 619
Hattie A 620
Henry S 619
Lathrop, Horace W 620
James B 620
Jason 660
Jedediah 3, 13, 48, 113
John H 300, 620
Joshua S 297, 400, 415
418, 602, 620
Lucinda A 595, 620, 635
Lulu M 619
Malvina C 620
Margaret 620
Mary 619, 620
Mrs 222
Nancy G 619
Pamela 619
Polly 209
Samuel 52, 344, 350, 355
Susan 608
Susan B 301
Thaddeus . .61. 69. 130, 131, 143, 145
177, 389, 393, 446, 619, 684, 685
Thaddeus, Jr 82,131, 397
Thaddeus S 415, 619
Thomas 486. 620
Laud. William 631
Lawn. Margaret 620
Mary 620
Rebecca 620
Robert 620
Lawrexce. Artemus 585
Arthur J 660
Catherine 658
David 395
Hannah 662
John 443
Moses 47,121,122,123,131
137, 234, 236, 237, 406
410, 443, 445, 689
Rachel 661
Richard 443
William 585
Laxsox, Flora 620
Learned, Frances M 619
Leavitt, George W 603
Mary A 609
Moses 660
Ledlow. Patrick 370. 383
Lee. John M 380, 382
Leed.s. Augusta 600, 620
Charles H 369, 620, 692
Carev 298, 597, 620
Elmina 620
Harry 189, 405, 408, 410
445, 595, 620, 689
Helen A 601, 620
Horace 620
Hubbard C 620, 692
Jerusha 620, 645, 655
Lizzie 620
Mary 620
Orinda 620
Rhoda 620
Richard C 620
Sarah A 620, 646
Tryphoeua 620, 629
Leet. Dr. George E 424
Legro. David 367, 380, 692
Leoxard. Lillie D 655
Leslie, Maria P 628
Lester, George 376, 383
Lewis, John 246, 325
Sarah C 643
Roswell W 325
LiBBKV. William A 590
LiLLis, Mrs. Ross 608
Lincoln, Josiah S 454, 455, 613
616, 692
Index.
723
Little, Colonel 346. 352
Eliza 642
James H 612
LiTTLEFiELD, EHza J 659
LiVEEMoitE. Judse 69. 670
Livingston-. William .358
Llado. John 408
Lock. David. Jr 660
Jonathan 71
Long. P., Colonel 69
Longfellow, Abraham. . . .526. 621, 689
Elizabeth 621. 651
Hepzibah 621
Sarah 356. 621
Susan 621
William . .97. 134. 344. 352. 353. 356
405. 446. 621. 652, 689
William. Jr 134
Lord. Harriet N 658
President 219
LouGEE, John 159
LOVEJOY, Augustus 324,355.402
419. 621, 679
Frederick W 611. 646
Helen 646
Isaac 660
Lillian M 609
Marion 640
Olive S 650
Wendell 646
LovERiDGE, Lewis 4, 44, 47
LovEREN, Emma L 659
(LovringK Ernest D 621
Hannah 621
John B 366. 377
John D 132. 577. 621. 680
Joseph H 621
Laura L 243
Lydia 621
Mary A 635
Moses 660
Nora E 621
Susan 621
Wilbur P 621
Low. Marv A 621
Moses 26. 689
Lowell. Ada E 590
Allen G 660
Belle 59.T
Eliiah C. .* 660
Elizabeth 621
Frank B 592
Frank H 650. 660
Gideon 592
Melissa J 596
Paulina 632
Lull. Joseph 234. 246
LUNDY, Beniamin 323
Captain 345
LUNT, Ezekiel 495
McBean, Kate 619
McCauley. John 378. 383
McCoNNELL. Charles 621
Jane 621
Robert 370, 383
McCoRiiiCK. George P 621
McCoy, William 235, 236. 246
McCuLLOM. John 370, 382
McCuRDY, Rev 240
McCuTCHiNS, Luther 672
McEwEN. Doctor 424
McGee, James 375. 382
McGrath, Henry 676
John 661
McGreggoes. Captain .3.-,5
MclNTiEE, Blanch L 523
Mckean. Frank A 672
McKewen, Margaret 619
McKinnev. Daniel 417
McLane. John 672
McLaughton. John 621
McNabb. Thomas 365. 374
Mackey, Emily 647
Mackress, Elizabeth 655
Magee, Loftus R 367. 374
Mahan, Elizabeth C 625
Mahony, Mary D 661
Mahr. John 382
Mahurin, Ephraim H 462
Makepeace. Orson 366
Mann. John. Inn 26
Mathew 60, 686
Manning, C. A 652
Roy E 652
Susan P 652
William 686
Mansur. James 601
March. David 441. 458, 600
Frances D 521
Sally 663
Sarah 585
Marcy, Daniel 672
Mary A 616
Maegeux. Adolph 661
Markey, a. M 247
Mahland, Alfred 367. 372
Maees, Elza A 621
Mars, John 240
Marsh. Nellie B 651
Marshall, Dorothy A 621
Frank 621
George 621
Jane M 621
John 374, 660
Moses H 366. 377
Sally 610
Thomas 366. 378. 621
Marston, Captain 352
Jacob 234
Persis 535
Sarah 634
MARTIN. Abigail 535. 586. 592
Albert .. .300, 452, 543, 560, 612, 621
Amanda L 625
Arabella E 656
Arthur 621
Benjamin 625
Benjamin F 625
Celina 301
Charles 625
Chestina . 621
Eleazer 152, 297, 298, 299
303, 308, 333, 621
673, 674, 679, 682
Eleazer and Jesse 93. 159. 283
288, 444
Eliza 498
Eunice go2
George H . . .535
Hannah 621. 661
Hannah C. S 301 656
Henry 297. 313. 534. 535
Helen A 535
J- E 491
James 661
Jesse 97, 297, 298, 308
309. 316. 340. 452
621, 674, 675, 682
Jobn 661, 689
Jonathan H 661-
.Joshua 399 ' 414
Levi 367. 379. 62i,' 66o", 693
Lillie W ; .,543
724
Index.
Martin. Lucv 609, 622
Lydia 656
Marv 523. 509. 609
Mary A 535. 587, 659
Mary J 598
Nelson 247
Noah 671
Perry 660
Polly 621
Richard K 373
Robert . . 237, 343. 344. 354. 534. 689
Roxalina B 3<il. 340. 589, 621
Roseanna 625
Sally 663
Simeon 660
Sirene 662
Sophia 423
Susan A 621
Walter B 488, 587
William 280. 281. 297. 486. 534
674. 678. 679. 689
Willie 374
Makuize. Lindor 375
MASON. Dayid H 302. 303
.John 58
Philip 660
MASSEUiiE. Charles II 621
Prances II 621
Mather. Ezekiel 661
Mathews, Charles B 661
Mattison, H. a 247
Maxwell. Doctor 134
May. Albert 622. 661
C. Augusta 622
Charles 622
Eddie F 622
Edwin 150, 4-17. 622. 689
Edwin H 622
Emilv 622
Foster 622
George 622
Harriet 61)5. 622
Helen M 622
John 64. In2. 177. 343. 344
398. 407. 445. 612, 622
.Joshua 661
Lucy 611. 622
Marcia A 622
Mercy 654
Obadiah 661
Sally 622. 661
Sarah A 622
Thomas 622
William 622
Mayxard. Emeline C 624
Louise R 624
Mayo, William A 247
MBAfHAM. Andrew 231. 622
Andrew M 622
Bettish 622
Darius 650
Dayid 650
Frances 650
Elam 177, 393. 445, 622
James 650
Jeremiah 231. 344, 350, 622
John 650
Joseph 622
Joshua . .134. 177, 231, 393 447, 622
Marinda 650
Miriam , G17, 622
Nancy '. 650
Phoebe 231, 622, 645, 646
Polly 231, 590, 622, 650
Roseanna 650
Meachaji, Samuel 3, 5, 13, 26. 46, 53, 60
83, 185, 231, 343, 344, 345
384, 390, 447, 518, 622
684, 686
Sarah 231, 622, 650
Sylyester 650
Thomas 232, 622
William '.050
Mead, Emma L 529
Meewex, Lydia A 622
Melexdy, Eliza 651
Henry C 648
Meloox, Abigail 622
Merkiaji. Nettie 598
Merrill, Betsey 622
Delia L 655
Elvira 622
Emma M 590
Enoch 660
Hannah 664
Harriet 517
Helen M 492
.Jonathan 370
Joseph 481. 4,82
Julia A 6O1'. 633
Levi 661
Mary E 659
Mary S 644
Mehitable E 650
Nathaniel 661
Sally 649
Thomas 274
Messer, Nathan 11
Metcalf. Gov. Ralph 334. 671
Mever. Ferdinand 376
Miller. Eliiah 260, 286
Elsie 594. 633
Elizabeth B 585, 622
Horace W 603. 622, 626, 692
Jacob 176, 44 7. 450, 622, 689
John 382
Jonathan 684
Lucy 660
Lucy K 617
Nancv 50(1, 619, 622
Pasha 618
Russell A 521
Ruth 603, 622
Nancy 500, 619, 622
Silas 120
T. W 517
William 199
Millett. Ozias 589
Milton. Adda 622
Bella A 623
Ella 622
Ella R 597
Frank E 491, 623
Jacob 623
John T 419, 420, 622
Joseph 622, 689
Lora M 618, 622
Loraine H 622
Lura G 97. 491
Mathew H 226, 543, 622
676, 682, 692
Miner, Allen 12, 77, 499, 604, 623
Allen E 624, 691
Amos 91 , 29S. 623, 641, 670, 689
Avery A 623
Burton E 623
Caroline T 598, 623
Charles W 624
Clinton 623
Cynthia 623
Edwin B 420. 624, 646
Elijah 143, 444, 486. 623
Index.
725
MINE!!. Elisha SS, 623, 689
Ellen 623
Elsie T 500, 623
George 623
George B 623, 693
Henry H 623
James M 623
Leonard 623, 640, 661
Lewis 623
Lovica 623, 626
Lucy 623
Lucy A 3Ul
Lucy J 624
Lvmau 623
Marvin 623
Michael C 370
Sophia 623
Thomas 4, 5. 12. 13. 20. 27, 32
33, 34, 42. 44. 4o, 46, 50
52, 54. 56. 60. 70, 71
75, 77. 7S, 82. 99. 101
113, 119, 120, 123, 135, 137
172, 173. 174, 176. 178. 237
252, 312, 344. 345, 346. 355
386, 387, 39(1, 404. 518, 623
677. 681, 684, 689
Thomas T 623
ii Fairfield 416
MiTCHEL. Alonzo 368. 373. 661
Elder 192
Mary J 647
William A . .628
MoXEoE, Agues 626
Montgomery, Hannah 643
MooDV. Stephen 320
MOONEV, Arthur E 646. 681
Kate S 624
Maud A 624
Moore. Hugh 3(i9
•John 491
Micaiah 82, 83, 88, 130, 132, 135
137, 186, 395. 436. 438
Nelly 618
MOORES, John 380. 382
MOREv. Ann M 640
Benjamin 617
Frank 366. 371
Horace 691
Israel 26
Jonathan 661
Lewis 428. 660
Mary A Gl'4
Nellie L 024
Persis L 624
Robert C 624
Robert R 453. 624
Sophronia C 521, 624
Stephen 624
Morgan, Ada C 624, 639
Alice 624
Alva 624
Arnold ... 95, 309, 313. 420. 423. 675
Ben 424
Carrie L 488
Clarence 624
Converse G 624
Edna 624
Erasmus B 241. 242. 247
Frances A 424
Lizzie B 424, 628
Nancy 224
Nathan C 36, 300, 488
624, 680, 692
Olive B 624
Samuel 483, 486
Sylvanus B. . .260. 280, 298. 299 303
367, 401, 446, 624. 675, 679
Morgan. Thomas B 624
MORIARTY, John 335. 367, 374
Morrill. Captain 353
E. J 532
II. J 606
James 489. 598
Joe 458
Samuel A 624
Sarah E 592
Zilpha L 665
Morris. David L 670
Morrison. Nettie M 605
Morse. Adeline E 590
Addie E 624
Amos 486
Anna B 620. 637
Aphia 318
Betsey 625
Bvrou 625
Carl E 625
Caroline 625
Charles N 367, 616, 625
Clarence H 637
Daniel 391,405,447,624.684
Edwin A 616, 624. 691
Elizabeth 658
Ellen 625
Elsie T 625
Emeline 625
Emeline W 625
Emily C 624
Flora 625
Frank C 603
Frank W 640
Franklin P 624
Freddie A 637
George 625
George H 626
Georgianna 625
Gideon 439. 678
Hannah S 301
Helen 623
Henry 441. 600
Irene 624
James 174. 177. 305. 445
612. 625. 641. 678. 689
James B 62o
Jesse 617, 624
John 625
John W 661
Joseph 222
Julia 625, 641
Julia T 626
Lois 526, 625 631
Lucinda 624
Lucy 625
Malviua E 663
Martha E 626. 640
Martin V. B 600
Mary 624. 626. 656
Marv F 626
Mary R 625, 632
Minnie 625
Moses 661
Nancv 625
Nathan D 640
Nathan W 623. 640
Orrin H 624. 637. 691
Persis P 625
Peter 525
Prudence 632
Rachel 624
Ruth A 625
Sallv 625
Sarah 600. 626
Sarah S 604
Silas M 624
726
Index.
MOBSE, Sophia L 1 . . . 595
Stephen .306, 408, 418, 618, 624, 679
Susanna 622
Susanna E 661
Thomas 1T7
William C 626
MosHER, Alice 628
Mdlholland. John 372
MUNEOE, William C 263
Mdephy, James 376
Murray, Carl B 626
Charles A 644
Charles E 626
Claude M 626, 677, 680
Elizabeth E 644
Ellen F 626
Georp-e W 334, 338, 339, 340
369, 626, 675. 676, 682
Grace E 606
John 626
Julia W 626
Katherine C 644
Katherine R 598, 626
Samuel 660
Sarah W 626
MuzzEv. Charier M 632
Doctor 219
Edwin A 610
George E 488. 632. 691
John S 691
Nehemiah 619
Nella 632
Nancy 227, 320
Nason, Elizabeth 641
Neal. Charles W 620
Neidig, Cora 517
Nbilev, Edith 636
Nelson, George 222, 423, 541
Nesmith, Alfred J 225. 626
Erastus 626
Lucy R 626
NEVIX.S, James 3. 4."'). 48. 102
John 222. 234
Nbwhall^ M 247
Newmaech, John 4. 46. 47, 102
Nichols, Aaron 412, 626, 689
Almanda P 626
Almeda 301
Beniamin F 643, 661
Benjamin P 369, 612. 626. 692
Betsev 626
Charles R 199
Colonel 354
Dexter H 586. 026
Eleanor 301
Eliza A 655
Enoch 626
Ezra 91, 122, 343, 344. 392, 410
411, 604, 623, 626. 684, 689
H. A 367
Humphrey 01, 080
Josephine S 020
Julia A 301, 622. 620
Kate 026
Lovica F 020
Lvdia 020
Mandaua L 620
Mary A 020
Mrs 260
Nancy 020
Noah 193
Ralph 020
Sarah M 626
Tilton 297, 367. 026
Niles. Julianna 017
NORHis, Abbie A 655
Reninmin 234. 626. 670. 079
NoREis. Bishop 243
Clark C 532
David 532
Eliphalet 70, 177, 252, 445, 084
Fardey 443
George 020
Herbert 309
Horace R 307, 626
J 283
Joseph 443
Lizzie B 608, 020
Lydia 70
Margaret 532
Marv 060
Nathaniel 239
Polly 655
Samuel 234
Susan 634, 662
NoRTHGRAyES. Albert N 653
Charles K 653
Gertrude M 653
Isabel F 653
.Jennie 653
Joseph 653
NouESE, Alton 489
NoYES. Abigail 627
Amos 627
Amos L 627
Ben A 019
Betsey 627. 650
Charles E 027
David 489
Dudley 177, 302. 444
E. P 061
Emma F 008
Ephraim 209
Frederic 302
Jacob 001
James 627
Joseph 627, 661
Lydia 627
Mary A 654
Mattie H 027
Moody 177, 392, 404, 445, 627
Parker 73
Relief 027
Samuel 09, 77, 127, 131, 177
208, 255. 444. 486. 505
627, 684, 687, 689
Sophia 597
Sophia A 627
Stephen 689
Theodore 627
NUTE. Ruth J 659
Nye, Willis C 601
Oaks. Mary 053
O'BEIEX. James H 226
O'CONNELL. Robert M 308
Olcott, Edward 250
Eunice 047
Oliphaxt, Marion H 043
Oliver, Andrew Oil, 016
OSBOEN, Joel 593
Osgood. Captain 352
Charlotte 514
Marie 524
Otis. Amos 027
Elisha 027
Erastus 027
Esther 027
Ethelinda 627, 047
Ezra 627
Israel S 027
Lucy 027
Richard 04, 08, 71, 82, 132. 177
181, 182, 186, 209, 222
343. 344. 354. 356, 445
Index.
727
OTIS, Richard 627, 684, 687, 680
Rox.inna 627
Sallv 627
Sai-jili 627
OWKN. Merrill 623, 640
Packaud, Albert 594, 627
Betsey 628
Burton C 594, 628
Chivinberlain 627. 680
Chamberlain, Jr.. . .91, 162. 271, 208
401. 673. 674. 670
Erastus 628. 6.")1
Ethel 594. 628
Hannah E 594. 627
John 60S. 627
Loui.sa 628
Maud E 628
Octavia ^627. 646
Rachel 627
Rachel C 613
Samuel 628
PADDLEFOKD, AsE . .46, 173, 174. 251, 389
391, 395, 407, 445. 661
684, 687
Charles 689
Elijah 407, 446. 687
James 627. 689
Jonathan 686
Martha 628. 630
Samuel „ 260. 089
Susan 663
William G 528
Page, Abraham 200. 627
Abraham, Jr 297
Almira 627
Captain 351
Charles 627
Eliphalet R 453. 627
Elizabeth R 663
Hannah 92.627
Hulda A 662
Jeremiah 104
John 621, 670
Lazarus 451, 689
Leonard 627
Mary E 301
Rachel R 301
Samuel 627
Sarah 614
Sarah A 627
Sarah F 627
Thomas 486
Paixe, Beniamin 246
Col. Elisha 62, 69. 72. 499
John 234. 246
Sylvanus 411
William 614
PALMEit, Doctor 219
Joseph D 662
Mary E 661
Xellia A 339. 606
PAravEit. Amasa H 653
Cora B 589
Daniel 345. 356
Dewitt C 653
Ebenezer 661
Francis 652
Freeman S 589. 691
George W 589
Grace E 652
Henry C 653
Horace W 653
John C 053
Mary J 601
Master 253
Nancy A 653
Thomas 4, 48, 101
PARKER. Timothy 653
Pakkiiukst. Catherine 585
Lucian C 662
Sarah 141. 148
William 88, 141, 146, 148, 177
358, 438, 440. 446, 585
Parks, Abel 661
Parmenter. Ethel M 642
Parmlee, H. S 247
Parsoxs, Sherburn 661
Pattee, Allen W 628
Angeline C 629
Ann M 628
Ann R 629
Asa 628
Betsey 629
Burns W 620, 629, 691
Calvin M 628
Daniel 11, 46. 87. 88. 01. 134
162. 189. 25S, 260, 266, 268
278, 358, 394, 431. 445. 458
494, 512, 611, 628. 678. 689
Daniel. Jr 91,260,268 271.280
282. 298. 628. 679, 689
Mrs. Daniel 222
Daniel F 629
Dorcas 628
Dorothy 630
Eliza D 628
Elizabeth D 628
Ella 629
Fred D 629
Fred L 628
George W 629
Gordon B 628
Hannah D 629
Hattie 628
Henry H 028, 093
Hiram fi28
J. Munroe 300
James 90, 91 162. 168. 222. 258
272, 278, 280, 283. 284
288,-298. 299. 303. 416
478, 486. 494. 629. 689
James C 93. 628
.Tames F 629
James H 628
James W 629
Jennie L 629
Jesse 629
John 629
John B 628
Judith 609. 628
Lewis C 366, 628, 675. 691
Louisa M 628. 629
Moses D 162. 229. 689
Peter 251. 405. 445
PhcBbe 579
Rhoda J 629
Sadie 628
Selding 252. 462
Sylvanus B 628
W. Fred 661
Widow 84. 87. 89
Wyman 300. 629. 675. 682
& Perley 93, 419
Pattbx, Daniel G 297. 648
Paul. Frank 661
Sally 585
Thomas 267,291,292,293.294
Paulsox, J. "V 517
Paysox, Moses P 324
Peabody, Col. Stephen 352
General 69. 76. 669
George W 615
Peacock, Elder John 192. 193, 194
196, 200, 201
728
Index,
Peaeson. David 177, 446, 643
Lvdia 18.3
Peaslee, Allie 629
Charles H 629
Daniel 391, 450
Frankie 629
Fred W 629
George E 629
Harrv 0 629
Jouathau 629
Miriam 629
Sanford 629
Stephen 418, 454, 629
675. 676, 692
Peck. Ebenezer 3, 46
Zelinda 655
Penhallow, John 103
Perkins, Charles 617
Clara A 658
Cyrus 603, 617
Cvriis E 617
Elizabeth D 617
Henr.y 1 617
Isaac N 617
Isaac W 529
Jared 671
PERLEi-, John 80, 81, 8S..177, 405, 461
(Pearley)
John Q 628, 676. 691
Joseph G 662
Lvdia 629
Moses 612
Nat 629
Rebecca 628
Stephen 629
Perry. Rev. Baxter 217
O: H 122, 422, 437. 452
Peters. Anna T 630
Charles F 630
Driizilar 629
Eliza L 630
Fannv 629
Hannah 598, 629
Jacob 362, 630
John 629
Joseph 584
Joseph B 630
Mary 630
William 629
Willie F 630
Peterson. Turner 61
Pettee. C. H 105
Pettixgill. Andrew 654
Benjamin and Pollv 316
Ephraim H 662
Julia M 654
Pluma 664
Polly 605
Thomas H 84. 87, 88, 89, 131
159, 189, 253, 254, 316
320, 444, 483, 486, 673, 681
Phelps. Charles M 661
Eleazer 234, 246
Philbrick. Ann 625
Carrie E 593
Charles A 630. 643
Cyrus H 661
Daniel H 630
David 662
Dorothy A 608
Hannah 608
Hepzibah A 661
Hiram 418,593,630.643
Jane 610
John W 366, 372, 593, 630
Mary 630
Porter K 662
Phillips, Elkanah 195
Nettie M 659
Samuel 482
Pickerixg, John 669
Sarah 642
Pierce, Angeline L 663
Gen. Benjamin 670
Betsey 500, 630
Caleb, Dr 82, 130
150, 176, 251, 422, 435
438, 440, 628, 630, 682
Earl 662
Hannah A 643
Louise M 628, 630
Nathaniel C 189, 317, 459
486, 628, 630
PiEEO, John 378, 382
PiERON. Peter 365, 368, 373
Pike and Blodgett 337, 338, .339
J 246
James 672
PiLLSBtTRY, Addie A 631
Betsev 630,657
Deborah 630
Elizabeth 630
Emma 658
Harrison 400, 415, 417, 533
Ithamar P 228, 428, 628
J. D. W 630
John 661
Joseph D 630
Joshua 45. 82, 177, 181
182, 187, 207. 208, 219, 222
224, 287, 445. 577, 630, 689
Joshua, Jr 208, 209, 222
Lydia 664
Marcus M 427
Mary B 630
Miriam 630, 641
Sarah 630
Sarah A. C 301
PiNKHAM. Deborah 650
Sarah 650
Piper. Benjamin 647
Charlotte 589
Isaiah 661
Lydia 663
Sallv 661
Samuel 661
Pitcher. Henry P 600
Plaxt. Nancy A 619
Plastrtdge. Dr. Charles P 299, 533
Emma C 507
Mary D 218, 222
PLDMirER. Benjamin F 662
Elmore H 618. 630
George F 692
Mabel A 626
Reuben S 630
William 630, 670
William A 626
Poland. Sarah 356
Pollard, Adam 158, 159, 189, 260
410, 447, 630, 689
Beniamin 630
Benjamin N 661, 691
Caroline 630, 633
Charles W 630
David 159, 630
Elnora 631
Eva 631
Fred R 631. 691
Hannah 630. 631
Horace 630
Isaac 630, 631
John 661
Joseph J 159, 631, 691
Index.
729
POLLAiiD. Louisa 680
Louisa H 604
Lvfiia 500. 630
Ma rearer 603
Martlia 630
Marv 630
.N'aiuv 634
Olive 656
Perlev 630
Rodnev 630
Roval S 631
Sarali 630
Solon K 630
Svhil 630
Sylvenia 630
Walker 630
William 630
POLLOCK. Ann 647
POMPEY. Xesro 353
POOL. Samuel 661
Poor. Lucy 533
Pope. Isabelle N 639
Pouter. Alfred 200
Almina B 656
Benjamin 91
Benjamin W 272. 274. 280
202. 605. 631
Betsev 631
Buirill. Ji- 309
Claii-ssa 503. 631
Daniel 93. 447. 451. 631. 689
Daniel R 631
David 631
Elias 82. 88. 89. 208. 209. 215
219, 222. 486, 631. 678. 689
Eliza 631
Eliza R 631
Fred B. L 116. 122. 441. 444. 631
Hannah 631
Israel 585
John 134. 407, 631
Mioah 82. 181. 182, 408. 445, 631
Noah 631
Osman 631
Phn:>he 590
Reuben 631
Ruth M 631
Sarah 631
Thomas J 631
William 631
William H 631
Potter. .Jeremiah 522
Frank E 672
Po-R-ELL. Adna .T 631
Andrew .T 649
Charlotte 626
Hannah D 631
Ida A 649
Powers, David J 611
Frank 611
George 440
Loraine 611
Sally 658
William 611
Pratt, Abigail 504
Betsey 217, 218, 541
Charles A 369
David 540
Henry 662
Joseph 480
Louise 597
M. P 597
Rebecca V 597
Pra Y . John F 662
Pkextiss. Edward 614
Laura 614
Alice F 633
PREsroTT, Allie S 633
Beniamin 672
Ben'iamin F 672
Mamie B 633
Philip G 366. 378. 434
633, 692, 693
R. R 601
Pre.sley, Thomas 370
Pressey, Addie L 631
Albert 193. 319, 324, 631. 692
Albert L 632
Calvin 93, 625, 631, 689
Celia C 631
Charles H 661
E. H 367, 368
Elvira 631
Elwin H 632
Eva 631
Friend 602, 631
Georsje 631, 635, 691
George P 631
Henry A 632
Hiram 647
Horace 631
James 631
John 356, 489, 631
John L 159, 631
Julia M 631
Lucia V 631
Maria L 616
Mary 631
Miranda R 632
Moses 631, 689
Samuel 631
Sarah 631
Sarah B 631
William 0 631
Preston. Almira A 643
Alpheus 419, 632
Elizabeth 632
Elmer W 633
Florence J 632
Frank 632
George W 632
Henrv 371, 382
Jenette E 604, 632
John E 632
Lydia 632
Marcellus 632
Martin 632
Marv E 632
Munroe 632
Nelson 632
Willie 632
Prew, Charles 368, 372, 382
Proctor, Almira 6o0
John 336, 337
Prockter. Lucia A 632
PrFEEE. Daniel 661
Mary 530
Minnie B 632
Reuben 447
Purmort. Luther 309
Mark .502
Minor T 661
PUSHEE, Abraham 172, 189. 209, 363, 410
465, 483, 486, 540, 681
Putnam, Caleb S 632, 682
Elvira W 632, 646
Fiorina W 632
Hattie S 632
Hiram E 578, 632
Louisa 641
Martha 632
Persis 632
Russell 504
Sidney 632
'30
Index.
PrxxEV, Clara L 624
Joseph 662
Mehitable 657
QcEEx, Mary 517
QciMBi-. Aaron 452
Hannah 660
Herbert F 247
Jonathan 689
Mai-T J 656
Silas 247
QuiNBY, Henry B 672
QuixCY. Josiah 272. 306
Raixey, Albert J 632
Albert R 632
Lonev E 632
Mary A 632
Ralston. James 411
Raxd, Herman S 632
Oscar L 488. 076. 677. 680
Oscar S 632
Randall. Rufus 4. 45. 46. 102
Sargent 603
Sylvester 4, 46
Randlett. George W 369. 691
Jacob T 285. 518, 662
John W 632
Joseph 83. 156. 393. 406. 44.5*
Ransom, Elder Elisha 168. 172
Ranzee, Joseph W 662
Rathbcrn, Isaiah 3, 46, 122. 441
Joshua 4. 46
RAY. John F 662
Read. Almira 656
Betsey 660
James P 662
Marilla 657
Recoed, William 35. 120
Reed. Anne 657
C. A 247
Joanna 660
John K 044
Minnie B 644
Sallv 663
Reid. James R 538
Renne. Ferdinand 650
RiCABD. Ada M 632
Edgar 405. 447. 532
Maggie 604
Rice. Alice M 643
Charles 632
Clara E 542
George E 542
Lillian A 542
Mabel A 542
Mary P 620
Richards, George S 528
James 378. 383
Jane 642
Lester S 528
Oliver S 528
William J 528
Richardson, Abi 634
Abi P 526. 634
Abbv R 634
Adeline R 634. 635
Albert 590
Albina L 601
Alfred 633. 643
Alvah 297. 630. 633
Amos 363. 398. 411. 033. 689
Anna 209
Annette 590, 633
Benjamin 634
Betsey 634
Caleb 633
Caleb H 634
Captain 352
Richardson, Carrie M 634
Charlotte 634
Charles W 222, 229. 344, 346
351, 634, 689
David 26. 47. 159, 209
410. 577, 634, 689
Deborah 642
Dexter 633. 691
Edna 579. 633
Eliphalet 343. 344. 354, 356. 395
397. 410. 446. 526. 632. 634
Elizabetn 632, 634, 662
Ella M 492. 633
Emilv B 634
Enoch 177, 252. 343. 344, 346
347. 340. 351, 356, 447
518. 632. 634. 684
Ephraim 689
Esther 6.33
Eunice 6.34
Fred G 633
George 209. 229. 426. 634
George A 662
George H 377. 633
George M 366
George W 376
Hannah 627
Hannah G 635
Hannah H 633
Harriet X 634, 642
Henry 634
Herod 91. 271. 633
Hiram 96. 633
Hudson M 634
Ira 634
Isaac G 633
Jacob 177, 209. 344. 399
447. 632. 678. 689
Jacob F 607
Jacob M 222
James 289. 332
James B 633. 691
John . . .173. 174. 177. 343. 344. .349
351. 447. 632, 633. 634
John W 634, 676
Joseph 634
Joseph L 196, 250. 256 258. 260
269. 270. 278. 280, 290
297. 299. 303. 414. 635
673, 678. 679. 681
Joshua 82. 134. 174. 177. 229
305. 343. 344. 347. 354
356. 390. 446. 681. 686
Joshua, Jr 209. 633. 689
Joshua W 297. 356. 634. 689
Josiah 297, 627
Julia A 6.34
Loanna 634
Louisa P 634
Lucv A 301
Lvdia 634
Maria 633
Martha 661
Marv 634, 661
Marv A 633, 661
Marv E 602.633
Mary R 301
Moses 177. 344, 345. 392. 405
441, 453. 632. 634. 689
Nabbv 634
Xancv 634
Nancv A. B 632
N'ancv M 620
Nathaniel 447. 663
Persis A 633
Phoebe 634
Plummer 634
Index.
'31
Richardson-. Rufus K. . .26, 283, 363, 634
Ruhanuah 633
Samuel D 635
Sarah 618. 632. 634
Sarah C 598. 633
Sarah M 633
Solomon 689
Sophia 635
Sophronia 662
Susan 632
Susanna 595, 617, 634
Theodore 634
Warren B 97. 634. 676
Willard 633. 640
William 40. 41. 42. 43. 57, 58. 61
65. 75. 79. 80. 81. 84
123, 124. 131. 140. 143. 144
145, 149. 156, 173. 175. 177
178, 189. 318. 343. 344. 350
355. 356. 384. 390. 405. 436
447. 632. 633. 04.-.. 673. 677
678. 681. 684. 686. 689
William G 87. 131, 634
William M 633
RiDEK. Henry 377. 382
Riddle, Sarah J 662
RiXDGE, Daniel 72
Isaac 6
RiXG. Harry F 635
Lucy P 635
Roberts. Adelaide L 659
Amelia B 643
George S 635
Hiram A 672
Jonathan 662
Mary A 635
Melinda 649
Orrin 246
Sarah (555
Smith 635
ROBIE. Gilbert J 367. 380. 635
Horace G 635. 681
ROBBixs, Francis L'9S
Mr 247. 203
RoBixsox. Amos 062
Asa 4.39. 537
Captain .355
Jennie 648
Joseph C 662
Laurenza 0.35
Mary E 636
S. J 247
Sarah fj.30
ROBY, Ralph ' ' 486
Rockwell. John 150 524
Rogers. Abigail S .'.635
Charles H 635. 662
Daniel 4. 47. . 48. 122
Eliza M fi-'.n
Ella M ■.:■.:::::: 6ot
Frances A e,r,r>
George W 047
Hannah Oig
Hannah W 047
Harrison Qi?,\ ' Cj(\2
Jane .".647
John L (53,5
Lafayette W 488. 647
Louise M '. 047
Mary A .584
Mary D 647
N. P 257. 263, 323. 325. 474
Letters 227, 294. 321. 322
Nancy G 647
Sally 647
Sally A 618
Rogers. Wallis L 647
William 635, 646 689
William M 647
Rolfe. Mr 208
RoLLixs. Arrosiua 635
Frank A 672
Rood, Hemau 224
Ross, Artemus 523
David 605
Hubbard P 523
Isaac 109
Martha 635
Urvilla M 620
Willie 523
Willie J 635
Zaphira 626
RowE. Smith 647
ROWELL, John B 662
Louisa C 649
ROYXALDS. Hezekiah 684
RIjDD, Gideon. . .11. 52, 344. 351. 354. 496
RcxDLETT, Luana P 651
RrxxELLS. Mr 450
Rush. Elijah H 662
RcssELL. Captain :^46. 352
Roxanna 658
Rdter. Martin 246
Sabixe, Phineas 4.48.122,139
Salter. Captain Co 352
Safford, Colonel 521
Grace A 587
Sales. Laura 663
Saxborx, Abigail 6.!5. 636
Achsah 635
Addie A 636
Alma L 035. 636
Ann J 635
Belinda 610
Betsey 605. 0:!5. 663
Burns W 608
Charles H 635
Comfort 635
Dolly 660
Ebeu D 6.34
Edward 663
Edwin D 299
Elizabeth A 631, 635
Emeline P 636
Emmer 635
Eva M 598
Gariophelia 636
George W 663
Georgie A 492
Georgie M 635
Herbert A 635
Hezekiah H 636
Ira 663
Isaac 635
J. Clark 635
Jacob 234. 246
Jasper 663
John 663
Jonathan 418. 635
Jonathan A 579. 635. 691
Joseph S 663
Joshua 635. 663
Lewis T 634. 642
Lizzie J 635
Lula A 636
Lydia 591
Maria 635
Mary 159. 614. 635
Mary D 663
Mehitable 660
Morrison J 636. 691
Moses 621. 684
Sally 585
732
Index.
Saxborx. Samuel 4(8
Sarah 635
Semia 609
Sue E 655
Susan 521
Theophilus 451. 506. 689
Thomas 595. 620, 635, 676
Timothy 363. 592. 689
Tristram 117, 158. 445
519. 616. 635
William C 663
Sanders , Oliver H 663
Samuel 209, 486
Saxford, Daniel F 300
Sargent. Aaron 366, 378, 662
Addie H 597
Betsey 636
Edward E 303
Frances M 636
Hannah E 659
Flarriet C 659
Ida B 533
J. Everett 299, 308, 331, 332
359, 584, 674
Tobn 584
Mary 504, 593
O. B 488
Rebecca S 643
S. Jennie 659
Samuel 685
Sarah C 604
Silva 664
Satterlee, Mary 504
Saunders. Abbie A 647
James 486
Joseph 370, 382
Patience 662
Sarah 665
Susanna 655
William H 663
Sawyer. Abigail 655
Anne 313, 532
Augusta 532
Azubah 636
Benjamin 57, 60, 61, 64
65. 92, 684, 686
Benjamin C 131
Betsey 642
Burns 532
Charles H 672
Esther 632, 660
Frances W 606
John 222, 532
John R 636
Jonathan 411. 636
Joseph 533. 634, 662
Mary 663
Mary C ". . . .636
Mary P 635
Matilda 636
Moses 344. 854, 689
Noah 593-
Olivia 532
Peter 663
Sally 657
Samuel 363
Samuel S 532
Sarah H 636
Seraph 593
Stephen 593
Thomas E 671
Sayles, Willard 486
Scales, Abigail 636
Isaac H 636
Ruth 636
Stephen 636
William 265, 267, 269, 277
SCAMMEL, Colonel 353
-SciPio. Job 52
ScoFiELD, Benjamin 49f?
Betsey 498
Delight 11. 351. 496
Eleazer 11. 52, 53, 63
102, 123, 174, 250
395, 403, 445, 495
496. 677. 685, 686
.Tames 498
Jesse 498
John 9, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28
30, 33, 40, 49, 50, 52. 57
81. 104, 123, 126, 143, 144
145, 386, 387, 389, 445, 493
677, 681
John, Jr 11, 52, 77, 78, 102
123, 344, 345. 350, 351
354, 355, 445. 495. 498
522. 685, 6S6
.John B 49T
Lewis 498
Lucinda 498
Lvdia 495, 498
Miriam 495, 496, 498, 585
Nathan 28
Sarah 10, 494. 498, 6ST
Temperance 495. 496
ScoTCHBLRN. Helen 644
Scrdton. Rosa F 656
Seabuey. Caleb 84.88.131.177.178
185, 187, 231, 358, 396
482. 483. 507, 678
Searles. Alice 622
Blanch 622
William H 622
Se.wey, Charles 444, 634
Eugene 634
Henry 634
Seavy. Andrew 663
Sewall, Samuel E 263, 323
Shackford, Addle M 636
Alfred M 116, 488, 586, 636, 677
Ann A 636
Bvron W 636
Edrick 636
Susan A 636
Warren 0 636
Sharon, Israel 397, 442
Sharp, Abial 367. 379. 693
Earl C 619
Susan M 6.55
William 309
William H 619
Shattuck. Anna B 586
Benjamin 486
Edwin E 375. 648. 693
Edwin H 648
Eliza 592
Frank E 648
Hattie J 593. 648
Isaac W 648
Lodena A 648
Malvena 593. 648
Nathan 663
Shaw. A. M 368
Elias P 636
Livingston C 664
Marv E 636
Shea, Patrick 374
Sheaf, James 670
Shepard, Abigail 636, 637
Alice M 637
Ann B 636
Anne 533
Arthur D 636
Augustus 369, 609, 637, 675
Index.
733
Shepard. Calvin W 691
Edwin :U>7. 447, (ilo. <«•■!<>
Eliphalet t>o7
Eliza T (J.iO
Euijene A 132. (iii.j. 037. 080. 081
(Jforse S 0.j4. 001
Henr.v 037
Herman A 036
Jenny M 0.j4
John 91. 260. 297. 322. 412. 418
486, 636. 073, 078. 089
John S 523. 636. 679. 692
Malana 584
MaiT 222
Moses 131. 189, 636
Nathaniel 91, 271. 297. 303, 447
592. 637. 679. 089
Poll.v 637
Reuben F 002
Koxie B 030
Sarah 037
Seth B 030
Stephen 305. 374
Sheeburne, Abigail 637
Alice 037
Annabelle 024. 037
Annah 037
Caroline 037
Caroline E 0(iS. 037
Daniel 150. 3II5. 411. 037.-6S0
Edith 637
Ella ; 037
Emma L 492
• Henr.v H 374. 637
Ivory L 037
Joseph 150. 002. 037
Lyman J 020, 037
Mary 037
Mary E 037
Olivia A 037
Sherlock. William 002
Sherry, Joseph 37S
Sherwill. Emma C 656
Walter 002
Shoemaker. Theodore 373
SiAs, Solomon 234
Colonel 303
Sidxev. Thomas 201. 202, i:04. 20."!
SiLLOWAY. Andrew 037
Elizabeth A 037
SiLSBUKV. Elmira ". . . .()07
Silver. Mehitable 525
SIMOXDS. Charles F 020
Frederick S 455. 620
Mary E 021
Simpson. James 307. 371
SixcLAiR. Captain 355
John G 071
Skeel. Thomas 246
Skinner. B. F 003
Captain .340
Doctor 205
Slack, John H 310. 324. 328
Slade. Susan 589
Sleeper. Alfred 003
Augusta J 007
Benjamin C 064
Caleb A 362
Emma ."01
Ethel 501
Grace .",01
Polly 500, 049
Samuel 372. 383, 400
Dea. Stephen 414
Walter 240
Sloane, George 620
Sloane. James 482
Slocomb. Sally 662
Slos.s. Robert 226
SMALLEi. Roger D 011,616
Smart. Abial 615
Frank B 015. 680. 681
Eeroy E 615
Wilfred H 429, 615
William 689
Winnifred S 615
Smiley, Xancy 532, 607
Smith, Addie B 592
Alden E 492. 638
Almira R. 655
Alvira 625
Anna 037
Anna B 037
Arvilla 625
Asahel 217
Betsey 688
Carey . . . 128. 411. 488, 491, 588, 638
Caroline M 615
Charles 383
Charles M 586
Cora B 638
Daniel 533. 691
Daniel C 374
Daniel L 635, 662
David 177
David F 663
E. W 663
Edna J 618
Elijah 369, 60S. 638. 676, 691
Eliza 637
Eliza R 656
Elizabeth 638
Eliphalet 637
Elsa A 30i. 586
Enos 663
Francis 344, 345. 350. 637. 68a
Francis H 638. 689
Frank W 638
Franklin S 648
George H 663
Hannah \ 637
Harriet A 301. 586. 638
Harriet X 637
Harry R 638
Helen 340, 039
Herman S 038
Ida M !'.!!! ;633
Inez C 586
Jabez 177. 685
James 368, 375
Jennie M 626
Jeremiah ooo." 670
John 94. .^27, 638
John B 025, 672
John E 648
Jonas W I5i, 681
Joseph 461
Joseph B 638. 089
Joseph D 297, 062
Joshua 637! 686
Leonard 638
Leonard W 691
Lillian A 587
Uzzie 1 492
Lucilla A !618
I>ucy E ; 630
M. Irene 586
Maria L 644
Mariam E [ 586
Marilla C .', .QSg
Martin 376
^lary 637
Mary A 662
734
Index.
Smith, Mary E 640
Marv F 533
Mehitable 638
Mica jah M 486. 638. 649
Minerva 642
Moses 637, 638
Natlianiel B 247
Ned 638
Ola 578
Oliver 68. 88, 145, 146, 170
176, 178. 189. 251. 252
390. 440. 447. 519, 612
637, 682, 685, 687
Perley B 618
Perlev E 648
Phnebe A 637
I'lummer 590
Polly 637
Rachel G 615
Ray 638
Richard K 677, 691
Robert 308. 375
Roduev V 663
Ruth E 638
Sallv 222, 607, 637
Samuel 623
Sarah 637
Sarah W 638
Sidney R 638, 677
Simeon 88
Sophia 586
Stephen D 618. 676
Stephen S 274. 283. 452
408. 585, 637
Steven 637
Svlvanus 663
Uriah 173, 187, 637
Ursula 637
Warren 663
William 6((, 61, 637, 685. 686
William C 419
William .1 638
William P 586, 692
Smitz. Carlos 370
Smyth. Frederick 671
Snell, Malvina 595
Snow, A. S 658
•Jonathan 234
SOMERS, William G 500.675,679,692
Willie B 500
SooiiER, William 663
Southard. George H 638
SouTHWOETH, Calvin I' 611
.John P 611
Sarah L 611
Spafpoed, Mattie E 523
Sparrow. Richard 3. 46
Spauldixg, Russell H 247
Spear, Emilv B 054
Velina S 590
Spencbk. Benjamin 462
Gideon 174
Jared 3. 48. 113
Spooxer, Patience 663
Sarah 655
Sprague, Jonathan 345
Springer, Betsey 638
Dorothv 638
Hannah 638
Henry 0(t, 107, 145, 174. 205
252, 343, 344, 354, 446
638, 662, 685, 686
John 638
Joshua 344, 345, 347
Levi 638
Lois 638
Mary E 638
Springer, Nathan 345
Relief N 205, 638
Sally 80, 514
Susannah 638
Squire, Reuben 662
St. Clair, General 350
Stanford. Ella E 656
Stanley, Alfred 528
Carrie L 527
Charles A 528
Catherine J 527
Ellen F 527
Frederick J 528
Hannah G 527
Harriet E 527
Henry 527
Herbert A 528
James 527, 528
John 527
John C 527
John E 638
Julia 527
Julia E 528
L. Edgar 528
Lavinia 527
Lois 527
Lyman 527
Margaret A 527
Martha M 527
Nanc.v 527
P. Jennie 528
Robert J 527
Stella J 528
Susie L 528
William 527
Stanxell. Mary 535
Staples. Lucy F 656
Stark. Arvifla 617
Daniel 423
General 351
George 671
Lydia 664
Mary E 594
Stearns, Onslow 462. 671
Steele, Eleazer 246
J. A 247
John H 671
Stephens. Caroline 610
Joshua, Jr 663
Samuel 617
Samuel S 609
Stermon, Cora B 626
Elizabeth M 626
Joseph 626
Stetson. Sarah 222
Stevens, Abel 354
Alfred A 599
Alice 638
Alpha B 300
Amos 444, 685
Belinda W 638
Benjamin H 638
Betsey 584
Capitola 492
Charles C 638
Charles R 615
Ellen E 587, 595
Elvira G 523
Enos 670
Flossie J 626
Frank H 638
Franklin H 638
George 689
Georgia A 638
Hannah 65
Hannah L 301
Hazel 501
Index.
735
Stevens. Henrietta A filS
Henrv P 595
Hilsey R 486
Hiram H 61y
Ira B 038
Jemima 639
John H 247
Joseph 1*12
Joseph P 063
Joshua 391
Julia C 015
Leon 638
Mabel E 301
Maria M 007
Mary 617
Mary 1 662
Moses 300
Nancy 599
Neldora A 638
Peter 91. 271, 639
Pollv 657
Rhoda J 639
Roland 663
Ruth 597
Ruth G 662
Sallv 659
Samuel H 638
Samuel S 486
Sarah P 659
Sophronia 591
Susanna 619
Widow 391
Wyman 587 595
Stevenson. Reginald C 587
Stewaet, Urie W 663
Sticknev. Carl 606
Caroline 639
Clinton G 606
Clinton M 606
Daniel 369, 381. 450, 639, 692
Frank W 606
Jonathan 60, 61. 685. 686
Joseph 60, 61, 686
Lucinda 624
Stiles. E. C 624
John 611
Nathaniel 639
Stockbhidge. Joseph F 614
Stocker, Lilla M 618
Parker H 618
Stoddard, Clement 177, 446. 627
685. 686
Lucv 627
Pollv 027
Ruth 627
Stone. Captain 3.^)4
Charles F ■ 672
Edwin P 633, 630
Elbridge G 590
Lucv A 590
Marv 592, 663
William P 636
Stonnino, Evelvn J 614
Storks, Emma 528
Story. Abbie 639
Bertha M 639
Carl W 639
Carroll M 639
Charles O. B. 615, 639
Clara A 639
David 639
Ethel C 639
Frank II 639
George 003
George W 639, 676
Harriet P 639
J. Clement 309, 339, 639
Story. Leslie 639
Marv A 639
Mehitable P 590. 639
Otis J 339, 6.39, 676, 680
Robin 639
Walter C 491, 624, 639
Str.\te, Kate E 578
Straw, Aaron 25
Betsey 664
Daniel L 609
Ezekiel A 672
Hannah 638
Jacob 134, 446, 652. 662, 689
Levi 145. 174
Lvdia 446. 658
Mollv 639
William 446
Strong, Rev. Harrison W 197
Serena 197
Sturgeon, Rose A 639
Willie D 639
Sullivan. John 68. 69, 460, 669
Julia A 586
Sumner. Nathaniel 162
Swan. Catherine R 639
Charlotte 639
Jonathan 195, 298, 478, 674
SWASEY, Benjamin K 663
Sweat. Enoch 177, 251
John 177, 205, 246. 445, 662. 673
Thomas 663
Swett. Charles 598
Charles F 639
Experience 639
Franklin P 11. 29. 452. 480
675, 679, 692. 693
Harlan P 692
John 639
John A 300
John H 679
Lore 639
Lui 639
Mary A 611
Pollv 663
Stephen R 420. 486. 488
649. 676. 682
Walter A 010
Sykes. Emilv S 039
Sylvester. .Joseph 240, 305. 374
Tabor. Luther A 664
Taggart. Irad 247
John 247
Talbert. Emilv D 639
Frank 064
William H 039
William P 039
Tallman. David 498
Tanner. Thomas 639
Taplin. Charles C 639
Eddie F 639
George F 368, 379, 639
John 639
N. P 639, 676, 692
Tappan. Arthur 323
Tatton. William 669
Taylor. Augustus W 300
C. W 247
Fred D 598
John 378. 383
Lvdia 648
Samuel 664
Susan 595
Temple. Charles 639
Mary A 040
Miria A 039
Roxanna 639
Sarah A 661
736
Index.
Tenney, Grace L 6o3
Gustavus «64
Horace B 586
Irenp A 586. 614
Jacob P 633
John 440
Mary M 633
Will C 604
Terrill. Yina L 660
TEWKSBUEV, Edwin 611
Melbourne B 611
Thomas George 368, 373
Henry 380
Thompson*. Alice S 640
Caleb 664
Ebenezer 76
Erne.st H 640
Irene 658
Valentine 640, 692
William 370. 382
Thhasheu. James H 587
Thurstox. Jesse 664
Sarah H 604
Stephen 664
TiBBETTS, Charles H 664
Jesse 640
Joseph 640
TiPFAXY. Doctor 74
TiLTOX, William Brackett 217. 423
Colonel 69
Elbridge 692
George 367
Harriet B 423,612
James A 423
Joseph C 423. 4.^3
Joseph H 454
Smilev 601
Timothy SO. 189, 208. 209. 218
219. 222, 223, 263. 266
268, 274. 275, 279. 287
317, 423, 432. 458. 482
483, 484, 485, 486, 682. 689
Tonkin. Henry 198
TOLBBRT. William 365
ToiTix. Colonel 69
Torrey, Martha 599
TOWER, Charles H 676. 682
TOWLE. Allie J 640
Almira 633. 640
Angeline L 640
Charles 640
Cynthia 640
David 608. 610
Elsina A 648
Ephraim 640
George 640
Hannah 222
Harriet N 610. 640
Isaac 266, 278. 285, 286
287, 362, 640
.John 640
John B 673
John R ; 640
John W 375, 640
I.ueinda E 640
Martha E 640
Martha J 640
Mary A 640
MarV A. C 640
Mary E 640
Marv S 640
Sarah W 640. 648
Shubael 209. 609. 640
Stephen H 64(t. 691, 693
TOWNE. Josiah K 216. 217
William H 664
TOWNSEND, David 356, 617
TowxsEXD, George B 664
Xancv 640
Ziba 640
Tread WAY, James 34. 52, 64, 75, 108
118, 123, 167, 499, 686
TEIBBLE, John 3, 46
The Trapper 7, 479
Tripp, Rev. Shubel 193
Trescott, Bernice E 341
Trodd. Henry 653
I.sabelle ". 653
Martha 653
Marv J 653
Sarah 653
TROW, J. H 247
Trowbridge, Cynthia C 640
True. Joseph G 664
Truell. Sumner R 632
Trujiball, Frank A 491, 600
TRUS-sell, Albert 640
Benjamin 184, 185, 209, 217, 640
Cyrus 640
Elizabeth 040
Farnum 640
Horatio 640
Ira M 640
Jacob ...81.82,84,88,131.150,208
209, 210. 211. 215, 221, 223
258, 260, 264, 266, 268, 271
274, 276, 277,^278, 279, 280
281, 282, 285, 286, 287, 289
290, 323, 344. 423, 439. 454
461. 484, 486, 560, 640. 681
682, 689
John L 640
Ijorenzo 640
Marv A 640
Persis E 640
Priscilla 622
Rozelta 640
Rozina 640
Sallv 640
William 640
Tucker. Albert W 648
Alfred B 636
Alvin 631
Almira 632
Arthur 648
Benoni 344. 354. 446
Carrie 648
Daniel B 664
Edriek S 636
Edward M ISS. 424. 488
Eunice 640
Hannah 633
Harvey 579
Howard H 636
Jacob 129. 174, 446
James 664
Jolm 664
Jonathan A 691
Jonathan K 640
Joseph 648
Joseph M 636
Lawrence C 636
Leon 648
Luie A 425
Luzef or 641
Marilla D 640
Mary 631
Marv A. K 492
Mehitable 578
Moses 640
Moses C 691
Nathan 643
Nathaniel 82, 316, 664
Ross F 644
Index.
737
TCCKER. Sally C,r,4
Samuel M 644
Sarah 040
Sarah E 640
Will A 636
Will H 6S2
TOEN'ER, Justice of Lvme 457
Otis G 63
TCTTLE. Hiram A 672
Sophia 536
TrLER, Abigail 515
Benedict 498
Clara 515, 641
Clarissa G 662
Eliza A 5'JS, 641
Elizabeth 623
Elsie A 625
Fannie S 641
Fanny 623, 641
James 92.285,297,641.689
Job 175, 183, 189, 395
409, 447, 641, 664. 689
Job C 205, 399, 625
641, 674, 689
Joseph 515
Lucy 625, 641
Nabby 641
Nancy 616, 641
Polly 641
Rev. President 217, 218
Rhoda 597, 641
Sarah P 597, 641
Theodore 486, 632, 641
Undeehill. Addie B G41
Anna 641
Edgar S 641
Ellen S 6(17
Frank T 641
John 641
Robert 641
Susan A 641
Upham, Thomas 670
Vale, Caty 637
Vaenum, Abigail W 640
Angeline C 663
Vadghax, O. a. J 359
Vermont, Thomas 641
ViMiEux, Benjamin 664
Wade, Orrin 374, 382
Wadleigh, Gustavus B 691
Joseph 175, 176
Wadley. Washington 641
Walbeidge, John J 488
Wakefield, Thomas L 303
Waldo, Caroline 222
Lois 655
Nathan 30, 86
Walter 664
Waldron, Thomas Westbrook. .3, 47, 102
Walker, Captain 354
Elder 201
Isaac 62
James H 377, 382
Lois 654
Timothy 669
Wallace, Family 535
Amelia M 542, 555
Harriet 0 301, 543, 565, 612, 621
Henry 367,374
James 93.208,209.211,218
397, 452, 462. 469, 484
486, 536. 673. 678, 690
James B 93. 94. 97, 297
299. 428, 452, 530, 538
542, 544. 674, 677, 682
John 536
John F 537
47
Wallace, Joseph 536
Marv 222, 270, 275, 364
469. 523, 536
Mary E 649
Margaret 536
Oscar F 267. 293, 542
Rodney H 543
Sophia J 3(11. 543
William 536
William A 309, 366, 486, 529
542, 543, 577, 682
William J 341
House 435
WALTERS, Joseph 52, 68, 344
Sarah 71
WALWOETH, Alice 641
Amos 3. 5, 13, 19, 20. 27. 46, 641
Arthur C 641
Betsey 634, 641
Caroline A 641
Charles 33. 50, 52. 57, 120, 123
124, 208, 209, 219, 222
386, 387, 444, 506, 612
630, 641. 677. 686. 690
Charles J 641
Clark C 601, 641
Dennison 641
Ella 641
Emily J 641
Emma 641
Eunice 641
Eunice P 606
George ..88,255,260,394.444.616
641, 673, 678, 679, 690
James J 641
Lucy 641, 686
Lula 641
Marr A 641
Sall.V 641
Simeon 641
Susannah 641
William H. H 641
WARD. Stephen 260
WARNER. Capt. Daniel 72
Warrex, Leonard B 488
WASHBUEX, Charles 366, 378. 583
634, 642, 693
Delia S 634
Don C 367,379,642
Ella M 639
Georgia A 634, 642
Hannah 628
Harriet A 664
Harvey 664
Horace 634
Julia A 661
Laurella 642
Luther B 642
Nahum 642, 664
Oscar F 372,383
Polly 642
Waterman. Chloe 660
Elisha 642
Lucy 642
WATKiNS, Captain 409
Watson. Allie V 642
Eunice 617
J. S 642
Miriam 640
Waugh. Bishop 243
WAY, Allen 528
Anna 528
Frank A 528
Laura A 528
Spofford A 528
William J 528
Wear, Joseph 664
738
Index.
WEARE, Augusta A 624
Meschech 59
Weaver, Elizabeth 586
Webber, John D 664, 692
Webster, Alpheus S 642
Angeline F 591
Ann C 488
C. W 601
Captain 351 353, 355
Charles C 95, 308, 309
Daniel 86, 693
Emily P 642
Emma 488
Frank H 598
Harrv 642
Herbert L 407, 533
Hiram L 642
Ira G 488
John S 380. 642
Levi F 488, 533, 676, 680, 691
Rev. Mr 182
Rufus 488
William 685
Weeks. Brackett 042
Charles M 644
Elizabeth P 642
Frank C 644
Joseph D 309, 335, 367, 42S
642, 676, 682
Marshall 642, 693
Marv D 437, 642
Susan II 642
William B 428, 642. 691
William P. 94, 160 161, 276, 282, 285
288. 297, 298, 299, 303
305, 306. 308. 309, 328
332, 334 366, 560, 642
673, 674. 675, 681, 682
WELCH, Abigail 521, 643
Alvin C 644
Anna C 643
Anthony 365, 375, 593
Arnold 643
Arnold S 644
Austin H 644
Bailey 195, 221, 419. 643, 690
Betse.y 643
Caleb 25, 27, 32, 50, 52
54. 55. 57. 61, 65
71. 78. 82. 140. 143
14.-. 162, 168, 169. 173
175. 176. 344, 345, 346
431, 444. 448. 450. 596
642. 677. 681. 685. 690
Caleb. Jr 26. 82. 176. 253. 344
345. 363. 409. 442. 642
Carrie E 643
Caroline B 643
Charles 643
Charles A 300. 644
Cliarles E 644
Dan 642. 690
Daniel 71. 363, 642, 643
Edward A 644
Eliza 643
Eliza B 633
Elizabeth 643
Emily D 642
Emma R 644
Ethel 643
Eunice J 643
Francis 298, 583. 642, 643. 692
Frank C 644
George A 643
George O 643
George P 531. 643
Hannah 198
Welch. Henry C 643
Henry J 643
Horace B 300, 453. 644
Jane M 644
James 644
James F 644
Jennie E 643
John C 531
John N 643
Jonson 195
Joseph 630, 643
Lewis C 643
Lincoln R 644
Louisa M 644
Lovena A 644
Luther 643
Lydia 643, 661
Lvdia A 643
Lydia J 643
Lyman S 453, 455. 644, 676, 692
Martin 26
Mary 643
Mary A 643, 644
May B 644
I'ollv 643
Relief 643
Reuben 444, 643
Richard 643
Russell 26
Samuel 80, 177, 184, 193
395, 446, 643, 685
Simeon 415, 690
Sophia 643
Sophronia 642
Uriah 47, 531, 644, 690
Willard C 644
William . . .26, 81, 602, 642, 690, 692
William H 421, 642
William H. H 644
Zephv 643
WELLS. Ada E 646
Alanson 646
Allen C 646
Alvin J 646
Amos 113
Asahel 685. 687
Benjamin 400
Benjamin P 418
Betsev 646
Betsey P 647
Caleb 646
Caleb P 119. 413. 647. 690
Charles H 300.434.589
632. 646. 692
Cordelia 656
Delia F 647
Elizabeth J 588
Enos 646
Ephraim ... .4. 45. 118, 645, 646, 686
Ephraim, Jr 3, 6, 48
Ezekiel 13, 21, 26, 30, 40. 41
43, 44. 45, 49, 52. 57. 60
62. 71. 77. 78, 79. 81. 82
83. 88. 99. 101, 111. 117
123. 124. 126. 127. 128
129. 130. 131. 143. 144
145. 149. 176. 180. 231
252. 318. 343. 345. 350
351, 355, 384, 387, 389
390, 391, 398, 435, 438
446, 447, 466. 537. 622
645, 678, 685, 686, 689
685, 686
Ezekiel, Jr 396, 407, 627. 646. 690
Ezekiel. 3d 396. 409. 646
F. H 402
F. M 420
Index.
739
Wells. Frank C <546
Fred B 3(iT. 379
Freddie 646
George F 646
George T 367
Hannah 646. 647
Harriet 588
Huffli 644
John 645
John S 671
Jonathan 645
Joshua 13, 26, 41. 49, 52
55, 57. 60. luO. 101
123, 124. 145. 168, 176
181. 250. 251. .S43. 344
345. 351, 355. 393, 431'
440, 446, 449, 463, 518
645, 678. 685, 686. 689
Joshua, Jr 595
Judah . .177. 397 407. 445, 627. 647
Julia 646
Luc.v 624. 646"
Lvdia 646
Mahala 647
Marie 664
Mary G14. 645. 646
Mary A 646
Xancv 646
Octavia M 646
Otis 647
Peter S 97. 200. 297. 303. 416
617. 646, 674. 679
Phopbe 600. 646
Polly 591, 646, 647
Rheuanah 626
Sally 646
Sarah 645
Stephen 400
Thomas 3, 48, 113, 644, 645
Wexdelstadt. Mary H 451
Wextworth. Gov. Benning. . . .VII. 3, 19
99. 153
Dennison 227. 257
J. F 490
Jacob 665
Gov. John 25, 31. 153. 355, 384
Capt. John 3. 46, 102, 103
Martha 102
Capt. William .... 4. 47, 48, 102, 122
Westcott. Augusta 661
Caroline A 589
James A 647
Melissa L 646
Phebe A 647
Weston. Jamos A 672
Wh.vley. Clisty 610
Minnie 610
Wheat. Allen A 425, 647
Alvah 647
Ara 278. 424. 428. 674
Benjamin 647. 665
Bridget 356. 647
Elizabeth A 647
Elvira II 647
Elzina 590, 647. 674
Emily 661
Harold 647
Isabelle 647
Jane E 606 647
Joseph ...90,131,187,188,189-192
193. 210. 211, 212, 217
219, 220, 228. 2.35. 236
318, 343, 345, 354, 356
416. 432, 478, 501. 516
570. 647. 690
Joseph. Jr 93, 131, 304, 400
460, 606, 647
Wheat, Lafayette 647
Lois 647
Lvdia 607, 647
Nathaniel 647
Sally 647
Solomon 647
William G 424, 647
Wheaton, Benjamin 113, 312
Wheeler, Aphia P 658
John 591
Moses B 589
Paul S 671
Sarah A 654
Wheelock^ Eleazer H 246
Elvira W 632
Whipple, General 352
Joseph 664
White, Rev. Broughton 207,210,216
Rev. Charles 217, 219
Harriet A 605
James T 664
John H 670
Rose C 664
Whiting Caleb 3, 46
Whitman, Allen 3, 48, 122, 139, 437
Whitmer. William 371, 382
Whitmore. Daniel 664
Norman 648
Whitney, Abigail. . 649
Albert W 640. 648, 692
Alice M 648
Bela B 452, 648. 692
Charles A. O 648
Clara A 648
Emma 648
Elsina A 640
Esther 648
Flora M 648
Fred 648
Harriet 648
Henrv O 648
Hollis B 368. 648, 680, 692
Isaac 356, 609, 648, 690
James II 648
James M 648
Louisa A 648
Louisa J 648
Lucv J 648
Lydia 356, 609
Melissa A 613
Mina W 648
Moses S 648
Philip 648
Silas 648
Whittemore. Daniel 621. 691
Fannie E 621
Lillie E 621
Whittier. Dorothv 648
Abi D. P 649
Abiah 4.50. 648
Abigail 505, 653
Abi jah A 649
Albion 648
Almira 648
Ann 665
Asa 486. 648
Augusta 648
Augustus L 648
Belinda 649
Carrie J 650
Charles 404.^21. 649
Clinton 649
Daniel B 88. 117. 209. .397, 412
423, 453. 484. 486. 604
648, 690
David H 649
Dexter 649
740
Index.
Whittier, Dorothy 648
E. M 650
Eldora V 627
Elijah 13n. 177, 369, 390
445, 505, 649, 692
Elisha R 649.692
Emeline 648, 659
Enoch 649
Francis 119
George L 369. 434, 649. 691
Harriet J 649
Hattie L 649
Henrv C 650
Hermon D 649
Horatio X 648
Ida A 636
Ira A 649
Isabelle 649, 650
Jane 650
Jeremiah 369. 400, 414. 649. 692
Leonard 451. 649
Louisa 649
Lucinda G 649
Martha J 649
Mary A 649, 650
Marv E. J 638
Maud M 649
Mehitable 649
Mellie E 630
Miriam B , . . .649
Moses 413, 415, 450
648, 649, 690
Nancv 660
Nancv A 649
Nancy J 661
Nathaniel ... .41. 145. 176. 405. 406
446, 489, 503, 505. 506
649, 685. 686
Nathaniel. Jr 406
Nathaniel, 3d 649
Polly 649
Richard . . . 75. 81, 123, '127, 145, 175
176, 177, i79. 186. 251, 252
34.3, .345. 355. 446, 448, 535
648, 677, 678, 685
Rufus 451, 486. 649, 690
Ruth C 648
Sallv 649. 655
Samuel 138, 331. 396, 413
445, 505, 649. 689
Samuel W 649
Sarah A 594. 649
Simeon 648-
Webster 649
William 606. 649
Zenas 650
& Balch 453, 541
Whittlesey, Aaron 414
John R 665
Polly 650
WiBAED. Richard. .3. 47. 48. 102. 117, 122
WiER, Ellen F 650, 660
Emma L 650
Flora A 651
Louisa 529
Mahala E 650
Martha 650
Marv S 586
Sarah 650
Thomas 650
WiGGiN, M. M 491
Wiggins, Broadstreet 690
WIGHT, Freeman 523
Freeman C 523
Robert F 523
WILCOX. Leonard 299
Melissa 625
Wilder, Caleb 174
Williams, Abbie J 652
Abraham L 97. 651
Adelbert O 367, 382, 651
Adrista E 651
Albert J 651
Andrew P 653
Arthur 651
Asa 19. 24. 27, 49, 54
57, 344, 350, 355
Austin 651
Calyin 653
Captain .346
Charles H 651
Chastina B 652
Clarence 653
Dan H 651
Deleyan K 608, 651
Delevan P 652
Edna A 651
Elizabeth L 652
Ellen M 653
Esther V 661
Etta 651
Eugenie 651
Eya 651
Eyerett D 651
Eyerett O 651
Flora 651
Frances E 653
Frank B 652
Franklin 653
Fremont D 652
George E 653
Georgia A 651
Gratie 650
Henry H 652
Henrv T 652
Henr.y W 651
Horace B 300, 653
Horace P 651
Ida M 651
Isaac F 651
J. Frank 651
Jared 671
John G 651
John P 652
John W 653
Katherine 653
Lena B 651, 653
Lester R 651
Loraine P 608
Lorenzo D 651, 652
Lorenzo P 653
Luis M 652
Mabel 651
Maitland 651
Mamie P 651
Marv 650
Mary G 610, 622, 650, 653
Mary L 651
Minnie B 651
Mira 653
Miriam E 652
Nancy 653
Oliver ". 664-
Orion H 650
Owen 651
Phineldo O 651
Polly 231
Purnel L 653
Rebecca 651
Robert 134, 173, 174, 234
235, 445, 446, 447, 650, 652
Robert, Jr 84, 244
Robert L 652
Robert M 651
Index.
741
Williams. Rosamond 651
Samuel 363. 652. 653, 654
064. 679, 690
Samuel. Jr 300
Samuel 1 652
Sarah 610. 653
Sias K 651
Stephen 134, 356, 651. 690
Stephen. .Tr 653
Susan A 652
Susan L 602, 651, 652
Sylvester 650
Svlvester D 651
Thomas 650
Ursula L 652
Val M 651
Valorous C 650
Valorous T 651
William 664
William L 651
Willie 653
Zvlpha M 651
Willis. Ara 579
Ardella 579
Clarabelle 579
George H 579
Hannah S 301
Holmes 579
John 396.447
John C 579
Leona 579
Lizzie 579
Nathan 579. 676
Otis 443
Otis F 579
Perrv 579
Roswell O 664
Samuel 1S9
William H 579
Hall 457
Wilmarth. Rev. Ezra. .177, 184, 188. 207
Marv E 5S7
WiLMOT. Elizabeth A 664
Wilsox. Familv 577
Albert H 578. 676. 6S0. fi92
Angle M 578. 632
Betse.v 577. 634
Betsev L 488
Charles S 588
Charlotte 578
Edna 579
Effie A 578
Elizabeth 578
Ephraim 189. 2fi7. 397. 399
577. 578. 690
Ephraim F 680
Frank P .=i78
Fred B 578. 592
Fred E fi.^.S
George .=i77
George FI 578
Gordon .577
Harriet F 578
Hattie S 578
Helen 577
Henry H 105. 132. 300. 369
417. 4.34, 446. 4SS. 577
578. 679. 680. 682. 692
Ida B 578. 614
Jabez 445
Jacob 578
James 369. 381. 578. 670, 691
Jane 579
Jeremiah 445, 579
Job 445
Joel 579, 690
WiLSOX, John 88, 145, 174. 177
405, .447, 578
John B 578
Joseph 665
Lemuel 478, 579
Leon W 578
Levi 4J.8, 445, 512, 577
579, 653, 689
Levinia ; 578
Lois 657
Loraine 578
Louisa 653
Luella 588
Matilda 579
Nathaniel 189, 397, 577, 690
Orissa C 578, 635
Presele . . : 578
Prudence 579
Robert 82. 87. 92. 174. 447
577. 579. 633. 690
Rufus 363, 577, 578
Sabrina C 655
Samuel 478. 579
Ursula 579
Warren . .89. 129, 145, 177. 343. 344
356. 384. 445, 447. 577. 685. 686
Warren E 578, 677. 680. 691
Warren F 369. 402. 415
417, 577, 676
Washington 362, 578, 690
William 653
WiXG. Persons W . . . . 425
WixsLow, Betsey 657
John 664
WISE. Aaron 486
WiswELL, Elsie T 623
Grace 1 612. 623
WITHIXGTOX. Ephraim F 588. 640
Herbert F 615
Horace H 664
Julianna G 488
Moses E 488.601
Samuel 486
Sidnev B 588. 615
Svlvester 608
William D 653
William H 615
WOLCOTT. Elias 455
WoLFsox. Carl 593
Clara F 593
Mabel M 593
Maurice S 593
Sigismond 447. 593
Wood. Amos 664
Betsev 653
Eli 653
George H 620, 664
Rev. Henry 224
Levi 649, 653
Lois 653
Polly 653
Rosel 653
Thomas 209. 222
William 445. 458. 512. 653, 690
WooDBtRY. Aaron 650
Rev. Robert 284
James 60.61,80,87.88.89.318
344, 345, 356. 685. 686
Levi 670
Marv A 594
Ruth 80, 83. 84. 87. 88. 89
Woodward, Bezaliel 69. 76. 312. 669
(Woodard)
Delia 663
Elvira H 492
George B 665
H. H 491
742
Index.
Woodward, Palmer 635
Woods, Doctor 265
Levi C 664
Lyndon B 370
Woodworth, Lydia E 664
WooLEY, Henry J 238, 246
WooLFE. Kate M 597
WoosTER. David H 653
H. B 448
Worcester, Benjamin 692
Worth, Abigail 654
Arabella 654
Catherine E 653
Edmund 654
Elvira 654
Eliza C 653
Hiram S 601,654.691
John 76, 88, 93, 127, 144
145, 168, 174, 175, 176
177, 178, 179. 180, 182
183, 184, 189, 230, 343
344, 355. 410, 415, 446
465, 510, 519, 522, 653
677, 678, 682, 685, 690
John, Jr 131, 176, 300
396. 445. 617
Life C 654
Lucy M 654
Lydia 654
Lydia G 654
Molly 654
Nathaniel 450. 654, 685
Purnel B 363, 653
Polly 654
Sally F 654
Worth. Sarah 654
Stephen 109. 138. 176, 186
187, 318. 397, 408. 410
418. 445. 464, 596, 654
Widow 71
Tavern 130, 168
Worthen, Amos 231, 622
Hattie E 598
James 411
Jennie P 598
John 607
Joseph 160
Moses 231, 622
Sally 622
WRIGHT, Ahimez 46
Eliza E 660
Elizabeth 662
Hattie P 529
Lydia R 598
Martha M. J 633
Mary S 654
Oren P 247. 626
Yarden. Oliver 377. 382
Yeaton. Lois 377. 382
Lois M 633
York, Albert 368. 372
Daniel 665
Louisa 588
YouXG, A. L 490
Daniel 246
(Jeorgc 371, 382
Jacob 605
Rev. Mr 186
YoL'.NGMAX, Susan L 587
INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
Abolition 90. 258. 273. 277. 279.
285, 288. 289. 290,
323. 326.
Academy
Albany. N. Y 304.
Alexandria
Alta. California 557, 563.
Alton. Ill
Amesbury. Mass. . .7. 56. 57. 312, 435.
Andover Theological Seminary
Anti-Masonry 279',
Anti-Slavery 244, 280,
Anti-Slavery Almanac
Appropriations
Army. Northern 352, 353.
Artillery Company
Arvin Field
Ashes
Aspasla and Demophile
Assembly of Vermont
Assessors
Association Test
Awl Shop
Baptists 151. 176, 183. 190. 220.
Church 63. 126. 142. 166,
First Society
Parsonage 193,281,298,
First Society Constitution
State Convention
Barber Sawmill .... 87, 387, 389, 403,
447,
Barnard Hall 491.
284
319
329
253
351
198
567
324
436
265
322
295
283
693
354
361
520
452
63
67
677
51
455
241
183
192
324
175
201
435
450
492
Bear Pond 45. 48
Bell, The 91, 152
Bennington 351, 352, 355
Birch Corner 406, 413
Blackwater Bridge 401
Bond Issue 95, 96
Boscawen 9
Bounties 368. 369
Bozrah, Conn 168
Brewster B 247
Brick Yard 395, 396
Bridges 387. 389, 390. 393. 394. .395
396, 397, 398, 399
Bridgewater Circuit 233, 234
ilroad Street 41, 116. 139. 396. 404
Bunker Hill 346. 352. 545
Camp-meeting 240
Campbell Sawmill 407
Canaan Circuit 234, 242, 246
and Bridgewater Circuit 246
Grenadiers 95, 362
Lyceum Hall Association 151
Musical Society 89
Social Library 82
Street Improvement Society. . . .142
Tract Society 209
Union Academy 163. 297-311
329, 336. 337, 340, 341
427, 428
Union Academy Catalogue 300
Union Academy Notes 297. 304
Cannon 361
Index.
r43
Cardigan 54. 65. 155
Mountain 72. 140
Caslmere Mill 453
Catholics 226
Cattle at large 93
Cava Iry Troop 361
Xew Hampshire Battalion 380
Cemetery. Fencing 11. 75, SI
Near Jones 95
Sawyer Hill 96. 344
Street 11. SI. 89, 97. 169, 343
Scofield 10
Wells 81, 343. 40.3. 421
West Canaan 11. 81. 97. 343
West Farms 81. 97. 652
Census 5(». 53. 63. 71. 81. 83, 89. 91
94. 95. 96. 97
Center Deestrick 250. 2.53. 519
Charlestown. '"Xo. 4" vi.
Charter. First 1, 102
Second 3
Dame's Gore 153
Checklist. 1825 687
Chelmsford Meeting House 149
Christian Register 272
Church Right 4. 126. 137
Cider 431.434
Clark Pond 110. 408
Hill Road 164, 414
Clay Bed 36
Clifford Farm 205
Cobble Graveyard 26. 54. 81
.344. 395, 407
Cochran Place 392, 417
Codfish Hill 408
Coffswell Hill 105
Colchester. Conn 13. 57. 113. 181, 436
Colored Scholars 277
Committee Meadow Brook Road 401, 419
of Safety 51. 52. 54. 61, 350
of Correspondence 51
of Vigilence 91
Common 139
Concord Register 320
Congregational Church 184. 207. 230
257. 292. 296. 399. 533
Discipline 285
Meeting House 221, 2.55, 263
Society 208, 221
Congregationalists 174. 177. 1S6
192. 193. 209. 241
Congress 33«>, 388
Constitution of Church .175
Constitutional Convention 70
Continental Money 66
Cornish ". 58
Copps Hill .S48
Corner 29. 158, 363, 397
410, 452. 480
Coroner 68
Court of Common Pleas .391
Crow Bounty 83
Crystal Lake Mouse 438
Culloden, Ship of War 346
Dalton 59
Dame's Gore 41 47.48,8.3.87.103
107. 108. 109. 110. Ill 137
153. 163, 410. 411. 412. 413
Annexation 157.
Danbury 319
Danforth Farm .[ 117
Dartmouth College 31.217.289 299
3(12. 316, 324, 325. 327
332, 3.35, 336, 339, 340
341, 403
Gazette 131
Graduates 549-551
Devil Music of Deacon Worth 184
Discontinuance of Roads 393
Across R. R. at Grist Mill 96
Arvin to Barber 401
From Brick Yard Easterly Cross-
ing Intervale 396
Daniel Blaisdell to Job C. Tyler. 399
To Burying Ground to Daniel
Colby 396
Burying Ground to David
Dustin 395
Campbell Hill to Lebanon Road. 400
Clark to Samuel Gates 395
Ensign Colbv to D. B. Whit-
tier 397
Codfish Hill to River 394
G. W. Davis to Lebanon 402
John Fales 397
Near French Shanties 401
Nathaniel Gilman to Joseph
Randlett 393
Gilman Hill to Moses Flanders. . 398
Goose Pond 401
John Harris to Town Hill
Bridge 394
From Kelley & Georsre Store. . . .401
Knights to Hanover 401
From Thad. Lathrop. Jr., to Two
Sawmills 397
Joshua Martin 399
Meacham to Old Road 393
J. L. Perley 401
Pillsburv to Jenniss 400
Town Hill 401
Tray Factory. ... 402
Turnpike beyond F. F. Avery... 400
Through George Walesworth's. .394
Wells Bridge to South Road 398
Through Wells Cemetery 402
Wells Hill to S. B. Morgan. ... 401
F. H. Wells Mill to Enfield. .. .401
Stephen Wells to Dorchester. . . .400
To Northeast Corner of Ezekiel
Wells 3rd's Orchard 396
Division of Lands 23. 42-48. 113
118. 119. 120. 121
Doctors and College Graduates. .422-434
Dorchester VIII. 65. 70, 110. ill
118, 129, 155, 156, 198, 403
Drafted Men 362
Fames" Mill 28, .56, 124, 384
403. 437. 521
Eaton Mills 416
Eighteenth Regiment 380
El Clamor Publico 556
Eleventh Regiment 377
Enfield . .VIII. 59. 62. 65. 70. 79. 105, 155
Line 40, 103
Enrollment 383, 690
Factory Village 81. 192, 408, 416, 454
Fairs 2
Farewell Address 281, 283
Felloes 453
Fence-viewers 55
Fifteenth Regiment 367, 379
Fifth Regiment 373
Fire Precinct 95
First Death 20
N. H. Light Battery 370. 381
Heavy Artillery 381
Fort Dummer VI
Fort Edward .349
Fort Washington 352, 353
Fourteenth Regiment 379
Fourth Regiment 372
Franconia 59
744
Index.
Free-will Baptist Church 203
Baptists 241
Freemasonry 323. 481
French and Indian War VII
Gates Gore 157, 447
General Sessions Court 386. 387. 388
390, 394, 400
408, 411, 415
416. 417. 419
General Court Pf^tition 157
Gllman Dudley Tavern 252.519
Girdlinpr Trees 110
Glebe Right 4. 36. 48. 100
Gore Road 1 60, 420
Goose Pond 19. 47, 81. 92. 132
Goose Pond Brook 46. 393
Bank 461
Road 415
Goulding's Mills 419
Governor's Right 4. 113. 117
Road 386
Grafton 42. 54. 65. 70. 71. 75
105, 108. 129, 198, 319
and Canaan Line 106,107,110
Turnpike Co 116. 129. 221, 399
Assessments and dividends
134, 136
Certificate of Sale 133
Incorporation 129
Survey 406,409,413,414
Toll Rate 129
Grand Bashaw 459
View Hotel 140. 438, 440
Granite Phalanx 359
Grantees 3
Grantham VIII. 61. 104
Great Island 350. 353
Greeley's Mill 397. 453
Groton VIII. 110. Ill
Gulf 26. 388
Hammer Shops 205. 454
Hampstead 57. 352
Hanover VIII, 43. 54. 58. 61. 62
70. 76. 102. 103. 110
118. 135. 155. 198
Circuit 233. 246
Harness Shop 453
Harfs Pond 100. 116. 122. 139. 195
233. 384. 437, 449, 478, 518
Orthographv 479
Hat Factorv 453
Haverhill 7, 57. ISl. 499
Hearse 92
Heath's Inn 47. 241
Hinsdale VI
Hogreefs 79
Hogs 55. 79
How Some of Our Houses Were
Built 43.5-447
Howard Farm 128. 169
Howe Hill 105
Hubbardton. Vt 351
Incorporation of Towns VIII
Incidents 450_480
Indian River 11, 123. 127. 390
River Grange 489
Indians 8. 348
From Canada 56
Inventory 57. 77. 78. 685
Blanks 96
Investigating Committee Academy
162. 305
.Tacobins 288
.Juror Meeting. First 71
.Justice of Peace 76. 79. 313
Kimball Union Academy 217.339
Kittery Point 352
Knights of Pythias 490
Ladies' Benevolent Societv of Ac-
worth '. 217
Larv Cider Mill 434
Pond Road 402
Layout of Roads 403
Lawrence Mill 396
Lawyers 312-342
Lebanon VIII. 54, 58, 61. 62, 103
Road 143, 408
License for Selling Liquor. . . .88. 92, 358
Liquor Agent 434
Lisbon 59
Literarv Fund 161. 298
Littleton 58
Lock Lot 71
Los Angeles Star 553, 556
Lot-Laying Committee 22, 42, 99, 124, 52T
Lumber 81
Lyme VIII, 58. 103, 110, 111, 129
Road 103. .391. 392
Maps 4. 106. 108, 123, 155
Markets 2
Marriages 654
Martha's Vineyard 521
Martin's Hall 268, 332
& Currier's Store 416, 452
Mascoma River 48, 56, 105. 110
123, 140, 394
Valley Assembly 492
Massachusetts Daily Spy 545
Masting Pine 2
Mausoleum 97
Meredith Association 193
Meeting House 69. 139. 143, 396
Building Agreement 146
Dispute over Place 143
Report on Building 149
Selling Pews 144
Methodists 174, 186. 193. 199. 220
Church 231. 245. 293
First Church 238
First Class 231
Preachers' Street 246
Preachers' E. C 247
Methuen. Mass 352
Mexican War 364
Mill Prison 353
Right 29. 116. 122. 422
Military Agent 369
Militia after Revolution 357
Militia Law 357
Mills 20. 23, 26. 28. 51, 56
81, 100. 168. 394. 435
Milton Hall 491. 492
Ministers' Right 4. 32. 46, 100
126. 131. 207
Laying 126
Deed from Ba'dwin 127
Minuto Men Pav 76
Mob Midnight 288. 289. 295. 323
Moderators 681
Moose Mountain 105. 140. 155
Brook 33. 50. 388
Mount Cardigan Lodge 491
Defiance 350
Independence 354
Moriah Lodge 317. 319. 459
481.533.535
Mud Pond Brook 123. 390. 409
Music in Methodist Church 238
Musters 93. 358
Nashua Telegraph 544
Xatchitichez 282
Negro Pen 257
New Hampshire Conference 233
Gazetteer 210
Index.
r45
Missionarv Society 207. 216. 225
Patriot 25S, 260. 270, 272
277, 331. 480
Post 544
Newburvport 65
Newcastle 349, .S.52, 354
New Hampton Academy 426
Newmarlcet 50. ISl . 188
Nigger Town Guide Boards 290
Nine Months Men 367, 379
Ninth Regiment 376
Northern Railroad 92. 93. 96, 461
Northern Bear 509
Norwich. Conn 13. 57
Military Academy 423
Noyes Academy 196. 197. 223. 255-296
332. 423. 454. 456
Burning 288, 297
Diary Relating to. .256. 258, 260, 266
267. 268. 269. 273
276. 280, 288
Destruction 162. 268, 288, 273
Moving Bill 283
Prospectus 261
Trustees 257, 261, 263
Oberlin College 265
Old Families 493
Orchards 461
Orford 129
Orange 46, 59, 70. 75. 79. 86
103. Iti6. 107. 108, 109. 127
129. 135. 155. 156. 198
Association 210
Dispute Over Line 106. 108. 110
Proprietors' Suit with Josiah
Clark 43, 109
Paper Mill 138. 435. 453
Money 65
Peggy's Tavern 191, 451
Penhallow Pasture 117
Perambulations 105, 111
Pest House 72
Petition to Annex Land 76
for Civil Magistrate 61
for Field Officer 62
to Establish Enfield Line 104
of George Harris 25
for New Town 62
of Orange 109
of Proprietors to Governor Went-
worth 24
to Reimburse Soldiers 346
Phillips Andover Academy 339
Pierce Tavern 140, 150, 438
Pinnacle 122. 140. 440
House 130. 170, 422. 435
Pitch Book and Proprietors Sur-
veys 35. 99. 118
Plainfleld VIII, 61
Plaisted 7
Plaistow 57, 352, 353
Police Court 97
Poor Farm 91. 94. 162. 164. 442
Town 64. 68. 70. 80. 81. 84
87. 88. 89. 91. 95, 504
Post Road 384, 385 386, 387
Riders 388, 404, 406
Porter's Intervale 44, 119
Portsmouth 351, 353
Plains 363
Potato Road 417, 444
Pots and Pearl Ashes 452
Pound .->(). 64. 81, 83. 459
Preachers 246. 247
President of Senate 68
Proprietors' Book of Records 22,34
114, 124
Meetings 22-48
of Proposed Meeting House 141
Rights 81, 113
Surveys 124
Warnings of Meetings 24
Propagation of Gospel Right 4. 48
100. 137
Prospect Hill 92, 405, 408
Prosperitv Assemlilv 492
Public Rights ■ 126
Pythian Sisterhood 492
Rams 75
Rand Hotel 450
Ranges 117
Recruits 366
Second Regiment 370
Third Regiment 371
Fifth Regiment 374
Sixth Regiment 375
Ninth Regiment 376
Eleventh Regiment 378
Artillery 381
Battery 381
Cavalry 380
Re-enlisted Veterans. Second Reg 371
Third Regiment 372
Fourth Regiment 373
Relhan 54. 155
Reporter. The 566
Representatives 54. 71. 76. 79
508, 520, 672
Resolutions on War of 1812 84
Revolutionary Soldiers 343-356
Rhode Island Campaign 349. 352
354, 355
Roads 384-421
Charles Abbott 421
Adams to Dorchester 400
Abel Aldrich to Enfield Line... 398
Arvins to Barbers 401
Arvins to Deweys Road 415
Arvins to Dorchester 400
Thomas Baldwins to Enfield 389
Barbers to Flints 390
Barbers to Meeting House 391
Barbers to Nichols 392
Barnards bv Flints to Watering
Trough 420
Barney Brothers' Store. North. .419
Birch Corner to Tormevs 412
To Daniel Blaisdell Land 389
Blake's Road 394
Blakes to Hanover Line 397. 409
Boscawen to Dartmouth College 403
Broad Street to Asel Jones 396
Broad Street by Brick Yard to
Enfield 395
Broad Street to Corner 404
Brick Yard to .lohn Harris 389
Broad Street to Lebanon Citr
395. 398
Broad Street to Schnolhouse. . . .403
Broad Street to Thad. Lathrops 393
Brocklebanks to Enfield 419
Bucklin to Moreau 395
David Bucklins to Charles Whit-
tiers 404
Fred Butmans to Factory Vil-
lage 394. 408
Alter from Calkins' and Jones'
Sawmill 389
Calkins to Town Hill 387
Old Cardigan 384
Cyrus Carlton's to Dorchester. .407
746
Index.
North Line Jonathan Carlton.. 393
Carltons by Whittiers 392
Amasa Clarks to Hanover 398
Deacon Clarks to Orange Line.. 398
Clark's Bridge to Gales 398
Deacon Clark's Bridge to John
Worth. Jr 396
Deacon Clark's Bridge to Deacon
Sleepers -iOO
Clark Hill 399
Clark Pond 401. 418
Joslah Clarks to Turnpike 397
Cloughs to Joshua Meachams. . .4u8
Cobble Gravevard 394. 39.".. 407
D. B. Cole's 401. 410
Committee Brook 4(il. 419
Corner to Curriers 410
Corner to Turnpike 410
Nathan Cross 413
Nathan Cross to Haynes on Gore
Line 399
Cunninghams to John Miltons. . .419
David Currier to Nathaniel
Barber 412
Across Clark Curriers 396
To John Currier's Land 390
John Currier to Woods Mills... 397
Clark Curriers to Josiah Barbers 393
Clark Curriers to Richard Clarks 393
John Curriers to Putneys 404
Sam Curriers to A. W. Hutchin-
sons 390. 392. 404
Across Dames Gore 160. 411
Seth Daniels to Welchs Mills... 397
G. W. Davis to Grist Mill. . .397. 400
Watts Davis 401, 481
William Digby's Across Horace
Chase's 419
From Dorchester Road by Whit-
tiers to Carltons 392. 405
Dorchester by John Curriers. . . .403
Dorchester by T. W. Youngs. . .41.5
Exchange Dustins to Street 39.">
To David Dustins 398. 411
To Eames Mill. . . .124. 384, 386. 39.5
Eames to Dames Gore 391
Steven Eastmans to Daniel
Morse 391
Enfield Road 396
Enfleld by Paddlefords by N.
Branch Bridge 391
Farnum Road 393. 405
Flints to Burdicks 391
Flints to Meeting House 392
George Flint 392
David Foggs to Quaker Hill 389
James Follensbees to Road from
Canaan to Dorchester 44
Gates 418
To Gates Cilleys Ambrose Chases .393
Reuben Giles to John Mays 398
Giles to Paddleford 412
Gilman Hill to Birch Corner 393
406, 412
Gore Road 420
Gould Road 399
Elijah Gove 412
Grafton to Barbers Mill 389, 403
Grafton Turnpike 413
Explore Greeleys Mills to West
Farms 397
Grist Mill to Wells Cemetery 403
Grist Mill to Fair Grounds. 409, 421
Hanover to Enfleld 398
Harris 411
Exchange Harris to James Dotens
392
Harris to Thad. Lathrop 393
N. J. Hills 420
Richard Hutchinson to Sanborn
Wheel Shop 418
From Job Jenness 398
Jerusalem to Shingle School-
house 405.410
Jehu Jones to Welchs Mill . . 394. 395
Alter from Joslen to Enfield 389
Otis Jones 401
Samuel .Tones to Barbers Mill.. 387
John Kimballs down Eastman
Hill 404
Kimliall to Silas Dustin 412
Kimball to Amos Gould 410
D. Kimballs to J. Kimball. Saw-
yer Hill 414
Luther Kinney 400
Lary 411
From Thad. Lathrops 389
David Lawrence. Eliphalet Rich-
ardson, at Corner 393
Straighten from Lawrence Mill
to Turnpike 396
Moses Lawrence to Nathan Cross 410
Lebanon Road bv Kendricks.SOfi. 408
Loekehaven 394. 408
Lower Meadow 386. 387
A. C. Lovejov 401. 419
Lime to Grafton 386
Lyme Road near Records. . .393. 405
.Joshua Martins to Aaron Whit-
tleseys 400. 414
Meeting House to J. M. Barbers 396
Hill South of J. M. Barbers 396
Meeting House to Corner 399
Meeting House to Widow Stevens
391
Mills to Town Line. South 386
Thomas Miners Intervale 386
Lieutenant Miners 399
Morgan to .Sharons 420
Stephen Morse to Turnpike 409
Ezra Nichols to Meeting House 392
Moody Noyes to Flints .392
Across Pattee & Perlev 419
Philbrick to Peaslee's "Mill. .403. 418
From New Road Plymouth ... .413
From Adam Pollards 397
Post 385. 387. 388
Potato 401. 418
Prospect Hill to Lyme 391
Reuben Puffers to Campbell Hill
393. 406
Across Railroad at Grist Mill. . . 96
Ricards to Lashua 393.405
Amos Richardson 452. 398, 411
Richardson to Kinneson. . . .392. 405
River Road to Dorchester 400
River Road from Fair Grounds 414
Sawyer Hill 384. 390
Moses Sawvers to Hanover Lipe
411.413
Scofields to Wells Interval 386
Caleb Seaburys to Road from
Clark Curriers to Amasa Clarks
396
Sharons to Common 411
Lydia Shattuck to C. L. Kinne 409
Sherburne to Clarks 411
Lewis Simmons Straightened. . . .398
Carv Smiths to Orange Line. . .411
South Road to Enfield Line 394
407, 415
Index.
747
widow Stevens to Joshua Stevens
391
Stephen Swett to Road from
Depot to Street 420
Switch to March Barbers 400
Town Hill Road 396
Old Tray Factory 394, 407
Tug Mountain 408
Turnpike to Road from Turnpike
to Dorchester 414
Turnpike Near John Flanders. .414
To Turnpike by Eliphalet Gil-
mans 415
Job Tylers 395
At Village 420
Captain Walesworths 386
H. L. Websters to Enfield Line
394, 407
Wells Cemetery Road 421
Joshua Wells to Dames Gore. ... 41
Wells to Nathaniel Gilmans
Round Pond 403
Captain Wells to Moses Chases. .393
Exchange from Wells Barn to
Abel Hadleys 396
Straighten Judah Wells to Meet-
ing House 397
Ezekiel Wells. 3d. to Bridge over
Mud Pond Brook 409
Joshua Wells to Orange Line. .393
406, 407
Eichange Wells to Post Guide on
County Road 396
Wells Bridge to South Road 399, 413
F. M. Wells over West Farms. .420
West Farms to Prospect Hill
393 405
Joseph Wheat '.400
Whittier to Carlton 393.406
Sam Whittiers to Deacon Clark's
Bridge 396
John Worth to Moses Whittier
Bars 415
Stephen Worths 397
Wolfeboro Road to Mr. Brad-
burvs 65, 389
Wolfeboro or Governors. 31, 384, 386
First Tax by Proprietors 23
First Committee by Proprietors
384, 387, 390
One Who Calls Out Committee
to Pay 391
Districts 387, 389. 390, 391
Indictment 396, 398
Labor 23. S3. 385, 387, 389
Surveyors 390. 391, 393, 394
Surveys 387, 390, 406, 407
Petition Daniel Blaisdell 399
Petition J. S. Lathrop 400
Petition to Hanover 390. 392
Petition through Relhan 384
Royalton. Vt 55, 345
Ruddsboro Road 351
Rumnev VIIL 198
Rutland 345
Sale of Right at Auction 113
Salisbury 353
Saratoga 346, 349, 351, 352
353, 354, 355
Sawyer Hill 57, 92, 143, 384, 414
Scofi'eld Bridge 396 398, 401
Scholars 251
School and Books 253
Districts 63
First Report 95
and Literary Fund \ .164, 282
Interest 162
Punishments 250
Right 4, 46, 126, 128, 131
Laying 32, 126. 128
Subscription Paper 250
Surplus Revenue 161
Vote for Money 63. 70, 250
Votes 250, 251
Schools 248-255
Search of Title 114
Secession of Sixteen Towns 40, 58
Second Regiment 369
Secret Organizations 481—492
Selectmen, Pay 89, 92
Settlers. Award 11, 24
First and Second 9
Other Early 18, 57, 444
Seventh Regiment 326
Shakers 283, 419, 420, 44.6
Shepard Lot 108, 109
Sidewalks and Sewers 96
Sixth Regiment 375
Small Pox 72
Smart's Mountain 140
Social Lodge 485
Soldiers 343-383
South Road 19. 27. 57, 114, 117, 123
143, 241, 387, 394
Squatters 35, 120
St. Armands 498
St. Lukes' Church 293
State Temperance Society 326
State's Gore 42, 103, 153
Stillwater 352
Stone House 444
Stony Point 353
Substitutes 367, 368, 369, 382
Sugar Hill 158
Suit for Slander 467
Summit Lodge 488
Surplus Revenue. .161, 287, 298, 307, 329
Surveys. Proprietors' 115
of Town 103, 105, 106. Ill
Switch 397, 416
Tanneries 29, 448
Taverns 438,440
Tax on Non-Resident Land 80, 83
to Build Mills 27
Exemption 54
State 56
by Town and Proprietors 23
on Proprietors' Rights. .. .28, 42, 44
for Roads. First 23
for Preaching 192
Payers, First List 6
Temperance in Canaan 430-434
Organization 219
Third Regiment 355, 371
Thirty-Seventh Regiment 358, 520
Officers. 1808 358
Officers. 1820 358
Officers. 1830 359
Ticonderoga ..348, 350, 352. 353, 354, 355
Timber Lands 30
Tithingmen 49, 459
Toll Gates 130
Tontine 453
Town Appropriations 693
Clerks 682
Hill 118, 143, 386
Road 394
Library 96. 494. 652
Lines 102
Meetings 49-98
Plot 2, 101. 139
Poor 64, 70, 71
748
Index.
Records 77, 88
Tray Factory 402, 408
Trees Set Out on Street 479
Trenton; N. J 352
Trespass Committee 43, 45
Trust Funds 96, 97
Twelfth Regiment 379
Twenty-Fourth Regiment 62, 229
357, 527
Twenty-Third Regiment 357
Union Society 185, 187
Unitarian School 226
United States Pension Bureau 356
Universalists 174, 177
Valley Forge 351
Vigara 364
Vigilance Committee 244
Volunteers of '61 366, 367, 368, 369
Aid to . 95
by Brokers 382
Vote for Governor 75. 79, 669
President, 1787 74
President, 1788 74
First Senator 69
President of United States 69, 72, 76
Representative United States... 69
Walpole VI
War of 1812 84, 87, 362
Rebellion 95, 364
Warning, First Town Meeting 24
Weare, Quarterly Conference 205
Weights and Measures 71, 75
Welch Crossing 96
Mill 50, 394, 397. 398, 421
West Canaan 81, 123
Farms 252, 405
Point 354, 355, 428
Westgate G., Tavern 419
Westmoreland VI
Wheat, Legal Tender 71
Wheel Carriages. Tanneries, Pots and
Pearl Ashes 448-455
Windsor Ministerial Association . . . .217
Woodstock Association 183
Yale College 228, 428
Yankee Traveler 317
4
wmmmam
<'. M0^,,M^f^MMMMMM^^
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11