The history of Gilmanton ... from the first settlement to the present time; including what is now Gilford, to the time it was disannexed

Preface

The History comprised in this volume, is a compilation of facts derived from various sources, both oral and written. The materials have been accumulating on the hands of the writer for nearly twenty years, and under such circumstances as to render it both inexpedient and impossible to refer in all cases to the au thorities. Moreover such a reference would greatly have encum bered the margin, and increased the expense of publication without enhancing the value of the work to the readers. Oral and traditionary testimony have been relied on only where written documents failed. The written authorities which have been used are the Proprietary and Town Records, Prescott's Sketch of Gilmanton, N. H. Hist. Col. Vol. I. p. 72, Farmer's Genealogical Register, Belknap's History of N. H. with Far mer's Notes, Whiton's History of N. H., Adams' Annals of Portsmouth, Allen's Biographical Dictionary, Felt's History of Ipswich, &tc.

In the Biographical notices a free use has been made of the facts recorded in these works, and sometimes the very language has been used in an abridged or varied form. In the Proprietary and Civil History also, the language of the record has not unfre quently been employed to express the course of events, as being both the most convenient and the best suited to the object the writer had in view, viz. a plain narrative of facts. Imperfection is the lot of all human effort. The present His tory has come very far short of what the writer intended to make it. Notwithstanding much care, many errors, especially in the

PREFACE.

. dates, have occurred, some few of which only have been referred to in the errata. The Genealogical History is much more limited than was originally intended by the writer. To a great extent the dates of births and marriages in the different families are left out, and many families are omitted altogether. This became necessary on account of the limited patronage given to the work. A full schedule of the marriages and deaths from the first settlement of the town, is also crowded out by the abrupt close to which the writer has been obliged to bring the work, or suffer pecuniary loss. These materials may at a suture time be thrown into an appendix to this History, should encouragement be afforded. The Map prepared to accompany this work, will be found an interesting and valuable appendage. The whole has cost an amount of labor, which none can estimate but those who have made similar attempts.

Should the readers be interested, in structed and benefitted, and a love of their native place be there by cherished in the bosoms of his townsmen, at least one object of the writer will be accomplished. August, 1845. ERRATA. Page 46 transpose the last two lines. 58 line 2, for sister of John Nelson, lather, &c. read sister of Gen. Nathaniel Folsom and of the mother of Jonathan Nelson. 80 10, for second rango, read second range. 131 7, for John Lougee, jr. read Samuel Avery. 137 14, for John F. Williams, read Adam Williams. 157 11, from bottom, for Nov. 3, 1805, read Nov. 3, 1825. 162 9, for May 6, 1778, May 5, 1777. 168 2, from bottom, for Hon. John Lord, read Nathaniel Lord^Esq. 15, do. for one year, read two years. 16, for 1842, read 1841. 228 1, for Dr. Abraham Silver, read Dr. James Silver. 247 22, for 1836, read 1816. 272 transfer the notice of Joseph Jones Gilman to page 253. 282 transfer the notice of Daniel J. Parsons to page 255. 285 transfer the notice of Dyer H. Sanborn, Esq. to page 255. 274 3, from bottom, for 1795, read 1705. 275 10, for 1791, 1691. 15th line, for 1772, read 1742. 278 13, from bottom, for they had Susan, read he had Susan, &c. INDEX Academy, 148, Charter of, 149, Preceptors of, 164,165, Preceptresses of, 165, 168, Trustees of, 156, Village, 136.

Adams family, 255, Joseph, 59. Alumni of the Seminary, 177. Atkinson, Theodore, 32. Badger, Joseph,57, 70, 234, Joseph, jr. 242, William, 247. Bachelder, Ebenezer, 58. Bean, Aaron, 250, Joshua, 250, Simeon, 241, Stephen, 249. Belknap, Jeremiah, 186. Bell, James, 225. Births, 292. Biographical History, 205. Bird, Isaac, 221. Block houses built, 39, rebuilt, 44, location of, 60. Bodwell, Abraham, 162. Bouton, Nathaniel, 163. Burnham, Abraham, 174. Burns, Thomas, 246. Butterfield, William, 226. Canterbury line, 46. Carpenter, Josiah, 193. Casualties, 296. Cart path from Epsom, 46. Caverly, John Lee, 253. Centre Church, 196. Childs, Rufus, 219. Chipman, John, 26. Church, Baptist, 199, gathered, 83, Christian Baptist, 203, 1st Congregational, 83, 192, Freewill Baptist, 202, Iron Works, 197, Methodist, 202.

Citizens' mills, 130. Clark family, 260, Peter, 216, Henry K. W. 253, Ward, 26. William C. 167. Clement, Jonathan, 164. Clerical proprietors, 58. Clifford family, 259. Coffin, Eliphalet, 24, Peter, 59. Cogswell family, 259, William, 221, Francis, 163, Francis. 250, Elliott C. 168, Nathaniel, 224, 249, Pearson, 248, Thomas, 248, 239. Conner, Jere. 24, 68, Jona. 57. Continental money, 94. Cooke. Phinehas, 194. Copp, Timothy, 253. Corser, Enoch, 162. Crosby, Asa, 229, Nathan, 224, Dixi,231,Alpheus, 251. Cross, Abijah, 195. Currier Family, 260. Curtis, Jonathan, 174. Cutter, Ammi R. 104. Deaths, 293. Delay of settlement of town, 35. Dudley family, 260, Nicholas, 24, Stephen, 70, 237. Durgin family, 261, Charles C. 254. East Gilmanton, 133. Eastman family, 262, Ebenezer, 85, 244, Ira A. 825, 252, , Nehemiah, 255. , Ecclesiastical History, 145.

Election Ser., preachers of, 102. Emerson, Benjamin, 224. Employments and products,291. Factory Village, 137. VI INDEX Farrar family,264, Wm. H. 253 Farmers' M. F. I. Co. 302. Ffrost, John, 34. Gunstock, 64. Hackett family, 273, William H, Y. 254. Fifield, Edward, 58. Ham, John, 224. Hatch family, 272. Hidden, Ephraim N. 167, Sam First division of 40 acre lots, 37 of 100 acre lots, 54. First parish bounded, 53. First proposals to settlers, 40. Fitch, Jabez, 31. uel, 147. Hill, Jonathan, 94, 227. Hurricane, 138. Fletcher, Samuel, 166. Fogg, George G. 226. Folsom family, 262, John, 26, Nathaniel, 105, Peter L. 249. Hutchinson family, 273. Iron Works Village, 134 ;, Jacobs, Daniel, 228. '. Jaffrey, George, 33. , Jamestown, 138. Jones family, 273. , Kelley, Benj., 229, Hall J. 250. Kelley family, 274.

Knowles, John D. 217. !. Ladd family, 274, Samuel, 7 1. I. Lake Village, 139. Lancaster family, 274, Daniel, 218. Foster, Abiel, 186, Asa E. 167 Simon, 228. French family, 263, Otis, 231 Samuel P. 252. Friends, Society of, 204. Further proposals to settlers, 46. Gale family, 265, Wm. P. 254. Genealogical History, 255. George, Enos, 195. Gilford set off from Gilm'n, 123. Gilman family, 267, Andrew,25, Antipas, 236, Daniel, 24, Edward, jr. 27, John, 27, 74 John, 23, Josiah, 27, Nathan- Lawrence, Edward A. 167. Lawyers, 223, Libraries, 178. Lines perambulated, 44. Literary History, 145. Livermore, Arthur, jr. 225, Edward St. Loe. 226. Local divisions and names, 133. Local names, origin of, 63. Location of Proprietors' mills 61 Locke, Edward J. 215. iel, 27, Nicholas, 72, Nicho las, 22, Nicholas, 3d. 26 Nicholas, 25, Peter, 24, Samuel, 26, Samuel, jr. 57, Sam uel, 3d, 27, Summersbee, 71 236.

Gilmanton bounded, 37 Gookin, Nathaniel, 58. Gould, Joseph, 233. Graduates, 248. Longevity, 295. Loon Pond, 63. Lord, Nathan, 164. Lower Gilmanton, 133. Lysord, Stephen C. 164. Lougee family, 275. Mack family ,278, Andrew, 248 Magistrates, &c. 234. Grave Yards, 301. Greely family, 266, Samuel 243, Stephen L. 247, Stephen S. N. 218, 252. INDEX VII Mann, Cyrus, 166. Marsh family, 276. Martin, Richard, 216. Marriages, 293. Mason, John Tufton, 49. Masonian claim, 46, proprietors, arrangement'with, 47, deed ol 47, names of, 48, notices of, 49. McClintock, Samuel, 186. McFarland, Asa, 193. Meredith Bridge Village, 138. Merrill, Thomas H. 230. Meserve, Nath'l, 49, Geo. 50. McGee, Jonathan, 176. Ministers, 205. Minot, George, 225. Moderators, 139. Moffatt, John, 51. Moody family, 276, David, 219, John, 71, 88, 240, Stephen, 223.

Moore, Samuel, 49. More, William, 28. Morgan family, 277. Morril Samuel, 175. Morrill family, 277. Morrill, Edward G. 233. Morrison, Uriah, 216. Moulton family, 277. Mudgett family, 278, John, 57, Mrs. Hannah, 66. Nelson family, 279, John, 249. Notices of members of Convention, 104, of settlers, 56. Odiorne, Jotham, 50. Odlin, John, 57, John, 23. Osgood family, 279. Original settlers classed, 34. Packer, Thomas, 50. Page, John, 56, John C. 232, Page family, 279, John H. W. 251. Parish, Obadiah, 227. Parkhurst, John L. 166. Parsons family, 281, William, 59, 70, 145, 205, Joseph,246 Patrick, William, 162. Peabody, Nathaniel, 104. Peaslee family, 282, Charles H. 251. Pearson, Jethro, 57. Perkins, Jonathan, 244. Philbrook, Joseph, 72, 87. Physicians, 226. Pickering, John, 104. Pitman, Joshua M. 168.

Plant, Matthias, 33. Population, 74, 291. Porter, Nathaniel, 183. , Powers, Walter, 214. , Prentice, Josiah, 195. Prescott family, 283, Wm, 230. Price family, 284, Ebe'r. 248. Printing presses, 179. Proposals to settlers, 45, 53. Proprietors, names of, 20, who gave bonds for settlement, 55, proceedings, 36, 180, roads, 62, settlement, summary of, 75, town officers, 76. , Quimby, Michael, 219. Rand, Asa, 193. . Representatives, 143. ■ Richardson Jere. 69, Phinehas, 217, William, 234. Rocky pond, 63. Rood, Heman, 219. Rust, Henry, 24. Safford, Charles G. 218. Sanborn family, 284, Edwin D. , 252, Dyer H. 285, John, 238. INDEX Town bridges, 130,officers,l39> paupers, 124, roads, 126. Tucker, Jedediah, 158. Second division 40 acres, 40. Selden, Calvin, 165. Selectmen, 141, 77. Sewall Jonathan M. 104.

Shellcamp pond, 64. Upham, Timothy, 186. Waldron, Richard, 31, Richard, Shepard family, 287, John, 245 John W. 254, Samuel, 246. Sherburne,Henry,29, Henry ,29, Sherman, Anthony, 228. Shute, Samuel, 31. jr. 32. Walker, Timo. 182,Timo. 106. Wallingford, Thomas, 50. Walton, Shadrach, 34. Wears, 64. Silver, James, 228. Warner, A. 220. Sinkler, Richard, 67, 71. Weare, Ebenezer, 28. Smith family, 288, Ebenezer, 161, Ezra C. 254, Francis P. 250, Frederick, 253, Isaac, 207, 184, Richard, 27, Theophilus^, William,146, 226. Soucook River, 64. Weather and Climate, 303. Webster family, 288, Ebenezer, 106, Thomas, 24. Weed, Orlando, 57. Weeks family, 289. Wells, Nathaniel, 193. Wentworth, Benning, 30, Benning 30, John, 30, John, 31, Mark H. 30. Spofford, Luke A. 217. Spotted sever, 123. State Constitution, 100.

Stearns, Josiah, 183. Sullivan, John, 105. Westbrooke, Thomas, 34. Whipple, Joseph, 59. Whiton, John M. 175. Wibird, Richard, 33. Suncook, 63. Surveyors' divisions, 59. Tebbetts, Nathan C.231. Tenney, Ch's, 222, Dan'l, 168 Test Act, signers of, 98, 100. Theological Seminary, 169, Visitors, 174, Faculty, 176,219, Thing, Barth'w, 24, Sam'l, 23. Tilton family, 289, David, 252: Josiah, 58. Wight family, 290, Nahum,232. Williams, Adam, 228, Jacob, 231, Simon F. 159. Wilson familv, 287, Nathaniel, 242, Humphrey, 50, 26, Jeremiah, 247, Thomas, 27. Wingate, Paine, 105. Wood, Eliphalet, 146. iWoodman, Joseph, 157. lYoung, Joseph , 246, John K. Tioga, 138. Topography of Civil History, 126, of Proprietary Hist. 59. 175. HISTORY OF GILMANTON.