HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND, COOS COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== History of Coös County, New Hampshire by George Drew Merrill; Syracuse N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1888, 1018 pgs. page 539 NORTHUMBERLAND is, in England, land north of the Humber. "The Humber was a Cimbric river; and Northumberland was called of old, North Cumriland, where Cymri was driven from the plains before they settled in Wales." The township of NORTHUMBERLAND in the United States, was first granted, October 20, 1761, by the name of Stonington, to John Hogg, and others. Settlements were made in June 1767, by Thomas Burnside, and his wife, and three children, and Daniel Spaulding, with his wife and son Edward. It was regranted January 25, 1771, by its present name, and incorporated by the legislature November 16, 1779, with full town privileges. The land on the Connecticut in this town was originally covered with a growth of butternut wood. The soil is free from stone and gravel, and is easily cultivated. A large portion of the upland is good for pasturing and tillage. There are several good farms, producing excellent corn, oats and barley. The Connecticut river washes the western border, and it is watered by the Upper Ammonoosuc river, which passes through the town in a southwesterly direction. Near the center of the town is an abrupt and rugged elevation called Cape Horn, of an altitude of nearly 1,000 feet. The scenery around the mountain is wild and picturesque. Its north base is separated by the Upper Ammonoosuc. The spring freshets sometimes overflow the meadows at this point and give them the appearance of a large lake. Northumberland is bounded on the north by Stratford, east by Stark, south by Lancaster, and west by Vermont. At Groveton village on the Grand Trunk railway there is a vein of hematic iron ore. Although agriculture is the principal employment of the people, manufacturing is an important factor in the business interests of the town. In 1872 there were, at Northumberland Falls, starch, straw-board, and shoe-peg mills; at Groveton, there were manufactories producing leather, clapboard, shingles, timber, etc. The population in 1775 was fifty-seven; in 1790, 117; 1800, 205; 1810, 281; 1820, 205; 1880, 1063. In 1820 the town had one church, three school-houses, one saw-mill, two grist-mills, one cloth-mill. **NAMES OF ORIGINAL GRANTEES of STONINGTON** THe name of the original grantees and shown in a document of March 4, 1771 included: David Warner, Esqr., John Penhallow, James Burnside, Thomas Burnside, Samuel Burnside, Daniel Spaulding, Wm. Moulton, Benj. Sawyer, Edward Ayres, George Gains, Daniel Fowle, Joseph Peverly, John Noble, Jacob Treadwell, Joseph Shillabear, John Shillabear Jr., Mark Seavy, Nehemiah Wheeler, Daniel Lunt, Jacob Tilton, Jon'a Shillabear, Nath Treadwell, Ammi R. Cutter, Daniel R. Rodgers, Tho. Martin, Levertt Hubbard, Sam'l Lean, Will Stanwood, Isaac Williams, Will'm Brewster, Peter Porter, Mark Rogers, Daniel Brewster, Capt. John Parker, Daniel Davis, John Redin, Will'm Simpson, Richard Miles, Jacob Sheaffe Jun., Nathaniel Stanly Parker, Clement March of Portsmouth, Math'w Treadwell Jr., Moses Edmond Morse, Jeremiah Eames, Benj'n Kimball, John Cannadey, Reuben Harriman, Caleb Johnson, John Webster Esqr, Joseph Webster, Enoch Moulton, Joseph Moulton Jr. of Newburyport Mass, Caleb Tappen, Edmund Moulton, Joseph Moulton Jr. of Newburyport, Jesse Johnson, James Jewet, James Pease, James Flanders, Phineas Sargant, Jon'n Dustan, and James Paul. DIFFICULTY WITH WOODBURY--Woodbury was chartered June 26, 1762, and Stonington, now Northumberland, was chartered March 4, 1771, and by the change of boundaries (see Lancaster) covered some of the land granted to Woodbury. At the meeting of the proprietors of Northumberland holden at Jacob Tilton's inn, in Portsmouth, N.H., the following votes were passed:-- "That Messrs Jacob Treadwell, William Moulton, William Marshall & Joseph Peverly be a committee to enquire of Woodbury Proprietors, or any other persons, their design in attempting a Settlement in the township of Northumberland, & to warn them in due course of Law to depart...That Daniel Rogers, Esar, & Mr. A.R. Cutter be a committee to get extracts of the Stonington & Woodbury Charters with their special extensions, & to advise with some Learned Gentlement in the Law how to conduct respecting any trespasses, or what steps should be taken properly to warn them off." A trespass suit was commenced against the proprietors of Woodbury, but while this was pending, on the 5th day of May 1773, at a proprietor's meeting holden at Jacob Tilton's in Portsmouth, N.H., it was "voted that Messrs. John Penhallow, A.R. Cutter, Thomas Martin, Jacob Treadwell and John Herd, or the major part of them, be a committee, to settle all disputes now pending between the Proprietors of Woodbury, and the Proprietors of Northumberland.... The aforesaid committee, with Agur Tomlinson, John Wendell, and Joseph Holbrook, committee of Woodbury, agreed to withdraw their actions from the courts of law and submit all disputes to the sole judgement and determination of John Wentworth, Esq., Governor. This submission was signed by both sides on 13 May 1773, and it was settled by Gov. Wentworth in a document signed 15 May 1773. page 543 **THE FIRST SETTLERS** [Abstracts] In June of 1767 Thomas Burnside and Daniel Spaulding made a rude camp in the area of what is now Northumberland, NH. Passing up the Connecticut [river] they reached the great bow below the "Falls" and made their "pitches" and settled. THOMAS BURNSIDE, an original grantee, "pitched on the bank of the Connecticut, on the farm now owned by W.W. Hendrick. The stones he brought from the higher ground for a fireplace in his rude cabin now mark the site of its location. This spot was so low that the first freshet covered the floor of the cabin, and tradition says that, as becomes a thrifty "Yankee," he "swapped" his "improvements" for an overcoat and a barrel of New England rum, and moving up the river, pitched on lot 35 and made his home there during his life of many years. (This lot constituted part of the farm lately owned by Charles H. Rich). His pitch was confirmed to him, March 5, 1771, at the first proprietor's meeting, held at Portsmouth; and, at the same meeting, he was exempted from paying his proportion of the tax of 90 pounds assessed upon the "propriety" for the purpose of paying for a new town charter and making a re-survey of the outlines of the town. Mr. Burnside came from Londonderry. His wife, Susan, was a daughter of Rev. James McGregor, the celebrated spiritual leader of the Londonderry [NH] colony. THey had a number of children. "His oldest son, James, settled on the farm next south of Spaulding's where he passed his life. Two other sons were educated, one Samuel, became a lawyer in Worchester, [sic Worcester], Mass; Alexander, after studying medicine, settled in Toronto, Canada, where he died unmarried, leaving a large fortune to the Church of England; a daughter married Chauncey Curtis, a member of Gen. Washington's body-guard." Mr. Burnside was no ordinary character, coming of the strong Scotch-Irish stock, he showed their characteristics plainly. He was one of Roger's famous "Rangers" in the French and Indian war, and was highly esteemed and trusted by his commander. He had little fear in his composition, and little veneration or respect for those in authority. One or two anecdotes concerning him will indicate the nature of the man. January 20, 1757, a fight occurred between the "Rangers" and Indians at the foot of Lake Champlain. Several "Rangers" were wounded so badly that they could not be carried off the field. The nearest point from which to botain succor was Crown Point, forty miles away. Burnside (himself wounded) and John Stark, started for aid. They travelled to Crown Point through the snow and on the ice in about twelve hours, and in less than twenty-four hours their disabled comrades were being conveyed by teams to a place of safety. Some years after the settlement of Northumberland, Mr. Burnside became desirous of official honors, and, taking as a present to Gov. Wentworth a firkin of butter and a roll of linen cloth, he journeyed to Portsmouth and waited upon the governor. After presenting his gifts to the governor that the people of his town could no longer live peacably without a magistrate, Gov. Wentworth enquired how many inhabitants there were in the town, and whom Mr. Burnside would recommend for the office. "My dear Governor," said Burnside, "there is but neighbor Spaulding and meself living in the town, and he is no more fit for a justice of the peace than a chestnut burr is for an eye-stone." "Then I think I shall have to appoint you," laughingly said the governor, and drew up a commission for him. "Esquire" Burnside was duly qualified; and, putting the commission in his pocket, he said, "Governor, when I get home to me folks, what shall I tell e'm that the governor gave me that was good to drink?" "Some brandy," answered the governor, bringing a decanter from a sideboard. 'Squire Burnside drank his health, and returned in official dignity to his home." The descendants of Mr. Burnside possessed the stern, unflinching natures of their forefathers, and several were noted for their acquisition of wealth. DANIEL SPAULDING, a descendant of Edward Spaulding, an early settlers of Chelmsford, Mass., came from Londonderry to Northumberland. He, like Burnside, was one of the grantees of the town. He settled on lot 66 and his "pitch" was confirmed at the same proprietor's meeting, and his taxes exempted (This farm is now owned by J.A. Smith). His log house was built on the first ridge back from the river, and the site is now shown by the cellar and stone chimney. He was a bold and resolute man, and his wife, Phebe, was even more energetic and fearless. Tradition has handed down differing versions of her almost solitary journey from her down-country home through a trackless wilderness, guided by "blazed" trees, bearing her baby, Edward, in her arms along the perilous way. This she accomplished, while brave men would have shrunk from the fearful task. But she came of brave ancestry, and carried the blood of the celebrated Hannah Dustan in her veins. Northumberland lay on the war trail of the Indians and frequently demonstrations of a hostile nature were made by them. Mrs. Spaulding was never in fear of them, and even when they were searching for her husband to kill him, she treated them as friends, and, after they had convinced themselves that he was not at home, they departed, leaving the family unmolested. Her strong character attracted their admiration, and aided much in the safety of the little colony. Their descendants are quite numerous in this county and town. Among those resident here is James B. Spaulding, who has held important town offices, etc. CAPTAIN JEREMIAH EAMES was one of the early settlers and an original grantee. He was of an impetuous mold, and a prompt and decided actor in all important matters. He "pitched" upon lot 53, which was confirmed to him at the first proprietor's meeting. He held numerous offices of civil and military trust, and the town meetings were often held at his house. Jeremiah Eames Jr. was a surveyor, and was employed to survey and make plans of several towns to be recorded in the office of the secretary of state. The homestead was transmitted to another son, Seth Eames, Esq. who held important offices--selectman, treasurer and clerk;--the town clerkship he held for thirty years. His son, John Eames, now owns and lives in the home of his ancestors. He has enjoyed largely the confidence of his townsmen as selectmen, and in other offices. His family is the only one in this town living upon the same homestead from the first settlement until the present time. The following anecdote is related of Thomas Eames: On one of Col. Carrigain's explorations and surveys he was belated, and night overtook him in the woods, where he discovered two apparently deserted tents. He took possession of one of them. Hearing voices not long after in the other, he listened and found the sounds proceeded from two persons, evidently a white man and an Indian, arguming very warmly the question as to the superiority of the Indians or of the whites in the matter of hunting, fishing, and trapping. The Indian adduced in support of his position, many admitted instances of adroitness and skill. The white man in this argument referred mainly to one individual--the well-known Thomas Eames, of Northumberland. He thought this would be a 'poser' for the Indian. It was, so far as any argument was concerned; but he at once got over his difficulty by the prompt reply: "Tom Eame! Tom Eame! why he Indian, and more too." The original grantees or proprietors nearly all lived in Portsmouth, where their 'propriety meetings' were held. But few of them ever made any improvement or settled upon their lands. The long distance (nearly 200 miles) over bad roads, in a wilderness beset with savage Indians, without mills to grind their grain, or anything to shelter them and their families from the storms and the winter's cold, save the logs and bark of the trees of the forest, deterred them from the undertaking. It is not surprising that so few of the the original owners came here to settle, but a wonder tha ANY should have courage to brave and bear the sufferings of the new settlement. At the first proprietor's meeting in Portsmouth, March 5 1771, Jonathan Dustan engaged to build a saw and grist-mill. Before the mills were completed they were burned, and, at the proprietors' meeting, December 4, 1771, they voted to pay him 41 pounds 5 shillings lawful money for his mill (as per agreement) and confirm to him lots 60 and 61 in consideration of his loss by fire. The "first Division" of seventy-five acre lots lies upon the Connecticut river, and was surveyed by EDMOND MORSE, who was one of the original grantees and pitched upon lot 16. He returned a plan of the survey to the proprietors at their meeting in Portsmouth, December 4, 1771--"Fifty-eight lots, No. 16 to No. 73, inclusive." At one meeting of the proprietors, it was voted "to give fifty acres of land and twenty dollars as an encouragement to a good blacksmith to settle in town," and John Herd, Ami R. Cutter and Jacob Treadwell were chosen a committee to agree with the blacksmith. **FIRST BRIDGES** The first bridge across Mill brook was built in 1789, and the first bridge across the Ammonoosuc was built in 1790 and 1791, at the cost of 130 pounds "lawful money." Jeremiah Eames and Joseph Peverly, Esquires, and Mr. Thomas Peverly were chosen a committee to build the bridges. Two five hundred acre lots were surveyed by Edwards Bucknam, Esq., and returned at the proprietors' meeting at Portsmouth July 29, 1783. They were called "Jo