HISTORY OF ERROL, 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). ****DO NOT LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS TEXT FILE, INSTEAD LINK TO THE FOLLOWING URL***: http://www.nh.searchroots.com/coos.html#Errol ======================================================== History of Coös County, New Hampshire by George Drew Merrill; Syracuse N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1888, 1018 pgs. p. 948 ERROL Chapter CXIX Errol was granted February 28, 1774 to TIMOTHY RUGGLES and others; but in three or four years a large portion was purchased by the gentlemen of Salem and Danvers, Mass., whose names are attached to the petitions below as proprietors. Very little was done in the way of settlement until the present century, and the town contained but twenty-six inhabitants in 1820, and was not incorporated until December 28, 1836. At the time of the agitation of the highway from Colebrook to Hollowell, Me. in 1803 and 1804, attention was attracted to the rich lands of this town as a good place to make homes, and some made camps and lcoated here; but, in a few years, as the road was not speedily constructed, the lack of communication drove them to more available localities. It was not under lumbering had assumed some proportions on the Magalloway that civilization came to make a permanent occupancy, and, even now, while agriculture has been carried on to some extent and fine farms have been developed, the lumbering interest is the preponderating one. The soil in some portions is very good. Fair crops of oats, potatoes and hay are produced, and the proximity of extensive lumbering operations affords good market for products. There is some manufacturing; and, in coming years, there will be much more. W. A. Bragg is a carriage manufacturer. Errol is bounded north by Wentworth's Location, east by Umbagog lake and Maine, south by Cambridge and Dummer, and west by Millsfield. There are several ponds and small streams, which are attractive to the sportsman. Umbagog Lake is about twelve miles long, and its average width perhaps a mile and a half. From it can be seen Mounts Dustan and Agrizcoos and the Diamond peaks. THE ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER IMPROVEMENT COMPANY was incorporated in 1852 by the New Hampshire legislature, and had been previously chartered by Maine. The original capital was $5,000 and the stockholders were E.S. Coe of Bangor, and L.E. Dunn, then of Old Town, Me. It was created "to construct a series of dams at the outlets of the various lakes, and thus cause an artificial rise of water to enable lumbermen to run timber from the remote logging camps above at any season of the year." Prior to 1858 three dams had been constructed; the "Lower dam," at Errol Falls, was 200 feet long with nine gates and a large sluice-way for driving logs, and of sufficient height to raise Umbagog lake nine feet. [Here the company erected a mill and have made their headquarters.] Seven miles above the inlet of Umbagog lake is "Middle dam" which raises the waters of Allegundebagog, Welokenabakook, and Mollychunkamunk lakes eleven feet above the inlet of the upper one of these. Three miles above is the "Great lake," or Mooselukmaguntic, where was located the "Upper dam," 1,500 feet long, which would raise the surface of the Great lake thirteen feet. The Androscoggin Lakes Transportation Company has steamers plying on these lakes and the Magalloway and Androscoggin rivers, and convenient hotels exist at suitable joints. The "AKERS HOUSE," John Akers, proprietor, has been a well-known hostelry for years, and the family has always been a prominent factor in town affairs. The "UMBAGOG HOUSE," opened in December 1886, is one-half mile from Errol Dam, one mile from Aker's pond, and on the highway to Colebrook, "twenty miles away." At this point has been made quite a settlement, as it is the base of supplies for the upper country and the place of departure for Magalloway river and Parmachenee lake, and the depot of the "Errol Dam Company." THE ERROL DAM COMPANY was organized under the laws of New Hampshire in 1876 by R.C. Pingree, George S. Bearce, E.S. Coe, David Pingree and L.E. Dunn "to provide, maintain, and use a dam with proper gates and other incidental works across the Androscoggin river at a convenient place in the town of Errol for the purpose of providing and furnishing water-power and water for such mills, and purposes as require water, and to acquire suitable rights of flowage for this purpose." The headquarters of this company and the place where its business is carried on is at Errol. The original capital was $5,000. Among those families most identified with the development of the town as settlers are the well-known BRAGG family, which has been prominent in affairs from prior to the organization of the town (the first town meeting being held, "at the house of James F. Bragg") Akers, Sweatt, Davis, Thurston and others. These all have been active in the formative processes of civilzation; good, law-abiding citizens. Population in 1880, 161. Much interest is manifested in education. The Board of Education has for its members, John Akers, H.W. Fickett, A.E. Bennett. In Salem, 9th December 1789, the following petitioners petioned the General Court of NH for renewal of their grant, it was signed by Benj'm Goodhue, Jon'a Peele, Jacob Ashton, Eben'r Beckford, Jonathan Ropes, W'm Shillaber, Edw'd Norris, W'm Vans, W'm West, Abraham Rand, Sam'l Ward, and Joshua Heath. A second petition sent January 15, 1791 was signed by William West, William Vans, Jonathan Peele, Edward Norris, Jacob Ashton, Robert Foster, Abraham Rand, S. Goodhue, attorney to Benjamin Goodhue Esq., Joseph Sprague, Jonathan Ropes, George Dodge, Jonathan Fisk, Joshua Crippen, William Shillaber, Samuel Ward, Ebenezer Beckford, Elias Hasket Derby, and Bart Putnam. CHAPTER CXX On Nov 20, 1830 a call was made in Errol to hold a town meeting. This document was signed by Joseph Abbott, Luther Sweatt, Eliakim Davis, Sylvanus Larnard, J.T. Wait, David Sweatt, David Sweatt Jr., Abraham T. Sweatt, Sylvanus Larnard Jr., Fletcher Russell, Daniel G. York, Jonathan Shattuck, James Sweatt, James F. Bragg and Ebin Abbott. FIRST TOWN MEETING- Held January 4, 1831. Moderator was Joseph Abbott, Joseph Loomis, Justice of the Peace. Clerk Luther Sweatt. Selectmen were David Sweatt, Ebin Abbott and James F. Bragg. The whole number of votes, March 1831 was eighteen. December 28, 1836 the NH Legislature official incorporated the town of Errol. THE FIRST TOWN MEETING AFTER INCORPORATION-held 14 March 1837, chose Eliakim Davis the moderator. Chose James F. Bragg, Samuel Akers, Jared Cone selectmen. Chose George W. Garland constable and collector. Chose Nicholas Sweatt surveyor of upper district and David Sweatt for lower district. Chose Jared Cone school agent. Voted three months schooling in the summer and two in the winter. Voted to raise 25 dollars for support of schools... LIST OF VOTERS 1837: Akers, Samuel Bragg, James F. Brooks, Chauncey W. Davis, Eliakim Garland, George W. Maxwell, James Sweatt, David Sweatt, Abraham F. Sweatt, John P. Sweatt, Nicholas Shattuck, Benjamin Shattuck, Jonathan Sargent, Enoch Taggart, James Wait, John T. CIVIL LIST, 1831. Luther Sweatt, clerk; David Sweatt, James F. Bragg, Joseph Abbott selectmen; George W. Garland treasurer 1832. Luther Sweatt clerk, J.F. Bragg, Samuel Akers, George W. Garland, selectmen; the selectmen, treasurer. 1833. Luther Sweatt, clerk; Samuel Akers, George W. Garland, Eben Abbott, selectmen; Samuel Akers treasurer; Brazilla Brainard, representative. [years 1834-1887 in original document, not included here] (end)