HISTORY OF DORCHESTER, GRAFTON 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). ======================================================== SOURCE: Gazetteer of Grafton County, N.H., 1709-1886 by Hamilton Child, Syracuse, N.Y.: H. Child, June 1886 page 236+ HISTORY OF DORCHESTER NH Dorchester lies in the southern-central part of the county, in lat. 43 degrees, 46' and long. 71 degrees 59', bounded north by Wentworth, east by Groton, south by Canaan and west by Lyme. The town was originally granted July 8, 1761, to Henry Thompson and others; but "Henry Thompson and others" failed to comply with the requirements of their chater, and hence forfeited the township. In answer to petition, the territory was again granted to Samuel Hobart and others, who, it seems, also failed to keep the bond. A third time when the land was granted to John House and others, in seventy-two equal shares, May 1, 1772. Under this latter grant were the settlements made and the lands held. The surface of the town is very uneven, in spite of which, however, it is a good farming territory. Smart's Mountain lies partly within the northwestern corner, from whose summit, at an altitude of about 2,500 feet, a charming and extensive view may be obtained. Bald Head, another prominent elevation, rises from its eastern border. The numerous other elevations are of minor importance, among which may be mentioned Pollard, Thompson, Norris and Read hills. The south branch of Baker's River, a tributary of the Pemigewasset, and Rocky Branch rivers, afford here some excellent mill privileges. The intervals along Baker's RIver are very fertile, yielding excellent crops of hay. There are also several small ponds here, the largest of which is Norris pond, near the central part of the town. Smart's pond lies on the western line, and Line pond on the northern line of the township. The town has an area of about 23,040 acres, about 9.531 of which is improved land. DESCRIPTION OF DORcHESTER NH in 1885 In 1880 Dorchester had a population of 586 souls. In 1885 the town had eight school districts and ten common schools. Its nine school-houses were valued, including furniture, etc. at $2,310.00. There were 144 children attending school, six of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by two male and seven female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $28.00 for males and $19.05 for females. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $641.32, while the expenditures were $664.07 with Byron Richardson, superintendent. VILLAGES DORCHESTER (p.o.) is a hamlet located in the eastern part of the town. NORTH DORCHESTER (p.o.) is a hamlet located in the northern part of the town. FITTSVILLE (p.o.) is a hamlet in the northeast part, where is located the only store in the township. MANUFACTURES AND BUSINESSES JOHN A. NORRIS has a steam saw-mill on road 18, which turns out a large amount of lumber. LEONARD S. FELLOWS has a saw-mill on road 33, operated by water-power, which turns out about $500 worht of manufactured lumber per annum. STILLMAN MERRILL carries on the business of carpenter, builder and wheelwright, near Dorchester town-house. SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN The settlement of the town was commenced by Benjamin Rice and Stephen Murch, from Hanover, formerly from Connecticut, about the time the last charter was issued, in 1772. The settlement was slow, however, and attended with many troubles and privations, as is attested by the town and State records. No meeting for the choice of officers and the proper organization of the town was held until the year 1780, owing to the troubles we have referred to. The first record of a town meeting on the town clerk's book is partly gone, but what is preserved shows that it was held previous to 1800. There were thirty-one articles voted upon, the eighteenth of which was "voted to raise $66.64 for the benefit of schools the ensuing year: The Twentieth article--"The sense of the town being taken by a vote, it appears that the town are for the revision of the Constitution of this Sate." The twenty-first--"Voted not to raise any money for the support of preaching the year ensuing and $16.86 was voted to pay town charges the ensuing year. John Woodworth was town clerk. The first part of the record being gone, the list of town officers chosen cannot be given. As an illustration of the tribulations of the early settlers of Dorchester, we quote the following petition relative to taxes, sent by them to the general court in 1786: "We, your Honor's Petitioners, conceive ourselves to be over Taxed in a just proportion with Other Towns in the State, and whereas, there is considerable sums in back rearages which we are now called upon for; which at present appears impracticable For us to pay and Support our Families in this uncultivated Wilderness. In the Year 1777 we were called upon for L13 18s 0d. at which time we had only six Ratable Polls, Little or no Ratable improvement in Town, and but very few Cattle or Horses, and them supported at a great expense. In the year 1778, for L19 17s 0d., at which time we had only seven ratable polls and a Small addition of improvement. In the year 1779 we were called on for L41 4s 0d, at which time we had only Eleven Polls, and our income No Ways adequate to our Support, but a Great part of our provisions we purchased and Brought from a considerable Distance, which much retarded our Settlement; and never till the year 1780 had any Town officers, so as to be in a capacity to Collect any Tax we wish here to observe that altho' there was a valuation taken by the Sellectmen of Cockermouth, December 1779, we conceive, by reason of our unacquaintance with them things, that our improvements were Set Much too high, and we have been rated until the year 1784 on that valuation. We would here observe that the Dispute in these parts about Jurisdiction rose so high in the year 1781 That we acted no way, and thereby lost our meeting, which was not revived until ye Year 1784, by which means no Taxes were assessed (which neglect we readily acknowledge). We, Sensibly Feeling the Before innumerated Difficulties, together with our Arduous Struggles in Beginning and Setttling this Rugged Wilderness, Our Lands being Something Broken and not so fetrile as most Towns round about us; Therefore, we pray your Honors to take our Difficult Situation into your Wise Consideration, and grant us such relief in the premises as in your Wisdom You may think fit, that thereby our heavy burden May be lightened and we incouraged to exert ourselves in every Possible wayto discharge what may be found to be our Just proportion, and we, Your Honor's Humble petitioners, as in duty bound, Shall Ever pray. "Dorchester, January 21, A.D. 1786" By an act passed December 21, 1791, a special tax of two pence per acre was authorized, for the purpose of repairing highways, and the town was authorized to assess a tax of three cents per acres for the same purpose. The charter of 1772, printed on parchment, an interesting relic, is now in the possession of Henry H. Woodward, town clerk. EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT RESIDENTS BENJAMIN R. NORRIS was born in Corinth VT, in 1810, from whence he removed to Hanover, and, fifty years ago, to this town, settling on what is known as Norris hill, where he carried on farming during his life. He died in November 1882. He married Pamelia Stark, of Hanover, and they had a family of seven, three sons and four daughters, of whom John A. married first, Phebe Jessaman, and second, Mrs. Hannah Ellenwood. He carries on a steam mill for the manufacture of all kinds of lumber, shingles, etc., at Dorchester Town House. He is one of the selectmen of the town. Ira B. resides on road 15. He has been selectman of the town for the past ten years. In 1875 and 1876 he represented Dorchester in the State legislature, has been collector a number of years, and for a long time was postmaster, resigning that office when elected representative. He married Carrie Leavitt, of this town, who was elected postmistress on the resignation of her husband, and now holds the office. Hattie M. married Edward Colburn, who died of fever at Newport News, while a soldier in the Eleventh NH Vols, in the late Rebellion. Mrs. Colburn now resides in this town, with her widowed mother. Jennie M. married L.W. Aldrich of Westmoreland, NH. David P. is overseer of the Pacific Corporation at Lawrence, Mass. He married Emma Wood of Hartland VT. Elvina married Henry H. Woodard, of Duxbury, Mass, now a resident of this town, and its town clerk. Abbie married Henry H. Bailey, of Glover VT. CHARLES C. MERRILL was born in the town of Hill, and removed with his parents to this town when eight years of age, where he resided until about 1861, when he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment for the war of the Rebellion. He died of disease in Tennessee in 1863. He married Elmira A. Copp, of Sanborn NH, who survives him. JOHN M. FITTS was born here in 1843, his father having been a native of South Hampton, and for a long time a resident of this town. His mother was Thankful Moore, a native of Dorchester. John M. for the last sixteen years has carried on the business of a general merchant in the northeast corner of the town, where, in October 1883, he was instrumental in establishing a postoffice, called Fittsville, and of which he is postmaster. He married Emmn [?Emma] M. Carr, of Orford. They have one son, John B. WALTER R. HALL, now ninety years of age and the oldest inhabitant of the town, was born here in 1796. His parents came here from Rumney at an early date. Walter R. was one of a family of fourteen, and is the only surviver. He married Lucinda Cummins, of Groton, in January 1826, and the same year moved onto a farm on road 17, built a house, and has lived in it ever since. Mrs. Hall died January 3, 1885, at the age of eighty-two. They had two children, J.C., who enlisted in 1864, in the late war, afterward settled in Groton, where he died, in December 1884, and Mary Ann, who married Stillman Merrill, a resident of this town. She died just one week previous to her mother's death. Mr. Hall is in good health, and his memory excellent for one in his advanced years. PETTINGILL BLAISDELL was born in this town, in 1824. His parents were also natives of the town. His father was Sanborn Blaisdell and his mother Mehitable Sanborn. Pettingill married Lorette Lillis, also a native of Dorchester. They had three children--two sons and one daughter. The children all developed a remarkable musical talent when quite young, and, with their father, traveled fourteen years, giving concerts and playing for various societies throughout New England States, the Western States and the Canadas. Mr. Blaisdell played the clarionet, Henri G., first violin, Ella Mable, violin solist, and Pettengill S., double bass. They were long considered second to none in New England, until the death of the daughter, Ella M., April 19, 1882. Since that time the father has retired. Henri G. has now an orchestra at Concord, and is called for from far and near. Pettingill S. is at home with his father. **** CHURCHES Previous to 1827 there was a small Methodist meeting-house, without a steeple, in the west part of the town. In November of that year Rev. I.S. Davis visited Dorchester, and, without any request or prospect of compensation, spent four weeks here visiting from house to house, preaching evenings. The first Sabbath he preached in the Methodist meeting-house, and many were convened. From this a Congregational church was organized, May 20 1828, with three males and six females. About this time Mr. Davis offered to raise $400 toward building a meeting-house. His offer was accepted and a church was built, costing $1,500.00. Of this, Rev. Dr. Codman, of Dorchester, Mass., paid $100.00. The mother of Rev. Mr. Davis, of Newton, contributed another $100.00, and probably contributed the remainder. Mr. Davis was ordained pastor of the church the same day the meeting-house was dedicated, October 9, 1828. On account of dissatisfaction relative to the location of the house, another was built, in the south part of the town, which was occupied mostly by the Baptists, no one denomination owning it. Rev. Mr. Davis served the people faithfully as their pastor for five years. The meeting-house on the site of the present town-house was burned January 23, 1842. The old church in the south part of the town stood tenantless and unused for many years, and in 1883, was taken down and the present church edifice built, near the town hall, at Dorchester Center. THE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH, located at Dorchester Center, was organized by its present pastor, Rev. J.D. Cross, with twenty members, in 1882. The church building, a wooden structure, erected in 1844, will seat 200 persons and is valued, including grounds, at $2,000.00 -------------------- 1790 Census of Dorchester, Grafton Co. NH HEAD OF FAMILY / Males age 16+ /Males < age 16 / All Females BLOOD, Nathaniel 1 / 3 / 2 BRIDGEMAN, Gideon 1 /3 / 3 BURLEY, Gordon 1 / 3 / 2 BURLEY, Joseph 3 / 1 / 4 CLARK, John 1 / 2 / 2 CLIFFORD, David, 1 / 2 / 2 COLE, Timothy 1 / - / - DAVIS, Nicholas 2 / 1 / 4 FELLOWS, Samuel 1 / 1 / 7 FLANDERS, David 1 / - / 2 FLANDERS, Jepse 2 / - / 2 FLANDERS, Jepse Junior 1 / 2 / 5 FALSOM, Thomas 1 / 1 / 4 GILMAN, Nathaniel 3 / - / 3 HUBBARD, Daniel 1 / - / 2 HUBBARD, John 2 / 2 / 1 HUBBARD, John Jr. 1 / - / 4 HUCKINGS, Williams 1 / - / 1 INGRAHAM, Jeriah/Joniah 1 / - / - INGRAHAM, Jeriah/Joniah Jun. 1 / 1 / 3 INGRAHAM, William 1 / - / 3 NORRIS, Andrew 1 / 1 / 1 NORRIS, Benjamin 1 / 1 / 3 NORRIS, Jacob 1 / - / - PALMER, Joseph 3 / 1 / 1 PIPER, Samuel 1 / 3 / 3 PIPER, Benjamin 1 / - / 1 SAMBURN [Sanborn?] Edward 2 / 1 / 3 SAMBURN, Ezekel 1 / 2 / 1 STICKNEY, Joseph 1 / 1 / 2 WILLES, Jacob 1 / 1 / 2 WINSTON, Samuel 2 / 1 / 1 WOODWORTH, Ebenezer 1 / 1 / 2 WOODWORTH, Ezra 1 / 1 / 1 WOODWORTH, Jabez 1 / 3 / 2 WOODWORTH, John 1 / 6 / 1 WOODWORTH, Sylvanus 1 / - / - TOTALS: 48 / 45 / 82 (end)