EARLY LEGISLATION FOR SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE--TOWN FIRST DIVIDED INTO CLASSES--SCHOOL LAND SOLD--SCHOOLHOUSES BUILT--FEMALES FIRST EMPLOYED--TOWN DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS--LITERARY QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS--HEAD OF THE DISTRICT--PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE CHOSEN--SUPERINTENDING COMMITTEE APPOINTED, THEN TERMED SCHOOL INSPECTORS--REPORTS FIRST READ IN TOWN MEETING--REPORTS PRINTED--CERTAIN DISTRICTS ABOLISHED--DISTRICTS UNITED-TOWN DISTRICT SYSTEM INTRODUCED--TEXT-BOOKS FURNISHED BY TOWN-BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRIC--NAMES OF TEACHERS--ST. ANSELM'S COLLEGE, THE BENEDICTINE INSTITUTION, IN GOFFSTOWN, N. H.--VILLA AUGUSTINA

By the terms of the original grant certain lots of land were set apart for the support of schools, and these lots were in after years disposed of and the interest used for that purpose. Subsequently by unwise and injudicious managelnent in loaning the funds, the principal was lost. Another condition of the grant was that a schoolhouse should be built upon the six acres reserved for public use.

There was early legislation enacted May, 1719, which provided "that every town having the number of fifty householders or upwards shall be constantly provided with a schoolmaster to teach children and youth to read and write, and when any town or towns have the number of one hundred householders, there shall be a grammar school set up and kept in every such town, and some discreet person of good conversation well instructed in the tongues shall be procured to be master thereof, every such schoolmaster to be suitable, encouraged and paid by the inhabitants." Any town was liable to a fine of 20� every six months for any failure to obey the law.

Two years later in 1721 the law was amended so that in larger towns the selectmen were made liable to a fine of 20� for neglect in establishing a grammar school. Towns were empowered to raise money by way of assessment upon the inhabitants. These provisions for schools were forty years previous to the incorporation of Goffstown but were in effect at that time and so remained with little change until 1789.

The first reference in the records to schools was at the annual meeting in March, 1766, when it was "voted that there be no money raised to maintain a school for this present year," and the following year 1767 the vote was the same.

The subject of schools appears to have received no attention until the spring of 1772, when voted "ten pounds lawful money be raised for a town school." Proba ably this is the first appropriation ever made in town for schools. Whether the inhabitants began to realize the importance of education for their children, or realized that they had been guilty of laches and did not deem it safe to longer evade the law is a matter of doubt. From an examination of the records one is led to believe it was more of a wholesome fear of the enforcement of the law, than of any duty to the rising generation.

In June, 1773, the question arose in regard to how many district schools should be kept, and it was left to the discretion of the selectmen to decide. The following year 15� lawful money was raised for schooling and for the purpose of expending this money the town was divided into seven districts, four upon the north side of the river and three upon the south.

The next record appertaining to schools is the one so often referred to, which was a vote passed at a special meeting holden April 27, 1775, when it was "voted that the committee for hiring preaching and schooling desist from disposing aney money until further orders." The attention of the people at this time was too fully occupied by the stirring and exciting times that pertained to the begirning of the Revolution. As before referred to they were hard pressed for money, and the obligation resting upon them to raise troops and furnish supplies for the army was all they could fulfil.

At the meeting in March, 1777, the subject of schools came up, and "voted not to raise any money for schooling the present year," and with this the matter rested until the close of the Revolutionary War.

In 1786 the town "voted 60� for a town school, and that the town be divided into two districts, and each district have their part of the money." The same sum was voted the following year.

In 1788 30� to support a school was "voted and the selectmen shall class the town for schooling. Every class shall hire and pay their own master or masters. Aney body shall send to any class that they please." The term classes was but another name for districts.

By the act of June 18, 1789, many of the former school laws were repealed and additional statutes were enacted, one of which was an assessment for school purposes upon the inhabitants of each town, a tax at the rate of 5� for every twenty shillings of their proportion.

Another enactment defined an English grammar school to be one for teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, and for teaching the dead languages in the shire and half shire towns of the state. No person was deemed qualified to keep such a school unless he produced a certificate from some schoolmaster, minister, preceptor of some academy or president of some college that he was well qualified to keep such a school.

In 1796 "voted to build a certain number of district schoolhouses and to raise as much money for schooling as the law requires." This year the school lands in town were sold, which has been referred to in Chapter XV.

The schoolhouses were unfinished, and in 1797 three shillings on the poll and other property in same proportion was raised towards finishing schoolhouses in town. The buildings were completed, although very insignificant in comparison with buildings used for school purposes later. They consisted of one low room, rude benches for seats and a huge fireplace at one side of the room for warming the same. To a present resident of Goffstown their location would seem more ridiculous than their structure.

There seems to have been, as one would naturally expect, trouble over the division of the money, since in 1788 perfect liberty was "voted to aney one to send to aney class or district they please" which made the attendance very unequal, according as parents saw fit to patronize certain classes or district. Another difficulty was the division of the money by the selectmen or those in charge, and to obviate this latter difficulty in 1809 it was "voted that all the school money raised for the support of the public schools shall be proportioned according to the number of families in each district."

Previous to 1800 we find no mention made of a schoolmistress. This year we find the town "voted that any destick that has a mind to have their part of the interest money arising from School Lands to hiear schoolmistress in the summer shall have the Liberty for the same." No doubt this is the first action taken in regard to hiring a schoolmistress. At this time even the subject might be entertained of a schoolmistress teaching school in the summer, but in the winter when the school was attended by all the boys in the district under twenty-one years of age, no woman would think of such an enterprise. A schoolmaster of that day must be possessed of physical prowess and be somewhat of an athlete, for upon the first day of the term if he did not succeed in overpowering the small army that attacked him he was generally thrown out of the schoolhouse.

In 1805 the district system was established in New Hampshire and towns were empowered to divide into school districts and to define the limits thereof, and likewise the inhabitants were empowered to raise money for erection, repairing or purchasing a schoolhouse in their respective districts. And by this act persons and property should be taxed in the district in which they reside, and their estate is situated, and a tax for school purposes levied upon the poll and estate in said district.

The legislature June 18, 1807, increased the assessment for school purposes to $70 for every one dollar of their proportion of public taxes, the law was repealed requiring shire and half shire towns to render instruction in Latin and Greek in grammar schools.

December 22, 1808, another statute was enacted defining the use for which the money raised should be appropriated for teaching the various sounds and powers of the letters in the English language, reading, writing, English grammar, arithmetic, geography and such other branches as are necessary in an English school.

No person shall be deemed qualified to teach such a school uniess they can procure a certificate from some reputable English grammar schoolmaster, learned minister of the gospel, president or professor of some college of their ability, and likewise a certificate from the selectmen or minister of the town or parish to which they belong that they sustain a good moral character. The literary qualifications of a schoolmistress need extend no further than the sounds and powers of the letters in the English language, reading, writing and English grammar. Liberty was granted them to teach other branches if required and they possessed the ability.

By this act towns were required to choose three or more suitable persons to visit and inspect the schools at such times as may be the most expedient and in a manner most conducive to the progress of literature, morality and religion. The duties of the school inspectors were to visit the schools, and they had no part in the examination of the teachers until 1827.

The effect of the division of towns into school districts was greatly to further the cause of education.¹ The district system remained until 1885, when it was abolished, and what is called the town system substituted. After the town was sub-divided into districts, each district held its annual meeting and transacted its own business.

In the spring three or more residents of any school district made application to the selectmen to issue a warrant directed to one of the persons making such an application requiring him to warn the inhabitants of the district to meet at such a time and place as the selectmen shall appoint. The person to whom the warrant was directed personally, notified each person in the district of the time, place and purpose of the meeting ten days before the appointed time. At the time of meeting it is safe to presume from an inspection of some of the old records of the districts, that there was generally a full attendance. In one district in town we give some items from an old warrant:

   After the election of a moderator and clerk, they elected a committee of three to hire a master.
   Voted to vendue the master's board to the lowest bidder; the board was $1.25 per week.
   Voted to have one foot of wood to each scholar, and the wood to be delivered the first two weeks of school.
   Voted to pay thirteen dollars per month to the schoolmaster.
   Voted not to give the schoolmistress over one dollar per week.
   Voted to have the schoolmistress board with the scholars.
   Voted to have a committee of three to visit the school, the first week and the last.

The interest of the parents in schools compelled them to employ the most competent teachers possible for the money; one teacher employed for thirteen dollars a month, above referred to, was afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire; another became a distinguished physician. Neither teacher nor scholars had any thing modem in the educational line.

The schoolhouse was rude and uncomfortable; the school books were few. The New England Primer, the Testament, the Spelling Book, the English Reader, Pike's Arithmetic, Lindley Murray's Grammar and Pope's Essay on Man constituted the school books. When the older scholar advanced the younger took his or her books; book agents and publishing houses were then unknown. In the main the townspeople were well satisfied with the division of the districts and the law of 1805.

In 1818 an article was inserted in the warrant "To see if the town would choose a committee to make alterations in school districts; and the selectmen were granted authority to make such alterations in the school districts as they think expedient. But the selectmen evidently did not deem it expedient, as no change is reported.

In 1819 one faction was extremely desirous that the interest school money should be proportioned according to poll and estate, and the opposing faction that it be according to the number of families in the district, and the latter element prevailed.

At the annual meeting in March, 1828, the town "voted that each district choose its own committee." This vote was passed agreeable to the act of the General Court of July 26, 1827, which provided that there be chosen in each town of the state, at the annual meeting, a district committee consisting of one person for each school district. This official was called the prudential committee. His duty was to contract with the teachers for his district, to provide for their board, furnish fuel for the schoolhouse, keep the school buildings in necessary and proper repair, notify the superintending school committee of the commencement and close of the terms.

Until 1885 this official served in his respective district in each town in the state. The office was honorary and was usually one of rotation. There was no emolument except that which he could derive by way of a graft, such as boarding a teacher, hiring his daughter to teach the summer school, furnishing the wood, etc.

By this same statute the selectmen were empowered to appoint annually in the month of March a superintending school committee, consisting of not less than three or more than five persons. This committee had power to examine school-teachers, and if found competent grant them certificates, visit and inspect the schools twice a year, dismiss incapable or incompetent teachers, expel disorderly and disobedient scholars. They also determined the class of books to be used in the respective classes, and the parents, masters or guardians must supply the same. They were requested to present a written report at the annual meeting in Marcb giving in detail those statistics which pertain to the several districts.

From 1808 to 1829 the selectmen had paid the school money to some individual in each district, who was recognized upon the town books as the "head of said district," and he disbursed the same according to the vote of the district. This statute of 1827 does not so materially differ in respect to district management as the law leads one to infer.

The prudential committee under the new laws was elected by the voters of the district and was clothed with more authority than the former head of the district. In the year 1829 the selectmen appointed three superintending school committee who evidently attended to their duty, and the intent of the law was carried into effect until the year 1833.

At the annual meeting this year and each annual meeting thereafter until 1840 the town voted to dispense with the services of the superintending school committee so far as it related to the visiting and inspection of schools. And evidently the same course was followed in the years 1840-41-42 and 43.

In 1844 the matter was brought before the voters at the Spring election by the following article which was inserted in the warrant upon the petition of Jesse Carr and others: "To see if the town will vote to have the superintending school committee visit each district in town at commencement and close of each term to examine faithfully into the conditions of the schools and to suggest such improvement as they may think proper and present to the town at its annual meeting a correct report of their management and instruction with the names of the teachers or such a report as the law requires." The article failed of an approval and the town voted to dispense with the services of superintending school committee this year as heretofore likewise in 1845 and 1846.

Evidently the people became dissatisfied with this apparent neglect of lawful duty, and in the Spring of 1847 it was "voted not to dispense with the services of the superintending school committee as regards visiting schools and reporting upon the same." And through the year the committee attended to their duties as by law required; and at the next annual meeting a report was made in open meeting by one of the committee, and likewise in the years 1849-50 the schools were visited, and a written report was read at the following annual meeting. In the spring of 1850 the town voted to have the superintending school committee's report printed with the report of the other town officials which has since been done.

The schools at this time had little in comparison with the schools of today, either in equipment or methods of teaching; generally speaking the walls of the inside of the schoolroom were bare and unattractive. The seats and desks were a heavy plank, serviceable and uncomfortable. The books, slates and pencils were furnished by the parents, and sometimes were the works of as many authors as there were children in school. The wood was supplied one foot or more for each pupil; sub~ sequently the wood was put in the shed ready for use. The older boys were expected to take turns in building the fire, and the girls in sweeping the schoolroom. No maps, charts, globes or books of reference were then in use. In many cases the teachers were incompetent and unqualified.

I here submit some extracts from the first printed report of the superintending school committee March, 1851, in the town of Goffstown, made by Dr. Daniel Little, Joseph B. Quimby and Calvin Wyman:

   "There has been a marked improvement in the schools the past season over former years.
   "We would recommend to parents to visit the schools frequently.
   "We would recommend to the prudential committee to exercise great pains in the selection of teachers, which care might save the superintending committee the pain of rejecting applicants for a certificate.
   "Our summer schools as a whole have been very successful, and some of our winter schools highly so.
   "Several of the winter schools were taught by females, and they were the best schools in town.
   "The committee regret to say, that, notwithstanding they have found an increasing interest in the improvement of the schools, there still exists many obstacles to their best interest.
   "Many of the school buildings are old and inconvenient.
   "A want of punctuality among the scholars is a great barrier against the improvement of the schools.
   "We believe that a small appropriation expended for the institute is very profitably laid out.
   "And we indulge the hope that the time is not far distant when our common schools shall become what all those who have a regard for our system would ardently wish."

The number of districts in town were sixteen; the greatest length of schools in summer was thirteen weeks and in winter fourteen weeks; and the largest number of scholars in any one district was forty-eight in summer and fifty-four in winter. The highest wages paid in summer was $7 per month, exclusive of board; and in the winter $20 per month. The total number of pupils attending school in the summer were 480, and in the winter 591. The greatest number in any one school was fifty-four, which was District No. 1, and District No. 10 followed with fifty-three.

In Districts Nos. 14, 15 and 16 the number in attendance was thirty-five, twenty-seven and twenty respectively, and in each of these districts no school has been maintained for some years.

At one time an academy was maintained in Goffstown, and for some time Miss Clarissa J. Kimball, who afterwards became the wife of Benjamin F. Blaisdell, was the instructress. The building was located on the southerly side of the river in Goffstown Village, between the residences of Jolan W. Sargent and Albert Whittemore, standing back or easterly of the front line of the residences quite a few feet.² In 1842 it was sold to Horace Richards and moved with an ox team to its present location at Shirley Station, and is the present residence of Louis Prince. Ater the disposition of the academy select schools were generally maintained each autumn in some hall in the village either at Capt. John Smith's or Eliphalet Richards', which were largely attended by the older grade of scholars. These select schools were a great help in supplementing the common schools.

A very important step in the progress of education in Goffstown was the union of Districts Nos. 1 and 13, which were united June 15, 1872. Very soon after the union of the districts was consummated a building committee consisting of Ziba A. Hoit, Robinson Brown and Thaddeus W. Richards contracted with John Carlton and Sons for the construction of the original part of the present school building, which was completed in the fall of 1874 in season for the commencement of the winter term.

In 1875 the legislature passed an act establishing an Independent District. The following spring the district organized under this act and is known as the Independent District of Goffstown.

Another very important advancement in the course of education was the free text-book system established by the legislature in 1890. Preceding the passage of this act, as has been before remarked in this chapter, the parents, masters and guardians were supposed to furnish their children with text-books, and as is natural to suppose some from force of circumstances, and others from their natural disposition would furnish very few text-books, which would redound very much to the disadvantage of the scholars and teacher. But under the law of 1890 with a uniform series supplied by the town the progress of education was greatly enhanced, and in country schools a systematic course of education has been produced from the chaotic situation that previously existed.

Shortly after the enactment of the statute of 1805, empowering towns to divide into school districts, the town of Goffstown was divided into fourteen districts, and the boundaries of quite a number never materially changed during the eighty years of their existence.

At the annual meeting in 1839 the town voted to choose a committee to district the town into school districts, or make such alterations as shall seem best, and fix the bounds of each district and report at the next meeting, and the selectmen were chosen said committee. This vote was the action upon an article inserted in the warrant, which read as follows: "To see if the town will choose a committee for the purpose of districting the town into school districts."

This article in the warrant and the vote passed, did not probably mean the intention the reading would convey, in as much as the town had been divided into districts since 1808. But the intention of the vote seems to have been to re-district or make some changes.

The selectmen attended to their duty and laid out the districts. No action was taken upon their report until the annual meeting in 1842, when the matter was brought before the townspeople and the article was dismissed. The next year it was voted that their report be accepted except Nos. 1, 3 and 13. Finally a vote was passed to recommit the report in regard to Nos. 1, 3 and 13, and the committee make a report at a special meeting, which they did, and the substance of their report was that the lines of Nos. 1, 3 and 13 be as they were before, and the report was accepted.

We give the boundaries of the school districts as established in 1843, and in the list of taxpayers, for the year 1843, in Chapter XVIII, we divide the same into school districts, in order that it may be apparent who resided in the several districts at that time.

District No. 1. Village, south side. Beginning at the northwesterly corner of land of Luther Willoughby, thence easterly on his north line and the north line of land of John Butterfield, Moors Robie and David Steele to the Dow Bridge, thence from said bridge following the Piscataquog River easterly to the northeast corner of land of Caleb Little, including all the land on either side of said Piscataquog River belonging to Gove and Pattee's mills, thence from said Little's northeast corner southerly following his east line and the east line of Amos Merrill's land to said Merrill's southeast corner, thence westerly on said Merrill's south line, south line of Caleb Little's land, Benjamin Leach's, Joseph Moore's, Hugh J. Taggart's, Horace Richards', Widow Rachel Robie's, Jonathan C. Butterfield's, Peter Butterfield's, Peter F. Hadley's, the John Smith place, James Eaton's and Isaiah Richards' to New Boston line, thence northerly on said New Boston line to the place of beginning.

The present owners of the land constituting the boundaries, or the names by which the farms or residences may be better identified, are as follows: the Luther Willoughby place is owned by Thomas Pelletier; John Butterfield's by Henry Schricker; Moors Robie's land by heirs of George W. Paige and John Murphy; Caleb Little's is known as the Daniel Little place; Benjamin Leach's by Ida J. Carpenter and Albert L. Colburn; Joseph Moore's by Charles Morgrage; Hugh J. Taggart's afterwards David M. Taggart's, house located where Ralph Marden's house now stands; Horace Richards' land owned by Henry A. Burns; Widow Rachel Robie's land owned by Oliver B. Pierce; Jonathan C. Butterfield's by Eliphalet Richards; Peter Butterfield's by Henry W. Merrill; Peter E. Hadley's by Charles C. Hadley; James Eaton's by Charles S. Parker; Isaiah Richards' by Caleb C. Stowell.

This district and No. 13 were united June 15, 1872, and formed a union district known as District No. 1, and the original schoolhouse in No. 1 was the present dwelling-house across the road westerly of the residence of Edward M. Hart.

District No. 2. Uncanoonuc Mountain. Commencing on Bedford line at the intersection with New Boston line, thence north on New Boston line by land of Jesse Christie, Samuel Robie, Thomas Otis, Samuel Leach, James Eaton to James Kennedy's north line, thence easterly on James Kennedy's north line, north line of land of Philip Hart and James Dodge to James Dodge's east line, thence southerly on James Dodge's east line and by the east line of land of Franklin Perry and Samuel Robie to Bedford line, thence westerly on Bedford line to the place of beginning.

The present owners of the Samuel Robie land is Edward Gatz; Jesse Christie's land, south of the Gatz place in the meadow, Thomas Otis's and Samuel Leach's are abandoned farms, buildings gone, owned by Robert L. Shirley; James Kennedy's place, buildings gone, land owned by Samuel W. Patten; the James Dodge place still bears the Dodge name as of yore; Franklin Perry's is owned by William Plant.

District No. 3. Shirley Hill. Beginning at the northwesterly corner of land of Daniel G. Dodge, thence running easterly including said Dodge's land, the Sar- gent place, Joseph Butterfield's, John Orr's, B. F. Aiken's to said Aiken's northeast corner, thence southerly on said Alken's east line including land of William McDougall, James Gilchrist, R. M. Shirley, Sally Ferson and Joseph McDole to said McDole's southeast corner on Bedford line, thence westerly on Bedford line to the southwest corner of Moses Gage's land, thence northerly including said Gage's land, William Shirley's, James Gilchrist's, Gilman Robertson's, the Roberts place and Daniel G. Dodge's to the place of beginning.

The Daniel G. Dodge farm is now owned by Charles E. Phelps, reservoir located upon the same; the Sargent and Joseph Butterfield farms are east of the Dodge farm, buildings gone; John Orr's farm owned by Charles Gage; B. F. Aiken's place is in the valley east of Gage's; the William McDougall farm is still in the McDougall name; James Gilchrist's now owned by Shirley M. Johnson; Shirley Hill House is located upon the site of the residence; R. M. Shirley's is still in the Shirley name, Joseph McDole's farm owned by the heirs of James Bartlett; William Shirley's is owned by his descendants; Roberts' place is at the foot of the incline railway where the buildings formerly stood.

District No. 4. Kennedy Hill. Beginning at the northwest corner of Abram Buzzell's land, thence easterly including said Buzzell farm, William Moore's, Widow Sally Dunlap's, Hiram Tirrell's land, thence southerly including land of Widow Kimball, David Worthley and Franklin Barr to Bedford line, thence westerly on Bedford line to the southeast corner of Captain McAllister's land, thence northerly including land of Widow Addison, Andrew McDougall, James Gilchrist, Robert Kennedy to Abram Buzzell's northwest corner to the bound first mentioned; the Abram Buzzell farm was afterwards known as Scribner Hill, now owned by William L. Roberts, buildings gone; William Moore's farm is now owned by Benjamin F. Greer; Widow Sally Dunlap's by F. W. Russell, buildings gone; the Addison farm is owned by Gove McDonald; Andrew McDougall's by his heirs; Robert Kennedy's farm by William L. Roberts.

District No. 5. Beginning on the Piseataquog River at No.9, crossing said river, thence easterly by said river to Benjamin Dow's, thence westerly including Jesse T. Plumer's to his south line, thence westerly including Joseph Stevens', thence north including Thomas Chamberlain's, Benjamin Stevens', Widow Mary Poor's and Noyes Poor's to the bound first mentioned.

Benjamin Dow lived on the northerly side of the river on the interval near Manchester line; Jesse T. Plumer lived on the farm now owned by Horatio K. Libbey; Joseph Stevens lived where Darius Stevens now lives; Noyes Poor lived on the site of Hilisborough County Farm. In April, 1905, the schoolhouse was moved one mile to the east on the Mast Road.

District No. 6. Amoskeag. Beginning at the northwest corner by land of Jesse Poor, thence easterly on Hooksett line to Merrimack River, southerly by said river to Bedford line, thence westerly to the Piscataquog River, thence northwest including all the land belonging to the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. to District No. 15, thence easterly including land of James Walker, Amoskeag Manufacturing Co.'s Blodgett farm, so called, thence from the northwest corner of the Blodgett farm including said Poor's land to the bound first mentioned. This district is all within the limits of Manchester, having been severed from Goffstown in 1853.

District No. 7. East District. Beginning at the northwest corner of Charles W. Cheney's land, thence running easterly on Dunbarton line to Hooksett line, thence southerly on Hooksett line to land of Jesse Poor's heirs, thence southeasterly to west line of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co.'s Blodgett farm, thence west on the north line of the Blodgett farm to the northwesterly corner of S. T. Jones' Sargent land, thence north including land of Daniel Farmer, Samuel Poor, Isaac Flanders, Frederick Collins, Richard Pattee, Benjamin Richards, Nathaniel Kimball, John Wells, Stephen Blaisdell and Charles W. Cheney to the bound first mentioned.

Charles W. Cheney lived on what is known as the William C. Gould place; Daniel Farmer's land was situate at the extreme south end of the district; the old house burned some years since; Samuel Poor lived where Irad Poore lives; Isaac Flanders where Charles Pollard lives; Frederick Collins south of the four corners and northerly of Charles H. Martin's, buildings gone; Richard Pattee, Benjamin Richards, Nathaniel Kimball owned wood land in the valley of Black Brook; John Wells lived where Nathan Newton lives.

District No. 8. Tibbetts' Hill. Beginning at the northwest corner of land owned by the Story heirs, thence easterly on Dunbarton line to the northeast corner of Seth Woodbury's land, thence southerly by Woodbury's land and land of Nathaniel Kimball to Samuel Gould's land, thence easterly and southerly by said Gonid's land to the highway, thence crossing said highway, thence easterly to land of John Wells, thence southerly and westerly on the south side of Seth Woodbury's land and Thomas Colby's land to John Wells' west line, thence southerly on said west line to Nathaniel Kimball White's lot, thence easterly, southerly and westerly by said White's lot to land of Lewis Sargent, thence southerly by Sargent's land to land of Daniel A. Kimball, thence westerly by said Kimball's land and land of Syms S. Colby to the highway, thence across said highway on the line between Daniel Little's and David H. Whipple's, thence on said line to David H. Whipple's southwest corner, thence northerly on land of Seth Woodbury, Widow Hannah Roberts, Nathan Roberts, to the northwest corner of the Roberts' lot, thence westerly and northerly by Nathan Roberts' Poor lot and land of Thomas Perkins, thence westerly and northerly by the Story lot to the place of beginning. The boundary on the easterly side was by out land.

David H. Whipple lived where Julius Mudrock now lives; Seth Woodbury upon the Cheney place where Augustus Woodbury now lives; Nathan Roberts on the William S. Whipple farm.

District No. 9. Center District, north side. Commencing at the northwest corner of Joseph Sargent's land on the line of School District No. 12, thence easterly on the north line of Sargent's farm including land of Sally Harriman, Dr. Daniel Little, Gideon Flanders, Samuel Kimball and Johnson Tirrell to Caleb Martin's northeast corner, thence south including said Martin's land, Benjamin Stevens', Joseph Poore's to Piscataquog River, thence northerly by said river to the east line of Charles George's farna, thence southerly on said George's farm to his southeast corner, thence west including land of David A. McAllister, Ebenezer Johnson and John Gilchrist to said Gilchrist's southwest corner, thence north on Gilchrist's land to the river, crossing the river including land of George Henry, Samuel Hodgman and crossing Joseph Sargent's land to his northwest corner to the place of beginning.

Joseph Sargent lived where Charles A. Davis now lives; Sally Harriman on the William W. Merrill place; Johnson Tirrell at the top of the Tirrell hill, buildings burned, afterwards owned by Rodney Tirrell; Caleb Martin where Charles H. Martin lived; Benjamin Stevens where his son Benjamin F., and grandson Frank. Stevens afterwards lived; Joseph Poor where Warren H. Whipple lives; Charles George where his son Albert resided; Ebenezer Johnson where Clement Sawyer lives; John Gilchrist where Sylvanus B. Gilchrist lives; George Henry where William W. Hammond lives; Samuel Hodgman in the angle of the roads west of Dr. Daniel Little's place.

In 1889 a commodious school building and town hall was constructed by the town school district and the town; the rooms upon the ground floor are used for a grammar and primary school, and the room above for a town hall. The schoolrooms are modern and convenient, well fitted for the needs of the district. The former schoolhouse was purchased by the Baptist Society, and removed to its present location at the top of the hill on the westerly side of the highway leading from the depot to Grasmere Village, where after all necessary repairs and improvements were made it is used by the church as a chapel.

District No. 10. Pattee Hill. Beginning at the northwesterly corner of land of Samuel Saltmarsh, the same being the northeasterly corner of land of Samuel Cunningham, thence running easterly on Dunbarton line to Francis Martin's northeast corner, thence southerly on said Martin's east line, east line of the Walker place, Samuel Annis and Benjamin W. Pattee to said Pattee's southeast corner, thence west on said Pattee's south line, and land of James E. Richards and Philip F. Pattee to said Philip F. Pattee's southwest corner, thence west on Philip F. Pattee's west line, west line of William Smith, Nehemiah Story, and Samuel Saltmarsh to the bound first mentioned.

Samuel Saltmarsh lived where Amos W. Whipple now lives; Francis Martin where his grandson James F. Martin now lives; the Walker place is owned by George E. Waite; Samuel Annis's farm by Mary Whipple; Benjamin W. Pattee's farm by Ponritt & Wells; James E. Richards' by J. Arthur Richards; Philip F. Pattee by Carl B. Pattee; the William Smith place, afterwards known as the Hancock or Stiles place, buildings burned, now owned by Granville Parker; Nehemiah Story's place now owned by B. Frank Hazen.

District No. 11. Parker District. Beginning at the northwest corner of Goffstown, thence running easterly on Dunbarton line to Samuel Cunningham's northeast corner, thence southerly on said Cunningham's east line and the east line of land of Nathaniel Hadley, William Story, Plummer Hadley and John Whitney to Whitney's southeast corner, thence west on said Whitney's south line and south line of land of William Butterfield, Mrs. Hannah Parker and Charles F. Gove to New Boston line, thence northerly on New Boston and Weare line to the bound first mentioned.

Samuel Cunningham lived where A. B. MeLane now lives; Nathaniel Hadley's residence is owned by Luther G. Dearborn; William Story lived where B. F. Emerson now lives; Plummer Hadley lived where Mrs. Saunders now lives; John Whitney lived on the Mast Road, first house west of James Collins', before mentioned, now owned by James D. Walker; Butterfield's and Parker's land was the interval; Charles F. Gove's land now owned by Mrs. Emma R. Knowlton.

District No. 12. Paige Hill. Commencing at the northwest corner of William Little's land, including same, thence easterly including Eliphalet Richards' woodland following the south line of the Walker place to Seth Woodbury's west line, thence south including land of Butler Trull and Jane McCoy and crossing Joseph Sargent's land to David Ferson's east line and in same course to Piscataquog River, thence on said river to Butler Trull's east line including George Poore's and Moses K. Little's place, thence northerly including Perry Richards', John Tewksbury's and Samuel McAllister's land to the bound first mentioned.

William Little lived where Joseph Comfort lived; Walker's place owned by George E. Waite; Seth Woodbury lived where Augustus Woodbury lived (Cheney place); Butler Trull's land and land of Jane McCoy was in Harry Brook Valley; Joseph Sargent lived where Charles A. Davis lived; George Poore lived where Cyrus Hammond lives; Moses K. Little where John Whipple lived; Perry Richards and Samuel McAllister owned woodland west of Gilmore's place; John Tewksbury where Henry Moore lived.

District No. 13. Village District, north side. Beginning at the northwest corner of land of James Collins, thence running easterly on said Collins' north line, the north line of William Sargent's, David Steel's, Amos Mills', Eliphalet Richards' land to the northeast corner of Butler Trull's farm, thence southerly on said Trull's east line to the Piscataquog River, thence westerly on said river to the southwest corner of land of James Collins including all the land he has on both sides of the river, thence northerly on said Collins' west line to the bound first mentioned.

James Collins lived where Joseph B. Hoit and Daniel W. Hoit lived in succession; William Sargent lived directly across the road from the northeast corner of the cemetery, buildings gone, land owned by Lewis H. Hoyt; Amos Mills lived where his grandsons Frank P. and Edgar W. Mills reside; Eliphalet Richards' homestead has been owned by Andrew J. Sargent, George W. Colby, now owned by William H. Colby; Butler Trull lived where William A. Holt lived. This district was united with District No. 1, June 15, 1872, and formed a union district known as District No. 1. The schoolhouse in this district stood on the site of the present brick house on the southerly side of the Mast Road, first house east of the brook.

District No. 14. John Plumer's. Commencing at the northwest corner of land of Sarah Gilmore, thence east including John Plumer's, John Kimball's, David Worthley's to the Mast Road, thence to Piscataquog River, crossing said river including the Hall and Wilkins place on the east side of the river, thence to Bedford line, thence west on Bedford line to Hiram Tirrell's southwest corner, thence northerly including Hiram Tirrell's and David A. McAllister's to the bound first mentioned.

Sarah Gilmore's farm is the Albert L. Tirrell farm; John Plumer lived where George F. Heald now lives; John Kimball's, afterwards known as the Maplewood Cottage, now owned by St. Anselm's College; David Worthley lived east of Kimball's, house also owned by St. Anselm's College; the Hall and Wilkins property is now within the limits of Manchester; Hiram Tirrell resided where his two grandsons now live, Lewis O. and Bert G. Tirrell; David A. McAllister lived on the opposite side of the road where William Boynton now lives; the schoolhouse, long since gone, stood between John Plumer's and David Worthley's in the southwesterly corner of the intersection of the four roads. This district was organized by vote of the town March 2, 1835, and October 21, 1871, was united with No. 5, excepting the real estate of Cyrus George, which was united with No. 4.

District No. 15. Dow's. Commencing at the northwest corner of True E. Richards' land, thence running easterly by land of Benjamin Richards and the woodlot of S. T. Jones to the north line of the Blodgett farm, continuing east including the Blodgett farm owned by Clinton Parker to the northeast corner, thence southerly to J. P. Bowman's east line continuing southerly including the Kimball lot to James Walker's north line including William P. Riddle and the George land to Piscataquog River, thence northwesterly to Joseph Poor's east line, thence westerly to the place of beginning. This district was organized by vote of the town August 14, 1841. The schoolhouse stood on the northerly side of highway leading from Grasmere to Amokeag about one-half mile westerly of the present Manchester line.

When the easterly part of Goffstown was annexed to the city of Manchester in 1853 that portion of this district east of the present Manchester line was a part of the territory annexed to the city, and on the 30th day of September, 1871, this district was divided and that portion bounded and described as follows: Beginning upon the northerly side of Piscataquog River at Samuel Dow's west line, thence running north to the road, thence easterly to Samuel Dow's east line, thence north to land of George H. Colby, thence east to Manchester line, thence south to Piscataquog River, thence up said river to the place of beginning, was annexed to District No. 5, and the rest, residue and remainder of said District No. 15 was annexed to School District No. 9.

District No. 16. Center, south side. At a special town meeting holden May 30, 1849, a vote was passed dividing School District No. 9 in said Goffstown, and the northerly portion should be known as School District No. 9, and the southerly portion thereof as School District No. 16. Beginning at the southwesterly corner of John Gilchrist's land, thence northerly on said Gilchrist's west line to the river, thence east following the river to said Gilchrist's east line, thence northerly crossing the river by Widow Mary Henry's west line and following the same to the brow of of the bank, thence easterly following the brow of the bank around to Sargent's Mills, so called, thence easterly on the line between Mary Henry's and the mill privilege crossing the brook to the road, thence northerly and easterly crossing the road to the brow of the bank, thence following the brow of the bank on the north line of Benjamin Greer's Henry land to Elnathan Whitney's west line, thence south by said Whitney's land to Piscataquog River, crossing the river, thence easterly on the river to Charles George's east line, thence south on Charles George's east line to said George's southeast corner, thence westerly by said George's south line including land of David A. McAllister, Ebenezer Johnson and John Gilchrist to the place of beginning.

In 1858 the number of this district was changed from 16 to 6, and on the 25th day of April, 1876, the district was reunited with School District No. 9, and the union district was afterwards known as School District No. 9.

The schoolhouse of District No. 16 is now a dwelling-house, location unchanged, the first residence easterly of the brook on the northerly side of the highway leading from the Mast Road to the pulp mill.

¹It brought the interest of the school home to the hearts of the parents; in fact this statute by the creation of small republics in each town did much for the benefit of the people. Return
²I am unable to state whether this building was constructed and a achool conducted from the Aiken fund mentioned on page 190 or by voluntary contributions. Return