THE GRANT--CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT-FIRST MEETING OF TOWN PROPRIETORS--MEDFORD GRANT--REQUESTS FOR LOTS UPON WHICH IMPROVEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE-LOTS DRAWN
In 1746, the Masonian proprietors, viz., Theodore Atkinson, Mark Hunkins Wentworth, Richard Wibird, John Wentworth (son of Mark the Governor), George Jaffrey, Nathaniel Meserve, Thomas Parker, Thomas Wallingford, Jotham Odiorne, Joshua Pierce, Samuel Moore and John Moffatt purchased of John Tufton Mason the rights of Capt. John Mason, Theodore Atkinson purchasing three undivided fifteenths; Mark Hunkins Wentworth two undivided fifteenths, and each of the others one undivided fifteenth.
Included in this purchase was the Narragansett Grant No. 4, by which name the territory which comprises the town of Goffstown had been previously known. The Masonian proprietors thinking to make a fortune out of this purchase began to make grants to associate bodies of men called "town proprietors."
The Masonian proprietors received a moderate fee at first, and also reserved quite a proportion of the land granted to the town proprietors to themselves, no doubt thinking that the reserved part would greatly enhance in value by future improvements made by the settlers. They mostly lived in Portsmouth, and the notice of the meeting of the proprietors at the time the grant was made reads as follows:
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| Province of New Hampr |
At a meeting of the proprietors of land purchased of John Tufton Mason Esqr in the province of New Hampshire Held at the Dwelling house of Mrs Sarah Priest Widow in portsmouth in Said province by adjournment on Saterday the third Day of December 1748. |
| THE GRANT. | |
| Grantees namely |
Voted that there be and hereby is Granted unto Thomas Parker of Dracut Colo. Sampson Stoddard Esqr and John Butterfield of Chelmsford Joseph Blanchard Junr of Dunstable Robert Davidson of Dunstable John Combs James Karr both of Said Dunstable John Goffe John Goffe Junr James Walker Matthew Patten John Moor Timothy Corlis Thomas Farmer Zachr Cutting Samuel Patten Alexander Walker James Cannada Joseph Cannada Robert Gillmor Robert Walker all of Souhegan East So Called Thomas Follensbe Caleb Page Benjamin Richards Peter Morse Caleb Emery John Dow Peter Herriman all of Haverhill District Abraham Meril Benjamin Stevens John Jewel Ephraim Martain Nathaniel Martain Ebenezer Martain Aaron Wells Caleb Dolton all of a place Called Amaskeag James Adams the Son of William Adams William Orr Job Kidder John Kidder all of Londonderry William Read Robert read James McKnight William Cummings all of Litchfield Samuel Griggs Edward White Esqr John White all of Brookline. |
| Bounds of the Tract of land hereby granted |
Their heirs and assigns in Equal Shares Excepting as hereafter Excepted on the terms Conditions and Limatations herein after Expressed all that Tract or parcel of land within the province of New Hampshire Extending hereby Seven Miles in Length and five miles in Breadth Bounded as follows viz. Beginning at the North East Corner of Souhegan East So Called at the Main river and thence runs West By Said Souhegan Line Seven Miles thence North two Degrees West five Miles thence East to the main river and thence by Said river as that runs to the place where the Said Bounds begins- |
| Conditions | To have and to hold to them their heirs and in Equal Shares Excepting as aforesaid on the following Terms Conditions and Limitations that is to say That the whole Tract of land within Said Bounds |
| That the land Be divided into Lots The lots to be numbered The lots of the same share with the No |
Saveing the particular tracts herein after mentioned be Divided into Sixty Eight Shares or rights and Each Share or right be laid out into three Distinct Lots and numbered with the Same Number on Each of Said Lots That the Number begin with one and end with Sixty Eight |
| Lot or Share of the first Minister |
That one of the Said Shares be for the use of the first Minister of the Gospel who Shall be Settled on the Said Tract of land hereby Granted and Shall remain there Dureing his life or untill he shall be regulary Dismist & to hold to him his heirs and assigns-- |
| One Share for the use of the ministry Quantity of ye Lots |
And one other of Said Shares be for and towards the Support of the Gospel Ministry there forever That two of the three lots that Shall Belong to Each Share Shall Contain on hundred acres Each and the third all the remainder of the land Belonging to the Share respectively That the two one hundred acre |
| First ministers two Lots that for the use of ye ministry Not to be Drawn for |
Lots Belonging to the Share for the first minister of the Gospel and the other for the Support of the ministry as aforesaid be laid out as near the place where the meeting house Shall he Set as may Conveniently be Done But that all the other be Drawn for acording to the Common Method of Drawing for lots of Land only Not until all the lots Shall Be laid out So as that there Shall Be But one Draught for three |
| School Rights
reservation
that Shares
Time of making
A meeting
Maintaining |
Lots that is to Say all belonging to one of the Said Shares be for and towards the Support of a school there for ever And Nineteen of the Said Share be reserved for the use of the proprietores the Grantors of the Said premises and their assigns for Ever That Seventeen of the reserved Shares be Exonerated aquited and fully Exempted from paying any Charge toward makeing a Settlement and not held to the Conditions of the other Shares respecting the Settlement nor Liable to any Tax Assessment or Charge untill Improved by the Owners or Some holding under them respectively That the Owners of the Other fourty Eight Shares Shall Carrey on perform and make a Settlement at their own Expense in the following manner Viz All the Lots to be Laid out as aforesaid by the last Day of may next ready to he Drawed for That the Lots be laid out in ranges where the Land will admit of it and land left Between the ranges for Highways of four rods wide and for Cross ways between the lots two rods wide That within the Lots one year from the Said Last Day of may Each owner of the Said Forty Eight Shares have a house of Sixteen foot Square with a Chimney and a Cellar upon one of the Lots Belonging to his Share and Some person living in Said house and four acres of land Enclosed Cleared and fitted for Mowing or tillage within one year after that Namely by the last Day of may 1751 to have four acres more Enclosed Cleared and fitted for Mowing or tillage and house at the End of three years from the Last Day of May next to have four acres more Enclosed Cleared and fitted as aforesaid That the Settlers at their own Expense Build a meeting house there Before the last Day of may in the year 1751 fit for the publick worship of God for the use of those who Shall then or afterwards Inhabit there and after the End of the three years aforesaid From that time Constantly to mantain the publick worship of God there That Six acres of land be left and Laid out in Some Suitable place for Building a meeting House upon a school house to make a Burying Yard a training field and for any Other Public use the Inhabitants shall have Occasion of applying the same to |
| Sum of money to be paid for Carrying on the Settlement
Applycation
Reservation and
Liberty of |
That Each Owner of the Said Forty Eight Shares Shall at or before the drawing for their lots as aforesaid Advance and pay the Sum of thirty pounds old Tenor (including what they have already paid towards Carrying on Said Settlement) to be Deposited in the hands of Such persons as the Said Owners Shall Chuse to receive the Same to Defray the Charge of Surveying and laying out the Said Land into lots Building a meeting house as aforesaid Mantaining the Public Worship of God there the first Six months from the End of three years after Drawing for Said Lots as aforesaid Clearing land for highways Building of Necessary Bridges and makeing and returning a Compleate plan of the Said Survey and laying out of the Lots to the Said Grantors--That all white Pine trees fit for his Majesties use for masting the Royal Navey Growing on Said Tract of land be and hereby reserved and are hereby Granted to his Majesty his heirs and Successors forever for that purpose--That the Owners of the Said Forty Eight Shares Shall have the use of all Meadows within any of the lots Belonging to twenty of the reserved Shares or any of them for the term of five years Commenceing at the time of Drawing Said lots as aforesaid-- |
| Prohibition of Stoping the fish
Mayr White
Grant to |
That no Obstruction or Incumbrance be made or built across or upon Piscataquog river Below the Crotch so called whereby the passage of the Fish may be any way hindred or impeded and in Case any Such Incumbrance be made any person may Destroy or remove the Same or any Such Obstruction--Reserving to the grantors That Tract of land lying across the Crotch of the said river Piscataquog which Major Edward White purchased of William Dudley Esqr Deceased which Tract of land is hereby also Granted unto him the said Edward White and his Son John White agreeable to his petition for the same they Being Considered as two of the Settlers of the Said Tract of land hereby granted and Obliged to perform their proportion of Duty and charges of Settlers but to have the Said tract of land purchased as aforesaid (without Drawing for the Same as aforesaid) in full for their Share of land within the Bound of the premises hereby granted--And also Reserving to the Said Grantors the Stream and Falls at a place Called Harry Brook within Said Tract of land Which is hereby Granted to Thomas Follensbe above named his heirs and assigns with fifteen acres of land to he Laid out in the Most Convenient manner for the acommodation of a Saw Mill thereupon this Condition viz he his heirs Excrs admrs Or assigns Building a good Saw Mill there fitt to go by the Last Day of August Next and Sawing Lumber for the Inhabitants of Said Tract of land to the halves for the term of Six years from that time when and So often as they Shall have Occasion |
| Grant to Hugh ramsey and Others Forfeiture
Proviso in |
Reserving to the Said Grantors which they hereby Grant to Hugh ramsey Thomas Hall James Moor and Samuel Gregg fifty acres of land to Each of them Including their improvements there and so runing westerly from Each respectively improvement So far as with that to make up the Said Quantity of fifty acres for Each of them in fee they Severly paying Each of them Depositing as aforesaid five pounds Old Tenor for the purpose aforesaid and Doing and performing their part and proportion of all Other and after Duty hereby laid upon Said Settlers And in Case any of the Owners of the Said forty Eight Shares Shall refuse neglect or omit to perform and fully Discharge any of the Conditions Articles Matters and things above mentioned by him respectively to be Done he Shall forfitt his Share and right in the Said Tract of land and Every part and parcel thereof to the Said Grantors and it Shall and may be lawfull for them or any of them or any person or persons in their name and Stead and by their Autherity to Enter into and upon the part Share and right of Such Delinquent Owner or any part thereof in their name of the whole and him utterly thence to a more Oust and Expel for the use of the Said Grantors their Heirs and Assigns Provided there be no Indian war with in any of the terms and Limatations of time Above mentioned for performing the Said Article and things aforesaid to be Done and performed by the Said Settlers and in Case that Should happen the same time to be alowed for the Respective matter aforesd after Such Impediment Shall be removed and it is also to be understood that the Surveyor or Surveyors and those who Shall be appointed to lay out the lots aforesaid Shall also Lay out all the Particular Tracts and parcels of land above mentioned |
| Defense on Terms
The lots |
Lastly the Said Grantors and proprietors aforesaid Do hereby Ingage and promise to the Said Grantees to Defend them their Heirs and assigns Against all and Every Action and law Suit that Shall be prosecuted moved and stirred against them and any of them by any person or persons whatsoever Claiming the said land or any part thereof by any Other Title then the Title of the Said Grantors or that by which they hold or Derive theirs from with this Condition and Limitation That in Case the Said Grantees their Heirs or assigns Shall be Ejected and Ousted by any Such Rights or Title that then they have or recover nothing of and from the Said Grantors and proprietors or their Heirs Execrs Adminr for the Labour of the Said Grantees their Heirs and assigns on the premises or any part thereof or any Expence they Shall have Been at in Consequence of this Grant nor for the land So Granted to them or any of them And it is to Be under Stood that Said Lots Shall be Drawn for in the town of Portsmouth in Said province-- |
| Coppy of Record Attest George Jeffrey Junr Propr clerck A true Record of the Coppy of the Grant Attest Mathw. Patten Propr. Clerk |
of the grantees named Thomas Parker was a minister of Dracut, Mass.; John Butterfield and his descendants were afterwards residents of Goffstown, and distinguished in the revolution; John Goffe and John Goffe, Jr., James Walker, Matthew Patten and Samuel Patten resided in Bedford; Matthew Patten was afterwards Register of Probate of Hillsborough County; Joseph Kennedy and Robert Gilmore removed from Bedford to Goffstown; Thomas Follansbee, Benjamin Richards, Caleb Emery, John Dow, Peter Harriman and Benjamin Stevens were all connected with Goffstown directly or indirectly; John Jewell settled in Weare; the Martins early lived at Martin's Ferry; Aaron Wells in the east part of the town; Job Kidder and John Kidder settled in the northerly part of the town; the former locating where Henry Blaisdell now lives; Alexander Walker early settled where George E. Waite now lives and the farm still bears the name; Edward White and John White owned extensive tracts of land, but were never residents of the town. The bounds of the town as granted remained the same until 1822.
The whole tract of land (saving the particular tracts hereinafter mentioned) shall be divided into sixty-eight shares or rights, and each share or right shall be laid out into three distinct lots, and numbered with the same number on each of said lots, each lot beginning with one and ending with sixty-eght.
That one of the said shares be used for the use of the first minister of the gospel. One share shall go for the support of the gospel.
Two of the three lots that belong to each share, shall contain one hundred acres each, and the third, the remainder of the share.
Two of the hundred acres lots for the first minister, and the other for the support of the ministry, shall be laid out as near the meeting-house as possible, and shall not be drawn for.
One share shall be for the support of a school there forever.
Nineteen of said shares shall be reserved for the use of the proprietors (the grantors of said premises).
That seventeen of these reserved shares shall be exempt from any charge toward making a settlement, or liable to any tax assessment until improved. The owners of the other forty-eight shares shall make a settlement at their own expense, as follows: the lots shall be laid out by the last day of May next (1749).
The lots shall be laid out in ranges and where the land will admit of it the land left between the ranges for highways shall be four rods wide, and between the lots two rods wide. Within one year from the last day of May, 1749, each owner of said forty-eight shares shall have a house sixteen feet square, with chimney and cellar upon one of the lots belonging to his share, and some person living in the house, and four acres of land cleared, fenced and fitted for tillage.
By the last day of May, 1751, to have four acres more enclosed and cleared as aforesaid, and by the last day of May, 1754, to have four acres more improved in the same manner.
That a meeting-house shall be built before the last day of May, 1751, and at the end of three years from that time, viz., 1754, constantly to maintain the public worship of God there.
Six acres of land shall be laid out in some suitable place upon which to build a meeting-house, schoolhouse, burying place, training field, etc.
Each owner of the said forty-eight shares shall pay 30� old tenor toward carrying on said settlement, to defray the expense of surveying and laying out said land into lots, building a meeting-house, clearing land for highways, building bridges, etc.
All white pine trees fit for his Majesty's use growing on said tract of land are reserved for masts for the royal navy. The grantees shall have the use of all the meadows within the reserved shares for the term of five years from the drawing of the lots.
No obstruction or encumbrance in any way shall be made across the Piscataquog River below the crotch, so-called, whereby the passage of the fish may be hindered or impeded in any way.
That Major Edward White, and his son John White, have a particalar tract of land granted unto them, and they are considered as two of the settlers of said town. The Major White farm as it was afterwards known contained 400 acres in the west part of Goffstown including Parker's Village, the interval, and extended as far north as the north line of the Luther Hadley place.
A sawmill shall be built at a place called Harry Brook, which is hereby granted to Thomas Follansbee, and fifteen acres of land at the Falls, on said brook, upon the condition that he shall build a mill by the last day of August, 1748, and shall saw lumber for six years at halves for the inhabitants.
Hugh Ramsey, Thomas Hall, James Moore and Samuel Gregg shall have fifty acres of land reserved to each of them, including their improvements, by their depositing 5� each old tenor, for the purposes heretofore mentioned. In case any of the owners of the said forty-eight shares shall refuse or neglect to perform any of the conditions heretofore set forth, he shall forfeit his share. In case of Indian Wars the duration of the war shall not be counted, and the time extended beyond the original time limit after the war is over.
The said grantors promise to defend the grantees against any and every lawsuit, but in case they were defeated and the grantees were ejected from their lands, they should receive nothing back from said grantors for their improvements, labor or expense.
The lots shall be drawn for in Portsmouth. The proprietors called a meeting to meet at the house of Mr. James Walker in Souhegan East, on the 10th day of January, 1749, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, then and there to act upon the following articles:
1st To Chuse a moderator.| P Order John Coffe Justice Peice |
This notice is directed to the proprietors of that tract of land or township granted by the proprietors (of that tract of land formerly granted to Capt. John Mason by the Council of Plymouth). And as such they were spoken of, recognized, and the clerk signed his official documents for some time thereafter. At this meeting John Goffe was chosen moderator, and Matthew Patten, clerk. And at the said meeting two "commissionary," viz., Ebenr Brook and Jonathan Watson from the town of Medford, Mass., appeared with a grant of two rights, which the grantors reserved in their own hands when they granted the other shares.
Although there is no record of any action taken on the third article above it is evident that Matthew Patten was empowered to make a survey and lot out the town which he soon after did and a copy of his original plan is here inserted.
Chapter 7