Road from Chester.--Road over Perham's bridge to Londonderry.--From Falls to Centre.--To Archibald Stark's.--River road.--Road across Alewife Falls.--From Merrill's Ferry to Manchester Centre.--From Hall's Ferry east.--From Centre over Oak Hill.--New river road laid out by order of Court.--From Haseltine mills to Manchester Centre,--From Manchester Centre to Londonderry.--To line north of Massabesic.--To Martin's Ferry.--Past the Grandison Morse place.--To river near Peter Mitchel's.--Road through Piscataquog.--Mast Road.--From McGregor's Bridge to Deer Neck.--Pawtucket Road.--To Andover Bridge,--To Chester south of the Massabesic.--Town divided into Highway Districts.--Streets.--Elm street. Hanover, &c.--Wards.--Blocks.--Merchant's Exchange, Smyth's, Stark, Central, Plumer's, Union, Merrimack, Granite, Ayer's, Museum.--Bridges--Cohas, Amoskeag, Granite, Amoskeag Falls, Piscataquog. Ferries, Hadley's, Goffe's, Martin's, and Merrill's.--Amoskeag Canal.--Report of Directors of the Middlesex Canal.--Lock on Piscataquog.--Rail ways.

The first roads in this town were mere bridle-paths. Of these one from the Falls, past what is now known as Manchester Centre, to the Cohas, and so on to Londonderry, and a second, diverging from the first, south east of Tremont Square, and passing through the Valley Cemetery, to the old red house near the Gas Works, thence to the Cohas at Goffe's Mills, and so on to Litchfield, were for a long time the principal roads in Harrytown. From these, paths diverged in various directions, for the accommodation of individuals. These roads were all built at individual and not public expense. It is possible, that the people of Chester and Londonderry, bore most of the expense of the construction of some of these, but still, no evidence has been found to show that this expense was a public charge. Upon the incorporation of the town, in 1754, the principal roads were laid out and recorded.

The first road laid out by the Selectmen was thus described and recorded;

"October, 3, 1751, then laid out a highway, or town Rhoad for the use and benefit of said town Beginen at the town line then Running By marked trees to william perham's land and then throwe said perham's land to the East End of John harvee's house to a Bridge Caled perham's bridge, then Running N. E. by marked tries to Barber liselie's land, then Running northly upon said lisley land to a pine tree marked H, then Eisterly a crose willem Ellete's land By marked trees to a Rhode recorded by Chester or as near to said marked trees as good grouend will allow not(e) said Rhoad is allowed and laid out three Rhoudes wide.

Daniel McNeil, Nathaniel Boyd, William Perham.

} } Selectmen. }

This is the road leading from Londonderry across the Harvey bridge, past the late Capt. Israel Merrill's farm to the road passing from the Gen. McQueston farm to the farm of Rodnia Nutt. William Perham lived on the Young farm; John Harvey lived where Jonas Harvey now lives; Barber Leslie lived on the "Harrison Weston farm," and William Elliot lived on the James McQueston farm.

This road was the continuation of a road down the Cohas from the outlet of the Massabesic; and thus completed a direct avenue from Chester meeting house, around the ferry at the south end of the Massabesic, the Amoskeag Falls, and other points upon the Merrimack river.

The road laid out by Chester, extended from the Gen. McQueston farm on the "Mammoth Road," to the Rodnia Nutt farm, following the general direction, and very nearly the same track of the road now leading from the "Mammoth Road," past Capt. Amos Weston's house to the Harvey road.

The same day the Selectmen laid out a second road, thus described:

"Beginen at Chester line, at pine tree marked H. then running by marked trees to a Brige upon the Amoskige Brook where the Rhoad now gows, then by marked trees ase the rhoad now goes to Daniel McNeill's to a pine tree marked 136, or as nier to the marked tree as good ground will allow."

This was the road leading from the Falls to Manchester Centre. The Chester line crossed the road just beyond Hallsville; the Amoskeag Brook is the one that crosses the road just this side of Hallsville, and passes through the Cemetery; Daniel McNeil lived not far from the intersection of Chestnut and Orange streets; and the road laid out passed through Towlesville, through the house lot of Col. Frank A. Brown, that of Wm. P. Newell, Esq., crossed Tremont Square, through the lot of Mr. Charles Cheney, that of Mr. Shaw, and "the Acre" to the "pine tree marked 136."

A third road laid out the same day was described as follows:

"Beginen at a pine tree marked 136 standing at the east eand of Daniel McNiells houes, from thence by marked trees to the wast eand of John McNiells Barn, from thence to Amoskeag falls as the Rhoad is now troad, from thence as the Rhoad now goes to the wast eand of John Rihedels houes, from thence by marked trees to the east eand of Archibald Starkes houes as the Rhoad now goes, from thence by marked trees to a brook nowen by the name of Coborans brook, or as near to saide marked trees as good ground will allow."

This road passed west in the direction of Orange street; crossed Elm street near the "Sand Banks;" then took a northwesterly direction to John McNeil's house, who lived near McNeil street, about midway betwixt Elm and Canal streets; thence it passed up the river to Archibald Stark's, the State Reform School farm, nearly as the road now runs.

The fourth road laid out the same day was described as follows:

Begining at Litchfield line at a dead large pich pine marked H, thence running northerly as the Rhoad now runes throw Thoms Clarks land to the Bank of the River, and so upon the bank of the Merrimak river till it comes to a bank of a small brook, then upon the bank of sd brook till it coms to a fordway over said rune, thence due north to Little Chohass Brook and down the dugway and so to a grat white oke tree marked H, thence n:e. to the fut of the rig e. of the intervail, and so upon the fut of the rige to Grate Cohas Brook, then across sd brook near the rige foling till it git passt Goffe barn, then up the rige by marked trees about n: till it comes to the fall of the rige, and then sloping down the rige to the foot and so folloing as near the fut of the rige as the land will admit till it coms to a small brook, then cross the brook by the fut of the ridge to the hollow near Secombs house, and then esterly up sd hill to the top, and then runs north by foat of Rocky hill, and then north to Quimbys house, and then as the road to Skeutus brook, and so keeping the plain to a brook northerly and then norwesterly to a dugway in Abraham Merrill's lot."

This was the river road to Goffe's Falls and Litchfield. Rocky hill is the ledge below the junction of the Calef and river roads; Skeutus brook is Fort brook; and "the Dugway in Abraham Merrill's lot" was near the Gas Works, a passage dug through the sand hill from the plain above to the intervale. Abraham Merrill lived near the "Red house" by the Gas Works.

On the 25th of October, the same year, the Selectmen laid out another road, described thus:

"Then begining at Mickell McClintos on the eaist sied of the house where the fence is marked, then runing to a stump marked, then straight to a black chiry tree, then straight as the tree is marked into the Eallwife falls into the rhoad before mineshenod note. This is in exchange for a rhoad formerly laid out through Mickel MacClintos and Nathaneal Boydes lande."

Gillis lived probably near where John Huse now lives and this road crossed the Alewive Falls, at the Haseltine place, thence to Michael McClintock's, who lived upon what is now known as the Gen. McQueston farm.

On the 27th of the following month, they laid out four more roads. The first is thus described:

"Begining at Daniell McNiells at a tree nomber 136, then runing sourldly by marked tees to Abraham Merrils dugway as straight by marked trees as good ground will allow to pich pine marked H."

This was a part of the river road to Goffe's Falls and Litchfield. It followed the road to Manchester Centre to a point a few rods southeast of Tremont Square, where it diverged and passed to the south, crossed Mile Brook east of Maj. Hiram Brown's house, thence it passed through the northwest part of the Valley Cemetery, crossed what is now Elm street a few rods this side of Amoskeag Brook, then down the bluff to Abraham Merrill's "dugway."

The second road laid out this day, commenced thus:

"Begining at the rhoad betwixt Thomas Gorge and Abraham Merrill's land, then runing eisterly on said line to Moss Willes land, thence easterly by marked trees as near to said marked trees as good ground will allow to a brige in John Halls land to the north sied of hies fieldes, from thence to a rod lidinge from John Hall to Roabort Andrsons."

This road is the one that passes the Company's Hospital, and so on east to the "Mammoth Road."

The third road of the same day began at the

"Ferreywaye at a Eallem tree one the wan side and a pich pine one the other side, thence runing by marked trees to Bingmien Hidilis houes as near to said mark trees as good ground will allow, from thence running eisterly by marked trees to a brige in said Hidlies land, from thence by marked trees into a rhoad lei[d]ing from Daniel McNiells to John Goffe, then cro[s]sing said rhoad by marked trees easterly to a rhoad liding from John Hall to Daniel McNeills."

This road is entirely discontinued. The "Eallem tree" is supposed to be the one now standing north of Amoskeag Mill, No. 5, as Hall's Ferry was at that place. It passed Hadley's house, which stood near the intersection of Granite and Bedford sts. west of the Concord Railroad; thence it passed northeasterly to near the Manchester House, thence easterly, and crossed the Mile Brook betwixt Merrimack and Manchester streets, thence extended east, crossing the Goffe's Falls road hear Union street, and thence continued on in the same direction to the road leading from the Falls to Manchester Centre, and known as the "Old Falls Road." Those recollecting the locality of the "Parker Murder" need not be told that it was on this road, then passing through a dense pine forest, but now recognized only by a few vestiges of it along the Back street betwixt Manchester and Merrimack streets, and east of Beech street.

The fourth and last road of this date commenced

"40 rhods north to ye of Robert Andrsons houes at a pine tree marked H, then runing northrly by mark trees to the eaiest eand of the oke hill sow calld, then northerly by marked trees to the town line to the wast end of Bushnel's hill, or as near to said marked trees as good ground will allow."

Robert Anderson lived where Charles and McGregor Hall now live, and this road is the one that leaves the Old Falls Road a few rods west of the schoolhouse in District No. 7, and passes the houses of James Hall and Robert Stevens, uniting with the "Mammoth Road" just above where Hanover street crosses that road. The Mammoth Road passes over the track of this road to near the house of D. A. Bartlett. The old road then diverged westerly, passed the house now owned by M. D. L. Stevens, then extended north over the Oak Hill to the Johnson house, and so on to the town line, near Bushnell's Hill, which is now mainly in Hooksett.

The first road laid out by the selectmen on the 27th of Nov., did not satisfy the people living upon the river. They wanted a road near the bank of the river, instead of one farther east on the plains, for the purpose of hauling lumber past the Falls. Accordingly at the annual meeting, it so happened that John Goffe, Archibald Stark, and Alexander McMurphy, Esqrs., were chosen Selectmen of the town, the two former living on the river. As a vote of the town could not be obtained to discontinue the road laid out, recourse was had to the Court of Quarter Sessions, and a petition presented that Court, by a majority of the Selectmen as follows;

"PROV. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

To the Hon'ble His Majesty'r Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be holden at Portsmo., for the Province afores'd upon the First Tuesday of September, next Insuing.

   The Petition of us, the Selectmen of Derryfield, Humbly sheweth, that we apprehend that it is greatly nessessary to have a County Road Laid out from the head of nameskeg falls unto Litchfield, as near the river as the ground will admit, not only for the great Benefit of Travelors up and Down said River, but as our River has become a martime Plase for Transporting Timber, Plank and Board, we know severall who have been Injured very much, for the want of Said Road, and therefore we now Earnestly Pray your Honours to take the Premises into your Consideration and grant us such Relief as the Law in such Cases Directs and your Petitioners as in Duty bound, shall for ever pray.
   Augt 20th, 1752.

J0HN GOFFE ARCHIBALD STARK.

Selectmen"

The prayer of the petitioners was granted and the Court issued the following order:

"Ordered by the Court, that Capt. Thomas Coburne, Robert Boyes Esqrs. and Thomas Parker of Litchfield all in the Province of New Hampshire be and hereby are appointed a committee to Lay out the Way, above Requested & Represented to be Nessesary so as may be most Convenient for Travellors and to Enter that Due Satisfaction be given by the town thro which the said Way will Run to the Party through whose Lands the Same Shall be Laid and set forth the Same by Due Bounds breadth and other Descriptions as Will be sufficient to Assertain the Same and Likewise the Particular Sum of money they Shall award or adjudge the owner any Land wh. shall be so Laid out at Satisfaction for such Land and make Return of your doings as soon as may be.

The committee attended to their duty, and laid out the road asked for, making the following report;

"PROV'E OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

We the Subscribers a Comitte appointed by their Honours His Majestys Justices of the General Sessions of the

Peace Holden at Portsmouth on the first Tuesday of September 1752, appointed & Directed us the Subscribers to Lay out Certain Highway or Country Road in Derryfield In Said Province as minuted In the Petition of the Selectmen of Said Town to Said Court and have Proceeded upon the business and have Laid out a highway or County Road in Derryfleld from a Plase Called Whiting Brook at the head Namaskeag Falls Leading Southerly to Litchfield Line as Near Merrymack River as will be Accomadable which Highway is Bounded,--Discribed by the Return of Joseph Blanchard Junr Surveyor and Chairmen.
   We the Committe are of oppinion that no Damages ought to be allowed to any Person whose Land the Road goes through in this town but think that they are Preveledged thereby.

THOMAS COBURN. ROBERT BOYES. THOMAS PARKER.

The action of the Selectmen and the Committee, gave great dissatisfaction to the majority of the people of the town, and at a special meeting held Feb. 2, 1753, they voted not to pay any of the cost of the Court's Committee, amounting to �14,--and at the annual meeting held on the fifth of March following, Goffe and Stark were left from the board of Selectmen. The new board of Selectmen petitioned the Legislature for redress as follows:

   "To His Excell'y Benning Wentworth, Esq'r., Gov'r., and Comander in Chief In & Over his Majesty's Provce of Newhampshire And to the Honourable his Majestys Coun'l & House of Repres'ves In General Court Assembled March the 17th 1753. The Humble Petition of Subser's Selectmen of Derryfield, of the Province aforesaid.
   That whereas upon a petition of the Selectmen of Derryfield to His Majestys Court of Quar'r Sessions Dated Augt 10th 1752 the Said Sessions were pleased to appoint Cap't Thom's, Colbourn Robert Boyes Esqrs & Thom's Parker of Litchfield to be a Comittee to lay out the Road petitioned for by Said Selectmen pursuant to which the Said Comittee have laid out said Road In a place where (In Case it Should Stand) it will tend much to the damage of the town In General and of particular Inhab'ts Considering the natural badness of the ground wch will require great Labour and Cost to make it a tollerable Road and Considering also that it Cuts in pieces Some of the most Valuable Land and Impv'ts the purchase of wch will be chargable to the Town if Justice is done to the owners Said Land all wch will appr more Evid't so the Court by a Plan of Said Road & Land that will be produced along with this Petition.
   May it please therfore please your Excell'y & Honours to give order that the Said Road be altered according as is laid down In said Plan wch will tend much more to the general good of the Town & your Pet'rs as In duty Bound Shall Ever pray, &c.

WILLIAM PARHAM. JOHN RIDDELL, ALEX. MACMURPHY.

} }Selectmen." }

Upon this petition the Legislature appointed a Committee, consisting of Zebulon Gidding, of the House, and Richard Jenness of the Council, "to take a view of the two ways referred to in the petition." The Committee attended to their duty and Mr. Jenness' report is as follows;

   "Since I was By this Honreble house Desiered to lay befor this Genneral Cort in Riten my Report of the two highways at nameskeag in Deryfeld mr. Gidens and I went thar as the Gennerl Cort ordred to make Report which of the 2 highways set forth in a plan of the Said 2 highways or Both may serve the Town and Public Best.
   and I am fully Satesffied the old highway as thay Call it may Be the Best highway it is higher and Dry Land for the most part the New highway By the River wants three or four Bridges and as for the Distances that is But a Little Dirfence the old highway must be Cept a oppen highway to Dery and haverl.
   and I am of the opinon that it will be a Hardship with a witness to forse them pore men Setelers to Lay open a highway at present thro thar Corn felds and mowing Ground or above a mile of fence.

RICHARD JENNES."

Mr. Gidding's report is not to be found; it is probable, however, that he differed from Mr. Jenness, and reported in favor of the road laid out by the Court's Committee. Be this as it may, the subject being brought before the house, January 11, 1754, by Daniel Warren, Esq., the petition was dismissed, and the town had to pay costs and build the road. It is probable that it was a hardship to the people of the town, but there can be no doubt that the public good required the road. This road continued in use till 1840, when the part from Bridge street to the Hezekiah Young farm, now the Company's Hospital, was discontinued.

December 10, of the same year, the selectmen laid out another road, commencing

"At the Ellwife falls then a cros the Wastwater to the saw mill then beginniug at the for minshined Ellwife falls, runing by marked trees throw John Houges land wher they formlay past a bout 40 Roudes to ye north of a bridge which is in said houges land, then a cros mathow Ramesy by marked trees on the north side of a whit Pine swamp to the Cornore tree Betwixt William gambles land and the said Ramesy lot which is a whit Eash then from thence By marked trees a crose the 18 lote and the 17 lote then a crose Broukoup land in waltore mac farlands land then by marked trees into a rhoad In John Halls land to the south of said Hall houes to marked trees as good ground will allow."

This road led from the Haseltine mill north westerly to where David Dickey 3d now lives; thence through the farms now owned by Samuel Gamble and Isaac C. Flanders, Esqrs., and so on to John Hall's house, near the meeting house. The most of this road was long since discontinued. A part of it from Dickey's to the Hazeltine mill is now used.

July 6 1753, William Perham and John Riddell, as selectmen, laid out a road,

   "Beginning at London Derry line at a pine tree marked H, one on the north sid of the Rhoud, thence running by marked trees to to thomas gillies house from thence to william mc Clintons house, by marked trees ase the rhoud his formerly trod from thence to John Hall land By marked trees in the ninth lot of land in the forth division in Chister then a crose John Hall land a poun the Eiest of the marked trees by the Eiest Eand of said Halls house then a cruoes Robert Andorsons land ase the highway hies been trod to London Derry line to a pine tree marked H, on the south side of the highway marked by the se'ectmen of Derryfield."

This road is the one now mainly in use to Derry, extending from Manchester Centre, past the McQueston farm, diverging to the east, at the McQueston house, across the Cohas, and so on past John Haseltine's house, the School House in District No. 9, and the houses of J. A. Webster, John Huse, and Walter H. Noyes, to the town line.

The same day they laid out another road,

   "begining at William Ellets Houes, frome thence Runing a croues soume peart of said Ellets Land to William m Clintos Land then a crose William mc Clintos Land as the rhoud hies been trod to a rhoud Laied out and Lieding from London Derry by John Halls houes to amose Skiege fall."

This is the road leading from the Harrison Weston farm, easterly past James McQueston's to the Mammoth road.

March 1, 1755, William McClintock and John Hall as selectmen laid out a road,

   "Beging at ye Road leading past Robert Anderson's & John Halls' said Road to Begin upon John Halls & Robert Andersons line so roning Esterly ye nearest & best way to the highway land to Rouning along said road to ye nore west corner of the sixtenth lot then East to the nore East corner of said lot from thence north the best way to the sow west corner of the thirty third lot then runing about nore East to ye Brook about ten rods below ye forard way then runing Easterly to the lot number thirty two."

This was the road leading from the falls road near Charles and McGregor Hall, to the town line north of the Massabesic. It is now known as the Old Road to Candia.

January 16, 1756, Daniel McNeil and John Harvey laid out a road "leading towards Suncook."

   "Begining at a white oake tree at Colburns Brook so called and then extending northerly by marked trees to the north line of sd Derryfield as near said marked trees as good Ground will allow."

Colburn's Brook is the one near the house of the late Amos Kimball, and this road is the one passing up the river to Martin's Ferry

All the roads laid out up to this date were three rods wide

September ye 1st 1758, a road was laid out,

   "Beginning at the high way betwixt ye secound and third lot in the first Reange & runing southerlay between ye two lots to a Booge & so by marked trees a lounge the wast siead of ye Booge to a small Broock & southerlay by marked trees to Sezer Griefens land at ye norwast courner & so to hies house and so by marked trees to the lien Betwixt London Derry & Derryfield"

This was the road leading past the "Grandison Morse place" to Londonderry.

This road was the extension of the one leading from Manchester Centre to the Huse, or Gen., McQueston farm. It commenced on the south of the Cohas, and ran south in the direction of the Mammoth Road. It made a turn to the east near the junction of the Musquito Pond road with the Mammoth road, and passed Cesar Griffin's house which stood on the north side of the road leading from the Mammoth Road; passed Jeremiah Barker's house to Londonderry and at about a third of the distance betwixt J. and E. Harvey's house and Barker's house. From Griffin's house the road was nearly the same that now passes the houses of Messrs. Barker, Cross, and Drews, to Derry. Cesar Griffin was a negro who owned the farm lately known as the "Grandison Morse Place," and now owned by Messrs. J. & E. Harvey.

October 15, 1759, the Selectmen laid out another road thus described.

   "Begining at the North End of Hugh Sterling barn runing Near a Nor wast Point by marked trees upon the said of saied trees to the banck of the Intervalle and then running upon a west pointe by marked trees to Merrimack river to a white ash tree marked H, Noot said road to be three rods wide and six rods wide bank fore rodes from low water mark."

it is not certain where this road is; but it is probably the road leading from the river road past Mr. Peter Mitchel's house to the Merrimack.

The road to Amoskeag through Piscataquog village, was made at a very early date. The first of which we have any account was a bridle-path cut prior to 1649, for the Rev. John Eliot, who was proposing to come to Namaske, to preach to the Indians. This path was doubtless kept open by the fishermen visiting the falls. In 1740, the proprietors of Bedford expended �40 for "rectifying the way from Souhegan river to Piscataquog river." In 1759, that part of the road leading across the Piscataquog and to Hall's Ferry which was just below McGregor's house in Goffstown, became worn and out of repair, and Mr. Thomas Hall petitioned the town of Bedford to repair it. The town refused, and then Hall petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions to order the repair of the road. This they refused to do, when the town of Bedford agreed to repair the road, build a bridge across the Piscataquog, and pay the costs that had arccued [sic], amounting to �59, and the matter was stayed. The road from Bedford line to Amoskeag Falls had been bullt [sic] probably by individuals engaged in fishing. The first mention of it, in the records of the Proprietors of Goffstown, is under date of Dec. 23, 1753, where a committee say, "There is a Highway containing 4 acres, and 3-4 of an acre, from the road now improved, to and from said Hall's Ferry, to the land reserved at the common landing place, from the fishing Islands in said Namkeag Falls." The road known as the Mast road, and leading from Piscataquoag village to West Goffstown, had been built prior to this period. In 1756 a road was laid out from the Mast road and

   "Begining at the line of Bedford and Goffstown, where the mast road was last improved, crosses said line, thence, as the said mast road was formerly improved to the hill next to the mast rolling place, on Piscataquog river, thence on the north side of a swampy place in said mast road to the said rolling place, thence down the south side of the said Piscataquog river to the mouth of said river, where it empties into the river "Merrymac," thence down the said Merrymack about twenty-five rods, so far as to take in the head of the eddy, in the river next to the mouth of said Piscataquog; the whole way of said road to be four rod's wide from the top of the upper bank. And also another piece of highway at the highway at the westerly end of the first range of house lots, and at the north end of the road already laid out on the said ends of the said lots, from thence starting up the ridge until it comes to the old mast road above laid out.¹

In 1758, another road was laid out at Piscataquog,

   "Begining at the westerly end of the river range of the home lots, probably very near where the road by the Academy building crosses the range line above the McCoy house, so called, and runs on the said lots till it comes where the line of the said lots turns down the hill to the north west of Lieut. Moore's house, supposed to be a little north of James Harvell's house, and thence on the hill to the west of the swamp, around the same, along between Robert Gilmore's house and barn, to the north west corner of No. 7 home lot on the river from thence south on the heads or westerly ends of the river home lots to the north west corner of Samuel Patten's river home lot, on No. 20, joining on said lot: said road to he four rods wide."²

These roads, answered the purpose of the inhabitants and we find little done in the way of laying out and building new roads for near thirty years. In fact, the next serious movement for new roads was not till after building of the Amoskeag Bridge when various roads were laid out by Committees of the Legislature.

In 1794 a bill passed the Legislature, to lay out a high way from Hale's bridge in Walpole, to Deer Neck in Chester. This road crossed the Amoskeag bridge in this place thence continued in a north-easterly direction to near the junction of Elm and Orange streets, thence easterly to the old Kidder house which stood near the south side of Orange street and about midway betwixt Chestnut and Elm street. It then passed south easterly nearly in a straight line, to the junction of Pine and Pearl streets. This last part of the road was never built, as the "Old Falls Road," though crooked, was used instead of it. From Pine street, this road extended east to Union street, as Pearl street now runs, and across Union street in the same direction, continuing onward up the Hall or Oak, Hill, to John Hall's house, thence over the hill, in nearly a straight line to Daniel Bartlet's house, on the "Mammoth Road." Thence it passed nearly in the direction of the "Bald Hill Road," across the Bald hill, and bearing south of that road, on the east of the said hill, it continued to Deer Neck. In many places this road was laid over old roads, while the parts laid out were never built.

This road was very straight and direct from Walpole to Portsmouth, but was never completed, as intended, for the reason that the public would not travel upon a road whose only recommendation was its directness, and which passed over some of the most steep and precipitous hills in this section of the state. Other avenues were found to the seaboard above and below, not so hilly, and this went into disuse.

The same year the Legislature appointed a committee to lay out three other roads leading from Amoskeag bridge,--one to Pawtucket bridge in Dracut, called the "Pawtucket Road," and passing through Manchester Centre, crossing the Cohas near the McQueston place, and continuing on the Derry road as now traveled to the Haseltine and Saunders Tavern, which stood near the Corning School house in Disrict [sic], No. 9, thence round said school house and past the Johnson Morse farm to Londonderry line, thence past the Dickey Store near Wilson's crossing, and so on south, past the old meeting house, in Londonderry; through Windham, past the meeting house in Pelham to the state line; and connecting there with the road to Pawtucket bridge: a second one, leaving the Pawtucket road at Haseltine and Saunders Tavern in this town, continuing past the Huse and Noyes' farm over the road to Derry, as now traveled, and so on past the old meeting house in Derry, through Salem to the State line, and connecting there with the road over Andover bridge: and a third leaving the Pawtucket road sixty four rods below the meeting-house at Manchester Centre thence passing to the meeting-house in Chester, round Lake Massabesic, nearly over the road as now traveled, except that it crossed the long narrow bay at the south end of the Lake, known as the "Fang," instead of passing round it, as at present. The project of bridging the Fang was found too expensive and was abandoned. These roads have mainly continued in use to the present day, though other roads have taken the travel from them.

It has already been named that prior to 1806, the town had been divided into Districts annually by the Selectmen, but that no record had been made of the districts until 1793. In 1806 at the annual town meeting, it was voted to re-district the town for highway purposes, and a committee was appointed to perform that duty. This committee at an adjourned meeting, held on the 18th of the same month, made the following report:

   "The Committee appointed to lay the town of Derryfield out into highway districts, having met and agreed, beg l[e]ave to make the following report, that is to say,
   District No. 1 shall begin at Chester line near Kimball's and extend Southerly to within ten rods of Gen. Stark's on the north.
   No. 2 shall begin ten rods north of Gen. Stark's house and run Southerly by Knowls to Humphries Brook not including the Bridge--from said Brook by Amoskeag Bridge to B. F. Starks and from amoskeag Bridge to John Harwoods and from amoskeig bridge on the river Road to a ditch south of Cutlers.
   No. 3 shall continue as it has heretofore been taking in Humphries Brook bridge.
   No. 4 shall begin at the ditch above Philip Haseltine Jr., thence down the river road to Nathaniel Bakers also from Eliphat Parkers to John Browns house So Called and from Harveys ferry to the meeting house and there Stop.
   No. 5 shall begin at the meeting house thence down the road by Major Websters and Black Jims tavern to Chester line and up to Jonathan Haseltines and John Haseltines and Moses Merrills and David Haseltines and John Dickeys.
   No. 6 Shall begin at the Crotch of the Road at Abner Pingreys thence down the main Road to Derry line and to Cornings and from the great Road to Wm. Perhams.
   No. 7 shall begin at John Browns house so called down by Capt. Perhams toward's Adamses and Pages to Derry line and to Benjamin Giles and to the Road leading to E. Cornings and from David Dickey to De[r]ry line towards Joseph Moors and towards Major Akins to the Eastward of the pond and to include Nehemiah Merrill.
   No. 8 shall begin at and take Nathaniel Baker thence by Moors to Litchfield line and towards William Perhams to the Rolling place and from the main Road to Smiths ferry.

John Perham, } Daniel Hall,     } Joseph Moor,  }

COMMITTEE.

{  David Flint, {  Benj. F. Stark. {

This system of Districts remains mainly the same to the present day.

THE STREETS, COURTS AND PLACES in Manchester, according to the Directory, are as follows, viz:

   Amherst, from Elm, Arcade B. to Beech, and continuous. Amherst, from Main, P., to Catholic Burying Ground. Ash, from Lowell to Orange, 1st east of Beech. Auburn, from State, north of Cemeteryy, across Elm to Union.
   Beech, from Merrimack to Orange. 1st north of Union. Beanville, at the head of Manchester. Bedford, from Central to Wier. west of R. R. Depot. Belmont, all east of Wilson. Birch, from Lowell to Bridge, 1st east of Elm. Bowman pl. opens on High, P. Bridge, from Canal north of Stark Mill, across Elm and Maple and continuous. Brook, from upper canal to Oak and the Reservoir.
   Canal, from Auburn to Bridge and Amoskeag, east of R. R. Depot. Cedar, from Franklin to Union, south of the Park. Central, from Bedford. north of R. R. Depot to Union. Charles, from Spring to Bridge west of Kidder's B. Chester, n, head Amherst, Towlesville. Chestnut, N. from Concord, centre of Concord sq. to Hooksett Road. Chestnut, S, from the south gate of Concord sq. to the Cem'y. Church, from Lowell St., Church to Bridge. Church court, from Manchester, Baptist Church. Clinton, from Maine to West, P. concord, st., Towlesville. Crescent pl. opens on Bridge, opp. Birch
   Depot, from Canal, east of Freight Depot, to Elm. Derry road, to the town of Derry. Derry St. near head of Amherst, Towlesville. Dunbarton, from Front, A.
   East. from Granite, P. Elm, principal business street north and south. First, from Mill to Bridge, A. Franklin, from Market, west of church, to Valley. Front, from Hooksett line and continuous, A.
   Goffstown road, from Front, A. Granite, from Elm, via Granite bridge, to Pleasant, P. Green, from Franklin, south of Hall, to the Cem'y. Grove, from Franklin. south of Green, to the Cem'y. Gore, from Oak to Russell, north of the Reservoir. Gooden's avenue, from 9 Central.
   Hall, from Franklin. south of Auburn, to the Cem'y. Hallsville, head of Spruce and Cedar. Hanover, from Elm, opp. City Hall, to Towlesville. Harrison, from north Hooksett road, Elm to N. Chestnut. Harvey road, from Nutt to Moor's village. High, from N. Chestnut, south of Tremont sq. to Union. High from Amherst to Mast, P.
   Jane, Janesville to Lowell. Janesville, head of Bridge and Pearl.
   Kidder's court, rear North Grammar School.
   Laurel, from S. Chestnut, Merrimack sq., to Rye Field.
   Main. from Amoskeag. through Piscataquog village. Mammoth road. south to Lowell, Mass. Manchester, from 86 Elm to Beach. Maple, from Bridge, north Janesville Steam Mill, to Brook. Market, from Elm, City Hall, to Canal. Mast, from Main. west, via Piscataquog River. Mechanic, from Elm, north of Central B. to Canal. Mechanic' court, from 12 Concord, opp. Concord sq. Mechanics' row, rear Blodget Paper Mill, lower canal. Merrimack, from Canal across Elm, south of Manchester house, to the Rye field. Methodist court, from 4 Methodist Church. Middle from New Mill counting room to Franklin Mill, from the river to Canal, south of Amoskeag Mill. Mill, from Amoskeag Island to Front, A. Myrtle, from Elm to Russell.
   Nashua, from Concord. Towlesville, to Bridge. Nutt road, south from Elm.
   Orange, from Elm to Union, 1st north of Pearl. Oak, from Myrtle to Gore, south west of the Reservoir.
   Park, from Elm, north of South Grammar School, to Belmont. Pearl, from Elm to Union, north of Bridge. Pine, from Orange, east of Concord sq. and the Cemetery to Valley. Pine grove, Manchester, west of Wilson's HIll, Pleasant, from Elm, south of the Museum B., to Canal. Pleasant, from walnut to Granite, P. and continuous. Prospect, from Elm to Russell, north of Orange.
   Second, from Mill to Bridge, A. South Chestnut, from Amherst to the Cemetery. State, from Mill to Valley, east of lower Canal. Stark, from Elm, Patten's Block, to Canal. Sumner, from Franklin, south of Auburn, to State. Spring. from Elm, south of North Grammar School, to Canal. Spruce, E. from Union, east of the Park, to Pine. Spruce, W. from Elm to Chestnut, east of the Park.
   Towlesville, head of Concord and Amherst. Third, from Mill to Bridge, A.
   Union, from Orange, east of Tremont sq., to Valley.
   Valley, from the river south of the Cem'y to Union. Vine, from Amherst west of Concord sq., to Concord.
   Walnut, from Amherst, opp. Hanover, sq., to Orange. Walnut, from Main to Pleasant, P. and continues. Water from Elm, opp. Elm St House, to Canal. Water, Janesville, above steam mill. Weir, from State, on the lower canal weir, to Franklin, West, Walnut to Clinton, P. Willow from Valley, west of the Cem'y, to Auburn. Wilson row, Bridge street. Wilson, from Hallsville to Janesville.

Of these streets, Elm is the most capacious and extensive one in the city and is intended for the business street. It runs nearly north and south and is already laid out from beyond Ray Brook on the north, to Bakersville on the south, a distance of some over two miles. It is 100 feet in width, having spacious sidewalks and ample room for carriages. A row of elms was originally planted in the centre of the street, and hence its name. The trees were long since destroyed, the gas from leaky pipes destroying the last in 1855. It is perhaps well that the design of trees in the centre of the street has been abandoned, for the street now is hardly wide enough for the continuous travel, and with an increasing population and business, the proposed trees, however healthful, would have been much in the way of travel. The street now extends south only to Bakersville but will ere long be extended farther. Bakersville is a small village, built upon the old, or river road to Litchfield, upon the farm of the late Jesse Baker; and hence its name.--It is about a mile south of the City Hall and comprises mainly School District No. 3. Like Hallsville, it has been built up by people who preferred cheap and eligible lots at a short distance from the centre of business, rather than to pay the high prices for which the Company's lands had been sold. Elm street being already extended to it, and ere long to pass still farther south, Bakersville will be merged in the city proper, and with its light wooden cottages, will present a pleasant contrast to the brick, stone and slate of the Elm street of today. So of North Elm street. That part of it above the Falls is to be built without restrictions to brick, or stone and slate, and will be one of the most pleasant parts of it.

Parallel to this street, and west of it, are Canal and Franklin, Bedford and State streets, and east of it, Vine, Church, Birch, Chestnut, Pine, Union, Walnut, and Beceh streets.

At right angles to the above streets, are, Orange, Pearl, Bridge, Washington, High, Lowell, Concord, Amherst, Hanover, Manchester, Merrimack, Laurel, Central, Park, Granite, Spruce, Cedar, Auburn, Summer, Hall, Weir, Green, Grove and Valley streets.

Of these, Lowell and Concord streets are already extended over the Hall Hill eastward to the Mammoth Road; and most of the others at right angles to Elm street will eventually be extended to the Mammoth Road, while Union street extends from Park street north over the Stark Hill a distance of nearly three miles; Pine street extends from Harrison street south, nearly two miles to the road from the Centre to Merrill's Ferry, and is to be extended still farther; Chestnut street extends from the Valley Cemetery north to the Hooksett Road more than a mile, and Canal street extends from the Falls to Granite street and can be extended either way indefinitely, the old river road being an extension of it north to the city line.