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MARSHES DIVIDED INTO SHARES

We shall now resume our narrative of town affairs, from the close of Chapter III, where it had been brought down to the time when a royal government was about to be established in New Hampshire.

Near the close of the year 1680, a new feature was introduced into the management of the common meadows and marshes, which, historically considered, is important, as indicating progress. Hitherto, the sweepage of these grounds had been controlled by the town, the income from them being divided among the proprietors, in proportion to their several interests. It was not ordered, that they should be divided into shares, and assigned by lot to individuals, according to their respective rights, to be held for six years, and then exchanged, or rather a new assignment made for the next six years, and so on, till a difference arrangement should be agreed upon. The meadows, however, were still to lie unfenced, as before.

Henry Roby and Sergt. Joseph Dow were appointed to lay out these common lands into shares, and it was agreed, that those persons to whom Alder Meadow and Hassocky Meadow ¹[Alder Meadow lies on the upper road to Little River, commonly called the Lobb's Hole road; and extends thence easterly to the Twelve Shares, so called. Hassocky Meadow is that, on the border of which, a shingle-mill formerly stood, on the road to Little river, which begins at the school-house in the east part of the town.] should fall, might have the privilege of clearing them by flowing, or in some other way, at their option. As both these meadows lay on Nilus brook, it would be easy to flow them by building dams across that stream at the lower side of each.

TWO BOARDS OF LOT-LAYERS.

The next year, on the 21st of March, a new arrangement was agreed upon and adopted, in the choice of measure of land, or lot-layers. Hitherto, only one board had been chosen, and that for the whole town; now, two sets were chosen, one for that part of the town lying north of Taylor's river, and the other for the part lying south of that river. Lieut. John Sanborn and John Tuck were chosen for the north side, and Thomas Philbrick and Edward Gove for the south side.

SAMUEL DALTON'S DEATH;
A NEW TOWN CLERK CHOSEN.

In the latter part of the summer of 1681, the office of town clerk became vacant by the death of Samuel Dalton, who had held it from his first election in 1653, a period of almost twenty-eight years, without -- as far as it appears from the records -- being at any time reelected. But now, it becoming necessary to make a new choice, on the 13th of October, Henry Dow was elected, who was "carefully to keep the Town Books and Records;" and Lieut. John Sanborn and Mr. Henry Roby were appointed to go with him, to see that the books were received from him who had the custody of them after the death of the recent incumbent. Back to previous chapter -- Forward to next section -- Return to Table of Contents