Carroll County
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Burton, now Albany, was granted November 6, 1766, by Benning Wentworth for George III, with these limitations; —
Boundaries. Beginning at the middle of the west side line of Conway and from thence to run west until the line so run west shall intersect a line run north from the northeasterly r of an additional grant to the township of Sandwich, thence by sd last mentioned line to the addition of Sandwich afores'd and thence on to Tamworth, thence easterly by Tamworth to the northeast corner thereof, thence a strait line by the township of Eaton to the northwesterly corner of a tract of land granted to officers late in His Majesty's service, thence by said officers' lands to the southwesterly corner of Conway to the bounds first mentioned. Walter Bryant was to call the first town meeting.
Albany is bounded north by Bartlett, east by Conway, south by Tamworth
and Madison, west by Waterville. It has an area of 36,700 acres.
Burton was at first in Grafton county; in 1800 it was annexed to
Strafford county. In 1833 the name was changed to Albany.
Grantees: Clement March, Esq., Joseph Senter, Sam'l Gilman, Sam'l Senter, Moses Senter, Reuben Senter, Benj'n Senter, Aron Senter, Wm Butterfield, Medad Combs, Winker Wright, Rob Flatcher, David Senter, Philip Fowler, Jun., Jacob Fowler, Hubartis Mattoon, Jacob Gilman, Sam'l Peas, Cap't Israel Gilman, Rob Barber, Rob't Pike, Walter Bryent, Esq'r., Cap't. Israel Gilman, Jr., Nath'l Tilton, Bradstreet Gilman, Jerem'h Gilman, Peter Folsom, Simon Gilman, Jeremy Bryent. .John Bryent, John Judkins, John Pike. Nath'l Roberson, David Gilman, Stephen Mason, Geo. Place, John McDuffie, John Burleigh, Walter Bryent, Jr, Esq., Ed'wd Smith, Ed. Hall Bergin, John Folsom, Capt. Jerem'h Folsom, Jr, Jona. Moulton, Esq., Josiah Moulton, Charles Rogers, Jas. Rogers, Ephraim Berry, Will'm Rogers, S. Tibbetts, Oliver Pevey, Joseph York, Zach'h Foss, Joshua Furber, John Mason, John Smart, Jr, Giles Seaward, Jon'n Warner, Esq., Paul March, Esq., Daniel Pierce, Esq., Theodore Atkinson, Esq. Five hundred acres for his Excellency Benning Wentworth, one share for the first settled Minister and one share for a school.
We find from the proprietors' records of Burton, which commence in 1780,
that the first "pitches" were made by Henry Weed, of twelve hundred
acres for Elisha Weed, Isaac George, Orlando Weed, William Page, Aaron
Beede, Ezekiel Gilman. Aaron Beede pitched upon one hundred acres which
he sold to Samuel Tappan; Orlando Weed pitched upon one hundred acres
for his own use; Colonel Jonathan Moulton pitched upon six hundred
acres. The proprietors' meetings were held at first at Aaron Beede's
house in Burton. David Folsom was proprietors' clerk. The town was
"lotted" in 1786. Jacob Weed, Benjamin Weeks, Henry Allard, John Jewell,
David Allen, William Gordon, were among the early settlers. Jonathan
Choate, Samuel Thompson, Cotton Dockom, James Head, Jr, came in 1791.
Caleb Brown, Nathaniel Head, Benjamin Wallace, Robert Walker, Henry
Jackman, Nathan Brown came about the same time.
Captain John
Chase was here in 1793; Joseph Little lived in the northeast corner of
the town in 1794; Enoch Hayes had one hundred acres on the southeast
side of the ridge of "Corway"; John Knowles was a settler in 1794;
Lieutenant Ambrose Hinds and Nathaniel Knowles were residents in 1798;
July 4, 1802, Colonel Jeremiah Gilman was moderator.
Albany is a
cold, mountainous town with only one tenth its acreage lying in
situation to be tilled. It has been covered with a magnificent growth of
valuable timber, and the supply seems now almost inexhaustible. The
Swift river, fifteen miles long, flows east through the town, and its
valley is hemmed on both sides by high mountains. This used to be a
paradise for hunters, and bears and deer still frequent its wild
recesses, and the mountain streams abound in trout. In October, 1866,
sixteen bears were shot or trapped. During the great land speculations
that raged in the thirties the whole township was laid into lots, the
roughest mountains as well as the valleys, and sold to New York and
Boston parties by land speculators at fanciful prices. A railroad route
from Portland to Vermont was surveyed through the town in 1839, and the
Swift River railroad is now chartered. The Bartlett Land and Lumber
Company has a railroad running into the town from their mills in
Bartlett for the conveyance of the timber they are cutting here. The
scenery of the Swift river valley is grand and impressive, and Mount
Chocorua and its surroundings are world famed. A strange disease
afflicted the cattle of the early settlers. It was called the "Burton
ail," and attributed to the curse of Chocorua. Science discovered a
remedy in soapsuds, and also in a kind of earth common to the town. In
the Swift River valley, in the southeast part, and in Birch Intervale,
are some valuable farming lands. In 1820 there were 203 inhabitants, 3
schoolhouses, 2 sawmills, and 4 gristmills. In 1850 the population was
455; in 1860, 430; in 1870, 339; in 1880, 361. The principal settlement
is in the southeast part, called South Albany. The southwest corner is
in the lovely and productive Birch Intervale. The town was settled about
1781. In 1785, Joseph Crosby, Benjamin Crosby, Orlando Weed, Elisha
Weed, Nathaniel Hayford, Ezekiel Gilman, Henry Allard, Benjamin Mead,
Isaac George, and Nathaniel Head petitioned the legislature for
authority to call a meeting to elect town officers, and state that there
is no justice of the peace of the county within forty miles. These names
were attached to a petition, under date "Burton, April, 1789,
recommending Benjamin Weeks for justice of the peace for the town.
Orlando Weed, Benjamin Meed, Levi Rundlet, Orlando Weed, Jr., Daniel
Head, Ambros Hinds, Nathaniel Head, Nathaniel Hayford, Elisher Weed,
Ezekiel Gilman, Theophelus Brown, Caleb Brown, Isaac George, Jere.
Gilman, Joseph Crosbe."
Orlando Weed was one of Albany's
earliest settlers. He discovered iron ore, immediately erected a rude
smithy, and in time made a coarse steel which was used to make springs
for traps. He also forged an anvil, and then constructed his own tools.
It is said that he also forged anchors which he drew to Portsmouth on a
car made of two poles. He was an enterprising, energetic man, was of
great use to the little community, took a prominent place in town
matters, and represented Eaton, Tamworth, and Burton in 1796. His son
Henry was the agent for the town in 1796, when the line was run Burton
and Tamworth.
Colonel Jeremiah Gilman, who commanded the second
regiment raised in the state for the Revolution, came to Burton in 1780,
and was another settler whose perseverance and industry were
instrumental in adding to the progress of the section. He built the
first "power" spinning-mill in the United States. At that time the Saco
valley produced great amounts of flax, nearly all of which was spun and
woven in the family. The cloth made here was carried on the backs of
horses to Dover, Portsmouth, and Portland, and there bartered for flour,
rum, and other necessities.
The Allard family was early here. In
1785 Henry Allard signed a petition to have a meeting called to choose
town officers. Stephen Allard was a pioneer here, and resided in Albany
until his death, September 4, 1869, aged ninety-nine years. He was a
kind, peaceful citizen, and only waged war against wild animals that
infested the neighborhood, and, being an athletic man, he usually came
out victor. Mr. Allard would entertain one for hours with of his
adventures with the wild animals in which the country abounded when he
was young. He was a man of iron constitution, and when about ninety-five
years old he slipped away from his family and walked six miles, over
poorly kept roads and with snow three feet deep, to see an old
gentleman, an early settler of Conway.
A writer of Albany in
1868 : —
About twenty miles from Conway, by the course of the river, on the Swift river interval there is a settlement of several productive and valuable farms, producing lumber, cattle, hay, cereals, potatoes, etc., but no corn, as the seasons are not long enough for it to ripen. From this settlement, by the road, it is fifty miles to the Willey House in the White Mountain Notch, while a pleasant march of less than ten miles, by a line of blazed trees, through Hart's and Sawyer's locations will bring one to the same point; while, in the other direction, a walk of seven miles across the Sandwich range, not a difficult undertaking, and Tamworth is reached, the distance by the road being fifty miles.
The valuable timber lands are very largely owned by non-residents, and
the lumber produced is the chief wealth of the town. Besides the
Bartlett Land and Lumber Company, John L. Peavey is operating heavily
here. George A. Sanders, of Nashua, has a sawmill, box factory, etc.,
near Swift river. H. A. Quint has had a sawmill here for four years.
Several others have small mills.
A Freewill Baptist Church was
organized early, not far from 1785, but records are meagre. It is
remarkable that a church should have existed so early and so long in so
small a town. Colby preached here frequently in 1811, and its membership
the next year was forty. Nineteen were added in 1824. Intestine
commotions prevented progress for a long time. In 1833 union and
reformation work increased the membership, and four years later the
membership was sixty-two. In 1842-43 thirty-one united with the church,
and the number of members was ninety-four. From this there was a rapid
declension; in 185") ten united with the church, but then there were but
forty-six members. In 1875 it was dropped from the minutes. Another
church was organized in connection with Conway, in 1832, with nineteen
members. It never had but twenty-five members, and ceased to exist in
1838.
Although Albany has been settled for a century and more,
and a church organization existed in the early days of its history, yet
during all these years there was neither church nor chapel in which
religious services could be held. The population is small and scattered
and means limited, but through the persistent energy of a few
individuals Union Chapel of Chocorua has been erected, the first church
edifice in the town, and the corner-stone was laid at Smith Albany, July
9, 1889. The exercises were conducted by the president of the society,
Miss Sarah M. Ginn, assisted by Rev. Theophilus Brown. [He was for many
years a preacher of the gospel, until age compelled him to resign his
labors here among his people.] Rev. John Buckham, of Conway, and Rev.
Alonzo Nickerson. The president gave a brief history of the society. In
the summer of 1887 a Sabbath-school was started, and its rapid growth
stimulated the people to form a church society irrespective of
denomination. In the fall of 1887, a meeting was called, officers
elected, and committee appointed, which resulted in the erection of a
substantial and commodious building, now nearly completed. Rich in the
spirit, although not in purse, they have faith in the good work. The
officers of the society are Miss Sarah M. Ginn, president; Horatio
Littlefield, Samuel Littlefield, vice-presidents; Albert Knox,
treasurer; Mrs. Samuel Littlefield, secretary; Stephen Freely, assistant
secretary; George W. Purington, Mark Knox, Mrs. G. W. Purington, Mrs. S.
Littlefield, Mrs. A. Knox, trustees.
Civil List. [Earlier town records cannot be found.]
Representatives.
— 1809, Jeremiah Gilman. 1810, Jeremiah Gilman. 1811, Nicholas Blasdell.
1812, Colman Colby. 1813, Colman Colby. 1814, Nicholas Blasdell. 1815,
John March. 1816, John March. 1817, N. Blaisdell. 1818, N. Blaisdell.
1819, John March. 1820, David Allen. 1821, Luther Richardson. 1822,
David Allard. 1823, none. 1824, none. 1825, Luther Richardson. 1826,
Enoch Merrill. 1827, Luther Richardson. 1828, David Allard, Jr.
[The town records are burned and the list we give is from the New Hampshire Register. It is very incomplete, many years being absent, but is the best source of information attainable.]
1840, Daniel Moulton, Thomas R. Hill, Chester Parrish, selectmen.
1841, James Ham, clerk; Thomas R. Hill, Daniel Moulton, Chester Parrish,
selectmen.
1842, Chester Parrish, representative; J.Nickerson, jr,
clerk; .James Dearing, Daniel Moulton, T. Russell, jr, selectmen.
1843, Russell Charles, representative; Samuel W. Merrill, clerk; Chester
Parrish, James Ham, Gilbert M. Chase, selectmen.
1844, Albany and
Chatham.
1845, no representative. S. W. Merrill, clerk; James Ham,
Gilbert M. Chase, Oliver Chase, selectmen.
1846, Samuel W. Merrill,
representative; Samuel W. Merrill, clerk; Jonathan Nickerson, Daniel
Moulton, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1847, Jonathan Fletcher,
representative; S. Merrill, clerk; J. Nickerson, E. Burbank, D. Moulton,
selectmen.
1848, Daniel Moulton, representative; S. W. Merrill,
clerk; M. P. Moulton, S. W. Merrill, O. Chase, selectmen.
1849,
Jonathan Fletcher, representative; S. W. Merrill, clerk; Oliver Chase,
jr, R. Nickerson, J. Emery, selectmen.
1850, James Ham,
representative; B. P. Roberts, clerk; O. Chase, R. Nickerson, J. Emery,
selectmen.
1851, James Ham, representative; B. P. Roberts, clerk;
James Emery, Job Kenniston, E. M. Stratton, selectmen.
1852, Chester
Parrish, representative; Henry E. Eastman, clerk.
1853, Chester
Parrish, representative; Bard. P. Roberts, clerk; Oliver Chase, William
Ross, O. W. Allard, selectmen.
1854, B. P. Roberts, representative;
B. P. Roberts, clerk; D. Allard, William Parsons, N. Currier, selectmen.
1855, Moses P. Moulton, representative; Chester Parrish, clerk;
David Allard, Oliver Chase, S. Palmer, selectmen.
1856, Moses P.
Moulton, representative; Henry E. Eastman, clerk; David Allard, James
Ham, E. Burbank, selectmen.
1857, J. Kenerson, representative; E. M.
Shallon, clerk; Nathaniel Currier, D. Allard, H. C. Burbank, selectmen.
1858, Job Kenerson, representative; E. F. Stratton, clerk; James
Ham, H. C. Burbank, G. T. Lawrence, selectmen.
1859, Thomas J.
Allard, representative; Enoch M. Stratton, clerk; Samuel Robertson,
Stephen Palmer, Chester Parrish, selectmen.
1860, Thomas J. Allard,
representative; John R. Parrish, clerk; Samuel Robertson, Ebenezer
Burbank, D. E. Smith, selectmen.
1861, George W. Bennett,
representative; James Ham, jr, clerk; Samuel Robertson, Ebenezer
Burbank, Daniel E. Smith, selectmen.
1862, no representative; John
K. Parrish, clerk; William Ross, Ebenezer Burbank, Thomas J. Allard,
selectmen.
1863, George W. Bennett, representative; John R. Parrish,
clerk; William Ross, Thomas J. Allard, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1864, Stephen W. Ayers, representative; James Ham, jr, clerk; William
Ross, Thomas J. Allard, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1865, S. W.
Ayers, representative; James Ham, jr, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, Lora
Allard, Ebenezer Burbank, selectmen.
1866, John Chase,
representative; James Ham, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, George T. Lawrence,
Cyrus O. Harriman, selectmen.
1867, Hiram S. Currier,
representative; James Ham, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, W. M. Ross, George
T. Lawrence, selectmen.
1868, Hiram S. Currier, representative;
James Ham, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, George T. Lawrence, William Ross,
selectmen.
1869, Thomas J. Allard, representative; J. R. Parrish,
clerk; T. J. Allard, J. Ham, Lora Allard, selectmen.
1870, Thomas J.
Allard, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk; T. J. Allard, Lora Allard,
E. D. Ross, selectmen.
1871, Henry E. Eastman, representative; John
R. Parrish, clerk; Thomas J. Allard, James M. Shackford, Burgess S.
Kent, selectmen.
1872, Henry E. Eastman, representative; John R.
Parrish, clerk; T. J. Allard, James M. Shackford, Burgess E. Kent,
selectmen.
1873, Hubbard C. Burbank, representative; J. R. Parrish,
clerk; J. M. Shackford, S. T. Drake, B. S. Kent, selectmen.
1874, H.
C. Burbank, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk; J. M. Shackford,
Benjamin Bickford, Hiram Mason, selectmen.
1875, Joseph Annis,
representative; H. T. Bragdon, clerk; H. C. Burbank, H. T. Bragdon, W.
T. Knox, selectmen.
1876, James M. Shackford, representative;
Thurston Smith, clerk; J. M. Shackford, Hiram Mason, Benjamin Bickford,
selectmen.
1877, Joseph Annis, representative; J. R. Parrish, clerk;
G. W. Purrington, David Hurley, John R. Parrish, selectmen.
1878,
James M. Shackford, representative; Thurston Smith, clerk; J. M.
Shackford, A. Blackey, J. L Harriman, selectmen.
1879, James M.
Shackford, representative; David Hurley, clerk; J. M. Shackford, A.
Blackey, John C. Head, selectmen.
1880, Joshua N. Piper,
representative; David Hurley, clerk; J. M. Shackford, A. Blackey, John
C. Head, selectmen.
1881, did not elect representative; John R.
Parrish, clerk; J. S. Lewis, J. N. Piper, H. C. Burbank, selectmen.
1882, Thurston Smith, clerk; James S. Shackford, Burgess S. Kent,
Ichabod Hammond, selectmen. Vote for governor: Martin V. B. Edgerly, 27;
Samuel W. Hale, 24.
1883, Onslow S. Smith, clerk; James S.
Shackford, Burgess S. Kent, Ichabod Hammond, selectmen.
1884, John
R. Parrish, clerk; James S. Shackford, Burgess S. Kent, Ichabod Hammond,
selectmen; James O. Gerry, representative. Vote for governor: James M.
Hill, .51; Moody Currier, 33. The electors for President have:
Democratic votes, 51; the Republican, 32.
1885, Samuel K. Merrill,
clerk; Burgess S. Kent, Ichabod Hammond, George W. Purington, selectmen.
Raised $415 for schools.
1886, Samuel K. Merrill, clerk; Burgess S.
Kent, Joseph Annis, Alvah Blackey, selectmen; William Kennett,
representative. Vote for governor: Thomas Cogswell, 45; Charles H.
Sawyer, 22.
1887, Samuel K. Merrill, clerk; Thomas J. Hurley, Samuel
K. Merrill, George A. Moody, selectmen.
1888, David Hurley, clerk;
Ichabod Hammond, Alvah Blackey, Anson P. Irish, selectmen; Langdon B.
Atkinson, representative. Vote for governor; Charles H. Amsden, 40;
David H. Goodell, 37. The electors for President have: Democratic votes,
40; the Republican, 37.
1889, Ichabod Hammond, clerk; James S.
Shackford, Onslow S. Smith, Anson P. Irish, selectmen. The Tax List of
1888 exhibits 89 polls; total valuation, $6,462; resident tax,
$3,070.71; non-resident, $2,932.97; rate of tax per hundred, $6.90.
Contributed 2022 Jul 10 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Carroll County, New Hampshire by Georgia Drew Merrill, published in 1889, pages 782-787.
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