The “History of Gilmanton”

• The “History of Gilmanton, New Hampshire” is a compilation of facts derived from various sources, including oral and written records, by author Daniel Lancaster.
• The book covers the history of Gilmanton from its first settlement to the present time, including its proprietary, civil, literary, ecclesiastical, biographical, genealogical, and miscellaneous history.
• The author relied on written authorities such as town records, historical sketches, and biographical dictionaries, and also used oral and traditionary testimony where written documents were lacking.
• The town of Gilmanton was granted in 1727 to 24 persons by the name of Gilman and 153 others as compensation for services rendered in defense of the country.

Proprietors' Charter

• The charter required the proprietors to build 70 dwelling houses, settle a family in each, and clear three acres of ground within three years, as well as build a meeting-house for public worship within four years.
• The town was originally called Gilmantown and was bounded by Lake Winnipisiogee, New Durham Gore, Barnstead, New Hampshire, Canterbury, New Hampshire, and the Winnipisiogee River.
• The town’s geography features a rocky and hilly surface, with the Suncook Range running through it, and several streams and rivers, including the Winnipisiogee, Suncook, and Soucook Rivers.

Proprietors of Gilmanton

• The town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire was granted to various proprietors, including Nicholas Gilman, Esq., John Gilman, Esq., and others, by the Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire, Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet, in 1727.
• The grant included a tract of land with specific boundaries, and the proprietors were required to build 70 dwelling houses, settle families, and clear land for planting within three years.
• The charter also required the construction of a meeting house for public worship within four years and reserved shares for the first minister, parsonage, and school in the town.

Notable Individuals

• Rev. Nicholas Gilman Jr. was born on January 18, 1707, graduated from Harvard University College in 1724, and was ordained at Durham in 1742.
• Col. Peter Gilman, son of Major John Gilman, was born on February 6, 1704, and commanded a regiment in the French War in 1755.
• Dr. Josiah Gilman, the youngest son of Nicholas Gilman Esq., was born on February 25, 1710, and served as Clerk of the Proprietors for about thirty years, drawing the second plan of the town.
• Nathaniel Weare was born in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1631 and lived in Newbury and Hampton, New Hampshire, holding various positions including counsellor.
• Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet, Lieut. Governor, signed the Charter of Gilmanton, New Hampshire and was a prominent figure in New Hampshire’s history, with his descendants also holding important positions.
• Other notable individuals mentioned include Samuel Shute, Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and Theodore Atkinson, one of the Proprietors of Gilmanton and a Masonian Proprietor.
• Theodore Atkinson held various positions, including First Lieutenant, Clerk of the Court, Commissioner to Canada, and Chief Justice of the Superior Court, and died on September 22, 1779.
• Other notable individuals mentioned include George Jaffrey, Richard Wibird, Col. Shadrach Walton, Col. Thomas Westbrooke, and John Ffrost, who all held important positions in the government and society of New Hampshire.

Settlement of Gilmanton

• The original proprietors of Gilmanton, New Hampshire lived primarily in Phillips Exeter Academy and vicinity, and the town was settled mainly by their descendants, with the early settlers of New Hampshire divided into four classes based on their origins and settlement patterns.
• The Proprietors of Gilmanton appointed committees to survey and lay out lots in the town, with Edward Gilman and others playing key roles in the process.
• The first division of 40-acre lots was laid out, and a committee consisting of Joseph Hall, Edward Gilman, and Jethro Pearson visited the town to mark out the lots and build a block house.
• A second division of lots was laid out, with a committee including Jeremy Calf, Benjamin Rollins, and Oliver Smith, and later expanded to include others, tasked with laying out the lots and building a house for shelter.
• The committees reported on their progress, including the clearing of pathways, building of block houses, and examination of the land, with expenses and payments recorded.

Obstacles to Settlement

• Proprietors were encouraged to settle in the town, with offers of payment and the opportunity to choose lots together, but initial proposals were not successful.
• The settlement of Gilmanton, New Hampshire was delayed due to the French War and the presence of French and Indian scouting parties in the area, making it perilous for settlers.
• The Proprietors of Gilmanton attempted to encourage settlement by offering incentives, such as 50 acres of land to settlers who would build a dwelling house and improve the land, but these efforts were unsuccessful due to the ongoing war and Indian hostilities.
• A new obstacle arose with the Masonian claim, where John Tufton Mason held a claim on lands in New Hampshire, including Gilmanton, which was transferred to the Masonian Proprietors, causing settlers to be unwilling to occupy the land without an undisputed title, but a quit-claim deed was eventually obtained in 1752.
• The Proprietors of Gilmanton were required to lay out the reserved land, make a division, and create a plan of the whole township within 10 months.
• The settlement of Gilmanton was to be made according to the charter directions within three years, unless an Indian war occurred, in which case the time would be extended.
• The Masonian Proprietors, including Theodore Atkinson, Mark Hunking Wentworth, and others, purchased shares of the land and were responsible for the settlement and development of Gilmanton.
• The progress of the settlement was hindered by the Second French War, and the Proprietors played a significant role in the war efforts, including the expedition against the French forts in 1755.
• Notable Proprietors, such as Col. Nathaniel Meserve and Col. John Moffat, served in the war and made significant contributions to the colony’s defense.
• Rogers and the Starks selected able-bodied men for the ranging service, including several Proprietors of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, who were put under pay of the Crown and performed various services, including skirmishing with the enemy and procuring intelligence.
• The Rangers' last distinguished service was an assault on the St. Francis Indians in 1759, resulting in the death of 200 Indians and the burning of their village.

Laying out the Town

• After the war, the Proprietors began to settle the town, with a committee appointed to lay out a 6-mile parish and divide the land into 100-acre lots, which were then assigned to settlers who gave bonds to settle the land.
• The town of Gilmanton was laid out into lots at several different periods, with the first division laid out in 1732, consisting of five ranges of 40-acre lots.
• The town had several block houses, including one near the southeast corner of the first division, and others near the outlet of the Lake and at Block House Pond.
• The Proprietors built mills, including a saw mill and a grist mill, with the saw mill being erected by Stephen Butler in 1761 and the grist mill being put into operation in 1763.
• Roads were laid out, including a cart path from Epsom, New Hampshire to Gilmanton, New Hampshire in 1761 and the Province Road from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Canada in 1770, with taxes being laid on the town to pay for the latter.
• The town has several natural features with Indian names, including Winnipissiogee Lake and River, Suncook River and Pond, and Loon Pond, with the origins and meanings of these names being largely unknown.

Early Settlers

• The area now known as Gilmanton was initially settled by hunters, including those who camped on the western shore of Shellcamp Pond in the winter of 1749-1750.
• The first white woman to set foot in Gilmanton was Hannah Mudgett, who arrived on December 26, 1761, with her husband Benjamin Mudgett, and they spent the winter there with a few other families.
• In 1762, seven more families joined the settlement, including those of Thomas and Jonathan Edgerly, Samuel Gilman, and others, who selected their lots in the lower division of 100 acres.
• A committee was appointed to lay out the surplus land into 100-acre lots, divide the Masonian shares, and select the Minister’s right and Parsonage, and School lots, which helped the settlement move forward rapidly.
• William III of England Badger walked 60 miles to Haverhill, Massachusetts, but died the following spring due to fatigue and exposure.
• Jeremiah Conner and his family moved to Gilmanton, New Hampshire in 1763, and his daughter Mary recalled the challenging journey through deep snow.
• Several other families, including Jeremiah Richardson, John Fox, and Gilman Lougee, also arrived in Gilmanton in 1763, facing difficulties due to the deep snow.
• By the end of 1763, there were 20 families in town, and in 1764, the Proprietors laid out a road from Canterbury, New Hampshire to the grist mill, and more families arrived, including Capt. Siimmershec Gilman, Capt. John Moody, and John Sanborn.
• In the following years, more families settled in Gilmanton, including Nicholas Gilman, Samuel Morrison, Joseph Philbrook, and Ephraim Morrill, who established themselves and began to build the community.
• A woman got lost in the woods near the house of Mr. John Gilman and had to spend the night there, praying and singing to keep herself safe until her husband found her the next morning.
• In 1767, several important families, including Lieut. Jeremiah Cogswell and John Gilman, arrived in the settlement.
• The population of the town grew to 45 families, totaling 250 people, with 139 males and 111 females, and the inhabitants began to hold town meetings.
• The Proprietary History will now be combined with the Civil History, as the inhabitants had become numerous enough to manage their own affairs.

Civil History

• The first town meeting was held in 1766, and subsequent annual town meetings were held, with the first annual town meeting taking place in 1767.
• New settlers, including Dr. William III of England Smith, the first physician, arrived in the town in 1768, and the town continued to grow and develop.
• In 1770, Edward Scribner Mudgett, John Buzzell, Reuben Allen, Jonathan Clark, and Simeon Hatch established themselves as citizens of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, and the annual town meeting was held at Jonathan Edgerly’s.
• The Proprietors held their last meeting in Phillips Exeter Academy in June 1770 and voted to hold future meetings in Gilmanton, with Joseph Badger appointed as Clerk.
• The town of Gilmanton was formed into Strafford County, New Hampshire in 1771, and the annual town meeting was held at Col. Antipas Gilman’s house, where the town voted to raise funds for various expenses, including the hiring of a minister and the collection of taxes.
• In response to the battle at Lexington, 12 inhabitants of Gilmanton, led by Lieut. Ebenezer Eastman, volunteered and marched to the rescue, with Eastman later commanding a company in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
• Lieut. Eastman’s company was part of the detachment sent to Breed’s Hill to throw up an entrenchment, and although they didn’t occupy the entrenchment, they played a significant role in the battle, galling the British as they advanced.
• The town of Gilmanton contributed to the war effort, with 16 soldiers enlisted in 1776 to reinforce the Northern Army, and 20 men obtained in 1777 for the Continental Army, with the town paying taxes to support the enlistment and agreeing to allow those who had already served to be freed from paying taxes.
• John Stark’s Brigade, including men from Gilmanton, New Hampshire, played a significant role in the defense of the Western frontiers against Burgoyne’s Army, particularly in the Battle of Bennington, Vermont.
• Many officers and soldiers from Gilmanton, who were part of Rogers' Rangers, exhibited bravery and valor in the American Revolutionary War, contributing to the American Forces' success.
• The town of Gilmanton held various meetings to discuss and vote on matters such as supplying families of absent soldiers, forming a permanent plan of government, and hiring soldiers to meet the town’s quota in the Continental Army.
• In 1782, the town of Gilmanton had 8 recorded marriages and a committee was appointed to examine the Constitution formed by the Convention at Concord, New Hampshire, which the town later voted to reject.
• The town voted not to furnish further soldiers for the War after the Independence of United States was acknowledged by Great Britain, and made provisions for the support and comfort of the soldiers' families.
• The town of Gilmanton played an active part in framing the State Constitution, with Hon. Joseph Badger as a delegate in the Convention, and eventually accepted the Plan of Government proposed by the Convention with amendments.
• The Convention met for the ninth time in October 1783, with Gen. Nathaniel Folsom as President pro tem, and established the Constitution to take effect on the first Wednesday in June 1784.
• The Constitution was drafted by a committee that included Messrs. Pickering and Sewall, and it has been in operation since its establishment, with some revisions.

State Constitution

• The document also provides biographical notices of several members of the Convention, including Hon. John Pickering (judge), Dr. Ammi R. Cutter, Jonathan M. Sewall, and others, who played important roles in the formation of the Constitution and the state government.

Town Meetings

• The town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire held various meetings between 1784 and 1791 to discuss and vote on matters such as road repairs, school districts, and taxation.
• During this period, the town accepted the new Constitution and voted for representatives to the State Legislature and Congress, with notable figures including Meshech Weare, John Sullivan (general), and Joseph Badger.
• The town also dealt with issues such as currency depreciation, taxation, and support for the poor, with decisions made to raise funds for schools, pay bounties for wolf hunting, and provide assistance to individuals in need.
• New settlers arrived in the town each year, including Samuel Brown, Abel Hunt, and Dr. Obadiah Parish, among others.
• The town established committees to oversee road repairs, school districts, and other matters, with members such as Col. Antipas Oilman, Col. Joseph Badger, and Simeon Hoit playing key roles.
• The town of Gilmanton held annual meetings from 1791 to 1800, where various decisions were made, including voting on town officials, building bridges, and establishing schools.
• The town voted on various proposals, such as rebuilding the pound, building a bridge over the Winnipissiogee River, and creating a new school district.
• The town also made decisions on taxation, liquor sales, and the establishment of a public Academy, with the town voting to locate the Academy on a specific site.
• The town elected officials, including Governor John Taylor Gilman, Counsellor Joseph Badger, and Senator Ebenezer Smith, and voted on various town business, including the appropriation of funds for schools and infrastructure projects.
• The town also made decisions regarding the sale of liquor, with restrictions on sales on public meeting days and court days, and voted on the construction of a stone bridge and a Court House.
• New settlers arrived in the town, including Samuel Thurston, Henry Plummer, and Dr. Silver, among others.
• The town established rules and regulations, including the requirement for citizens to pay their proportion of building or repairing school houses, and the prohibition of selling spirituous liquors on public meeting days or court days without a license.

Town By-Laws

• The town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire adopted a by-law on March 10, 1801, to prevent neat cattle, sheep, and swine from going at large on highways and near certain locations, including Meredith, New Hampshire Bridge and meeting houses, during the winter season.
• The town held annual meetings from 1803 to 1807, during which various decisions were made, including the election of Selectmen, collectors, and constables, such as Dudley Leavitt, Nathan Morrill, and John Chase.
• The town established a house of correction, with a Superintendent to oversee it, and adopted by-laws to govern its operation, including rules for the treatment and employment of inmates, with Samuel Greely, Samuel Shepard, and other committee members playing a role in its establishment.
• The town of Gilmanton voted against setting off the upper Parish as a separate town to be annexed to Meredith and instead chose to raise funds to rebuild Gilmanlon Academy after it was consumed by fire.
• In 1811, committees were chosen to appropriate interest from lots of land for the support of the Ministry in Gunstock and Tioga, and a bounty was voted for wolves, whelps, and wild cats.
• The town of Gunstock was eventually disannexed from Gilmanton and erected into a separate town called Gilford, New Hampshire in 1812, with a proportionate division of town charges and responsibility for supporting non-resident paupers.
• The town experienced an epidemic of Spotted Fever in 1813 and 1814, and the town voted to grant assistance to afflicted families and appointed a Health Committee to seek out persons in distress.
• Rules were adopted in 1815 and 1816 regarding the support of town paupers, including putting them up for auction and refusing licenses to taverners who permitted excess drinking.
• The town also passed laws regarding the erection of stocks, inspection of schools, and restrictions on animals roaming at large near the Academy and stores.

Highways and Mills

• The town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire began laying out highways and roads after taking over its civil affairs, with the first roads being laid out in 1767.
• Many roads were built between 1767 and 1808, with various individuals and locations being mentioned, including the construction of bridges such as Suncook Bridge, Meredith, New Hampshire Bridge, Folsom’s Bridge, Union Bridge, and others.
• The town also had several mills, including grist mills, saw mills, fulling mills, and other machinery, with some of the earliest mills being built by Joshua Bean, Jonathan Clark, and Abner Evans.
• Gilmanton had several lumber mills, including Greely’s Mills, Eastman’s Mills, and Fellows' Mills, which were built and operated throughout its history.

Parishes and Villages

• The town was divided into parishes, including Lower Gilmanton, New Hampshire, Upper Gilmanton, and Gunstock Parishes, each with its own distinct character and businesses.
• Various villages emerged, such as Iron Works Village, Lougee Town, and Academy Village, each with its own history, industries, and notable residents, including merchants, lawyers, physicians, and tavern keepers.
• The village of Gilmanton began to grow in 1799 when the County Courts were first held there, leading to an increase in business and population.
• By 1820, the village had 200 inhabitants, 30 dwelling houses, two taverns, four stores, and various mechanic shops, with notable merchants including James Pickering, Thomas Burns, and Benjamin Swett.
• The village also had a post office established in 1796, with Dudley Leavitt as the first Postmaster, and later Stephen Moody, who held the office for 27 years.

Education

• The town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire prioritized education, hiring a teacher for eight months in 1769 and building two school houses in 1770.
• The first school master was Rev. William III of England Parsons, who taught in private houses before school houses were erected, and was paid for his services by the town.
• Other notable teachers in Gilmanton included Dr. William Smith, Eliphalet Wood, and Rev. Samuel Hidden, who played important roles in the town’s educational history.
• The town received a donation of £50 from Hon. John Phillips in 1776 to hire teachers, and later established 33 school districts, with instruction given to children for three to nine months a year.
• The town of Gilmanton appointed a superintending School Committee to oversee the town schools and examine teachers.
• In 1792, a Committee of 20 men was chosen to consider establishing a public Academy in Gilmanton, which was deemed useful and beneficial to the inhabitants.
• The town voted to grant the school right to the Academy, and a charter was obtained on June 20, 1794, establishing Gilmanton, New Hampshire Academy with Trustees including Hon. Joseph Badger, Rev. Isaac Smith, and others.
• The first meeting of the Trustees of the Gilmanton Academy was held on September 23, with Joseph Badger as President, Joseph Parsons as Clerk, and Ebenezer Smith as Treasurer.
• The Academy’s funds were initially £500, and the first Preceptor was Peter L. Folsom, who was employed in 1797 and held the office for about six years.
• The Academy Building was destroyed by fire in 1808, but was rebuilt, and the institution continued to grow, with various trustees and preceptors being elected over the years, including Stephen Moody, who served as Treasurer for 35 years.

Notable Figures

• The children of Joseph Woodman include Joseph, Anna, Polly, Esther, John, Aaron, and Charles, with notable achievements such as Aaron founding the Woodman Sanbornton, New Hampshire Academy and Charles graduating from Dartmouth College and becoming a Representative and Speaker of the House.
• Rev. Jedediah Tucker, Rev. Simon Finley Williams, Rev. Gilbert Tennent, and other ministers played significant roles in the history of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, with some serving as pastors, practicing medicine, and holding public offices.
• Notable figures such as Hon. Ebenezer Smith, Rev. Abraham Bodwell, Rev. William III of England Patrick, and Rev. Enoch Corser made significant contributions to the town’s history, including serving as judges, senators, and pastors, and founding academies and churches.
• Rev. Mr. Corser preached at Northfield for five years and then supplied the Church at Plymouth, while his son Samuel Bartlett Gerrish Corser graduated from Dartmouth College and became Preceptor of Holmes Plymouth Academy.
• Francis Cogswell, Esq., graduated from Dartmouth College, practiced law, and later became an agent and part owner of a manufacturing establishment in Andover, Ms.
• Various individuals, including Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, Rev. Nathan Lord, and Rev. Jonathan Clement, are mentioned as having graduated from colleges, studied divinity, and gone on to become pastors or preceptors at various institutions.
• A list of preceptors of Gilmanton Academy is provided, including their years of service and notable achievements, such as Calvin Selden, Samuel A. Kimball, and Cyrus Mann, who went on to practice law, teach, or become pastors.
• Rev. Elliott C. Cogsivell, Rev. Daniel Tenney, and Joshua M. Pitman were notable individuals associated with the Gilmanton, New Hampshire Academy, with each having their own educational background and career paths.
• The Gilmanton Academy had several preceptresses, including Miss Ann W. Clark, Miss Mary H. Adams, and Miss Mary A. Parker, who were educated at various academies and went on to teach or get married.
• The Theological Seminary was established in 1835, with Rev. Heman Rood as Professor of Theology, and Rev. Aaron Warner as Professor of Sacred Rhetoric, aiming to provide education for those preparing for the Gospel Ministry.
• The financial struggles of 1841-1842 affected the Seminary, leading to a decrease in students and the resignation of Professors Warner and Rood in 1843.
• Rev. William III of England Cogswell was appointed President and Professor of Christian Theology in 1843, and other faculty members were appointed or resigned during this period, including Rev. Charles Tenney and Rev. Isaac Bird.
• A Board of Visitors was established in 1844 to oversee the Seminary’s finances and ensure the proper use of donations, with members including Rev. Abraham Burnham, Rev. Jonathan Curtis, and Rev. John Kimball Young.
• The Advocate was published from 1835 to May 1839, and after its discontinuation, other publications such as the Parent’s Magazine and the Biblical Journal were issued from the same press.

Religious Instruction

• The Proprietors of Gilmanton, New Hampshire made provisions for the town’s religious instruction, including a grant of land for a Minister and a Parsonage, and voted to raise £500 to employ a Minister in 1763.
• Rev. William III of England Parsons was the first Minister to preach in Gilmanton, starting in 1763, and Rev. Isaac Smith began preaching in the town in 1774, eventually becoming the settled Minister with a salary of £100 per annum.
• JVatkanicl Porter was born in Topsfield, Ms., in 1745, and had a long career as a minister, eventually receiving the degree of D. D. from Harvard University and Dartmouth College Colleges in 1814.
• Isaac Smith was called to be the pastor of the Congregational Church in Gilmanton, and he accepted the call on November 12, 1774, with the expectation of a salary and support from the congregation.
• The Congregational Church in Gilmanton was formally gathered on November 30, 1774, with five original members, and Isaac Smith was constituted as the Pastor, with the help of various other ministers, including Rev. Mr. McClintock, Rev. Mr. Walker, and Rev. Mr. Foster.
• Timothy Upham and his wife Hannah Upham are mentioned, with Timothy dying in 1811 and Hannah dying in 1797.

Congregational Society

• The Congregational Society in Gilmanton, New Hampshire made various decisions regarding their meeting house, including selling pews, finishing the gallery, and raising funds for repairs.
• The town of Gilmanton had a complex relationship with Rev. Isaac Smith, with the town initially paying his salary but later attempting to divide ministerial lands and questioning their obligation to support him, leading to a lawsuit that was eventually settled.
• Josiah Carpenter was a respected minister whose ministry saw 114 join the church, 312 baptisms, 396 marriages, and 1,141 deaths.
• A revival in 1817 added 45 members to the church, with many young people joining, and was led by Rev. Jesse Stratton and Rev. Luke A. Spofford.
• Rev. Luke A. Spofford was ordained as the successor to Rev. Mr. Smith on June 9, 1819, and his ministry saw 30 added to the church, mostly due to a revival in 1823.
• Rev. Daniel Lancaster was ordained on September 21, 1825, and his ministry saw 85 added to the church, with 118 baptisms and over 100 funerals, before being dismissed in 1832 due to lack of support.
• The meeting house in Gilmanton, New Hampshire was erected on June 22, 1826, and dedicated to the service of Almighty God on September 20, 1827, with Rev. Mr. Rood preaching the sermon.
• Rev. Daniel Lancaster supplied the church with preaching and later became the pastor, with a revival in 1834 adding 76 members to the church.
• The Iron Works Church was formed in 1829, with Rev. Mr. Lancaster preaching, and Rev. Charles G. SafFord was ordained as pastor in 1831, serving for 4 years and 9 months before being dismissed due to ill health.

Other Churches

• The Baptists in Gilmanton was first organized on November 16, 1773, with original members including Orlando Weed, Thomas Edgerly, and Samuel Weeks, and had several pastors, including Elder Walter Powers and Rev. Phinehas Richardson.
• The Rev. William III of England Parsons was ordained in Methuen, MA, in 1817, and later moved to Gilmanton, New Hampshire in 1818, where he preached and performed ministerial duties for 10 years.
• A Methodist Church was established in Gilmanton in 1807, with the first class having 31 members, and later a Brick Meeting House was erected in 1827.
• A Christian Baptist Society was organized in 1839, with Elder Richard Davis as its supervisor, and a meeting house was built in the Factory Village in 1840.
• A Society of Friends was formed in 1780, and a Congregational Society was recently formed in the Upper Parish of Gilmanton.

Rev. William Parsons

• The Rev. William III of England Parsons was a prominent minister in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, who preached and performed duties for 10 years, and was also a teacher of the youth in the early settlement of the town.
• Martha Coit, the wife, led family prayers after her husband’s death, positively influencing their children.
• Three of her sons, Francis, Lemuel, and Joseph, settled in Plainfield, New Hampshire, N. H., and established farms.
• Francis underwent a significant character change, becoming more religious after initially being prodigal with his inheritance.