xt70cf9j6p97 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70cf9j6p97/data/mets.xml New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration New Hampshire New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration 1939 [2], 66 l.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries. Call Number: FW 4.14:N 42h/no.8/v.1 books English Manchester, N.H.: The Survey This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. New Hampshire Works Progress Administration Publications Atkinson (N.H.: Town) -- Archival resources Public records -- New Hampshire -- Atkinson (Town) Atkinson (N.H.: Town) -- History -- Sources Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire. No. 8, Rockingham County, vol. 1, Atkinson, 1939 text Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire. No. 8, Rockingham County, vol. 1, Atkinson, 1939 1939 1939 2020 true xt70cf9j6p97 section xt70cf9j6p97 MT
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INVENTORY OF THE TOWN ARCHIVES

OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Prepared by
The New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Project

Division of Professional and Service Projects
work Projects Administration

No. 8

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

Vol. 1

ATKINSON

******

Manchester‘ New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Project
October 1939

The Historical Records Survey Program

Luther H. Evans, Director
Sargent B. Child, Regional Supervisor
Richard G: wood, State Supervisor

Division of Professional and Service Projects

Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner

Robert Y. Phillips, Acting Chief Regional
Supervisor

Mary H. Head. State Director

WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

F. C. Harrington, Commissioner
John J. MoDonough, Regional Director
William P. Fahey, State Administrator

F O R E W O R D

The Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire is one of a
number of bibliographies of historical materials prepared throughout
the United States by workers on the Historical Records Survey Program
of the work Projects Administration. The publication herewith
presented. an inventory of the archives of the Town of Atkinson. is
number 1 of the Rockingham County series of towns.

The Historical Records Survey Program was undertaken in the winter
of 1935-36 for the purpose of providing useful employment to needy un—
employed historians, lawyers, teachers, and research and clerical
workers. In carrying out this objectiveI the project was organized to
compile inventories of historical materials, particularly the unpub-
lished government documents and records which are basic in the admin-
istration of local government. and which provide invaluable data for
students of political, economic. and social history, The archival
guide herewith presented is intended to meet the requirements of
day—tosday administration by the officials of the town, and also the
needs of lawyers. business men and other citizens who require facts
from the public records for the proper conduct of their affairs. The
volume is so designed that it can be used by the historian in his re~
search in unprinted sources in the same way he uses the library card
catalog for printed sources.

The inventories produced by the Historical Records Survey Program
attempt to do more than give merely a list of records--they attempt
further to sketch in the historical background of the town or other
unit of government, and to describe precisely and in detail the
organization and functions of the government agencies whose records
they list. The county, town. and other local inventories for the
entire country will, when completed, constitute an encyclopedia of
local government as well as a bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records
Survey Program, even in a single town, would not be possible without
the support of public officials, historical and legal specialists,
and many other groups in the community. Their cooperation is grate—
fully acknowledged.

The Survey Program was organized and has been directed by Luther
H. Evans, and operates as a nation-wide series of locally sponsored
projects in the Division of Professional and Service Projects, of
which Mrs. Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner. is in charge

F. C. HARRINGTON
Commissioner

P R E F A C E

The Historical Records Survey was initiated in Jandary 1936 as a
nation-wide undertaking of the work Projects Administration, but did
not begin operations in New Hampshire until April 7. Prior to August
31. 1939, the Survey Was a federally sponsored project. After that
date it became a local project sponsored by the University of New
Hampshire.

The purpose of the Survey is to make accessible to lawyers,
historians, and students of government the records of state. county,
municipal, and town offices. In conjunction with this listing of
public recordst the church records. including those of defunct organi—
zations, will be inventoried so that the ground work may be laid for
research in this neglected field of social history.

This is the first published volume of a series of publications
by the New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Project concerning the
town archives of New Hampshire. Three volumes on county archives
have already appeared. A volume on church records has also been
issued. The Historical Records Survey made the first listing of the
Atkinson town records in the winter of 1937; the recheck was made in
the winter of 1939. The list of records was brought up to date in
April 1939.

The inventory of the archives of the towns of Rockingham County
is number 8 of the New Hampshire series. The Atkinson inventory is
volume 1 of the Rockingham County series.

The Survey wishes to express its appreciation for cooperation
given by Atkinson town officials. It is further indebted to the
Secretary of State for the use of transcripts of Atkinson records in
his office. Legal research for the essays was expedited by facilities
granted by the Manchester City Library, the Nashua City Library, the
New Hampshire State Library. and the City of Concord. The Work
Projects Administration of New Hampshire has been generous in its
grant of space for the editorial activities. The execution of the
frontispieoe has been by the courtesy of the Ohio Historical Records
Survey. The negative for this unusual example of Eighteenth Century
penman's skill was kindly supplied by the Reverend C. J. Tuthill
of Atkinson.

Requests for information concerning publications should be
addressed to the state supervisor, Hoyt Administration Building,
Lincoln and Silver Streets, Manchester, New Hampshire.

{Legion/1d 4/ - {.11 01%
Richard G; Wooli
Manchester, New Hampshire State Supervisor

November 1939 The Historical Records Survey

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Page
A. Town of Atkinson and its Records System

1. Historical Sketch . mm"- 3
Original Haverhill Grant of 1667 with Division
Line of 17111..
Plaistow containing Atkinson 1749 to 1767
Atkinson as Separate Town 1767 n
Present Day Atkinson in Relation to Original
Haverhill Grant and Related or Neighboring

Townships M- .. m. ....-H 13
2. Governmental Organization and Records System. .11----”14
Chart of Officers in Atkinson in 176W MHMWW-1118

Chart of Atkinson Town Officers in 1850.wmrummw~m~.l9
Chart of Present Town Officers in Atkinsoanmmmwmmm20
Chart of Present School Officers in Atkinson “m.mu.2l
3. Housing, Care, and Accessibility of the RecordSMWMWHWHHMZZ
Recommendations. . W-mwwmww,.22
4. Abbreviations, Symbols, and Explanatory Notes ....................................... 23

B. Town Offices and their Records

I. Town Clerk.wm.mm. . ............... mnw.26

Minutes. Vital Statistics. Mortgages, Deeds.
Leases, Writs. Highways, Perambulations.
Appointments, Oaths, Bonds. Juries. Licenses,
Permits. School Districts. Military. Miscel-
laneous.

II. Selectmen "m. . mmmeWWWWWWUWHmeWmmmW.W.WW-HM.1138
Printed Reports. welfare. Receipts, Payments,
Vouchers. Taxation. Military.

III. Assessorswwwmemwwmwmwwwmn.u.Wm.WMWWWWWWHPW--MNWWMWW-“.141

IV. Tax Collector.MH-- mmwmmm-u.w . -mvmw-uuumwmwmu.uwh -. 42
V. Treasurer ”me. wwwmmm_43
VI. Auditors .m 44
VII. Trustees of Trust Funds . 44
VIII. Cemetery Trustees- . -. -1145
IX. Surplus Revenue Agent -mmwmmemwww.WW.MWW.WMWW1 ,,,,,,,,, 45
X. Moderator H- .m . .................. 45
XI. Supervisors of the Check Lists . -45
XII. Inspectors of Elections (Ballot Clerks) m. w.um.m.46
XIII. School Board ‘ mwwmmwmnmwmwm.--46
XIV. Supervisory union . ....................................................................................................................... 48
XV. Library Trustees . H- . .WH--.49
XVI. OVGI‘SGGI‘S of the Poor [19

XVII. Health Officer (Board of Health\ ........... ”1-49

Table of Contents Page

XVIII. Highway Agent (Road Agent; Highway Surveyor) WmmwwWWWWWW5O
XIX. Tree Warden, 51
XX, Police and Constables ”mmwwwwmm.nu51
XXIq Municipal Court 31
XXII. Dog Officer (Dog Killer) , “WMMWWSI
XXIII. Legal Agent (Prosecuting Agent) 52
XXIV. Firewards (Fire Department)MwmmwwmmWmeMMWWwwmwmmh.H. .......... 52
XXV. Forest Fire WardenwwwmumMWNwmmmum
XXVI. Town Weighcr ., u“. V
XXVII. Sealer of weights and Measureswmwmwmmwawwwmmwmm“WWMWWWMSB
XXVIII. Sealer of LeathermwwwmwmmmwwnWWWWMMMMWW.wMWWmemMWWWWWMSB
XXIX. Lumber Officers. ........................................................................................................................ t 53
XXX. Poundkeepers .jh
XXXI. Field Drivers (Haywards; Hogreeves)ummwmmmmwwu,WWW" ”mu.54
XXXII. Fish and Game Wardens ‘.WWHUHWWHNMHW
XXXIII. Deer Keepersmmemmmmwwnmm
XXXIV. Fence Viewers” ,h.“m” .HMW” W.Wmmmmmmmmmwwwnmnu
XXXV. Clerk of the Market MUHHWM.”mmwwwmuumm(wwwwwﬂmwwwﬂwmmmlnﬂ
XXXVI. Sextonunmwmmmmwuwm “wammmmmmnnmucmwmwmmmmmWMWWHuwam.u
XXXVII. Tithingmenumw w..mwmm,hu,wmm.W.”mm‘mumnmmmuwu.nﬂmmmuumww

Appendix MW,.W.WW”HMH,WHWH.
BibliographyHWWMWmmww.“”WW.WHNHWWWWH
Subjeot Index to Inventory Hummwmmmnmwnmmmmmwnmmwuwnmmm.

(First entry, p. 26)

A. TOWN OF ATKINSON AND ITS RECORDS SYSTEM
1. HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Indian sachems Passaquo and Saggahew with the eonSent of
their chief Passaoonaway, head of the Penaoook Confederacy. deeded to
the inhabitants of Pentueket. now Haverhill. Massachusetts, a tract of
land. containing territory now including towns both in Massachusetts
and New Hampshire. ‘This deed is a part of the much-discussed Wheel-
wright Deed and is dated May 17, 1629. When the boundary between
Massachusetts and New Hampshire was delimited in 1741 a portion of
Haverhill was left in New Hampshire. This segment was incorporated as
Plaistow and included that portion now known as Atkinson.2 It remained
a section of Plaistow until 1767 when it was incorporated as a separate
town. '

The setting off of Atkinson from Plaistow is one indisputable
proof of the attachment of the early settlers to the church. The
existence of Atkinson as an independent town was due to difficulties
experienced in attending worship by the inhabitants of that section of
Plaistow which became Atkinson. Certain of the residents of this
locality. in petitioning to the Legislature that this section be made
a separate town, referred to themselves and their difficulties in the
following terms:

By reason of the many & great difficulties they undergo
in attending the Publick Worship of God. at the Meeting House
where it now stands. through the great distance of their
dwellings therefrom. and that Meeting-House is not large
enough to Acommodate more than One Half of thchnhabitants of
said Town--

And as it would be greatly to the Benefit of your PC-
titioners and prevent Strife and Discord among the Inhabitants,
and also tend to the advancement of the Gospel,_your Petition-
ers humbly request that the westerly Half of said Town may be
set off, as a Distinct Town. or Parish.

This petition was granted by the Legislature August 28, l767,h
making Atkinson one of the first towns incorporated under the adminis-
tration of Governor John Wentworth with its charter bearing the date of
September 3. 1767. The name Atkinson was chosen in honor of Theodore
Atkinson, Jr.. a member of the Governor's Council and a prominent land-
holder in the province.

1. New Hampshire State Papers. 1:56-60.
20 Ibido, 25:449-452-
3. Ibid.; 9:29.

6. A. f. Fogg, Statistics and Gazetteer of New Hampshire, (Concord,
1871), 57.

-4-
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

Important as the religious aspect may have appeared to the first
townspeople in Atkinson, they realized that a fundamental necessity in
every town is a smoothly running civil machinery. Thomas Noyes was
given authority to call the first town meeting which, like subsequent
meetings before a meeting house was built, Was held in a private home.

The warrant for'the first town meeting, signed by Thomas Noyes and
dated Sept. 22, 1767, warned "all the free holders & other inhabitants
of Said Atkinson Qualified by Law to vote in Town and Parish affairs to
meet at the dwelling house of Mr. John Dowe in Sd Atkinson on Tuesday
the Sixth day of October Next at three 0 Clock afternoon then there
to Choose Town & Parish officers as the Law directs * * *." The
meeting was held according to schedule, and a set of officers was
elected.

A definite indication of what constituted voting qualifications
appears in the records of Atkinson for 1782. It was stipulated that
all frcomen over twenty-one years of age payiﬁg taxes should be al-
lowed to vote for members of the Legislature. Until 1835 Atkinson
was associated with Plaistow in sending representatives to the Legis-
lature; since then, by an act of the Legislature, the town has been
authorized to send a representative by itself,

The long service of some of the town's inhabitants in town affairs
is worthy of note. Peter Clement, one of the first settlers, was
selectman for twenty years; Samuel Mason served as town clerk for
twenty-five years and as tax collector for twenty-one years; the office
of representative to the Legislature was held for three generations in
the Sawyer family; H6 N. Sawyer served over thirty-two years as member
of the school board. '

As soon as the town's civil machinery was arranged for, the towns-
people immediately took steps to organiza the religious life of the
community. In 1768 there was elected a committee of three "to procure
Preaching."7 The town records of 1768 relate that it was voted to build
a meeting house "by subscription By these that are a minto: and take
Pue Ground for there Pay." The first town meeting in this building
was held December 1, 1769.9 The land was given by Nathaniel Cogswoll
to the proprietors of the meeting house for so long as it should be

l. G. A. Page, "Atkinson Anniversary" in gganite Monthly, h9gl98.

2. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p. h (1767),
entry 1. (Secretary of State's Copy: it is to be understood that
in all citations hereinafter appearing in this publication, in
regard to the above manuscript records, all references prior to
1837 will be to the Secretary of State's copy in Concord; all refer-
ences after 1836 will be to the original).

3. Ibido' V01. 1, p. 5 (1767).

4. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 113 A (1782).

5. William Cogswcll, "History of Atkinson" in Collections of the New
Hampshire Historical Society, (Concord, 1850), 6:65.

6. Page, 129. cit., 200. '

7. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p. 16 (1768),
entry 1.

8. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 9 (1768).

9. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 21 (1769).

- 5 -
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

occupied as a site for a meeting house. There is no account of the
dedication of the edifice.

It is recorded that in 1772 there were elected a committee to
settle with the minister and a committee on the meeting house. Pews
were assigned by deeds, dated January 13, 1773, given by a committee
appointed for the purpose. A devout group of people, nineteen in
number, called as'their first pastor the Reverend Stephen Peabody, a
native of Andover, Massachusetts. "at a salary of 80 pounds local
money per year." Mr. Peabody, who accepted and was ordained November
25, 1772, became a much loved and respected pastor for more than
forty-seven years until his death in 1819.3 t committee of three was
elected in 1800, to repair the meeting house. The singing in this
first church was rather unusual in that it was always furnished by a
volunteer choir. Four sisters in the family of Henry Noyes sat side
by side in the choir for over forty years preceding 1865, several
brothers in the same family nearly as long, and the husband of one
sisterfbr over fifty years, a great part of the time as leader 5 The
first meeting house remained until 1845 when it was torn down.6

That the founders of Atkinson were firmly convinced all future
good to the race must come through the complete and well rounded
development of youth is proved by the fact that, once their religious
life was settled and their town affairs were moving smoothly, their
next thoughts were of education.

At the early date of 1770 fifteen pounds were raised for school-
ing.7 Four years later it was “Voted to hire a schoolmaster eight
months in the year ensuing," then considered an unusually long
period of hire for so small a population. 'In 1775 a committee of nine.
chosen at the annual meeting, divided the town into three school
districts.9 In the same car a committee of instruction was elected.
composed of ten members.1 Thirty pounds were raised for schooling in
1783, but it was stipulated that twenty pounds were to be spent in the
center of the town, and the remaining ten to be used in such remote
districts as the Selectmen should deem expedient.ll In 1791 it was

l. Cogswell, loo. cit.. 57.

2. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, pp. 39, 41
(1772), entry 1.

3. Cogswell, loo. cit., 59. ’

h. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p. 270 (1800),
entry 1.

5. D. H. Hurd, History of Rockingham and Strafford Counties, (Phila.
1882), 118.

6. Id.
7. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p. 27 (1770),
entry 1.

8. Cogswell, 19c. eit., 66.

9. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, pp. 54, 58
(1775). entry 1.

10. Ibid., vol. 1; p; 66 (1775)-

11. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 128 (1783).

- 6 .
Historical Sketch (First entry. p. 26)

voted "to defend the Selectmen from any cost that shall arise; for

not raising any school money for'the warrant year."1 If this meant

a suspension of schools, however, it was only a temporary one. Four
years later thirty pounds were raised for schools, the money to be
equally proportioned among the districts.2 In 1796 it was voted "not
to raise any money for Schooling the Current year and also Voted to
indaminify the Selectmen for not raising any School money the Present
year." This vote presents two possible interpretations either schools
received a temporary setback, or there was enough money left over from
the preceding year to make the raising of additional funds unnecessary.
At any rate, by 1815 a committee of nine was chosen to divide the town
into six school districts;h and it was "Voted to divide the School
Money in each District by the Number of families."

Not satisfied with common district schools only, a group of men.
including Rev. Stephen Peabody, Dr. William'CogSWell, and Nathaniel
Peabody, organized Atkinson Agademy in 1778, an institution that proved
of great benefit to the town. Although this new institution was not
incorporated until 1791.7 it opened its doors April 1, 1789, becoming
the second oldest academy in the state. It was to be a co-cducational
school in a day when slight attention was paid to the education of
women. Although feminine students were eligible for admission, no girl
actually entered the institution for the first few years. At last the’
minister sent his daughter to the school.

The academy's expenses have always been kept low with aim of
making its educational offerings open to all. At first, board, including
washing and lodging, was only from four shillings and six pence to six
shillings per week; tuition. as late as 1848, was only $4.80 per term.9
Even today tuition is low, ranging from $90 to $120 a year, the rice
computed by making an average of high school costs in the state.1 It
was stated in 1882 that, through the influence of the academy, the town
had given more of its'sons to the learned professions than any other
town in New Hampshire, according to population.

Though established in 1788, the first mention of the academy in
the town minute books does not occur until 1799. This reference was
simply a statement that the town meeting adjourned to meet in the
academy. At that time it was Voted that out of town students at the

1. RecOrd'[of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p§1199
(1791), entry‘l.’
2. Ibid., vol. 1', p. 235 (1795).
3. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 242 (1796).
he Ibido, v01. 1' p. [4.71 (1815)-
5. Ibid'., vol. 1. p. 1176 (1815).
6. Hurd, OE: eit.. 119. ‘
7. Laws of New Hampshire, 5:729-731 (1791).
8. J. B. Felt, AddreSs Before the Alumni of Atkinson Academy, (Boston,
1859). 7410: Hurd, 22.2.9.1}, 119.
9. Felt, op. cit., 17.
10. Interview with Mrs. Harlan Dyke, present headmaster's wife,
March 1938. i
ll. Hurd, op. cit., 119.

-7-

Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

academy were exempt from paying taxes in Atkinson.l

During the War of American Independence Atkinson did its full

Share. The Aesoeiation Test, devised as an act of loyalty of the
patriot cause, was signed by 97 of Atkinson's inhabitants; and the
selectmen certified that "all males of Twenty one years of age &
upwards belonging to Atkinson in y6 State aforsd (Lunaticks Ideots
& Negroes excepted) have freely & voluntarily Subscribed their

respective Names to the foregoing Declaration."2 In 1774 the town

voted to buy one hundred weight of powder, two hundred weight of

lead, and six hundred flints.3 Two years later the town voted to

give a bounty of fifty dollars for each man enlisting in "Number
Ten," apparently a regiment or company enlisted from Atkinson and

vicinity. At the same time there was elected a committee of three
to hire soldiers, and a committee of seven to settle soldiers'
claims. The'town ohose nine men in 1777 to comprise a committee
of inspection, correspondence, and safety. A committee to regulate
prices was chosen at the same time. A vote was taken the following
year to pay in ful the notes of those men who went "to the capture
of Gen. Burgoyne." In 1779 the town again chose a committee to
regulate prices.

The military service of one family in particular, during the
Revolution, seems especially worthy of note. Nathaniel Cogswell,

who moved to Atkinson from Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1766, gave

eight sons to the service and lent large sums of money, mostly
lost due to depreciation. The combined service of these eight sons
totaled over thirty years which perhaps established a record for
total years of service by any one family in the country. During
the War of 1812 AtkinSOn was well represented by men guarding the
forts along the coast, and Captain William Page, commander of a
company of cavalry, in re5ponsc to a requisition from the Governor,
tendered the services of the entire company. Forty residents of
the town served in the Civil war, a larger proportion according to
population than most towns in New Hampshire. The town voted to
pay $150.00 to any man who might "be drafted and mustered into the

Service of the united States."
During the events that led to the involvement of the united

1. Record'Eef Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, pp. 257-258
(1799), entry 1.

2. New Hampshire State Papers, 30:8-9.

3. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneeusj, vol. 1, p. Sh (1774),
entry 1. ‘

4. Ibid., v01. 1, p. 72 (1776).

5. Ibid.',' vol. 1, p. 79 (1777).

6. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 83 (1778).

7. Ibid‘., vol. 1, p. 91 (1779).

B. Hurd, ep. cit., 117.

9. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 3, pp. not

numbered (Sept. 15,,1862), entry 1.

-8- ‘
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

states in the World War, the town of Atkinson went on record approving
without qualification the course of the national government. It
adopted the following resolution: "The citizens of Atkinson * w * of-
for their legal adherence to the principle of * * * freedom funda-
mental to the existence of the United States. They declare their ap-
proval of the course of the President of the united States in all his
efforts to protect the lives and property of their fellow citizens
against * e * attacks upon the sea. They urge * * * the speedy
prosecution of every measure calculated to strengthen the entire nation
to guard * W * against unwarranted aggression. And in the carrying
out of such measures * * * they pledge to the Chief Executive and
to Congress their unqualified support."

The subject of highways was one of thoSc items on which action was;
taken at early town meetings. For instance, in 1769 the town voted to 1
grant a petition for a road to the'Salom town line, the cost to be paid
by Samuel Ordway and Joseph Palmer, who were to be excused from helping,
to pay for any other roads in Atkinson at any time.2 In 1790 a commit-
tee of five was chosen to perambulatc the town highways to determine
which would "best acomodate travelers.u3 In that same year it was voted
"that Every man paying a Poll tax in Atkinson Shall go and Do a Days
work on Providence Hill so Called or the Selectmen * * * Lay fore
Shillings on Each Delinquents Town Tax over and above their other Tax.u#
It was also voted "that as many days works be wrought on Providence-Hill
Road, as there is ratable pqlls in the town of Atkinson."5 Six years
later it was voted "to Raise for repairing the highways the Current year"
the Sum of 200 Dollars to be Laid out at 50 Cengs p3 Day for a Man or a
yoak of oxen and other articles in Proportion."

During the early history of New Hampshire towns the problem of
dealing with stray domestic animals was a perplexing one. Entries in
the town minute books indicate how Atkinson attempted to find a solution.
In 1787 a committee of three on town pound was elected.7 The following
year it was voted to build a town pound by subscription. If the sub-
scription did not provide enough money, a tax was to be levied for the
remaining amount, and credit was to be given to those who had worked
upon the pound. In 1801 it was voted "that no horse [or] horse kind go
at large * * * from April to November without being liabol to one
Dollar fine one half to the Complanent the other half to the use of the
Poor of the town & neat Cattle not to go at Large from the first of April
to the first of November."

1. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 6, p. 157 (1918),
entry 1.
2. Ibid., vol. 1,‘ p. 19 (1769).
3. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 190 (1790).
11. Ibid., vol. 1. p. 193 (1790).
5. Ibid.,' vol. 1. p. 197 (1790).
6. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 239 (1790).
70 Ibidog V01. 1, p. 176 (1787).
8. Ibid., vol. 1, p. 175 (1788).
9. Ibid., vol. 1. p. 277 (1801).

~9‘
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

An echo of the days when watering troughs were a familiar sight
in rural New Hampshire is furnished by an entry in the town minute
books in 1823. Moses Dow and others were given liberty to dig a well
on the common before the meeting house, with the provision that they
keep a pump and trough at the well for public use.1

Atkinson's location fairly near the early centers of population--
about 36 miles from Concord. 30 from Portsmouth, and 34 from Boston--
made it an early post town in Rookingham COunty.2 Although it has
always been a small agricultural community, there are found a few
records of early industrial activity: a grist mill called Page's
Mill; two saw mills with connected shingle mills; and, at one time,

a potash establishment on a farm owned by Amasa Colburn.3

The state of progress of agriculture in Atkinson, over a period
of years, is indicated by the following figures: in 1816 there were
2,233 acres of land under cultivation; in 1876 there were 6,364 acres;
in 1906 there were 6,712 acres; and in 1936 the number of acres was
6,691.4 The increase from 1816 to 1876 is worthy of note. The slight
downward trend bethen 1906 and 1936 is due to a general shift of
population from agricultural to industrial areas. That sheep raising
was encouraged at one time in this town is shown by an entry in the
town minute books for 1775. A bounty of one shilling per head was
given to sheep-raisers for each year-old sheep in excess of thirty
head.

Atkinson has never been too thickly populated. In 1790 its in-
habitants numbered 480. It reached its highest peak in 1850 when it
was redited with 600. The census of 1930 placed its pepulation at
407. The town is about five miles long and four and one half miles
wide.7 It is bounded on the north by Hampstead, on the east by Plais—
tow, on the south by Haverhill, Massachusetts, and on the west by
Salem and Derry.

1. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p. 529 (1823),
entry l.'

2. Cogswell, loos cit., 56.

3. Ibid., 79. '

4. [Assessors' Blotter Books], 1816--. assim., entry 46.

5. Record [of Town Meetings and Miscellaneous], vol. 1, p. 69 (1775).
entry 1,

6. United States Census Reports, l790a-, Iggggg.

7. Cogswell, loo. cit., 56.

-10..
ORIGINAL HAVERHILL GRANT OF 1667 WITH DiVISION LINE OF 1741

[This and succeeding maps derived from
G. W. Chase, History¥of Haverhill, Massachusetts, p. 10h}

.4 Jz

H 6 PRESENT
m _STATE
m

Lil

A
‘1 PRESENT DAY
NEW 2 HAVERHILL
HAMPSHIRE H
U
H
a:
o.
PRESENT
STATE
LINE
PRESENT DAY
MET HUEN ‘2-
xx»
’x,
q.
MASSACHUSETTS

'11—

ﬁl PLAISTOW CONTAINING ATKINSON
1711.9 to 1767.

NEW
HAVERHILL

STATE
LINE

MAS SACHUS

m ATKINSON AS SEPARATE TOWN 1767.

PLAISTOW

NEW ILAMPS
HAVERHILL

STATE
LINE
METHUEN

IL‘IASSACHUSETTS

\ DERBY

-13..

% PRESENT DAY ATKINSON IN RELATION
TO ORIGINAL HAVERHILL GRANT AND
RELATED OR NE IGHBOR II‘EG TOTJ’NSI-IIPS

MET HUEN

.1“,-
(First entry, p. 26)

2. GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION AND RECORDS SYSTEM

It has already been stated that the incorporation of Atkinson
was due to ecclesiastical reasons.1 In answer to the petition of
the inhabitants of the western half of Plaistcw, Sept. 3, 1767, the
General Assembly set off that section of the town as a separate
parish. The act of incorporation defined the boundaries and declared:
"all the Inhabitants * * * within the said Boundaries, and their
Estates are hereby made a Parish by the name of Atkinson and Erected
into a Body Politic and Corporate to have Continuance and Succession
for Ever * * * invested with all the Powers and Enfranchised with
all the Priviledges of any Town in this Province & Are chargeable with
the duty of maintaining the Poor which do or shall inhabit within the
said Boundaries, repairing all Highways within the same and maintain-
ing and supporting the Ministry and Preaching of the GosPel with full
power to manage and transact all Parish Affairs as fully to all intents
and purposes as any Town in said Province may legally do * * *."

Summoned by Thomas Noyes, the first legal meeting of the inhabi-
tants was held Oct. 6,‘l767, At this meeting Thomas Noyes was‘eleeted
moderator; John Knight, Jr., clerk; Thomas Noyes, John Ingalls, and
Timothy Ladd, selectmen; Enoch Noyes, constable; Ebenezer Chaplin,
tithingman; David Currier, fence vieWer; Benjamin Emery, Jeseph Page,
and Micajah Merrill, hogreeves; Moses Poor and John Knight, surveyors
of lumber; John Ingalls, leather sealer; and Moses Killey, Benjamin
Emery, Jr.. Jonathan Webster, and Ezekiel Belknap, highway surveyors,3

Of this set of officers the moderator, clerk (town clerk), select-
men, constable, and fence Viewer have survived as such to the present
day. The surveyors of highways have been replaced by the highway agent,
The surveyors of lumber are