xt71c53f1v74 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt71c53f1v74/data/mets.xml New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration New Hampshire New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration 1941 ii, 90 p.:ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries. Call Number: FW 4.14:N 42h/no.1/v.9 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 Sanbornton (N.H.) -- Archival resources Public records--New Hampshire--Sanbornton Sanbornton (N.H.) -- History -- Sources Archives--New Hampshire -- Catalogs New Hampshire -- History -- Sources -- Catalogs Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire. No. 1, Belknap County, vol. 9, Sanbornton, 1941 text Inventory of the Town Archives of New Hampshire. No. 1, Belknap County, vol. 9, Sanbornton, 1941 1941 1941 2020 true xt71c53f1v74 section xt71c53f1v74 INVENTORY or THE

”TOWN ARCHIVES
°F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BELKNAP COUNTY

VOL.|X TOWN OF
SAN BOR NTo N

 

 .‘ _ J. ’LfHNMENT PUBLICATIO/

_ fiVERSITY OF KEN TUCKE’
LIBRARIES

 

 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Publication of this volume has been made
possible by a generous contribution from

the Town of Sanbornton.

 

 INVENTORY OF THE TOWN ARCHIVES

OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

NO. 1. Belknap County

VOL. IX. SANBORN‘I‘ ON

Prepared by
The New Hampshire Historical Records Survey

Division of Community Service Programs
Wbrk Projects Administration

Sponsored by

The University of New Hampshire

Manchester, New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Historical Records Survey
October 1941

 

  

HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY

Sargent B. Child, National Director
Frank N. Jordan, State Supervisor

RESEARCH AND RECORDS SECTION

Harvey E. Becknell, Director
Robert Y. Phillips, Regional Supervisor
Richard G. wood, State Supervisor

DIVISION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner
Robert Y. Phillips, Chief Regional Supervisor
Mary H. Head, State Director

WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION

Howard 0. Hunter, Commissioner
John J. McDonough, Regional Director
James P. Quinn, State Administrator

CO—SPONSORS

County of Hillsborough, City of MAnohester,
and other cities and towns throughout the
State.

 F O R E W O R D

The Inventory 2; the Town Archives.g§ New Hampshire is one of a number
of guides to historical materials prepared throughout the United States by
workers on the Historical Records Survey projects of the work Projects Admin-
istration. The publication herewith presented, an inventory of the archives
of the Town of Sanbornton, is number IX of the Belknap County series of townsa

The Historical Records Survey program was undertaken in the winter of
1935-36 for the purpose of providing useful employment to needy unemployed
historians, lawyers, teachers, and research and clerical workers. In carry—
ing out this objective, the project was organized to compile inventories of
historical materials, particularly the unpublished government documents and
records which are basic in the administration of local governments, and which
provide invaluable data for students of political, economic, and social histo-
ry. The archival guide herewith presented is intended to meet the require-
ments of the day—to-day administration by the officials of the county, and
also the needs of lawyers, businessmen,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 research in un—
printed sources in the same Way he uses the library card catalog for printed
sources.

The inventories produced by Historical Records Survey projects 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 govern,
ment agencies whose records they list. The county, town, and other local in-
ventories for the entire country will, when completed, constitute an encyclo-
pedia of local government as well as a bibliography of local archives.

The successful conclusion of the work of the Historical Records Survey
projects, 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 gratefully acknowledged.

The Survey program was organized by Luther H. Evans, who served as Di-
rector until March 1, 1940, when he was succeeded by Sargent B. Child. The
Survey operates as a Nation-wide series of locally sponsored projects in the
Division of Community Service Programs, of which Mrs. Florence Kerr, Assistant
Commissioner, is in charge.

HOWARD O. HUNTER
Commissioner of
works Projects

 

 P R E F A C E

By authority of a Presidential Letter, the Historical Records Survey
was initiated in January 1936 as a Nation-wide undertaking of the work Pro-
jects Administration, but did not begin operations in New Hampshire until
April 7. Prior to August 31, 1939, the Survey was Federally sponsored, but
since that date it has been a local project sponsored by the University of
New Hampshire. Until March 1940, this project was directed by Dr. Richard
G. wood. At that time Dr. wood became State Supervisor of Research and
Records Projects, and the present State Supervisor was appointed.

The purpose of the Survey is to make accessible to public officials,
lawyers, historians, and students of government, the records of State,
county, and municipal offices. In addition, church records, including those
of defunct organizations, are being inventoried so that a foundation may be
laid for reseach in this field of social history. The present volume is
the ninth in a series of inventories concerning town archives of New Hamp-
shire. A key volume, Town Government in New Hampshire, and a volume entitled
Guide 32 Depositories 2: Manuscript Collections in the United States —- New
Hampshire have been published. Five volumes of county archives and one vol-
ume on church records have also been issued. For a complete record of these
published works of the Survey in New Hampshire, 322 List of Publications on

page 90.

In addition to listing the records of the different town officers, the
inventory sketches briefly the historical background of the town of Sanborn-
ton.and describes the organization of the offices whose records are listed.
The essays on the individual offices present only materialrclating specificv
ally to Sanbcrnton. For a history of the legal background of each office,
and its Statenwide implication, it is necessary to consult the key volume
mentioned in the preceding paragraph. Records are described in entries whose
style is formalized to give the following information: Title of record, dates
for which available, quantity, labeling of volumes or containers, information
on missing and discontinued records, variant titles, description of record
contents, manner of arrangment, indexing, nature of recording, size of volumes
or containers, and location.

The listing of the Sanbornton records was made by Christine M. Bruce and
Henry A. Rublee. The recheck was completed by Perley L. Cater and Thomas E.
Linehan. The forms were edited and the entries written by Samuel T. Bakus.
The essays in this publication were written by Bernice ML Newell. The edi-
torial work was done by Gordon F. Palmer, State Editor. The legal research,
which forms the basis for the essays, and the preparation of the index was
conducted under the direction of Beatrice B. Calnan. Documentation was
checked by Beatrice B. Calnan and Elizabeth hL Ryant The maps, charts, and
cover design were made by Edward F. Tilc. The stencils were cut by Alice A.
Telge and the mimeographing was done by Rita E. Duffley under the direction
of Marcellene N. O'Connor. Helpful criticism of this inventory in manuscript
form was offered by Mabel S. Brodie, Editor in charge of public records in-
ventories, of the Central Office.

 

 Preface

The Survey wishes to express its appreciation for the cooperation given
and the courtesy shown to its workers by the Sanbornton officials. he Survey
is also indebted to the Secretary of State, the Manchester City Library, the
New Hampshire State Library, and the New Hampshire Historical Society for fa-
cilities granted the Survey in its research work. Labor funds have been fur-
nished by the Wbrk Projects Administration. The Survey wishes to acknowledge
contributions for non-labor costs by the County of Hillsborough, the City of
Manchester, and other cities and towns throughout the State.

The inventory of the archives of the towns of Belknap County is number 1
of the New Hampshire series. The Sanbornton inventory is volume IX of tho
Belknap series.

Copies of this inventory are distributed-to Federal, Statq and local
governmental offices, libraries, and institutions of learning throughout the
United States and its territorial possessions. Requests for information con—
cerning the published volumes should be addressed to the State Supervisor,
Administration Building, Linealn and Silver Streets, Manchester, New Hampshiree

Frank N. Jordan

State Supervisor

New Hampshire

Historical Records Survey

Manchester, New Hampshire
October 1941

 

 1e

2.

3.
A.

I.

II.

III.
IV.
V.
VI-
VII.
VIII;
IX;

XI.
XII.
XIII.

XIV.
XVd

-1-

T A B L E O F C 0 N T E N T S

A. Town of Sanbornton and its Records System

Page

 

Historical Sketch
Sanbornton Population Graph

 

Original Sanbornton Bounds with Divisions and Land

 

Transfers
Present Day Map of Sanbornton

 

Approximate Location Of Sanbornton within State.i_WWWWWWW

Governmental Organization and Records System .....................................

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chart of Sanbornton Town Officers in 1771 .............................................................. 18
Chart of Town Officers in 1850 19
Chart of Sanbornton Town Officers at the Present Time ................ 20
Chart of School Officers and Officers of Sanbornton
Union Cemetery Association‘ 21
Housing, Care, and Accessibility of the Records .......................................................... 22
Recommendations 23
Abbreviations, Symbols, and Explanatory Notesnmmwwwmemwmmwmwm23
B, Town Officers and Their Records
Town Clerk, Sub—Register (Sub-Registrar) 26
Land Grant. warrants and Minutes. Vital Statistics.
Receipts and Payments. Mortgages. wage Assignments,
Bills of Sale, Conditional Sales, Writs of Attachment.
Invoices. Licenses, Petitions, Permits. Town Of-
ficers. Miscellaneous.
Selectmen ' - 45
Town Reports. Financed| Taxation. Juries. Licenses.
Town Farm. Miscellaneous.
Assessors 55
Tax Collector 55
Treasurer 56
Auditors 57
Trustees of Trust Funds 58
Sanbornton Union Cemetery Association 59
Surplus Revenue Agent 60
Moderator 60
Supervisors of Check-List 60
Election Inspectors (Ballot Clerks) 60
School District ' " 61
District and Board Minutes. General Fund-Loan Fund.
Receipts and Payments. Budget, Statistics, Reports.
_ Orders, Bank Records.
Supervisory Union 64
Library Trustees 65

 

Minutes. Finance, Librarian's Records,

 

 Table of Contents

XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.

Overseer of the Poor

 

Health Officer‘

 

Road Agent, Surveyors of Highways

 

Tree warden

 

 

Police‘ Constables

Prosecuting Agent (legal Agent, Town Agent?~.wWmewmmmwwwwm

Liquor Agent

 

Firewards

 

 

Forest Fire warden
Keeper of Magazine

 

Sealer of Weights and Measures

 

Leather Sealer

 

 

Lumber Officers
Surveyors of Brick

 

Poundukeeper

 

Haywards, Field Drivers, Hogreeves
Fish wardens, Fish Keepers

 

 

Deer Keepers-

 

Fenoe Viewers

 

 

lot layers
Tythingmen

 

Keeper for the Meeting-House

 

 

Rivar Surveyors

 

Appendix

 

Bibliography
Subject Index to Inventory

77
78
79

 

New Hampshire Historical Records Survey Publications ........................... 90

 

 (First entry, p. 26)

A. TOWN OF SANBORNTON AND ITS RECORDS Sl STEM
1. HISTORICAL SKETCH

Sanbornton, first known as Crotohtown, due to its position in the fork
of the Pemigewasset and Winnepesaukee Rivers.l was granted in 1748 by the
Masonian proprietors to John Sanborn and 59 others, most of whom were resi-
dents of Stratham, Exater, and Hampton. Twelve of the grantees were named
Sanborn, hence the name of the grant. The stipulation contained in the grant
was that in the contingency of an Indian war extra time should be allowed for
the fulfillment of the conditions and terms of settlement.2

At the time of the grant there was little reason to fear the Indians
who no longer frequented the region except for an occasional fishing expedi-
tion.3 Nevertheless, trouble was in store for the frontier regions. The
treaty of Aixvla Chapelle provided only an interval in the conflict between
the English and the French. Even before the conflict broke out anew, the
probability of its resumption discouraged the march of settlers northward.

As soon as reports of the renewal of hostilities in Virginia spread through-
out the continent, the Indian allies of the French raided the New Hampshire
borders. Settlement of the frontier places, including Sanbornton, was accord—
ingly retarded.4 Censequently, no move was made toward the incorporation of
the town until on January 8, 1770, a committee was appointed to present a
petition for this purpose. The presentation was made on the first day of the
following March and Sanbornton was incorporated the same day.7

Under the terms of the act 01 incorporation, the first town meeting was
to be held within 70 days after the date of its passage. However, the first
one of which there is any authentic record occurred March 26,1771, at the
home of Daniel Sanborn in Sanbornton.8

Provisions for the religious privileges and pursuits of the inhabitants
of Sanbornton were made in the Masonian grant of 1748. Two shares were
allotted for this purpose; the first to be "for the first Minister of the
Gospel" and the second to be "for and towards the Support of the Gospel Minis-
try there forever." Six acres of land, presumably a portion of these shares,
were to be used in part as the site of the first meeting-house. The grantors
stipulated that the meeting-house should be ready for use within ten years,
and that a regular preacher should be secured within 12 years from making the
grant.9‘ The condition as to time was not fulfilled, however, as the actual
settlement did not begin until 1764, 10 sixteen years after the grant was made.

 

.1. The original bounds of Sanbornton included a portion of what is now

Franklin.

2. New Hampshire State Papers, 28:234-238; M. T. Runnels, History 2: Sanborn—
$23, New Ham shire, 1:32-34.

3. Runnels, pp. 333,, 1:21.

4. Ibid., 1:41; J. Belknap, History pf New Hampshire (Farmer Edition), pp.
3 09- 326.

5. [State's Copy of] Sanbornton Town Records—~Proprietors' Records, Etc.
(Hereinafter cited as State's Copy), vol. 1, p. 63 (1770), E22 entry 4.

6. New Hampshire State Papers, 9:757.

7. Ibid., 25:50355Q5.

8. State's Copy, vol. 1, p. 100 (1771), 333 entry 4.

9. New Hampshire State Papers, 28:235, 236.

10. New Hampshire Manual for the General Court 1917, p. 60.

 

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

By the year 1767, the proprietors voted to raise "a doler on Each Rite“
to pay a minister who was to be hired by a committee elected at the same
meeting.1 For the next four years, the proprietors voted money to hire preach-
ing2 and in July 1771, they offered further aid to encourage and stimulate the
inhabitants to secure a permanent minister.3

In the meantime, the inhabitants themselves had begun to take action
toward this end. At a meeting on March 26, 1771, they voted "to appoint and
Clear a PlIaee] for a Meeting house * * *." A site was chosen and a committee
elected to vendue "ye Pcws & Stuff."4

The first settled minister'wusthe Reverend Joseph woodman. On November
13, 1771, he became the town minister and was ordained pastor of the Congre-
gational Church, the organization of which took place the same day.

The work of erecting the meetingwhouse progressed very slowly; Mr.
woodman preaching meanwhile in the private house where he had been ordained.
An entirely new plan for the meeting-house had been drawn up and presented to
the proprietors in November 1773, but had been rejected.6 At special town
meetings held the following month, it was voted, in spite of this, to adopt the
the plan.7 However, the work was further retarded by the Revolutionary war
and, although Mr. woodman preached in the meeting—house for the first time on
May 2h 1775.‘it is apparent that it was far from completion, for subsequent
votes were taken for additional activities.8 On September 4, 1783, it was
voted "to Vendue of [off] ye Pews in ad Gallery & Stuff for sd Pews & ye work
to finish ye Same." It was also voted "to build Seven Pews at Each End of sd
Gallery & Six‘Pews on y6 fore Side * * *."9 Two years later it was voted to
finish the pulpit with the money raised by bidding off the PeWS.lO Apparently
the meeting-hpuse was not entirely finished until 1789 when the town voted to
lath and plaster it, and the selectmen were chosen accordingly as a committee
to "work on mteting house.“ll

Mr. woodman, after 35 years of successful ministration to this church,
was apparently obliged, because of ill health, to receive his dismissal in
1806. He was succeeded by Reverend Abraham Bodwell who served as pastor for
46 years.13

The town voted in 1834 to relinquish its right in the meeting—houselh and
the same year a poll of the voters was taken to see if the building should be
purchased from the Congregational Society for a town hall.15 However this was

 

l. State's Copy, vol. 1, p. 52 (1767), E22 entry 4.

2. Ibid., p. 57 (1768), p. 61 (1769), p. 64 (1770), p. 69 (1771).

3- Ibido. PP. 79, 80 (1771).

1. Ibid., p. 101 (1771).

5. Runnels, pp. 233., 2:852.

6. State's Copy, vol. 1, p. 87 (1773), s23 entry 4.

7. Ibid., p. 113 (1773).

8. Ibid.. p. 1211 (1777). p. 133 (1780).

9' 2219;. Pt 1&6 (1783).

10. Ibid., p. 152 (1785).

11. Ibid., p. 173 (1789).

12. Runnels, pp. 33., 2:852.

13. Ibido. 1:81.

14. Record [of Town Meetings] (Hereinafter cited as T. ML B.), vol. 4, p. 167
(1834). 2,92 entry 5.

15. Ibid.. p. 171 (18311).

 

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

not done, and the Congrerationalists that same year took the building down and
rebuilt it on a new site where it stands today as the Congregational Church.
The town erected a new building for a town house.2

The original grant of 1748 provided for Sanbornton's schools by reserving
a share "for the use & Support of a School there forever."3 In 1774. four
years after the incorporation of Sanbornton as a town, it was voted to raise
$30 to hire a school for part of that year.#

By 1798 the town was divided into 15 school districts, having increased
from four which existed in 1774. In nine of them school houses existed in
various degrees of completion and, in the remaining six, school houses were
being planned.5 At the annual meeting in that year, the town voted to purchase,
build, or repair the school houses in each district. It was also voted to
raise $1,000 for the above purposes.

The first school was held in the house of Joseph Sanborn, and was con-
ducted by Abraham Perkins, who later taught in barns and in the meeting—house.
He was the only teacher in the town for several years.7

In addition to the district schools in the town, institutions of higher
learning came into temporary existence during the nineteenth century.

The first to be incorporated was Sanbornton Academy in 1820.8 It existed
until about 1845 as an academy. The building had been used also as a district
school, and continued to be used as such after the academy ceased to function»
In the early 1870's it was removed from its original site and used as a part
of one of the textile mills.9

In 1826 the Wbodman Sanbornton Academy was incorporated.10 It existed
until 1857, when, principally due to lack of funds, the last term was held.

In 1867 the school district in which the academy was located obtained control
of the building and, after repairs had been made, it was used as a school and
as a public hall.ll An extant catalog of the woodman Sanbornton Academy throws
considerable light on the institution as it was in 1840. There was a male
department with a total of 109 students for the year and a female department
with a total of 71 for the year. The board of trustees consisted of Reverend
William Patrick, Reverend Abraham Bodwell, Jesse Ingalls, Dr. Thomas P. Hill,
Captain Chase Perkins, Colonel Charles Lane, Colonel Daniel Sanborn, Bartlett
Hill, Brackett I. Johnston, Simeon Sanborn, and Dr. Eliphalet K. Webster. The
principal was Dyer H. Sanborn; the preceptress, Emily Nb Sargent. The academic
year was 44 weeks, divided into four terms. "Much time" was spent on preparing
students for college, and among the subjects taught emphasis was placed on
English grammar. members of the institution were required to maintain study
hours from 7 to 9 o'clock in the evening. During this time it was "deemed
highly improper for scholars to interrupt or to be interrupted by visitants."
The prescribed time for retiring was 10 o'clock.12

 

1. Manual 2; the Congregational Church Sanbornton, N. H, 1922, p. l.

2. T. 1L 8., vol. 4, pp. 170, 171 (1834), E29 entry 5.

3. New Hgmpshigg State Papers, 28:236. -

4. State's Copy, vol. 1, p. 115 (1774), gee entry 4.

.5. RuImelS, 2-2. M. ' 1:102. 103.

6. State’s Copy, vol. 1, p. 245 (1798), E22 entry 4.

7. Runnels, 2p. gi£., 1:103, 104.

8. Laws 2Q New Hampshire, 8:990, 991 (1820).

9. Rmels, 92. iii. . 1:119-

10. Laws 2: New Hampshire, 9:498 (1826).

ll. Runnels, 93;. £0. 1:122.

12. A_Catalogue 2: the woodman Sanbornton Academy for the year Ending Nov. 24,
A. 2. 1840, passim, Egg Appendix, entry 1.

 

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

The Sanbornton and Franklin Union Academy came into being in 1845 through
the efforts of members of the Franklin and Sanbornton Christian Church. It
existed until 1861, the building being moved at that time to serve later as a
private dwelling.l

The New Hampshire Conference Seminary came into existence in 1845 when
the inhabitants of Sanbornton Bridge offered to furnish a building, for use as
a conference seminary, to the Methodist Church serving their section of San—
bornton and at least part of Northfield. This building was erected on the
Northfield side of the Winnipesaukee River, and a fall session was held.2 It
is evident, however, that no act of incorporation was drawn up at that time;
but in 1852 the legislature granted a charter to the New Hampshire Conference
Seminary and Female College. A fire in 1862 destroyed the building.4 The
following year the charter was amended and the seminary became located in the
Sanbornton Bridge section of Sanbornton.5 In 1869 the Sanbornton Bridge sec.
tion was set off and incor orated as Tilton. Later the seminary was incor-
porated as Tilton Seminary and finally as Tilton School.8

The inhabitants of Sanbornton quickly associated themselves with the
Revolutionary struggle, for at a meeting in January 1775, they chose Reverend
Joseph woodman as a deputy to attend a meeting in Exeter where delegates to
the Continental Congress were to be chosen.9 Nearly one hundred of Sanborntont
men, constituting about one fourth of the population, served in the war.10

In 1861 the town took its first action in connection with the Civil War
when it voted to adopt an act of the legislature with regard to caring for the
families of volunteers. The selectmen Were authorized to borrow the necessary
money for this purpose.11

The following year the town voted to pay $300 to each volunteer mustered
into service for three years and the same sum to each man who had enlisted in
the Ninth Regiment. The sum of $200 was to be paid to each accepted nine-
months volunteer.12 Votes in regard to bounties were passed in 1863.13 Al-
together 265 Sanbornton men saw service in this war.14

The grantors of Sanbornton foresaw the necessity of ademxnn highways and
stipulated in the grant that "the lets be laid out in Ranges * * * & Land Left
between the Ranges for highways four Rods & between the Lots for ways of two
Rods wide a= * at."1

In May 1762 the proprietors voted the sum of lh8 pounds, old tenor, "to
Clear a Sufficent Bagege Rode of five feet wide from Canterbery Setelments to
winepesoco River * * * and from thence the Nerost and Best ways to the Center

 

l. ‘Runnels, pp. 223,, 1:12h.

2. Ibid. . 1:125.

3. New Hampshire laws 92 1852, ch. 1372.

4. Runnels, 2gp £i§., 1:126.

5. New Hampshire LaWs 2: 1863, ch. 2819.

6. New Hampshire Laws gfi 1869, ch. 58m

7. New Hampshire Laws 2: 1903, ch. 198.

8. New Hampshire Laws 9.1: 1923, ch. 189.

9. State‘s Copy, vol. 1, p. 117 (1775), E22 entry 4.
10. Runnels, Sflp £13., 1:166.

11. T. Nb B., vol. 6, p. 455 (1861), £23 entry 5.
12. Ibid., pp. 508, 509 (1862).

13.4 Ibid.’ PP. 55' 56. 61-63 (1863).

11;. Runnels, _o_p_. 933., 1:181-192.

15. New Hampshire State Papers, 28:237.

 

   

 

_ 7 _
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

Squaier," which was to be done within the month following.1 The next year a
committee was chosen "to Clear a good Bageg way of five feet wide from
Winepisoco River to the mill Grant * * $."2

At the first town meeting in 1771, tw0 "Surveyors of highways & fences"
were elected and the town voted to clear and maintain roads in proportion to
each man's taxes.3 Three years later the town voted to build a road that
would connect Sanbornton with Meredith.4 In the subsequent years, money and
labor was applied to the Iaintenance of old, and the construction of new roadsE
By 1875 there were many roads through the town and leading out of it.

Due to the fact that Sanbornton's boundaries were mostly waterways,
bridgesvvere naturally of great concern. At a proprietors' meeting in 1763,
three hundred pounds, old tenor, was voted "towards Building a Bridge over
Wineposoco River in the most Convenant place for Sd twon."7 This was apparent-
ly the first bridge built over this river although a second and more substanttd
one was built within the next ten years which was evidently destroyed about 20
years later.8

A bridge built over the Pemigewasset River in 1802, which connected San-
bornton and Salisbury, was the first to be erected over this river.9 Its
charter was drawn up in 1800.10 This bridge was swept away by flood in 1824.

By the middle 1800‘s, thirteen bridgesa-eleven over the Winnepesaukee
River and two over the Pemigewasset-—had been built as well as numerous smaller
ones in the interior of the town.12

Sanbornton experienced its first change of territory in the early part of
the nineteenth century. The matter of forming a new town was introduced in
1825 at the town meeting. The inhabitants were much against this move and this
attitude prevailed for three years.13 However, the petition for the incorpora—
tion of the new town, which was to include parts of Salisbury, Andcver, North-
fiold, and Sanbornton, was presented to the General Court, and was approved
December 24, 1828. The new town was named Franklin.14

On June 30, 1869, the section of Sanbornton known as Sanbornton Bridge
was set off and incorporated as Tilton.l5 The following July a part of the
farm owned by Joseph Robinson was disannexed from Sanbornton and became a part
of Tilton.16 Simultaneously, the Perkins farm was taken from Tilton and added
to Sanbornton territory.17 Two years later the portion of Joshua Dennis' farm
on which the buildings stood was disannexed from Sanbornton and annexed to
Tilton.18

11

 

1. State's Copy, v01. 1, pp. 24, 25 (1762), £22 entry 4.

2. Ibid., p. 30 (1763).

3. Ibid.. Pl 101 (1771).

1'" M01 P. 116 (1774).

5. Runnels, 2p. gjip, 1:195.

6. Ibid., 1:430~448.

g. State‘s Copy, vol. 1, p. 32 (1763), Egg entry 4.
. Runnels o . cit. 1:1 .

9. Ibid. ' ‘2 “““ ' 97

10. Laws 2; New Hampshire, 6:664-666 (1800).

ll. Runnels, pp. £i§., 1:198.

12. Ibid., 1:199.

13. Ibid., 1:253—255.

14. Lawslgfl New Ham shire, 9:784—786 (1828).

15. New Hampshire Laws 2f 1863, oh. 58.

16. New Hampshire Laws 2Q 1870, ch. 39.

17. Ibid., ch. 40.

18. New Hampshire Laws 2: 1872, ch. 154.

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
      

  

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

In 1931 a portion of Sanbornton near Winnisquam Bridge, and adjacent to
the main highway, was annexed to Tilton.l

The original grant of 1748 stated that land should be left “in some Suit-
able place for a Privilege a Accommodation of a Saw Mill * * *" and that it
should be ready for "Constant working within three Years" from the date of the
grant.2

The first saw mill to appear Was located on Salmon Brook in what is now
the city of Franklin. Apparently, the mill privileges had originally been
given to Daniel Sanborn, Jr., for the proprietors had voted in February 1764
not to release him from his obligation to build.3 After some delay, the mill
was erected in the spring of that year but was soon after destroyed by flood.4

Accordingly, in June of the same year the proprietors voted 500 pounds,
old tenor, for "Daniel Sanborn juner to build a Saw mill in the Home of that
which he lost."5 Subsequently in October, it was voted to allow him to build
a saw and grist mill on the Winnipesaukee River near the bridge.

The latter half of the eighteenth century, and most of the nineteenth,
witnessed the advent and disappearance of many and varied types of industry.

A distillery once operated at the Square. At the same place there were hat
shops, a book bindery, and a printing office. ‘Captain Elisha Smith ran a
clock factory near the Bay Road.7

In 1882 some of the citizens became interested in holding a town fair.
Consequently, the Sanbornton Agricultural and Mechanical AsSociation was
formed. This functioned for many years. Although the last fair was held in
1935, the organization continued until l9h0 when it voted to sell its property
and turn over all funds to the trustees of trust funds for the benefit of the
town library. The real estate north of the Range Road, however, was to be
turned over to the town for a town forest. ,

Apple raising was a very important industry in Sanbornton from the earli-
est years of its existence. One of the most famous orchards was that owned
in the 1800's by Jeremiah S. Thompson, who inherited his father‘s orchard of
one acre and, through propagation and grafting, expanded it to five acres,
the yield from which was mostly Baldwins and russets. David Smith and Joseph
Sanborn also owned and operated a successful apple-growing business about this
time which produced many varieties of choice apples.

Grapes were introduced into the town about the year 1828 by Doctor John
Carr who brought a vine from Cambridge, Massachusetts. He started its culti-
vation which met with success, for an offshoot of this vine owned by Smith
and Sanborn later became famous. ML T. Runnels quotes from the Concord
Independent Statesman in 1871 that this offshoot was 'the largest and most
productive cultivated vine in the United States.‘ It was still producing in
1881 at which time Mr. Smith received a prize for the grapes at the State and
County Fair held that year in Laconia.

Pears were grown in Sanbornton, the famous Wadleigh pear being the most
worthy of mention; various other kinds of fruit, vegetables, plants, and

 

1. New Hampshire Laws 33 1931, ch. 14.
2. New Hampshire State Papers, 28:236.

-3. State's Copy, vol. 1, p. 36 (1764), see entry 4.

LI». Runnels, 22- 32-20, 1:207.

5. State's Copy, vol. 1, p. 41 (1764), see entry 4.

6. Ibid., p. 42 (17614).

7. Runnels, 2gp £23., 1:207-223.

8. Record [of Sanbornton Agricultural and Mechanical Association], pgggim,
Egg Appendix, entry 2; Annual Report of the Town of Sanbornton, p. 36
(1941), §§§_entry 38s

 

  

-9-
Historical Sketch (First entry, p. 26)

flowers Were also grown successfully.

Sanborntcn was the site of many excellent farms and yielded extensive
crops of wheat and corn. The town's fine grass and grazing lands were excel-
lent for the raising of cattle, and dairy products were produced and sold
extensively.

Like most communities, Sanbornton was hard hit by the recent de