HISTORY OF PITTSBURG, COOS COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ****DO NOT LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS TEXT FILE, INSTEAD LINK TO THE FOLLOWING URL***: http://www.nh.searchroots.com/coos.html#Pittsburg ======================================================== History of Coös County, New Hampshire by George Drew Merrill; Syracuse N.Y.: W.A. Fergusson & Co., 1888, 1888, 1018 pgs. page 696 PITTSBURG The town of Pittsburg, formerly known as "Indian Stream Territoy," embraces all of that portion of the state lying north of the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude, excepting a small tract included within the limits of the town of Clarksville, and is bounded on the east by Maine, southerly by the parellel of 45 degrees, and the Connecticut River, westerly by the main easterly branch of Hall's stream, and northerly by the Highlands forming the divide between the Connecticut, the Androscoggin, and the St. Lawrence waters, and contains an area of 360 square miles, of which, in 1880, there were 15,000 acres under improvement. It was first explored by a party of land surveyors, under the direction of the Canadian government in 1787, by whom a considerable portion of the territory was divided into townships during the following year, and included a part of the present municipal corporations of Hereford, Aukland and Emberton, Quebec, and the whole of the township of Drayton was located in the westerly part of the territory, and embraced the valley of Indian stream northly to the south line of Aukland. This territory at that period formed a portion of the hunting-grounds of the St. Francis Indians, a tribe located in the valley of the St. Francis river some twenty miles north of the Highlands. Large parties of these Indians made frequent visits hither, attracted by the abundance of fur-bearing animals and moose, and deer which roamed through these vast forests, otherwise undisturbed. The valleys of Indian stream and Connecticut river seem to have formed the principal camping-grounds of the tribe during their annual visits, relics of which are not infrequently found even now. The surface presents a bold and rugged appearance, the easterly and northerly portions having many broken and abrupt elevations belonging to lateral spurs of the White Mountain chain, and evidently of volcanic origin; these continue northerly, terminating at Megantic mountain, from whence the land gradually inclines northwardly to the valley of the St. Lawrence. This elevated plateau, forming the divide between the waters flowing northerly into the St. Lawrence and southerly into the Atlantic Ocean, was considered by Professor Agassiz to be the oldest land on the continent; which opinion is strengthened by the evidence of Plutonic, volcanic and non-fossiliferous stratified rocks showing very distinct traces of glacial abrasion, particularly in the vicinity of Connecticut lake and on the heights between Indian and Perry streams; and, further, also, by dikes of quartz abundantly dispersed, and ejected through the superincumbent slates in the northwestern potion of the territory. A large portion of its soil evidently consists of various kinds of disintegrated rock and other materials transported a considerable distance in a southeasterly direction. TOPOGRAPHiCAL FEATURES--The eastern portion of the town (bordering on the state of Maine for a distance of nineteen miles) is separated from the westerly portion by the water-shed between the Connecticut and the Androscoggin waters. It contains an area of 33,000 acres. Mt. Magalloway (having an elevation of 2,800 feet, and on which the United Coast Survey has a signal station, erected in 1879) is situated in the southwesterly portion of this tract; also Mt. Carmel, with an elevation of 3,750 feet--the line between Maine and New Hampshire passing midway over its summit. The three main branches of Dead Diamond stream (a tributary of the Androscoggin) have their rise in the central portion of this part of the town: Little Magalloway, flowing into the main river of that name four miles below Parmachenee Lake, has its source southwesterly of Mr. Carmel, and the most northwesterly head of the Androscoggin river rises in a small pond a little west of the state line, and one-half mile south of the iron monument on which are cast in raised letters the names of Albert Smith and Lieut. Col. I.B.B. Escourt, British commissioners appointed under the treaty of Washington to mark the boundary between the United States and Lower Canada; also the name of Col. Henry O. Kent, commissioner appointed on the part of New Hampshire to re-adjust and straighten the boundary line between Maine and New Hampshire. This monument also bears the date of the treaty (1842) and was placed here in 1845, at the extreme northly point of the state, to mark the boundary between Maine, New Hampshire and Canada. At this point, a person, by walking around it as near as possible, can pass through a portion of each of these political divisions. Westerly of this divide, and within one mile of the northern boundary, begins the chain of lakes in which the Connecticut river takes its rise. The upper one of the chain, commonly called "Third" lake, and more correctly known by its Canadian designation, "Lake St. Sophia," is small, nearly circular in form, and about one mile in width, with an extreme depth of ninety feet. The Connecticut at its source is a small stream, twenty feet in width, flowing due south a distance of five miles, receiving a considerable tributary, on the easterly side, and discharing its waters into the second of the chain, commonly known as "Second" lake, and more propertly, as "Lake Carmel" (from the mountain of that name in full view in a northeasterly direction). This pond is two miles in length, of varying width, irregular in shape, and contains an area of about 1,000 acres; its greatest depth is eighty feet. The stream flowing from this lake is eighty feet wide, and for the first mile after leaving the lake has a fall of 309 feet, affording excellent water power. It pursues a southwesterly direction for four miles, receiving two considerable tributaries on the west, and falls into "Lake Connecticut," usually considered the main source of the Connecticut river. This lake, in its greatest extent, is about four miles in length by three in breadth, with a depth of 100 feet, and has an altitude of 1,850 feet. From the foot of this lake to the southeasterly part of the town, where the Connecticut crosses the parallel of forty-five degrees (thirteen miles) it has a fall of 450 feet, (principally above and below Fletcher's mills, for a distance of two miles, and in the first two miles of its course after leaving the lake). Some very fine interval lands border the banks of this reiver, commencing two miles below COnnecticut lake, and extending for five miles below; and again at the mouth of Indian stream. The most important tributaries recieved in this distance are Perry's stream, forming its junction with the main river one and one-half miles below the lake, Indian stream, seven miles below, and Halls stream, forming the western boundary of the town, flowing into the Connecticut fifteen miles below the lake, in the town of Canaan, Vt. These streams have their source in the high lands forming the northern boundary of the town, have a general uniform parallel southwesterly course, and are each about twenty miles in length, and of sufficient size to float the large spruce which grows in abundance along their banks. Quite extensive tracts of good interval lands are found along their banks, up to a point from four to six miles from their source; more particularly in the valleys of Indian and Halls streams. Roger's pond, in the center of the town near the main highway, is about one mile in length by three-fourths in width; Round Pond, one mile north of Lake Connecticut, a gem nestling the green-clad hills in their summer verdure; and numerous smaller ponds dotting the landscape here and there, unite in giving a pleasing diversity to the woodland scenery. [section on ROCKS found in original document, not included here]. CHAPTER LXXVII EXPLORATION AND FIRST SETTLERS The first exploration by New Hampshire people was made in 1789 by two adventurous rangers--David Gibbs and Nathaniel Wales, the former from Haverhill, the latter from Concord, N.H.--who, pushing their way through the thick forests on the banks of the Connecticut far beyond the scattered settlements then gradually extending up the river in the "Upper Cohos," finally reached the broad intervals at the mouth of Indian Stream late in the month of September. Here they remained nearly a month engaged in trapping the fur-bearing animals, exploring the adjacent country, and tracing the Connecticut river to the lake which bears the same Indian name. Returning home in the late Indian-summer days, they gave glowing accounts of the country they had discovered; representing it, as it then appeared in its primeval solitude, as a country of vast extent, far richer in its flora and fauna than any hitherto known portion of New England; with broad meadows bordering the banks of the streams through their whole extent; with huge white pines growing plentifully along its principal water-courses, and towering far above the surrounding forests; and with its gently-sloping hillsdies covered with a heavy primitive growth of rock maples; its rich autumnal colors blending with the deeper hues of the evergreens, then unmarked by the woodsman's axe, giving a pleasing diversity to the landscape, when illuminated by the slanting rays of the Indian-summer sunlight. The streams and ponds are abundantly stocked with trout, "lunge," and various other kinds of edible fish, while through its forests moose, deer and caribou roamed in such numbers as had never been found in any of the more southerly portions of the state. Beaver were plenty, and the results of their labors, in the small meadows and embankments scattered along streams, still remain, bearing ample evidence of their intelligence and indefatigable industry. Otter, mink, muskrat, and sable were found in great numbers, and to the discoverers, this region seemed the very paradise of hunters. They are said to have represented the soil as being of remarkable fertility, and such were the flattering reports they gave that in June following (1790) three others joined them in an expedition to this section, with a view of forming a settlement. Purchasing such supplies as were needed for the proposed trip from the frontier settlers, they pushed boldly into the wilderness and reached the Indian stream meadows. Here they proceeded to make "pitches" or pre-empt their claims, by cutting a few trees, erecting rude cabins or camps on the cleared plot, and making such improvements as should show their intention to permanently occupy these lands. These beginnings or "pitches" were located as follows: David Gibbs, on the farm now known as the Baldwin place, and occupied by the Baldwin Brothers; Nathaniel Wales, on that now known as the Nathaniel Perkins farm; Nathan Smith, on the Tabor farm; Royal Gage, on the Connecticut river, five miles below the lake, at the mouth of the brook which still bears his name. The other member of the party, James Smith, located near the mouth of Deadwater stream in the present territory of Clarksville. But few Indians were met with, and these were appearing friendly, so little apprehension was felt from that source. After remaining here some three months or more exploring the country nearly to the Highlands, supplementing their scant stock of provisions from the forests and streams, and becoming somewhat weary of their solitary life, these hardy pioneers returned to their respective homes, where they gave very flattering reports of the country, particularly of the remarkable fertility of the soil as indicated by the luxuriance of the wild grasses which grew in great abundance on the open meadows. These several beginnings have since broadened into large intervale farms with elegant and commodious farm buildings, showing the wisdom of this early selection. This country was only visited by occasional hunting parties after this until 1796, when certain individuals, notably Thomas Eames, John Bradley, Jonathan Eastman, and Nathan Hoit, obtained the famous deed from King Philip and claimed possession of this territory. This deed was acknowledged June 30, 1796, "received for record" November 22, 1796, and recorded in liber 23, fol. 206 of the records of Grafton county. They immediately organized under the proprietary act, and opened their lands to settlement, offering to immigrants lots of 100 acres each ot a limited number, allowing them to select the locality, on condition of performing "settler's duty"; which consisted in clearing five acres of land, erecting a log cabin or some structure, which might answer for a domicile, and performing a certain amount of labor annually, during a stated number of years, in cutting and clearing roads. It was supposed by most of the early settlers, under the grants from the proprietors claiming to hold their lands by virtue of the title derived from this Indian chief, that they were secure in the tenure of their holdinds, as against any claim by the state of New Hampshire. In fact it was held by many well-informed in colonial matters and usages that the territory lying north of the 45th parallel and south of the Highlands formed a sort of "terra incognita" wholly outside of the jurisdiction of the government of New Hampshire, or that of Lower Canada; and, at this distant day, it is difficult to perceive, in view of the fact that it has long been the settled policy and practice of the United States government to acquire the lands of the Indians by treaty or purchase, how the State of New Hampshire ever acquired any title to this territory otherwise than by usurpation. There appears very little, if any, evidence that is was included within the limits of the royal patent issued by Charles II in 1679, constituting the province of New Hampshire. Neither does it appear that during the long period of forty-nine years, when New Hampshire formed a part of the province of Massachusetts, that the northern boundaries of the colony were understood to extend north of the Ammonoosuc. The proprietors claiming under this Indian deed held out flattering inducements to settle on their lands, and settlements of a permanent character were soon commenced. Hither came Ebenezer Fletcher, from Charlestown, NH in 1811, who soon after built a frame dwelling-house and a saw and grist-mill, on the falls on the Connecticut which still bear his name. The frames of the barn and mill were massive structures and are still standing in a very tolerable state of preservation, as monuments of his indefatigable industry. He was reputed to be a man of considerable wealth for that period, kind and liberal to his poorer neighbors, rendering them material assitance in the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. The original Fletcher farm, containing 500 acres, has been much subdivided, and now forms a small village. In the same year came Samuel Osborne, and Daniel Haines; also John Comstock who settled on Indian stream, on what is now known as the Tabor farm. John Haines came, in 1813, from Lisbon, but the increase and prosperity of the settlement was seriously retarded by the war with Great Britain; many left fearing hostile Indian incursions from Canada, as straggling parties often evinced a very unfriendly disposition; but they were held in check by a military garrison near at hand on the frontier. Under its protection a few remained, and some additions to the settlement were made, as will hereafter be seen. Nathan Judd came in 1813 from Piermont and Nathaniel Perkins in 1814 from New Hampton. The latter locating on the westerly bank of Indian stream on the farm bearing his name, and originally containing 700 acres. Clark J. Haines and William Hyland came in 1815; the former from Lisborn the latter from Bradford, Vt. Abner Hyland came from the same place in 1816; Emer Applebee from Franconia in 1819; also Gen. Moody Bedel and Samuel Danforth from Haverhill; Rufus Brockway (for a long period a private mail-carrier, during which there was no postoffice nearer than Stewartstown); David Eaton from Plymouth, James T. Boynton and Zebulon Flanders from Warner; and Enoch Carr from Lisbon. The year 1820 added seventeen families to the new settlement; these locating mainly in the central and northeasterly portions, along the Connecticut valley and north side of Connecticut lake. Their names and places of residence, so far as can be ascertained were as follows: Paul Tabor, Jeremiah Tabor, and Elisha P. Tabor from Bradford, Vt., located on Indian stream; Simeon Wright, from the same town, settled on the Connecticut one and one-half miles above Indian stream; Moses Thurston, from Corinth Vt bought out the claim of Royal Gage near the mouth of the brook which still bears his name; Southwood Sibley settled on a lot easterly and adjoining; Richard I. Blanchard from Haverhill, and Josiah Rogers, from Windsor Vt, located in the center of the town, near the southerly side of Roger's pond; Jeremy George from Newbury Vt located on the north side of this pond; Abiel Holt (who surveyed and lotted 2,000 acres of land in the same year, in the northerly portion of the settlement, principally along the north shore of Connecticut lake). Joshua Parker, Noah Fletcher, Archelaus Cummings, Seth Blood, and Burleigh Blood, all from Temple, located on the "lake settlement," the last named locating on, and clearing the farm at the head of the lake, then, as now, the extreme northeasterly farm in the state; David Mitchell (formerly a merchant in Bath, and said to have been the first and only Freemason in the colony at that period); John Langdon Haynes, from Lisbon. Sylvester Hutchins, Reuben Sawyer, and Jonathan Hartwell came in 1821. In 1822 only give permanent additional settlements were made, viz: by John Parker, Jonathan French, John Parsons, Elisha Abbott, and Peter Barns from Corinth Vt, who built a saw and grist-mill at the foot of the lake. Sampson Rowell, from Piermont; Eben and Silas Gettchell from Haverhill came in 1823. In 1824 three additional families moved in: those of Col. Samuel Huggins, formerly sheriff of Sullivan County, Britton Cook, and Ephraim C. Aldrich from Bradford Vt. The population of the settlement at this period (1824) was 285; estimated area of the territory 150,000 acres...estimated value thereof by legislative committee of investigation twelve and one-half cents per acres; number of acres under improvement 847, valued at $5 per acre. A very large propotion of those mentioned remained as permanent residents.... But little attention was paid by the state to this section prior to 1820, at which period information was filed with the attorney general against "certain settlers said to be encroaching upon the public domain," north of the parallel of 45 degrees north latitude, and suits were subsequently brought to eject them from their holdings under the proprietary titles. At the June session of the legislature of 1824 a committee of three members were appointed to visit the "Indian Stream Territory" (as this country was then generally designated) and report at the November session following. This action on the part of the state was in answer to a petition from the proprietors, claiming under this Indian deed, and from the settlers, asking relief from certain suits which had been brought against them in the Supreme Court, to eject them from their holdings. The report of this committee was referred to a select committee of the House, at the November session of the same year, which submitted the following report:-- "The petitioners claim under a deed from one Philip, an Indian chieftain, and the depositions of Daniel Farrington, Ward Bailey, Andrew Gilman, Benjamin Willey, John Osgood, and John Evans (taken at the expense of the proprietors in 1804 in perpetua re memoriam), were laid before them by the petitioners, and that the grantor, King Philip, was the chief, or sachem of the Upper Coos tribe of Indians, that was regarded as such by the Indians inhabiting the Upper Coos, and by the white inhabitants of that country. The committee further find that King Philip, from and after the execution of the deed and until the time of his death in 1797, and Molly Mussell, wife or companion to said Philip, until her death, were supported at the expense of the original proprietors. The committee further find that the first meeting of persons claiming rights or shares of a certain tract of land conveyed to John Bradley, Esq., and others by Philip, an Indian chief, at the head of Connecticut, Androscoggin, and other rivers, was holden at Concord on the 17th of June 1797. The committee further find, that at subsequent meetings, sixty-eight in number (and which have mostly been held at Concord during the session of the legislature) the proprietors have Voted (December 10, 1798) to lay out a township six miles square within the grant, or such other tract as the committee hereafter named may think proper--not to interfere with any grant heretofore made by the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the Province of Lower Canada; to give one hundred acres for settling to ever settler who may settle within the same, and another one hundred acres by draught within the same, and the settler paying the proprietors fifty dollars to be expended under the direction of the proprietors in making roads. At the same meeting a committee was appointed for the proprietary to settle or compromise with any other persons who may have trespassed on said Phillip's Grant." At the meeting held in Concord Jan 7, 1800 it was voted to "accept the survey of sixty-four thousand acres of said Philip's grant lying north of the parallel of forty-five degrees north latitude, being laid out into lots , thirty-two in number, and containing two thousand acres each; and, at the same meeting, the proprietors drew lots for the lots. June 11, 1800 a committee was apointed to lay out land betwixt Hall and Indian streams, and authorized to agree with settlers. June 10, 1801, voted 'Jeremiah Eames be, and he hereby is, authorized to put on settlers, and give quitclaim deeds of conveyance of such numbers of acres as hath been heretofore voted.' June 14, 1804, voted that 'Captain John Eastman, Jeremiah Eames Jr., and Samuel Bradley be a committee to lay out the whole of Philip's Grant, and lot the same in such a way and manner as they shall think most conducive to the interest of said proprietors.' August 10, 1819, voted 'to choose a committee to go around and survey the remaining part of the land in Philip's Grant, or such part thereof as their judgment may direct when on the spot, and that they be authorized to make contracts with any persons who are now settlers or who may become settlers in the course of the present year on the lands in Philip's Grant, giving them not exceeding two hundred acres of land each as settlers, by their signing an instrument that they hold their lands by virtue of a title from the proprietors of Philip's Grant, and from no other quarter." The committee attended to the duty assigned them, and made a report which, at a meeting of the proprietors, Dec. 27, 1819 was approved of as being "very intelligent." and from this report the committee ask leave of the House to submit for their consideration the following extracts: "From Fletcher's Mills we took our departure to a northerly direction toward the lake Connecticut, distant six (eight?) miles, to the outlet of said lake; thence in a northerly direction, half a mile distant from the shore of said lake; from there we proceeded up the inlet in a canoe about two miles, and then proceeded several miles into the forest, and then returned to the canoe and came down about the middle of said lake from the inlet to the outlet which is about eight miles, which gave us a beautiful view of the land explored. We found the whole country as far as we explored an excellent deep soil, rising into large, gentle swells, admirable adapted to cultivation and covered with a fine growth of large timber remarkably tall and very little underwood. The timber is chiefly the sugar-maple, beech and birch. We discovered very little of what is called beech land. The land is not broken into mountains, nor so stony as to injure the cultivation, as is the case in many of the towns in New Hampshire. We are induced to believe that three or four townships may be located within the boundaries of said tract, which for fertility of soil, and pleasantness of situation, would not be exceeded by any town in New Hampshire." "The committee further find taht the proprietors have received no consideration from the tenants for the lands alloted to them; that they have expended very considerable sums of money in making roads, erected a bridge, and building grist-mills and saw-mills, and if the legislature should hereafter consider that the petitioners have no legal claim, the committee have no doubt that the important betterments will secure for them the equitable consideration of the legislature. And the committee further find, that an act entitled 'an act to prevent and make void clandestine and illegal purchases of lands from the Indians' passed the General Assembly of the province of New Hampshire in the year 1719, the first section of which enacted that all deeds of bargains, sale, lease, release, or quitclaim, titles or conveyances whatsoever of any lands, tenements or hereditaments, within the province, as well for a term of years as forever, had, made, gotten, procured or obtained from any Indian or Indians, by any person or persons whatsoever at any time or times since 1700, without the license or the approbation of the General Assembly of the province, and all deeds &c., which shall hereafter be had, &c, shall be judged in law to be null, void, and of none effct, to all intents and purposes, as though they had never been made." And the committee further find that in 1792 this act was repealed; and that the legislature of this state in the year 1789, appointed a committee for the purpose, and caused the boundary lines between this state and that part of Massachusetts then called the district of Maine, and between this state and the Province of Canada to be ascertained and run, and monuments to be erected thereon; and that the lines there run include within this state, some portions at least, of the lands claimed by the petitoners. The committee further find that Nathan Hoit, one of the grantees named in the deed, was a member of the above committee. And that the committee further find that no grants have been made by this state of any lands lying northerly of the tract of land granted to Dartmouth College. And the committee further find that the following resolution passed the legislature at the November session, 1820.. "Resolved. That the Attorney-General be, and he is hereby authorized to institute due proceedings in law against such of said persons (the settlers on the lands lying northerly of the tract of land granted to Dartmouth College) as he shall deem proper, in the name and behalf of the state, and the same to prosecute to final judgement, to the end that the said persons, in case it shall be found that they have unlawfully entered and infringed upon said lands, may be removed therefrom." "And the committee further find that the attorney-general, in compliance with the above resolution did institute legal proceedings against certain of the settlers in the Supreme Court in and for the county of Coos. And the committee further find that a plea to the jurisdiction of the court was filed, and that the question of the jurisdiction of the state involved in the plea remains undecided. And the committee further find, that the true boundary line between the United States and the Province of Canada has not yet been ascertained and determined. The committee ask leave of the House to report that in their opinion no decisive measures can be recommended by them and adopted by the legislature as to the sale and conveyance of any portion of the lands lying north of the 45th degree, until the question of the extent of the jurisdiction of the state is settled, and that this must depend upon the determination of the boundary lines. If, on the final establishment of the boundary line between the United States and the Province of Canada, any part of the land claimed by either the state or the petitioners, should be found to fall without the jurisdiction of the United States, the committee have no reason to doubt, that on proper representation being made by the senators and representatives of this state, in the Congress of the United States, the same would be by an act, annexed to this state to which it ought of right belong. Believing as the committee do that the right of jurisdiction (or in other words its right to legislate) to the full extend over the lands claimed by the petitioners is not at present a proper subject for judicial decision; and believing further that the tenants had reason to put great confidence in the representations of those who publicly claimed the right of soil and under whom they entered, the committee are of opinion that the tenants are entitled, if not to be fully quieted in their posssession of land, at least to exemption from prosecution. They ask leave there fore to submit for the consideration of the House the accompanying resolution. (signed William Smith, "For the Committee") page 707 No further attention was bestowned on the territory by the authorities of the state for a period of ten years, during which the population slowly but steadily incresaed. Neither state nor county taxes were levied, as is done in other unincorporated places. There was no law for the prevention or punishment of crime, the enforcement of civil contracts, or any of the multiform necessities of civilized communicites, for which human governments are instituted. Roads were cut through the forest, and improved by voluntary contributions of labor; and school-houses were built in the same manner. There was but little crime. Every one found work enough to do in clreaing up the forests, and providing for the wants of their families, in a newly settled country, remote from markets, where there was but little money and most of the necessities of life must be produced at home. Barter was an important factor in trade, but little credit was given. The payment of debts was a matter of honor, and the methods of modern commercial and financial transactions but little known. A mild form of Lynch law, never proceeding to extreme measures, sufficed for the punishment of the more flagrant offenses against the public peace, and for a while everything went well. But disorganizing and quarrelsome elements eventually sprang up, and the necessity for a compact or form of government for mutual protection was very generally recognized by nearly the entire community. Accordingly, on the 6th day of April 1829, a public meeting of the citizens was held at the Center school-house, the "Independence Hall" of Pittsburg, at which they asserted their independence of both governments of Great Britain and the United States; drew up a preamble and bill of rights, and adopted a constitution and form of government, very democratic in its provisions. It consisted of three distinct departments-- representative, executive, and judicial. The representative branch was decidedly primitive in its organization, being composed of the entire voting population of the territory, each directly representing his own interests. The executive department consisted of five persons chosen annually, officially known as the "Supreme Council," and forming a semi-judicial tribunal or court of appeal from the lower courts. The judicial branch of the government was vested in justice of the peace elected by the people in their municipal capacity, and had provisions for trials by a jury of six people, whenever demanded, with right of appeal to the Supreme Council. At the meeting for the organization of the government a committee of three persons was chosen, consisting of Nathaniel Perkins, John Haines, and David Mitchell, to draft a code of laws for the government of the territory to be submitted to the people, when assembled in their legislative capacity, for approval. This "legislature" met in June following, and the code reported by the committee was substantially adopted. All the offices under this rather novel form of government were elective. A common school system was established. A military organization formed for protection against foreign invasion or domestic violence, consisting of one company of forty men, of which Hermon Batchelder was chosen captain. Taxes were levied for municipal purposes, the boundaries of school and highway districts defined, and schools established, to be supported by taxation. The collection of debts for the first time during the existence of the colony was enforced by legal process, and all the varied municipal functions of the government were soon placed in working order. Reuben Sawyer was elected sheriff; Nathaniel Perkins, John Haines, David Mitchell, Jeremiah Tabor, and Phineas Willard, councillors; John A. Mitchell, clerk and register of deeds; Richard I. Blanchard, Clark J. Haines and Burleigh Blood, justices of the peace. The first criminal brought to trial under the new judicial system was an old offender against domestic tranquility on a charge of felonious assault, who claimed a trial by jury, which was duly empanelled. After a rather lengthy trial, involving a large number of ludicrous and contradictory testimony, the complainant relenting somewhat (her evidence was not of a very damaging character), the case was given to the jury, which returned a verdict of "not guilty." The respondent was requested by the presiding justice to stand up and listen to the verdict. The court then addresses him: "Prisoner at the bar. It gives me pleasure to inform ou that you have been honorable acquitted by a jury of your countrymen of the atrocious crime with which you were charged; but this court deems it its duty to admonish you, that, if you are ever caught in another nasty scrape of this kind, you will be punished severely." Everything pertaining to this new government worked harmoniously for a period of four years, but it early became evident that it contained the germs of disintegration and decay. To be sure, slavery had no existence within its limits. There wer no violent convulsions of nearly-balanced political parties fiercely contending for places at the public crib, or questions of protection as against free trade, civil service reform, bi-metallic currency; nor did an overflowing treasury threaten its perpetuity; but from its weakness it became inert, and soon lost all power to enforce the execution of its laws. Having no jail or secure place for the detention and punishment of criminals, it could only resort to fines (without imprisonment) in default of payment. Treason, against which there existed no statuatory provisions, eventually crept in, and completed its destruction in 1835. Thus disappeared one of the smallest and most democratic of governments known to have existed, after a life of only five years. Society was again chaotic. Many of the people invoked the protection of New Hampshire; some that of the Canadian government. Fierce and bitter quarrels sprang up between the parties seeking these diverse protections. New Hampshire had shown a disposition to extend a quasi jurisdiction over the territory in the early part of the year, by sending officers, on several occasions, here to serve processes issued by her courts. These met with some resistance from the Canadian party, and nother further was done until August 6, 1835, when Col. John H. White, sheriff of Coos County, had an interview with many of the leading citizens, assuring those favorably disposed of the protection of New Hampshire, and warning others of the consequences of treasonable acts, and appointed Richard I. Blanchard (a resident citizen) deputy sheriff. Very soon after this, Alexander Rae, a magistrate of the County of Compton, Lower Canada, also visited the place; and, calling a meeting of those in favor or Canadian jurisdiction, he addressed them at considerable length, and in quite inflammatory language, assuring them of the immediate protection of His Britannic Majesty's government and advising them to resist, by any and all means within their power, what he termed "the encroachments of the authorities of the state of New Hampshire." Thus assured, several of the Canadians openly defied the authorities of the state, fortified their houses, armed themselves and threatened vengeance on those loyal to the state. Many made threats against Deputy-Sheriff Blanchard in his attempts to discharge his official duties, and, on the morning of the 2d of October, he awoke to find his dwelling surrounded by a body of armed men from Canada, augmented by a small detachment from the immediate neighborhood, headed by a sheriff, who immediately arrested him on a Canadian warrant, and started with him on foot, en route for Canada. The news of his arrest soon spread over this and the bordertowns of New Hampshire, and created an intense excitement. By noon of the same day, a party of nearly 150 mounted men, armed with a great diversity of implements of warfare, were in close pursuit, paying very little attention to the boundary line. THey came up with the party having Blanchard one mile from the boundary on the Canadian side, and, after a short skirmish, in which two of the Canadians were wounded (Bernard Young, from a pistol shot in the groin, and ALexander Rae, by a sabre-cut across the head), Blanchard was rescued and conducted to Canaan, Vt., where, after celebrating their victory on a foreign soil in their happy manner, these patriotic volunteers, so suddenly organized as an invading military force, as suddenly disbanded and quietly returned to their respective homes. These counter invasions by armed men formed the subject of a long diplomatic correspondence between the government of Great Britain and the United States, and was finally amicably settled by the treaty of Washington in 1842. Public feeling was much excited along the frontier on both sides, by these events; and considerable apprehension was felt by many of the citizens of this territory for their safety. The animosity existing between the parties was greatly intensified by these acts of violence. Most of the citizens armed themselves in self-defense, and a general condition of anarchy and confusion exists. [See "Indian Stream War" in County History] The period succeeding the "war" for seven years was a season of comparatively quiet rural life, unmarked by any disturbing element, or prominent political or social action. The year 1836 brought a cold season, with frosts every month in the year. Crops failed to ripen, and the material prosperity of the settlement was very considerably retarded by the scarcity of provisions resulting from the unfavorable weather. There was a continuous succession of favorable seasons after this for a long period. Extensive clearings were made in the surrounding forest, the virgin soil yielded abundant returns for the labors of the husbandman, and a very marked degree of agricultural prosperity prevailed. Pittsburg was incorporated at the November session of the legislature in 1840, and at that time contained about sixty ratable polls, fifty-four voters, and a total valuation of about $50,000, exclusive of the state lands, which were not considered subject to taxation for municipal purposes, although within the corporate limits of the town. Kimball B. Fletcher, son of Ebenzer, was appointed postmaster at Indian Streams, December 12, 1836. This office was kept at his residence near Fletcher's Mills, and discontinued after three years. This appointment was made when United States officials were held in little respect, except their their own prowess demanded it, and Mr. Fletcher slept at night with a heavy, loaded hunting-rifle hanging within reach over his head, a large smooth-bore, loaded with a ball and six buck shots, by the side of his bed, and a double-barrelled rifle-pistol with sixteen-inch barrels under his pillow. It is safe to say that if there had been any attempt to interfere with him, some one would have been hurt, and the Canadian sympathizers knew it, and he was not molested. In early times "raisings" of barns and houses were matters of neighborhood jollity. People assembled from many miles around; the men to life or "raise" the heavy timbers into position; the women to aid in the cooking required for so large a company. When the "raising" was completed, some bright man either gave a name to the building or a toast to the owners. The day's work was succeeded by a night of merriment and dancing. The subjoined toast was composed and delivered by Kimball B. Fletcher at the raising of Parker Tabor's house in Pittsburg in 1835 "Here is a fine frame! It stands high on dry land, The owner is rich, and a very fine man. At home he is honored, and abroad it's the same; May he still keep increasing in honor and fame. This house it stands square, and in a fair view Of a river, fine meadows and neighbors a few. The timber is square, and is well put together; May God bless the owner forever and ever! This house shall be finished from bottom to top. There's one thing I'll mention I like to've forgot; He has a wife ready courted that is worthy of praise, In his house both together fat babie's they'll raise." TORNADO--July 30, 1868 a fearful hurricane came from the northwest, cut through the dense forests a breadth of three-quarters of a mile, tearing rocks from their beds, and tossing them into the air. As it came through the Tabor Notch, it entirely destroyed the Tabor sugar-orchard of 300 trees; passing Indian Stream, it tore down 100 acres of massive maples and elms belonging to E.L. Farnham; continuing over the southwest side of Fletcher mountains, it turned its course northward, and nearly demolished the great sugar-orchard of E.C. Aldrich. Buildings were overthrown, the old Fletcher house rent into thousands of pieces, and the large Fletcher barn, made of immense timbers of hard wood built by Ebenezer Fletcher was early, and considered the strongest structure in the county, after being moved some inches from its base, had its roof taken off, and many of its timbers carried eighty rods. Mrs. Adrich's family were all there at the time, but had fled to the shed for safety, and that, strange to say, escaped destruction. The tornado also did much damage to stock, buildings, and crops; but the only serious injury to man was the breaking of Mr. Chappell's leg by flying timber. Chapter LXXXX At the June session of the legislature in 1844 an act was passed authorizing a "survey of the public lands in the town of Pittsburg," and Ephraim Cross of Lancaster, was appointed agent. James W. Weeks, of Lancaster, assisted by William D. Weeks, was employed for the field work under the direction of the agent. Work was commenced on the ground in August following. The boundaries of the town were traced and plotted; and a section containing 20,000 acres, embracing a considerable part of the settled portion of the town within its limits, and including more than two-thirds of the land granted to the original settlers by the act of 1824, and which had been surveyed and lotted, and the lines marked, nearly a quarter of a century before. Cross proceeded to reorganize the old boundaries of improved lands, cutting up and dividing farms regardless of the rights of owners, by arbitrary lines traced on the ground and monuments erected at the corners of the lots. This work is still known as "Cross's survey," and only recognized as determining the boundaries of lots not hitherto granted. A map of the work was prepared by J.W. Weeks, and placed on file at Concord. The north line of this survey, known as "Cross north line," forms the southern boundary of the "Colebrook Academy Grant," and the "Pittsburg School Grant." This survey was indefinitely suspended at the next session of the legislature. page 712-713 In 1848 an act was passed "defining the boundaries of the town of Pittsburg," and adding to it the "township" of Carlisle, including an area of 60,000 acres, and which had not hitherto been considered within the corporate limits of the town. Also, in the same year, another act was passed, exempting the town from the provisions of the general law in regard to dividing towns into school districts, and authorizing the selectmen of the town to divide the settled portions thereof into districts in such a manner as they might deem just and proper (some act of this kind being deemed necessary from the fact that it was impossible to comply with the existing statue in relation thereto, requiring all the land in the several towns to be districted, while the public domain within the limits of this town was not subject to local taxation). At the November session of the legislature in 1848, an act was passed directing a further survey of the "state lands in the town of Pittsburg," and David Blanchard, of Pittsburg, and John Flanders of Stewartstown, were appointed agents by Governor Dinsmore to make the survey. Field work was commenced in March 1849, by David Blanchard, James W. Weeks and John H. Spaulding. The principal streams were surveyed and plotted; the boundaries between the public lands, and a considerable portion of those of the settlers, determined; about 30,000 acres of the state lands lotted in lots of 206 acres, each six acres as allowance for highways; the boundaries of the "Colebrook Academy Grant" determine and marked; and a plan of the work filed in the office of the secretary of state in June following. This was the last survey by the state of the public lands in town. At the June session of the legislature of 1850, an act was passed "granting to each actual settlers on the public lands in Pittsburg, who had entered on same since 1824, the lands in his possession not exceeding the amount of one hundred acres." Another supplementary act was passed July 4, 1860, as follows:-- "That the title of this state in and to all lots of land in the town of Pittsburg, upon which any settlers, his heirs, or assigns, have been in actual possession, bona fide, and making improvements for the period of six months last preceding the passage of this act, or upon which any settlers, having heretofore entered an made improvements, or the assessors of said town have so far considered the same to be owned by an individual as to tax and cause the same to be sold for taxes, is hereby confirmed and released in each case in, and to, said settlers, his heirs, or assigns and to the purchaser under said sales." At the June session, 1858, an act was passed granting to the town a tract of 6,000 acres of land dying between Indian and Perry streams and north of Cross's north line, for the aid and benefit of common schools. This grant was sold the following year, and the proceeds invested at six per cent, the income from which is annually expended for educational purposes. In 1865 the state granted to the town a tract of land 5,000 acres in the construction of a road from the outlet of the Connecticut lake to the town of Aukland, Quebec, a distance of eleven miles. This road was subsequently located, the timber cut out, and the section between Perry and Indian streams, about three miles, made passable for carriages; but the work proving very difficult, and the prospective benefit to be derived from the road when completed not promising to be sufficient to warrant the expense of keeping it in repair if built, the enterprise was abandoned. The town, soon after, conveyed its right to the land to Charles W. Weeks and Frank Aldrich for $5,800, and applied the proceeds in part payment of the war debt of the town. In June 1867, an act was passed authorizing the sale of the public lands in Pittsburg, amounting in all to about 100,000 acres; reserving and excepting from such sale, however, the amount of 100 acres to each of two actual settlers, thereon. These lands were accordingly sold, on the 17th of October, 1867 to William H. Smith, of Bangor, Me., for twenty cents per acres; and, thus passing into private hands, became subject to municipal taxation. The taxes assessed thereon materially lighte the burden of the residents in the matter of town expenditures. ACTION OF THE TOWN DURING THE REBELLION (Civil War) At a meeting holden June 18, 1864, it was voted "to raise $300 to pay each man who was drafted May 18, 1864" [more info in original document not included here]. CIVIL LIST and ACTION OF TOWN from March 1841-March 1887 inclusive FIRST ANNUAL MEETING-- 1841. Nathaniel Perkins, clerk; Nathaniel Perkins, Ross C. Haines, Abner Hyland, selectmen; Nathaniel Perkins, Samuel Mecham, Samuel Whitney, superintending school committee. 53 votes cast in election. 1842. Nathaniel Perkins, clerk; Burleigh Blood, Jeremiah Tabor, Samuel Huggins, selectmen; Nathaniel Perkins, Abner Hyland, Richard I. Blanchard, superintending school committee; 63 votes cast. 1843. Nathaniel Perkins, clerk; Nathaniel Perkins, John Haines, Richard Quimby, selectmen; David Blanchard, Nathaniel Perkins Jr., Ephraim C. Aldrich Jr. superintending school committee. 1844. Samuel Meecham, clerk; John Haines, Parker Tabor, David Johnson, selectmen; Nathaniel Perkins, treasurer and representative. John Haines collector of taxes. Voted to put up Adaline Small, a town pauper, and dispose of her to the lowest bidder. 1845. Samuel Mecham, clerk, Abner Hyland, Samuel Mecham, Hiram Perkins, selectmen; David Blanchard, E.C. Aldrich, John T. Amy, superintending school committee. 1847. Amos F. Abbott, clerk; Richard I. BLanchard, Burleigh Blood, Richard Quimby, selectmen; Amos F. Abbott, David Blanchard, Moody B. Haynes, superintending school committee. 1848. Samuel Mecham, clerk; Richard I. BLanchard, Richard QUimby, Cyrus E. Farnham, selectmen; David Blanchard, Samuel Mecham, William C. Locke, superintending school committee; Richard I. BLanchard, representive. 73 votes cast for governor. Voted that the barn-yards of William C. Locke, Clark J. Haines and Israel W. Tyler be constituted "pounds." 1849. Samuel Mecham, clerk; Richard I. BLanchard, Cyrus E. Farnham, William C. Locke, selectmen; John T. Amy, Amos F. Abbott, Erasmus D. Hutchinson, superintending school committee. Chose Josiah A. Young, of Clarksville, to represent the district. [NOTE Town officers from 1850-1887 in original document, not included here] THE FIRST CHURCH The first church organized in the territory was the Congregational, in 1822, by Rev. Dr. Rankin, assisted by Dr. Hale. "This church soon failed to keep up its organization, and was succeeded two years later by a Free Will Baptist church under Rev. Aaron Buzzel, from Strafford, NH, an able but somewhat eccentric divine, who occasionally visited the place, under various pastorates, from a period of twnety years. A Methodist church was organized here about 1826, by Rev. Henry J. Woolley, who was succeeded in his missionary labors by Rev. Chester Levings, Joseph Baker, Charles Cowan, Harry Latham, George Putnam, Solomon Gleason, Edmund T. Manering, Holman Drew, James Dow, Lorenzo Gleason, -- Blodgett, Pickens Boynton and D.J. Smith. Samuel Danforth officiated as deacon of the church for a long period of time. THE FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE was built in 1875 by the M.E. church, near the center of town; this was a neat and commodious structure. The first pastor installed was Rev. Mr. Presby; he was succeeded by E.C. Langford, John Wesley, Albert Brown, Albert Smith, and the present (1887) incument, Rev. W. Warren. Rev. Samuel Drown, a Free WIll Baptist minister, moved here in 1829, from Sheffield, Vt., and ministered to the spiritual wants of the parishoners for a period of ten years [more info not included here]. THE FIRST SCHOOL taught in the territory, of which there is any knowledge, was kept about 1821, in a log-house on Indian stream, by Betsey Rogers. The first school-house built was a log structure standing near the road on the brook between the Jonathan Hartwell place and Samuel Danforth's. Elisha Abbott was the first teacher. He is said to have combined with his profession as a teacher, considerable music talent, and one of his rather novel methods of school discipline was the promise, as a reward for good behavior, to play the violin for his pupils to dance at the noon recess. At a little later period a frame school-house was built at Indian Stream, near what is known as "French Brook." This part of the town is now known as school district No. 1. In the year 1828 a substantial and convenient frame building was built for school purposes (since known as the Center school-house, district No.3) by voluntary contribution; and for a long period served as school-house, town-hall, court-house and church. Private schools in this house were supported for a period of twelve years by the citizens of the town. The first school taught here was by Eunice Bunnel from Claremont between forty and fifty pupils usually attending. She was succeeded by Alanson Cummings, John A. Mitchell, Mercy Danforth, Ahaz S. French and Samuel White. During the existence of the "Indian Stream Government," at this humble institution of learning, men, now holding prominent positions at the bar, in the pulpit, in the medical profession, and in mercantile life, received their early elementary education. This building has been kept in good repair; and in 1886, was purchased by the town under the school law, known as the town system. This town has nine schools, about 130 pupils and annually expends $1,000 for educational purposes.... POLLS, VALUATION AND AGRICULTURE The whole number of ratable polls in the town of Pittsburg, April 1, 1887 was 175. Its taxation valuation $300,815. Excepts only: Agriculture forms the most important industry of the town, and grazing, to which the soil is particularly well adapted, is the principal branch thereof. Lumbering forms another very important branch of domestic industry. THE CONNECTICUT RIVER LUMBER COMPANY, chartered in 1879, under the laws of the state of Connecticut, owns upwards of 125,000 acres of timber lands in this town, besides a large amount elsewhere, and has one of its principal offices at Connecticut Lake, at which point it was built and runs a hotel for public accomodation, and a small steamer, the "Hartford," in connection therewith on Connecticut lake. The company also erected several commodious barns, a store, saw-mill and other buildings necessary for the successful operation of its business at this point. New York capitalists, together with George Van Dyke, of Lancaster, president, comprise the company, which has mills at Hartford, Conn., Holyoke and Northampton, Mass., Bellows Falls,, McIndoes Falls, and Guildhall Vt., and on the Androscoggin river in Maine, and employ in the woods in the winter annually some 400 men and 200 horses, cutting and hauling annually about 40,000,000 feet of spruce logs, and driving them down the COnnecticut in the spring to their various mills on the river. They employ generally from 700 to 800 men during the early period of the work.... Hon. Asa Smith, of Hartford, Conn., one of the pioneers in the lumbering business, was the first president, and business manager of the Connecticut River Lumber Company during the first four years of its corporate existence. He is kindly remembered by the many friends who sustained business relations with him and enjoyed his friendship during his administration. He was succeeded in office by George Van Dyke, a man possessing indomitable energy and perseverance. This town has four saw-mills, two grist-mills, one machine shop, two hotels, two postoffices, a town hall, three stores, and three blacksmith shops. It has telephonic communication with North Stratford, and intermediate points. THE UPPER COOS RIVER AND LAKE IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, chartered by New Hampshire, together with the Connecticut River Lumber Company, has expended large sums in the clearing of obstructions from the principal streams, and in building dams at the lakes to facilitate driving lumber. THE HEREFORD BRANCH RAILROAD, a branch of the Canadian Pacific railway, connecting with the Upper Coos railroad at the boundary near the mouth of Hall's stream, is located near, and extends six miles along the westerly border of the town. These railroads have given a new impetus to business interests; already a manifest improvement is shown in the enhanced value of real estate; and, although the easterly portion of the town is at a considerable distance from the nearest railroad station, yet, with the certain prospect of an early construction of a branch road to Connecticut lake, Pittsburg, with its vast undeveloped resources of forests, minerals, abundant water-power, extensive areas of uncleared lands well adapted to agricultural purposes, and already opened to settlement, unrivalled attractions as a place of summer resort for tourists, its abundance of cool, refreshing, spring water, its altitude and healthful climate where hay-fever is an unknown disease, can hardly fail soon to become one of the most important towns of New Hampshire. (end)