A collection of approximately 40 documents concerning the surveying, making, and maintenance of roads in and around Hillsborough and vicinity

Hillsborough, N.H. 1777 - 1846. A comprehensive group spanning more than 60 years, all concerning the surveying, building, and maintenance of roads in Hillsborough. Size ranges from 2" x 7½" to 13" x 7¾". Most with previous folds, all in ink, and legible. Many docketed on the verso as being "recorded." The prose is that of working men - blue collar prose - often rough, the spelling often phonetic, and the grammar regularly strained, but nonetheless, this is a most interesting series of documents which chronicles a good part of the history of road building in a single community over six decades. "Each New England town was responsible for building and maintaining all roads within its limits. Colonial laws originally had required all adult males with few exceptions to work a certain number of days each year in the roads. These laws were revised during the eighteenth century so that by 1800 most towns annually voted a highway tax assessed in proportion to the value of property holdings. But these taxes continued to be paid in labor, and in halfhearted labor at that. Although conditions varied somewhat from town to town, indifference in most cases prevented significant improvement ... Labor on the roads was supervised by surveyors of highways, twenty to thirty of whom were elected annually by some small towns" ("Roads and Travel in New England 1790-1840" at teachushistorydotcom). One-page autograph document, 5½" x 8", Hillsboro, May 19, 1777, "A record of a road laid out by us the Subscribers two rods wide beginning at the road which leads from James Gibsons to lien Ami Andrews house at the south east corner of ye Moran's lot, thence running southwesterly thru Lot No. 48..." Signed by the subscribers Wm. Pope and John McCallen, and countersigned by W.P.J., clerk. One-page autograph receipt, 3" x 8¼", [Hillsborough], April 15, 1786, "Received of William Symons one pound in full for my charges as a Committeeman appointed by the Quarter Sessions to lay out a road between Hillsbro and Antrim near Lieut. Daniel McHeab's farm," signed by Oliver Holmes. One-page autograph document, 6" x 7½", Hilllsborough, July 2, 1790, "We as Subscribers being chosen as Committee to vew and determine the place of ground for a road from Mr. John McClintick's Northerly towards Mr. Alexander McClinticks and to judge of the damages to the said John McClintick. Report that the road shall begin 27 rods from the west end of John McClintick's house ... thence turning up the hill on a road on Alexander McClintick's land ... and that the said John McClintick receive seven pounds ten shillings for damages..." Signed by David Willson and William Wallace. Four-page autograph document on integral leaves, 12" x 7¼", Amherst, May 13, 1793, "To the honourable the Justices of the court of General Sessions of the peace holden at Amherst in and for the county of Hillsborough on the last Wednesday of May, 1793 ... The committee on the road leading Washington line to Amherst beg leave to report that they have affected the service as directed and agreed to lay out the road three rods wide from Washington line, as follows ... [here, a 75-line detailed survey of the road, ending with:] leaving the road now travelled S: 63 E 100 rods by Mr. Mears' red house and coming out to the north of Mr. Rendell's house where it meets the road now travelled S. 66 rods to the haymarket." Following is a list of 11 property owners who have been accessed damages (anywhere from 2 to 9 pounds), and the names of 4 committee members from the Hillsborough Court of General Sessions. One-page autograph document, 7¼" x 6", [Hillsborough], December 5, 1804, "Began at the S. West corner of Hillsboro thence north 16 degrees west 174 rods to the pond near Loves [and another 14 lines of survey, ending with:] 246 rods to the road leading to Baileys Mills same course 196 rods to the south west corner of Bradford," signed Daniel Nichols. Five autograph documents on recto and verso of a single sheet, 11¼" x 7¼", docketed and recorded as "Perambulation of Town Lines." 1. Hillsborough, November 30, 1804, an 11-line survey which has been crossed out] and with 2. a second survey beneath it dated December 5, 1804 covering some of the same ground in 10 lines ending with "the northeasterly corner of Windsor which is also a corner of Washington thence same course 529 rods to the N. West corner of Hillsboro..." 3. December 6, 1804, "Began at the Northwest corner of Hillsboro thence east 7 degrs. North 246 rods to the road leading to Baileys Mills same course 196 rods to the southwest cor. near Bradford," signed "D.N." 4. December 13 & 14, "Beginning at a Beach Tree marked on the northerly line of Hillsboro [followed by 8 lines of survey, ending with:] "amounting to 4 miles, 256 rods, as it appears by the account which was rendered by the chairmen," signed Stephen Hoyt, Junior, surveyor. 5. "Beginning at the Northeast corner of Hillsboro thence south [followed by 12 lines of survey, ending with:] "...to the southeast corner of said Henniker - whole distance on the line between Henniker and Hillsborough is 2,182 rods." One-page autograph note signed by Stephen Hoyt, Junior, surveyor, to Calvin Stevens, 6½" x 7½", Bradford, December 15, 1804. "Sir, The following are the minutes of the survey that was taken by me the subscriber on the 13th & 14th of this instant month [see above] on behalf of the towns of Hillsborough & Bradford. Here follows 7 lines of survey, Hoyt's signature and a few mathematical calculations. The right margin of the letter shows some small loss affecting 3 or 4 words, and the folds are weak. One-page autograph certificate, 5¼" x 7½", Hillsborough, September 2, 1805, "I hereby certify that at a town meeting legally holden in the town of Hillsborough ... in obedience to an order of notice from the Court of Common Pleas ... that it was unanimously voted that it is inexpedient for a Court's committee be appointed to lay out or straighten a road, from or near David Starretts Esq. to Henniker line, and that Lieut. John McNeal was chosen agent..." Signed "Attest Elijah Beard, T. Clerk." One-page autograph certificate, 2" x 7½", Hillsborough, October 1, 1805, "This may certify that I do give the priviledge of a publick road a cros the Southwesterly corner of my land free and clear of all expense, said road to be two rods wide." Signed John Hartwell. One-page letter signed by F. Blood, 13" x 7¾", Amherst, October 30, 1805, addressed to the Selectmen of Hillsborough, "I should inform you ... on the petition of William Wallace and others relative to straightening the road from John Jones in Hopkington to David Sterrits in Hillsborough is to meet at the house of George Descomb ... on the third Monday of Nov... One-page autograph note [torn from a larger sheet], August 7, 1807, "To see if the town will discontinue the road from M. Perries to the post office for one year, or longer if they see fit," signed Europe Hamlin. One-page manuscript survey, 5" x 7½", Hillsborough, June 1, 1808, "Beginning at a stake and stones on Eber Barnes last line running southwesterly by a large rock about 8 rods from said line [followed by 6 lines of survey, ending with:] "... to the road leading from James Wilsons to Bernjamin Goulds," signed by Andre Sargeant and G. C. Barnes. One-page manuscript survey, 3" x 8", Hillsborough, September 3, 1808, "This day lay'd out the road applyed for by Mr. Wm. Codman and others beginning on the road now trod about 8 rods north of Capt. Eastons barn from thence running northwesterly about 3 rods east of Mr. Codmans house, nearly same course between two large rocks [followed by 2 lines of survey, ending with:] "...The above road to be in exchange for the road now trod laying top the West of Mr. Codmans house," signed Arnold Sargeant and Joseph C. Barnes, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page autograph document, 6½" x 7½", [Hillsborough], June 13, 1810, "To the road a cross the Mill Yard as laid out in June 6, 1794 ... we have added on the south side at the east end two roads and at the next end one road in due proportion which will now be on the east four rods wide and three rods wide on the west..." Signed Andrew Sargeant, James Wyman, and James Wilson, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page manuscript survey, 6½" x 7½", Hillsborough, June 13, 1810, "A record of a road laid out by us the subscribers beginning at Samuel Merrils southeast corner said road laid east of the corner two rods wide [followed by 7 lines of survey, ending with:] "...said road free of any other expense to the town by consent of Mr. Thomas Merril of During owner of the soil at the time," signed Andrew Sargeant, Zemo (?) Wtman and James Nielson, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page manuscript document, 6" x 7½", Hillsborough, March 26, 1811, "Report of a committee appointed to view the situation of the Taylor Road so called, beg leave to report as follows (viz) that the road be turned to the north at Mr. S. Taylors expense the plank on said road the towns property the timber Mr. Taylor's property and the town allows Mr. Taylor to make the north route as gravel as the south and indemnify the town," signed by David Goodall, Isaac Andrews and Jacob Gould, as "committee." Three-page manuscript summons from the town of Hillsborough to the county of Hillsborough, State of New Hampshire, on integral leaves, 12" x 7½", Hillsborough, August 28, 1814, "State of New Hampshire, Hillsborough to the Sheriff of our county ... or his deputy, Greeting whereas at the Superior Court of Justice the holders of Hopkington within the said county ... the jurors for the state of New Hampshire on their oath do present that for a long time before the commencement of the nuisance herein after mentioned there has ever since has been and still is a corner (?) highway in said county leading from Bradford ... to Hillsborough meeting house ... in and through the same to pass with their horses carrages & teams at their will & pleasure & that a certain part of said highway ... beginning at the post guide on the road about 100 rods northwestly on the county road as it is now trod by & over the bridge near Gammels house and by Captain Abbots house ... was on the first day of October in [1808 and] ever since hath & still is in rocky ruinous broken & uneven & in great decay for want of due reparation ... [The citizens] ought to do without danger of their lives & loss of their goods & that the said town during all the time afore now were & still are by law holden & bound the said part of the said highway to repair whenever the same should or may be necessary yet..." Signed by Seth Adams, clerk, R.G. Wells, sheriff. One-page manuscript report, 8¼" x 7¼", Hillsborough, October 7, 1813, "We the undersigned being appointed a committee by the town of Hillsboro to give our opinion wheather it would be best to repair the old road from the Mill Yard to the bridge near Jas Prestons ... thru Lieut. Jaggards land ... after vieing both situations ... it would be for the best good of the town to repair the old road," signed James Wilson, Gregory Little, and W. Johnston. Two-page manuscript prospectuses offering land for sale on a bifolium (second and third pages blank), 11½" x 7¼", Hillsborough, November 18, 1813. "Agreeable to a note of the town in Town Meeting assembled Nov. 12, 1813 authorizing William Jaggard, George Dascomb and Andrew Sargeant as a committee to superintend and offer for sale certain pieces of highway to be made ... being a part of the highway leading from the Mill Yard to Stephen Rolfs ... [the sale] to be opened at 2 o'clock p.m. on the 14th, 1st each peace or lot to be set up separately. 2nd. If two bids come together and dispute arise the same to be set up again. 3rd. If any purchaser refuse to give bonds to the acceptance of the committee the same to be set up again and such purchaser be excluded further biding... 4th. Lot no. 1 it being the hill near Saml. Jaggards to be made 30 ft in width including the diches on each side ... Also lots 2 and 3 to be cleared of stone and buches... 5th. The road to be made by the 1st day of July..." Signed by Wm. Jaggard, George Dascomb, and Andrew Sargeant as the "committee." To which is appended, "The above articles considered sufficiently binding for the performance of lots no. 4 and 5, no. 4 situated on said road beginning on the top of the hill ... No. 5 beginning at the north of said road..." Signed by George Dascomb and Cyrus Sargeant as bondsmen. One-page manuscript petition to build a road 6" x 7¾", Hillsborough, August 4, 1814, "This day laid out by us the subscribers a road applied for by Alexander Cunningham & others beginning about thirty rods south of Saml Gibsons house thence westerly [followed by 7 lines of survey, ending with:] "...to the southeast corner of Saml Gibsons land on the Antrim line, said road to be two rods wide," signed by Andrew Sargeant, James Wilson, and Saml Gibson, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page manuscript survey 8" x 7¼", Hillsborough, September 7, 1815, "A record of a road laid out by us the subscribers ... beginning at the old road at or near the end of Mr. Thomas Howlett's wall [followed by 10 lines of survey, ending with:] "...sixty dollars said sum to be paid on of before the first day of December 1816 - also said road to be open at the same time. Said road to be two rods wide." Signed by Andrew Sargeant, James Wilson and Saml Gibson, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page manuscript survey 11¾" x 7¼", Hillsborough, November 10, 1815, " A record of a road laid out by us the subscribers and is bounded as follows (viz) beginning one rod to the north of Jeremiah Dutton's southeast corner [followed by 27 lines of survey, ending with:] "...the land encompassed by the above described boundaries established as a highway or common road for the benefit of the publick reserving the priviledge of travelling on the old road down the great hill (so call'd) till the new road is made passable," signed James Wilson, Saml. Gibson, selectmen of Hillsborough. Three-page manuscript summons from the town of Hillsborough to the county of Hillsborough, State of New Hampshire, on integral leaves, 12" x 7", Hillsborough, October 7, 1815, "Hillsborough, the State of New Hampshire to the sheriff of our county of Hillsborough or his deputy. Greeting. Wheras at the Supreme Judicial Court holden at Amherst within and for the county of Hillsborough ... Baruch Chase Esq. solicitor for the county of Hillsborough in his proper person comes here to court and gives the court here to understand and be informed that for a long time before the commencement of the nuisance herein after mentioned there was ... and still is a common highway in said county leading from the town of Hillsborough ... through the town of Bradford ... used by all the good citizens of said state in and through the same to pass and repass with their horses, carriages, and teams at their will and pleasure, and that a certain part of said highway ... beginning at the store of Curtis Barns ... hath been and still is rocky, ruinous, rutty, broken and uneven and in great decay for want of due reparation ... so that the said good citizens ... could not and still cannot pass or repass ... without great danger of their lives and loss of their goods, and that the said town ... were and still are by law holden and bound ... to repair whenever the same should be necessary..." Signed by Jeremiah Smith, witness and Nathl. Adams, clerk. An addendum in a different hand is dated March 6, 1816 calls for two selectmen to appear at a time and place for the purpose of attending to "this writ." One-page manuscript receipt 4" x 7¼", Hillsborough, March 7, 1817, "Tendered to Capt. James Eaton sixty dollars in dollars and parts of dollars as a compensation for lands over which a road was laid out ... in the fall of 1815 in presence of James Wilson Esq," signed by Hugh Wilson, Andrew Sargeant, town treasurer, and James Wilson, town clerk. One-page manuscript survey 5½" x 5¾", Hillsborough, April 16, 1817, "A record of a road laid out by us the subscribers ... beginning at the road near Elias Smith's [followed by 3 lines of survey, ending with:] "...said road is to be two rods wide." Signed by James Wilson and Joel Stow, selectmen of Hillsborough. Two manuscript surveys on a single sheet 11¾" x 7", Hillsborough, May 31 and October 10, 1817. 1. "A record of a road laid out by us the subscribers ... beginning at the Road at or near Mr. John Gibson house [followed by 7 lines of survey, ending with:] "...said above described road to be two rods and one half wide," signed by James Wilson and Jonathan Dutton, selectmen of Hillsborough. 2. "A record of a road laid out by us the subscribers ... beginning at the north end of Hillsborough Bridge [followed by 6 lines of survey, ending with:] "...said road to be twenty feet in width and clear of any incumbrance," signed by James Wilson and Jonathan Dutton, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-and-one half page manuscript survey 9" x 7¼", Hillsborough, March 14, 1820, "The subscribers being appointed at the last annual meeting to view the road near Jonathan Clements having attended that service report as follows. Viz. That a road be laid out at a road at Noah Farrons east line [followed by 10 lines of survey, ending with:] "...that said Clerment receive the whole of the old road adjoining his land with the priviledge of the person owning the land north of said road making and keeping the fence in repair as though the road was not discontinued, and fifty-three dollars for his damages, and that the damages be paid and the road opened in November next," signed James Wilson and Joel Stow, selectmen. Docketed on verso April 22, 1820: "Pursuant to a vote of the town at their last annual meeting we have laid out the road as within described," signed James Wilson, Joel Stow, and Wm. McClintock, selectmen. One-page manuscript survey 6" x 7½", Hillsborough, April 22, 1820, "Pursuant to a vote of the town of Hillsborough at their last annual meeting we the subscribers have laid out a road three rods wide commencing at the road at the Southeast corner of a Sadler shop opposite Edgar Weismans house [followed by 5 lines of survey, ending with:] "... and we have appraised Esqs Wyman's damages at seventy dollars and Daniel Smileys at fifty dollars and the damages to be paid and the rod opened in November [1821]." Signed by James Wilson, Joel Stow and Wm. McClintock, selectmen. One-page manuscript survey 7" x 7½", Hillsborough, April 22, 1820, "Whereas the road between Peter Emerson's and William Key's is rough and circuitous and said Emerson and Keys have agreed to accept of said road for one that will accomodate the public better, and the people have laid out a causway of logs across the Swamp. Therefore in conformity to the laws of this State authorizing Selectmen to widen and straighten the roads, we have straightened said road by discontinuing it from said Emerson's buildings to a few rods south of said Key' house, and have laid it out in as nearly a straight line as the land will admit from said Emerson's buildings to the causeway above mentioned [followed by 5 lines of survey, ending with:] "... said road is to be two rods wide through the Swamp and two and a half rods wide the rest of the way and is to be opened Nov. next after which the old one may be closed," signed James Wilson and Joel Stow, selectmen of Hillsborough. One page manuscript survey 6" x 7½", Hillsborough, April 9, 1823, "Agreeable to request of Lyman Robbins and others as the subscribers have laid out a road in the town of Hillsboro ... beginning by the county road leading from Hillsborough to Bradford [followed by 7 lines of survey, ending with:] "...set down to the land of the said signor Robbins," signed by Reuben Hatch and S. McNeill, selectmen of Hillsborough. Two manuscript surveys on the recto a single sheet 9¼" x 7¾", Hillsborough, July 13 and June 6, 1824, two six-line surveys, the first from Madge Goodall's north line to John Bishop's house, and the second from William Gibson's barn to Captain John Houston's, to Windsor east line, signed by A. Sargeant, Reuben Hatch, S. McNeil; and by Reuben Hatch and S. McNeil respectively. Twenty-five page notebook 8¾" x 7", signed on the front cover "T. W. 1824," containing an alphabetical list of approximately 185 names of males (including many of the aforementioned), with columns across the tops of the pages listing "inventory for 1824" likely related to road surveying, building, and repair, including columns for "poles," "shod horses," "horses 5-years old," "plow land," "tons of hay," "unimproved land," "oxen," "mares," "stock in trade," etc. One-page manuscript survey 11¾" x 7½", Hillsborough, October 7, 1825, "Record of a road laid out by us the subscribers beginning at a stake and stones north of the road as now traveled opposite Abraham Andreas house [followed by 8 lines of survey, ending with:] "...Condition, the dich to be kept open on the east side of said road sufficient to conduct the water as agreed by Isaac Andrews & the selectmen," signed Andrew Sargeant, Thomas Wilson, Bednj. Tuttle, selectmen. One-page manuscript survey 7¾" x 7½", Hillsborough, July 15, 1827, "Record of a road this day laid out ... beginning at the road leading from Andrew Sargents house to the school house [followed by 7 lines of survey, ending with:] "...Conditions - the land over which said road is laid free from expense to the town," signed by Andrew Sargent and Thomas Wilson, selectmen. One-page manuscript survey 6" x x 7½", Hillsborough, November 17, 1828, "Record of a road beginning near the house of Oliver Colby ... to an Elm tree ... to a log bridge in his field, same course to a spruce tree mentioned as Hillsboro north line." Unsigned. One-page manuscript survey 11½" x 7½", Hillsborough, December 4, 1828, "Record of a road laid out beginning at the old road a few yards north of Parker Kimball's barn at a steak and stones thense leading easterly [followed by 17 lines of survey, ending with:] "...till it strikes land of Abraham and Amos Kimball near a coal pit beed then passing by a large rock on the east side ... to a hemlock tree marked..." Signed by Andrew Sargeant and Hiram Monroe, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page manuscript petition for a road signed by 18 members of the Hillsborough community, Hillsborough, August 15, 1829, "To the Select Men of Hillsborough, we the subscribers respectfully shew that a road beginning at or near the dwelling house of Daniel Finney ... is much wanted and that it would be a great convenience to the public and particularly accommodate many of the inhabitants of Hillsborough and Washington," signed by 18 townspeople. One-and-a-half page manuscript survey 11¼" x 7½", Hillsborough, November 6, 1829, "A record of a road laid out by the subscribers selectmen of Hillsborough beginning at the south line of land owned by Abraham Kimball southwest of the Kimball Mils [followed by 28 lines of survey, ending with:] "...Said road to be two and a half rods wide and access carriages as follows (viz) Daniel Cromwell - 40.00 Amos Flint - 26.00 Hiram Munroe 31.00 the above sums to be paid by the town in two years by which time said road is to be paid for the benefit of public travel," signed by Andrew Sargent, Thomas Wilson, and Hiram Munroe, selectmen of Hillsborough. One-page manuscript petition 11½" x 7¾", Hillsborough, October 9, 1845, "To the Select men of the Town of Hillsborough, The undersigned respectfully show that for the accomodation of the public in general there is the occasion to have the high way widened leading from Benjamin Gooden's house to the road leading from Willson's house ... Therefore the undersigned respectfully request your Honors to widen the road..." Signed by seven members of the Hillsborough community. One-page proforma document accomplished in ink 4" x 6", Hillsborough, April 1, 1846, being a petition by Charles Gates for a road "in the towns of Antrim & Hillsborough," and noting a meeting to be held in the matter at the farm of William P. Little in Antrim. One-and-one-half page manuscript survey on integral leaves, 8" x 6¼", [Hillsborough], undated, "Record of a road beginning at Antrim north line beginning at David Smith's land little east of the old road [followed by 19 lines of survey, ending with:] north to the turnpike at the intersection of the Concord road." Unsigned. Plus two other related documents. Item #58302

Price: $1,250.00