Congregational Chapel at the Centre.

they left the place, taking such of their possessions as they could carry, and driving their cattle before them. As they passed through Antrim they were joined by Philip Riley, then the sole inhabitant of that town. He had settled in the northeast part of the town on what is known as the Whittemore place, now owned by George E. Gould. This was the end of the first settlement in Hillsborough. As far as we know, none of the first settlers ever returned, though some of their children came back at a later period.

For about sixteen years following this exodus, "No. 7" was again in possession of its original owner, the red man. Every vestige of settlement except the parsonage was destroyed. Tradition tells us that dur

Lower Village Chapel.

Congregational Church.

tion of the French and Indian war, and the capitulation of the French in favor of the English.

During the interval between the first and second settlements, Colonel Hill became sole proprietor of the town. In 1763 he employed Daniel Campbell, Esq., of Amherst, to survey it into 100-acre lots.

The second settlement was begun in 1762 by Daniel McMurphy, who came from Chester, in this state. He took up his residence on Bible hill. For more than a year McMurphy and his wife were the only inhabitants for miles around. An instance of female courage in those times is given in the story of how, at a time when there was no settlement nearer than New Boston, Mrs. McMurphy remained alone in this wilderness for two weeks, while her

husband was gone to Chester on business. The McMurphy family moved to the town of Hill a few years later. There are still traces of their cellar on Bible hill, a short distance from Alonzo Tuttle's residence.

Other settlers soon followed this first family. Among the heads of families in the settlement in 1767, we find the names of John McColley, Capt. Samuel Bradford, Sen., Lieut. Samuel Bradford, Jonathan Durant, Joshua Easty, Timothy Wilkins, John Gibson, Samuel Gibson, William Williams, Benjamin Lovejoy, William Pope, Jonathan Sargent, Moses Steele, Isaac Baldwin, William Taggart, Isaac Andrews. This was the basis of the future town. These names have come down to us by direct descent, and, with later acquisitions, have given us a town

Methodist Church at the Centre.

tinction of being the first white children born in Hillsborough, and offered them 100 acres of land in his new town, if they would marry each other and settle there. Whether by the land inducement or their own natural inclinations, the Colonel's plan was successfully carried out, and early in the second settlement we find John and Elizabeth man and wife, happily ensconced on their new farm in the western part of the town, near Sulphur hill.

Capt. Samuel Bradford, Sen., settled on Bible hill, and opened the first tavern in town, where Alonzo Tuttle now lives. He built the first saw- and grist-mill in town, also, on

St. Mary's Church and Rectory.

whose record for producing leaders among men cannot be beaten.

McColley and the Gibsons were sons of the first settlers. It seems that their parents had settled in Litchfield after leaving "No. 7," in 1746. Here Colonel Hill became acquainted with John McColley and Elizabeth Gibson, heirs to the dis

Methodist Church, Hillsborough Bridge.

the west side of the Beard road, just above the bridge at the "Old Foundry."

The greater part of these settlers came from Massachusetts. Lieut. Samuel Bradford-not related to the captain and William Lovejoy came from Amherst, Moses Steele came from Londonderry, William Taggart from Derryfield, now Manchester.

The impending dangers which distracted the earlier settlers and checked their merited progress have been removed. This later company are now working with concentrated energies for the fixed purpose of establishing happy homes and developing a thrifty community. Bible hill

Old Town House and Congregational Church at the Centre.

Rev. F. W. Burrows.

Al

is the centre of activity in this embryonic town. Here the first permanent settlement was made and here the first tavern was opened. though we may not at this early period dignify the place by speaking of its "population," its numbers are rapidly increasing. In 1772, there are twenty-two freeholders. There is now systematic progress. The need of organization is being felt. Consequently the inhabitants, through the agency of Isaac Andrews, Esq., petition the governor for a charter of incorporation. We are told that

66

'Squire" Andrews employed Rev. James Scales, the first established minister of Hopkinton, to draw up the petition.

The charter bears date of November 14, 1772, and is issued in the name of "George The Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender Defender of the Faith," etc., "by and with the advice of our truly and well beloved John Wentworth, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-chief of our province of New Hampshire." After the

usual description, it continues, "The same being butted and bound as follows. Viz. Beginning at the South East Corner, at a Beech Tree marked 7, from thence South Eighty Four Degrees and Thirty Minutes West about Six Miles by the Society Lands so called to a Beech Tree marked 7 and 8, from thence North Fifteen degrees West about Six Miles by Common Land so called to a Beech Tree 7 and 8, marked, from thence North Eighty Four degrees and Thirty Minutes East about Six Miles to a Beech Tree marked 7, from thence about Six Miles by the Town of Henniker to the bounds first mentioned; be and they are hereby declared to be a Town Corporate by the Name of Hillborough."

This instrument made the same reservation of all White Pine Trees that are or shall be found being and growing within and upon the said Tract of Land fit for the use of our Royal Navy," as was made in other New England towns. Without His

High School.

Majesty's consent no person might fell a white pine tree bearing the royal mark, the arrow, though he owned the land on which it stood. This was another of those imprudent and unpopular acts of George III which helped to precipitate that great strife in which the mettle and patriotism of our Hillsborough fathers stood the highest test.

By the provisions of the charter Isaac Baldwin was appointed to call the first town meeting. It was held in Captain Baldwin's tavern on Bible hill on November 24, 1772. Follow