Thomas Brown (abt. 1750)

Born about 1750 in Francestown, Hillsborough, New Hampshire

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Biography

His birth date is estimated and is based on his father's birth date.

22: THIRD SETTLER IN TOWN. the poker, and ran out and pointed at the thieves and "snapped" it. And when it didn't go off, he called to the boy, "Mair pouther, Sam, Mair pouther!" The thieves were dreadfully frightened, and nearly broke their bones in falling as they ran for dear life! Samuel Nichols was a smart, capable, stirring man. He was chosen Constable in the old town (New Boston) at the annual meeting, Mar. 5, 1770; was useful and influential for many years. See genealogy. Was one of the highest tax-payers in town in 1772. The third settler in Francestown was John Brown. He was a man of mature years and had grown-up children when he came, one daughter, Ann, marrying Dea. John Smith of New Boston, about 1762, and one son, Thomas Brown, taking the homestead with his father. Ann was the mother of the late venerable Dea. Thomas Smith of that town. John Brown was a Scotchman; he came over and settled in Londonderry; then lived awhile, it seems, in Litchfield; and came to Francestown in the spring of 1762, having previously made his "beginning." He settled at the foot of the hill, near the southwest part of Scoby Pond, and on the old New Boston road, the place now occupied by Daniel W. Duncklee. Brown was a strong, tough, tireless man, and was noted as a great "flax-swingler." This is an unknown interest among us now, but was of great importance then. He went from house to house among his neighbors, doing in every case a tremendous day's work on the flax. Brown was also held in local repute as a fast reaper. It is related that before the incorporation of the town, when the best of families were scantily provided for at times, Brown went over to do one of his great day's works for the Morrills, on the McLane place; and as he "moost haav some mate," and as the good lady was entirely out of that useful article of food, she "killed a setting hen" and cooked it for dinner! Her resources were somewhat limited, but she was equal to the occasion! John Brown was chosen Constable of the town at its first meeting, being the first in Francestown to hold that office, considered in those days one of the most honorable and important offices in town. It may interest some reader to know that the

23: FIRST SAWMILL IN TOWN great elm, now standing near the house, with the large, long, low-like limbs, was brought by brown as a walking-stick. He cut it in Derry, used it to walk home with, (30 miles) stuck it into the ground; and after a while it sprouted and grew, and is now flourishing, one hundred and twenty-five years "after the walk." The year 1763 opened with only three families within the present limits of Francestown, Carson, Nichols, and Brown. In the spring of this year New Boston was incorporated, including all these settlements. But the same spring two men arrived in town from Dedham, Mass., whose means, capacity and enterprise added very much to the progress of the little community. These two men were David and Isaac Lewis. They were brothers and settled near each other, on lots 40 and 49 in the "New Addition." These lots were purchased of the New Boston proprietors by their father, John Lewis, in 1758; it being then the custom as the towns near the coast became crowded, for guardians and fathers to buy wild land in the "border-towns" and settle their boys upon it. David Lewis begun and built where George A. Duncklee now lives. He built the first saw-mill in town, the work being done by John Carson, as stated above. It was on the spot where Mr. Duncklee's saw-mill now stands. It would be considered now a very rude affair, but it answered a good purpose, and was a great help to the new settlers in preparing comfortable dwellings! John Carson put up the mill and furnished the "mill-crank," it being the same he had expected to use in Hillsboro', and had buried in the mud in that town, when driven off by the Indians in 1746. In subsequent years David Lewis built and operated the first grist-mill in town; but, as in other places, the saw-mill came first, because grain in small quantities could be transported. but lumber without roads could not. The saw-mill was built as early as 1770, probably being commenced in 1768. In 1771 New Boston laid out a road from David Lewis' mill to Lyndeborough line. David Lewis was twice selectman in New Boston; and in Francestown he was town clerk, moderator, selectman, representative, deacon and in every way one of the most useful men in the first fifty years of its history. He represented

24: NEW SETTLERS New Boston and Francestown in the legislature in 1782.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Cochrane, W. R. History of Francestown, N.H. : from its earliest settlement April, 1758, to January 1, 1891 : with a brief genealogical record; Page 22-24

• Claire Smith created WikiTree profile Brown-20759 through the import of smithwiki.ged on Jul 1, 2013.