School/Parsonage Lot

School/Parsonage Lot

PHOTO: The Old Parsonage

Of all the old fifty acre lots, this one is probably the most interesting. The first minister’s lot and the original school lot both had with them additional land elsewhere outside the 20 home lots. The use of this land was as resource material for the upkeep of the school and meetinghouse. It could be used for planting, or a source of lumber for building or keeping warm. The first activity on either original lot was the burying ground and meetinghouse on the first minister’s lot, and it was even later that the young town began to make use of the school/parsonage lot, which was just across East Street from the meetinghouse.

Since Rev. Tuck outright bought from the town what was set aside as the original parsonage lot, the land across the street, originally set up as a school lot, was the only 50 acre lot on East Street that was town, or common land. The town began to sell small portions of the property. One of the earlier transactions was in 1778 when the town sold to James Gray, 2 acres taken from the northeast corner of ‘the school lot so-called.’ James Gray was a well-known Revolutionary War veteran and a most respected individual. He lived, as best as we can tell, in the area of Sanborn Hill, and it is known that he was one of the earliest schoolteachers in Epsom. The issue of maintaining a school is even more unclear than the efforts of the town to build a meetinghouse. As early as 1765 it was voted that a school be built on the lot ‘commonly called the School Lot’, and a school was built, but the maintaining of the school remained in question. The selectmen were dealing with how to raise money for the support of the school in 1780, and the following year passed the following vote: “Voted That the school House which stands near the meeting house in said Epsom be this day sold at ‘publick vendue’ to the Highest Bidder, & the purchased sum be appropriated to the use of the town.” This shows the existence of a school building in 1781, and if indeed it was sold, it is not known when a replacement was built. There was a petition in 1793 as a grievance against the town for not supporting a school, including ‘power to have a suitable school house in the district completed…”

There certainly was a school on the lot when the town had by 1807, seven school districts, with the Center Hill School House being number one. School records for the district, which still survive, start in 1841, and throughout the records an effort is made to build a new school. The effort never happens until 1888, the date of the current structure on the lot. It was voted to sell the old school house to the highest bidder, with John C. Hall committee to build a new school house and to have it ready for October 1882. It became a private residence in 1956.

Meanwhile, the town remained without a minister after the dismissal of Rev. Tuck in 1774. Rev. Benjamin Thurston was invited to take the position, and in preparation the town “Voted that there be a Parsonage house and barn built upon the Parsonage lands, where it shall be thought most proper, of the following Dimensions, viz.: the House to be 40 by 30 feet, and 2 story high; the barn to be 35 by 30 feet, and our elected Pastor to be consulted as to the finishing the Parsonage House as to convenience.” The Rev. Thurston declined the invitation, but the town went ahead and built a parsonage. Finally in 1784, the Rev. Ebenezer Haseltine accepted the call to preach in Epsom and was settled in the new parsonage. During the time that Rev. Haseltine lived in the parsonage, the town of Epsom sold off another corner of the lot in 1795 to William McClary of Epsom. It was described as follows “a certain parcel of land lying in Epsom aforesaid the same being part of the parsonage lot where the Reverend Ebenezer Haseltine now lives, to contain one half acre to take its beginning at the pound, then to run Easterly as the said ministers lot and as far back as well contain the said half acre the same being sold at public vendue agreeably to the vote of the Town.” William built a house on the lot and about 1798 moved to Stanstead, Canada, selling part of the land to Michael McClary in 1799 with ‘house, barn and all buildings’ and a portion to David Lawrence Morrill (later Governor of New Hampshire, married Jane Wallace). David Lawrence Morrill was a Doctor and moved his practice to Goffstown, selling the property to his brother Samuel Morrill (also a Doctor) in 1801. It later became the home of Benvolio Sanborn.

Samuel Peabody purchased the half of this lot sold to Michael McClary from William McClary. Peabody in 1838 sold it with ‘house, barn and woodhouse, to John Folsom and Samuel Chapman of Tamworth, who in 1842 sold it to John C. Hall. This is most likely the site of the John C. Hall home, which burned Old Home Day 1916 after being struck by lightning. This starts to give us a picture of what this lot appeared to look like, the frontage on East Street having houses on both the east and west ends of the lot, with the parsonage building between and set back from the road. Also in the area on the west end, the town pound, a small common and somewhere, a schoolhouse.

After thirty years of preaching, Rev. Haseltine died, and the town picked up the expense of his funeral and allowed his widow the use of the parsonage and the rest of his earnings for the year. The town, with the beginnings of other religious societies, could not come to a common agreement in hiring a new minister, and a new ‘Congregational Religious Society of the Town of Epsom’ was formed, and in 1814, voted to ask the Rev. Jonathan Curtis to be the new minister. He accepted in January of 1815 and was given the use of the parsonage land and buildings. Since the town could not band together in the hiring of Rev. Curtis, and with other religious organizations beginning to flourish, and yet further with an eye on frugality (remember Rev. Tuck bought the original parsonage lot), they sold the parsonage lot to the Rev. Curtis in December of 1816. He remained minister until January of 1825, and kept many good records and seemed quite successful. He wrote the first published history of Epsom in 1823, which was reprinted about 1889. During the later part of his ministry, the use of the meetinghouse became a troublesome issue for the town. Other religious societies demanded use of the building, forcing different denominations there during different parts of the day. The Congregational Society chose to meet at Captain Heath’s hall for the 1820 season and look into a new meetinghouse for the Society. In 1821 a committee was named to help settle the issues with the town, but complications with the various pew holders made a resolution impossible. It was not until 1845 that the Congregationalist’s built a church in that part of town known as ‘slab city.’

Rev. Curtis began to preach in Pittsfield following his tenure in Epsom, and remained owner of the parsonage and property until he sold it to Joseph Spaulding of Windham in 1836. It is unknown if it was occupied after Rev. Curtis stopped preaching, or whether he remained and traveled to Pittsfield to preach. It can be assumed that after 1836 he lived in Pittsfield as his wife, who died in 1840, is buried there.
The small two-acre section of land sold off from the eastern part of the parsonage lot and facing East Street also went through many owners. Originally sold to James Gray by the town to raise money for schools in 1778, he sold it in 1789 to John McClary Jr., one of the son’s of Maj. Andrew McClary. Though bought with no mention of buildings, he sold the lot ‘with the buildings thereon’ to William Duncan of Concord in 1792. Maj. William Duncan did not hang on to it very long as he sold it about two years later to Solomon Sutton, who may have lived there a while. Duncan ran a store and Sutton a tavern, both licensed to sell liquor in the town. Solomon was ‘of Epsom’ when he sold to Ebenezer Virgin of Concord – the complete two acres, land and buildings. It came back into the hands of the McClary family in December of 1799, as James Harvey McClary, brother to the John McClary who sold it in 1792, bought the property. At the time James Harvey McClary was living on his father’s and grandfather’s homestead, which he sold to Joseph Lawrence, and moved down to this lot. Most historians agree that he built the house currently standing there, and the architecture probably bears this out. He was running the old tavern and store from the homestead, and apparently ran some sort of store from his new home. In 1810, suffering from an illness, he sold the property ‘being where he now lives’ to his cousin Michael McClary. James Harvey McClary died eight days later. By deed of February 1814, his widow again owned the property, and years later rented the store to James Babb who bought the property in October of 1825. Just a few weeks later, he sold it to Thomas D. Merrill, who was soon to become one of the most successful businessmen in Epsom. It was in January of this same year that Jonathan Curtis ended his tenure as minister in Epsom.

Thomas D. Merrill lived on what is now the western end of the McClary Cemetery, his property joining the old burying ground. He bought and sold a lot of property, was a holder of many town offices, active in town affairs, handled many legal affairs, and was a strong supporter of the Congregational Society. Deeds show that he bought the property for its use as a parsonage as the original parsonage was in private hands. The original old parsonage lot and buildings were sold by Joseph Spaulding to John Chesley on the third April 1839, who sold it two days later to Hanover Dickey Jr. In the description of the sale of the property, it is stated that it starts ‘at the Northwesterly corner of land now occupied as a parsonage and sold by Thomas D. Merrill for that purpose.’ That would put the Rev. Winthrop Fifield in the home on this 2-acre lot, he following in 1837, Rev. Abel Manning. It would appear that perhaps most or all of the successors of Rev. Curtis may have stayed here. In 1845, the same year as the Congregational Society built its church, Thomas D. Merrill sold the property to William Wallace of Epsom – 2-acres, land and buildings, which he sold to the Rev. Rufus A. Putnam in 1847. The Rev. Putnam being the successor of Rev. Fifield, and the first pastor at the new church in ‘slab city.’

Rev. Putnam sold this small lot to Perley Giles in 1856, and he in turn sold it to Nancy B. Brown the next year. After owning the property for nearly 8 years, it was sold to Hannah P. Swain of Chichester who married first Elbridge L. Swain, who died in Civil War service, then Charles Augustus Steele. It passed to her son from her first marriage, Joseph L. Swain who sold it to Michael McClary Steele (later changed name to Charles M. Steele), son of Hannah Swain and her second spouse, Charles Augustus Steele. In the same deed of 1839 when John Chesley sold the former parsonage to Hanover Dickey (known for quite some time after as ‘the Dickey Place’), part of the bounds included land of Benjamin Hall to ‘the parade grounds.’ This was often referred to later as the ‘commons’ and was part of that small corner of the parsonage lot which included the old town pound. Hanover Dickey sold the old parsonage in 1858 to John C. Hall who sold it the next day to Samuel Wiggin, at this time equaling 8 acres, land and buildings. The property was reduced in size even further when Wiggin sold 2 acres, land and buildings in 1867 to Charles C. Batchelder. Due to some domestic problem, the Supreme Judicial Court awarded it to his wife Ursula Batchelder of Northwood, and she sold it to Charles Sumner Hall (son of John C. Hall) in 1875. He held it only a few months before selling it to Betsey L. Piper, and it remained in the Piper-Oscar Hall-Cox family until 1945..
Gilbert Knowles in a paper prepared for the Epsom Historical Association in 1975, wrote the following:
Although I have found nothing written up about it, Mr. Luther Hall, who died in 1939, and lived in the beautiful house just west of here until it burned, told Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Nutter that an ell part of the “parsonage” was sold and moved by oxen down the lane and then made into another house on the lot where Charles and Ruth Batchelder now live. Mr. Hall told that in turning the corner on the main road with the oxen and their load there was some damage to the grounds of the property of George Batchelder (now Watson Ambrose) and that Mr. Batchelder made quite a fuss about it. As Mr. Batchelder died in 1889, the date of the ell moving must have been a number of years earlier.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY DEEDS SCHOOL/PARSONAGE LOT

216-140 Dec 12, 1816 Indenture
This indenture made the twelfth day of December 1816 by and between Samuel Morrill and Bickford Lang, Selectmen of Epsom on the one part and Jonathan Curtis Junior of the same Epsom, Clerk, on the other part – That the said Samuel Morrill and Bickford Lang in conformity to votes of the Town of Epsom passed the 25th day of December 1815 and March the 12th 1816 granted to let unto the said Jonathan Curtis Jr., a tract of land in Epsom, it being the Parsonage in said Town (so called) taking its beginning on the Canterbury Road (so called) at the northwest corner of Widow Elizabeth McClary’s land, thence southerly about 25 rods, thence southeasterly about 12 rods to widow Alice Locke’s land, thence southeasterly about one hundred and fifty six rods on said Locke’s land to stake and stones; thence about northwesterly about 56 rods on Ira Sanborn’s land to Samuel Blake’s land about 142 rods, thence northwesterly 4 rods to Thomas D. Merrill’s land, thence northerly on said Merrill’s land to the common near the meetinghouse about 34 rods, thence south easterly on the Common and Samuel Morrill’s and Jonathan Godfrey’s land about 30 rods to stake and stones; thence northerly 8 rods to a large flat rock, thence south easterly on Canterbury road about 20 rods to the bound first mentioned, to contain 50 acres be the same more or less. – Samuel Morrill, Bickford Lang.

MERRIMACK COUNTY DEEDS SCHOOL LOT

(M) 50-90 October 13, 1836
Jonathan Curtis of Pittsfield, Clerk, to Joseph Spaulding of Windham,
A certain piece of land in Epsom being the Parsonage formerly, bounded beginning on the main road at the northwest corner of Thomas D. Merrill, McClary lot, and running southerly about 25 rods, thence south easterly about 12 rods to land of Benjamin Heath, thence southerly about 140 rods on land of said Heath to a stake and stones, thence northwesterly about 55 rods on land of Ira Sanborn to land of John Chesley, thence northerly on said Chesley’s land about 142 rods and north westerly 4 rods to land of Thomas D. Merrill, thence on said Merrill northerly about 34 rods to the common near the meetinghouse, thence southeasterly on the common and land of Daniel Merrill and of Esq. Peabody about 30 rods to a stake and stones, thence northerly 8 rods to a flat rock thence south easterly on the road aforesaid about 20 rods to the first mentioned bounds to contain 50 acres more or less. (plus one other small tract) – Jonathan Curtis

(M) 58-194 April 3, 1839
Joseph Spaulding of Epsom, wheelwright, to John Chesley Junior of Epsom, blacksmith,
A tract of land in Epsom being what was formerly the parsonage lot, bounded as follows: beginning on the main road at the northwesterly corner of land now occupied as a parsonage and sold by Thomas D. Merrill for that purpose, thence running southerly about 25 rods – thence southeasterly about 12 rods to land of William Murphy (McMurphy) – thence southerly about 140 rods on said Murphy’s land to stake and stones – thence northwesterly about 55 rods by land of Ira Sanborn to land owned by said John Chesley Jr., thence northerly by said Chesley’s land to land of Thomas D. Merrill, thence northerly by Thomas D. Merrill’s land and land of Benjamin Hall to the parade, thence easterly on the parade and on land of Daniel Merrill’s and land of Samuel Peabody to a stake and stones at the southwesterly corner of said Peabody’s land, thence northerly on said Peabody’s land to the main road, thence easterly as the main road runs to the first named bound. – Joseph and Mary Spaulding.

(M) 58-197 April 5, 1839
John Chesley Junior of Epsom, blacksmith to Hanover Dickey Junior of Epsom, Physician,
A tract of land in Epsom being part of Parsonage lot, so called, bounded as follows: Beginning on the main road at the northwesterly corner of land now occupied as a parsonage and sold by Thomas D. Merrill for that purpose, thence running southerly about 25 rods on said parsonage land to the southwesterly corner thereof, thence easterly by said parsonage land to land of William Murphy (McMurphy), thence southerly on Murphy’s land to a stake and stones standing by an old stone wall, thence westerly by said wall to a stake and stones which stands at the end of the wall – thence northerly by a stone wall to a stake and stones on the northerly side of the brook – thence westerly to a stake and stones standing on the line of Thomas D. Merrill’s land – thence northerly by said Merrill’s land and land of Benjamin Hall to the parade ground, thence easterly on the parade land and on land of Daniel Merrill and land of Samuel Peabody to the southeasterly corner of said Peabody’s lot, thence northerly by said Peabody’s lot to the main road – thence easterly on the main road to the point of beginning, to contain 20 aces, be it the same more or less

(M) 151-74 October 14, 1858
Hanover Dickey of Lowell, MA, Physician, Lydia O. Dickey, wife of the late Hanover Dickey of Epsom, and Abraham O. Dickey of Lynn, MA, Physician and Sarah H. Dickey, wifoe of the said A. O. Dickey, to John C. Hall, of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom part of the “old parsonage” now occupied by Samuel Wiggin, containing 8 acres more or less, bounded and described as follows: beginning at the north east corner of land of said John C. Hall on the highway leading from Epsom to Deerfield, running in a southerly direction on land of said Hall to land of John Chesley, thence easterly on said Chesley’s land to land of Joseph W. Rand, thence northerly on said Rand’s land to a stone wall on land of Mrs. Nancy B. Brown, thence westerly on said Brown’s land as the wall now is 12 rods to the southerly corner of Mrs. Brown’s land, then northerly on said Brown’s land to the aforesaid highway, thence westerly on said Highway 10 rods to said John C. Hall’s land at the point of beginning and all the buildings on the same. Hanover and A. O. Dickey and out mother Lydia O. Dickey and Sarah H. Dickey, wife of the said A. O. Dickey

(M) 149-150 October 15, 1858
John C. Hall of Epsom to Samuel Wiggin of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom being a part of the old parsonage and now occupied by said Samuel Wiggin, contain about 8 acres together with the buildings thereon, bounded as follows: beginning at the north east corner of land of said John C. Hall on the highway leading from Epsom to Deerfield, running in a southerly direction on land of said Hall to land of John Chesley, thence easterly on said Chesley’s land to land of Joseph W. Rand, thence northerly on said Rand’s land to a stone wall on land of Mrs. Nancy B. Brown, thence westerly on said Brown’s land as the wall now is 12 rods to the southerly corner of Mrs. Brown’s land, then northerly on said Brown’s land to the aforesaid highway, thence westerly on said Highway 10 rods to said John C. Hall’s land at the point of beginning, being the same deeded to me by Hanover Dickey, Lydia Dickey, A. O. Dickey and S. H. Dickey. – John C. and Martha Hall.

(M) 185-232 April 8, 1867
Samuel Wiggin of Epsom and Christiana M. Wiggin, wife to Charles C. Batchelder of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom being a part of the old parsonage now occupied by the said Wiggin, containing two acres more or less together with the buildings thereon, bounded as follows: beginning at the northeast corner of John C. Hall on the highway leading from Epsom to Deerfield thence running in a southerly direction by said Hall’s land to land of said Hall, thence easterly by said Hall’s land to land now occupied by Samuel P. Cilley, thence northerly by said Cilley’s land to said highway thence by said highway to the first mentioned bounds being a part of the same deeded to John C. Hall by Hanover, Lydia, A. O. and S.H. Dickey, October 14, 1858. – Samuel and Christiana M. Wiggin.

(M) 225-123 June 5, 1875
Ursula Batchelder of Northwood to Charles Sumner Hall of Epsom,
A lot of land with all the buildings thereon, the same that was decree of the Superior Judicial Court in October 1873, bounded as follows: beginning at the northerly by the highway from Epsom to Deerfield, westerly by land of Hannah Steele, southerly and westerly by land of John C. Hall, to the highway leading from Epsom to Deerfield, being the place previously owned by Charles C. Batchelder of Epsom. – Ursula Batchelder

(M) 227-16 November 1, 1875
Charles Sumner Hall of Epsom to Betsey C. Piper of Epsom,
A tract of land with the buildings thereon in Epsom bounded as follows: beginning on the southerly side of the road leading from said Epsom to Deerfield by the dwelling house of John C. Hall at the northwesterly corner of land occupied by Samuel Cilley and from thence running southwesterly by said Cilley’s land 14 rods and 16 links to a stake thence westerly by land of said Charles Sumner Hall 5 rods and 3 links to a stake thence northerly by said Charles Sumner Hall’s land 14 rods and 12 links to a stake by said road and thence easterly by said road 6 rods and 12 links to the place of beginning. – Charles Sumner Hall

(M) 267-25 November 2, 1883
George H. Piper of Allenstown and Betsey C. Piper to Oscar L. Hall of Haverhill, MA,
A tract of land with the buildings thereon in Epsom bounded as follows: beginning on the southerly side of the road leading from Epsom to Deerfield by the dwelling house of John C. Hall at the northwesterly corner of land occupied by Samuel Cilley and from thence running southerly by said Cilley’s land 14 rods and 16 links to a stake, thence westerly by land of Charles S. Hall 5 rods and 3 links to a stake, thence northerly by said Hall’s land 14 rods and 12 links to a stake on the southerly side of said road and thence easterly by said road 6 rods and 12 links to the place of beginning. – Betsey C. Piper and George H. Piper

(M) 464-128 May 16, 1923
Bert O. Piper of Worcester, MA to Bernice I. Piper of Worcester,
A tract of land with the buildings thereon in Epsom, bounded as follows: Beginning on the southerly side of the road leading from Epsom to Deerfield, by the dwelling house of John C. Hall now or formerly at the northwesterly corner of land occupied by Samuel Cilley now or formerly; and from thence running southerly by said Cilley land 14 rods and 15 links to a stake; thence westerly by land of Charles S. Hall 5 rods and 3 links to a stake; thence northerly by said Hall land 14 rods and 12 links to a stake on the southerly side of said road; thence easterly by said road 6 rods and 12 links to the place of beginning. Said premises the same as were conveyed to Oscar L. Hall by deed of the heirs of Betsey (Hall ) Piper and by said Oscar L. Hall devised to the said Bert O. Piper under his will duly probated in the Essex Registry of Probate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. –And Edith G. Piper, wife of said Bert O. Piper, release right of dower. Bert O. and Edith H. Piper.

(M) 590-50 Oct. 16, 1941
Bernice I. Piper Cox to Eleanor Hillson Hall of Marble Head, MA,
A certain tract of land with the buildings thereon in Epsom bounded as follows: Beginning on the southerly side of the road leading from Epsom to Deerfield, by the dwelling house of John C. Hall now or formerly at the northwesterly corner of land occupied by Samuel Cilley now or formerly; and from thence running southerly by said Cilley land 14 rods and 15 links to a stake; thence westerly by land of Charles S. Hall 5 rods and 3 links to a stake; thence northerly by said Hall land 14 rods and 12 links to a stake on the southerly side of said road; thence easterly by said road 6 rods and 12 links to the place of beginning. Said granted premises are the same said Oscar L. Hall devised to the said Bert O. Piper. (Also two other tracts of land including) All right and title to a parcel of land in Epsom on the southerly side of the Epsom Center Road, so called, leading from Epsom to Deerfield, and bounded as follows: beginning at the northeasterly corner of the tract to be deeded, at the said Epsom Center Road and land of said grantee; thence southerly and easterly by the land of said Bernice I. Piper Cox, formerly of Luther T. Hall and George Piper; thence southerly by land formerly of C. J. Brown; thence westerly by land of the heirs of John Chesley; thence northerly by land of said Chesley heirs and land formerly of C. J. Brown; thence easterly and northerly by land occupied by the Epsom Center school house; thence easterly by said Epsom Center Road to the point of beginning, meaning to convey the 2nd tract of land described in deed of George M. Hall and Ethel M. Hall to Luther T. Hall (1926) Book 478, Page 263 Merrimack Records. For grantor’s title see deed of Luther T. Hall to said grantor recorded in said Records Book 508 Page 562.

(M) 612-173 November 27, 1944
Eleanor Hillson Hall of Marblehead, MA to Edwin and Doris Frances Jacquith,
The same premises conveyed to the grantor by Bernice I. Piper Cox by deed dated Oct. 16, 1941, subject to mortgage Hall to Cox. – Eleanor H. Hall and Wilfred Hall.

JAMES H. McCLARY HOUSE

PHOTO: Another Mike Steele Home on the northeast corner of the Parsonage Lot.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY DEEDS – JAMES H. McCLARY HOUSE

109-581October 6, 1778
Jeremiah Prescott and James Marden, gentlemen, and John Cate, yeoman, to sell a piece of land off the easterly corner of the School lot in Epsom for the benefit of a school in said Epsom for the sum of 39 pounds seven shillings and six pence, to James Gray of Epsom, Esq.,
A tract of land in Epsom being part of the School lot, so called, situated partly opposite the Meeting house in said town, sand grant to take its beginning at the easterly corner of said lot, upon the main road leading through Epsom to Chichester, then running S.W. by S. upon the division line between Moses Lock and the school lot 28 rods to stake and stones then N.W. by W. 11 and one half rods to a stake and stones then N.W. by N. 28 rods to a stake and stones upon the main road, thence S.E. by S upon the main road 11 rods and one half and to the bounds first mentioned containing 2 acres be the same more or less. – Jeremiah Prescott, James Marden and John Cate.

127-158 October 5, 1789
James Gray of Epsom, Esq. to John McClary Junior of the same Epsom, yeoman,
Two acres of land in Epsom on the south side of East Street bounded northerly on East Street, westerly and southerly on the parsonage land, so called, and easterly on land in possession of Moses Locke of said Epsom. – James Gray

131-459 September 14, 1792
John McClary Junior of Epsom, yeoman to William Duncan of Concord, Esq.,
Two acres of land in Epsom on the north side of East Street bounded as follows: Northerly on said East Street than easterly by land in possession of Moses Locke, southerly and westerly by land belonging to the town of Epsom together with the buildings thereon. – John McClary

138-234 December 5, 1794
William Duncan of Concord, Esquire, to Solomon Sutton of Epsom, yeoman,
Two acres of land in Epsom on the side of East Street so called, bounded as follows: northerly on said East Street, easterly by land in possession of Moses Locke, southerly and westerly on land belonging to the town of Epsom with the buildings thereon, it being the same parcel of land I purchased of John McClary by deed dated the 14th of September 1792. – Solomon Sutton and Dolly my wife relinquishing dower.

142-238 April 29, 1796
Solomon Sutton of Epsom, trader, to Ebenezer Virgin of Concord, gentleman,
A parcel of land containing two acres in Epsom on the south side of East Street, bounded as follows: northerly on said East Street, easterly by land in possession of Moses Locke, southerly and westerly on land belonging to the town of Epsom, with the buildings thereon, being the same I purchased of Major William Duncan by deed the fifth day of December 1794. – Solomon Sutton.

155-200 December 21, 1799
Ebenezer Virgin of Concord, gentleman to James H. McClary of Epsom, gentleman,
A tract of land in Epsom containing two acres with the buildings thereon, bounded as follows: northerly on the main street leading through said Epsom, westerly and southerly on the parsonage and easterly on land belonging to Jonathan Locke, being the same which I purchased of Solomon Sutton, late of said Epsom. – Ebenezer Virgin.

188-211 July 3, 1810
James H. McClary, Esquire, to Michael McClary of Epsom, Esquire,
A piece of land in Epsom to contain two acres with all the buildings standing thereon, being the same where I now live adjoining on the northwest side to the parsonage land and on the East side to land belonging to the Estate of Jonathan Locke, deceased. – James H. McClary

(M) 2-417 February 3, 1824
Michael McClary of Epsom, Esquire to Elizabeth McClary of Epsom, widow
A piece of land in Epsom to contain two acres with the buildings thereon being the same whereon the said Elizabeth McClary now lives adjoining on the east side on land belonging to Jonathan Curtis Junior and on the east side of land belonging to the heirs of Jonathan Locke, deceased, being the same conveyed to me by deed from James H. McClary late of Epsom, deceased, being dated July 3, 1810. – Michael McClary

(M) 7-411 October 25, 1825
Elizabeth H. McClary of Epsom, widow to James Babb of Epsom, Esquire,
Land in Epsom containing 2 acres with the buildings thereon bounded on the west and south by land owned by Jonathan Curtis Junr., on the east by land of David Locke 3rd and on the north by the main road through Epsom, being the same and all the land and buildings conveyed to me by Michael McClary, Esqr., late of Epsom, deceased by deed February 3, 1824. – Elizabeth McClary

(M) 8-564 November 2, 1825
James Babb of Epsom Esq., to Thomas D. Merrill, Esq.,
Two acre together with the buildings thereon bounded westerly and southerly by land of Rev. Jonathan Curtis, easterly by land of David Locke 3rd and northerly by the main road leading through Epsom, the same being the land and buildings I purchased of Mrs. Elizabeth McClary of said Epsom October 21, 1825 – James Babb

(M) 81-339 December 2, 1845 Mortgage
Thomas D. Merrill of Epsom, Esq., to William Wallace of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom about 2 acres bounding northerly by the main road leading through Epsom, easterly by land of Abraham D. Swain, southerly and westerly by land belonging to heirs of Hanover Dickey, late of Epsom, deceased, together with all the buildings thereon. – Wm. Wallace.

(M) 87-309 February 26, 1847
William Wallace of Epsom to Rufus A. Putnam,
A tract of land in Epsom bounded northerly on the main road leading from Epsom to Deerfield, easterly on land owned by Abraham D. Swain, southerly and westerly by land belonging to heirs of Hanover Dickey Esq., late of Epsom deceased, to contain 2 acres with all the buildings thereon being the same I purchased of Thomas D. Merrill. –Wm. Wallace.

(M) 131-542 March 29, 1856
Rufus A. and Frances H. Putnam of Epsom to Perly C. Giles of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom bounded northerly on the main road leading from Epsom to Deerfield, easterly on land owned by Abraham D. Swain, southerly and westerly by land belonging to heirs of Hanover Dickey Esq., late of Epsom deceased, to contain 2 acres with all the buildings thereon being the same I purchased of William Wallace. – Rufus A. and Frances H. Putnam

(M) 140-326 April 11, 1857
Perly C. Giles of Epsom to Nancy B. Brown of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom bounded northerly on the main road leading from Epsom to Deerfield, easterly on land owned by Abraham D. Swain, southerly and westerly by land belonging to heirs of Hanover Dickey Esq., late of Epsom deceased, to contain 2 acres with all the buildings thereon being the same I purchased of Rufus A. Putnam – Perly C. and Clara G. Giles.

(M) 179-546 September 4, 1865
Nancy B. Brown to Hannah P. Swain of Chichester,
2 acres in Epsom

(M) 411-289 January 2, 1914
Joseph L. Swain of Stoneham, MA, to Charles M. Steele of Epsom,
A tract of land with buildings thereon in Epsom bounded on the north bounded by the highway leading from Epsom to Deerfield. On the east by land of Helen E.P. Steele. On the south by land of Amanda S. Hall and on the west by land of George H. Piper, the same containing two acres, the same being the estate of the late Hannah P. Steele, meaning to convey unto Charles M. Steele all my title and interest. – Joseph L. and Ella G. Swain.

(M) 964-207 January 2, 1964
James M. Steele of Epsom, sole survivor of Charles M. Steele, late of Epsom, to Simonne Hill,
A tract of land with buildings thereon in Epsom, bounded on the north by the highway leading from Epsom to Deerfield, known as Center Hill Road, on the east by land formerly owned by the late Charles M. Steele and now owned by Hilda J. Turner, on the south and west by land formerly owned by Edwin Jaquith and now owned by Howard D. Hughes, the same containing two acres. – James M. and Hazel P. Steele

JOHN C. HALL HOUSE

Epsom Town Records, March 18, 1795
Voted that the Selectmen sell at public auction to the highest bidder one half acre of land to be taken off the northerly end of the parsonage to take its beginning at the pound and running easterly ten rods and as far back as will contain said half acre, on condition that the Rev. Mr. Hazeltine shall give his consent thereto; the aforesaid land was accordingly set up at vendue and struck off to Capt. James H. McClary at sixty three dollars.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY DEEDS JOHN C. HALL HOUSE

150-396 June 27, 1795
Town of Epsom (Levi Brown, Solomon Sutton and Nicholas Dolbeer, Selectmen) to William McClary of Epsom, yeoman,
A certain piece of land in Epsom the same being part of the parsonage lot where the Reverend Ebenezer Hazeltine now lives and to contain one half acre to take its beginning at the pound then to run easterly as the road runs two rod and as far back as will contain the said half acre, the same being sold at public vendue agreeably to the vote of the town March 18, 1795 and struck off to Capt. James H. McClary and given up by the said James Harvey McClary to the said William McClary

149-261 February 4, 1799
William McClary of Epsom, yeoman to Michael McClary of Epsom, Esq.,
A tract of land in Epsom the same being part of the parsonage lot where the Reverend Mr. Hazeltine now lives to contain one quarter of an acre being a part of the same land I purchased of the town of Epsom; said tract to being at the easterly corner of land owned by David Lawrence Morrill, meaning at the easterly corner of the said Morrill’s post fence, then to run easterly on the main road so far as that a parallel line southwesterly with the said Morrill’s side line will contain one quarter of an acre together with the buildings standing thereon. – William and Isabel McClary.

[The house may have been occupied by Jonathan Steele who married Elizabeth Harvey McClary, daughter of Michael McClary. Jonathan Steele met some legal problems, and the following notes appear in the diary of James Babb: Sept. 2, 1822 Steele was sued for // ox which General settled - his furniture and other personal property was twice attached ~ must have been a distressing time to his wife. From my heart I pitied her. For the year 1823: January 27 - Samuel Peabody Esq. of Sandwich exchanged places with Mr. Steele and came into possession immediately - Mr. Steele agreeing not to practice Law in Epsom after the next term of the Superior Court. February 3 - Town sued Mr. Steele for $kxx - Mr. Dickey and Mr. Steele had a great dispute. February 18 - General McClary moved Mrs. Steele into the Moody house. March 9 - S. Peabody Esq. arrived in town today with his family and moved into the house recently occupied by Mr. Steele.]

MERRIMACK COUNTY DEEDS –JOHN C. HALL HOUSE

(M) 54-287 July 11, 1838
Samuel Peabody of Tamworth, Esq., to John Folsom, clothier and Samuel Chapman, yeoman, both of Tamworth,
Land in Epsom bounded northerly by the highway, westerly by land lately owned by Thomas D. Merrill Esq., southerly and westerly by land lately owned by Jonathan Curtis, being the same land that was deeded to me by Michael McClary Esquire, estimated at one half acre of land with the house, barn and wood house on the same. - Samuel Peabody

(M) 69-64 May 2, 1842
Samuel Chapman and John Folsom, of Carroll County, to John C. Hall of Epsom, joiner,
A certain house and lot of land in Epsom bounded northerly by the highway, west by land lately owned by Thomas D. Merrill, south and east by land lately owned by Jonathan Curtis, to contain about three fourths of an acre. Samuel Chapman, John Folsom, by their attorney, John Chapman.

(M) 76-359 September 18, 1844 Mortgage
John C. Hall of Epsom to Anna Rand of Epsom,
A certain house and lot of land in Epsom bounded northerly on the main road leading through said Epsom, easterly and southerly on land of Hanover Dickey, and westerly on land of Daniel Merrill, and is the same land which I purchased of Samuel Chapman as will appear by his deed dated May 2, 1842, with all other buildings thereon. – John C. Hall

PHOTO: The John C. Hall home, burned in August of 1916 on the western end of the parsonage lot.
Gilbert Knowles in a paper prepared for the Epsom Historical Association in 1975, wrote the following:

Although I have found nothing written up about it, Mr. Luther Hall, who died in 1939, and lived in the beautiful house just west of here until it burned, told Mr. And Mrs. Lewis Nutter that an ell part of the “parsonage” was sold and moved by oxen down the lane and then made into another house on the lot where Charles and Ruth Batchelder now live. Mr. Hall told that in turning the corner on the main road with the oxen and their load there was some damage to the grounds of the property of George Batchelder (now Watson Ambrose) and that Mr. Batchelder made quite a fuss about it. As Mr. Batchelder died in 1889, the date of the ell moving must have been a number of years earlier.

MORRILL HOUSE

Epsom Town Records, March 18, 1795
Voted that the Selectmen sell at public auction to the highest bidder one half acre of land to be taken off the northerly end of the parsonage to take its beginning at the pound and running easterly ten rods and as far back as will contain said half acre, on condition that the Rev. Mr. Hazeltine shall give his consent thereto; the aforesaid land was accordingly set up at vendue and struck off to Capt. James H. McClary at sixty three dollars.

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY DEEDS - MORRILL HOUSE
150-396 June 27, 1795
Town of Epsom (Levi Brow, Solomon Sutton and Nicholas Dolbeer, Selectmen) to William McClary of Epsom, yeoman,
A certain piece of land in Epsom the same being part of the parsonage lot where the Reverend Ebenezer Hazeltine now lives and to contain one half acre to take its beginning at the pound then to run easterly as the road runs two rod and as far back as will contain the said half acre, the same being sold at public vendue agreeably to the vote of the town March 18, 1795 and struck off to Capt. James H. McClary and given up by the said James Harvey McClary to the said William McClary

xxx-xxx April 4, 1796 (deed not found, possibly not recorded)
William McClary of Epsom to David Lawrence Morrill,
Likely half of the land he purchased from the town of Epsom, ¼ acre. Also see deed 149-261, William McClary to Andrew McClary.

195-112 February 14, 1801
David Lawrence Morrill of Epsom, gentleman to Samuel Morrill of Epsom, Physician,
The following tracts of land in Epsom, the first being the same which I purchased of William McClary and a part of the parsonage land on which Mr. Haseltine now lives, reference being had to said deed dated at Epsom the fourth (4th) day of April, 1796 (also t other tracks) – David Lawrence Morrill and wife Jane Morrill relinquishing dower.

230-217 April 12, 1821
Samuel Morrill of Concord, Esq., to Thomas D.Merrill of Epsom, trader,
A parcel of land in Epsom bounded as follows: Northerly on Canterbury Road (so called) westerly on the common, southerly on Jonathan Curtis land, and easterly on Jonathan Steele’s land, it being the westerly half of half an acre of land which William McClary purchased of the town of Epsom, reference being had to the deed to said William McClary with the buildings situated thereon. – Samuel and Elizabeth Morrill

MERRIMACK COUNTY DEEDS - MORRILL HOUSE

(M) 37-106 September 10, 1833
Thomas D. Merrill of Epsom, Esq., to Daniel Merrill of Pelham, Hillsboro County,
A tract of land in Epsom bounded as follows: northerly on the Canterbury Road, so called, westerly on the common ground, southerly on land of Jonathan Curtis and easterly on land of Samuel Peabody, Esq., which was sold by the town of Epsom to William McClary and the same which I purchased of Samuel Morrill, Esq., as will appear by his deed to me dated April 12, 1821, with all the buildings thereon. – Thomas D. and Ann G. Merrill, his wife, relinquishing dower.

(M) 87-340 March 11, 1847
Daniel Merrill of Newmarket, to Benvolio Sanborn of Epsom,
A tract of land in Epsom bounded northerly on the main road leading from Epsom to Deerfield, westerly on the common, southerly on land of the heirs of Hanover Dickey, deceased, and easterly on land occupied by John C. Hall, said tract to contain one fourth of an acre, the same I bought of Thomas D. Merrill of said Epsom together with all the buildings situated thereon. – Daniel Merrill

(M) 101-437 January 28, 1851
Benvoli Sanborn of Epsom to Benjamin L. Locke of Epsom,
A certain piece of land in Epsom bounded as follows: northerly on the main road leading through said town to Deerfield, westerly on the common land, southerly on land of heirs of Hanover Dickey and easterly on land occupied by John C. Hall, said tract containing one fourth of an acre together with all the buildings thereon, being the same conveyed to me by Daniel Merrill by deed dated March 11, 1847. Benvoli and Ann Sanborn

(M) 117-502 January 11, 1854
Benjamin L. Locke of Epsom to Edwin Sanborn of Epsom,
A parcel of land in Epsom bounded as follows: Northerly on the main road leading through Epsom to Deerfield; westerly on the common land; southerly on land of the heirs of Hanover Dickey; and easterly on land occupied by John C. Hall, said tract containing one fourth of an acre be the same more or less, with all the buildings thereon, being the same land conveyed to me by Benvolio Sanborn by deed dated January 28, 1851 – B.L. and H. P. Locke

(M) 369-369 January 11, 1854
Edwin Sanborn of Epsom for the love and affection I have for my parents, Benvoli and Ann Sanborn of Epsom, have leased these presents for the terms of their natural lives and during the natural life of the survivor of them,
The dwelling house and land in Epsom now occupied by the said Benvoli and Ann, bounded as follows: northerly by the main road leading through said Epsom to Deerfield; westerly by the common land; southerly by land of the heirs of Hanover Dickey; and easterly by land occupied by John C. Hall; being the same which was conveyed to be by B.L. Locke by seed dated January 11, 1854, provided the said Benvoli and Ann shall choose to occupy the same, and shall pay the taxes legally assessed on the same. January 11, 1854 – Edwin Sanborn.

(M) 197-188 May 16, 1870
Edwin Sanborn of Lynn, MA to John H. Hall of Epsom,
A parcel of land together with the buildings thereon bounded northerly on the main road leading through Epsom to Deerfield, westerly on the common lands, southerly on land of John C. Hall and easterly by said Hall’s land, said parcel containing one fourth of an acre, more or less, being the same land conveyed to Benjamin L. Locke by Benvoli Sanborn by deed January 1851 and by Benjamin L. Locke to Edwin Sanborn by deed January 11, 1854, recorded Merrimack County registry Lib. 117 Vol. 502 – Edwin and Rachel Sanborn

(M) 209-472 July 22, 1871
John H. Hall of Lynn, MA to Luther T. Hall of Epsom,
A parcel of land in Epsom described as follows: northerly on the main road leading through Epsom to Deerfield, westerly on the common land, southerly on land of John C. Hall and westerly by said Hall’s land, said parcel containing one fourth of an acre more or less, being the same land conveyed to me by Edwin and Rachel Sanborn as by their deed to me dated May 16, 1870, recorded Merrimack County Book 197 Leaf 188. – John H. and Nellie C. Hall [note – no buildings]

(M) 212-498 October 12, 1872
Luther T. Hall of Epsom to Charles S. Hall of Epsom,
A parcel of land in Epsom bounded as follows: northerly on the main road leading through said Epsom to Deerfield; westerly on the Common land, southerly on land of John C. Hall and easterly by said Hall’s land, said parcel containing one fourth of an acre, being the same land conveyed to Benjamin L. Locke by Benvolio Sanborn by deed dated January 28, 1851 and by Benjamin L. Locke to Edwin Sanborn by deed dated January 11, 1854 and conveyed by Edwin Sanborn to John H. Hall by deed dated May 16, 1870. – Luther T. Hall

CENTER HILL SCHOOL HOUSE

MERRIMACK COUNTY DEEDS - SCHOOL HOUSE

(M) 874-61 November 30, 1956
The School Board of the Epsom School District, authorized by vote at the annual district meeting held March 10, 1956, sell to Elizabeth M. Travis and Madeline R. Knowles,
A parcel of land together with the buildings thereon, known as the Center Hill School in Epsom, situate on the westerly side of Center Hill Road, bounded on the southerly and westerly sides by land of Jaquith; bounded on the northerly side by land of Bunker; and bounded on the easterly side by the Center Hill Road, so called. – Henry Dowst, Samuel Bigelow and Russell S. Yeaton.

Old Epsom Centre
As a small footnote, this small section of town was referred many times as ‘the old center.’ The small section of land taken from the original school/parsonage lot at different times contained a small parade ground, latter called the common; the town pound; the schoolhouse, likely later the current Center School; and across the street the meetinghouse and burying ground. The following is a note found in town records –
“Record of trees set out on the School House Common and by the Cemetery Wall. Those trees on the Commons and by the Cemetery Wall were all set out in 1857 except the Chestnut at the East end of the Cemetery Wall that was set out by John C. Hall. The Elm that was set there in 1857 died. There were originally 28 of them. They were all dug up and set out by Simon A.H. Weeks, Eben B. Hoyt, Edwin and Joel L. Sanborn and Charles Jeffrey Brown. Some of them came from the Range Road near the Pettingill House, some from the roadside near Joe Eastmans (Byron Ambrose) and the rest from the roadside near Deacon John Eastmans (Manson Griffins). They dug them and brought them on their shoulders and set them out and took care of them.”
Many of the towns around Epsom retained some type of town center. As roads became better and more numerous, and the addition of the railroad from Gossville to Short Falls, the population shifted dramatically. Epsom Center became the area around the new town hall, New Rye grew, and schools appeared in numerous ‘districts’ throughout Epsom. The examination of many deeds and old accounts helps us now to be able to recreate in our minds that section of East Street, the old Epsom Centre, which was unknown before.