Newmarket was formerly a part of Exeter. Its population is about two thousand.

Brentwood adjoins Exeter on the weft, and has about one thousand inhabitants.

Gilmanton deferves notice from its name. It lies in the romantic region about lake Winnepefaukee. Its charter, executed May 20, 1727, by his Majefty's Colonial Governor, John Wentworth, was granted as compensation for services rendered in defense of the country. It was originally called Gilman

town.

One of the conditions of the charter was that a meetinghouse should be built for the public worship of God, within the term of four years, and another that a proprietor's fhare fhould be referved for the benefit of a school in the town.

Twenty-four of the grantees were named Gilman, and the writer has attempted to identify them, but the frequent repetition of the fame Chriftian name in different families, renders it difficult to decide in some cases.

PROPRIETORS OF GILMANTON.

1727

The Selectmen mentioned in the charter were, Major John Gilman, Capt. John Gilman, and Bartholomy Thing.*. The first settlement was not made until 1761, the delay having been caused by troubles with the Indians.

The firft Gilman who fettled in the town was Samuel, of Brentwood, who arrived in 1762, and his was the fifth family. In 1765 Nicholas Gilman arrived from the fame town. In 1766 Winthrop Gilman alfo came from Brentwood. In 1767 John Gilman came from Exeter. There were then forty-five families in town. There were 250 fouls: 139 males, and III females. None were over fixty years of age. During the time fince the charter was given, Dr. Jofiah Gilman had been clerk of the proprietors for twenty-fix years, and Major John Gilman had held the office of treasurer, while the family name occurred at least once in the lift of Selectmen, almost every year.

The inhabitants had now become fufficiently numerous to hold Town Meetings, and the first was held July 31, 1766. Somersby Gilman was chofen moderator. The town contained, in 1775, 405 males, 357 females, 4 negroes and flaves, and had 12 men

* This_name_has been changed in time until it now is borne as Tyng, by a large family in the United States.

D

in the army. These men were prefent at the battle of Bunker Hill.

The following interesting document was figned by a number of Gilmans, August 28, 1776. It is called

Affociation Teft Paper.

We, the fubfcribers do hereby folemnly engage and promise that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms oppofe the hoftile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United Colonies.

Gilmanton has had excellent advantages for education. Steps were taken at an early period in this direction, and besides many schools, it has had an academy and theological feminary of great usefulness. The Hon. John Phillips, who gave $15,000, and two-thirds of his estate befides, to the Exeter Academy, was a benefactor of Gilmanton.

There have also been churches and clergymen of various denominations in the town fince 1763, when £500 were voted by the proprietors for the pay of a minister of the gospel, and a committee, including Samuel Gilman, Jr., and John Gilman, was appointed to carry out the vote.

Gilmanton is fituated fixteen miles from Concord, forty-five from Portsmouth, and eighty from Boston.

A complete account of the town will be found in The Hiftory of Gilmanton, by Rev. Daniel Lancaster, published there by Alfred Prescott in 1845.

The following petition of New Hampshire fettlers is tranf

cribed from the New England Hiftorical and Genealogical Regifter, Volume VIII, page 233.*

To the Honable the Governour and Council of their Maju

Colony of the Matthathusets in New England

The humble Addreffe of the Inhabitants and train folders of the Province of New Hampshire Febr 20 1689

Humbly sheweth

That whereas fince the late Revolution in yo' Colony you have Exerted a power of Government over their Maj" Subjects Inhabitants therein whch wee are given to understand their Maj" have been graciously pleas❜d to approve off, and Impower'd you to continue the fame till further order; And wee who were formerly under yo' Government having been for fome time distitute of power Sufficient to put our selves into A capacity of defence against the common enemie, and having wth great expectation awaited their Maj" order for A settlem1amongf' us whch not yet ariving confidering also how liable wee are to destruction by the Enemy wch of our felves wee cannot prevent; wee are therefore Neceffitated at prefent to fupplicate yo' Honours for Government and Protection as formerly untill their Maj" pleasure shall be known concerning vs. Hereby obliging ourselves to A dve fubmiffion therto, and payment of our Eqvall proportion (according to our capacity) of the charge y' fhall arife for the defence of the country against the common Enemy, praying also that such persons may be Commissionated to comand

* See Massachusetts Archives, Book 35, page 229.