Source: History of Charlestown, NH by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson 1876 Chapter 2 p.15 The anticipated war between England and France begins. To appreciate the situation of the settlers of Fort 4, it is necessary to have some knowledge of the progress which the country had made at that time. Beginning then, at Boston (MA) at that time the principal place in New England, we must not imagine it as containing its tens of thousands of inhabitants, but a taxable population of about eighteen hundred; for this, according to Holmes, was the number it contained in 1742. The same writer puts down the number of its dwelling houses as seven hundred and nineteen. From this we shall immediately perceive that it is not the Boston of our present ideas. In about the same year, the taxable persons in the county of Worcester were about three thousand two hundred. The settlement most easily reached was at Northfield, MA which was on the Connecticut River, about forty-five miles below; for though there were a few inhabitants at Upper Ashuelot, (now Keene) and Lower Ashuelot (now Swanzey) there was no other way, at the time, of reaching them except by way of Fort Dummer. The nearest settlements within the present limits of New Hampshire with the exception of those alread mentioned were on the Merrimac and its branches. These were Penacook (now Condord), Suncook (now Pembroke) Contoocook (now Boscawen) New Hopkinton (now Hopkinton) Souhegan East (now Merrimac) Souhegan West (now Amherst). Hollis was also settled under the name of Nissitissit, or the West Parish of Dunstable. West of the Connecticut, there were no settlements in the territory, now included in the State of Vermont, with the exception of Fort Dummer; and on the north, there were none this side of the borders of Canada. No. 4, was, therefore, the most advanced frontier settlement, environed by deep forests on every side and the most exposed to the enemy in case of a French or Indian war, which, owing to the disturbed relations of France and England, was at any time probable. Indeed, it was the apprehension of such a war that had long been the means of restraining emigration and preventing the progress of settle- ments on the Connecticut River, the lands on which were reputed to be exceed- ingly desireable. But the time at length arrived, when circumstances combined to create sufficient motives to induce their occupation, notwithstanding disastrous results which had attended nearly all previous settlements on the river. The township of No. 4 was grante originally by Massachusetts but that, sub- sequently, by the decision of the King George 2nd - it was found to lie within the boundaries of New Hampshire and that on learning this, the proprietors had petitioned the King to have this township set back again under the jurisdiciton of Massachusetts. This was in September 1740 and before the next meeting, held September 1, 1742, most of the proprietors had disposed of their interests in the township probably owing to the doubtful character of their titles. Only three of the original proprietors became settlers. These were Captain Phineas Stevens, Lieutenant Ephraim Wetherbe and Stephen Farnsworth. A few others held their titles for awhile but eventually disposed of them. The settlement of Fort 4 was very slow, as in 1744 there were not more than nine or ten families. The first settlement of No. 4 was made by three brothers, Samuel, David and Stephen Farnsworth in 1740. They were natives of Groton, MA. But at the time of their removal to No. 4, they resided at Lunenburg, MA (Turkey Hills). They were soon followed by Isaac Parker and sons, and Obadiah Sartwell (Sawtell) from Groton, MA and John Hastingsof Hatfield, MA and Moses Willard of Lunenburg and Phineas Stevens of Rutland. MA. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------- Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth