Moses Garland, an early settler from Kingston, NH, was among many of Salisbury’s first residents. He likely first encountered the Salisbury region in the 1760s as part of the famous colonial militia unit, Rogers’ Rangers. He probably spent time at Fort #2 in Franklin, which was part of Salisbury at the time, located one road up from the river at the Webster Farm, now Franklin, NH, along Route 3. The road turns right at the Webster Graveyard, where a plaque marks the hillside.
Rogers’ Rangers were an early special forces unit, adopting tactics from the indigenous people, such as ambushes and harassment, avoiding formal battles. Moses Garland served as a Ranger during both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
According to Paul S. Shaw in History of Salisbury Houses:
Moses Garland came from the vicinity of Kingston, NH, before the Revolutionary War. After serving in the Continental Army, he built his house in 1786, where he “kept tavern for man and beast”. He raised 8 children with Mehitable and was the first keeper of the Town Pound, which can still be seen today.
According to John Dearborn in the History of Salisbury, 1890. “The tavern was on the ‘Old College Road’ and he received a large patronage, especially from the old soldiers who made it a tarrying place where they could enjoy their ‘toddy’, smoke, and tell over old war experiences. He cleared up the field in front of the house and built a log fort and had a muster field for sham fights, Indian pow-wows, and athletic sports.”
The Moses Garland house, still standing today, is located at the northern end of what is now Whittemore Road. Directly across from the house are the Town Pound and the site of the Muster field.
Died: November 13, 1821, at the age of 88.
Wife: Mehitable Sleeper, died June 13, 1821, age 78.
Buried: Baptist Cemetery, Salisbury Heights Route 4, Salisbury, NH