The Maloons/Meloons of Ireland
The Maloons were among the first families to settle in our town. They were early settlers of Boscawen, which originally included Webster and was established about 20 years before Stevenstown (Salisbury).
From the writings of Walter Theo Silver and Linnea Stadig Silver, page 270 of “From Kings Plantation to Hometown Heritage: Boscawen and Webster, New Hampshire,” 1997, about the Maloons’ homestead.:
“The land of Maloons’ choice was not surveyed until 1743, and at that time it fell within the 100-acre lot drawn to the right of John Akers.
Hark back to me now when the Plantation of Contoocook was granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to the proprietors led by John Coffin of Newbury, Massachusetts. When their petition was approved, the Court stipulated that they must have 81 families settled on the plantation within four years; if this was not accomplished, the grant would be forfeited.
We have no way of knowing the terms and agreements by which the lands occupied and built into farms by mavericks such as Dagodan, Cook, and Meloon may have secured for themselves. Could a failure to agree with John Akers have been the reason why Meloon pulled up stakes and moved over the line into Stevenstown, now Salisbury? Dearborn, in his History of Salisbury, page 3, estimated the Meloons arrived approximately the same time as Phillip Call, the first settler. Coffin speculates that Maloon’s reason for moving may have been “to avail himself of the extensive meadow lands in that vicinity.”
TIMELINE:
1734- A group from Newbury, Massachusetts, ventured to the area to establish a settlement. Nathaniel Meloon pushed to the frontier’s edge, where the remnants of his homestead’s foundation can still be found along what became Boscawen’s First Range Road. Similar to Salisbury’s, this road stretched westward from the Merrimack River and was merely a path at the time. The homestead was located just off the road on what was then called Dublin Lane. Today, the easiest way to locate this floodplain site is by heading west along Salisbury’s South Range Road. Before reaching the Smith’s Corner Crossroads, Little Hill Road, often missing its sign due to pranksters, intersects on the left. Turning onto Little Hill Road, which is closed to vehicles in winter, leads to its intersection with Boscawen’s First Range Road at a clear turn. This road, later known as Province Road, intersects Little Hill Road, and just a short distance west of the intersection lies Dublin Lane, where evidence of the Maloons’ first homestead remains.
Abt 1748, Nathaniel Meloon’s second homestead is situated at Smith’s Corner, stretching between Warner Road and Scribner’s Corner along Mill Brook.
1754-An event for which the Maloons are most remembered took place here. The detailed account is written elsewhere, but in brief: Native Americans captured the Maloons in a meadow near Smith’s Corner and brought them to Canada. While they were not harmed, their ailing infant was taken from the mother and never seen again. However, John Dearborn recounts a different version, stating the child survived temporarily but later died at St. Francois, Quebec, in September 1754. He wrote that the infant was returned to the mother after it seemed likely she would die, as her death would forfeit any ransom. At the time, with the British and French at odds, the captives were to be sold to the French as servants. The family was separated, and the Native Americans likely received goods in exchange for the trade.
1755- According to Charles Coffin, on November 20, 1755, his wife gave birth to a son named Joseph in Canada.
1757- Nathaniel Meloon, along with his wife and two or three sons (still debated), embarked on a vessel bound for France. However, they were intercepted by a British Man-of-War near Newfoundland, which later brought them to Portland. The Meloons eventually made their way back to their log cabin in Salisbury.
1763- One daughter, Rachel, stayed with the Native Americans and embraced their way of life. From the age of 7 to 14, she lived among them and was set to marry a native named Peter Louis. However, in 1763, Samuel Fowler Esq. worked to bring her back to her original family despite her reluctance. She was eventually returned and married Reuben Greely, a veteran soldier who later died at Valley Forge in 1778. According to John Dearborn, Rachel carried the cultural influences of her second family throughout her life.
Before 1768- Bean/Smith’s Corner Cemetery: Nathaniel Meloon (spelled by John Dearborn) is buried to the right of the gate along the wall as you enter, though the exact date is unknown. The cemetery was relocated in the 1940s, but Nathaniel’s grave still lacks a marker. It is presumed he was moved to the new location, although there is no confirmation. At the entrance, there is a small section with no stones, but it is occupied. As noted by John Dearborn, this cemetery is considered the second oldest in town, with the next being Searles Hill in 1768, placing this cemetery’s origin before 1768.
1803- Mrs. Meloon passed away at the age of 95 and is likely buried beside Nathaniel.
1814- Rachel weds Moses Moody Jr. from Boscawen.
1863- Rachel (Maloon) Moody passed away at 74 and was initially buried at Bean/Smith’s Corner Cemetery before being moved to a spot adjacent to Maplewood. Moses passed away in 1868.
Linda Denoncourt, a former Salisbury Historical Society curator, is a descendant of the Maloons.
Reference these books for more details:
Provincial Papers, Volume VI of the State Papers Series
- John Dearborn, “The History of Salisbury, New Hampshire”
- Charles Carlton Coffin, “The History of Boscawen, New Hampshire”
- Walter Theo Silver and Linnea Stadig Silver, From The Kings Plantation to Hometown Heritage 1997 -(Salisbury Free Library)