Trivia Challenge 2024
- The Trivia & History Challenge will present a monthly question pertaining to Salisbury in some way in print in Lifelines, on our Website and on our Facebook page.
- We hope you will find the questions intriguing and find the answers interesting.
- Parents and Educators: Some topics may very well lend themselves to further research for school children’s projects and reports.
- Previous Questions with links to answers are Indexed on the following: https://www.salisburyhistoricalsociety.org/trivia-history-challenge-index/
- Do you have an interesting question and answer for the challenge? Please let us know.
- Should we make a factual error please do not hesitate to contact us.
- All additional data, images, corrections or questions are always welcome.
APRIL 2024
Who Was Moses Garland?
Answer:
Moses Garland was both a Robert’s Ranger in the French and Indian War and the Revolution.
He was a well know Salisbury citizen whose home once also housed a busy tavern and still stands.
For more details:
He also happens to be a beloved character in our Cemetery Walk re enactments.
For a time John Keeper played his character and currently Joe Schmidl has the role.
John Kepper in the role of Moses Garland 0n Round Robin Day, Cemetery Walk 2011
Joe Schmidl as Moses Garland loading his musket, a favorite of the children on the annual Round Robin Day.
Button detail of Joe Schmidl’s vest showing Roger’s Rangers insignia.
Died: November 13 1821 at the age of 88.
Wife: Mehitable Sleeper, died June 13, 1821 age 78.
Buried: Baptist Cemetery Salisbury Height Rte 4, Salisbury NH
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MARCH 2024
Who were Rhoda Bartlett True and Reuben True?
Answer:
She was the fourth child, fourth daughter of Mary Bartlett and Josiah Bartlett, Esq signer of the Declaration of Independence and eventual Governor.
The connection of Josiah Bartlett Esq. to Salisbury NH began before the arrival of his daughter and husband about 1789-1790. He was a frequent visitor from Kingston NH, a participant in the Meeting House services on Searles Hill as he owned a pew in the church itself. The pew was likely a family box pew as was common a that time. The Meeting House on Searles Hill existed from about 1769-1790.
Josiah Bartlett came on occasion to visit his nephew and Rhoda’s cousin Dr. Joseph Bartlett who practiced medicine in Salisbury ultimately for 30 years.
Dr. Jospeh Bartlett arrived in town 1771 and resided on the South Rangeway west of Stirrup Iron Brook. There is no building or barn remaining however there are some intriguing cellar holes that exist in the area that coincide with the location description in the History of Salisbury, as opposite the residence (1890) of William Merrill. This location for William Merrill was adjacent and downhill to the 1851 Rev Eldridge house still standing (Southside). This is according to an old town map printed in Salisbury Lost by Paul S. Shaw.
Rhoda Bartlett True:
b. Kingston, NH on 22 May 1760 Kingston NH
m. Reuben TRUE on 22 Feb 1789.
d. Salisbury, MA on 25 Sept 1794.
Burial: Baptist Graveyard, Salisbury Heights
Children:
Levi TRUE, b. 22 June 1790; dy burial unknown
Josiah Bartlett TRUE, b. 4 Sept 1792 d Jan 20 1831 @38 years, Burlington Vt.
Inscription from her beautiful tombstone:
Consort of Mr. Reuben True and Dau. of His Excy Josiah Bartlett, Esq.; died in the 35th year of her age.
Her headstone is the oldest in the cemetery (Salisbury Historical Society).
The stone reads :
Stop my friend and take a second view
The dust that’s here, was once beloved like you
Spouse REUBEN TRUE
b. Oct 16, 1761, Salisbury Mass.
d. Dec 1826 ae 65 yrs
Reuben True Farm:
abt 1790 Reuben True Home is Built
Location Salisbury Heights Rte 4 & 127. Later Purchased abt 1816 by the Pettengills who made extensive alterations and establish the tavern known as the Bell tavern later known as the Traveller Home- Historic Salisbury Houses by Paul S. Shaw
Reuben True was an active town citizen involved in many projects.
From the History of Salisbury:
Most notable for:
June 1789 Reuben True is noted as having been part of a group of citizens forming the Baptist Society which moved forward to erect a new place of worship at the Center Village. For a time the group held meetings in private houses and in an old schoolhouse which they had bought of the town. Oct 1790 it was decided to build and Reuben True was part of a committee to sell pews.
1798 p.200 Corporate officer of the first Library in Salisbury
P 307 History Salisbury- took part in arguments and negotiations to determine the route of the Fourth NH Turnpike which was to be a toll road. (RTE 4)
1801- Involved in town boundary perambulations p. 328 abt 1816 Testified regarding Town perambulations specifically the nw corner area.
1804 p 415 Taxed as one of the first chaise owners in town. Definition from wikipedia-a light two or four wheeled traveling or pleasure carriage for one or two people with folding hood or Cassie top. Wheeled sedan chair.
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FEBRUARY 2024
Question:
How well do you know Salisbury geography?
Where are the following hills in Salisbury and what did we miss?
Bean Hill abt 875 ft
Bald Hill?/Sawyer Hill 1,825 ft
Calef Hill abt 950 ft
Garland Hill abt 825 ft
Loverin Hill abt 925 ft
Raccoon Hill same as Shaw Hill abt 1,200 ft
Sanborn Hill unk
Searle’s Hill abt 1,075 ft
Shaw Hill same as Raccoon Hill abt 1,200 ft
Switch Hill abt 725 ft
Bean Hill is off Couchtown Road, east side, just past the junction with Mill & Warner Road.
Bald Hill likely the same s Sawyer Hill on the side of Kearsarge, maybe still is. There was once a Salisbury settlement on the side of the incline up to Kearsarge called the Watson District and the Sawyers who resided below in Salisbury grazed their sheep on the slopes.
Please note Bald Hill may actually be referred to as Sawyer’s Hill and partially in Warner. Anyone with info on this?
Calef Hill- Calef Hill Road is in Salisbury off Rabbit Road and once connected to now rte 4, at the top is Calef Hill up on the rise along rte. 4
(behind Veterinary Office), before the Boscawen line.
Garland Hill- just off Whittemore and Center road likely named after Moses Garland
Loverin Hill –on Loverin Hill Rd (old Center Rangeway)
Raccoon Hill and Shaw Hill are the same– This is a tricky one! Most people today think of Shaw Hill as the hill where all recent Shaws reside along North Road. However old timers know that Shaw Hill is actually Raccoon Hill, the area of the earlier homesteads of the Shaws. This explains why the road leading up to”Raccoon Hill” from the Andover side is called Shaw Hill Road, though it goes to Raccoon Hill not North Road!
Sanborn Hill-This is tricky one. We are not sure if it was ever a town name but it is referred to in an interview in They Said It In Salisbury as a sledding point down into West Salisbury. Assumption is that it is somewhere along West Salisbury Road near an old Sanborn homestead? Any ideas? There was an early proprietary the name of Sanborn who owned the lot up to the heights. Any thoughts/
Searles Hill- Is the high point on the Center Rangeway that was the site of the earliest Salisbury Meetinghouse and settlement. The Road up is the Center Rangeway although now it appears to divert off it. It exits onto rte 127 in Franklin near Easy Street. Actually it continued at one point to the river as did the South Rangeway as part of Salisbury. Named after the Reverend who preached there.
Switch Hill– Known only to very old timers perhaps and researchers of deeds on Gerrish Road. Gerrish Road takes a switch turn and descends down into Boscawen.
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JANUARY 2024
Question:
Where was the Salisbury Poor Farm or Almshouse?
The Salisbury Poor Farm or Almshouse, Photo from Salisbury Lost by Paul S. Shaw
Answer:
Northside of Warner Road just east of Hensmith Road
Destroyed by fire 1940
For more information please see Salisbury Lost by Paul S. Shaw, MD 1996: p 111
For more in depth information on the Almshouse please see History of Salisbury by John Dearborn 1890,
Pages. 363-366 Chapter XXVI
Excerpts P366 :
In 1831 the selectmen purchased the farm and about 150 acres from Daniel Kent for $1850.
The stock and tools cost $672.20
Enoch Fifield and his wife were employed to take charge of the house and farm.
The system of supporting the poor was continued for 30 years after which time the farm was sold in 1866.
Some of the poor requiring assistance were take to the County Farm. The few persons remaining who required assistance were supported by friends at low rates and the town had granted satisfactory enumeration.