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Here at Newfie1ds and Newmarket the great forests furnished the masts for His Majesty's ships. The "broad arrow" was cut upon the trees chosen for this purpose by a person appointed by the authorities. Benjamin's immigrant grandfather, John Fo1som~ was one of the first men appointed to this task in Exeter, New Hampshire. One tree cut at Newmarket bearing the King's sign was eight feet in diameter and one hundred and eleven feet long. At that time oxen were used as beasts of labor. Being a hardwood tree, it required seventy oxen to draw it to the riverside to be floated into Portsmouth Bay. Newmarket also furnished the timber for the ship "America". Paul Jones supervised the building of the ship at the docks at Newfield. A great day of festivity and games was planned for the launching of each ship, so that when we say that 21 ships were launched at Newmarket and Newfie1ds in one year, we must realize-that there were 21 holidays to celebrate. Perhaps-this item will give you an idea of the vastness of the forest and the type of living which existed at that time at the west arm of the Portsmouth Bay, where these people lived. Many vessels found shelter in Portsmouth Bay, bringing with them captains and sailors of foreign lands. Joshua Mitchell would have no trouble locating a shipmaster who could bring him the chintz for daughter Betty's wedding dress.
In the year 1727 twenty-seven men of the Gilman family of New Hampshire and 153 other filed a petition at Boston, where the government by Crown was administered, to set up a community about twenty miles north of Concord, New Hampshire, on the Belmont River. Because of the number of Gi1mans listed, the town was registered as Gilmanton. They took their religion along with them, and the first service was held in the barn of Jotham Gilman.
The way to Gi1manton was merely a horsepath marked by spotted trees. In the winter the path was widened by cutting out trees, to make way for ox-drawn sleds. By 1761 arrangements were made to open a cart path, and then in 1770 be Province Road was laid out from Portsmouth to Canada, going by way of Gilmanton. Some of Benjamin Folsom's brothers and sisters and their families had moved to Gi1manton and urged him to come there also.
It was about 1768 when Benjamin and Betty left Newfields and went to Gi1manton, where they settled on a portion of land near Winthrop Gilman and his wife Deborah. Benjamin wished for a larger portion of land, so when a group of men petitioned for a settlement on the southeast corner of Lake Winnipesaukee, he joined them. This was really forest primeval, but it had access to shipping on the lake, and that is what attracted Benjamin. This settlement was given the name of Wolfborough. The trees of the forest were huge and profuse, but when the land was cleared of them, it produced bounteous crops.
Benjamin Folsom was present at the Charter Election of Wolfborough, held September 28, 1770, where he was given a minor office. At the election of 1773 he was chosen highway surveyor, seer over landed areas, and chairman of the Board of Selectmen. (A Selectman was one chosen to exercise authority in local affairs.) He evidently rose rapidly in the esteem of the community.
The first legal instrument by town authorities of Wo1fborough, still extant, is a highway surveyor's warrant. Here is a copy of it:
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******Province of New Hampshire, County of Stafford. To Captain Thomas McLucas one of the surveyors^ of Wolfborough for the current^ year.