From The Town Register, 1907, Mitchell, Davis and Daggett

History of Chatham, N. H

THE TOWN OF CHATHAM lies in the northern part of the State New Hampshire, close under the shadow of the towering White Mountains which begin their precipitous ascent within its borders. The Eastern part of the township lies within the valley of the Cold Stream and contains some excellent farms and most of the inhabitants. The mountais within the western half are heavily timbered and set with a sparkling jewel, Mountain Pond, whose waters are remarkably clear and cool..

THE EARLIEST GRANT was made by Gov. Benning Wentworth, Feb. 7, 1767, to Peter Levins and seventy-two associates, and named in honor of Lord Chatham. It was laid out ten miles long and four miles wide. Under date of July 2, 1772, Gov. John Wentworth conveyed 1829 acres of this tract near the center of the town to Thomas McDonough, his private secretary, who caused 12 acres to be cleared the following year. Being a Loyalist McDonough fled to Canada at the breaking out of the Revolution, when his property was confiscated and a few families settled on the grant. After peace was declared he returned as British Consul to New England and his land being restored to him attempted to establish a colony of his country men, built three houses, but became discouraged and abandoned the project.

According to information obtained from Ithiel E. Clay,Esq.,* the FIRST SETTLERS moved their families into Chatham in the year 1781; these were Samuel Phipps, Increase Robinson and Isaac Cox. The wife of Mr. Cox was something of a civil engineer and ran many of the lines in the vicinity, often camping out several nights in succession. Eliza, daughter of Mr. Phipps, is said to have been the first white person to die in Chatham, 1792, at the age of eighteen. She was buried on the Hill on the farm now owned by Chas. H. Binford. Here also were these three pioneers buried, whose remains were removed to the Centre burying ground about four years ago. Elijah Phipps, James Clay. Ebenezer Shaw, and one Danforth, who lived on the S. E. corner of what is known as the Wiley Orchard on the Robins Hill road, were among the early settlers. The first male child born in town was born in the Danforth house. At the Center were also families of Carters, Binfords, Hanfords, Moxies and Harrimans early; also families of Thomases and Eatons were early in town.

As shown by a petition dated May 25, 1797, grants were also made by Gov. John Wentworth to Jonathan Warren, Esq., Rev. Samuel Langdon and others some years prior to that date. This petition was directed to the General Court\par of N. H. for obtaining the privilege of taxing non-resident lands to raise funds for improving roads, which up to that time were very poor, except pieces improved by the grantees last mentioned. As a result a tax of 2 1/2 cents per acre was assessed on all non-resident lands. This petition was signed by the following men, residents in town at that time:

Richard Walker, Stilson Hutchins, Samuel Hazeltine, Jonas Wyman, Jere Hutchins, Jona. Hazeltine, Asa Eastman, Nath'l Hutchins, Joshua Hazeltine, Paul Chandler, Jona. Hardey, John Hazeltine, Isaac Robbins, Wm. Abbott, Abraham Hazeltine, Sam'1 Bradley Jr., John Robbin, Jona. Shirley, John Robbins, Abiel Chandler, Isaac Cox.

The first four in the first column were settlers at North Chatham; John Robbins settled on Robbins' Hill. Isaac Waldron was living in town at this time, or very soon after and it is probable that a few others were occupying home lots at this time. Many homesteads were taken up far up among the foothills or mountain sides which are now abandoned to the growing timber. These farms were hard of access and equally hard to cultivate, although on many of them were reared families ranging in number from six to sixteen children.

By an act approved June 23, 1817, a tract of land north of the town containing 2000 acres, which was granted to Lieut. Samuel Gilman, March 1, 1770, was annexed to Chatham. In 1823, the town was severed from Coos County and annexed to Stratford, and so remained until the formation of Carroll County 1840, when it was included in the latter. The farms of Jona. Hardy and Edward Shirley were severed from Conway and annexed to Chatham June 26, 1823. July 2, 1838, the farm of Juda Dana, containing 500 acres, was annexed to this town, and June 30, 1869, a tract of land was set off from Chatham to Bartlett.

*From "Town Papers."