6 XEW HAAIPSHIRE EXPERniEXT STATION (Bulletin 264 



Perhaps the worst part of the problem is not that lots and lines 

 are for.e^otten. but that the bounds are allowed to decay or be de- 

 stroyed until they are unrecof^nizable. Pole fences, no longer kept 

 up. have commojily disinteg^rated to a mound in the earth, or not 

 even that. Barbed-wire fences have fallen into the duff and been 

 covered up. Stakes have rotted, spotted trees have fallen, been cut, 

 or grown over the spot. Differences in the growth have varied un- 

 til they are hardly distinguishable. Fire has cleaned out all traces 

 of lines in several sections. Stone walls, the most permanent com- 

 mon line markers, are scarce in the woodlands. 



On the other hand, several owners have re-established corners 

 while the old markers were still distinguishable. This is frequently 

 done with iron pipe or pins, or even with stone bounds, and will save 

 much bother and expense later on. Where there is no accurate sur- 

 veyor's description, and where no trace can be found, it is exceeding- 

 ly difficult to replace a corner. 



While the lines, for the most part, were easily discernible, in some 

 backwoods areas it often took a week to find lines which could be 

 mapped in a day or so. This was the expensive part of the survey, 

 and the most valuable when successful. 



Boscawen 



Boscawen presented a rather different situation. This town, in 

 Merri.mack County, lies just north of Concord, and is bounded on the 

 north by Franklin and Salisbury, on the east by Northfield and Can- 

 terbury (the boundary line being the Merrimack River), and on the 

 west by Webster. 



The village of Boscawen, commonh' called Boscawen Plains, ex- 

 tends about two miles along the Daniel W^ebster Highwa}^ close to 

 the Merrimack River. The southeastern portion of the town lies in 

 Penacook, a separate village which includes parts of both Boscawen 

 and Concord. 



The topography is quite hilly and rough except in the eastern por- 

 tions along the river. All but the southwestern section of the town 

 is accessible b}- roads. This area is an extensive woodland, largely 

 cut over, accessible only by logging roads. The land is well drained 

 with few swamps. 



The original grant nf Boscawen was made to about eighty of the 

 first settlers, known as the proprietors, by the government of Massa- 

 chusetts Bay in 1733. The land was surveyed and divided among 

 these proprietors, each allotment being called a "Proprietor's 

 Right". The lots were very irregular in size and shape, although 

 some attempt was made to divide the town by lots and ranges. Man}' 

 of these lots were walled in, and it is surprising to see how many of 

 the lands today still follow the original boundaries. 



A record of the measurements of these proprietors' rights was 

 available in the office, and proved to be very valuable in checking 

 with deed descriptions. 



The farms and timber lots along the river and in the northern por- 

 tion are fairly large, averaging from 75 to 100 acres. Little subdiv- 

 ision has taken place in these sections, many of the farms having 

 been handed down from generation to generation with few changes. 



