Time stands still in True Francestown, New Hampshire, where the remnants of a once-vibrant community create a haunting tableau. This ghost town, set against the backdrop of New Hampshire’s evolving landscape, provides a tangible link to the region’s past and the people who shaped it.
County: Not available
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: Not available
Elevation: Not available
Time Zone: Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Established: Not available
Disestablished: Not available
Comments: Not available
Remains: Not available
Current Status: Not available
Remarks: Researchers studying True Francestown have noted its importance in New Hampshire’s historical narrative. The town’s rise and fall mirrors many similar communities across the American frontier, offering lessons about sustainability and community resilience.
True Francestown: New Hampshire’s Lost Settlement
Among New Hampshire’s many ghost towns and abandoned settlements, True Francestown represents a particularly intriguing historical footnote a community that existed briefly as a distinct entity before being absorbed into what we now know as Francestown proper. The story of True Francestown provides a fascinating glimpse into the complex process of colonial settlement, town formation, and boundary disputes that characterized New Hampshire’s early development.
Origins and Geographic Context
To understand True Francestown, one must first understand the broader context of land grants and settlements in southern New Hampshire during the mid-18th century. The area that would eventually become Francestown was originally part of the vast tract known as “Society Land” or “Masonian Proprietors’ Land,” which remained unincorporated and largely unsettled until the 1760s. This territory had been acquired by the Masonian Proprietors following their purchase of the Mason claim in 1746, which resolved long-standing disputes over land ownership in New Hampshire.
Adjacent to Society Land was the “New Boston Addition,” a tract that had been annexed to New Boston in 1751. This addition extended westward from the original New Boston grant and included some of the most fertile and attractive land in the region. The New Boston Addition was formally incorporated with New Boston in 1763, creating a town with irregular boundaries that stretched considerably to the west.
What would eventually become True Francestown began as an informal settlement in this complex patchwork of territories. The earliest settlers were drawn to the area’s “beautiful meadows” natural clearings created by beaver dams that had subsequently drained, leaving rich, grassy areas ideal for grazing and hay production. These meadows were a valuable resource in the heavily forested New Hampshire wilderness, offering ready-made agricultural land that required minimal clearing.
Early Settlement and Development
The first documented settler in what would become True Francestown was John Carson, a Scotsman who established himself in the area around 1760, though historical records suggest he may have been present even earlier. Carson’s settlement was technically within the New Boston Addition, and he became an active citizen of New Boston, serving on the first Board of Selectmen and later chairing a committee to “Looke for a miniester” for the town.
Other settlers soon followed Carson into this western portion of New Boston, attracted by the same meadowlands and agricultural potential. Among these early residents were families with names that would become prominent in local history: Quigley, Dickey, Starret, and Lewis. These pioneers established homesteads, cleared additional land, and began the hard work of creating a community on what was then the frontier of European settlement in New Hampshire.
Despite being officially part of New Boston, the residents of the western “Addition” maintained a distinct identity from the beginning. Geographic separation was a significant factor the distance between settlements in the Addition and the center of New Boston proper made regular interaction difficult, especially given the primitive roads and transportation methods of the time. This physical separation naturally led to a sense of separate community among the western settlers.
The New Boston town government seems to have recognized this reality early on. In December 1763, they voted that the “New Addition Shall have their pairt of preaching amongst themselves During their Stay with the old town as a pearish.” This arrangement acknowledged both the practical difficulties of travel and the expectation that the union between New Boston proper and its western Addition would eventually end.
The Emergence of True Francestown
As settlement in the western portion of New Boston increased through the 1760s, residents began to consider formal separation and the establishment of their own town. The desire for local governance, more convenient access to religious services, and control over local affairs drove this movement. Additionally, some portions of adjacent Society Land were being settled by people who had more natural connections to the New Boston Addition communities than to other emerging towns.
The movement toward independence culminated on July 22, 1771, when thirty-nine men signed a petition to the colonial legislature requesting that the New Boston Addition and a portion of Society Land be incorporated as a new town. After consideration and the usual legal formalities, the legislature approved the petition, and on June 8, 1772, the new town of Francestown was officially incorporated.
The name “Francestown” was chosen to honor Frances Wentworth, the wife of Governor John Wentworth, who was the last royal governor of New Hampshire before the American Revolution. In early records, the name was often written as “Frances’ Town,” explicitly acknowledging its namesake. This practice of naming towns after governors’ wives or other prominent women was not uncommon in colonial New Hampshire and reflected both political pragmatism and social customs of the era.
The newly incorporated town held its first town meeting on July 2, 1772, at the house of William Starret. John Quigley was empowered to call this inaugural gathering, and the assembled citizens elected John Quigley, John Dickey, and William Starret as their first Board of Selectmen. The meeting also appointed a committee to “Senter the town that is, to determine its geographic center for the purpose of locating public buildings and roads.
The Distinction of “True” Francestown
The term “True Francestown” emerged as a way to distinguish the original settlement area primarily the former New Boston Addition from the larger incorporated town that included portions of Society Land. This distinction was particularly relevant in the early years after incorporation, when community identity was still forming and residents maintained strong connections to their settlement’s origins.
The concept of “True Francestown” reflected the reality that the new town of Francestown was an amalgamation of previously distinct territories with different settlement histories. The core settlement area, which had developed as part of New Boston, represented the “true” or original Francestown community, while the annexed portions of Society Land were newer additions to this established nucleus.
Over time, as the incorporated town of Francestown developed its own identity and institutions, the distinction between “True Francestown” and other parts of the town gradually faded. The construction of common civic buildings, the establishment of churches and schools, and the natural integration of the population through marriage and commerce helped to create a unified community identity that transcended the original settlement patterns.
Life in Early Francestown
The daily life of residents in True Francestown during the 1770s and 1780s was characterized by the challenges and routines typical of frontier New England settlements. Agriculture formed the economic backbone of the community, with families cultivating crops suited to the rocky New Hampshire soil primarily corn, potatoes, and various grains while also maintaining orchards and keeping livestock such as cattle, sheep, and pigs.
The natural meadows that had initially attracted settlers remained valuable resources, providing hay for winter feed and grazing land during the warmer months. As more land was cleared, these agricultural activities expanded, though farming in the region was never easy due to the short growing season, rocky terrain, and relatively thin soils compared to more fertile regions to the south and west.
Beyond agriculture, early Francestown developed the industries necessary for a self-sufficient community. Sawmills and gristmills were established on local streams, providing essential services for construction and food processing. Blacksmiths, coopers, tanners, and other craftsmen set up shops to meet the community’s needs for tools, containers, processed leather, and other manufactured goods.
One particularly notable industry that emerged in Francestown was soapstone quarrying and processing. In the 1790s, what was described as “the purest deposit of soapstone on Earth” was discovered in the town. This valuable material, prized for its heat retention properties and workability, was fashioned into stoves, sinks, hearths, and various household items. The soapstone industry became an important part of Francestown’s economy and identity, distinguishing it from neighboring communities.
Revolutionary Period and Early Republic
The American Revolution erupted just a few years after Francestown’s incorporation, presenting significant challenges to the fledgling community. Initially, many residents maintained loyalty to the British Crown, reflecting both their recent establishment under royal authority and the conservative tendencies common in frontier settlements. However, as British policies grew more oppressive and local grievances mounted, sentiment shifted decisively toward the patriot cause.
By June 1775, just months after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Francestown demonstrated its revolutionary commitment by appointing a committee of seven men, chaired by John Dickey, “to examine and try any person or persons that are or Shall be Suspected of being Enemies to the Country.” This committee essentially functioned as a local enforcement arm of the revolutionary movement, identifying and dealing with suspected loyalists.
Throughout the war, Francestown contributed significantly to the patriot cause. A large proportion of the town’s men served in the Continental Army, rotating through service to maintain both the military effort and the essential work of the community. The town treasury regularly paid bounties to fill military quotas and supplemented the pay of those already in service. Even seven years into the conflict, when many communities were exhausted by the long struggle, Francestown voted to raise men to “Serve in the Continental Army for the term of three years or during the War,” demonstrating remarkable commitment to independence.
Following the Revolution, Francestown, like many New England towns, experienced a period of growth and development. The 1790s and early 1800s saw the establishment of more formal institutions, improved infrastructure, and expanded commercial activities. The town’s population increased steadily, reaching 1,034 by 1800. During this period, the distinction between “True Francestown” and the rest of the incorporated town continued to diminish as a unified community identity solidified.
Transition and Integration
By the early 19th century, the concept of “True Francestown” as a distinct entity had largely faded from practical significance, though it remained as a historical reference point. The original settlement area had been fully integrated into the larger town, and new generations of residents identified simply as citizens of Francestown rather than maintaining the earlier distinction.
This transition was facilitated by several factors. The construction of the town’s first meetinghouse in 1775, and its replacement with a larger structure in 1801, provided a central gathering place for civic and religious functions. These buildings, typically located near the geographic center of the town, helped to unify the community physically and symbolically.
The establishment of school districts throughout the town created educational institutions that served children from all parts of Francestown, fostering connections across the formerly distinct areas. Similarly, the development of improved roads and transportation networks made travel within the town easier, reducing the isolation that had previously reinforced separate identities.
Economic integration also played a crucial role in this process. As Francestown’s economy diversified beyond basic agriculture to include more specialized industries and commercial activities, residents from different parts of town increasingly engaged in business relationships and interdependent economic activities. The soapstone industry, in particular, created employment and commercial opportunities that transcended the old settlement boundaries.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Today, True Francestown exists primarily as a historical concept rather than a physical place or distinct community. The term serves as a reminder of the complex processes of settlement, incorporation, and community formation that characterized colonial and early republic New Hampshire. It highlights the fluid nature of boundaries and identities during this formative period of American history.
The story of True Francestown also illustrates the practical challenges that shaped New England town development. Geographic isolation, difficult travel conditions, and the need for accessible civic and religious institutions all influenced settlement patterns and political boundaries. The eventual integration of True Francestown into the larger incorporated town demonstrates how these practical concerns could be addressed through political reorganization and community building.
For historians and genealogists, understanding the distinction between True Francestown and the broader incorporated town provides important context for interpreting historical records and tracing family histories. Early residents might be recorded as living in New Boston, True Francestown, or Francestown proper, depending on the time period and the specific location of their homestead. This complexity reflects the dynamic nature of settlement and governance in early America.
Francestown Today
Modern Francestown bears little physical evidence of the distinction between “True Francestown” and the rest of the town. The community has evolved over more than two centuries, with changing patterns of land use, development, and population. However, the town retains a strong sense of its historical roots and the unique circumstances of its formation.
The Francestown Historical Society and the Francestown Heritage Museum preserve and interpret the town’s history, including the story of its complex origins and development. Historic buildings, stone walls, and old cemeteries provide tangible connections to the early settlement period, though specific sites associated with True Francestown are not typically marked as such.
The town’s historic district, centered around the village green, includes well-preserved examples of 18th and 19th-century architecture that reflect Francestown’s development from frontier settlement to prosperous New England town. The Old Meeting House, built in 1801, stands as a particularly significant landmark, representing the community’s religious and civic heritage.
Natural features that influenced the original settlement pattern remain visible in the landscape. The “beautiful meadows” that attracted the first settlers have largely returned to forest or been maintained as agricultural land, but the underlying topography and hydrology that created these attractive clearings continue to shape the town’s geography.
Haunted Lake: A Cultural Legacy
One particularly intriguing cultural legacy associated with the Francestown area is Haunted Lake, a body of water with a rich folklore tradition. Originally known simply as “The Pond,” this lake acquired its eerie name from legends dating back to the early settlement period. According to local tradition, the lake was considered haunted by Native Americans even before European settlement, though the specific nature of this haunting varies in different accounts.
One prominent legend involves two travelers who met at the lake and decided to camp together for the night. By morning, one had mysteriously disappeared, leaving only footprints leading into the water but none coming out. Another version of the story involves strange sounds and lights reported by early settlers, attributed to supernatural causes.
By the 1780s, when David Scoby built a water-powered saw and gristmill on the lake, the name “Haunted Lake” was already in common use. The Scoby mill became an important local industry, drawing people to the area despite its spectral reputation. The juxtaposition of practical economic development with supernatural folklore illustrates the complex cultural landscape of early New England, where rational exploitation of natural resources coexisted with traditional beliefs and superstitions.
Today, Haunted Lake remains a distinctive feature of Francestown, its name preserving a connection to the town’s early history and cultural traditions. The lake and its surroundings are valued for their natural beauty and recreational opportunities, while the persistent legends add a layer of mystique that connects present-day residents and visitors to the experiences and beliefs of earlier generations.
Conclusion: Understanding True Francestown
True Francestown represents a fascinating chapter in New Hampshire’s settlement history a community that emerged from the complex interplay of geography, politics, and human aspiration. Its transition from a distinct settlement within New Boston to the core of an independent town, and finally to full integration within Francestown proper, illustrates the dynamic nature of community formation in early America.
The story of True Francestown reminds us that the neat boundaries and established identities we associate with New England towns were often the product of messy, contingent historical processes. Communities formed, divided, merged, and evolved in response to changing circumstances and practical needs. What began as a remote outpost of New Boston became, through the agency of its residents and the formal process of incorporation, the foundation of a new and independent town.
While True Francestown no longer exists as a distinct entity, its legacy lives on in the community that bears its name. The town of Francestown, with its rich history, preserved architecture, and continuing traditions, stands as a testament to the enduring impact of those early settlers who carved a community from the New Hampshire wilderness and established the foundations for generations to follow.
Sources:
http://www.nh.searchroots.com/documents/Hillsborough/History_Francestown_NH.txt
https://www.nhmagazine.com/the-many-souls-of-francestown/
https://www.nhmagazine.com/francestowns-haunted-lake/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_New_Hampshire
https://www.keenesentinel.com/elf/outside_my_door/haunted-waters/article_f58f9322-d884-11e8-88b2-d302de10adc5.html
