The Maloons/Meloons of Ireland
The Maloons were one of the earliest settling family in our town.
They initially were the early settlers of Boscawen. The area of Boscawen at one time included Webster and was settled about 20 years earlier than Stevenstown (Salisbury).
From the writings of Walter Theo Silver & Linnea Stadig Silver p 270 of From Kings Plantation to Hometown Heritage, Boscawen and Webster New Hampshire 1997, regarding the Maloons homestead:
“The land of Maloons choice was not surveyed until 1743 and at that time it fell within the 100 acre lot drawn to the right of John Akers.
Hark back to me now when the Plantation of Contoocook was granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to the proprietors led by John Coffin of Newbury Massachusetts. When their petition was approved,, the Court stipulated that they must have 81 families settled on the plantation within four years, if this was not accomplished the grant would be forfeited.
We have no way of knowing the terms and agreements by which the lands occupied and built into farms by mavericks such as Dagodan, Cook and Meloon may have securted to them. Could a failure to come to an agreement with John Akers have been the reason why Meloon pulled up stakes and moved over the line into Stevenstown, now Salisbury. Dearborn in his History of Salisbury page 3, estimated the Meloons arrived approximately the same time as Phillip Call, the first settler.” Coffin speculates that Maloon’s reason for moving may have been “to avail himself of the extensive meadow lands in that vicinity.”
TIMELINE:
1734- A group from Newbury Mass ventured to the area to create the settlement. Nathaniel Meloon ventured to the edge of the frontier. Remnants of his homestead (foundation) can be found on what was to be Boscawens first Range Road which like Salisbury’s runs from the Merrimack River westward. It was merely a path at the time and the homestead was located right off the road on what was called Dublin Lane. Easiest way to describe this location now in the flood plain is that heading westward along from Salisbury’s South Range Road, prior to the Smith’s Corner Crossroads Little Hill Road (often missing its sign due to the incessant removal by pranksters) intersects on the left. Turning onto Little Hill Road (closed in winter to vehicles) it intersected with Boscawen’s First range road at a clear turn. This road intersecting with Little Hill Road was also known later known as the Province Road. Just west, a short distance from the intersection, is Dublin Lane, site of the evidence of the Maloons first homestead.
abt 1748 The second homestead of Nathaniel Meloon is located at Smith”s Corner spanning between the Warner Road and the Scribner”s Corner along Mill Brook.
1754- It was here that event occurred for which the Maloons are best known. Its a rather lengthy telling well written elsewhere but the summary is this. The Native Americans descended upon the Maloons in that meadow right off Smiths Corner. They were taken captive and brought to Canada. They were captive but not injured though their ailing infant child was taken from the mother and never seen again. Although a truer story regarding the infant, according to John Dearborn, is that she did survive but died later at the St. Francois Quebec. “The true story is that she was taken from her mother for a time but finding she was likely to die and that they would therefore lose all prospect of a ransom for her, she was given to her mother, but d. at St. Francois, September 1754.”-Dearborn. At the time they British and French were enemies and they were to be sold to the French to be servants to them. The family was separated and the Indians likely received goods for the trade.
1755- According to Charles Coffin, Nov. 20, 1755 a son Joseph is born to his wife in Canada.
1757- Nathaniel Meloon, his wife and two or three sons (debated) are shipped on a vessel for France but intercepted by a British Man of War off Newfoundland that then landed in Portland and the Meloons then returned to their log cabin in Salisbury.
1763- One daughter, Rachel, however remained with the Native Americans and took on their way of life. She lived with them from the age of 7-14 and was to be married to native Peter Louis. In 1763 however Samuel Fowler Esq endeavored to return her to her original family against her inclinations. She was returned and married. Her first husband was Reuben Greely who was a veteran soldier who died at Valley forge in 1778. According to John Dearborn she retained the cultural influences of her second family her whole life.
Prior to 1768- Bean/Smith’s Corner Cemetery- Nathaniel Meloon (spelling by John Dearborn) is laid to rest right of the gate as one enters along the wall, date unknown. This graveyard was moved in the 1940’s however there was no stone on Nathaniel’s grave to this day. Presumably he was moved to the new location though there is no marker. The cemetery does have a small section at the entrance with no stones, but occupied. According to John Dearborn this cemetery is considered the second oldest in town. The next being Searles Hill 1768 so this dates this cemetery as prior to 1768.
1803- Mrs. Meloon dies at the age of 95. Presumably buried next to Nathaniel.
1814- Rachel marries Moses Moody Jr. of Boscawen.
1863- Rachel (Maloon) Moody dies at 74. Buried at Bean/Smith’s Corner Cemetery, moved to adjacent to Maplewood. Moses died in 1868.
Linda Denoncourt our curator is a descendant of the Maloons.
For more detailed information:
Provincial Papers ,Volume VI of the State Papers Series
History of Salisbury by John Dearborn 1890-(Salisbury Free Library)
History of Boscawen 1733-1878 by Charles Coffin 1878-(Salisbury Free Library)
Walter Theo Silver and Linnea Stadig Silver, From The Kings Plantation to Hometown Heritage 1997 -(Salisbury Free Library)