Who Gets a Road First?
Cellar Hole Survey Newsletter #11 February 2026
Greetings Canterbury history enthusiasts,
The Question
When does a family get the town to construct a road to their lot so they can build a farmstead?
The Home Lots
As was the intention of the first owners of Canterbury, the first lots divided off were the 40 acre Home Lots, surveyed by 1732. Settlement of these desirable properties began shortly thereafter, and the core of the town became defined. These lots became more valuable.
The 100 Acre Second Division Lots
Almost 30 years later the larger lots in outlying areas of the town were surveyed and immediately began being sold and settled. Captain Asa Foster and his son Deacon Asa Foster purchased an unusually oversized second division lot of 150 acres in 1761 and by 1768 the Deacon and three of his brothers had doubled their holdings on this highly farmable upland east of Sunset Hill. The Foster family was becoming notable.
While this enclave is some distance from much of the development near the town center, this was prized land, worth settling on. And for a better price. It appears from the records that shortly after 1761 farmsteads were being built here by family members. How did they get their building supplies there?
First Roads
While the early records of road building may be non-existent, or missing, the first record we have of the town indicating an interest in building a town road is only 23 years after the granting of Canterbury in 1727. That year, 1750, the town had a short section of what is now Clough Tavern Road laid-out (surveyed) with the intention of building it. It set the location of the road past the Clough saw mill and up the hill toward the house. So how did this roadbuilding work out for the Fosters?
The Fosters had a Nine Year Wait
In later decades the record is more complete. We know it was 9 years before the year 1770 arrived and all the roads up there on the Hackleboro hills were laid-out. The conclusion is that the Fosters had hauled bricks and boards and beams and foundation stones up crude cart paths. Our hats are off to their ambition and determination.
The family Reputation Grows
Middle brother Daniel must have been part of the initial settlement up on the hill, but he chose to buy land less favorable for farming, lot #12 further down the hill, in March of 1773. By then the family was deeply involved in the administration of the town. The road came sooner for him. In just three months!
A Three Month Wait
That’s right. On June Second, 1773 the surveyors arrived and laid-out 19% of what is now Foster Road. Just enough to get from his house site up to a crude track, now known as Hackleboro Road!
Ah! Notoriety has its privilege.
A special note to our regular readers
Last month we previewed that today our Newsletter would attempt to unravel the mystery of how a family could get to their house which was 1800 feet from the road. Hey, this is about roads. We took a detour and will publish that next time!
As before, send your questions, corrections and additions to cellarholesurveys@gmail.com
Interesting how connected to the past we stay in towns like ours. Thanks!
You are welcome Judy.
And thanks to you for being part of our connection to our history.