USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dunstable > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tyngsborough > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Litchfield > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashville > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Merrimack > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 13
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forlife
Rockingham,
37,850
927|437|
6,383|123 in 100
Strafford,
12,713
275
103
2,282 103 " 100
Hillsborough, 15,948
650
87
2,723 191 " 100
Cheshire,
10,659
376
7
2,009 153 "
100
Grafton,
3,880
156| 24
834 152
100
Total,
(81,050|2,384|656|14,231|14,
100
From this table we may gather some facts which will enable us to appreciate more truly the spirit and the sacrifices of that period. More than fourteen hundred of the whole male popu- lation of the State, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, were in the army in May, 1775, or nearly one out of every five who was able to bear arms. Our own county, old Hillsborough,
(1.) 1 N. H. Hist. Coll., 231. Original returns in Secretary's office.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
excelled them all, however, having at that time in the army more than nineteen in every hundred males, between sixteen and fifty, or at least one quarter part of all the able-bodied inhabitants .- A few days after the battle of Bunker Hill, an- other regiment from New Hampshire, under the command of Col. Poor, joined the army at Cam- bridge.
Previous to the battle the New Hampshire troops were stationed at Medford, and formed the left wing of the American Army. "These troops," says Major Swett, (1.) " were hardy, brave, active, athletic and indefatigable. Al- most every soldier equalled William Tell as a marksman, and could aim his weapon at an op- pressor with as keen a relish. Those from the frontiers had gained this address against the sav- ages and beasts of the forests. The country yet abounded with game, and hunting was familiar to all ; and the amusement most fashionable and universal throughout New England was trial of skill with the musket."
At eleven o'clock on the morning of the battle, the New Hampshire troops received orders to reinforce Col. Prescott, at Charlestown. "About fifteen charges of loose powder and balls were distributed to each man, and they were directed to form them into cartridges immediately. Few of the men, however, possessed cartridge boxes, but employed powder horns, and scarcely two of their guns agreeing in calibre, they were obliged to alter the balls accordingly." (2.)
As soon as the British troops landed at Charles- town, the New Hampshire regiments were or- dered to join the other forces on Breed's Hill .- A part were detached to throw up a work on
(1.) Bunker Hill Battle, 20.
(2.) Major Swett's Bunker Hill Battle, 40.
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HISTORY OF
Bunker Hill, and the residue, under Stark and Reed, joined the Connecticut forces, under Gen. Putnam, and the regiment of Col. Prescott, at the Rail fence. This was the very point of the British attack, the key of the American position. Here Captain Walker's company was formed, awaiting the attack. To be stationed there, in the post of danger, was a high honor, and well did the New Hampshire troops merit it, although not a few paid for the distinction with their lives.
As soon as the British moved forward to the attack, our troops under Stark, engaged in forti- fying Bunker Hill under the direction of Putnam, joined their brethren. The battle commenced .- The Americans, forbidden to fire upon the enemy until " they could see the whites of their eyes," swept them down by companies. Again and again were the British driven back, and not until their scanty supply of ammunition was exhaust- ed, and the British assaulted the works at the point of the bayonet, did the Americans retire from their position. Even then they retreated like the lion, disputing every step with stones and clubbed muskets, and lay upon their arms during the night at Winter Hill, directly in the face of the enemy.
The number of Americans engaged in the battle was fluctuating, but may be fairly estimated at little more than two thousand men. Their loss was 115 killed, 305 wounded, and 30 cap- tured ; in all 450. The New Hampshire regi- ments lost 19 men killed, and 74 wounded, a large proportion of those engaged. The British loss was 1054, including S9 officers. One regi- ment, the Welsh Fusiliers, lost every officer except one. (1.)
(1.) 2 N. H. Hist. Coll., 145. Mrs. Adams's Letters. Original papers in office of Secretary of State.
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None of Capt. Walker's company were killed : two only were wounded - Joseph Greeley and Paul Clogstone. The latter died soon after .- William Lund, of this town, however, who was in another company, was killed in the battle .- The original return of Capt. Walker, including articles lost by the company, in the battle and in the retreat, is now on file in the office of the Secretary of State. It is as follows: "6 great coats, 31 shirts, 24 pair of hose, 18 haversacks, 1 pistol, 1 fife, 2 guns, 1 cartridge box, 5 strait body coats, 2 jackets, 10 pair of trowsers, 6 pair of leather breeches, 2 pair of shoes, 12 blankets." The unusual heat of the day compelled them to lay aside their knapsacks, which were lost in the excitement and hurry of the retreat.
The bond of allegiance to Great Britian was severed by this battle, never to be again united. The people of New England expected a Declara- tion of Independence, and awaited it impatiently, long before the 4th of July, 1776. In February, 1776, we find the officers of this town warning the annual meeting, not as heretofore, "in his Majesty's name," but, "in the name of the peo- ple of the State of New Hampshire."
At this meeting the "spirit of '76" was strongly manifested. "Sam'l Roby, Noah Love- well, William Walker, Joseph Eayrs, Joseph French, Jr., Capt. Benjamin French and Thomas Butterfield, were chosen delegates to the County Congress."
" Jona. Lovewell, Robert Fletcher, Joseph Eayrs, Capt. Benjamin French, Noah Lovewell, Samuel Roby, Joseph Whiting and Thomas But- terfield, were chosen a committee of safty."
"Samuel Roby, Benjamin Smith, Thomas Butterfield, John Searls, David Alld, James Blanchard, William Walker, John Wright and
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HISTORY OF
Henry Adams, were chosen a committee of in- spection to see that no British Goods were sold in town."
In November, 1776, in consequence of the great depreciation of paper money, the exorbitant prices asked by the speculators who had fore- stalled the markets, and the consequent discour- agement to the exertions of those who were la- boring to sustain the heavy public burdens, a meeting was holden at Dracut, to petition Con- gress, and the State Legislature, upon the subject ; and to devise such other measures as might be necessary for the protection of the people. A large number of delegates were present, and Dunstable was represented by Capt. Benjamin French, Capt. Noah Lovewell and Joseph Eayrs. The Convention met November 26, 1776, at the house of Major Joseph Varnum, and prepared a Petition to the Legislature, praying that the re- solves of the Continental Congress of 1775, re- specting prices, &c., might be enforced more strictly. (1.)
Early in 1776, New Hampshire raised three regiments of 2,000 men, which were placed under the command of Colonels Stark, Reed and Hale. 'They were sent to New York to join the army under Gen. Sullivan for the invasion of Canada. They proceeded up the Hudson, and down the lakes to Canada, but were obliged to retreat to 'Ticonderoga. A part of Capt. Walker's com- pany enlisted in these regiments. They suffered severely, and lost one third of their number by sickness and exposure. (2.) Of those who were in the army at this time, in the company com- manded by Capt. William Reed, and said to be- long to Dunstable, we find the following names :
(1.) 2 N. H. Hist. Coll., 50.
(2.) 1 Belknap, 370.
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C. 179
Joel Lund, ensign, Silas Adams, James Blanch- ard, Peter Honey, John Wright, jr., Jonathan Butterfield, John Lovewell, Oliver Wright, Ne- hemiah Wright, Daniel Wood, Timothy Blood, Asa Lovejoy, Daniel Blood, Jonathan Wright.
The following persons were in the company of Capt. Daniel Wilkins, in Col. Timothy Be- dell's regiment, which was stationed on our northern frontier ; Philip Abbot Roby, Ebenezer Fosgett [or Fosdick, ] Joseph Farrar, James Har- wood, and Reuben Killicut.
In July, 1776, Capt. William Barron raised a company for Canada, in which there were the following Dunstable men : - John Lund, 1st Lieut., Richard Whiting, 2d Sergt., Abijah Reed, 3d Sergt., John Fletcher, 2d Corporal, Ephraim French, Benjamin Bailey, Charles Butterfield, William Butterfield, Abraham Hale, John Comb, Thomas Blanchard, Thomas Killicut, Israel In- galls, Medad Combs, Levi Lund, Thomas Har- ris, Peter Henry, James Jewell, William Stewart.
In consequence of the loss sustained by the New Hampshire regiments, Jonathan Blanch- ard, Esq., of this town, was sent by the Legisla- ture to 'Ticonderoga in October, 1776, to recruit the army. In December, 1776, Capt. Walker, of this town, raised a company from Dunstable and vicinity. It was attached to a regiment com- manded by Col. Gilman, of which Noah Love- well, of this town, was Quarter-Master, and or- dered to New York. Among those who enlisted we find Phineas Whitney, Silas Swallow, Joseph Dix and Jacob Adams.
In 1777, also, three regiments, consisting of 2,000 men, were raised in this State, for three years, and placed under the command of Colonels Cilley, Hall and Scammel ; Stark and Poor hav- ing been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-Gen-
16
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HISTORY OF
eral. The same quota of troops was furnished by New Hampshire during the war, besides vol- untary enlistments in other regiments, which were very numerous. In every levy of 2,000 men, the proportion to be furnished by this town, was about sixteen. More than twice this num- ber, however, must have been constantly in the army. (1.)
In March, 1777, the town offered a bounty of one hundred dollars to every soldier who would enlist, and a large number joined the army. Be- sides those already mentioned, we find the follow- ing : - Jonathan Emerson, Lieutenant in Cilley's regiment ; James Blanchard, Quarter-Master in Scammel's regiment; John Butler and James Harwood killed at Hubberton, Vt. July 7, 1777, on the retreat from Ticonderoga, John Manning taken prisoner there, and afterwards re-taken; Simeon Butterfield, David Alld, Israel Ingalls, John Lund, William Gibbs, Paul Woods, Elipha- let Manning, John Manning, James Seal, Isaac Adams, Noah Downs, Jeremiah Keith who served in a Massachusetts regiment; Ephraim Blood, William Mann and John Crocker, in the Artillery corps. Just before the battle of Saratoga, Lt. Alld returned for volunteers, and a large number from this town and vicinity hastened to join the army, and arrived in season to compel and wit- ness the surrender of Burgoyne. In November, 1777, the town voted to raise "£735 lawful money to defray the extraordinary expenses of the present war."
(1.) The regiment of militia to which Dunstable was attached, was then commanded by Col. Moses Nichols, of Amherst. It em- braced the following towns, containing the number of males between the ages of sixteen and fifty, in each respectively : - Amherst 321 ; Nottingham West [ Hudson] 122; Litchfield 57; Dunstable 128; Merrimac 129 ; Hollis 234 ; Wilton 128; Rindge 20; Mason 113 .- This was the basis for all drafts of soldiers for the army. In May, 1777, one hundred and fifty-five men were drafted from the regiment, or one in every eight.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
By the Constitution of 1776, no provision was made for a Governor, or any chief Executive Officer of the State. The Legislature was itself the Executive, and upon every adjournment, therefore, it became necessary to give to some body the power of acting in case of emergency during the recess. This power was voted in a COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, varying in number from six to sixteen, composed of the wisest, best, and most active men in the different sections of the State, and those who had shown themselves the truest friends of their country. Their duty was like that of the Roman Dictators - " ne quid Respublica detrimenti caperet" - to take care that the Republic received no injury ; and a cor- responding power to effect this object was given them. Of this most responsible committee, two members belonged to this town. Jonathan Love- well was a member from June 20, 1777, to Janu- ary 5, 1779, and Jonathan Blanchard from Jan- uary 6, 1778. (1.)
The complaints of the people respecting the high prices of all the necessaries of life still con- tinuing, and the recommendations of Congress having no effect upon many of the extortioners, it was then recommended that a Convention should be holden at New Haven, Conn., January 15, 1778, to be composed of Delegates also ap- pointed by the Legislatures of the several States. Its object was "to regulate and ascertain the price of labour, manufactures, internal produce, and commodities imported from foreign ports, inilitary stores excepted, and also to regulate the charges of inn-holders, and to make Report to the Legislatures of their respective States."- Jonathan Blanchard, of this town, and Col. Na-
(1.) 2 N. H. Hist. Coll, 39.
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HISTORY OF
thaniel Peabody, were appointed delegates from New Hampshire, and acted accordingly.
After the Declaration of Independence, which was the abolition of all existing government, it became necessary to form some plan of Govern- ment, both for the State and the Union. The people in their primary assemblies had com-
menced and carried on the Revolution, and they entered with the same zeal into the discussion of their political rights and duties, and the best mode of preserving and perpetuating them .- February 9, 1778, in town meeting, "the arti- cles of Confederation formed by the Honorable Continental Congress having been taken into consideration were consented to unanimously."
April 17, 1778, Capt. Benjamin French, and Dea. William Hunt were chosen delegates to the Convention, which was to be holden June 10, 1778, for the purpose of forming a Constitu- tion for the State. We may see with what jealousy the people watched their servants, and regarded the powers of Government, from the fact that they appointed a committee of eleven, viz .: Cyrus Baldwin, Joseph Whiting, Robert Fletcher, Esq., Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., Capt. Daniel Warner, Joseph Eayrs, Capt. Benjamin Smith, Lieut. David Alld, Col. Noah Lovewell, Lieut. Joseph French, and Lieut. Jacob Taylor " to assist said members during the Convention's session." So early was the right of instruction claimed, practised, and acknowledged. A Bill of Rights and a Constitution was drafted ac- cordingly, and an able Address to the People issued, signed by John Langdon, President of the Convention. But the people would not sanc- tion either. Their experience of royal usurpa- tion, and the fear of giving too much power to their rulers prevailed, and both were negatived
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
by a great majority. This town "voted unani- mously to reject them."
In August, fourteen men went from this town to Rhode Island, as volunteers, with Col. Noah Love well. The town voted to pay them a bounty of about thirty-five dollars each. Of this num- ber were James Jewell, Eleazer Fisk, Isaac Foot, and others. During this year a very large num- ber of soldiers from this town were in the army in New York and at the South.
In December, 1778, Col. Noah Lovewell was chosen "Representative for one year," being the first representative elected by the town under the Constitution.
How many soldiers were furnished to the army from this town during that long and bloody struggle, it is impossible now to ascertain with correctness, but the number continued to be very large during the war. It is estimated that New Hampshire sent to the army at various times, 14,000 men, a number nearly equal to the whole able-bodied population of the State at the com- mencement of the wars, and of whom 4,000 died in the service.
The whole male population of this town in May, 1775, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years, was only 128, and nearly every inhabitant, either as a volunteer upon an alarm, or as a drafted man, was at some period in the service. They were in almost every fight from Bunker Hill to Yorktown, and their bones are moulder- ing upon many a battle field from Massachusetts to Virginia. When the news of "the Concord Fight" flew hither on the wings of the wind, our "minute men" saddled their horses and hastened to the scene of conflict, and, although they did not reach there in season to share in its dangers, they formed a portion of that fiery mass
*16
184
HISTORY OF
of undisciplined valor which "hung upon the steps of the retreating foe like lightning on the edge of the cloud." They were at Bunker Hill in the post of danger and honor, and shared largely in the glory of that day. They were at Ticonderoga, where, borne down by sickness, by pestilence, and by want, they were compelled to retreat, fighting step by step, in the face of a victorious enemy. They were at Bennington, under Stark, where the first gleam of light broke in upon the darkness which was lowering over our prospects, cheering every heart to new efforts, and at Stillwater and Saratoga, where this first omen of victory was converted into a triumph most glorious and enduring.
They wintered at Valley Forge with Wash- ington, where, "without shoes or stockings, their pathway might be tracked by their blood."- They were at Trenton and Princeton, where, under the very eye of Washington, they surprised and captured the Hessians, and gave new hope and courage to the disheartened nation. They fought at Germantown and Monmouth, and at the memorable conflicts on Long Island. At Mon- mouth, the New Hampshire regiment, under Cilley and Dearborn, was "the most distinguish- ed, and to their heroic courage the salvation of the army was owing." General Washington ac- knowledged the service, and sent to enquire what regiment it was. "Full blooded Yankees, by G-d, sir," was the blunt reply of Dearborn .- And at Yorktown, when the whole British army capitulated, they were there with Scammel, a glorious and fitting finale to the great Revolu- tionary drama, whose opening scene was at Lexington.
Of those who, during this long period, when the fears of even the stout-hearted prevailed over
185
NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
their hopes, and darkness seemed resting upon their freedom, rallied around the standard of their country, and perilled "their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honour " in its defence, few -very few - now survive, the shadows only of their manhood. It is no easy task even to collect their names, and they ought not to be for - gotten. They were in humble station, and fa- miliarity may have reduced them in the eyes of the present age; yet their service was no holiday sport, and to them, their exertions, and their sufferings, do we all owe the birth-right of our liberty. From the records of the town, and musty papers on file ; from Legislative Journals ; from company and regimental returns in the of- fice of the Secretary of State ; from vouchers and loose memoranda accidentally preserved,- and from personal enquiry of the survivors and de- scendants of the actors, we have gathered with no little care and labor, a portion of their names. Some of them sound strangely in our ears, but most of them are known positively to have been in the service, and are called of this town. (1.)
(1) For the list of soldiers in the army from Dunstable, [ Nashua] see Appendix.
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY TO THE ORIGIN OF NASHUA VILLAGE.
WE can form but a faint idea of the sacrifices which were made for Independence. Beside perilling life in battle and submitting to priva- tions of every description, so large a proportion of the able-bodied population were in the army, that the fields were often left untilled. Yet they gave both time and treasure to their country, without measure and without a murmur. "Our efforts are great," Mr. Adams said in 1780, " and we give this campaign more than half our prop- erty to defend the other. He who stays at home cannot earn enough to pay him who takes the field." (1.) The amount annually expended by the town, during the war, was several thousand dollars ; - a heavy burden upon a population, numbering in 1775, only 705. Yet this small number had diminished, in 1783, to 578, shewing a decrease of 127, or 18 per cent .; a fact which proves better than pages of description, the amount of the exertions which were put forth, and the sacrifices which were made, and the consequent paralysis of the energies and pros- perity of the community.
In 1781, another Convention was holden at Concord, for the purpose of forming a State Con- stitution ; and Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., was
(1.) Mrs. Adams's Letters, 152.
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
chosen a delegate. But the same jealousy continued to exist as heretofore, and the new Constitution, which was our present one with slight modifications, was rejected by the town " unanimously." In December, 1782, Jonathan Blanchard, Esq., was chosen Representative, and it was again voted "not to receive the Bill of Rights and Plan of Government " as adopted, and the town chose Capt. Benjamin French, Jo- seph Whiting, Jonathan Lovewell, Esq., and Col. Noah Lovewell, a committee to state the reasons of rejection.
March, 1784, Capt. Benjamin French was chosen Representative.
March 6, 1786, Col. Noah Lovewell was cho- sen Representative, and the town voted, that " the Selectmen with Jona. Blanchard, Esqr., Jonathan Lovewell, Esqr., Mr. Joseph Whiting and Deacon William Hunt be a committee to give instructions to the Representatives." In 1787, the same proceedings were renewed.
January 10, 1788, Dea. William Hunt was chosen a delegate to the Convention, which met at Exeter in February of the same year, to consider of, and adopt, the Constitution of the United States, which had recently been formed and sent out for the approval of the people. Throughout the country, as well as in the Convention, which formed it, there was a great diversity of opinion respecting it, and much opposition. It contained no bill of rights as it now does ; as its opposers thought no limitation of powers. The States had long been sovereign and independent democ- racies, and hesitated to give up any of their rights. The confederation had been inefficient from the want of central authority.
Thus, while some believed that the Constitu- tion vested too much power in the General Gov-
188
HISTORY OF
ernment, which would eventually swallow up the several States, others feared that it possessed too little power to protect itself from the en- croachments of the States ; and would soon share the fate of the old confederacy. There was danger on both sides : on the one side anarchy - on the other usurpation. It was an untried ex- periment, and every little community was di- vided. It was discussed in town meeting, and the town voted " not to accept said Constitution," and chose a committee of nine to give their dele- gates instruction to oppose its adoption by the Convention. This committee reported a list of objections, which were adopted by the town, and forwarded to the Convention. The Constitution, however, was adopted. It was a medium and a compromise, between the doubts of conflicting parties, and the fears of both have happily proved vain.
July 16, 1788, died Hon. Jonathan Blanchard, aged 50 years. He was the son of Col. Joseph Blanchard, and was born September 18, 1738 .- He had not the advantage of a collegiate educa- tion, but was early initiated, by his father, into the active business of life. After the death of his father, which occurred in his 20th year, he was called upon to fill his place as proprietors' clerk and surveyor, and was soon deeply engaged in the management of town affairs, and other public business.
When the events which preceded the revolu- tion occurred, the people of New Hampshire were among the first to resist the usurpations of the crown. When in 1685, Cranfield forbade the ministers to preach, unless they would administer the communion to all who requested it, in the Episcopal form, they refused obedience, denounc- ed him from the pulpit, and went to prison rather
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NASHUA, NASHVILLE, &C.
than yield. When the Governor at a later day, levied a tax upon the lands of the people, for his private advantage, the women resisted the col- lection, and drove his officers from their houses with water scalding hot. The "broad R," cut by some " prowling official," upon their choicest trees, thus devoting them to the Royal Navy, without redress or compensation, was a continued eye-sore.
Early in 1775, the legislature of New Hamp- shire, first of all the States, and evidently antici- pating Independence, sent a request to the Con- tinental Congress, which met at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775, to advise them as to the organiza- tion of an Independent Government. Agreeably to their recommendation, given with much hesi- tation, (1.) a Convention met at Exeter, and adopted a Constitution, bearing date January 5, 1776. It was the earliest adopted by any colony, and was violently opposed by the more timid, as a virtual Declaration of Independence. (2.) It provided, as has before been mentioned, for a House of Delegates, and a Council of twelve, to be elected annually by the people, and which were similar to our Senate and House of Repre- sentatives. No provision was made for a Gov- ernor, and the whole Executive, as well as Leg- islative, authority was placed in these two bodies. Of this Council, Jonathan Blanchard was chosen a member in 1776, and continued such for three years. No better testimony to his worth could be given than the bestowal of such an office at such a period.
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