USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > A chronological register of Boscawen, in the county of Merrimack, and state of New-Hampshire, from the first settlement of the town to 1820. In three parts: descriptive, historical & miscellaneous > Part 5
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Aug. 18. The Sth article of the Confederation between the states was approved of by the town, as recommended by the General Court.
Sept. 29. The Upper Bridge, over Blackwater river, was ordered by the, town to be built, but was not completed till the following year.
March 2, 1784. The government of the state of New-Hampshire being settled. the town gave their suffrages for a President and two Senators.
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
Dec. 9. Nonresident lands sold at auction, by Cutting Noyes, Collector.
Dec. 30. An agent chosen to defend the town in an action brought by Abraham T. Sweat, for his bounty as a soldier.
April 25, 1785. Measures adopted, to preserve the public lands from injury.
Sept. 3. The town defended the selectmen in an action brought by John Fowler, for his minis- ter tax.
March 7. 1786. There being no present call for war stores, Mr. Robie Morrill was directed, by the town, to dispose of the ammunition on hand, and to reserve the avails for the procurement of a future stock, when needed.
Nov. 24. From the great scarcity of money in circulation, the government of New-Hampshire called for the public opinion respecting an emission of paper; and this town voted their assent, that so much paper should be issued as would redeem the state securities, and under such management, as to be called in within the term of 7 years.
In this and the following year, 1787, the gener- al tranquility of New-England was greatly in- terrupted by what has been termed Shay's Rebel- lion ; or a formidable opposition to the state and national governments. It began, and was virulent in Massachusetts, but the state of New-Hamp- shire was not exempted from its portion of the evil. For a while, the rich blessings for which our country has fought and bled seemed jeopard- ized ; but, by wise and energetic measures, the restless spirits of the multitude were quelled ;
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
and this alarming evil opened the way for the adoption of our present excellent form of national government.
SECTION 18.
March 31. 1787. The town met to choose a representative to the General Court ; but, as shew- ing their unwillingness to be represented, after much debate, they voted not to elect a modera- tor.
April 28. A road was ordered to be opened from Blackwater bridge to Warner line.
June 4. Delegates were appointed to meet in convention, at Warner, on the expediency of pe- titioning the General Court, for the removal of the Courts of Sessions and Common Pleas from Amherst to some town in the northwesterly part of Hillsborough county. A petition was present- ed and eventually granted, and Hopkinton was made a shire town.
Jan. 14, 1788. Capt. Joseph Gerrish was chosen delegate to the convention, for the adoption of the Federal Constitution ; but, through the influ- ence of a few, another meeting was called, May 23, and a majority of those present voted to re- ject said constitution, and elected Samuel Fowler. Esq. delegate, in room of Capt. Gerrish. The procedure, however, was viewed incorrect by the Convention, and therefore, the gentleman first elected took his seat.
Dec. 15. Members of the 1st Congress under the Federal Constitution, and electors of Presi-
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dent and Vice-President, ballotted for in a gener- al ticket. And on counting the electoral votes, at the Ist meeting of Congress, March 4, 1789, it was found that Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON was elected President of the United States, by the unanimous voice of his country, and the Hon. John Adams, Vice-President.
The town was not represented in the General Court the present year.
April 14 .. A part of the school lands were dis- posed of, in a long lease, at auction, for the sums following :- house lot, $124 ; interval lot, 8210 ; and the eighty acre lot, $453 ; these sums, making $787, to be kept on interest for the sole use of the schools in town. The 100, and 45 acre lots were not at this time disposed of.
March 3, 1790. The nonresident lands sold by Edmund Chadwick, Collector.
The town called for the money due for pews in the gallery of the meeting house, for immedi- ate application. And (Dec. 10) voted that ground for four pews be sold, and built on the floor of the meeting house now occupied by seats, which was accordingly done.
March 1, 1791. Much business was expected to fall to the department of the selectmen the present year ; the town, therefore, elected five to serve in that office.
April 6. The inhabitants, in the westerly part of the town, having petitioned for the convenience of a meeting house-at this meeting a committee of eleven was chosen, to consider and report to the town on said petition, which was immediately done ; and was, for substance, the following .-
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1. That the town build a meeting house. 2. That all meetings on the sabbath, and for public busi- ness shall be there attended, according to the pro- portion of taxes paid by the inhabitants, as soon as the house may be occupied. And 3d, that a committee of three, viz. James Flanders, Esq., Ebenezer Webster, Esq., and Capt. Luke Wilder, fix the spot for the erection of the house ; and the frame to be raised and the pews sold within one year from this date. This report was accept- ed by the town.
Sept. 19. Accordingly a committee of direc- tion was appointed. The town fixed on the place for the house. Mr. Samuel Jackman contracted to procure a frame for 94 dollars ; the workman- ship was so satisfactory to the town, that a con- sideration was made to Mr. J. of $16 68 cents.
Oct. 17. The pews were sold at public auction this day.
1792. As yet, very little had been done for the promotion of learning. But at the commence- ment of this year, (Feb. 7,) a respectable society was formed for the procurement of a Social Li- brary. And,as a further encouragement to make the education of youth an object of importance, the Rev. Mr. Wood, (March 6,) generously prof- fered the town the whole avails of the parsonage lands, for one year, being 44 dollars ; and, for this beneficence, received a cordial vote of thanks from the town.
March 27. It was thought expedient, by the town, to dispose of the parsonage lands, and put the money on interest. The Rev. Mr. Wood, be-
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ing solicited, gave his acquittal, and the whole par- sonage right was sold at auction, in separate lots or parcels ; and bonds given for the payment, by the several purchasers, amounting to 918 dollars.
Aug. 27. The town voted acceptance of the Constitution of the State, as revised and amended by the Convention in June last.
March 5, 1793. The annual meeting was held, for the first time, at the west meeting house.
March 4, 1794. The town compensated Geo. Jackman, Esq., for his past services as Town Clerk.
A large committee was chosen to unite with the selectmen in dividing the town into school districts, and for building school houses, which was accordingly done.
The Rev. Mr. Wood having relinquished his claim upon the parsonage lands, that they might be sold -- at this meeting, the town voted that he have the annual interest on the parsonage lands, during his future continuance with them in the ministry.
A standard of weights and measures was or- dered to be procured for the town, which was done by the selectmen.
The spring of 1794 was very forward ; but it is well remembered, that on the night of May 17th, was the Great Frost in New-England, which blasted the very promising hope of most fruits, and shortened the crops of corn and grain ; yet this deadly frost almost entirely delivered New- England from the destructive ravages of the Can- ker-Worm.
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
In consequence of depredations made upon our commerce by England. at War with France, war measures were resorted to by Congress ; and the State of New-Hampshire was required to furnish a proportion of her militia, for our country's de- fence. This town encouraged enlistments to go into the service, any time within twelve months. and to serve three months.after arriving at the place of rendezvous ; to be compensated with eight dol- lars per month : one dollar bounty, aud. if called into actual service. to have one good blanket.
Several gentlemen united together. under cer- tain regulations, at their own expense, to bring water. in pipes, to their several houses on King- street.
SECTION 17.
March 3, 1795. At the annual meeting, some alterations and regulations were made in and for the several school districts. Likewise a town pound was ordered to be built, near Capt. Peter Kim- ball's.
This year, a treaty, called Jay's Treaty. was ne- gociated, by Chief Justice Jay, between . the United States and England ; which settled all dif- ficulties, prevented war. and proved highly advan- tageous to our common country.
1796. The last meeting of the proprietors of Boscawen was called June 15, and adjourned to Aug. 30. Col. Henry Gerrish was then appoint- ed agent for the proprietors, to petition the General Court of Massachusetts for a township of land, in
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
compensation for Contoocook, formerly granted them ; but which, on settlement of the line of the state, fell into New-Hampshire ; and therefore, by a plausible construction, the grant of Massa- chusetts had never been verified.
Col. Gerrish undertook the agency at his own expense, on the proffered condition of his securing to himself and heirs one half of all the lands, which might be regranted : but however sanguine the expectations of the proprietors in the attempt, they were never realized.
At this time, our country was subjected to the ordeal of internal convulsions. The conflicting opinions, interests and passions of men, threatened Que prostration of every thing valuable, though procured by blood and treasure. In reverting to the causes of such a state of things, we readily E( .¿ , that our army, disbanded after an eight years' Way, carried from the camp, and lodged in all the channels of society, the seeds of vice, profligacy., and insubordination ; also, the insurrection headed by Shays ; the revolutionary spirit of France, actu- ating Americans; the neutral ground taken by sur executive in relation to the powers at war ; the open opposition made to Jay's treaty ; now about to change the administration, and in full prospect of a war with France for redress of our commer- cial injuries ; were things combined, and resolved the American people into two distinct political parties, decided friends or decided opposers of the administration of our national government.
From north to south, in every state, county, town and village, the impulse was felt ; and the
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
people of this town were not merely spectators of the desolating scene.
Though the inhabitants of this town had liv- ed in great harmony from its first settlement, the united promoters of good order, morals and reli- gion, and had walked hand in hand, supporting the cause of their country through the war; yet now, instead of enjoying harmoniously the pre- cious laurels of victory, in the rage of party, those deeds were perpetrated by some, which threaten- ed the extermination of every secular, social, civil, or moral good. So that the name of Boscawen, at a distance, was associated with contention, de- struction of property, conflagration and daring wickedness.
Dec. 19. At this meeting several motions were ineffectually made concerning a bounty tax, asses- sed the preceding year, 1795, which had produced much excitement in the collection, inasmuch, as there was no tax called for. What induced the selectmen to lay this tax, was the circumstance, that, in 1794, no precept came for a county tax seasonably, therefore, none was laid ; but, before the year expired, an extent came for the tax, which the selectmen were obliged to provide for, on their own credit. The following year, a majority of the same selectmen were in office, and as in the other instance no call was made for laying a tax, yet they thought it prudent to be in readiness, if one should be called for ; therefore, they added the probable sum to the state tax, so that it might be legally collected. But there being no county tax that year, several refused to pay the tax ; and to end the perplexing business in the most pacific
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
manner, the selectmen paid the whole sum as- sessed, for the county tax, with additional costs. out of their own property to the town ; which sum, amounting to nearly sixty dollars, has never been reimbursed to this day.
There was also at this meeting a large commit- tee appointed, including the present selectmen, to look over the accounts of former selectmen ; it being confidently asserted, and industriously cir- culated, and believed by many, that large sums of money were in their hands not accounted for. This committee did not succeed in adjusting the business ; but a second, soon after chosen, did, and certified to the town, that the said selectmen pro- duced receipts and orders not entered upon their book, fully meeting the town's demand to their satisfaction.
1797. About this time, a disaffection arose against the regular support of the gospel ministry. Sundry persons refused to pay, and one protested against paying the minister tax.
In consequence of damages done to the public- highways, in taking up bridges, &c. ; also, dam- ages done to the meeting houses-the town ap- pointed a committee of four, July 19, and con- firmed the same, August 28, to prosecute such persons who had, or should, in the course of the year, be found thus trespassing upon either the public highways, or publie buildings.
There had been, for some time, a very unhap- py difference of opinion among those living in Water-street school-district, respecting the place for setting their school house ; it was, therefore, thought advisable by the town to appoint a com-
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mittee out of town, to settle the controversy, and place the school house ; accordingly, Abiel Fos- ter and Timothy Walker, Esquires, and Col. Philip Greeley, were chosen by the town for this committee.
SECTION 20.
1798. At this time, our commerce was unwar- rantably molested by French cruisers, and the at- tempt made by our ministers and envoys to nego- ciate proved fruitless. Congress established a provincial army for retaliation and defence. Pres- ident Adams, with consent of the Senate, appoint- ed Gen. George Washington Lt. General and Commander of all the armies of the United States ; and reprisals were made by our navy .- But an overture was made by the French govern- ment the following year, and a negotiation was opened, and the war terminated.
On the night of the 22d of February, unhap- pily, for the reputation of this town, the eastward- ly meeting house was totally consumed by fire. The mean or instrument of this conflagration has never, as yet, been ascertained.
March 6. The former committee, to prevent trespasses upon the highways and meeting houses, re-chosen.
March 26. The town of Boscawen met, to adopt measures for rebuilding a meeting house, in place of the one burnt, and voted to erect a frame, · at the town's expense, on such spot as should be agreed upon. To fix the spot. was referred to
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
Joshua Bayley, Esq., Capt. Benjamin Darling, and Philip Greeley, Esq., who reported to the town, April 16th, the westerly end of Woodbury plain, so called, as the most convenient and equitable place for the erection of the meeting house; but their report was not accepted. Three other pla- ces were named and acted upon, but the people could not unite in either. It was then proposed, that six men have liberty to build a meeting house, at their own cost, on the plain near the Pine-tree ; but the town would not consent. Several other trials were made at the adjournment to fix the place, but to no effect ; and the meeting dis- solved.
In this time of general excitement, neither pub- lic nor private property was considered safe .- Some individuals, who were the open and active supporters of order in society, sustained very seri- ous damages in, and loss of property at different times ; such as apple trees peeled and cut down ; utensils secreted and injured ; horses shot ; lum- ber destroyed, &c. But to conclude this unpleas- ant article of our history, on the night of the 16th of August, the school house, on Water-street, was destroyed by fire ; an indemnity, therefore, was secured, by a civil process.
March 5, 1799. Much time was taken up, and many expedients tried at the annual meeting ; and also, on the 8th of April, if possible, to fix the place for a meeting house, but to no avail. A ma- jority wished for the house, but could not agree on any one nameable spot to build it, and therefore the subject was suffered to rest. The town, how- ever, did agree, that half of the meetings, for pub-
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lic worship, should be held in some place on King-street,and the other half at the meeting house, until a new house should be built.
In this state of things, the present meeting house, on King-street, was built by proprietors, in the course of the season, which precluded the necessity of erecting another, and was afterward, (Sept. 16,) offered by the proprietors for a town meeting house, on the town's paying for the frame ; but for this, a vote could not be obtained, though one half of the public meetings of the town have been uniformly held therein ever since.
The difficulty on Water-street was amicably settled, by suffering the district to remain divided, as formerly, in two parts, a school house to be erected in each, one by the town, the other by the district, each to be placed by the voice of the district ; one school kept for the accommodation of both alternately at each house, and all have the privilege of sending to either.
Again the Rev. Mr. Wood made a donation of fifty four dollars for the use of the public school. For this liberality, under present gloomy circum- stances, the town conferred on him an unan- imous vote of thanks.
Feb. 22, 1800. In memory of Gen. George Washington, deceased, agreeably to a previous ar- rangement, the inhabitants of Boscawen assem- bled, walked in procession to the meeting house on King-street, both ladies and gentlemen wearing tokens of mourning,and the pulpit shrouded ; the Rev. Mr. Wood delivered a discourse, from Judges
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iii. 9, appropriate to the very interesting solem- nity.
March' 4. One act passed at the annual meeting was, to give liberty to all, or to as many as should choose, living westwardly of the ground on which the old meeting house stood, to pay their minister tax to the west meeting house, and have the pro- portion of preaching there accordingly. But this act was viewed, by some, as a departure from the uniform conduct of the town, in providing preach- ing for those living in the west ; for, taking into view the number of those, who would improve the liberty given, it was assigning to the west meeting more than an equitable proportion of preaching, and taking from the east meeting a part of their just right. And when it was con- sidered, that the proprietors of the east meeting house had, at their own cost, built a house, exon- erating the town from that expense, and which house the town were ready to occupy for their convenience : now for these proprietors to lose by what they had done, or to have taken from them, by the authority of the town, a part of their privilege of preaching, was deemed, by fair construction, oppressive and unjust. And as in this act, religious characters, as well as others, were implicated, it, therefore, became every professor of religion to inquire, while exercising his legal right in voting in public town meeting, Am not I violating the law of Christ ?
It appears from the record. that the Rev. Mr. Wood did not accede to the town's procedure ; and doubtless, from the foregoing view of the sub- ject, he could not consistently comply. This act
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
proved embarrassing, and from it difficulties were pressed into the church of no common magnitude, and of long continuance.
1801. The small pox broke out, and began to spread among the inhabitants ; the town, there- fore, erected a hospital, and gave liberty to inocu- late. Also, appointed a committee, to prosecute any persons, who might be found designedly spreading the disease.
Dec. 21. The number refusing to support the ministry was found to increase, and measures were taken for the removal of the minister. As the first step toward this event, a committee of 5 was authorized to wait on Rev. Mr. Wood, to see if he would unite in calling a council, to dismiss him from his charge. The act was informal, but pre- pared the way for holding a special meeting, Feb. 1, 1802, when it was voted to be the desire of the town, that the Rev. Mr. Wood would give up his contract with the town ; and a new committee was appointed to present this vote, and consult with him on the terms of his taking a dismis- sion.
Mr. Wood, finding the desire of the town thus expressed, signified in writing his readiness to dis- solve the contract on equitable terms, which might be agreed on by the parties, and which did not re- quire the intervention of an ecclesiastical council. And on April 20, he did submit to the town by their committee, for substance, the following pro- posals, viz.
That he be allowed to enjoy all the privileges of a minister, such as exemption from taxation on
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
either his poll or estate, &c., during his relation to the church.
That the town give him annually one half of the interest of the parsonage, payable on the first day of May, so long as his connexion with the church shall continue.
That during his relation to the church, all, who may contribute to his support, shall not be taxed, by the town, for the support of the ministry else- where : and that the town pay up all arrearages of his salary and parsonage to the present time.
Should the town accept these proposals by a regular vote-a fair settlement be made with the selectmen, as herein stated, mutually signed and recorded on the town book, the civil contract be- tween him and the town shall be dissolved to all intents and purposes.
The town, forthwith, voted acceptance of the Rev. Mr. Wocd's proposals, 67 to 64 ; and of course, a full and final settlement made between him and the selectmen, May 7, 1802, mutually signed by
SAMUEL WOOD, and JOSEPH COUCH, NATHANIEL GREEN, Selectmen, SAMUEL MUZZY, dissolved the contract.
In looking upon this, and some other proceed- ings of the town of Boscawen, we see the enlist- ment of all those conflicting passions and inter- ests, whose destructive and demoralizing influence had for years been increasing, now at its zenith, and spending its concentrated force. We fondly hope, therefore, that, from this cra, our history
HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN,
will disclose measures tending to peace and order ; inviting harmony of feeling, and retrieving our lost reputation, although the years of many gener- ations may not extinguish the remembrance of the past.
The Rev. Mr. Wood remained pastor of the church, and soon a society was formed in connex- ion therewith, for his support ; which was, a few years afterwards, incorporated.
SECTION 21.
March 1, 1803. The remaining half of the in- terest, on parsonage bonds, was granted to the west meeting house, to be laid out under the di- rection of the selectmen.
In this year, the Fourth New-Hampshire Turn- pike was opened through this town, terminating at the toll-bridge, built over Merrimack river, by an incorporated company, near Col. Isaac Chand- ler's, the preceding year.
Inoculation for the small pox continuing at the hospital, a committee was appointed by the town, to see that the publick should not be en- dangered by the sick.
About this time a number were apprehended for counterfeiting bank notes, and putting them into circulation.
1804. By an act of the General Court, the an- nual town meeting to be held the second Tuesday in March, throughout the state.
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HISTORY OF BOSCAWEN.
Aug. 27. The town permitted four pews to be sold, on the floor of the west meeting house, and the money to be laid out upon the house.
The pulpit, at this house, was pretty constantly supplied, by different preachers ; but the expense was defrayed mostly by private subscriptions. It was not now to be expected that the town would re-settle a minister; therefore, numbers were de- sirous of adopting some systematic method of pro- viding for the preaching of the gospel. Early in the season, a society was formed, called The West- erly Religious Society, in Boscawen, consisting of about 60 or 70 members ; and was incorporated in 1810. The prominent features of the Consti- tution of the Society are,
" Any person may become a member, by sign- ing the constitution of the society.
No person is bound for more than the term of one year : but, at the expiration of the year, by signifying his desire to the clerk, and paying up his proportion of all money assessed while he was a member, may withdraw.
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