USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > Annals of the town of Concord, in the county of Merrimack, and state of New-Hampshire, from its first settlement, in the year 1726, to the year 1823 > Part 4
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1771 .- On the 20th December, died BENJAMIN ROLFE, Esq. who was one of the early settlers, a man
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of talents and education, and for many years one of the principal citizens. He was for some time the only magistrate in town, and in all its public transactions, we find him conspicuous. Associa- ted with the Rev. Mr. Walker, whose eldest daughter he married, he assisted in managing the defence of the inhabitants against the vexatious proceedings of the proprietors of Bow. And in the various papers drawn up by him, and other me- morials he has left, are to be seen evidences of his care and ability. His widow subsequently married Benjamin Thompson, a school-master of this place, from Woburn, who was afterwards distinguished as Count Rumford. Lady Sarah Thompson died in Concord in 1792. Of her last husband, a more par- ticular notice will be given hereafter.
1772 .- At the annual meeting, £60 were " raised for making and repairing highways." Hitherto no specific sum had been appropriated, but the inhab- itants devoted each year a certain number of days to that purpose. April 7, the parish voted to give $500 for the meeting-house, then the property of individuals ; and raised $50 in addition, “ to be given the proprietors of the meeting-house, in or- der to complete the bargain." Messrs. John Kim- ball, Thomas Stickney and John Bradley were au- thorized to provide materials and superintend the repairs of the house. .
1773 .- At the annual March meeting, A. M'Mil- len, Esq. was authorized to present a petition to the General Court, requesting " that the parish of Concord may be annexed to the county of Hillsbo- rough, provided that there might be an inferior and superior court held annually in said parish."
1772. A meeting was holden the 7th of December this year, and Andrew M'- Millen, Esq. empowered "to petition the Hon. Gen. Court of the province (in be- half of the town) for the privilege of laying out roads, as other towns have, and also that the boundaries of Concord might be as extensive as the township of Rumford formerly was."
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1774 .- The General Court of Massachusetts, in consideration of the difficulties and embarrass- ments which the grantees of Rumford had sustain- ed from the suits of the proprietors of Bow, grant- ed them a township in Maine, which was also cal- led Rumford, and was settled by inhabitants from this town.
1775 .- The commencement of this year was a period of deep anxiety and gloom. The repeated acts of aggression, on the part of the mother coun- try, had driven the colonies into measures of re- sistance, bold and decisive. The people were al- most universally inspired with the belief that a struggle must ensue, and the lovers of freedom were every where " sounding notes of prepara- tion." Every village, however remote from the probable scene of action, was filled with alarm, and groups of citizens were seen in almost every cor- ner, debating the cause of their country. The alarm of the battle at Lexington spread with ra- pidity throughout the country. Immediately on the reception of the news here, a company of 30 men, under the command of Capt. Chandler, volun- teered and repaired to Cambridge, where they re- mained a fortnight. Captains Abbot and Hutchins had now recruited companies for eight months' ser- vice and joined the American forces. They were in the engagement at Bunker's Hill. One person, William Mitchell, from this town, was killed; and a young man of the name of Peter Kimball, wound- ed.
A committee of the provincial congress, which met at Exeter in January, of this year, were direc- ted to address circulars to the several towns, to call another convention. The selectmen called a meet- ing of the inhabitants of Concord on the 11th of
1773. Lt. John Chandler was the first grand juror called from Concord, appoint- ed Feb. 23, 1773.
1774. At the March meeting, Peter Green, Esq. was directed to present a peti- tion to the General Court for leave to send a representative.
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May, and Timothy Walker, jun. was elected "to represent the inhabitants of Concord at the Gen- eral Convention of Deputies, from the several towns in this government, to be held at Exeter, the 17th of May," and fully empowered "to pursue such measures as may be judged most expedient to re- store the rights of the colonies"-to serve for six months. At the expiration of this period, he was again elected to serve for a year. The town at their meeting in December, “ voted to pay Capt. A- biel Chandler and others, who went to Cambridge upon the alarm in April, at the same rates allowed other troops of the colony."
There remained in almost every town some staunch friends of the government, who, viewing the attempt of the colonies to shake off their alle- giance as desperate and hopeless, preferred either to retire within the acknowledged protection of the King's troops, or to remain inactive and neu- tral. Benjamin Thompson had already adopted the former course ; and there were several others who remained in town. But neutrality is esteemed lit- tle better than treason in times like these. And to the moral habits of the people, much more than to their feelings, wounded as they were by any ap- parent treachery or neglect of duty, were the op- posers of the great cause indebted for their per- sonal safety.
1776 .- Committees of safety were now appoint- ed in the several towns of the colony, whose instruc- tions were derived from the general committee ap- pointed by the provincial Congress. Their powers were extensive ; the trust one of great responsi- bility-and none but the firmest whigs were ap- pointed. Messrs. Philip Eastman, Thomas Stick- ney, Timothy Walker, jun. Joseph Hall, jun. and Richard Herbert, were appointed the committee of safety in Concord for this year.
1777 .- Measures were this year taken for the remuneration of soldiers engaged in the service of
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the country from this town ; and £460 were raised for the purpose. The sum of $100 was also ap- propriated for the use of the town, in the purchase of ammunition, &c. This year, several individuals, suspected of disaffection to the great cause of the country, were arrested, and conveyed to Exeter, by a number of the citizens of this place. A short imprisonment, or the public denunciation of the people in town meeting, who declared them to be " enemies to their suffering country, and unworthy the countenance of its friends"-had the effect to subdue their loyal spirit; and when the almost certain prospect of success filled the hearts of the patriotic multitude with joy and gratitude, they too, could join in the general triumph.
1778 .- At a town meeting in January, Col. Tho- mas Stickney was instructed " to use his influence at the next session of the General Assembly, that. a full and free representation of the people of this state be called as soon as conveniently may be, for- the sole purpose of laying a permanent plan or sy s- tem for the future government of this state."
In 1779, a convention, called for that purpose,. drew up a Plan of Government, and sent it forth among the people; but so deficient were its gener- al provisions, that it was rejected.
Another convention was soon called, which had nine sessions, and continued from June, 1781, to Oct. 1783. Their first plan of government was
1777. Committee of Safety .- Messrs. John Kimball, Thomas Stickney, Reuben Kimball, Benjamin Emery and Richard Herbert.
1778. Col. Timothy Walker was elected a member of the convention which met at Concord this year. The convention met in the meeting- house. Meshech Weare was chairman. In December, Mr. Nathaniel Rolfe was chosen to repre- sent the parish in the General Assemlily to be holden at Exeter.
1779. The parish proposed to give up the pew ground to any number of persons who would finish the meeting house, and add a porch ; and the value of another porch ; and to be at the expence of building the steeple. July 19th, the town voted to raise £1124 8 0, in addition to what had already been raised, for defraying the parish expenses of that year. Sept. 6, the same year, the adjourned meeting voted to raise £500 more. The question was taken on the acceptance of the plan of government offered to the people, and there were 26 in favor, and 25 against
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printed and sent to every town ; and the inhabitants were requested to state their objections to any particular part.
1782 .- At the town meeting in Concord, Jan. 21st, " it was put to vote to see if the parish would accept the plan of government, as it now stands, and there appeared 48 against said plan, and none for it.
" Voted, to have a town representation.
" Voted, to have a Governor at the head of the legislative body.
" Voted, that the Governor shall not have a privy council.
" Voted, that the people at large shall appoint their militia officers."
A second plan was sent out by the convention assembled at Concord, which was most generally approved, but was not completed when the news of peace arrived .- The old form, having expired with the war, was revived for one year by the votes of the people in town-meetings.
A meeting of the inhabitants of Concord was holden Nov. 29th, for the purpose of considering the second plan of government, proposed by the convention. A committee, consisting of Col. Tim-
1780. July. The town at a full meeting, voted to give the soldiers that had late- ly " engaged to serve in the Continental Army, ten bushels of corn per month, or money equal thereto." In March, Col. Thomas Stickney was appointed agent to pe- tition the General Assembly, for the extension of the limits of the town, to the ancient boundaries of Rumford. Major Jonathan Hale, in December, was instructed " to join in calling a convention to settle a plan of government for this State."
1781. In the beginning of this year, the General Court having called for sixteen soldiers, Capt. Aaron Kinsman, Lieut. Ezra Carter, Lieut. Asa Kimball, and Ensign James Mitchel, were appointed a committee to procure them. They were enlist- ed principally in this town. Feb. 6th, the town "voted to raise 1000 Spanish milled dollars, in order to enable the parish to procure the soldiers that are now called for to fill up the Continental army." The selectmen were authorized to lease all the interval lands, and the house lot belonging to the school right, for seven years. Timothy Walker was authorized to petition for a lottery,to build a bridge over Merrimack river ; also to support the petition for extending the bounds of the town.
1782. At the annual meeting this year, the inhabitants voted $5 for every grown wolf, and $2,50 for every whelp ; 2s. per day were to be allowed for labor on highways.
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othy Walker, Col. Thomas Stickney, Capt. Benja- min Emery, Capt. Reuben Kimball, Lt. John Brad- ley, Dr. Peter Green and Mr. Henry Martin, were appointed to take the subject into consideration, and report thereon. At the next meeting, Dec. 16th, there were 52 voters present, all of whom " voted to reject the new constitution, in its present form ;" but proposed the following amendments, viz: " that the Governor and Privy Council be left out, and that there be a President, a Legislative Council, and a House of Representatives ; and that the powers which are vested in the Governor and Council be vested in the Council and House of Rep- resentatives." On the question of adopting the in- strument, with those amendments, there were 30 votes in the affirmative.
On the 2d September, 1782, died the venerable TIMOTHY WALKER, the first minister, and one of the first settlers, of the town of Concord. He was born at Woburn, Mass. in 1706; and after having graduated at Harvard college, in 1725, he pursued the usual course of theological studies. On the 18th of November, 1730, upon the unanimous invi- tation of the proprietors of the newly granted township of Penacook, he was ordained their pas- tor .* After his ordination, Mr. W. returned with the council, and soon came up with his wife, and other settlers, with four of their wives. These were the first women that came into the town, excepting two who passed the previous winter in the block-house, (meeting-house.) Mr. W. erectedhis house on Horse- shoe pond hill ; but after the Indians became hos- tile, he removed his house into a fort which he erec- ted, and remained within its walls, with seven other families, until the wars, in which the Indians en- gaged, were ended. During this time, the house of worship stood without the walls of the garrison,
* See notice of Mr. Walker's settlement, p. 13.
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where the inhabitants attended armed and in com- panies.
Many anecdotes are related of Mr. W. which prove him to have been a favorite with the Indians,. who, even in times of danger and hostilities, were. hospitably entertained within the walls of his fort. The merciless cruelties of the Indians, exercised most frequently upon the weak and defenceless, had created a sentiment of hostility against them, which now, as their extermination seemed rapidly approaching, rendered these little offices of friend- ship very delightful to them. An Indian never for- gets a benefit, and many of them regarded Mr. W. as a father and friend.
The years of Mr. W. until the dispute between Bow, (or rather the government of New-Hamp- shire) and Concord, were passed in opening and improving his farm, and in the discharge of his parochial duties. At this time, he was chosen agent for the town to defend their law suits, and for this purpose made three voyages to England. Sir William Murray, afterwards Lord Mansfield, was his counsellor and advocate in the first cause. The last case detained him in England about two years. During this period, he had frequent interviews with Lord Mansfield at his Chambers, who the year be- fore, was his counsel, and the conversation was often relative to the affairs of America. Mr. Kilby, an eminent merchant of Boston, was at that time in London, and introduced Mr. W. to many of the Ministry. From the manner and spirit of their re- marks, when they spoke of America, he was con- vinced, and observed to the late Dr. Chaun- cey, " that nothing but the absolute submission of the colonies would satisfy Britain, and that, in the end, we must have a war with Old England and a league with France." He was ever a firm advo- cate for the rights of the colonies, and at the com- mencement of hostilities in 1775, although far ad- vanced in years, he encouraged the people to be
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decided and persevering in their struggle for Inde- pendence. He was chosen by the town a dele- gate to the first Provincial Congress, and evinced great ardor in the American cause, and an un- shaken conviction of its justice and success. He did not live, however, to see the truth of his predic- tions, and the accomplishment of his most sanguine wishes.
, Mr. Walker's zeal in the cause of his country was firm and untiring. When Capt. Jonathan Eastman returned from Bennington, bringing the first intelligence of the victory, Mr. Walker came running out to meet him, eagerly inquiring " What news ? friend Eastman! what news ?" The cap- tain related to him the joyful tidings ; and the good old patriot exclaimed, " Blessed be God ! the coun- try is saved -- I can now die in peace !"
In his ministry, Mr. Walker was extremely tol- erant. Firm in his own tenets ; yet to others of different persuasions, kind and charitable; forcibly recommending to all, what he adopted himself, the Bible alone as the rule of their faith and practice. Under his ministry, for 52 years, the town was har- moniously united in one congregation, and he died universally lamented by a people, among whom he had lived in honor and usefulness.
The constitution of 1783 was accepted by the people, and introduced at Concord, June 2d, 1784, by a religious solemnity.
Until this period, the town had been styled and recognized in all its proceedings, as " the parish of Concord," being thus named, in the act of incor- poration. January 2d, this year, by an act of the legislature, " a gore of land lying at the north-east corner of Concord, consisting of about 1050 acres, in Loudon and Canterbury," was annexed to " the town of Concord."
1783. Labor on the highway, 4s. per diem. At a meeting Sept. 29, this year, " voted to receive the Constitution of Government as altered in June last." Yeas 20. Nays 10.
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1785 .- The main-street was laid out by a com- mittee, consisting of Messrs. Benjamin Emery, Joseph Hall, John Bradley, Reuben Kimball and Joseph Farnum.
1786 .- Though the State had now recovered from the anxieties and dangers of a revolution, a spirit of disquietude still existed among the peo- ple. The large debt occasioned by the war threw heavy burthens upon them, and the constant de- preciation of the currency, aided by its frequent is- sue, caused loud complaints. The call for a new emission of paper was incessant and clamorous. In almost every town, meetings were holden and the subject debated with warmth. The citizens of Concord, however, in town meeting, voted, “ that it was inexpedient for this state to make paper money on any plan whatever." 'Those who were zealous for paper currency, and against the laws which obliged them to pay their debts, now became clam- orous against the courts and lawyers : they held them up as public nuisances, and wished to abolish the one, that they might impose a sufficient check upon the exactions of the other. An attempt was made to call a convention at Concord, during the session of the legislature, who should petition the government in favor of the plan. It was thought that the presence of a large body of men, convened under such circumstances, would have great weight. The attempt was defeated in a manner singular and ludicrous.
At the first sitting of the assembly in June, when only five members of the proposed convention were in town, some wags, among- whom were several young lawyers, pretended to have been chosen by the towns in which they lived for the same purpose. In conference with the five, they penetrated their views,and persuaded them to post an advertisement, requesting all the members who were in town to assemble immediately, it being of the utmost im-
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. portance to present their petition as early in the session as possible. By this mean, sixteen pretend- ed members, with five real ones, formed themselves into a convention, choosing one of the five their president, and one of the sixteen their clerk. They carried on their debates and passed votes with much apparent solemnity. Having framed a petition, complaining in the most extravagant terms of their grievances ; praying for a loan of THREE MILLIONS Of dollars, funded on real estate; for the abolition of inferior courts, and a reduction of the number of lawyers to only two in each county ; and for a free trade with all the world; they went in procession to the Assembly, (some of whom had been previ- ously let into the secret) and with great formality presented their petition, which was suffered to lie on the table. The convention then dissolved-the petition was withdrawn-and when others, who had been really chosen by the towns, arrived, they were exceedingly mortified on finding their views for that time so completely frustrated. The pro- ceedings of this mock convention were, for a long time, subjects of sport and ridicule.
The public excitement, however, did not stop here. County conventions were called-petitions presented to the legislature-and the ferment at last subsided in the arrest and punishment of the rioters at Exeter .*
The meeting-house was this year finished, and the pews disposed of. At a meeting in December, the town voted "to give Mr. Jonathan Wilkins a call to the pastoral care of the church; and a salary (in case he accepted) of £100, with the use of the parsonage, excepting the meadow lot-beside £200 as a settlement." Mr. Wilkins did not accept the invitation.
At their annual meeting in 1788, the town voted to petition the legislature for a new county. Col. Timothy Walker was appointed agent, and directed
* See Belknap's account of the insurrection, &c. vol. ii. ch. 27, Hist. N. H.
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to correspond with gentlemen in other towns upon the subject. Sept. 1, the inhabitants voted to give Mr. ISRAEL EVANS a call to the ministry, with £90 salary, and the use of the parsonage, three acres excepted, which had been disposed of; and also £15 addition to his salary annually, instead of a ' settlement.'
In March, 1789, Mr. Evans accepted the call of the church and people, and his installation took place on the 1st July following. Introductory prayer, by Rev. Jeremy Belknap; Discourse, by Rev. Mr. Eckley, of Boston ; Ordaining prayer, by Rev. Mr. Woodman ; Charge, by Rev. Dr. Macclintock ; Fel- lowship of the Churches, by Rev. Mr. Colby; and Concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Smith.
Rev. Mr. Evans continued to preach unto the people of this place, until 1797. In April, of that year, he announced his " intention of resigning to the town their pulpit, and of finishing his work of the ministry in the place on the first of July." The town signified to him their approbation of his in- tention, and appointed a committee to wait upon the Ecclesiastical Council, and lay before them the proceedings of the town in that respect. The Coun- cil approved of their proceedings ; and as no formal charges had been exhibited against Mr. Evans, they recommended him "to the churches, and to the work of the ministry, wherever God in his providence might open a door."
Measures were taken without delay to settle another clergyman, and on the 28th December, the town voted to invite Mr. ASA M'FARLAND to settle among them. A salary of $350, with the use of all the improved lands of the parsonage, was voted, with "liberty to cut what wood and timber on the out-lands he might need." Jan. 27, 1798, Rev. Mr. M'Farland, in an affectionate letter to the church and people, accepted their call to the pastoral care of the church ; and his ordination took place on the 7th March following. The officiating clergy-
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men, were the Rev. Stephen Peabody, of Atkinson; Rev. John Smith, of Hanover ; Rev. Joseph Wood- man, of Sanbornton ; Rev. Zaccheus Colby, of Pembroke; Rev. Frederick Parker, of Canterbury ; Rev. Jedidiah Tucker, of Loudon ; and Rev. Jo- siah Carpenter, of Chichester. Mr. M'Farland was a native of Worcester, Mass., born April 19, 1769 ; was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1793, and afterwards served as a tutor for two years. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Yale College, under the venerable Dwight, in 1309, and the same year, he was appointed a trustee of Dart- mouth College. This latter appointment, he re- signed in 1821 .*
On the 21st June, 1798, died Major DANIEL LIVER- MORE, aged 49. He was an active officer during the revolution, and in many of those important battles which decided the fate of the contest. He was a useful citizen, and was repeatedly honored by his fellow townsmen.
With the public transactions of the town subse- quent to this period, perhaps every citizen is well acquainted. Its proceedings have been those merely which related to its internal affairs, and are too recent, too fresh in the memory, to need recital. It is interesting, however, to glance at the rapid improvements in business and wealth which have been made here within the last twenty years. In 1798, there were but two or three trading houses in town ; the settlements were thinly scattered ; and though there were then several enterprising and ac- tive citizens, engaged in business, the village did not exhibit that outward show of prosperity which it does at present. The grounds where the
* The ancestors of Dr. M'Farland were among that colony of Scots, who, in the reign of James I., removed to the province of Ulster, in Ireland. His grand- father, Andrew M'Farland, emigrated to this country, and settled in Worcester, about the time of the settlement of Londonderry, in this State. He left three sons, William, James and Daniel. William died at Worcester, and also James, the father of Dr. M'F .- Daniel removed to the western part of Pennsylvania, about the commencement of the revolution, and finally settled on the Monongahela, where his descendants now live.
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lofty edifices erected by the State are situated, were then covered with bushes and trees; and if the prophecy of a facetious legislator, who dread- ed some Egyptian visiters, had no foundation, he might have stated that its thickets had afforded shelter to far less musical animals.
The public buildings are the Capitol, the State Penitentiary, the Court-House, and the meeting- house.
The building of the Capitol was commenced in 1816 ; and the legislature convened in its halls in 1819. It is situated in the centre of the village, up- on a gently inclined plane between Main and State streets, and has two regular fronts, east and west. The centre of the building is fifty feet in front by fifty-seven in depth; the wings are each thirty- eight feet in front by forty-nine in depth ; the whole making a parallelogram of one hundred and twenty-six feet in length by forty-nine in width, with the addition of a projection in the centre of each front of four feet. It is two stories above the basement, which rises five feet above the surface of the ground : the first story is nineteen feet ; the second eighteen feet in the wing, and thirty-
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