USA > New Hampshire > Colony, province, state, 1623-1888: history of New Hampshire > Part 24
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"Mr. President: I have listened to the arguments for and against the constitution. I am convinced such a government as that constitution will establish, if adopted,-a government acting directly on the people of the States,-is necessary for the com- mon defence and the general welfare. It is the only govern- ment which will enable us to pay off the national debt,-the debt which we owe for the Revolution, and which we are bound in honor fully and fairly to discharge. Beside, I have followed the lead of Washington through seven years of war, and I have
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never been misled. His name is subscribed to this constitution. He will not mislead us now. I shall vote for its adoption."
The constitution was finally adopted in the convention by a vote of 57 yeas, 47 nays.
Colonel Webster gave his support to the constitution. He was one of the electors for President when Washington was first chosen to that office.
In the spring of 1791, Colonel Webster was appointed judge for the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Hillsborough. This office he held at the time of his death in April, 1806. He was one of the magistrates, or justice of the peace, for Hills- borough county for more than thirty-five years prior to his decease.
Atkinson, Chatham, Campton, and Rumney were incorpo- rated in 1767 ; Seabrook, Meredith, Lisbon, Henniker, Sand- wich, Rindge, and Mason were incorporated in 1768.
Brookline, Surry, and Temple were incorporated in 1769; Sanbornton and Wolfeborough were incorporated in 1770.
Milan was granted in December, 1771, as Paulsborough, in honor of Paul Wentworth.
Berlin was granted in December, 1771, as Maynesborough, in honor of Sir William Mayne of Barbadoes.
The town of Hillsborough was incorporated in November, 1772, there being at that time twenty-two men who were free- holders.
1 In 1741, contemporary with the running of the boundary line which separated the province of New Hampshire from that of Massachusetts, a company was formed in Boston, who travelled thence through the forests to Hillsborough, and pitched their tents in its wilderness. This territory had been formerly granted to Colonel John Hill. The little settlement was called Hillborough in honor of Colonel Hill ; the leading men were Samuel Gibson, James Lyon, Robert McClure, and James Mc- Colley, - the two latter being natives of the north of Ireland. There was in the little colony a commingling of Puritanism and Presbyterianism, concentrating in a strong religious feeling.
1 Frank 11. Pierce.
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In proof of this sentiment, among the earliest labors of the settlers was the erection of a meeting house and a parsonage. Land was assigned for a grave-yard, in which several members of the colony were buried. There remains to-day no vestige of this solitary cemetery. The wife of McColley was the only female in the settlement, and remained exiled from her sister- hood for more than a year. Her husband built the first dwelling -a log hut -near the Bridge, where the first child born in the settlement saw the light.
VIEW FROM BRIDGE IN BERLIN.
Lieut. John McColley subsequently entered the Royal service and fought against the French and Indians. Afterwards he was in the war of the Revolution, in the militia corps which New Hampshire sent against Gen. Burgoyne. He was a man of exemplary character, and died in 1834, at the age of 92.
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Some five months after the birth of Lieut. McColley's child a daughter was born to Samuel Gibson, who was named Elizabeth.
In 1744 the Cape Breton war broke out between the English and French and Northwestern Indians. This war carried death and destruction wherever it was prosecuted. The Indian raids upon many of the early settlements, and the slaughter and destruction of the dwellers therein, are matters of tragic his- tory, in which Hillborough shared.
In 1746 the menaces of the Indians were so threatening that the feeble colony of seven or eight families in Hillsborough, on hasty consultation, agreed to abandon their homes and seek safety in Massachusetts. They hid away their agricultural im- plements, loaded their cattle with what household property and provisions they could carry, buried the remainder of their port- able property, and set forth. It appears that the party made its way to Litchfield and there settled down.
The population of Hillsborough slowly increased until 1775, when the settlement contained forty families. At this time the war with England broke out, and elicited a common resis- tance against the wrongs sought to be inflicted by the govern- ment of the mother country on her North American colonists. No locality manifested more patriotic ardor or devotion to the interests of liberty than the people of this town. They armed and equipped themselves for local protection and national resistance. No patriotic sacrifice within their power was withheld - they offered their all that the rights of the people should be asserted. The town assessed itself in nine thousand seven hundred pounds to purchase provisions for the American Army, and more than thirty stalwart men from the forty fami- lies gave their personal service in the war that ensued, and fought in Stark's regiment at Bunker Hill, where their brave commander, Captain Isaac Baldwin, fell mortally wounded.
In royal Rockingham, in southeastern New Hampshire, lies the territory incorporated under the name of Northwood, a day's journey from the fair old town of Portsmouth. Settlement was begun on Northwood soil by emigrants from North Hampton.
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Their names were John and Increase Batchelder, and Moses Godfrey. This was in the year 1763. Then Northwood was a dependency of Nottingham. After them the Johnsons, the Hoyts, and the Knowltons came. These men felled the forests and subdued the rocky soil ; and these laid the foundation of the future township.
In the year 1773, ten years later than the first settlement, it was erected into an independent borough, electing Samuel John- son, Joseph Demeritt, and Benjamin Hill as selectmen. Jona- than Jenness was first justice of the peace. The first postmaster was John Furber.
Religiously, the early pioneers were Baptists. In the year 1772, a church was built, the third of that denomination in the State. This edifice was rebuilt in 1816. A bell was added in 1878. Recently was witnessed the completion, free from debt, of a commodious parsonage. The society has had twelve pas- tors, - Edmund Pillsbury having been the first.
The Congregationalists erected a meeting-house here in 1780. This was rebuilt in 1840. A call was extended to Rev. Josiah Prentice of Alstead, who sustained the charge forty-three years. This society has had six pastors.
The rise of the Free Baptist church in Northwood was due to the evangelical labors of Rev. D. P. Cilley, though David Marks had preached here a few times before him. Cilley labored here in 1833. Then the society was organized, which held its meetings at the mountain school-house. Not until six years later, or in 1838, was their house of worship completed.
1General James Reed, one of the original proprietors of Mon- adnock Number Four, now Fitzwilliam, was a native of Woburn, Massachusetts, where he was born in the year 1724. He was a descendant, in the fifth generation, of William and Mabel Reed, who sailed from London in July, 1635.
His military life commenced in 1755, when he served in the campaign against the French and Indians, commanding a company of provincial troops under Colonel Brown. In the same capacity he served with General Abercrombie in 1758, at
1 A. J. Blake.
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Ticonderoga ; and with General Amherst in 1759. He was employed in various public services until the peace of 1763. In the year 1765 he settled in Fitzwilliam, and in 1770 he received the commission of lieutenant-colonel. The lapse of time has hidden from view the detailed account of his services in these campaigns ; but his early selection by his countrymen for the command of a regiment at the beginning of the Revo- lution indicates that his military career was creditable to himself and valuable to his country. It was in this severe school that he, like many of the officers of the Revolution, acquired that military skill which gave strength and efficiency to the Conti- nental army.
On the 19th of May, 1773, Colonel Reed, with several others, received a grant of Fitzwilliam, or Monadnock Number Four, from John Wentworth, the Provincial Governor of New Hampshire. In 1770, he settled with his family about a mile northwesterly of the centre village in Fitzwilliam, where he erected a large and commodious house. Being the owner of a considerable portion of the area of the town, he was actively employed in promoting its settlement, and for those times was considered wealthy ; and the first school in Fitzwilliam was taught in his house by Miss Sarah Harris, at the age of seventeen. His name appears upon the records as the leading spirit of the town. He was proprietors' clerk and moderator of the town meetings for several years after its incorporation.
In April, 1774, the town of Portsmouth 1 instructed their repre- sentatives to use their influence in the General Assembly, to join with the other colonies in every constitutional method to oppose the claim of Parliament to tax the American colonies without their consent, and to keep up a continual correspon- dence with them for that purpose ; to abolish the Court of Ap- pcals, and also to employ their efforts that the justices of the courts of law . should hold their offices during good behavior, and not at the will of the crown ; that adequate salaries should be granted to the justices of the superior court ; that they strenu- ously oppose any salaries being granted to either of the justices
I Annals of Portsmouth.
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of the courts of law independent of this government ; that they should take the opinion of the judges and some lawyers as to the operation of any law of consequence which they are about to pass ; that good roads be made into the interior part of the prov- ince ; that laws be passed to prohibit the importation of slaves ; that secure places be provided for the records of the several offices ; that the fees in all public offices be established by law ; that enquiry be made concerning the application of all money granted for the use of the government, especially the powder money ; that the representatives be chosen annually, and that their doors should be open to all who choose to hear their de- bates.
On the 25th of June twenty-seven chests of tea, subject to the duty, were landed and stored in the custom house before the inhabitants had knowledge of it. A town meeting was held on the 27th, which appointed a guard to keep the tea secure and to prevent insults being offered to any individual on account of it. Upon consultation with Edward Parry, Esq., the con- signee, it was agreed that he should re-ship the tea, and a com- mittee was chosen to see this agreement executed. The tea hav- ing been entered, the consignee paid the duty upon it openly, which was necessary before it could be re-shipped. The gover- nor used every precaution to preserve the peace of the town, and everything remained quiet. The tea was re-shipped and sent to Halifax.
A committee of inspection was appointed to examine and find out if any tea should be imported, and upon the discovery of any, to give the earliest notice thereof to the town.
Deputies were chosen at Portsmouth, July 15, to meet the deputies from the other towns in the province, to elect a dele- gate to the General Congress, which was to meet at Philadelphia September I.
The inhabitants entered into an agreement in writing, which was generally signed, by which they pledged their faith and honor that they would not import, sell, purchase, or consume any kinds of East India teas, nor suffer the same to be used or con- sumed in their respective families, until the duties should be taken off.
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In September the ship Fox, commanded by Captain Zacha- riah Norman, arrived at Portsmouth, having on board thirty chests of tea consigned to Edward Parry, which caused some disturbance in the town ; the populace broke the windows of the consignee, and he applied to the governor for protection. The governor convened the council, and required the aid of the magistrates and other civil officers to suppress the riot, which was soon effected.
The town assembled the next day, and Edward Parry, Esq., being present, publicly declared that he would not accept the consignment of said tea, nor have anything to do with it ; and Captain Norman promised that he would at his own expense re-ship said tea and send it to Halifax. A committee was ap- pointed to guard the tea and see it sent off, who reported that it was shipped on board another vessel, and that they saw the vessel with the tea on board outside of Fort Point.
On the 10th of October, the town "voted to give two hun- dred pounds for the relief of the industrious poor of the towns of Boston and Charlestown, under the oppression they now suffer from the port of Boston being blocked up by an Act of the British Parliment."
A very numerous committee was chosen to keep up the good order and quiet in the town, and to examine into every matter that may appear unfriendly to the interests of the community.
Governor Wentworth retained his popularity as extensively as possible for a person of his situation, which was extremely critical -for he was placed between two contending parties, of opposite interests, and it could not be expected that he would please both. His wishes were to preserve the union of the two countries. He was attached to his government, and was de- sirous of promoting its welfare as far as he could consistently with his duty to the King, which he considered paramount to all other obligations. A circumstance took place which lessened him in the estimation of the people. The troops at Boston were destitute of barracks, and the carpenters there refused assistance in building them. General Gage applied to Went- worth to procure workmen, and he secretly employed an agent
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to hire carpenters to construct the barracks. As soon as it was known, his conduct was severely censured, and the Committee
GOVERNOR WENTWORTH HOUSE, PORTSMOUTH.1
of Safety, of which his uncle, Hunking Wentworth, Esq., was chairman, declared that the person guilty of such conduct was
I The family portraits of the Wentworths, by Copley and his master, Blackburn, and other valu. able historical mementos of colonial days and royal state, are still preserved in the Mansion. In the house was born, July 14, 1810, Edward Henry Durell, who became a distinguished lawyer in New Orleans and a Judge of the United States court for the district of Louisiana - a man eminent for his learning and ability.
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"an enemy to the community." From this time his influence declined, and he retained only the shadow of authority. The real power was transferred to the Committee of Safety, and their orders were implicitly obeyed.
Hon. Hunking Wentworth, who was the uncle of the gover- nor, was the efficient chairman of the Portsmouth Committee of Safety as long as his health and age would admit. He died in Portsmouth, Sept. 21, 1784.
The proceedings of the General Congress were published in every part of the country, and received with approbation. They made a declaration of their rights, stated their grievances, and entered into an association suspending all commercial inter- course with Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies. When these proceedings were laid before this town, they voted unani- mously, "That they did cordially accede to the just state of the rights and grievances of the British colonies, and of the measures adopted and recommended by the American Conti- mental Congress, for the restoration and establishment of the former, and for the redress of the latter." They voted, "That the association, strictly adhered to, would in their opinion prove the most peaceable and successful method for the removal of the distresses these colonies are laboring under, and the restor- ation of their violated rights ; therefore they cheerfully adopted, and would punctually and religiously execute the same, as far as in them lies." A committee of twenty-five persons was chosen "to observe the conduct of all persons, touching the association, that every person within the limits of their appoint- ment conform to the same ; and if any should be hardy enough to violate it, in such case the majority of the committee shall forthwith cause the truth of the case to be published in the Gazette, according to the recommendation of Congress." And "lest some, for sordid gain, should be tempted to violate the association, they recommended a non-consumption as the best guard against any infraction of the non-importation agreement." They bore " testimony against every species of gambling, and recommended industry and frugality to the inhabitants."
Amongst other systems of economy which were adopted, the
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regulation of funerals was one of the most important. They were usually attended with great expense, often beyond the
Frast Ride
PAUL Revere's
4
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ability of the survivors of the family to meet. All the connec- tions were obliged to dress in a full suit of mourning ; enam-
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elled rings were distributed to the near relatives; gloves and rings were given to the pall-bearers and to the clergyman who officiated at the grave. In many instances escutcheons with the family armorial bearings painted on silk were laid on the coffin, placed over the door, and sent to the particular friends of the deceased. By general consent these expenses were dis- pensed with, and instead of them gentlemen wore black crape round the left arm, and ladies black ribbons, as badges of mourning.
The corporation of Harvard College made choice of Rev. Doctor Langdon as president of that institution. After due consideration, and by advice of his friends, he accepted the appointment. His parish was strongly attached to him, and consented to the separation very reluctantly. The connection between them was dissolved October 9th, 1774. He was born in Boston in 1722, of respectable parents, was graduated at Harvard College in 1740, with a high reputation as a scholar. He came to Portsmouth soon after, and had the charge of the grammar school.
In 1745 he was appointed chaplain of Colonel Meserve's regiment, and was present at the capture of Louisburg. After his return, he was invited to preach at the North parish, as assistant to Mr. Fitch, whom he succeeded in the ministry in the year 1747. He protracted a map of New Hampshire, in company with Colonel Blanchard, which they published in 1761, and inscribed it to the Honorable Charles Townsend, Sec- retary at War. In return for this compliment, the Secretary obtained for Mr. Langdon a degree of Doctor in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. On the formation of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in Massachusetts he became a member. Doctor Langdon's publications are numerous.
He resigned his office in 1780, and the following January was installed over the church at Hampton Falls, where he spent the residue of his days in usefulness and peace, a blessing to the people of his charge, and happy in the enjoyment of their affection and respect.
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An order had been passed by the King in council, prohibit- ing the exportation of gunpowder and military stores to Amer- ica. The Committee of Safety received a copy of it by express from Boston, the 13th of December. They collected a com- pany with great secrecy and dispatch, who went to Fort William and Mary at New Castle, under the direction of Major John Sullivan and Captain John Langdon, confined the cap- tain of the fort and his five men, and brought off one hundred barrels of gunpowder. The next day another company brought off fifteen of the lightest cannon, all the small arms, and some warlike stores.
On the 13th December, 1774, Paul Revere took his first public ride. While it may not have been of so far reaching impor- tance as his later one, it richly deserves a place in history. It happened in this manner. The Boston Committee of Safety had just heard of the British order that no military stores should be exported to America. They accordingly sent Paul Revere on a fleet horse to Portsmouth, to apprise the similar committee there of the news and probably to urge them to secure the powder which was in Fort William and Mary in the harbor, as reinforcements were expected shortly from England.
The garrison consisted of only five men, and they had under their charge a hundred guns and a large quantity of powder and balls, the possession of which was deemed important to the patriot cause. John Sullivan was a member of the Provincial Congress that year, and had just arrived in Portsmouth from Philadelphia. War had not been declared, but there was no telling when the flames of dissension would burst forth. When the conflict did come there would be need of arms and ammunition. When the British troops arrived,- and they were momentarily expected, -the fort would be in their hands, and it would be too late to capture it. Sullivan proposed the immediate capture of the place, and offered to lead the men to the attack. A military force was accordingly summoned as secretly as possible from the neighborhood. Sullivan and John Langdon took the com- mand, and the march was commenced toward the English fort. It was a hazardous undertaking. The sycophants of Went-
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worth thronged the town, who would consider the capture of the patriots as a good passport to the governor's favor. Besides, there was danger from the fort. If the captain became aware of their design, he was sure to turn the guns upon them and destroy them. But no alarm was given, and in silence Sullivan and his little band approached the works. With a rush they gained the gate, captured the sentry, and before a challenge could be given had the captain and every man in the fort prisoners. The British flag was hauled down. The gunpowder, of which there was one hundred barrels in the fort, was immed- iately taken away and hid in the houses of the patriots. Sullivan concealed a portion of it under the pulpit of the Durham meet- ing-house. A large part of this plunder afterwards did good service at Bunker Hill. Next day fifteen of the lighter cannon and all of the small arms were carried away. The governor and his officers received no intelligence of the affair until it was too late to remedy it, and when the British troops arrived they found only a dismantled fortress. The affair, which in itself may appear to be of no great moment, assumes a different aspect when we consider the time at which it occurred. It was the first act of armed hostility committed against the crown of Great Britain by an American.
1 Holderness was granted in 1751. One of the original grantees was Hon. Samuel Livermore, one of the most dis- tinguished men of New Hampshire in the Revolutionary period. All of the Livermores in this country are supposed to be descendants from John Livermore, who settled in Water- town, Massachusetts, as early as 1642. Samuel Livermore was one of the great-grandsons of John Livermore. He was born May 14, 1732, at Waltham. At the age of twenty he graduated at Nassau Hall, Princeton, one of the most ancient and respec- table collegiate institutions in the country. Selecting law for his profession, he became a student under Hon. Edward Trow- bridge, and was admitted to practice at the supreme judicial court of Middlesex county, in 1756. The next year he removed to New Hampshire, established himself at Portsmouth, where
I Fred Myron Colby.
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he soon became a distinguished member of the bar. He filled some of the most honorable and lucrative offices in the Province, and was for several years judge advocate of the Admiralty Court, and subsequently succeeded Wyseman Claggett as the king's attorney-general of New Hampshire. In this position he became the most necessary adviser to John Wentworth in the troubles that were growing up between the colonists and the crown.
From the first Mr. Livermore was found on the popular side, and doubtless it was on account of some embarrassment between himself and Governor Wentworth that he removed his home to Londonderry, then the second town of the Province in wealth and population. . From 1768 to 1772 he represented that town in the General Assembly. He still continued to hold the office of attorney-general, thus showing that, though an op- ponent of the encroachments of viceregal power, his abilities were respected by the Wentworths. His circuit embraced not only all New Hampshire, but the counties of York and Cum- berland in Maine as well, extending as far as Portland. His earnings at this time could not have amounted to less than $5000 per annum, a large sum for the period.
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