USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > Facts relating to the early history of Chester, N.H., from the settlement in 1720 until the formation of the state constitution in the year 1784 > Part 3
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Flagg and make him an addition to his stated salary," which was not permitted.
1755. The same proposition was urged the next year with the same result.
This year (1755,) Sam1 Emerson, Esq., was chosen represen- tative.
1758. By 1758 the town had grown quite liberal in regard to schooling, the amount raised being £600, from which nine schools were kept, three of them by " school-dames."
" One good and lawful man" was chosen " to serve as grand juror at his Majesty's superior court of Judicature to be holden at Pourtsmouth." It was not for some time after this time that town officers were allowed any pay for their services.
1762. . In March, 1762, the present town of Candia was set off as a distinct Parish, and in December of the ensuing year in- corporated under its present name. The name of Candia was given to it by Gov. Wentworth, who was once a prisoner on an island of the same name in the Mediterranean Sca.
The first settler in Candia was William Turner, who moved there in 1748 ; he was there alone until 1755, when John Sar- gent and several others joined him.
1763. January 12, 1763, Freetown was set off, and in May, 1765, incorporated by the name of Raymond; an unsuccessful at- tempt at this had been made in 1761.
A curious vote is recorded this year, but which, it appears, was never carried into effect, viz : " Voted that a workhouse be built, or provided by the selectmen, to put and keep those persons in, that (are) idle, poor, disorderly, and lazy, and will not work, and to provide a master to take care of all such persons as shall be committed to said house, that they may be kept to work, and be proceeded with as the law directs." No mention is made of this, afterwards, in this connection, in the town books. It was proba- bly the first poor house maintained by the town, and if so, was procured instead of built, i. c., the poor were bid off to the lowest bidder.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
1767. By the estimate made in 1767, and which is probably nearly correct, the population of Chester was 1189-that of the State being 52,700.
1768. In 1768 the town sustained a diminution of numbers by the emigration of several families to the town afterwards in- corporated as New Chester, from the fact that most of the first settlers were from Chester. It is now Hill. The town was granted Sept. 14, 1753, to eighty-seven proprietors, who held their first meeting at Chester.
At this time the wages for labor on the highways was regulated by vote, and was two shillings a day for a man, and the same for oxen.
1772. In the spring of 1772 the proposal was made to the Parish to build a new meeting house, and (March 25,) it was voted to build one within two years from that date, " sixty feet long, and forty five ft. wide, and a suitable height." This house was built about fifteen rods North of the old one, on the same spot that the present one now occupies.
1774. It was finished early in 1774, and the first meeting was holden in it on the 18th of May. The town meeting of March 31st was in the old meeting house, which was soon after- wards taken down, and now no traces remain of the place where it stood. The new building still stands, though almost entirely remodeled. About this time the first open opposition was made to the measures of Great Britain. In May the House of Represen- tatives, conformably to the proceedings of the Assemblies in the other colonies, appointed a committee of correspondence, whereup- on the Governor dissolved the Assembly, hoping to dissolve the committee also. But they met again, and wrote letters to all the towns in the Province, requesting them to send deputies to hold a convention at Exeter, to choose delegates to a General Congress. The meeting for this purpose was holden in Chester, July 19th. when John Webster, Esq., and Capt. Robert Wilson were " chosen and empowered to meet at Exeter the 21st of this in- stant, July, at 10 of the clock in forenoon, to join in the choice of delegates for the General Congress, to be holden at Philadel- phia, the first day of Sept. next, to devise and consider what
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
measures will be most advisable to be taken, in order to effect the desired end, for the establishment of our rights and liberties on a just and settled foundation, and for the restoring of union and har- mony between the mother country and the colonies, and to con- tribute our proportion of the expenses of sending; that the same may be raised by subscription or otherwise, and if convenient sent by the persons of our town appointed to go to Exeter. Our pro- portion is £5-18s, lawful money." This money was raised by a rate on the inhabitants.
Eighty five deputies met at Exeter, and delegated two of their number to attend the proposed General Congress.
1775. In January, 1775, in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the provincial committee of Nov. 4, John Webster, Esq., Capt. Robt Wilson, Capt. Sam1 Robie, Deac. Matthew Forsaith, Major French and Robert Calfe were chosen as deputies to meet at Exeter again on the 25th, for choice of delegates to the Con- gress of May 10th.
At the same meeting, Capt. Dearborn, Amos Emerson, Wm. White, Jacob Chase, Jno. Patten, Simon Bailey, Pearson Rich- ardson, Jethro Colby, Dr. Jno. Ordway, Josiah Bradley, Robert Calfe, Lt. Hoit, Jno. Hazelton, Capt. Wilson, Capt. Robie, Deac. Forsaith, Stephen Morrill, John S. Dearborn, Abner Hills, Sam- uel Brown, Wm. Shirley, and Jno. Lane, Jr., Jacob Hills, Thos Shirley and Isaac Towle were appointed a committee of inspec- tion " to see that the agreement of the American Continental Con- gress shall be strictly adhered to."
. (April 13.) It was " voted to give encouragement to a num- ber of men that will hold themselves in readiness, if called for by the town, to go against any enemy that shall presume to invade us or our property ; " it was hence voted to raise " 50 good effective able-bodied men into the town service " for that end. These men were to have " six Spanish milled dollars, or equal thereunto," per month, and be found in provision as long as they were in the town's service. They furnished their own guns, which were ap- prized before they marched by Capt. Samuel Robie, the muster master, so that if any were lost the town might pay for them. Each man was obliged to show "one pound of powder, twenty bullets, and a quantity of flints." This company was enlisted by
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
the Selectmen, and chose its own officers. The number was re- duced by a subsequent vote to thirty. About this time the battles of Lexington and Concord occurred, and twenty-four of the min- ute men marched immediately to these towns to contribute their aid.
(May 17.) A third Congress was convened at Exeter, usually designated as the " first provincial Congress." Stephen Morse was the delegate from Chester. This year considerable was said about maintaining a grammar school, but so much opposition was experienced that it was, at length, relinquished.
Another Congress was holden at Exeter for the formation of a temporary government, the 21st of Dec., at which Stephen Morse and Capt. Robert Wilson attended from this town. Their in- structions were as follows : that "in case there shall be a recom- mendation from the Continental Congress that this colony assume government in any particular form, which will require a House of Representatives, that they resolve themselves into such a House as the Continental Congress shall recommend; and no person shall be allowed a seat in Congress who shall, by himself, or any other person for him, before said choice, treat with liquor, any electors with an apparent view of gaining their votes ; or af- terwards, on that account."
The officers of this temporary constitution were twelve persons, called the Council, of whom seven composed a quorum, in ad- dition to the House of Representatives. No act was valid unless passed by both branches of the Legislature.
1776. In the spring of the next year thirty men were enlisted to help reinforce the army under Gen. Sullivan ; they were al- lowed $13,66 each, as a bounty over and above what the county paid.
1777. In March, 1777, Lt. Samuel Hazelton, Dea. Matthew Forsaith, Henry Moore, Esq., Capt. Samuel Robie, Jethro Colby, Isaac Blaisdell, and Nathan Morse were chosen a committee of safety. In August the battle of Bennington took place, in which were several individuals from Chester, one of whom, Lt. Elliott, was severely wounded by a ball from the gun of an Indian, con- cealed behind the roots of a prostrate tree.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
1778. The small pox appeared in Chester again in 1778, in the family Dr. Page. He contracted the disease at the hospital in Exeter. The town purchased a shop of Nathaniel Blaisdell and removed it into the parsonage, where the family remained until the selectmen judged it expedient for them to return to their home again. Two of his children died and were buried in the par- sonage.
This year a singing school was kept at Col. Webster's by Mr. Kimball, of Bradford. He afterwards married Col. Webster's daughter.
At a town-meeting, Feb. 6, 1778, the articles of con- federation were read and approved, and the representatives were instructed to propose that the Assembly and Council might form a plan of government for the State, and send it to the several towns and parishes for their acceptance. In May, Samuel Emerson, Esq., was chosen to meet in Convention at Concord, as a dele- gate, to form and lay a permanent plan or system of government " for the future happiness and well-being of the good people of this State." A system of government was accordingly drawn up and sent to the towns, but was rejected on account of the inade- quacy of its provisions.
1779. The families of those who entered the service for three years or longer, were maintained, or at least aided, by the town, as appears by a vote to that effect, and by the returns of the town expenses. This year the burying place, by vote, was fenced anew " with good posts and boards in the reasonablest and best manner," but the vote was afterwards modified so as to have "a good stone wall " on the front side. This wall is there yet. In August, Portsmouth, Exeter, and other town united in' recom- mending to the smaller towns to aid in reducing the prices of the necessaries of life ; a meeting was holden at Chester and they sig- nified their approbation of the measure. In accordance with this design a convention was holden at Concord, Sept. 22, to which Jacob Chase was delegated from this town. They passed a series of resolutions which had little or no effect. A committee was chosen, however, in Chester, to see that the prices were observed, and if any person did not comply with them, but should sell any article for more than the established price, he should forfeit the
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
value of the article so sold, and on his refusal to pay that sum they were instructed " to advertize him in the public prints as in- imical to his country."
1790. In 1780, the sum of £1200 ($155.00,) was raised for schooling.
The men enlisted this year were paid in corn, at 30 bushels a month, raised by a corn rate on the inhabitants.
1781. In the spring of 1781, Chester was ordered by the Gen- eral Court to deliver up its share of beef, 9206 pounds, for the use of the army ; this was also raised by a rate on the inhabitants, the town being divided into classes. There was considerable difficul- ty in collecting this beef ; they probably wanted it to cat them- selves. More men were required for the service, and the town was divided into districts by the selectmen, cach of which was obliged to hire one soldier, " and if any district, or person in any district should refuse or neglect to pay the required proportion, he or they should be assessed double, and be compelled to pay it." No money was raised for schools this year.
1782. The convention for framing the constitution still con- tinued to discuss different systems, and in September sent out a sec- ond plan to which the towns were requested distinctly to state their objections, and return them at a fixed time. Accordingly at a meeting, Jan. 1, 1782, the plan was read, and Anthony Stickney, Dea. Forsaith, Col. Webster, Jacob Chase, Esq., Stephen Morse, Lt. Jabez Hoit, Maj. Henry Moore, Isaac Blaisdell and Maj. William White were chosen " to take it under consideration and make any remarks upon the particular articles therein contained that are not agreeable to their thoughts and sentiments, and make return to the meeting at the adjournment," a week from that day. The committee reported their objections and it was rejected by an universal vote, 149 voters being present. Six more persons were added to the committee of amendment, viz : Lieut. Sam1 IIazel- ton, Joseph Lynn, Joseph Blanchard, Capt. Benj. Currier, Sam- uel Emerson, Esq., and Rev. Ebenezer Flagg. The objections of the towns were so many that it was necessary to send out still another plan, in which the mode of representation was changed- every incorporated township containing one hundred and fifty
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
rateable polls, having the privilege of sending one representative. This plan was generally approved by the towns, although Chester still rejected it.
1783. In April, 1783, the State voted to revive and continue the old form of government until June 10, 1784, when the new form should be adopted. This was done, the new system being introduced at Concord by religious ceremonies, which have been since repeated at each annual election.
The schooling was left with the selectmen this year "to do as they shall judge right and just," but they declined acting, and nothing was done.
In April the town was classed a second time to procure seven- teen men for the service.
1784. This year the war was ended, and in March, 1784, the first President of New Hampshire was chosen. Meshech Weare was the choice of Chester, with but one dissenting vote; this was for Jno. Sullivan. $200,00 was raised for schooling this year.
FINIS.
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Some idea of the character of the early settlers of Chester may be gathered from the following extracts; most of the settlers were from Hampton and Londonderry.
" The first settlers of Hampton were puritans, many of them from Norfolk, one of the strongholds of Puritanism. The motives by which they were influenced in coming to this country were similar to those which influenced the Prilgrims who came over in the Mayflower."
" The settlers of Londonderry were a peculiarly industrious and frugal yet public spirited people, and proved a valuable acquisi- tion to the Province into which they had removed, contributing very considerably to its benefit by their arts and their industry."
NOTICES OF SEVERAL OF THE EARLY INHABITANTS OF CHESTER.
Clergymen.
REV. JOHN TUCKE
Was the son of John Tucke, and great grandson of Robt Tucke, who emigrated from Suffolk, in England, about 1636, and was one of the first settlers of Hampton, where Rev. John Tucke was born in 1702, Aug. 23d. He graduated at Harvard in 1723, and the next year married Mary Dole, of Hampton. He received a call to settle at Chester, as was seen, in 1729, which he declined, and in July, 1732, he was ordained at Gosport, where he received a settlement of £50, and an annual salary of £110, until 1754, when he was paid in fish at a quintal pr. man, making eighty or one hundred quintals, worth a guinea each. He continued in the ministry there until his death, Aug. 12, 1773. His tombstone at Gosport says :
" He was affable and polite in his manners, amiable in his disposition, of great piety and Integrity, given to hospitality."
REV. MOSES HALE
Was the youngest of eleven children of Capt. Thomas and Sarah Hale, of Newbury, Mass., where he was born in 1703. For some reason his name is not recorded on the town books of New- bury, so the exact date of his birth cannot be ascertained.
Mr. Moses Hale graduated at Harvard College in 1722, stud- ied divinity, and in 1730 accepted an invitation from the church of Chester to become their pastor. He was ordained Oct. 20th, 1731, by Rev. Mr. Brown of Haverhill, and Rev. Mr. Phillips and Bargard, of Andover, and continued to discharge the duties of his office until the summer of 1733, when his health became poor.
REV. JOHN WILSON
Was born in Ulster County, in Ireland, in 1709. He entered the
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
University of Edinburgh, where it would appear he was in 1726. His love of the classics, however, was not enthusiastic, to judge from some notes in his Latin school books which are still in ex- istence. He came to this country in 1729, and was ordained over the Presbyterian Church of Chester in 1734. His church was then very limited in numbers. He continued in the ministry at Chester until his decease Feb. 1, 1779. Mr. Wilson's custom was to choose some book of the Bible and deliver lectures on it in course, touching on all the principal points alluded to in the dif- ferent chapters and verses-many of these display considerable in- genuity in their preparation.
Mr. Wilson lies buried in the Presbyterian graveyard, together with his wife, Jean, who died April 1, 1752, a. 36. His charac- ter is thus described : " He was a servant of Christ in the most peculiar and sacred relation, both in doctrine and life. It was his great delight to preach a crucified Christ as our wisdom, righ- teous, sanctification and redemption. He did not entertain his hearers with curiosities, but with real spiritual good ; his sermons were clear, solid, affectionate. A spirit of vital christianity ran through them. His life was suitable to his holy profession. He was a steady friend, a loving husband, a tender parent. His in- ward grace was visible in a conversation becoming the gospel."
Mr. Wilson had an only daughter, Ann, who married William Mills.
REV. EBENEZER FLAGG
Was born in 1704, at Woburn, Mass. He graduated at Har- vard in 1725, and in June, 1736, he was invited to become the minister of Chester, with an annual salary of £120, " as silver at 20 shillings an ounce," equal to $133,28. Mr. Flagg's ordination took place in Sept. 1736.
He was married to Lucretia Keyes, Nov. 15, 1739. She died March 30, 1764, at the age of forty. Mr. Flagg had a large fam- ily of children. He lived where Mrs. Persis Bell now lives. In personal appearance he was of medium stature and rather in- clined to be fleshy. He was noted for a pleasant and cheerful disposition. An anecdote used to be related of his perseverance in making the acquaintance of "Parson Wilson," who was re- puted rather taciturn and unsociable, and did not encourage his advances much.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Mr. Flagg continued in the ministry at Chester until his death, Nov. 14, 1796. At the time of his decease he had attained the greatest age of any minister in the State, with the exception of Mr. Adams, of Newington.
For some years previous to the Revolution, the Governor of New Hampshire appointed by the crown, was authorized to grant licences for marriages, as a means of augmenting his salary, which was in those days small. IIe was allowed two crowns for each license. Rev. Mr. Flagg, of Chester, approved of this mode of marrying, and hence clandestine matches were usually known in the adjoining towns as " Flagg marriages." (Parker's Hist. of Londonderry.)
The following notice of Mr. Flagg's death is taken from the " Columbian Sentinel," of Nov. 26, 1796 :
" Died, at Chester, N. H., 14th ult., the Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, æt. 93. He continued in the ministerial office during the unusual period of sixty years, and what is observable he survived every parishioner who was active at his settlement. In the character- istic traits of the deceased, are examples worthy to be recommend- ed by a most engaging assemblage of public, domestic and social virtues."
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CAPT. SAMUEL INGALLS 1770185
Was the son of Samuel and Sarah Ingalls, and was born at An- dover, Mass., May 7, 1683. He removed to Haverhill, where he married Mary Watts, in 1708. In 1720 he was one of the pro- prietors of Chester, where he removed in the fall of the same year. He was one of the grantees of the first saw-mill in town ; was lot-layer many years, and selectman almost continually from 1723 to 1733. IIe was the first militia captain of Chester. He first built a log cabin on Walnut Hill, about twenty rods north of Humphrey Niles' house, where he lived until 1732, when he built the first framed house on the spot where Mr. Niles now lives. Mr. Ingalls died Oct. 6, 1717, a. 61. His children were as follows :
1. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 8, 1709, probably m. Jacob Wells, of Chester.
2. Sarah, b. Oct. 27, 1710, probably died unmarried at Candia.
3. Samuel, b. Sept. 15, 1712, m.
4. Mary, b. Nov. 27, 1714, m. Jno. Hazelton in 1739.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
5. Ruth, b. Jan. 31, 1717-18, m. Ephraim Hazelton in 1735.
6. Timothy, b. Apr. 24, 1720, married and had two daughters.
7. Mehitabel, b. abt. 1723, was the first white child born in Chester, m. Dr. Samuel Moores, in 1750.
8. Abigail, b. about 1725, m. Stephen Morse.
9. Nathaniel, b. Dec. 12, 1727, m. Abigail Huse ; he lived in Hampstead, and died abt. 1790.
LIEUT. THOS. SMITH
Was born in Ireland, and came to Chester from Hampton in 1720 ; he lived on or near the spot where Mr. Pickett's house stands, where he had built a block-house of hewn timber. This house was taken down about eighty years ago. In 1724 he was captured by the Indians. He served under the town in various capacities for several years, and, about 1735, removed to New Boston. He had a family.
MAJ. JOHN TOLFORD
Was born at Megilligan, about fifteen miles from Londonderry, in Ireland, in July, 1701, and came to America in 1724. He mar- ried Jane McMurphy, of Londonderry, Jan. 8, 1734. He prob- ably removed from Londonderry to Chester in 1727. In 1736 he was committed to jail in Exeter for refusal of payment of taxes for Mr. Flagg's support. Maj. Tolford was a justice of the peace and selectman for many years ; he was a man of more than ordi- nary talent ; he had nine children, three of whom were sons.
1. Joshua, moved to Alexandria and had a family.
2. Hugh, b. Dec. 31, 1748, moved to Bedford, where he m. Elizabeth Patten in May, 1783 ; liad four children.
3. John, lived in Danbury, N. H., and had a family.
Maj. Tolford died in July 1791, aged 90 years.
WM. WHITE
Was born in England in 1689 ; his father was a glover, and re- moved about 1690 to Derry, in Ireland, where he was wounded in the siege. Wm. White came to this country and settled in Londonderry. He was a linen-weaver. He removed to Chester and purchased the farm now occupied by Joseph Webster in 1732. (?) He built a house on the opposite side of the road from Webster's house. He married in Ireland, but his wife died be-
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
fore he came to America ; she had two sons and a daughter. In 1733 he married Jane Graham, of Chester, and had five children. She d. in 1755, a. 45. His son
WM. WHITE, EsQ.,
Was born in Chester, March 4, 1740, O. S. He m. Mary, dau. of Robt. and Jane Mills, Jan. 24, 1764, and Elizabeth Mitchel, Sept. 17, 1782. He had in all sixteen children-too numerous to mention, (ride town books.) In 1777 Mr. White was appointed Major, in 1784, Lt. Col .; he was long a Justice of the Peace. Col. White was one of the principal Presbyterians, and died about 1830.
SAMPSON UNDERHILL
Was born in England, and emigrated to Ipswich, Mass. He set up his trade of a clothier there in 1626 or 7. He removed to Chester, and settled near where Mr. Quigg lives ; married an Ambrose, and had three sons, 1. John, afterwards a Capt. ; 2. Hezekiah ; 3. Moses. He died about 1735, and was the first person buried in the present graveyard. He is the progenitor of all the Underhills in Chester.
JOHN CARR
Was born in 1709, and came to Chester in 1724, probably with his father. He married Elizabeth Patten, (d. Sept. 2, 1781, a. 76.) In 1724 he was taken by the Indians, together with Lieut. Smith. He belonged to the Presbyterian parish. His children, 1. John, who moved to Candia ; 2. Mary, b. 1733, d. May 20th, 1774 ; 3. Mark, b. 1744, m. Elizabeth Gilchrist, had 2 children, Samuel, d. 1850, - m. a Webster ; he d. July 20th, 1782; 4. Joseph, m. Sarah Gilchrist, d. July 3d, 1783 ; 5. Martha, b. 1754, d. 1773. John Carr d. October 22d, 1782, at the age of 73.
BRADBURY CARR
Was probably the brother of the preceding ; he removed to Ches- ter about 1724 : married Anna --- , and had four ch. 1. Jo- seph, (b. Nov. 20, 1742,) m. Hannah Ayer; had four ch. ; (1) Hannah Ayer, (b. 1765,) (2) Joseph, (b. 1767,) had a family and now lives in Chester ; (3) Anna, (b. 1770,) (4) Bradbury M. (b. 1773,) m. Susan IIall in 1793, d. at Concord, a soldier, of
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HISTORY OF CHESTER.
spotted fever, in 1813 ; 2. Molly, (b. Feb. 26, 1747,) 3. Parker, (b. May 29, 1750,) 4. Judith, (May 28, 1752.)
SAMUEL EMERSON, EsQ.
Was born at Haverhill in 1708, and removed to Chester in 1727 or 28. He built a house on the spot where his son afterwards lived. He was one of the principal lot-layers ; in 1731 he was appointed the first Justice of the Peace of Chester. The same year he was chosen Proprietor's Clerk, which office he retained over fifty years. He was married twice ; to Sarah Ayer, of Ha- verhill, Feb. 15, 1733. They were admitted to the church in Chester, Feb. 8, 1741. She d. Nov. 19, 1751. Nov. 26, 1754, he m. Mrs. Dorothy Dearborn. Mr. Emerson had fifteen chil- dren, of whom several died young ; he d. Sept. 26, 1793. His wife d. March 25, 1804.
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