USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > Historical sketch of the town of Troy, New Hampshire, and her inhabitants from the first settlement of the territory now within the limits of the town in 1764-1897 > Part 8
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This was signed by the following persons, and duly returned by the selectmen :
Benjamin Tucker,
David Wheeler,
Jonathan Frost,
John Felton,
Thomas Riggs,
Richard Tozer,
Abijah Tucker,
Daniel Emerson,
Eliphalet Stone,
Daniel Goodenow,
Benoni Robbins,
Thaddeas Hastings,
Phineas Park,
Reuben Ward,
Silas Fife,
Elnathan Newton,
Abel Woodard,
Jonah Harrington,
Benjamin Goodenow,
William Adams,
Berodiek Webber,
Jedediah Tayntor,
Samuel Bishop,
William Tenney,
John McBride,
Richard Robbards,
Daniel Collins,
Ebenezer Rhodes, James Brewer,
Joseph Cutting,
Solomon Woodward,
Joseph Collins,
James Flood,
James Field,
David Dufer, His
Isaac McAllester,
Abraham X Brooks. Mark.
Timothy Biemies,
Jonathan Goodenow,
Ebenezer Hixson,
Daniel Cutting,
John Tozer,
David Thurston.
Stephen Woodard,
Jacob Newell,
James Lewis,
92
HISTORY OF TROY.
Moses Tucker, Oliver Wright,
Robert Converse. Theodore Mann.
Monadnock, No. Five, July, ye 9th, 1776.
In obedience to the within Riten we have ofered the same to all our inhabitants and they have all sined excepting those whose names are heare under Riten:
William Barker, Richard Atwell, Jonathan Shaw.
Icabard Shaw,
Daniel Lawrence.
BENJAMIN TUCKER, Selectmen of
THOMAS RIGGS, Monadnock
ELIPHALET STONE, No. Five.
Of this number, Silas Fife, Joseph Cutting, David Wheeler, Reuben Ward, Jonah Harrington, Richard Rob- bards, James Brewer, Daniel Cutting, Jacob Newell, Theo- dore Mann, William Barker, Jonathan Shaw, Icabard Shaw and Daniel Lawrence, lived on territory now in- cluded in Troy.
Tradition tells us that William Barker, although he refused to affix his name to this resolution, was not a Tory at heart, but, holding an office under the king, and not knowing which party would in the end become victo- rions, withheld his name rather as a matter of prudence than from any disaffection towards the cause of the colonists.
Richard Atwell so far overcome his scruples that he enlisted and joined the army at Rhode Island. Jonathan and Icabard Shaw were probably Tories indeed; but, knowing that the sharp eye of the Committee of Safety was upon them, they remained quiet and peaceable, and as such were undisturbed. Daniel Lawrence is said to have been at the Battle of Bunker Hill, but why he refused to sign his name to this resolution is a mystery that can- not be solved.
A similar circular was sent to the town of Fitzwilliam, but the return, if ever made, has been lost.
93
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
Few of the particular accounts and vouchers apper- taining to the expenses of Fitzwilliam in the Revolution- ary War can now be found, and probably most of them
VIEW OF COMMONS LOOKING NORTH.
were destroyed by fire in 1785. The following are copies of those that have been preserved.
State of New Hampshire
to the Selectmen of Fitzwilliam Dr.
1779, July. To cash paid Joseph Fassett & Joseph Muzzy, two soldiers inlisted in the Continental Army for one year.
State Bounty £60 each. £120.
Received an order on the Treasurer for One Hundred and twenty pounds.
per JOHN MELLEN, one of the Seleetmen.
State of New Hampshire to the Selectmen of Fitzwilliam Dr.
1779, July 18. To cash paid Daniel Gould a soldier inlisted in Col. Mooney's Regiment for the defence of Rhode Island, six months. Bounty £30. Travel 90 miles to Providence 99. pr Rect £39-0-0
Received an order on the Treasurer for Thirty Nine pounds.
pr JOHN MELLEN, one of the Seleetmen.
An account of Town Bounties paid by the Town of
94
HISTORY OF TROY.
Fitzwilliam to the following soldiers inlisted in the Conti- mental Army for three years. Viz .:
1777 Feb. Amos Boynton Capt. Cleaves Co.
٠١ Zadock Dodge Do.
John Dodge
£24. 0. 0. 30.
24.
.. Peter Barbe (Burpec) 14. 8. 0.
1778 Do. 9. 12. 0. 24.
1777 Peter Barbe, Jun. 14. 8. 0.
1778 Do. 9. 12. 0. 24. Daniel Squire Capt. Clayes Co. 9. 0. 0.
Fitzwilliam, Jan. 1780. The above soldiers inlisted for the town of Fitzwilliam, and were paid the several sums set against their names. Attest Jolin Mellen Selectmen.
Sworn to at Exeter March 9, 1780 before James Belton.
From the Fitzwilliam town accounts :
Amos Boynton
£21-16-10
Zadock Dodge
18-12
John Dodge
14-17- 7
Peter Burpee
10-16- 2
Peter Burpee Jr.
10-16- 2 €76-18-9
July 16, 1782. Gave a certificate to James Reed per order from the Selectmen.
FITZWILLIAM ACCOUNT.
Pay roll to Cambridge in 1775
£32-19
Do. to Royalton 5-11-6
£38-10-6.
Record of town returns :
MARLBOROUGH.
Calvin Goodenow Absent July 7, 1777. discharged Timothy Rogers no return Jacob Whittier no return Adino Goodenow discharged Dec. 18, 1778 by Gen. Poor Shem Kentfield recruit hanged 1782 June (Must. Apr. 16, 81) Ebenezer Goodenow recruit March 21, 1781 John Wilson war Allen Runnels war Samuel Lyon war
95
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
State of New Hampshire to the Selectmen of Marlborough Dr.
1779 July 19th. To paid Elijah Park a soldier inlisted in Col. Hercules Mooney's Regiment raised for the defence of Rhode Island and mustered by Col. Enoch Hale.
Bounty £30. Travel to Providence $10. per rec't 40-0-0
Rec'd an order to Discount with the Treasurer for forty pounds in behalf of the Selectmen of Marlborough.
BENJ. TUCKER.
State of New Hampshire to the Selectmen of Marlborough Dr.
1779 July 27. To paid Oliver Wright a soldier inlisted in one of the New Hampshire Regiments in the Continental Service for one year, mustered by Col. Enoch Hale.
Bounty by receipt €60.
Rec'd an order on the Treasurer forty six pounds, in behalf of the Selectmen of Marlborough. JOHN MELLEN.
State of New Hampshire to the Selectmeu of Marlborough Dr.
1779 July 29. Paid James Lewis a soldier for one year in one of the New Hampshire Regiments in the Continental service-Mns- tered by Col. Enoch Hale.
Bounty per receipt £60 .-
Rec'd an order for the Treasurer to Discount sixty pounds in behalf of the Selectmen of Marlborough. BENJ. TUCKER. To the Honorable General Court of the State of New Hampshire.
Gentlemen the town of Marlborough was called upon for six men to engage for three years which men the town made out to acceptance of our head Colonel as our proportion of Continental men Jabez McBride Reuben McAlester and Timothy Rogers Received no money of the town as a hire.
Adino Goodenow Calvin Goodenow and Fradorick freeman have Re- ceived twenty pounds Each as town Bounty which the town Paid the tenth Day of April A. D. 17- In July 1779 the town hired two men more for to serve in the Continental army for the term of one year gave to Capt. James Lewis as a hire 130 Bushels of Rie and forty pounds of money Russel Oliver Received 120 Bushels of Rie and forty pounds of money this Being the whole that the town of Marlborough hath paid to the Continental Soldiers which they had to Raise from January the 1, 1777 to January ye 1, 1780.
Marlborough Febuary the 9th 1780.
DAVID WHEELER | Selectmen of OLIVER WRIGHT | Marlborough
96
HISTORY OF TROY.
To the Secretary of the State of New Hampshire.
Sir the following is a Return of the Men that the Town of Marlbor- ough hath in the field-Calvin Goodenow, Timothy Rogers, Jacob Whitter, and Adino Goodenow was hired By the Town of Marlborough During the war and was Discharged when he was in good health for Reasons unkone to them and the Town think it hard to hire another in his Rome.
JEDE TAYNTOR
OLIVER WRIGHT
Selectmen for
DAVID WHEELER
Marlborough
May ve 20th 1782
To the Honourable the Committee of Safety of the State of New Hamp- shire.
Gentlemen in obedience to a precept Received From the honourable the General Court to procure our Cota of Continental men we have voused our utmost Endeavors to procure said men ourselves we Emeade- ately Called a town meeting and chose a Committee for that purpose which Committee has made a Return that they cannot procure said men without paying such a Large Sum of hard money in hand to procure said men that it puts the matter beyond our power to procure said men upon so short Notice we therefore Begg Leave to Inform your honours that it is not in Disobedience to the precept but it is the Extream Scarcity of hard money in this New town has put it out of our power at present to yield that obediance that we should have been glad to have done-N. B. We would inform your honours that we have one man Now in the field that he was not Creadited for Last year viz Calvin Goodenow who was hired in ye year 1777 by this town to serve for said town during the war and at the avacation of ticonderoga he was taken prisoner and Never joined his Regt till last may and since that he Diserted and was Last march taken up and is Now in the first Regt in the hampshire Line
JAMES BREWER JAMES FLOOD
EBENEZER TEMPLE
Selectmen of Marlborough
SILAS FIFE DANIEL CUTTING
It would seem that up to 1780, the town had spent but little in paying bounties to soldiers, and that those who had enlisted, had done so more from a sense of duty
97
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
and love of country than for the sake of obtaining a bounty. But after that time the extreme scarcity of hard money rendered it difficult to procure men for the service.
In 1775, Congress had issued bills of credit to the amount of two millions of dollars. This was soon fol- lowed by another of one million. The confederated colo- nies were pledged for their redemption, each to provide means to pay its proportion by the year 1779. Twenty millions were issued in eighteen months, when they began to depreciate in value. At first the depreciation was slight, but they continued to lose in value daily. Congress, desirous of arresting the growing depreciation, resorted to loans and taxes, but it was difficult to negotiate for the loans, and the taxes could not always be collected. Pressed with the necessities of an army, Congress was obliged to continue to issue bills after they had begun to depreciate, and to pay that depreciation by increasing the sums emitted; so that in fifteen years, the amount in circulation was about two hundred millions.
The progress of this diminution is worthy of notice. At the close of the year 1777, the depreciation was two or three for one; in 1778, five or six for one; in 1779, twenty-seven or twenty-eight for one; in 1780, fifty or sixty for one in the first five months. After this date the circulation of these bills was limited; but when they passed they soon depreciated to one hundred and fifty for one, and finally several hundred for one. Several causes contributed to diminish the value of the Continental eur- reney. The excess in quantity at first caused a natural decline in value, which was increased by the enemy who counterfeited the bills and spread the forgeries through the States. These causes, cooperating with the decline of pub- lic confidence, rapidly increased the decline, until bills of credit, or what was commonly called " Continental money,"
13
98
HISTORY OF TROY.
became of little value. The evils resulting from this sys- tem were immense. From this fact it became extremely difficult to raise an army and provide for its subsistence. At the same time it originated discontent among the offi- cers and soldiers, since their pay in this depreciated cur- reney was inadequate to the support of their families. "Four months' pay of a private would not procure his family a single bushel of wheat, and the pay of a colonel would not purchase oats for his horse."
After the Declaration of Independence in July, 1776, it was determined to maintain the same at all hazards, and a new militia system became necessary, and in the Septem- ber following, an act was passed by the Legislature for forming and regulating the militia within the State of New Hampshire in New England. This provided for two classes of soldiers-a Training Band and an Alarm List. The entire male population, negroes, Indians, and a few of the highest civil and judicial officers excepted, between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five, were to be enrolled.
The Training Band included all males between the ages of sixteen and fifty, with the exceptions noted above; and each of these men was required to furnish himself with the following articles, and keep the same at all times ready for use-viz: A good firearm, good ramrod, a worm, priming wire and brush, a bayonet fitted to his gun, a scabbard and belt therefor, and a cutting sword, or a tomahawk or hatchet, a pouch containing a cartridge box that will hold fifteen rounds of cartridges at least, a hun- dred buckshot, a jackknife and tow for wadding, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden bullets fitted to his gun, a knapsack, and a blanket, a canteen or wooden bottle sufficient to hold one quart. Each town was to provide and deposit in some safe place for use in case of an alarmı, a specified number of spades or shovels, axes
99
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
and picks, and to provide arms and equipments for those unable to provide for themselves; and parents, masters or guardians were to provide for those under their care. Each company was to muster eight times a year, including the regimental musters.
The Alarm List or Minute Men included all males be- tween sixteen and sixty-five, not included in the Training Band, and who were not exempted by this act. The Alarm was to be given by firing three guns, one after the other; by firing the beacon, or the drums beating the alarm.
The officers and soldiers, in case of being called forth for an emergency, were each to furnish himself with at least three days' provisions, and the selectmen of their towns were immediately to cause carriages to attend them, with further necessary provisions, and utensils to cook the same.
Military watches, or guards, were to be appointed by the commissioned officers of each town, or by the com- manding officers, in such numbers and at such times and places as were designated; and all persons in the Training Band or Alarm List, under sixty years of age, were required to do watch duty. Penalties were attached for disobedience or neglect, and all fines were to be paid to the selectmen or treasurers of the towns in which the delinquents had their residence.
This act continued in operation during the most critical part of the war. Troops were raised by voluntary enlist- ments; but when these did not furnish the quotas, the Council and House of Representatives, or Committee of Safety, ordered a specific number of men to be raised in each regiment. This number was apportioned among the several companies of the regiment, and the companies being paraded, the draft was made under the direction of their commanding officers.
228:02
100
HISTORY OF TROY.
A census of the inhabitants of Fitzwilliam made in 1773, showed the following results :
Unmarried men between 16 and 60, 18
Married men between 16 and 60, 44
Males under 16, 55
Total males, 117
Females, married, 14
Females, unmarried, 53
Total females, 97 97
Total population, 214
The returns from Marlborough were as follows:
Unmarried men from 16 to 60 years of age, 9
Married men from 16 to 60 years of age, 16
Boys of 16 years and under, 25
Men 60 years and above, 1
Females, unmarried, 26
Females, married, 16
Slaves,
0
9.3
CHAPTER VI.
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
THE PEOPLE DESIRE A NEW TOWN .- REASONS FOR THE SEPARATION .- THEY PETITION TO BE VOTED OFF .- THEIR REQUEST DENIED .- A MEETING HOUSE BUILT .- SUBJECT BROUGHT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE .- ENCOUN- TERS OPPOSITION .- COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION APPOINTED .- HEAR- ING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE .- A CHARTER OBTAINED AND THE TOWN ORGANIZED.
The history thus far given has been mostly limited to portions of the territory of Fitzwilliam, Marlborough, Richmond and Swanzey, for Troy, up to this time, had no political existence. But in 1815, these portions of terri- tory, with the inhabitants thereon, were by legislative enactment incorporated into a separate town. It will be necessary to go back several years for a full understand- ing of the matter and notice some of the reasons which made the separation desirable on the part of the people, and the means employed to bring it about.
The surface of the territory being so uneven and hilly, and the hills extending in such directions, rendered it in- convenient for the inhabitants of some parts of it to reach the center of their respective towns. At this time, also, the village had attained a considerable size, and had
become a place of considerable business, so that it com- manded the most of the trade within a radius of two or three miles. The people, having become accustomed to do much of their private business here, very naturally con- cluded that it would be for their convenience to transact their publie business here also. Then again, the village, having been built up on the border of two towns, was
102
HISTORY OF TROY.
under a divided jurisdiction, and this being the case, the inhabitants felt that their interests, to a certain extent, were divided, which was neither pleasant nor conducive to the prosperity of the place. These were the main rea- sons urged for an act of incorporation.
The first knowledge we have that the inhabitants of this territory desired a new town was in 1781. In a warrant posted for a town meeting at Marlborough, Feb. 6, 1781, the following article appeared: "to See if the town will vote off part of the South End of Marlborough, and part of Fitzwilliam, and part of Swanzey, and part of Richmond, in order to make a town." The only re- sponse to this article was a vote to pass it over. The matter lay dormant for several years, until 1794, when a petition was drawn up and presented to the town of Fitz- william, of which the following is a copy.
"To the Inhabitants of ye Town of Fitzwilliams in the County of Cheshire, in Legal Town Meeting assembled, on ye 25th Day of August A. D. 1794.
The Petion of ye Subscribers a Com'tee in behalf of the Inhabitants settled on ye lands included in the 5th, 6th, & 7th Ranges of lotts with the weddge tear, together with a number of lotts of land on the north end of the Town of Fitzwilliams, bounded as followeth, beginning at Writchmond line, including ye 7th lott in the 12th Range; thence east including the 20th lot in ye 9th range; thence east to Jafery line, includ- ing all the lands lying north of said line in said Town of Fitzwilliams; Together with a number of lotts at ye southeast corner of Swanzey and ve northeast corner of Writchmond, and a number of lotts from the northwest corner of Writehmond, and number of lotts from the north- west corner of Jaffery, Humbly Sheweth-That by reason of our great distance from ye Hous of Publiek worship and other meetings for tran- saetion of Publiek business in our respective Towns, upon mature delibera- tin in publiek meeting called for that purpose, think our duty & a reasonable request that we should be incorporated into a distinet town with equal powers and priveledges of other Towns within this State.
Therefore in behalf of said Inhabitants, we humbly request Gentlemen your approbation of ye Same, and that by your vote or grant, von
103
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
signify your willingness that we be incorporated by ye General Court into a Distinet Town as afor, all which is humbly Submitted by your obedient Servants-
EPHRAIM ROOT,
ENOCH STARKEY, -- Com'tee.
DANIEL FARRAR, i JESSE BELOWS,
Fitzwilliams the 6th of August A. D. 1794."
Fitzwilliams August 6th, 1794.
The subscribers inhabitants of said Town hereby request ye Gentle- men, Selectmen of this Town to insert ye prayer of ye within petion, and make it an Artical in ye warrant for ye next Townmeeting; witness our hands &c.
Agabns Bishop,
Edward Foster,
John Sweetland,
David White,
Ebenezer Mason,
Ebenezer Nurs,
William Farrar,
John Write,
Thomas Bruce,
Abraham Hawkins,
Nathaniel Bucklin,
Nathaniel Bucklin, Jr.,
Jonas Warren,
Ezekiel White,
Jonas Robeson,
Isaac Jackson,
Jonathan Whitney,
John Jackson,
John Whitney,
Thomas Tolman,
John Godding,
Timothy Godding."
At a town meeting, shortly after the date of the above petition, the subject was taken into consideration, but the town refused to accede to the prayer of the petitioners. In the year 1800, the subject was again agitated, but the result was a little talk only, which was soon dropped. In the summer of 1812, the subject was again revived, and under the following circumstance. One afternoon, Jacob Osborn and Edmund Bemis happened to meet at the store of D. W. Farrar, and as the story goes, "over a mug of toddy," broached the subject to Dr. Wright, who by request wrote some notices for a citizens' meeting, to be held at Weaver's Hotel, for the purpose of taking the
104
HISTORY OF TROY.
matter into consideration and devising such plans as might seem expedient.
At this meeting, of which Capt. Daniel Farrar was chairman, and Dr. Wright, secretary, the subject was warmly discussed, but to avoid hasty action and give ample time for reflection, the meeting was adjourned for a few days.
In order to prepare the way for the organization of a new town, it was thought best as a matter of primary importance to build a meeting house.
At this adjourned meeting a committee was chosen, consisting of Capt. Isaac Fuller, George Farrar, Sen., Daniel W. Farrar, Daniel Cutting and David White, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for building a meeting house and procuring a charter of the proposed town. And in order to obtain the best plan possible for a house, Capt. Fuller and Daniel W. Farrar were directed to go to Templeton, Mass., and examine a model house which had just been completed in that town. At a meeting of the citizens in 1813, this committee re- ported the result of their proceedings; whereupon it was voted that they should draw a plan of the house after the model they had examined, and sell what pews they could to raise money to defray the expense of building. The committee drew the plan and proceeded to sell the pews; but not succeeding according to their expectation, they became discouraged and were about to abandon the enterprise.
Just at this time, Elnathan Gorham had moved into the village, and by his zeal and energy infused new life into the whole matter. He bought pews and rendered such pecuniary aid, as enabled the committee to go for- ward and place the building under contract. The timber for the frame was furnished by the citizens, and hewn
105
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
according to the dimensions furnished by the committee ; the framing and outside work were let to a man from Sullivan, for five hundred and fifty dollars; the inside finishing was let to Samuel Morse of Templeton, Mass., for six hundred dollars. The contractors went forward with their work with all possible speed, so that the frame was raised in June, and the house was dedicated early the following winter.
Having completed the contracts for the building of a meeting house, the committee proceeded to make a survey and draw a plan of the proposed town; they had an article inserted in the warrants for the annual meeting of each of the towns from which they proposed to sever territory, to see if they would vote off the proposed land. Richmond and Swanzey were willing to contribute their share of the territory for the new town, but Marlborough and Fitzwilliam were inexorable, and refused, as they had done several times before. At the session of the Legisla- ture the following June, the committee, not discouraged but hopeful, presented their plan to that body and peti- tioned for an act of incorporation. In this transaction Col. Daniel W. Farrar was agent for the petitioners, and through his influence the subject was brought before that body, but encountered vehement opposition in the House; but the question was so far entertained that a committee was appointed to examine the ground, hear the parties, and report at the next session of the Legislature. This committee consisted of John Smith of Peterborough, Lock- hart Willard of Keene, and Brown of New Ipswich. They came here in the spring of 1815, and after a partial view of the place, had a public hearing at Gorham's Hotel. After hearing the testimony on both sides they expressed themselves as adverse to the prayer of the petitioners. Upon learning this, Col. Farrar proposed to them to make
14
106
HISTORY OF TROY.
a more thorough examination of the territory. To this they readily assented, and Col. Farrar took them to the top of Fuller Hill as it was then called, now known as West Hill, and from thence to the old center meeting house in Marlborough. It was about this time that buggy wagons came into general use through this region; they were huge and cumbersome affairs in comparison with the light vehicles of the present day. One of these buggies, containing two ponderous bodies in the form of a court's committee and drawn over the rough roads, was enough to make a horse of ordinary strength plead the petitioners' canse far more effectually than any attorney could do. The ride was sufficient to change completely the minds of the committee, and on arriving at the meeting house, one of them distinctly declared that "the people of West Hill ought never to be compelled to travel such a road as that to reach the center of the town." Having secured the favor of the committee, the petitioners took fresh courage and pressed their claim with more determined resolution. But Marlborough and Fitzwilliam continued to throw every obstacle in their way; the strife became ardent, and it seemed that
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