History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900, Part 47

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900 > Part 47

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Upon the roll of the seventh company of the regiment that went out in 1758, under Capt. Alexander Todd of Chester (now Hook- sett) are the names: William McDugal, Robert Walker, Joseph Linn, Joseph Moore, Enoch Moore, James Aiken, James Gilmore, John McAllister, John McDugal, and Robert Gilmore, all names of families early settled in Bedford.

As the men selected for such work were those only who had some reputation for sagacity and courage, it seems a fair inference that their leader must have possessed those qualities in a marked degree.

From the provincial papers, which give the record of the war- rants issued to pay for scouting duty, it appears that from 1744 until the Peace of Aix-La-Chapelle in 1748, Goffe was on scouting duty every winter. In 1747 he petitioned the governor and coun- cil for men to guard the towns of Hollis and Souhegan-East (Bedford), and his petition was granted. Attacks by the Indians were frequent through the whole of 1747, and garrisons to protect. the inhabitants were established at Dunstable (now Nashua), Mon- son (now Milford), Souhegan (now Bedford), Derryfield (now Manchester), Suncook, Penacook, Contoocook, and Canterbury. The garrisons at Milford, Bedford, and Derryfield were under com- mand of Captain Goffe.1 Peace was made (temporarily) in 1748.

1 New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 46, p. 86.

Souhegan East .* May ye 10th 1746

Capt Colborn. Sr. I Have Inlested John Marshell, Juner. John Marsh, Juner. &. Ezekiel Greley into my Troop which I hope is with your consent. this from your friend and Seruant

John Chamberlin

N. H. Military History, vol. 2, p. 90.

In July (1746) two men were posted at Goffe's garrison in Bedford, by the Gov- ernor's order, as appears by the following roll:

A Muster-Roll of two men, by the Governor's order, posted at Capt John Goffe's Garrison £ S d

John Sargent entered July 9 discharged Oct 31 115 days 6-2 6 - 5 - 5

Henry Flood. entered July 9. discharged Oct 31

115 days 6-2 6 - 5 - 5

Total

£12-10-10

* Now Bedford.

471

THE FRENCH WAR.

The boundary commissioners, who were appointed under the treaty of 1748 to settle the question of the boundary of Acadia, debated and disputed until 1753, when, it appearing that a peaceful determination of the matter was impossible, negotiations were broken off and hostilities begun again. They reached no acute stage, however, until 1755. In September of that year a force of Provincials and Regulars, to the number of 6,000 men, were assem- bled at Albany. John. Lyman, of Massachusetts, commanded the New England contingent, and under him was Colonel Blanchard, of Dunstable, with 500 men. Of these, three companies were raised in Derryfield ; one commanded by John Goffe, one by John Moore, his son-in-law, and a third by the afterwards celebrated Robert Rogers. Their duty was mainly that of scouting, or "ranging," as it was called, and here we quote from Parkman's description of them :

These rangers wore a sort of woodland uniform, which varied in the different companies, and were armed with smooth bore guns, loaded with buck shot, bullets, or sometimes both. The best of them were commonly employed on Lake George, and nothing can surpass the adventurous hardihood of their lives. Summer and winter, day and night were alike to them. Embarked in whale boats or birch canoes they glided under the silent moon or in the languid glare of a breathless August day, when islands floated in dreamy haze and the hot air was thick with odors of the pine, or in the bright October when the jay screamed from the woods, squirrels gathered their winter hoard and congregated blackbirds chatter farewell to their summer haunts; when gay mountains basked in light; maples dropped leaves of rustling gold ; sumachs glowed like rubies under the dark green of the unchanging spruce, and mossed rocks with all their painted plumage lay double in the water mir- ror; that festal evening of the year when jocund nature disrobes herself to wake again refreshed in the joy of her undying spring. Or in the tomb-like silence of the winter forest, with breath frozen on his beard, the ranger strode on snowshoes over the spotless drifts, and like Dürer's knight, a ghastly death stalked ever at his side.

Among the Bedford men who were enlisted were William McDougall, George Orr, Robert Holmes, Thomas Mclaughlin, Samuel Patterson, James Patterson, Nathaniel Patterson, John Orr,

Province of New Hampshire

In the House of Representatives Dec 25 1746 Voted, That the above muster-roll be allowed, amounting to twelve pounds ten shillings and ten pence, and paid to the said men out of the money in the treasury for defense of the Government &c.

D. Pierce-Clerk

In Council: Eod'm Die- Read and concurred:

In Council Dec 11th 1746 Consented to:

Theodore Atkinson-Sec'y

B. Wentworth

472

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

and John Moore.1 Moore was taken prisoner at the surrender of Fort William Henry in 1757; carried to Brest in France, served in the galleys; thence he escaped to England, sailed to Boston, was impressed there for the royal navy, and after being two years at sea, at last reached home. The Bedford men in Goffe's company of Blanchard's regiment assembled at Stewartstown (now Salisbury) ; thence they marched to Charlestown, or No. 4, as it was called, on the Connecticut river, and thence by Indian trail through the woods to Albany. They were posted at Fort Edward on the road from Albany to the head of Lake George. At the close of the battle between Baron Dieskau and Sir William Johnson, which took place in September, 1755,2 over the possession of Fort William Henry, Goffe's command was posted so as to fall on the flank of the retreating French. This they did, and though much inferior in numbers, dispersed them utterly. All their baggage and many . prisoners were taken. Upon the approach of winter, the English army under Sir William Johnson was disbanded and sent home, with the exception of a small garrison at Fort Edward, and another at Fort William Henry. Goffe and Moore, with their Bedford men, came home, but Rogers and his company remained. Their exploits in themselves make a history.

The next spring another expedition was organized against Crown Point by General Shirley, and a regiment was raised in New Hamp- shire for the service. It was commanded by Colonel Meserve; Goffe was its major, and his oldest son, John, went as an ensign. But the year 1756 was one of inactivity in military affairs, and according to the custom of the time, the soldiers were withdrawn into winter quarters by October, and active hostilities were at an end for the year. The fortification at the head of Lake George, which Sir William Johnson had completed in 1755 and which was known by the name of Fort William Henry, was a constant source of chagrin and irritation to the French, and Montcalm, their commander-in-chief, determined to destroy it. Accordingly, as early as March of 1757, he made his first attack upon it from Crown Point and Ticonderoga, but it was defended by the rangers so stoutly that he was compelled to withdraw, though his force num- bered some 1,500 men. With the opening of the summer of 1757,

1 But an entry of M. P. diary dated June 10, 1760, reads: " I went in the forenoon to Hugh Riddels & notified his Sons to go to Halifax as they were enlisted."

Recd of Capi Samll moor fifteen Pound of bulets of the provence-Stors-I say Recd 2

June ye 21st 1755

Pr John Goffe

473

THE FRENCH WAR.

the English commander-in-chief, the Earl of Loudon, prepared for aggressive hostility against the French. His attack took the form of a joint approach, by sea against Louisburg and by land against Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Troops were called for from the colonies, and New Hampshire raised 1,000 men. They were placed again under the command of Colonel Meserve, and John Goffe of Bedford was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. The regiment was divided. One battalion in command of Meserve joined the expedi- tion against Louisburg; the other, under Goffe, marched from Charlestown (No. 4), on the Connecticut river, to join General Webb at Albany, and was placed by him with the other contingents at Fort William Henry under command of Colonel Munroe.

While the English were preparing for the attack of Ticonderoga and Crown Point the French were not idle. Fort William Henry itself was attacked by them with an army of 8,000 men, starting from Ticonderoga at the end of June, and guided by their Indian allies. Munroe was left with the 2,000 men to hold his fort against this force.

Among the garrison was the battalion of 200 men from the New Hampshire regiment. Besides these there was a ranger company, commanded by Richard Rogers, brother of the famous Robert Rogers.

The story of the siege and capture of Fort William Henry is a moving one. Enough to say that after repeated calls for aid and reinforcements from Webb, their general commanding, which were refused, after their ammunition had been completely exhausted so that cannon and muskets lay useless on the ramparts, after an inter- cepted letter from Webb had been sent into the fortress by Mont- calm, the French commander-in-chief, advising Monroe to capitulate upon the best terms obtainable, then and then only was the place surrendered. But even then Monroe would yield only upon terms and these were, that the garrison should march out with the honors of war with their arms, baggage, and a field piece and that they should be protected from the outrages of the savages. On these terms they yielded, and the evacuation began.

The stipulation of protection from Indian outrage upon helpless captives and upon the women and children in the fort was the more necessary, because only the year before such an agreement had been made at the surrender of Oswego, and yet in gross violation of it twenty English prisoners had been delivered by Montcalm into the

474

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

hands of the savages for torture. But at William Henry, before the English had left the fort, the Indians, in search of plunder, had broken into the spirit room, stove in the rum casks and were drink- ing themselves to frenzy. The evacuation began. The garrison, with the women in the center, marched out. The New Hampshire contingent was in the rear. They had gone but a short distance when by a preconcerted signal, the savages rushed upon them all, sounding the war-whoop and brandishing their tomahawks. No guard had been furnished by Montcalm. There was not a single round of powder among the surrendered garrison and only the regular troops had bayonets. They were in advance and were not molested. But the provincials and the women were attacked by the savages with the utmost ferocity. They were killed in scores, and those who were taken prisoners were reserved for torture. The exact number of the slaughtered cannot be ascertained, but it is estimated as being from 500 to 1,500.

The whole transaction sent a shudder of horror through the country, and remains till now an indelible stain on the honor of its responsible author, the Marquis of Montcalm.

Of the 200 New Hampshire soldiers, 80 were killed or made prisoners.

The losses of Colonel Goffe were stated by him at £ 178 15 s., and this sum was reimbursed to him by the New Hampshire legis- lature the next year. From his experience in such occurrences we can gain an idea of how he and others like him must have regarded the French and how they enjoyed apparently to the utmost the continuous war against them in which they were engaged. .

The fort was burned and abandoned by the French after its cap- ture. The following spring, New Hampshire, in addition to the 500 men serving as rangers, furnished 800 men, under Colonel Hart of Portsmouth, to form a regiment. John Goffe of Bedford was com- missioned as lieutenant-colonel, and his son was lieutenant in one of the companies.

The feature in this year of the war was the unsuccessful attack made on Fort Ticonderoga, in which Lord Howe was killed. The next year the attack was renewed, and again New Hampshire sent her regiment.

On the 26th of July, 1759, the French blew up Ticonderoga, and retreated to Crown Point. The 1st of August they abandoned that place and withdrew to their fort at the foot of Lake Champlain,

475

THE FRENCH WAR.

where it empties into Richelieu river. The English army wintered at Crown Point. Quebec had fallen on September 13, 1759, and little was now left of French power on this continent, but such as there was centered at Montreal. The English only waited for the opening of spring to invest the place. General Murray was in com- mand of the English forces, and the colonists were called upon to . furnish levies. New Hampshire furnished a regiment, and this time John Goffe of Bedford was commissioned its full colonel. Colonel Goffe had his rendezvous at Litchfield, then the important town of Hillsborough county.1

A singular order published by him is preserved :

Collo. Goffe recommends it to the officers to examine the state of the men's shirts, shoes and stockings and further acquaint them that they are to be answerable that the men shirt twice every week at least, that such as have hair that will admit of it must have it con- stantly tied, they must be obliged to comb their hair and wash their hands every morning and as it is observed a number of the men accustom themselves to wear woolen night caps in the day time, he allows them hats. They are ordered for the future not to be seen in the day time with anything besides their hats on their heads, as ye above mentioned custom of wearing night caps must be detrimental to their health and cleanliness, the men's hats to be all cocked, or cut uniformly as Collo. Goffe pleases to direct.

The 10th of May, 1760, Governor Wentworth summoned his council and informed them that the regiment was "to march with- out loss of time, from Lytchfield to Charlestown, on Connecticut river, which being through an unsettled country and uncertain whether provisions could be got there, he thought it necessary to send provisions to Lytchfield to supply them from thence to Charles- town; and asked the Councils advice thereon, as also about a supply of arms, &c."

The council advised the governor that he "give orders for so much provision as will be necessary to victual the regiment from Lytchfield to Charlestown and cause the same to be transported to Lytchfield." They also advised "that a sufficient number of arms be supplied the men, to guard the regiment on their way to Crown Point."

The provisions were duly provided, and Colonel Goffe marched with his regiment to Charlestown. From thence, with a vast deal of labor, a road was cut by the troops through the wilderness in the

1 The men were recruited largely from the neighboring towns in Hillsborough and Rockingham counties.

476

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

direction of Crown Point for the distance of twenty-six miles, and so well made that the provisions of the regiment passed over it in carts without difficulty. It is needless to remark that such troops, under such a leader, were equal to any emergency and rendered most essential service in the campaign.

The regiment was marched up Souhegan river, through Amherst, Milford, Wilton, over the Pack Monadnock to Peterborough, up the Contoocook and down the Ashuelot to Keene ; thence up the Con- necticut river to Charlestown, thence across Vermont to' Crown Point, where it joined the main army; thence down Lake Cham- plain and the Sorel river to Montreal, where they arrived on August 8, 1760. September 8, Montreal capitulated, and French power in Canada was at an end.1

Capt. James Walker was engaged in this war from 1760 to 1763 as a sutler, under Col. John Goffe, his father-in-law. In 1764 he was appointed captain of a troop of horse, by Governor Wentworth ; the commission, dated March 4, 1764, and signed by Theodore Atkin- son, Jr., secretary, and B. Wentworth, governor, is in town in a good state of preservation (1850).

We will here insert a few short extracts from Capt. James Walk- er's journal, while sutler in the French war:

June 16, 1760. I set out for Albany from No. 4, but was detained, and I got to Mr. Grime's in Swansea, and lodged there all night, and it rained very hard, and the 18th, I arrived at Northfield, and lodged there all night, and the next day to North Hampton, and lodged at Capt. Lyman's. The 20th, I arrived at Westfield, to Capt. Clayer

1 The taking of Montreal is thus noticed by Russell in his "History of Modern Europe:"

In the meantime General Amherst was diligently employed in taking measures for the utter subversion of the French power in that part of the new world.

He conveyed instructions to General Murray, directing him to advance by water to Montreal, with all the troops that could be spared from the garrison of Quebec; and Colonel Haviland, by like orders, sailed with a detachment from Crown Point and took possession of Isle aux Noix, which he found abandoned by the enemy, and thence proceeded directly for Montreal, while the commander-in-chief, with his own division, consisting of about 10,000, regular and provincials, left the frontiers of New York and advanced to Oswego. There he was joined by 1,000 Indians of the Six Nations, under Sir William Johnson. .

Amherst embarked on Lake Ontario with his whole army, and after taking the fort of Isle Royale, which in a manner commanded the source of the river St. Lawrence, he arrived, by a tedious and dangerous voyage, at Montreal on the same day that General Murray landed near that place from Quebec. The two generals met with no opposition in this embarking their troops, and by a happy concurrence of cir- cumstances Colonel Haviland, with the detachment under his command, arrived next day.

The junction of these three bodies, composed of the flower of the British forces in North America, and the masterly dispositions made by the commanders, convinced Vaudreuil that all resistance would be ineffectual. He therefore demanded a capitu- lation, which was granted September 8, on terms more favorable than he had reason to expect in such circumstances.

Montreal, Detroit, Michilemackenac, and every other place possessed by the French, with the government of Canada, was surrendered to his Britannic Majesty. But it was stipulated that the troops should be transported to old France, and the Canadians were secured in their property and in the free exercise of their religion.

477

THE FRENCH WAR.

and 21st June I got to Shattuck's, and I went to breakfast at Shef- field. I got to Kinderhook, and lodged there all night. June 23, I arrived at Albany. June 24, came to Mr. Fisher's, to lodge. It rained all that week, and on the Sabbath, 29th, it rained very hard in the morning, and cleared off very pleasant ..

1760, July 4. I was at Mr. New-kirk's house, in the Mohawk Country, and returned to Albany the 6th (Sabbath), and I paid three dollars for a horse to ride to Mr. New-kirk's.

July 10, Thursday, Mr. Fisher and I sent one team loaded, to Lake George, with sugar, cheese, and tobacco, and I was very much out of order all that day with the head-ache, and all my bones and flesh was sore, and I was so weak that I could hardly walk the street, and so I remained till the 13th. (Sabbath) I felt some better.

July 19, Saturday, we sent one cart away, loaded with three bar- rels of rum, and one barrel of shrub, and one barrel of spirits and two boxes of chocolate, and one box of soap.

July 22. Mr. Fisher and I lodged at Saratoga all night going to the Lake. July 23, we got to Lake George, to Mr. Cooper's, where we lodged all night.

July 24. I set out to go to Crown Point, and tarried all night on the Lake, and got to Ticonderoga the next morning, one o'clock. And 25th, I got to Crown Point and lodged all night with Capt. Rogers; and Saturday, 26th, it rained, and the 28th, I went to Col. Haviland and got a pass to go to Albany, this was a Monday.

Tuesday, 29. I saw a pickerel that was four feet and five inches long, that was found dead in the Lake.

July 31, 1760. The Regiment arrived at Crown Point, and 4th of August the Post mustered, and this was a Monday. August 8, I got to Lake George, coming back to Albany, this was a Friday, to get stores for the Regiment.

He got back to the army with his stores, and proceeds:

August 30. We pitched our tent and got our stores from the Landing; I went to the Mills to bring more stores and was obliged to stay the 31st day, waiting for the Snowshoe, this was a Saturday.

September 2, 1760. A Schooner and Sloop came up to Crown Point, with the French prisoners and wounded men. Friday, 5th September, was a very pleasant day. 7th September, Sabbath. 9th, Moon changes at 8 o.clock, morning.

September 10, 1760, was Wednesday and we were all waiting for News from the Army, but could hear none. Monday the 8th day, Montreal was surrendered to our arms, and we received the news the 12th day, which was very agreeable to us all.

'Feb. 25, 1761. I swore Jas. Moor, Robt Griffen, David Thomp- son, Rob' Morrial and Alexander Orr concerning their being at Fort Frederick over winter in the year 1760. (M. P.'s Journal.)

478

HISTORY OF BEDFORD.

(From Provincial Papers, Vol. 9.)

Nov. 29, 1745. " Voted that their be allow'd Capt. John Goffe & ye twenty-seven men under his command for scouting from Merrymack to Connecticut river. Began ye 30th July last, 65:17:11 & for wages & 53 : 1:3 for Provisions and 47:18:4 1/2 for wages & 38:5:0, for Provisions to ye sd John Goffe for scouting as aforesd from ye 10th of Octor last & 19:7 1/2 for Wittles to be pd out of ye money in ye publick Treasury to defray ye charge of ye war against His Majestie's Enemies."

Tuesday, May 20, 1746. " Voted that there be allow'd Capt. John Goffe & ye forty- four men under his command scouting from ye twenty-fourth April, 1746 to ye nine- teenth of May following fifty-nine Pounds ten shillings for Wages & forty Pounds one shill for Provisions & fifty shills to send Capt. Goffe for his extra service in en- listing men & transporting Powder to be pd out of ye money in ye Treasury for Defence of ye Government."

May 21, 1746. "Voted that there be allow'd one Hundred & six Pounds thirteen shillings & two Pence for wages eighty-three Pounds ten shillings & three Pence for Provisions & nine Pounds Eighteen shills & nine Pence for snow-shoes & Maughgazins in full to Capt. John Goffe & ye thirty -eight men under his command scouting on the Frontiers from Decr 23 to Apr 7th," etc.

Saturday, Decr 6, 1746. " Voted that there be allow'd thirty-two Pounds seventeen shills & eight Pence to Capt. John Goffe & ye thirteen men under his command, in full of their monthly roll from ye 21st May last," etc.

Saturday, October 24th, 1747. " Voted that ye Muster Roll of Capt. John Goffe for four men posted at Blaisdell's, Perham's and Foster's Garrison near Amoskeag, from 30th Augt, 1746 to ye 29th Sept following amounting to Twelve Pounds for Prov. & ammunition be allow'd & pd out of ye money in ye Treasury."

Saturday, 21st Nov, 1747. "Voted that Capt. John Goffe's Muster Roll of men posted at Souhegan-East, Souhegan-West, Monson & Hollis from ye 29th May last to ye 16th Octor amounting to two Hundred & eighty Pounds Four Shillings & two Pence, three farthings, be allow'd & pd out of ye publick Treasury.

Saturday, 14th May, 1748. "Mr. Secretary bro't down ye Petition of ye Revd Mr. Stevens to Capt. Goffe praying for reinforcements for Souhegan-East, Souhegan- West, Contoocook and Canterbury, &c & ye Petition of Capt Job Clement and man for Rum."

Thursday, May 17, 1759. "Mr. Secy Came Down & Delivered the following Verball Message from his Excellency viz That his Excellency having sent Colo Goffe to Worcester to know whether there was any Provision made there for marching the New Hampsr Forces to Albany. Colo Goffe Returned & Informed him that there was none. Upon which his Excellency by the advice of the Council ordered a Quantity of Provisions & a number of oxen and carriages to be bought since which he had received advise from Genl Amherst that there was Provision made at Worcester to Answer the end aforesaid & desired the House would pass some order for the dis- posal of said provision and oxen which the House took no notice of.

Date, Souhegan-East June 8, 1744.

We, the Inhabitants of Souhegan-East Apprehending ourselves Exposed to Im- minent Danger both from the French & Indian enemys & being in no capacity to make a proper Stand in case of an assault from do constitute & appoint Mr. John Chamberlin our Delegate requesting him in yt capacity with all possible speed to repair to Portsmouth & to represent our Deplorable case to his Excellency, our Governor and ye general assembly and request of them such aids both in respect of men & military stores as to their great wisdom may seem meet and which may put us in a capacity to repell all attempts of our sd enemies.

John Riddel

John Riddel Junr

Forges Kennd Hugh Ridell Ritchard McAllister James Kinnock

John Moor Robert Gilmore

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History of Bedford, New Hampshire, from 1737 : being statistics compiled on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, May 15, 1900, Part 47

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town) Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Bedford (N.H. : Town)
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Concord, N. H. : The Rumford Printing Co.
Number of Pages: 1202