USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Candia > History of Candia: once known as Charmingfare; with notices of some of the early families > Part 2
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23
MR. JEWETT'S LETTER.
To the Inhabitants of Candia :
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,-The serious Concern you seam to manifest for the Enjoyment of the Stated Institu- tions of the Gospel and in the most regular way by the preparations You are making for this purpose, and have proceeded so far as to give me an Invitation to settle among You in the Sacred office of the Gospel ministry and having voted me Such a maintainance as may be Sufficient, being so generally united in me and so agree- ably harmonizing among y-selves, Having taken these things into the most serious and prayerful consideration, I Embrace this Opportunity to express my gratitude to you in having Such a Regard for me, which I trust with an Eye and aim to God's Glory has influenced you to act as you have; and would hereby signify to you that upon Condition a Church is incorporated in this Place in Christian love and friendship and on condition that you finish the Parsonage house by october or No- vember in the year 1772, and Digg and Stone a well by December next and build a barn by July next You have my consent for tarrying- and should God in his alwise Providence so order that I settle among you may it be with an humble Dependance upon Divine Grace that I may be Enabled to behave agreeable to the char- acter of a minister of Christ. Entreating your earnest and fervent prayers at the throne of Grace, that in the Course of my ministration among you I may prove faith- full and successfull, that I may not Run in vain, nor spend my strength for naught, while holyness and Char- ity are our mutual and resolute Endeavours.
from your real and serious friend,
DAVID JEWETT.
2.4
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
These conditions were probably complied with, for in 1770 Mr. Jewett began his ministry. In 1773, a pul- pit was built, certainly a most elaborate piece of archi- tecture, very high, grand and prison-like, over the dea- cons' seat, like Ossa upon Pelion. It was a quecr idea, that of placing a preacher mid way between Heaven and his hearers, and perhaps to the designer of such high places, typical of the sacred office. Over the pul- pit was a huge sounding board, and many a time of a warm summer's Sabbath afternoon, when the buzzing of a fly about my nose, or a sudden pause in the sermon roused me from vainly resisted slumbers, have I been seized with a sort of panic, lest it should fall and dash the unfortunate incumbent to atoms. This was in boy- hood's day, but never since have I seen, or thought of it, but an involuntary comparison arises, between that and the sword suspended by a single hair over the head of Damocles, as we used to have it in the English Rea- der and I know not what classic author beside. How- ever, this sounding board, if a bubble, was a harmless one, and seemed by custom quite a necessary part of the sermon.
While thus quietly and peacefully engaged in the com- mon and pleasant duties of life, designs were maturing in the great world without, which might soon call the attention of our Fathers to sterner things. The cloud overhanging the country assumed a dark and threaten- ing aspect. The colonies by their deputies in Congress
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25
THE REVIEW.
at Philadelphia, October 26th, 1774, recommended each and every citizen to prepare himself to stand on the de- fensive. In conformity with this advice, conventions were holden in many places, and one was called at Ex- eter, June 25, 1775. From this town Moses Baker was chosen a delegate. In the meantime Walter Robie, Esq., Capt. Nathaniel Emerson, Doct. Samuel Mooers, Mr. Benjamin Cass, Mr. Jacob Worthen were chosen as a committee to inspect all persons who should not conform to the advice of the General Congress. It was voted that the Selectmen should buy one barrel of pow- der, " with flints and lead answerable thereto." For- tunately, our Fathers were never compelled to re- sist invasion so immediate as this vote seemed to con- template. The powder has long since been resolved into its native and original clements, but the bullets still re- main and constitute about the only article of defensive warfare in the fortress civic of the town. Long may they rest undisturbed ! Capt. Emerson, Lieut. Baker and Ensign Bean were directed to request all thic males in Candia, from sixteen to sixty years of age, to assem- ble at the meeting house, for reviewing with arms and ammunition, on the 17th day of January, 1776, at one o'clock, P. M. It seems probable that there was about one hundred and fifty men assembled, for we find in the Secretary's office, at Concord, a report of the Sc- leetmen made in October, a copy of which is here given, 4
26
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
Males under 16, 232 ; from 16 to 50, 120 ; above 50, 19 ; gone in the army, 27. Females 346. Seventy-two firelock's fit for use, forty-eight wanted.
Powder is so inconsiderable, we thought not worth no- tice. Town stock, none at all.
ABRAHAM FITTS, Selectmen
WALTER ROBIE,
of
MOSES BAKER, Candia.
Oct, 24, 1775.
That first review must have been an occasion of no ordinary moment to the people of Candia. It was no . boy's-play, no village muster, with its mock parade of awkward soldiery. One can seem to see them now, those stern old men, here and there a few grey locks, who had seen hard service among the Rangers, or helped drag the cannon through the marshes at Louisburg,- those sober young men, with scanty equipments but full hearts ; there were startling thoughts, and purposes of mighty resistance shadowed forth in the knit brow and compressed lip.
That REVIEW, what would the people of Candia not give for a complete and perfect engraving - taken from the pencil of some skilful painter - which should repre- sent each face as it was, each manly form as they stood. Alas, no cunning artist can recall from eternal sleep, the features and forms that few remember to have seen, the faces none might recognize. The very ground whereon they stood has been moved away, and the ashes of that
27
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR.
temple in whose shadow they were, scattered to the winds of heaven.
In February, a Parish meeting was called, by the pro- ceedings of which it appears that the committee of In- spection had attended to their duty. The report which they presented was not placed on record. An addition of four persons was made to the Committee, viz : Na- thaniel Burpee, Abraham Fitts, Moses Baker, and Ich- abod Robie. Tuesday May 11th, Doct. Samuel Mooers was chosen to represent the town, in Provincial Con- gress, to be holden at Exeter, on the 17th inst. A com- mittee of seven gave him advice and instructions.
Meetings of the citizens were frequent, and held at different houses ; every measure was discussed, every act of the mother country watched with much anxiety, and each step debated with that close attention which to this day characterizes the people of Candia. When finally convinced of the justice and necessity of resist- ance, no people were ever more united, more ardent, more energetic. At a meeting called for the purpose, Nathaniel Emerson, Moses Baker and Doct. Samuel Mooers, were chosen to consult with the officers and committees of other towns as to the best manner of regulating the militia of the regiment.
The news of the battle of Lexington, more powerful than the eloquence of a thousand orators, thrilled through the veins of men. The news came to Candia at midnight, and Col. Emerson, who was first to receive
28
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
it, rode up to the mecting house, firing minute guns as he went, to arouse the inhabitants. When there, he was soon joined by others, and they fired minute guns until day-break, at which time every man was on the ground. Nine volunteered that morning, of whom Capt. Moses Dusten was the first. How many others did, we are not able to tell; as no reliable record can be found, and those who remember these things are few and far between. One winter's evening I talked some hours with Mr. John Buswell, since deceased, about the revolutionary times. Said he, "I remember as well as if it were no longer ago than yesterday, when my father was called up in the night to go to Lexington. I was but eight years old." He remembered the first review at which he was present, and the excitement of that day in comparison with which all days since seem- ed to him of little importance. He spoke of threatened disunion, and of the time he had not forgotten, when there was no Union, when food and clothing were hard to procure, and only the most rigid economy, and some- times suffering and hardship, could enable the citizen to meet the demands of Congress on his purse. It will be seen from the statistics of various kinds in this little work, that Candia was in no whit behind her neighbors in affording mcans, according to and even be- yond her strength, for the prosecution of the war. In the tax list of 1778, three years after the declaration of war, there are one hundred and sixty-four names of
29
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR.
men ; and on the record of soldiers who served, some during the war, and some for a less time, are one hun- dred and twenty-two. Like Warren, the first great martyr, they left their plows in the furrow, or it may be, hurried to the battle-field, " When the drum beat at dead of night."
In 1777, 18 men were called for as the proportion of Candia in the Continental Army, and it was voted by the town that twenty dollars a year should be paid those who enlisted. April 8th, a committee was ap- pointed to ascertain how much money each citizen had expended since Concord fight, in support of the war. The only record made of that report is very incom- plete as found on the town book. A copy of it fol- lows.
Concord men, 18. per day and extra charges.
8 month men with Lieut. Emerson, 4 Dollars each. Ditto with Lieut. Dusten, 2 Dollars each.
Winter Hill men with Capt. Baker, 1 Dollar each.
1 year men to York, 8 Dollars, those to Delaware, 2 Dollars each.
Tyconderoga men, 132 Dollars each.
New York men last fall, 1 Dollar each.
New York men last winter, 2 Dollars each.
Joseph Bean to Canada, 20 Dollars.
The people were always in a state of readiness at home as well as abroad, to receive an enemy. They seldom went from their dwellings without arms. One time there was a report that the British had come as
30
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
far as Sandown, and the greatest alarm prevailed ; each man inspected his small stoek of ammunition and prepared for resistance. Even on the Sabbath morning, the far- mer shouldered his trusty firelock as he went to the house of God.
Said Theodore Frelinghuysen in a sermon delivered in Albany at the camp of the New England forces, in the time of French War, "Ye people of Albany, the time was when forces came up to us on a shadowy expedition, not having the fear of God before their eyes. Ye now hear the sacred songs of Zion sung in their camp, instead of blaspheming and profane dis- course ye see and hear now a religious conversation." This was in some respects the character of the New England soldier, but the camp contaminated even him. The congregation of our ancestors, armed and ready for an alarm, was a sight to be remembered. What stillness reigns in that house of worship, all save the voice of the man of God. How every eye is turned on him, the occupant of that high carved pulpit. The stern puritan demeanor of the fathers, the silent and half frightened gravity of the children, and-unwont- ed sight in this peaceful place -the fire-arms, the Yan- kee bayonets, disposed here and there, make a scene worthy of description. That startled glance of woman's eye towards the door, as some passing gust stirs the stout timbers above her head, tells volumes. Undefined fears of evil to come, of sudden surprise, of terrible
31
1
DRESS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
disaster to her loved ones, will not let her hear the sermon quietly, and when she steps out into the sun- light, every distant hill coneeals a column of British, or still worse, each wood gives covert to the dreaded In- dian. Ah, my enduring mother, daughter, sister of the Revolution, what courage when the trial eame was yours. You made the home for which our fathers fought worth fighting for. This plain, hardy and vigorous raee had no rights to be trifled away and relished not courtly jesting.
For the dress of those times, the men wore trowsers of tow and linen, made from the looms of their indus- trious wives, with a coat of the same material. This garment, which was made loose and rather short, might in Roman times have been dignified with the classic name of tunie. There was probably some difference in the pattern, but in the plain language of Candia it was called a " long short," and, say those who tell of olden times, the corners of the coat were sometimes tied to- gether, forming a saek around the body of the wearer. In this was placed the Sunday dinner, often in summer consisting of rye and indian bread and eueumbers, which fare was leisurely discussed during the hot noon, in the. pleasant shade of the surrounding chestnut trees. To. be sure there was occasionally seen the three cornered hat, the long vest, long tailed coat and black silk stock- ings, with the breeches and knee buckles of the gen- tleman, but the above deseribed was the more common
32
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
dress. The dress of the ladies was woven of linen, sometimes striped with a figure of blue ; over this and extending about half way down its length, was worn a loose gown of some other material, not unlike the sack of the present day. A gentleman and lady of our home- spun olden time, might startle a modern congregation half out of its propriety.
January 1778, a committee was chosen to procure our quota of men for the army, and money was voted for that purpose. The General Congress had drawn up articles of confederation, which were presented to the States for their approval. Our Fathers in Candia took especial pains to investigate and form their opinions in- telligently in regard to whatever was to affect their own or the future interests of the country. Such marks as these are good indices of the fitness of a people for free government, and such we suppose to have been the course of all citizens generally. That year, Moses Baker was chosen representative to the Provincial Assembly. Fol- lowing is a copy of the instructions given him by the parish, and in connection with it, those articles in the old form of confederation which seemed to them objec- tionable, with the exception of the 9th, which is too long for insertion here, and which relates chiefly to the powers of Congress in war, and so forth, and to the mode of settling differences between the several states :
It is the voice of the people of said Candia that the Eighth article in the Confederation agreement is not ex-
33
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.
pressed so plain to our understanding as that it should not admit of an exception we think that the States ought to be taxed according in some measure at least to their real and personal Estate and number of Polls and not particularly by lands and Buildings; as to the Ninth and tenth articles we think there ought be a proviso that one or more of the New England States be of the nine mentioned, as to the other things we have no exception that appear to us so material but that we approve of the same.
And Likewise it is the voice of the People of Sª Can- dia, that you use your influence in the General assembly at the Next Sessions to appoint and Call a full and free representation of all the people of this State to meet in Convention at Some time and place as Shall be thought proper by Said assembly for the Sole purpose of framing and laying a plan or System for the future government of this State that it may be handed Down to posterity inviolate.
Art. 8th of the Confederation. All charges of war and all other expenses that shall be incurred for the com- mon defence or equal welfare and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the value of all lands within cach state granted to or surveyed for any person as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated, According to suchi mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall from time to time direet and appoint. The taxes for paying that pro- portion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states within
5
84
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
tho time agreed upon by the United States in Congress assemblod.
Art. 10th. The committee of the states or any nine of them shall be authorized to execute in thio recess of Congress, such of the powers of Congress as the United States in Congress assembled, by the consent of nine states shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with, provided that no power be delegated to the said committee for the exercise of which, by tho articles of confederation the voice of nine states in the Congress of the United Statos assembled is requisite.
It is perhaps not necessary for me to say that this committee referred to in Art. 10, was during the recess of Congress, the only executive power, the first govern- ment not vesting that authority in any one person as chief .. Want and destitution now prevailed to some extent over tho land, and many families of those soldiers who were fighting the battles of their country, were in consequence unable to provide for themselves. Herc, as in other places they were relieved at the public ex- pense, and a committee of three were chosen "To tako in consideration and make inquiries, into the families of those men, commissioners and private soldiers, as have engaged in the Constitutional service, for the Parish for three years, or during the war, and supply them with the necessaries of life as the law directs." In August 1779, the following vote was taken, "That we will adopt measures similar to the town of Portsmouth, and use the utmost of our power in reducing the prices of
35
MR. JEWETT'S DISMISSION.
the necessities of life and gain the eredit of our coun- try." Capt. Sargent and John Clifford, were chosen to attend the convention at Coneord, for the purpose of adopting some plan regarding this. In October follow- ing Mr. John Lane, Lieut. Samuel Towle, Lieut. Jacob Worthen, Mr. Caleb Brown, Mr. John Clifford, Lieut. Benjamin Baehelder and Edward Robie, were chosen to state prices on those artieles which had not been named by the convention, and also to carry into execution its recommendations. All means were taken by the people of Candia to aid the government ; men, money and ra- tions, were voted with great cheerfulness, and no people were ever more willing and desirous to maintain their full share of the credit and welfare of the whole country -their votes, their instructions, show that they acted with a knowledge of the great events in which they were concerned.
About this time there was a growing dissatisfaction with Mr. Jewett. There was much difficulty in regard to his removal, owing to the mode in which the civil eon- traet between pastor and people was made; there were several offers to Mr. Jewett to induce him to ask a dismission, without sueeess. Reference was once made to Judge Weare for a settlement, and by his advice committees were chosen for mutual conference, and agreement if possible ; finally after many plans, the matter was referred to the Hon. Matthew Thornton, with some others and settled. The Parish paid certain
36
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
claims of Mr. Jewett and he agreed to leave the ministry in the place. Time has left us nothing in regard to the merits of the controversy which will justify any comments.
In May 1781, a meeting was called, for the following among other purposes: "to choose one suitable person to represent them in Convention at Concord, on the first Tuesday of June next, to aid in forming a plan of gov- ernment," and to see if the Parish would intrust a sum of money which had been contributed, to the hands of the deacons that they might procure preaching. The first named object was negatived-the second agreed to. January 7th 1782, deacon Nathaniel Burpee being moderator, it was voted that deacon Stephen Palmer, deacon J. Hills, and Mr. Eleazer Knowles, should be a committee "to treat with the Rev. Mr. Prince, concerning the term of time he will preach with us, and on what condition." After this vote there was an adjournment of ten minutes, when the committee re- ported that "Mr. Prince would preach with us six or seven years for the improvement of the Parsonage, and a hired hand six months each year, putting the build- ings and Parsonage in repair." An agreement was entered into with Mr. Prince accordingly. On the twenty-first day of the same month, a vote was taken on the reception or rejection of the plan of government drawn up at Concord. There were sixty-six votes against, and none for it. A committee of seven was
37
STATE GOVERNMENT.
then chosen to draw up some "reasons " upon the plan of government and send to the convention at Concord. Lieut. Abraham Fitts was made a delegate to present these reasons, to the convention. In cold weather the town meetings were held at Col. Carr's tavern, there being no way of warming the meeting house, so that many of these deliberations took place there. The judg- ment and wit of the freeholders may have been considerably sharpened by occasional draughts of the Colonel's good cheer. Another meeting was called in relation to the form of a State government, to the cus- tomary notice for which was appended this postseript : " It is desired, if you have any regard for your own good, or the good of your posterity, you would univers- ally meet on said day."
The architeets who constructed the Parsonage house, or the mason who built the chimneys, did not do it on the most scientific principles, so that the occu- pant was subjected to that unpleasant thing, a smoky house. And it follows that the chimneys had to be rebuilt - a vote having been passed for the pur- pose. In July 1783, some action was taken in regard to finishing galleries in the mecting house, and it was directed that the committee should build a pew in the front galleries from pillar to pillar, for the use of the singers. Here were those ancient tunes performed, the " productions of Billings, of Whitaker, of Clarke, and of Kendall. One ean almost now hear the fugitive strains
38
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
chasing one another, pursuing and pursued, through the' whole compass of the vocal pipes from the deepest base to thie shrill treble.
Somewhere about this time, steps were taken by the authorities of the town, to erect at some suitable place within its limits, that most proper and desirable of pub- lic edifices, a pound, whose high walls and impregnable gate, should be a terror to all evil disposed, and unruly cattle such as were in the habit of rambling unprofitably about the roads, or devising predatory incursions into the newly sown grass land, or the luxuriant corn fields of the unlucky farmer. For this worthy object, Lieut. Abraham Fitts, Col. John Carr, and Mr. John Clay were chosen a committee, with full power to act in the premises. It was voted that it should be built of tim- ber ; if so, it must one day have been rebuilt, for the only thing of the kind existing of late years, was of stone; and in the furor of modern improvement, its very foundations have been removed to make way for sheds, so that where the cattle of a former genera- tion did penance for their misdoings, the horses of to day, arc sheltered from the noon-day sun, or the winter's cold, while their masters hard by tend church, or delib- erate on affairs of State. Col. Carr was the first pound keeper, and became to bad cattle what the tithing-man of yore was to naughty little boys at meeting. The office was held in the family until the dismantled walls of the rustic prison ceased to be of use to the town;
39
CALL TO MR. REMINGTON.
and indeed, since my recollection it served only to afford greater facilities, in reaching the cherries which grew near it.
About this time the monetary affairs of the country were in a very bad state, and what with the scarcity of silver and gold, and the depreciated value of paper money - our good people were almost at their wits' end, while the low price of every thing the farmer had to sell, and the high price of every thing he was obliged to purchase, contributed greatly to his embarrassment. The people of Candia, however, bore it as well as they could, and contented themselves with instructing their representatives how to act in regard to the matter in General Court.
Some time in the year 1789, the engagement of the Parish with the Rev. Mr. Prince, having terminated, a Mr. Howe was hired to preach for six months, on trial ; at the expiration of this time, no agreement was made with him by the Parish, and the Rev. Jesse Rem- ington commenced preaching. At a meeting held in 1790, it was voted to give him a call to the ministry, if he would accept their terms, which were as follows : " To give Mr. Remington the use and improvement of the Parsonage lot and buildings, during his ministry among us, and sixty pounds lawful money, annually, and likewise twenty cords of wood yearly hauled to the Par- sonage house, eight or twelve feet long. Said wood is to be cut and hauled to the Parsonage house, or where
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