History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 101
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 101

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The next step was to dispossess all those who had derived their title to the reserved lots through the late Governor. The occupants of the disputed lands at once determined to defend their estates at whatever cost. The officers of the government who were employed used every artifice in their power to accomplish the object of their mission, but the settlers remained firm and uncompromis- ing. A few, alarmed at the prospect of a lawsuit and intimidated by the measures of the officers, re- linquished their titles, and at no slight expense repurchased their possessions. Complaints at last were sent to the Lords of Trade in England and the acts and conduct of the Governor were in- quired into, and it declared before the King in Council that the lands granted to the Governor were granted in the name of the King, which was sufficient to empower him to convey a title, and that the Council was mistaken in deciding other- wise.

In accordance with this decision, the Governor was directed not to disturb the title or interest of those who had purchased their lands of the late Governor and had complied with the conditions of the charter by actually occupying and improving

CLAREMONT.

the land. Lieutenant George Hubbard, father of Isaac Hubbard, Esq., before named, was the owner of the Governor's reservation in this town. He was an early settler and had made considera- ble improvements upon his lands. The possession of these was considered by the Governor and his emissaries of paramount importance. They were favorably located, and the common prediction that Claremont was destined to be a wealthy and im portant town rendered them quite desirable. Hence great efforts were made to oust the occu- pant of this particular tract. Mr. Hubbard was not to be deluded, driven or persuaded to an ac- ceptance of the terms or inducements held out to him to vacate in favor of the Governor. His re- ply, when approached upon the subject, almost invariably was: "The law sustains me, if law is common sense, and neither the Governor nor His Majesty King George shall drive me from the soil." Mr. Hubbard had early been informed by Peter Leivins, Esq., one of the Council, that prep- arations were making to lay this matter, with others, before the Kings's Council, and doubtless felt quite sure that the acts of the late Governor, un- less clearly illegal, would not be discountenanced by the King. The title of the late Governor to the lands in question being confirmed by the King in Council, the owners were relieved from further anxiety.

In 1771 the entire number of the inhabitants of the town was less than fifty, and of these only a portion remained here during the winter. Up to this time no steps had been taken to secure the permanent settlement of a minister. The greater part of the settlers belonged to the Congregational Church, the prevailing theological system of New England, and unless a person was connected with some ecclesiastical body of a different denomina- tion, he was compelled to pay taxes for the sup- port of this society, and was considered as under its spiritual guidance, and to some extent subject to its jurisdiction, and the authority was exercised to enforce the collection of taxes without regard to the condition of membership.

From an early period of the settlement of the

town a portion of the inhabitants had formed themselves into an ecclesiastical body and observed religious services regularly on the Sabbath. Samuel Cole, Esq., who came here in 1767, was appointed their reader, and to some degree sup- plied the lack of a settled minister. He was a graduate of Yale College, and for many years was very useful as an instructor of youth. At a meet- ing of a few of the inhabitants interested in the Congregational denomination early in the spring of 1771, Thomas Gustin suggested that it was a duty binding upon all to adopt immediate meas- ures for the settlement of a minister of the gospel ; that the settlement was sufficiently large and able to support a religious teacher ; and, besides, the share of land reserved by the charter for the first settled minister would enable him to furnish him- self with a portion of his subsistence, and to some extent lighten the burden of the community. He urged immediate action, lest the share of three hundred and twenty acres of land should fall to some other society by a prior compliance on its part with the terms of the charter.

Accordingly, at a town-meeting held May 9, 1771, it was voted that " we will call a minister to come and preach the gospel among us on probation, in order to settle in the gospel ministry among us." Nineteen voted in favor of the call and three against it. Captain Benjamin Sumner, Thomas Gustin and Samuel Ashley, Esq., were appointed "a committee to invite a minister to come and settle among them." They also voted " to apply to Mr. Elijah Parsons to come and preach the gospel among us, on probation. But if he fails, to apply to Dr. Whealock for advice who to apply to in his room."

At a town-meeting held December 10th, of that year, it was voted " to give Mr. George Wheaton a call, and do call Mr. Wheaton to settle among us in the work of the gospel ministry, agreeable to the Congregational or Cambridge platform." " For encouragement for Mr. Wheaton to settle with us, we do agree and vote to give Mr. Wheaton the ministerial right of land, given to the town by charter for the first settled minister, and also fifty

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

pounds, lawful money-fifteen to be paid in money and the rest to be paid in spruce for building at money price." It was also voted to give Mr. Wheaton a salary of fifty-five pounds per annum, and to increase the sum five pounds annually until it should amount to eighty pounds, one-half of which must be paid in money, the remainder in provisions at " money price."

Messrs. Phineas Fuller, Captain Benjamin Sum- ner, Ebenezer Skinner and Dr. William Sumner were chosen a committee to lay before Mr. Whea- ton the doings of the town, to make suitable arrangements for his immediate settlement, and at a future day to make a report of their proceedings to the town. " Then voted to adjourn this meet- ing until next Tuesday, Come seven night, at ten o'clock in the morning." At the time of adjourn- ment the committee were ready to report, and laid before the meeting Mr. Wheaton's acceptance of the call.

Mr. Wheaton was quite a young man, is said to have been pure and upright, and possessed of con- siderable talent. He was ordained February 19, 1772, and died June 24, 1773, aged twenty-two years.

At the ordination of Mr. Wheaton the sermon was preached by Rev. Abiel Leonard, of Wood- stock, Conn. The exercises were performed in the "South School-house," a building forty feet long by thirty wide, on land now owned by Col. Russell Jarvis, and near his residence. It was a frame building covered with rough boards, with rude benches for seats and a floor of earth. It was used both for a school and a place of worship by the Congregational Society until 1770, when a meeting- house was erected on a plot of ground on the road from Claremont village to the junction of the Sul- livan and Concord and Claremont Railroads, and about three-quarters of a mile from the latter. Owing to local divisions, meetings were held in various parts of the town prior to the erection of this meeting-house.

At the annual town-meeting of 1772 it was voted "to raise a rate of €35, lawful money ($116 .- 55), towards the amendment of highways, and to

allow three shillings"-equal to about fifty cents- " per diem for labor."

By a law then in force it was imperative upon the selectmen to take due care that tithingmen be annually chosen at the general meeting for the choice of town officers, " whereof at least two shall be in each town, and not above ten in any," whose duty it was to inspect all licensed houses, and to inform of all disorder therein committed ; and also to inform of all idle and disorderly per- sons, profane swearers and Sabbath-breakers. Each was " to carry a black staff two foot long, tip'd at one end with brass or pewter about three inches, as a badge of their office, the same to be provided by the selectmen at the expense of the town." Either by virtue of their office or by common con- sent, they seemed to have been invested with power to inflict punishment at once upon such as they might find engaged in any misdemeanors dur- ing publie worship, or between the morning and afternoon services on the Sabbath. They were vigilant and, if tradition may be relied upon, rigid in their notions of order and sobriety, especially on Sundays. On one occasion when meetings were held in the South School-house, John, a son of Mr. Thomas Gustin, was obliged "to stand strate upon the bench during the singing of the last psalm, and there to remain until the meeting is dismissed and the people have left the house, for turning round three times, and for not paying attention to Mr. Wheaton while he is preaching." It was not usual for the tithingman to call out the offender, pro- nounce sentence upon him and put it in execution during the performance of the various exercises of public worship, but it seems it was sometimes done.

It does not appear that any appropriation was made by the town for the support of schools until the annual town-meeting of 1773. It was then " Voted to raise a rate of twenty pounds, lawful money," for that purpose, which would be about $66.66 in our currency. At this time there were two school-houses in town, viz .: the South School- house, before referred to, and the other was situa- ted near Union Church, at the West Parish. At

CLAREMONT.

this meeting it was voted " that swine may go at large yockt and ringd as the law directs."

As before stated, Rev. Mr. Wheaton died on the 24th of June, 1773. His death was a source of deep and sincere regret to his people, by whom he was very much beloved, and he enjoyed the respect of the entire population. The death of Mr. Wheaton raised the question as to whether or not, as the first settled minister in town, he was the ab- solute owner of the three hundred and twenty acres of land provided for in the charter. On this subject there was much discussion and various opinions, which, however, it did not become neces- sary to settle, as Mr. Wheaton, in his last will and testament, gave to the town of Claremont " all his real estate in the town, and all that was due him from particular persons, for the use and support of the Congregational minister in the town forever."

Claremont received the following, and made the following return :

" PORTSMOUTH, October 15th, 1773.

" Sir,-

" I am to request an exact list of the number of in- habitants in the town of Claremont, distinguished into different Ranks or Classes, according to the schedule below, which I shall be glad to have returned to me, authenticated, as soon as possible.

" JONIN WENTWORTH.

" Unmarried men 16 to 60 years of age . 41 Married men 16 to 60 years of age. 66

Boys 16 years and under 121

Men 60 years and upwards 2

Females unmarried 125

Females married 66

Widows

Male slaves 0

Female slaves 0

Total " ASA JONES,

423

" BENJAMIN BROOKS, Selectmen."

" JOSEPH TAYLOR,

On August 16, 1773, Phineas Fuller " was chosen grand juror to serve in His Majesty's Superior Court, to be holden at Keen on the 3d day of Sep- tember next."

in town-meeting for the purpose of making a public expression of respect for the late Mr. Wheaton. They voted " to send a letter of condolence to Dr. George Wheaton, of Mansfield, Mass., the father of the Rev. George Wheaton, deceased," and to " present the thanks of this town to Dr. Wheaton for his goodness in counseling his son to prose- cute his good intentions respecting us," and also to erect "a respectful monument on the grave of our late Rev. Pastor with an inscription thereon expressing his worth, character and our affection for him, at our cost and expense." In the warrant calling that meeting an article was inserted, "To see if the town will raise money for the defraying of the debts of the late Rev. George Wheaton."

Reports had been circulated that the estate of Mr. Wheaton would be insufficient for the payment of his debts, but it was deemed imprudent to as- sume responsibilities which would be beneficial to none but a few creditors, the greater part of whom were not residents of the town. The proposition was therefore rejected. Facts subsequently brought to light proved that the reports of his indebted- ness were not true. His debts were but trifling, compared with the amount of property devised by him to the town for the benefit of the Congrega- tional Church. Mr. Wheaton named Mr. Benj. Summer, an active and intelligent business man, as his executor. To meet deceased's small liabilities and expenses of settling the estate, it was found necessary to sell his lands, and they were accord- ingly advertised and sold at auction. Land was very cheap at that time, and there had been several adjournments of the sale, for various reasons; so that the people had lost interest in it, and the estate was sold for barely sufficient to cover the expenses of administration A friend of Mr. Sum- ner was the purchaser, and soon after the settle- ment of the estate the land fell into the possession of Mr. Sumner, and the town did not derive any benefit from the generosity of the testator. The conduct of Mr. Sumner in the settlement of this estate was considerably criticised, but no irregulari-

In September of that year the people assembled | ties were discovered in his proceedings; he retained

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

his influence in the community and was subse- quently elected to offices of responsibility in town.

Early in January, 1774, measures were taken by the town to secure the services of Rev. Augustine Hibbard. It was voted in town- meeting to engage him to preach among them six Sabbaths, on trial. The perplexities attending the settlement of Mr. Wheaton's estate were the occasion of discord and divisions among his flock, and it was found difficult to collect taxes and sub- scriptions, which were cheerfully made in his behalf before his death.

By the records, copied verbatim, it appears that

" Att a legal Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Claremont, holden at the meeting House [South school house] in said Town on the 16th day of May, 1774, Mathias Stone was chosen moderator. Voted to adjourn this meeting for the space of half an houre, to witt, untill ten minits after foure o'clock, then to meet att this place. Voted to negleet the second article in the Warning att the same meeting. Voted to give Mr. Augustine Hibbard A regular Call to Settle with us in the Work of the Gospel ministry. Att the same meeting Voted to appoint a Committee to acquaint Mr. Augustine Hibbard of the Doings of this meeting and make their Returne to the Town as soon as may bee, Deak. Mathias Stone, Deak. Jacob Keyes and Capt. Benj. Sumner waire appointed a Committee for the purpose aforesaid.

"Test MATHIAS STONE, Moderator."

" Att a legal Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Claremont, holden at the meting house in said Town on June the 7, 1774,-Deak. Mathias Stone was chosen Moderator. Voted to give Mr. Au- gustine Hibbard, for his Incouredgement to settle with us in the Work of the Gospel ministry one Hun- dred Pound, £. m'y ; to be paid in following manner, viz. : Fifty Pounds, £. m'y, to be paid within six months, the one-half of itt in Cash, the other half of itt in Graine att Cash Price, and the other fifty Pounds to be paid within Twelve months, one-half of it in Cash, the other half of itt in Grain at Cash price. Thirdly, Voted to give Said Hibbard for a further In- couredgement to settle with us in the work of the Gospel ministry, fifty Pounds, £. m'y ($133.20), for the first year, and to rise five Pounds, £. m'y, Pr year till it shall amount to seventy-five Pound, €. m'y, and

that to be his Stated Salery Per annum as long as he continues to bee our minister ; the aforesaid Salery to be paid in the following manner: namely, the one- half of itt to be Paid yearly in Cash; the other half of itt in Provisions att money Price, Said Salery to begin from the Day of the Date of this meting. Fourthly, Voted that Capt. Benj. Sumner, Deak. Mathias Stone, and Deak. Jacob Keyes, be appointed a Committee to Waite on Mr. Hibbard, Present the Doings of their Town to him, Receive his answer and make returne to the Town aforesaid as soon as may be. Fifthly, Voted to reserve to ourselves the Bene- fitt of the use of all the Lands that was the late Rev. George Wheaton, for the Suport of a Congregational Minister in this Town, and apply itt yearly for the lessening the annual Salery in favor of said Town. Sixthly, Voted to adjourn this meeting to hear the re- ports of the Committee aforesaid that we appointed to Wait on the aforesaid Mr. Hibbard, till the first Tuesday in July next, att three o'clock P.M., then to meet att this place.

"Tuesday, July 5th, 1774 .- Mett according to the above adjournment. The meeting was opened by Ma- thias Stone, moderator. Voted to adjourn this meet- ing till the first Tuesday in August next, at 3 o'clock P.M., then to meet att this place. Tuesday, August 3d, 1774 .- The above meeting was opened according to adjournment, by Mathias Stone, Moderator, then voted Reconsider the time for the beginning of the Salery of Mr. Augustine Hibbard as above said; itt being fixed to begin the seventh of June Last. Itt is now voted and agreed that the said Sallery shall be- gin on the Day of said Hibbard's ordination, which is to be on Wednesday the 18th day of October next. Att the same meeting voted and chose Captain Benja- min Sumner, Doct, Thomas Stiner and Asa Jones to be a Committee to provide for the ordaining Counsell on said 19th of October next, at the Town's cost. Voted to dissolve this meeting after the Answer of Said Hibbard was publicly Red.

" Test MATHIAS STONE, Moderator."

The following is Mr. Augustine Hibbard's answer to the town of Claremont :

"Gentlemen : Whaire as you have seen fitt to give me a call to settle with you in the work of the Gos- pel ministry, I do hereby accept of your Generous call, Relying upon Divine Grace for assistance in so Grate and so glorious a Work.

" August 3d, 1774."

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The ordination of Mr. Hibbard took place, agreeably to the vote of the town. Although the connection thus formed continued eleven years, it proved of no very great benefit to the flock. In intellectual strength and in social qualities and influence for good he proved inferior to his prede- cessor. He was eccentric in his character and stern and morose in his disposition and deport- ment.

During the Revolutionary War he was very loud in his professions of loyalty and devotion to the cause of liberty ; yet, soon after the war was closed, he removed to Canada, where he remained until his death. So fearful was he lest in some way in his ministerial acts he should give coun- tenance to the Tories, that, on one occasion, when an infant was brought to him for baptism, he refused to administer the rite, because he had suspicions that the father-one of the most respectable citizens of the town-was a Tory, and yet it is said that he did not scruple to seize the last cow of a poor widow as payment for the tithe secured to him by law, although the cow was more than double the widow's tax. He could refuse to partake of a blackberry pudding at his Sunday dinner, because the fruit of which it was made, growing in his own yard, was gathered on that day, and yet he did not hesitate to desert his wife and children and elope with his maid-servant to a neighboring State, where he resided several years in degrading and criminal relations. This con- duct on the part of their minister was a deep mortification to the members of his church and congregation, from the demoralizing effects of which it took a long time to recover.

All who were not actual members of some other religious denomination were obliged by law to pay taxes for the support of the Congregational Society ; and the power to tax gave to the taxed a voice in the deliberations of the body. It is easy to see, that in a society made up in part of those who were compelled, against their will. to contribute to its maintenance, many things would be done ad- verse to its true interests. The position of this church, while under the guidance of Mr. Hibbard,

could not be otherwise than weak, and its move- ments retrograde.

In the fall of 1773, Rev. Ranna Cossitt com- menced his labors as rector of the Episcopal Church in the West Parish. During the year previous he took a voyage to England and was ordained by the Bishop of London. He was a firm Royalist, and when difficulties arose between the American colonies and the mother-country, he at once took the side of the latter, and was unwearied in his efforts to instil into the minds of the people the doctrine of the divine right of Kings, and his ser- mons were often but discourses upon the duty of obedience to the Crown. He became so entangled in the meshes of political controversy as in a great measure to impair his usefulness and to render himself odious, even to those who believed that opposition to the soverign power was, if not treason, at least dangerous. The church prospered but little under his charge, and in the summer of 1775, at his own request, he was recalled by the Bishop of London and sent to the Isle of Cape Breton.

For more than a year the oppressive acts of the British Parliament, which led to the Revolutionary War, had agitated the public mind. It was now the general belief that war with the mother-country was unavoidable, and to this sentiment was added a firm determination to resist further encroach- ments upon the sacred rights of liberty, and also to demand and regain the enjoyment of those privileges which had been taken away. Although the greater part of the people were in favor of open hostility with England, yet there were some who not only regretted the existence of difficulty, but also regarded violent resistance as dangerous and probably unavailing. A small portion avowed themselves Tories, and labored to furnish aid and comfort in various ways to the King and his army.

In Claremont the two latter classes were larger than in most towns in New Hampshire, of the same, or nearly equal, population. The town was com- paratively new, and many of the settlers were either recently from England or the sons of English- men, and their attachment to the old country would naturally be stronger than that of those who could

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

then behold in their midst the graves of their an- cestors covered with the turf of a century. Still, the spirit of resistance against the tyranny of Eng- land was popular, and the neutrals and Tories were greatly in the minority. About this time many families, some of whose descendants are now in- habitants of this town, disgusted with the opposition of the Whigs, removed to a large township in Canada, called Shipton, in which is now a parish or borough bearing the name of Claremont. Thither also many who remained here during the war resorted after its close. Many also removed to New York State, keeping themselves under the protection of the British until the war was ended, soon after which most of them returned to Clare- mont.

In accordance with an order of the Provincial Congress, the census of New Hampshire was taken in 1775. The following is the verbatim return of

" CLAREMONT.

" Males under 16 years of age 148

Males from 16 to 50-not in the army .. 125

All males above 50 years of age. 18

Persons gone in the army 1 All females 231

Negroes, and slaves for life. 0

Total 523

" The number of fire-arms in the Town of Clare- mont fit for actual service, 60 stand ; 65 wanted.

" Colony of New Hampshirer, Claremont, Oct'r 13th, 1775.

" A true Number. Attest, " MATTHIAS STONE, "OLIVER ASHLEY, Selectmen."

The order for this census required a return of "The Number of Fire Arms in the respective Dis- triets fit for use, and the Number wanting to com- plete one for every person capable of using them," and it was "further strictly enjoined upon all Selectmen and Committees to endeavor to prevent all persons from burning their Powder in shooting at Birds and other Game."

The records are very meagre in relation to the movements which now agitated the country. It

appears that Oliver Ashley, of Claremont, was a member of the first Provincial Congress, which assembled at Exeter, May 17, 1875. He was an ardent Whig, and during the sitting of that body was active in devising measures for the defense of the colony, and suggested methods for raising and equipping men for military service. At a town- meeting, holden on the 15th of June following, a vote was passed "That the town is fully satisfied with the doings of oure member, Mr. Oliver Ash- ley, at the Provincial Congress, holden at Exeter, on the 17th of May last." Captain Joseph Waite, Ensign Oliver Ashley, Thomas Gustin, Asa Jones and Jacob Roys were appointed a Committee of Safety. This committee was invested with almost absolute power in certain cases. In a sudden emergency, they might adopt such measures as they should deem conducive to public safety, take arms and ammunition, wherever found, when needed for the equipment of soldiers, arrest and imprison all Tories, without warrant, and communi- eate with the General Committee of Safety in all matters pertaining to the public welfare. So far as Tories were concerned, the labors of this com- mittee were not slight

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200