USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 116
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 116
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Josh Vinsin do
Ret Oct™ 7
Jabez Spiser do
Soln Wellman do
Caleb Plastridge do
James Cate do
John Chase do
Sol" Chase do
John Morse do
Sim™ Chase do
Capt Dyar Spalden do
Jonath Higgins do
James Wellman do
Eber Brewer do
Daniel Waldron do
Total 19 Abel Spalden Lieut-
141
142
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Oct' 2nd 1777-set out from home
Capt Abel Stephens Jonth Craw
Ebez' Janney Wm Richardson
Joined ye 10th Octº 1777"
General Jona. Chase, concerning Western Frontier.
"State of New Hampshire.
" To the honorable, the Council and House of Rep- resentatives now convened & holden at Exeter in and for said State. Humbly Sheweth your Petitioner living on the western Frontiers of said state, that your Petitioner and others the Inhabitants on said Frontiers, have had, and still have, the greatest reason to fear the inroads & depredations of savage Enemy upon them,-that they have the fullest reason to believe and assert that the Enemy have several times prepared & even attempted the same that in the month of October last they came upon and almost totally destroyed the Town of Royalton, & spread their horrid devastation within less than twelve miles of Connecticut River. That unless some speedy and effectual measures are taken to prevent it, it is more than probable we shall be distressed with another visit from them the present winter.
" That the Frontier is near one hundred and fifty miles, in an entire defenceless situation .- And that unless some speedy relief & assistance present, we have the fullest assurance that many principal Inhab- itance will remove to places of better security ; as that Frontier is now the only objeet remaining within the power & worthy the attention of the northern Enemy .- In this unhappy situation ; defenceless as we are, where can we look for relief & assistance but to your Honors ? a body possessed with every feeling of humanity, and sensible that in defending that western frontier, you secure the state at large from the dangers arising from that quar- ter. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your honors to take the dangerous situation of that Terri- tory under your wise & serious consideration & grant such number of men for the defence of that Frontier, as your honors may judge necessary, or grant such other orders on the Premises as in your wisdom may seem best.
"And your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray &c.
"Exeter 12th Jany 1781.
" Josth CHASE "
Number of Polls, 1783.
" According to order of the general assembly These may certefy that the Exact number of the male poles in this town of twenty-one years of age and upwords paying taxes for themselves is one hundred and twenty
"Cornish Decem' ye 13 1783
" Attest
" WILD RIPLEY "REUBEN JERALD ! Selectmen " DANIEL CHASE
" CALEB CHASE L
Warrant for Town-Meeting.
" These are to Notify and warn the freeholders and others inhabitants of the town of Cornish to meet at the Meeting House in sª Cornish on tuesday the twelfth Day of March next at ten oclock in Morning to act on the following articles Viz-
" 1st to Chuse a Moderator to govern sd meeting
" 2dly to Chuse a town Clerk-
"3ły to Chuse Selectmen and Constable or Con- stables and other town officers as the town shall think proper
" 4ly to see what money the town will Raise for to be Worked out at the Highways this present year
" 5ly to see what money the town will Raise this present year for Schooling
"6's to see what money the town will Raise this present year for to Defray other town Charges
" 7ly to Chuse a Committee for the Sole purpose of Settling with the men who went up in the 2 alarm
" ly to see if the town will allow horses to Run at large
" gly to see if the town will allow swine to Run at large
" Feb'y 26th 1782
" THOMAS HALL - Select Men
" SAM" COMINGS " ELEA' JACKSON " DANIEL CHASE
" Pursuant to the foregoing warning the Town met and Chose Moses Chase Esq' Moderator Voted to adopt the following Protest against the proceedings of a minority acting under a warning Signed by Sam" Chase Esq™-
" Voted to adjourn to the House of M' Francis Batey to meet immedeatly met according to adjourn- ment-then Voted to adjourn to the House of M'
143
CORNISH.
Sam" Comings met according to adjournment and there proceeded to Chuse Town officers and do other acts . agreable to the above warning and the Laws of New Hampshire as may appear upon Record " Attest THOMAS CHASE T Clerk
" Cornish September ye 12th 1782"
Protest against the Action of a Town-Meeting.
" Voted to adopt the following protest against a minority acting under a warning Signed by Samuel Chase Esq"-
" Whereas an annual Town Meeting of the inhabit- ants of the Town of Cornish was legally warned by the Selectmen of Said Town who was legally elected to that office in order to choose Town officers for the insuing year-and whereas another warning for a Town Meeting has been set up for the like purpose Signed by Samuel Chase Esq"-and a Small minorri- ter of the Inhabitants presume to act thereon which we are fully assured is directly Repugnant to the peace of the Town and Contrary to Law-We there- fore the inhabitants of the said Town of Cornish think fit and do hereby Solemnly and unanimously enter our protest against the proceedings of Said meeting as wholly illegal and destructive of the peace and tranquility of Said Town-
" The above was Voted in a legal Town Meeting held March ye 12th
" Test THOMAS CHASE-Town Clerk
"Cornish May ye 28th 1782"
Relative to Union with Vermont.
"The Deposition of Matthias Stone of Claremont of lawful age on oath saith that about three or four years ago Esq Sam1 Chase did send a letter to the select men of Claremont myself being one that a meeting of the Town should be called to see if the Town would chuse a man to go the Convention held at the House Moses Chase Esq to come into measures to unite with Vermont-but as I did not see the letter till it was to late to warn a meeting it was not laid before sª Town but attended myself as a private person at Convention of which Esq Sam1 Chase was moderator at which time in Convention with the sd Sam Chase he manifested a great desire that the grants on both sides of the River should be united into one Government-after the adjournment of sd Convention I recª another Letter of like import de- siring that the Town would Choose a man to attend the adjournment but recª to late-Further about one
year ago last Decem. another letter was sent to the selectmen of Claremont signª Sam1 ashley and Ben Bellows to see if the Town would Choose a man to attend the Convention held at Walpole for the pur- pose of uniteing the grants on both sides of the River-which the Town complyd with & sent a man that Convention being adjourned to the Jan following, the Town was called upon to send Two men which they did at which Convention the said Sam Chase was Choose President accepted & servd & altho, there were Ten that protested against the proceedings at that time for special reasons. Yet the sd president would not sign the protest at which tim sª Con [vention] was adjourned to Cornish and there continud for som time till the minds of the Town were fully known & the union Compleated the sd Sam Chase did accom- pany the Representative from East sid of the River to windsor and see them admitted as members of the Court of Vermont and approved thereof and I have offen heard the sd Sam Chase both in public & private conversation say in transport that there was a hand of Providence in Disposing the people to unite
" MATTHIAS STONE
" Cheshire ss : Sept 4th A. D. 1782 then Matthias Stone signer of the above Deposition personally appeared & made solemn oath that the same was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, Sam1 Chase & Dudley Chase being present
" before SAM HUNT Justice Peace
" This deposition opened by me
"M. WEARE"
Selectmen's Statement.
"To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of New Hampshire-
" We the subscribers Select Men of the Town of Cornish for the Current Year, in reply to a Memorial against us signed by Moses Chase Reuben Jerald & William Ripley, and presented to this house at their last session, beg leave to suggest, that at the annual Meeting in the Town of Cornish held in March Anno Domini 1781-the Town Officers were chosen in com- mon form that in April following, at an adjournment of the same Meeting the Town did vote that all Town Officers then in Office shou'd act under and Govern themselves by the Laws of Vermont; accordingly they assessed & endeavor'd to Collect the Taxes called for by Vermont, and took and imprisoned some who refused to pay them, by which vote and the subse- quent Conduct of the said Officers it was the general
144
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Opinion that they ceased to be Legal Officers under New Hampshire, in consequence of this Opinion an application was made by a sufficient number of the Inhabitants of said Town to Samuel Chase Esq' as a Justice of the Peace to warn a Meeting of said Inhab- itants in March last for Choosing Town Officers for the present Year according to the Laws of New Hamp- shire-which was accordingly done, and the Officers Chosen : without regarding a Warrant for a Meeting for the same purpose: signed by the Select Men chosen A Dom. 1781-
" We wou'd further observe that as the principle complaint in sª Memorial is against the Officers last chosen : for what they have done in the execution of their several Offices, it seems unnecessary to answer furthur untill the legality of their appointment shall be ascertained-
" We would beg leave furthur to suggest that the situation of the Inhabitants of the Town of Cornish is unhappily such at present, owing to the divisions and animosities which subsist amongst them that a de- termination of the Master now before the House how- ever just woud be but a partial remedy, & wou'd not put the Town in such a situation as would be most for the benefit of the State, or for the peace, interest & happiness of the said Inhabitants-And anxious to restore peace & good order in the Town, We wou'd on the behalf of those who are in the Memorial called the Minority propose a general settlement of all diffi- culties in said Town that respect the Town in general by Arbitration in the following manner (viz) That this House appoint a proper number of Persons to be nominated by the Speaker, to hear the Parties fully, & report to this or some future General Assembly & that some of the principle men of Each party enter into Bonds to abide and perform the award so made, & that the whole expence be paid by that party that shall be found most faulty-
"We do not mean to dictate the House by the above, but should be willing to comply with any direction or orders which the House shall think proper to give-
"Cornish Sept" ye 6th 1782
"SAMI CHASE "JNº MORSE " BENJD HALL " DUDLEY CHASE."
The exclusive right to a ferry over a certain part of the Connecticut River was granted to General Chase in 1784.
William Deming's Recommendation.
"To His Excellency the Presedent and Honerable Privy Council of the State of New Hampshire.
" Whereas there is but one Justes of the Peace in the town of Cornish and very Remote from the Major part of the Inhabetance we your petitioners Humbly Deseir that M' William Deming may be appointed into that office
"Cornish Sep' 9-1786
" Nath1 Carpenter Sam11 Wickwire
David Smith
Daniel Putnam
Elisha Herrick Luther Hilliard
Ebenezer Rawson
Sam" Hilliard
Solomon Chase
James Fitch
John Pike Jun"
Hezekiah Fitch
Joshua page
David Higgins
Elias Cady
Lovel Kimbal
Benjamin Jackson
Samuel Pike
Dier spaulding
Moses Chase
Joseph Bartlet
Sam1 Hildreth
Jabes shapley
Caleb Chase
John Bartlet
John pike
Sam" Fitel
Peter Chase
William Pain
Robert Willson
Eleas. Bingham
Sam" Wiekwire
James Freeman
David Orvis
Reuben Jareld
Stephen Chase
Eben' Deming
Joseph Edmons
Seth Deming
William Choat
Joseph Chase
Zebediah Fitch
Nichols Cady Eleazer Cate
Ephriam French
Jonathan Higgins
James spaulding
James Cate"
Joseph stark
Relative to Vermont Controversy.
" To the Honorable Senate and the Honorable House of Representatives of the General Court of New Hampshire in General Assembly Convened-
"Humbly sheweth the Petition of the Subscribers Subjects of sª State. That the Inhabitants of a cer- tain territory of Land West of Connecticut River on the Western Borders of this State, and within the boundaries of the United States, have associated to- gether and Assumed Jurisdiction by the name of the State of Vermont; Independent of any One of the States in the confederacy, and without the concent of the United States in Congress Assembled; do Exer- eise many and various Acts of Opression Injustice and
145
CORNISH.
cruelty towards the good Subjects of the State of New Hampshire by seizing and embezzling our property which lies within their Limits, and under pretence of dues to them Assesing and levying contributions on our Lands for pretended Services whereby we derive no benefit, but much real, and Escential injury, and such Acts of Extortion and Oppression they Sanctify by Laws of their own formation, in Violation of the Laws of Nations and the principles of the confedera- tion of the United States. The most Oppressive of which are the Survey Act and the quieting Act so called; by the former their Surveyor-General is di- rected to Survey sª Teritory, and exhibit his Ac- compts to their Council of his demands for Surveying each Town to be by them Adjusted, and if within thirty days after sd Adjustment the Sum Allowed is not paid in hard money Extents are Issued, and Suffi- cient Land sold for Paying the Same, with cost of Levying without any Equity of redemption. And the lines of sª Towns that have been Settled upwards of Twenty Years so Altered and Curtailed by the Mere Opinion of sª Surveyor or his Deputy without the right of Trial by Jury, that a new Allotment is Neces- sary, and by the latter a possession of Land however wrongfully Obtained and kept eventually Affects the Tittle-
"Farther the Inhabitants of sª Territory do in a Lawless and Riotous Manner make Inroads on the Frontiers of this State, and take from hence the peacable Subjects of New Hampshire to their Prison, in Open Violation & contempt of the Good and wholsome Laws of this State which they set at de fi- ance, and Screan themselves within sª Territory-
"Your Petitioners therefore Humbly Pray that the Honourable Legislature of this State will be pleased to interpose in behalf of the Persons and properties of the Good Subjects of this State, and defend them from the Above mentioned and other injurious meas- ures of the Inhabitants of sd Territory and protect them from the pernicious Influence of their iniqui- tous Acts of Legislation in such way and Manner as the Wisdom of this Honorable Court shall direct as the most proper and Effectnal to Obtain the desired End. And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever Pray-
"Cornish May 1786
" Sam" Chase
Robert Willson
John Morse
Joseph Holland Eben™ Demming Matthias Stone
Wm Deming
Ithamar Chase
Solomon Chase
Seth Demming
Joshua Crosman
Joseph Taylor
David Orvis Sam" Chase JunT
Daniel Putnam
Abner Rawson
Sam" Putnam
Jonathan Chase
Jeremiah Morse
John Cook"
Petition for a Poll Parish.
"To the Honble General Court of the State of New Hampshire to convene at Concord on the third day of June instant-
" The petition of the subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Cornish and Plainfield in the County of Cheshire in said State, Humbly sheweth That the great diversity of Sentiment, in matters of religion, and the jarring Opinions concerning the most suitable place for buildings for religious worship, renders it impossible ever to effect such union in either of said Towns as to enable them happily to settle and main- tain the Gospel Ministry amongst them with that har- mony which ought ever to reign in religious Societies, without a division of said Town into Parishes .- And whereas the inhabitants of different sentiments are so intermixed in their Settlements that Parish lines would not effect the desired end-Your petitioners therefore pray the General Court to grant the Sub- scribers with such others as may hereafter join with them such privileges and immunities of a Poll parish as may enable them to erect and maintain in proper repair a place for Public Worship and to raise and apply money for the support of the Ministry among them and with such other privileges as may be neces- sary for the well ordering of parish affairs .-
"Cornish, November the 1st A D 1788
" Elisha Read
John Cady
James Hunter Chester Chapman
Walter Foss Nathan Hains
Thomas Hall Hezekiah Fitch
Nathaniel Higgins Nath11 Bartlet
Thomas Lewey Samuel Read
Abel Stone Jur Samuel Bartlet
Daniel Freeman Joel Hildreth
Jabez Spicer John Bartlett
Samuel Mackres
Abel Johnson
Benjm Read
James Ripley
John Lucas David Read
Jonathan Read
Levi Stone
Joseph Kinyon
Joseph Smith
146
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Simon Blanchard
Daniel Cole Nathan Whiting
Joshua Woodward
Abel Stone
James Fitch
Moody Hall
Andrew Tracy
Will™ Ripley
Elisha Herrick
Jesse Johnson
John Spaulding Moses Barrows
Reuben Jerald
John Whitten
Moses Barrows, Jun™
Eliphalet Kimball, Jun'
James Ladieu
Lovil Kimball
Moses Chase
Josiah Stone
Samuel Fitch
Will™ Lewey
David Smith
"This Certifies that a Copy of the within Petition and order of the Court thereon was posted up in a public place in the towns of Cornish and Plainfield and also a Copy of the same delivered to the Select- men of each Town on the first day of December A D 1788 agreable to the order of Court-
"In behalf of the Petitioners
"Cornish December 20th A D 1788
"Attest WILL™ RIPLEY ' REUBEN JERALD"
In House of Representatives, November 8, 1788, a hearing was ordered for the next ses- sion.
Relative to Paying Ministerial Rates. " CORNISH Decem" 19th 1788
"At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Cornish held the 25th of June A D 1783 the following Vote was pasd-Viz-
"That from and after the 29th of Sept next no person Shall be held or bound by Civil Contract, to pay any taxes for the Support of the Gospel, unless he Shall previously Consent thereto.
" a true Coppy attest
"CALEB CHASE, Town Clerk"
" We the subscribers having formerly signed a pe- tition to the General Court for a Poll Parish in the Towns of Cornish and Plainfield having by more mature deliberation considered its prenitious affects and finding there is a promising prospect of this Town generaly uniting in one Society and being persuaded that a Pole Parish established here would grately im- pead said Union-do hereby resind from the above mentioned petition
"As witness our Hands
"Cornish Decem : 21st 1788
" DAVID SMITH
" JOHN LUCAS
" SAMUEL MACKRES
" MOSES BURROWS"
Documents relative to Nathaniel Curtice, Soldier.
"The diposition of Moses Chase, Jur. of lawful age testifys and says-that I was in the Continental service in general gates Department and was knowing to Nathan1 Curtice's being a soldier there in Cap" Waits Company and belonged to the artillery.
" MOSES CHASE JR
"The Diposition of Nathaniel Bartlet of lawful age testifyes and says-that I was in the army in general gates Department and in the year 1777 had knowledge of Nathaniel Curtises belonging to the army and Did the Duty of a soldier in the artillery " NATHANIEL BARTLET "
Daniel Chase testifies in a similar manner. They were in General Stark's command. Curtice was ruptured in the scrotum, so say "David Hall Solo Chase, Physicians," of Cornish.
Memorial of Andrew Wilkins, Soldier.
In a petition dated 1794, Andrew Wilkins, of Cornish, says that he was a soldier in Col- onel Bedel's regiment in Canada in 1776 ; was taken prisoner at the Cedars by the British and Indians, and the Indians " striped him of all his clothes except one shirt and one pair of Breeches, also a very valuable gun," etc., all of the value of £10 10s., which he asks the State to pay.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- The first Con- gregational Church in this town was organized September 29, 1768, with Rev. James Wellman as pastor, who remained until October, 1785, when the church was dissolved.
In November of the same year a Congregational Church was organized in the eastern part of the town, with twenty-one members. Peace prevailed in this society until the subject of building a meeting-house came up for consideration in 1784. A house of worship was erected in the northwest part of the town in 1787 (never finished), and another in the centre of the town in 1788. The two churches were in a constant state of trouble until 1795, when the Rev. Bey Bell was installed pastor over both, and, in 1799, the church was united and harmonious. In this year a house of
CORNISH.
147
worship was built on the hill in the centre of the town.
The following is a petition for incorporation of a Congregational Society :
" To the Honble General Court of the State of New- hampshire.
"The petition of the subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Cornish in the County of Cheshire in sª State Humbly Sheweth-That the diversity of sentiments in matters of religion (there being an Episcopal and a Baptist Society in sª Town) renders it difficult to build a Meeting honse & settle and maintain the Gospel Ministry among them as a Town. And whereas the People of different Sentiments are so in- termixed in their Settlements, that parish lines would not effect the desired purpose-your petitioners there- fore pray the General Court, to incorporate the Sub- scribers with such others as shall be disposed to join with them, into a Society by name of the Congregation- al Society in Cornish, with such privileges and im- munities as may enable them to erect and maintain in proper repair a House for public worship, and to raise and apply money for the support of the Gospel Minis- try amongst us-and with such other privileges as may be necessary for the well ordering of parish affairs,-
" And as in duty bound shall ever pray.
" Cornish November the 21st 1798
" Andrew Tracy Moody Chase
James Gage
Reuben Jerrold
Moses Harrington
James Ripley
Wm Choate Jr Benj. Corning
Asa Coburn Jonath" Bingham
Lemuel Tracy Nath1 Huggins
Philip Taber Eben' Martindale
Ichabod Smith Jr Jabez Spicer
Elias Martindale
Samnel Bartlet
Joshua Wyman Wm Bartlet
Jacob Whipple
Asa Coburn 2nd
James Hunter Nathaniel Curtis
Thomas Williams
James Harlow
Dudley Coburn
Frederick Bingham
Simeon Butterfield
Samnel Whitton
Josiar Stone
Edward Kimball
Daniel Chase
Clement Chase
David Davis
WVm Ripley
Moody Hall
Eben' Cobb
" NATHANIEL HALL
David Smith
" DUDLEY CHASE
" DIER SPALDING
Elisha Herrick
Aaron Harrington
Samuel Fitch
Lovell Kimball
Benj" Smith Samuel Paine
Hezekiah Fitch
Samuel Wickwire
Benja Dorr Thomas Hall
Nathaniel Pierce Joseph Tabor
Samuel Bartlet 2nd Isaac Simons
Robert Nevins Abel Fairbanks
Joseph Smith Wm Lane
Timothy W. Hall
Wm Choate "
Thomas Lucy
It was incorporated June 14, 1799.
A new meeting-house was erected in 1841. The pastors, since Rev. Mr. Ball, have been as follows : Revs. Siloam Short (supply), Joseph Rowell, F' W. Clary, A. Spaulding, Philander Bates, C. M Palmer and J. T. Jackson; also, Rev. P. D. Deming, a resident Baptist clergyman, preached for this people nearly two years.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- An Episcopal Church was formed here in 1795. The following is the petition for the act :
"To the Honble the Legislature of the State of New Hampshire, in general court assembled. The peti- tion of the subscribers members of the Episcopal Society in Cornish, in said State, humbly sheweth
" That for many years, we who once composed the original society in saic Town, have been subjected to great inconveniences, for want of public religions worship and instruction, by the desertion of a large part of the people of said Cornish, but are now unitedly associated, without infringing upon the peace or prosperity of any other society, and hope by the divine blessing, to become a regular & well ordered congregation.
" Encouraged by the Honble Legislatures indulging other religious societies, with acts of incorporation, we hereby request that we may also be incorporated, by an act of General Court, by the name of Christ's Church, with power to receive, and hold property both real and personal, and to have and enjoy all other privileges and immunities belonging to a cor- porate body. And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray .-
"Cornish May 20th " 1794.
" CALEB CHASE Wardens
Thomas Hastings
Eliphalet Kimball, Jr. Nathan Rand
" JONATHAN CHASE
Vestrymen"
" ANDREW WILKINS
"SOLOMON CHASE
10
148
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
This church was incorporated December 24, 1795, by the name of Trinity Church.
BAPTIST CHURCH .- The Baptist Church in Cornish owes its origin, under God, to the labors of Revs. Thomas Baldwin, afterwards of Boston, Mass., John Peake, of Windsor, Vt., and John Drew, of Hartford, Vt. These worthies made fre- quent visits into the town, preaching under the shade of some favoring tree, or in some barn, or school house, or private dwelling, as occasion offered, and, as a result of their efforts, the church was formed in 1789. The organization was effected by the Rev. Jedediah Hibbard, of Lebanon, N. H., July 1789, in a barn owned by Moses Barrows, about an eighth of a mile southwest of the summit of Fernald Hill, and about five rods north from the road. This road, though now little used, was then the great thoroughfare between Windsor and Boston. There were but nine constituent mem- bers, viz .: Samuel and Rebecca Meekers, Jonas and Zilpah Richardson, Moses and Elizabeth Barrows, Nathaniel Dustin, Elizabeth Thomson, and Charity Harlow. The last named survived all the rest, and died in 1868, in the one hundredth year of her age. Her memory was remarkably clear and strong, and many facts relating to the early days of the church were obtained from her.
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