History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 130

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 130
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 130

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

But when Sam Robie came to griet From too much grog, 'tis said, His comrades laid his manly form Within a Baptist shed.

Where, after hours of sweet repose, He roused himself to find His " company " had left for home, And he'd been left behind.

He gazed into the fading light, And saw the glare of eyes ; At which his visage lengthened out, So great was his surprise.

The monster proved a simple calf That in the stall was stayed, And like the ass of which we read Developed when he brayed.

And what Sam did, and what he said, We may not here repeat ; But from the precincts of the shed He beat a swift retreat.

CANTO III.

In course of time the Croydoners, For some unworthy cause, Resolved to nullify and spurn Our wise militia laws.

Then Captain Mitchell, of our town, By order of the State, Rode gallantly to Croydon Flat With martial pride elate.

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NEWPORT.

A posse comitatus went The captain to support, And bring the recreant Croydoners By force of arms to court.

The Croydon ladies flew to arms,- Not Mitchell's we are sure,- But 'gainst his wicked legal wiles Their men-folks to secure.

And Mrs. General Emery, A Minerva in command, Was constituted leader of That Amazonian band.

She soundly rated "Newport folks " In words unfit to hear, And said she'd " drive such trash from town," And "splinter " Mitchell's ear.

And short and sharp her orders were To "Nathan " 1 and the rest, That no delinquent Croydoner Should suffer an arrest.

The men took refuge in the fields, The women, with much jaw, Stood to obstruct by force of tongues The process of the law.

Then Sergeant Crooker, of our squad, Phil. Humphrey to restrain, Went charging through a patch of grass With all his might and main.

And on his way he overturned A quadruped whose scent Would indicate his general course Whichever way he went.

The upshot of this matter was, So runs the last report, That Mitchell and his men returned Disgusted to Newport.

And of those braves, Charles Emerson, Who with the posse rode, Now lives to read these epic lines, Down on the Goshen Road.

And now a scheme political Was foisted on the State, Involving rank and patronage We may right here relate.

1 Brigadier-General Emery.

A citizen of great renown Was General John McNiel, The same who fought at Chippewa. A soldier true as steel.

And when our worthy Governor Would honor John McNiel, He dubbed him Major-General With gorgeous sign and seal.

Now superseding all our braves Wide-spread his orders flew To colonel of each regiment, To muster for review.

Then up rose Colonel Reddington, And swore whate'er betide, Before his gallant "Thirty-first " MeNiel should never ride.

And John McNiel and Reddington, Defiant and irate, Remained, until their names were struck From roster of the State.

But this digression here must end ; The regiment must form ; The common waits the grand parade- The day is bright and warm.

CANTO IV.

The adjutant, on prancing steed, As deep-toned bass-drum pealed, The companies in order ranged Upon the muster-field.

The colonel, then, with aids advanced, Assuming the command, As, well-displayed, full in his view, The waiting squadrons stand.

Anon the General and staff- A brilliant cavalcade- In buff and and blue, and nodding plumes, Most gorgeously arrayed,

Appear upon the tented field, And up and down the line They grandly ride, while colors dip And flashing swords incline.

Then posted at the front they stand, While orders prompt and shrill, According to the manual For regimental drill,

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Find quick response along the line, And ordered arms respond ! The steel that glittered in the air Now thunders on the ground.

We here may note an episode, Occurring, as appears, When Quartermaster Harvey rode That famous horse " Childiers."

The steed, excited at the scene, Regardless, it is said, Of bit and spur and pious talk, Rushed for the Sanborn shed ;

And must have placed his rider bold In desperate condition, Had he not grasped his ample neck To strengthen his position.

So "Childiers " to his stall was sent ; Another horse was brought, On which the gallant chevalier His waiting comrades sought.

Again along the field of Mars Repeated orders flew, With note of preparation for Inspection and review.

The Inspector-General passed on foot Through all the rank and file, To view the equipments of the men, From cowhide boots to tile.

To each and all the companies A proper speech he made, As much to air his eloquence As shine on dress-parade.

Next came a regimental move- A form in hollow square- And, as uncovered heads were bowed, The chaplain offered prayer.

The General, as he had mind, With words of compliment, Or on some topic of the time Addressed the regiment.

Perhaps he had an "axe to grind," As politicians say, And wanted votes to turn the crank On next election day.

On loud huzzas the eagle soared, As " Birds of Freedom " can, Clutching the arrows in his claws. To shield the right of man.

Then burst the inspiring martial hymn From regimental band, Such as once thrill'd the patriot's heart, And nerved the yeoman's hand.

Vet'rans were listening to those strains,- Old men with trembling hands That pined in British prison-pens, Or trod the Jersey sands.

Once more they hear the bugle blast And words of high command, The muffled tramp of armed men Along the solid land.

They see the serried squadrons move With gonfalons displayed, As in review they now salute The General and brigade.

This mimic scene, these martial airs Rouse memories of the past Within the breasts of those old men, The loneliest and the last.

Of that great host of patriots None grander can we trace Whose life-work made it possible To free the human race.

They founded deep, they builded strong A home wide-spread and free, A "Sheltering Arms " for toiling men From lands across the sea.

They come no more to our parades, Forsooth, in this, our day, The man who's seen a " Pensioner " Must have himself grown gray.

Their graves are scattered o'er the land, Some nameless and obscure, But with the millions they have blest Their memory will endure.

And to those graves, wherever found, As sure as comes the spring, Each year on Decoration Day Fresh laurels will they bring.

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NEWPORT.

CANTO V. While musing thus on "Pensioners," The Thirty -first-called "crack"- Has march'd down town, across the bridge, And now comes proudly back.

Again deployed, the order rang Along the bristling line ; "'Tention battalion ! Order arms!". The time had come to dine.

And now the hungry musketeers Their burnished fire-arms stack, And on the grass all negligee Discuss the noon-tide snack.

From haversack and tin canteen The rations disappear, And as they pass from hand to mouth They revel in good cheer.

We well remember the sham fight That finished up the day, When red-coats and Americans Jousted in mimic fray.

And when we heard the war-like din, The sounds of fife and drum, And saw the tumult all around, We thought old Mars had come.

The cannon thundered on the right, Fierce rattled the platoons; Against the ranks of infantry Came charge of light dragoons.

Then came the painted savages, Led on by Calvin Call, Who ambush'd for the regulars Behind a high stone wall.

And now old Indian "Thunderbolt " 1 Burst whooping into view, With tomahawk and scalping-knife And all his savage crew.

While valiant Captain Roby, with The Wendall Light Brigade, Came down upon them in the rear And fearful havoc made.

IPersonated by Oliver Emerson.

And savage and Britishers Were routed in dismay, Else had our quiet village been To ravishers a prey.

And thus, mimetic of the times Of butchery and woe, That made New England history Two hundred years ago.

Now let us sing, down with a king, And long live Liberty ! " A man's a man," as he has mind, Where all men may be free.

And thus our verse has wander'd on, To note the grand display Of men, and arms, and things we saw, In military way.

CANTO VI.

But this was scarcely half the show That came that day to town ; And hence we join the motley crowd That wandered up and down.

Here came, in holiday attire, Some quite unique in style, From all the regimental towns, The rural rank and file.

Comprising types of human kind, From infancy to age- Both sexes, all conditions known On life's uncertain stage.

And here they played their several parts- Some gentle and well-bred, And others arrogant and loud, Or clownish and corn-fed.

And some by cruel circumstance Deformed, or dumb, or blind, Were making capital of fate To move the pitying mind

To deeds of charity and alms, And chuckling as they went, O'er Continental nine-pence made, Or e'en a copper cent.

The Tontine on the village green- A stately wooden pile- Pillars and portico in front, In somewhat ancient style,

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Swarmed then with buxom, merry wives, And maidens fresh and fair, Who came to watch their soldier boys, Or rustie hearts ensnare.

Along in front, upon some boards, Spread our for that intent, A jolly party might be seen Of African descent.

And Tony Clark,1 a sable wag, Plied well his rosin'd bow, While Wash, and Lyd, and Charlie Hall 2 Made saltatory show.

Old Jesse Sherburn, near the inn, Dispensed his liquid blacking, An article that far outshone " The stuff made by MeCrackin."

The Ethiop wagged his sooty head In concert with his brush, And gather'd in the four pence-haps With what is termed-a rush.

Barbarie faces thus were seen ;- And Ethiopian style In dress, dance, mirth and minstrelsy, A gaping crowd beguile.

And rural lovers, hand-in-hand, Regardless of expense, Invested at the candy stand And posed against the fence.

The peddler on his painted cart Became an auctioneer, And roared his wit as well as wares To throngs that gathered near.

Thus were two-score of lusty throats,- Some gruff, some shrill and harsh,- Discordant croaking on a bid Like bull-frogs in a marsh ;

1 When a lad a waiter to General Brooks, of Massachu- setts, during the Revolution. IIe died in Warner aged one hundred years-a " pensioner."

2 Said to have been brought to Boston by schooner " Star- ling" in a sugar hogshead, from the coast below Savannah, Ga., by a Mr. Knowlton, a brother-in-law of Deacon Jona- than Cutting, about 1836. " Wash " and "Lyd " were children of Tony. Charles Hall became the husband of Lyd.

And Barlow knives, and buttons made By famous " Nathan Mann,"

Dutch'd quills, and soap, ne'er went so cheap, . They said, " since time began." And Morgan's "Book on Masonry," Denounced by Masons-trash !

Sold faster than the auctioneer Could take the "offered " cash.

Here gathered round a fancy stand A close, attentive throng,- The game was Rouge-et-Noir, so called And some were betting strong.

The more small change the boys put down The less they gather'd up, And realized the adage old Of slip 'twixt lip and cup.

CANTO VII.

Then came a grand saloon on wheels And famous "Old Blind Beers," With violin, and waxen show,- His main support for years.

A rustic crowd, with wondering eyes And gaping mouths, stood round, As though they feared his effigies Would meet them on the ground.

And Jane McCrae, and Helen Marr, And Mary, Queen of Scots, With glassy eyes, in wax despair Would wave their gory locks.

A henchman tended at the door ;- Beers scraped his violin ;- The henchman made persuasive speech ; The curions entered in.

The Olympian games were here revived As once in Ancient Greece, To test the vigor of their youth In " piping times of peace."

Apart upon the green sward firm A party formed a ring, Where athletes strove for mastery In bouts of wrestling.

Anon another erowd appears Engage in such exploits As jumping, turning somersaults, And some were pitching quoits.

241

NEWPORT.

We also noted booth and stands

Where, well disposed for sale, Were ginger-bread in cards, and fruits, And pies, and cakes, and ale.

The thrifty farmer might be seen A tapster for the time, Serving new cider by the glass To turn an honest dime.

Crowds gathered at the taverns, stores And dram-shops on the street,

Where in fierce conflict with strong drink Some suffered sore defeat.

There was no sham in such a fight, When men laid down their arms,

And yielded in unmanly way To rum's beguiling charms.

And now, in this our history One point to which we come

Is, that the curse of muster-day Was vile New England Rum.

And as the judgment of "this court" We may still further find ;-

It curses every other day, To millions of mankind.

EXIT OMNES.

The revelers, athletes, and the crowd The showman and his show, The seller and the sold disperse, In dusty guise they go.

The pageantry of mimic war No longer stirs the town 1

With martial pomp-no armed host Now marches up and down.

But into gray and wrinkled eld !- Into the shadowy years !-

The martial and the social throng Forever disappears.

And as the echo of our song We hear in mystic chime

Their muffled, solemn tramp ! tramp ! tramp ! Into the jaws of Time.

NOTE .- The old militia laws of New Hampshire were re- pealed by the Legislature in the year 1849, and since that date there has been no general military parade in Newport.

CHAPTER III.

NEWPORT-( Continued).

CHURCHES AND MUSIC.

CONGREGATIONAL .- The town of Newport was exceedingly fortunate in the personal char- acteristies of its first settlers. Every member of the party that arrived here from old Killing- worth, in June, 1766, as we have heretofore stated, was in himself an institution, with set- tled views on the subjects of religion, eivil gov- ernment and social affairs.

Unlike greedy adventurers who rush for mining regions to delve and spoil from place to place for immediate gain, they came to estab- lish homes and a community for themselves and their heirs and successors in the generations to come.

We have seen how the party, under the di- rection, probably, of Deacon Stephen Wilcox, finished their tiresome journey from Charles- town and went into quarters, such as they found or improvised for the occasion, in the vieinity of the four corners at the foot of Claremont Hill.

The next day being the Sabbath, their first collective act was that of prayer and praise to Almighty God, who had guided their steps hitherward. They first sought His blessing on the new settlement they were about to commence. For this purpose they are said to have gathered in the shade of a large birch-tree.

It requires but little of imagination to sug- gest that their place of worship on that occasion may have been the site on which the first Congregational meeting-house was afterward erected.

From that day they failed not to " assemble and meet together" on each Lord's day for so- eial worship after the manner of their ancestors. The religion of Christ depends not on the min- istrations of priest or prelate, but may be en- joyed wherever two or three are gathered to- gether in His name. They afterwards met in their camps and cabins; one of their number

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

led the meetings and sermons were read from printed volumes. Since that first act of public worship in the town of Newport, the fire upon the altar has never ceased.

This state of things continued for some six years, the first party being reinforced from year to year by new-comers who added strength and stability to the settlement.

The completion of the Proprietors' House, in 1773, afforded a central and publie place for re- ligious meetings. When the settlers first en- joyed the services of a regular minister is not fully ascertained. It must, however, have been prior to June, 1775, for in a warrant calling a meeting of the proprietors on the 29th of that month was an article,-" To see if the town will hire Mr. Ebenezer Sweetland to preach the gospel in Newport some time longer; " and at an adjourned meeting the next day, it was " Voted, That Mr. Robert Lane, Mr. Daniel Dudley and Mr. Josiah Stevens be a commit- tee to treat with Mr. Eliezer Sweetland in re- gard to our employing him in some future time." The result of any negotiations with Mr. Sweetland does not appear on the record.

It will be seen that the votes and negotiations in regard to the employment and compensation of ministers of the gospel were acts of the town as a body corporate.

The support of a Congregational minister was obligatory upon the people without respect to difference of opinion or creed. After the year 1803 no compulsory action was taken by the town upon this subject. In that year a Congregational Society was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, which continued until 1828, when it was superseded by a general law in regard to church corporations.

A complete and legal separation between the affairs of church and state came with the " Tol- cration Act," 1819, the passage of which by the Legislature caused a notable sensation through- out the State.

In a warrant calling a meeting of the propri- ctors, to be held on the 29th of April, 1778,

was the following article,-viz. : " To see if the Town will agree to have Mr. Kendall stay and Preach with us."

At the meeting thus warned, Robert Lane, Benjamin Giles and Josiah Stevens were chosen a committee to confer with Mr. Thomas Ken- dall " to see if he will continue a space of time to Preach the gospel in this town of Newport."

At an adjourned meeting, on May 4th, "Voted, That Mr. Thomas Kendall stay and Preach in this Town, and the town to con- tribute every Sabbath for to Support it." Also " Voted, That the Comee confer with Mr. Thomas Kendall to see if he will return to this town as soon as he can, with convenience, after he hath accomplished his purposed journey."

Whether Mr. Kendall " continued a space of time," or whether he " accomplished his jour- ney" and returned does not appear on the record.

At the annual meeting, March 9, 1779, it was " Voted, To see if the Town will choose a committee, in order to look out a candidate to settle with us in the work of the gospel min- istry." And at an adjourned meeting, on the 15th of the same month, it was "Voted, That Aaron Buel and JJosiah Stevens be a committee to make application to Rev. Mr. Hall, of Keene, to look out for a candidate to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in the Town of Newport."

Some thirteen years had passed away since the men of Killingworth appeared in Newport, and as yet no regular church organization had been effected. In view, therefore, of the present and prospective welfare of an increased and in- creasing population, and of greater efficiency in Christian work, and in order that the rites and ceremonies of the church might exert their full and proper influence and be enjoyed in their midst, the good people of the town were impressed with the necessity of moving forward in this regard. The principles of a stern and true religion had been here in spirit from the commencement of the settlement. The time

243

NEWPORT.

had now come when they should appear in form and by institution. To this end, on the 28th day of October, 1779, a meeting was held in accordance with previous notice and arrange- ment, when Rev. Aaron Hall, pastor of the church at Keene, and the only clergyman pres- ent, was chosen moderator, and Aaron Buel scribe.

Articles of faith and discipline, and a church covenant previously drawn up, were then adopted as the canon of the new church.

These rules and regulations exhibit educa- tion, ability and clear views of Christian faith and practice on the part of the founders of the church in this town.

The covenant obligations then entered upon were of the most solemn character, to which were subscribed the following names :

Robert Lane.

Susannah Dudley.

Daniel Dudley.

Lydia Hurd.

Daniel Buel.

Eunice Bascom.

Aaron Buel.

Mary Stevens.

Elias Bascom.

Esther Lane.

Matthew Buel. Jane Buel.

Josiah Stevens. Chloe Wilcox.

Esther Buel.

Mary Buel.

Following this church union it was

" Voted, That all the parties thus subscribed, 'upon hearing each one's relation and experience, and ask- ing each one's forgiveness, receive each other into their love and fellowship.'

" Voted : Yt Captain Samuel Hurd, Mrs. Jane Buel, Mrs. Chloe Wilcox, having heard their relations and experiences, and they having asked ye brethren's forgiveness, be taken into love and fellowship.

" Benjamin Giles received as a member on con- dition that he get his letters."

Brother Giles undoubtedly received his let- ters, as we hereafter find his name mentioned as one of the active members.

On December 6, 1779, a committee was ap- pointed "to confer with Mr. Tracy and desire him to tarry and preach the gospel four Sab- baths longer, if they could discern a probability of his settling or a disposition in him to settle

with the people of this town, as a preacher, at some future time, if circumstances admitted of it ; if not, to proceed on his way."

Though extremely desirous of having a set- tled minister, the people would not insist too much on Mr. Traey's coming, and he was al- lowed " to proceed."

Not long after this, a young man by the name of Samuel Wood was invited " to preach," and, at a meeting held August 7, 1790, it was voted " to ask the above-named gentleman to preach two Sabbaths longer on probation." On the 24th of the same month a call was given to Mr. Wood. He was offered £100 as settlement and £45 per year as salary, which was to be in- creased £5 per year until it reached £70. The call was not accepted.

We learn from the town records in regard to values that thirty pounds in colonial money, at this time, was equal to one hundred silver dollars.

It would seem, judging from the hints given in the records, that the revival which took place shortly after the formation of the church was due to the efforts of Mr. Wood, as during his sojourn in Newport some thirty members were added to the church.

The ordinary details usually found in church records, consisting as they do of dealings with erring and refractory members, are of but little interest. If such records represented the entire work of the church instead of its purifying processes, our confidence in its efficiency as a leading institution among us would necessarily weaken. But occasionally a matter arises of more than ordinary interest-and such is the one to which we are about to refer, as it became the subject of an ecclesiastical council, to which Rev. Aaron Hall, of Keene, and Rev. Pelatialı Chapin, of Windsor, Vt., were called to aid in its discussion and settlement.

In the spring of 1781 a complaint was made by Brother Robert Lane, a prominent member, against Brother Benjamin Giles, another prom- inent member, "in ye following particulars :"

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

"1st. For causing a book to be read in publiek, published by Mr. Whitefield in which men in an un- regenerate state are represented to be half beast and half devil.

"2d. For speaking against profane swearing in publick."

The record proceeds :

" In ye first, Brother Giles appeared ready to de- fend Mr. Whitefield's description of unregenerate men as true. As to ye second charge, Brother Giles vindicated his conduct, in public speaking, against profane swearing, as no ways out of character."

The record continues :

" The Chh found yt nothing in this view on brother Giles' part could be considered matter of offence in ye charges brought against him."

Further on in the record we learn that Robert Lane, the complaining brother, was so much dissatisfied with the verdict of the church that he requested to have his relationship with it dissolved, and his request was formally granted.

In considering the matter of the first charge we are satisfied the complaining brother would have the unquestioned sympathy of all sensible people certainly in this, our time; and how it was that Brother Giles, who was considered a foremost man as regards intelligence and ability, could consent to leave such an expression of opinion on the church records the reader of this generation will be unable to understand.

In regard to the second charge, whereby the complaining brother felt aggrieved by being re- stricted in the use of profane language, he would find no justification in the public or private sentiment of our time. We may say, however, in explanation or extenuation of the position taken by Mr. Lane, that, up to the be- ginning of the present century, in this country and in England profanity was not regarded as incompatible with a Christian life, or as an out- rage against the church and good manners and an indictable offense at law.

The efforts of the church, by the concurrent action of the town, to settle a minister were at last crowned with success.

On January 22, 1783, Rev. John Remele was duly installed as pastor of the Congrega- tional Church of Newport. By this he came in possession of a tract of land set apart by the charter of the town to the first settled minister. His salary was fixed at seventy pounds per an- num, which, according to a former estimate, would be $233.33 in silver money.

According to all accounts, traditional and otherwise, Mr. Remele was a well-educated, genial man, an able preacher and a successful instructor of youth. Of his personal history, previous to his coming to this town, we have no knowledge. He was here with his wife, Anna Read, and their five children, the young- est of whom was born in Newport.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 130

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