USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 21
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 21
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. "the foregoing Relation is to the Best of my Re- membrance the truth the whole truth and Nothing but the truth which I can attest before the Almighty God.
"January 8th 1779.
" WILLIAM BAXTER. " N.B. Said Baxter confessed that his brother Joseph told him that annanias Hall told him he put off a 40 Dollar bill to one Hall a sadler in Keen, in the following way the Sadler gave a good 40 Dollar Bill to said annanias to change into small Bills-and anns said after taking the good Bill & could not change it, and then gave him a Counterfeit in Lieu."
William Baxter was arrested by Joel Chand- ler, constable, on a warrant from Nathaniel S. Prentice, taken before said Prentice, November 11, 1778, examined and sent to the General Assembly. At the examination before "Squire Prentice," Captain Lemnel Holmes testified as follows :
"I Lemuel Holmes of Lawful age Testify and say, That as I was Prisoner on Longisland when William Baxter who Left his home in Alstead came their with
118
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
his father who came from Boston to Newyork sd William Baxter whilst he continued Their Lived with a farmer on Longisland & Laboured for him for hier and did not join in the Brittish servis or Draw Either Money or Provision from them to my knowledge but Lived in a Peacable Retired manner with a farmer that appeared To be a friend to america : I further say that Simon Baxter father to ye sd William De- clared to me that he ordered his son away, and as he found it more Difficult to support him their Than he Expected he thought Best for him to Return : Sd William Baxter came to Longisland some time in June Last Past according to my Best Rememberance -further this Deponent saith not.
"Alstead Nov.2 ye 11, 1778.
" LEMUEL HOLMES."
This was sworn before Nathaniel S. Prentice. In House of Representatives, November 18, 1778, William Baxter was ordered to be de- livered to the sheriff, in order to be " sent back to New York by the first conveyance." It seems that he was not sent, however, but was admitted to bail, the bond requiring him not to go beyond the limits of Exeter. In May following he had a pass to go to Alstead and return in twenty days. In July he was granted a permit " to pass and repass from Portsmouth to Exeter on Business for the printers ; " and in April, 1780, he was employed by the Com- mittee of Safety to carry letters " to the County of Cheshire to call the General Court together," for which he was paid one hundred dollars. I think some allowance should be made for his conduct, on account of his age and his having been influenced by his father, although I think his statement relative to Dr. Ziba Hall was not true. Dr. Hall was a respectable physician in Keene for many years.
" STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHESHIRE, SS. " Alstead, Nov. 26, 1781.
" Whereas the major part of the Selectmen of Surry refused to obey the within precept, being under oath to the State of Vermont, and having sent the same to the Selectmen of Alstead, the major part of whom likewise refused to obey the same on the same account. We the subscribers Selectmen for Alstead and Surry, and all the Selectmen in said Towns that acknowl- edge the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, did on the ninth of this instant November notify all the legal
inhabitants of the towns of Surry, Alstead and Marlow within mentioned to meet at the house of Mr. Timothy Fletcher in Alstead on Monday the 26th day of this instant Nov. at ten o'clock in the forenoon for the purpose within mentioned. Who being accordingly met made choice of Mr. Absalom Kingsbury to rep- resent them in the General Assembly within men- tioned.
" TIMOTHY FLETCHER, Selectman for Alstead. " Wm RUSSELL, Selectman for Surry.
" In Committee on Claims Concord June 13, 1783. The Bounty paid by Alstead to & which has been deducted from David Abraham's account amounts to Thirteen pounds Thir- teen shillings
"Attest JOSIAH GILMAN Treas."
David Abraham served also for Gilsum.
PETITION ABOUT TAXES.
"To the Honble the council and house of Representa- tives for the State of New Hampshire.
"The Petition of the Town of Alstead within said State Humbly Sheweth That considering the great Scarcity of a medium of currency we feel the greatest Impractibility of Discharging our Legal Taxes to the State to which we belong by cash. And as there is a number of Soldiers from amongst us that have Servd in the continental Service and a great part of there wages is yet due-the greater part of whom are Nesces- etated for present Relief and the produce of our Husbandry would be that that would grant them Re- lief perhaps as well as the cash-the former of which is in our Power to Relieve them with when the Latter is utterly out of our Power to Supply with at present -Therefore your Petitioners pray that they may be directed in a mode that your honours in your great wisdom Shall point to pay our Quotas of Taxes in arrears Imediately to the Soldier for the reasons above mentioned and your petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever pray.
" AMOS SHEPHERD } " NATHAN FAY " JOHN WOOD "TIMº FLETCHER
Selectmen of Alstead in behalf and
j by order of the Town
" Alstcad 29th Sepr 1783."
General Amos Shepherd was one of the lead- ing men of Alstead from 1777 until his death. He was noted for industry, economy, honesty and fidelity, and acquired a fortune for those days ; frequently held positions of trust in the town; was elected State Senator in 1786, and re-elected fourteen times ; was president of that
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ALSTEAD.
body from 1797 to 1804; was a member of the Council in 1785. He died January 1, 1812.
PETITION OF NATHANIEL SHEPHERD, DEER-REEVE.
"To the Honble the council and house of Represen- tatives for the State of New Hampshire,
" The Petition of Nath1 Shepherd of Alstead in the county of cheshire state aforesaid.
" Humbly Sheweth
" That whereas your petitioner was chosen by the Town of Alstead Deer reife for the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred & Eighty and your Petitioner in Prosecuting his trust in that office under oath complained of one Elnathan Jenning as a person that had Broke the Law of the State in that case made and provided-Unto Nath1 S. Prentice & Thomas Sparhawk Esqs Two of the Justices of sª county as Directed in said act and your petitioner at a Large Expense of his own pursued the steps of the Law and made it appear to the said Justices that the said Jennings was actually guilty of killing Deer contrary to Law; there Judgment accordingly was that he should pay a fine as the Law Directs which the one half thereof was promised by said act to the Prosecutor which relying on the faith of the State he Expected, but to his great Surprise one of the said Justices Received a Special order from the President of sd State forbiding him in any way or manner to Demand the Said fine of the said Jennings whereby he was and hath been ever since kept out of his Right as promised in sª act with an additional cost of his own Now your Petitioner prays that the aforesaid order may be Revoked or that your Petitioner may be Releived in some other way which your Hon's in your great wisdom shall think proper which your Petiti_ oner Supposeth he hath an undoubted Right to Ex- pect. And your Petitioner as in Duty bound will Ever pray.
" NATHANIEL SHEPHERD.
The said Jennings proved that he was in the Continental army three and one-half years, was driven from Long Island by the British on account of his loyalty, came to this State in July, 1779, did not know anything about the law, and was poor and needed the meat for the sub- sistence of his family. For these reasons Presi- dent Weare issued a special order to stay pro- ceedings.
"State of New Hampshire \ To the Honble general Cheshire ss. ) Assembly.
stead in the County of Cheshire humbly sheweth that whereas there was in the year 1780 a Large sum of Continental Money Due from this Town to the state aforesaid-but for several Reasons (which would be irksome to us, as well as Disagreeable to your Honors, to mention at this Time we pass them) the aforesaid money was not paid into the Treasury in season as it ought to have been-but not out of any ill intention in us, in regard to the money, or in any manner to Defraud, or keep Back, what was really due from us, to the said state, the truth of which will appear, by reciting one or two paragrafts in one of our Town Meetings about that time.
"the 1st is this-that this Town will make a settle- ment with New Hampshire respecting all Debts that we have been with them in contracting
" the second-Voted to chuse a Committee of three men to receive accounts from soldiers-(Viz) those that served the last campaign (meaning under the Author- ity of New Hampshire) as three months men, and six months men, and to take the said soldiers Receipts for the same money so paid. this last, as far as the money amounted, was to answer the first, and from which we humbly conceive, your honors will be Led to see, that the people in this Town have not been so opposed to the Laws and orders of the general As- sembly, as has been represented, and that the people have been, was then, and Now are, willing to pay there full Quotas of money to Defray the public charge-for in that great hurry, and heat of the people those two votes before Recited ware obtained-Your Honours are as sensable of the Extreem scarcity of money thro the state as we can be, and if the Treas- urer should be directed to call upon those two men in whose hands the aforesaid money now remains for so large a sum of hard money-your honours may Easily judge the fatal consequences it would prove to them and there fameleys.
" Alstead 23ª Oct" 1783." " We your petitioners therefore in the most humble manner prostrate our selves at the feet of the general Assembly humbly praying that your Honours would not in your wisdome and goodness by misrepresenta- tion impute too much iniquity to the good people in this Town-but make some proper allowancies for human frailty by extending compassion to those two men, and receive the money they had collected before the time Expired for receiving Continental money as has been done for other Towns in this county those two men aforesaid (viz) Nathan Fay, and Zebulon Crane are men of veracity who are at this time be- trusted with public honours from New Hampshire- and whose affidavits in all matters may be relied on- this petition is not the prayer [of] one individual, but " the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Al- the voice of the people at Large in this Town-who
120
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
with Confidence in your Clemency, and Contrishon in our selves present this petition to your wise Consider- ation as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
" Signed by order and in behalf of the inhabitants of the Town of Alstead.
Alstead September 29th 1783.
AMOS SHEPHERD ) JOHN WOOD Selectmen
TIMº FLETCHER
" Acepta & voted that the Select men Sign the Same in behalf of ye Town
" Attest Nath' S. PRENTICE Town Clerk"
In the House of Representatives, December 26, 1783, it was " Voted, That the prayer of said petition be so far granted as to receive the money which is now in the hands of Nathan Fay, one of the constables, amounting to €1536 .. 188 .. 0. Continental Currency & that the treasurer discount the same out of the taxes called for from the Town of Alstead in the year 1780."
The Council concurred the same day.
CERTIFICATE OF SELECTMEN ABOUT TAXES.
" These may Certify that it appears by Samuel Kidders Tax bill for 1783-that Lot Nº 5 in the Eighth Range was Taxed in the war Tax two shillings and tenpence and Nº 4 in the Tenth Range three shillings and nine pence to the same tax-and to the state tax Nº 5 in ye Eighth Range 3/10-and Nº 4 in ye 10th Range 5/ 2-and in ye County Tax Nº 5 in ye 8th Range 1/-all in the said Kidders Tax bills who was constable for 1783 which said Lots belong to the Confiscated Estate of Simon Baxter an Absentee " £0. . 16 .. 7.
" Alstead January 21st 1786.
" ISAAC TEMPLE - Selectmen
" BENJa WOOD " REUBEN HATCH " JOEL CHANDLER
of
Alstead
"Portsmº Feby 14, 1786.
" Received an order for sixteen shillings and seven pence.
" AMOS SHEPHERD."
In 1789, Gideon Delano and Eli Snow killed a wolf each in Alstead, for which they received a State bounty.
PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO TAX NON-RESIDENT LANDS.
" To the Honble Senate and house of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire in general Court
Convened at Portsmouth on the 8th day of January A. D. 1790.
" The Petition of the Selectmen of Alstead humbly sheweth that said Town hes a Large Shair of roads and Bridges to Support it being a Veri mountainous town and to ad to these burdon the County have lately laid out a Road through the Southeasterly part of said Town through the non-residents Land about three milds which is no advantage to said inhabitants therefore your petitioners pray that the Selectmen of said town lay a Tax of two pence per acor on all the nonresidence Land in Said town to be Laid out on the roads through there own Lands, or other ways as you in your great wisdom Shall see meet.
"and we as in Duty bound shall ever pray. in behalf of -
"OLIVER SHEPARD & the Selectmen of Alstead."
January 11, 1790, the matter was before the House of Representatives, and a hearing ordered for the next session.
January 21, 1791, a bill granting the author- ity asked for was passed and concurred in by the Senate.
REMONSTRANCE AGAINST SETTING OFF A PARISHI.
" To his Excellency the Governor and Honble General Court of New Hampshire.
" We the subscribers inhabitants of the Town of Alstead, being this day informed that a petition is circulating in the east part of this Town to the genc- ral Court praying to be set off as a Distinct parish ; Now we would inform the Honble General Court, that the situation of this Town is such that a Division would be hurtful to the whole on many reasons that might be given as the matter is suden and unex- pected to us till this date, and the Notice we had accidental and the voices of the inhabitants have not been asked, and a day of hearing on the said petition might be a Large bill of Cost to this Town-we pray therefore that the petition aforesaid might not have a hearing as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
" Alstead may 31th 1793."
" Reuben Hatch. Nath™ Man.
Job Thompson, Jr. John Worster.
Joel Chandler. Ebenezer Palmer.
Asa Hatch. Paul Robins.
Absalom Kingsbery.
Josiah Crosby.
Edward Waldo. Ephraim Kingsbery.
Isaac Brown. Noah Vilas.
John Robbins. Moses Farnsworth.
Joshua Wood.
Lemuel Barker.
121
ALSTEAD.
Josiah Robens.
Nath1 Clark.
"The Petition of a number of Inhabitants of the Town of Alstead, in said State
" Humbly Sheweth,-That whereas your Petition- ers, being a compact Society in one part of the Town, and some years past built them a meeting-house and settled them a Minister, when there was no other set- tled minister in the Town, and have ever since paid a tax towards the support of their Society by them- selves, without being called upon to support the ministry any other way ; but still we find ourselves under some embarrassments, not having legal author- ity to call on one another for the taxes so made, and having got the approbation of the Town by their Vote in Town-meeting-legally appointed therefor-There- fore your Petitioners humbly pray that all those now paying taxes, or that may hereafter choose to pay taxes towards the support of the ministry & meeting- house, with us may be incorporated into a Society solely for that purpose. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will pray.
" Alstead, 26th Nov., 1793.
"Nath1 S. Prentice. Larnard Mann.
Isaac Kent.
John Wait.
Abel Phelps.
Stephen Bridgham.
Oliver Brown. Moses Blanchard.
William Wood.
Paul Gale.
Laban Johnson.
Sardis Miller.
Spencer Brown.
Thomas Wood.
Solomon Prentice, Jr.
Elijah Holbrook.
Eli Harrington.
Jona Newton.
Samuel Smith.
Benja Wood.
Amaziah Wheelock.
Asa Whitcomb.
Elisha Gale.
Abram Brown.
Sylvester Partridge.
John Brooks.
John Bryant.
John Kent.
Jonathan Atherton.
Jesse Fay.
John Wood.
John Brimmer.
John Bridgham.
Eph™ Barnard.
Daniel Newell.
Sartell Prentice.
Nathan Fay. Phineas Olds.
Thomas Taylor.
Samuel Ball.
Jedidiah Johnson.
Abel Childs.
Thomas Wait.
Jonas Newton."
James Arch.
The original was signed also by Abel Dut- ton, William Richardson, Aristides Huestis, Timothy Child, Eleazer Miller.
In House of Representatives, December 31, 1793, a hearing was ordered for the second Wednesday of the next session ; meanwhile the petitioners were to post a copy of the petition in some public place in the town and deliver a
William thompson. John Burroughs.
Thos Farnsworth. Nath1 Cooper.
Benja Baxter.
Amos Shepard.
William Slade.
William Simons.
Elisha Kingsbery.
Abel Hebbard.
Richard Emerson.
Jacob Cheever.
Daniel Perin.
Sam1 Slade.
John Slade, Jr.
James Brown.
Daniel Waldo.
Nathaniel Right, Junr. Azel Hatch.
Elkanah Stephens.
Nath1 Rust.
Jacob Wardner.
David Hale.
Thomas Root.
Frederick wardner.
Josiah Cook.
Isaac Cady.
Dan1 Williams.
Judah Hatch.
Joseph Cady.
Phinehas Hatch.
Josiah Cook, Jr.
Joshua Crane.
Joseph Peck.
Asa Grant.
John Ladd.
Chrs Williams.
Richª Beckwith.
Jonas Parke.
Luke Harris.
Mason Hatch.
Benja Cutter.
John Fletcher.
Jesse Watts.
Jonathan King.
David Hodgman.
Michel Grant.
Josiah Brooks.
James Kingsbery.
Roswell Waldo.
Elias Brown.
Gideon Delano."
REMONSTRANCE OF SELECTMEN.
" To his Excellency the Governor, the Honble senate and house of representatives, in General Court Assembled, may it please your honors.
" We, the Subscribers, Selectmen of the Town of Alstead, beg Leave to inform your Honors that this day we ware informª that a Petition is now Circulat- ing in the East part of this Town praying to be set off as a distinct Parish, or otherwise, as the General Court may think proper. This matter has twice been before the inhabitants of this Town and twice Reject- ed by a Large majority, as a division of this Town at present would be very injurious to this Town in General, and they have not brought there petition before the inhabitents to know their minds on the matter. As selectmen and Guardians of the public affairs, we pray the petition aforesaid might not have a hearing.
" Alstead, may 31th, 1793.
" ISAAC TEMPLE, 1 Selectmen "OLIVER SHEPARD, ) of Alstead."
PETITION FOR THE INCORPORATION OF A RE- LIGIOUS SOCIETY.
" To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives for the State of New Hampshire in General Court Assembled.
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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
copy to the town clerk, which the following certificates show was complied with :
"Cheshire, ss. March 11th, 1794. This petition and order of Court thereon, was delivered to me this day, and this day I read it in open Town-meeting, in the Town of Alstead. " ISAAC TEMPLE, T: Clerk.
" Agreeable to the order, herein contained, this Pe- tition and order of Court has ben Posted up in the Town of Alstead.
" THOR TAYLOR, " SIMON BROOKS, JR.,
" JOB THOMPSON, JR.,
" JAMES KINGSBURY,
Selectmen."
VOTE OF TOWN IN FAVOR OF THE INCORPORATION OF A RELIGIOUS SOCIETY.
"In a warrant, Legally executed, for calling a Town-Meeting in the Town of Alstead, on the nine- teeth day of Novbr, Last past, was the following arti- cle (viz.) article 3ª :
" To see if the Town will approve of the persons paying Taxes to the Revª Levi Lankton, to be incor- porated into a society by themselves, for the purpose of Maintaining their minister and Meeting-house.
"In Town-Meeting, Novbr 19th, 1793, article 3ª, the Question being put wheather the inhabitants of this Town will approve of the persons paying Taxes to the Revª Levi Lankton, to be incorporated into a society by themselves, for the purpose of Maintaining their minister and Meeting-house, passed in the affirma- tive. "A true copy of Record
"Attest-ISAAC TEMPLE, T: Clerk.
" Alstead, Decbr 20th, 1793."
" At the annual Meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Alstead, holden March 10th, 1795.
" Article 16th,-To see if the inhabitants aforesaid will vote that the persons that now do or may here- after pay Taxes to the Revª Levi Lankton may be In- corporated into a Society for the purpose of Soporting their Minister and Meeting-House.
" Passed in the affirmative.
" Alstead, May 13th, 1795. " MOSES HALE,
" DANIEL PERIN,
" ABEL PHELPS,
" JNº BRIGHAM,
Selectmen of Alstead.
" EPHRAIM KINGSBERY, -
" The above is a true copy of record.
" Attest, DANIEL PERIN, Town Clerk."
The foregoing petitions, etc., resulted in the incorporation of a society by the name of the Second Parish in Alstead, the act passing the House June 15, 1795, the Senate the next day, and receiving the approval of Governor Gilman, June 18, 1795.
PETITION OF ELISHA KINGSBERY FOR LOAN.
"To the Honorable the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the State of New Hampshire, to be Convened at Amherst in said State on wednesday, the fourth day of June, 1794.
" Humbly Sheweth your Petitioner.
"That your Petitioner did, in the year 1792, at great Expence, build a Linceed Oil Mill, and in the year 1793, on his own Expence, & on the same Dam build a Paper Mill, both which mills are nearly finished and do good business to the great advantage and benefit of the Public in this part of the State. That your Petitioner finds a great demand for his Paper, not only in this, but in the Neighbouring State of Vermont, so that not only the saving of the importation of that valuable article in this part of the State is made, but is also likely to bring a considera- ble Quantity of money into this part of the State .- That the demand for paper has increased so much that he finds himself unable to procure Stock sufficient to supply all his customers by reason of this great ex- pence in Constructing his works.
"Therefore prays that your Honors would grant him the Loan of two hundred pounds for one or two years, upon security of the Mortgage of the Mill, to the state that he may be euabled to carry on his works to the better advantage of the publick and save the importation of those articles into this part of the State. And your Petitioner, as in Duty bound will ever pray.
" Alstead, May 31st, 1794.
" ELISHA KINGSBERY."
The foregoing was before the Legislature June 9, 1794, and a committee appointed to consider the matter ; but I am unable to find any record of their report .- (HAMMOND.)
-
HISTORY OF CHESTERFIELD.
BY ORAN E. RANDALL.
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY .- Chesterfield is bounded on the north by Westmoreland and Keene, on the east by Keene and Swanzey, on the south by Winchester and Hinsdale, on the west by the Connecticut River, or, more strictly speaking, by Brattleborough and Dummerston, in Vermont. The area of the town, exclusive of the Connecticut, which flows along its western border for a distance of about six miles, is probably between forty-two and forty- four square miles. The first recorded per- ambulation of the town lines took place in 1793, at which time the line between Chester- field and Westmoreland was measured by Jonas Robbins, of the latter town, and found to have a length of "seven miles and three- fourths and forty-four rods," its direction being " cast, 10° 13}' south." .
The line running from the northeast corner of Chesterfield to the southwest corner of Keene was described as having a length of one mile and sixteen rods, and a direction of " south, 8° 30' east ;" and the line running from the southwest corner of Keene to the northwest corner of Swanzey as having a length of two hundred and sixty-three rods, and a direction of "east, 8° 30' south." The line between Chesterfield and Swanzey was surveyed the same year by John Braley, and was described as having a direction (starting from the northwest corner of Swanzey) of " south, 331º west ;" but its length was not
stated. According to measurements made at a later date, this line has a length of nearly four and one-half miles.
The same surveyor also surveyed, in 1793, the line that separates Chesterfield from Win- chester and Hinsdale, and found it to have a direction of " west, 10}º north," starting from the southeast corner of Chesterfield. The length of this line was also not stated, but it is about seven and seven-eighths miles.
The surface of the town is, for the most part, hilly, the meadows and plains being compara- tively limited. At a few points on the Con- necticut there are small meadows and plains, some of the latter having an elevation of two hundred feet, or more, above the river. There are also small meadows in other parts of the town, through which flow some of the larger brooks.
Wantastiquet, or West River Mountain, lies in the extreme southwest corner of Chesterfield and northwest corner of Hinsdale. This mountain rises abruptly from the Connecticut, and has an altitude of about twelve hundred feet above sea-level. From its summit, in the days of the early settlements, the Indians are said to have watched the operations of the settlers in the vicinity of Fort Dummer. Hence, the name of Indians' Great Chair has been applied to a particular portion of the summit of this mountain. The longer axis of Wantastiquet is nearly parallel to the river, and has a length of from three to four miles.
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