History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 53

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 53
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 53


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).


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Roland M. Combs, Company C, Fourteenth Regi- ment.


Reuben H. Combs, Company C, Fourteenth Regi- ment.


Jarvis Cass, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died at New Orleans June 20, 1863.


Anson L. Cass, Company F, Fifth Regiment. Henry O. Curtis, Company H, First Regiment; Heavy Artillery.


Harvey G. Cheney, Company D, Second Regiment, Massachusetts.


John Dingman, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Rufus Freeman, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment.


John H. Hitchcock, second lieutenant Company I, Third Regiment.


Lorenzo Harris, Jr., Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment.


Caleb Harris, Company H, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Massachusetts ; died October, 1864.


327


RICHMOND.


Almon L. Jillson, Company G, Fourteenth Regi- ment; died at battle of Laurel Hill, Va.


Anson R. Jillson, Company A, Second Regiment, Massachusetts ; died at battle of Laurel Hill, Va. Silas F. Jillson, Company A, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts ; died.


Nathan M. Jillson, Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts.


Herman L. Lincoln, Company F, Sixth Regiment. Stephen W. Martin, Company I, Twenty-fifth Regi- ment, Massachusetts; died.


George Martin, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment. John A. Morse, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Ansel Macomber, Company F, Sixth Regiment. John E. Norwood, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment. Benjamin Newell, Jr., Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment ; died October 14, 1864.


Daniel H. Pelkey, Company I, Third Regiment.


Dexter Palmer, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died at Concord, N. H., August, 1863.


Nahum Putney, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; died at Algiers, La., June 12, 1863.


John A. Paine, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment ; mustered October 23, 1862; mustered out, Au- gust 20, 1863.


Warren S. Pickering, Company A, Eighteenth Regi- ment.


Volney Piper, sergeant-major Company E, Fourth Regiment.


Denzil Rice, sergeant, Company E, Third Regiment .. Amasa W. Perry, Eleventh United States Infantry. John Starkey, Jr., first sergeant, Company F, Sixth Regiment ; died August 29, 1862.


Walter A. Scott, Company F, Fourteenth Regiment; killed at Winchester, Va., September 29, 1864.


Henry E. Tolman, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Jonas I. Thompson, corporal Company C. Fourth Regiment.


Samuel Thompson, second lieutenant, Company F, Sixth Regiment.


L. Warren Wright, adjutant Fourteenth Regiment. Stephen W. Williams, Company I, Sixteenth Regi- ment.


William Whipple, Company I, Sixteenth Regiment. Vibbert Whipple, Company A, Second Regiment.


Alfred P. Whipple, Company F, Second Regiment, Massachusetts.


Julius M. Whipple, Company A, Second Regiment. S. Wright Wood, Company E, Sixth Regiment.


THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH was organized in 1768. The present Baptist Church was or- ganized March 24, 1835, and the society No- vember 25, 1836.


THE UNITARIAN CHURCH was organized in 1837.


THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH was formed in April, 1837, and at dedication of their first house of worship, November 22, 1837, the sermon was preached by Rev. Hosea Ballou.


METHODIST CHURCH .- The first Methodist Church in this town was organized in 1840 and dissolved in 1870. A second organization was effected in June, 1871.


THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS also held meet- ings in this town.


The first physician was Dr. Aaron Aldrich. Dr. Ebenezer Swan was here in 1776; died 1820. He was followed by B. Harkness, Amos Howe, Martin Brittan, John Parkhurst, George W. Hammond, Franklin Wallace, Lewis Ware, J. P. Willis, C. C. Wheaton, Alvin Ballou, L. Smith, S. P. French, C. J. Town, E. J. Dunnell, John Heard, J. R. Hardy, Geo. F. Shore.


The celebrated Hosea Ballou was born in this town April 30, 1771, and here was born also Elizabeth Ballou, mother of the lamented President Garfield. "The site of the birth- place of Hosea Ballou is now a most attractive place in a valley scooped out from the rough hills and mountains of the Granite State, and known as Ballou's Dale, surrounded by the most romantic scenery, the beauties of which he used to dwell upon in after-years, and to sing their praise in verse. The neighboring country is of a bold and rugged character, and is to this day but thinly settled."


POST-OFFICE .- The first post-office was es- tablished July 4, 1812, with Job Bisbee post- master. The following is the list from that time to the present :


Job Bisbee July 4, 1812


Ono. T. Cass. July 24, 1829


Stephen Wheeler. Aprl. 24, 1832


John Parkhurst. .Sept. 6, 1837


Danford Tyler. Nov. 10, 1840


Jarvis Weeks July 8, 1845


Amos G. Bennett


.May 6, 1858


Daniel R. Spaulding.


July 16, 1861


328


HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


L. W. Wright. Dec. 19, 1870


Charles H. Lyon. May 10, 1871


Amos Martin Mar. 7, 1873


Andrew Dodge .. July 12, 1875


Warren Kenop. Aprl. 6, 1877


John E. Norwood Dec. 18, 1877


Charles Norwood.


May 7,1883


The North Richmond office was established September 15, 1853. The postmasters have been,-


Harvey Martin. Sept. 15, 1853


Edson Starkey June 16, 1856


Harvey Martin Oct. 30, 1856


Discontinued. June 17, 1879


Re-established. .July 3, 1879


Orlow E. Parsons July 3, 1879


Orlan HI. Martin Aprl. 13, 1880


CIVIL HISTORY .- The following is a list of representatives from 1776 to 1885:


Oliver Capron, 1776 and 1783.


Daniel Read, 1777.


David Barney, 1778.


Noah Curtis, 1779 and 1782.


Jonathan Gaskill, 1787, 1789 and 1790.


Nathaniel Aldrich, 1810.


Jonathan Atherton, 1814 to 1817 aud 1819.


Benjamin Newell, 1817, 1818 and 1820.


Joseph Newell, 1824 and 1825.


Jonathan Rawson, 1827 to 1830.


Russell Whipple, 1831. Nahum Aldrich, 1837 to 1840.


Jarvis Weeks, 1840 and 1841.


Nicholas Cook, 1842, 1845 and 1846.


Kendall Fisher, 1843 and 1844.


Stephen Randall, 1847 and 1848. William Wright, 1849 and 1850. Willard Randall, 1851 and 1852. D. B. Aldrich, 1853 and 1854.


Moses Tyler, 1793, 1796 to 1802.


Rufus Whipple, 1794 and 1795. James Cook, 1802 to 1807.


Joseph Weeks, 1807 to 1810, 1811 to 1814, 1821 to 1824, 1826, 1830, 1832 to 1835.


Samuel P. French, 1855. John Starkey, 1856 and 1857. Abner Twitchell, 1858 and 1860. Asahel Kelton, 1859.


Hosea B. Aldrich, 1861 and 1863.


Asa H. Bullock, 1864.


N. G. Woodbury, 1865 and 1866.


Edson Starkey, 1867 and 1868.


Asa H. Bullock, 1869 and 1870.


Elbridge G. Bemis, 1871 and 1872.


Andrew G. Willoby, 1873.


Almon Twitchell, 1874.


Edwin N. Bowen, 1875 and 1876.


Joseph B. Abbott, 1877.


Hiram P. Sprague, 1878.


John E. Norwood, 1883 and 1884.


The following is a list of town clerks from 1765 to 1885 :


Daniel Cass, 1765.


Henry Ingalls, 1766 to 1792.


Samuel Gaskill, 1792 to 1798, 1799 to 1802. David Ballou, 1798.


Joseph Weeks, 1802 to 1822, 1823 and 1827.


Jonathan Rawson, 1824 to 1827 and 1831.


Benjamin Newell, 1828 and 1829.


Ono. T. Cass, 1830.


Jarvis Weeks, 1832 to 1836, 1837 to 1844, 1845, 1853, 1854, 1856 and 1857. Stephen Wheeler, Jr., 1836.


Amos W. Newell, 1844, 1846, 1847 and 1855.


Henry B. Swan, 1848 and 1849. William Bassett, 1850 to 1853.


N. G. Woodbury, 1858, 1860 to 1865.


D. R. Spaulding, 1859.


Jarvis Ingalls, 1865 to 1871, 1880 to 1884.


Amos G. Bennett, 1871 to 1875. Edward F. P. Dearborn, 1875 (one month).


George W. Newell, 1876 to 1880.


Almon Twitchell, 1884 and 1885.


HISTORY OF ROXBURY.


CHAPTER I.


THIS town lies near the centre of the county and is bounded as follows :


North by Sullivan ; east by Nelson and Har- risville ; south by Marlborough and west by Keene.


An attempt was made to form this town in 1796 from portions of Packersfield (Nelson), Dublin and Marlborough. A committee ap- pointed to examine the premises reported favor- ably, but it met with opposition from the towns it was to be taken from, and the scheme was defeated.


A petition from the inhabitants "of the southwest part of Packersfield, north part of Marlborough, and east part of Keene," present- ed to the Legislature in 1812, asking to be incorporated into a town, was successful, the territory asked for being incorporated-December 9th, of that year, as a town by the name of Roxbury.


June 15, 1820, Samuel Griffin and his estate were severed from Nelson, and annexed to this town.


By an act passed July 1, 1868, the entire town of Roxbury was annexed to Keene : Proriding, said act should be adopted by a majority vote in each town. The act, how- ever, was not adopted, and Roxbury remains as it was.


PETITION FOR AN INCORPORATION, 1796.


" Your Petitioners inhabiting the south west part


of Packersfield, the North part of Marlboro'-and North-west part of Dublin-


" Humbly Shew


" That they live very remote from the Center, but more so from the Meeting-Houses of their respective towns-


" That the situation is such by reason of distance & bad Roads, that they cannot attend Public Worship &c. with any convenience-


"That they are destitute of many Town preveliges. That some of their duties, as members of the several Towns are very burdensom-


"That the town of Packersfield, has voted off a Tract of Land at the south west corner thereof and Marlboro'-has voted off a Tract at the North End therof for the purpose of making a Township-


" That what has been voted off (in their opinion) is inadequate to make a Township-


" That your Petitioners have Petitioned the several Towns for a small addition to said grants, but without success-


"That if the Tract of Land already voted off, with the addition of asmall piece of Packersfield, Marlboro, and Dublin, might be Incorporated a distinct Town- ship it would be highly advantageous to your Petition- ers and the Public Interest .---


" The prayer of this their humble Petition, therefore is, that your Honors would appoint a Committee to Examine the said Premises at the cost of your Peti- tioners-


"And your Petitioners further pray, that the Com- mittee so appointed might be directed (if after due examination they Should think it reasonable to make a Township as afore said) to fix the Bounderies and make their report to the Honorable General Court, to be holden in June next-


"And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray-


" LOTT COOKE, in behalf of the Petitioners .- " 9th Dec., 1796-"


329


330


HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


This petitition was referred to a committee, who reported as follows :


REPORT OF COMMITTEE.


"your Committee appointed in December the 8, 1796 to take into Consideration & vew the Situation of the Southwest part of Peckersfield and the North part of Marlborough & the Norwest part of Dublin as Set forth in the Petition of Lott Cooke and others.


" Report as followeth,


" Having Explored the above mentioned towns & the Situation of the premises prayª for in the aforeSª Pe- tition are of the opinion, that the prayer thereof be granted So far as that thay be incorperated as a town according to the Descriptions following


" Begining at the Southesterly Corner of Sullivan then running Easterly till it Strikes the East line of Lot number Six in the fifth Range of Lots in the town of Peckersfild then running Southerly on Sª line till it Strikes the Norwest corner of Lot Nº 7 in the 2ª Range of Lotts in Peckersfield, then running Easterd- ly on the North Line of the 2ª Range till it Strikes Breeds pond so called then Southerly till it Strikes Dublin line, then on the north line of Dublin East- erdly till it comes to the northeastly corner of Lot Nº 19 in the 10 Rang, thence Southerly on Sd line till it Strikes the Southesterly corner of Lot Nº 19 in the 7


Rang in Sª Dublin then Running Westerly on Sª line till it Strikes Marlborough East line, then taking thre ranges of Lotts of the north End of Marlborough in- cluding two gores of Land one on the north line and the other on the west line of Sª Marlborough against Sd Ranges, and from the norwest corner of Marlbor- ough on the west line of Peekersfield to Sullivan South Line then Easterly on Sullivan South Line to the first menctioned bounds.


" Dublin Apreel 12, 1797.


"all which is Submitted by your Committee ---


" NATH EMERSON " BEN.Ja PRESCOTT."


The plan met with opposition, and was de- feated in June following.


THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in this town was organized August 15, 1816, with Rev. C. Page pastor. He was dismissed on March 2, 1819, and from that time until 1837 the church was without a pastor.


Rev. Alanson Rawson became pastor in May, 1837, and dismissed May 3, 1842. January 1, 1843, Rev. Ezra Adams assumed the pastorate and continued about six years. Other ministers have been Revs. B. Smith and S. H. Tolman.


HISTORY OF STODDARD.


CHAPTER I.


THIS town lies in the northeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Sullivan County, on the east by Hills- borough County, on the south by Nelson and Sullivan, and on the west by Sullivan, Gilsum and Marlow.


The township was granted by the Masonian proprietors to Colonel Sampson Stoddard, of Chelmsford, Mass., and others, and went by the names of Monadnock No. 7 and Limerick, until it was incorporated, November 4, 1774, and named in honor of Colonel Stoddard. Set- tlements were made in 1769 by John Taggart and others, who, for a time, obtained bread- meal in Peterborough and carried it to their homes on their backs. By an act passed Sep- tember 27, 1787, the southwest corner of the town was combined with portions of Gilsum, Keene and Nelson, and incorporated into the town of Sullivan.


The lines of Gilsum and Marlow, as char- tered, extending some distance east of the curve- line of Mason's patent, as surveyed by Joseph Blanchard, and the west side of Stoddard, being said curve-line, caused a serious dispute as to which should have jurisdiction over the terri- tory in question. This was settled in favor of Stoddard June 16, 1797.


June 25, 1835, the farm of Ebenezer Tar- box was severed from Stoddard and annexed to Nelson. .


The following Stoddard men were in First New Hampshire Regiment :


Samuel Morrison, enlisted January 1, 1777; dis- charged December, 1781.


Richard Richardson, enlisted April 3, 1777 ; dis- charged April 5, 1780.


Nathaniel Richardson, enlisted April 3, 1777 ; died June 24, 1777.


The manufacture of glass-ware was carried on to same extent at South Stoddard for many years.


WARRANT FOR TOWN-MEETING, 1776.


" By Virtue of an order from the Select men of Stoddard to me I Warn all the Freeholders and oather inhabitants of the Town of Stoddard To meet att the Dwelling house of Ens" John Tenneys in Stoddard on Wednesday the twentieth Day of June next at Eleven oClock forenoon then and there to act on the following articles if they see fit


" 1th To Chuse a moderator to govern Said meeting- " 21y To See if the Town will Chuse a Select man in the room of Isaac Kenney who was Chose that of- fice and refuses to Sarve the Town-


" 3ły To See if the Town will Chuse two Constables in the room of Ephraim Adams and Benoni Boyn- ton, who was Chose and refuse to Sarve ye Town


" 4ly To See if the Town will a gree to hire any preaching this present Summer-and Chuse a Com- mittee for the Same-


"5' To raise Such Sum or Sums of money as Shall be thot proper-


" 61y To See if the Town will Chuse a Commitee to open Such of the propriators roads that was Laid out in this town before it was incorporated as shall be thot necessary


" 7ly To See What the Town will Do in respect to Isaac Kenneys Taken as alls oath


" gly To have the Town agree where the preaching Shall be if they hire any


" gly To see if the Town will Chuse a Commi'tee to reckon with oliver Parker and to receive his ac- compts and give him recipts-and to Demand of him the Said parker the Town Book of records


331


332


HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


-


With the inCorporation and all the records that are past


"Stoddard may ye 22ª 1776


" ISAAC TEMPLE Town Clr"


REMONSTRANCE AGAINST THE ELECTION OF JOSEPH ROUNSEVAL.


" COLONY OF NEWHAMPr


"to the Honble Counciele and house of Representa- tives for sª Colony-


" the Petition and prayer of the subscribers Inhabit- ants of Stoddard in Sª Colony humbly Sheweth that in" Joseph Rounsivile may not have a Seat in Court for Reasons here mentioned firstly because he is not worth the money Seccondly because he is not leagly Chousen the Town not being warned to Chuse a Representitive But to Chuse a Comtee to Chuse one and accordingly he was Chosen by Comtees


"Stoddard August 2ª 1776


" Jonathan Bennett joel Gilson William Dutton


Oliver Parker


John Dutton


Isaac Kenney


Asa Adams Moses Kenny "


Thomas Adams


DISORDER AT A TOWN-MEETING, 1776.


"The Petition of a Number of the Inhabitants. of Stoddard in the Colony aforesª humbly Sheweth That on the Last Thursday of the month of march Last past at Stoddard aforesª was held ye annual meeting, so called, for the Town aforesª when after Chusing by hand Vote The Town officers for the Ensuing Year (among which Officers were Two Constables Chosen) The Town Clerk and Selectmen then chosen utterly refused to permit the sª Constables to take the Oath of office, declaring that ye former Selectmen should make ye assesment, and the former Constables col- lect the same, for the Ensuing year, after the Trans- acting of which it was requested of the moderator to Adjourn ye sª meeting, upon which he called a Vote to see if it was the mind of ye Inhabitants so to do who almost unanimously voted that sd mecting be not adjourned, but the moderator notwithstanding did declare the same adjourned untill ye Second day of may then next, at which Time a Number of your petitioners protested against ye proceedings of sª meeting for the Reasons aforesd your Petitioners fur- ther show that on the Twelfth day of June Instant a small Number of the Inhabitants of ye sª Town did meet Together at a place never before that Time used for that purpose in a Tumultuous manner to the Number of about Eight persons to vote upon Sundry Articles and things in the notification herewith Ex- hidited, mentioned, by means of all which proceed-


ings the utmost disorder and Confussion is introduced into ye sd Town, and the most unhappy Consequences are reasonably Expected to take place, wherefore your Petitioners (being a major Part of the Inhab- itants freeholders and others Legally Qualified to Vote in Town meetings) humbly pray your Honors to take this our Petition into your wise Consideration and to a point some Legal method for calling a meet- ing of ye Inhabitants of sª Town as soon as may be in order to transact ye necessary business of ye Town and restore peace and Harmony amongst the Inhab- itants or otherways to Grant us releif as to your Hon- ors shall seem fit, and your Petitioners as in duty bound shall Ever pray


" Stoddard June 18, 1776.


"John Dutton Daniel Kenny


Jonathan Bennett Moses Kenny


Oliver Parker Samuel Parks


Reuben Walton


Ebenezer Wright


Ephraim Adams


Asa Adams John N mther John Joyner Joel Gilson Timothy Mather


Moses Bennett Richard Emerson


William Dutton Zach' Adams


Joseph Dodge


Thomas Adams


Benoni Boynton


Isaac Kenney "


In House of Representatives, September 19, a hearing was ordered for the next session.


SUMMONS TO OLIVER PARKER, 1776. "STODDARD may ye 22ª 1776.


" To oliver Parker-you are hereby required to ap- pear att the Dwelling house of m' John Tennys in Stoddrad afore Sd on Wednesday the fifth Day of June next at Ten oClock fore noon then and there to make answer to a Complant Brought to us against you wherein you appear inimical to america in a number of alegations fail not of apperence at your peril-as your neglect will be faithfully reported to the Com- mitee of Safty for the Colony of New Hampshire given under our hands at Stoddrd afore Said-


" ALEXANDER SCOTT Commitee


" NATHANIEL EMERSON of safty


" AMOS BUTTERFIELD for Stoddard"


PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, 1776.


" Att a meeting of the Commitees of Safty for the Towns of Stoddard Camden and marlow met at the house of m' John Tenneys on the fifth Day of June 1776 to hear and Examine into a Complaint Brought to us against one oliver Parker of Stoddard-setting


333


STODDARD.


forth the Sª parker to be inimical to america and its Liberties Proceed and Chose m' Sam" Gustin Chair- man-


"The inclosed Complaint is the same that was Brought to us, and has ben fully suported and provd_


"upon which we Came to the following resolution viz-


"1st it is the opinion of the Committees that ye sd parker is notoriously Disaffected to the american Cause-


" 21y it is the opinion of the Commitees that the Sd parker is so notoriously Disaffectd that he the Sd parker be Emedeately Disarmed from all instruments of war-


" 3ly that the Sª parker be Confind to the Lot of Land his house stands on on the penalty of being Sent to the Common goal of the County of Cheshire -or find good Bonds to the Satisfaction of the Com- mitee of Safty in the Town of Stoddard


" 41y all persons are forbid to have any Deleaings with ye Sª parker on ye penalty of being Considerd enimies to america-


" And furthermore while we ware setting a Com- plaint was brought to us by m' Nathaniel Emerson of Stoddard against the sª Parker setting forth that the sª Parker filloniously brock down his ye sª Emersons fence and has continuª to do it for some days and turns his Cattle into his improvements-and a Cita- tion was sent to the sd Parker to appear and defend ye same, but he payd no regard at all to the Summons but difies all authority to bring him to Justice (mean- ing ye Committee of Safety)-John Nois mather- Joel Gilson-Zach' adams-Eli adams-and william Dutton all of Stoddard was Summond to appear as Evidences in the above Cause but refused to appear and seamd to appear as abetters of the sd Parker by their deniing the authority of the Committee-Treat- ing ye Committee with scurulous Language


"By Order of the Several Committees " Attest "SAM" GUSTIN Chairman


"Stoddard june ye 5th 1776"


" STODDARD June ye 5th 1776


" Att a meeting of the Committees of Safety of Stoddard and marlow and Camden, met to try a cause depends between oliver Parker a reputed Tore, and the Liberty of America-ye said Parker being sited to appear on this Day, but defyes ye authority of the Committee of Safety-and dos not appear-"


A part of the evidence brought against said Parker was the following, which he acknowl- edged to have written to Mr. Boynton :


" A Receipt to make a Whig-Take of conspiracy


and the root of pride three handfulls two of ambition and vain glory, pound them in the mortar of faction and discord, boil it in 2 quarts of dissembling tears and a little New England Rum over the fire of Sedi- tion till you find the scum of folly wood to rise on the top, then strain it through the cloths of Rebillion, put it into the bottle of envy, stop it with the cork of malice, then make it into pills called Conspiracy of which take nine when going to bed say over your hypocritical prayer, and curse your honest neighbor in your bed chamber and then go to sleep if you can, it will have so good an effect that all the next day you will be thinking how to cozzen cheat lie and get drunk abuse the ministers of the Gospel, cut the throats of all honest men and plunder the Nation."


Parker was committed to jail in Exeter, Nov. 2, 1778, and was under bonds not to go out of Cheshire County in 1782.


PETITION OF OLIVER PARKER : ADDRESSED TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, 1776.


" Humbly sheweth Oliver Parker of Stoddard in the County of Cheshire in sª Colony that he was upon ye 5th day of June Current by Order of Certain Committees directed to be disarmed, and not to go from his Lot of Land on which he Lives, upon ye penalty of being Committed to ye County Goal, and by sd Committees deemed an Enemy to his Country, your petitoner avers and declares that sª Committees had not ye least proof of his being inimical to his Country, but that they proceeded to act as they did with regard to him merely upon malice, and that he openly Challenges any person or persons whomsoever to prove the least thing against him with respect to his being in any way or manner disaffected to the Cause of Liberty, wherefore he prays your Honers to point out some reasonable and just method for him to make his Innocence in ye premises manefest, and to be Liberated from ye unjust decree of sª Committees- " June 18 1776 " OLIVER PARKER."


SUNDRY INHABITANTS RELATIVE TO FOREGOING : AD- DRESSED TO THE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, 1776.


" The Petition and Remonstrance of the Subscribers Inhabitants of Stoddard in sª Colony sheweth, that We have for a Number of years been acquainted with Capt Oliver Parker of Stoddard aforesd and have Es- pecially since ye Unhappy War commenced betwixt Great Britain and the Colonys been personally Knowing to his Good disposition In the Cause of Liberty and that he has done his part as an Individual towards ye support of ye War and on Every Occasion as a military officer obeyed orders and done what was required of him, notwithstanding which he was


334


HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


Lately summoned to appear before Certain Commit- tees to answer a Complaint again him as an Enemy to America, and without letting him Know what ye Complaint was or to what he was to answer to they proceeded to confine him to that Lot of Land his house stands upon, and to order that no persons deal with him on pain of being deemed Enemies to their Country, now as your petitioners are certain that there was no grounds to found this resolution upon, but that mere malice and falshood directed ye whole proceedings, they pray that your Honors would re- verse ye aforesª unjust degree or by some means let ye matter be fairly and impartially determined.




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