USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 62
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 62
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" Voted, March 4, 1777, to allow to Mr. David Belding twenty shillings for his time, trouble and ex- penses as a selectman last year, and to Colo. Ham- mond, Thomas Hammond and Elijah Groves nine shillings each for their services as selectmen last year ; to allow Thomas Applin twelve shillings for his service as selectman last year.
" Voted at a special town-meeting, January 22, 1778, That this town approves of the Articles of Confedera- tion and perpetual union between the United States of America, as proposed by the Continental Congress, and desire that the same may be ratified and con- firmed.
" Voted, That our Representative at the General Court be instructed to concur with the Representa- tives of the other towns in this State in appointing and calling a full and free representation of all the Deputies in this State for the sole purpose of framing and laying a permanent plan or system for the future government of this State agreeable to a vote of the General Court.
" Voted, May 12, 1778, To send one man to meet with the Convention at Concord, the tenth day of June next, and Calvin Frink, Esq., was chosen.
" Voted, March 2, 1779, To allow Calvin Frink twenty-five pounds as a reward for his services as Delegate for the town in the Convention, held at Concord, June 10, 1778."
A town-meeting was held May 2, 1781, "to choose one or more persons, if the town shall think propper to convene at Concord on the second Tuesday in June next for the sole pur- pose of forming and laying a permanent plan or system of government for this State."
At this meeting Rev. Edward Stoddard was chosen a delegate to represent the town in the convention.
A town-meeting was held December 31, 1781, "to see if the town would accept of the Con- stitution or form of Government agreed upon by the Delegates of the people of this State in
384
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Convention, begun and held at Concord on the second Tuesday of June last."
The question was put, "whether the voters present do accept of the Constitution or plan of Government as it has now been read ?"
Thirty-one voted to accept it; five declined voting either way, three of whom declared they had not perused it sufficiently ; two said they did not know whether they belonged to the State of New Hampshire or Vermont, and one objected against one artiele, viz., respecting the governor, that no man shall be eligible as governor more than three years in any seven.
At a town-meeting held May 28, 1783, seventy-three voters were present, and voted on reconsidering the Constitution or plan of gov- ernment. Fifty-eight voted to accept the Con- stitution as it stood ; fifteen voted not to accept it without alteration.
At a town-meeting held October 6, 1783, it was "voted, that it is the opinion of this town that, with respect to the proposed alteration of the eighth article of the Constitution of the United States, that each State ought to be taxed according to the wealth of each State; but whether numbering the persons or taking the value of the land according to any mode of valuation that is practicable be the best way to ascertain the wealth of each State we are by no means able to determine, and do therefore con- fide in the wisdom and judgment of the Legis- lature of the State, to act as they shall think most just and equitable."
Thomas Applin, Calvin Frink and Aaron Parsons were chosen a committee to draft in- structions to the delegate in the General Court.
The first town-meeting held in Swanzey un- der the Constitution, which had been adopted, was held March 2 1784. The chief executive officer of the State under this Constitution was styled a President. The town officers elected at this meeting were: Moderator, Samuel Hills ; town clerk, Calvin Frink ; selectmen, Isaac Hammond, David Belding, Jr., and Benjamin Hammond.
Of the votes given for a president of the State, Meshech Weare had 10; George Atkin- son, 21 ; John Sullivan, 2. Of the votes given for two senators for Cheshire County, Thomas Applin had 14; Daniel Newcombe, 2; Calvin Frink, 27; John Bellows, 5; Simeon Oleot, 5; Benjamin Bellows, 1.
" Voted at this meeting to grant forty-eight shillings to Rev. Mr. Goddard as a reward for his services as a member of the late Convention for forming a Consti- tution for this State.
"Voted, to grant Capt. Samuel Hills fifteen shillings as a reward for his services as a member of the afore- said Convention.
"Voted, March 1, 1775, to raise twelve pounds for the purpose of trimming the burying ground.
"Voted, March 7, 1786, to raise £4 13s. 1p. to com- plete the fencing of the burying ground."
At a legal meeting held October 30, 1786, a plan for emitting paper money by the General Court was read. The vote was unanimous against approving the measure.
A committee was chosen for suggesting al- terations in the plan, consisting of Roger Thompson, William Grimes, Wyman Richard- son, Abraham Randall, Elisha Whitcomb, David Belding, Jr., and Ebenezer Hills. No- vember 13, 1786, the committee made the fol- lowing report :
" That twenty thousand dollars be emitted on the same plan that the General Court proposed to emit the ten thousand pounds, with the addition to have it a tender for all debts due in this State and in lieu of the forty thousand pounds that the General Court proposed to emit on land security that the Statenotes, be called in, and the holder in lieu of said notes to receive certificates of the same sum, in lieu of the same so that the interest of said notes may cease, and the certificates to be received in all out standing taxes, seventeen voted in favor of the report, and two against it."
A town-meeting was called December 4, 1786:
" To see if the town would agree with some person to pay the last State tax required to be paid in facili- ties by the first of January next, and repay such per- son or persons in cattle or any other way they shall agree.
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SWANZEY.
" Voted, That the selectmen be impowered to agree with Mr. Nathan Capron who has undertaken to pay said tax for the town
" Voted, That the selectmen, together with Maj. Elisha Whitcomb, Maj. Jonathan Whitcomb, Lut. Samuel Wright and Mr. David Belding, Jr., be a committee to examine into the requests of several constables representing such assesments in their hands against such persons, as they have not had op- portunity to collect and make such an adjustment and abatement to such constables as they shall judge equetable."
The foregoing votes show the financial con- dition of the town at that period. The war for Independance had been successfully prose- euted and Independence achieved, but there had been no well-matured plans adapted for a State or for a General Government. The fi- nances of the country were in a deplorable condition, taxes were heavy in consequence of the war, the people were without money, and to pay their taxes was almost an impossibility.
" Voted March 5, 1793, That each man be allowed four pence per hour for each hours actual labor at the highways, and two pence per hour for a plough, two pence per hour for each yoke of oxen, and one pence per hour for every cart used at said highway. " Voted, To allow Mr. Moses B. Williams six shil- lings for warning sundrey persons out of town."
It appears to have been lawful at this time for towns to refuse a settlement to such persons as they thought might be likely to become a public charge.
At the annual town-meeting, March 5, 1793, the following subjeet was taken into considera- tion :
" Whereas, Mr. John Harvey and others, inhabi- tants of Swanzey, have requested said town that they would vote that they and their land may be annexed to the town of Marlborough, representing they live much more convenient to Marlborough Meeting- House than Swanzey, &c.
"The town having considered of the said request, think the same to be reasonable therefore.
" Voted, That Messrs. John Harvey, Kember Har- vey and Samuel Stearns, and the land whereon they dwell, and the land belonging to Mr. Timothy Har- vey be set off from the town of Swanzey and annexed
to the town of Marlborough, said tract of land lies in the northeastwardly part of said Swanzey and is the most northwestwardly part of that gore of land which was set off from Richmond to Swanzey, and is as follows, viz: Beginning at a heap of stones, being the southeast corner of the town of Keene, then runs on said Keene west 8 degrees north, 32 rods to the old corner of Swanzey, then runs south, 34 degrees west on Swanzey old line 418 rods to a white pine tree, then runs east 20 degrees, 30 minutes; south on com- mon land 212 rods to a stake and stone in the patent line, then runs on the patent line north 9 degrees, 30 minutes east, 418 rods to the first mentioned corner containing three hundred and five acres."
At the annual town-meeting, March 13, 1832, the following was part of the business trans- acted.
" Voted, To provide each soldier with } pound powder on muster day.
" Voted to hold the next annual meeting at the Baptist meeting-house."
The collecting of all the taxes to be assessed in the town of Swanzey the ensuing year was then set up at public auction to be struck off to the lowest bidder be to produce bonds to the accept- ance of the selectmen for the payment of the same into the state, county and town treasuries as directed by the Statesmen, and also to make a full statement with the town treasurer ten days before the annual town meeting in March, 1833, or to receive nothing for his services as collector for said year, and they were struck off to Jonathan Whitcomb, he being the lowest bidder, for the sum of $28.00, after which the said Whitcomb withdrew his bid when they were again set up on the same conditions as at first and struck off to Israel Brown, he being the lowest bidder, for the sum of $18.15.
The following report shows the expenses of the town for the year prior to March 13, 1832:
" We, the undersigned, have carefully re-examined the books, receipts and orders of the past year and find the receipts into the treasury exactly as reported at the annual meeting, on the 13th instant, and we also present a more definite report of the disburse- ments from the treasury than was made at said meet- ing,-
386
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" Paid for support of poor. $241 62
for schooling 673 61
66 repair of Slate Bridge. 81 87
Plank for other Bridges 39 24
on account of Small Pox 22 75
66 Non-Resident Highway.
00 00
66 Taxes worked out. 17 57
Eunice Graves
15 26
a Note for Blodget Place 38 50
muster expenses & Powder.
51 79
Selectmen.
54 91
Sup. School Committee. 15 26
outstanding school Order. 40 38
other outstanding Orders.
62 71
Incidental Charges
61 76
Cash in Treasury.
133 77
Total $1,553 98
"Out standing orders at the time of settlement, $20.51, which, deducted from the money on land in the treasury, will leave a balance of $113.26.
" ELIJAH SAWYER, " JOSEPH WOODWARD,
Selectmen of
" BENJAMIN HAMBLET,
Swanzey.
" We, the undersigned committee, appointed at the last annual meeting to examine the selectmen's ac- count of money expended the last year, have attended to the business assigned us and report that the above statement of the selectmen we find to be correct, and not varying materially in the sum total from their first report. Their disbursements are in the present report more regularly classed, and we cheerfully give our sanction to the same, all which is submitted by
" JAMES HENRY. " AMOS BAILEY. " EPHRAIM K. FROST."
At a town meeting held November 5, 1832, to vote for eleetors for President and Vice- President of the United States, Jackson elec- tors had 197 ; opposition, 116.
Vote for electors, November 7, 1836 : Van Buren electors had 139; opposition, 45.
At this meeting, November 7th, the sense of the voters was taken upon the State making an appropriation for an insane hospital ; twenty-five voted in favour of the measure and seventy-six against it.
The following action was taken by the town upon the division by the State of the surplus
revenue divided by the United States between the States.
" STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" CHESHIRE, Ss.
" To the inhabitants of the town of Swanzey, in the county of Cheshire, in said State, qualified to vote in town affairs
" Greeting
" You are hereby notified and warned to meet at the old meeting-house in said Swanzey on Saturday, the twenty-fifth day of February, 1837, at one o'clock P.M., to act upon the following subject :
" To see if the town will vote to receive their share of the surplus money.
"To see if the town will choose an agent to take the charge of said money.
"To see what disposition shall be made of the money."
At the meeting held in pursuance of the fore- going warrant the town-
"Voted, To receive said surplus money, 112 voting in favour and 86 against.
" Voted, To choose an agent to obtain and loan said money.
" Voted, That Elijah Carpenter be our agent for the above purpose, and that he loan said money in sums not exceeding $300.00, nor less than $50.00 giving the town of Swanzey the preference and report his doings annually at the March meetings and voted said Car- penter be our agent during the pleasure of the town.
"Voted, at the annual meeting for 1838 that Elijalı Carpenter agent for said town to loan money of the surplus revenue pay the interest arising thereon into the town treasury, taking said treasurer's recept therefor."
At the Presidential election in 1840 the Van Buren electors received 244 votes ; the Harrison electors, 143; the Birney or Abolition electors, 1. The one vote was the first vote ever cast at a Presidential election against slavery in the town. It was cast by John Withington, an old, stanch Democrat. Mr. Withington had be- come convinced that it was his duty to vote against slavery, and what he conceived to be his duty to do he would do it. The feeling against political action at that time was very strong, by both Whigs and Democrats. The Presidential election that year in Swanzey was probably the
387
SWANZEY.
most exciting one ever held in the town. Nearly every voter in town voted.
At the Presidential election in 1844, James K. Polk electors had 211 votes ; Henry Clay electors, 81 ; James S. Birney electors, 33. At this election the town voted upon the question of abolishing capital punishment,-111 voted in favor, 184 against.
"Voted, March 12, 1850, to repair the old meeting- house for a town-house. Chose Amos Bailey, David and Lyman Parker a committee to make the repairs.
"Voted, That the committee expend a sum not ex- ceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars.
The repairs made consisted in taking off the belfry on the west end, the porch on the east end, taking out the galleries, taking out the pews and the windows, cutting down the house several feet, putting in a new set of windows, finishing the inside and painting the outside.
The votes cast for Presidential electors, No- vember 2, 1852, were as follows: Franklin Pierce electors, 232; Winfield Scott electors, 57; Free-Soil electors, 62.
The twelfth article in the warrant for the an- nual town-meeting, 1854, was
" To see what measures the town will take to pre- vent the setting off a part of Swanzey to Keene. Upon this article the town
"Voted, That our Representatives be and are hereby empowered and authorized to employ, if they think it to be necessary, and engage council to defeat the petitioners in their attempt to be severed from Swan- zey and annexed to Keene."
At the annual town-meeting, 1855, the town
"Voted, That the Representatives be instructed to use all means in their power to prevent Swanzey Fac- tory Village from being set off to Keene and employ council if necessary."
The vote for Presidential electors the first Monday in November, 1856, was as follows: Buchanan electors, 229; Republican electors, -; Whig electors, 2.
The votes for Presidential electors, Novem- ber 6, 1860, were as follows: Lincoln and Hamlin electors, 214; Douglass and Johnson
electors, 195 ; Breckenridge and Lane electors, 18 ; Bell and Everett electors, 1.
The votes for Presidential electors, November 8, 1864, were as follows : Mcclellan and Pend- leton, 260 ; Lincoln and Johnson, 154.
During the Rebellion the town contracted a large debt to meet the requirement of the war. The money was principally used to pay bounties. At the commencement soldiers were obtained for small bounties, but as the war continued it be- came more difficult to obtain them, and large bounties were paid by the town. In 1864 as high as one thousand dollars was paid for three years' men, and five hundred dollars for one year.
The financial condition of the town, Feb- ruary 17, 1866, is shown by the report of the selectmen as made out at that time, and it also shows the sources from which the loans were obtained,-
Note at savings-bank, Keene. $1,000.00
Note at savings-bank, Keene. 6,000.00
Note at savings-bank, Keene. 2,000.00
John W. Starkey's note. 500.00
John W. Starkey's note. 300.00
Nathan Winch's note 1,562.00
Enoch Howes' note. 1,400.00
A. & J. Holbrook's note 750.00
Lewis Carpenter's note. 500.00
A. Kingsbury's note 500.00
Mrs. Almira Hewes' note. 50.00
F. C. Whitcomb's note 175.50
J. D. Ware's note 350.00
C. Dodger's note. 300.00
Alvin Starkey's note 4,200.00
Emma Cass' note. 300.00
William H. Knight's note 200.00
John Withington's note. 130.00
Luke Ellors' note. 107.00
John Starkey's note. 300.00
Almira Sawyer's note. 75.00
Note at savings-bank, Keene 2,000.00
Benjamin Pierce's note 7,000.00
John Starkey's note. 500.00
Miss R. Williams' note. 50.00
Congregational Society's note. 120.00
A. Kingsbury's note. 1,500.00
D. R. Marshal's note 300.00
Note, Calvin Bryant's estate .. 1,000.00
388
HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Note, Calvin Bryant's estate. 100.00
Charles Howard's note. 600.00
Mrs. Hannah J. Clark's note. 300.00
C. Whitcomb & Co.'s note 10,000.00
Baley Corlis' note. 250.00
J. N. Forrestall's note.
350.00
Note to Aaron Dickinson's estate. 380.00
Francis Cook's note.
1,000.00
Mrs. C. R. Harris' note. 1,000.00
Henry S. Applin's note.
300.00
Marshall Rixford's note. 3,000.00
Zadock L. Taft's note .. 500.00
Asahel W. Dunton's note. 500.00
Francis Hill's note. 198.35
G. G. Willis' note .. 1,000.00
Martha L. Graves' note. 250.00
F. C. Whitcomb's note. 75.00
Noah Youngman's note. 500.00
Alas Cass' note. 100.00
Zadock L. Taft's note. 300.00
Lyman Holbrook's note 125.00
Mrs. Lucy A. Taft's note 326.00
Mrs. Maranda J. Holbrook's note ... 75.00
Ahas Cass' note 200.00
Charles Marsh's note. 100.00
Lewis Carpenter's note. 600.00
Lemuel O. Hunt's note. 400.00
Edward Dickinson's note. 450.00
Clark H. Houghton's note. 500.00
Roswell Whitcomb's note. 290.41
Wheeler & Falkner's note 179.97
O. E. Parson's note. 300.00
Josiah Parson's note.
300.00
Mrs. Susannah Bryant's note 100.00
David Pelkey's note 300.00
Mrs. Arvilla S. Wilber's note 70.00
Mrs. Arvilla S. Wilber's note 350.00
Lewis H. Hunt's note. 500.00
Zadock L. Taft's note. 150.00
Note, Calvin Bryant's estate. 160.00
George W. Eastman's note 300.00
Willard Adams' note. 400.00
Orrin F. Oakman's note. 100.00
Mrs. H. Wetherill's note. 100.00
Mrs. Silence Starkey's note 150.00
Arza Higgins' note. 150.00
E. O. Whitcomb's note 200.00
J. C. Webber's note .. 60.00
S. W. Falkner's note 100.00
J. C. Webber's note. 102.00
L. R. Starkey's note 300.00
D. M. Harris' note 50.00
Henry Abbott's note. 300.00
Alvin Starkey's note 2,000.00
Mrs. Mary E. Partridge's note. 250.00
Mrs. Christian Marble's note. 250.00 Mrs. Sarah Willis' note. 295.00
Estimated due town-officers for 1865 800.00
Estimated interest due on notes. 850.00
Amount. .$64,494.56
Minus indorsements.
572.70
Assets. $63,921.86
Cash in the treasury $3,386.53
In the collector's hands 1,716.83
Due from State, soldiers' aid. 925.77
Due from the county for the sup-
port of N. J. Underwood ..... 214.60
Due from general government boun- ties for nine men. 2,160.00
$8,403.73
Total amount of liabilities. .$63,921.86
Total amount of assets. $8,403.73
Indebtedness of the town, Febru- ary 17, 1866. $55,518.13
February 16, 1867 55,011.28
February 17, 1868 55,112.16
February 17, 1869. 55,092.50
March 1, 1870 54,137.45
March 1, 1871
49,443.14
March 1, 1872 47,356.12
March 1, 1873.
33,429.37
The town had received, previous to the time the foregoing report was made, twelve thousand three hundred and twenty-five dol- lars from the State, being the town's proportion of the amount assumed of the town's debts.
Indebtedness of the town, March
1, 1874. $28,812.88
March 1, 1875. 25,349.85
March 1, 1876. 22,806.89
March 1, 1877 20,382.31
March 1, 1878. 17,369.99
March 1, 1879. 14,594.05
March 1, 1880 11,318.74
March 1, 1881. 9,370.73
March 1, 1882. 6,431.64
March 1, 1883. 3,208.40
March 1, 1884. 1,774.17
Probably there was about as many farmers in Swanzey in 1800, as there has been at any one time in its history. In a large
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SWANZEY.
number of places where there is an old cellar- hole, there was at that time a small house owned by an industrious farmer, who by hard work was clearing up his land and was supporting a large family. There was at this time a consider- able amount of travel through the centre of the town. Much of the travel from Cheshire County and Vermont going to Boston took this route. This travel consisted largely of farmers going to Boston to dispose of some of the sur- plus products of their farms. This travel was sufficiently large as to make it an object for some of the farmers to keep public-houses. One of these, which was quite a noted one, was on the hill in that part of Swanzey which was taken in 1815 to form the town of Troy. Other public-houses were kept at the Centre.
It was the custom of large numbers of the farmers, in the fall of the year or in the early winter, to make up a load from the products of the farm, together with some articles that had been made by the wife or daughters, and go himself to Boston and market them, and make purchases of some of the principal articles that would be needed the coming year. Large num- bers of these loads were drawn by a single horse, some would make up a load for two horses, and in some cases oxen were brought into requisition. These loads were largely made up of a few hundred pounds of pork, a few tubs of butter, a number of cheeses, a box or two of poultry, a web of frocking and a piece of flannel. The return load would consist of a few bushels of salt, a few gallons of rum, a few gallons of molasses, a few pounds of tea, a jack-knife for each of the boys, and a piece of goods to make the wife a dress and some trinkets for the girls.
This method of the farmers was not very ad- vantageous to the country trader, but still it left some business for him, and this business con- sisted almost entirely of taking in farm pro- ducts in exchange for goods, and sending these goods to a distant market to exchange for new stock of goods.
Mills, both saw-mills and grist-mills, were regarded as a prime necessity at the very com- mencement of the settlement of the town.
The following extract from a proprietors' meeting of March 16, 1737, testifies that the subject of building necessary mills was early entertained :
"Voted That two hundred acres of land adjoining the Upper Great Falls in the Great River, to lay as conveniently as may be to said falls be laid out to Ephraim Jones his heirs and assigns at his or their cost upon condition that he the said Jones his heirs and assigns at his or their cost upon condition that he the said Ephraim Jones his heirs and assigns shall build a good saw-mill at said falls on or before the 15th day of August next and maintain it ten years at least and to saw for and sell boards to the proprie- tors, at the same price they generally do at other places said land to be laid out by the committee and surveyor which shall be chosen to lay out the next division of land to include said fall reserving free liberty for the setting up of a grist-mill at said place when the proprietors shall think it necessary. If the said Ephraim Jones, his heirs or assigns (who are to have the liberty before any other) shall decline it, and if at the end of said ten years, or any time for- ward the said Jones, his heirs or assigns, shall neglect or refuse to keep up and maintain a saw-mill at said place then the privilege and conveniency for a saw- mill at said place to revert to the proprietors."
The saw-mill was built by Jones, and there can be little doubt but that he subsequently built a grist-mill at the same place. These mills stood a few rods below the site of the present mills at West Swanzey. They shared the fate of the other buildings of the township at the hands of the Indians. Before the township was resettled after its abandonment, and there was propriety in rebuilding mills at this site, Mr. Jones had died, and mills have never been built at that site.
Previous to 1760, Captain Joseph Whitcomb had taken up his residence at West Swanzey. He had five sons. Some of these, if not all, came with their father. They all became in- habitants of the town. Captain Whitcomb and sons obtained four acres of the two hundred aeres on the west side of the falls, and erected
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