History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 78

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 78
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 78

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).

The new Ward 4 is nearly identical with the old Ward 7, and its house is on the same site.

The new Ward 5 is nearly identical with the old Ward 6, with the same site for its school- house.

The Sixth Ward school-house was located south of the house of Frank T. Aldrich This ward is nearly the old Ward 5.

The Seventh Ward house remains upon old site.

The Eighth Ward house was now built on its present site.

The Ninth Ward house location was left dis- cretionary with the district who removed it to the east side of the road near the southwest corner of the home-pasture of the J. N. Bart- lett estate. In 1846 it was removed to its present site.

The new Ward 1 was formed from the di- vision of the old Ward 8 into the new Wards 1 and 2. Ward 8 house became Ward 2 house now and the Ward 1 house was built upon the site of the old Christian meeting-house. Af- terward it was removed to near the gateway leading to the house of Albert Chickering and was burnt.

485

WESTMORELAND.

The Third Ward house was built at the in- tersection of roads near the site of the Alvin Chickering buildings. In 1815 this house was removed to the north side of the brook on east side of the road, near the house of Elmer T. Nims. In 1830, the present house was built on its present site. The new Ward 10, formerly a portion of Ward 2 and 3, retained the site and house of the old Ward 3. Ward 11 house was built on its present site.

These wards remain essentially unchanged to-day. The committee making this division consisted of Seth Britton, Joseph Buffum, Na- thaniel Blanchard, Elias Gates, George Cobb, James Robbins, Charles Church, Solomon Wheeler and Stephen Bowker. Their report was accepted and adopted by the town, and five hundred and fifty pounds were raised to build and repair school-houses. "Each ward was to have what they paid." March 19, 1798, the town chose a collector and a building-committee of three from each ward. Steward Esty, John Brown and Joseph Hunt were chosen to ap- praise the school-houses already built or partly so. Their report indicates but four houses ap- praised, namely : No. 10 house, $153.33 ; No. 9 house, $197.15 ; No. 2 house, $76.12 and No. 6 house, $58.83. In 1804 .the town raised seven hundred dollars for schooling and an- nexed Steward Esty and Joseph Wilber to the Second Ward. Thus for twenty-one years the town has been variously divided into squadrons, ricks and wards. Previously to the year 1805, the care of the schools at first devolved upon the selectmen, afterwards upon the creation of wards, it was shifted to the responsibility of ward committees.

In 1805 the Legislature established by statute the district system, which for many years worked favorably, but as our population lessens it fails to be as satisfactory. In 1807 Leonard Wilcox's real estate (then Thomas MeNeal's) was taken from Ward 7 and annexed to Ward 10. In 1808 the Legislature provided for superintend- ing School committees, whose prescribed duties

were to visit and inspect schools at such times as should be most expedient and in manner conducive to the progress of literature, morality and religion.

March 15, 1816, Jotham Lord, one of the prominent men in the town, donated to the town the sum of ten dollars, upon the following conditions, which were accepted by vote of the town, May 17, 1817

"That the money was to be cared for by the Se- lectmen, by them to be let out, not exacting from any person in town more than 5 per cent. interest, which must be paid every three months. The town to have a prior right to the loan of the same, to be loaned upon good security, and kept until its annual gains and additions shall increase the sum to $2000, after which the town may appropriate the interest thereof to such purposes as they may think most useful to the town."

For many years it has been deposited in the Cheshire Provident Institution, and now amounts (1884) to $757. 25. The general understanding is that it shall be devoted to the schools. At this same meeting the town voted to accept the donation of one thousand dollars from the will of Eliphalet Fox, upon the conditions that the interest be devoted toward the support of our schools. For many years this has been a peren- nial source of substantial aid to the cause of education, and, while the mists of years have obscured the history of Fox, still the town has occasion to revere his name as a noble, public benefactor. In 1829 the town received from the State $1772.67. This is known as the Literary Fund. It came from a tax imposed by the State in 1821 of one-half of one per cent. on the capital stock of the banks. The interest there- on is by law devoted toward the support of the schools. In 1829 the Union District was formed (No. 12), from Districts No. 2 and 11, and the farms formerly owned by Isaac K. White and Gardner Knight were taken from No. 3 and annexed to No. 2. In 1830 the school-house in No. 3 was built on its present site. At the same time the farm of F. M. Procter was taken from No. 4 and annexed to

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HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

No. 3, also the place of William Brown from No. 5, and also the present South village from No. 10. From No. 3 the same year the Butter- field pasture was taken and annexed to No. 12; also the farm of Henry C. Cobleigh, from No. 9 to No. 8. In 1835 a committee was chosen to define the boundaries of the several school districts. It consisted of one member from each school district, namely, Larkin Baker, Henry Esty, Luna Foster, Increase Warren, Haskell Buffum, Barton Skinner, Calvin Q. A. Britton, Timothy Hoskins, Jr., Aaron Works, Otis Hutchins, David Livingston and Zenas Britton. Their work was accepted, and remains to-day the only written record of boundaries of school districts of legal force, excepting special changes since made by vote of the town and otherwise. In 1835 the No. 1 District was severed into two, and therefrom No. 13 formed.

The matter of location of school houses in town, and especially in the East Parish, has been the fruitful subject for much contention for many years. In 1845 several lots of several owners and part of the present John B. Hall farm, were taken from No. 2 and annexed to No. 12. About 1870 school-house No. 1 was burn- ed. A difference of opinion arose respecting the proper site for a new house. The one chosen did not meet the desire of all, and the matter was settled by resorting to the county commis- sioners, who located the house in 1873 upon the present site. The following year the home- farm of J. E. Fuller was taken, by act of the Legislature, from No. 2 and annexed to No. 1. In 1884 the farm of Delana Norris was taken from No. 2 and annexed to No. 1. In 1879 Districts No. 1 and 13 were united. Numerous other changes have been made on the several school districts, but time and space will not admit of their enumeration.

The Legislature of 1884 repealed this system, and the town became one district.

In comparison with former years our schools have very largely decreased in numbers ; to- day we have no schools with eighty to one hun-

dred and upwards of scholars as was formerly witnessed.

Teachers would be rare indeed to-day who could be induced to take one of those old time schools to manage. It required more than common ability to manage them successfully then. Among the successful pedagogues of those earlier years were Barton Skinner, Otis Hutchins, Arvin Aldrich, Zenas Britton, Charles Butterfield, Larkin Baker and many others. Among them was one Nathaniel Wil- bore, commonly known as Priest Wilbur. It is related of him that upon a certain occasion while teaching the school in the present No. 2 district one of his scholars, John Bowker by name, having committed some misdemeanor, was sent out doors by Wilbur " to prepare for a flogging." Bowker proceeded to encase his body and limbs with birch bark over. which he drew his clothes and presented himself for cas- tigation. Taking his switch in hand, Wilbur struck a blow around the culprit's legs. He was surprised to hear the rattling of the bark and to witness the illy-suppressed merriment of his victim. " What does this mean ?" asked Wilbur. "It means," replied Bowker, " that I have obeyed your orders to prepare for a flogging, and I have to the best of my ability." It is said that Bowker escaped punishment that time.

POLITICAL.

In colonial times the only parties (other than local or personal) were the supporters and opposers of the royal prerogative. These were known as Whigs and Tories. In the war for independence the latter party became extinet as a party. Its most bigoted members flod from the country; others, by concessions to the Whigs, remained surrounded, however, in an atmosphere of deep-seated hatred, oftentimes of persecution. In the convention that framed the Constitution first appeared the parties known as Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The former, under the leadership of Washing ton and the elder Adams, wished to strengthen

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WESTMORELAND.

the general government at the expense of the individual States that entered into the Confed- eration. The latter party, under the lead of Jefferson and Madison, took the opposite view, and wished to maintain the independence of the individual States at all hazards. The re- sult was a compromise Constitution. Political history is the record of compromise. The per- petuity of any republican form of government is dependent upon the free exercise of the right of suffrage, under proper restrictions, of its nicely-balanced power, wielded by the advocates or the opponents of measures of public expedi- ency. After the adoption of the Constitution, in 1789, there was very little political excite- ment. Westmoreland was practically a politi- cal Federal unit for fifteen years. Parties had now assumed the names of Federalists and Republicans.

In 1805 the Republicans carried the State ; and the following year Westmoreland for the first time. The votestood : For John Langdon, 146 ; Timothy Farrar, 62; John J. Gilman, 11. For the three years ensuing Governor Lang- don received a handsome majority. The result was reversed in 1809 and 1810, when Jeremiah Smith, the Federal nominee, carried the town.

For some years a heavy vote was cast and evidently party feeling was active. This be- gan to subside in 1818. From 1810 to 1819 first one party was in the ascendancy, then the other, but always upon a light vote. In 1817 James Monroe became President, and the Fed- eral name disappeared from the political hori- zon. During his administration arose " the ir- repressible conflict " between liberty and slavery. This was a topic that forced itself for debate in every public place, at every private hearth,- a debate that waged stronger and stronger in the course of years and finally culminated in the firing upon Sumter and the War of the Rebellion. Following the disappearance of the Federal name came the Radicals and the Conservatives, but all were merged in the com- mon name of Republicans. When measures

became obscure, candidates became conspicuous and served to excite contention. At this time David L. Morril was in the Senate of the United States from New Hampshire. Elo- quent and incisive of speech, he fearlessly stood up in the Senate Chamber and hurled his de- nunciations against the further extension of slavery. In 1825 Westmoreland complimented him with two hundred votes for Governor and none in opposition. In the warm controversy that ensued towards the close of Monroe's ad- ministration, respecting who of the five candi- dates in the field should be his successor, West- moreland voted unanimously for the Adams electors. In March, 1825, New England's fav- orite son was inaugurated the sixth President of the United States. Soon, party feeling be- came stronger and more acrimonious. Under the leadership of Adams and Clay, a new party- name appears, called the National Republican. In later years it took the name of Whigs, and still later, in 1856, it united with the anti- slavery party and took the old name of Repub- licans. Westmoreland, from the advent of the Whig party to the outbreak of the Rebellion, strongly leaned toward Democracy ; from that time it has generally been Republican, although generally very evenly divided.

In a hasty review, let us now consider the part that Westmoreland bore in the several early Constitutional Conventions and the events connected therewith, preliminary to the final adoption of the Constitution of 1789.

On May 9, 1775, Joseph Wilber was chosen a delegate to a convention which assembled at Exeter on the 17th of the same month. One hundred and two towns were represented by one hundred and thirty-three members. Post- offices were established, a committee of supplies for the army and a Committee of Safety were formed, and the provincial records secured, whereupon this convention adjourned Novem- ber 16th. Ou December 12, 1775, Heber Mil- ler was chosen representative to the Provincial Congress, to be held at Exeter on the 21st day

488

HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

of the same month, and Jonathan Cole, Benja- min Peirce, Archelaus Temple, Joseph Wilber, Waitstill Scott, John Cole and Amos Peirce were chosen a committee to give instructions to the representative. Ebenezer Britton was chosen a Committee of Safety. This Congress, without delay, drew up a new form of government, as- suming, on the 5th day of January, 1776, the name and authority of a House of Representa- tives, and chose twelve persons to form a separate branch of the Legislature, to be called the Council. All acts, to become valid, were to be approved by both branches. Each branch was to chose its own presiding officers, and both branches while in session performed ex- ecutive duties. During a recess of the Legis- lature a Committee of Safety was provided and chosen to perform executive duties. Meshech Weare was chosen president of this Council, and was ex-officio president of this Committee of Safety. For the first time this Congress adopted the name of Colony of New Hampshire. Soon after the Declaration of Independence the name Colony was dropped and the name State sub- stituted.

The warrant for a meeting to be held De- cember 13, 1776, was the first one to bear the heading of the State of New Hampshire. On January 31, 1777, the town voted " dissatisfac- tion with the present plan of government." While the particular grievance is not stated in any record, still it is safe to say that the town participated in the very general feeling exist- ing throughout the State that the legislative branches had assumed monarchical powers.

On April 6, 1778, Archelaus Temple was chosen to attend the convention to be held at Coneord, June 10th, to agree upon some systém or form of government for the State. The plan that they proposed did not receive the ap- proval of the people.

January 23, 1788, Archelaus Temple was · chosen a delegate to a convention to be held at

Exeter the ensuing month to consider the Fed- eral Constitution, and in behalf of the State to accept or reject it. June 21st it was adopted. On the 15th of December, 1788, was held the first town-meeting for the purpose of voting for representatives in the Congress of the United States and for electors of President and Vice-Presi- dent. Three representatives and five electors were voted for. The following is the record : Samuel Livermore, Benjamin West, Abial Foster each had the entire number of votes -- name- ly, thirty two-for representatives. For electors each of the following men received the entire vote cast,-twenty-seven : Joshua Wentworth, Benjamin Bellows, Timothy Farrar, Ebenezer Smith, Barzaliel Woodward. The lightness of the vote is truly surprising, when we consider that during the eleven years that followed the year 1775 the population of Westmore- land increased rapidly. From 758 in 1775 it reached 1620 in 1786. The town was now booming with prosperity. This con- tinued until 1820, when, from various causes, the population began to decrease. The first election ever held for State and county officers was held under the new Constitution, March 3, 1784. The entire number of votes cast for President of the State were given to John Langdon, being 26. There were no votes cast for Senators. The Senatorial districts coincided with the coun- ties, and to Cheshire County was assigned two to elect.

Archelaus Temple was chosen a delegate to a convention to be held at Concord, September 7, 1791. This convention proposed to the people for their ratification seventy-two amendments.

Their purport does not now appear. August 27, 1792, the town " Voted to accept the amend- ments under the head of Senate, Governor and Council." This Constitution, with the several amendments adopted this year, remains substan- tially to the present time.

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WESTMORELAND.

CHAPTER VI.

WESTMORELAND-(Continued).

MILITARY HISTORY.

I WOULD that I could write of the military history of Westmoreland with an approach to- ward completeness. The records of the town are missing from its incorporation to the year 1775. Of its eventful history during these twenty-three years we have only the most meagre and fragmentary evidence. Truly, we have oc- casion to mourn their loss. It is certain that Westmoreland was represented in the last French and Indian War, but how numerously we know not. Its citizens were frequently called upon to repel Indian forays, of which mention is made in another chapter. Joel Priest was a private in Rodgers' Rangers in the French and Indian War, and was present at the sacking of the St. Francis village in 1759 ; he was also a Revolu- tionary soldier, serving in Capt. Hawkins' com- pany in Colonel Bedel's regiment, also in Capt. Carlisle's company. In accordance with an act of the Provincial Congress, passed August 25, 1775, the selectmen proceeded to take a census of the town, the first after the State ceased to be a province, and the first made with any claim to accuracy. The result was a popula- tion of three hundred and fifty-seven, including thirty-eight persons gone into the army. The selectmen also report sixy-three fire-arms fit for use, and sixty-seven wanting to supply the town. This report, signed by Heber Miller, Archelaus Temple, Waitstill Scott, selectmen, bears date of October 26, 1775. Who were these thirty-eight men I can only write in part.

The want of fire-arms, it seems, was not readily supplied, for we find recorded a petition bearing date of June 3, 1776 signed by the town Committee of Safety,-Joseph Burt, Ebenezer Britton, Jr., John Chamberlain,-addressed to the Legislature or Colonial Committee of Safety as follows :

"Gentlemen, we have Jest heard of the Retreet of our Nothard army Which Puts us in feere that the

Savages Will Be Down upon our frontiers and we in this Towne Being very Short for ammunition as well as Sum armes Wanting: Have with our Naboring Towns agreed to Send mr Amos Babcock after armes and ammunition; and we hope that we may Bee Saplied With those articals Without Which we Can- not Defend ourSelves Nor oure Country in order that each man have one Pound of Powder we Want in this Towne sixty wait and we Want fore hundred flints one hundred wt of Lead and Twenty guns Which Will Well aquip us for wor if mr Babcock Can Be Saplied With the above articals we the Subscribers Being the Committee of Safety for the Towne of West- moreland Will in Behalf of the Towne ingage the Pay."

On the 14th day of March, 1776, General Congress passed a resolution which came to the selectmen in a form of a request from the Com- mitte of Safety of New Hampshire, "to require of all males above twenty-one years of age (lunatics, idiots and negroes excepted) to sign to the declaration on this paper ; and when so done to make return thereof together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Colony." The declaration or pledge was as follows :

" We the Subscribers do hereby solemnly Engage and promise that we will to the utmost of our Power at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes with Arms op- pose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies Against the United American Colonies."

One hundred and thirty signed the declara- tion, as follows :

Israel Amsby.

Benjamin Aldrich.

Jonah Edson.

Caleb Aldrich.

Nathan Franklin.

Seth Gilbert.

James Butterfield.

Ebenezer Britton.

Gideon Gilbert.

Ebenezer Bailey.

Joseph Burt.

Edmund Goodnow.

William Brockway.

David Britton.

Asa Goodnow.

William Britton.

Fortunatus Gleason.

Luther Baily.

James Gleason.

Seth Britton. Benjamin Gleason.

David Glasier.

Enos Burt.

Elias Gates.

Jonathan Holton.

Caleb Briggs.

Abiel Eddy.

Jonathan Goodnow.

Ebenezer Britton (2d).

Nahum Goodnow.

Israel Goodnow.

Jonas Butterfield.

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'HISTORY OF CHESHIRE COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Gideon Burnham.

William Hutchins.

Moses Bennett.

Abner How.

Ephraim Brown.

Daniel How.'

Joseph Boynton.

Josiah Hacket.

Daniel Blanchard.

Samuel How.

Moses Brown.

David Johnson.

Isaac Cobb.

Daniel Johnson. Willis Johnson.

Daniel Cobb.

Henry Chamberlain.

Reuben Kendall.

John Chamberlain.

Roger Conant.

Daniel Keys. Ephraim Leonard. Jacob Leach.

Thomas Chamberlain.

Jedediah Chamberlain.

Jonathan Cole, Jr.

Aaron Chandler.

John Cole.

Jonathan Cole (3d).

Increase Chamberlain.

John Cooper.

Isaac Chamberlain.

Nehemiah Man.

Stephen Dutton.

David Nathernell.

David Darby.

Benjamin Pierce.

Nathaniel Daggett.

Ebenezer Pierce.

Josiah Dodge.

Daniel Pierce.

William Day.

Amos Pierce.

John Doyle.

Joseph Packard.

Jeptha Dow.

John Ranstead.

Eleazer Robbins.

Noah Whitman.

Robert Robbins.

Joseph Wilbore.

Ephraim Robbins.

Philip Wilbore.

John Robbins.

Nathaniel Wilbore.

Jonas Robbins.

David Wilbore.

Eleazer Robbins, Jr.

Philip Wilbore (2d).

David Robbins.

Joseph White.

David Robinson.

Moses White.

Benjamin Rodgers.

Esekiel Woodward.

George Aldrich, 2d do Nahum Goodenow, drum-

John Cole, sergeant. mer.

Caleb Aldrich, corporal.

Privates.

Ebenezer Aldrich. Eleazer Robbins.

Thomas Amsden.

Samuel Robbins.

Job Brittain.

James Simonds.

Ebenezer Chamberlain.

David Wetherell.

Elijah Temple.

Samuel Works.

Archelaus Temple.

Harridon Wheeler.

John Veazy.

David Winchester.

Daniel Whitman.

Jonathan Winchester.

And six refused to sign, namely,-

Rev. William Goddard.

Aaron Brown.

Leonard Keep.

Daniel Gates.

Job Chamberlain.

John Butterfield.

Why these six men refused to sign the Test Oath is not apparent. Three of them, at least, were true patriots, and performed good service in the American cause, namely,-Keep, Brown and Gates, and there is no evidence whatever that the other three men were Tories.

In 1767, prior to the Revolution, the militia in this part of the State from Massachusetts line, as far north as Claremont and ineluding New- port, were in one regiment, commanded by Colo- nel Josiah Willard, of Winchester. When the war came on Colonel Willard sided with the Tory party and his regiment was divided into two in August, 1775. To the First Regi- ment Westmoreland was assigned. The com- mand of this regiment was given to Samuel Ashley, Esq., of Winchester. Isaac Butterfield, of this town, was its major. This was afterwards known as the Sixth New Hampshire Regiment. The battle of Lexington, on April 19, 1775, aroused the people to a sense of their danger. At a convention held at Exeter, May, 20, 1775, it was voted to raise two thousand men in ad- dition to those already in the field, which would constitute a brigade of three regiments, under the respective commands of the fol- lowing colonels : Stark, Poor and Reed. The Eighth Company of Colonel Reed's regiment contained the following Westmoreland men, and was under command of Captain Jacob Hinds :

Isaac Stone, lieutenant. Samuel White, corporal.

Micah Read.

Jonathan Willis.

John Snow.

Artemas Wille.

Jonathan Sawyer.

Ephraim Wetherly.

David Stacy.

William Warner.

Waitstill Scott.

Joshua Warner.

John Scott.

Joshua Warner, Jr.

Jeremiah Tinkham.

Job Warner.

Alexander Trotter.

John Warner.

Reuben Tarbell.

Henry Walton.

Henry Chamberlain.

David Warner.

Daniel Carlisle.

Nathan Wilbore.

David Darby.

John White.

Silas Farnsworth.

Job Warner.

Samuel How. David Glazier.

William Hutchins.

Aaron Whiting.

John Ranstead.

Jude Hall. Ephraim Leonard.

Caleb Balch.

David Robbins.

Ephraim Stone, Q. M. Sgt.

Sherebiah Leach. Zepheniah Leach. Josiah Leach, Jr. Aruniah Leach.

Isaac Leach.

Josiah Leach. Seth Leach.

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WESTMORELAND.

This company consisted of sixty-five men, in- cluding its officers. These men were in the service for different periods, but none for a greater length of time under this company or- ganization than three months and eight days. The privates received pay at the rate of forty shillings per month and were allowed for one hundred and ten miles travel at the rate of one penny a mile ; also, one pound and sixteen shil- lings for coat aud blanket.

This regiment was engaged in the memora- ble struggle at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and together with another New Hampshire regi- ment, under Colonel Stark, repulsed two des- perate attacks made by the flower of the Brit- ish army, led by General Howe in person, and held their advanced position until their ammuni- tion was exhausted, and, having but a few bay- onets, they retreated in good order, but uncon- quered. On the 21st of June, 1775, four days after the battle, Colonel Reed, at Winter Hill, made his regimental return, in which we find that Captain Hinds' company is credited with thirty-nine men fit for duty, two wounded, two sick, fourteen uninjured, one missing, five absent.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 78

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