USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Chesterfield > History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies > Part 8
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On the 23d of February following, the Assembly of Vermont, then in session at Bennington, passed a resolution accepting the boundaries prescribed by Congress, and relinquishing all claims to any territory lying without said boundaries. Thus ended this great
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controversy. Yet peace and harmony were by no means wholly re-established in the disaffected towns. Says Dr. Belknap in his classic "History of New Hampshire :" "Though cut off from their connection with Vermont, the revolted towns did not at once return to a state of peace ; but the divisions and animosities which had so long subsisted, continued to produce disagreeable effects."
At what time Bingham, Grandy and Sheriff Hale were liberated, has not been ascertained ; but it is certain that Hale was at liberty, and in pursuit of Esquire Giles, before the 10th of Jan., 1782.
Vermont having renounced jurisdiction over the revolted towns, application was made to Gen. Bellows, of Walpole, and William Lee, justices of the peace, by more than thirty of the inhabitants and freeholders of Chesterfield, to issue a warrant for the annual town-meeting for the year 1782. In accordance with this applica- tion, the justices above named called a meeting, to be held on the 6th of March. At this meeting, Ephraim Baldwin was chosen town-clerk. Samuel King, Jonas Fairbanks, Abner Johnson, Moses Smith, Esq., and Eleazer Jackson were elected selectmen. Thereupon, a minority of the voters submitted the following protest against the proceedings of the majority :
"We, the subscribers, freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Chesterfield, duly qualified by law to vote in town affairs, being legally as- sembled in order to choose town-officers, hereby enter our Protest against the proceedings of the majority of the said town of Chesterfield:
1st. With respect to their proceeding to act in town affairs without pro- ducing a proper list of voters according to law, though requested.
2d. In their proceeding to choose a man for moderator [Jonas Fairbanks] who has openly appeared at the head of a company, to encourage them to take up arms against the authority of the State of New Hampshire, and who has not. as yet made any proper retraction.
3d. In the choice of a town-clerk who is of the same principles as the mod- erator.
4th. In their choosing a man for first selectman [King] who is at present a prisoner for misdemeanor against the State, and rescued by the greater part of those who are voters in carrying their point in the above meeting. 5th. In their choosing the man for second selectman whom they chose for moderator ;- all which we think is against the law of this State and liber- ties of America, whereby we think ourselves justified in our above pro- ceedings.
Chesterfield, March 6, 1782."
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The protest was signed by thirty-five voters, members of the New Hampshire party. This meeting was adjourned to the 27th of the same month, at which time the votes passed at the preceding meeting were ratified.
The next town-meeting was held on the 17th of the following April, and was called in the name of New Hampshire. The war- rant was signed by all the selectmen, including Samuel King him- self. At this meeting it was voted not to raise money for school- ing, and a committee of nine men was chosen "to make an average in said town respecting raising men to fill up the continental army."
Another meeting was held on the 13th of May, at which Samuel King was elected to represent the town in the General Court of New Hampshire. The vote that had been passed at the preceding meeting to constitute a committee of nine, was reconsidered ; and the selectmen were instructed "to class" the town for all services done in the war, and to act according to their judgment in all mat- ters relating thereto.
An event that occurred in September, shows that open hostility to New Hampshire had not wholly died out. When the inferior court met at Keene, that month, a mob of anti-New Hampshire men under the lead of Samuel Davis, of Chesterfield, attempted to break it up. It is said that Davis, followed by his companions, entered the court-room and declared that the court should not be opened. The court was thereupon adjourned for a short time. It appears that Davis and his party soon found that their opponents were more numerous than themselves, and desisted from any fur- ther attempts to molest the court. Several of the leaders, including Davis, were arrested and put under bonds to appear at the next term of the superior court, to answer to the charge of assaulting the justices of the inferior court, and their clerk, and compelling them to desist from the lawful execution of the business of the same. Davis and his associates pleaded guilty, and threw them- selves upon the mercy of the court. No sentence was passed upon them, and they were discharged.
In June, 1781, a new convention for framing a constitution as- sembled at Concord ; but Chesterfield sent no delegate to this con- vention. A new constitution having been drawn up, it was sub- mitted to the people. The convention having met again, according
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to an adjournment, on the fourth Wednesday of Jan., 1782, it was found that the proposed constitution had been rejected. A new one was, therefore, formed, and again sent to the people for their con- sideration. The convention then adjourned to the last Tuesday in December.
On the 18th of November, a town-meeting was held, for the pur- pose of "hearing and perusing the new constitution and acting up- on it." This constitution having been read, a committee was ap- pointed to revise the same, consisting of Lieut. Fairbanks, Dea. Silas Thompson, Capt. Warner, Eleazer Jackson, Lieut. Cobleigh, Ensign Ladd, Capt. Fairbanks, Capt. Harvey and Lieut. Fletcher. The meeting then adjourned to the first Thursday in December (the 5th). At the adjourned meeting, the new constitution, as amended and altered by the committee chosen for that purpose, was accepted. Capt. Fairbanks was also chosen to attend the conven- tion at Concord, that was to meet, according to adjournment, the last Tuesday of the month. The convention having assembled, it was found that the second proposed constitution had been rejected ; whereupon the convention again adjourned, to meet the first Tues- day in June, 1783 ; at which time they met and agreed upon a third form, to be submitted to the people. The convention then adjourned to the 31st of the next October.
The annual town-meeting for the year 1783 was held on the 5th of March. After choosing a town-clerk, the meeting adjourned to the last Wednesday of the month. At the adjourned meeting, Capt. Harvey, Eleazer Pomeroy, Eleazer Jackson, Capt. Davis and Lieut. Fletcher were elected selectmen. This meeting was also adjourned to the last day of the month. At the meeting that was held agreeably to the last adjournment, a petition was presented, relating to the appointment of justices of the peace. The petition- ers were of the opinion that the whole town ought to have a voice in the selection of justices of the peace, and desired that the town should petition the General Court to drop the old ones, and let the town choose such as it saw fit. The record states that the town voted "to hear and answer the petition."
The next meeting was held April 23. At this meeting it was voted "to warn all persons out of town that were not inhabitants
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by law." Eleazer Pomeroy and Samuel King were chosen dele- gates to attend the constitutional convention at Concord, the follow- ing June. "Warning persons out of town" was practised, in early times, not only in this State, but in Massachusetts. It is not to be inferred that the persons so warned were always disreputable ; on the contrary, it is said that they were frequently respectable, indus- trious people ; but not having established a home and residence according to the law of that time, they were warned to leave the town. In certain cases, however, it is doubtless true that persons were ordered to leave because they were regarded as unfit to be- come inhabitants of the town.
The constitutional convention having sent out a third form for a constitution, a town-meeting was held on the 17th of September, to consider the same. Lieut. Brown, Eleazer Pomeroy, Deacon Thompson, Lieut. Fairbanks and Moses Smith, Esq., were chosen a committee to propose alterations in the form submitted, and make report at an adjourned meeting. The same committee was also in- structed "to draw up something relative of easing the people, re- specting paying debts and taxes." The meeting then adjourned to the first Monday in October. A petition was presented at the adjourned meeting, to get the eastern end of the town set off for a separate township ; but it was voted not to grant it.
With regard to the new constitution, it was voted that each coun- ty should choose its own officers, civil and military ; that the State should pay the representatives to the General Court out of the pub- lic fund ; that every incorporated town should send a representa- tive ; finally, that the new constitution, as amended by the commit- tee, be accepted.
When the convention for forming a constitution assembled, ac- cording to adjournment, on the 31st day of October, it was found that the last form sent out to the people had been accepted. Ac- cordingly, this form was declared to be the "Civil Constitution for the State of New Hampshire," to go into effect on the first Wed- nesday of June, 1784.
At a town-meeting held Dec. 5, Samuel King was elected to rep- resent Chesterfield and Hinsdale in the General Court, till the next June.
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While the controversy between New Hampshire and Vermont was at its height, a considerable number of towns in Grafton and Cheshire counties refused to contribute toward the expenses of the war that was going on at the same time with Great Britain. Even after the dispute had been virtually ended, it seems that many of the inhabitants east of Connecticut river, in the lately revolted towns, refused, or at least were very unwilling, to pay taxes into the treasury of New Hampshire. In a letter addressed to Presi- dent Weare by Col. Enoch Hale, Feb. 11, 1783, the latter refers to a letter he had received from Gen. Sullivan, respecting his (Hale's) power to raise the "body of Cheshire county" to assist in collecting the public taxes. Col. Hale added : "But notwithstanding many difficulties we labor under, I immediately sent orders to Col. Reu- ben Alexander* to raise the body of his regiment and march them into Chesterfield on Tuesday, the 21st of that month [Jan., 1783], or as many of them as might be sufficient to assist me in carrying the act of the General Assembly into execution ; but the clamor of the people has been such that he fears to comply with the orders ; giving me for reason, that, in such case, the greater part that could be raised would turn out with intent to mutinize and confound our proceedings ; and the same opinion is prevailing with Capt. Doolittle, Esq. Lee and many others of our well-wishers to Government, some of which affirm that they fear to speak their own opinion openly, and wish to be protected in some other man- ner, as the wisdom of the General Assembly might direct." Op- position to New Hampshire gradually died out, however, and no further call upon the military to assist in the collection of taxes in Chesterfield, appears to have been made.
*Col. Reuben Alexander was of Winchester.
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CHAPTER IV.
Military History of the Town During the War of the Revolution. The Lexington Alarm-Chesterfield Men in Col. James Reid's Regiment- Gunpowder for the Use of the Town-Col. Timothy Bedel's Regiment, 1776-Chesterfield Men in Col. Joshua Wingate's Regiment, 1776; in Col. Nahum Baldwin's Regiment; in Col. David Gilman's Regiment-Militia Act of 1776-The Ticonderoga Alarıns, in May and June, 1777; Rolls of the Men Who Went from Chesterfield and Westmoreland-Roll of Capt. Kimball Carlton's Company-The British Prepare to Invade the Connec- ticut Valley-Gen. Burgoyne's Instructions to Col. Baum-Capt. Carlton and his Company March from Chesterfield to Join the Militia under Gen. Stark, at Charlestown-the Battle of Bennington-Bounties Paid in 1778 -Men Who Enlisted from the Town in 1779 and '80-The Town Settles with Nathan Thomas and Others for Lead furnished in 1776-Vote of the Town respecting the Pay of Soldiers-Imperfection of the Army Records respecting the Killed and Wounded.
In September, 1775, the selectmen of Chesterfield made an enu- meration of the inhabitants of the town. In their return of this enumeration, made to the provincial authorities, they stated that thirty-six persons were absent in the army ; that there were eighty- six guns in the town fit for use, ninety-nine more being needed ; that there was no powder, and no slaves. The total number of in- habitants of the town, exclusive of those in the army, was 838.
The question now arises : Who were the thirty-six men that were absent in the army? This question can only be answered in part. The alarm caused by the battle of Lexington seems to have induced a number of men to enlist; but who these men were, has not been ascertained. The "Army Rolls," in the office of the Adjutant- General, show that the town paid bounties to the amount of 40 pounds, 6 shillings and 8 pence, to men who enlisted on account of the "Lexington alarm;" but the names of the men who received the bounties are not given.
Soon after the battle of Lexington, three regiments were organ- ized in New Hampshire. The first regiment was commanded by
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Col. John Stark ; the second, by Col. Enoch Poor ; the third, by Col. James Reid of Fitzwilliam. Jonathan Whitcomb commanded the seventh company of Col. Reid's regiment. In Capt. Whit- comb's company were the following Chesterfield men :
Joseph Smith.
Elijah Walton.
Eleazer Jordan.
Josiah Hastings.
Jonathan Farr.
Elisha Walton.
Joshua Farr.
Eleazer Cobleigh.
Eleazer Stoddard.
Ephraim Farr.
Joseph Metcalf.
Asa Gale.
Charles Johnson. John Merrill.
Benjamin Wheeler.
It is possible that the name of Stephen Bingham, and a few others, should be added ; but the above names are the only ones that the writer is able to identify with certainty. They were obtained from a receipt which the members of Capt. Whitcomb's company had given for money received "in lieu of coats promised by the Colony of New Hampshire." The receipt bears the date of Oct. 13, 1775. The company, at that time, was probably stationed at Medford, Mass.
The eighth company of the same regiment (Col. Reid's), was commanded by Jacob Hinds, of this town. From a receipt signed by members of this company, it appears to have been at Medford, in October, with Capt. Whitcomb's company. The names of the men that can be identified with a fair degree of certainty as belong- ing to Chesterfield, are as follows: Ezekiel Davis, David Stod- dard and William Farwell, sergeants; Jacob Davis, David Robbins and Richard Coughlan, privates. George Aldrich was second-lieutenant, and Nahum Goodnow drummer, in the same company. Both were from Westmoreland.
Col. Reid's regiment, together with Col. Stark's, took part in the battle of Breed's Hill, (or Bunker's Hill, as it is commonly but erroneously called.) It is not known how long the Chesterfield men who were in Col. Reid's regiment, remained in the service after October ; but the regiment was re-organized late in the follow- ing year, and some of them may have served till the re-organiza- tion. It seems, however, to be quite certain that a few, at least, had returned before the 12th of June, 1776.
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It appears from the following extracts from the Journal of the House, that some time in June, 1776, the selectmen, or town com- mittee of safety, made a requisition on the colonial authorities at Exeter for gunpowder for the use of the town :
MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1776.
Voted to choose a committee of this House to confer with a committee of the Honorable Board on the expedieney of furnishing the town of Chester- field with powder to defend themselves against the attempts and assaults of all persons who appear by their conduct inimical to this Country, and to make report to this House as soon as may be, and that Capt. Prentice, Maj. Bellows and Dr. Dearborn be the committee of this House for that purpose."
"TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1776.
Voted that half a barrel of gunpowder be delivered out of the powder- house in Exeter, to the selectmen of Chesterfield, on their order, for the use of said town of Chesterfield, and that the said selectmen of Chesterfield, or some person in their stead, give a receipt therefor, and promise tò account with the treasurer of this Colony for the same."
The Honorable Board concurred with the House in both votes.
In January, 1776, a regiment of New Hampshire men was raised for the defence of the western frontier of the State, and placed un- der the command of Col. Timothy Bedel. This regiment was at the "Cedars," about 36 miles above Montreal, in the following May, it having been sent there to re-enforce the American army in Can- ada. Soon after, it was surrendered to the enemy by Major Butter- field, Col. Bedel being absent.
The second company of this regiment was commanded by Capt. Daniel Carlisle, of Westmoreland, and contained, at least, three Chesterfield men, viz. : Aaron Smith, Ensign ; Nathaniel Bacon, Fifer ; Eleazer Fordan, Corporal.
In July and August, a regiment was raised in New Hampshire, of which Joshua Wingate was Colonel. This regiment went to re- enforce the "Northern Army" in New York. Its seventh company was commanded by Capt. William Humphrey, and in it were the following men from Chesterfield : John Pratt, James Wheeler, Joseph Metcalf, fr., Elijah Watson (?) [ Walton], Gustavus Bingham, Amasa Colburn, John Peacock, Ebenezer Porter, William Day, Nathaniel Sanger. There may have been others from Chesterfield, in the same company ; but their names have not been identified with certainty.
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In September of the same year, Col. Nahum Baldwin's regiment was raised, and, together with that of Col. Thomas Tash, was sent to re-enforce the Continental army in New York.
The sixth company of Col. Baldwin's regiment was commanded by Capt. John Houghton. It contained the following Chesterfield men : John Bishop, Fames Robinson [Robertson], Josiah Hastings, Jonathan Farr, Ezekiel Powers, Jonathan Cressey, Jonathan Farwell, Isaac Farr, Nathan Thomas, Jonathan Farr, 3d. Capt. Houghton's company was mustered, apparently, at Swanzey, Sept. 22. The men were paid 6 pounds in advance, and were allowed one pound, 13 shillings and 4 pence for 200 miles of travel. It is not known in what actions they were engaged, or at what time they were discharged.
In the December following, another regiment was raised for the same purpose as the two last mentioned, and placed under com- mand of Col. David Gilman. The first company was commanded by Capt. Francis Town. There were, at least, two Chesterfield men in this company, viz. : Zenas Fairbanks and Aaron Farr. Per- haps the name of Levi Fairbanks should be added.
The "Militia Act" passed this year (1776), at the session of the New Hampshire Assembly and "Council," held in September, is worthy of notice. This act provided for the organization of all male persons, with certain exceptions, into a "Training Band" and an "Alarm List," the former comprising able-bodied male persons from sixteen to fifty years old, and the latter all male persons from sixteen to sixty-five years old, not included in the Training Band. Negroes, Mulattoes and Indians, together with persons occupying certain public positions, and engaged in certain employments, were exempted from military service. Both classes of the militia were organized into companies and regiments, which, in part or in whole, were liable to be called out for duty at any time ; but persons in the Alarm List were only to do duty in case of an emergency. All persons, however, of either class, under sixty years of age, were required to do "watch duty," when occasion demanded the estab- lishment of a military watch in any town. Every person was obliged to provide his arms and accoutrements, if able to do so, at his own expense ; otherwise, the town in which he resided, was to · provide them. The specified equipments were as follows : A good
.
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"fire-arm," ramrod, worm, priming-wire and brush, bayonet with belt and scabbard, cutting sword or hatchet, cartridge-box, a hun- dred buck-shot, jack-knife, six flints, tow for making wadding, one pound of powder and forty leaden balls, a knapsack and blanket, and a canteen or wooden bottle having a capacity of at least one quart. The selectmen were also to furnish, at the expense of each town, a certain number of spades or shovels, pick-axes and hoes, for the use of the militia. The "alarm" was to be given by firing three guns in succession, by beating drums, or by beacons.
Early in May, 1777, express-riders came into New Hampshire bearing the news of the' approach of the British army towards Ticonderoga. On the 7th of the same month, Maj. Gen. Folsom issued orders for portions of the regiments in the western part of the State to march immediately to the aid of the American forces at that place. Capt. Waitstill Scott, of Westmoreland, who com- manded the first company of Col. Ashley's regiment, immediately called his men together and set out on the march to the threatened fortress. This company was composed principally of men from Westmoreland, Chesterfield and Hinsdale. Its roll was as follows, the names of Chesterfield men being printed in italics:
Waitstill Scott, Captain. Samuel Davis, Ensign.
James Robertson, Ist Lieutenant.
John Chamberlain, 2d
Nathan Franklin, Sergeant.
William Hildreth, Sergeant.
Elisha Belding,
Ephraim Sawyer,
Roger Conent, Corporal.
Daniel Farr, Corporal.
Daniel Colburn, Corporal.
John Veazy,
Nahum Goodnow, Drummer.
PRIVATES.
Israel Almsbury. Caleb Aldrich.
Eleazer Fordan. Reuben Kendell.
William Akers.
Joseph Boynton.
Joseph Metcalf. Amos Partridge. Eli Partridge.
Nehemiah Brown.
Edmund Bowker. Job Britton.
William Read. John Read.
Samuel Cobb.
Solomon Robbins.
Increase Chamberlain.
Hosea Snow.
Calvin Chamberlain.
Samuel Stearns.
.
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Aaron Davey. Nathaniel Daggett. Shadrach Dodge. John Evans. Ephraim Farr.
Thomas Farr.
Benjamin Walker. Ithamar Whitney.
Jacob Farr.
John Warner. Luther Winslow.
Charles Farr.
Timothy Goodnow. Abraham Gibbs. Oliver Gerry.
Ephraim Wetherell. Ezekiel Woodward.
David Winchester. Thomas Hazelton.
The alarm which called out the troops from this part of the State, proved false, and the soldiers did not get an opportunity to engage in battle with the enemy. Most of Capt. Scott's men served about 40 days, (being discharged June 21,) and received pay at the rate of 4 pounds and 10 shillings per month. They were also allowed 3 pence per mile for marching to Ticonderoga, and 2 pence per mile for the return march. The distance was called, each way, IIO miles. The officers and men belonging to Col. Ashley's and Col. Bellows' regiments, were complimented by Gen. Gates, the com- mander at Ticonderoga, for the promptness and expedition with which they had marched to the assistance of his forces.
The troops that went to Ticonderoga in May, had scarcely ar- rived home, when tidings were brought of the actual approach of Burgoyne's army toward that important post. Again the New Hampshire militia was called upon to march to the rescue. One of the companies in Col. Ashley's regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Oliver Cobleigh, of this town, and nearly, or quite, all the men belonged also to Chesterfield. The roll of Lieut. Cob- leigh's company was as follows : Josiah Hastings, Ensign.
Samuel Davis, Sergeant.
Ezekiel Powers, Sergeant.
Jonas Davis, Sergeant. James Wheeler, Sergeant. Dan Cobleigh, Corporal.
PRIVATES.
Thomas Whitcomb.
Isaac Hildreth. Benjamin Smith.
Amos Davis. Jonathan Farr, Fr., Daniel Baldwin.
John Sanderson. William Thomas. Daniel Whitman.
Nathaniel Walton.
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Ebenezer Farr.
Elisha Walton.
Eleazer Stoddard.
Jonathan Cressy, fr. Joel Whitney.
Henry Cressey. Joseph Higgins, fr. Ephraim Amidon, (of Wmd.) Amos Smith. Aaron Smith.
William Crafford.
Amos Streeter.
John Peacock.
Martin Warner.
Ebenezer Fletcher.
Jonathan Starr (?) [probably
Joseph Higgins.
Jonathan Davis. Farr.]
The fortress at Ticonderoga was evacuated by the Americans on the 6th of July, so that the troops that started to its assistance were not in season to be of much use. Some of them learned of the evacuation before they had proceeded a great way, and returned home. None of Lieut. Cobleigh's men seem to have been absent more than thirteen days, and some not more than seven, four, or three days.
Another company in Col. Ashley's regiment was commanded by Lieutenant James Robertson, also of Chesterfield. A part of this company, which part consisted mostly of Chesterfield men, set out for Ticonderoga June 29. The following is the roll of the men who marched under the command of Lieut. Robertson :
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