USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 12
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About this time the people of Indian Stream Territory chose John Haines to properly present their position to Col. White. He was instructed to say that they had unanimously "resolved to abide by and support our own constitution and laws, agreeably to our oaths, until known to what government we properly belong, when our constitution is at an end." Col.
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White gave no satisfaction to Mr. Haines, saying, merely, that he would lay the situation before the governor, and he at once wrote a letter, giving the rumors prevalent concerning the action of the people, as well what had been done, and asked for a detachment of militia to enable him and his officers to properly discharge their duties. It is evident from the names of the councillors of Indian Stream, that up to this period many of the people had only intended to keep a neutral position, and really consid- ered themselves under no jurisdiction, save that of their own laws, until the boundary question should be decided, and they allotted to New Hamp- shire or Canada. It was to prevent disorder and anarchy, not to cause it, even if the influence of Rea had developed its formation, that the "Terri- tory " was organized. Ebenezer Fletcher, Richard I. Blanchard, Jeremiah Tabor and others, who were members of the Council, were never disloyal to the United States, but they could not hold in check the lawless element which favored union with Canada. April 18, 1835 .- The assembly of Indian Stream passed acts making it perjury to violate the oath of alle- giance to their constitution, with a penalty of confinement in the stocks united to disqualification as a witness in the territorial courts: also, for- bidding any sheriff, or sheriff's officers, residing in Indian Stream, or the United States, not appointed by the government of Indian Stream, per- forming any official duties within the Territory under the penalty of fine and imprisonment. This clear distinction against the United States and in favor of Canada alarmed the American residents, and the same day they drafted and sent a petition to Gov. Badger. asking protection from the action of these laws. Shortly after, the majority who passed the obnox- ious laws, also sent a memorial to Gov. Badger acknowledging that they had kept the Canadian government informed of their acts. and begged for favorable consideration. In June. 1835. Gov. Badger presented the case and papers to the legislature, at Concord. This body resolved to main- tain jurisdiction over Indian Stream Territory, and to hold its possession until the boundary dispute should be fully settled: and authorized the governor to render all necessary aid to the executive officers of Coös county in executing the laws of New Hampshire in that Territory.
This legislation was at once communicated to Sheriff White, and by him to the people of Indian Stream. Quiet was produced for a time, but the Provincial government again interfered, and the discontented began to make preparations to resist the execution of New Hampshire laws, while they allowed Canadian warrants to be served in the Territory. The afore- mentioned Justice Rea, not content with issuing writs to be served in Indian Stream, made various speeches urging resistance to American laws. and promising help from Canada. In October, 1-35, William M. Smith, a deputy-sheriff of Coos county, with Richard I. Blanchard and John M. Harvey as assistants, attempted to serve a writ on John H. Tyler. Tyler
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refusing to turn out property for attachment, Smith arrested him, and in taking him away, Tyler was forcibly rescued by several of his neighbors. Alexander Rea, on being informed of this arrest, issued a warrant against Smith, Blanchard and Harvey, in the name of the King of Great Britain, for attempting to serve processes not granted by Canadian courts. Blan- chard, the only one residing in Indian Stream, was arrested on this war- rant, October 22, 1835, by an armed posse of from twelve to fifteen men, and taken by force from his dwelling, to be tried in Canada for doing his duty as a deputy sheriff of the county of Coös.
As the news of this outrage was immediately spread, great excitement prevailed in the upper towns of Coos. Clark J. Haines started at once on horseback for Colebrook, giving notice at Clarksville and Stewartstown. As fast as notified the men of the various towns armed and hastened to the relief of Blanchard. Many took their arms and accoutrements as militia men. Nearly three hundred assembled in Canaan; citizens aroused by an outrage upon the rights of one of their number, and determined to rescue him. Several parties started to intercept Blanchard and his captors, and we give Blanchard's own language of the rescue: "When I was within a mile of the house of Alex. Rea, to which place I understood they were conveying me, we were met by a party of eight men from New Hampshire on horseback, all, or most of them, armed. They demanded my release from the party having custody of me, which was refused, but, after some further talk, the party demanding resolutely my release, I was at length released, without any force being used on either side, and I went with the party down to the store of Parmelee & Joy, in Canaan, Vt."
The rescuing party consisted of E. H. Mahurin, J. M. Harvey, J. P. Wiswell, J. M. Hilliard, Horatio Tuttle, I. B. Blodgett, Samuel Weeks, Jr., and Miles Hurlburt. At the store in Canaan mention was made of J. H. Tyler, the former prisoner of Smith. as being one of the party in charge of Blanchard. Ephraim C. Aldrich and Miles Hurlburt, taking with them an advertisement offering five dollars reward for the capture of Tyler, started in search of him, and, shortly after crossing the Canada line, they were met by Rea, who, highly excited, ordered them off the king's highway and his grounds. Rea had over a dozen men whom he called upon to arrest Aldrich and Hurlburt. The latter drew a pistol, and Aldrich advised Rea not to approach Hurlburt as he might shoot. Turning to Aldrich, Rea ordered a man to take his horse by the bridle, and he attempted to arrest Aldrich, who drew a sword and defended himself. Rea and his party began to throw stones, two of which hit Hurlburt with force. He discharged his pistol, wounding Young, and as, by this time, thirty or forty men had come up from Canaan, Rea, becoming alarmed, ran for the woods, Aldrich pursuing him. After a short skirmish, Rea
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surrendered, was placed in a wagon and taken to Canaan, where, after being detained some hours, he was released.
The legislature, by an act approved June 18. 1836, authorized the gov- ernor " to appoint commissioners to repair to Indian Stream and collect and arrange such testimony as may be obtained to rebut and explain the charges and testimony obtained and preferred against the authorities and inhabitants of this state by Lord Gosford, Governor of the Province of Lower Canada." Gov. Badger appointed as members of this commission Adjutant-General Joseph Low, Ralph Metcalf and John P. Hale, who made a report. November 23, 1836.
As the excitement increased, and the adherents of New Hampshire feared for their safety, Gov. Badger instructed Gen. Low "to take such steps as might be found necessary to maintain the integrity of the state and its laws, and, if necessary, to call out so much of the Twenty-fourth Regiment as will enable the executive officers of the county of Coos to execute the laws, and suppress and put down all insurrectionary move- ments." Necessity arising, Gen. Low ordered Col. Ira Young to "detach and order into service, and place at the disposal of John H. White. Esq., sheriff of the County of Coös, one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four sergeants, two musicians, and forty-two privates, for three months, unless sooner discharged." This order was handed to Col. Ira Young, November 13, 1835, about six o'clock in the evening, and, as Capt. Mooney and some men were already at Indian Stream, an express immediately sent by him to Ensign Drew, of the Stewartstown company, with directions to collect his force at once and report without delay. By three o'clock in the morn- ing of the next day, about twenty men had assembled, some having trav- eled nineteen miles on foot to join Capt. Mooney."
* Roll of Capt. Mooney's Company, 24th Regt., N. H. M., serving at Indian Stream .- James Mooney, Captain, Stewartstown; Haines French, Lieutenant, Columbia; Amos W. Drew, Ensign, Stewartstown; Joseph Durgin, Sergeant, Northumberland: William Covel, Sergeant, Colebrook; Robert Tirrell, Sergeant, Stewartstown; Isaac Miner, Sergeant, Whitefield; George Hight, Sergeant, Jefferson; Privates, Asahel Aldrich, Whitefield: David Alls, Colebrook; James II. Balch, Lancaster; Thomas Batchelder, Whitefield: Ephraim F. Bartlett, Whitefield; Phill C. Bickford, Northumberland; Linus Blakeslee, Dalton; Arnold Bolls, Dalton: Henry Bout- well, Dalton; William W. Brooks, Colebrook; Volney M Brown, Stratford; Jesse Carr, Jefferson; Jesse W. Carr, Columbia: Nathan S. Carr, Indian Stream, Sub., Colebrook: Hazen Chamberlain, Cole- brook: William Curtis, Stratford; Nathaniel G. Dodge, Stark; Ahaz S. French, Columbia; Orisa- mus Frizzle, Colebrook; William Grimes, Dalton; Alfred Greenleaf, Jefferson ; Samuel G. Grout, Dal- ton; Horatio Grover, Colebrook; Alexander, Gullen, Sub., Colebrook or Columbia; Silas Huntoon, Whitefield; Duglas Ingerson, Lancaster; Enoch C. Jewell, Whitefield; Dennis Jones, Lancaster; Abiel C. Kidder, Stewartstown; Eli Kinerson, Stratford; Leavitt Loud, Dalton; William G. Ly- man, Columbia; Clark MeFarland, Stark; Joseph Morrill, Jr., Whitefield; John Perkins, Lancas- ter; William Price, Whitefield; Benjamin Stilling, Jefferson; Ira Stilling, Jefferson; Charles F. Stone, Lancaster; John Sweat, Columbia; William Wallace, Jr., Dalton or Columbia; Asa S. White, Whitefield; Samuel Whittemore, Colebrook.
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Very early, say two or three o'clock, on the morning of November 14, 1835, Captain Mooney, with a guard, accompanied deputy sheriff Blan- chard to arrest a number against whom warrants had been issued for the vio- lation of our laws, and who were supposed to be at Applebee's. After stop- ping a short time at Perry's Stream, Ensign Drew crossed with twenty men to surround the house (a large two story frame building). with orders to keep quiet until daylight. Two horses at pasture were alarmed by the soldiers, and ran to the house arousing the inmates by their excited snort- ing and neighing. Emor Applebee came to the door, and going back into the house returned with a gun, and his son, Benjamin, also armed. He warned the officers and guard not to approach. The sheriff announced his office and mission, and ordered them " in the name of the state " to lay down their arms and submit; upon this they levelled their guns and said they would shoot the first one who came near them. They were covered at once by twenty rifles. Captain Mooney said that his instructions were to take them alive or dead: when the elder Applebee ordered the whole company to leave his farm " in the name of the King," and started his wife as a messenger to notify his associates of his peril. By this time, however, the soldiers had cut off communication with outside parties, and Mrs. Applebee was driven back to the house. Gen. Lewis Loomis, who had accompanied the soldiers, now advised the Applebees that their escape was impossible, and that it was their wisest course to surrender and go with him to the officers, when, if they could satisfy them of the rectitude of their intentions, they should be permitted to return. The Applebees under his plausible diplomacy consented to do this, gave up their arms and ammu- nition, and were made prisoners. They, with others of the malcontents captured, were taken to Lancaster, and lodged in jail. After six months and three days imprisonment, Benjamin was released upon his own recog- nizance. Emor Applebee was released in the same manner after an imprisonment of a year. The other prisoners were discharged in time, and none were ever brought to trial.
The guns captured from the Applebees were heavily charge with powder, ball, and large buck-shot or pistol-bullets. One gun contained seventeen bullets, one rifle seven bullets, and the spare guns an ounce ball each. and from seven to twelve pistol-bullets. This prompt arrest followed by others, crushed opposition by force, but the British party continued to make threats, and the vicious and law-escaping element of the territory labored with them. On learning these facts, Gov. Badger issued an order calling out more troops, if quiet was not restored, and the turbulent ones thought bet- ter of the situation and either emigrated to Canada or quietly submitted to New Hampshire law.
The national government refunded the expenses incurred by the state in this campaign, and, by this action, the militia engaged became " veteran
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soldiers of the United States," and were granted 160 acres of government land each. In 1849, Congress satisfied the state's claim by paying $7,000. The next year an attempt was made to recover interest on this sum from the year 1836, which, after being more than once refused, was allowed by Congress in January, 1852, with a proviso that the amount should not exceed the sum of 86,000. But, in disposing of the questions growing out of the claims on the part of the settlers here, resort was had to the superior court of New Hampshire. In a decision given in this court in 1840, by Chief Justice Parker, the jurisdiction asserted by the state was affirmed, and was held to refer back, in the absence of any subsequent grant to the period of separation from Great Britain, and consequently carried with it all title to the lands. This decision settled the question; and the juris- diction thus maintained was acquiesced in by Great Britain and the United States in the Webster-Ashburton treaty made the next year, which laid down the line as claimed by the state. The stamp of right and justice was thus placed upon the prompt action of the New Hampshire officials.
Musters, Trainings and Militia .*- There are very few people now living who remember the old-fashioned muster and May trainings in New Hamp- shire. These came down from colonial days and were looked upon by young and old as the " great days " of the year-by the old, to rehearse and keep alive the patriotic spirit-by the young, to view the scenes of mimic war and glory. These militia "trainings " and "musters" were the only pas- times for the year. For days before these occasions, preparations were made to attend by the whole country around. So, early in the morning on these days, in carriages, on horseback, and on foot, all, save the aged and decrepit, were seen wending their way to the training-and-muster- field. Little do the boys of the present, who have picnics, excursions, base ball, circuses, and scores of diversions. realize the poverty of pastimes in those early days; and how they were enjoyed-almost reverenced.
Every "free, able-bodied, white male citizen of the state, resident therein, of the age of eighteen years and under the age of forty-five years, unless exempted by law," was liable to do military duty in the company within whose limits he resided or into which he may have enlisted. Each company was obliged "to meet on the third Tuesday of May annually, " for inspection and military drill. "armed and equipped as the law directs." and on one other day, by order of the captain. The annual regimental muster was in September, and called by the general; and this embraced all the companies in the regiment.
The law required that "each enrolled man should be armed with a mus- ket with a flint lock, two spare flints, with a steel or iron ram-rod, a bay- onet, scabbard and belt, a priming-wire and brush, a knapsack and can- teen, and a cartridge-box that contains twenty-four cartridges."
*By Hon. B. F. Whidden.
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The militia companies, or, as they were sometimes called, " flood- wood companies," embraced all the enrolled men who did not enlist into an independent company. In every regiment there was a company of cavalry, sometimes called "troopers," a company of artillery, one or two companies of light infantry, and a company of riflemen.
The officers were a captain, a lieutenant, and an ensign, except in the cavalry, where the ensign was called a cornet. To each company there were four sergeants. four corporals, one bass-drummer, and usually two tenor-drummers and two fifers, except in the cavalry, whose music was the bugle.
The parade-ground, or " muster-field," as it was called, was selected by the field officers in some central portion of the "lines " of the regiment, and " must be smooth and level and contain not less than twenty acres " in order to give room for the evolutions of the companies in line or column of attack. Early on the morning of muster, from all the country round, came pouring into town. companies, officers, soldiers and citizens, young and old, preceded only by those building booths and tents on the outskirts of the field the night before. Joy, mirth, patriotism. and good cheer usher in the day; veneration, the martial spirit, parade, the love of tinsel and show, had not yet died out.
The militia, or infantry companies, were generally large and considered the solid branch of the service. The officers were armed with a sword with belt, and wore a cap with plume. The riflemen were more preten- tious and dashing. They wore, generally, a blue coat and "pants, " trimmed with red cord or silver braid, with red cuffs and collars, and high gaiters. Their caps were generally black velvet, with plumes. They were very attractive, either at rest or in motion. The artillery represented strength. Their uniform was blue, trimmed with red. They were armed with a sword and belt, and equipped with a knapsack and canteen. They wore a cocked hat having a black plume with red top. Their six-pound brass can- non was polished to its brightest. The trappings of their horses and ammu- nition carriage were of the gayest style known. The light infantry com- panies were the most showy part of the regiment. Their uniform was a black coat with white " pants." They wore high leather caps with white plumes. Their motion was quick and effective, and they were greatly given to surprises in the evolutions of the day. They usually had from eight to ten pioneers, armed with the necessary tools. who were in front when marching by flank, to clear the way of all obstructions, span a ditch or raise a tent. But the cavalry on their prancing steeds, with the gayest. of uniforms and housings, bear-skin cap, pistols, sabre, boots and spurs, was the delight of all. The bugle-notes which heralded their movements will never die away with those who saw that day.
The most gorgeous display of all was when the adjutant had formed
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the regiment in line, the colonel with his staff came on parade to take com- mand, and receive the brigadier-general with his staff for review. These officers were mounted on the gayest of chargers, and were caparisoned at great expense in all the paraphernalia of war to excite the admiration of the thousands who came to witness the annual display. These field officers all wore the Napoleonic cocked hat. The colonel and staff wore a white plume and silver trimmings. The general and his staff wore black ostrich plumes and gold trimmings.
After the inspection and grand review by the general, sometimes the regiment was divided for the mimic show of war-a "mock battle "- when the cavalry and light infantry showed their skill in quick move- ments, the riflemen as scouts, the artillery at bombardment, and the militia at the charge, till the waning sun and the bugle called to quarters. So passed this day of days in "ye olden time." One who was there to see gives you this account while it is fresh in memory.
The writer lived some two miles from this enchanted ground. He had annually heard in the distance the booming of cannon, the rolling drum, the screaming fife and the rattling musketry, and one bright September morn- ing he was taken to the muster and training. Sixty years have since passed by, and yet he has never been so thoroughly enraptured as when he reached a height overlooking the field where he could see the long line of companies in their rich attire stretching across the field; the vast concourse of spectators outside the line of guards, and hear the music and the voice of command with a distinctness that was fascinating as it fell on the ears. Farther on, just outside, he became absorbed in the cries of peddlers hawking their wares. the baker selling his gingerbread; and passed by booths where were sold lemonade, candy, and " new rum at four-pence a glass."
As the day closed and the ranks were broken, and the vast crowd were reluctantly turning their faces homeward, squads of men, before taking a soldier's leave, were seen around the tents, or sitting on the ground sing- ing patriotic songs, among which was sure to be " Yankee Doodle." The spirit, style and even the manners of the Revolution were still a possession among the people; but, as time passed on. and new pastimes and holidays were created, the law requiring active militia service was repealed in 1851. Under the old law there were three regiments in Coos county -- the 24th, the 41st and 42nd; and these three, with the 13th and 32nd in Grafton county, constituted the " Eighth Brigade " of New Hampshire.
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CHAPTER XIII.
RESOURCES, ATTRACTIONS, TRADITIONS, SPORTS, AND POLICY OF COÖS CONCERNING FISH AND GAME .*
BY COL. HENRY O. KENT.
Upper Cohos-Coos-Abenaquis-" Captain Joe" and "Captain John"-King Philip-Metal- lak-Robbins and Hinds-Mountain Ranges-Lakes-Rivers-Fish and Game-Moose-Wolves -Deer-Bear-Fox-Salmon-Trout-Summer Travel-Railroad Facilities-Protection of For- ests-Sports-Game Laws-True Legislation.
u PPER COHOS .- When Col. John Goffe, of Goffstown (for whom, I assume, was also named Goff's falls, on the Merrimack,) raised, in 1763, under authority of Benning Wentworth, royal governor of the province of New Hampshire, his regiment, forming a part of the force intended, say the old commissions, "for the conquest of Canada," under command of Gen. Amherst, his corps was filled by hardy pioneers and adventurers, ready to seek new homes on the borders of the receding wilderness. At the expiration of service in Canada, four of his officers, with a portion of his command, sought their homes on the Merrimack, by the Indian trail from Champlain to the Connecticut, and across the highlands of New Hampshire to their own river. Returning thus, they struck the Connecti- cut at the broad meadows now in Haverhill and Newbury, then known in Indian legends as the " Cohos." and returned to aid in founding the towns referred to. As settlements extended up the stream, and broad meadows were found and occupied on the present site of Lancaster, that region was called the "Upper Cohos; " and later, when quaint Philip Carrigain, the genial Irish secretary of state, whose map is even now the most desirable authority on New Hampshire as it was, visited the more recent settlements under the shadow of the lesser Monadnock at Colebrook, forty miles north of Lancaster, he bestowed upon that section the title of " the Cohos above the Upper Cohos," the territory designated thus, being the old home of the Coo-ash-auke Indians, and now nearly all included in the limits of Coös county.
Coos .- The name "Coos" is derived from the Indian word "Cohos," of the dialect of the Abenaquis, a confederacy of tribes once inhabiting New Hampshire, western Maine, and northerly to the St. Lawrence river. The word is further derived from "coo-ash," signifying pines. It is known that the Indian inhabitants of a section were generally entitled by some
*Adapted from an address delivered before the N. H. Fish and Game Association.
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name descriptive thereof, and the tribe occupying this region was known as the Coo-ash aukes, or "Dwellers in the pine tree country," from coo- ash, pines, and auke, place. This title applied especially to the locality and inhabitants north of the mountains and along the Connecticut valley above Moosilauke.
The outlet of Massabesic lake is still known by its Indian name, "Cohos brook," and the country around was once a dense forest of pines-coo-ash. It seems probable that this name-coo-ash-was carried north by Indian exiles from the lower Merrimack, when driven from their old abodes by the advance of the whites, to seek, as says the chronicler, a new home "around the head waters of the Connecticut; " and we learn, in corrobo- ration of Indian occupancy of this section at this period, that after the massacre at Cocheco (Dover) in 1689, instigated by Kan-ca-ma-gus, he and his followers fled north, "and joined the bands at the sources of the Saco, Ameroscoggin, and Connecticut"-the coo-ash region. The streams in this section abounding in trout-their native food-all the way from the Lower to the Upper Cohos, the territory became known as their Namaos-coo-auke, or pine-tree fishing-place, a nomenclature transformed and perpetuated in the modern name "Ammonoosuc," still held by three streams within this ancient domain.
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