USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 164
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In order to learn who were true to the colonies and who were Tories the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, April 12, 1776, sent out the following :
ASSOCIATION TEST.
" 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, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the I'nited American Colonies."
Signers in Wl'eure .- Thomas Wortley, William Dusten, Sam Cald- well, John Robie, Ephraim Jones, Salvenus Emery, Jesse Blake, John Blake, Ezekiel Kimball, Thomas Kimball, Ezekiel Carr, Thomas Evans, Wintrop Clough, Benjamin Selly, Jeremiah l'age, Samuel Ayer, Benja- min Page, Nathaniel Weed, Ezra Pillsbory, David Parson, Ithamar Eaton, Reuben Martain, Samuel Straw, Obadiah Eaton, Abner Hoyt, Israel Straw, Samuel Paige, Lemuel Paige, Jonathan Paige, Samuel Paige, Jr., Enoch Sweat, Robert Alcoek, Paul Dusten, Caleb Emery, John Muzzey, John Worth, Joseph Kimbal, Sam Philbrick, Jabez Mor- rill, Simon Pearkins, Nathan Cram, Jr., Dudley Chase, Jonathan Blasdel, John Webster, Joseph George, Elijah Green, William Whiteker, Moses Currier, Enos Ferrin, Asa Whitieker, Timothy Clough, Timothy Tux- bery, Jacob Sargent, Jonathan Atwood, Caleb Atwood, Eben Mudgit, Aaron Quinbe, Isaac Tuxbury, Moses Quimbe, Jesse Clement, Samuel Selly, Jonathan Hadlock, Samuel Easman, Jonathan Worthley, Samuel Ordway, John Colby, Jr., Thomas Esmon, Jesse Bayley, Daniel Bayley, Timothy Worthley, Stephen Emerson, E. Cram, Elijah Gove, Caleb Whitaker, Isaac Sargent, Thomas Worthly, Timothy George, Joseph ITuse, l'eter Rogers, Jr., Joshua Macfield, Samuel Brockelbank, Ephraim Emerson, George lloyt, Moses Hoit, Jonathan Clement, Ezra Clement, Jotham Tuttle, Mark Flood, Philip Sargent, Joseph Hadlock, Joseph Quenbe, Daniel Hadley, Seth Thomson, Benjam Flanders, John Jewell, Timothy Corles, Joseph Hadlock, Jr., David Moulton, John Mud- get, Joseph Emons, John Simons, Ebenezer Bayley, Philip Hoit, Nathan Cram, Daniel Gallusha, Jacob Graves, Jacob Ramsdele, Josiah Crown, Joseph IIunton, Moses Iloyt, Jr., Jacob Tuxbury, Nicodemms Watson, Samuel Worthen, John Ordway, Daniel Gould, Joseph Dalts, Moses Folonsbury, Joseph Webster, John Colby, Jonathan Martain, Nathan Goud, John Iluntington, Thomas Colby, Jerediah Cram, Timothy Corlis, Jr., Moses Flood, John Faar, Simeon Hovey, James Emerson, Marden Emerson, William Quemby,-131.
"COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE --
" To the Hon. Committee of Safety of this Colony :
" Whereus we the Selectmen of Weare have caused this Declaration to
be Signed by a Number of men who apears to be well associated, to De- fend by arms the United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies-
" JOHN ROBIE Selectmen "JABEZ MORRILL ) for W'eare.
" Dated at Weare June 6th [776.""
" COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" To the Hon. Committee of Safety of this Colony :
"GENTLEMAN : whereas we the Selectmen of Weare have Received a Declaration from you to be Sign by the Inhabitence of Said Weare, we have aeted according to the Orders of the Declaration we make Return of all who refuse to sign to the Declaration, a List of their names is on this paper.
" JOIN ROBIE Selectmen "JABEZ MORRILL ) for Weare
" Dated at Weare June 6, 1776"
" A list of men's names called Quakers, which is,-
"Jonathan Dow, Daniel Page, Nath1 Peaslee, Silas Peaslee, Benja Peaslee, Ebenezer Peaslee, Jonathan Peaslee, Caleb Peaslee, Isiah Green, Isiah Green, Jr., Elijah Purintun, Hezekiah Purintun, Jeremiah Green, Micah Green, John Gove, John Gove, Jr., Jonson Gove, Stephen Gove, Daniel Gove, Elisha Gove, Jedediah Dow, Ebenr Breed, Zeph Breed, Jon- athan Eastes, Jonathan Osborn, John Hodgdon, Enoch Jonson, Edmund Jonson, James Buxton, Joseph Parkins, Samuel Colings, John Chase, Samuel Ilovey, Samuel Iluutington, Samuel Bayley, John Jewell, Jr., Gorge Hadley, Nathaniel Carlies, Abraham Melvon, Asa Ileath, Joseph Webstar, Jr., 41."
As the war went on Weare furnished more men. The town paid small bounties for volunteers at first, from two to ten pounds. And then there were drafts and men furnished substitutes and paid fines. Larger bounties were paid and as the value of the paper money depreciated almost fabulous sums were given for volunteers and substitutes. When the paper money was worthless the government called for taxes in corn and beef. The town of Weare hauled and delivered her corn at Salisbury, Mass. There were beef collectors. Soldiers were hired and paid in corn or live cattle. The town's committee to hire soldiers paid to Daniel Straw "Twenty Bushels of Good Indian Corn Per Month." Robert Colens was paid " Sixteen Middling three year old heifers with Calf or Calys By their Sides." David Greeley was paid " Fifteen Midling Heifers three years old with each a Calf by her side."
Weare, with only a population of eight hundred and thirty-seven, and with one hundred and fifty of these Quakers, who had scruples against fighting, sent one hundred and eighty-three men into the army during the War of the Revolution. Nearly every prom- inent citizen and even a few of the Quakers served in the army at some time during the war.
When Cornwallis surrendered the people took heart. Peace and independenee seemed assured, and appropriations were made once more for schools and preaching.
Churches-BAPTISTS .- The Baptist church woke up to life again and had the following preachers : Samuel Fletcher, 1782; Eliphalet Smith, 1783; Amos Wood, 1788-98, the most popular minister who ever lived in town ; Job Seaman, 1798; Thomas Rand, 1799; Isiah Stone, 1801; Thomas Paul, 1802; Sam- uel Applebee, 1803; Ezra Wilmarth, 1804; Otis Rob- inson, 1805 ; Henry Veasey, 1806; William Herrick, 1807; George Evans, 1808-12; but none of these
686
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
after Amos Wood were settled. Elder Ezra Wil- marth came back in 1813 and preached till March 13, 1817. John B. Gibson, 1818 to April 21, 1822; he was accused of intemperance and had great trials; Elder Wilmarth returned in 1823,-he got up a great re- vival, difficulties were settled, backsliders reclaimed, the church refreshed and sinners converted. He was dismissed October 17, 1826 ; Joseph Davis, April 17, 1827 to September 15, 1830.
Up to 1829, the society had included the whole town and the minister had preached alternately at the meeting-house in South Weare and at the north meeting-house at East Weare. Then the East Weare members desired to set up for themselves ; twenty-one members were dismissed from the first church and formed the second Baptist church at East Weare. Both societies, after this, were weak and the first so- ciety had no regular minister.
Elder John Atwood administered the ordinance to them once or twice; Nathan Chapman labored with them one half of the time in 1832-33 ; Lewis E. Cas- well made them an occasional visit; S. G. Kenney was with them a few months in the summer and fall of 1836 ; Ferdinand Ellis preached to them part of the year 1839, and Caleb Brown was with them some part of the time in 1842.
Abraham Morrill was one of the pillars of this church ; he stood by it for nearly half a century and was one of the last survivors. He was present at its death, August 30, 1843, and made the sad record of its demise.
Baptist Church at East Weare .- It was formed No- vember 28, 1829. It had twenty-one members at first. Rev. Asa Niles was the first pastor, 1830 ; Nathan Chapman was ordained July 4, 1832; Lewis E. Caswell, 1834-42; Caleb Brown, 1843-47; S. G. Kenny, 1847-49; John Upton, 1849-51; E. H. Smith, 1851.
In 1856 the church contained seventy-two mem- bers-mostly females.
Congregationalists .- A church was formed at East Weare, June 17, 1789. It was always weak. Rev. William Sleigh was one of its first preachers. Rev. Mr. Shearer preached for it. Rev. John Clayford, from England, was ordained its pastor, October 20, 1802, and was dismissed May 4, 1808. It had some preaching after that ; but it soon died,-one strong- minded woman leading all its members into the Bap- tist fold.
A Congregationalist Church was formed at South Weare, February 1, 1876. Rev. A. B. Palmer was its first pastor; resigned May 1, 1878. Charles II. Taint- or was pastor, March 25, 1879, April 22, 1880; John A. Rowell came July 16, 1880; left November 26, 1882. John Bragdon preached three months in sum- mer of 1884. No preaching since. Whole number of members, thirty-eight.
Free- Will Baptists .- A church was established Octo- ber 20, 1806. Their first ministers were Elders Timo-
thy Morse, Joseph Quimby, Elijah Watson, Joshua Quimby, Ebenezer Chase and Moses Bean. Elder Hezekiah D. Buzzell was pastor from March 8, 1813 to 1829. He was a man of good ability, and was a mem- ber of both branches of the State Legislature. Many other Free-Will Baptist ministers were about Weare during his pastorate. David Harriman was the next pastor, 1829-37; David Moody, 1837-40 ; Sister Par- ker, 1840-43; John G. Tuttle, 1843-48 ; Rufus Hay- den, 1848-50 ; John Kimball, 1850-52; W. C. Stafford, 1852-53; Asa Rundlett, 1854-55; N. B. Smith, 1856- 61; David Moody, 1862-63; O. C. Lane, 1864-65 ; N. Young, 1865-66; J. M. L. Babcock, 1866-68; N. B. Smith, 1868-70; D. Moody, 1871-73 ; Sister Sanl- paugh, 1873.
Transient ministers who preached about this time were J. M. Coburn, 1871; N. L. Chase, 1873 ; Jo- seph Granvill, 1874, and D. J. Quint, 1875.
This church, often called the First Free-Will Bap- tist Church of Weare, was the parent of four other small churches. About 1877 it died.
Deering Church .- Many of its members were from Deering, and May 5, 1830, they were "dismissed for the purpose of forming a separate and distinct church " in that town.
Free - Will Baptist Church in North Weare .- Its members were from the First Church. They were dismissed March 29, 1838, and immediately organized. The church at first consisted of seventeen men and twenty-two sisters. They called themselves the Second Free-Will Baptist Church in Weare. Their ministers have been Revs. Amos Emery, Benjamin Locke, Ru- fus Hayden, Plumer Chesley, J. J. Wentworth, David Moody, N. B. Smith, Clarion H. Kimball, Sullivan Cicero Kimball, Moses Folsom, Joseph Granville, Daniel I. Quint, George W. Pierce and some others. A Methodist minister is now preaching for them.
Third Free- Will Baptist Church at East Weare.
" The Little Free- Will Baptist Church in the north- west corner of this town " was formed before 1830.
UNIVERSALISTS .- The Rev. John Murray, father of Universalism, preached in Weare some time in the last century. Abner Kneeland, a hero of free thought who went to prison for his opinions, lived in town in 1803, and preached in private houses and sehool- houses, for the Evangelists would not let him and his followers into the meeting-houses. Hosea Ballou and Walter Balfour preached occasionally, and in 1808 or 1809 a society was formed. Ministers who have re- sided in town and preached are Sebastian Streeter, 1809-12; Squiers Streeter, 1812-16; Russell Streeter; Robert Bartlett; J. P. Atkinson, 1840; Elbridge Trull; Frederick Foster. Others who have supplied the pulpit are Revs. Mr. Anderson (a Scotchman), Walter Harriman, William Hooper, G. L. Demarest, Dr. Emerson, H. S. Fisk, Mr. Turner and Dr. A. A. Miner.
QUAKERS .- The Quakers settled in Weare at an
687
WEARE.
early date before the Revolution. They have two meeting-houses.
THE SECOND ADVENTISTS had a society about 1843.
SHAKERS lived in town near Rattlesnake Hill and held meetings early in the present century.
Meeting-Houses .- The first meeting-house in Weare, as we have said, was probably built by the proprietors before the incorporation of the town in 1764. The second was built at East Weare in 1786. Its pews were sold in advance in September, 1785.
The third was at South Weare, built in the same way, by selling the pews. They were sold in 1788 and the house built in 1789. The Quakers also built their houses about this time and the town-meetings were often held in the one near the Center. A meet- ing-house was built at North Weare about 1840. The Universalists built one at Weare Centre, in con- nection with the town-house, about 1835, and the Calvinistie Baptists built one at East Weare in 1836 at a cost of eight hundred and fifty dollars. The Free- Will Baptists also built a meeting-house at East Weare, in 1840.
Weare has had more religious societies and church buildings than any other town of its size in the State.
Small-Pox .- A hospital was established at Dun- barton in 1793 for inoculating persons for the small- pox.1 Dr. Sawyer and Mrs. Jimison kept it. James Hogg and others, of Weare, had children there sick. Dunbarton people were uneasy about it, and their selectmen notified the parents that they should send the children home to them February 27th. Weare's selectmen were informed and asked that the children might have it at Lieutenant James Hogg's house, or that a place might be provided for them. There was great excitement. February 28th a town-meeting was called to be held March 2d to see what should be done. The town was wild. All came to the meeting and they voted unanimously that Lieutenant Hogg should be notified to remove all infected persons and infection of the small-pox out of the town forthwith. Jesse Woodbury and Philip Sawyer were chosen a committee to see that it was done. The town in pass- ing this vote did not seem to care what other town was afflicted with the small-pox if they could only get rid of it.
But the children and the small-pox did not go, and a pest-house was built at once. It was located in an out-of-the way place on Burnt Hill, and the patients taken there. One died and was buried near by.
The following bill shows the customs of those times :
WEARE, April, 1793.
" The Town Due to Obadiah Eaton on account of the Small pox.
€ s. d.
" To 4 Dinners 0 2 0
2 mugs Egg pop & 1 mug W. I . . 0 2 10
1 Several would be inoculated and go through with the disease. They were called a class.
£ s. d.
keeping 7 horses & Lodging 7 men
0
7 0
to 1 pint Sling & 1 mug Egg pop. . 0
10
to keeping 7 horses & Lodging 7 men 0
7 0
to 5 mugs W. I. tody
()
4
2
2 mugs Egg pop
0
2
8 meals Victuals
0
4
0
3 mugs Egg pop & 1 mug W. I
0)
3 10
6 quarts oats & 2 quarts meal
0
1
4
1 quart Wine fifield had for Bean
0
2
0
my Self and Aaron Burnham & four Oxen one Day . 0) 10 0
1 pair Sheats & 1 qt. W. I. & 1 qt. N. E 0
12
0
-
-
"£3 3 0
Samuel Bean's children were taken to the pest- house, and he was much vexed. One night he stole them all away. The selectmen took the advice of John Prentice, a lawyer of Amherst, and then broke open the house where the children were and carried them back. Then they arrested Bean and made him give a bond for good behaviour. The child that died was Bean's.
Town-House .- The first one was built in 1797. It was located on the road a short distance southeast of Duek Pond. Before it was finished, but after they had held one town-meeting in it, Ezekiel Kimball, Jr., set it on fire and "it was burned to ashes." Ezekiel ran away and hid in the great " Moose Bog" swamp. Ebenezer Peaslee hunted him out by stratagem, had him arrested and arraigned. He gave bail and his father settled the matter by paying one hundred dol- lars. The house finally cost four hundred and sixty- eight dollars, and town-meetings were regularly held in it for the next thirty-five years.
Minute-Men .- There was trouble with England. She persisted in insulting the United States and im- pressing her seamen. France despoiled our com- merce, the Algerine pirates preyed upon it and the Indians upon the frontier were hostile. Congress wished for troops to be in readiness in every town, and provided pay and bounties for "minute-men," as they were called.
The town of Weare, November 27, 1794, being pat- riotie, voted a bounty of two dollars to each soldier that shall enlist to be in " Redness" at a moment's warning in defense of the United States. December 11, 1797, voted a bounty of two dollars, and nine dollars a month in addition to what Congress voted, to min- ute-men when in actual service.
The War of 1812 .- In 1809 war was imminent with England. Weare showed her patriotism again, and, March 14th, voted a bounty of two dollars each to our proportion of soldiers to make up the one hun- dred thousand called for, and five dollars per month in addition to what the Government allows them. May 30th, they chose Daniel Moore and Captain Samuel Eaton a committee to provide a magazine and other military utensils for the town, the Legis- lature at its last session having passed an act that this should be done by towns.
In 1812 war came. The Republicans of Weare were in a majority and were in favor of prosecuting it
1 quart Wine 0
3
0
688
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
vigorously. But there were some Federalists who bitterly opposed it. A town-meeting was held, July 3d, to provide troops, and after much discussion, some loud talk and a great deal of wrangling, " Voted, To give and make up the wages of those sol- diers who shall be drafted from the militia, or to so many of them as shall enlist, as will make the town's proportion of the one hundred thousand men to be de- tached from the United States Militia, fifteen dollars per month and two dollars bounty to be paid on en- listment or draft and four dollars addition thereunto when called for to march into actual service." After passing a vote that the expense of the militia be de- frayed the present year by the selectmen, as usual they adjourned, and Joseph Philbrick, the clerk, in making his record, said, "Thus ended a clamorous meeting."
The following men went from Weare: Ephraim Philbrick and Isaac Grant were in Captain Benjamin Bradford's company, Colonel Aquilla Davis' regi- ment. Lieutenant Stephen Emerson, ensign Ninian Follansbe, sergeant John Gale, corporal Thomas Eastman, George Alley, Jonathan C. Butterfield, Wil- liam Clough, Daniel Emerson, Jr., Thomas Nichols, Archibald Stinson and Moses Wood were in Captain Trivett's company, Colonel Steele's regiment. Ser- geant Ebenezer Wilson, Jacob Barrett, Robert Clough, Nathan Cram and Nathan Johnson were in Captain Rollins' company (Captain Rollins was from Weare). Phinehas Stone, of Weare, was cap- tain of a company in the First Regiment (Colonel N. Fisk's). His men from Weare were Richard W. Cooper, musician ; Oliver Belcher, James Butter- field, John Colby, Jonathan Flanders, David Grant, William Gray, Luther Locke, Jonathan Ordway, John Philbrick, George Philbrick, William Pope, Nathaniel Peaslee, Benjamin Tenny, Jr., and George Woodman. The latter company went to Portsmouth, September 12, 1814, did actual service for three months and were honorably discharged.
Spotted Fever .- It occurred in 1815, '16 and was prevalent throughout New England. Many died in Weare.
Town Farm .- In 1824 Joseph Philbrick, William Whittle and Abraham Morrill were chosen a commit- tee to report at the next annual meeting about the support of the poor, and in 1825 they said a farm should be bought. Being continued in office they reported the next year, 1826, that they were not in favor of buying a farm, they had changed their minds, but of setting up "an establishment " for the town's poor. They thought this was better than the former practice of humanely putting them up at auction and striking them off to the one who would keep them for the least pay. There were eleven paupers this year. Mary Bailey, aged ninety-two; Thomas Worthly, son of one of the first settlers, eighty- nine; Hannah Flood, eighty-four and Sarah Collins were among the oldest, and Mary Matthewson, aged
two, daughter of Sally Kinson, twenty-one, was the youngest. They were all let out to a contractor to be supplied by him and he was also to buy books and send the children to school.
The question slept for twelve years. In 1838 Os- good Paige, Abraham Morrill and Levi Gove were chosen a committee to look up and report on the sub- ject of a "Poor Farm." April 14th they reported they had examined the John Robie farm and the Abraham Morrill farm not quite so good. They strongly urged that a farm be bought, and said, " We are bound by every principle of virtue and religion to mitigate, as far as possible, the sorrows and sufferings of the unfortunate poor," and that they could do it best on a farm. The town was convinced; they ac- cepted the report, voted to buy a farm and to hire of the agent the "Surplus revenue " and pay for it.
They also voted that the " poor farm " should be a house of correction, and chose Amos W. Bailey, Daniel Page, Jr., and Moses Peaslee a committee to draft and report suitable by-laws for its proper man- agement.
Surplus Revenue .- In 1837 the Government of the United States sent to the several states large sums of money, called the "surplus revenue." New Hamp- shire divided the money among its several towns. Weare voted to take the money, and chose Amos W. Bailey agent to receive it from the State Treasury and loan it in sums of not less than twenty-five dol- lars, nor more than four hundred dollars, at six per cent. interest, to be paid annually into the town treasury to defray town charges, and that the agent take good security subject to the approval of the selectmen.
In 1838 a part of this was taken as we have seen to pay for the poor-farm. In 1843 the citizens voted to put one-half of it into their own pockets, in other words, to take it to defray town charges, and that Ebenezer Gove be an agent to take care of the rest of it. In 1846 some tried to divide it among the citizens, but the majority decided not to do it. The next year at the March meeting they voted to distrib- ute it equally among the legal voters, and October 9th chose Cyrus E. Wood agent to do it and record the names and amount each received. They got one dol- lar and forty-five cents apiece. Thus went the Sur- plus Revenue ; they could not be content to keep it as a fund, and so spent it in just ten years.
Mexican War .- Only one man enlisted from Weare, and he was a citizen of Goffstown.
New Hampshire Central Railroad .- It was char- tered June 24, 1848. Its Board of Directors were David Steele, president ; Moses Sawyer, North Weare; Charles Stinson, Dunbarton ; Perry Richards, New Boston ; Horace Childs, Henniker; Moses A. Hodgdon, Abner Hoit Weare ; John S. Eldridge, Boston .-- Lewis Smith was clerk; Samuel H. Price, superintendent ; Abraham Mitchell, roadmaster ; Joseph Knowlton, freight agent; and James Priest, wood agent. Work
689
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was begun in 1849; the road was completed to Oil Mill village January 1850, and in February following the cars began to run regularly to the latter place. They reached North Weare in November and Henniker December 10, 1850. The cars did not run above Oil Mill till the road was built through to Henniker, then regular trains were put on. The first conductor was Robert Moore of Henniker, from December 10, 1850, to September 1, 1853. Charles Henry Hurlburt conductor September 1, 1853 to 1855, and Charles W. Everett since that time. The road fell into the hands of Joseph A. Gilmore about 1853, and the name was changed to the Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers Railroad. Sunday, October 31, 1858, Gilmore tore up the rails between North Weare and Henniker, much to the disgust of every one living on the line, and soon after the road became the property of the Concord Railroad.
Four trains now run daily between North Weare and Manchester and two trains on Sunday, and the road pays good dividends on the amount the Concord railroad paid for it. There are four stations in Weare at the present time,-Oil Mill, Everett, East Weare and North Weare,-and the road is now known as the Manchester and North Weare Railroad.
War of the Rebellion. - Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1861, and the war began. President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand troops, and New Hampshire sent her first regiment into the field. Soon there was another call for more men, and, May 25, the town voted to pay each soldier who enlisted from Weare nine dollars a month in addition to what the government pays, and to each nurse from this town an amount sufficient to make the pay up to twenty dollars a month. Also, those who en- list in the navy before August 27, shall be paid one hundred dollars-if they will count on the town's quota; the selectmen to hire all the money and pay all the volunteers when they are mustered into ser- viee. November 10, 1861, the town voted town aid for the families of volunteers, in addition to the State aid.
August 12, 1862, the town voted to pay two hundred dollars to each volunteer, the money to be hired to do it.
September 8, 1862, the town affirmed the acts of the previous meeting and also voted to pay the nine months men two hundred dollars each.
September 8, 1863, the town, by vote, paid three hundred dollars to each drafted man or his sub- stitute who shall be mustered into the service. At this time the States and the United States each paid three hundred dollars for a soldier, making a bounty of nine hundred dollars to every man who went to the war.
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