USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lebanon > History of Lebanon, N.H., 1761-1887 > Part 15
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May 19 1783. Voted to Release Col Elifha Paine as a member of Afsembly. They then Chose Col Elifha Payne and Elihu Hyde as Agents to the Afsembly and raised a tax to defray their expense.
The grievances noted above were the arrearages which New
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152
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
Hampshire demanded of the town, arrearages which had accum- ulated while the town was in union with Vermont and inde- pendent.
Later in November, Capt. Edmund Freeman was "chofen agent of the town to wait on the General Aisembly of New Hamp- shire at their nex Sefsion to Lay before them the affairs of S'd town." The town claimed a set-off against the demands of the state for expense incurred in providing soldiers, bounties, equip- ments, etc., which the state was not willing to allow.
February 25, 1784, Beza Woodward of Hanover was chosen agent "to take Care of the affairs of the town Refpecting the Expenditures of the war & other matters already laid in Before s'd Afsembly."
March 7, 1784, town officers were chosen, and Col. Elisha Paine was elected as representative of the town at the General As- sembly in June next.
Messrs. Major Griswold, Lieut. Elisha Ticknor, Abiel Wills, Silas Waterman, Samuel Sprague and Rufus Baldwin, howards, or hog constables. This was the first recognition of this ancient and honorable institution in the town. It was also voted that the yards of the constables should be held as pounds.
March 22, "Voted that those persons That Have paid a Pro- vifion Tax in the year 1781 shall be Repaid in the Prefent Town Tax and 10ª Be paid pr lb for Pork & six Pence for Beeff."
"That a Charter be Requested of the afsembly for the feries all them that shall be wonted over the Great River."
Votes for Prefident [of the state]
George Atkinfon
39
M Weare 7
Elisha Paine 1
Votes for Senator
Elifh Paine 43
Mofes Dow 1
This was the first state election in which the town had taken any part since its settlement nearly twenty years before. All the time it had its grievances, part of the time it was classed with other towns, part of the time it was connected with Vermont. The form of government adopted at the beginning of the Revo- lution had expired by its own limitation-the proclamation of
HIRAM A. SIMONS.
153
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
peace-a new constitution had been adopted and Lebanon took its place among the towns of the state, ably represented by Colonel Payne.
EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Dec 6 1784 Voted to accept the following Divifion of school Disfricts 1st Diftrict Beginning at the North west corner of the town thence Runing on the Great River to North west Corner of the River Lott Latley owned by Deacon Jonathan Dana thence East To the Bend of the River south of John martins thence up Mascoma to the North End of maj Slapps Intervale thence east 72 Degree North-(N. 18° E) To Han- over Line.
2d Diftrict-Beginning at the North west corner of Decon Dana's River Lott bounded on Conectcut River to Plainfield and on Plainfield Line so far as To Include the Dwelling Houfe of Thomas Wright & Jofiah · Hovey thence northerly to the Center of Jedidiah Hebbards Lott thence Northerly To the River Mascom
3d Diftrict to begins at the North easterly corner of the second Diftrict thence extends southerly upon the Line of said Diftrict till it Strikes Plainfield Line, thence Easterly on Plainfield Line opposite to the school Lott Latley owned by Samuel Huntington on the East Line of said Lott; thence on a North Line till it Strikes Mascoma River at the North East Corner of Hubbard Estabrook Lott [which would be on the farm now owned by Charles Gerrish]
4th District To Begin at the North East Corner of Hubard Estabrook Lott, thence up Mascoma River To the mouth of Great Brook [which is the brook coming in from the south] thence on a Direct Line To the north easterly corner of John Fox's Lott thence south To the south easterly corner of Mr James Perkins Lott, thence westerly to the South west corner of Zalmon Aspenwall's Lott.
5th Diftrict Begining at the North East Corner of John Fox's 'Lott thence a strait Line To the Brige Near John Porters Houfe thence up Great Brook To the Brige Near David Blifs' thence South To Plainfield Line, thence on Plainfield Line To the south East corner of the third district and bounded Westerly on said Diftrict and northerly on the forth Diftrict To the firft mentioned Corner
6th Diftrict begins at the South East Corner of the 5th Diftrict thence on Plainfield Line To the South East Corner of Lebanon thence north- erly on the town line till it Come Due East of the North Line of Weth- erill Hough Lotts thence Weft to the North Weft corner of said Houghs west Lott thence on a Line To John Fox's North East Corner of his Lott Leaving John Porter [Howe Place] in Esq. Wheatley's Diftrict.
7th Diftrict Begins at mr Witherrill Houghs North West Corner thence To the South east corner of mr Parker's Lott [Packard?] where he Now Lives thence Northerly to Hanover Line then Westerly on Han- over Line To the bound of the firft Diftrict thence on the east line of
154
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
firft Diftrict to mascoma at the North End of maj Slapps Intervale Thence To the mouth of Great Brook; thence up Great Brook To John Porters Brige, Thence To Witherill Houghs North Weft Corner
8th Diftrict from Witheril Hough's north west corner Due East to Enfield Line; thence north on Enfield Line To the North East Corner of Lebanon Thence Westerly on the Town Line Till it come where the 7th Diftrict Strikes Hanover; thence on the Line of the 7th Diftrict Till it comes To Witherill Hough's North west corner.
Some of these lines are evidently somewhat uncertain and diffi- cult for us at this distance of time to retrace. East Lebanon was. in the eighth district. The center village in the seventh and extended north to Hanover and south to the Howe farm and west. beyond Scytheville. West Lebanon was in the first district. The families on the Great River, south of the Mascoma, were in the second district. Poverty Lane was in the third district. John Hebbard's farm would be in the fourth district. Dea. E. Cole's farm would be near the easterly line of the fifth district, and the sixth district took in the southeast corner of the town.
In this year William Dana presented the following petition to the Legislature :
Petition
Humbly shows William Dana of Lebanon, Grafton County, that he was one of the first settlers in said Lebanon, that he has suffered greatly by the passing of persons through his land in going over Con- necticut river to Hartford in the State of Vermont (so called) that the privilege of a ferry on said river has not been granted, but the profit of assisting to cross said river has been engrossed by those that live not in the state of N. H. and have no estate therein, and can easily evade any laws of said state for the regulation of ferries; your petitioner . therefore prays, that granting to him and his heirs the privilege of a ferry, beginning at the northwest corner of his home lot in s'd Leba- non, thence extending across said river in a direct line with the north line of said lot to the western bank of said river; thence south on said bank one mile and a half; thence east across said river to the north bank of the river Mascom, thence north on the easterly bank of the first mentioned river to the first mentioned bound
Wm Dana
Evidently they have not yet settled their affairs with the state, for January 31, 1785, "Voted that the Selectmen be directted not to make up a tax on the Town for the old Demands of the State of Newhampshire"
155
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
The following indicates that there was discontent in the town concerning the place of meeting on the Sabbath, "Voted that the meeting on the sabbath be Held one Half the Days at Con- stant Storrs or Nathaniel Storrs." This would take the people on the hill in the neighborhood of Abel Storrs.
At the "anuail meeting," March 8, 1785, Elisha Payne was. chosen representative. I suppose this to have been Elisha Payne, Esq., not the colonel.
Voted to move the meeting House Near to Elihu Hydes Dwelling House & set up as soon as possible & begin next Monday .- that Constant Storrs Nath1 Porter David Hough Hezah Waters and Elias Lyman be a Comitte to move said House & set it up at said place.
At a special town meeting warn'd by the Constables & Held at the meeting House March 15 1785, voted to Build a meeting House in the. center of the town, and Desolved said meeting.
So "next Monday" has come and gone and the meeting-house yet stands. The folks in the center and eastern parts of the town have rallied and at this meeting have carried their point.
At the annual meeting it is recorded that George Atkinson had seventy-six votes for the president of the state and Col. Elisha Payne eighty-two votes for senator.
A Stray colt.
Taken up by Maj Elisha Lathrop of Lebanon august 16, 1785 a Stray mare Colt, one year old, of a Pail sorrel Colour, four white feet & Legs up to his knees & hams-white face, both Eyes white
Lebanon Aug. 22 1785
the Above Stray Colt was Prized by Daniel Hough & Stephen Col- barn at £3-15 they being under oath
Elihu Hyde Town Clerk
Fees: for entering /6; for attending and Giving oath to the above. persons 2/; to the aprisers 1/3.
The town was still in trouble with the state and conventions of towns were held at Hanover on their affairs, at several different. times, and a petition to the assembly on their grievances ordered, and agents appointed to wait on the assembly.
Dec 22, 1785 Voted to direct the Selectmen to Procure a part of the Extent in the sherifs hands and pay the same to him by the Time the Extent is out
An extent as here used was a writ to a sheriff for the val- uation of lands and tenements, to be followed in a specified time
156
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
by an execution. New Hampshire had issued a great many of these writs against delinquent towns.
Still further action was taken in this matter at a meeting January 17, 1786 :
Voted to direct the Selectmen to Hire the £50 they have Borrowed To Pay the sherif in part of the Extent against the town for Deficiency of men on the best terms they can and they will Indemnify them
Whereas the Town have this Day Directed the Selectmen to Hire £50 to Pay the £50, Borrowed To Pay the sherif Towards his Extent for Deficiency of men Do therefore vote, To Prevent Cost, that any Gentlm that will Pay in any sum or sums to the selectmen, that the Same shall be allowed them on any State Tax that shall be made up in the Town, with Intereft Till the same Bill be made up
This action of the town indicates unmistakably that the peo- ple were poor-not that they did not own valuable lands and good homes, and had good crops, with horses and cattle-but they had no money. To understand their condition, their trials and straits, we must take a view of the condition of the wider . community of which they were a part.
The War of the Revolution had imposed heavy burdens upon the states and the people. The real money of the country was soon exhausted, and there was no other way to continue the struggle but by the emission of paper money by Congress and the states. The length and expenses of the contest soon made it manifest that these bills would never be redeemed. Besides this they were printed with so little skill that they were easily coun- terfeited. They soon began to depreciate in value and depre- ciated more and more, till their purchasing power was reduced to zero in many cases. As the paper money depreciated, silver and gold disappeared; they were hoarded up by those who could get them, because their value was substantial and continuous. New emissions of bills were made from time to time, with the attempt to give a higher value than the old, but they shared the same fate of rapid depreciation. The extent of this depreciation may be seen by some tables compiled by authority of the Legis- lature from time to time :
Continental Paper
Feb. 1777 £104 equal to £100 silver
Jan 1778 325
do do
Jan 1779 742 do do
Jan 1780 2934 do do
Jan 1781 7500 do do
1
ORREN HUBBARD.
157
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
By this time the Continental was practically worthless and useless.
The state emissions were a little better, but were insufficient for the wants of the people. If new emissions were made they would depreciate the more. The state was, therefore, forced to receive its demands in silver or its equivalent. But where were the people to get silver ? It had hidden itself, as it always will, in the face of unredeemable paper money. During the war the people could meet the demands against them in beef, pork and grain to feed the army. But the war was over and the Con- gress and the state had no use for these articles. Both states and individuals were at their wits end to meet their just obliga- tions. The state must receive its dues in gold or silver. The people had none. Just then some wise people thought they had found a way out of the difficulty. It was this: The Legisla- ture must make money. They must issue bills and make them a legal tender for all debts due itself and individuals. It was said "that the people had a right to call upon their representa- tives to stamp a value on paper, on leather or any other sub- stance capable of receiving an impression; and that to prevent its depreciation a law should be enacted to punish with banish- ment and outlawry every person who should attempt by any means to lessen its value."
To this it was answered that if the state must receive these bills for its dues, it could never redeem them, having no specie, and if these bills were never to be redeemed they could not pass for money.
Many other extravagant plans were proposed for the relief of the people. The Legislature was wise and stood fast by the first principles of finance. Conventions of towns were held and petitions poured in upon them for relief. Finally the Legis- lature, sitting at Exeter, September 20, 1786, was visited by a mob, clamorous for relief.
The president, General Sullivan, addressed them and explained the reasons why their petitions could not be granted. But they were not satisfied. They placed sentries at the doors and held the Legislature as prisoners. They went on with their business till evening, when the president, in attempting to pass out, was hedged in by the crowd. He attempted to reason with them,
158
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
and warned them of the fatal consequences of their conduct. They only replied with cries for paper money, an equal distri- bution of property and a release from debt. Just at this mo- ment a drum beat at a distance and a cry was raised for the artillery by some of the citizens of Exeter. At this the mob was panic stricken and dispersed in all directions.
Now it was in this condition of things that the town was called upon to meet the demands of the state for deficiencies. Their action under the writ of the sheriff shows how hard it was for them to raise so small an amount as £50. As a town they could only do it by borrowing of some one who was the fortunate pos- sessor of so much gold or silver.
By a census taken by a law of the state in the year 1786, we again learn the number of the people.
Pursuant to a Resolution of the Honble the House of Representatives of the state of New Hampr & read and Concurred in the same day by the Honble Senate: that the Selectmen of the several Towns, districts & parishes within the said State make a Return of all the Inhabitants within their respective districts to the Secretary of sd State on or before the secd Wednesday in June nex. viz. the whole number of white & other free citizens, inhabitants of every age sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years & also all other persons not Comprehended in the foregoing description except indians Not paying Taxes. Wherefore in conformity to said Resolve we, ye subscribers, have taken an exact account of the inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon in the County of Grafton in sd state Which is as follows, viz. Whites &c included in the foregoing description 841
Persons not included in sd description
2
843
Nathl Wheatley - Selectmen
Attest James Crocker Nathaniel Hall Jun
Dated in said Lebanon, May 23 A. D. 1786
In 1773 the number was 295, gain in thirteen years of 548. Most of this accession of numbers was after the declaration of peace.
At the annual town meeting, March 14, 1786, Maj. Edmund Freeman was chosen representative, John Sullivan had 118 votes for president of the state and Elisha Payne, Esq., had 118 votes for senator.
159
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
At the same meeting, "Voted that Rept. Colburn Thomas Wells & Charles Tilden be a Commitee to look up 3 or 4 men to ansur for this town To Compleat their Quota of Continental men."
About this time it was discovered that the charter of the town was in a dilapidated condition. The following deposition ac- counts for it :
Levi Hyde's Deposition.
I, Levi Hyde, of Lawful age, Testify and Declare that in the year 1765 (I being Clerk to the propriety of the Town of Lebanon) at that time had in possession the Charter of sd Town and the Records of said propriety, the sd Charter was Repositated in a Chest that stood in my house and was stuffed full of Clothes, & by some means (but how I know not) some mice got into sd chest and Eat, not only some of the Clothes, but the said Charter also, which was doubled together (& the Varmin, as I believe, & have sufficient ground therefor) Did eat out the middle of sd Charter as it was folded or Doubled together, as may ap- pear by sd Charter to the satisfaction of any person upon View thereof; & as proof that said Charter was Defacd as aforesaid I found two mice dead in sd Chest, which had been lockt up therein for a time but how long I know not
Levi Hyde
State of New Hampshire, Grafton s.s. Lebanon June 8th 1886 Personally Appeared the above named Levi Hyde & being Duly cau- tioned to speak the Truth made Solemn Oath to the truth of the above Written Deposition.
Attest John Wheatley Just. Peace
Lebanon June 8th 1786 These may Certifie that I the Subscriber was Resident in said Lebanon & at the Dwelling House of the above Depo- nent when the Charter mentioned in the above Written Deposition was first Discovered to be Defaced as above Described & am fully pesuaded of the truth of the above Written Deposition.
John Whealley
Oct 20 1786 Voted to accept the offer of made by Mr Lemuel Hough & Mr Robert Colburn.
Voted to raise the sum of one thousand pounds in order to pay ar- rearage taxes demanded by the State of New Hampshire to be paid in Beef, Pork, Flax, Wool, neat Stock, Butter & Cheese & Wheat, said ar- ticles to be paid in at the rate of Wheat at five Shillings per Bufhel agreeable to an offer made by Mr Lemuel Hough & Mr. Robert Colburn for paying said Taxes to the state for the abovesd sum of one thousand pounds in the above said articles, sd Hough & Colburn to have the profits of the Demands of the Town upon the state said Hough and Col- burn to become obligated to clear the town from Cofts.
160
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
Voted that the Tax be made up and collected forthwith.
Voted that the Selectmen be directed to make up two Rate Bills for sd purpofe, one Bill for the nominal sum Demanded by the state, the other Bill to be made up for the sum of one thousand pounds in the articles before mentioned
This, then, was their way out of their difficulties. They had no money to meet the demands of the state, but they had the above mentioned articles. These they raised on their lands and could spare. Messrs. Hough and Colburn thought they could take these articles, turn them into money, and pay the demands of the state, and, using the set-off which the town pleaded against the state for expenses during the war, have something over. They were willing to take the risk, and bound themselves to save the town from loss. Each tax-payer's proportion of the one thousand pounds was to be ascertained first, and then he was to turn over to Mr. Hough enough of beef, pork, flax, wool, neat stock, butter, cheese, or wheat to meet the demand, suppos- ing wheat to be worth five shillings a bushel in prices-a good arrangement for the people and the only one open to them in their condition. It is to be wished it could be added that the arrangement was a good one for Messrs. Hough and Colburn. They certainly deserved a handsome profit as a reward for their energy and public spirit, but they did not attain it. It is under- stood that they lost, and lost heavily. They could not make ready sale of the afore-mentioned articles. The town saw and sympathized with their misfortune, but voted that they could do nothing to relieve them.
John Wheatley, Esq., died July 30, 1786, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. His final record as town clerk was made 28th of March, 1786. The records of the annual town meeting of 1787 are not found.
Dec 3d 1787 Voted that the spot to set a Meeting House on be as near the Centre of the Town & Travel as any Judicious man shall judge reasonable.
Voted a Comtee of five men to pitch on the spot to set a Meeting House on. Chose Aaron Hutchinson Esq. Mr. Wm Huntington, Capt. David Hough Col. Elisha Paine & Deacn Thoph. Huntington for the abovesaid purpose. Committee to report near the first of January next.
Jan. 10, 1788. Voted that the place for a Meetinghouse to stand on, be near Mr. Abbotts [at the head of School Street].
JAMES HUBBARD.
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN.
Voted to build a meeting House near to Mr. Abbott's-to raise a sum of money for the purpose of Building a meetinghoufe,-to raise the sum of three hundred pounds for the purpofe of Building a Meeting House & that sd sum be raifed by the first of January next-a committee of five men to view the Roads and accommodations respecting the par- ticular spot to erect the Meeting house on. Chase Aaron Hutchinson esq. Mr. Wm Huntington Capt Daire Hough Col. Elisha Payne & Dn Theoph Huntington committee for sd purpose.
Chose Col. Elisha Payne, Maj Math Wheatley, and Mr Lemuel Hough a Committee for Building the Meeting House.
Chose Capt. David Hough a Delegate to attend the Convention to be holden at Exeter respecting the Federal Constitution & Voted a Comtee of nine men to give Instructions thereon Viz Col. Elish Payne, Mr Const Storrs, Aaron Hutchinson Esq. Maj John Griswold Col. Edmund Free- man Lt. Elisha Ticknor Maj Nath1 Wheatley Capt. David Hough & Deacn Theoph Huntington Commtee
Subsequently Captain Hough declined the office of delegate and Col. Elisha Payne was chosen.
The confederation of the colonies was a work of haste under exigencies, and during the Revolution its defects became mani- fest and embarrassing in the extreme. These defects were as follows: There was not coercive power in the Continental Con- gress. It had no power to punish individuals for any infraction of its land; it had no power to levy taxes or to collect revenue for the public service; they could apportion among the states the necessary sums, the states might raise them or not, according to their pleasure; it had no power to regulate either foreign or interstate commerce. Each state framed its own regulations of these important matters and they were often antagonistic. The want of uniform laws in these affairs left the Confederation at the mercy of foreign powers.
Besides these defects there were others of less serious nature, but which yet stood in the way of national prosperity.
In order therefore "to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general wel- fare," a convention of the states assembled in Philadelphia to frame a new constitution. After months of labor and discus- sion, the present constitution was finished and sent out to the states for their approval.
It was during these discussions that the people formed them-
11
162
HISTORY OF LEBANON.
selves into political parties. Questions were then raised which survive to our own times, views upon which have had a control- ling influence upon the course of our affairs.
One part of the people wished to give a certain supremacy to the general government over the state governments. These took the name of Federalists. Another portion of the people believed that no state should part with its sovereignty. It might dele- gate its powers for certain objects and ends, but never beyond recall. It was held whatever the state might give up, it should be able to resume at its pleasure. These were called Anti-Fed- eralists.
Upon these grand points the people took sides and carried their discussions, not merely to warmth, but to bitterness. They rightly deemed these matters of the utmost consequence, and met them with a corresponding degree of feeling.
When, therefore, a convention was called of the people of New Hampshire to sit in judgment upon the new constitution, . they felt the importance of the work before them. We need not be surprised that the town thought it proper that their delegate should have the advantage of the deliberate judgment of her wisest citizens framed into instructions for his guidance.
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