USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 28
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
This fact tended to increase the opposition to Belcher, as the friends of the deceased Governor naturally took sides against him.
The new Lt. Governor, appointed to succeed Wentworth, Col. David Dunbar, was also a determined enemy to Belcher. Accordingly, soon after his arrival at Portsmouth, a formidable and systematic opposition was formed against him, and a com- plaint was framed containing several allegations against him and duly signed and forwarded to his Majesty, as before sug- gested .*
The opposition gained great strength, at home and in Eng- land, and uron the appointment by the Crown, of new Coun sellors, Benning Wentworth, and Theodore Atkinson, who had married his sister, the very head and front of the opposi- tion to the Governor were placed in his Council. Messrs. Wentworth and Atkinson, took their seats' at the Council Board, Oct. 12, 1734. Their appointments were anything but pleasing to Governor Belcher, and he essayed to eject them, but their influence was too well established at court, and his attempt, was fruitless.
Meanwhile, the opposition to the Governor continued to in- crease, as it every day became apparent to the people of the Province, that he favored the unjust claim of Massachusetts to a large portion of the lands of the Province, although he had publicly avowed himself as "a common father to both prov- inces." Many people interested in the "Masonian Proprieta- ry," and other lands falling within this claim of Massachusetts, called him an unjust father, and accused him of hypocrisy. All such joined the opposition to the Governor with a will, and they at length made formal complaints against him to the King, some of them with good foundation, and so well authenticated, as to lead to a hearing before the Lords of Council, who re- ported to the King in effect, that Governor Belcher had been guilty of great partiality towards the province of Massachu- setts in regard to her claim to the lands in dispute betwixt her and the province of New Hampshire, "thereby endeavoring to frustrate the intention of his Majesty's commission," which had been appointed to settle the line in dispute betwixt the two Provinces. Then there was another portion of the people of the Province, who opposed Governor Belcher, neither from per- sonal dislike, family feud, or private interest, but from an hon- est conviction, founded upon common sense, that the Province
* See p. 166.
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GOV. BENNING WENTWORTH.
would never flourish, as long as it was a mere appendage to the government of Massachusetts, to swell the salary of its Governor, and of no other importance to him than to be visit- ed once a year during the session of the Assembly, to make a speech, be feasted, and receive his salary. All such men op- posed Governor Belcher, not from any enmity to him, but that he might be removed to make room for a separate government and a separate Governor. All these joining in the complaint against Belcher, his friends could not withstand the opposition, and the King having approved the report of the Lords of Coun- cil, the downfall of Governor Belcher was considerd inevita- ble.
At length in 1741, the enemies of Belcher, both in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, having made common cause against him, importuned the ministry with so much assiduity, that he was dssplaced, and New Hampshire was erected into a separate government. His successor in Massachusetts was Will- iam Shirley, and Benning Wentworth was made Governor of the province of New Hampshire. His appointment was peculiarly gratifying to his friends in Portsmouth, and to a large majority of the people of the Province, while many of the people saw in the erection of New Hampshire into a separate government, a prestige of sure success to the Province.
Governor Wentworth was received at Portsmouth with every demonstration of joy. Hle was escorted into town by an ap- propriate cavalcade, amid the joyful acclamations of thousands of people assembled to welcome him to his home, which he had left in misfortune, and to which he now returned in tri- umph. Compliments were showered upon him on every side, and he was hailed as the deliverer of "New Hampshire from contempt and dependance."*
The Governor having opened his commission in due form on the 13th of December, 1741, and the same having been pub- licly read, he took the oath prescribed, and forthwith ordered a proclamation to be made "to continue all officers, Civil and Military in their places till further orders." The King's writ was issned for calling a new assembly on the 13th of the fol- lowing January. Upon the meeting of the assembly, Andrew Wiggin, Esq , of Stratham, was chosen Speaker, and Geo. Jaf- frey, Clerk. These were friends of the new Governor, and he was not without a powerful influence in the House, as his brother Mark Hunking Wentworth, Esq., was a member from
* See N. H. Records.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Portsmouth; his brother-in-law, Thomas Packer, Esq., was the member from Greenland ; and a relative, Jotham Odiorne, Esq. was the member from New Castle. In fact, a very large ma- jority of the House was favorable to the new administration. In the Council, Hon. Theodore Atkinson, a brother-in-law of the Governor, had been qualified as Secretary, and on the four- teenth of January presented the speech of Govornor Went- worth to the Assembly, which was read, and commenced as follows :
"Gent. of the Council and of the Assembly: His Majesty out of a tender regard to the future Happiness and Prosperity of his, faithful subjects in this Province, has been graciously pleased to answer the united applications to the throne to sepa- rate the Government of this Province from the Massachusetts Bay. An event, which if rightly improved will (under the di- rection of Heaven) be a lasting advantage, and will be the means of Replenishing your Towns with People, of Extend- ing and enlarging your Commerce, and since it has been his Majesty's Pleasure to commit to my charge the Royal Com- mission, I shall in all faithfulness to the Trust committed to me, Strictly Support the Honor, Interest and Prerogative of the Crown, and endeavor that the Government shall be pru- dently administered, That the Public concern, Shall be con- ducted with Integrity, and that your Civil and Religious privi- leges Shall not only be preserved but advanced to the extent of my power."
Governor Wentworth next adverted to the settlement of the "Boundary Question, " thus :
"His Majesty's great wisdom and impartiality in determi- ning the difficulty with the Massachusetts Bay, (which has subsisted in one shape or other upwards of three score years) is the highest instance of that paternal care, his Majesty extends to all his subjects, though never so remotely placed, and should Excite a Generous ambition in all orders of persons in the Gov- ernment, who should be the first in duty and obedience to his Royal person, family and Governmemt. This has been your Character and in consequence of that dutiful behavior to your Sovereign, you are now beginning to reap the fruits of your past obedience."
But the town and Province had but little respite from troub- le.
Governor Wentworth had but just got quietly seated in the administration of his government, when the war betwixt Brit-
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SIEGE OF LOUISBURG.
ain and Spain, which had involved France in it, brought a French and Indian war upon the English Colonies in Ameri- ca. Attacks were made by the French upon the English on the island of Canseau, at Placentia, and at Annapolis. These attacks excited the neighboring New England colonies, and at length they determined upon an expedition against Louisburg, the stronghold of the French upon the American continent. The fortress of Louisburg had been twenty-five years build- ing, at an enormous expense to the French nation, and its great strength had given it the name of "The Dunkirk of America." It was considered as impregnable ; yet it was destined to fall before the adventurous, but determined efforts of raw, New England militia. This expedition originated in New Hamp- shire. Major William Vaughan, a son of Lieut. Governor Vau- ghan, has the honor of its origin. Major Vaughan, had been engaged in the fishing business upon the "Banks," and had considerable knowledge of the eastern parts, which he had ob- tained from fishermen in his employ, and particularly of the harbour and town of Louisburg. He first conceived the idea of taking Louisburg, and proposed the taking of it in the winter when the walls, as he supposed, could easily have been scaled by means of the immense drifts of snow piled against them in that inclement season. Vaughan was tenacious of his opinions, and headstrong in carrying them out. Having made up his mind that Louisburg could be taken, he set himself about the matter in earnest. His first effort was with Gov- ernor Wentworth, who, whatever he might have thought of the feasibility of the project, knew that Massachusetts must take the initiative in the measure, and he advised him to lay his plan before Governor Shirley. Shirley was a man of ener- gy and talent, and withal an ambitious man; he received the communications of Vaughan with favor, and determined upon bringing the matter before the Legislature. In the Legisla- ture, the project was rejected, but mainly through the exer- tion of Vaughan, who went from store to store, talking up the expedition and obtaining signatures to a petition to the Legis- lature, favoring it, the measure was again taken up and car- ried by one vote only.
The thing being determined upon in Massachusetts, Governor Wentworth entered into the affair with spirit, and pressed it with all his influence. This was necessary, as the affair seem- ed at first to most men, as rather quixotic, yet after a time, men enlisted for the expedition with the greatest alacrity, and the expedition in the end acquired all the enthusiasm of a
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
crusade. Governor Wentworth at one time thought seriously of taking command of the forces, but his lameness, and a time- ly hint from his friend Shirley determined him very wisely to withdraw his claims in favor of Col. Pepperell. He continued his interest and influence to the utmost however, as will be seen from the fact that New Hampshire furnished 500 men, or one eighth of the troops engaged in the expedition. After in- credible hardships, and the most determined valor on the part of all the troops, and of those from New Hampshire in partic- ular, among whom Major Vaughan was first and foremost, Louis- burg fell into the hands of the Provincial forces,-and Gover- nor Wentworth received for his important services, as trophies taken from the fallen fortress-two handsome brass pieces ; while Vaughan, pressing his claim for his important services be- fore the British court, died of a contagious disease, unreward- ed !
This misfortune excited the French to greater exertions, and as their peculiar forte was a border warfare, carried on mainly through the instrumentality of their Indian allies, hordes of In- dians were soon hovering around the frontiers of New Eng- land.
The quixotic expedition of Shirley, known as the "Canada expedition," was started soon after the fall of Louisburg, which had for its object the conquest of the Canadas and the entire subversion of the French government on the Continent. Into this expedition, Governor Wentworth entered with his usual alacrity. The legislature was convened, and the Governor ap- pealed to their pride, patriotism and interest ; and as a result they voted to raise a thousand men for the expedition. This was in June, and by the beginning of July, eight hundred men were enlisted and ready for embarkation, under Col. Theodore Atkinson, who had been appointed to the command. Mean- time news of the arrival of a powerful French fleet and army upon the eastern coast, to retake Louisburg and break up the settlements upon the eastern coast of New England, spread consternation among our people, and completely diverted the attention of the Royal Governors for a time, from the contem- plated conquest of Canada, as they had enough to do to pre- pare our defences at home against attack. But the French fleet was dispersed by a storm near Cape Sable, many vessels went to the bottom, and others returned singly to France, thus happily relieving the New England colonies from their fears. It was too late to proceed upon the intended expedition, and
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INDIAN TROUBLES.
the New Hampshire Regiment went into winter quarters up- on the shore of Winnepesaukee, where they spent their time fishing, hunting, and scouting. Here they remained until the Fall of 1747, when this whole abortive attempt was closed by an order from the Duke of New Castle, to pay and disband the troops.
Scouts were kept ranging the woods upon the frontiers how- ever, a general rendezvous being at Capt. Jeremiah Clough's Fort in Canterbury, where the government had stationed a small garrison upon the breaking out of the war, and where was their depot for provisions
Early in June 1745, the Indians made their appearance in the south west section of the state, and killed William Phipps at Great Meadow, now Walpole, and Josiah Fisher, at Upper Ashuelot, now Keene. This same season James McQuade, and John Burns of Bedford went to Pennacook to purchase corn for their families, and had proceeded on their return home as far as Suncook, (Pembroke,) when they were fired upon by a party of Indians who lay in ambush awaiting their return. McQuade was shot dead, but Burns made his escape by run- ning in a zigzag direction, which baffled the fire of the pursu- ers, and he arrived in safety to his family. It is related, in addition, that McQuade's mother soon after, let one of the neigh- bors have some beans which were brought along in a bag, and a ragged bullet was found among them, supposed to have been shot into the bag of beans upon his back while making his es- cape .*
No farther mischief was done until the fall, when on the 10th day of October, they again made their appearance at Great Meadow, took Nehemiah Howe prisoner, and killed David Rugg. When the news of this outrage was received at Portsmouth, Governor Wentworth issued orders for enlisting a company of men to range the woods for the enemy. Capt. John Goffe of Harrytown, was detached by Colonel Blanchard for the hazard- ous duty. As men were selected for such service for their sagacity and courage alone, the selection shows the high esti- mation in which Capt. Goffe was held for these qualities. He commenced making preparations on the 23d of December and by the first of January started up the Merrimack with a relia- ble "Scout" of about twenty men, upon snow shoes. They kept upon duty until Spring, being discharged April 6, 1746. There were thirty six different men attached to the scout dur- ing the winter. Of these some sixteen or seventeen were
*See His. of Bedford, 105.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
from Amoskeag and the remainder from Pennacook and its immediate vicinity. They were all fighting men, and near one third of them afterwards became noted officers. The roll contained the following names.
Captain John Goffe, Sergeant Na'l Smith, Sergeant Sam'll Baron, Corporal Wm. Walker, Centinels, Robert Reed, John Webster, Joseph Eastman, Thomas } orrell Jere Dresser, Zac Cutting, John Mclaughlin, David Camble, Joseph Simons, James Gibson, John Woods, Wm. Reed, Paris Richardson, Thomas Mc Killicut, Sergeant John Goffe, Jun., Eze'll Walker, Henry White, Benjamin Fifield, Jesse Flanders, Sampson Kid- der, Stephen Hoit, Jacob Hoit, Moses Merrill, John Flanders, Mathew Stanly, Wm. Courser, John Shepherd, Judah Trum- bald Joseph Eastman, Jun., Josiah Mills, Ariah Moore.
During the winter the enemy kept quiet, but this scout had hardly been disbanded, before news arrived of an attack at Number Four, (now Charleston. )
On the 27th of April 1747, they entered a garrisoned house in Hopkinton, (then known as New Hopkinton,) which had been left insecure by one going out early in the morning to hunt, and finding the people asleep, took and carried away the entire household, consisting of Samuel Burbank, his sons Ca- leb and Jonathan, David Woodwell, his wife, and three child- ren, Benjamin, Thomas and Mary. Soon after they killed one Seth Putnam, at Number Four, and took Timothy Brown and Robert Moffat prisoners from Lower Ashuelot.
Upon the attack at Hopkinton, Governor Wentworth or- dered a detachment of horse to the assistance of Canterbury, for fear that garrison was in danger, but the Suncook was with- out bridges, and they could not ford it, without going a great many miles out of their way, and this mishap gave the Indi- ans an opportunity to fall upon Contoocook before the arrival of the "troopers." Capt. John Goffe was also ordered on the same frontier with a Company of fifty men. But he was a day too late to prevent the attack.
The raising of fifty men was not the work of a day, but that number of fighting men could be more easily raised at Amoskeag than any other section of the Province.
The attack at Hopkinton took place on the 27th of April, a company of fifty men was raised, and Capt. Goffe was twen- ty miles on his way at the head of it, on the 3d of May fol- lowing ! All in the space of 6 days !
At Pennacook, Capt. Goffe addressed the following letter to Governor Wentworth.
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INDIAN ATTACK AT CONTOOCOOK.
5 May, 1746.
May it please your Excellency,
I got to Pennycook on Satur- day early in the morning, and notwithstanding I sent the Mon- day after I left the Bank, yet my bread was not baked, but there was about two hundred and fifty weight baken, which supply [ed] 20 men, which I sent to Canterbury as soon as I got here, and I kept the Baker and several soldiers to baking all Sabbath day, and purposed to march on Monday, as soon as possible ; but about midnight, two men came down from Contoocook, and brought the unhappy news of two men being killed, and the two men that came down told me that they saw the two men lye in their blood, and one man more that was missing, and hearing that I was here, desired me to assist in making search ; so that I am with all expedition going up to Contoocook, and will do what I can to see the Enemy. I shall take all possible care for the protection of the frontiers and destruction of the Enemy. The Indians are all about our frontiers. I think there was never more need of soldiers than
now. It is enough to make one's blood cold in one's veins, to see our fellow creatures killed and taken upon every quarter, and if we cannot. catch them here, I hope the General Court will give encouragement to go and give them the same play at home. The white man that is killed is one Thomas Cook, and the other is Mr. Stevens, the minister's negro. These are found, and Jones, a soldier, is not found. They having but few soldiers in the fort, have not as yet sought much for him. I am going with all possible expedition, and am
Your Excellency's most humble and most dutiful subject and servant, JOHN GOFFE.
PENNYCOOK, about 2 of the clock,
in the morning, May 5th, 1746.
The attack at Contoocook, was made on Monday the 4th day of May, 1746. Thomas Cook and a negro belonging to the Rev. Mr. Stevens were killed and Elisha Jones was made prisoner. The Indians made directly for Canada and Capt. Goffe and his company, went in pursuit of them without suc- cess. Goffe and his men kept out upon this scout two weeks, and had not been heard from at the coming together of the Leg- islature, in the month of May, at which time Governor Went-
19
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
worth, in his address made the following allusion to the attack at Hopkinton and the expedition of Goffe.
"I ordered a reinforcement of two men for Canterbury Fort and two more for the protection of Rochester.
I have also with the advice of his majesty's Council ordered a scout of 50 men for fourteen days, under the command of Capt. Goffe, to Pemagewassett, Winepisseokee and the Great Camping Places in the adjacent country, hoping thereby to in- tercept some of the enemies scouts. Capt. Goffe I have ordered to make Canterbury his rendezvous on his march out and on his return, and to give me a particular account of every occur- rence in his march, which shall be communicated to you, from which you will judge of the number of men proper to be em- ployed for the protection of the inland frontiers. After the mis- chief was done by the Indians at New Hopkinton, the inhabi- tants of Canterbury were in the utmost distress for a great num- ber of the inhabitants then in the woods, which occasioned an alarm in that quarter ; and being apprehensive the enemy had besieged that garrison, I ordered a detachment of Capt. Odlin's and Capt. Hanson's horse, to march to their relief. For want of a bridge on Suncook river, both detachments were obliged to march more than double the distance and as Canterbury is the only magazine for provision on our frontiers, I hope you will think it worth your consideration that a bridge be built here as soon as the weather will admit of it."*
This difficulty as to crossing the Suncook, shows the great difference in the volume of water flowing in our rivers a hun- dred years since and the present time. Then, a circuit of many miles towards the source of the river had to be made, before it could be forded, such was the depth and current of the Sun- cook. Now it can be forded at most any day in the year, at almost any place. So of most of our rivers; the water de- creases in them as the forests upon their banks and branches are felled.
Capt. Goffe returned from this scout about the 20th of May. The roll of this company has been lost, but many of its sol- diers were undoubtedly from Amoskeag. Capt. Goffe proposed to his men to go upon another scout for ten days, and thirteen of them closed with his proposition and without stopping for rest, they forthwith returned to the frontier. But they met with no enemy on the occasion of either scout. The names of these brave men were,
Lieutenant Na'l Smith, Wm. Walker, Philip Kimball, James
· See N. H. Files,
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CANADA EXPEDITION.
Stickney, Stephen Flood, Jona. Stevens, Joshua Heath, Solo- mon Goodwin, Herbert Morrison, James Vants, Wm. McKeen, Wm. McAdams, and Joseph Simons. Of these, a majority were from Amoskeag.
Capt. Samuel Barr, of Londonderry, was dispatched with a scout of nineteen men, in pursuit of the enemy. This scout was out fifteen days but made no discovery of the enemy. These men were from Londonderry and Harrytown, within the limits of ancient Amoskeag. The Roll was as follows.
Capt. Samuel Barr, Sargt. Thos. Gregg, John Wallace, James McGregore, John McDuffe, James Adams, William Robertson, James Gault, Adam Dickey, David Thompson, George Clark, Samuel Senter, William Smith, Edward Aiken, John Aiken, James Duncan, William Duncan, Samuel Bell, John Aderson.
The Indians continued their depredations through the Sum- mer on all parts of the frontier, and the government force was entirely inadequate for the protection of the people of the Prov- ince, divided as it was by the quixotic expedition of Governor Shirley, known as " The Canada Expedition " This had for its object the conquest of Canada and the complete subversion of the French power upon the continent.
"The plan was, that a squadron of ships of war, and a body of land forces, should be sent from England against Canada ; that the troops raised in New-England should join the British fleet and army at Louisburg, and proceed up the river St. Law- rence ; that those of New-York and the other provinces at the southward, should be collected at Albany, and march against Crown-point and Montreal. The management of this expedi- tion was committed to Sir John St. Clair, In conjunction with Sir Peter Warren and Governor Shirley. St. Clair did not come to America. Warren and Shirley gave the orders, while Warren was here ; and afterward commodore Knowles, who succeeded him, was joined with Shirley ; but as Knowles was part of the time at Louisburg, most of the concern devolved on Shirley alone.
Beside the danger of losing Nova-Scotia and Cape-Breton, there were other reasons for undertaking this expedition. The Indians, instigated by the governor of Canada, were ravaging the frontiers, destroying the fields and cattle, burning houses and mills, killing and carrying away the inhabitants. Though scouts and garrisons were maintained by the governments; yet to act altogether on the defensive, was thought to be not only an ineffectual, but a disgraceful mode of carrying on the war ; especially after the success which had attended the arms of the
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
colonists in their attempt against Louisburg. The continuance of such a mode of defence, would neither dispirit the enemy, nor secure the frontiers from their depredations."*
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