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 44
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Soon after, he had informal notice of the intention of the Ministry to supersede him, and in 1766, he resigned in favor of his nephew, John Wentworth, then in England, and who had received from the Marquis of Rockingham, the promise of the place.
Ex Governor Wentworth lived in retirement on his estate at
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Little Harbor, and died October 14th, 1770, in the 75th year of his age.
John Wentworth, Esq., received his commission as Govern- or of New Hampshire, and Surveyor of the woods in North America, August 11th, 1766, being then in England. He ar- rived at Charlestown. S. C. in March 1767 and immediately started for the north. The most extensive arrangements were made for his reception in Portsmonth. A Committee consist- ing of members of the Council, and the Assembly met him at the line of Massachusetts where he was received with for- mal ceremonies; and thence was escorted to Portsmouth by a company of Cavalry. People joined the company on all parts of the road upon horse-back, and upon entering the town, the Governor was attended by a most imposing cavalcade. There he was attended by a regiment of militia, and thus attended he parsed through the main streets to the Court House, where his commission was publicly read to him by the High Sheriff. The Governor, the Honorable Council, the Committy of the Assembly and invited guests then partook of an entertainment, after which the procession again formed and escorted the Gov- ernor to his mansion. The ships in the harbor flaunted with colors, the bells rang merry peals, and salutes were fired from batteries in the town, and at the Fort during the march of the procession. People vied with each other in demonstrations of joy. No person had ever been received in the Province with such marks of honor. But a cloud was already in the political sky, that was to obscure all this sunshine. The people were restive under the duties upon certain imports, and although the repeal of the Stamp Act, had allayed the excitement, yet the file was only smothered for a time, and was ready to break out on fitting occasion and to burn with renewed energy.
One of the first important and popular acts of the Governor, was the chartering of Dartmouth College, under date of Dec- ember 13, 1769. It was named after William Legge, Earl of Dartmouth, one of its principal patrons in England.
In 1771, Governor Wentworth accomplished the project of dividing the province into Counties. The bill passed the as- sembly March 19, 1771, dividing the province into five Coun- ties, viz ; Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire and Grafton. Rockingham was named from Charles Watson Went- worth, Marquis of Rockingham ; Strafford, from Charles Went- worth, Earl of Strafford; Hillsborough from Willis. Hills, Earl of Hillsborough ; Cheshire from a County in the west of
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DIVISION OF STATE INTO COUNTIES.
England ; and Grafton from Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton.
This division relieved the people of very great burthens. Prior to this, all the Courts were held in Portsmouth, and the transaction of legal business was attended with great delay and expense. Derryfield was attached to the County of Hillsbor- ough, Amherst being made the shire town. Courts of General Sessions, of Common Pleas and of Probate were established in this County. The first Grand Juror from this town was Capt. John Stark. He was chosen on the 28th day of September 1771. The first Petit Jurors were Ensign Samuel Moore and Ensign Samuel Stark. Their names "were drawn out of the box" the same day. Hon. Samuel Blodget of Derryfield was appoint- ed one of the Justices of the court of Common Pleas of the Peace for Hillsborough County. In addition to easing the peo- ple from expense, the division of the Province into Counties, was productive of other very important advantages. Not the least of them was, that men of energy, talent and means, mov- ed into the shire towns, and other towns eligibly situated, and thus enterprise, business and wealth became diffused through- ought the Province, instead of concentrating at the Capital and becoming attached to the trappings of the royal Governor. But the most important result was the fact that the power of the Governor over the people was in a great measure impaired. So long as all the Courts were held at Portsmouth, it was the head and source of all political power and influence. The Govern- or through his friends could the more readily control every po- litical movement.
But the divsion into Counties, created as many little republics within the Province, each, as it were, having its capital at the shire town, where they could meet "in Court time," talk politics, and fashion their opinions of men and things. This would have been the natural result of the divis- ion of any province into Counties ; but in New Hampshire this result was the sooner brought about. The people in the various sections of the province, were very dissimilar in their habits, and manner of thinking. In the Piscataqua valley the people were mainly direct from England. They came here for the purpose of trade, fishing and speculation. . In the main they were loyal subjects of the King, and were the more content to adhere to his representative, the Governor. In the Merrimack valley the people were mainly Puritans from Massachusetts, and Scotch Presbyterians from Ireland, little attached to royal- ty, and firm haters of episcopacy. While in the Connecticut valley, the people were emigrants from Massachusetts, and
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Connecticut, aud imbued with the peculiar views moral and political, of the people of those Provinces. The division into Counties brought these people together within their own Coun- ties, and they soon began to think and act for themselves, with- out reference to the acts of other Counties, or the wishes of the royal Governor. This result was strikingly apparent in the Revolution ; but of this in its place.
The "Molasses Act" as one of the most unpopular acts of Parliament to raise revenue in America, was called, was very onerous upon the merchants of Portsmouth, who carried on a considerable trade with the West Indies. Every attempt was made to elude the payment of the duties. At length, in the latter part of the year 1771, the Brigantine Resolution, with a cargo of 100 hogsheads of molasses, came into the harbor of Portsmouth alongside the wharf with her crew, and commenc- ed discharging her cargo, without entering the vessel at the Custom House, or securing the duties. The Brigantine was immediately seized by the Collector, and libelled before the Court of Vice Admiralty. But in the night of the 29th and 30, of October, a sufficient force went on board the Brigantine, disguised and armed with clubs, seized and bound the officers of the customs on board, and then discharged and secured the molasses. Governor Wentworth issued a Proclamation, offer- ing a reward of $200 for the discovery of the rioters, but the people kept their own secrets, and the Governor's Proclamation went for naught.
This "riot" as it was called, was approved by the masses. It was a bold act and served to strengthen the opposition to the oppresive measures of the Parliament, throughout the Prov- ince.
But there was another cause of discontent in the interior of the Province. All White Pine Trees from 15 to 36 inches in diameter, were reserved for the royal navy.
The office of surveyor of the "King's woods," was holden by Governor Wentworth, who had his deputies in all places where the pine grew in plenty. 'These deputies were the cause of a great deal of vexation and trouble. The owner of the land before he commenced cutting, was under the necessity of em- ploying a deputy surveyor to mark the trees upon his land, re- served for the use of the King, and if he neglected to have his land thus surveyed, from inability to pay for surveying, or other cause, and proceeded to cut his timber, the same was forfeited
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SEIZURE OF PINE LOGS.
to the King ! In this way whole mill-yards of lumber, got out by the settlers for building their houses and barns, the work of an entire winter, were often forfeited. The Governor would ride past the mill in his coach, stop, and order his servant to mark the broad R upon each log, and the same was the King's ! After this mark, the owner or miller dared not touch a log ! They were then advertised and libelled in the court of Admi- ralty, and sold at public auction, and the proceeds went into the King's treasury ! In most cases however the marking and ad- vertising, was gone through by the deputies.
Seizures were made in all parts of the Province, wherever the pine abounded, and mills had been erected. As a conse- quence, the most determined hostility prevailed among all mill- owners, and owners of lumber, where seizures had been made, against the surveyor and his deputies. This hostility soon pre- vailed among land owners generally, and was not limited to the Surveyor and his Deputies, but extended to the Government. In the winter of 1771 and 1772, an extensive seizure was made in this immediate neighborhood, that caused the greatest excitement. A Deputy visited most of the mill-yards upon the Piscataquog, and placed the "broad R" upon all logs of the di- ameter reserved for the royal navy. They were then libelled in the Court of Vice Admirality at Portsmouth, and the own- ers cited to appear and shew cause why they should not be for- feited. The citation was published in the N. H. Gazette of Feb. 7, 1772, and was as follows.
"All persons claiming property in the following WHITE PINE LOGS, seized by order of the SURVEYOR GENERAL in Goffstown and Weare, in the Province of New Hampshire, may appear at a Court of Vice Admiralty to be held at Ports- mouth, on Thursday the 27th Instant at Ten of the clock A. M. and shew cause why the same should not be declared forfeited, agreeable to an Information filed in said Court.
200 White Pine Logs from 15 to 30 Inches diameter lying at Richards' mill in Goffstown.
250 Ditto from 15 to 35 inches diameter at Patty's mill. 35 Ditto from 36 to 20 ditto at Dows' mill.
140 Ditto from 30 to 18 ditto at Asa Patty's old mill.
270 Ditto from 36 to 17 ditto at Clement's mill in Weare. 154 Ditto from 36 to 15 ditto at Job Rowles mill.
Also 74 bundles of Clapboards at Merrimack River. Portsmouth, Feb. 5, 1772.
JOHN SHERBURN, D. Rr.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Samuel Blodget, Esquire, was sent forthwith to Portsmouth as an agent to effect a compromise as. to the matter of libel, and succeeded so far, as that by the payment of certain sums by the individuals transgressing the laws, the informations were to be withdrawn. Mr. Blodget was appoited the Agent by the Governor, to effect the proposed settlement with the offenders and was also appointed Deputy Surveyor. His commission was as follows ;
"To Samuel Blodget, of Goffstown, in said province [L. S.] Esq.
"Whereas, His Majesty, by his royal Commission, dated the 16th day of July, 1766, hath been graciously pleased to ap- point me Surveyor General of all His Majesty's woods, in North America, with power to appoint deputies and under offi- cers, to carry the said service effectually into execution ;
"I do, therefore, by virtue of authority vested in me by said commission, appoint and depute you, to preserve the King's woods from trespass or waste, and to put in execution all the acts of Parliament, and Statutes enacted for that purpose, and to do and perform all acts and things whatsoever, to the said office appertaining, in the following Districts, viz :- Goffstown, Bedford, Weare, Pembroke, Allenstown, Bow, Dunbarton, Merrimack, Amherst, Litchfield, Chester, Concord, Boscawen, Hopkinton, New Boston, Sanbornton, New Salisbury, Canter- bury, Methuen, Wilton, Peterborough, Temple, Plymouth, New Chester, Alexandria, New Britain, Meredith, Lyndborough, Hen- neker, New Amesbury and Camden, all in the aforesaid prov- ince, and also Haverhill, Andover, Dracut, Chelmsford, and Ipswich, in the Province of Mass. Bay; Hereby authorizing and requiring you, the said Sam. Blodget, to forbid and pre- vent, by all lawful means, the violation of said acts, and to seize and Mark for his Majesty's use, all pine timber that you may find cut and hauled from the King's woods, without li- cense first had and obtained from me, and all offenders as afore - said, to prosecute and to punish, as to law and justice apper- tains. And you, the said Sam. Blodget are hereby required to return to me an exact account of your proceedings herein, quar- terly, from this date, or oftener, if occasion shall require, and for your encouragement to exert yourself with diligence and fidelity in the duties of the said office, you will receive such compensation for your services, as your merit shall appear to me to deserve, out of the fines and forfeitures only, that may accrue or be levied by your means. This warrant to be in force
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SHERIFF WHITING.
during pleasure only. Given under my hand and seal, at Ports- mouth, the 11th day of February, 1772.
J. WENTWORTH. SAMUEL BLODGET, EsQ.
To be Assistant Deputy Surveyor of the woods."
After his return, Mr. Blodget sent each of the offenders a copy of the following letter.
"Goffstown. Feb. 24th 1772.
Sir ;- The late seizure of White pine Logs, has caused me a disagreeable journey to Portsmouth, at the special request of a number of my friends, to solicit the Governor in the behalf of them who have unnecessarily trespassed in cutting the King's timber, &c. His Excellency thought fit to deputise me one of his Majesty's Surveyors of the King's woods in this Western District, thereby authorizing me to carry the King's laws into execution. As they are very severe, I shall be very loth to prosecute unless obstinate or notorious offenders force it upon me ; of which I give you this early notice, at the same time, acquaint you his Excellency has pleased to put it in my hands to make the matter easy to you.
Sam Blodger."
Among the trespassers, were James McFerson, William Mc Ferson, Thomas Miller. of Bedford, and Thomas Shirley, Al- exander Gilchrist, Samuel Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy, John Pattee, Asa Pattee, Ebenezer Hadley, John Hadley, John Clog- ston, Silas Walker, David McClure, Job Kidder, John Little, and Plummer Hadley, of Goffstown. These settled with Mr. Bloget, and their logs were restored. But the owners of the logs at Clement's mills in Weare, (at the Oil Mills) were "obstinate and notorious offenders" and would make no compromise. Accor- dingly complaints were made against them and put into the hands of Benjamin Whiting Esq, the sheriff of the County, for service.
On the 13th of April, 1772, Mr. Whiting, in company with a Mr. Quigley his assistant Deputy, (probably of New Boston,) proceeded to Weare to serve these warrants. One of the prin- cipal of these men was a Mugget, or Mudget, who lived
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
near Clement's Mills. Mr. Whiting called upon him and made the arrest, but Mudget suggesting that he would furnish the necessary bail in the morning, as it was then late, the sheriff and his assistant Quigley, repaired to the tavern near by, kept by Mr. Quimby, and put up for the night. Meantime the fact of Mudget's arrest got noised abroad through the town, and there were not wanting scores of men to offer themselves as bail for him. But during the night a more summary process was agreed upon by Mudget and his friends.
Accordingly, early in the morning, Mudget called at Quim- by's, and being shown to Whiting's room, he entered, waked up the sheriff, and told him his bail was ready. Mr. Whiting jumped: out of bed, chiding Mudget for calling him so early, and essayed to dress himself ; but Mudget's bail, some twenty or thirty men with faces blacked, were impatient, and rushing into the room proceeded to the business by them set apart for the morning. Whiting seeing the intention of his early visi- rors seized his pistols and would have fired upon them, but he was seized and disarmed. They then beat him to their heart's content. two on a side holding him up from the floor, by his arms and legs, while others crossed out their account of certain logs cut, hauled and forfeited, upon his naked back !
Quigley, his assistant, showed more fight, and was secured only, by taking up the ceiling over head, and beating him with long poles, thrust down from the garret !
After the populace had beaten the King's officers to their en- tire satisfaction, their horses were led to the door saddled and bridled for their riders. The ears, mains and tails of the horses had been cut, aud they as well as their masters, presented a most woe- be-gone appearance! Whiting and Quigley refused to mount, and were assisted to their horses in no very gentle manner. They were then started down the road amid the jokes and jeers of the populace. This was a high-handed outrage, and was ill brooked by the sheriff, who was a man somewhat disposed to have things his own way.
Accordingly he repaired forthwith to Colonels Goffe of Bed- ford, and Lutwyche of Merrimack, who at his request, ordered out the "Posse Comitatus" and armed with muskets, marched to Weare, but the rioters had fled to the woods, and not a soul of them could be found.
Soon after, however, one of them was caught and committed to jail, and others gave bail for their appearance at Court, in September. But the actions being continued from term to term, in the unsettled state of affairs that followed, Mudget and his
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DUTY UPON TEA.
bail doubtless escaped punishment, and the affair in a few years began to be looked upon as one of merit, rather than one de- serving disapprobation.
This affair produced the most intense excitement in all sec- tions of the country. The people at large sided against the Government, and banded together to protect themselves, deter- mined to resist the proceedings of the Governor and his Depu- ties at all hazards. In this they were conspiring against law, but they held it a most unjust and oppressive law. A man bought a lot of land for a farm and proceeded to erect his "log hovels," and the chances were, that before he got them "roofed in" or his chimney of "cobble and clay" "topped out," that he was under arrest, because, sticks of pine timber were in the walls of his house, of more than fifteen inches in width ! Such a law could not be enforced. And it is not a little surprising, that Governor Wentworth, usually so politic and cautious, should have attempted to enforce it. However, he soon saw the impolicy of the movement, but not until it was too late. The interior of the province was already in a turmoil, ready to join in any movement against the government.
It was remarked by the elder Adams, jocosely but pointedly, that "molasses was an important ingredient in American In- dependence." He might have added pine logs with equal force and truth. For wherever in the colonies was a fine growth of pines, there was to be found an exuberant growth of patriot- ism.
But the duty upon tea, became the most obnoxious tax, not from its amount per pound, but because the British Government held on to it, with so much pertinacity. They repealed other duties, but the one upon tea, was retained to test a principle, their right to tax their American Colonies. But to this tax the Colonies would not submit, and they very generally entered into an agreement not to import or use tea, while it was sub- ject to such duty. As a consequence, the importation of tea into America, became very much limited, and the revenue from the tax upon tea wa's a failure. To meet this difficul- ty ,the duty upon tea was taken off, and the East India Com- pany was allowed to ship their teas to America, and was to pay to the Government three pence per pound on its being landed in America. The colonists determined to resist this measure, as it was an indirect way of raising a revenue in the colonies, the consumer having to pay the three pence per pound, paid by the East India Company.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Accordingly every large town upon the sea-coast held public meetings and passed resolutions against the landing of any teas, so shipped, upon our shores. The excitement in the sea-ports soon spread into the country towns, and the opposition to the measures became general among the people.
In New Hampshire, Portsmouth took the initiative, and at a public meeting, held Dec., 16, 1773, passed the following pre- amble and resolutions ;
"Upon a serious consideration of the late act of Parliament, subjecting the colonies to pay a duty upon teas in America, and more especially the act of Parliament, passed at their last ses- sion, whereby the East India Company have full power to ex- port their teas to the colonies, liable to a duty upon being land- ed here, it appears manifestly that the latter (act) was artfully de- signed by the ministry to carry more effectually into execution the former, which was made for the express purpose of raising a re- venue from the colonies by the authority of the British Parliament only, without our consent. Wherefore, from a due sense of the value and importance of our liberties and properties, and from just apprehensions of the horrors of slavery, we are induced to make the following resolves.
First .- That the measures of late pursued by the ministry of Great Britain in their attempt to subject the colonies by the sole authority of the British Parliament, are not only unjust, ar- bitrary, and inconsistent with the fundamental principles of the Britisn constitution, but directly tend to hasten on the destruc- tion of an empire, which by preserving in all its parts, those or- iginal rights, which first gave rise to its present glory, might in- crease in wealth and power, become the envy of all nations, and continue in full strength and grandeur for ages to come ; therefore, in the foregoing view, we cannot but think ourselves bound by our duty to the King, and love to the nation of which we are members, to oppose such measures to the extent of our power.
Secondly .- That it is the natural right of men born and in- heriting estates in any part of the British dominions, to have the power of disposing of their own property, either by them- selves or their representatives.
Thirdly .- That the act of the British Parliament, laying a duty upon teas landed in America, payable here, is a tax, where- by the property of Americans is taken from them without their consent.
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PORTSMOUTH RESOLVES.
Fourthly .- That notwithstanding the preamble to the act laying a duty upon teas, asserts that the act is made for the support of government, the administration of Justice, &c., in America, yet this is not only unnecessary, but has a direct ten- dency to subvert our constitution, render our assemblies useless and the government arbitrary.
Fifthly .- That every virtuous and public spirited freeman ought steadily to oppose to the utmost of his ability, every art- ful attack of the ministry to enslave the Americans.
Sixthly .- That the power given by Parliament to the East- India Company, to send out their teas to the colonies, subject- ted to the payment of duties on being landed here, is a plain attempt to enforce the ministerial plan, and a direct attack up- on the liberties of America, and that it is the indispensible du- ty of all true hearted Americans, to render this effect abortive.
Seventhly .- That a union of all the colonies appears to be the most likely method, under God, of obtaining the repeal of all those acts, which are so subversive of the freedom of the British colonies, and destructive to the whole nation.
Eighthly .- That in case any of the Company's teas should be brought into this port for sale, we will use every necessary method to prevent its being landed or sold here.
Ninthly .- That whoever shall directly or indirectly promote or in any ways aid and assist in the importation of any of the East-India Company's teas, or any teas subject to payment of a duty here, by an act of the British Parliament, shall be deemed an enemy to America.
Tenthly .- That this town do hereby return their thanks, to all their brethren in the several governments, upon this conti- nent for their noble exertions upon this important and alarming occasion.
Eleventhly .- That the proceedings of this meeting be pub- lished, and sent to every considerable town in this government, and that a committee be chosen to correspond with them, and with the several committees in the other governments."
The proceedings of this meeting were soon distributed throughout the country towns, and met with general approba- tion.
Meantime suspicions were afloat that importations were to be made into Portsmouth, under the auspices of the British gov-
30
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
ernment. to try the temper of the people, this province being supposed to be more completely subject to the royal control.
If such suspicions were well founded, the ministry erred most egregiously as to the temper of the people of New Hamp- shire, as the result shows; for in no other colony was there a more determined opposition to the importation of the "obnox- ious article ;" and in no other colony was that opposition at- tended with more complete success ; for in both instances where its importation was attempted, after the tea had been entered at the Custom House, the officers of the Government were compelled by the people to cause the same to be re-shipped af- ter being landed and stored at the Custom House, and to be carried out of the colony !
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