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 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
Their resolves, signed by Moses French as Moderator and dated on Exeter Plain, had been presented to the House of Representatives. This body had entertained the paper and ap- pointed a committee of three to be joined by a committee of the Senate, to takethe subject into consideration; but the Senate would not concur, and a conference was being held in the meet ing house upon the subject, when the mob surrounded it.
The president (General Sullivan, ) being, ex-officio, a senator, opened the matter, by giving publickly, in the hearing of the people, and as many of the mob as chose to attend, the reasons on which the senate non-concurred the vote of the house. He first considered the position, and shewed with great strength of reasoning, and very coolly, the extreme folly, as well as the very great injustice of the prayer of their former petition. And also observed, that even if the measure was just and reasona- ble, the general court ought not to pay attention to it merely from having the voice of thirty towns only, out of two hundred, in favor of it. He concluded by saying, that if the voice of the whole state was for the measure, yet the legislature ought
-
509
INSURRECTION OF 1786.
not to comply with it, while they were surrounded by an armed force. To do it, would be to betray the rights of the people, which they had all solemnly engaged to support, and that no consideration of personal danger should ever compel him to so flagrant a violation of the constitutional rights of the people, who had placed him in the chair of Government.
As soon as this speech was made, the mob beat to arms, and surrounded the meeting house, where the president, the senate and house remained ; those of the mob who had muskets, were ordered to charge with ball, which command they instantly obeyed. The house proceeded to business as usual, without taking any manner of notice of the management at the doors. Centinels were placed at each door with fixed bayonets, and the whole legislature were prisoners. After sun-set the presi- dent attempted to come out, but was prevented by a firm col- umn. He reasoned very coolly with them on the impropriety and fatal tendency of their conduct, and assured them that the force of the state would support the government : which they took leave to deny with as much confidence as he asserted it. Thus all remained, till the evening was quite dark ; the minds of the sober part of the people began to rise at the indignity ; while the mob clamored, some paper money, some an equal distribution of property, some the annihilation of debts, some release of all taxes, and all clamored against law and govern- ment. A drum was now heard at a distance, and a number of men huzzaing for government. The mob appeared frighted, and some of them began to run ; the president told them he would prevent bloodshed, and walked through them, and the general court followed.
On this, the insurgents returned to another part of the town, and the legislature, who had throughout the whole, acted with the most inimitable firmness and magnanimity, re-assumed their business, and requested the president to call forth the power of the state to quell the rebellion. At eleven in the evening, he issued orders, and by sun-rise the next morning, the militia were marching in, well armed, with military music, and other incitements to military movements. The major and brigadier-generals of all the state excepting one, whose great remoteness from the scene of action prevented him, assembled early in the morning. Gentlemen of the first rank and edu- cation, emulous to save a government for which they had done and suffered so much, appeared either on foot or horse in order,
37
510
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
and enthusiasm, quite inexpressible by words, appeared through the whole.
By eight o'clock the next morning, a sufficient body of cav- alry and infantry had arrived to march against the mob, who, by this time, had collected and advanced, within a mile of the court house. Having, by their spies, got information of their intentions, the unarmed part of them thought it prudent to re- treat to Great Hill. The remainder kept their ground till the light horse appeared in view, and then retreated with great . precipitation and disorder ; many of them fell into the hands of their pursuers, and were sent back to town and secured.
When they had reached the bridge at King's-falls, being met by those who had before retired, they halted and exhibited the appearance of an intention to dispute the pass; but a few offi- cers and gentlemen on horse-back, having with great spirit and address, taken most of their officers, and principal men from the midst of them, they betook themselves to flight in great confusion, and returned to their respective abodes. The whole affair was conducted with much coolness and moderation ; and though orders were repeatedly given by some of the insurgents to fire on their assailants, there was happily no blood spilt on either side. The mob being dispersed, the troops returned into town, where they met, or were afterwards joined by large bodies, which arrived after the business of the day was over."*
About forty prisoners were taken, and among them were Cochran the principal military leader, and French, the Moder- ator Gen. Cilley at the head of a squad of horse, rode in among the insurgents and arrested Cochran with his own hands. His companions at the same time seized each his man among the ringleaders. This was done with such celerity and bold- ness, that hardly any show of resistance was made. Most of the leaders in custody, their followers fled in all directions.
Capt. McKean and some others escaped and returned to Lon- donderry, but the night following, a party of horse, under the command of Gen. Cilley, arrested them and carried them to Exeter. Mr. James Aiken of Londonderry acted as guide to this party, being acquainted with the men and their residences. He was known to no one of the party to which he was guide, and rode upon a white horse ,keeping some distance ahead. When he turned his horse completely around in front of a house, there they were.to make an arrest. During the expe- dition, the soldiers attempted to overtake their guide, but being
*See N. H. His Coll.
F
511
INSURRECTION OF 1786.
well mounted, he kept his distance, and his secret. The guide was known as "Death upon the White Horse," and the inci- dent excited a good deal of curiosity.
The secret was kept for years and did not transpire until Mr. Aiken revealed it upon his death bed.
A man by the name of Booez from Londonderry was one of the insurgents. Arrived at Exeter, he was not exactly satisfied with his position, and when surrounding the meetinghouse, he all at once commanded "Shoulder arms, Right about, Face, March ! " and suiting the action to the word, he shouldered his musket, and leaving the ranks, marched up the street, and never stopped until he arrived at his own house. From this incident, he ever after was known as "General Booez." 'T'he most of the men were dismissed after making due acknowl- edgments of their error ; but five were reserved for trial for riot. They however, were afterwards discharged by the court. The officers were tried by a Court Martial, most of them found guilty, and sentenced to be cashiered. Col Stone was acquit- ted. Major Cochran was sentenced to be cashiered, but on ac- count of former good conduct was recommended by the court to be restored, and he was restored. Captains Cochran, Mc- Keen, and Dow ; Lieutenants, Robinson and Clough, and En- sign Cotton were cashiered. Lieutenants, Brown and Weare, were reprimanded.
Quite a number of men were among the insurgents from this neighborhood, and of them two young men, John Web- ster and James Nutt, from Derryfield. They became excel- lent citizens, and were wont to speak of the affair as one in which they engaged with others, as a reckless, boyish frolic. Many others doubtless engaged in it with little forethought ; but the leaders were misguided, restless men, who needed some chastisement to reconcile them'to the proper restraints of an orderly government. The whole affair was conducted on the part of the government with much promptness, moderation and justice, and upon the whole the affair was productive of good, as it convinced the reckless and restless among the peo- ple, that the government was a reality, and to be sustained by the orderly and good citizens of the state at all hazards.
In 1788, a Convention was called to act upon the Federal Constitution for the government of the United States. The Convention met at Exeter, the second Wednesday of February.
After discussing the subject some nine or ten days, the Con- vention adjourned to the third Wednesday of June, then to
512
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
meet Concond. At the adjourned session, the greatest anxiety prevailed, and the discussion was continued until Saturday, when the question was taken upon the adoption or rejection of the Constitution.
During the call of the members, the stillness of death pre- vailed in the house. Anxiety was depicted on every couu- tenance. At length, the President announced the state of the vote, 57 having voted for adopting the Constitution and 46 against it-leaving a majority in its favor. According to a provision in the Constitution, it was to go into oper- ation, when nine states should adopt it, and the action of New Hampshire, she being the ninth, was awaited with the greatest solicitude. She adopted it and the result was hailed with delight throughout the state and country. It is said that this result was attained by a pleasant trick on the part of Col. Walker, of Concord, one of the friends of the Con- stitution.
The Colonel invited a number of the enemies of the mea- sures to dine with him together with a number of its friends. It was so managed that good wines were passed round after the cloth was removed, and the dinner was continued until af- ter the vote was taken in the Convention, thus securing a majority in favor of the constitution !
The Constitution of New Hampshire adopted in 1783, con- tinued in force until Sept. 1792. In 1791, a Convention was called to revise the Constitution. The Convention met, and on the second Wednesday of February 1792, finished revising the same, and sent it out to the people for them to approve, adjourning the Convention to the 5th day of September fol- lowing to await the decision of the people.
On the 5th day of August, at a town meeting in Derryfield, the Constitution was read and it was
"Voted to accept the Constitution,-14 votes-Contrary-(." September 5, the Convention having met it was found that the Constitution as revised by them had been accepted by the peo- ple, and it was declared to be the "Constitution of New Hamp- shire," and was to take effect the first Wednesday of June, 1793.
This Constitution did not differ very materially from that of 1783. It changed the name of the Executive from President to Governor. It provided for twelve Senators to be chosen from twelve Districts into which the state was to be divided by the Legislature-instead of choosing the same number from
513
CONSTITUTION OF 1792.
not more than ten, nor less than five Districts as before. And it provided that the Council, of five members, should be chosen by the people, either from the Counties, or from five Districts into which the state might be divided by the Legislature, in- stead of the same number of Counsellors chosen by the Sen- ate and House, from their members as before. These were the most important alterations.
Hon. Josiah Bartlett was chosen Governor, being the first Governor chosen by the people in New Hampshire under a re- publican form of government, and the government of the state was duly organized at Concord on the first Wednesday of June 1793, under the new Constitution.
514
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
CHAPTER XXII.
Increased enterprise .- Raise money for preaching, schools, and reparing meet- ing house .- Town devided into school districts .- Great Freshet .- Wise- man Claget .- Drowning of Griffin and others .-- Col. John Goffe .- State claims land within the "Masonian Curve."-Masonian Proprietors buy it .- Election of President .-- Population of Derryfield .- Amoskeag Bridge .- Small Pox .-- Henrysburg annexed .- Lining the hymn .- Duel .-- Hou. Samuel Blodget .- Moves to Goffstown .- Establishes a store there .- Appointed Jus- tice of the Court of Common Pleas .- Joins the army .- Diving Tongues .- Begins his Canal .- Its location .- Its failure .- His Locks burst .- Obtains a charter .- Embraces Col. Baldwin's plan .- Has the grant of a Lottery .- Difficulty with the managers .- Second Lottery .- Canal finished .- Opened May, 2, 1807 .- His death .- Bounty to soldiers .- Grave yard .- Social Li- brary .- First School House near the Falls .- Soldiers volunteer .- Town vote thanks .- Vote to build school houses .- School house tax list-Locate school houses .- Build pound,-Population of Derryfield .- Propose to lock Cohas,- Fence Grave Yard .- Change of time of holding Annual Meeting .- Pres- idential election .-- Attack upon Alexander Irwin's house .-- Rioters ar- rested .- Compromise .- Locking Cohas .- Bounty to soldiers .- Center School House .- Presidential Election .- Change of name of the town.
The successful close of the war of the Revolution, gave in- dividuals time and opportunity to attend to their private inter- ests. The people of this colony had but just well recovered from the shock incident to the Seven Years War, when the Revolution commenced, and paralyzed individual effort and enterprise. Peace again established, and that spirit of enter- prise, so incident to, or rather, an important part of the Amer- ican character, soon began to tell upon the community.
In this town, it was everywhere apparent, but not in so striking a degree as in many other places. Still here, it shew itself in a greater regard for education and morals, and was equally apparent throughout the town, in greater attention to agriculture and its consequent results, neatness and thrift.
Very little attention had been paid to "preaching" during the Revolution, as the taxes for other purposes had been very burdensome.
But at the annual meeting in March 1784, after news had
515
HON. WISEMAN CLAGETT.
arrived of the signing the articles of peace, the people were quite liberal and voted to raise fifty dollars for preaching and that "the Said Preaching be had Between the month of April and November."
They next "voted Not to Rais any money for Schooling this year" which vote and its record shows the great necessity of the very measure they voted down.
However, at the very same meeting a better feeling pre- vailed, as the record shows, for they
"Voted to Reconsider a vote passed this meeting concerning Schooling, and also voted to Raise £9, to be laid out to hire Schooling this year, and also that the Selectmen Devide the town into four Districts according to poles and Estate for the School to be kept in."
In May following, at a special meeting, they also voted to raise $100, for repairing the meetng house.
In October the, Selectmen made their report dividing the town into four School Districts.
This was the first division of the town into School Districts. It was an important step in its progress, and with the other measures named, shows that the peace had a most beneficial effect upon the town and its people.
On the 5th of December 1784, there was a remarkable fresh- et in the Merrimack. Judge Patten says of it,
"Dec, 3d, Was a great rain, but warm."
"Dec. 5th being Sabath day was the highest freshet in the Merrimack River ever seen by any person now living. Last night the bridge over the Piscataquog in Bedford, was floted off and a number of men worked all day saving the timber and plank of the bridge."
This was long remembered as' the "Great Winter Freshet." A great deal of damage was done upon the Merrimack and its tributaries. Many families living upon the intervals of the Merrimack were forced to abandon their homes, and take ref- uge with their neighbors on the uplands.
HON. WISEMAN CLAGETT.
"This gentleman represented this town in the Legislature a number of years, it being classed with Litchfield, the town where he resided for some years previous to his death. As a representative of Derryfield, and a distinguished and most wor- thy man, his biography should find a place in our annals.
"Mr. Clagett, was born at Bristol, in England, in the month
516
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
of August, 1721, and received an early and liberal education in that country. Having finished his academical studies, he be- came a student at the Inns of Court, qualified himself for the profession of the Law, and after going through a regular course of preparatory studies, was admitted a barrister in the Court of Kings Bench.
A few years after his admission to the bar, he crossed the Atlantic to the West Indies ; settled in Antigua under very flattering circumstances, and was cordially received by the principal inhabitants of the island, particularly by a gentleman of fortune, who as an inducement for him to remain there, settled on him a handsome annuity for life. He was appointed a notary public, and Secretary of the Island. He discharged the duties of these offices with fidelity, and pursued his pro- fessional business there with success for several years, until the decease of his particular friend and patron. He then embarked for this country and settled in Portsmouth. He was admitted an attorney of the Superior Court at the next session after his arrival, and was soon after appointed a Justice of the Peace. In the exercise of this office, he was strict, severe and over- bearing. For many years he was the principal acting magis- trate in Portsmouth and his name became proverbial. When one person threatened another with a prosecution, it was usual to say, "I will Clagett you."
He received the appointment of King's Attorney-General for the province in the year 1767. He took an early and decided part in opposition to the oppressive acts of the British Parlia- ment, at a time when a considerable portion of his property, was in the control of the government. Previous to the revo- lution, he removed to Litchfield, where he possessed a large and valuable estate, on the banks of the Merrimack. He represent- ed that town and Derryfield, classed with it, several years in the General Court. Being omitted one year, the towns of Merri- mack and Bedford elected him for their representative, although not an inhabitant of either of those places. He always entertain- ed a grateful remembrance of this mark of confidence and re- spect, and frequently spoke of it with pleasure. He was for some time a member of the committee of safety, and was active attentive and useful. He was influential in framing and carrying into effect, the temporary form of government, which was first adopted in New Hampshire, under which the office of Solici- tor-General was created,, and Mr. Clagett was the only person who ever had that appointment ; the office ceased at the adopt- ion of the constitution in 1784, a little previous to his death.
517
DEATH OF GRIFFINS AND THOMPSON.
He possessed a great flow of wit, which accompanied by his social talents and learning, made him an agreable companion. He was also. distinguished for his classical knowledge. He wrote the Latin language with ease and elegance, and spoke it with fluency. He had a fine taste for poetry, and many jeux d'esprit, the productions of his pen, have been preserved by his friends. He did not possess a perfect equanimity of temper, but was subject at times to great depression of spirits. He did at Litchfield the 4th of December, 1784, in the sixty- fourth year of his age."*
On the night of the 16th of December 1784, a mournful incident occurred, that threw a gloom upon the people of this neighborhood. William McLaughlin of Bedford on that night had an infair at his house. This is a Scotch Irish term for a party made upon the occasion of one's wedding, or moving in- to a house. McLaughlin had lately got married and commenc- ed keeping house.
Of Scotch Irish descent, he celebrated the event after the manner of his fathers by an infair, to which a large company were invited. Many were present from Derryfield, and among them Theophilus Griffin, his brother John Griffin and his wife and Mr. Adam Thompson. These four crossed the Merri- mack to the infair, in a boat. After staying at McLaughlin's till late at night, they started for home. Crossing the river above Griffin's Falls, the boat capsized in the current. The- ophilus Griffin and the woman clung to the boat, while John and Thompson, as they supposed made for the shore ; but probably siezed with cramps, they were both drowned. While Theophilus who was a noted swimmer, was successfully urg- ing the boat towards the shore, the woman seized hold of him, causing him to lose his hold of the boat. In their struggles, they both went to the bottom. Rising, Griffin freed one hand from her grasp and boldly struck out for the shore, and doubt- lessly would have succeeded in gaining it with her, had not the woman in her fright, again seized both of his hands and car- ried him a second time to the bottom. Griffin now left her to her fate, and reached the shore nearly exhausted. It was some time before he was able to walk home and inform his friends of the sad calamity. The next day the greatest excitement prevailed and large numbers from Derryfield and Bedford were engaged in raking the river to recover the bodies.
The bodies of the men were found near where the boat was
* Annals of Portsmouth.
518
THE HITTORY OF MANCHESTER.
capsized, but the body of the woman could not be found and after two days, the search was given over. The funeral of Grif- fin and Thompson took place on the 18th, and was attended by a large concourse of people from the adjacent towns
On the 20th of October 1786 died in this town,
COL. JOHN GOFFE.
He was the only son of John Goffe Esq., who was one of the original settlers of Londonderry, and who lived the last ten years of his life at Cohas Brook, in this town. Col. Goffe moved from Londonderry and took up his permanent residence in this town in 1734,* probably under the auspices of Massa- chusetts. In 1738 he moved across the river into Bedford, and his father moved from Londonderry on to his farm at Cohas Brook. His father dying in 1748, Col. Goffe moved back to Derryfield upon his farm, where he continued to reside till his death. Col. Goffe was a man of marked character, and for sixty years was identified with all the stirring scenes of the most exciting periods of our country's history. From Love- wells fight in 1725, through the Indian and French wars and the war of the Revolution, he was almost constantly in the public service, and how well he acted his part, has been rela- ted somewhat at length in the preceeding pages. Through all the military grades, from private to Colonel, and in all of them in actual service in the field, he sustained the character of an energetic and courageous soldier, receiving on all occasions the hearty commendations of his superior officers. In civil life, he was equally distinguished for energy of character.
He was a representative in the Provincial Legislature and the first Judge of Probate for Hillsborough County, holding that office from 1771 to 1776. In 1765, he received the grant of the town of Jefferson, then called Dartmouth, in considera- tion of his public services.
Too old at the time of the Revolution, to take the field, yet he entered into the contest heart and hand, and did as much by
*On page 170 it is stated that Col. Goffe settled at Cohas Brook prior to Lovewell's war, in 1722. This is a mistake as regards a permanent residence. He may have had a temporary residence there in 1722, as tradition has it, but he did not make a permanent residence there till 1734, as is abundantly shown by affidavits in the Secretary's office, in the action Goffe vs Follensby, by which it is made to appear that he cleared four acres of land on the north side and near by Cohas Brook, and built a house upon the same in April and May, of that year ; that he lived there until 1738, when he moved to Bedford, and his fa- ther moved into the house he had vacated at Cohas Brook. In 1748, his fa- ther died, and he immediately moved from Bedford on to his farm at Cohas Brook and continued to reside there until his death.
519
COL. JOHN GOFFE.
precept, example and his purse, as did any other man in the state, in support of the good cause. In 1777, when our troops had Burgoyne at bay, Col. Goffe was at Portsmouth, and he forthwith wrote home to his son to encourage volunteers. The letter shows the energy and spirit of the man, then seventy- six years of age. It was as follows ;
"Portsmouth Sept. 24, 1777.
SIR :- Col. Bellows goes off to-day to head as many volun- teers as will push off to reinforce Gen. Gates. Our army are now in possession of Ticonderoga. In order to cut off Bur- goyn's retreat, who was on the 17th of this month, within four miles of Stillwater, with his main body, as we are assured by Gen. Stark's letter of that date, pressing the State to exert every nerve, and to march at least half the milita of this State. And now is the time to cut off the whole army. And if we do but all go without hesitation, I verily believe it will put an end to the war. And if you could go yourself, for a fortnight or three weeks, I believe it would encourage many.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.