History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 188

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 188
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 188

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At a late festival of the Centre Congregational Church, a granddaughter of Mary Butler, Mrs. W. C. H. Hutchinson, came upon the platform before the audience, aud spun upon that identical " wheel." Af- terwards a small skein was sent to the poet (Milwau- kee, Wis.), bringing from him a pleasant note of thanks, which he concludes with expressions of great joy that in these days any ladies are found that can spin.

On the 1st of December of this year (1775) the town was divided by the selectmen and a Committee of Safety into two militia companies.

By order of the Provincial Congress, a second cen- sus was taken September 25, 1775, with the following showing for Gilmanton : Males under sixteen years of age, 238; males from sixteen to fifty, 151 ; males above fifty, 16; males absent in the army, 12; the whole number of females, 357; negroes and slaves, 4,-total population, 778.

Joseph Philbrook, leaving a widow and two children. He had been one of the selectmen ; was at the time of his death one of the building committee of the meeting-house.

His was the first silent form laid in the cemetery near the First Congregational Meeting-House (known in these later times as the "Old Smith Meeting- Honse ").

There is a full notice in "Lancaster's History," but for a long period it did not seem to be known who it was that "lay like a warrior taking his rest " in a quiet nook in the ancient burying-place. But now, after more than a hundred years, his grave is decorated with the sweet flowers of the spring-time, as comrades adorn with loving hands the graves of modern heroes who for their country died.

In July of this year sixteen soldiers were enlisted under command of Joseph Badger, Jr., in aid of the northern army. Captain John Moody enlisted twenty men and marched to New York under Washington.

At a union town-meeting of Gilmanton and Barn- stead, November 22d, Joseph Badger, Esq., was chosen a representative to the Assembly to meet in Exeter in December.

In 1782, Great Britain having acknowledged the independence of the United States, there was no longer need of providing men for battle-fields. There had been enlisted in all eighty-one men.

The town of Gilmanton, after the incoming of the day when it was exultingly said "We have a Country !" made rapid strides in all the factors of municipal prosperity. It rapidly attracted immigration within its borders, and very largely immigrants of a higher order as to intelligence, culture, refinement, moral and Christian attainments.

On the 11th of March, at the annual town-meeting, the article in the warrant to bring in votes for Presi- dent and representatives under the Constitution the State had now adopted, seems for the first time to have been acted upon.

March 10, 1785, a committee was chosen to divide the town into school districts. It was also voted to raise one hundred and fifty pounds for the support of schools the ensning year. The same was voted for the following year.

In March meeting, 1778, it was "Voted, that ten dollars bounty be given for full-grown wolves, five dollars for whelps' heads, and £9 pr. head for cata- mounts, if killed within two months, and £6 if killed after that time." Colonel Joseph Badger, Jr., Colonel Joseph Greeley and John Shepard, Esqs., were appointed to ascertain the line on the northeast side of the school lot, and to lay out the broad high- way near the meeting-house into house-lots, with a view to build up a village.

On November 29, 1790, the freemen of the town for the first time carried their votes for representatives to Congress, and for electors of President and Vice-

In the month of May, 1776, a very worthy citizen died who was a lieutenant in the militia, by the name of | President of the United States. The vote stood : For

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Representative to Congress, Thomas Cogswell, fifty- nine; for Elector, Hon. Joseph Badger, seventy-two; and they were chosen.

The town also met on the 13th of August, and ap- pointed Thomas Cogswell, Esq., Colonel Samuel Greeley and Colonel Joseph Badger, Jr., a committee to devise a plan to detect thieves, in case there should be anything stolen.

At a meeting of the town August 8th, Colonel Thomas Cogswell was chosen a delegate to a conven- tion, to be holden in Concord on the first Wednesday in September, to revise the Constitution. It was at this convention that the title of the chief magistrate of the State was changed from President to Governor.

In 1794, March 13th, the votes were for State and county as well as for town officers. From citizens of Gilmanton the voice of the town was for Hon. Joseph Badger, on the Governor's Council, and for repre- sentatives to the General Court, Joseph Badger, Jr., and Colonel Samuel Greeley.

It was by the zealous interest and efforts of these representatives that, on the 20th of June, the charter of the Academy was issued by the Legislature.

Passing the regular routine of business and the annual increase of population in a town now widely known and prosperous, we come to the first act of cutting up or cutting off a valued section of the town. At the town-meeting in 1792 the Upper Parish (Gunstock) presented a petition to be set off into another town. Referred to a committee of twelve.1 In 1811, a disinterested committee was appointed to describe the boundary lines of Gunstock (so called) to be set off as a new town. This committee reported boundaries on the 31st of May. March 12th, on the petition to have the town consent by vote to set off Gunstock Parish into a separate town, the petition failed of being carried. But, on the article to see whether the town would oppose in the Legislature the application about to be made by citizens of Gun- stock Parish for an act of incorporation, it was voted in the negative. The application, therefore, was successful, and, on June 16th, that part of Gilmanton known as Gunstock was disannexed, and, by act of the Legislature, erected into a separate town called Gilford.

Following thus for half a century the progress of affairs, we come to the times and doings that were within the memories of recent fathers and mothers, and in which they were actors. Minute detail from year to year is unnecessary and quite beyond the limits allowable to this sketch. Diminished by the sundering of pleasant farms and many pleasant families, there were yet left more than the constitu- tional "six miles square" of our newer western States. Gilmanton yet remained a grand old town,

and Gilford opened new doors for new officials to fill new offices.

Gilmanton has always been and still is a " high old town!" Lifted toward heaven to an elevation sur- passed only by Bethlehem, under the shadow of the White Mountains, it has an atmosphere so pure that every breath is vital. It has beautiful ponds, flowing rivers, meadow brooks and bubbling springs, into some of which nature has dropped a few " drugs " for special invalids : so that for healthfulness it is unsur- passed. Its up-building force for debilitated ones is increasingly appreciated, and for the seekers of rest and quiet from the hard taxation of extended busi- ness, and for retirement from literary toils on the one hand, or on the other, for the prosecution of literary labor with every outside inspiration, the denizens of the cities are finding here in annual visits the fulness of the desirable qualities "restful " and " helpful."

The natural surroundings of Gilmanton are won- derfully beautiful. With its own high altitude it has mountain-peaks from whose summits the entire circle of the horizon seems one vast amphitheatre of grandeur and beauty. Mountains stand like mighty buttresses in endless variety of contour and elevation, and, far as the eye can see, wide valleys with cultured farms, hamlets and villages, dim woods and glistening streams and templed hills stretch away into a land- scape that is indeed a "study" for the artist. An intelligent visitor (one of the most distinguished editors of our State) said recently, “As I ride in various directions from day to day, I am struck with the fact that while the views are ever changing and new vistas constantly opening, there is not a tame one among them."

Gilmanton again Territorially Diminished .- By an act of the Legislature, approved by His Excellency, Ichabod Goodwin, Governor, June 28, 1859, the town of Gilmanton parted company with many valuable and esteemed fellow-citizens, and with the " Upper Village " or "Factory Village," one of the three grand points of interest in the original town. They parted with many regrets on both sides. The histo- rian of what is now " Belmont " can tell the story- while the writer hereof knows but little about it, hav- ing lived out of Gilmanton and out of New Hamp- shire nearly the whole of his professional life. He has never conversed, however, with any citizen in either town who did not deprecate the division. The result has proved advantageous to " Upper Gilman- ton " (afterwards named " Belmont"), while the an- cient and honorable Centre village, or "The Corner," finds itself on the corner quite too literally.

In the bill enacting the division it was stated that the first town-meeting in Gilmanton (diminished) should be called by a committee consisting of Moses Price, Cyrus Gilman and Isaac E. Smith, who, on the 13th of July, 1859, were duly sworn before Levi H. Mudgett, Esq., justice of the peace.

On the 14th of July this committee issued their

1 In 1808, at the annual meeting, March 8th, a petition was presented to have the Upper l'arish set off, to be united with part of Meredith. The town voted that it was not expedient to set off the Upper Parish as a town to be annexed to a part of Meredith.

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GILMANTON.

" warrant," calling the first town-meeting in Gilman- ton at Academy Hall, on Saturday, the 6th day of August," prox., "at nine of the clock in the fore- noon." Agreeably to the call, the legal voters of Gilmanton (diminished) assembled in town-meeting and chose John L. Kelley moderator, Levi W. Sanborn town clerk, and proceeded to fill all the required of- fices and appointments until the regular town-meet- ing in the following March.

Up to the time of the constitutional reconstruction the town had sent two representatives to the General Court; since that change, diminishing the House and enlarging the Senate, the town is allowed but one representative. The following is the list of represen- tatives since the division of the town and incorpora- tion of Belmont :

March 30, 1860, first March meeting, Cyrus Gilman and John K. Woodman were chosen representatives.

1861 .- The same. 1862 .- Isaac E. Smith and Renben W. Page.

1863 .- The same.

1864 .- Jonathan Brown and John L. Kelley.

1865 .- John L. Kelley and Burleigh F. Parsons.

1866 .- Joseph S. Kimball and Burleigh F. Parsons.

1867 .- Joseph S. Kimball and Ezra Ham.

1868 .- Ezra Ham and Rufus E. Gale.

I869 .- Rufus E. Gale and George W. Sanborn.

1870 .- Henry E. Marsh and George W. Sanborn.

1871 .- John S. Page and Thomas Cogswell.

1872 .- The same.

1873. - Enos T. Gilman and Joseph B. Durrell.

1874 .- The same.

1875 .- Levi C. Grant aud Jeremiah W. Sanborn. 1876 .- The same. 1877 .- Joseph W. Marsh and William B. Thompson.

BIENNIAL ELECTIONS.

1879-80 .- Stephen S. N. Greeley. 1881-82 .- Lewis E. Jenkins. 1883-84 .- Henry E. Marsh. 1885-86 .- John Connell.

Gilmanton in the War of the Rebellion .- The guns at Fort Sumter finally awoke startling echoes among these distant hills, and the children of patriot sires began to bestir themselves for the defense of their country. The Rebellion that had been widely spoken of as a mad uprising that " would soon shame itself to death," or "be crushed down in six months," was showing itself a more formidable out- break than the wisest statesmen had apprehended at the beginning. The call had gone forth for men, strong and true, to turn from the peaceful fields of culture and the walks of industry to fields of battle. Gilmanton had strong men, for whom the bugle-blast was sounding, but, in such an unanticipated exigeney, who should care for the loved ones left in the home ?

At a legal town-meeting, by special warrant con- vened on the 11th of May, 1861 (John L. Kelley, moderator), David Hatch, Jonathan P. Hill, Thomas Cogswell, John K. Woodman, George W. Sanborn, Stephen Gale, Stephen L. Greeley, Samuel Parsons and Nahum Wight, were appointed a committee to consider a resolution submitted to the meeting hy Jonathan P. Hill, as follows :

" Resolved, That the selectmen be authorized to hire for and in behalf of the town such sum or sums of money as they may think proper, not exceeding one thousand dollars, to be expended for the benefit of the family or families of such person or persons as may serve as volunteers in the State or United States' service from the town of Gilmanton; and to be left, at the discretion of the selectmen, to apply the same in such case or cases as they may think that humanity and the best good of our common country may require."

This was but the beginning of the contribution of money for the country's sake, and evidence of the little apprehension at the time of what the Rebellion would yet cost the people.

At a special meeting of the town, December 5, 1861 (Thomas Cogswell, Moderator), " Voted, that the chair appoint a committee of three to draft a resolution." The chair appointed John L. Kelley, John M. Durgin and Jonathan P. Hill, who reported a resolution similar to the foregoing, but setting the limit of pro- vision at fifteen hundred dollars.

At the regular annual meeting, holden March 11, 1862 (George W. Sanborn, moderator), the following resolution presented by Hon. Thomas Cogswell passed :

" Resolved, That the legal voters of Gilmanton, in town-meeting as- sembled, do approve of President Lincoln's message of March 6th, and respectfully request our Senators and representatives in Congress to vote in favor of the resolution therein recommended by the President.

" And further, Resolved, That the town clerk send copies of the fore- going resolution to each of our delegation in Congress."

August 9, 1862, at a legal meeting called by peti- tion of Thomas Cogswell and thirty-seven others (Henry W. Dudley, moderator), Thomas Cogswell pre- sented the following resolution, which was passed :

" Whereas, The President of the United States has called for three hundred thousand men to enlist for three years, or during the war ;

"Be it Resolved, by the legal voters of Gilmanton, in town-meeting assembled, that the selectmen of said town be authorized to pay to each able-bodied man, resident of said Gilmanton, who shall enlist and be mustered into the service of the United States for three years, or during war, unless sooner discharged, a bounty of two hundred dollars until October 1, 1862.

" And it is further Resolved, That the selectmen he authorized to hire for, and on the credit of, ed town of Gilmanton, the sum of fifteen thou- sanddollars, to be applied as herein directed, or so much of said sum as may be needed."

By an order of the President of the United States August 4, 1862, the Governor of New Hampshire was required to furnish five thousand and fifty-three men to be drafted from the enrolled militia of the State for the term of nine months' service. Immediately the Governor authorized the selectmen of the towns to accept volunteers in lieu of drafted men ; where- upon, at a legal town-meeting September 2, 1862 (Thomas Cogswell, moderator), the following resolu- tion, by C. S. P. Sanderson, was adopted :

" Whereas, it is desirable to raise the quota of this town without resort- ing to a draft, therefore be it Resolved, etc., that the selectmen of the town of Gilmanton be authorized and instructed to pay to each alle- bodied man, resident in said town, who may volunteer to take the place of those who might otherwise he drafted from said town and then be mustered into the military service of the United States for the term of nine months, unless sooner discharged, the sum of oue hundred dollars when mustered into the United States service, and when ordered out of the State the additional sum of one hundred dollars-pro-

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

vided that the above sume shall not be paid to more than a sufficient number of men to complete the quota of the town.

" And be it further Resolved, That the selectmen he hereby authorized to hire, on the credit of the town, the sum of ten thousand dollars, or auch part of said sum as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid."

At a legal meeting of the town on Saturday, Octo- ber 3, 1863 (Jonathan P. Hill, moderator), a resolu- tion was passed that,-

" Whereas, forty-five men of the enrolled militie of this town have been drafted under the conscription law :

" And Whereas the Legislature, at the late June session, authorized towns and cities to appropriate to drafted men or their substitutes the sum of three hundred dollars each, as a bounty, therefore Resolved, That the town of Gilmanton pay the sum aforesaid to each drafted man or substitute, or order, ten days after being mustered into the service of the United States. It was also further voted that the town hire the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be appropriated to this purpose so far as needed."

At a legal meeting of the town on Tuesday, De- cember 1, 1863, on petition of Charles S. P. Sander- son and others (George W. Sanborn, moderator), Thomas Cogswell submitted a resolution in substance, that,-

" Whereas, on the 17th of October, 1863, the President of the United States issued a proclamation calling upon the Governors of the loyal States for 300,000 volunteers to serve in the army for three years, and if not raised voluntarily, must be raised by draft, after the fifth of January next ; and Whereas the Government of the United States offer a bounty of four hundred and two dollars-to be paid in instalmente-to veteran volunteers, and three hundred and two dollars to new recruits; and Whereas the Governor of New Hampshire has, by his Proclamation of 4th November, called on the cities and towue of the State to take imme- diate measures to raise their quota of men, and has offered a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer in addition ; the quota of Gilman- ton at this time being twenty-one men. Now, therefore, he it Resolved, that the selectmen be and are hereby authorized to pay to each volun- teer the whole amount offered by the general and State Governments, and further, that the eelectmen are authorized to offer and to pay to each volunteer a yet additional eum, when mustered into the service of the United States, necessary to obtain said volunteers to fill the town'e quota of twenty-one men. Also Resolved, that the eelectmen hire, on the credit of the town, the sum of thirteen thousand dollars before the 5th day of January next, or so much as may he needed to the carrying unt of this resolution."

At a called meeting, of the town on the 20th of February, 1864 (Stephen L. Greeley, moderator), voted to pass resolutions presented by C. S. P. Sander- son. These were, first, "to pay each veteran soldier belonging to this town who has re-enlisted to make up the quota of this town under the recent call of the President of the United States for 'five hundred thousand more,' the sum of two hundred dollars. Also, that the town hire two thousand dollars, or what portion thereof may be needed." At a legal meeting of the town, March 29, 1864 (Stephen L. Greeley, moderator),-

" Voted, to accept and adopt resolutions presented by Thomas Cogswell, in view of the call of the President for two hundred thousand men for three years, or the war, to wit: That the selectmen of the town of Gil- manton he authorized to pay to each citizen who shall volunteer, agreeably to the call of the President, till the town's quota be filled, the eum of two hundred dollars when mustered in. And, thet the selectmen hire thirty-two hundred dollars to pay said volunteers."

August 13, 1864, at a legal town-meeting (George W. Sanborn, moderator), the following resolution was presented by Thomas Cogswell : That

" Whereas, the President of the United States called, on July 18, 1864, for five hundred thousand men, the town of Gilmentou will pay a bounty of three hundred dollars to each man who will volunteer for the term of · three years to act as a substitute for any men subject to draft who may wish to put in a substitute in advance of impending or future drafts.

" Also the town will pay one bundred dollars, two hundred dollars and three hundred dollars, respectively, to each man who will volunteer for the terms of one year, two years and three years, respectively ; to be credited on the quota of the town for the impending and future drafts.

" Also, the selectmen are authorized to hire thirty thousand dollars, by sale of town orders on the best terms, or such part of said sum as may be necessary for the above purposes."

At a legal town-meeting August 30, 1864 (George W. Sanborn, moderator), accepted and adopted a resolution by C. S. P. Sanderson,-

" That the town will pay to each drafted man at his muster in the sum of two hundred dollars in addition to the State bounty, and to each substitute who will take the place of the drafted, one hundred dollars for one year, two hundred dollars for two years and three hundred dol- lars for three years, respectively, in addition to the State bounty.

" Alen that the selectmen be authorized to hire or raise, by the sale of town orders, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, or what may be needed for these paymente."

At a legal meeting September 6, 1864 (George W. Sanborn, moderator), it was voted to adopt resolutions presented by Thomas Cogswell,-

" I. There shall be paid hy towo orders, to each citizen that has vol- unteered into the service of the United States, since the 30th day of last Auguet up to this sixth day of September, instant, when fully mustered in and placed on this town'e quota, under the last call of the President, five hundred dollars for one year's men, ten hundred dollars for two years' men and fifteen hundred dollars for three years' men, including what was voted on the 13th day of Auguet last, to one, two and three years' men, who might volunteer to fill the quota of the town of Gilman- ton.

"II. That the selectmen he authorized and directed to pay, by town orders, to each iuhabitant of said town who shall volunteer for one year to fill the balance of said town's quota the sum of eight hundred dol- lars."

At this meeting it was voted also to accept and adopt a resolution by C. S. P. Sanderson "that the selectmen hire, on the credit of the town, the sum of forty thousand dollars, or such sum as may be neces- sary to carry the foregoing resolutions into effect." At this time the indications were that the war was near its end. It was so contended by Hon. Thomas Cogswell and others before the Assembly. Whether the town actually hired, after all that had been de- voted, "the sum of forty thousand dollars" is best known to the men who were at that time its citizens; but it looks at this late day that if that was so, and if there were men who enlisted for three years when al- most " the fight was done," with town bounty and State bounty and government bounty, they found a bonanza !

We who went to the front in the early days had no bounties. The fighting thousands in the field had soldiers' wages and hard struggle aud hard-tack and were volunteers.

As with our towns generally, the war laid upon Gil- manton a heavy burden. But it is being nobly lifted, -taxes are every year less, while the debt is rapidly diminishing.

"The morning light is breaking."

According to the most accurate estimates of town

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GILMANTON.

officials, Gilmanton raised for war purposes about seventy-five thousand dollars. She furnished for the army more than two hundred men. Died, from the effects of war and lying within the town, forty.

Gilmanton Academy .- Judge Tourgée, in his "Fool's Errand," says, tersely and forcibly : "The remedy for darkness is light ; for ignorance, knowl- edge; for wrong, righteousness. Educate the voter, because the nation cannot afford that he should be ignorant." President Hayes said, in a speech in Canton, Ohio : " Ignorant voters are powder and balls for the demagogue." The New England fathers believed devoutly in great truths for the popular weal, which are accepted to-day and are a power for good. They saw that, especially in republics, popular ignorance is popular peril. But they saw, still further, that edu- cation must be more than simply of the intellect. Science is not virtue. There must be the pervasive influence of that religion which sanctifies the power of knowledge, and teaches the freeman what is true liberty ; which puts the eternal Potentate on the throne, and writes His Law on the great popular heart.

In the settlement of New England towns the fathers gave these matters early attention. After the pattern of the Pilgrims landing on the bleak coast of Plymouth, "they built a shelter for their heads with rapid industry, then built a house for God, and built the school-house beneath its shadow." They put the Bible there, with the intent that it should stay there. The founders of Gilmanton took early measures to provide for the education of the young. In the seventh year of the settlement, 1769, they voted to hire a teacher eight months the ensuing year, and to build two school-houses. The following year, 1770, they voted a tax of twenty pounds for the schools. In the time of the Revolutionary War Rev. Mr. Parsons was paid three hundred and eighty-nine pounds and Dr. William Smith ninety pounds for teaching schools. After the war Eliphalet Wood was a celebrated teacher, and opened a private school near "Smith Meeting-House," which was quite largely attended. Afterwards Rev. Samuel Hidden (Father Hidden) taught with great celebrity ; and at a later period Dudley Leavitt taught with success and honors.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 188

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520