USA > New Hampshire > History of New Hampshire, from its first discovery to the year 1830; with dissertations upon the rise of opinions and institutions, the growth of agriculture and manufactures, and the influence of leading families and distinguished men, to the year 1874; > Part 17
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Gone is that Arcadian age ! Gone "the men, famous for lifting up axes against the thick trees !"
" Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The (brave) forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
From Charlestown to Haverhill, more than seventy miles, there was no road, only a bridle path, indicated by marked trees. This was often hedged up by fallen trees or made impassable by freshets. Mr. Mann, one of the first settlers of Orford, trav- eled over this path in 1765. " At Charlestown he purchased a bushel of oats for his horse and some bread and cheese for himself and wife and set forward, Mann on foot-wife, oats, bread and cheese and some clothing on horseback." Clare- mont then contained two families; Cornish, one ; Plainfield, one ; Lebanon, three ; Hanover, one; and Lyme, three. Think of the loneliness, the privation, the hardships of these first oc- cupants of the wilderness. No sounds broke the silence of the primitive forests but the howling of the winds, the crash of fall- ing trees or the growl of beasts of prey. A rude cabin was their only shelter ; game or fish, for a time, their principal food, and water from the spring their only beverage. The wife lived alone while the husband was abroad felling trees or securing food. Comfort was unknown. Consider, also, the royal con- descension that inserted in the charters of these new towns such provisions as these : "As soon as there shall be fifty families resident and settled, they shall have the liberty of holding two fairs annually ; also, a market may be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants."
Two classes of persons, with very distinctly marked charac- ters, penetrated these northern wilds. The leaders were men of intelligence, energy and property. They had two objects in view ;
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to furnish permanent homes for themselves and their posterity and to acquire wealth by the rise of their lands. They in a few years had comfortable houses with good furniture for that day. They were men of strong religious principle and early made provision for the preaching of the gospel. They brought with them some domestic animals, such as cows, swine and sheep ; and were soon able to supply their tables with meat. There was another class, so poor as to need help to reach their new homes. They came on foot bearing all their property upon their shoulders. Such persons needed guides and overseers ; and had not men of more enterprise furnished them shelter, food and work, they must have perished. The fare of all classes, at first, was scanty. Their buildings were made of logs. When food became more plenty, they ate meat once in a day. Porridge of beans, pease or milk furnished their other meals. Bowls, dishes and plates were usually of wood. The more wealthy used pew- ter and tin.
In the summer of 1770 the Connecticut valley, from North- field, Mass., to Lancaster, N. H., was visited by a species of army worm which devoured most of the standing crops and re- duced the people nearly to starvation. In their maturity, the worms were as long as a man's finger and as large in circumfer- cnce. The body was brown, with a velvet stripe upon the back and a yellow stripe on each side. They marched from the north or northwest and passed to the east and south. They were the most loathsome and greedy invaders that ever polluted the earth. They covered the entire ground, so that not a finger's breadth was left between them. In their march, they crawled over houses and barns, covering every inch of the boards and shingles. Every stalk of corn and wheat was doomed by them. The in- habitants dug trenches ; but they soon filled them to the surface and the remaining army marched over their prostrate compan- ions. They continued their devastations more than a month ; then suddenly disappeared, no one knows how or where. Eleven years later a second visitation of the same worm was made, but they were then few in number. Potatoes and vines were not eaten by them. Pumpkins were abundant and were very use- ful in sustaining the lives of men and animals during the autumn. The atmosphere was also black with flocks of pigeons, which were caught in immense numbers, and their meat dried for winter use. The feathers were used for bedding. Before this time, only straw or the bare floor had forined the couches of the poorer classes.
In 1771 a great freshet occurred in the Coös country. The rich meadows of Newbury and Haverhill were not only sub- merged by water, but, in some places, buried two or three feet
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in sand. Thus they lost their crops for that year, and the use of their fertile lands for several years to come. Cattle, sheep, swine and horses were swept away ; and, in some instances, fam- ilies were caught in the dwellings by the tide, and were saved with great difficulty by boats. Severe suffering followed this sudden flood, the greatest, perhaps, known on the Connecticut river.
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE WENTWORTHS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Wentworth is a name of distinction in English history. "The ancient and honorable family of Wentworths," says Thoresby, in his history of Leeds, "which for six hundred years hath borne the honor of knighthood, was seated four years before that in the county of York. The ancient and chief seat of this princi- pal branch of this noble family hath been for many ages at Wentworth Woodhouse, in the wapentake of Strafford, whence they spread into other parts." Thomas Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford, who, next to Cromwell, was the greatest man of the English Revolution, belonged to this family. He was beheaded on the twelfth of May, 1641. The great ancestor of the Went- worths of New Hampshire was William Wentworth, who, ac- cording to "Burke's Peerage and Baronetage," emigrated from the county of York, the ancient home of the race, to Boston in 1628 (it should be 1638), and removed subsequently to New Hampshire in 1639. He became a preacher of the gospel, and is known in history as Elder Wentworth. He first preached at Exeter. He also lived and preached at Dover. When the Ind- ians attacked that town in 1689, Elder Wentworth, then over eighty years of age, was sleeping in Heard's garrison. He was awaked by the barking of a dog, just as the Indians were enter- ing. He sprang to the door, forced out the savages, and falling on his back placed his feet against the door, and thus prevented their entrance till his call for help alarmed the people who were near. The balls shot at the door passed through it and above his body, leaving the heroic veteran unharmed. "This bold act," says Judge Smith, "will embalm the name and memory of this brave old man and sincere Christian as long as our records
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shall endure ; and will give him a renown greater, far greater, and more widely spread, than the good fortune of having so many governors among his descendants. His was true glory. The good fortune may happen to any man." He died at Do- ver, at the age of ninety. John Wentworth, his second son, was lieutenant-governor of New Hampshire from 1717 to 1729. The character of Lieutenant-Governor John Wentwortth is thus drawn by Rev. John M. Whiton :
"From his father, Elder Wentworth, he received a christian education, which exerted much influence on his subsequent life. For a time he fol- lowed the seas and commanded a ship, in which he carefully maintained the morning and evening worship of God. As a merchant, his integrity, benev- olence and public spirit procured him general esteem. He was charitable to the poor, courteous and affable to all, and attentive to the institutions of re- ligion. For the most part of a period of thirteen years, some of them marked with the perplexities of an Indian war and a high degree of party excitement, he conducted the affairs of the province with singular wisdom and moderation ; and with the exception of a controversy between him and the Assembly, near the close of his administration, to the satisfaction of the people. He possessed their confidence and affection while living, and car- ried with him their respect when he descended to the grave."
His family consisted of sixteen children. One of his sons, Benning Wentworth, was governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766. For twenty-five years, in stormy times and during two bloody wars, he sat at the helm of state, and perhaps adminis- tered her affairs as well as most men could or would have done in the same circumstances. He succeeded in pleasing neither king nor people. He was virtually superseded, though time was courteously given him for resignation. He was succeeded by his nephew John Wentworth, who had appeared at court to present the petition of the province against the stamp act. He thus became acquainted with men in power, and by his courtly manners won their favor. His intercession prevented the cen- sure and removal of his uncle and secured for him the oppor- tunity of retiring with credit. John Wentworth was commis- sioned as Governor of New Hampshire and "Surveyor of the King's Woods in North America." The king had a great fond- ness for timber. His father, Mark Hunking Wentworth, was a merchant who amassed a large fortune by foreign trade. He was also a member of the council and one of the Masonian proprietors who purchased Mason's claim to the unoccupied lands of New Hampshire. His son John was the last, and perhaps the most illustrious, of the royal governors. He was a graduate of Harvard, and was distinguished for his love of learning. After his flight from the country, his estate was con- fiscated except what was required to pay his debts. His father, fearing that the estate would prove insolvent, with great gen- erosity relinquished his claims to his son's property, that other
II
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creditors might not be losers by him. He was the largest cred- itor of all.
John Wentworth had been trained to mercantile pursuits in early life. The distinguished family to which he belonged were devoted to merchandise. This was the most direct road to wealth and power. The people of Portsmouth received and handled all the exports and imports of the province, hence many of them became rich. It was the seat of the legislature and of the courts, till in 1770 the province was divided into five counties by the legislature. Several sessions passed before the points of difficulty respecting boundaries and privileges could be adjusted. In 1771, the king gave his approbation of the division, and separate courts were established in Rocking- ham, Hillsborough and Cheshire. The counties of Strafford and Grafton, being sparsely settled, were attached in the judi- cial circuit to Rockingham, till the governor and council should deem them competent to exercise separate jurisdictions. This was so ordered in 1773. The counties, except Cheshire, were named by the governor in honor of English noblemen who were his personal friends.
In 1771, paper currency, which had been from its origin a perpetual nuisance, was abolished and silver and gold became the legal tender in all business transactions. The predecessor of John Wentworth, the Hon. Benning Wentworth, had amassed a large fortune ; a portion of it by questionable means. He virtually sold grants of townships to scheming proprietors ; and reserved in each five hundred acres to himself. After his death the title to much of his estate began to be disputed. The gov- ernor himself proposed in council the question, "Whether the reservation of five hundred acres in several townships, by the late governor, Benning Wentworth, in the charter grants, con- veyed the title to him?" Seven of the eight councilors an- swered the question in the negative, and the reserved lands were offered to private settlers.
The dissenting councilor, Peter Livius, being dissatisfied be- cause, in the reappointment of justices of the common pleas for the new counties he had been omitted by the governor, resolved to procure his removal. He proceeded to England, with six specific charges of maladministration, and presented them to the lords of trade. A long and tedious examination followed, records and witnesses were examined, and the governor was, af- ter an appeal, triumphantly acquitted on every charge. But the case was carried from the lords of trade, who were inclined to report the charges verified, to a committee of the privy council, and before this high tribunal the governor was justified. That the decision was righteous appears from the general approbation
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of it by the people and the legislature at home. Till this period the governor's fame had suffered no eclipse. This was in 1773. He had uniformly endeavored to promote the public welfare by encouraging commerce, constructing highways, establishing courts and fostering learning. He signed the charter of Dartmouth College, contributed liberally to its funds, attended its first com- mencement, and took a deep interest in its welfare.
It is to be regretted that a man so noble in character, so gen- erous in action, so pacific in temper, should have fallen on evil times ; but he did not appreciate the character of the people he ruled. He hoped for reconciliation and labored to promote it ; but he could no more resist the on-rush of the revolution, than the Danish Canute could stay the tide of old ocean.
Doctor Dwight in his travels, says of him : "Governor Went- worth was the greatest benefactor of the Province of New Hampshire, mentioned in its history. He was a man of sound understanding, refined taste, enlarged views and a dignified spirit. His manners, also, were elegant and his disposition en- terprising. Agriculture, in this province, owed more to him than to any other man. He originated the formation of new roads and the improvement of old ones. All these circum- stances rendered him very popular, and he would probably have continued to increase his reputation, had he not been pre- vented by the controversy between Great Britain and her colo- nies. As the case was he retired from the chair with an unim- peachable character, and with higher reputation than any other man who, at that time, held the same office in the country."
John Wentworth performed his last official act on the Isles of Shoals, in September, 1775. He had previously retired to the fort and put himself under the protection of the Scarborough, a British ship of war, where he remained till the fort was dis- mantled. He then went to Boston. From that city he came as near to Portsmouth as he could with safety, to adjourn the re- bellious assembly. His house had been pillaged after he re- tired to the fort. Wentworth was the last, and probably the best, of the royal governors. He aimed to be loyal to the king and true to the people. But the two things were incompatible. He possessed business tact, executive energy, a pacific temper, and a cultivated taste. In ordinary times he would have made a popular and successful governor ; but, at the perilous crisis of his administration, no man could serve two masters. If he was true to the king, he was false to the people. Still, during a considerable portion of his official life, he was highly acceptable to his fellow-citizens. He went to England soon after leaving the province, and was there created a baronet and appointed lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick.
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John Wentworth of Somersworth, a contemporary of the gov- ernor, was in public life more than thirty years. He was dis- tinguished as an officer in the militia, a legislator and a judge. John Wentworth, jr., his son, was also one of the staunchest whigs of the Revolution. No man of that troublous period has a purer and nobler official record. He died in 1787, aged 42.
After the flight of Governor Wentworth, the people of New Hampshire were without a responsible government. They ac- cordingly proceeded, in January, 1776, to form a constitution to remain in force during "the unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain." In the following June, on the fifteenth day of that month, they made and published the following Declaration of Independence :
"Whereas it now appears an undoubted fact, that notwith- standing all the dutiful petitions and decent remonstrances from the American colonies, and the utmost exertions of their best friends in England on their behalf, the British Ministry, arbi- trary and vindictive, are yet determined to reduce by fire and sword our bleeding country to their absolute obedience; and for this purpose, in addition to their own forces, have engaged great numbers of foreign mercenaries, who may now be on their passage here accompanied by a formidable fleet to ravish and plunder the sea-coast ; from all which we may reasonably ex- pect the most dismal scenes of distress the ensuing year, unless we exert ourselves by every means and precaution possible ; and whereas we of this colony of New Hampshire have the example of several of the most respectable of our sister colonies before us for entering upon that most important step of disunion from Great Britain, and declaring ourselves FREE and INDEPEND- ENT of the crown thereof, being impelled thereto by the most violent and injurious treatment ; and it appearing absolutely necessary in this most critical juncture of our public affairs, that the honorable the Continental Congress, who have this im- portant object under immediate consideration, should be also in- formed of our resolutions thereon without loss of time, We do hereby declare that it is the opinion of this assembly that our delegates at the continental congress should be instructed, and they are hereby instructed, to join with the other colonies in de- claring the thirteen united colonies a free and independent state-solemnly pledging our faith and honor, that we will on our parts support the measure with our lives and fortunes, and that in consequence thereof, they, the continental congress, on whose wisdom, fidelity and integrity we rely, may enter into and form such alliances as they may judge most conducive to the present safety and future advantage of these American colo- nies : Provided, the regulation of our internal police be under the direction of our own Assembly."
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CHAPTER XLV.
COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES WITH ENGLAND.
The colonial legislatures claimed entire and exclusive author- ity in all matters relating to their own domestic and internal affairs. They denied the right of any power on earth to tax them but themselves. The British government maintained that the King of England, with advice of parliament, "had, hath and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever." On this principle, mother and daughter separated. The mother made concessions, adopted measures of conciliation, and re- duced the duties to a mere nominal sum ; still, so long as the principle was asserted, the rebellious daughter remained obsti- nate. Had the tax levied been but one penny per annum for each colony, the resistance would have been equally determined. Indeed, there can scarcely be a doubt that seven years of pa- tience, instead of seven years of fighting, with the ablest states- men and orators of England as friends of America, might have secured to the colonies absolute equality of political rights. Had the patriots of that age so waited and so acted, we their descend- ants might to-day have been the subjects of a hereditary mon- arch. Our counties might have been the property of counts, and our independent yeomen who own their farms and till them, who choose their pastors and support them, who make their laws and obey them, might have been the dependents of some " born gentleman," like the Duke of Sutherland, who with great condescension visits his peasants twice a year and gives them advice, builds roads and allows them to walk in them, founds churches and sends them rectors, provides cottages and requires of the tenants a rent which abridges the commonest comforts of life. The colonies were determined to be free. They deemed all concessions a snare, and experience has proved that they judged wisely. The English government, finding that the colo- nies would not submit, resolved to subdue them.
In April, 1775, there were three thousand royal troops in Boston, under General Gage. The business of that city had been ruined by adverse legislation. Traders had no business, citizens no bread. "An exceeding great and bitter cry" went up through the land. The adjacent towns not only sent food to Boston, but collected stores for the coming war. A magazine
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of provisions and ammunition had been established at Concord, Mass. General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, sent troops to destroy it. A company of provincial militia had assembled at Lexington to resist the British troops. Major Pitcairn, on seeing them, rode forward in front of his columns and cried, "Disperse, ye rebels ! lay down your arms and retire." As the men whom he called rebels did not obey, he gave orders to fire, and seven Americans fell and nine were wounded. The rest re- tired pursued by the British. This was the first bloody act of that great drama which was destined to free a continent. The British regulars succeeded in destroying or removing most of
the stores, but they paid dearly for this trifling result. They lost, before their return, two hundred and seventy-three men, killed, wounded and missing, while the provincials lost only eighty-eight ! The last tie to the mother country was broken. Reconciliation was now impossible. The news of the first bloodshed was borne on the wings of the wind to every hamlet, to every dweller within the limits of the thirteen colonies. Men sprang to arms as though moved by a single impulse. They made solemn pledges with one another to do or die, "to be ready for the extreme event." Almost with one voice, they echoed the burning words of Henry: "Give me liberty, or give me death !"
The people of New Hampshire were so inured to war, that they never could be wholly unprepared for it. An old law re- quired every male inhabitant, from sixteen to sixty years of age, to own a musket, bayonet, knapsack, cartridge-box, one pound of powder, twenty bullets and twelve flints. Every town was re- quired to keep, in readiness for use, one barrel of powder, two hundred pounds of lead and three hundred flints, besides spare arms and ammunition for those who were too poor to own them. Even exempts, as old as the discharged Roman veterans, were obliged to retain their arms. The militia was regarded as the right arm of the public defence. It was organized into com- panies and regiments and subjected to frequent drills under their officers. In most of the townships laid out by proprietors or royal governors, a "training ground " was as commonly reserved as a parsonage. Like the Jews of old in restoring and guarding their broken walls, they "made their prayer" and "set their watch." Volunteer companies also enlisted for the defence of the country. After the first blood was shed, every means that could convey the intelligence to the eye or ear was used to spread the alarm. Beacons were lighted, drums beaten, guns fired, and bells rung to warn the people of their danger.
"Then there was hurrying to and fro ; in hot haste"
men made ready their armor, women prepared their clothes and buckled on their harness.
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CHAPTER XLVI.
THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.
The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, on the fifth day of September, 1774. All the colonies were represented. Fifty-five members attended, each colony having sent as many as it pleased. In this congress there was no distinction be- tween the large and small colonies ; each had one vote, because, as General Sullivan said, " a little colony has its all at stake as well as a great one." This congress published a "bill of rights," which was equivalent to bringing against Great Britain a bill of wrongs. A great gulf was thus fixed between the two coun- tries. The second congress assembled in the same city, on the tenth of May, 1775, after the first blood had been shed at Lex- ington, and continued in session until the close of the Revolu- tionary war and the adoption of a definite form of government. By this congress, Washington was chosen generalissimo of the American troops, on the fifteenth of June, 1775, and the Dec- laration of Independence passed July fourth, 1776; and they assumed the name and title of "The United States of America." The same congress appointed three major-generals, Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, and Philip Schuyler ; one adjutant-general, Horatio Gates ; and eight brigadier-generals, of whom John.Sul- livan of New Hampshire was one. The people of the New England states did not wait to be summoned to the defence of their country. When they heard of her peril, they snatched their firelocks from the smoke-stained walls, and hastened to "the camp of liberty."
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