USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > History of Plymouth, New Hampshire; vol. I. Narrative--vol. II. Genealogies, Volume I > Part 12
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To the Selectmen of the town of Plymouth, Gentlemen :
We, the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, Do con- ceive it highly Necessary under the present Circumstances of the Town
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THE REVOLUTION, 1778-83.
and the critical Situation of public afairs in these parts, that there be a Committee of Safety chosen to take a particular care and inspect all matters wherein there may be danger of an injury to this Town or to the public Cause of the United States in General. We therefore desire you to call a Town Meeting as soon as may be to see if the Town chuse a Committee as aforesaid, and you will obblige your Humble Petitioners.
Plymouth June, 12, 1781
Onesiperous Marsh
Samuel Stearns Joseph Senter
Abel Webster James Brown
Abijah Wright
Winthrop Wells
Josiah Brown
Daniel C. Webster
William George
Jona. Robbins
Ebenezer Blodgett.
Jacob Smith
Jotham Cummings
A town meeting was called immediately and held July 4, 1781. Colonel Senter was chosen moderator and a committee was elected. They were Col. Joseph Senter, Capt. Samuel Dearborn, Lieut. Jonathan Robbins, Lieut. James Brown, and Abel Webster.
During the Revolution the scarcity of gold and silver and the uncertain and fading value of paper money invited the introduc- tion of many innovations in methods of business and in the con- duct of public affairs. In the progress of this embarrassment the business of the country in a great measure was limited to barter trade and an exchange of commodities. The products of the farm and the loom were a circulating medium, and a quantity of corn in the liquidation of debt would pass through many hands. The State, as conscious as individuals of the scarcity of money, made demands upon the towns for beef and rum for the use of the army. Following a demand for 10,000 gallons of rum and 120,000 pounds of beef, the act of Jan. 27, 1781, called for the collection of 1,400,000 pounds of beef, which was apportioned among the several towns. The apportionment of Plymouth was 7053 pounds. Many of the towns raised the tax in money and authorized the selectmen to purchase and deliver to the collector the required amount. In this town the tax was paid in beef. The selectmen assessed the tax, expressed in pounds of beef, upon the polls and estates. The taxpayers formed classes. Suppose the tax of A
136
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
was 100 pounds and he had a beeve to deliver weighing 500 pounds, A would admit to his class C and D, whose aggregate tax was 400 pounds, who paid to A their just proportion according to the assessment. In this manner the number of classes equalled the number of beeves turned over to the State in payment of the tax.
The depreciation of the paper money in circulation, and the uncertain value of a promise to pay in current funds, was a factor in town as well as State affairs. The town of Plymouth, March 13, 1781, voted " to give the towns quota of Continental soldiers, now in the field and engaged during the war, each of them, one yoke of good six feet oxen about six years old, or the value thereof, in three years from this time or sooner if discharged."
March 12, 1782, voted, " To give the town's quota of Conti- nental soldiers now engaged during the war fifty Spanish milled dollars, to each of them, or the value thereof in addition to what has been heretofore voted."
April 4, 1782, " Voted to raise forty two pounds towards paying the towns quota of Continental soldiers that are engaged during the war entitled to the benefit of the town's vote of March 13, 1781, to give each of them one yoke of good six feet oxen; that the same be assessed upon the polls and estates in this town in silver money to be paid in silver money or specific articles of produce, such as corn grain or peas at the market price; and that the same be taken out of the said oxen to such of said soldiers that receive the said pay and receipts for the same."
It is a feature of the history of Grafton County that the courts were closed from 1776 to 1782. The causes for the suspension are attributable to the disturbances incident to the Revolution and to a division of sentiment during the Vermont controversy. The Exeter government was conservative and tolerant, and the good conduct of the people in both sections of the county was a remark- able exhibition of self-government. The collapse of the union of the western towns with Vermont presented an opportunity for a peaceful reorganization of a county administration, which the
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THE REVOLUTION, 1778-83.
Exeter government accepted. First, in the nature of a proclama- tion, it was voted, March 19, 1782, that the courts of Grafton County should be immediately opened and that a term of the Superior Court of Judicature should be held at Haverhill in October of that year. Eight days later the legislature appointed Samuel Emerson of Plymouth chief justice and Enoch Page of Wentworth, James Woodward and Ezekiel Ladd of Haverhill associate justices of the Court of Common Pleas. David Webster, sheriff, and Samuel Emerson, register of deeds, were continued in office, and soon after Samuel Emerson appears as the county treasurer. A short time previous to this, after the legislature had declared a vacancy in the command of the twelfth regiment and in the office of Judge of Probate, Charles Johnston was appointed to succeed Israel Morey in both positions. This organization, by successive appointments and elections, has been continued to the present time.
To complete the record of the representation of Plymouth in the house of representatives during the term of the temporary consti- tution, three legislatures are remaining. New London was joined to the Plymouth class of towns from 1780 to 1782. In the legis- lature ending in December, 1782, Francis Worcester was the councillor from Grafton County, and Joseph Senter of Plymouth represented the towns of Plymouth, New Chester, Cockermouth, Alexandria, and New London. The next election was held at Plymouth Dec. 3, 1782. Under a new arrangement of class, Plymouth and Rumney were classed. In the legislature ending in December, 1783, Francis Worcester was the councillor and Edward Everett of Rumney the representative. At the short ses- sion convened in December, 1783, and dissolved by the promulga- tion of the constitution in June, 1784, Moses Dow of Haverhill was the councillor and Francis Worcester was the representative.
A record of the election Dec. 3, 1782, attended by the voters of Plymouth and Rumney, is preserved. Daniel Brainerd of Rumney was the moderator of the meeting. Francis Worcester was elected a representative, and the meeting was adjourned until
138
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
the twelfth instant. At the adjourned meeting it was known that Francis Worcester had been elected councillor. The meeting then chose Benjamin Goold of Plymouth, who declined, and on a second ballot Edward Everett of Rumney was elected.
In another connection mention has been made of the service in the Revolution of Moor Russell, Capt. Adna Penniman, Joshua Thornton, Solomon Bayley, Starling Heath, Col. Joseph Senter, and Thomas Nutting, who removed to this town after their dis- charge from the army.
George Shepard of Canterbury, born 1741, was taxed in Ply- month 1776, and was hired " to do scouting," but in this service probably he was not an enlisted soldier. He removed from this town, and subsequently served in Colonel Scammell's regiment. He was claimed on the quotas of Canterbury and Boscawen, and was finally credited to Boscawen.
William Nealey of Exeter, a continental soldier in Colonel Cilley's regiment, was severely wounded in the face in December, 1777. He was pensioned by the State and subsequently lived a few years in Plymouth. He was not taxed.
Currier Barnard came to Plymouth, 1784. While a resident of Amesbury, Mass., he enlisted, April 3, 1778, in Capt. Samuel Huse's company of Col. Jacob Gerrish's regiment, and was dis- charged July 4, 1778. He also served two other enlistments.
Ephraim Chamberlain, who removed to Plymouth, 1824, was a soldier in Capt. Edward Everett's company, Colonel Bedel's regi- ment, 1776, and in Capt. Chase Taylor's company, Colonel Stick- ney's regiment, at Bennington, 1777.
Jonathan Jewett lived in this town a few years, beginning 1781. He served in the Hollis company, commanded by Capt. Daniel Emerson, at the Ticonderoga alarm in 1777, and in Cap- tain Worthen's company in the Rhode Island campaign of 1778.
Stephen Wells lived in Northumberland four years, removing to Plymouth in 1777. In addition to the service named in Vol- ume II, it is probable that he served upon the frontiers in one or more of the companies stationed in the vicinity of Northumberland.
139
THE REVOLUTION, 1778-83.
Winthrop Wells came to Plymouth in 1765. At that date he was thirty-nine years of age and was styled a lieutenant. He was one of the first board of selectmen and was a prominent and useful citizen. There appears an article in a warrant for a town meeting held in Plymouth May 12, 1778, to choose a surveyor of highways in room of "Lieut. Winthrop Wells who has enlisted in public service." The town chose Zachariah Parker "in the Rome of Leuit. Winthrop Wells who has gon into Public Service."
The Apportionment of 1784 .- At the close of the Revolution, and in connection with the adoption of a permanent State consti- tution, the legislature, in February, 1783, instructed the select- men of the several towns of the State to make a return of property subject to taxation and of the number of polls eighteen to seventy- five years of age. Upon the basis of these returns an apportion- ment of the State tax was made in June, 1784. The proportion of Plymouth was £4 19s. 4d. on every £1000. Males over seventy years of age were not exempt from a poll tax until the act of Feb. 7, 1789. The selectmen of Plymouth, as represented in the return, reported the number of polls assessed in April, 1783.
PLYMOUTH, 12th December 1783.
This may Certify that there is Ninety two Male polls upwards of Twenty one years of Age, paying for themselves a poll Tax in the Town of Plymouth. There is also over and above said Ninety two, five Sol- diers returned home from the Continental service since the first day of April last, belonging to said Plymouth and upwards of Twenty one years of Age on said first day of April last.
SAMUEL EMERSON
WASHINGTON GEORGE Selectmen
The names of the five soldiers who returned to Plymouth were Edward Evans, John Phillips, Nehemiah Phillips, Joseph Hobart, and Nicholas Hall.
The ninety-two males Chumerated were: -
Richard Bay'
Ebenezer Blodgett Thomas Boynton
Stephen Bartlett
James Blodgett
Elisha Bean
James Blodgett Jr.
Josiah Brown Josiah Brown Jr.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Daniel Chamberlain
Jonas Keyes
Joel Taylor
Jotham Cummings
Abiel Lovejoy
Joshua Thornton
Samuel Drew
Onesipherus Marsh
Moses Thurlow
Michael Dearborn
Samuel Marsh
Nathan Ward
Peter Dearborn Jacob Marsh
Enoch Ward
Samuel Dearborn
Jacob Merrill
Isaac Ward
David Durkee
Thomas McCluer
Benjamin Ward
Samuel Emerson
Samuel Morse
Stephen Webster
Henry Erving
John Nevins
Steplien Webster Jr.
Joshua Fletcher
Jonathan Penniman
David Webster
Moses French
John Porter
Daniel C. Webster
Benjamin Goold
Zachariah Parker
Abel Webster
William George
Amos Phillips
Nathaniel Webster
William Gibson
Joseph Reed
Moses Webster
William Greenough
Zebadiah Richardson
Winthrop Wells
James Harvill
Jonathan Robbins
Benjamin Wells
Thomas Harriman
John Rogers
Paul Wells
James Hobart
James Ryan
Stephen Wells
Samuel Heath
Joseph Senter
John Willoughby
Joshua Heath
David Senter
John Willoughby Jr.
Daniel Heath
Edward Senter
Francis Worcester
George Hull
Samuel Stearns
Francis Worcester Jr.
Moses Hull
Samuel Stearns Jr
Abijah Wright
Timothy Ingalls
Peter Stearns
Daniel Wheeler
Jonathan Jewett
Edward Smith
John Webber
Ephraim Keyes
Jacob Smith
Levi Wyman
Ephraim Keyes Jr.
Nehemiah Snow
Nathaniel Wyman
Peter Keyes
John Siphros
Van
." Worthen's momno-
141
THE VETERANS' STORY.
XII. THE VETERANS' STORY.
ITTO the courtesy of Frank D. Currier, the representative in congress of the second New Hampshire district, this chapter is accredited. These copies of the original pension papers, in the language of the applicant, are drawn from the files at Washington. The copies, under the direction of Charles C. Wright, were made by Mrs. Glennie Anne Bartlett Adams. To each of the persons named the readers of this chapter are indebted. The statements of the veterans of the Revolution, filed with their applications for pension, are printed without comment, and they will present the better and the more eloquent chapter in the story of Plymouth in the memorable struggle for independence.
Declaration.
State of New Hampshire County of Grafton SS. On this fourth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared before the Judge of the Probate Court for said county now sitting, William Greenough, a resident of Rumney in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, aged eighty one years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year A. D. 1775 with Lieut. Jotham Cummings and served under the following named officers. He enlisted the latter part of June or the first of July 1775 in the town of Plymouth in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, in the company of militia, commanded by Capt. James Osgood in which Jotham Cum- mings was 2nd Lieut. and Mathew Thornton was 1st. Lieut., for six months ; in Col. Bedel's regiment and under the command of Gen. Mont- gomery and served as a drummer. He marched from Plymouth aforesaid to Haverhill, N. H., thence to St. Johns, Canada, and was in the siege and battle of St. Johns and at the taking of the same - from thence to
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Longgale & from thence to the St. Lawrence River to a place called Leveltree, on an expedition to stop some British vessels which had started from Montreal for Quebec and succeeded in the expedition, the vessels capitulated and from the last mentioned place he was discharged, to the best of his knowledge the last of December same year, having served on the last expedition after the expiration of his term of enlistment which he did at the special request of his officers, for which service he was promised a share in the booty should the expedition be successful but never did receive any of the booty. On his enlistment he received one dollar bounty. Early in the spring of 1776, he again made his arrange- ments for entering the service of his country by letting out his farm &c., and enlisted the second time for one year under Capt. William Tarlton under the command of Gen. Bayley, to guard the frontier. He marched from Plymouth aforesaid, to the best of his recollection, in May 1776, was stationed at Haverhill, N. H. Newbury, Vt. and the vicinity around. In this campaign nothing worthy of very special notice occurred. He has no documentary evidence ; he never received a written discharge but was discharged before officers in person and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services except Thomas Ramsey of Rumney in the county & State aforesaid, who can testify to his six months' services. He further states that he served his country faithfully, is now an old, infirm and decrepit man, in very low circum- stances and has been obliged to appeal for, and is now receiving his support from the town of Rumney aforesaid. He further states that in February 1777, he enlisted into the company commanded by Capt. William Tarlton, in which Luther Richardson and Jesse Young served as Lieutenants in Col. Bedel's regiment New Hampshire militia and served in the vicinity of Haverhill and Newbury aforesaid until he was discharged the last of March or first of April following, being about one and one half month. He now lives in Rumney aforesaid and has most of the time since the Revolutionary war. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Witness Edward Webber. . WILLIAM GREENOUGH.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
EDWARD WEBBER, Judge of Probate.
I, Moses Dow Clerk of the Court of Probate aforesaid do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said
143
THE VETERANS' STORY.
Court, in the matter of the application of William Greenough for a pen- sion. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this fourth day of September A. D. 1832.
MOSES DOW.
An amendment to the within declaration.
State of New Hampshire } Ss. On this 2nd day of April A. D. 1833. County of Grafton $ personally appeared before the judge of the Court of Probate for said county now sitting, William Greenongh a resident of Rumney in the county of Grafton & State of New Hampshire, aged 81 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration as an amendment to the within declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That under his first enlistment he served a period not less than six months ; that under his second enlistment he served out his full term of twelve months commencing sometime in May 1776 and was discharged in May 1777; that under his third enlistment he served a period not less than one month. He was born in Newburyport, Mass. in the year A. D. 1751. His birth, as he has been told by his mother, is recorded on the town records in said Newburyport. He refers to the Rev. Noah Nichols, Rev. Edward Webber, Hon. Samuel Burns, Samuel Burnham, Esq., and Capt. Elisha Smart, all of said Rumney, to all of whom he is well known in his present neighborhood and who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.1
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
WILLIAM GREENOUGH.
State of Vermont
Rutland County, ss. S On this 25th day of July A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Probate Court of Rutland Dis't, now sitting, Peter Keyes a resident of the County of Rutland and State of Vermont, aged 70 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named
1 Affidavits of Rev. Noah Nichols and Samuel Burnham, both of Rumney, N. H., are attached to the above amendment. They state their belief in his veracity and that he was a soldier in the Revolution. The testimony of Thomas Ramsey, who served in the same company and at the same time as William Greenough in his first enlistment, affirms what is given in the first declaration but adds nothing to it. Certificate of Pension, issued the 25th of April, 1833, and sent to Edward Webber, Rumney, N. H. Inscribed on the roll of New Hampshire at the rate of sixty-five dollars and thirty-three cents per annum.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHI.
officers, and served as herein stated. In 1779 he lived in Plymouth, New Hampshire and in the summer of that year, he was drafted for three months and marched to the Upper Cohoes, to protect the inhabitants against the Indians and served under Lieut. Chapman who was the officer in command - served most of the time in scouting - the place of rendezvous was Stratford. At the end of three months returned home but received no written discharge. In 1780, in June, he enlisted for six months in Col. Courtland's Regt. of Light Infantry, New York, Capt. Monroe, Lieut. Carter, Ensign Stark he thinks - was passed, mustered at Amherst - marched to West Point and was there when Arnold sold the place - when he went to Kingsferry and crossed again to New Jersey, marched lie should think about 40 miles in that State, returned to a place called Soldier's Fortune opposite West Point where he was discharged but has lost his discharge. He was about 3 miles off when Maj. André was hung. He cannot distinguish other regiments with which he served. He knew Generals Washington, Lafayette, Poor (who died while he was in service) and many others whose names he has forgotten. He has no documentary evidence but has the affidavit of Robert Forres to prove part of his services. He was born at Hollis, New Hampshire, the 26 Dec. 1761, but has no record of his age-it was recorded in his father's bible. Since the Revolution, he lived in Plymouth aforesaid until about 35 years ago when he moved to Strafford, Vermont, where he lived until 14 years ago he moved to Pittsfield where he has since lived. He is known to the Rev. John Suddard and Deacon Fairbanks, who are present, and to most of the people of Pittsfield. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.1
PETER KEYES.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
R. C. ROYCE, Reg"r.
PITTSFIELD, VT. RUTLAND COUNTY, Feb. 5, 1835. To the Hon. J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir - I understand that in consequence of the frauds committed upon the Government by a certain agent in this county, the further payment of pensions in this county are suspended and that it is necessary to for- ward to your office a statement of services &c. I therefore state that I belonged to the State of New Hampshire when in service and that I was drafted three months and marched up Conecticut River to the uppermost
1 Certificate of Pension, issued 31st of August, 1833, and sent to R. Temple, Rutland. Inscribed on the roll of Vermont at the rate of thirty dollars per annum.
-
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THE VETERANS' STORY.
settlement on the river as an Indian spy and served there three months --- this I think was in 1779. I then enlisted for six months to fill up the three years' men's places, under Capt. Munroe in Col. Courtland's regi- ment. I then marched to West Point and stayed there about a fortnight and then went down the river to Kingsferry and served out my time in that vicinity and was discharged at a place called Soldiers' Fortune. I served in the whole nine months but was in no battle. My six months service was in the Light Infantry under M. D. Lafayette - while at (I think Elizabethtown) Gen. Poor died and as I was on sentry I saw his corpse carried by to be buried and his horse followed the corpse to the grave without a rider or leader. I resided in this town when I first made application for a pension, and the testimony was taken before R. Pier- pont, Clerk of the County Court, my pension was thirty dollars per annum and I drew up to the 4th of Sept. 1834.
Your obt. Servant.
PETER KEYES.
Application for a transfer.
County of Alleghany ss.
On this 14th day of March 1836, before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Alleghany, personally appeared Peter Keyes, who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Monroe in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Courtland in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Vermont from whence he has lately removed ; that he now resides in the State of New York where he intends to remain, and wishes his pen- sion to be there payable, in future. The following are his reasons for removing from Vermont to New York, viz : - that he has a son living in the town of Eagle in the State of New York and that he removed for the purpose of residing with him.1
* Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid.
PETER KEYES.
LUTHER C. PECK, Justice &c.
State of New Hampshire.
Grafton ss.
On this twentieth day of November 1819, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for said County per- sonally appears Ezekiel Keyes aged sixty years, resident in Plymouth in the said State, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the pro-
1 His name was transferred to the Albany roll.
VOL. I .- 10
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
vision made by the late act of Congress, entitled " An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war": That he the said Ezekiel Keyes en- listed on 4th day of March 1776 in the State of New Hampshire in the company commanded by Captain Edward Everett of the regiment com- manded by Col. Timothy Bedel ; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the month of Decem- ber 1776, when he was discharged from service in Mount Independance, State of Vermont, that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services.
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