USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 12
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There is no evidence that especial efforts were made in Wolfe- borough to furnish soldiers for the army during the years 1775 and 1776, and it is probable that its complement was preserved by voluntary enlistments.
At the annual town-meeting, held March 26, 1776, the follow- ing letter from Col. Badger was read :-
"Strafford ss. To all the training soldiers in the town of Wolfe- borough,-Greeting :-
You are hereby notified and warned to meet at the dwelling house of John Sinkler, innholder in said town, on Tuesday, the twentieth day of February instant, at one of the clock in the after- noon, and then and there to make choice of military officers for your town; viz., one captain, two lieutenants, and one ensign, agreeably to the order of Congress.
Dated at Gilmanton, Feb. 6, 1776.
Joseph Badger, Colonel."
The notice for the meeting not arriving seasonably, the matter was taken up at the annual town-meeting. John Sinkler was chosen captain; Andrew Lucas, first lieutenant ; Jonathan Lary, second lieutenant ; and Reuben Libbey, ensign. The train-band was subsequently completely organized. Andrew Wiggin was ap- pointed clerk ; Aaron Frost, Joseph Leavitt, Lemuel Clifford, John Fullerton, sergeants ; Samuel Tebbetts, Jr., Samuel Hide, Enoch Thomas, David Piper, corporals ; Jonathan Hersey, drummer ; and
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
John Lucas, fifer. The privates consisted of Richard Rust, Henry Rust, Jr., James Connor, James Lucas, Jr., William Lucas, James Lucas, 3rd, Samuel Tebbetts, Edmund Tebbetts, Ichabod Tebbetts, Joseph Lary, Ebenezer Meader, Benjamin Blake, James Fullerton, William Fullerton, John Piper, James Wiggin, Jeremiah Gould, Ichabod Ham, Grafton Nutter, George Glynn, Matthew S. Parker, Joseph Keniston, Moses Wingate, William Rogers, John Wadleigh. Of these Edmund Tebbetts, William Fullerton, John Piper, James Wiggin, and Ichabod Ham were under eighteen years of age. These, with six other persons then in the army, constituted the militia company of Wolfeborough, which consisted of four com- missioned officers, eight non-commissioned officers, two musicians, and thirty-one privates, making forty-five in all.
The Revolutionary War records of Wolfeborough are quite defective, and it is somewhat difficult to determine when certain events occurred, and by what organized agency they were brought about. The committee of safety, the militia company, the various committees chosen by the town, as well as the selectmen and citi- zens generally, took an interest in military matters. All persons who were disposed to aid the town in its struggle to meet obliga- tions were allowed to do so with little regard for red tape. Not only were men required to act as soldiers, but means were needed to supply the necessities of those who enlisted and to raise crops for the sustenance of their families left at home.
At some time during this year contributions of money and labor were made by sundry persons, for which advancements they were to be re-imbursed by abatements on their taxes in 1777. They were as follows: Henry Rust, Matthew S. Parker, James Connor, Capt. Thomas Lucas, Lieut. Andrew Lucas, John Lucas, James Lucas, 3rd, Jonathan Hersey, Moses Wingate, Robert Calder, Capt. John Sinkler, Ensign Reuben Libbey, Moses Ham, one dollar each; Thomas Piper, a half-dollar ; Samuel Tebbetts, Grafton Nutter, Ithiel Clifford, Lemuel Clifford, Edmund Teb- betts, Henry Rust, Jr., Benjamin Blake, Robert Estes, Aaron
150
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Frost, Joseph Lary, Enoch Thomas, one day's work each at a half- dollar per day; Jeremiah Gould, three days' work at the same price; James Wiggin, Ichabod Ham, David Blake, and John Sinkler, Jr., each a day's work at one-third of a dollar a day, to be placed to the credit of their respective fathers ; Nehemiah Lucas, one pound of tobacco, twelve and a half cents.
In 1776 there was a considerable decrease in the number of ratable polls in Wolfeborough on account of the departure of employees on the Wentworth Farm, their services being no longer required by reason of changed circumstances. This led to some difference between the state authorities and those of the town in regard to the number of men required to fill the quota of three years soldiers for the continental service, the former basing their claim as to the number of ratable polls in Wolfeborough on the report of the selectmen made in 1775, and the latter theirs on the number still remaining in town.
In July Matthew S. Parker, having been appointed an agent by the town, visited the committee of safety at Exeter for the purpose of adjusting the matter. The cost of the visit to the town was four pounds and one shilling, being Parker's wages for four and one- half days at eight shillings per day for himself and horse and his daily expenses as thus intemized :- "breakfast, one shilling ; din- ner, two shillings; one bowl of grog, two shillings ; supper, one shilling ; lodging, six pence ; oats thrice, one shilling ; horse keep- ing, two shillings and six pence." Persons transacting public busi- ness were at that time expected to manifest a courteous respect for each other by drinking together or treating with the social glass. The matter of controversy appears to have been amicably settled by Parker and the committee of safety.
The following letter addressed to Hon. John Wentworth, chair- man of the state committee of safety, is self-explanatory.
"Wolfeborough, January 19, 1777.
Sir :- There having a vote passed in the Honorable Council
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
and Assembly, for each town to make up there full quota of men for the three years' service in the Continental Army, occasions my troubling you with this line to ask your advice in relation to what can be done respecting that affair with this town; the particulars of which (as I informed you last July at Exeter, when I was sent down by the town on the same business) are these : In the year 1775 there were orders issued by the General Court for the num- ber of all souls, at which time there were ten or twelve more ratable polls than there are at present-there being now only forty-four. Now, the proportion for this town, I imagine, was made by the return given in that year, which occasions the call for soldiers from this town to be two or three more than its proportion (which I understand to be every eighth man, agreeably to a vote of the Assembly), the inhabitants having depreciated instead of increas- ing. Now, if you recollect, I related these particulars to you, like- wise shew you the necessary certificate to prove the same, when I saw you at Exeter. I endeavored to lay the affair before the Honorable Committee of Safety, then sitting, but the multiplicity of business then before your Honors prevented me. I think you told me you mentioned it before the committee adjourned, and it was concluded that the town might make itself easy if it had sent its proportion according to the present number of its inhabitants. The present order is for the muster master to hire all delinquent men, and charge the respective towns with the cost. Now, if you can help us in the affair, that we may (as is most just ) shun that difficulty, I shall take it as a particular kindness done to
Your most Obedient and very Humble Servant,
Matthew S. Parker.
John Wentworth, Esq.
On the eighteenth day of April, 1777, a town-meeting was called to adopt measures for meeting the demand of the general court for soldiers for the continental service, and also to attend
152
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
to other matters. The town chose Matthew S. Parker and Joseph Lary a committee to hire soldiers, and instructed it to hire two, only, notwithstanding the call was for a larger number. The committee was further instructed, in case the claim for a larger number of men was pressed, to visit the general court and show that the town had complied with a just requisition for soldiers. This committee subsequently secured the enlistment of Ichabod Tebbetts and David Piper for a term of three years, paying Teb- betts one hundred and ten dollars and Piper one hundred dollars.
Here is a copy of the agreement made by Tebbetts in relation to serving as soldier :-
"June 20, 1777.
Received of James Conner, Joseph Lary, and Matthew S. Parker, committee for hiring soldiers for the town of Wolfe- borough for the continental army, a note of hand for thirty-three pounds, lawful money, which, when paid will be in full for so much hire money given by said town as encouragement for their service in the continental army for the space of three years.
Ichabod Tebbetts"
At the same meeting it was voted that the committee to hire soldiers, increased by Capt. Thomas Lucas, Moses Wingate, Jonathan Lary, and Reuben Libbey, should constitute the com- mittee to regulate prices, and should also be, for the coming year, the town committee of safety.
On account of the distressed condition of the country at this period monopolists were demanding exorbitant prices for the necessaries of life. To correct this abuse, the legislature of New Hampshire enacted a law regulating the prices of various com- modities. Here are the maximum prices of the best qualities of the following articles, as established by that law :---
Wheat, $1.25 per bushel ; rye, $.67 ; corn, $.58 ; oats, $.33 ; peas, $1.33; beans, $1.00 ; potatoes, $.22 to $.33 ; cheese, $.08 per lb .;
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
butter, $.14 ; pork, $.06 1-2 to $.07 1-2 ; beef, $.04 1-2 ; tried tallow, $.I0; sole leather, $.25 ; upper leather, in fair proportion ; men's neat leather shoes, $1.33 a pair ; West India rum, $I.II to $1.28 per gal., according to quantity ; New England rum, $.64 to $.75 ; molasses, $.56 to $.67 ; cotton, $.50 to $.60 per lb. ; flax, $.17 ; wool, $.36; men's yarn stockings-very long, $1.00 a pair ; I yd. wide striped flannel, $.58 per yd. ; tow cloth, $.37, linen, and cotton and linen, $.60 ; bar iron, $6.67 a cwt. An increase of price was added for every ten miles of inland transportation. A bushel of salt at Wolfeborough would bring the price of four bushels of corn, or four days' labor. The same regulating law fixed the price of farm laborers at $.56 per day, other laborers receiving wages varying according to the customary usage.
In the autumn of 1777 the British general, Burgoyne, was suc- cessfully raiding portions of our northern territory, and the gov- ernment determined to make a strong effort to check his progress and overthrow his army. An urgent call was made for volunteers for the campaign. Here is a copy of a letter from Brigadier- General William Whipple to Colonel Joseph Badger in relation to the matter :---
"Portsmouth, 23 Sept., 1777.
Sir :- I am desired by the House of Assembly to reccommend in the strongest manner to the militia of this state that, as many of them as can possibly leave home, do immediately equip themselves in the best manner possible, and march to the re-enforcement of the northern army, and put themselves under the officers commanding there. You will please inform the officers and men that they will be allowed the same pay, rations, and other encouragements, as are received by the other offi- cers and soldiers of this state. By one bold exertion we may be amply revenged for the execrable abuses that have been exercised by our merci- less foes, restore to some degree of happiness a great number of our northern brethren, who have been recently forced from their peaceful habitations, and put it out of the power of our more than savage enemy to evermore show their faces in that part of the country.
I do, therefore, most ernestly urge you to exert every faculty to stimulate the militia under your command to march without the least delay to the assistance of their brethren now in the field, and share
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
with them the glory of vanquishing the most barbarous enemy that ever pretended to civilization.
I am your Humble Servant, W. Whipple, Brig. Gen'l."
Col. Badger immediately transmitted the above letter to the selectmen of Wolfeborough with the following endorsement on the back of it :-
"Gentlemen :-
You'll see by the within recommendation of the Court I must entreat you to exert every nerve, as this seems to be the critical moment. Send forward all the men you can get to be at my house by Tuesday next if possible. When the men are met the officers shall be appointed as they may agree.
I am, Gentlemen, Your Humble Servant, Joseph Badger, Colonel.
Under this call the following persons immediately enlisted for three months: John Sinkler, John Lucas, William Lucas, Ben- jamin Blake, Andrew Wiggin, Moses Ham. After the capture of Burgoyne's army these recruits received their discharge in north- ern New York, and Blake gave an exhibition of his hardihood by walking barefoot to his home in Wolfeborough, although the ground for a part of the distance was covered with snow, and he was carrying in his knapsack a pair of new shoes.
In 1776 or early in 1777 there was a call for a three years' soldier from Wolfeborough. There was an apparent reluctance on the part of the inhabitants to enlist, and Ebenezer Meader offered his ser- vices. The town authorities, unwilling to deprive the people of so necessary an artisan, hired Enoch Thomas for fifty dollars to take his place, and the blacksmith remained at home. Thomas was poor, and his neighbors offered to assist him in procuring an outfit forthe army. One incident is worthy of mention. An enthusiastic
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
helper whose only pair of trousers was sadly worn, and who was anticipating the speedy possession of a new pair that was being prepared for him, in his patriotic zeal, addressing his spouse, cried out, "Wife, put some more patches on the old trousers. Thomas must have the new ones." On his return from the army, after the expiration of his term of enlistment, Thomas claimed more hire money, as other men who enlisted afterwards 1 eceived a larger compensation. Some controversy with the town authorities followed, but the matter was finally satisfactorily ad- justed.
The early calls for soldiers carried into the army as many men as volunteers as the country could conveniently spare, and when, as years went on, the conflict became more bloody and hazardous, patriotism, self interest, and pecuniary consideration helped to fill the ranks, though at great sacrifice and cost.
In 1777 James Lucas, Thomas Lucas, and Ithiel Clifford, be- ing more than fifty years old, were exempted from performing military service ; so also was Thomas Piper, he being the miller.
The following list of persons received an abatement of a portion of their taxes of 1777 on account of having served as soldiers in the army agreeably to a vote of the town. The first column gives the name of the soldier serving in the army ; the second, the num- ber of months that he served; the third, the amount of his tax abatement.
Ichabod Tebbetts
17
8 shillings 10 pence.
David Piper
17
8
IO
John Piper
14
7
9
9
Jonathan Lary
5
2
9
William Rogers
5
2
9
John Fullerton
5
2
9
John Sinkler
3
I
66
8
William Lucas
3
I
8
John Lucas
3
I
8
66
Jeremiah Gould
9
6
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Benjamin Blake
3 3 8 I 66 8 66 66 I I shilling 8 pence Andrew Wiggin
Moses Ham 3
These abatements were in accordance with a special vote of the town in 1777 and not by reason of any general rule.
A call was issued in 1778 for a convention of delegates from the several towns in New Hampshire to meet in Concord on the tenth day of June to form some suitable plan for the future government of the state. The citizens of Wolfeborough took the matter into consideration at the annual March meeting, and thus voted: "It is not the mind of the town to send a delegate for the purpose aforesaid, presuming that the expenses there will be greater than the present circumstances of the town will afford, or even any advantages that are likely to arise from such a choice." This action was by no means unpatriotic or indicative of indifference to the general welfare of the state; but, as the expenses of the delegate were to be paid by the town, it seems to have resulted from prudent forecast, or, more probably, from stern necessity as the following incident would indicate.
There was a call from the state for another soldier, and John Sinkler and Andrew Lucas, the agents for the town, hired Nathan Watson, paying him a bounty of twenty dollars and furnishing him with a gun, a blanket, and a knapsack. These articles were borrowed on the credit of the town of the following persons : the gun, value sixteen dollars, of Robert Calder ; the blanket, value four dollars, of Ebenezer Meader; and the knapsack, value one dollar, of James Lucas, 3rd. The town eventually paid for the several articles. The bounty money was furnished by Moses Win- gate, and was subsequently allowed on the state farm taxes by his order.
WOLFEBOROUGH VILLAGE - WINTER SCENES
CHAPTER XIII.
THE REVOLUTION-REUBEN LIBBEY GOES TO WAR INSTEAD OF A SUBSTITUTE-HIS HAY-CROP HARVESTED BY A LABOR TAX -JAMES FULLERTON AND JAMES LIBBEY ENLIST-WIGGIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED-OTHER ENLISTMENTS - NEW HAMPSHIRE FURNISHES THE ARMY RUM AND BEEF-PRO- GRESS OF THE CONFLICT-BOUNTIES VAINLY OFFERED- STATE SUPPLIES TOWN'S QUOTA-FULL LIST OF SOL- DIERS-THEIR SERVICE-OFFICERS-FATAL CASUALTIES- TOWN'S WAR DEBT-FARMS ATTACHED FOR STATE TAX- DEBT FINALLY WIPED OUT-PROSPECT FOR THE FUTURE.
E ARLY in the summer of 1779 Reuben Libbey agreed to furnish a soldier for a six months' campaign in the Rhode Island expedition. Not being able to obtain one, he himself en- listed. He was to receive for bounty and travel forty-six pounds and sixteen shillings, and have his hay-crop harvested. A labor tax was assessed according to the following list of "person's names, and the number of day's work each person was to do, agreeably to a vote of the town towards getting in the hay grow- ing on Ensign Libbey's farm to be done according to the ,direc- tion of Jonathan Horne, and the surplus labor, if any, to be worked out on the highway."
Col. Henry Rust, 3 3-4 days labor ; James Conner, 2 I-4 ; Capt. Thomas Lucas, 2 1-4; William Lucas, 3-4 ; Capt. John Sinkler, I 3-4; Benjamin Evans, 2 I-4; Thomas Piper, I I-4 ; Moses Var- ney, 3-4 ; James Lucas 3rd, I ; Doct. Cutter, 2 1-2; Grafton Nut- ter, 3-4; Andrew Folsom, 3-4; the estate in the care of Moses Wingate, 18 I-4 ; Moses Wingate, 3-4; Joseph Leavitt, I ; Robert Calder, I 3-4; John Kennett, 3-4; Aaron Frost, I 3-4; Abram Prebble, 3-4; Lieut. Jonathan Lary, 2; Joseph Keniston, 3-4;
157
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Samuel Tebbetts, Jr., I; Benjamin Durgin, I ; - Goldsmith, I ; Lieut. Ebenezer Horne, 6; Ebenezer Horne, Jr., 3-4; Isaiah Horne, 3-4; Jonathan Horne, 3-4; Andrew Wiggin, 2 3-4; Jona- than Hersey, I 3-4; Ithiel Clifford, I 1-2; Lemuel Clifford, I ; Widow Mary Fullerton, 2 34; John Fullerton, 1 1-2; Jeremiah Gould, 3-4; Benjamin Blake, 2 1-2 ; Isaac Williams, 3-4; Robert Estes, I I-2; Ebenezer Meader, 2; Joseph Lary, 3; Samuel Teb- betts, Sr., 2 1-4; James Lucas, Jr., 3-4; Lieut. Andrew Lucas, 2 I-4; John Lucas, 3-4; William Rogers, I; Henry Rust, 3-4; Richard Rust, 3-4; Matthew Stanley Parker, 3 1-4; Benjamin Wiggin, 3-4; amounting in the whole to 93 1-4 days work.
Each person was to furnish his provisions and tools, and work in such gangs as should be arranged under the direction of Mr. Horne. The labor was to be properly expended in "cutting, making, and housing" the hay on Libbey's farm, which was situ- ated at the most distant point of Wolfeborough Neck. For the money to which Libbey was entitled the town was directly re- sponsible, although the claim was ultimately against the state. The following petition, written more than eight years after Libbey served in the army, will explain somewhat the long delay in ad- justing his claim :-
"State of New Hampshire,
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives con- vened at Portsmouth :- Feb. Ist day, 1786.
The petition of Reuben Libbey of Wolfborough in said state, Humbly shews :- that your petitioner sometime in the month of July, in the year 1779, engaged as a soldier in Col. Mooney's regiment, being mustered by Col. Badger, and went to Provi- dence, joined Capt. Emerson's company, and served until Sept. 10, 1779, and was then discharged .- And your petitioner hath never received a penny for his time or travel, and was not made up in any army company or upon any roll in the regiment .- Wherefore your petitioner begs that he may receive the same in
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
every shape as the rest of the regiment, for the time he was in the service; and your petitioner begs that he may have some in- terest for his money.
Your petition, as in duty bound, shall ever pray ;
Reuben Libbey."
It is presumed that Libbey eventually was allowed his claim, as it was subsequently connected with a large claim for taxes of con- fiscated lands that Wolfeborough preferred against the state of New Hampshire. These lands were lots nine, twenty, and twenty- one, which had been held by George Meserve, and the Wentworth Farm. The amount due from the state to the town for unpaid taxes was £386-4s-9d. This sum, however, included Libbey's bill.
In the year 1779 Daniel Bridges, who was not a citizen of Wolfeborough, was mustered into the service by Col. Badger as a Wolfeborough soldier-a three years man. He was to receive a continental bounty of £60 and a state bounty of foo, the real value of which is not know. At a town-meeting held Sept. 7, 1779, the citizens of Wolfeborough voted unanimously not to ac- cept the plan of government formed at the convention held at Concord the preceding June.
At a meeting of the militia of the town held June 29, 1780, a majority of the legal voters being present, it was agreed to pay James Wiggin thirty bushels of corn and James Fullerton fifteen bushels of corn and twenty days work in consideration of their engaging to serve as soldiers in the continental army for six months. The proceedings were not strictly legal, but the de- mand for the soldiers was so urgent and the opportunity for se- curing them so feasible that there was no demurring on the part of any of the citizens, and the selectmen immediately guaranteed the payment of the bounties to the recruits by giving their notes for the payment thereof, according to the terms of agreement.
160
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
The work, which was estimated at three shillings a day, was to be done in the approaching hay season, and the corn, which was estimated at four shillings per bushel, was to be delivered by the twenty-fifth day of the following December. A tax to meet these obligations was immediately assessed. Wiggin, who was nineteen, preferred his bounty in corn, which was one of the cur- rency articles of the day, while Fullerton, who was twenty-four years old, had conjointly with his mother the care of the farm, and must unavoidably have remained at home, had he not made provision for labor in the hay season then close at hand.
The labor tax was imposed upon those citizens of the town who were near-by dwellers, with their consent. They were Benjamin Wiggin, I-2 day ; Benjamin Blake, 2 I-4 days ; Jonathan Hersey, I I-4 days; Ithiel Clifford, I 1-2 days; Lemuel Clifford, 3-4 day ; Widow Mary Fullerton, on whose farm the labor was to be done, I I-2 days; Jeremiah Gould, 1-2 day ; Robert Estes, I I-4 days ; Joseph Lary, 2 days ; Samuel Tebbetts, Sr., 2 1-4 days ; Lieut. Andrew Lucas, 2 I-4 days; Ensign Reuben Libbey, 2 1-2 days ; John Fullerton, I day; Ebenezer Horne, 2 1-2 days. Total 20 days
Fullerton and Wiggin were mustered into the 3rd New Hamp- shire regiment, at Kingston, N. H., July 8, 1780. Wiggin appears to have received his discharge at a considerable distance from home, as shown by the following papers :-
"Camp Soldier's Fortune, Dec. 9, 1780.
James Wiggin, soldier in the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment, inhabitant of the state of New Hampshire, is hereby discharged, and permitted to return to the above state.
James Wait, Maj. 3rd N. H."
"To whom it may concern .- All issuing commissaries are desired to supply the within named James Wiggin with his pro-
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
visions on his way to New Hampshire, none to be delivered after the 19th inst.
James Wait, Major 3rd N. H.
Issued two days rations .- Thomas Pratt, A. C. S. Wolfeborough man for 6 mos."
A call for beef under a new method of furnishing supplies for the army, a communication from President Weare.
"To the selectmen of Wolfborough: As all other ways of supplying the army are laid aside, but that of each state to pro- vide such as their lands produce ; and beef being one of the articles assigned to this state you will see the absolute neccesity of punc- tually complying with this act; and having your quota ready at the several times alloted, when the Collector General, viz : Eliphalet Giddings, or some other person will call on you for the same.
M. Weare, President.
June 27, 1780, the New Hampshire legislature had passed an act in acquiescence with an enactment of the congress of the United States of February 25 of the same year requiring the state to furnish 11,200 cwt. of beef in monthly instalments. The amount assigned to Wolfeborough was 3,875 pounds. The town was to be allowed five and a half dollars per cwt. provided there were no outstanding taxes against them. If there were, they were to be first deducted.
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