USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 13
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1785. The Congregational parish, March 30,
" Put to Voate to See if the parrish would take up the Short Seats at the Right and Left hand of the Galery Doors in the meeting house and build two pews whear sd Seats now air, and Sell the pews at Vandue and Let the money Be Laid out as the parrish shall think best, and past in the Affarmative.
" Voated to Leave it to the wardens to Sell the ground for the pews or to Build the pews and then Sell them at Vandue to the Highest Bidder, as they think Best.
" Voted, that the money which the pews Shall Fetch Shall be Laid out toards Colloring the meeting house."
The Presbyterian parish chose a committee to settle with all wardens, collectors and committee-men who had the parish money, and to pursue it to final judgment and exe- cution.
" Voted to raise thirty pounds to hire preaching, and chose Dea. Forsaith, Thomas MeMaster and John Grimes to supply the pulpit."
In a warning for a meeting April 19, is an Article "to See What Method the parish Will take Relating a petision By a number of parsons Belonging to Said parish, about Removing the Meeting house to a Senter to aComedate the Parish," &c. John Crawford, John Grimes, Capt. Henry Moor, Benjamin Melvin, Col. William White, Capt. David Wetherspoon and Robert Grimes were chosen a committee to fix a place. They reported " to set the Meet- ing hous in at about Esqr. Chase's Brook." " the parish not Satisfied." " Adjourned and continued the committee." At the adjournment the committee reported " to set the meeting hous on Capt John Underhill's land on the South Side of the Rode, as Near his old hous as we Can Conve- niently Set it as the Ground Will allow; " and it was " Voted that the Meeting house shall Set their."
This year was remarkable for the quantity of snow, the hardness and lateness of going off. James Graham at the
153
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Long Meadow died April 14. John Waddel, of Derry, came with horse and sleigh to the funeral across, over all fences in his way. It came on warm, the snow went off, and plowing was done the 25th.
October 12, a daughter of Moses MeFarland had her arm torn off in a eider mill.
1786. The currency before the war had been bills of credit issued by the Colony, depreciated and called old tenor. During the war Congress had issued what was called Con- tinental money in large quantities, which had been largely counterfeited and had depreciated, it is said, to one hun- dred and twenty to one, and had been by universal consent laid aside. There was little gold and silver and little for- eign commerce, and we can hardly conceive the difficulties they experienced. There was a wide-spread dissatisfaction. As a specimen of the pecuniary condition of this time : My father, B. P. Chase, in November, 1785, purchased a tract of land of the proprietors, and to raise the money to pay for it, he made hogshead hoops shaved fit to set, and carted them to Newburyport and sold them for ten dollars per thousand ; took his pay in New England rum, carted that to Chester, and sold it to the traders for the same he paid in Newburyport. Staves were sold six score to the hundred, and I think hoops were.
About September 20th a company of men, that may be called a mob, assembled at Exeter and demanded of the General Court to issue paper money. The Court put them off, and meanwhile called in the militia and dispersed them. A man by the name of Eaton, of Sandown, and one by the name of Morse, of Londonderry, were im- prisoned.
In the warning for a town meeting, November 14, were articles : " To see if the Town will accept the plan the Gen- eral Court have sent to the Several towns and places of this State for Emiting a paper Currency as it now stands," "To see if the Town will Vote to have Sum alterations made than what is set forth in Said plan." Both articles were voted in the negative.
154
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
This year was remarkable for the number of wolves. Stephen Chase says in his diary : " February 6, Hunting wolves ; started seven ; plentier than for fifteen years. Feb. 14, Shot a wolf. March 8, Mr. Brown killed a wolf." William Graham, Esq., told of his mother taking him to the door to hear the wolves howl, and that they came around the barn in the night after the sheep, but the barn happened to be shut up. Col. Thomas Wilson, who lived on the mountain in the upper part of Candia, related to me that one day in the spring his cattle were in the woods to browse. He heard a roaring among them, and ran to them, and a wolf had a young creature by the flank. He went up, put his hands on the creature's back and drew his foot back to kick the wolf, but the wolf let go his hold, gave a snarl and ran away.
March 28, the Presbyterian parish voted to build a meet- ing-house on the plan appointed by the committee. They chose Mr. Morse, Hugh Tolford, Thomas McMaster, Col. White, Samuel Sherley, Anthony Stickney, William Bell, Jolın Grimes and Peter Aiken a committee, " To Consider the Bigness of the house and draw a draft of the Pues, and make Return as soon as may be."
April 24,
" The Comitys plan of the house and Pues is Excepted. Vª, that this former Comity is empowered to sell the Pues."
1787. Samuel Emerson, who had been town clerk since 1734, was chosen again this year, and John Emerson, his son, was chosen assistant clerk, and the hand-writing of the records changes.
1788. At a town meeting held January 1, Joseph Blanchard was chosen a " Delegate to set in a Convention that is to Be Holden at Exeter Court House on the second Wednesday of Febuy next, for the Purpose of taking into Consideration the Purposed Constitution made by the Fed- eral Convention the 17th of Sept", 1787, for the approba- tion or Disapprobation of the same when meet."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
The first meeting to choose representatives to congress and electors of president and vice-president, under the Federal constitution, was hield December 15. The com- mittee liad purchased a bell weighing about six hundred pounds. It was said to have been a first-rate one, having been heard at McFarland's tavern, a mile and a half this side of Haverhill, being more than fourteen miles as the road is traveled. It was raised the 12th day of June. A parish meeting was held June 26, at which it was " put to Vote to see if the parish would Except of the Bell as it hang, free of all Costs Except what the pews sold for ; past in the affirmative." They voted to be at the cost of ring- ing it Sunday, and other public days, and that others might ring it at their own expense at eight, twelve and nine o'clock on other days.
1789. The town voted to vendue the poor of the town to the lowest bidder.
1791. The town voted to sell all of their school lots. Joseph Blanchard, Esq., " was chosen to set in Convention to be holden at Concord, the first wednesday of Sept. next, for the purpose of Revising the Constitution."
February 17, 1791, an act was passed to give Jacob . Green, Enoch Noyes, William Duncan and Daniel Liver- more, their heirs and assigns, the exclusive right to build a bridge across Merrimack river, at any place one mile above or one mile below Isle Hooksett Falls, to be held as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.
1792. There was an article in the warning of the an- nual meeting, " To see if the town will Vote to Give their Consent that the General Court should annex the North- westerly part of this town to Pembrook," &c. Jethro Colby, Jabez Hoit and John Porter were chosen a commit- tee " at the expence of the petitioners, to Join with Pem- brook Committee and see if it is expedient, &c., and report." There was no report.
The committee to sell the school lots made a return that
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
the whole amount of all the lots was £139 8s. 3d. Richard Dearborn purchased No. 67, 2 P., 2 D.
May 7th a meeting was held for accepting or rejecting the amendments proposed to the Constitution. The amend- ments were taken up separately, and almost unanimously adopted.
Mr. Flagg had become infirm, and unable to perform his ministerial duties, and two committees were sent to enter into arrangements with him. A vote was tried whether the parish would give him three-quarters of his salary dur- ing his life, but it did not pass.
May 30, 1793, voted to give Mr. Flagg thirty pounds and twelve cords of wood yearly during his life, he relinquish- ing his pastoral charge.
October 2, began to take toll at McGregore's bridge, the first bridge across Merrimack river.
October 27, Isaac Hill's negro had the small-pox.
1793. The revised (our present) constitution was rati- fied and in force. The senators were chosen by districts, the councilors by counties.
Joseph Blanchard, Stephen Chase and Stephen Dear- born were empowered to sell all the parsonage lots in . Chester, reserving the proceeds of the hundred-acre lot to the Long Meadows, should they be incorporated into a parish before 1801. There was an attempt this year to unite the two parishes. The Congregational parish chose Stephen Chase, Esq., Capt. Benj. Currier, Capt. Simon Towle, Capt. Locke, and Josiah Flagg, Esq., a committee to try to agree with the other parish relating to settling a minister. In the warning for a meeting of the Presby- terian parish, March 12, 1793, was an article "To see if the parish will choose a committee to Joyn a committee of the Congregational Parish to confer and report the pro- priety of settling two ministers in said town to be paid by the town at large, or otherwise to make proposals of con- ditions for both Parishes to join together as one, and lay the same before said Parish at some future meeting."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Ensign Sherley, Esq. White, Samuel Sherley, Esq. Blanch- ard, and William Bell, were chosen a committee. There is nothing more on the Congregational records about it. The Presbyterians voted not to accept of the report, whatever it might have been.
At a meeting of the Congregational parish, May 30, it was voted to give Mr. Nathan Bradstreet a call ; to give him £75 yearly during Mr. Flagg's life, and a parsonage worth fifty-four dollars per annum, and after Mr. Flagg's decease, a salary of £90 as long as he should perform the work of the ministry. Jethro Colby, Jacob Hill, Amos Merril, Stephen Merril and David Hall entered their dissent against the vote. The parsonage was afterwards, at Mr. Bradstreet's request, exchanged for the money. The last Wednesday in October was appointed for the ordination. Esquire Flagg was to entertain the ministers free of cost, Edmond Webster was to provide for the delegates, and a room for the council.
At a meeting of the Presbyterian parish, May 6,
" Voted, that the old Meeting house Shall be taken Down and Set on the Ground that Capt. Underhill Purposes to them, Near Joseph Calph's.
" Voted, that Willm Bell, William Wilson, John Grimes, Hugh Tolford, and Joseph Lins, is empowered To take down these old meeting houses, and Build a New one, or Cause it to be Done."
The first Presbyterian meeting-house, built about 1739, and the "Little meeting-house," which stood where the Rev. Mr. Holmes' house stands, were taken down, and the materials, as far as could be, were wrought into the Long Meadow meeting-house, which stood where the burying- ground is, on No. 73, 2P. 2 D. The new house was raised July 4th, and the pews were sold July 11th, 1793. Dedi- cated January 1st, 1794.
The Chester Social Library first opened June 9, 1793. It was incorporated in 1797.
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THE LONG-MEADOW MEETING-HOUSE, ERECTED 1793; ENLARGED 1807.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1794. The account of the committee to sell the parson- age lots was rendered. They sold for £249 8s. 9d. Ex- penses, £5 7s. 6d. ; remains, £244 1s. 3d.
There was an article "to see if any encouragement should be given to raise our quota of 80,000 men that had been called for." Dismissed.
The Presbyterian parish chose William . Mills, John Grimes, William Shirley, Joseph Blanchard, David Currier, James Wason and Benjamin Melvin, ruling elders. Joseph Blanchard, William Wilson and John Grimes accepted, and were ordained by the Rev. David Annan.
INSIDE VIEW OF LONG-MEADOW MEETING-HOUSE.
This year was remarkable for the forwardness of the season, and for the " great frost" the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th of May. Richard Melvin, Esq., recollects that when Esquire Blanchard moved his wife home, April 23d, the apple-trees were in blossom. The rye was headed and the flax up, but the apples and all were
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
killed by the frost. It is said that the canker worms, which had been very troublesome for years before, were greatly checked by the frost.
1795. The two parishes chose committees to make rules in regard to taxing, and changing from one parish to the other, which were adopted ; but the document is too long to be copied. The Congregationalists refused to divide the parsonage money. They voted to take up scats, and have a singing pew built. November 19th, the Presbyte- rian parish voted to hire the Rev. David Annan two-thirds of the time for four years, and pay him two hundred dol- lars each year. The committee engaged Mr. Annan a house to live in, and they entered into a strong written obligation, which, however, Mr. Annan proving intem- perate, was dissolved October 7, 1799. This is the first intimation we have in the records of those who had been employed to preach. Money had been voted, collectors chosen, and committees to supply the pulpit, and nothing further.
1796. May 18th, David Carr's wife was buried - the first in Long-Meadow burying-ground.
November 7, the town voted to divide the proceeds of the sale of the parsonage lots equally between the two parishes. It was done March 28th, 1797, cach parish receiving £572 9s.
There remained in the hands of the treasurer six hun- dred dollars, the proceeds of the sale of the school lots.
Nov. 14, Rev. Mr. Flagg died.
1797. There was an attempt to build a new pound, or remove the old one, which stood near Ebenezer Townsend's barn. It was voted that it should remain there ten years, and to sell Mr. Townsend the land incumbered by his buildings.
June 14, 1786, there was a meeting-house raised in Ray- mond, at what was considered the centre of the town, near where David Page lived. October 18, 1797, it was moved to the present centre. It is the present town-house.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1798. Gov. Gilman in two or three years reviewed all the militia in the State. October 5th of this year, he re- viewed the Seventeenth Regiment. The muster was on Benjamin Brown's (now Woodbury Martin's) field. Col. Stephen Dearborn commanded, and he killed an ox and gave a lunch of beef and bread to the regiment. It was said that the whole expense cost him one hundred dollars. They were late in forming the line and the Governor kept them and performed the firing after dark. There was a Col. Hubbard who made powder at King's Falls in Exeter, of which it was said that a cask of it caught fire, and more than half of it burned up before they could blow it ont. Something of the kind was used on this occasion, and a stream of fire could be seen two yards from the muzzle of the gun when they fired.
1799. There was another attempt to have the upper end of the town annexed to Pembroke, and a hearing was to be had in June. There was an article in the warning of the annual meeting respecting it. It passed in the negative.
Josiah Flagg died April 25. The bell was broken while tolling for his funeral. There was a parish meeting called May 29, on the subject. It was voted to have a bell to weigh eight hundred pounds. Benjamin Brown, Isaac Hills and Edmund Webster were chosen a committee to procure it. They were to take the old bell and a subscrip- tion of 827 that had been raised, and draw on the parish treasurer for the balance. Aug. 14, the bell was raised. The committee rendered their account Oct. 9, 1799. They paid Aaron Holbrook for casting and new metal, £23 12s. ; paid for more metal in Boston, £12 15s. 10d. ; other bills, so that it cost besides the old bell, £47 6s. 4d, when it was hung.
December 14, Gen. Washington died.
1800. " On Monday the tenth day of February. Anno Domini 1800, a number of the inhabitants of the town of Chester met at the lower meeting-house in said town. to determine on some suitable mode of paying respect to the memory of Gen. George Washington. After choosing
11
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Joseph Blanchard, Esq., moderator of the meeting, and Amos Kent, Esq., clerk, the following resolves were unan- imously passed :
" 1st. That it be recommended to as many of the Inhab- itants of Chester as convenient, to meet at or near the House of Mr. Benjamin Brown in said Chester on Saturday, the 22d of this Inst. Feby., to pay a Tribute of Respect to the virtues of the late Deceased General George Wash- ington.
2ª. That the Inhabitants when met form in Procession and march to the meeting-house, and that the Revd. M. Bradstreet be Requested to officiate on the occasion.
3ª. That the front of the gallery and Pulpit be mantled with Black.
4th. That Capt. Abraham Towle with his company of light Infantry, be requested to attend on the occasion as a Mil- itary Escort.
5th. That messrs. Benjamin Brown, Benja True, Jur, Ozias Silsby, Joseph Blanchard and Amos Kent, Esqrs, be a committee to carry the foregoing Resolves into effect, and to make such other arrangements as they shall think suit- able on the occasion.
" The committee above named having met, unanimously agreed to recommend to the inhabitants of Chester, and of other towns who should think proper to attend on the occa- sion, to meet at the house of Mr. Benjamin Brown at ten of the clock in the forenoon of February 22, - each having a black crape on the lower part of the left arm. The com- mittee also recommend to the keepers of shops and to the different mechanics, to shut sheir shops on the 22d of Feb- ruary, and to the different classes of citizens to abstain from labor on that day. On the morning of the 22d of Febru- ary, a large concourse of people from Chester and the neighboring towns met as requested at the house of Mr. Benjamin Brown. At half-past eleven o'clock a procession was formed in the following order :
" 1st. Music-Drum muffled and fifes trimmed with black.
2ª. Capt. Towle's company of Light Infantry, with arms reversed, as a military escort.
3ª. Committee of arrangements.
4th. Selectmen and town clerk.
5th. Chaplain and orator.
6th. Civil magistrates.
7th. Field officers.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Sth. Capt. and subalterns of the Infantry and troop in their uniform with their side arms trimmed with black.
9th. Deacons, elders and wardens of churches.
10th. Musicians.
11th. Professional characters.
12th. Private citizens.
" The procession marched a slow march toward the meet- ing-house, the bell tolling, and the military escort moving with their arms reversed. On arriving at the meeting- house the military opened to the right and left, and rested on their arms until the procession had marched through. The solemnities were opened by a funeral anthem. A judi- cious prayer followed, a discourse, pertinent and well adapted to the occasion, delivered by the Rev. Mr. Brad- street, and several pieces of music suited to the occasion were performed to general acceptance by the singers. After the services were over, the procession returned in the same order as they came, a quick march to the place where they first formed, when the militia opened to the right and left, the procession walked through and each one retired to his home.
" A solemn and decent deportment appeared in every class of citizens upon this occasion; the countenance of every one bespoke the most sincere and unaffected sorrow for the loss of a man who had rendered such signal and eminent service to his country."
At the annual meeting, Benjamin Brown, Simon Towle and Stephen Chase were chosen a committee to consider the petition of Nathl. Head and others, praying to be annexed to Pembroke. They reported that they had been on the ground and heard the parties ; that nearly one-half the residents of the territory were opposed to the measure; and that it would be a greater burden on Chester to main- tain the road through Chester woods, and recommended that an agent be chosen to oppose it. Simon Towle, the representative, was chosen agent.
There was also a committee chosen, consisting of Joseph Blanchard, William White, Benjamin Brown, Amos Kent and Daniel French, to make report on the expediency of the revision of the Constitution. Joseph Blanchard, in behalf of the committee, made a report in favor of the measure.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
I give some of his statistics and calculations that they may be compared with present expenditures. The Legislature then held two sessions.
Travel of 158 members to Concord . . $1500
11 days' attendance
. 3476
Travel to Exeter
·
1550
28 days' attendance
· 8840
- $15366
They were in favor of reducing the members to as few as one hundred and twenty, and alter the time of sitting so as to have one session of twenty-five days only, and foot up:
Travel, about
. $1200
Pay of members .
6000
-
$7200
Making a saving of
$8096
This is but a specimen. The committee went through the whole expenditures of the State, and made so good a case that there were ninety-six votes in favor of a revision and none against it. But the Constitution, after sixty- seven years' further experience, remains unchanged.
CHAPTER VIII.
FROM 1801 TO 1868.
1801. The Presbyterians from the lower part of the town owned pews and attended meeting at the Long Meadows, more or less. Quite a number of families of Eng- lish descent, as a matter of convenience, joined the Presby- terian parish, and they considered their meeting-house too small ; and at a parish meeting, May 7th, the parish voted " to cut the meeting-house asunder and put in 15 feet." Joseph Blanchard, Esq., Mr. James Wason, and Mr. Paul Adams, were chosen a committee to build the addition and sell the pews. The house was cut in the middle, moved
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
apart, and fifteen feet put in, October 1st. It created some difficulty, because it removed people's pews further from the pulpit. James McFarland left the meeting, and went to Candia.
1802. The Presbyterian meeting-house was not finished, and the committee was instructed to finish it all but painting.
1803. The Presbyterian parish voted " to have the sing- ing carried on in the singing pew all of the time." They probably had had congregational singing a part of the time. At a parish meeting, May 30th, the parish voted to give the Rev. Zaccheus Colby a call to settle, and voted three hundred dollars as an annual salary. Mr. Colby made a long communication, giving his views respecting baptizing the children of parents who had been baptized, but were not in full communion with the church, which was called the half-way covenant. (See Ecclesiastical and Religious History.) Mr. Colby had been the ordained minister at Pembroke, and was re-installed October 13th.
May Sth, there was a fall of six inches of snow. The peach trees were in blossom, and the grain and flax were up. Benaiah Spofford says that he went from Hawk to Haverhill in a sleigh the 9th day, but came home on bare ground.
The bell was broken, and there were a number of indi- viduals who were taxed in two places, and a parish meet- ing was called December 5th. Josiah Hall. Joseph Hall, and Benjamin Hall, were taxed by the Presbyterian parish, and probably attended meeting there. The Congregational parish voted to relinquish Benjamin Hall's tax, and not the others. William Murray's and John Murray's taxes were relinquished, they procuring receipts that they had paid in Candia.
" Voted, to sell the old bell, and purchase a new one."
Henry Sweetser, Josiah Bradley, and Benjamin Brown, were chosen a committee " to transaet said Business."
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1801. At the annual town meeting, Henry Sweetser was chosen an agent to petition the General Court to have the line altered, and established in the following manner : " to begin at the S. W. corner of sª Chester, being a pitch pine No. 134; then on the east side of said lot No. 134, in the 4th Division of the fang of the pond, so called ; then di- viding the waters so as to leave Great Island in Derryfield and Deerneck in Chester, to the south west bounds of lot No. 41, in said 4th Division ; and on Northerly between it and No. 42, to the N. E. corner of sª 42; then about W. N. W., on the middle of the reserve between the 8th & 9th ranges, until it comes to No. 102; thence to run N. 10 W. to the original head line of Chester ; then on the said head line to the river." The alteration was not made.
The General Court passed an act December 30, 1803, requiring the several towns in the State to make surveys of their respective towns, and make plans and send to the Secretary's office, for the purpose of making a State map. At a meeting August 27, Stephen Chase, Joseph Blanchard and William White were chosen a committee to make the survey. The town lines, the principal roads, including two turnpikes, Massabesie pond and Exeter river, were sur- veyed, and a plan made by Esquire Chase, aided by his son Stephen Chase, Jr., which is now in the Secretary's office., The expense was: Joseph Blanchard, twelve days, $18; William White, eleven days, $14.67; Stephen Chase, thirty-six days, $47.
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