USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 14
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The General Court made a contract with Philip Carri- gain to get up the map, which after long delays was pub- lished, and a copy sent to each town. It was called " Carrigain's Map."
At the same meeting it was voted "That the selectmen be Impowered to build a stone pound on the main Road leading to Pembrook, on the N. E. corner of David Under- hill's Land, he giving the same for sª usc." The pound cost $46.45.
The committee to procure a bell sent the old one to a Mr. Holbrook, of Brookfield, Mass., to be recast. His bill
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
was $236.95 ; the whole expense, $298.05. The bell was raised August 20th. At the same time a town clock was purchased of Mr. Holbrook by subscription, at a cost, I think, of one hundred dollars. The parish paid the ex- pense of putting up a dial, &c., $22.14. The clock proved a bad bargain, as it never went well, and a great deal of money was expended on it to little purpose.
John Emery and Stephen Heath shot a bear, and about the same time Capt. James Orr caught one in a trap,- thie last killed in Chester. A little later B. P. Chase saw one. The late Judge Bell states that as late as 1810, as Col. Israel W. Kelley was riding on the river road in Goffstown, about a mile above the falls, he saw two girls very much frightened, who said they had seen a bear; when, looking up the bank in the direction they pointed out, he saw the bear. He walked his horse and guarded them to the next house. Probably this was the last in this region.
1805. Chester turnpike was built this year, and the bridge across the pond for the Londonderry turnpike.
The Presbyterian parish gave liberty to some individuals to build horse-sheds on the parish land. Hitherto the horses, some of them coming six miles, stood entirely ex- posed to the weather.
The singers had liberty to extend the singing pew.
There was a very unfortunate occurrence this year. December 12th, in the evening, several men who were at work on the Straits bridge started ostensibly to go to Peter Severance's to procure his cattle the next day. One by the name of Barnes arrived there long enough before the rest to have Mrs. Severance get up, dress herself, and draw a mug of cider for him, and he went to the door and threw it open against her two or three times. By this time, the rest of the party having arrived, Mr. Severance, suspecting that some violence was intended, fired his gun, the charge passing Barnes, who still stood in the door, and killed Ben- jamin Whittier, of Boscawen. At the February term, 1806, he was convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, and pay costs.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
1806. The town voted to pay a bounty of twelve cents for killing crows. The question of having a work-house came up and was dismissed.
There was an act passed Dec. 28, 1805, authorizing towns to divide the towns into school districts. The town was divided into twenty districts, rather indefinitely bounded.
June 16, sun totally eclipsed four minutes and a half.
1807. There had been an act passed for furnishing sol- diers with rations muster day. The bill this year amounted to $63.25.
Great Britain and France were carrying on a most san- guine war, and were not at all disposed to respect the rights of neutrals, and American commerce suffered se- verely. The Americans enjoyed, notwithstanding all of their losses, a lucrative carrying trade, but the government, to protect their rights or to prevent further wrongs, laid an embargo on all foreign commerce. This entirely par- alyzed all business in the sea-ports. As an illustration of its effects, Edward and Stark Ray had bought the Oswego mill, with some two hundred acres of land, covered with a heavy growth of pine timber ; at this time they drew their lumber to Martin's Ferry, rafted it to Newburyport, and sold it for eight dollars per thousand, and the market was limited at that price.
1808. At a town meeting held Sept. 26, a committee, consisting of John Bell, John Folsom, Benjamin Brown, Henry Sweetser, Nathaniel Head, Joseph Blanchard, Wil- liam Moore, Benjamin Eaton, John Wason, John Wilson, Amos Kent and Ebenezer Townsend, was chosen to consider the propriety of preparing a respectful petition to the Pres- ident of the United States, praying him to suspend the operation of the laws laying an embargo on the ships and vessels of the United States so far as relates to Spain, Portugal and their respective colonies. The committee made a very long report that it would not be expedient, but useless, inasmuch as respectful petitions from a great num-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
ber of large and populous towns had been presented to the President, praying to have the embargo suspended so far as relates to the countries against which we have no cause of complaint, and where we could have exchanged our provis- ions and lumber for articles of the first importance, &c .; the answers to these petitions have uniformly been of the same tenor, that while the causes for laying it still existed, the embargo must remain, &c. They vindicated themselves from the charge of want of patriotism and exhorted the people to gain and impart correct information on political subjects, &c.
June 27, there was a tornado which blew down the barn of Wells Chase while he and his grand-daughter Sarah Chase were in it milking. They escaped with little injury.
1809. Rev. Mr. Colby had a paralytic shock in the desk while reading the last hymn, in the summer of 1808, which disabled him from preaching. There was a parish meeting called Jan. 2, 1809, to which Mr. Colby made a communi- cation, saying that if he were no better before March meet- ing he would resign his charge. At the annual meeting he asked a dismission, which was granted.
There was a petition presented to the Congregational parish by certain individuals, for the privilege of having ministers of other denominations preach in the meeting- house when it would not interfere with Mr. Bradstreet's meetings. Liberty was granted for the admission of Meth- odists, Baptists and Freewill Baptists, but only of those that the committee, consisting of Rev. Mr. Bradstreet, Benjamin True and Nathan Knowles, should approve.
1810. There were individuals who once paid taxes to the Congregational parish who were inclined towards other denominations ; and being dissatisfied with Mr. Bradstreet, they declined paying taxes. At the annual meeting there was a committee of twelve chosen to confer with Mr. Brad- street to see on what condition he would dissolve the con- nection, and also confer with the disaffected members. They reported at the adjournment that Mr. Bradstreet's
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
terms were to pay the loss which he should experience in the sale of his real estate and the depreciation on his salary, which he supposed would amount to three thousand and eight hundred dollars. The committee thought few of the disaffected persons would willingly be members of the parish. Therefore they reported against a dissolution. Report accepted.
January 19 was the famous cold Friday. The day before was warm for winter, but about 4 o'clock there came up a squall and the wind blew a gale from the north- west, which blew down a great deal of timber. The house in which the writer now lives was moved on its foundation so that the north corner went to the bottom of the cellar. Stephen Chase's diary says, " Has not been so cold for forty years by three degrees."
1812. The spotted fever prevailed in Londonderry, which caused a great deal of alarm. A town-meeting was held April 18.
" Voted, that in case of the appearance of the spotted fever within the limits of the Town, the selectmen for the time being be authorized to procure experienced medical assistance at the expense of the Town."
It is not known that anybody in Chester had the disease at that time.
June 18, war was declared against Great Britain.
November 16, the Presbyterian parish voted to hire the Rev. Mr. Harlow for one year, and offered him two hun- dred dollars, a house and twelve cords of wood. Mr. Harlow supplied the desk three years.
1814. There was a petition presented to the legislature by James Otterson and fifteen others, praying to have a part of Chester, part of Dunbarton and a part of Allens- town incorporated into a new town. There was an order of notice. May 30 the town voted that it might be set off.
There were men drafted at three several times to go to the defense of Portsmouth ; one detachment in the sum- mer ; one draft was made August 26, for sixty days ; another was made September 10, for ninety days. (See Military History.)
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
There was a town-meeting October 3. There was one article to authorize the selectmen, in case more men were called for, to hire them. Another article was to authorize the selectmen to furnish any detachment with powder and ball. Both were dismissed. It was voted that the town pay each soldier drafted since March such sum as will make up fourteen dollars per month, including what the government paid. The government paid eight dollars per month.
The dissatisfaction with Mr. Bradstreet continued and increased. Several individuals, including several members of the church, were taxed by the Presbyterian parish, and attended meeting there, and refused to pay for the support of Mr. Bradstreet. The parish held several meetings, and chose a committee to confer with Mr. Bradstreet and with the disaffected members. The committee reported that Mr. Bradstreet proposed that if on mature deliberation the parish determined to dissolve the connection he would leave their pecuniary matters to arbitration. The delin- quent members were willing to belong to the parish if Mr. Bradstreet were dismissed. The committee reported against a dissolution, and against the collector making dis- tress on the delinquents.
December 29, a Moral Society was formed, to discounte- nance profanity, Sabbath breaking and intemperance. It was on the moderate drinking basis. (See History of the Temperance Reform.)
1815. The treaty of peace was signed at Ghent, Decem- ber 24, 1814. The news of peace came to Chester February 14. The President appointed April 13 as a day of public Thanksgiving, the same day that was appointed by the Governor as a day of fasting. The day was celebrated at Chester. A procession was formed near Benjamin Brown's, escorted by the Chester Light Infantry accompanied by martial music, and marched to the meeting-house where the Rev. Mr. Bradstreet delivered a discourse, which was printed, from the text, Psalms 120 : 7, "I am for peace,"
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
in which he recounted the causes of the war. The pro- cession marched back and had a supper, toasts, etc.
September 23, there was a northeast storm. About eleven o'clock the wind veered to the south and blew a gale, blowing down buildings and uprooting large quantities of timber.
At the June session of the General Court, 1815, there was a petition of Jonathan Gillis, Isaac Huse and John Dwinnell, a committee in behalf of the town of Manches- ter, presented, praying for the exclusive right of catching alewives in Cohas brook. There was an order of notice to Chester, Londonderry, Bedford and Goffstown. I will re- late the fate of the petition as related to me several years since by John Lane, Esq., who was the member from Can- dia at the time. Mr. Huse, who had the petition in charge, engaged some member who proved to be a wag to advo- cate his cause when it came up. The gentlemen referred the House to the member from Bedford (Mr. Chandler, I think) as a specimen of the Bedford people, large and athletic, being brought up on chestnuts and acorns ; and as a contrast referred to Mr. Huse (who was a small man) as a specimen of Manchester people, who were brought up on whortleberries and lamprey eels, and were a diminutive race of men, not able to contend with Bedford people, and therefore ought to be protected. It created a laughi, and the prayer of the petition was refused.
1816. At the annual meeting, March, 1815, John Bell, John Folsom and B. Pike Chase were chosen a committee to consider and point out in what way the business of the town can be conducted so as to make a saving of time and money to the town, and to report. At the annual meeting, March, 1816, they reported, that for the three years past the expense of transacting the town business had been six hundred and nineteen dollars, or about two hundred and six dollars per year. They proposed to divide the town into three districts, and each selectman take the inventory in one district ; have one assessor to make the taxes ; one
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overseer of the poor and treasurer. They make the fol- lowing estimate of the expenses :
Selectmen's services,
$50 00
Assessor's,
15 00
Overseer of poor's, .
15 00
Treasurer's,
15 00
Making in the whole,
$95 00
The report was accepted. We cannot show precisely what the saving was, but Joseph Blanchard charges as se- lectman, sixty dollars and ninety-nine cents ; Benjamin Fitts, thirty-five dollars and thirty-six cents ; Joseph Rob- inson, twenty-eight dollars and twenty-four cents. Henry Sweetser was chosen overseer of the poor, and charges his services and expenses of maintaining together, six hundred and cighteen dollars. Stephen Chase was chosen treas- urer, but was also collector and had no extra bill. It was voted at this meeting that in the future two-thirds of the town meetings be held at the East meeting-house, and the other third at the West meeting-house.
The summer of 1816 was the coldest ever known by the " oldest inhabitant; " it was also very dry. I give a few extracts from a diary kept at the time: "May 15, froze hard enough in plowed land to bear a man ; June 6, snow squalls ; June 8, a squall of snow; June 10, frost last night ; June 11, a heavy frost last night ; killed a great deal of corn, -some of it entirely dead, and five-sixths of the apples killed. The 5th of June the thermometer was 88° ; the 6th, at 40° ; the 9th, at 37º. June 22, ice in James Wason's tan-yard ; July 10, frost in low land ; August 22, frost last night which killed a great deal of corn and pota- toes ; August 20, a squall of rain, but snow on the moun- tains at Goffstown."
It was so cold and dry that corn did not grow to ripen, and was killed early, so that very little was raised. Abra- ham Sargent, Jr., had removed from Randolph, Vt., on to his father's farm, and brought with him a very early kind of corn. He raised a crop of tolerably sound corn which he sold the next spring for four dollars per bushel
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
for seed, and it was a great favor to the farmers to obtain it at that price. There was a very short crop of hay. Wheat and rye were extremely good.
In consequence of the shortness of crops, stock was very low. My father sold a pair of four-years-old cattle for thirty-nine dollars.
The first elephant ever exhibited here was at Sweetser's tavern, May 17 of this year.
The troubles in the Congregational parish about Mr. Brad- street continued, and it seems that an ecclesiastical council had been held that had recommended that if the pastor and church could not live together in peace, the pastor should ask a dismission, which he had not done. The parish at their annual meeting chose a committee, consisting of William White, Peter Hall, Isaac Lane, Henry Sweetser, Richª Dear- born, Jona. Emery, Stephen Hills, Perly Chase and Stephen Clay, 3d, " whose Duty it Shall be to take into Consideration all applications which may in any way Concern the Prudential affairs of the Parish not in any other way Provided for." A long communication was made by Richard Haseltine, Nathan Knowles, Benj. Haseltine, Ebenezer Townsend, Thomas Sargeant, John Emerson and Benja. Hills, Jr., church members. They complain that Mr. Bradstreet had not complied with the result of the Council, and violated his own engagements, and intimate that the church may be driven to unpleasant measures. They say that if the par- ish would join with the church in dismissing the pastor, most, if not all, who had left would return and endeavor to build up the parish, &c. At a meeting May 23, the parish " voted not to dismiss Mr. Bradstreet."
After the Rev. William Harlow's term had expired, the Presbyterian parish had three or four young men as candi- dates for settlement, but would not agree to settle any of them.
1817. The town did not realize the expected saving in the expenses, especially in the support of the poor. They voted to accept the accounts all but the charge of the over- seer of the poor. The town chose Amos Kent, Stephen
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Chase and John Folsom a committee to examine the ac- counts and report the most eligible mode of supporting the poor. The committee reported that the expense of sup- porting the poor had been unnecessarily large ; and that there were too many officers, and recommended to have one selectman oversee the poor, another be treasurer, and another take care of the roads, &c. William Graham was chosen treasurer, Moses Haselton, overseer of the poor, and Jesse J. Underhill to superintend the highways. The selectmen's services were about fifty dollars each, and twenty dollars extra for overseeing the poor.
At a town meeting April 28, the selectmen were directed to prosecute all persons who may be guilty of a breach of the laws respecting retailing spirituous liquors. Retailers were not permitted by law to sell in less quantities than one pint, and that not to be drank on the premises. The law was entirely disregarded and liquor dealt out to tipplers by most of the retailers.
It was voted, that a sum be raised equal to one-half that shall be raised by subscription, for the encouragement of erecting a court-house here in the event of the courts of law being removed from Portsmouth. John Folsom, John Bell, Daniel French, Joseph Blanchard and Charles Goss were chosen a committee to wait on the honorable commit- tee to locate the county buildings. John Folsom was chosen agent to attend the legislature on the subject of removing the courts.
The difficulties about Mr. Bradstreet continued. At a parish meeting a committee, consisting of Isaac Lane, Richard Dearborn, Noah Weeks, Samuel Shackford, Perly · Chase, Peter Hall, Henry Sweetser, Abraham Sargeant and Jonathan Emery, was chosen to confer with the Rev. Mr. Bradstreet. They made a report at an adjournment, which was accepted. Five hundred dollars were borrowed from the parish fund and paid to Mr. Bradstreet, and the con- tract was ended.
In the fall of 1816, the Presbyterian committee procured the Rev. Clement Parker, a middle-aged man with a family,
-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
as a candidate for settlement. The last day of December there was a parish meeting which gave him a call and offered him a salary of $350 and $100 settlement money. Mr. Parker was ordained.
Oct. 16, there was a brigade muster near N. Head, Esq.'s, at the upper end of the town. The town voted to give the non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, thirty- four cents each.
1818. Stephen Chase, John Bell and John Folsom, who had been chosen a committee to consider the expediency of erecting or purchasing a work-house for the use of the town, made report at the annual meeting that it was not expedient, which was accepted.
At the June session of the General Court there was a petition of Henry Moulton, and thirty others, inhabitants of Dunbarton, presented, praying that a part of Dunbarton and a part of Chester may be formed into a new town. Order of notice on Chester and Dunbarton. At the annual meeting March, 1819, the town gave their consent, but the prayer was not granted.
In the Presbyterian tax and account book, in the hand- writing of Joseph Blanchard, Esq., is a copy of a commu- nication addressed to the wardens, stating that for a number of years they had been members of the parish, but that the causes that induced them to join no longer continued, and asked not to be considered members. Dated March 4, 1818; signed Benjamin Eaton, Amos Kent, Benjamin Fitts, Thomas Sargent, Benjamin Kittridge, Rufus Kit- tridge, Lemuel W. Blake, Nathan Knowles, 3d, Ezekiel Blake, Joseph Robinson, Thomas Haselton, Joseph Long, Benjamin Wilson, John Wilson, William Moor, James Moor, Jr., Joseph Richardson, Jethro Sleeper, William Walker and Nathan Knowles, Jr. There is also a frater- nal answer by Joseph Blanchard, Nathaniel W. Linn, Sam- uel Dinsmore, wardens. There is also a memorandum stating that they had paid in four years $324.03.
At a meeting of the Congregational parish, May 4,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
" Voted, To try the Persons Singly as they stand on the Petition to the wardens for admittance as members to join the Parish.
" Benjn Kittrige, Amos Kent, John Wilson, Willm Moore, James Moore, Jr., Joseph Richardson, Cyrus Moore, Benjn Eaton, Rufus Kittrige, John Emerson, Ezekiel Blake, Jo- seph Robinson, Edward S. Hills, Nathan Knowles, 3d, Benjn Wilson, Thos. Sargeant, Jethro Sleeper, Nathan Wilson, Joseph Long, Nathan Knowles, Jr.
" Voted, To Receive all of the above Persons as mem- bers of the above Parish."
The Hon. Samuel Bell, Stephen Chase and Isaac Lane were chosen a committee "to make a certificate for the Revd Nathan Bradstreet." A Mr. Jewett was employed to preach.
1819. The Congregational parish voted to shingle and repair the meeting-house, and chose Benjamin Eaton com- mittee to do it. It was partly done by subscription. An article to sell the ground for four floor pews in front of the pews last built was referred, the committee reported, and report was accepted.
The Rev. Clement Parker purchased the Paul Adams place (where Andrew Craige had made the second settle- ment at the Long Meadows), and being unable to meet the payments, the parish voted to purchase it for a parsonage, and Mr. Parker to allow rent equal to the interest of the purchase money, $875.
May 28, Benjamin Pike Chase, James Wason and Rob- ert Dinsmore were chosen ruling elders. The two first were ordained.
1820. At the June session of the General Court, Thomas W. Thompson and others petitioned to have a new county formed out of the northerly part of the counties of Rockingham and Hillsborough. At the annual town meet- ing, 1820, the sense of the voters was taken : " Against the subject matter, 157 ; for, 9." It was voted that no swine be allowed to go at large in any part of the town.
The Congregational parish had voted to offer the Rev. 12
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Joel R. Arnold five hundred dollars salary, and chose a committee " to call on the persons belonging to the parish, and see if they would unite in giving the Rev. Mr. Arnold an Invitation to settle with us." The parish had had so much trouble in getting rid of Mr. Bradstreet, they made a proviso that if either party was dissatisfied they might end the contract by giving six months' notice.
There was a parish meeting, February 19, 1820.
" Voted to adhere to the former vote, and confirm the Call to the Rev. Mr. Arnold."
The parish appointed the second Wednesday of March for the ordination.
1821. The mode of supporting the poor came up again, and John Folsom, Esq., Capt. William Graham and Capt. Samuel Aiken were chosen a committee to report upon the subject at the next annual town meeting.
At the June session of the General Court, 1821, Samuel Head and thirty-two others presented a petition, show- ing that they lived from ten to sixteen miles from the place of business and worship, &c. They pray that the lands and inhabitants of that part of Chester north of a line drawn from the northeast corner of Manchester to the southwest corner of Candia, may be set off with a part of Dunbarton, into a town. Order of notice to Chester and Dunbarton.
Another petition was presented by Nathl. Head and seventy-two others, inhabitants of the northwesterly part of Chester, the easterly part of Dunbarton and the easterly part of Goffstown, showing that they were from ten to six- teen miles from places established for transacting town business and holding public worship in said towns, &c. They pray that a portion of these towns may be incor- porated into a town, &c. Order of notice to Chester, Goffstown and Dunbarton, to be heard the first Tuesday of the next session.
1822. At the annual meeting, March 12,
" Voted, that so much of the Town of Chester as lies
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER.
Northerly & westerly of the following line : viz., Beginning at a Stake & Stones at the South west corner of Candia, thence S. 29 Deg. West to the south head line of Lot No. 94, in the 4th division ; thence N. 70° West, across part of Lot No, 94 & 95 to the S. W. corner of said No. 95; thence Southerly on the Easterly line of lots No. 80, 71 & 60, to the S. E. corner of said No. 60; thence strait to a Stake and Stones, which is the Northeast corner of Manchester ; be. set off & erected into a new Town, on condition that they take their proportion of the paupers of said Chester, pay their proportion of the debts Due by said Town, & re- ceive their proportion of debts due the said Town."
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