USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of old Chester [N. H.] from 1719 to 1869 > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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to Elizabeth Shirley. James Hoit. Joseph Hills. Jeremiah Rand.
257
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CHESTER. .
Folsom, stating replies they had received from Londonderry and Exeter as to the result of their experience. The com- mittee recommended to the town to purchase a farm, estab- lish a house of industry, and keep their poor all together in one place.
At a meeting holden April 2, 1822,
" Voted, That the town purchase a suitable farm and appropriate the same to the residence, support and employ- ment of the poor of said town."
They appropriated any funds in the hands of the treas- urer ; to raise by tax twenty-one hundred dollars by seven annual installments ; and to raise by loan what is necessary.
" Voted, That the Seleetmen (John Folsom, Josiah Chase and Lemuel W. Blake) be a committee to purchase a farm."
The selectmen purchased of Peter Shirley the farm where James Shirley, sen., first settled, and paid $2,200. They made an addition to the house and repaired it. The stock, tools, furniture, &c., cost $1,226.29. Cost of the establishment, $3,426.29.
RATES OR TAXES.
The public expenses were at first borne by the original proprietors or grantees, and as they were mostly non-resi- dents they soon sold their rights, or parts of rights, to act- ual settlers, or other non-residents, who then became pro- prietors and chargeable with the expense. Some items have been given in the Proprietary History. The proprietors were sometimes slaek in their payments which caused great embarrassment.
In April, 1731, there was an act passed, the preamble of which recites, "That, Whereas the several towns of Ches- ter, Nottingham and Rochester labor under many incon- veniences in carrying on public affairs and especially in the maintenance and support of the gospel ministry among them, by reason of the great numbers of the proprietors of land within said townships living out of the Province, by which means the constables or collectors of the aforesaid
17
258
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
towns are unable to collect the rates due from their re- spective proprietors living out of the province as aforesaid." It was enacted that the lands within any of those towns might be extended on for rates and cost, to continue in force three years. There were continually votes being passed and committees raised for selling the rights of delinquents, but as there came to be inhabitants who were not proprie- tors the rates were levied on both ; but in what manner I have seen nothing to indicate. An act passed in 1703 provides " that the justices, yearly at their December ses- sion, shall appoint one freeholder in each town to go through the town in which he belongs, unto every inhabi- tant, and take an account of such person's ratable estate, and shall deliver it to the selectmen between December and March each year, and such person shall have power to ap- point one or more assistants." At a town-meeting held the last Thursday of March, 1741, John Tolford and James Varnum were chosen " Invoice men to take the Invoice of the heads and Estates of the Whole town," which was taken. That document is in the Secretary's office and in the excellent hand-writing of Mr. Varnum. The town had never before been rated to the province and this inventory was for fixing the proportion. There are D houses and S houses. In some of the inventories the distinction is made of two-story houses and one-story houses, which is probably meant here.
The following is the inventory ; interesting, as showing the taxable persons and property then in town :
259
RATES OR TAXES.
An Invoise Taken of ye mens Estates whose names are here mentioned Between the month of December and March, which is in ye year 1741.
Pr. James Varhum, John Tolford,
Invois men.
Chester, Febuary 27th, 1741.
INVOICE TABLE.
NAMES.
Heads.
D. House.
S. House.
Mills.
Lands.
Oxen.
Cows.
Horses.
3 olds.
2 olds.
1 olds.
Colts.
Swine.
Mark Karr.
1
1
William White ..
1
1
6
Jacob Sargent, Jr.
1
William Leach ..
1
1
Q
1
1 1
1
1
Daniel mac farlind
1
1
1
1
Ebenezer Gial.
Nathan Hale.
John Clement ..
James mac fasen ..
1
Adam Dickey.
1
1
1
James Shirley, Jun.
1
Michal Derbon
1
Edward Crage
1
James Quainton
1
1
8
2
1
1
James Shirley
1
1
3
1
James Willson
1
1
5
3
1
. .
John Dickey
1
1
4
2
1
1
John Underhill.
1
Thomas Richardson.
1
1
1
1
2
Jonathan Sanders
1
1
Nathan Webster.
1
1
3
9
1
Stephen Webster ..
I
1
1
1
1
1
2
James Varnum ..
1
1
5 6
1
1
1
1
1
John Basford,.
1
1
6
1
1
Timothy Ingals.
1
Moses Richardson
1
Thomas Wasson
1
John Wadwell.
1
1
1
1
1
1
William Turner ..
1
Robert Gillcrees.
1
1
14
2
4
1
2
1
1
6
3
1
Robert Mills.
1
1
5
1
Martha Forsith
1
John Carswell.
1
1
6
.
1 1
3
. .
Joseph Taylor.
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
1
Samll. Powell.
1
William Powell.
1 1
1
1
1
3
Patrick Melvin ..
1
1
6
3
1
. .
John Allen ..
1
1
2
1
1
Thomas Worthen.
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
. .
.
Ithamer Berry
2
1
. .
..
2
1
57
2
.
Joseph Clark.
1
1
1
1 2 1 1125.
2
. .
Titus Wells.
Robert Graham.
1
Robert Graham, jun
1
1
William Graham.
1
.
11
1
John Robie.
2
Samll. Robie.
1
1
5
3
2
1
. .
13
1
.
Daniel Webster.
1
1
1
Wid. Elisabeth Underhill ..
1
Wid. Elisabeth Rowell.
David Crage.
1
Samuel Aken.
1
3
1
.
. .
1
Q
1
..
:
John Orr.
1
.
5
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
.
Bradbury Karr.
1
1
1
1
. .
1
1
G
.
Jolin Mills, Jun.
3
Eliphaz Sanborn.
9
2
. .
1
1
1
. .
. .
1
260
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
INVOICE TABLE- continued.
NAMES.
Heads.
D. House.
S. House.
Mills.
Lands.
Oxen.
Cows.
Horses.
3 Olds.
2 olds.
1 old.
Colts.
Swine.
Jonathan Hall.
1
1
3
1
1
1
Benja. Bachilder.
1
Page Bachilder.
1
James Calfe
1
1
3
1
1
King Calfe ..
1
1
2
1
1
Robert Calfe
1
.
Danil Calfe.
1
1
2
1
Joseph Calfe.
1
.
.
. .
. .
John Foss.
1
1
..
1
6
. .
·
6
3
1
1
2
Ens. Jacob Sargent.
I
1
17
2
5
2
2
4
1
John Calfe.
1
1
1
11
14
Q
3
1
2
2
1
William Wilson.
2
1
19
4
2
5
2
Ephraim Hesseltine.
1
1
19
2
4
1
Thomas Hesseltine.
1
1
19
. .
3
1
5
4
John Hesseltine.
1
1
12
3
1
4
1
1
2
2
2
William Talford.
2
1
12
23
2
4
1
1
2
.
Thomas Smith.
1
I
1
1
1
5
12
1
1
4
1
1
Samll. Emerson
1
1
15
3
1
1
2
Jonathan Blunt.
1
1
1
. .
15
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
Ebenezar Derbon, Jun.
1
1
17
2
3
1
2
3
1
Silvanus Smith
1
1
19
Q
1
2
4
6
1
1
1
Peter Derbon. .
1
1
2
1
8
2
2
1
1
1
Robert Runals.
1
1
2
1
1
1
Joseph Bassford.
1
.
1
1
4
. .
·
1
1
John Smith
1
1
1
1
8
1
1
1
2
Daniel Macaphee.
James Cro . wheit.
2
1
1
1
1
00 10 8
2
1
3
1
Nathanal Hall
1
1
Isaac Foss, Jun.
1
James Wadwell.
1
James mae clure.
1
1
2
1
1
Nathan Colbee.
Peter Clifford.
1
Joseph Davis
1
1
1
2
1
1
Thomas Crage.
1
1
1
1
1
.
1
.
2
1
2
2
. .
1
Ilenry Ambross
1
2
1
1
1
1
23
2
2
1
1
1
1
Benja. Hills ..
3
1
1
1
1
23
2
4
2
2
2
1
John Shirley ..
1
Anthoney Towle.
1
1
15
1
1
1
1
.
1
1
Benailı Colbe.
1
1
1
1
15
2
1
1
2
2
1
Jonathan Moulton
1
1
21
1
2
6
5
Paul Smith ..
i
1
19
13
1
1
Joshua Prescott ..
1
Jacob Basstord ..
1
1
Ebenezer Blunt.
Stephen Clay.
1
.
1
8
2
1
2
1
Robert Gorden.
Hugh Ramsey.
Archabald Macaphee.
1
1
1
1
Alen Temlington ..
1
Robert Crage ..
1
1
Jethro Tilton
2 10.
.
2
1
1
Thomas Hill.
David mae clure.
1
Wid. Mary Carswell.
Arehabald Dalaph.
1
... .
1
1
2
1
2
Alexander Crage.
1
1
1
1
1
13
..
5
.
. .
. .
. .
1
William Heal;
6
2
1
5
. .
1
1
2
1
1
Isaac Foss.
1
S
. ·
2
3
1
.
2
Lieut. Ebenezer Derbon
Nathan Webster
1
.John Ambross
Capt. Samll. Ingals.
27
33
3
1
2
to :
:
:
5
8
1
1
1
William Grimes, Jun.
2
1
1
.James Campble.
Enoek Colbe.
23
3
2
Thomas Wells ...
John Talford.
2
1
2
1
·
1
261
RATES OR TAXES.
INVOICE TABLE-concluded.
NAMES.
Heads.
D. House.
S. House.
Mills.
Lands.
Oxen.
Cows.
Horses.
3 olds.
2 olds.
1 old.
Colts.
Swine.
Moses Hills.
2
1
2
23
2
5
1
2
2
4
1
Thomas Glinn.
1
1
18
2
3
1
1
1
1
Henry Hall.
1
1
1
1
1
9
. .
2
1
1
2
2
Robert Willson
1
1
12
2
3
1
1
1
1
Francis Towle.
1
1
1
1
11
2
1
1
2
1
1
William Craford
2
1
8
2
1
2
1
Samll. Hills.
1
1
Benja. Derbon.
1
1
G
1
1
1
1
15
3
1
2
3
Winthrop Sargent.
1
1
9
2
2
1
1
1
William Karr.
1
1
3
1
John Karr, Jun
1
1
6
5
. .
1
1
1
2
1
3
Charles Moore.
1
1
1
1
1
Nathanal Wood.
1
1
5
1
1
Jonas Clay .. .
1
1
5
L
1
Jonas Clay, Jun.
1
. .
James Bassford.
1
1
1
. .
1
15
.
1
1
..
3
John Karr
3
1
.
2
2
John Webster
2
1
1
2
2
2
Hugh Willson.
3
1
.
. .
2
1
2
1
Andrew Crage
Samuel Brown
2
Thomas Derbon.
1
Paul Mac fason.
1
1
8
2
1
1
2
John Moore ..
1
1
2
2
The following from an old act in regard to making taxes, I insert as a curiosity : From " the Generall Lawes and Libaties of the Province of New Hampshire made by the Generall Assembly in Portsmº, the 16th of March, 1679-80, and approved by the Presid and Council.
" MAKING RATES.
" That there may be a just and equall way of Raising means for defraying ye publique charge, boath in church and civill affairs, whereot every p'rson doth or may receive ye benefit; these persons and estates shall be asseasted or rated as followeth: viz., to a single rate of a penny in the pound, every male person above the age of 16 years is valued at 18l .; and all land within fence, med- dow or marsh, mowable, shall be at 5s. per acre ; all pasture lands without fence rate free: all oxen 4 years old and upward, 3s .; steers, cows and heiffers of three years old at 4s .; steers and heiffers of 2 years old at 5s. ; yearlings 10s. ; horses and mares of 3 years old and upward. at 20s .; sheep above one year old at 5s. ; swine above one year old at 10s. ; and all other estates whatsoever, in ye hands of whome it is at ye time when that shall be taken, shall be rated by some equall proportion by ye selectmen of each town wth grate care yt p'ticulars be not wronged; and all ships, ketches, boates, barques and all other vessells wmsoever shall be rateable, as allso all dwelling houses, ware houses, wharffs, mills and all handycrafts men as carpenters, masons, joiners, shoe- makers, taylors, tanners, curriers, butchers, bakers, or any other
1
.
2
3
1
1
8
2
3
James Willson.
1
1
John Aken
1
1
15
12
4
9
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
262
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
artificers, victuallers, merchts and innkeepers shall be rated by estymatyon."
This was probably the law for a long period, as I have . examined a reprint of the laws from 1706 to 1770, also all the acts in the Secretary's office during that period, without finding anything on the subject.
The following is one page of an inventory, found among the papers of Deacon John Hills. There is no date, but it must have been as early as 1745, for Moses Tyler sold to Andrew McFarland that year. There is, on the back side, a footing, probably of the whole inventory. There are two taxed for faculties, - some trade, or other extra mode of making money. Mills, or a trade, were taxed as faculties in Hampton in 1732:
INVENTORY.
NAMES.
Heads.
Lands.
Oxen.
Cows.
Horses.
Houses,
Two-year-olds.
Yearlings.
Swine.
Faculties.
Young horses.
Nathaniel Wood
1
6
Jonas Clay .
1
8
Jona. Saunders
1
Henry Ambrose
1
.
.
. .
. .
1
1
1
Benj. Dearborn.
1
10
2
1
1
1
Robert Runnels
1
2
1
1
William Healey
?
10
2
1
1
. .
1
2
Benj. Batchelder
1
4
1
1
Ithamar Berry
1
12
1
1
4
1
3
1
1
1
1
3
. .
1
1
1
1
John Underhill.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Peter Clifford.
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
James Calfe
1
2
1
1
1
Nathl. Hall
1
4
6)
1
. .
1
Ebenezer Dearborn
1
20
3
1
1
1
3
3
Peter Dearborn.
1
16
3
1
3
Widow Rowel .
1
Widow Underhill.
6
1
1
David Craige .
3
1
1
.
..
Nathan Colby.
10
. .
80
649
66
100
53
55
59
69
51
..
6
11
1
:
12
. . .
James Varnum
1
1
2
Titus Wells.
1
2
1
1
1
Eliphaz Sanborn
1
1
Page Bachelder
1
4
Joseph Clark.
1
3
1
1
1
Moses Tyler
1
2
1
1
King Calfe
James Basford.
Jolın Allen.
1
3
1
1
Thomas Hill.
1
1
Jona. Hall.
1
Capt. Tilton
4
. .
.
1
Nathan Webster, Jr.
:
263
RATES OR TAXES.
The following table shows the proportion of province rates in 1709, to raise £1720:
Portsmouth
. £377 10s.
Hampton
£505 13s.
Dover
361 9
New Castle
150 00
Exeter
325 S
In order to show the relative progress of the several old towns in the province, I give the proportion of province rates to each £1000 :
TABLE SHOWING THE PROPORTION OF PROVINCE RATES.
TOWNS.
1723.
1728.
1732.
Portsmouth
171 10 0
187 16
4
142 16
3
Dover
171 12 2
217 15
5
103 13
5
Exeter
128 12 8
127
18
9
114
3
6
Hampton
74 18 9
94
4
5
94 12
6
Hampton Falls
74 18 9
88
4
3
90 16
8
New Castle
81 5 8
24
19
1
21
3
2
Kingstown
44 10 5
45
6
0
54
3
0
Newington
38 19 0
36 14
8
25
1
4
Stratham
49
6 0
60 14 11
57
4
7
Londonderry
68
3 10
52 13
0
Rve
Greenland
35 15 10
Oyster River
97 16
3
Somersworth .
39 15
6
TABLE II.
TOWNS.
1742.
1753.
1762.
Portsmouth
140 00
95 00
91 14
Hampton
70 00
34 12
55 07
Dover
86 00
70 08
29 12
Exeter
89 00
47 00
35 12
Londonderry
54 10
51 12
49 16
Chester .
18 00
33 17
36 11
Kingston
36 10
40 00
22 09
Derryfield .
5 05
: 19
Rumford
13 00
-
-
Bow .
-
-
24 00
-
£
S.
d.
£
S.
d.
.
16
0)
4
-
-
Gosport
19
50
29
7
1
32 16
0
£ s.
& s.
£ S.
& s d.
264
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
FOOTINGS OF THE INVENTORY IN CHESTER IN 1753.
Polls
241
Three-year-olds . 87
Houses
.
179
Two-year-olds
121
Tillage
452
One-year-olds 170
Mowing
1098 Three-year-old colts
15
Pasture
670 Two-year-old colts .
12
Horses
58 One-year-old colts
11
Oxen
302
Male slave
1
Cows
389
Orcharding
51
An act was passed July 3, 1766, providing that the Province rates might be paid in the following articles of produce at the following prices, new tenor :
£ s. d.
Bar iron per cwt
5 00 00
Well tanned sole leath-
Hemp per pound
3 00
er per pound 4 00
Indian corn, bush.
10 00
Tallow per pound
2 6
Rye
10 00
Winter and Spring cod- fish per quintal 4 00 00
Winter wheat
1 5 00
Pitch per barrel 3 00 00
Barley .
10 00
Tar per barrel . 2 00 00
Pork per pound
1 00
Turpentine per barrel
4 00 00
Beef
9
W. P. joists per M.
4 00 00
Flax ..
3 00
W. P. boards per M. 5 00 00
Bees-wax
5 00
W. O. two-inch plank
Bayberry wax "
.
.
3 00
per M. 25 00 00
CENSUS OF 1767.
MALES.
FEMALES.
Unmarried
Married 16
Under 16.
Over 60.
Unmarried.
Married.
Male Slaves.
Fem. Slaves.
Widows.
Total.
Chester
116
168
196
24
295
153
-1
2
34
916
Candia
27
68
99
. .
100
68
1
363
Raymond
21
78
132
3
134
81
.
6
362
Derryfield
29
31
50
81
38
.
. .
5
230
1
16 to 60.
to GO.
TOWNS.
£ s. d.
Peas
1 1 00
265
RATES OR TAXES.
INVENTORY OF 1777.
Chester.
Candia.
Raymond.
Chester.
Candia.
Raymond.
Polls
339
143
131
Three-years old .
257
116
87
Orchard.
162
127 1%
71%
Two-years old.
331
164
138
Arable
603
205
311
One-year old ..
317
137
118
Mowing
1751
449
445
Rents of mills
£95 00
£29
£64
Pasture
2749
852
1033
Stock in trade
280
125
100
Horses
141
51
49
Money.
3907
683
52
Three-years Colts. .
36
10
5
Two-years Colts.
22
24
6
One-year Colt
17
11
5
Oxen
243
115
76
Cows
600
241
229
State tax, 1783, which must have been lawful money, as the Continental was worthless: -
£
s. d.
Constable Joseph True to pay
. 643
5 9
Robert Witherspoon
. 361 12 10
Joseph Brown, Jr. . .
. 80 00 00
PROPORTION FOR STATE TAX.
TOWNS.
1773.
1789.
1803.
Chester
22
8
16
2 10
11
19 -
Candia
8
6
-
8
2
4
6
4 7
Raymond
7 13
6
4
8
4
2
1
Concord
13 14
12
7
1
10
8
2 .
Exeter
24 4
15 10
2
S
8
6
Londonderry
35 15
20 15
3
15
2
1
Portsmouth
58 2
-
-
27
8
5
Derryfield .
3 12
-
2 10
4
2
2
-
d.
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
£
s.
-
266
TABLE
SHOWING THE RELATIVE RATE OF TAXATION IN SEVERAL TOWNS, BY GIVING THE AMOUNT OF A POLL TAX.
TOWNS.
1790.
1795.
1800.
1805.
1810.
1815.
1820.
1825.
1830.
1835.
1840.
1815.
1850.
1855.
1860.
1865.
1866.
1867.
Chester.
$0.53
$0.79
$0.78
0.92
$1.21
$1.76
$1.76
$1,69
$1.44
$2.00
$1.68
$1.97
$1.72
$1.51
$3.13
$4.80
$4.80
$4.45
Auburn
. .
. .
.
82
1.02
93
1.70
1.68
1.73
1.58
1.60
1.59
1.56
1.68
1.64
1.52
4.80
. .
Raymond.
. .
.
.
1.10
1.63
1.60
1.89
2.25
1.98
1.78
2.00
1.97
2.14
1.75
5.58
5.29
4.86
Londonderry
. .
. .
..
. .
2.25
1.41
1.62
1.69
1.70
1.42
1.75
4.85
4.80
4.42
Hampton.
1.55
1.57
1.55
1.68
5.10
Concord .
62
36
7-1
86
99
2.40
2.03
2.22
1.33
79
06
1.41
1.38
2.30
2.30
*7.44
4.67
5.67
Nottingham
97
97
70
2.11
1.24
2.00
1.30
1.30
1.33
1.73
2.01
2.22
2.27
1.03
1.51
5.46
.
3.60
. .
..
. .
2.78
1.72
1.80
4.64
5.64
6.48
Candia
81
82
1.05
1.04
1.31
4.32
4.50
Derry .
..
.
.
·
. .
.
. .
.
*
* The taxes for 1865, '66 and '67 include highway. The central part of Concord, called the city precinct, pays additional, on account of lighting and State-House. In 1865 a poll was $8.40; in 1867, $7.29.
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
1.88
2.34
1.88
1.81
2.21
1.31
1.49
-
267
RATES OR TAXES.
The earliest tax-list which we have is for 1785, which is not inserted on account of its length.
TABLE
SHOWING THE NUMBER OF INHABITANTS, NUMBER OF POLLS AND PROPORTION OF STATE TAXES IN SEVERAL TOWNS IN 1820; ALSO THE PROPORTION IN 1829, POP- ULATION IN 1860, VALUATION AND PROPORTION IN 1864.
TOWNS.
Inhabitants
1820.
Polls 1820.
Proporti o I
1820.
Proportion
1829.
Population
1860.
1864.
Proporti o n
1864.
Chester.
2.262
415
$9.03
$7.40
1,276
$389,234
$2.99
Auburn*
886
296,858
2 29
Candia
1,273
240
5.54
4.90
1,575
427.803
3.29
Raymond.
961
177
3.62
3.43
1,269
320.676
2.47
Londonderry
3,127
515
13.27
5.17
1,717
627.501
4.83
Derryt .
5.22
Manchester
2.69
20,108
10,176,142
78.38
Concord
2,338
498
13.48
13.73
10,889
5.036,014
38.84
Exeter .
2,114
457
9.90
9.46
3,309
1,661,274
12.79
Hampton.
1,098
187
4.58
4.67
1,230
548,991
4.22
Hampton Falls
572
100
3.40
3.27
621
393.121
3.02
Kingston
847
170
3.67
3.67
1.216
435.713
3.36
Portsmouth
7,327
1,190
54.36
42.41
9 335
6,442,062
49.67
* Incor porated June, 1845.
+ Incorporated July, 1827.
These statistics are given to show the absolute and rel- ative progress of these towns.
In 1732, Portsmouth had 479 polls; Exeter had 333 ; Hampton had 224. In 1727, Hampton Falls had 224 polls ; and Kingston had 120.
Up to 1833, in making taxes a specific value was put upon animals of each grade, irrespective of their real value, and also on acres of land. At that time there was an act passed requiring all property to be appraised at its cash value.
-
. .
. .
7.54
1.990
678.645
133
2.48
Valuation
268
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
STAGE AND MAIL FACILITIES.
Besides occasional private conveyance for letters, there were sometimes persons who periodically traveled on horse- back and carried letters and newspapers. My grandfather took a Newburyport paper, during the Revolutionary war, which was probably brought by a "Post-rider."
The Committee of Safety, Dec. 2, 1779, appointed Peter Robinson for the term of six months, to ride from the post- office in Portsmouth, to set out from thence Saturday morn- ing, and ride to Peterborough in this State, and send a man weekly to Charlestown, No. 4; and carry and return all public letters and dispatches free of charge, for which ser- vice he shall receive from the State the sum of three hun- dred pounds lawful money. [N. H. Hist. Col., Vol. 7, p. 211.]
There was probably no regular mail or stage through Chester before 1793 or 1794. In the New Hampshire Reg- ister for 1794 there is the following list of deputy post- masters : Jeremy Libbey, Portsmouth ; J. W. Gilman, Ex- eter ; George Hough, Concord ; Samuel McClure, Hanover ; and Samuel Crosby, Charlestown. There might have been others, however, in the State. Tappan Robie, Esq., of Gor- ham, Maine, says that his uncle, Edmund Webster, was appointed postmaster about 1793 ; that he was clerk in his uncle's store, and acted as assistant in the post-office ; and the office supplied Chester, Sandown, Hampstead, Candia and Raymond, and perhaps Londonderry. He recollects that Ozias Silsby, of Chester, rode post and carried a mail from Portsmouth to Amherst. [He went to Peterborough. ] The mail was carried on horseback. This supplied Chester with a mail. Chase, in the history of Haverhill, p. 453, says :
" At this period (about 1791) newspapers and letters were carried through the country by persons who rode on horseback, called . Post-riders.' Samuel Bean was post- rider from Boston to Concord, N. H. His route was through Andover, Haverhill, Atkinson, Kingstown, Exeter,
269
STAGE AND MAIL FACILITIES.
Epping. Nottingham, Deerfield and Pembroke, to Concord ; returning, passed through Londonderry and Haverhill. He performed the route onee a weck.
" The first stage from Haverhill to Boston was started about this time. It was a two-horse coach, by a Mr. Gage. He performed the route only . when he had custom.' It took twelve hours to perform the journey. An advertise- ment in a Boston paper under date of April 9, 1793. informs the public that the ' Haverhill Stage Coach is complete. with genteel eurtains and cushions, and an able pair of horses ready for service.' It was to set out from Chad- wiek's Ferry, in Bradford, on Tuesday the 16th, at six o'clock precisely, arrive at Mr. Abbot's, in Andover, before eight, and at Mr. Peabody's in Boston, before one. The proprietor gave notice that he intends in a short time that the stage shall perform this route twice a week. Fare, 3d. per mile. In November, 1793, a stage commeneed running twice a week from this place [Haverhill] to Concord N. H., connecting with the Boston stage. It was owned by par- ties in this town, Chester, and Concord. The mail, how- ever, continued to be carried on horseback for several years after the establishment of a regular line of stages."
Mr. Robie says that the first stage was owned by Rogers and Kendall. Mr. Chase further says, p. 454 :
" At the celebration attending the opening of the Ando- ver and Haverhill Railroad to Bradford, Oct., 1837, Hon. Leverit Saltonstall, late of Salem, said he well recollected the first setting up of the first stage-coach between Boston and Haverhill. some forty or fifty years before, by Judge Blodg- ett, of Haverhill. It started very early in the morning from Haverhill, in order to have time to perform the dis- tance, and arrive comfortably in Boston before dark. The boys followed it through the villages, and the women put their heads out of the windows gazing upon the wonder ; and the welkin rang with the shout of ' The Stage ! The Stage !' A stage was afterwards established to run between Haverhill and Concord, N. H. This was considered a most extraordinary event ; and one of the leaders had a bell of a size nearly equal to that of the bell of an academy, sus- pended to his neck, the sound of which could be heard a great distance, to give the intelligence that the stage was coming !"
I have heard it said that Mr. Benjamin Brown drove through Chester the first trip. A negro subsequently
270
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
drove. It is said that Matthew Templeton and others as- sembled at Dea. John Graham's to see the stage. Mr. Templeton was probably dressed in an uncouth manner, and had a large dent in his forehead, where his skull was broken, which caused some of the passengers to laugh. Mr. Templeton cautioned then against laughing, as they were all going to the d- 1 together, with a nager to drive them.
· The earliest I recollect of a stage it passed over Chester turnpike twice a week each way, and was driven by a man by the name of Hall, and was owned by Kendall. This was in 1806. Some time after it was removed to the Lon- donderry turnpike. There were several changes each way, and at length there was one put on each route, when it was thought both must fail. There could not be business to support two stages. Thomas Pearson, of Haverhill, for a long time drove through Chester, and Nathaniel Walker, of Plymouth, through Londonderry. Father Gibbs for a long time rode post on Silsby's route, from Exeter to Peterbor- ough. He rode horseback, carried a mail, and carried Portsmouth, Exeter and Amherst papers, and did express business generally.
Edmond Webster died May 12, 1801, and Dr. John Win- gate, who married Sarah Webster, was appointed post- master. He lived in the Webster house, and held the office till 1807, when he removed from town, and Daniel French, Esq., was appointed April 25, 1807, who held the office until near the close of his life, when he resigned, and his son, H. F. French, was appointed.
About 1826 a post-office was established at what is now Auburn village, called the " West Chester " office. David Currier, Esq., then David Currier, 3d, procured the estab- lishment of the office, and was appointed postmaster. The office was first served with a mail from Anderson's tavern, on Chester turnpike. Afterwards a mail was carried from Kingston, serving Hawke, Sandown and West Chester, to Hooksett. Afterwards, about 1827, the Haverhill and Con- cord stage ran on the old road. About 1837 there was a
271
STAGES AND MAIL FACILITIES.
post-office established at Walnut Hill called " East Ches- ter," and Robert Shirley appointed postmaster. After the building up of Manchester, about 1843, a stage was run, and carried a mail through West Chester, Candia, Deerfield, &c., to New Market, until 1863, when the mail was put on the cars, and the stage stopped, and Auburn had a daily mail.
There are no postmasters given in the New Hampshire Register for Candia or Raymond, before 1818. Probably those offices were established in 1817. Moses Fitts, Fred- erie Fitts, 1821, and Benjamin Pillsbury from 1822 to 1833, are named as postmasters in Candia. Joseph Blake is named as postmaster in Raymond from 1818 to 1835. According to the best information I have been able to ob- tain, there was a " post-rider" who carried a mail on horseback from Exeter or Portsmouth, to Concord, passing through Brentwood. Poplin, Raymond, Candia, South Deer- field and Allenstown, once a week each way. He also carried newspapers. There was for a season a post office at Anderson's, called " Candia Turnpike," and also one on Candia north road.
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