USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bristol > History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 19
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New Chester, May 19, 1809.
Jacob Rowell.
Molly Clark was brought back to New Chester, but whether by the officers of this town or by those of Hampstead does not ap- pear. The atmosphere of the town, however, was evidently un- congenial, and she moved across the line into Bridgewater. But this action did not end the poor woman's troubles. The authori- ties of Bridgewater were quite as relentless as were those of New Chester, and she was carried bodily beyond the limits of the town. At the next town meeting, it was "Voted to allow Samuel Heath ten shillings on his father's account for carrying Molly Clark out of town and Lieut. Benjamin Emmons & Chase Fuller two shillings each," for assisting. As a redeeming fea- ture in this dark picture, we find the following vote on the Bridgewater records : "Voted, to allow Moses Webster $4.50 for keeping and nursing a woman and child two weeks."
The case of Molly Clark was probably the last where ex- treme measures were taken to rid the town of those for whose support it supposed itself not legally holden. Soon afterwards commenced the custom, which prevails to-day, of promptly as- sisting the poor as they might need, and of leaving for subse- quent decision the question as to which town or county was legally liable for their support.
It was the custom here, as elsewhere, to set up the poor at auction at the annual town meeting, their support being struck off to those who would keep them for the smallest amount or would pay the most for their services. The records of a town meeting in New Chester, March 11, 1806, tell us that "Lydia Colby, a poor girl supported by the town, was set up and struck off to Thomas Wells, Jr., for ten dollars for one year, he to find her victuals, drink, and lodgings, and the town to find her in clothes." The vote does not tell us which party paid the ten dollars, but it would seem that Thomas Wells, Jr., paid it, from the fact that for a long term of years this "poor girl" was bid
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL
off in open town meeting and brought the town from $4 to $12.50 per year. One year, she was set up and struck off four times, once for each quarter. In 1813, "Elizabeth Colby, a poor girl, was struck off to Philip Wells, he to have $20 and the town to pay the doctor's bills." "Lieut. Isaac Colby and wife were struck off at $1.80 per week to Samuel Underhill, he to have the woman's labor."
In 1817, the support of Susanna Colby and Jeremiah Quim- by, poor children, was bid off. In the former case the town was to pay ten cents per week, and in the latter case it received thirty-six cents per week for the boy's labor. Both children were to receive six weeks of schooling during the year, and the town reserved the privilege of terminating the contract at any time if an opportunity presented itself to bind the children out during their minority. The records are so worded that one can almost see these poor people put upon the auction block in open town meeting and there struck off. The requirement of their presence in town meeting was not, however, a part of the in- dignity they suffered.
After the incorporation of Bristol, the voters of the town followed the custom then in vogue of putting up at auction in open town meeting the support of its poor. This continued till the town purchased a farm for a place to care for all its paupers. Increasing sympathy was constantly shown for the unfortunate poor, and soon after the new town came into exist- ence the following vote, the first on record in Bristol regarding the poor, was passed : "That the selectmen see that the poor be well and comfortably clothed when they go to their new places." March 10, 1829, it was "Voted that the selectmen get at the expense of the town a new suit of clothes suitable to wear to meeting, for Samuel Truel and Elijah Truel. Samuel Truel was then set up and struck off to Levi Nelson for $6.50, he being the highest bidder." Three years later it was voted that Levi Nelson keep the great coat, hat, and boots that he fur- nished for Elijah Truel and have reasonable pay for the rest of the clothing. In 1826, it was "Voted that when Josiah Fuller will put his two sons under the care of the selectmen they may render him such assistance as they may think proper for the support of the residue of his family." Three years later it was voted "that Josiah Fuller have $25 for supporting his daughter provided he will put out his son, Clark Fuller."
In 1832, the subject of a town farm was discussed. Abra- ham Dolloff, Reuben Emmons, and Levi Nelson were elected a committee to investigate the subject and report at the next meeting.
In 1836, all the poor of the town were struck off to "Blake Fowler for $270, not including Doctor's bills."
In 1837, a second committee, consisting of Samuel T. W.
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THE TOWN'S POOR
Sleeper, Levi Nelson, and Joseph Moore, was elected to examine into the advantages of a town farm. The following year, the committee reported, but the town did not act till 1839, when it voted to purchase a farm, authorizing the selectmen "to take a part of the school fund to pay for it, if needed, or borrow the money." The meeting also voted to support the poor on the farm. The farm purchased was that occupied for many years later by Henry C. Homans, near Bristol Peak.
The poor-farm was not a success. It was difficult to obtain the right man to manage it, and the annual deficiency was greater than the town could afford. In 1845, the town voted to sell, and the farm was disposed of soon afterward. But the town did not return to the old method of disposing of the poor ; it left the care of the poor to the selectmen. In 1851, it was voted that the selectmen be instructed to procure comfortable places for the poor "though it cost $5 or $10 more," and that the poor be sup- ported in town. Since this vote, the subject of the town's poor has hardly been alluded to in town meeting. The selectmen have had the entire charge of the poor and the spirit shown in the last vote of instruction has since animated nearly or quite all the town fathers. Consequently, the unfortunate poor have been aided in their homes or given as comfortable homes as cir- cumstances would permit.
In 1851, the subject of a county farm came up for considera- tion by the town. The vote was only nineteen in favor and sixty-seven against, the objections to the proposed farm being those of increased expense to the county and the inhumanity of taking the poor from the scenes of their old homes and herding them together under one roof. The farm was established, how- ever, at Haverhill, and Bristol was relieved of the care of those who had gained a residence previous to a certain date. Since then, town settlements have been abolished from time to time, so that the larger part of the poor have been, and are now, sup- ported by the county.
In 1867, on the question "Is it expedient to abolish pauper settlements in town and throw the entire support of paupers upon counties ?" the vote was, yes, twenty-five ; no, ninety-one.
In justification of the county farm and the right of the county commissioners to take any county pauper from his or her home, it may be said that the greater part of the inmates of the county farm are foreigners or imbeciles who have no home ties. Most of the worthy, intelligent poor are aided at their own homes or supported in the community where they naturally de- sire to remain. The tax for the support of the poor, both town and county, has been paid willingly by all classes of the people.
CHAPTER XVII
MILITARY HISTORY-NEW CHESTER IN THE REV- OLUTIONARY WAR
The land is holy where they fought, And holy where they fell ; For by their blood that land was bought, The land they loved so well. Then glory to that valiant band,
The honored saviors of the land !
-MacLellan.
New Hampshire was organized into a separate province in January, 1680. The first General Assembly met on the 16th of March, following, and at once enacted laws organizing the militia of the state-one company of foot in each of the towns of Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, and Hampton, one company of artillery, and one of horse. Such were the exigencies of the times that an effective militia was of vital importance to the existence of the state.
The close of the Seven Years' war, ending with the capitu- lation of Montreal, in 1760, found the militia of the state organized into one regiment of cavalry and nine of infantry.
This arrangement continued for some years; but, in 1773, when New Chester was organized, there were twelve regiments in the state. One of these embraced the towns of the southern part of Grafton county, and was commanded by Col. John Fenton, of Plymouth. Col. Fenton had seen service as a cap- tain in the British army, and, when trouble arose between England and her colonies, he proved a tory. He went to Portsmouth, where he was incarcerated in jail, but was soon after allowed to enter the lines of the British in Boston, after taking an oath not to take up arms against the colonies.
Immediately after the Declaration of Independence, the militia of the state was radically modified. Two classes of soldiers were provided for in every town-a training band and an alarm list. The training band included all able-bodied men from sixteen to fifty years of age, with certain exemptions. The alarm list included all from sixteen to sixty-five not included in the training bands. These were liable to be called out in an emergency. They were mustered by their captains, and their arms were examined twice each year. The training bands or companies were organized into regiments. Each officer and each private soldier was to be constantly provided with "a good fire-
-
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR
arm, a good ramrod, a worm, priming-wire and brush, a bayonet fitted to his gun, a scabbard and belt therefor, a cutting sword or . tomahawk or hatchet, a pouch containing a cartridge-box that will hold fifteen rounds of cartridges at least, a hundred buck- shot, a jack-knife and tow for wadding, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls fitted to his gun, a knapsack and blanket, a canteen or wooden bottle sufficient to hold one quart." Each town was to keep deposited in a safe place ready for instant use a specified number of spades or shovels, axes and picks. Each company was to muster eight times a year, including the regimental muster.
During the war, when men were needed for the army, the Assembly apportioned the number among the several regiments. If volunteers were not sufficient to fill the quotas, the colonels apportioned the men needed among the several companies, whereupon the company commanders paraded the companies and made drafts.
In 1774, there were about forty-four families in the terri- tory now embraced in Hill, Bridgewater, and Bristol. Nearly all of these were living on the west bank of the Pemigewasset river, between the Plymouth line and Franklin, a distance of nineteen miles. These pioneers were not, however, so remote in the wilderness that they were not thoroughly informed con- cerning the storm that was rising between the colonies and the mother country. On the 23rd day of July, 1774, Carr Huse and Peter Sleeper, the assessors of the town, called a meeting of " all the Free holders and Inhabitants of the Town of New Chester to meet at the house of Jonathan Ingalls in N. Chester on tues- day the Twenty Sixth day of July at one of the Clock in the afternoon, Firstly to Choose a Moderator To Regulate Said Meeting. Secondly when mett to act upon the Correspondence paper as they shall Think Proper. Thirdly to See who will sign the Covenant and who will not and also to act upon any other things that are thought proper or Necessary."
This meeting was held at the time and place specified, and adjourned without action till September 20, following. Unfor- tunately, there are extant no records of the proceedings of this adjourned meeting, and no tradition has come to us as to who or how many signed the covenant. This thing, however, is ap- parent all through the war, that no voice was raised in New Chester against any measure designed to aid those in the field or to sustain the colonial cause.
May 2, 1775, a meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Ingalls, "firstly to Choose a Moderator to Govern Sd meeting Secondly to See what the Inhabitants will Doe Concerning a Stock of Ammunition & Thirdly to See if the town will enlist any men for to Stand Ready at a minutes warning & fourthly to see if the town will raise money to buy a Stock of provisions for
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL
to keep as a town stock as occasion may call for and also to act upon any other thing that Shall Be thought proper or necessary.'' At this meeting Abner Fellows was chosen moderator, and it was " Voted that there should be 24 four Dollars & an half raised for to Buy a town Stock of ammunition. Voted that there should be minute men enlisted for to Stand at a minutes warning in the town of New Chester."
That the minute men were enlisted in accordance with this vote, is probable; but that the ammunition was secured, there is reason to doubt. Ammunition was difficult to obtain, and it may have been impossible for even the selectmen, with money raised for the purpose, to find any in the market that could be purchased. That this was the case, seems more than probable, for on the ninth day of September, following, the selectmen state in a return made by them that there was not at that time more than two or three pounds of powder in town, and on the 28th of June, 1776, the following petition was sent to the honor- able council and house of representatives :
New Chester, June ye 29th, 1776.
To the Honorable Colony Committee
We the Subscribers being a Majority of the Selectmen and Com- mittee of Safety for the township of New Chester being willing to Defend ourselves and fellow Country men to the Utmost of our Power -But finding our Selves destitute in a Gret Measure of Arms and Amunition Humbly beg You would use your Interest to procure About 56 lbs of Powder and 112 lbs of Lead & about 150 Flints and Fifteen guns Which We bind our Selves to the Honest payment of as Witness our hands.
Abner Fellows -
Joshua Tolford Thos Crawford Jonathan Ingalls Cutting Favor Ebenezer Ingalls Selectmen
For Committee
Benjamin Emmons for Carr Huse New Chester.
On the second day of July, following, the house of repre- sentatives voted to distribute a small amount of powder to those towns most needy, and, of this, thirty pounds were apportioned to New Chester. Abner Fellows made a trip to Exeter to procure this powder, and the town paid him one pound, thirteen shillings, two pence, and three farthings for his "journey and expenses."
The men of this township were anxious to bear their part of the public burdens in furnishing men for any military organiza- tion that might be raised in this part of the state to aid the colonial cause. This is plainly shown in the following remon- strance, addressed to the Committee of Safety, Exeter :
Gentlemen-
Whereas it has been Represented to us by Mr Abel Webster member
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR
of the Colony Congress for the Town of Plymouth in the County of Grafton, That your Honours propos'd & ordered one Company of Foot to be Raised in the County of Grafton, for the Defence of the Country one half of said Company to be raised in the Towns Situate on Conecticut River & the other half on the Towns Situate on the Pemegiwasitte River, and that the Order for raising said Company was delivered to Israel Morey Esqr of Orford to be by him communicated to said Webster & by him to be proportioned upon each River, Yet Nevertheless as we Under- stand the said Israel Morey Esqr keeps said orders to himself or from this part of the County in order to raise the whole of said Company on Connecticut River as he has had no connection or advice with said Web- ster or any other person in this part of the County concerning the same We therefore the agents of the several Towns Hereafter Mentioned beg leave to Remonstrate to Your Honors against the proceedings of said Esqr Morey, conceiving that by his thus proceeding he has not only thwarted the order and advice of Congress or said Committee of Safety but also put this part of the County under a very uneaquel footing with the other part in bearing the publick charge in not having the priviledge in raising our proportion of Men, We therefore desire your Honours would Interpose in said affair by pointing out to said Esqr Morey the Path of Justice and Generosity by ordering him to Give up the orders to this part of the County to raise half of said Company or otherwise as Your Honors think proper
Plymouth 23d June 1775
For Plymouth Saml Emerson Rumney Jonathan hall For New Holderness Saml Sheperd For N. Chester Carr Huse Thornton Ezekiel Eliot Cockersmouth Ebenezar Kendall
For Alexandrae Jonathan Cauleys Campton Gershom Burbanks
This remonstrance was received by the committee, and its con- sideration deferred till July 1; but there is no record to show that it ever came up for action.
Town meetings were frequent during the war, and only six weeks after the last mentioned another was held at Jonathan Ingalls's (June 21, 1775). Ensign Peter Sleeper was chosen moderator. "Carr Huse was Chosen a Committee Man for to go to New Plymouth To assist in Chosing field officers" for the Twelfth Regiment. The following were chosen a Committee of Safety and Inspection : Carr Huse, Lieut. Robert Forsaith, Henry Wells, Thomas Crawford, Jr., Ebenezer Ingalls, Ensign Peter Sleeper, and Andrew Craige, with the first named as chairman.
The first enlistments from New Chester were as early as June, 1775. At this date, Nathaniel Bartlett, John Crawford, and Joseph Davis were in the service. The latter appears on the roll of Capt. Henry Dearborn's company as from Plymouth; but the selectmen of New Chester make oath that he was from New Chester in claiming an abatement of poll-taxes by reason of his being in the service. This man served in Benedict Arnold's expedition to Canada in the fall of 1775.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL
On the 23rd of June, 1775, David Hobart, David Webster, and Samuel Shepard sent the following communication to the Committee of Safety at Exeter :
To the Committee of Safety appointed by the Colony of new Hamp- shire or the Congress of said Colony -Gentlemen whereas we are In- formed the Honorable Congress appointed that there should be a Com- pany of Men Raised in this County for the Safety of the Frontier Towns and as part of said Company is to be Raised out of this Regiment we would Recommend Capt. Matthew Thornton as a man Shutable we Think to Inlist said Company and a man that we Can Depend upon in the graitest Troble or Destress which if your Honours Thought proper to give him orders for so Dowing we Think that he Could Raise a Com- pany in a Short Time and it would give Sattysfaction to the new Towns heare and oblidge your Humble Serts.
Plymouth June 23 1775
David Hobert David Webster Saml Sheperd
On receipt of this communication, the Committee of Safety, at Exeter, authorized Capt. Thornton ' to raise a company from this section, and he enlisted forty-three men. Among them were the following from New Chester : "Thomas Crawford, farmer, age, 26, enlisted July 11, 1775 ; Jonathan Crawford, farmer, age, 28, enlisted July II, 1775; Zebediah Richardson, farmer, age, 23, enlisted July 11, 1775."
The men enlisted by Capt. Thornton were merged with twenty others apparently enlisted by James Osgood, of Conway. James Osgood became captain ; Matthew Thornton, first lieu- tenant; Jotham Cummings, of Plymouth, second lieutenant ; and Thomas Crawford, of New Chester, one of the sergeants. This company of sixty-three men became known as Capt. Osgood's Company of Rangers. They joined the Northern Continental army and were discharged the last of December, following.
On the ninth of September, 1775, Carr Huse and Robert Forsaith, selectmen, made the following return of the town :
Males under 16 66
Males 16 to 50 not in the army
32
Males above 50
5
Males in the army
All females 88 5
Slaves
none-196
Number of firearms fit to use within the town 26
Number wanting
II
All the powder in town not more than two or three pounds.
In November, 1775, Peter Wells went to Winter Hill, Mass., and there enlisted for one year in Capt. Daniel Moore's
' Two years later Capt. Thornton was arrested for toryism. This was Matthew Thornton of Thornton, and not Matthew Thornton who was one of the proprietors of New Chester.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR
company, of the First Regiment. He served in this company till there was a call for men to enlist for three years, when he again enlisted, this time for three years in Capt. Amos Morrill's company of the same regiment, as will be seen farther on.
At a meeting held at the house of Jonathan Ingalls, Mar. I, 1776, the following were elected as the Committee of Safety for the year ensuing : Joshua Tolford, Thomas Crawford, Jr., Capt. Cutting Favor, Abner Fellows, and Jonathan Ingalls.
John Clark, Jr., enlisted in 1776, in the company of Capt. John Calfe, of Hampstead, in Col. Pierce Long's Regiment as John Clark, without the "junior," and was credited to Hamp- stead. For proof that this man was the same as John Clark, Jr., of New Chester, the following affidavit of his father, pre- sented to the Committee of Safety, at Exeter, is here givern :
I John Clark of New Chester in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire Yeoman, Testifieth & saith-that my son John Clark Junr of New Chester aforesaid after he had lived in New Chester on or about one year did in the year 1776 Inlist himself to serve as a Soldier for one year at Portsmouth under Capt. John Calf of Hampstead. That in the year 1777 before said year for which he Inlisted was expired the Corps he belonged to being under the Command of Col. Long was ordered to march for Ticonderoga, with which he marched. That his said son in said year 1777 upon his said march at No four his said year being about expired that he had engaged for Inlisted himself into the Continental Service for three years under an officer named Willard still considering himself a New Chester man. That after he had served towards two years in said service he being then in the Army Inlisted himself during the War & and soon after Returned home to New Chester aforesaid (also considering himself a New Chester man as aforesaid) where he was with me about three months and in May 1779 he being then (the said John Clark Junr) at home in New Chester aforesaid gave me an order to draw from Capt Favor the Bounty given by the said New Chester to such Soldiers which was six pounds in silver money which order the selectmen of New Chester has already paid & stand ready to pay any further sum or sums that the said town shall make up to such soldiers in General-and further saith not
September 10th 1781
John Clark
Grafton ss: Plymouth September 10th 1781 Then the above Named John Clark personally appearing made solemn oath to the truth of the above Deposition by him subscribed before me
Samuel Emerson Just Peace
John Clark, Jr., was at Newcastle Dec. 7, 1776, where he was paid for two months' time, forty shillings per month ; blanket money, twelve shillings ; wages and travel, five pounds, eighteen shillings, eight pence; leaving a balance due him of three pounds, eighteen shillings, eight pence. He was at Ports- mouth Jan. 14, 1777, where he was paid two pounds for two months' advance pay. He marched with his company for
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL
Ticonderoga and, on reaching Charlestown, as his time of service had nearly expired, he felt at liberty to enlist in another company for thee years. That this was not considered entirely regular, even for those times, is seen from the fact that his old company commander reported him as "absent " and as having left Mar. 17. His age was stated to be at that time nineteen years. This man next appears in Capt. Farwell's company, serving a three years' enlistment, and as from Hampstead, but he was returned and claimed by the selectmen of New Chester as being on its quota as late as 1782.
Robert Crawford and John Craige were on the roll of Capt. Abbott's company in Gen. Stark's regiment as early as Febru- ary, 1776, for, in April of this year, they were paid for the months of February and March. They were at Fort George in November, 1776.
In answer to a requisition from Gen. Washington, the legislature of New Hampshire voted, Dec. 4, 1776, to draft five hundred men from the several regiments of the state and send them at once to take the places of men at Fort George and Ticonderoga whose terms of service would expire the last day of December, and thus prevent those posts from falling into the hands of the enemy. The regiment thus formed was com- manded by Col. David Gilman, of Pembroke. Capt. William Walker commanded one company, in which were eighteen men from David Hobart's regiment of militia, including the follow- ing from New Chester, who had enlisted December 16: Sergt. Peter Sleeper, Jonathan Crawford, Josiah Fellows.
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