USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Bristol > History of the town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 8
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CHAPTER VI
THE ORGANIZATION OF NEW CHESTER, ITS INCOR- PORATION AND ITS DIVISION
Look now abroad-another race has filled These populous borders-wide the wood recedes, And towns shoot up, and fertile realms are tilled ; The land is full of harvests and green meads.
-Bryant.
In 1773, the number of voters in the new township had become so large that the questions of a town organization, the election of town officers, and the raising of taxes for internal improvements had become important ones. These questions were hastened by the indifference of the proprietors. These men were not entire- ly pleased that more settlements had not been made, that the sales of land had been so few, and that the consequent rise in the value of real estate had not met their expectations. They were, therefore, slow to vote appropriations for making roads for building meeting-houses, or clearing public lots. Indeed, from the first, they neglected to do many things they had agreed to do to hasten the settlement of the new town.
These things made the settlers more anxious to assist them- selves, and the general assembly was, therefore, asked this sea- son to organize the town. The assembly responded favorably by authorizing Col. John Goff' to proceed to New Chester and warn the legal voters to meet at a given day and place for the election of town officers. This Col. Goff did, and on the day and hour named he again appeared, called the meeting to order and presided with all the dignity of a man calling a new town into being. Joshua Tolford, Esq., was elected clerk. It seems that Mr. Tolford, though a man above the average in general intelli- gence, had no conception of the importance of preserving the records of this meeting. At least, he furnished none for the use of the town, and the only knowledge we have of what was done that day comes from the pen of Carr Huse, in the following docu- ment which he wrote in 1822 :
'Col. John Goff was born in Boston, in 1801, and settled at Goff's Falls. He was a man of commanding presence and was an able military officer. He commanded a scouting party of 44 men in 1746; was an offi- cer under Gen. Webb at Albany in 1757; commanded a New Hampshire regiment against Canada in 1760; and was at Ticonderoga in 1761. He was a member of the Committee of Safety of Bedford in 1778. He died about 1787.
56
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
Carr Huse Taking in to Consideration the uncertainty of Life, have thought proper for the Benefit of the inhabitants of New Chester to make known to the inhabitants how the Town was made active or organized to enjoy the privileges as other Towns in the State Do enjoy. in the year 1773 Col. John Goff was appointed by the General Assembly of this State to Notify and warn the inhabitants of New Chester to assemble, and meet at Some suitable place in said Town in order to Choose Town officers and Col. Goff Notified the inhabitants of the intention to meet on a cer- tain Day at the Dwelling House of Cutting Favour in New Chester on said Day at a certain hour and the inhabitants assembled agreeable to notifica- tion and Col Goff presided as Moderator and opened the Meeting and Joshua Tolford Esq was Chosen Town Clerk and was sworn to that office Thomas Crawford Jr Cutting Favour and Carr Huse were Chosen Asses- sors and were sworn to that office and Peter Sleeper was Chosen Con- stable or Collector and sworn to that office and high way Surveyors were Chosen and Sworn to office and the assessors made the Taxes and Com- mitted the Taxes to the Collector agreeable to the Precepts with a warrant and the Collector Collected the Taxes and paid them over agree- able to his warrant and settled with the assessors and the assessors in 1774 Notified and warned the inhabitants of New Chester to meet on a certain Day in march for the purpose of Choosing Town officers for the year ensuing and the inhabitants mett agreeable to Notification and the Meeting was opened and a Moderator was Chosen and Carr Huse was Chosen Town Clerk and in a short time was Sworn to office and all other Town officers as will appear recorded on the Town Book No. I and Carr Huse the Town Clerk Called repeatedly on Joshua Tolford Esq for the Records for the year 1773 but never could recover them of him and as the Records now stands recorded no one man will be able to make known Fifty years hence how the Town was made active to act as a Town and the above named Carr Huse is sensible as he is one of the oldest Settlers in the Town and is willing to Do all the good that lays in his power to Do for the Town and as it is necessary that Some thing Should be Done with Regard for that years record if the Town will vote or consent that he Shall have the Town Book No I and enter this Beginning of the Book as there is room left Suffiscient and the Taxes with the warrant annexed thereto, as that Book is all or the major part of his writing he will Do it and as soon as he can as he has the coppies of the Taxes and warrant in his possession and return the Book to the Town Clerk. Carr Huse.
New Chester March 2d 1822
To the Select Men of New Chester.
Surely every one interested in the history of New Chester, and the towns carved from it, has reason to be grateful to Carr Huse for his thoughtfulness in writing this paper and thus pre- serving from oblivion a part of the doings of this first town meeting, as well as for many other acts of his long and useful career in town.
As will be noted, the exact date of this first town meeting is not stated. It must, however, have been in the early fall fol- lowing the adjournment of the assembly, as the inventory was taken by the assessors elected at this meeting and placed in the hands of Peter Sleeper, the constable or collector, Oct. 13, of that year.
57
NEW CHESTER
We present here the first inventory of the town, taken presumably in September, 1773 :-
Heads
Oxen
3 years
2 years
I year
Horses
Cows
Acres
Land
David Emerson
I
O
-
-
-
-
I
Nathaniel Sanborn
I
O
II-2
Henry Wells
I
O
2 I-2
Carr Huse
I
2
-
-
4
Jacob Heath
I
II-2
Jacob Wells
I
O
-
-
-
I-2
Tilton Bennett
I
O
Nason Cass
I
2
-
1
1
3
5
Jeremiah Quimby Cutting Favor
I
O
I
2
I2
James Moulton
I
2 OON
-
1
1
I
Robert Forsaith
I
O
2
I 3 IWHI
I ICH 3
2
8 5
I saw mill
Peter Sleeper
I
O
I
5
Gideon Sleeper
I
2 1 2
1
-
grist mill 3 s
Moses Worthen
I
0
1
I
Samuel Worthen
I
1
-
Ebenezer Ingalls
I
I
O
O 2 ONOI
OOHI
I I O OOOHOHI
O
I
Benjamin Emmons
Chase Fuller
Edmond Eastman
I
O
OHO
O
O
I
Nathan Sleeper
I
I
O
0
O
John Smith
I
O
I
I
David Cross
I
Inventory torn off from here.
Thos. Crawford
Peter Heath
Thos. Crawford, Jr.
Jonth. Crawford Josiah Heath
John Clark
Andrew Crage
Jonth. Morgan
-
I
Joseph Sanborn
I
I
2
6
John Kidder
I
O
Jonathan Ingalls Thos. Locke
I
O
I
2
O
O
I
6
I
O
O
2 I I O I I I O O I OHOHHHOIHHN
6
-
new
John Mitchell
I I 0 I I 2 NHHOHHHN
3 I-2
Joshua Tolford, Esq.
I
1
A part of the above inventory is missing; but the list of names is complete, showing that there were at this time thirty- seven taxpayers in town, and enough of the inventory remains to show the extreme poverty of the people. It will be noted that only two horses and five yoke of oxen were taxed, as being owned by the twenty-eight persons first named, and five of these persons had no cow. The total taxes assessed amounted to two pounds, five shillings and eight pence.
I-2
I
I
58
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
The following is a copy of the warrant for the annual town meeting in March, 1774, and the record of the proceedings as made by the town clerk. This official, however, did not sign his record.
Province of New Hampshire.
Grafton SS.
These are to Notify and Warn the Freeholders and other Inhabitants in the Town of New Chester Qualified By Law to Vote to Assemble and Meet at the Dwelling House of Mr Jonathan Ingalls in Sd New Chester on Tuesday the twenty Second Day of March next at ten of the Clock in the Forenoon To Act on the Following Articles (Viz)
Ily To Chuse a Moderator to Govern Said Meeting
2dly To Chuse a Town Clerk
3dly To Chuse assessors for the year ensuing
4thly To Chuse a Collector for the year Ensuing
5thly To Chuse any other Town officers or to act upon any other thing that is Proper or thought Necessary Given under our hands at New Chester this twenty fifth day of February 1774
Carr Huse Assessors For
Cutting Favor New Chester
At a Legal Meeting Held this twenty Second Day of March, 1774, in New Chester at the Dwelling House of Jonathan Ingalls
Istly Nason Cass was Chosen Moderator For to Govern Sd Meeting 2dly Carr Huse was Chosen Town Clerk for the year Ensuing and Sworn
3dly Carr Huse was Chosen an Assessor for the year Ensuing and was Sworn
4thly Peter Sleeper was Chosen an Assessor for the year Ensuing and was Sworn
5thly Thomas Crawford Jr was Chosen an Assessor For the year En- suing & was Sworn
6thly Robert Forsaith was Chosen Collector for the year Ensuing and was Sworn
7thly Andrew Craige was Chosen a Surveyor of high ways For the year Ensuing & was Sworn
8thly Jonathan Crawford was Chosen a Surveyor of high ways For the year Ensuing & was Sworn
gthly Benjamin Emmons was Chosen a Surveyor of high ways for the year Ensuing & was Sworn
Iothly Ebenezer Ingalls was Chosen a Surveyor of high ways for the year Ensuing & was Sworn
IIth Robert Forsaith was Chosen a Surveyor of high ways for the year Ensuing & was Sworn
12th Henry Wells was Chosen a Surveyor of high ways for the year Ensuing & was Sworn
At the annual meeting, March 21, 1775, it was "Voted that the Assessors Shall Take the Money that is in Lieut. Robert Forsaith's hands if there is Enough For to Buy a Town Book and a Juror Box."
The subject of the incorporation of the town began to be agitated soon after its organization. The question was whether it should be incorporated as one town or two. These early settlers could easily foresee that the whole of the township was destined to
59
NEW CHESTER
be settled ; and there was a sentiment among the more intelligent that in time two towns would be carved from its territory, and that it would be wiser to create two towns at the time of its in- corporation than at some subsequent date. Naturally, the senti- ment in favor of a division was stronger before the incorporation of the town than afterwards, when the number of the inhabitants had largely increased and the town had existed harmoniously for a few years.
The desire for incorporation culminated in a town meeting held May 20, 1776, at the house of Jonathan Ingalls, who re- sided just east of Danforth brook. The second article in the warrant was "To See if the Inhabitants of Sd Town will agree to have the Town Incorporated." The following is a copy of the record of the town on this point :
Voted that the Town Should be Incorporated.
Voted that the Town should Be incorporated into two Towns.
Voted that the Town Should Bee Divided at the North East Corner of Lot No. 561 at Pemagisawassett River & So Running upon Sd Line till it Shall Strike New Found pond & So Including all the Land upon the South Side of Sd pond to the Lower Town.
Nov. 20, 1776, another town meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Ingalls "To See if the Town Inhabitants will agree to Petition to the General Court For to have Sd Town Ship In- corporated in to two Distinct Towns allowing Newfound River To Be the Dividing Line between Sd Towns." At this meeting it was
Voted That New Chester Should Be Incorporated into Two Distinct Towns & Newfound Pond River to Be the Dividing Line Between Sd Towns.
The next month the following petition was signed by twen- ty-three of the legal voters of the town, and presented to The Honorable Council and House of Representatives :
To the Honourable Council and House of Representatives of the Colony of New Hampshire
The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Township of New Chester Wee the Inhabitants of Sd N. Chester Do Labour under many Grievances and disadvantages for want of an In Corporation whereby wee might have officers Endowed with Power and Authority as other Towns in this Colony Do Enjoy We therefore Humbly Pray your Honours to Grant us a Charter of In Corporation -- Investing us with the Powers Priviledges and Authorities as Other Towns within this Colony have it is the desire of your Humble Petitioners that the Sd Township may Be In Corporated into two Distinct Towns if your Honours Please, By Reason of the Township being Very Long, which will abundantly Best Accomo- date the Inhabitants of Sd Town Ship, it is desired that Sd Towns may Be Divided at New Found River So Called Allowing the upper Towns to
IJust east of Solon Dolloff's land.
60
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
inClude the privileges for mills upon Sd River within the Limits of Sd Town, and your Humble Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever Pray
N. Chester December 24th 1776
Jonathan Crawford
Robert Crawford
Benj McAllester
Josah heath
Nason Cass
Robt Forsith
Thos Crawford Junr
John Mitchell
Beniemin Emery
John Clark
gideon Sleeper
Carr Huse
Cutting favour
Reuben Wells
David Emerson
Jonathan Ingalls
John Smith
Joshua Tolford
Joseph Sanborn
Nathaniel Sanborn
Tilton Bennett
Jacob wells
John Bussell
This paper contained the names of more than a majority of all the voters in town ; but for some reason the legislature did not act on the petition. At the next annual town meeting, this ques- tion was, therefore, again considered, and the vote of the town was still in favor of the incorporation of the territory of New Chester into two townships. In October of that year, 1778, an- other petition was sent to the General Court which read as fol- lows :
To the General Court of the State of New Hampshire-
The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Township of New Chester. Wee the Inhabitants of Sd Township Do Labor under Many Grievances and Disadvantages for Want of an Incorporation whereby wee might have officers endowed with Power and authority and that wee might Lay out our highways So that wee Might make and Repair them So that travilers might Safely travel, or pass through the Town Ship saifly for want of which wee are Sensible Some of your Honours are sen- sible of and many more Difficulties which wee labor under, we therefore Hunbly Pray your Honours to Grant us a Charter of Incorporation In- vesting us with the Powers Privileges and authorities as other Towns within this State Do Injoy and your Humble Petitioners as in Duety Bound Shall Ever Pray
New Chester October 15th 1778
It is Desired that the Town May Be Incorporated By the name of New Chester
Carr Huse
Jacob wells
Tilton Bennet
Cutting favour
Abner fellows
John Emery
Chase fuller
Beniamin Emons Ebenr Ingalls
thomas Lock Samuel Worthen
Jonathan Ingalls
Jonathan Crawford
Simeon Cross
Jesiah heath
moses Worthen
Theophilus Sanborn
Peter Sleeper
Gideon Sleeper
John Cleaveland
John Kidder
John Bussell
Nathaniel Sanborn
This petition, as will be observed, made no reference to the division of the town, and this fact may have accounted for the more prompt and favorable action of the legislature at this time. However this may be, an act of incorporation was passed Nov. 20, 1878, and Carr Huse was authorized to call the first town meeting. The charter reads as follows :
61
NEW CHESTER
In the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy Eight State of New Hampshire.
AN ACT to Incorporate a place called New Chester in the County of Grafton.
WHEREAS a Petition has been proferred to the General Court in be- half of the Inhabitants of a Tract of Land called New Chester in the County of Grafton setting forth that they Labour under great incon- veniences for want of an incorporation & praying that they may be incor- porated of which public notice has been given & no Objection has been made.
Be it therefore Enacted by the Council & house of Representatives in General Court assembled & by the authority of the same that there be, and hereby is a Township Erected & incorporated by the name of New Chester. Bounded Northerly on Plymouth, Westerly on Alexandria & Hiedelbourg, Southerly by New Britton & Easterly on Pemigewasset River including all the Islands in said River against said Tract. And the Inhabitants of said tract are hereby erected into a body Politic & Corpor- ate to have continuance and Succession forever, and invested with all the powers & enfranchised with all the Rights privileges and Immunities which any Town in this State holds and enjoys To hold to the said In- habitants and their Successors for ever.
And Karr Hughes is hereby authorized to call a meeting of said In- habitants to chuse all necessary and Customary Town Officers giving Fourteen days notice of the Time and place & design of such meet- ing and the Officers then chosen shall hereby be invested with all the power of such Officers as in any Other Town in this State, and every other meeting which shall be annually held in said Town for that pur- pose shall be on the Third Monday of March forever.
State of New Hampshire.
In the House of Representatives November 13th, 1778 The foregoing Bill having been Read a Third Time. Voted that the Same pass to be Enacted. Sent up for concurrence.
John Langdon, Speaker.
This charter embraced all the territory acquired by pur- chase by the New Chester proprietors, Sept. 14, 1753, shown in a previous chapter, and included the present towns of Hill, Bris- tol, and Bridgewater, except a small portion south of Smith's river which was transferred from Alexandria to New Chester, Dec. 20, 1820. It also included a small portion set off to Wil- mot, Dec. 21, 1832, and another strip set off to Danbury, June 26, 1858.
On the 27th day of January, 1779, Carr Huse issued the call for the first town meeting under the charter, which is here given :
State of New Hampshire Grafton SS
Where as an Act of Incorporation By the General Court of Sd. State have been granted to the Town of New Chester Bearing Date November the 13th 1778 Authorizing Me the Subscriber To Call the first Meeting To Chuse all Necessary and Customary Town Officers Giving Fourteen Days Notis of the Time and Place and Design of Such Meeting.
These are therefore to Notify and Warn all the Freeholders and In- habitants of the Town of New Chester to Assemble and Meet at the Dwelling house of Mr. Abner Fellows in New Chester on Monday the
62
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
15th Day of March next Ensuing at Eleven of the Clock in the forenoon of Sd. Day
Ily To Chuse a Moderator to Regulate Sd. Meeting
2ly To Chuse a Town Clerk For the year ensuing
3ly To Chuse a Constable or Collector For the year Ensuing
4ly To Chuse Select men for the year ensuing.
5ly To Chuse Surveyors of Highways For the year Ensuing.
6ly To See what Sum of Money the Town will Vote to Be Raised and Laid out For Preaching in the Town the year Ensuing
7ly To See if the Town will Chuse a Committee for to Lay out and Return highways throughout the Town that are necessary.
Sly To See what Sum of Money the Town will Raise towards Clear- ing highways and Repairing of them the year ensuing.
gly To See what money the Town will Raise for Schooling the year Ensuing.
Ioly To Chuse all other Town Officers or to Act upon any other thing that is wanting or necessary.
Given under my hand at New Chester this twenty Seventh Day of February 1779
Carr Huse
The copy of the act of incorporation sent Carr Huse was, by a singular oversight, incomplete, in that it did not contain any reference to the action of the Senate, and it did not appear that the chief executive of the state had given the act his approval. Carr Huse evidently did not notice this irregularity and sup- posed the date of incorporation to be Nov. 13, when the act passed the House, and so stated in his warrant, whereas the actual date of incorporation was Nov. 20. However, the meet- ing was held, and business was transacted ; and the town has continued for one hundred and twenty-five years without any serious consequences by reason of this error in the calling of this first town meeting. The record of this first meeting was as follows :
At an annual and Legal Meeting Held at the house of Mr. Abner Fel- lows in New Chester Firstly Abner Fellows was Chosen Moderator to Regulate Sd Meeting
Secondly Carr Huse was Chosen Town Clerk for the Year Ensuing and is Sworn
Thirdly Nason Cass was Chosen Constable for the year Ensuing
Fourthly Carr Huse was Chosen a Selectman for the Year Ensuing Thomas Crawford Jr. was Chosen a Selectman for the Year Ensuing Lieut Peter Sleeper was Chosen a Selectman for the year Ensuing and were all Sworn
Fifthly Jacob Wells Cutting Favour Theophilus Sanborn Chase Ful- ler & Jonathan Crawford each and all were Chosen Surverors of high ways for the Year Ensuing and were Sworn
Sixthly Voted to Chuse a Committee For to Lay out and Return high ways through the Town that are necessary
Seventhly Capt Cutting Favour Lieut Robert Forsaith and Lieut Peter Sleeper was Chosen a Committee for the Lower End of the Town to Lay out and Return high ways Thomas Crawford Jr Ensign Benjamin Emons and Jonathan Crawford were Chosen a Committee for the uper End For to Lay out and Return high ways through the Town that are Necessary for the present year
63
NEW CHESTER
Eightly Voted to Raise two thousand Dollars to Be workt out upon the highways for the present year
Ninthly Voted that Men should have one pound ten shillings per Day for Labour upon the high ways for the present year
Tenthly Thomas Lock and Chase Fuller were Chosen Deep Keepers for the present year
Eleventh Thomas Crawford Jr. Nathanael Sandborn and Jonathan Ingals were Chosen Hog Reafs for the present year
Twelveth Voted to Chuse two men as a Committee For to Go to Clerk Joshua Tolford to Git a Coppy of all that was acted Concerning Building and Keeping Mills on Newfound River'
Thirteenth Mr. Abner Fellows and Capt. Cutting Favour were Chosen a Committee for that purpose
This meeting is adjourned until the First wednesday in April next Ensuing at Mr. Abner Fellows at ten of the Clock in the forenoon
Met agreeable to the adjournment and proceeded as follows (viz)
Firstly Capt. Cutting Favour was Chosen Cunstable for the year En- suing and was Sworn
Secondly Jonathan Merrill was Chosen Town Treasurer for the year Ensuing
This meeting is Dissolved
Carr Huse Town Clerk
At the next annual town meeting, in 1779, the most notable vote was to raise four thousand dollars for highways and to pay fifteen dollars per day for labor on the highways. In explana- tion of this vote it should be said that the currency then in use was worth but a few cents on the dollar. One year later, when the money of the Colonies was on a more substantial basis, only $400 was raised for highways, and the laborer was paid but fifty cents per day for his work.
At a meeting held at the house of Abner Fellows, Mar. 18, 1782, David Emerson, Nason Cass, and Abner Fellows were chosen a committee "for to call the former Selectmen and Con- stables to account and make settlement." This vote does not imply any wrong doing on the part of the officers named or lack of confidence in them. This committee was elected each year and acted as auditors, and had authority to settle the selectmen's accounts. A few years later it became the custom for the select- men and others to present their accounts in open town meeting, and they were there accepted or rejected.
At this meeting, Abner Fellows was elected constable and declined to serve, and the following record was made as a part of the proceedings of the day :
March 18, 1782. This Day Tentered to Abner Fellows after he was Chosen Constable the Constables Oath before Lieut Peter Sleeper Moses
'As appears elsewhere, the mill lot on Newfound river was one of the public lots. It was deeded to Maj. John Tolford on condition that he should erect and operate mills there for the benefit of the inhabitants of the town. It was claimed at this time that these mills were not so operated. Joshua Tolford was clerk of the proprietors and presumably had the records, hence this vote.
64
HISTORY OF BRISTOL
Sleeper and Thomas Crawford and the Said Fellows Refused and would not take the oath.
Carr Huse Justice Peace
According to a return made by the selectmen, Sept. 25, 1783, there were then in town 353 inhabitants ; only twenty-six framed houses, and twenty-eight framed barns, from which it would seem that the larger part of the people were still living in log cabins.
The selectmen were frequently called upon to furnish food and lodgings for those traveling who had no means of paying their own way. At the annual meeting in 1784, it was voted to give no entertainment to those traveling on Sunday. In 1786, the town put itself on record against paper money.
Previous to 1785, the lands owned by non-residents, most of whom were the proprietors of the town, were not subject to a highway tax, and while these persons were benefited by the building of roads, they paid nothing towards their construction or maintenance. This was so manifestly unjust that in Septem- ber, 1785, the following petition was sent to the president of the state and the general assembly :
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