USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Dunbarton > History of the town of Dunbarton, Merrimack County, New-Hampshire, from the grant by Mason's assigns, in 1751, to the year 1860 > Part 10
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William Bixby, 108
Aaron Matson,
110
William Parker, 108
Jonathan Nye,
110
Thomas Woolson,
108
Stephen P. Webster,
110
Ezra Bartlett, 108
Moses White,
110
William Lovejoy, 108
1829. Votes for Governor : Benjamin Pierce 110, John Bell 90, Mrs. Jeremiah, Jr., 1.
Voted, To raise eight hundred dollars, to defray town charges; also to paint the meeting-house.
* This appears to have been the first vote of the kind : the sum to be raised for the above purpose having previously been at the discretion of the selectmen.
133
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Voted, That the town will not allow the Baptist Soci- ety in Dunbarton to have their proportion of the parson- age property in Dunbarton.
1830. Votes for Governor : Matthew Harvey 119, Tim- othy Uphan 93.
Voted, To raise eight hundred dollars for town charges.
1831. Votes for Governor: Samuel Dinsmoor 103, Icha- bod Bartlett 67.
Voted, Eight hundred dollars for town charges.
1832. Votes for Governor : Samuel Dinsmoor 100, Icha- bod Bartlett 68.
Voted, Six hundred dollars for town charges.
November 5, 1832. The town balloted for Presidential Electors as follows :
Benjamin Pierce,* 109 | Langley Boardman, 62
Phinehas Parkhurst, 109
Enoch Place, 62
Samuel Collins, 109 Joshua Darling, 62
John Taylor, 109 Edmund Parker, 62
James Holbrook, 109
Thomas Bellows, 62
Joseph Weeks, 109 George B. Upham, 62
Moses White, 109
John French, 62
1833. Votes for Governor : Samuel Dinsmoor 122, Sam- Fletcher 3.
On the question of amending the Constitution : against it 102, in favor of it 11.
1834. Votes for Governor : William Badger 95; against revising the Constitution, 48; in favor of it, 59.
Voted, Four hundred dollars for town charges.
1835. Votes for Governor : William Badger 131, Joseph Healey 33.
Voted, Four hundred dollars for town charges.
Voted, That each religious society should have their proportion of the meeting-house, according to the number of pews that each society owns in said meeting-house. Chose John Stinson, John Gould and Caleb Stark, Jr., a committee to make a division and proportion accordingly.
* The town voted for Electors at every Presidential term, but we have only inserted the votes of a few meetings.
134
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Voted, To divide the parsonage money according to the polls in each society.
On Saturday, June 6, 1835, a meeting was held to act on the article following : To see if the town will vote to relinquish their right and title in the west meeting-house in said town, after the second Tuesday of March next, to any person or persons disposed to purchase the same, so far as regards religious purposes, reserving to the town their right of occupancy as a town-house, and stipulating with those to whom the town may relinquish said right, that said meeting-house shall remain on the ground on which it now stands.
Thirdly. To see if the town will authorize some per- son or persons to make such conveyance as the town shall authorize.
Voted, To dismiss the above article from the warrant.
1836. Votes for Governor : Isaac Hill 109; George Sul- livan 1. Voted, three hundred dollars for town charges. Voted, the parsonage money to be divided according to the polls.
1837. Votes for Governor: Isaac Hill 99. Voted, six hundred dollars for town charges. Voted, to purchase a farm for the benefit of the poor in said town; and chose Charles Stinson, Joshua F. Hoyt and Henry Putney a committee to purchase said farm, and report within one year.
23. Voted, That the public money of the United States, which shall be deposited with this State, remain in the treasurer's office in said State of New-Hampshire.
24. Voted, to reconsider the vote respecting the public money.
25. Voted, to receive the public money of the United States, the proportion of said money belonging to Dun- barton.
26. Chose Caleb Page agent to receive the money for the said town of Dunbarton.
27. Voted, to excuse Caleb Page being agent.
135
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
28. Voted, Joshua F. Hoyt agent to receive said money and to let the same out on good sureties.
31. Voted, That Joshua F. Hoyt give bonds to the town for the security of said town.
32. Voted, That the Congregationalist Society receive no share of the parsonage money.
Reconsidered this vote, and voted to divide it to each society according to the number of polls in each society.
At a meeting September 2, 1837, Voted, to take the surplus revenue fund belonging to the said town, to pay for a farm that the said town bought for the benefit of their poor.
Thirdly. Voted, to hire so much of the public money belonging to the town as will pay for the remainder of said farm. The price of the farm was $4,500, and sun- dries which were purchased with it, $100, making the amount of $4,600.
1838. Votes for Governor : Isaac Hill 137, James Wil- son, Jr. 70.
Voted, eight hundred dollars for town charges.
1839. Votes for Governor : John Page 122, James Wilson, Jr. 69.
Voted, five hundred dollars for town charges.
1840. Votes for Governor : John Page 103, Enos Ste- vens 56, George Kent, 3.
Voted, eight hundred dollars for town charges.
Voted, to discontinue the road from Isaac Combs'* to the road that leads from Robert Chase's to Warren Perley's.
1841. Votes for Governor : John Page 124, Enos Stevens 54, Daniel Hoyt 6, Nathan Gutterson 1.
Voted, Eight hundred dollars for town charges.
Voted, That the town treasurer collect the money due the town, and pay the same over to Charles Stinson, agent of the poor farm.
* We think the vote passed was to discontinue the road to Isaac Combs' land, but it is recorded as above.
136
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
The Literary Fund was divided proportionably among the district schools, as was the case last year.
1842. Votes for Governor : Henry Hubbard 117, Enos Stevens 41, Daniel Hoyt 14, John H. White 9.
Voted, Eight hundred dollars for town charges.
1843. Votes for Governor : Henry Hubbard 101, An- thony Colby 30, John H. White 10, Daniel Hoyt 25.
Voted, Seven hundred dollars for town charges.
1844. Votes for Governor : John H. Steele 116, Anthony Colby 42, Daniel Hoyt 20, John H. White 8.
Voted, Eight hundred dollars for town charges. Voted, Not to send a representative.
1845. Votes for Governor : John H. Steele 91, Anthony Colby 49, Daniel Hoit 8, John H. White 2.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1846. Votes for Governor : Anthony Colby 51, Jared W. Williams 120, Nathaniel S. Berry 17.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1847. Votes for Governor : Jared W. Williams 136, An- thony Colby 53, Nathaniel S. Berry 18.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1848. Votes for Governor : Jared W. Williams 121, Nathaniel S. Berry 68.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1849. Votes for Governor : Samuel Dinsmoor 110 ; Levi Chamberlain 48, Nathaniel S. Berry 26.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1850. Votes for Governor : Samuel Dinsmoor 121, Levi Chamberlain 49, N. S. Berry 26.
Chose Henry Putney delegate to Convention for revis- ing the Constitution of New-Hampshire.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1851. Votes for Governor : Samuel Dinsmoor 67, John Atwood 91, Thomas E. Sawyer 51, Benjamin E. Hoyt 1. Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
The Constitutional amendments were rejected by a large majority.
137
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
1852. Votes for Governor : Noah Martin 102, Thomas E. Sawyer 55, John Atwood 56.
Voted, To raise five hundred dollars for town charges.
1853. Votes for Governor : Noah Martin 108, James Bell 51, John H. White 37.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1854. Votes for Governor : James Bell 51, Jared W. Per- kins 39, Nathaniel B. Baker 104.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges ; also, voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars for schools.
1855. Votes for Governor : Ralph Metcalf 115, Nathaniel B. Baker 106, James Bell 1, Asa Fowler, 1.
Voted, To raise five hundred dollars for town charges, and one hundred and fifty dollars for schools.
1856. Votes for Governor : John S. Wells 114, Ralph Metcalf 108, Ichabod Goodwin 1.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1857. Votes for Governor : Asa P. Cate 118, William Haile 111.
Votes for Representative : Whole number of votes 261; necessary for a choice 131. Henry L. Burnham had 129. Nathaniel H. Wheeler had 131, Ira C. Brown had 1- Nathaniel H. Wheeler was, by the moderator, declared elected.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
1858. Votes for Governor : Asa P. Cate 130, William Haile 120.
Votes for Representative : Whole number 260; necessary for a choice 131. Henry L. Burnham had 125, Nathaniel H. Wheeler had 134, Charles Kimball had 1 - Nathaniel H. Wheeler was declared by the moderator duly elected.
Voted, To raise five hundred dollars for town charges.
Voted, To raise no more money for schools than the law requires.
1859. Votes for Governor : Asa P. Cate 110, Ichabod Goodwin 145.
Voted, Five hundred dollars for town charges.
10
7
138
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Voted, To raise no more money for school charges than the law requires.
1860. Votes for Governor : Ichabod Goodwin 142, Asa P. Cate 102.
Voted, To raise five hundred dollars for town charges.
Voted, To raise no more school money than the law re- quires.
Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to appropriate a sum sufficient to pay for printing and binding one copy of the History of Dunbarton, now being written by Caleb Stark, for each tax-payer in town.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS RELATING TO TOWN AFFAIRS.
.
-
WARNING OUT.
To prevent persons, having no legal residence and no ostensible property, from becoming town charges upon the places of their temporary abode, the law required that they should be warned to leave the town by a notice to that effect, served upon them by the constables ; who, in several instances, were employed to convey them out of town. The records furnish many instances similar to the following, dated March 14, 1786 :
Voted, To allow Israel Clifford's account
brought in for carrying William Hogg to
Weare, and allowed him £0 12s. 0d.
For warning out Mrs. Dawson, 0 2 0
For warning out George Hogg, 030
For carrying George Hogg and family to Weare, 090
Voted, Not to allow David Story's account against Joshua Folsome, but to support said Story in bringing an action against said Folsome, for bringing said Hogg's family unlawfully into town.
139
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Voted, To allow Ephraim Kinsman £0 19 s. 9 d. for sun- dry articles, and warning sundry persons out of town, and returning warrants.
William Beard, as constable, warned out Alexander Nichols and others.
DR. DUGALL'S PETITION.
To the gentlemen of estates, freeholders, and other in- habitants of Dunbarton, in the State of New-Hampshire, and at the March meeting on the second Tuesday of said month, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, the petition of William Dugall, of Dunbarton, in the said State, doctor, humbly request- eth of said gentlemen their liberty and votes, in town meeting assembled, for him to clear a piece of land on the Glebe, or Parson's lot, and to build a house near the road, and to have the use of said land, until they have a minister settled on it, or the town see cause to take it away; and that your petitioner shall have liberty to sell the same or remove it off the premises ; as said petitioner, or his heirs, and the town or minister, think best or agree upon the same.
Wherefore your petitioner humbly hopes you will be graciously pleased to take under consideration to grant your petitioner the above request, and your petitioner shall in duty be ever bound to pray.
WILLIAM DUGALL.
The above petition was granted, and entered in vol. 1, page 217.
JAMES CLEMENT, Town- Clerk.
TYTHINGMEN.
Tythingmen were formerly chosen in the New-England colonies at every annual meeting. Their principal duties were to preserve order, and prevent persons traveling on the highway, from sunrise to sunset, on the Sabbath.
140
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Party excitement in 1814 induced the enactment of special statutes upon the subject, and a rigorous enforce- ment of their provisions. The officers, in their zeal to discharge their supposed duties, frequently exceeded their authority, and rendered themselves liable for damage and cost. Many humorous instances of their misadventures might be cited, did our limits permit. A statute regulat- ing their proceedings was, in 1814, enacted by the Legis- lature of New-Hampshire, which remained in force until 1834-5, when it was repealed, having continued for a number of years a dead letter in the statue book.
In this town, tythingmen were chosen from early times, until March, 1818, in which year none were appointed. In 1819* John Wilson, Thomas Mills and Perley P. Ray were elected, but not sworn. These gentlemen were the last tythingmen in this town. John Holmes was the first, being the only one chosen at the first town meeting held under the charter, September 3, 1765.
We have never learned that any difficulty occurred in this place during the existence of, or in consequnce of the " Sunday law." From this we infer that the inhabitants of those days were well disposed, orderly, go-to-meeting sort of people, who preferred listening to a fervent dis- course from Mr. Harris to traveling the roads ; or, that the custodians of the Sabbath were indulgent, mind-their- own-business sort of officers. Probably both inferences are correct.
MILITIA TRAININGS.
Militia trainings were once joyous occasions, as well to those on duty as to the crowd of spectators. Men, boys and girls assembled to witness the parade and listen to the inspiring music of the fife and drum.
* In 1812 the tythingmen were John Chase and Thomas Hammond, Jr. In 1813, none were chosen. After the passage of the act of 1814, in March, 1815, nine were chosen ; in 1816, eight ; and in 1817, ten.
1
141
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
But few of the privates wore similar dresses, but the officers were in uniform, and armed with swords or spon- toons. The latter were long lances, having a steel pike at one end, just below which was a hatchet, resembling an Indian tomahawk.
The first of these parades we ever witnessed in this town was in the fall of 1812. The officers of the com- pany (consisting of about 90 men), were Capt. David Al- exander, Lieutenant Thomas Stinson, Ensign John Stinson, and Orderly Serjeant Thomas Hammond. The officers, after a short drill and a few marches and countermarches, treated liberally their men, and the spectators, with as much New-England " fire-water" as they desired, accord- ing to the custom of the times.
At the close of the drill a hollow square was formed, into which advanced the veteran Major John Mills, then first selectman, who delivered to each man a quarter of a pound of powder; and vendued their dinner, for the com- ing muster-day, to the lowest bidder; the materials for which were to be, as declared in his own words, "good fresh beef, well baked or roasted ; good wheat bread, well baked; good old cider, or new cider, well worked," &c.
We doubt the State's policy in dispensing with the an- nual parades and musters. To restore the organization, broken down by act of the Legislature, would now prove a difficult undertaking, whatever may be the emergency. If " coming events cast their shadow before," we know not how soon such a necessity may transpire ; or the now ap- parently peaceful repose of the country be broken by the martial tones of "trumpet and drum," and the tumult, horrors and desolation of war.
RAISINGS, AND TRIALS OF STRENGTHI AND SKILL.
At the raising or moving of buildings, and other occa- sions when people assembled in numbers to assist volun- tarily in performing labors which required the united strength of many, the good cheer at such times plentifully
142
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
supplied, usually led to trials of strength and skill in gymnastic exercises.
Lifting heavy weights, pitching quoits, throwing the bar, or a heavy piece of iron, pulling sticks, and wrest- ling, were generally the closing scenes of these friendly gatherings. Even in our own time we have witnessed and taken part in such pastimes. At town meetings, also, such encounters were customary.
Wrestling matches were frequently commenced by boys ; each, who was thrown, bringing in a champion, and thus proceeding onward, the wrestlers increasing in size and age at each trial, until men were called into the arena where boys first contended. The person who threw his man in the last encounter was declared by all persons to have " carried the ring."
All men distinguished in these athletic exercises-such men as lived in the days of Robert Rogers-(himself never vanquished in such trials) were known to each other by reputation, although resident in distant towns. It was customary for such notable individuals to travel many miles to "try a fall at wrestling" with other champions, although entire strangers.
An anecdote in the History of Manchester exemplifies this species of wrestling errantry, although the result was perhaps not satisfactory to the knight who came so far to obtain a fall.
A person called at the house of John McNiel, of Lon- donderry, in consequence of having heard of his strength and prowess. McNiel was absent, which circumstance the stranger regretted (as he informed his wife, Christian, who inquired his business), since he had traveled many miles for no other purpose than to " throw him."
" And troth mon," said Christian McNiel, "Johnny is gone, but I'm not the woman to see ye disappointed : an' I think if ye'll try, mon, I'll throw ye meself." The stranger, not liking to be bantered by a woman, accepted the challenge ; and, sure enough, Christian tripped his heels and threw him upon the ground. The stranger,
143
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
upon getting up, thought he would not wait for "John- ny ;" but left, without deigning to leave his name.
BOUNDS OF THE COMMON.
DUNBARTON, 7th October, 1803. Agreeably to a vote of the town, last March meeting, we, the subscribers, have this day measured the land about the meeting-house, called. the "Meeting-house Common," and set bounds to the same, which are as follows : viz., Began at the north-west cor- ner of said common, which is the corner of a lot; thence running south four degrees east, on the line, sixty rods, to a stake and stones ; thence north eighty-seven degrees east, twenty rods and six tenths, to a stake and stones ; thence north four degrees west, sixty rods, to the lot line, to a stake and stones ; thence westerly to the first bound.
JOHN MILLS, JOHN GOULD, JR., Selectmen.
JOHN STINSON,
Attest : JEREMIAH STINSON, Town-Clerk.
Records, vol. 2, p. 277.
EXTRACT FROM THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, BY DR. CHARLES T. JACKSON.
In Dunbarton, a silver mine was talked of, and on searching for it we discovered that an ore of arsenic had been mistaken for silver. The locality is situated near the house and on the estate of Mr. Stephen Wheeler, who kindly assisted in its exploration. The arsenic ore is in- cluded, as a bed, between a strata of mica slate, resting directly in granite. It is from six to eight inches in thick- ness, and is very heavy, and rich in arsenic. The bed with the strata is to the south 80º, east 20°, and runs north and south. Large quantities of loose pieces of the ore may be easily obtained on the surface and in the soil.
144
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
This mine is a quarter of a mile north-west from Mr. Stephen Wheeler's house, on his estate, adjoining Dea. Joel Wheeler's. The field where it occurs was, when we were there, cultivated for rye, but is very rough, broken and rocky.
Associated with the arsenical pyrites, the green arseni- ate of iron is found, forming investing layers on the ore, and scorodite, or the yellow aseniate of iron, occurs in concretionary masses and thin crusts between the joints and cavities.
A little argentiferous galena was also found in dissemi- nated branches and chrystals. Radiated black tourma- line exists in the mica slate, and quartz crystals are found in the vein and in the soil. Kaolin, or clay, from decom- posed granite, fills up many spaces between the rocks. From the frequent association of arsenical pyrites with tin ore, we were led to expect its occurrence at this place, and worked diligently in search for it, until driven from the field by a heavy and long continued thunder-storm with violent rain. It may be worth while to search the rocks in this vicinity with care, to ascertain if oxide of tin occurs there.
LEASE OF TOWN LANDS.
In March, 1803, Jeremiah Page, David Story and Eben- ezer Chase were appointed a committee to lease all the school land for nine hundred and ninety-nine years. For the consideration of the sum of five hundred and seventy- seven dollars and twenty cents, they leased to John Ray- mond, he being the highest bidder, at a public vendue, the " school lot of land in Dunbarton, being the north side of the lot No. 8, in the first range in said Dunbarton, the one half of said lot in quantity, containing fifty-five acres, more or less." [This is now, 1860, partly owned by Caleb Stark. ]
In 1804, David Story, Major C. Stark and John Mills were appointed a committee to lease, for nine hundred
145
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
and ninety-nine years, a portion of the Meeting-house Common, in the same manner, at vendue. It is thus de- scribed : "Being part of the six acres reserved out of the parsonage land by the town, lying north of the grave- yard, containing about one acre, more or less, and bounded as follows : Beginning at a stake and stones the east side of the road, thence running easterly by land of Jere- miah Stinson, about sixteen rods, to stake and stones ; thence southerly by the parsonage land, about nine rods, to stake and stones; thence westerly by common land, and the grave-yard, about sixteen rods, to stake and stones ; thence northerly to bound first mentioned."
Nathan Greeley, trader, and Jeremiah Stinson, Esq., were the highest bidders, and to them it was struck off, at two hundred and one dollars.
In 1805 another portion of the town land was similarly disposed of to Nathaniel and James B. Colby, of Hop- kinton, for two hundred dollars. Another portion of town land was, in 1806, leased in the same manner to Jeremiah and John Stinson, for two hundred dollars. An- other portion was, in 1808, leased as aforesaid, to Thomas and Jeremiah Page Raymond, for five hundred and sev- enty-seven dollars and seventy-seven cents. On each lease ten dollars in cash was paid down, and a bond, draw- ing interest annually, given for the balance.
GRAVE-YARD WALL.
DUNBARTON, September 29, 1800. Conditions of sale for fencing the grave-yard, by the meeting-house in said town, to be vendued to the lowest bidder, according to the proprietors' vote, September 8, 1800.
1. The lowest bidder or bidders to be undertaker (or undertakers).
2. The bids to be by the rod, and nothing short of ten cents will be considered a bid.
. 3. The same to be in lots, in the following manner : viz., Lot first, from the north-west corner of the gate, to
146
HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
the south-west corner, thence turning the course to the south-east corner. The before mentioned lots are consid- ered faced wall.
Lot third to be from the south-east corner to the north- east corner, from thence west, to the bound first men- tioned. This is considered as good common stone wall.
4. The gate to be vendued in the same manner as the building of the wall.
5. The faced wall to be equally as well faced as that of the Rev. Walter Harris,-the south side of his bars that lead into his field, the south end of his wall, near his yard. The common wall to be equally as good as that of Capt. William Stinson, east of his house, on the north side of the road, from his house to his pasture bars, be- tween his house and the head of the lane east of his house.
6. The undertakers to give bonds to the committee, chosen by the proprietors for that purpose, for the fulfill- ment, and the committee to give their obligation for pay- ment to the undertakers.
DAVID STORY,
JOHN MILLS, Committee. TIMOTHY LADD,
DANIEL JAMESON, Town- Clerk.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Hillsborough ss .- These are to notify and warn all the proprietors of the grave-yard fence, by the meeting-house in Dunbarton, to meet at the meeting-house in Dunbar- ton, on Friday, the 16th instant, at 3 o'clock P. M., to act on the following articles : viz.,
1. To choose a moderator, to govern said meeting.
2. To see if the proprietors will vote to accept the said grave-yard fence, since the committee think it is not made according to the obligation.
3. To act upon any other matter they may think proper when met.
DANIEL JAMESON, Proprietors' Clerk. Dunbarton, October 12, 1801.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
DUNBARTON, October 16, 1801. Met according to warn- ing, at time and place.
1. Chose David Story, Esq., moderator, to govern said meeting.
2. Voted, To adjourn this meeting half an hour at this place.
Met according to adjournment, at time and place.
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