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 8
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Bar iron at five pounds by the hundred weight ; hemp, three shillings by the pound; Indian corn, ten shillings by the bushel ; rye, ten shillings by the bushel ; winter wheat, twenty-five shillings by the bushel ; barley, ten shillings by the bushel ; pork, one shilling by the pound ; beef, nine pence by the pound ; flax, three shillings by the pound ; bees' wax, five shillings by the pound ; babary wax, three shillings by the pound ; well tanned leather, four shillings by the pound; tallow, two shillings and six- pence by the pound; winter and spring cod-fish, four pounds by the quintal ; pitch, three pounds ten shillings by the barrel ; tar, two pounds by the barrel ; turpentine, four pounds by the barrel ; white pine joists, four pounds by the thousand feet ; white pine boards, five pounds by the thousand feet ; white oak two inch plank, twenty-five pounds by the thousand feet.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
And also assess the sum of nineteen pounds and eight shillings, in new tenor bills of credit of said Province · treasury, or cause the same to be paid by the twenty-fifth day of December aforesaid.
And assess as aforesaid the sum of seven pounds fifteen shillings and three pence, lawful money of said Province, and pay or cause to be paid into the said Province treasury by the twenty-fifth day of December aforesaid.
You are hereby required, that, some time before the twenty-fifth day of December aforesaid, to send to the treasurer of said province the name or names of the con- stable or constables, collector or collectors, who have the said sum or sums, or any part thereof, committed to him or them to collect, the sums each was to collect, the date of the warrant given him for that purpose, and the time when he was ordered to pay the same unto the treasury. Hereof you may not fail, as you will answer your neglect at the peril of the law.
Given under my hand and seal, at Portsmouth, this sec- ond day of August, 1766, in the sixth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third, of Great Britain King. GEORGE JAFFREY.
Several other orders for assessing taxes upon the several towns of the Province are similar in form. The order of 1767 directs the selectmen to make an inventory of all polls, from sixteen years of age and upwards, and all kinds of property, real and personal, particularly desig- nating the objects of taxation. This order was assented to by John Wentworth. The inventory was to be returned to the Secretary's office at or before February 1, 1768.
FIRST TOWN MEETING UNDER THE CHARTER.
WARRANT.
" This may signify to all the free-holders and other in- habitants living and belonging to a place called Starks-
.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
town, that the Governor and Council of the Province of New-Hampshire have favored them with an incorporation of a town by the name of Dunbarton.
These therefore are to notify and warne the freeholders and other inhabitants belonging to Starkstown, to meet at the house of Captain William Stark, in said town, on the first Tuesday in September next, at one of the clock in the forenoon ; then and there to hear the charter read and see if the people will accept the same: if so-1st. To choose town officers, as the law directs ; 2d. To see and vote which is the best way to raise the money which is laid upon Starkstown as a Province tax, bearing date September 12, 1763 ; 3d. To vote and act on any other thing that the town shall think proper when met together. Dated this twelfth day of August, 1765.
CALEB PAGE,
Appointed by the Governor to call the first meeting in said Dunbarton.
According to the above warning, met September 3d, 1765, at the time and place, and,
First. Voted, The charter accepted.
Secondly. Chose William Stark town-clerk.
Thirdly. Voted, Mr. Robert Hogg 1st Selectman ; Wil- liam Stinson 2d do : Ebenezer Martin 3d do : Capt. Caleb Page 4th do : Capt. William Stark 5th do.
Voted, One thousand, seven hundred pounds to defray the charges of the charter and Province taxes. Chose John McCurdy 1st Constable and Jonathan Hutchins 2d do. ; John Holmes Tithingman ; John Stinson surveyor of highways ; Henry Putney do .; Thomas Mills do .; James Clement do. ; Daniel McCurdy do.
" Thus ends the first meeting called by Caleb Page," who acted as moderator.
1766. "Voted, That the meeting be carried on by hand votes. Voted that the selectmen build a pound, and fence the grave-yard."
1767. "Voted, The pound to be built as near the meet- ing-house as possible. Voted, that any person or persons 8
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
that shall not come, or send a hand to help build said pound, and fence the grave-yard, upon the third Tuesday of June next, shall pay three shillings, lawful" money, to the selectmen, to be collected by the constable. Voted, that the fences in Dunbarton are to be considered lawful fence four foot high. Voted, the selectmen to be assess- ors. Voted forty dollars for preaching."
1768. "Voted to carry on meeting by hand votes. Voted, sixteen dollars for preaching, and that Mountalona have their own part of the preaching money this year."
1769. "Voted, That William Page be cleared of his rates this year. Voted, Mr. Stephen Palmer be paid three pounds per hunder for plank, found to cover the bridge below the mills in said town."
1770. Voted, No preaching or school money.
" So ends the sixth meeting."
At a special meeting, held September 3, 1770, the sum of twelve dollars was voted for preaching.
1771. "Voted, Forty dollars for preaching, and thirty dollars for a town school. Voted, William Stark and Robert Hogg to choose preachers this year. Charles McCoy was voted clear of preaching and school money."
1772. Voted, A man's day's work 2s. 6d., lawful money, and a pair of oxen the same. Voted thirty dollars for a town school."
1773. Voted, Forty pounds to be worked on the high- way, at 2s. 6d. a man per day. Voted forty dollars for preaching ; also, thirty dollars for a town school."
Nov. 1, 1773. Voted, That James Stinson should have the school lot in said town which is the lot No. 12 in the fourth range, in exchange for fifty acres off the easterly end of lot No. 11, third range, and the half of said east- erly end of No. 12 in said range."* " Caleb Page enters his protest against changing."
* When this vote passed, the meeting probably supposed that William Stark had purchased, or would purchase lot number 12, in the fourth range, according to the stipulations agreed upon by himself and the pro- prietors ; and, accordingly, considering the exchange negotiation with him as concluded, considered lot number 12, in the fourth range, as the school lot.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
At a meeting held August 9, 1773, in regard to the set- tlement of a gospel minister : Chose Capt. Caleb Page moderator, and chose a committee to have a conference with Mr. William Fessenden about a settlement as a gos- pel minister. Capt. Caleb Page, Capt. William Stark, Capt. William Stinson, Lieut. John McCurdy, Mr. Wil- liam Wheeler, Mr. James Clement, and Serjeant Thomas Hoyt committee. This meeting adjourned to the first Monday in October next, at one o'clock afternoon, at this place.
Met at the time and place. The committee made their return to the meeting in regard to Mr. Fessenden ; and they ordered that the committee for looking out for preach- ing this year should hire Mr. Fessenden as much longer as they thought proper. Agreed to hear another minister upon approbation ; and adjourned this meeting to the first Monday in December next, at one o'clock in the after- noon.
Met at time and place ; and voted to have only next Sabbath for preaching this winter; and dismissed said meeting.
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1774. A special meeting was called, to assemble Febru- ary 7, 1774, at which,
Firstly. Chose Caleb Page moderator.
Secondly. Chose John Hogg not to give a deed of the school lot, though contrary to the above warrant.
WILLIAM STARK, T. C.
A special meeting was called to meet at 7 o'clock A. M., March 8, 1774. The second article in the warrant was, to choose one or more persons to give James Stinson, his heirs and assigns, a good and valid deed of the school lot No. 12, in the fourth range, in the room of fifty acres of the lot No. 11, in the third range, and the half of lot No. 12, in the said range instead ; on said Stinson's giving a
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
good and valid deed to the selectmen of said town, of the above mentioned land, for the use of a school for ever, in obedience to a resolve and vote of the General Assembly, passed January 25, 1774, -
March ye 8, 1774. Met at 9 o'clock A. M .; and,
Firstly. Chose Jeremiah Page moderator.
Secondly. Voted, Not to give a deed to James Stinson of the lot in the warrant, as though there was no such ar- ticle in the warning.
W. S., T. C.
At the annual town-meeting, March 14, 1775, Voted, To raise fifty dollars for preaching and thirty dollars for school- ing. Chose Capt. William Stark and Capt. William Stinson a committee to provide a minister or ministers to preach out said money.
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At a town meeting April 9, 1774, "put to vote to see if the town would choose a man or men to go to the Gen- eral Court, to see if they could get the act repealed relat- ing to the school lot in said town; and voted down."
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1775. Voted, Fifty dollars for preaching and thirty dollars to hire schooling. Voted, To pay two pounds, seven shillings and sixpence to John Hogg for going to Amherst, and a lock for the Pound. Adjourned the meeting to the last Tuesday of April. While we were acting on the second article (choosing town clerk) the following protest was brought in by Col. William Stark :
Dunbarton, March 14, 1775. We, the subscribers, enter our protest against the present proceedings, as we con- sider that the moderator was not legally chosen. Signed, Ebenezer Hacket, Thomas Hoyt, David IIogg, Phinehas Bailey, James Gay, Abiel Austin, Samuel Allison, James
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Stewart, William Stark, William Stinson, John McCurdy, Francis Knight, William Wheeler, Henry Putney, David Favor, Moses Colby, Asa Putney, Jeremiah Bowen, Samuel Lord, Hazediah Woodbury, John Cutler, Zebulun Gitchel, John Stinson, Samuel Garvin, John Fulton, John Miller.
Met at time and place of adjournment, and the mode- rator dismissed the meeting.
Samuel Stewart was chosen the first town treasurer at this meeting.
Agrecably to a letter from the Provincial Congress, at a meeting held Monday, May 15, 1775, at the house of John Jameson, Capt. Caleb Page was chosen a delegate, to appear and sit in the said Provincial Congress, there to consult and act in our behalf, agreeably to the above mentioned letter.
At a town meeting held June 23, 1775,
Firstly. Chose William Stark moderator, to govern said meeting.
Secondly. Voted, Not to raise the money that was voted at the annual meeting to hire preaching and schooling.
Thirdly. Voted, That the money should not be assessed that was voted to repair highways, except one day's work of each man.
Fourthly. Chose Capt. William Stinson to join the County Congress when wanted.
Fifthly. Chose Lieut. John McCurdy committee-man of safety ; also, Jeremiah Page, Esq., Capt. William Stinson, Thomas Caldwell and William Wheeler. Voted to choose no more till further orders.
Committees of safety were appointed annually during the continuance of the war.
1776. Voted, Fifty dollars for preaching. School mo- ney voted down. Voted, To choose the three selectmen ;
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
also, Samuel Burnham and John Gould committee of safety. Voted nine shillings to Thomas Mills, for carry- ing arms and blankets to the army. Preaching and school money voted down.
1777. Voted, To raise money by a rate to carry on the war the year ensuing, if any should be called for, giving each man credit for the service already done. Chose James Clement, David Story and Samuel Allison a com- mittee to proportion the service done in the war already, by individuals, with a discretionary power to hire men for the ensuing year. Voted, To raise fifty dollars to buy ammunition for the town.
April 3, 1777. Voted, To raise fifty dollars for each man that will enlist in the continental service for the term of three years, or during the war with Great Britain.
May 10, 1777. A proposition to give fifty dollars in addition to the above was voted down. At a meeting July 5, 1777, Voted, To give forty dollars to each man that will enlist in the continental army for the term of eight months.
July 22, 1777. Voted, To give five dollars per month to each soldier that will enlist in the service for two months, to the number of eighteen. [Bennington expe- dition.]
At a meeting held at the house of Henry Putney, Dec. 15, 1777 : Made choice of Jeremiah Page, Esq., to repre- sent the said towns of Dunbarton and Bow in [the] Gen- eral Court, to be held at Exeter on the third Wednesday of February next. Nextly, voted to choose a commit- tee to receive reports and give directions to the represent- ative. Chose Edward Russell, Esquire Bryant, Timothy Dix, James C. Clement, John Gould.
On the 26th of January, 1778, a meeting took place "to see what instructions the town will give to their assembly-
1
:
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
man, relating to the Articles of Confederation and Per- petual Union of the several States of America, which is by a vote of the General Assembly sent to every town in this State, for their advice and instruction ; to be returned to the General Assembly the second Wednesday of Febru- ary next, at which time every member is to make a return of the minds of their constituents relating to said con- federation."
Secondly. Voted, To comply with the confederation of the United States of America.
Thirdly. Voted, To give the representative orders to have a convention of this State to lay a plan of govern- ment.
At a meeting, February 5, 1778: Voted, To choose a committee to hire what men are wanting in said Dunbar- ton to make up their quota for the Continental Army, upon as reasonable terms as can be had.
Voted, That the selectmen shall hire as much money as is wanting to hire said men.
At a meeting, March 2, 1778, Chose John Hogg to go to the General Court at Exeter, to see if the Court will accept of men that we have enlisted in the Continental service ; and to see if they will give them the State and Continental bounty, and the clothing that is provided for the Continental soldiers.
Voted, and confirmed a vote, that was passed the last day of July last, which was to give forty dollars to each man that would enlist in the Continental service for the term of eight months.
Voted, and confirmed another vote, that was passed the 22d day of July last, which was to give five dollars per month, for two months, to each man that would enlist vol- unteers in the service.
Put to vote to see if the town will choose a committee, or one man, to take counsel in law concerning onr school lot, and pursue those measures most advisable to secure the land, so that the town may have the benefit of it. Voted, to choose a man to take counsel at the General
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Court, or elsewhere, concerning our school lot, so that the town may have the benefit of the land. Chose John Hogg for the above purpose.
May 19, 1778. Voted not to send a delegate to the Convention at Concord.
June 6, 1778. The above vote was reconsidered, and Jeremiah Page chosen to attend the Convention.
December 8, 1778. At the house of Henry Putney, Jeremiah Page was chosen to represent Dunbarton and Bow in the New-Hampshire Congress at Exeter.
1779. Voted to raise four hundred dollars for preach- ing. School money voted down. Voted to supply the families of the Continental soldiers with provisions.
At a meeting, held June 20, 1779: Voted, Not to assist the militia officers in getting the men to fill up the Con- tinental battalions, and other men that may be called for. Thirdly. Voted, To choose a committee of three, to hire the soldiers as cheap as can be had. Chose Capt. Thomas Caldwell first, Ensign James Stuart second, and James McCalley third committee-man. Voted, That the com- mittee apply to the selectmen for money to hire said men, and that the selectmen furnish the committee with as much money as will hire the same.
At a meeting, September, 1779, voted, not to act on the plan of government at present. An article in the warrant for this meeting is as follows: "To see and read proceed- ings of a meeting held at Portsmouth, the 29th of July, 1779, earnestly requesting us to send some persons to meet at Concord, in convention, on Wednesday, the 22d day of September next, agreeably to the recommendation of Con- gress to these United States, in order to take some mode to give stability to our sinking currency."
Voted, To send to the convention one man and no more. Chose John Hogg, Esq., for the above purpose. Voted, That the money paid for hiring two continental soldiers
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
for one year be brought into a town tax. Voted, 83 dol- lars be allowed Abel Sargent, and the same to Noah Sar- gent, as one third part of the money they paid to Went- worth Wheeler, Jun'r, for six months' service. Adjourned to September 17, 1779, and then Voted not to adopt the plan of government composed by the late convention at Concord.
At a meeting, December 13, 1779, at the house of Henry Putney, chose John Bryant, Esq., Representative to the General Court.
1780. Voted to hire ten days' preaching. Chose John Hogg to supply the town ten days with a Gospel minis- ter. School money voted down. Voted, That the soldiers to be raised and sent to supply the Continental Army be encouraged by a rate of the polls and estate of each inhabitant of the town. Chose Capt. Nathan Burnham first committee-man, to hire the continental soldiers, if any should be sent for, as cheap as may be had. Chose Lieut. Hogg 2d do.
At a meeting held September 7, 1780, chose James Hogg to collect the beef tax for the army in the west part, and James Stewart to collect that in the east part of the town.
Voted, That the selectmen assess seventeen hundred dollars for preaching. At a meeting, Nov. 13, 1780, Voted, A committee to repair the bridge at Stark's mill. Voted, That the selectmen assess the corn, due the soldiers, of the polls and estates of each inhabitant of the town.
At a meeting, held at the house of John Ordway, in Bow, chose Jeremiah Page to represent Bow and Dun- barton in the General Court at Exeter. At a meeting, February 22, 1781, chose James Hogg and John Mills a committee to hire the soldiers that are wanted for the Continental Army. Voted, To accept of Nicholas Dodge and Moses Heath upon the terms the aforesaid commit- tee hath enlisted them.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
HEATH'S AGREEMENT. " Dunbarton, March ye 5th, 1781. Received of James Hogg and John Mills notes of hand for engaging to serve in the Continential Army for the term of three years, from the time of my passing muster, for the town of Dunbarton : viz., one note for seven hun- dred continental dollars, upon demand; one note for eighteen bushels of rye; one note for four heifers, three years old, to be paid in one year from the date; one note for six heifers, three years old, to be paid in two years ; one note for six steers, three years old, to be paid in three years from the date. For and in consideration of the aforenamed notes, I have this day voluntarily engaged to serve for the town of Dunbarton, as a soldier in the Con- tinental Army, for the full term of three years: and if I serve one year, to have one third of the value of the said notes; and if I serve two years, to have two thirds of the value; and if I serve three years, to have the whole."
(Signed) MOSES HEATH.
Nicholas Dodge, for similar service, agreed upon Febru- ary 23, 1781, was to receive a note for 68 bushels of corn, one sixth to be paid March 10, 1781; one sixth the last day of December, 1781; one third part the last day of December, 1782, and one third part the last day of De- cember, 1783; one note for six sheep, of a middling size, to be delivered six months from this above date; one note for three thousand continental dollars, old emission ; one note for ten cattle (four steers and six heifers), three years old, to be delivered the first day of May, 1784.
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1781. Voted to hire six days' preaching. School money voted down. Voted to allow Capt. Caldwell for clothing that he let John Dorman have. Voted, that the committee allow John Morgan one hundred dollars, old way, if he answers for one of the eight men called for, for the Continental Army.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
May 22, 1781. Voted a committee to procure beef to be sent to the army ; also, not to send a delegate to the Con- vention at Concord; also, not to act on the article concern- ing the school lot.
At a meeting September 24, 1781, the rum to be pro- cured by the town for the use of the army was bid off by John Hogg, at 5s. 10d. per gallon, the town to pay for the casks, if wanted to hold said rum.
In 1781, Put to vote to see if the easterly part of said town, which have a mind to be set off as a company of militia by themselves, from Woodbury's Mills and north to Bow line, between John Austin's and Phinehas Bai- ley's, and south as far as Goffstown line; and not to compel any who have a mind to remain in their former company. Voted.
At a meeting on the second Tuesday of August: Voted the selectmen assess as much silver money as will purchase the whole of the beef, seven milled dollars per hundred, giving each man liberty to pay in beef, if they bring it when called for.
The above assessment was for the town's proportion of beef, furnished by order of the State Congress for the army.
On the first Friday in December, 1781, at Henry Put- ney's house, John Bryant was chosen to represent Bow and Dunbarton in the General Court.
1782. Voted down preaching and school money. Voted to pay Amos Barns' depreciation on a note for going to the war. On the second Monday of November, 1782, John Hogg was chosen Representative of Bow and Dunbarton in the General Court. Chose John Holmes, Tithingman.
On the last Monday of December a meeting was held, to see what the town will act upon the plan of govern- ment, so that the proceedings may be sent to the Conven- tion at Concord. Then there appeared sixteen that voted against the plan : twelve to accept it, as it now stands ; and four with the following amendment : viz., that each representative be paid out of the State Treasury.
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
1783. Voted, To be governed by the plan of govern- ment we act under until June, 1784, unless another takes place. Voted, Eight days' preaching. School money voted down. Voted, That Thomas Cochran have ££3 for collecting the soldier tax, rum tax, preaching tax, and specie tax. Voted, That Concord, Bow and Canterbury be annexed to the county of Hillsborough.
September 1, 1783. Voted, Not to accept the altera- tion of the 8th article of the Confederation of the United States.
To Nicholas Gilman, Esq., Receiver-General for the State of New-Hampshire, or his Successor in Office :
In obedience to your warrant, directed to us, we have assessed the sum of three hundred and eight pounds, four shillings and seven pence, lawful money, upon the ratable polls and estates of the town of Dunbarton, and commit- ted the same to the constables of said town, with warrants to enable them to collect said sum; said warrants being dated June the 6th, 1783. And we have ordered John Mills, constable, to pay unto said Nicholas Gilman, Esq., &c., the sum of two hundred pounds, lawful money, and Thomas Hoyt, constable, we have ordered him to pay one hundred and eight pounds, four shillings and seven pence, lawful money; and each of said constables is to pay their respective sum ; one half of it to be paid on or before the first day of August next; the remaining half they are to pay on or before the thirtieth day of December next.
Given under our hands this sixth day of June, 1783.
ROBERT HOGG, Selectmen
EBENEZER HACKETT, for
JAMES CLEMENT, Dunbarton
John Mills, £200. Thomas Hoyt, £108 4s. 7d.
The above is copied from the original in the hand · writing of Robert Hogg, familiarly known as "Master
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HISTORY OF DUNBARTON.
Hogg," whom tradition reports to have been the first teacher who opened a public or private school in Dunbar- ton. The hand-writing is very plain and distinct, better than that of most of the clerks who recorded the transac- tions of those days in the town books.
1784. Voted eight days' preaching; school money voted down.
At a meeting March 16, 1784, the votes for State Presi- dent were : For George Atkinson 25, Josiah Bartlett 1.
At a meeting held at the house of Henry Putney, on the last Wednesday of March, 1784, Voted the representa- tive his wages before he is chosen. Voted five shillings per day. Brought in votes for representative : viz., For David Story 39, for Esqr. Bryant 18. David Story chosen for Bow and Dunbarton.
August 30, 1784. Voted David Story agent, tó defend the action against the town brought by Robert Harris, on account of Moses Reed's note; also that the selectmen search all the town accounts, to see what defence can be made in the action of James Hogg against the said town.
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