USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Durham > History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes, Volume 1 > Part 10
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September 17, 1707, "Capt. Samuel Chesley, his bro: James Chesley & 6 more stout young men were slain by the Indians as they were cutting and halling timber, not far from Capt. Chesleys house. The Indian yt killed James Chesley was slain on ye spot by Rob: Thompson. Philip Chesley and 3 more escaped." The Council voted, 22 October 1707, that five pounds be given to Robert Thompson, and the Governor signed an act in these words, "ordered that Robert Thompson1 be paid five pounds out of the present tax for an Indian scalp lately taken by him at Oyster River," 10 May 1708.
September 18, 1708, "David Kinked of Oyster River was assaulted by 3 Indians at his house, some considerable distance from Woodmans Gar: Three Guns were fired at him and his Lad, but (through mercy) both escaped well."
June 30, 1709, "Bartholomew Stimpson Jun : of Oyster R. was Slain by an Ambuscade of Indians near Capt. Woodmans Gar."
The Rev. Hugh Adams records that "on Friday the first day 1Great, great, great-grandfather of Col. Lucien Thompson.
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of May 1724, our worthy & Desireable Elder James Nock was most surprisingly Shott (off from his horse) Dead and Scalped by three Indian Enemies. O that Christ Emmanuel may speedily avenge his blood upon them." This sounds like an imprecatory Psalm and shows that in all ages good men feel the demands of retributive justice. He adds, "June 17, 1722, On Wednesday, it being our Preparation Lecture,-Turned into a Fast on account of the Indian War, so severe on our Church by the sudden Death of another of our Members, that was slain the last Wednesday, Namely Moses Davis, Sen' & his son Moses. And in the evening by the Indians was killed by a Shott in his head Poor George Chesley & Elizabeth Burnam was wounded." She died four days later, as the following record, dated 27 May 1724, shows, " Eliza- beth Burnam who was wounded by the Indians the 24th, the day George Chesley was killed, the evening before she died I baptized at her penitent request." Miss Mary P. Thompson, in her Landmarks in Ancient Dover, rather discredits the tradition that this George Chesley was engaged to be married to Elizabeth Burnham and conjectures that he must have been forty-five years of age, but the church records state that "George Chesley, batchelor," was baptized 24 December 1721, about two years and a half before this event, so that the tradition of their engage- ment might be well founded. He must not be confused with an earlier George Chesley, who was killed by Indians on his way to mill, 8 June 1710, leaving widow, Deliverance.
The Rev. Hugh Adams says in a petition that "five persons in Oyster River were cut down in the Indian war that begun in 1722.
Miss Thompson tells of another "young Chesley" who was returning from meeting with a Miss Randall of Lee, when they were slain upon the Mast Road. The rock on which the maiden fell is said to be stained with blood "unto this day," and some poet has lamented her fate. This seems to be a variant of the tradition recorded in Historical Memoranda of Ancient Dover, page 85. The Thomas Chesley there mentioned may well have been the Thomas Chesley, junior, born 1688. See Genealogical Notes under Chesley and Randall, where it appears that there was no Miss Randall of Lee at the time mentioned and that all subsequent Miss Randalls of Lee are accounted for. The tradi- tion is that Miss Randall was returning from the Falls with a party of friends, when they were attacked by Indians. She tried
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to escape into a barn and was shot just as she was entering it. She fell across the stone at the door and there bled to death. Mr. Chesley was greatly grieved at her death and declared that he would spend his life in fighting the savages. He soon had an opportunity to kill eleven out of a bunch of twelve, and the tradition properly closes with the statement that he himself was afterward killed by Indians. So many members of the Chesley family met their fate in this way, that it is not surprising that some conflicting reports have come down.
To this list of the slain may be added the name of Jeremiah Crommett, who was killed and scalped by Indians, in 1712, at the upper branch of Oyster River. See Genealogical Notes.
MILITARY HISTORY.
This chapter can contain but little more than the names of the citizens of Oyster River, or Durham, that served in various wars that afflicted the colonies, after the Indian depredations already described. Every able-bodied man was enrolled in the militia, and doubtless many served in active campaigns whose names are unrecorded. The New Hampshire Province and State Papers are the sources from which the following names have been gleaned.
May 10, 1710, the report, to the General Assembly, of the committee on claims allowed five pounds to Robert Thompson for killing an Indian and endorsed the accounts of George Chesley, and Captains Abraham Bennick, James Davis, and Nathaniel Hill.
There is an interesting claim for "several persons under named for their snow shoes and mogasans which were imprest for her Majtys service by Capt. James Davis, by order of Col. Hilton." These marched to the eastward, to "Picwacket and Mariwock," and none of the snowshoes were returned :
Serg. Jonathan Woodman
Abraham Bennet
John Ambler
James Durgin
Joseph Smith
Mr. Thomas Edgerly
Left. John Smith
Thomas Drew
Jeremiah Burnam
Philip Chesle
En. Francis Mathes
Capt. James Davis
En. Stephen Jones
Samuel Waymouth
William Jacson John Cromet
Lt. Samuel Edgerly
John Williams
Ensign Mathews' muster roll was allowed 19 November 1712. The amount was £2 s14 d4.
The following appear on the roll of a scouting party, under command of Capt. James Davis, in 1712. Capt. Davis served twenty-one weeks; the men here named, selected from the rolls and arranged alphabetically, served ten days and their wages were eight shillings and six pence apiece. The men from Oyster River were "John Ambler, Jeremiah Burnham, Robert Burn- ham, Eliezer Clark, Timothy Conner, John Chesley, Jonathan Chesley, James Davis, Moses Davis, John Davis, Timothy
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Davis, Sampson Doe, Thomas Drew, Jr., William Drew, Joseph Dudey, Cornelius Drisco, Eli Demerrit, Ichabod ffollit, John Footman, John Kent, Benjamin Mathews, Benjamin Pinner, William Pitman, John Rand, Thomas Rynes, Thomas Stephen- son, John Tasker, Jonathan Thompson, Robert Thompson, Samuel Wille, and Samuel Williams."
Salathiel Denbow, called also Denmore, served in the French and Indian War and had his thigh broken and skull fractured at Spanish River, Cape Breton. In response to his petition he was granted ten pounds, 18 January 1716/7, and a pension of ten pounds was granted him, I December 1730.
The account of Sergt. James Nock's muster roll was allowed in 1723. He was deacon in the church at Oyster River and soon after was killed by Indians.
June 24, 1724, Robert Burnham was admitted into the Coun- cil Chamber and presented an Indian scalp to the board and made oath that it was bona fide the scalp of an Indian slain two days before at Oyster River by a party of men under the com- mand of Mr. Abraham Bennick, and that he believed the said Indian was an Indian enemy, etc. Whereupon, it was ordered that pursuant to act of General Assembly the slayer be paid one hundred pounds out of the treasury and that the clerk further prepare a warrant accordingly, the said sum being made payable to Capt. Francis Mathews at the request and on the account of the said slayers. N. H. Province Papers, IV, 140.
The manuscript of Rev. Hugh Adams says that 10 June 1724, occurred "the smiting of four Indians and getting the Scalp of a Chief Captain among them, who was by all circumstances of his learning in his writings of Devotion and lists of names of nine score Indians found in his minuta which I saw, and his Scarlet-Died, Four-Laureate Coronet, with a Tassel of four small bells, by the small tinkling whereof in the thickets of bushes his Indian souldiers might follow him," etc. Adams conjectures he must have been a son of Sebastian Rasle, an unwarranted conclusion.
Abraham Clark's Scouting party, July 1724, contains the names of John Bunker, James Davis, John Brown, Clement Drew, William Clay, Nathaniel Denbo, Joseph Perkins, William Raines and Samuel Williams.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
This copy of Capt. Samuel Emerson's commission will serve as a sample of those issued at that time:
SAMUEL SHUTE EsQ .: Captaine General and Governour in chief, in and over His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire in New England, and Vice Admiral of the same.
To Captain Samuel Emerson-Greeting:
By Virtue of the Power and Authority in and by His Majesty's Royal Commission to Me Granted, to be Captain General &c., over this His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire aforesaid. I do (by these Presents,) Reposeing especial trust and confidence, in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, Constitute and Appoint you the said Sam' Emerson to be a Capt. of a foot Company of the north side of Oyster river in Dover in ye regment whereof Richd Waldron Esq is Colonel. You are therefore carefully and diligently, to discharge the Duty of a Captain in Leading and Ordering and Exercising, said Company in Arms, both Inferior Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline, hereby commanding them to Obey you, as their Captain and yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions, as you shall from time to time receive from Me, or the Commander in Chief for the time being, or other your Superior Officers, for His Majesty's Service, ac- cording to Military Rules and Discipline; Pursuant to the Trust reposed in you.
Given under my Hand and Scal at Portsmouth the Twelfth day of May in the fourth Year of His Majesty King George His Reign.
Annoque Domini 1718
By His Excellency's Command
SAML SHUTE.
RICHD WALDRON, Clercon.
The following list of trained soldiers on the south side of Oyster River, dated 5 May 1732, only ten days before Durham was incorporated as a town, was furnished by the late Ballard Smith about sixty years ago, for publication in the Dover Inquirer. The original paper was then in his possession. It was the third company in Col. Gilman's regiment and was under the command of Capt. John Smith, Jr. The names are here arranged alpha- betically for convenience.
Abraham Bennet Eleazer Bennet Eli Clark Joshua Crumit Joseph Chesly
Thomas Chesly Jabues Daveis Jeremiah Daveis John Daveis, Jr. Ebenezer Daveis
Solomon Daveis Joseph Daveis Jr. Benjamin Daveis Samuel Daveis
Joshua Daveis Salathiel Denmore Jr.
Richard Denmore
Francis Drew
John Drew Thomas Drew, ye third
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Thomas Drew Jr. Eliphalet Daniel Benjamin Doo John Doo Joseph Doo Daniel Doo Benjamin Durgin John Durgin James Durgin
Hezekias Marsh Peter Mason Nathaniel Meader John Moor Jeremiah Pender John Pitman William Randal John Randal John Runls
Joseph Durgin
Benjamin Smith
Jonathan Durgin Francis Footman
James Smith John Smith ye third
John Genkins, John Jenkens Jr. Stephen Genkins Jr. George Gray John Gra Robert Kent
Joseph Thomas
Stephen Wille Theoder Willey
Joseph Woodman
John Langley John Laski
Jacob Wormwood Joseph Wormwood,
The above list may be compared with the following made a few years later. "A list of all the Soldiery that be under my Command from sixteen years old and upward as the law directs." This, too, includes only those living on the south side of Oyster River.
"JOHN SMITH Jun, Capt."
Sargt Thomas Stevenson
John Kent Jun.
Sarg Samuel Willey Sarg John Crummet Sarg John Edgerly
Abrahan Mathews
John Drew
Elijah Drew
Cor. Joseph Wormwood
Tho Bickford
Cor. Joseph Davis
Robert Kent
Tho Langley
William Lord
Stephen Willey
Benja Mathews
Volintin Mathews
Abraham Mathews Jun.
Joseph Stevenson Abraham Stevenson Caleb Wakham
Francis Footman
Daniel Davis Tho Footman Jun. John Genikins
Cor. Joseph Edgerly Cor. John Durgain John Footman Joseph Footman Samuel Smith Benja Smith Joseph Chesły Ebenezer Smith Benja Pender Francis Durgain Eliphalet Daniel Reuben Daniel John Kent
Thomas Langley
Samuel Smith William Sheperd
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Benja Genikins Joseph Smith Tho Yorke
Joseph Doo
Benja Doo
Will m Wormwood Jun.
Samue' Watson
Will m Jncks
Joseph Gleden
Joshua Crumet
Robert Burnham Jun.
Abraham Bennet Jun.
John Burnham Jun.
James Durgain Jun.
Richard Dunmore
Will m Durgain
Benja Davis
Phillip Crommet
Jabez Davis
Benja Bennet
Jeremiah Davis
Isac Mason
John Davis
David Davis,
Solomon Davis
Samuel Joy
Ebenezer Davis
Joshua Davis
Samuel Meeder
Joseph Dudy
James Burnham
Joseph Dudy Jun.
Ichabod Denmore
Benmore Dudy
Joseph Bickford
Tho Willey
John Langley
Theodor Willey
Jobe Langley
James Smith
Hezekiah Marsh
Joshua Woodman
Will m Willey
John Cretchet
John Mason
John Willey
Daniel Doo
James Burnham Jun
John Doo
A true copy of the List Roll taken ye Last Training Day and coppyed out July ye 29th 1740. Total 86.
JOSEPH DREW, Clerk
[N. H. Town Papers, IX, 240, 241.]
A scouting party under Samuel Miller, from 29 June to 13 July 1744, contains the following men from Durham, Abraham Runals, Joseph Durgin, James Lomas, and Thomas Tash. A muster roll of troopers, under command of Capt. Joseph Hanson, dated 5 August 1745, contains the names of men from Durham, who scouted in the woods and found themselves horses, provisions and ammunition, viz., Samuel Tasker, Valentine Mathes, Samuel Demeritt, Thomas Willey, Thomas Leathers, Henry Hill, and James Chesley.
The principal event in King George's War was the capture of Louisburg, on Cape Breton Island, 17 June 1745. This was, next to Quebec, the strongest and most important French fortress in America. The land forces in this expedition were commanded by Col. William Pepperrell of Kittery, who was knighted for the
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exploit. Many of his troops were collected from Maine and New Hampshire. Col. Samuel Smith of Durham was a member of the provincial council of New Hampshire at that time and of the joint committee "on the subject of Govr Shirleys letter and some other papers laid before the Assembly by his Excellency." This committee reported in favor of the Louisburg expedition and recommended the raising of money to defray charges and liberal pay to volunteers, as well as the furnishing of provisions and transports. Col. Smith was at the same time chairman of the board of selectmen of Durham, town clerk, part of the time moderator and also the chief military officer in the vicinity. As councillor he had a prominent part in the emission of money to pay the expenses of the expedition, being on the committee to print the money and have custody of the plates and keys. The provincial records show that he was clerk and commissary of the various scouting parties in his vicinity and had charge of the snowshoes and moccasins, of which the House voted that one hundred pairs of each should be kept in Durham, ready for any emergency.
The rolls of the New Hampshire regiments in this expedition have not been found. Hon. George A. Gilmore, as special com- missioner under legislative authority, has published a "Roll of New Hampshire Men at Louisburg, Cape Breton, 1745," and he gave the residences of the men as nearly as he could ascer- tain the same. Durham is given as the residence of the following men, Benjamin Bunker, Eleazer Bickford, Eliphalet Daniel, and Moses Meader.
Benjamin Bunker was clerk of Capt. Samuel Hale's company, enlisting as a private 13 February 1745, and was promoted to be Ensign, to August.
Eleazer Bickford petitioned the General Assembly for some allowance on account of sickness, losses, etc., and was allowed two pounds. Daniel Doe at the same time was allowed two pounds, ten shillings, because of medical treatment by Dr. Samuel Adams after his return. The first was a private and the second a mari- ner, both enlisting 13 February 1745. Daniel Doe was son of John Doe and lived near the Moat.
Moses Meader petitioned for relief because of sickness at Louisburg, which caused his return to New Castle in August, where he was confined by sickness for three weeks, and in conse-
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quence he states that he has been able to do but little for the sup- port of himself and family. He was allowed five pounds, though his expenses at New Castle alone had been over ten pounds.
Col. Gilmore does not give the residencesof many of thesoldiers, but one familiar with the records of Durham can easily pick out the following names of Durham men, Abraham Bennet, Moses Davis, Benjamin Daniel, John Edgerly, John Ealet [Eliot], Thomas Jones, Thomas Johnson, William Lapish, David Kinkett [Kincaid], John Perry, William Randall, James Smith, John Smith, Corp. Samuel Thompson, James Thompson, and John Welch.
The town voted to exempt from taxes for that year those who went on the Louisburg expedition.
Scouting parties were sent out during the winters of 1744 and 1745. Capt. Benjamin Mathes had command of one, II Jan- uary 1745. The men were Joseph Wormwood, Gershom Mathes, William Emerson, Abraham Mathes, James Thompson, Joseph Coleman, John Leighton, Reuben Heard and Samuel Bickford. They served twenty-one days for eighteen shillings and nine pence each.
On "the muster roll of eight men under the command of John Huggins of Durham who begun July ye 11th 1745 to scout in ye woods from Rochester to Winnipissoke" are the names of John Huggins, Edward Leathers, Abel Leathers, James Brown, Moses Varney, Joseph Langley, Daniel Hays, Charles Bakerand Ephraim Alley. Some of these men lived in Dover. They served fourteen days for twelve shillings, six pence.
Capt. Jonathan Chesley had command of another party of scouts that ranged "the frontiers about Merrimack" in 1745. He was elected Representative and served in the House during most of King George's War.
"Scargeant John Thompson" commanded another scouting party of eleven men around Barrington and Rochester twenty- eight days in 1746 and earlier. Four times money was voted to him and his men for such services.
December 2, 1747, the House "voted that ye Muster Roll of Joseph Thomas & twenty men under his Command scouting from Durham to Chester, Epsom & Nottingham, amounting to twenty two Pounds fifteen Shillings & od in full be allowed."
Scouting parties were commanded also by Samuel Randall and Joseph Sias. More will be said of these men elsewhere.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Capt. Jonathan Chesley was paid for guarding the frontiers, in 1748, with seventy-three men. Other men who served in such scouting parties were Ephraim Davis and Nathaniel Hug- gins [Huckins].
Capt. Joseph Bickford's muster roll, 1756, for defense of Epsom, contains names of Durham men, Joseph Randall, Ed. Pender- gast, Benjamin Hall, Gideon Leighton, Joseph Doe, and Samuel Bickford.
For further information about the military rolls of this period see Adjutant General's Report, Vol. II, 1866, and N. H. Province Papers.
The following documents are copied from the historical col- lections of Col. Lucien Thompson and may be of interest to the reader. The first document has no date, but, from the names in it, appears to have been written before 9 September 1757:
Provinc of Į To Quarter
New hampshire . Samuel Demeritt
In his Majstys name you are Required to See that the men that are apinted to go on Duty are fited as the Law Directs Emeadately to march att a quartr of an ouer notis heare of faill not and you will oblige your Humble Servant
Daniel Rogers Capt.
the men apinted are
Stephen Wille 9 men
Joseph wormwood Jun-
Edward Hill
Stephen Sweet [Swett]
under your command from Durham are
Stephen Leathers
Stephen Wille Junr
Thomas Leathers
Jonathan Langly
Benjamin Buzell
Jonathan Rendal
Benjam Buzell Stephen Leathers Edward Hill Joseph Wormwood Jun to march according to order
The two following documents contain, in the original, the autograph signatures of the subscribers. They show the military spirit that prevailed and the undesigned preparation for the ap- proaching conflict with Great Britain. For drill in time of peace they seem to have preferred cavalry to infantry. They were "Gentleman Troopers," getting ready to be future officers, as many hoped.
We the Subscribers Do hereby Signify our Consent & Desire to Join in a Company of horse that may be Raised in the Town of Durham & Parish of
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Madbury under Such officers as may be Appointed by the Honourable Benning wentworth Esqr Governor & Commander in and Over the province of new- hampshire & Do hereby manifest our Desire that Such a Company may be Raised & that we will be properly Equipt in a Reasonable Time to Join in Such a Company in witness whereof we hereunto Subscribe our names this 27th Day of Sept 1764.
Daniel Meserve Jun
Job Demerit Junr
Robert Ilill.
Samuel Emerson
Beniamjn Gerrish.
Joseph Demerit
Jonathan meserve
Solomon Demerit
Samuel Jones
Zachariah Boodey
John Emerson
Robert Hill
John Roberts Junr
John Demerit
Timothy Moses Jun
Clemet Meserve Jun
John Hill
Ebenezer Miserue.
Beniam Chesla Jun-
Abednego Leathers.
DURHAM, April 17, 1765.
We the under Named Subscribers do hereby Inlist our Selves under the Com- mand of Captain Samuel Demerit Esqr. in a Troop of horse in the Province of New Hampshire to Ride as Troopers under his Command of which Troop the Honourable Clement March Esqr. is Colonel.
Solomon Demeret
Timothy Moses Junr John Emerson
Samuel Clark
Joseph Jackson.
Trumpeter of this Trope
Stephen Wille Jun-
Richard Hull
Giordon Mathes
James Bonely
hezekiah randel.
Alphcas Chesley
Robert Hill
Joseph Wormwood
David Davis 3d
Volintine Mathes Junr
Edward hill
Nathe Daniels
Thomas Lathers
Clement Meserve.
James Davis Jun
Ichabod Bussell
Mason Rendel
John Edgerley
Joseph Lebbey
Joshua Wiggin
Jonathan Meserve
thomas gorge
william Rendel June
John Williams David Daniels
Job Demeret Jun John Ring
Jonathan Williams
Philip yeaton
Samuel Snell
Benning Brackett.
Josiah Burley
Samuel Emerson.
George tutle.
Gentleman Troopers.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
THE REVOLUTION
On the eighteenth day of July 1774, Ebenezer Thompson, Esq., and John Sullivan, Esq., were elected to attend a conven- tion at Exeter for the purpose of choosing delegates to attend the General Congress to be held at Philadelphia the first day of September next. This was the first step taken by Durham as a town toward the liberation of the American Colonies from the oppressive yoke of Great Britain.
Soon after contributions were sent by various towns for the relief of those who suffered from the Boston Port Bill. The following letter, dated 21 November 1774, shows Durham's sympathy with "suffering brethren in Boston."
GENTLEMEN: We take pleasure in transmitting to you by Mr. Scammell a few cattle, with a small sum of money, which a number of persons in this place, tenderly sympathizing with our suffering brethren in Boston, have con- tributed towards their support. With this, or soon after, you will receive the donations of a number in Lee, a parish lately set off from this Town, and in a few days those of Dover, Newmarket, & other adjacent Towns. What you herewith receive comes not from the opulent, but mostly from the industrious yeomanry in this parish. We have but. a few persons of affluent fortunes among us, but those have most cheerfully contributed to the relief of the dis- tressed in your metropolis.
This is considered by us, not as a gift, or an act of charity, but of justice, as a small part of what we are in duty bound to communicate to those truly noble & patriotic advocates of American freedom, who are bravely standing in the gap between us & slavery, defending the common interests of a whole continent and gloriously struggling in the cause of liberty. Upon you the eyes of all America are fixed. Upon your invincible patience, fortitude & resolution (under God) depends all that is dear to them and their posterity. May that superintendent gracious Being, whose ears are ever open to the cry of the op- pressed, in answer to the incessant prayers of his people, defend our just cause, turn the counsels of our enemies into foolishness, deliver us from the hands of our oppressors and make those very measures, by which they are endeavor- ing to compass our destruction, the means of fixing our invaluable rights & privileges upon a more firm & lasting basis.
While with the most painful sensations we reflect that prior to the commence- ment of the evils which now surround us, supineness & inattention to our com- mon interests had so far prevailed, as almost wholly to sink in luxury & dissi- pation the inhabitants of these Colonies; we are bound to acknowledge the divine wisdom & goodness, which by these calamities roused us from our lethargy, and taught us to defend those inestimable liberties, which otherwise must have been forever lost to us & our posterity; and to evince his determina-
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
tion to save America, directed the attacks of our enemies to that quarter where the virtue & firmness of the inhabitants could brave the shafts of mili- tary tyrants, and set at defiance the threats of an exasperated & despotic minister.
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