USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 12
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Ebenezer Bill, [Sen. ] 1778.'
Thomas Dart, 1793. Daniel Wright, 1794.
Stephen Bond, 1779.
John Ellis, 1795,-6,-9, 1800, -2. Josiah Hendee, 1825,-45.
Iddo Kilburn, 1818,-9,-21, -7,-8,-9.
Amherst Hayward, 1833, L. W. Mark, 1860,-1. -42. -4,-71,-2,-3,-4.
Daniel Wright and Jona- than Baker, 1787.
-3,-4,-6. William Baxter, 1806,-7, Kimball D. Webster, 1839. Daniel Smith, 1875. Otis Bill, 1840 to 46.
Samuel W. Dart, 1876,-7,-8.
83
TOWN OFFICERS.
The old office of Tithing-man, which was considered important and honorable in the early times, gradually fell into disuse, and has not been filled here, since 1831. Doubtless, interesting items might have been preserved, here as elsewhere, concerning adventures in keeping rude boys quiet in meeting, and arresting Sabbath travelers. None such have, however, been brought to my attention. It will be noticed that three were chosen for 1814, onc more than had been customary. It was voted, the same year, " to enforce the sabbath act." Isaac Loveland is the only one of the following list of " Tything Men " in Gilsum, who is now living.
David Blish, 1789,-1806,-14, Silvanus Hayward, 1794,-6, -6,-7. -9, 1802 to 9,-11.
Ziba Ware, 1803. Daniel Converse, 1819.
Elezer Willcox, 1789. 1801. John Hammond, 1797.
Thomas Redding, 1790.
Jesse Dart, 1797.
Aaron Hammond, 1790,-3.
Zadok Hurd, 1798.
Daniel Wright, 1791. Jehiel Holdridge, 1798,
Ebenezer Kilburn, 1791,-3. 1805.
Jonathan Church. 1792,-6.
Thomas Dart, 1799.
Obadiah Pease, 1817.
Isaac Loveland, 1830.
Samuel Bill, Jr., 1792. James Ballard, 1801,-8,-11.
Elisha S. Fish, 1818.
Jehiel Day, 1831.
Samuel Whitney, 1794. Josiah Hammond, 1802.
The office of " Hog-reeve " was long continued as a source of amusement, by appointing all who had been married during the year. This practice was kept up till 1843, almost every man in town having held it, in his turn. That this office was formerly no sinecure is probable from votes passed in 1791, " that Hogs shall not Run at large Upon the Commons," - and again, as late as 1824, " that no swine be allowed to run in any of the Highways of the town." No restriction other than that of State law, by which cattle doing damage could be driven to pound, seems to have been laid upon any animals but swine, till 1830, when it was voted that " no swine or neat stock shall run at large in the highways." In 1833, a Committee consisting of Charles Cummings, George W. Hammond and Aaron Day was appointed to draft by-laws for the town, and reported that
No horse kind mules jacks neat cattle sheep or Swine Shall be permitted to run at large in any street highway or common or in any public place in the town.
The penalty annexed was one dollar for each offense. This by-law was renewed year by year for about ten years, when it gradually fell into disuse. In 1844, " voted that horses shall not run at large." In 1852, the old by-law was revived, and no action has since been taken.
That ancient institution of all New England towns, the Pound, is worthy of a place in our history. The first record is March 8, 1791,
Chose Lieut. Daniel Wright pound Keeper and his Barn and Barn Yard For A Pound.
May 17, 1794, " Voted to Build apound three Rods Squair Joining the highway about fifteen Rods North of Levt Wrights Barn Majah Bill Levt Hurd Capt Kilburn James Ballard Be a Committee to See that the pound is Built Voted to Build a wall Round the pound Six feet high with a timber on the top hewd Eight inches Squre Voted to Build the pound the first week in june "
From the urgency of these votes, and the substantial fence deemed necessary, it seems prob- able they had a rather unruly breed of cattle. In 1814, it was " Voted that Jonathan Pease's barn-yard shall be used as a pound." Nothing further appears, not even the choice of a Pound Keeper, till 14 years later, wlien Aaron Day's barn-yard was voted for the same purpose. In 1830, it was moved to Stephen Day's barn-yard. In 1833, it went back to Aaron Day's barn-yard. In 1837, $19 was raised, and the Selectmen were instructed to buy land and build a Pound. Jacob Polley sold land to the town for a pound for $2.00, Jan. 1, 1838. The first pound was near Edouard Loiselle's residence. This second pound was near Jacob Polley's, just south of the river near the Hammond Hollow Bridge, where the walls are still stand- ing. In 1845 and 1846, articles to take measures in regard to the Pound were ignominiously dismissed. Though it will be seen the office of Pound Keeper was kept filled for many years,
L
Jonathan Pease, 1804,-14,
-5,-6,-8,-20 to 27.
David Smith, 1819. Amherst Hayward, 1820,
John Ellis, 1807.
Dudley Smith, 1809,-15, -22,-31. Jacob Ames, 1814.
-1,-5,-6,-7. James M. Mark, 1823,-4. Iddo Kilburn, 1828.
Tower Spear, 1830.
84
GILSUM.
yet it became a sinecure, and in 1875, after several had declined, it was voted to defer the choice of a Keeper till a Pound was built. Immediately following which action, it was voted to dismiss an article to build or repair. So ends the Pound. Pound Keepers have been as follows : - Daniel Wright, 1791,-4,-5. Aaron Day, 1833,-5,-6. Enos Cross, 1856,-65,-9. Sidney C. Gates, 1868.
Turner White, 1797,-8,-9.
Jacob Polley, 1838 to 45,-7,
Jonathan Pease, 1814.
-50 to 54,-8,-60,-2,-3,-7.
Jacob Polley, Jr., 1866,-70,
Varnum Polley, 1861,-4. George N. Hayward, 1871. Charles W. Bingham, 1874.
Stephen Day, 1828,-30. Benjamin Foster, 1855,-7. -2,-3.
REPRESENTATIVES.
The first evidence of any representation of Gilsum or Surry in the Legislature, is in the list of members of the " Fourth Provincial Congress," or " Convention of Deputies," which met at Exeter, May 17, 1775. " Keen & Surry" are classed together, and sent " Timthy Ellis " as their. Delegate. Alstead and Marlow sent letters pledging their support to the acts of said " Con- gress," but pleading their poverty as an excuse for not sending Delegates. Probably Gilsum neglected to send for the same reason.
In November of the same year the Provincial Congress directed that one hundred freeholders should entitle a town to a Representative, and that towns having a less number should " couple with one or more other Towns or Parishes until they make up the number of such Freeholders." The Congress also voted " That every Legal Inhabitant Paying Taxes shall be a voter." * To be eligible to the office of Representative a man must be worth £200 in "Real Estate in this Colony."
The roll of the Fifth Provincial Congress of December, 1775, has the name of Capt. Robert Pollock of Camden as the Representative from Packersfield, [Nelson,] Limerick. [Stoddard,] Cambden, [Washington,] and Gilsum. At the next Congress in March, 1776, these towns neg- lected to send, probably on account of the expense, as each district sending a Representative was responsible for his pay. At the adjourned session, however, in the June following, " Mr. Joseph Rounseval of Cambden " was tlieir Delegate. His pay for 85 miles travel and 9 days attendance was £4. 2s. 4d. He was re-elected the following year, also in 1780 and 1781. In 1778-9, and 1780 Dr. Nath'l Breed of Packersfield was the Representative.
Nov. 24, 1781, the " General Assembly " passed a " Vote for two precepts for Representa- tives to issue to the district of Stoddard, Washington, Packersfield & Gilsum, which heretofore have sent but one." Gilsum joined with Packersfield and sent Jonathan Adams for 1781-2.
In March, 1784, Surry voted to join with Gilsum in sending a Representative to the General Court, and chose Obadiah Willcox and Lemuel Holmes to go to Gilsum and consult them on the matter. Gilsum doubtless concurred, as we find in the Surry record that Lemuel Holmes was chosen Representative " with Gilsum," in 1784 and 1786. In 1788 Jonathan Read was sent.
From 1789 to 1793, Gilsum was joined with Surry and Sullivan, and elected the following Representatives : -
Lemuel Holmes of Surry, 1789 to 1792. Roswell Hubbard of Sullivan, 1793.
For the next thirty years, Gilsum and Surry were classed together. Meetings for the choice of Representative were held alternately in each town, the person elected usually belonging to the town where the meeting was held, and the Moderator to the other. On this plan the following were the Representatives : -
David Blish, 1795,-7, 1801, -3,-13,-15.
Zadok Hurd, 1799. Samuel Whitney, 1805,-7, -11.
Samuel Hills, 1810,-2,-4,-6. Sylvester Smith, 1820,-2,-4. Jonathan Pease, 1817. Luther Whitney, 1825. Francis Holbrook, 1826.
John McCurdy, 1794. Jonathan Robinson, 1796,
-8, 1800,-2,-4.
Asa Willcox, 1806,-8. Robert Lane Hurd, 1809. -3.
John Hammond, 1819,-21,
* This is a very early precedent for Woman Suffrage.
Elijah Fuller, 1818.
Whether any women availed themselves of the right thus granted is not known. Probably not.
Wohin Ilealling H.L. Johan 9.6. Hubbard to. Marcar
85
TOWN OFFICERS.
On the day of the Presidential election, 1824, Gilsum " Voted to petition to the General Court for the privilege of sending a representative to the General Court unconnected with Surry and Chose John Hammond to attend to the business." The next Legislature granted the peti- tion, and Gilsum has been entitled to one Representative since. The persons chosen to that office have been as follows : -
Luther Whitney, 1827. Aaron Day, 1828,-9,-31. Josiah Hammond, 1830. Jehiel Day, 1832,-4.
Allen Butler, 1833,-5.
John Horton, 1836,-7.
David Bill, 1838,-9,-41.
Samuel Isham, Jr., 1849, -50,-6,-7. Amasa May, 1851,-2.
-74,-6. Joseph M. Chapin, 1863, -4,-7.
Hervey E. Rawson, 1865,-6. Aaron D. Hammond, 1868, -9. Allen Hayward, 1870,-1. John S. Collins, 1872,-3. William L. Isham, 1875,-7. John J. Isham, 1878.
Under the amended Constitution of 1876, Gilsum is classed with Sullivan, and in November, 1878, elected Francis C. Minor, Representative for two years.
Gilsum was not represented in the First Constitutional Convention of 1778-83. In 1788, Gilsum and Surry sent Jonathan Smith, and in 1791, Lemuel Holmes. In the Convention of 1850, Gilsum was represented by George W. Hammond, and in 1876, by Daniel W. Bill.
The following list shows who have been appointed to the office of Justice of Peace in Gil- sum :
David Blish, 1790-1815.
Samuel Whitney, 1811-26.
Obadiah Pease, 1816-25 .*
John Hammond, 1823-30 .*
Luther Whitney, 1827-32.
David Brigham, 1829-39.
George W. Hammond, 1830-5, also J. P. and Quorum. 1837-57, also Do. for the State 1855-70. Willard Bill, 1830-5.
Jehiel Day, 1833-8.
Allen Butler, 1835-55.
George H. McCoy, 1875.t
John Horton, 1837 .*
Samuel Woodward, 1839-54. David Bill, 1840-55.
David M. Smith, 1840-45. Lemuel Bingham, 1842-58. William Kingsbury, 1842-52. Israel B. Loveland, 1843-73. Eliphalet K. Webster, 1844-54. Otis G. Hammond, 1845-50. Franklin W. Day, 1846-9 .* John Hammond, Jr., 1848-53. Samuel Isham, 1849-54. (3), ) Amasa May, 1852-7, and Quorum, 1856-61. Calvin May, Jr., 1856-61, and Quo- rum 1861-2 .* Ebenezer Jones, 1856-61.
George W. Newman, 1856-61. George Hammond, 1857-67. Francis A. Howard, 1857-78, for the State 1878. Ezra Webster, 1860-4 .* Daniel W. Bill, 1866.t L. W. F. Mark, 1869.t N. O. Hayward, 1869 .; A. D. Hammond, 1869 .; George A. Tyrel, 1871. Charles W. Bingham, 1872.t
George C. Hubbard, and Quorum for the State, 1877.}
John Hammond was appointed Coroner in 1805, and Aaron Day in 1830.
* Died in office. # Now in office.
William Kingsbury, 1842.
Eliphalet K. Webster, 1843, Ebenezer Jones, 1855.
4. Franklin W. Day, 1845,-6. John Hammond, 1847,-8.
Francis A. Howard, 1858. Ezra Webster, 1859,-60. Daniel W. Bill, 1861,-2,
David M. Smith, 1840.
David Ware, 1853. John Livermore, 1854.
86
GILSUM.
CHAPTER XVII.
POLITICAL PARTIES.
AFTER the establishment of our general government, there was at first but little political excitement. The people were substantially agreed. This is plainly seen in the record of Gil- sumn. The first division into parties was under the names of Federalists and Republicans. But the vote of Gilsum for Governor, or President, as he was at first called, and for Representative to Congress, was unanimous on the Federalist side for the first twelve years after the adoption of the Constitution in 1789. The apparent exception in 1796, was evidently not political, but a per- sonal dislike to Gov. Gilman. This is seen from the vote for Congressmen, the same year, which was unanimously Federalist. The first Democratic, or rather, as then called, Republican votes ever cast in Gilsumn, were seven for Jolin Langdon, in 1802. The Federalists retained their majority till 1806, when Gov. Langdon had 32 majority over Gov. Gilman. In thic Congres- sional vote, however, the Republican majority was only four. It is plain that at this period the Governor vote fails to show the real political bias of the town. The vote for Representatives to Congress is the more correct test. In 1808, the Federalists had 15 majority in the Congres- sional vote, and 10 for President. They retained a strong majority for the next 11 years. The Presidential vote in 1820 and 1824 was unanimous for the Republican electors. An aggregate vote of only about half the voters, shows it to have been a period of little partisan interest. Their opposition to the war had killed the Federal party, and there was no clear division into parties, after the war, till Jackson's last term. About this time, the division was into Adams men, and Jackson men. In 1824, the Adams men had a plurality for Governor and continued to hold the vote of the town till 1827, when the Jackson men prevailed by a large majority, and in the Presidential election of 1828, Jackson had 63 votes against 51 for Adams. Since Jack- son's time, Gilsum has had a strong Democratic majority with the exception of two clections. In 1855, the " Know Nothings" carried the Governor vote by seven majority, and the Congressional vote by 23 majority. In 1858, the Republican party carried the Governor vote by 10 majority. The largest Democratic vote ever cast in Gilsum was in 1872, 113 for Gov. Weston, giving him 51 majority. Their majority has been sometimes greater, but they have never cast so many votes in any other election. The largest aggregate vote ever cast in Gilsum was 176 in 1875.
Gilsum has been conservative rather than radical in all its political tendencies. This may be seen from the votes from time to time on revising the Constitution. With the exception of three years, 1834-42-50, these votes have been strongly against revision, sometimes unanimous. Hence, third party movements have usually met with little success in Gilsum. There has been occasionally a slight split from local causes, but generally parties have voted solid for the " reg- ular " candidates. In 1869, one " Labor Reform " vote was cast by Charles W. Bingham, and in the two succeeding years the same party received four votes. Though there have been a good number of strict Teetotalers and Prohibitionists here, they have not generally thought it advis- able to throw away their votes on the third party ticket. In 1873, however, there were 10 votes for the " Prohibition " candidate for Governor, and two in 1874. In the Fall election of 1878, the " Greenbackers " cast seven votes. The " Know Nothings " can hardly be called a third party, as they sprung up at once fully grown, carrying the town, as they did the State, by a sudden and irresistible impulse. But as Jonah's gourd withered at the rising sun, so this party melted away
87
POLITICAL PARTIES.
under the heat of the more vital issues of the Anti-slavery contest. The Anti-slavery record of Gilsum seems to be of sufficient importance to demand a separate chapter.
The following Tables give a synopsis of the votes for Governor, members of Congress, and Presidential Electors from 1789 to 1878. It is in some cases difficult to classify the vote exactly by party names, but it has been done as accurately as seemed possible : -
GOVERNOR.
CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT.
GOVERNOR.
CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT.
Federal.
Republican.
Scattering.
Federal.
Republican.
Scattering.
Federal.
Republican.
Federal.
Democrat.
Scattering.
Federal.
Democrat.
Scattering.
Federal.
Democrat.
1789
38
. .
..
32
. .
. .
1810 .
33
27
39
25
1790
22
. .
23
. .
1811
40
38
42
38
8: :
35
1792
41
. .
. .
. .
. .
25
1813
58
35
.
46
33
. .
1794
22
. .
. .
.
. .
48
37
1796
2
17
24
20
1817
53
44
46
.
. .
. .
1798
42
. .
. .
·
..
1819
50
35
2
. .
.
. .
. .
1820 .
93
8
1
45
44
1800 *
55
1801
29
1802
57
7
. .
..
. .
..
..
. .
1824 .
46
36
15
23
48
44
1804
35
39
43
33
31
19
1825
80
·
. .
46
51
13
. .
1805
39
32
28
24
. .
. .
1827
8
72
58
. .
..
..
. .
51
1808
4
46
. .
. .
.
27
37
1829
36
68
. .
31
65
1809
43
33
.
. .
. .
* No Presidential vote recorded.
GOVERNOR.
CONGRES8.
PRESIDENT.
GOVERNOR.
CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT.
1831
32
77
2
31
70
:
40
83
2
1845
33
83
23
33
84
22
.
..
1833
103
2
15
4
77
1
16
80
1849
33
87
28
62
87
.
. .
. .
..
.
. .
1851
33
82
30
80
63
29
66
27
1840
33
81
..
·
. .
..
. .
1853
19
89
24
69
64
. .
. .
. .
.
1841
33
76
4
33
76
4
. .
.
1855
2
66
00
81
66
. .
. .
. .
.
.
1843
27
84
17
2
25
85
20
1
.
1856
83
75
. .
. .
88
84
Scattering.
1830
34
77
. .
:
:
1844
23
69
34
1
. .
31
79
22
1832
101
108
.
.
. .
. .
1847
32
86
21
31
86
22
F.S.
F.S.
1835
26
77
104
87
3
94
3
. .
. .
1850
30
90
31
59
49
. .
. .
. .
1839
36
93
. .
1
39
93
5
. .
. .
1852
35
87
28
. .
. .
. .
1842
8
74
30
2
. .
.
1854
19
90
33
K.N.
K.N.
Rep
1807
5
48
19
. .
. .
.
1826
58
21
.
. .
. .
. .
1806
20
52
.
Whig.
Democra t.
Third Parties
Scattering.
Whig.
Democrat.
Third Parties
Whig.
Democrat.
Third Parties
Scattering.
Whig.
Democrat.
Third Parties
Scattering.
Whig.
Democrat.
Third Parties
. .
. .
..
1848
1
89
55
.
33
76
19
1
1836
23
.
. .
. .
.
1837
1838
34
86
5
D :
.
1846
35
78
25
34
78
26
43
cr .
. .
1803
53
10
33
. .
1821
79
12
. .
.
.
57
. .
1823
35
49
16
37
. .
.
1816 .
56
46
..
1797
34
16
. .
1818 .
47
41
. .
62
33
1793
27
21
.
.
1814 .
1815
53
43
.
·
1795
34
1799
24
. .
1822
86
1
: 85
. .
..
. .
1828
47
: 8:
Whig.
Democrat.
Third Parties
Lib.
Lib.
Lib.
1791
32
1812 .
. .
52
42
.
45
..
. .
EXPLANATORY. - Lib., Liberty ; F. S., Free Soil; K. N., Know Nothings ; Rep., Republican.
.
1834
. .
F.S.
1
27
.
44
87
Lib.
Lib.
Scattering.
94
. .
.
89
. .
. .
..
27
. .
49
88
GILSUM.
GOVERNOR.
CONOREBR.
PRESIDENT.
GOVERNOR.
CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT.
Democrat.
Republican.
Scattering.
Democrat.
Republican.
Scattering.
Democrat.
Republican.
Third Parties
Democrat.
Republican.
Third Parties
Democrat.
Republican.
Third Parties
Democrat.
Republican.
1857
97
77
97
77
.
. .
1869 1870
98
1
98
60
1
. .
. .
1858
70
80
77
85
77
:
. .
. . Whig
1
1872
113
62
. .
..
. .
. .
102
67
1861
84
62
.
. .
. .
1873
105
54
10
105
60
3
. .
.
1862
82
65
2
..
. .
1874
106
61
2
..
..
·
1863
87
55
7
88
61
1875
111
65
111
65
. .
. .
1864
89
61
79
64
. .
. .
1877
105
67
106
65
. .
.
..
1866
92
60
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
1878*
107
58
1
. .
G. B.
85
52
85
45
5
. .
1878+
108
60
7
111
60
3
.
. .
EXPLANATORY. - L. R., Labor Reform ; Pro., Prohibition; G. B., Greenback.
* March election. ¡ November election.
CHAPTER XVIII.
ANTI-SLAVERY.
THE first record of The Gilsum Anti-slavery Society is as follows : -
Gilsum June 6, 1838 - Pursuant to previous notice the Inhabitants of Gilsum & vicinity met at the meeting house in the Village, at which time an address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Brewster after which the Committee, [consisting of David Brigham, David M. Smith, and A. W. Kingsbury, ] appointed at a previous meet- ing, to draft a Constitution to be presented at this meeting -reported the following preamble & Constitution which was adopted without amendment -
The Preamble quotes from the Declaration of Independence, showing how inconsistent there- with is the system of human slavery. The 3d Article of the Constitution is as follows : -
The objects of this Society shall be to obtain & diffuse intelligence on the subject of American Slavery, by encouraging free discussion, the circulation of publications on the subject, and in every way to promote & secure the object desired viz the speedy termination of Slavery in " boasted free America."
The annual meeting was to be on the 4th of July of each year. At the organization, sixteen men and twenty-eight women became members. Thirty-eight afterwards joined making in all just forty-one of each sex. The names, in the order of signing, were the following : -
Lyman Gerould. David Convers. Ezra Webster. Ralph J. Holt, (Alstead.) Stephen Foster, Jr. Luther White. George Langdon. Amherst Hayward.
A. P. Hemmenway. E. B. Rollins. Lemuel Bingham. James Downing, Jr. (Mar- low.)
Jesse Dart. Chilion Mack. James Tisdale.
John Q. A. Ware. Samuel Woodward.
John Taylor.
Stephen Foster. Kimball D. Webster. David Brigham. Aaron Brigham, (Alstead.) William Campbell.
William Hayward. A. W. Kingsbury. Solon Eaton.
Harry D. Randall. Gilbert M. Phillips.
Jas. L. Loveland.
Jas. F. Isham. Wm. Mark.
:
. .
. .
1871
90
62
4
90
61
4
. .
1860
95
70
. .
..
. .
. -
94
63
1876
102
69
. .
.
1865
79
64
.
1867 1868
93
66
·
. .
. .
93
66
90
61 55
4
. .
. .
. .
1859
84
.
.
·
103
70
. .
L. R.
L. R.
87
72
I'ro.
G. B.
89
ANTI-SLAVERY.
Rufus Guillow.
Catharine H. Taylor.
Hannah W. Mack.
Abijah Wetherbee.
Sarah Wilcox.
Nancy L. Abbot.
Eliza Townsend. Mary Guillow.
Joseph M. Chapin.
Emeline Taylor.
Nancy Smith.
Sarah Farnum.
Hartley Thurston.
Diancy Taylor.
Lydia Abbot.
Nancy B. Foster.
Oren Wyman.
Hannah Hayward.
Betsey Isham.
Mehitable Foster.
Josiah Grimes.
Abigail Taylor.
Elizabeth Townsend.
Mary Jane Foster.
A. J. Howard.
Esther Wetherbee.
Priscilla D. Dort.
Sarah N. Foster.
Luther Hemenway.
Harriet Wetherbee.
Sophia Brigham.
Beulah E. Hemenway.
Jona. Winch.
Mary Mason.
Hannah White.
Maria T. Foster.
Harriet W. Isham.
Esther Loveland.
Mariah T. Ware.
M. Caroline Tisdale.
Nancy B. Foster 2d.
Betsey Farnum.
Ann Townsend. Sarah Townsend.
Eunice Fish.
Sophia Foster.
Maria Farnum.
To those acquainted with Gilsum, it will be noticeable that nearly all the men were members of the Whig party, and that some of them became in later times bitter opponents of the Repub- lican party which most of them joined.
The first President of the Society was William Hayward, who was one of the carliest and most radical of anti-slavery men, taking and circulating Garrison's " Liberator," and entering heartily into his extremest views. He soon, however, left Gilsum, so that his name is not found among the first voters of the Liberty party in this town. David Brigham was the first Secretary, and retained the office four years. His Report for the first year, presented July 4, 1839, is as follows : ---
The Society during the past year have done but little - occasional meetings have been held -the concert of Prayer for the Slave has been sustained in part - 5 vols belong to the Library - being purchased by individuals belonging to the Society - the Society like many others among us seem to lose sight of the great object in view - & while we have a name to live we are dead -
When O! when will the professed friends of the poor Slave put forth their efforts and influence in union & tell their southern brethren in accents of kindness & the spirit of the Gospel to prepare the way of the Lord by breaking every Yoke & let the oppressed go free, by undoing the heavy burdens that are borne by the Slave & to fulfil the grand precept of doing unto others as we would that they should do unto us
In behalf of the Society D. Brigham Sec
At the same meeting an Address was delivered by Rev. Moses Grosvenor of Marlboro'. The second President was A. W. Kingsbury. In 1840, A. P. Hemenway was chosen President, and an address was delivered in Dort's Hall by Rev. Mr. Brewster. No records arc found of 1841. July 4, 1842, an address was delivered in the Meeting House, by Rev. James Tisdale. Stephen Foster was chosen President, and A. P. Hemenway, Secretary. The next year, John Q. A. Ware was elected President, and Rev. James Tisdale, Secretary, which office he held as long as the Society continued its existence. In November, an anti-slavery lecture was given by Luns- ford Lane, an escaped slave. In 1844, Samuel Woodward became President, and a Report was presented, no copy of which is preserved. After the transaction of the annual business, " Con- siderable discussion followed particularly on the duty of the members in respect to voting for Slaveholders." In 1845, the same officers were continued, and it was voted to send the Secre- tary's Report to the " Granite Freeman," published at Concord, and it accordingly appeared in the number for July 24, of that year. In 1846, the annual meeting was adjourned from time to time, for lack of a quorum, until Oct. 21, which was the last meeting of the Society. The Secretary's Report states that " on Sabbath Evening Sept. 21, a Sermon was delivered on the subject of Anti-slavery by the Sec. from Pro. 31 : 8 & 9, attended by a goodly number of persons." After congratulating the Society on the political changes in the State, by which John P. Hale was elected to the U. S. Senate, the Report continues : ---
We have strong confidence that he will show himself an able and unflinching advocate for the principles of liberty, the unyielding friend of the slave.
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