USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 8
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I hereby certify, that this advertisement was posted up Pub- licly over my mantle tree, in my store, and stood till the day of sale.
Asa Kimball.
At the annual meeting in 1820, the town voted upon the formation of a new county, the town being within the limits of Hillsborough county. The vote of the town stood six in favor of the new county, and one hundred and forty-one against it. The legislature in 1821 formed a new county
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
out of Hillsborough and Rockingham, subject to a vote of the people. The project was defeated, the vote of this town being four in favor to ninety-nine against. The town at the same meeting voted unanimously in favor of dividing Hills- borough county for the purpose of registering deeds, etc.
1820. The town, at this date, had reached the highest number of people it had yet contained, and a larger num- ber than any census has since shown. The population this year was 1,900. There were 375 voters in town, yet the whole vote for electors this year, as will be seen by a refer- ence to the electoral table, was only 47. The number of scholars this year was 721. There were then ten school- districts in town. The proportion to each scholar of the school-money was $1.14. District No. I contained 106 scholars ; No. 2, 45 ; No. 3, 70; No. 4, 81 ; No. 5, 69; No. 6,41 ; No. 7, 72; No. 8, 162; No. 9, 34; No. 10, 44; and IO schooled in other towns. There were then 26 highway districts. The amount of taxes this year was $3,133.79. The state tax was $347.82 ; county tax, $211.22.
At the laying out of the town, as will be remembered, quite an amount of land was reserved, between the range- ways, for the building of roads. At the annual meeting this year the town instructed the selectmen to claim, in behalf of the town, all land so surveyed that had not been appro- priated to that purpose. This vote was reconsidered, as the town did not see its way clear to prosecute such a claim, and the same meeting
Voted to consult some eminent attorney upon the matter, and Hon. Joshua Darling was chosen as an Agent to do so.
1823. For some three years previous to this date, the town had appropriated a small sum yearly, to assist in edu- cating Thomas Brown (deaf mute) at Hartford, Conn., in the institution which had been established there for the education of deaf mutes. The legislature of this state, in 1822, appropriated a sum to be expended at that institution
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TOWN PAUPERS.
" in educating such Deaf Mutes from this state as might de- sire an education." This obviated the necessity of any further appropriation by the town for this purpose.
The town, at its annual meeting this year, passed the fol- lowing resolution :
Resolved : that the Town highly approve of the benevolent and laudable feelings that have actuated individuals in the es- tablishment of an institution calculated to enable those who are destitute of hearing and speaking, to improve their minds and qualify them to enjoy the pleasures of social intercourse, and perform the duties of common life ; and that we experience much satisfaction in witnessing the improvement made at said Institution by Thomas Brown, of Henniker, and have reason to commend the fidelity and zeal of those engaged in the manage- ment and superintendence of the same.
An act creating Merrimack county was approved July I, of this year; and this town, which had been within the limits of Hillsborough county since its settlement, a period of six- ty-two years, now became the south-western town of the new county. The last jurors to serve in Hillsborough county were "Lt. David Cogswell, Grand Juror, Lt. Joseph Wads- worth and Joseph Hussey Petit Jurors for the April term, 1823." The first jurors to serve in the new county were John Campbell, grand juror, and Jasper Temple and Capt. Israel Adams, petit jurors.
1824. The question as to how the "town's poor" could be best provided for, began to be strongly agitated. Up to this time the custom had been to sell the maintenance of the poor to the lowest bidder. This was thought by many to be a custom that ought to be abolished : some wished to purchase a farm where all could be provided for together. After much discussion, the matter was left discretionary with the selectmen to let the poor all to one person or not. The selectmen were chosen a committee to report to the next annual meeting the best means of supporting the poor. To this committee were added Artemas Rogers, Joshua Darling, and Robert M. Wallace.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
1825. Hopkinton had long been a half-shire town in Hills- borough county, and being desirous of still remaining one for the new county, the matter was submitted to the people for their acceptance or rejection. The vote of this town was sixty-four in favor to three against it. The town this year, for the first time,-
Voted to raise a winter tax, equal to the summer tax, for the purpose of breaking roads if needed.
1826. The 4th of July of this year marked a half century from the birth of the nation, and upon this day John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of its founders and presidents, died. Celebrations were held throughout the country in honor of the day, and this town, with its usual patriotism, noticed the day with an extensive celebration.
On the 28th of August, this year, a terrible storm of wind and rain occurred. An immense amount of damage was done throughout the state. This town suffered severely. The many little brooks became rivers, sweeping away the bridges over them, and swelling the Contoocook to a higher mark than ever known before or since. The roads were badly washed, and for some days all travel was suspended. The town held a meeting Sept. 14, and instructed the se- lectmen "to let out to the lowest bidder the repairing of the roads and bridges that had been damaged by this freshet."
1827. The first persons known as "overseers of the poor" were chosen this year. Oliver Noyes, Abel Connor, and Isaac Rice were chosen. A very stringent license law was passed this year by the legislature, under which the select- men licensed Asa Kimball, Page Eaton, Nathaniel Noyes, Greenleaf Noyes, Robert M. Wallace, Carlos H. Gould, and Levi Kemp, 3d, "to mix and sell all kinds of spirituous liq- uors." The license fee was from two to twenty dollars per year. Some of these men were traders, and some keepers of hotels. The lowest license fee, two dollars, was for any one wishing to sell upon muster-days or any holiday.
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LICENSED HOUSES.
1830. The town was now in a prosperous condition. The census of this year showed a little decrease in the popula- tion of the town, and a slight falling off of its number of scholars. Still, business of all kinds was good, and the town stood high in its reputation as a farming town, and for the enterprise of its inhabitants. Only three towns in the county equalled it in valuation.
1831. At the annual meeting this year the town adopted the following resolutions, presented by Hon. Joshua Darl- ing :
Resolved, That our Selectmen be authorized and directed not to approbate and approve of any more persons exercising the business of tavern keeping in this town than the public interest and accommodation requires.
Resolved, That the Selectmen be particularly cautious not to give a Tavern License to any person or persons whom they think have not the requisite qualifications, and who will not in good faith occupy their trust as tavern keepers according to law.
Resolved, That the Selectmen, who are placed as Custodians of the publick morals, shall exercise supervisory discretion and oversight over all licensed houses, and when, from undoubted testimony, any licensed person shall contravene the laws in re- gard to publick houses, and thereby endanger the peace, good order, and publick morals of the good citizens of this town, they shall revoke and disannul such license and cause the same to be published by written advertisement under their hands.
Resolved, That the Selectmen shall not License any store keeper, or any other person other than taverners, to sell any spirituous liquors, mixed or otherwise, in any less quantity than one pint, and that not to be drinked in their store or buildings.
Resolved, That the Selectmen shall not License any person for selling spirituous liquors, for less term than one year.
Resolved, That the Selectmen shall not license any Show- man for publick amusements, which tends, not only to drain our pockets, but corrupts and contaminates the morals of our youth, except such as exhibit the noble works of God, and are calculated to enlarge and ennoble the minds of our youth in the knowledge in natural history, or the acquisition of a taste for the fine arts.
1832. At the annual meeting of this year, Abel Connor,
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Joshua Darling, Isaac Rice, Nathaniel Chase, and Levi Colby were chosen a committee to take into consideration the best method of taking care of the town's poor, and re- port to the town as soon as convenient. They reported the same day that "in their opinion the town should adopt pre- paratory measures for the permanent support of their pau- pers as soon as may be convenient." A new committee was chosen, to carry this report into effect, which consisted of Joshua Darling, Artemas Rogers, Thomas Tucker, Abel Connor, and Moses Brown. This committee made a report to the town, at a meeting held Nov. 5, as follows :
The Committee appointed by the town at the last annual meeting, to consult upon measures for the more permanent and uniform provision for such as might call for public assistance in their support, recommend the purchase of a farm for that purpose.
We have endeavored to obtain correct information as to the result of this experiment in various places, where it has been tried, and have ascertained that it has been invariably success- ful in a great saving of public expense. The belief is now so generally prevalent that this mode of providing for the poor is attended with greater advantages than any other that has been practised, that very many towns are preparing to adopt it. In some places, the income of the farm has exceeded the pauper expenses, and, in all, the taxes for this object, have been re- duced nearly or quite one half. We see no reason to doubt that the result of the experiment in Henniker would be as favorable as it has been in other places ; and should laws be enacted in New Hampshire, that publick good seems to demand, to ren- der such establishments places for discipline for the dissolute and idle, in the several towns and districts where they may be located, and thus dry up the fountains of pauperism, the bene- fit would be much increased.
The Committee recommend, that the selectmen be authorized and required, to adopt such measures as may be proper to as- certain what farms can be purchased, and on what terms, and report to the town at its next annual meeting.
The selectmen made a report of their proceedings as to the matter of purchasing a town farm for the support of the poor. What their report was is not upon record. The town
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POOR-FARM.
Voted that it is inexpedient at present to purchase a farm on which to support town paupers.
1834. This was a year of unusual activity in the town. Three meeting-houses were built this year,-one by the Congregationalists, one by the Baptists, and one by the Methodists over the river. Besides these, the town repaired the town-house. During this year, the plans and purposes for building a stone bridge at the centre of the town, across the river, were discussed. [See Stone Bridge.]
1835. This year was noted for the building of the stone bridge. A committee was chosen to again take into consid- eration the matter of purchasing a " poor-farm."
1836. At the annual meeting this year, the committee ap- pointed, having in charge the subject of a poor-farm, made the following report :
That the Town of Henniker purchase a Farm for the support of their Poor during this season, to come into possession the ensuing fall.
That a committee of three be appointed to look out and pur- chase said farm. That the Ministerial and School Funds, amounting to about $2,100, be and is hereby appropriated in part paying for said Poor Farm, to be refunded back whenever said fund shall be called for by a majority of the town.
That the Literary fund, now amounting to about $1,250, be also taken and appropriated toward the residue of said Farm and furnishing and stocking the same, to be refunded whenever a majority of the legal voters in said Town shall demand the same.
March 9th 1836.
John Sawyer, Charles Barker, Abel Connor, Joshua Darling, Joshua Colby,
Committee.
A committee, consisting of John Sawyer, Abel Connor, and John Campbell, were appointed to purchase a farm at once, which they did, purchasing of John and Hezekiah Pur- ington, situated north-westerly from the present residence of Ezra Chase.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER,
Moses Brown was chosen agent, in 1837, to take charge of the poor and farm. At the annual meeting in March, 1838, he made his first report to the town as to the working of the farm. He reported favorably. It cost to maintain the poor $625.96, and the whole cost of maintaining the poor and interest upon the farm's cost, exceeded the per- sonal property at the end of the year $128.25, which was a little more than the interest of the cost of the town farm, showing good management. The town accepted the report, well pleased that they had made, as they thought, the best provision for the support of the town's poor.
1840. The following resolutions were passed at the an- nual meeting of this year :
Resolved, That no person, or persons, shall be permitted to sell any intoxicating liquors on the common belonging to the town of Henniker and adjoining their Meeting House, on any annual, or other Town Meeting days.
Resolved, That an agent, or agents be appointed, who shall prosecute any person, who after notice given by said agents, of the resolve aforesaid, shall persist in violation of the known will of the town, to sell intoxicating drinks on said com- mon.
Resolved, That said agent, or agents, be, and they are hereby authorized, and directed to prosecute any person or persons who shall sell ardent spirits and other intoxicating drinks in Henniker for and during the year to come, without a license and contrary to the laws of New Hampshire in that behalf, made and provided.
Daniel B. Alley and Abel Connor were chosen agents, in pursuance of the above resolutions.
This year is noted for the heated political campaign between the supporters of William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren for president, which was called the " hard cider and log cabin campaign." Both parties in this town were zealous in behalf of their respective candidates, and this was the first year in which "party lines" were drawn closely. The Whigs, in large numbers, attended a
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POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
mass meeting at Concord June 17. About the first of Octo_ ber a very large delegation went to Francestown to listen to addresses by Daniel Webster and others. This dele- gation was escorted by the "Claremont Brass Band," at that time one of the first in the state. On the 19th of October, the Democrats went, in large numbers, to Francestown, to listen to addresses from Levi Woodbury and others. This delegation was escorted by the Brass Band of this town, which had then gained an enviable notoriety for its fine music. On the 2d of November, the highest vote was thrown that was ever cast in the town up to that time.
These are the most important votes passed by the town up to this date, save some passed during the late civil war, which are accessible to all, and some others noted else- where.
CHAPTER VIII.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
EARLY EFFORTS FOR PREACHING-REV. JACOB RICE- HIS S SETTLEMENT -SALARY ESTABLISHED - CHURCH EMBODIED-ILLNESS OF MR. RICE-MR. RICE'S PROPO- SITION-MR. RICE DISMISSED-OTHER MINISTERS EM- PLOYED-EFFORTS TO SETTLE REV. MOSES SAWYER.
T will be remembered that one of the conditions upon which this township was granted was "that a meeting- house should be erected as soon as possible, and preaching maintained." In May, 1766, at a meeting of the proprietors of No. 6, holden at Londonderry, in accordance with the re- quest of several persons, inhabitants of No. 6, it was
Voted to raise half a Dollar on each right in town or town- ship, for to hire the preaching of the Gospel in No. Six for the present.
This was the first tax levied on the settlers, or proprietors of the township, for this purpose. Capt. Eliakim How was chosen to collect the money and hire a preacher.
In June, 1767, they
Voted to raise six shillings, lawful money, on each right for the supply of the Gospel for the year ensuing.
Whether or not the money raised under these two votes was collected, there is no record. The possibilities are that it was not, for in the summer of 1768 the settlers subscribed
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MINISTER'S SALARY.
a sum to hire a preacher, when Capt. How obtained the ser- vices of Rev. Jacob Rice, of Northborough, Mass., a relative of his, to preach to the settlers of the township. Mr. Rice came, and held meetings at the house of Silas Barns and Capt. Eliakim How, the latter being his boarding-place. So well pleased were the people with Mr. Rice, that they held a meeting Sept. 12, 1768, and extended an invitation to him to become their settled pastor in the work of the ministry, to which he returned an affirmative answer Oct. 20, 1768, provided the terms of his salary. yet to be determined upon, should be satisfactory to him.
At the outset it may be well to understand, that church and state were not yet separate. A minister was settled by the town, and every person taxed for his support ; but if any person dissented from settling this or that man as a preacher, he was relieved from paying any "minister tax," at his own request. Whatever he paid was free and voluntary ;- to be valid, however, his dissent must be given at the meeting at which such action was taken, and recorded as such upon the records of the town.
At a meeting held at the house of Silas Barns, Nov. 25, 1768, Mr. Rice's salary was established, which was as fol- lows :
The conditions of his settlement are, thirty pounds settle- ment, and thirty pounds salary for the first four years, and then thirty-five pounds for four years more, and then forty pounds a year till there is seventy families in town, and then to be fifty pounds yearly till there is ninety families in town, then we will give him sixty pounds yearly till there are a hundred and ten families in town ; then we will give him sixty-six pounds, thir- teen shillings, and four pence yearly, when six shillings and eight pence per ounce, and to the full of the sum proposed, ac- cording as silver what it is at present. Also, that the town al- low him two Sabbaths the first year after his ordination, to be absent from this town, and then one Sabbath yearly afterwards to be absent from his people during his ministry. Also, that Mr. Jacob Rice began his year to preach with this town Octo- ber 24th A. D. 1768, and whilst he is absent in the winter season his wages is to cease till he comes again.
8
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Jonas Bowman, William Eastman, and Thomas Stone dis- sented from this vote. This is substantially as we have giv- en upon a previous page. We give it again in connection with Mr. Rice's answer.
To this proposal, Mr. Rice returned the following :
Having duly taken into consideration the proposals which you made me on the 12th of September, instant; and taken the best advice I could, it appears that your propositions are not satisfactory, sufficient to afford me a comfortable and convenient maintenance whilst I remain your minister ; not that the work of the ministry ought to be taken up and prosecuted for the sake of gain, and I hope that it was not the motive that influenced me to that work, but a much nobler motive, even to the Glory of God, and advancing the happiness of souls; yet whilst I spend my time and abilities for your good, it is but reasonable and proper, that you should support me accordingly ; if you will fulfil what you proposed to me at the time above mentioned [here he repeats the offer made by the town] I shall, by divine grace assisting, approve myself a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and I ask prayers for me, that I may go on steadily and faithfully in the work of the ministry, and that you all may be benefitted by my labors amongst you.
This letter is dated October 20, 1769.
The only difference in the salary offered at the time the call was given, and the time the vote was taken to settle, lay in the fact that the people of the town proposed to make his salary as the rate silver then was, whereas Mr. Rice wished it to fluctuate as silver rose or fell, which was quite an im- portant item in moneyed transactions in those days. The town acceded to Mr. Rice's request ; and, at a meeting held December 16, 1768, Silas Barns, Ebenezer Harthorn, and Ebenezer Gile were
Voted for a Committee to agree and appoint with Mr. Jacob Rice for his Solum Ordination in this town.
The day for the ordination was fixed by selecting June 7, 1769. A council was convened for that purpose, but there is no record of whom it was composed, or of the manner in
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MINISTER'S SALARY.
which they were chosen. The church records testify, that before the ordination of Mr. Rice,-
A Church of Christ was formed in the presence, and by the directions of an ecclesiastical Council.
This church was composed of nine male members, viz., Rev. Jacob Rice, Silas Barns, Ebenezer Harthorn, Thomas Howlett, William Presbury, Timothy Ross, Josiah Ward, Charles Whitcomb, Ezekiel Smith, and six females (names not known),-in all, fifteen members. The council then proceeded to ordain Mr. Rice "as pastor over the church and the town." A church covenant was adopted, and signed by all the members, which continued in use in the church, without any addition or alteration, until April 1, 1835-more than sixty-five years. No creed or articles of faith were then adopted by the church, except so far as the covenant refers to the authority of the Scriptures, and makes them the sole guide.
All religious meetings were held in private houses, mostly at the house of Silas Barns and that of Capt. Eliakim How. No building had as yet been erected and set apart for a school or for public service.
Mr. Rice was yet unmarried, and boarded, while preaching as a candidate, at Capt. Eliakim How's, who gave him his board upon condition "that the town exchuse me from Min- ister rate this year," which the town did, by a vote at their annual meeting of the same year (1769).
A receipt from Mr. Rice reads as follows :
Henniker Nov ye 16th 1770. Received of Mr. Jonas Bowman and Deac William Presbury, nine pounds and twelve shillings, lawful money, being in full for what was my due for preaching before my settlement. Jacob Rice.
Henniker, Feby 23ยช 1773.
Then received of the Select Men of This Town in full of my Due for my salary of This town for the first, second, and third years of my ministry here. I say Rec'd by me.
Jacob Rice.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Up to this time (1773) Mr. Rice had preached constantly. In the spring of this year he experienced a very severe at- tack of the measles, which injured his eyesight and other- wise greatly impaired his health, so that he was able to oc- cupy the pulpit only a portion of the time.
At a meeting of the town, held June 29, 1773, Eliakim How, Alexander Patterson, and Jacob Whitcomb were ap- pointed a committee "to go and agree with Mr. Scales to preach with us two days." This was the Rev. James Scales, the builder of the first cabin in this town, and who was yet residing in Hopkinton.
In November, 1773, the town
Voted to take away Mr. Rices salary, that part of it that he was detained from his public preaching.
Mr. Rice sent the following reply :
Henniker, Nov. 17th 1773.
By reason of bodily infirmities, I was detained from my pub- lick labors to the people of my charge for a considerable part of the last year, and as they have desired, I would drop that part of my salary that they were destitute of preaching, so that I consent to resign that part of it that they assessed and or- dered to be paid to me for the past year that they were Des- titute of Preaching. Jacob Rice.
Henniker Feby 28th 1774.
Received of Mr. William Powers Thirty pounds in full of what was my due from the Town for the fourth year of my ministry.
Jacob Rice.
Mr. Rice continued to preach from time to time, as his health permitted, which was only a portion of the time. Some of the people began to be uneasy because he was un- able to occupy the pulpit the entire time, and hard feelings sprang up between him and a portion of his church and the town. Mr. Rice was a devoted preacher, but somewhat sensitive; and the proof is strong that he was more sinned against than sinning. Had he been met in a better spirit by the town, it is highly probable that the bickerings which
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