USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Keene > History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city > Part 18
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The faith of the people in their provincial congress be- gan to wane; those congresses lost confidence in themselves and in their power and ability to provide a proper govern- ment for the people; and for a time that of New Hamp- shire declined to act. In October, her delegates in the Con- tinental congress asked that New Hampshire be allowed to institute a civil government, and on the 3d of November, 1775, leave was granted to call a convention of representa- tives with power to "Establish such a Form of Govern- ment as in their Judgement will best Produce the Happiness of the People, & most Effectually Secure Peace and good order in the Province During the Continuance of the Present Dispute between Great Britain & the Colonies."
The convention was called, each town being allowed one representative except the smaller ones, which were classed in groups of two or more, and Amherst, Chester, Dover, Exeter and Londonderry, which were allowed two each, and Portsmouth three. Among other rules for its guidance it was provided: "That every Legal Inhabitant Paying Taxes shall be a voter; That every Person Elected shall have a Real Estate in this Colony of the value of Two Hundred Pounds lawful money; That no person be allowed a seat in congress who shall by themselves, or any Person at their Desire Treat with Liquors &c any Electors with an apparent view of gaining their Votes, or by Treating after an Election on that Account." That con- vention met on the 21st of December and was called the Fifth Provincial congress. Keene was represented by Ma- jor Timothy Ellis.
The Fourth Provincial congress had dissolved on the 15th of November, 1775, after passing a resolution recom- mending the people to continue in their usual methods of conducting their town affairs under the former laws, rais- ing and collecting taxes and sustaining the action of their selectmen, constables and other officers. It had been in session since the 17th of May and had transacted a large amount of very important business, as already stated, without constitutional law, but sustained by the approval of the people. Major Timothy Ellis represented Keene and Surry in that congress, was in attendance forty days, and
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
drew £10 for attendance and £5 for 705 miles travel for both towns.
No judicial courts were held in Cheshire county from 1774 to 1778, and the towns, finding themselves under no general government, instituted governments of their own and enacted laws for the management of their town affairs. Warrants for town meetings were headed simply, Cheshire, ss., and were called by the town clerk upon the order of the selectmen.
A spirited town meeting was held in Keene on the 7th of December, 1775, Thomas Baker, moderator, and Silas Cooke, clerk pro. tem. One of the articles in the warrant was, "to see if it be the mind of the town, that the names of those persons, who buy, sell, or make use of bohea tea, be advertised in the public prints." That article passed in the negative; but "Maj Ellis John Houghton Eliphalet Briggs Jun. Joseph Blake and Daniel Kingsbury" were chosen "a Committee of Inspection to see that the Resolves of the Continental Congress be complied with." The meet- ing then "unanimously adopted the following Resolves, which may be termed the Statute Law of Keene."
"Whereas, by the unhappy disputes now subsisting between Great Britain and the American Colonies, the laws of several of them have been entirely subverted, or wholly neglected, to the great detriment of society, and of individ- uals, whereby many disorderly persons, taking undue advan- tage of the times, as a cloak to put their revengeful designs in execution, do wickedly and maliciously threaten to abuse and destroy the persons and property of many of the good and wholesome inhabitants of the land, and the Executive power being thrown by; and the Congresses, neither Conti- nental or Provincial, have, as yet, found out, or published, any method or system of government, for the security of our persons or property; and until such a system as they in their wisdom shall see fit, or some other, be proposed,-
"We, the inhabitants of the town of Keene, in the county of Cheshire, and province of New-Hampshire, legally convened, being desirous of order and good government, and for the security of our lives, persons and property, do pass the following Resolves :
"1st. It is Resolved, that a committee of three good and steady men of the town, be chosen to act upon, and a proper officer appointed, to prosecute the Resolves here- after mentioned.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
"2d. Whereas, profane cursing and swearing are highly provoking to Almighty God, and offensive to every true Christian, which we fear, if not discountenanced, will pro- voke the Divine Majesty to bring heavy judgments upon us, and still heavier, deliver us up to the desire of our enemies; to prevent cursing and swearing, be it Resolved, that if any person, or persons, shall profanely curse or swear, and shall be thereof convicted, before the committee, by sufficient witnesses, or by confession of the party, every such offender shall forfeit and pay to the committee, for the use of the poor of said town, a sum not exceeding three shillings, nor less than one; according to the repeat- edness of the offense; and pay cost of prosecution, which cost shall be ascertained by the committee, before whom the person shall be convicted; and in case any person, convicted as aforesaid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he, she or they shall be immedi- ately committed to the common gaol, not exceeding ten days, nor less than three, for said forfeiture, and until he pay all just costs.
"3d. Whereas, it is highly necessary that every per- son, of able body, should betake himself to some honest calling, and not misspend their time in loitering and tip- pling, in licensed houses, or elsewhere, in this town; to prevent which,
"Be it Resolved, that if any person or persons, fit and able to work, shall refuse so to do, but loiter and mis- spend his or their time, wander from place to place, or otherwise misorder themselves, by drinking or tippling in any of the licensed houses, or elsewhere, in this town, after nine o'clock at night, or continue in any of the afore- said houses above the space of one hour, unless on neces- sary business, all such persons, being convicted of any of the aforesaid articles, before said committee, by sufficient witnesses, shall, for every such offense, forfeit and pay to the said committee, for the use of the poor of said town, the sum of two shillings, and all just costs of trial, which shall be adjudged by said committee, and in case any person, convicted as aforesaid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he or they, shall be committed to the common gaol, there to remain not ex- ceeding ten days, nor less than three days, for said for- feiture, and until he pay all just costs.
"4th. Whereas, personal abuse tends to promote ill blood and discord among society, to prevent which, be it Resolved, that if any person or persons shall smite, or strike, or threaten to abuse, or destroy, the person or property of another, he or they, so offending, shall, for the
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
first offense, pay to the said committee, for the use of the poor of said town, the sum of five shillings, and costs of prosecution, and double that sum for the second offense; and for the third, or any after offense, shall be imprisoned, or publicly whipt, according to the judgment of the com- mittee, before whom they are convicted; and in case any person, being convicted as aforesaid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he or they shall be committed to the common gaol, there to remain, not exceeding ten days, nor less than four, for said for- feiture, and until he pay all just costs.
"5th. Further, be it Resolved, that if any person, or persons, shall presume to purchase, or bring into this town, any teas, of what sort soever, until the minds of the Con- gress, respecting that article shall be fully known, shall, forthwith, deliver up such teas to one or more of the com- mittee, to be stored by them and kept for the owner, until the minds of the Congress be known respecting that mat- ter; and in case any person shall refuse to deliver up said teas, the committee have power to imprison him until he does.
"6th. And for the better execution of all and every the foregoing articles, it is Resolved, that all and each of the said committee shall have full power and authority to bring before them any of the inhabitants of this town, or any person residing in said town, that shall offend in any of the foregoing resolves, and upon his or their own views, or other sufficient conviction of any such offense, to im- pose the fine and penalty for the same, and to commit the offender until it be satisfied.
"7th. It is likewise Resolved, that the officer appointed shall have power and authority to carry any person, that shall be found trespassing in any of the foregoing partic- ulars, before said committee for trial, and if need be, may command aid and assistance in discharging his trust; and any person refusing to give aid or assistance, as aforesaid, he or they shall forfeit the sum of three shillings for every offence, and have their names inserted in the public Ga- zette, as unfriendly to good order.
"And all masters and heads of families, in this town, are hereby directed to take effectual care that their chil- dren, servants, and others under their immediate govern- ment, do no trespass, in any of the foregoing particulars. "Chose Thomas Baker, Eliphalet Briggs, and Dan Guild, as a committee to judge, determine, and act upon said Resolves, and put them in execution, and chose Elijah Blake officer for the purpose mentioned in said Resolves." (Annals, pages 42-44.)
LUTHER NURSE HOUSE. BUILT 1773.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
"The town voted, 37 to 27, to give Mr. John Remele a call to settle as a minister. They offered him £133 6s. 8d. as a settlement, and 75 pounds as a salary. His reply was, 'that the town had offered generously enough for his support, but he could not think it his duty to settle in any place, where there was so much opposition.'
"It is well remembered that, in the year of the battle of Bunker Hill, Elisha Briggs projected, and Samuel Bas- sett and Aaron Willson, by the aid of a bee, excavated, the canal from the pond on West-street to a point on the river about a hundred rods below. The North end of the canal was a few rods North of the road, the pond not then extending as far South as now. By shortening the dis- tance, a sufficient fall was obtained to carry a grist-mill and saw-mill. These mills1 and the dam were built by Elisha Briggs. The grist mill was placed two or three rods North of the road as it now runs, and nearly North of the present grist-mill; the saw mill was placed where the factory now stands; and the dam where it now is. The mills were sold to Nathan Blake, and were, for some time, known as Blake's Mills. Briggs about this time, projected and surveyed the canal, conducting the waters of White Brook into Ash Swamp Brook."
(Annals,, pages 44-45.)
Tradition states, no doubt correctly, that the barn- still standing-on the "Luther Nurse place" on Beech hill, was raised on the day that the battle of Bunker Hill was fought.
In August the provincial congress had recommended to "the Select Men of the several Towns, Parishes and other Places in this Colony, to take an exact Number of the Inhabitants of their respective Districts," in classes, with the number of firearms and pounds of powder on hand, and the number of firearms needed, and that an ac- count of the whole, made under oath, "be returned to the Committee of Safety for this Colony."
A complete return was made and Keene presented the following :
"Province of New Hampshire Keene Octbr 25 1775 in Complyence to a Recommend from the Honorable Provin- tial Congress of August 25, 1775 We here Transmitt a True account of the Number of Souls, fire arms gun Pow- der &c in the town of Keen.
1 A piece of the old water-wheel put in by Elisha Briggs may still be seen at Faulkner & Colony's mills.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
Males under 16 years of age. 174
Males from 16 years to 50, not in the army .... 140
All Males above 50 years of age. 24
Persons in the army. 31
All females. 387
7561
fire arms
72
Gun Powder Privit Stock 22 1b
Guns wanting 92
Town Stock of Powder.
90 1b
N. B. No Negroes nor Slaves 2 for life
Benja Osgood \ Tho' Baker
Selectmen
of Keene."
1 Swanzey returned 647; Walpole, 658; Winchester, 728; Westmoreland, 758; Richmond, 860; Chesterfield, 1,059; Concord, 1,052; Exeter, 1,741; Ports- mouth, 4,590; and the colony of New Hampshire, 82,200.
2 Portsmouth returned 140 slaves, Exeter 38, Somersworth 80, Londonderry 29, Dover 26, Greenland 21, Concord 14, Hanover 10, Peterboro 8, Walpole and Winchester 2 each, Dublin 1. In the colony there were upwards of 600, and in New England, 16,000.
·
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CHAPTER VIII. REVOLUTIONARY WAR-CONTINUED. 1776-1777.
On the 5th of January, 1776, the Provincial congress took up the matter of establishing a temporary civil gov- ernment for the colony, and "Resolved That this Congress Assume the Name, Power & Authority of a house of Rep- resentatives or Assembly for the Colony of New Hamp- shire." A council of twelve members was provided for, to be elected in the first instance by that house, afterwards by the people. Samuel Ashley of Winchester and Benjamin Giles of Newport were chosen for Cheshire county. In de- fault of a governor, the two houses assumed the executive duties during the session, and invested the committee of safety with that power during the recess. Precepts for elections were to be issued in the name of the council and assembly, signed by the president of the council and the speaker of the house. Mesech Weare was chosen president of the council and chairman of the committee of safety, and thus became acting governor. He was also appointed chief justice of the superior court of judicature.
On the 12th of April that committee of safety sent to the selectmen of each town the "ASSOCIATION TEST," which is given in the Annals of Keene as follows:
To the Selectmen of Keene.
COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY,
April 12th, 1776.
In order to carry the underwritten RESOLVE of the Hon'ble Congress into Execution, You are requested to de- sire all Males above Twenty-One Years of Age, (Lunaticks, Idiots, and Negroes excepted.) to sign to the DECLARA- TION on this paper; and when so done to make return hereof, together with the Name or Names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
M. WEARE, Chairman.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
IN CONGRESS, MARCH 14th, 1776.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several As- semblies, Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed, within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of AMERICA, Or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to de- fend by ARMS the United Colonies, against the Hostile Attempts of the British Fleets and Armies.
Extract from the Minutes,
(COPY.) CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'y.
In consequence of the above Resolution, of the Hon. Continental CONGRESS, and to show our Determination in joining our American Brethren, in defending the Lives, Liberties and Properties of the Inhabitants of the UNITED COLONIES:
We the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with ARMS oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American COLONIES.
Thomas Frink,
Nathan Blake, Eliphalet Briggs, Jr., Josiah Richardson,
Joseph Blake,
Daniel Kingsbury, Dan Guild, Eli Metcalf,
Ichabod Fisher,
Thomas Wilder,
Timothy Ellis, Gideon Tiffany, Jesse Hall,
Michael Metcalf,
Jesse Clark,
Gideon Ellis, Jr., David Nims, Jr., Abraham Wheeler, William Ellis, Joshua Osgood, Nathaniel Kingsbury, Reuben Daniels, Reuben Partridge, Cephas Clark, Ebenezer Carpenter, Timothy Ellis, Jr., Eliakim Nims, Caleb Ellis, Joseph Willson, Davis Howlett, Timothy Ellis, ye 3d, Benjamin Willis,
Isaac Wyman, David Foster, Ephraim Dorman, Seth Heaton, Andrew Balch,
Gideon Ellis,
Thomas Baker,
Benjamin Archer,
Joseph Ellis,
John Le Bourveau,
David Foster, Jr., Aaron Gray, Jr., John Daniels, Samuel Daniels,
Jedediah Carpenter,
William Goodenough,
Adin Holbrook, Hezekiah Man, Jeremiah Stiles, Samuel Hall, Jonathan Archer, Abraham Pond, Silas French, Eliphalet Carpenter, Benjamin Willard, Jacob Town,
John Day, Peter Rice, Isaac Esty,
Jonathan Dwinell, Thomas Dwinell, John Connolly, Abijah Wilder,
Simeon Washburn, Zadoc Nims, Isaac Clark, Bartholomew Grimes, David Willson, Benjamin Balch, Ebenezer Day, John Dickson, Naboth Bettison, Abraham Wheeler, Jr., James Wright, John Houghton, Silas Cook, Nathan Blake, Jr., Nathan Rugg, Stephen Larrabee, Robert Spencer, Ebenezer Cook, Joshua Ellis, Jotham Metcalf, Moses Marsh, Simeon Clark, Jr., Benjamin Ellis,
David Nims, Elisha Briggs, Benjamin Archer, Jr., Samuel Wood, Eliphalet Briggs, Nathaniel Briggs, Elijah Blake, Uriah Willson,
-
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Samuel Chapman, John Balch, Abijah Metcalf, Henry Ellis, Luther Bragg, Seth Heaton, Jr., Josiah Ellis, Benjamin Osgood, Ebenezer Newton, Daniel Willson, Ezra Harvey, David Harris, Obadiah Blake, Jr.,
Asahel Blake, Samuel Bassett, Jedediah Wellman, Jonathan Heaton, Simeon Ellis, Benjamin Ellis, James Crossfield, Joseph Ellis, Jr., Thomas Baker, Jr., Thomas Wells, Achilles Mansfield, Royal Blake, William Gray,
Zadoc Wheeler, Daniel Snow, William Nelson, Israel Houghton, William Woods, Asaph Nichols, Elisha Ellis, Thomas Fields, Michael Sprought, Benjamin Tiffany, James Eddy.
Agreeably to the within direction, we have requested all in this Town to sign, as herein set forth; and hereto annexed the names of all those who Refuse to sign the within Declaration, viz:
Maj. Josiah Willard, John White, Lt. Benjamin Hall, Dr. Josiah Pomeroy, Eleazer Sanger, Abner Sanger, Samuel Wadsworth, Thomas Cutter, James Perkins,
Benjamin Osgood, Jr.' John Swan, James Hunt.
Robert Gilman,
-
ELIPHALET BRIGGS, JR., JOSIAH RICHARDSON, JOSEPH BLAKE, DANIEL KINGSBURY, - Selectmen of the Town of Keene.
Only 773 persons in the colony, then numbering 80,000 inhabitants, refused to sign; but in most cases those were the wealthy and influential men.
The legislature called upon the towns for recommenda- tions of persons for justices of the peace. On the 23d of April, Keene voted unanimously to recommend Col. Isaac Wyman, and he was appointed on the 11th of June.
In the spring and summer of 1775, the Indians had threatened the Connecticut valley, and Capt. Timothy Bedel of Bath had been authorized to raise a company of rangers for its protection. The company was afterwards increased to a battalion and later to a regiment. Bedel was appointed colonel, with orders to join the northern army. In February, John Griggs, as second lieutenant, and Elisha Willis, Benjamin Hall and Joseph Gray as privates, all from Stiles' disbanded company, and William Hard- wick, also of Keene, enlisted in the company of Capt. Jason Wait of Alstead, in Bedel's regiment.
Early in March, Washington seized Dorchester Heights
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
and compelled the British to evacuate Boston. They left the city on the 17th, and on the 18th, Washington "started five of his best regiments," of which Stark's was one, on their march to New York. On the 27th, Sullivan followed with the remainder of his brigade; and soon after his arrival was sent, with all his New Hampshire regiments and some others, to reinforce the army of the North, which was slowly retreating from Quebec. Small pox had broken out in that army and it was suffering terribly from that disease. A part of Bedel's regiment was captured at a place called "The Cedars." Upon the death of Gen. Thomas, from small pox, the command of that army devolved upon Gen. Sullivan. He continued to retire slowly upon Crown Point and Ticonderoga. The British army that opposed him was increased, and the approach of so large a force caused great alarm throughout New England, particularly as bands of Indians now hovered on our frontiers and threatened to renew their barbarous atrocities.
Warnings and appeals for protection poured in upon the legislature. Upon a requisition of the Continental congress the New Hampshire legislature, on the 14th of June, resolved: "That there be forthwith raised and equipped in this Colony a Regiment of seven hundred and fifty men including officers-and that each non-commis- sioned officer and soldier receive a bounty of Six Pounds" -afterward changed to $20 and one month's advance pay. On the 20th, Col. Isaac Wyman of Keene was appointed to the command of that regiment. It consisted of nine companies, was destined for service in the northern army, and its rendezvous was Haverhill, on the Connecticut river. Joseph Senter of Moultonborough was appointed lieutenant colonel; Stephen Peabody of Amherst, major; Dr. Calvin Frink of Swanzey, son-in-law of Col. Wyman, surgeon; and Isaac Temple of Alstead, adjutant.
Col. Wyman's captains were:
1. William Harper of Brentwood.
2. William Stilson, Hopkinton.
3. James Shepard, Canterbury.
4. John Drew, Barrington.
5. Samuel Wetherbee, Charlestown.
6. Joseph Dearborn, Chester.
7. Joseph Chandler, Epping.
8. Joseph Parker, New Ipswich.
9. William Barron, Merrimack.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
John Kilburn, of Gilsum, was first lieutenant and Davis Howlett, of Keene, second lieutenant under Capt. Wetherbee; and sixteen men from Keene enlisted with Lieutenant Howlett in that company, namely, Sergeants Ebenezer Carpenter and Isaac Griswold; Corporal Robert Worsley; and Privates William Stanwood, Aaron Willson, Isaac Clark, John Swan, John (P.) Blake, Thomas Wilder, James Hall, Jesse Wheeler, Samuel Osgood, Joshua Ellis, Eliakim Nims, Joseph Thatcher1 and Jonathan Heaton.1
On the 11th of July, the committee of safety sent Col. Wyman his commission and urged him to push forward to Crown Point with as little delay as possible. That Col. Wyman was held in high esteem is evident from the fact that he was the choice of the legislature in preference to several other strong candidates who were urged for the place.
Some of the men were transferred from the service on the New Hampshire coast, in which they had previously enlisted. Capt. Barron moved his company from Merri- mack, July 22, to Millikin's tavern in Wilton, where re- cruits joined him, and the next day they marched to Dub- lin. On the 25th, they marched through Keene to Wal- pole, and on the 26th reached No. 4, where they met other companies of the regiment, and other troops from Massa- chusetts moving to the front. William Hardwick of Keene was a member of Capt. Barron's company.
Col. Wyman collected his regiment at Charlestown and marched thence with his nine companies, on the 1st of August, to join the army at Crown Point, following the road made in the last French and Indian war, and encamp- ing that night at Springfield, Vt. On the 6th they reached Skeensboro (Whitehall), where the regiment was stationed for a time, to avoid the contagion of small pox with which the northern army was still sorely afflicted. Dysentery and "putrid fever" had also broken out among those troops, and "it was computed, that of the (three veteran) New Hampshire regiments, nearly one-third part died this year from sickness." (Belknap's History of New Hampshire,
1 Heaton is on the roll as from Surry, but he belonged to the militia com- pany here in 1778, and signed the "Association Test" in 1776 as a citizen of Keene. Thatcher appears to have been transferred from Wingate's regiment to Wyman's.
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HISTORY OF KEENE.
vol. 2, page 410.) Among them was young Joseph Gray of Keene. Thomas Wilder of Wetherbee's company, Wyman's regiment, died of small pox before the recruits left Keene. Col. James Reed suffered so severely from sickness that he became totally blind and was compelled to retire from the service at the close of that year. He was a brave and capa- ble officer and congress promoted him to be brigadier gen- eral. Being loath to quit the service he remained with his troops through the summer and autumn, and commanded a brigade for a short time at Ticonderoga.1 Major Alex- ander Scammel, promoted to colonel, succeeded to the com- mand of his regiment, with Andrew Colburn, of Marlboro, lieutenant colonel, and Capt. Henry Dearborn promoted to major.
On the 9th of August, Col. Wyman left Skeensboro with his regiment to "Joyn Gen. Reed's Brigade" at Ticon- deroga, and was stationed at Fort Independence.
The fear of an Indian raid increased now that our army had withdrawn from Canada, and the people of Keene and all through the Connecticut valley were in a state of alarm lest the frightful scenes of former years should be repeated. Gen. Sullivan, before he was superseded by Gen. Gates, had sent Col. Wait with 200 men to Onion river to protect our frontier; and the legislature authorized the raising of three companies of fifty men each from the west- ern part of the colony for the same purpose.
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