USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 7
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
of a British officer, much against the will of her parents. The officer being ordered to America with his regiment, invited her to accompany him, which she did, expecting to be married upon their arrival in America; but in this, for some reason unknown to us, she was disappointed, and instead of being married became an article of merchandise among the soldiers. She followed the fortunes of the army until the surrender of Burgoyne, when Fish having made up his mind to desert, bought her of a comrade for a gallon of rum. and brought her to Marlborough where they were married. They resided in the east part of the town on what is now called the Alger place, living in what was called the "Old Tomb," being a dug-out, in a knoll near where the Hunt road intersected with the one leading to the Phinehas Farrar place. It is quite likely he constructed this rude habitation, as it is not known that any one had resided there before him.
Some years after the war was over, he made a journey to Saratoga to secure the buried gun : he probed about with a bar where he supposed it was, but finally came away without accomplishing his object. He then applied to a conjurer for information, and being informed "that he struck the muzzle of the gun with his iron bar," he started again about 1804 or 1805, accompanied with Luther Tenney and Tisdale Howard; but, after searching for some days, they gave up the project without finding the gun.
In his intercourse with his neighbors, it is said, he was not always conciliatory, and did not lose his fighting qualities while in the army.
The latter part of his life he lived on the north side of the road, about half way between the place where William C. Mason now resides and the farm formerly owned by Noah Porter. For many years he was intemperate, and died leaving no descendants. He died about 1824 or 1825; his wife having died, October 3, 1821.
CHAPTER IV.
ADOPTION OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION. - WAR OF 1812 .- INCORPORATION OF THE TOWNS OF ROXBURY AND TROY.
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION DRAWN UP. - REJECTION OF THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT BY THE TOWN. - REJECTION OF THE SECOND PLAN OF GOVERNMENT, -AMENDMENTS OFFERED. - WAR DECLARED AGAINST ENGLAND. - AMMUNITION PURCHASED BY THE TOWN. - MEN CALLED FOR. - THE DRAFT. - INSPECTION OF THE MILITIA BY COL. PRESCOTT. - A SHAM FIGHT. - ROXBURY SET OFF. - TROY INCORPORATED.
Soox after the Declaration of Independence, the Conti- mental Congress believing that success must eventually crown their efforts, commenced drawing up various articles of confederation and perpetual union between the States.
Such articles were obviously necessary, in order that the line of distinction between the powers of the respective States and of Congress should be exactly defined. In this way only, could the peace and harmony of the Union be preserved. Accordingly, such articles were digested, and at the sitting of Congress, October 4, 1776, were signed by all the members, and copies immediately sent to the respective assemblies of each State, and by them sent to each town in the State for approval.
These articles of confederation were brought before the citizens of Marlborough at a meeting called for that purpose, February 6, 1778. At this meeting, Lieut. Oliver Wright was moderator, and it was "voted to accept all the articles of confederation except the eighth." At the same meeting it was voted to give Benjamin Tucker who was representa- tive to the General Assembly, the following instructions : - "Voted, that all the articles of Confederation Be Concurd
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
with Except the Eighth, Which Wee Look upon that Every Residant in the united States, Should Bare their Equil pro- portion according to what thay poses, Both in Real and personal Estate. Voted, that there Be a free and Ful Rrep- resentation, to Lay a Lasting, just and Righteous Sistim of government in this State."
A convention for the above purpose assembled at Concord, June 10, 1778. We find no record of any delegate being sent from this town to attend that convention. From the following record of a town meeting held September 2, 1779, it appears that the convention prepared and sent abroad a system of government. "Voted not to Except of the Declaration of Rites and plan of government ; the Return of Said Vote, forty fore Voters : forty three votes for not Receiving Sd plan, and one for Receiving Said plan." It was rejected by a majority of the votes in the State.
Another convention was called June, 1781, which held nine sessions before a plan was devised that was wholly accepted, not closing until October, 1783. In 1782, the convention formed a plan of government, which they sent to every town, desiring the people to act upon it, and then return it. At a town meeting held November 29, 1782, this constitution having been read. it was voted not to accept it ; and Alexander Parkman, David Wheeler, Joseph Follet. Samuel Soper, Moses Tucker, Jedediah Tayntor, and James Brewer, were chosen a committee to draw up an amendment to lay before the town. The meeting was then adjourned for a week; when, having met according to adjournment. they voted to accept the amendments as drawn up by the committee, which were as follows : -
In the 36 artiele in the Bill of Rights concerning pensions, it is the opinion of the inhabitants of this town, that no pensions Be allowed to any person, Excepting partienlar persons meeting with Extraordinary misfortune, as Loss of Limbs and the Like, 2'ly, that all Representatives, their wages for their attendanec, as well as travel to the general assem- bly, be paid at the Expence of the State, 3.ly, that it is the opinion of Sa town that where the Constitution limits any time as two, seven, or any Number of years, for any person to Be an inhabitant in the State to attain to office; that any person ought to be Elected without that
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WAR OF 1812.
Restraint, and that the Electors ought in all Reason to be Sole judges of such Elections. 4.1y and that the governor & Counsil have power in the recess of the General Court, to adjourn thirty Days, 5thly and that the governor and Counsil have power to put the inhabitants of this State into marshal array upon any sudden Emergency, but not to keep them longer than thirty Days without order from the general Court : 6thly all Judicial officers to be appointed by the general Court, and Commissioned by the Governor, Except Justices of the peace, Captains and Subaltern of Company, to be Chosen and appointed by inhabitants of Each town, and to be Commissioned as aforesaid, 7thly and it is the opinion of the inhabitants of Said town, that the town Clark be appointed Rejerstor of Deeds of Land Lying in their Respective towns, and in Such proceeding would save Emense Cost, Sthly and it is further the opinion of Sd town that the State Treasurer and Commisery General, be under Sufficient Bonds for the execution of their trust.
The new plan of government was not finished until October, 1783, and was not declared to be the Constitution of New Hampshire until June, 1784.
WAR OF 1812.
Although generally spoken of as the war of 1812, it was not till June, 1814, that Congress passed a bill declaring war against Great Britain, which soon after received the signa- ture of the President. The principal grounds for war, as set forth in a message of the President to Congress a short time previous, were summarily : the impressment of Ameri- can seamen by the British ; the blockade of her enemies' ports, supported by no adequate- force, in consequence of which the American commerce had been plundered in every sea, and the great staples of the country cut off from the legitimate markets. On these grounds President Madison urged the declaration of war.
Preparations were immediately made for hostilities; and each town provided itself with a stock of ammunition. Marlborough following the example of her neighbors in this respect, called a meeting August 31, at which time it was voted to purchase one hundred pounds of powder, two
12
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
hundred pounds of lead, and four hundred flints. What the town expected to do with such a quantity of ammunition, the record does not state: certain it is that it was never used in defending her territory against the invasion of the enemy, but was stored in the attic of the old meeting-house, where it remained until after peace was declared, when it was divided equally among the several voters in town.
May 29, 1812, his Excellency, John Langdon, issued orders for detailing three thousand five hundred men from the militia of this State to be organized into companies, battalions, and regiments ; the same to be armed and equipped for actual service, and to be ready to march at the shortest notice. The orders were executed at the annual training, the last Wednesday in June. A draft, however, was not made, because a sufficient number of volunteers were accepted to fill the quota. When the Marlborough Light Infantry (which was the first organized company in the twelfth regiment) was called upon for volunteers, the whole company responded to the call; and when Major Wiswall who then commanded the company, said that out of the whole number eight must go, the right number immediately came forward; and when they were notified that they must be ready to take the field at a moment's notice, one man, whose clothes were very clean, said he was ready, only his clothes needed mending : the man next to him, whose uniform was somewhat soiled, answered that he was ready, only he wanted a " grist in his gun." These men were never called into the field; and no one from this town entered the service until 1814, when the Governor called for troops to garrison the forts at Portsmouth. To fill this quota, a draft was made on training day about the twentieth of September; and the following persons were either drafted or hired as sub- stitutes : -
Etheel Parmenter, Sergt. Henry H. Cutler.
Benjamin Fife. Nathan D. Barker.
Abner Fairbanks.
These men were all on the road towards Portsmouth early
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WAR OF 1812.
the next morning. They were attached to Capt. Oliver Warren's company, and served three months.
A week later, when another draft was ordered, the select- men came forward, and offered to make up their wages to fifteen dollars per month; and a sufficient number imme- diately volunteered for the service. Their names were : -
Moses Perkins. Stephen White.
Darius Williams.
Ezekiel White.
Aaron Hodgkins. Levi Gates, Jr.
These men were in Capt. Silas Call's company, and served about six weeks, when they were discharged, and returned home.
After the second quota of troops had been despatched to Portsmouth, as a very active campaign was expected the next year, Col. Prescott, probably at the request of the Governor of the State, ordered a military training in every town belonging to his regiment. He and Adjutant Luke Howe, of Jaffrey, inspected every company in these towns, to see if they were lawfully and properly equipped in order to make them efficient soldiers in case they were ordered to take the field.
Sufficient notice having been given for a lawful training, to show the interest the people in Marlborough felt in defence of their rights, a company of old men came out in very respectable numbers, and were organized. They made choice of Col. Joseph Frost for Captain, Major John Wiswall for Lieutenant, and Capt. Shubael Stone for Ensign, with Lieut. Jonathan Frost for Orderly Sergeant.
A company of Indians had also been organized under the leadership of Luke Blodgett as Chief, which was encamped in the woods between the common and the Meeting-house Pond.
After the companies had been inspected by the field officers, the troops were formed into a hollow square, and Adjutant Howe made a famous military speech which was highly appreciated by all present.
After the field officers had retired, preparations having
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
been previously made for a sham fight, the troops were dis- posed of in the following manner. The light infantry, commanded by Capt. Asa Frost, and the Indians, represented the British army which had concentrated on our borders and used the rifle and tomahawk upon our defenceless settle- ments. The Indians under Blodgett retained their position in the woods, while the light infantry posted themselves at the north-west corner of the woods, near the north-east corner of the cemetery.
The company of infantry under command of Capt. E. K. Frost, and the seniors under Col. Joseph Frost, were to represent the United States army, and were disposed of as follows: Capt. E. K. Frost with his company remained on parade, while Col. Joseph Frost with his command (in which was Deacon Tucker who was on duty with his three-cornered hat, small clothes, and the old hunting gun) was posted at the east side of the woods near the Cummings pasture.
The action was commenced by a party of Indians falling upon and scalping John Rodgers, an old Revolutionary soldier ; while another party fired a few shots from behind the horse-sheds at E. K. Frost's men on parade. A ser- geant's guard was ordered to dislodge the Indians, but in so doing were obliged to retreat with the loss of one man (Samuel Goodnough), who was taken prisoner, dragged off to the woods, and condemned to be burned at the stake. He was tied to a tree, and the fire was lighted ; but, before they had accomplished their object, Col. Frost's men appeared, and with a very heavy discharge drove the Indians back on the light infantry, and released him from his perilous situa- tion. At this juncture Col. Frost's men were joined by Capt. E. K. Frost's company. The light infantry coming up to the support of their Indian allies, the two companies, after a severe fight, retreated towards the church, and were pursued by the light troops and Indians for some distance, when, turning upon them again, they in turn fled, and finally took refuge in the pound which was used as a fort. This fortress was assailed from the most advantageous positions with much spirit by the two companies who kept
INCORPORATION OF TOWNS OF ROXBURY AND TROY. 77
up their firing for some time, while those within fought bravely in its defence, showing a determination to drive their assailants from the field; but, as they manifested no disposi- tion to raise the siege, terms were agreed upon, and the light infantry and Indians were allowed to march out with the "honors of war."
Col. Frost afterwards notified the Governor of the State that he with his company would be ready to take the field whenever in his wisdom it might be necessary to defend the State from foreign invasion.
In the year 1812, the spirit of secession prevailed in the northern part of the town to an alarming extent. For several years, the people residing in that part of the town, together with those in the south-western part of Packers- field and the eastern portion of Keene, had become dissat- isfied with living so far from the places of publie worship in their respective towns, and not only this, but they had suffered mueh inconvenience in residing at such a distance from the place where their public business was transaeted. At that time, this district had become quite thickly popu- lated; the dense forest had given place to well-cultivated farms, and it was thought to contain inhabitants sufficient to entitle them to the privilege of being incorporated into a town by themselves.
In 1803, those residing in Paekersfield, not getting a road to the middle of the town altered to their satisfaction, united with the others, and built a meeting-house. Soon after. they petitioned to the Legislature which sent a committee to examine the district they desired to have organized into a town. This committee decided in favor of the petitioners. Keene remonstrated, and the matter was delayed for some time. Petitions were, however, presented from time to time to the several towns, asking leave to be set off as a separate town but were refused.
In 1812, the subject was again agitated to such an extent that near the elose of that year a new town was incor- porated by the name of Roxbury. By this act, two ranges
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
of lots, including those wedge-shaped, were severed from Marlborough.
The spirit of discontent which had been so long moving among the people of Marlborough did not end with the incorporation of Roxbury. The inhabitants of the south part of the town and the northern portion of Fitzwilliam had long been agitating the subject of a new town in conjunction with a part of Swanzey and Richmond. The reasons urged why this separation should take place, were "that the surface of this territory was so uneven and hilly, and the hills extended in such directions as to render it inconvenient for the inhabitants of some parts of it to reach the centre of their respective towns." That part which now consti- tutes the pleasant village of Troy, had become thickly settled, and was fast becoming a place of extensive business ; and, being built up on the borders of two towns, it was " under a divided jurisdiction." This being the case, they must have felt that their interests to a certain extent were divided : this feeling could have been neither pleasant nor conducive to the prosperity of the place.
The first intimation we have that the inhabitants of this territory desired a new town was in 1781. In the warrant posted for a town meeting, February 6, 1781, the following article appeared : -
"to See if the town will vote off pat of the South End of marlboro, that is Required to Be voted off By part of the inhabitants of marlboro, and part of Fitzwilliam, and part of Swanzey, and part of Richmond, in order to make a town." The only response to this article was a vote to pass it over. The matter now lay dormant for ten years, when it was again taken up, but with no better success than before. Again and again was the subject brought up, but in vain ; for, although Swanzey and Richmond were willing to con- tribute their share of the territory for a new town, Fitz- william and Marlborough were inexorable. In the summer of 1812, seeing that the north end of the town was likely to meet with success in their efforts to form a new town, the subject was again revived, citizens' meetings were held, and
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INCORPORATION OF TOWNS OF ROXBURY AND TROY.
arrangements made for building a meeting-house. During the following year, this was completed, and a charter peti- tioned for ; but this was not so easily obtained. Marlborough and Fitzwilliam placed every obstacle in' the way, and for a long time the battle raged; but at last it resulted in a verdict for the petitioners, and a new town by the name of Troy was incorporated, June 23, 1815. By this act, Marl- borough lost not only a large piece of her territory, but some of her most enterprising men,- a loss that was deeply felt for many years.
CHAPTER V.
THE CENTRE MEETING-HOUSE.
CHARTER STIPULATIONS CONCERNING A MEETING-HOUSE. - VOTED TO BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE. - OPPOSITION .- LETTERS FROM BENJAMIN TUCKER TO GEORGE JAFFREY. - BUILDING RAISED. - MEASURES TAKEN TO FINISH THE HOUSE. - DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERIOR. - PHINEHAS FARRAR'S ACCOUNT. - WARMING THE HOUSE. - MEMBERS OF OTHER DENOMINATIONS EXCUSED FROM PAYING THE MINISTERIAL TAX. - USE OF MEETING-HOUSE DIVIDED AMONG THE SEVERAL DENOMINATIONS. - REPAIRING MEETING-HOUSE. - THE BELL .- THE HOUSE FORSAKEN. - IT BECOMES AN OBJECT OF CONTENTION. - SOLD AT AUCTION. - THE PURCHASER MEETS WITHI DIFFICULTIES. -THE TOWN AGAIN BECOMES THE OWNER. - THE HOUSE LEGALLY DISPOSED OF. - ITS DESTRUCTION.
ONE condition of the charter granted by the Masonian Proprietors required the grantees to build a convenient meeting-house in the township within ten years from its date, provided they were not prevented by Indian wars.
At a meeting of the Proprietors held at the house of Isaac McAllister. November 13, 1776. the following article was acted upon : "to see if the Propts will Choose a Commtte to Lay out a Spot to set a Meeting House on, Cut Down and kill ye growth on Two acres thereof." This was passed in the negative. The subject of building was called up at subsequent meetings; but no movement was made towards accomplishing the object until January 3, 1770, at which time a Proprietors' meeting was held at the house of Benja- min Tucker, when it was voted to build a meeting-house forty-five feet long and thirty-eight feet wide. Benjamin
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THE CENTRE MEETING-HOUSE.
Tucker, Daniel Goodenough, Joseph Collins, Jonah Har- rington, Moses Godard, James Brewer, and Isaac McAllister were chosen a building committee. Voted "to raise ten Dollars on each Prop's Right for to Build a meeting House." "Voted that the committee that are appointed to build the meeting House, are im powered to notify the Lord Propts and Request their Voice where it shall be set."
A subscription paper was circulated for the purpose of raising funds to aid in building the house. How large an amount was raised we have not learned, but a majority of the settlers in the township contributed something, as will be seen by the following list of subscribers : -
Joseph Collins. Benjamin Tucker. Joshua Tucker. Abijah Tucker. Caleb Tucker.
Richard Tozer. Moses Godard.
John Felton.
Jedediah Maynard. Stephen Church.
Jedediah Tayntor.
The following is a copy of the request sent to the Lord Proprietors, relative to locating the meeting-house :-
Mr. GEORGE JAFFREY,
We the Subscribers being chosen a Committee by the Grantees of Monadnock No. 5 to build a Meeting house for public worship, and like- wise to acquaint the Grantors of said Township, of the Proceedings in that affair, and request their voice in it agreeable to the Charter of the Grantors. We have, therefore, according to our judgment, chosen the best spot to set a Meeting house on nighest the Centre of said Town, both in respect of the Grantors and the Grantees, and request the Grantors to come and give their consent to it if they think proper, or signify their minds to us any way as they shall think proper, We being informed that Mr. Jaffrey was Clerk for the grantees of said Township, we have prepared to send the above request to him, and hope his favor in laying the request before the grantors and his doing the same and acquainting us of their minds, will greatly oblige the Grantees and us; Yr Humble Serv'ts. BENJA. TUCKER.
Monadnock, No. 5, Jan. ye 11, 1770.
DANIEL GOODENOUGH. JOSEPH COLLINS. ISAAC MCALLISTER. MOSES GODDARD. JAMES BREWER. JONAH HARRINGTON.
13
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
We do not learn that any difficulty was experienced in regard to locating the house, but it seems that some dissatis- faction was felt on the part of many of the proprietors relative to its size.
Another meeting was called, and held at the house of Jonah Harrington on the eighteenth day of the following April. At this meeting, it was voted "to Reconsider what was don consarning a meeting House in the last meeting at the house of B. Tucker." The committee chosen to build the house was dismissed. It was then voted to build a house thirty feet square, without the help of any subscription; and a new committee was chosen to carry this vote into effect. But this decision like those of the former meeting, were ยท destined never to be carried out ; for another meeting was held at the house of Benjamin Tucker on the twenty-third day of May, when the committee first chosen were reinstated.
What instructions were given to this committee in regard to the size of the house does not appear; but certain it is that the building was much larger than had been voted at either of the previous meetings, it being fifty feet long and forty feet wide.
The two following letters, written by Benjamin Tucker to George Jaffrey, will explain the state of affairs in the town- ship at this time : -
PORTSMOUTH, April, ye 27th, 1770.
ESQ'R JAFFREY, Sir,
These with my due regards to you, hoping they may meet you in good health, and Sir. I would inform you that I made a journey to Portsh on purpose to see yourself with some others of the gentlemen Grantors of our Township, Monadnock No. 5, but my fortune happens to be here when Esq'r. Jaffrey is not at home, which I am exceeding sorry for. I much wanted to see the Esq'r. and to advise with him concerning the affairs of our town, for I received a letter from the Esq'r. last winter, wherein he desired me to return him an answer concerning the settlement of our township, which answer I had wrote sometime ago, but having no opportunity to send it, I made this journey to bring it, with a letter from a committee chosen to build our meeting house, desiring the gentlemen Grantors of our town, to give their advice where our meeting house shall stand, which they have a right by charter to do. And, Sir, you will see in my answer to your letter, that we had
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THE CENTRE MEETING-HOUSE.
agreed to build a meeting house, and how large, and when to be ready to raise, but I inst now let you know, that that part of my answer is uncertain, for there is a number that has arose up and called another meeting the 18 of this month, and reconsidered what was done at our meeting, y" 3 of Jan. last, after they were recorded on book, and say they will not have this meeting house so large, but will have one 30 feet square, and they dismissed the committee that was appointed to build the meeting house, that I give you an account of in my answer to your- self, and have not got any committee to build the 30 foot meeting house, and we are now in a bad situation concerning our meeting house, for the workman that we agreed with to build the house 40 feet wide, and 50 long, has cut the chief of the great timber, and hewn the long sticks, and they are drawn together where we expect the house will stand, and ye committee has entered into bonds to see ye workman paid by the first of September next, and have taken bond of him wherein he is obliged to have the house ready to raise by that time, and the committee were obliged to draw all the timber to the spot, and to find all the work at ye spot, but since they are dismissed by the last meeting from that office, they think and say they have no further concern with it, which if that meeting stands good; it must be so, and when ye workman has hewn all the timber, he must stop his hand, for he will find no man to draw it together for him, and there is nobody any power to agree with him to stop, and not to proceed any further in this affair as things now stand, and I would let the Esq'r. know that it was by reason of 3 or 4 persons giving power to Capt. Jesse Rice, and Mr. Daniel Harrington, both of Marlborough, to act for them, was the means of bringing us into this bad situation, and they are those persons that are the most behind as to settling; viz; the Right of Henry Neel & Robert Allen & Thomas Morrison, with ye three duty free rights which belong to old Madam Blanchard, & others of that family, which you will see in my answer to your letter, hold; I have returned them, and in whose hands they are now. In the Right of James Morrison, which is now in the hands of the Widow Dexter, you will see in my answer to you that I wrote in her favor, but inasmuch as she has empowered those men to act in her behalf, to the damage of our town, I have no more to say in her behalf, and, Sir, if you would be so kind as to get the gentleman Grantors together as soon as may be, and lay our case before them, and see if they will take so much notice of us, as to give us their advice in all affairs concerning our town, and whether that meeting be good wherein they disannulled what was done before, and put on record, also to see what method they will come into, in order to join with us on a spot to set our meeting house, if we ever agree to build one, for we want to clear up ye spot to set it. No more at present, so I remain your humble servant at com- mand, BENJA. TUCKER.
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