USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Rindge > History of the town of Rindge, New Hampshire, from the date of the Rowley Canada or Massachusetts charter, to the present time, 1736-1874, with a genealogical register of the Rindge families > Part 12
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168
HISTORY OF RINDGE.
either of them or any other such vermin." No bounty was voted. Perhaps the language employed was a sufficient admonition.
1781. In the New Hampshire regiments in the field the losses had been considerable, and the ranks were also depleted at the expiration of the term of enlistment of many of the men. William Russell, whose term of service expired in March, 1780, was honorably discharged in the State of New Jersey, and, without visiting his home, he immediately enlisted into a Connecticut regiment, and served until the close of the war. Oliver Bacon enlisted at the first for during the war, and in March, 1781, was promoted to ensign in Capt. Dustan's company. Enoch Dockman and Ezekiel Demary also reënlisted, and con- tinued with the same regiment. Dockman deserted, but was apprehended after he had enjoyed a rest of six ' months ; he was finally discharged, Oct. 20, 1781. Moses Thomas, who had been three years in a Massachusetts regiment, enlisted into the New Hampshire line in Sep- tember, as did Aaron Potter, a new recruit, who enlisted for six months.
.
Others also volunteered to fill the decimated ranks of the second regiment. Eight additional men enlisted for three years. The honored roll is as follows: Jonathan Sawtell, Jr., John Demary, Jr., John Hamilton, Jonathan , Lake, Abel Platts, Jr., Preston Buffington, Robert Fields, and Tobe Cutler. John Demary, Jr., was killed Nov. 1, 1781, aged 30 years. The others remained in the regiment until the close of the war.
And now the end of the prolonged and exhaustive war begins to be foreshadowed. Othniel Thomas was appointed captain in Col. Reynolds' regiment, and four men were recruited from this town. The rolls cannot be found,
169
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
and it is presumed the organization was never completed, and that the regiment was not called into service. In 1782, a list of the deficiencies of the several towns was made by the State officials. Rindge was only one man in arrears, and . Aaron Potter promptly balanced the account by enlisting into the service. Many of the towns in the State were required at this time to furnish several men to compensate for former delinquencies.
Tobe Cutler, one of the volunteers in 1781, was a negro slave of Col. Enoch Hale. The following significant vote in relation to his enlistment is the last reference to slavery found upon the records : -
After hearing the Report of the Committee appointed to raise the Continental Soldiers and finding that they had Inlisted Tobe Cutler, servant to Enoch Hale Esqr., by the free consent of his master, who had Ingaged to free the said Tobe at the age of twenty-one years: Then voted that the said Tobe be Received & Deemed a Legal Inhabitant of said Rindge, Provided that the said Tobe shall have his freedom according to the agreement of his said master, made and to be Lodged with the Selectmen of said Town.
It is to be regretted that the town records have not preserved the names of the officers and soldiers in the war of the Revolution. The lists given in this connection, however, are mainly complete, and have not been com- piled without considerable labor and research. The State archives should be credited for much valuable information, and a record of the expenses of the town hereafter pre- sented, which was not discovered until these lists had been made, verifies the number of volunteers for each year in a most happy manner.
On the adoption of the Federal Constitution the war- indebtedness of the several States was assumed by the
170
HISTORY OF RINDGE.
general government. For this purpose the accounts of the several towns were audited. The account of Rindge for bounties and advances to soldiers was as follows: -
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
To the Town of Rindge, Dr.
To account for bounties, &c.
£
S.
d.
Lexington, 54 men, 607 days in all,
61
5
4
Winter Hill, 39 men, 8 months each,
524
Alarm at Ticonderoga, 13 men, . 26
1776
Baldwin's and Gilman's Regiments, 17 men,
103
10
1776 1776
Militia, 45 men for the year, .
620
1777 1777 1777
Stark's Brigade, 24 men,
84
1777
Continental, 12 men,
325
15
1778 Rhode Island Volunteers, 33 men. Specie,
50
12
1778
Peabody's Regiment, 3 men. Specie,
36
1778 1779
Continental, 4 men, £321 18s. 4d., .
141
10
1779
Continental, 4 men, £1,200, and £20 specie,
20 48
10
and 160 bushels corn, at 6s. per bushel,
48
1780
Nichols' Regiment, 7 men, 280 bushels corn, at 6s. per bushel,
84
1780
Frontiers at Coos, 2 men, £2,800,
48
10
1780
Alarm at Royalston, 61 men,
38
18
9
1781
Continental, 8 men, .
720
1781
Reynolds' Regiment, 4 men,
30
1782
Continental, 1 man, .
60
Total, 424 men,
3515 17 1
1775 1775 1776
Wyman's Regiment, 15 men,
225
Alarm at Ticonderoga, 48 men,
62
16
Saratoga Volunteers, 24 men. Specie,
48
Mooney's Regiment, 2 men. Specie,
24 85
10
1780
New levies, 4 men, £2,800,
It appears that the town was credited for four hundred and twenty-four enlistments during the war, but not a few enlisted several times, which reduces the number of indi- viduals actually in the service. In addition to the soldiers already named and included in the foregoing account, several other residents of this town were in the service.
171
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
It is probable that they received bounties from, and were counted on the quotas of, other towns. John Gibson enlisted in June, 1779, for the war. Benjamin Parker, a brother of Jonathan Parker, Jr., was in the army ten months. Both of them were in the Continental service, and were paid by the town, but for some unknown cause they were not included in the foregoing account. Joseph Wilson, who was a member of the Rindge company, and credited to this town in the Lexington alarm in April, 1775, subsequently enlisted into the Continental service, but was successfully challenged by Amherst, and finally allowed on the quota of that town. He came from Peters- ham to Rindge, which does not explain the ground on which he was claimed by Amherst. Hezekiah Sawtell, Hezekiah Wetherbee, and Jacob Gould, Jr., enlisted into the Continental service in 1779. The two former are included in a list of New Ipswich soldiers in " Kidder's History." They were possibly hired by and credited on the quota of that town, but were residents of Rindge. Benjamin Wetherbee (son of Benjamin) also enlisted, and died of the small-pox while in the service.
The selectmen for 1781 were Edward Jewett, Lieut. Ebenezer Davis, and Mr. John Buswell; and for 1782, Edward Jewett, Mr. Benjamin Bancroft, and Mr. Solomon Rand were chosen. There is no record of an election of a committee of safety and correspondence for these years. The rapid depreciation of the currency was the occasion of much loss and great embarrassment, and many attempts were made to fix some value to it. In September, 1779, a convention composed of delegates from the several towns assembled at Concord. The recommendations proposed by this convention were adopted by the town, and a committee of nine was chosen to state the price at which " all foreign
172
HISTORY OF RINDGE.
and domestic produce and other articles" should be sold. This measure afforded no relief. The money voted by the town for specific purposes so rapidly decreased in value, that before the assessment could be made and the amount collected, the appropriation became inadequate for the purpose for which the money had been raised. The value of the currency soon became too uncertain to. be employed as a medium of circulation, and frequent disputes arose concerning the amount due from one to another. Finally the Legislature in 1781 issued what was called " the author- ized scale of depreciation," by which contracts made at different times might be adjusted. The scale indicated the number of pounds of currency which should be an equivalent at different dates to the par value of £100 :-
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
January,
100
325
742
2934
7500
February,
104
350
868
3322
7500
March,
106
375
1000
3736
7500
April,
110
400
1104
4000
7500
May, .
114
400
1215
4800
7500
June,
120
400
1342
5700
12000
July, .
125
425
1477
6000
August, .
150
450
1630
6300
September,
175
475
1800
6500
October,
275
500
2030
6700
November, .
300
545
2308
7000
December,
310
634
2393
7300
The burden of taxation is seen in the following votes : -
March, 1781. - "Voted Three Thousand hard dollars or money & stock equivalent thereto, to pay the hire of the Soldiers for the first year."
September, 1781. - "Voted to proceed immediately to hire said men and that the town pay the same."
November, 1781. - "Voted to Raise 3000 Hard dollars to
173
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
pay the second years hire of the Soldiers, that was hired for three years, and also to pay the hire of other Soldiers."
And the following year two thousand hard dollars were raised "to pay the last year's hire of the three years men." And hard dollars they must have been to gather from the people.
In 1781, after paper money had become nearly worthless, the State made a requisition for a large quantity of beef for the army, and proportioned the amount among the several towns in the State. The first information of this tax gleaned from the records is a vote "to leave it in the breast of the selectmen how much the rate shall be to buy the beef this town is called upon for to supply the army." Live beeves which the selectmen purchased were legal tender in the payment of this tax. The following receipts represent the amount furnished by this town : -
RINDGE July 17, 1781.
Received of the Selectmen of Rindge seven Beef Cattle weighing by estimation Three Thousand Two Hundred and fifty five pounds for the use of the state of New Hampshire it being in part of the Towns proportion of Beef the current year.
FRANCIS BLOOD
Collector ye Beef Cattle.
Received August ye 6 1781 of the Selectmen of Rindge, seven Beef Cattle, weighing by estimation Three Thousand Six Hundred and thirty-five Pounds, it being in part of the Town of Rindge proportion of Beef the current year.
.
FRANCIS BLOOD
Collector of Beef, Western Destrict.
TEMPLE October 24 1781
Received Of Rindge by Deacon Edward Jewett eleven Beef Cattle for the use of the Continental Army, weight by estimation
23
174
HISTORY OF RINDGE.
Six Thousand & Two Hundred pounds, in part of the proportion of said Town for the present year Agreeable to the Act of the General Court Of the 27 of Janry. last.
FRANCIS BLOOD
Collector of Beef Cattle in Wn Destrict
The following year the town is credited with three pounds and sixteen shillings on account of an overpayment of the beef tax. A former assessment of this character was paid the previous year :-
KEENE September 25, 1780.
Received of the Selectmen of Rindge eleven thousand and thirty pounds of Beef Cattle for the use of the Continent.
JOHN MILLER Dep't Comsy.
Also, in 1781, an act was added to the laws of the State with the following title : " An Act for supplying the Conti- nental Army with ten thousand gallons of West India Rum." The proportion for Rindge was ninety-eight gallons. The several towns were permitted, if they chose, to furnish six quarts of New England rum as a substitute for each gallon of West India. This tax was promptly paid as appears from the receipt : -
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. October 16 1781.
Received of Mr. James Walker one hundred and forty seven gallons New England Rum being a tax on the Town of Rindge in the County of Cheshire Agreeable to an Act of sd State passed the 31 of August last past. Rec'd at Boston.
JOSH. WENTWORTH.
The above Rum cost twenty seven pounds ten shillings and three pence in Beef at two silver dollars per hundred weight
175
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
and twenty four shillings for the casks in Money. The whole being twenty eight pounds fourteen shillings and three pence.
In addition to these demands, the money tax paid to the State was of itself a heavy burden upon the people. In the experience of the present the amount paid cannot be easily realized. The record of a few years will suffice. In 1779, the State raised £2,500,000, or about one-tenth this sum at par value. The proportion of Rindge was £1,947 18s. 4d., and was paid within the prescribed time in eight instalments, three each by John Eills and James Carlton, collectors, and two by the selectmen. In 1780, the town is found for the first time among the delinquent tax-payers, but the amount was paid over to the State with little delay by Abel Perkins and Nathan Hubbard, collectors. The amount raised was £2,160,000, of which Rindge was required to pay £21,210 15s. 0d., or about one-hundredth of the whole tax. In 1781, still larger demands were made by the State, and the collections were made by Jeremiah Norcross and James Streeter. The experience of the patriot at home, oppressed with poverty, compelled in many instances to allow the oft-returning tax-gatherer to take his only remaining cow, or the product of his fields whenever ripened for harvest, proclaims that the brave men in the field did not suffer alone in the cause of inde- pendence. Ever prominent in the annals of the Revolution will be the bitterness of the home experience of the citizen and the family. In the midst of times like these, it excites little surprise to find an article in a warrant for a town- meeting "To see if the Town will choose a committee to treat with other [committees] and see what method can be agreed to, as to the present grievances, now hanging over our heads, and threatening us with utter Destruction if not
176
HISTORY OF RINDGE.
prevented." That our fathers were apprehensive that "utter destruction " might be averted, and that they had interests still worth preserving, is seen in the succeeding article in the warrant " To see if the Town will sue Tarbell for Trespass for flowing the road in this Town." Either the former article did not represent the prevailing sentiment of the people, or else its authors were determined that Lieut. Tarbell should not be left behind if they were to visit the regions of destruction. The former conjecture is probably correct, since no action was taken in the premises.
The contention between New Hampshire and Vermont occurring during the progress of the Revolution, and the numerous projects of union proposed by the inhabitants of the border townships, caused considerable excitement and discussion in several towns in the western part of this State. The town of Rindge, then supposed to be wholly within the limits of the Masonian patent, and consequently bound by the conditions of their early charter, did not sympathize with those who advocated a union with the towns on the western side of the Connecticut River. In 1776, sixteen towns in the present County of Grafton were received into the union of the Vermont grants, and were represented in their assembly. A claim was advanced by Vermont to other towns on the east of the Connecticut. The Ver- mont courts also claimed jurisdiction over the disputed territory, and the sheriffs began to serve writs upon the inhabitants of several New Hampshire towns. Finally two citizens were arrested by the Vermont officers, and confined in the jail at Charlestown. They forwarded a petition to the New Hampshire assembly for relief, and Col. Enoch Hale, who was then High Sheriff of Cheshire County, including at that time the present County of Sullivan, was promptly ordered to release the prisoners. In the discharge
177
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
of this duty, December 6, 1781, Col. Hale was arrested by the Vermont officials, and thrown in the jail over which he had the legal control. A sheriff confined in his own jail by the officers of another State was a state of affairs that was at once resented by the assembly. Cols. Benjamin Bellows, of Walpole, and Moses Nichols, of Amherst, were ordered to call out the militia in their regiments and release the imprisoned sheriff. Francis Blood, Esq., of Temple, was ordered to supply the troops while in arms with provis- ions. Alarmed at the decisive measures adopted by New Hampshire, the Vermont authorities sent a committee to Exeter " to agree on measures to prevent hostilities." One of this committee was the sheriff who had imprisoned Col. Hale. He was immediately arrested, and thrown into prison at Exeter, and held as a hostage for the release of Col. Hale. Wise counsels soon prevailed, and all the prisoners were released without a collision of the military forces.
CHAPTER VIII.
REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE .- ADOPTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS.
Rindge Classed with Jaffrey and Sharon. - Representatives not Allowed Seats in the Assembly, 1775. - Enoch Hale and William Smiley. - First Constitution Rejected, 1779. - Second Constitution Adopted, 1783. - Amendments, 1792. - Federal Constitution. - Removal of Col. Enoch Hale.
REFERENCE was made in Chapter IV. to the sessions of the conventions, or Provincial Congress, in 1775, in which the town of Rindge was represented by Enoch Hale, Esq. For the fifth Congress, which assembled in December, a plan of representation had been adopted, by which Rindge, Jaffrey, and Peterborough Slip (Sharon) were classed, and entitled to send one representative. To this arrangement both Rindge and Jaffrey demurred, each town claiming to be entitled to a representative. The question was soon brought to an issue. When the Congress assembled, Enoch Hale, of Rindge, and William Smiley, of Jaffrey, both appeared and demanded seats in the assembly. Their demand was endorsed by a petition of their own and neigh- boring towns to allow their admission. The journal of the convention, under date of December 21, 1775, announces their discomfiture.
179
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
The Petition of the Committee of Safety of the Towns of New Ipswich, Rindge, Fitzwilliam & Jaffrey, Praying to. have Enoch Hale Esqr & William Smiley admitted to sit in this Con- gress, And also the return made on the Precept, which issued to the Towns of Rindge, Jaffrey and Peterborough Slip, being read & considered,
Voted that Neither of the said Gentlemen shall have a seat in this Congress, They being chosen contrary to the Direction in the Precept from the late Congress.
It appears that "neither of said gentlemen " long in- sisted on his right to a seat in the convention, and the same day a new election of a representative from these towns was ordered, and soon after Mr. Hale was chosen to represent the district. In this election the inhabitants of Jaffrey were dissatisfied, and petitioned the town of Rindge to be "excused from paying their part in sending a Repre- sentative." This the town of Rindge refused to do, but made ample amends the following year in joining with them in the election of Mr. Smiley to succeed Mr. Hale. Under the temporary constitution of the State, which was adopted in January, 1776, and continued until June, 1784, the supe- rior branch of the legislature consisted of twelve members, and was styled the Council. The five counties constituted the councillor districts, Cheshire County being entitled to two members. To this honorable body Enoch Hale was three times elected. The legislative years of his service commenced December 15, 1779, December 20, 1780, and December 19, 1783. The last session expired with the suspension of the temporary constitution. Under the new constitution this branch of the legislature became known as the Senate ; in this body Mr. Hale held a seat for the legis- lative year, beginning June 2, 1784, by virtue of an election the previous March.
180
HISTORY OF RINDGE.
The new constitution, which was adopted in 1784, was the result of much discussion and deliberation. A con- vention, to "frame a plan of Government for the future happiness and well-being of the good people of the State," assembled in Concord, June 10, 1778. In this convention the town of Rindge was represented by Enoch Hale. A plan of government was prepared by the convention, and submitted to the people for their approval. The town of Rindge assembled August 10, 1779, and "voted to Reject the Declaration of Rights & Plan of Government," and a committee was chosen to instruct their delegate in regard to the important questions that remained for the consider- ation of the convention. This proposed constitution having met a similar fate in a majority of the towns in the State, another convention assembled in June, 1781, and continued by several adjournments until October, 1783. To this con- vention the town of Rindge voted not to send a delegate. The body, comprising the ablest men in the State, proceeded cautiously and deliberately, and yet were obliged to submit their work to the people three times before it was accepted. In the mean time the constitution then in force, which had been adopted to continue during the war, was about to expire by limitation. The legislature recommended the several towns to revive and continue in force the temporary consti- tution until another should be adopted; consequently the town voted "to accept the resolve of the General Court," and thereby consented to the recommendation. Without expla- nation this passage of the records would not be intelligible.
A Bill of Rights and Constitution was adopted by the second convention, and sent to the several towns for their approval in the autumn of 1781. That the town of Rindge gave the instrument attentive consideration is attested in the records : -
181
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
After hearing the Address of the convention, voted to choose a Committee to examine the Bill of Rights and Constitution & make report to the Town.
Chose, Mr. Richard Kimball, Daniel Lake Esqr. Mr. Na- thaniel Russell, Lt. James Crombie, Maj. Daniel Rand, Edward Jewett, Mr. Jonathan Sawtell, Mr. Jeremiah Chapman, Lt. Ben- jamin Foster, Ens. Ebenezer Chaplin & Dea. Francis Towne, a committee as aforesaid.
Then voted to adjourn the present meeting to Tuesday the first day of January next, then to be held at the public Meeting house in Rindge at one o'clock P.M.
RINDGE January 1, 1782.
Met according to Adjournment. Then voted to adjourn the present meeting to Friday the 4th Instant then to be held at the public Meeting house in Rindge at nine o'clock A.M.
RINDGE January ye 4 1782.
Met according to Adjournment. After hearing the Report of the Comtee & the Bill of Rights & Constitution, article by article, & Rejecting some clauses and Accepting some & making such Alterations as the Town thought Proper, then voted to choose a Committee of three men to draw up the Reasons of Rejection and Alteration. Chose Edward Jewett, Dea. Francis Towne and Major Daniel Rand for sd Committee.
The meeting was one of unusual interest. A year had passed since the surrender of the British army at York- town. Peace, crowned with freedom, had been made secure. The abstract right of self-government had been purchased at great cost. In the application of that right were balanced all the fruits of the war. Our fathers were equal to the . occasion. Even in the flush of victory they proceeded to consider the plan of government "article by article," realiz- ing that a hasty misapplication of their newly secured
24
182
. HISTORY OF RINDGE.
rights and privileges might breed an anarchy more intol- erable than foreign oppression. Thus in an unwarmed house, in the cold of mid-winter, our fathers assembled to discuss those measures that should preserve and perpetuate, in their form of government, the fruits of the victory which their valor had won. When the returns from the towns were received by the convention, it was found that the objections to some of the provisions were so numerous that a thorough revision was demanded by the people. The second draft was submitted to the action of the several towns, and was more generally approved, the town of Rindge voting to accept it. But it was again revised and sent to the people for ratification in the autumn of 1783, and the action of this town is briefly recorded: "Gave in their votes for the Plan of Government." It is presumed that these voters "gave in," without reservation. Their past experience had fostered no spirit of compromise. This tinsel cover for wrong is of more recent introduction into American politics. The action of nearly all the towns in the State being also in the affirmative, this plan became the adopted constitution, and remained unchanged until 1792. A convention for revision was assembled at Concord, 1791, in which this town was represented by Col. Daniel Rand. On the first revision, the town, in May, 1792, passed sixty-four votes on as many sections of the amended constitution. A majority of the votes were against the proposed revision. In August following, the town unani- mously voted to accept the amendments as then presented by the convention. In 1783 the Continental Congress proposed to amend the eighth article of confederation, so as to make the population of the States the basis of . representation instead of the area of granted lands. This proposition was to be submitted to the legislatures of the
183
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
States, and the inhabitants of Rindge were called together to instruct their representative how he should act when the question was presented for his consideration, and Enoch Hale, Deacon Edward Jewett, Lieut. Jacob Gould, and Mr. Nathaniel Russell were chosen "to instruct their representative." It will be noticed that Mr. Hale has no title in this record, which is accounted for by the statement that he was the town clerk who made the record, while Deacon Jewett receives the full renown of his ecclesiastical honors.
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