USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > History of the town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890, Vol. I > Part 7
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Nothing worthy of note occurred at Ticonderoga or Fort Inde- pendence, where these troops were stationed, until the middle of June. At that time a strong English flotilla advanced to co-operate with Gen. Burgoyne's grand army. In a council of war, the Amer- icans determined to abandon the Fort. A retreat was made with the American flotilla up through the Lakes. Arriving at Whitehall the troops disembarked, the vessels were blown up by Col. Long, and the retreat continued toward Saratoga. On the way, an engage- ment occurred at Fort Anne (July 6), between Col. Long's regi-
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REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
ment and the English Ninth, in which the English were defeated and compelled to retire. This closed the service of Capt. Brewster's company. The period of enlistment having expired, the whole regi- ment was discharged. Although great loss had been suffered in this hasty retreat, yet the other portion of the army retreating by land from Ticonderoga, fared even worse. Col. Hale's regiment formed a part of the rear guard. By reason of the great number of invalids and stragglers, they were unable to keep up with the main body. They fell back six or seven miles, and, contrary to Gen. St. Clair's express orders, stopped short at Hubbardton. They were overtaken by the enemy, on the morning of July sixth, and sharply attacked. The regiment fled panic-stricken, leaving their Colonel, Adjutant, three Captains, and two other officers, with from one to two hun- dred men, prisoners to the enemy. George Heard and Ebenezer Chesley, with others whose names are not known, were missing from Rochester. Three also of our soldiers died this year while prisoners in the hands of the British.
The surrender of Ticonderoga, with its numerous artillery, came like a thunderbolt upon Congress and the country. The New Hamp- shire Assembly had just finished their session and returned home. A summons from the Committee of Safety brought them together again. The militia was re-organized, and a large portion ordered to march immediately " to stop the progress of the enemy on our western frontiers." Capt. Daniel McDuffee raised a company of fifty-eight men, thirty of whom were of this town. They engaged promptly in the service and at once marched to the seat of war. The excitement throughout the Northern States was very great. Says a Rochester writer, of that day, referring to the alarm caused by the rapid advance of Burgoyne's army : -
" It was a dark day to our people, and added greatly to the weight of all our former troubles. While some were ready to sink under the feeling of despondency, others were fired with a spirit of noble revenge. Great concern for the safety of their relatives in the army fell upon many."
It was foreseen that a sanguinary battle must soon take place. In August came the good news of Stark's victory at Bennington. This was followed in a few weeks by the glorious triumphs over the invaders at Stillwater and Saratoga. To crown all, the surrender of the entire British army occurred in October. Alarm and anxiety were followed by universal rejoicing. Says the writer last quoted :-
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ROCHESTER.
" The surrender of the forces of a great general at the Northward is what we are ready to call the grandest thing that ever happened in America. It is difficult to moderate our joy or keep it within due bounds. We are a young people and not much used to such conquests, and it is to be feared that there will be now unreason- able joy as there was lately unreasonable sorrow. We are apt to go to extremes."
Capt. MeDuffee's company had joined the Northern army at Sar- atoga in September, arriving in season to participate in these bril- liant victories. From the roll of his company, which does not give residences, are selected the following names of Rochester men: -
Name.
Rank.
Entered.
Discharged.
Daniel McDuffee,
Captain,
Sept. 8, '77.
Dec. 15.
David Leighton,
Ensign,
Peter Glidden,
Sergeant,
Died Nov. 18.
Solomon Clark,
Corporal,
66
Dischg'd Dec. 15. 66
Jonathan Ellis,
Eben. Twombly,
Drummer,
66
66
James Wentworth,
Private,
יו
66
John McDuffee,
66
66
66
Tobias Ricker,
66
66
John Richards,
66
66
John Allen,
66
66
Amos Spencer,
66
66
Jonathan Dame,
66
66
Died Nov. 16.
Dudley Pike,
66
66
Disch'd Nov. 30. 66
Moses Rawlins,
Joseph Wingate,
"
Dec. 15. Nov. 30. 66
Amos Hayes,
66
Dec. 15.
William McNeal,
Nov. 30.
John Stanton,
66
Deserted Oct. 20.
John Nute,
66
66
66
Joseph Thompson,
66
66
66
John Bickford,
66
66
Stephen Starboard,
66
After the surrender of Burgoyne, the militia returned home, but the Continental regiments marched into Pennsylvania and passed the winter at Valley Forge. The sufferings of the troops at that place form a part of our country's history familiar to every one.
All danger of an invasion from Canada being now at an end, the theater of war was removed Southward. The militia of New Hamp- shire was no more summoned to repel the invader at their very door. Yet in the summer of 1778, an expedition was raised, com-
* " Gen. Richard Furber died in 1848, in the 95th year of his age. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and lived in that part of Rochester which was afterwards Farmington. He acted as an Adjutant at the surrender of Burgoyne." [Dover Enquirer.]
66
Nicholas Wentworth,
66
Richard Furber, *
66
Joseph Richards,
Enoch Hayes, ;
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REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
manded by Gen. Sullivan, to co-operate with the French to expel the British from Rhode Island. The co-operation, however, was not effected, the fleet being driven to sea by a violent storm. For this expedition Rochester furnished nineteen men, who served about six months in Col. Peabody's regiment. Again in 1779 six soldiers from Rochester enlisted in Col. Mooney's regiment, for the defense of Rhode Island, and served about six months, when, Newport hav- ing been evacuated by the British, they were discharged. Their names were : -
Joseph Ricker. Tobias Ricker.
Samuel Rollings. Thomas Carter.
Paltiah Stevens. Isaac Hatch.
Thus far our attention has been almost exclusively confined to the fortunes of militia companies, or volunteers raised for special service. We have seen men leave their homes with words of encouragement and counsel, have traced them in long and difficult marches, have followed them in hazardous retreats, have seen them exposed to the dangers of battle and disease, and have listened to the tender words of welcome with which they were greeted upon their return. If more interest is found in the history of these brave bands than in that of soldiers in the regular army, it is owing to the excitement of the times when the former were called forth. A formidable enemy was invading their land, and they were alarmed at his rapid pro- gress. They were obliged to act promptly and decidedly. The in- terest is greater, also, because they went forth and returned together forming distinct companies, or parts of companies, having their own officers, so that it is not difficult to discover what part of the com- mon danger they shared. It remains to trace the fortunes of those who were engaged in the regular army. This can be done only by noticing the services of the regiments of which they formed a part. During August and September, 1779, they were in Sullivan's expe- dition against the Senecas. The object of this expedition was the capture of Niagara, and the destruction of the villages of the Indians, who had been guilty of great outrages upon the Americans. It was conducted through a region almost entirely unknown, and covered with forests, and the march was beset with unusual dangers and dif- ficulties. Many villages were burned, orchards cut down, and crops destroyed; yet the main object was not accomplished, and the enter- prise failed of beneficial results. Several engagements took place, the most severe of which was at Newtown, now Elmira, New
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ROCHESTER.
York, in which the enemy were led by the celebrated chief, Joseph Brant. The New Hampshire troops, under Poor, sustained the brunt of the battle, and behaved with great coolness and intrepidity. In 1780, the war was mostly confined to the Southern States. The New Hampshire troops were stationed at West Point and in New Jersey. In 1781, the three regiments were reduced to two, com- manded by Col. Scammel and Col. George Reid. They marched to Virginia, and were present at the surrender of the British army under Cornwallis at Yorktown. The names of those who served in the Continental army are now given, with the history and fate of each man, so far as can be gathered from the rolls and documents still in existence.
COL. REID'S REGIMENT.
As Col. Reid commanded the regiment formerly under Col. Hale, the names already given of men in that regiment are here repeated to give a more particu- lar account of each man.
JOSHUA MERROW, Ensign. Engaged April 2, 1777. Promoted lieutenant
July 12, 1780.
+ JOSHUA PLACE. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. DIED August 7, 1777.
+ SIMEON PEARL. Engaged Ap. 20, 1777 for 3 years. DIED Feb. 10, 1778.
t PAUL PEARL. Engaged Ap. 20, 1777 for 3 years. KILLED Oct. 7, 1777, at battle of Saratoga.
t GEORGE HEARD. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. MISSING July 7, 1777 in the retreat from Ticonderoga.
JOHN GARLAND. Engaged May 10, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 10, 1780. SAMUEL Foss. Engaged June 4, 1777 for 3 years. DIED Sept. 6, 1778.
GEORGE DOWNING. Engaged Nov. 15, 1776 for the war. Promoted Corporal Ap. 1, 1781. Promoted Sergeant Nov. 13, 1781 .*
t JONATHAN DOWNING. Engaged Nov. 15, 1776 for the war. Promoted Ser- geant Major June 1, 1779 .* George and Jonathan Downing thus enlisted very early, and for the war. They probably received no bounty. In 1788 the Town unanimously voted them $50 worth of Stock and Lumber for services in the Con- tinental Army.
+ THOMAS CHAMBERLIN. Engaged May 10, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 10, 1780.
+ EBENEZER CHESLEY. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. MISSING July 7, 1777 in retreat from Ticonderoga.
+ DANIEL COOK. Engaged May 10, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 10, 1780. Re-enlisted for the war .* Was one of Washington's Guard in 1779.
t TIMOTHY RICKER. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 1, 1780. Was one of Washington's Guard in 1779.
t DANIEL ALLEY, Corporal. Engaged Nov. 11, 1776 for the war. Reduced to ranks Sept. 8, 1778. Transferred to Invalid Corps Feb. 1, 1780 .*
Į WILLIAM HARPER, age 25.
MOSES ROLINGS. Engaged Nov. 13, 1776 for the war. Promoted Corporal June 13, 1777. KILLED Oct. 13, 1777, while the Americans were endeavoring to cut off Burgoyne's retreat.
DANIEL WATSON. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 1, 1780. + WILLIAM PALMER. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. Promoted Corporal. June 8, 1779. Discharged Ap. 30, 1780.
EPHRAIM HAM. Engaged Ap. 10, 1777. Discharged May 1, 1780.
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REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
+ ICHABOD HORN. Engaged Aug. 15, 1779 for the war.
Appointed Drummer Dec. 16, 1779. Reduced July 12, 1781 .* t JOHN ROGERS. Engaged Oct. 15, 1779 for the war. Promoted Corporal Oct. 1, 1780 .*
t ENOCH WINGATE. Engaged May 1, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 1, 1780. Died Aug. 4, 1828.
DANIEL WINGATE. Engaged May 10, 1777 for 3 years. Discharged May 10, 1780.
t JOSEPH PEARL. Engaged May 1, 1777 for the war .* Missing in retreat from Ticonderoga.
t JOSEPH RICKER. Engaged Oct. 15, 1779 for the war .*
MATTHIAS WELCH. Engaged Feb. 1777 for the war. Deserted Nov. 27, 1778. Joined May 1, 1780 .*
DANIEL COOK, Jr. Engaged Ap. 10, 1780 for the war .*
SAMUEL ROLLINS. Engaged Feb. 28, 1781 .*
+ SAMUEL RYON. Engaged June, 1777.
EDWARD ROLLINS.
Engaged May, 1777.
+ HENRY DURGIN. Deserted. Captured.
t JONATHAN DOE. SAMUEL ALLEY. ¡ AMOS PLACE.
COLONEL SCAMMELL'S REGIMENT.
t THOMAS SHAW. Engaged Jan. 3, 1777. Deserted Ap. 5, 1781 .*
ROBERT ELLIS. Engaged Aug. 17, 1780. Discharged Dec. 31, 1781 .*
RICHARD COOK. Engaged July 15, 1779 for the war. DIED Oct. 8, 1781 at the siege of Yorktown .*
COLONEL CILLEY'S REGIMENT.
DANIEL ROGERS, Jr. Engaged May 11, 1777. DIED July 20, 1777.
EBENEZER ALLEN. Engaged Ap. 15, 1780. Discharged Dec. 31, 1781 .*
DANIEL SARGENT. Engaged Ap. 9, 1780. Discharged Dec. 31, 1781.
REGIMENT UNKNOWN.
OTIS ALLEY. Engaged Ap. 6, 1781 for 3 years .*
HENRY SMITH. Engaged May 1, 1781 for 3 years .*
ABNER COFFIN. Engaged May 9, 1782.
SOLOMON DROWN. Engaged May 10, 1782.
WILLIAM C. PEAVEY. Engaged May 18, 1782.
JONATHAN ELLIS. Engaged May 18, 1782.
t PETER COOK. Enlisted Sept. 1779 for one year.
EPHRAIM ALLEY of Rochester enlisted for Madbury, Sept. 1779 for one year.
CESAR WINGATE. Engaged June 6, 1781 for 3 years .* He was Capt. Ham's slave.
There were many others who served their Country upon the seas, in privateering vessels. It is difficult to find even the names of these men, much more to learn any particular account of their ser-
* Claimed by the Town as in service May 13, 1782.
¡ These names are found in Vol. XV. of the State Papers on the return of the "1st Regiment in the County of Strafford whereof Stephen Evans is Colonel," as having enlisted from Rochester for three years. Daniel Wingate, Jr. and Daniel Walton are on the same list. Perhaps they are the same as Daniel Wingate and Daniel Watson. Thomas Ellis is also credited to Rochester, May 30, 1782. [Editor.]
# On roll of absentees from Col. Cilley's regiment at Valley Forge Jan. 10, 1778, is "William Sharper Left at Sopers. Desarted." Perhaps the same man. [Editor.]
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ROCHESTER.
vices and adventures. Among them were Benjamin, Caleb, Joseph, and Timothy Roberts, and Isaac Hanson, who sailed with the gallant Paul Jones. With them was George Roberts of Middleton. Benja- min served also in the army, and died in 1830 at the age of 76. George Roberts sailed in 1778 from Portsmouth in the Ranger and in 1779 in "Bon Homme Richard." James Marden was Drummer in 2d N. H. Regiment in Capt. James Carr's Company.
During the first years of the war, there was little difficulty in fur- nishing the town's proportion of soldiers. Militia officers were fre- quently called upon to raise men from their companies, and the town appointed a committee to co-operate with them. The term of service was not long, and scarcely anything was paid for bounties. The first bounty appears to have been paid in 1777, - £34 each to 14 men. After the hardships of the Canada expedition, which bore so severely upon the Rochester men under Captains Place, Brewster, and Daniel McDuffee, volunteering received a check. The first ex- citement was over. Enthusiasm had somewhat abated. It was found that the war was no pastime of a few months, but a business which would require years of determined and stubborn fighting. An appeal had been made to the town to abate the taxes of those men who suffered at Ticonderoga, and to repay those who had ad- vanced money to hasten the enlistment of volunteers. The town at first refused to grant either of these requests. Repeatedly called on to furnish their quota to fill the Continental regiments for three years, or for the war, they satisfied themselves with voting to raise only nine months' men, offering $100 * bounty; but it was found impossible to raise them upon these terms. A recruiting committee was appointed, but at the end of one month they reported in town- meeting that they had been able to enlist only one man, though they had encouragement from others. "Encouragement " seems to have been the only result of their effort. The people now saw their mistake and began to retrace their steps. They presented to the selectmen a large petition for another town meeting. They then voted to repay the money which individuals had advanced to procure enlistments, to abate the poll taxes of men in Place's and Brewster's companies, and to pay every soldier who had served in the campaign of 1777, thirty dollars. These measures were attended with greater success. In 1779 the town was called upon
* This is the first time dollars is used to denote the currency, - Ap. 20, 1778.
73
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
for eleven men for the war. A recruiting committee was appointed with discretionary power to pay such bounties as were necessary, to enlist men in or out of town on as reasonable terms as they were able, to pay bounties in money or in produce, and to call on the selectmen to cash the bills. At this time the currency was rapidly depreciating, and bounties as rapidly rising. In 1780 twelve hun- dred dollars each was paid for six months' men. Volunteers pre- ferred produce to paper currency, and in 1781 the selectmen charged the town for 1,033 bushels of corn paid the soldiers. Even the State preferred produce to its own bills of credit, for the town paid a State tax in 1780 with 13,425 pounds of beef, and in 1781 with 171} gal- lons of West India rum. In 1780 five quires of paper for the use of the town cost sixty pounds, or about $2.50 a sheet. Deacon Knowles was paid $400 for expenses to Concord, in part, on town business. The price fixed for labor on the highway this year was fifty dollars per day, workmen finding their own tools. Not only was paper money nearly worthless, but the State was flooded with counterfeit bills. At first sight, one feels that it is little credit to the acuteness of the selectmen that they should charge $832 counterfeit money in one item. Yet the sum does not look so large when reduced to a silver standard, seventy-five dollars in paper being only equal to one dollar in silver. It is not strange that prices were exorbitant, and the spirit of speculation prevalent. Nor is it to be wondered at that efforts were made to counteract this spirit and restrict the prices of necessaries by legislation. Imitating the example of Portsmouth many towns -Rochester among others - appointed committees to regulate prices. It does not appear what measures the Rochester committee adopted, but prices continued at a high figure, in defiance of all their efforts. An idea of the rapid depreciation of the cur- rency during the Revolution, may be formed from the following statement showing the amount of town expenses for each year : -
48
s. d.
s. d.
1774,
125 11
10
1779,
£ 11558 3 10
1775,
145
13
512
1780,
about 115250
1776, 245 13
7
1781,
1894
18 2
1777, 806 12 0
1782,
1005
2 2
1778, 3047 10
6
1783,
464
12
0
In 1780, when the depreciation was the greatest, £2,799 16s. 9d. was in part for Mr. Haven's salary, £10,000 for the meeting-house,
6
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ROCHESTER.
and the town's proportion of the State tax £34,943 5s. 7d. The new currency came into use in 1781, and affairs began to improve.
The recruiting committees appointed from time to time were as follows: -
April, 1778, William McDuffee, Lt. Ebenezer Ricker.
July, 1778, Ichabod Corson.
April, 1779, 3 William McDuffee, Ichabod Corson.
Ichabod Corson,
John Brewster, 1779, David Leighton, Ebenezer Ricker.
Upon the proclamation of peace in 1783, there was naturally great rejoicing throughout the land. We cannot better close this chapter than in the words of Rev. Mr. Haven from -
Lev. 26: 6. " And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land."
" We have the confirmation of peace - a happy peace. It is one of the most joyful events in the memory of any among us. One of the most powerful and warlike nations in the world has taken up arms against us, and, in less than eight years, has been brought to comply with the very terms we proposed to them. Washington has obtained a great name in the earth, and perhaps is deservedly called the greatest general in the world - a man whose memory will be ever dear to his country - a man of whom even his enemies are obliged to speak well. The name of Washington has struck Great Britain with awe, and has hushed the clamors of war. We were poor and despised - we were looked upon as rash and imprudent, and as a people marked out to be crushed by the iron rod of oppres- sion. But now the happy day has arrived in which we rank with nations of fame, and feel our weight among the kingdoms of the earth. Let us consider who are
our benefactors. Let us give thanks to God who is our greatest benefactor. Then let us call to mind those heroes who have sacrificed their lives to secure the rights and privileges we now enjoy. Let the memory of the dead be precious to us, whether the fatal lead ended their days, or they died a natural death in the camp. Next let us bear in mind what our worthies have done who have lived through the war and now partake of that peace for which they have contended. Shall we not honor those who under God have been the defense of our country, and have out- braved British veterans ? And now peace is restored let all animosities die. Let us be friendly to that country which we were once fond of calling our parent. No more would we be under her government, but we can extend to her the hand of friendship as a sister kingdom."
CHAPTER VI. FIRST CENTURY OF CHURCH HISTORY.
" We know, and what is better, we feel inwardly that religion is the basis of civil society, and the source of all good and of all comfort." - Burke.
OUR forefathers were a religious people, and prized, above all other institutions, the preaching of the Gospel. It was for religious more than political freedom that the pilgrims left the old world to find a home in the wilds of America. They established the closest alliance between the church and civil government, so that church membership became the essential qualification for the enjoyment of civil franchises. The settlers of New Hampshire were imbued to a large extent with these vigorous religious feelings. The first and heaviest taxes were for the support of the ministry; and although the burden was great, yet to maintain the institutions of religion was ever considered their first and chief duty. For nearly a cen- tury, the history of the town is bound up in the history of the church. The church might well be called the heart of the town. Town meetings, in many cases, related exclusively to the affairs of the ministry. The body of the people hired the candidates for the pulpit ; invited to the pastorship; voted the salaries, which were raised by general taxation; called the councils; built the meeting- houses and parsonages ; dismissed or buried the ministers ; and per- formed many other acts of authority in relation to church affairs. The proprietors took the first steps some years before the inhabi- tants had gained a voice in town affairs. They voted April, 1730, to build a meeting-house, -
" forty feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and eighteen feet stud; to be well framed & Inclosed &c. Voted also that Capt. Sam" Tebbets Paul Gerrish Esqr mr John Wengit & Mr Joseph Jennes be a Committee to agree with any person or per- sons to build and Parfict the same."
A tax of three pounds was laid upon each share. The meeting- house was erected the following year, at the fork of the roads near
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ROCHESTER.
where the late Gershom Horne lived. This was a spot well chosen, being near the middle of the settlement, upon high land, and easily accessible by roads from different directions. It soon became the most thickly settled part of the town, for everything at that period derived special value and importance from proximity to the church. This was the only place for every kind of public gathering. Here the people congregated weekly for worship. Here they met to dis- cuss all questions which concerned the general welfare. It was the political, moral, and social, as well as religious center. From this, as the place of Sabbath worship-the house of God-went forth influences the most elevating, refining, and chastening upon the hearts of the people.
" A gentle life spreads round the holy spires, Where'er they rise, the sylvan waste retires, And aery harvests crown the fertile lea."
Nothing was wanting on the part of the proprietors, so far as vot- ing could do it, to supply the town with a settled ministry. The inhabitants had reason to expect the prompt fulfillment of their flat- tering promises. Perhaps they enjoyed occasional preaching; for Mr. Adams, Mr. Pike, and Mr. Cushing, ministers of neighboring towns, manifested much interest in the religious condition of the colony. They attended, and one of them sometimes presided over proprietary meetings when measures to supply the pulpit were debated. They also served upon committees to procure a minister. They would not be likely, therefore, to leave the people entirely destitute of religious instruction.
But a minister was not yet settled. To vote that it should be done, was not doing it. Differences arose between the proprietors and the settlers, as to which should bear the expense of supporting the Gospel. These differences increased from year to year. The proprietors being mostly non-residents, were dilatory, and paid their taxes reluctantly. The settlers were poor and unable to bear heavy taxation, and yet were suffering for want of a pastor. Recourse was had to the Provincial Assembly. The proprietors gladly availed themselves of an act passed May 10, 1731, by which the inhabitants were joined with them in being obliged to maintain the minister. They even voted to support a minister seven years longer than was required in the act. A year and a half passed away, and still they had no pastor. The people became uneasy. William Chamberlain,
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