USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Wilton > History of the town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with a genealogical register > Part 10
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We continue the record of the doings of the town :
1780, Dec. 5. Chose Mr. William Abbot. Jr .. to represent the town of Wilton and one mile slip and Duxbury school farm in the General Assembly of this state for the terni of one year.
Also Voted, to empower said representatives to vote in the choice of delegates for the Continental Congress. and also to join in calling a convention to settle a plan of government for this state.
1781. May 17.
Agreeable to a resolve of the General Assembly of this state.
Voted. to elect one person to represent the inhabitants of this town in a convention. to be holden at Concord on the first Tuesday of June next. for the purpose of laying a plan, or system, of government for the fu- ture happiness and well being of the people of this state.
Chose Mr. Jonathan Martin to represent the town in the aforesaid convention.
Sept. 13.
Voted. to repair the bridge over the river below Mr. Ephraim Peabody's. Chose Abiel Abbot. Jeremiah Abbot and Ebenezer Chandler to repair said bridge. and that the committee proceed to rebuild, or repair. said bridge. and exhibit their accounts.
Oct. 30.
Chose Joseph Abbot to serve as grand juror. Whereas the town tax for 1780 was made in old continental currency. and there is a part thereof remains unpaid. and the currency is called in :
Therefore Voted. that the constables for that year be directed to receive the outstanding taxes in New Hampshire new emission. at the rate of one of new emission for forty of the old continental currency. or
* The name undoubtedly should be Holden .- [S. Putnam.
t The following indorsement was on the back of the foregoing list from which this was copied : " The within Mem. was made by Jonathan Burton who was an officer in the New Hampshire Militia from Wilton, N. I. See original in the Papers of Huldah Burton, ad- ministratrix. July 4. 1836, N. 11."-[S. Putnam.
102
HISTORY OF WILTON.
RECORD OF THE DOINGS OF THE TOWN .- CONTINUED.
1781. Oct. 30. in silver money at the rate of one for one hundred and sixty of said continental currency.
Also, that the constables for the year 1781 be directed to receive the half tax in new emission. or in hard money at the rate of one silver dollar for four of the new emission.
Chose Mr. William Abbot. Jr .. to represent the town in the General Assembly. to be holden at Exeter on the third Wednesday in December next. at three o'clock in the afternoon. and empower him. for the term of one year from their first meeting. to transact such business and pursue such measures as they judge necessary for them.
1782. Jan. 8.
Noted, not to accept of the form of government as it is now proposed : 69 against. and none for it.
Chose Rev. Abiel Fisk, Capt. Isaac Frye. Maj. Abiel Abbot, Jacob Abbot. Maj. Greele. Mr. Moses Putnam. Mr. William Abbot, Capt. Putnam. Alexander Milli- ken. Capt. Hawkin, Ens. Stiles. and Lt. Burton for a committee to make such alterations in the form of gov- erment as they shall think proper, and lay the same before the town .*
OBJECTIONS TO ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION, CONTAINED IN THE TOWN RECORDS.
To the Honorable the Council and House of Representatives for the State of New Hampshire in General Court to be convened at Exeter on the second Wednesday in Febry Instant.
The Petition of the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth. that. upon hearing the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Enion proposed by the United States in Congress assembled, distinctly and repeatedly read. and mature- ly considering the same. We find ourselves constrained. painful as it may be. to Petition your Honors to examine with a candid and Jealous Eye the following Articles of Confederation, and. if your Honors think best. to Remonstrate and Petition to the Congress of the United States respecting the same. The Articles which strike our Minds with concern are as fol- lows:
In the Fifth Article one clause is, that in determining Questions in the United States in Congress assembled, Each state shall have one vote. This has no regard to muuubers or Property: and we fear will have a Tendency to break our Union. The Eighth Article directs that the Con- tinental, or public. Chest shall be supply'd by the several States in pro- portion to the value of granted and surveyed Lands. improvements and buildings thereon.
* The records of the town from this date until I>51 were destroyed in the fire of Janu- ary 20, 1851 .- [S. Putnam.
103
PETITION TO GENERAL COURT.
This has no reference to the No. of polls. live stock. stock in trade or at Interest.
The Ninth AArticle, the first Clanse, grauts to the United States in Con- gress assembled. the sole and exclusive Right and power of Determining on Peace and War. except in the Cases mentioned in the sixth Article: Is it not a power Greater than the King of Great Brittian in Council or with the House of Lords ever had? or greater than the seven United States of Holland gave their Statholders? May we not suppose that the Mem- bers of that August Body. conscious of the Rectitude of their own Inten- tions, have no Room left to Suspect the Integrity of any future Members thereof? But altho' we admit and believe that Virtue fills the Breast of every Member of that Honorable Body at this Day : We have no good Degree of certainty. that That will be always the Case.
If Canada should acceed to this Confederation. There will be fourteen States: then it will take Eight to make a Majority. In this Case it re- quires the Assent of nine, which is but one more than a bare Majority : those Nine. admitting there is a possibility of their being vicious Men. may. in some future time, by one exertion involve us in War that may cost us much Blood and Treasure.
Another Clause in the Ninth Article mentions their Transmitting to every State a Copy of the sums of Money they borrow or Emit. We would wish they had added (and the Expenditure or applying the same).
We. your petitioners, could wish an alteration in the above mentioned Articles, but. sensible of our unacquaintedness with Politicks. we presume not to prescribe, but pray your Honors' Mature Consideration thereon. . Signed in behalf of the Town.
Joseph Holt. · Selectmeu Jona Burton. of Wilton.
John Dale. Junr )
Wilton. Febry jot 1778.
At a Legal Town Meeting, held at the Meeting House in Wilton ou Tuesday. the 10th Day of February. A. D. 1778. by Adjonrument, after hearing the above petition repeatedly and distinctly read, and maturely considering the same. Voted that the Selectmen of Wilton in behalf of the Town Sign and transmit to the General Court.
AAttest. Joseph Holt. Town Clerk.
JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. N. II.
1776. Dec. 11. Voted, That Dr. Moses Nichols, of Amherst, be Colonel of the Sixth Regiment of Militia of this state; That Capt. Noah Lovewell be Lient. Colonel, and Capt. Samuel Chase be First Major, and Capt. Abiel Abbot be Second Major of said regiment.
1777. Jan. 14. Voted. That Eliphalet Giddings of Exeter. William White of Chester. Otis Baker of Dover, Abiel Abbot. Esq .. of Wilton, Thomas Sparhawk. Esq .. of Walpole,
104
HISTORY OF WILTON.
1777. Jan. 14.
and Samuel Emerson, Esq .. of Plymouth, be muster- masters and paymasters of the Continental Battalions now raising in this State, and that the President Notify them accordingly.
Jan. 15.
Voted. That the following Officers be appointed to their Several offices. hereafter mentioned. in Col. Seammell's Regiment. viz. : Lient. William Scott. late of Camden. to be a Captain: William Hawkins .* of Wilton. First Lieutenant : Samuel Breding. of Tem- ple, Second Lieutenant : Jason Russell. of Mason. Ensign.
1778. Jan. 3.
Roll of Capt. Nathan Ballard allowed and paid £165. Roll of Capt. Philip Putnam allowed and paid €172 5d. Major Abiel Abbot's account as muster-master. £3080, settled.
1780. Oct. 19.
Vote for the treasurer to discount with Timothy Dale. con-table of Wilton. 3763 Dollars out of the tax of said town; it being for so much advanced by said Dale to Jonathan Martin by order of the Committee of Safety.
1781, March 30.
Voted. That Noah Lovewell, Esq. of Dunstable. be ap- pointed First Colonel of the regiment of this state lately commanded by Brig .- Gen. Nichols; that Sam- nel Chase. Esq .. of Litchfield, be Lient. Colonel : Abiel Abbot. Esq. of Wilton. First Major, and Capt. James Ford. of Nottingham West. Second Major of said regiment.
PETITION TO THE GENERAL COURT-COPIED FROM STATE PAPERS.
To the Honorable Council and Assembly to be Convened at Concord-
The Petition of us the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth That the Town of Wilton hath for some time past been deprived of a Justice of the peace (which we esteem a great privilege) And at a legal Meeting of the In- habitants of said Town. Voted to recommend William AAbbot, Jur to your Honors to be appointed to the Office of a Justice of the peace, a Com- pliance of this our request will greatly Oblige your Humble Petitioners- And as in duty bound Shall over pray-
Abiel Abbot Selectmen of Jona Burton Wilton in behalf Abraham Burton of said Town.
Wilton December Toth 1783. .
At a legal Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Wilton qualified to vote in Town Meeting on Thursday 16th of Novr 1786: It was put to Vote to see if the Town would chuse to have paper Money emitted on the
* The name is as found in the Journal; it should be William A. Hawkins .- [S. Putnam.
Elifhalet Putran
105
PETITIONS.
plan the Gen' Court hath proposed-passed in the negative Unanimously : Voters present 47-Put to vote to see if the Town would chuse to make any alterations in the proposed plan. passed in negative Unanimously, Voters present 47-A true Coppy from the minutes.
Attest William Abbot Jr T : Clerk.
PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL-COPIED FROM STATE
PAPERS.
To His Excellency the President & the Honorable Council of the State of New Hampshire-
We the Selectmen of Wiltou for the Present year-beg leave to reccom- mend the following Persons for field Officers of the *24 Regiment of Militia in sd State (viz)
Capt. Philip Putnam of Wilton-for Colonel Capt. Ezra Towne of New Ipswich-for Lt Colo
Lt. Samuel Gragg of Peterborough-for Majr Mr. Abijah Wheeler of Temple-for 2nd Maj"
Which we think give as great Satisfaction as any four Men we can think of that will take a Commissions all things considered.+
William Abbot Jr ) Selectmeu
Joseph Abbot of
John Dale Jr 1 Wilton.
RELATIVE TO MILITIA AFFAIRS.
Wilton June 19th 1786.
May it please your Excelleney-your letter ye 17th Instant was receiv'd by Colo Putnam, on which we are met & in answer-after Congratulating your Excellency on your arival to the presidency of the State-hopeing beleving & Joyfully relying on your wisdom & Goodness to stear us & Guide us in our Defiqualtys-We say. that we have taken all the Care in our power. to have the Regiment settled-& all the Difiqualty that we know of was the resolve respecting ye Number, time and our attention ; for the good of ye Melitia hath, so far succeed, that we are now. able to return a respectable Number for officers and Desier ye Comists may Com by Colo putnam-& Intreet the Blanks (if Consistant ) may Com for the remainder-as we hope to make a settlement very soon : unless some per- sons return from Court should advance. a New Doctring-we are unable to Determine the No of each Company today-and beg blank for it-the returns we will make as soon as posable of those. Not Now returned-we Intreet your Excellency to beleave us when we say that, under the Diti- qualty we have been brought into by sd resolve : we have Done all in our
* In the volume of State Papers from which this was copied the figures are 12. a mis- tike for 22.
t This is not dated, but undoubtedly it was in 1286 .- [S. Putnam.
106
HISTORY OF WILTON.
power to still the Complaint-& rejoice that we have succeeded so well- & remain your Excelleneys most obedient & very Humble Seryts
Francis Blood Ezra Towne Samuel Gragg
N. B. We have not had one of ye Melitia Book. but think we shall in due time. We Desier Colo putnam may make up by writing, or by word of mouth-all we have omitted.
COMMISSION OF CAPTAIN FRYE.
SEAL The United States of America in Congress Assembled. To Isaac Frye. Esquire: Greeting :
We. Reposing especial trust and confidence in your Patriotism. Valor. Confidence and Fidelity. Do. by these presents, constitute and appoint von to be a Captain in the Third New Hampshire Regiment, in the Army of the United States, to take rank as such from the 1st day of January A. D. 1776. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a Captain, by doing and performing all manner of things there- unto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers. under your command. to be obedient to your orders as Captain : And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time. as you shall receive from this, or a future Congress of the United States, or Committee of Congress for that purpose appointed. a Committee of the States. or Commander in Chief for the time being of the army of the United States, or any other your superior Officer, according to the rules and discipline of War. in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this, or a future Congress. the Committee of Congress before mentioned, or a Committee of the States.
Witness his Excellency John Jay Esqr President of the Congress of the United States of America. at Philadelphia, the 16th day of June 1779. and in the third year of our Independence.
Entered in the War Office and examined by the Board.
John Jay. AAttest-P. Soult. Secretary of the Board.
* Isaac Frye, of Wilton, was Quarter-master in the Third [New Hamp- shire] Regiment. Col. James Reed. in 1775. On February 26th, 1777. he was appointed. by the Committee of Safety. " a Captain in Col. Seammell's Regt instead of Capt. Scott, who declines." This Commission as here given bears date January Ist. 1776 or 1777 (the figure 6 being apparently altered from 7). March 4th. 1776. he was ordered to raise a company in Col. Seamnell's Regiment and receive £300 ont of the Treasury to pay bonnties. April 5th. 1782. he was appointed muster-master at Amherst.
Captain Frye was also breveted as major by an act of Congress. and his commission was signed by Thomas Mifflin on Nov. 27. 1783.
* Note by Dr. Bouton in State Paper-, Vol. VIII, p. 502.
107
CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.
EXTRACT FROM IRVING'S LIFE OF WASHINGTON.
At length arrived the wished-for news of peace. A general treaty had been signed at Paris on the 20th of January, 1783. An armed vessel. the Triumph. belonging to Count d' Estaing's squadron, arrived at Philadel- phia from Cadiz, on the 23d of March, bringing a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette to the President of Congress, communicating the intelli- gence. In a few days Sir Gay Carleton informed Washington by letter. that he was ordered to proclaim a cessation of hostilities by sea and land.
A similar proclamation issued by Congress, was received by Washing- ton on the 17th of April. Being unaccompanied by any instructions re- speeting the discharge of the part of the army with him. should the measure be deemed necessary, he found himself in a perplexing situation.
The accounts of peace received at different times, had raised an ex- peetation in the minds of those of his troops that had engaged " for the war, " that a speedy discharge must be the consequence of the proclama- tion.
Most of them could not distinguish between a proclamation of a cessa- tion of hostilities, and a definitive declaration of peace, and might con- sider any further claim on their military services an act of injustice. It was becoming difficult to enforce the discipline necessary to the coher- ence of an army. Washington represented these circumstances in a let- ter to the president. and earnestly entreated a prompt determination on the part of Congress, as to what was to be the period of the services of these men. and how he was to act respecting their discharge.
One suggestion of his letter is expressive of his strong sympathy with the patriot soldier, and his knowledge of what formed a matter of pride with the poor fellows, who had served and suffered under him. He urged that, in discharging those who had been engaged " for the war." the non- commissioned officers and soldiers should be allowed to take with them. as their own property, and as a gratuity, their arms and accoutrements. " This act," observes he, " would raise pleasing sensations in the minds of these worthy and faithful men, who, from their early engaging in the war at moderate bounties, and from their patient continuance under in- munerable distresses. have not only deserved nobly of their country. but have obtained an honorable distinction over those who. with shorter terms, have gained large pecuniary rewards. This, at a comparatively small expense, would be deemed an honourable testimonial from Congress of the regard they bear to these distinguished worthies, and the sense they have of their suffering virtues and services. These constant com- panions of their toils, preserved with sacred attention, would be handed down from the present possessors to their children, as honorary badges of bravery and military merit : and would probably be brought forth on some future occasion with pride and exultation, to be improved with the same military ardor and emulation in the hands of posterity as they have been used by their forefathers in the present establishment and founda- tion of our national independence and glory." This letter despatched. he notified in general orders that the cessation of hostilities should be
108
HISTORY OF WILTON.
proclaimed at noon on the following day, and read in the evening at the head of every regiment and corps of the army. "after which." adds he. " the chaplains with the several brigades will render thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies, particularly for His overruling the wrath of man to His own glory. and causing the rage of war to cease among the na- tions."
Having noticed that this auspicious day. the 19th of April. completed the eighth year of the war, and was the anniversary of the eventful con- tliet at Lexington. He went on in general orders, to impress upon the army a proper idea of the dignified part they were called upon to act. ". The generous task for which we first flew to arms being accomplished : the liberties of our country being fully acknowledged, and firmly secured. and the characters of those who have persevered through every extremity of hardship, suffering, and danger. being immortalized by the illustrious appellation of the patriot army. nothing now remains, but for the actors of this mighty scene to preserve a perfect. unvarying consistency of charac- ter through the very last act. to close the drama with applause. and to re- tire from the military theatre with the same approbation of angels and men which has erowned all their virtuous actions."
The letter which he had written to the president produced a resolution in Congress that the service of the men engaged in the war did not expire until the ratification of the definitive articles of peace : but that the com- mander-in-chief might grant furloughs to such as he thought proper. and that they should be allowed to take their arm- with them.
Washington availed himself freely of this permission : furloughs were granted without stint ; the men set out singly or in small parties for their rustic homes, and the danger and inconvenience were avoided of disband- ing large masses, at a time. of unpaid soldiers.
Now and then were to be seen three or four in a group. bound probably to the same neighborhood, beguiling the way with camp jokes and camp stories. The war worn soklier was always kindly received at the farm houses along the road. where he might shoulder hi- gun and fight over hi- battles.
The men thus dismissed on furlough were never called upon to rejoin the army. Once at home, they sank into domestic life: their weapons were hung over their fireplaces : military trophies of the Revolution to be prized by future generations .*
* See Appendix 1.
CHAPTER X.
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The facilities for travel, intercourse and the communication of intelligence were, of course, in the time of our forefathers of the most meagre kind. Roads, one of the tests of civilization, were few and poor. It might be said, as in the time of the judges in ancient Israel, that "the highways were unoccupied," or, rather, that highways were not yet opened, and that "the travellers walked through byways." Foot paths from house to house, trails through the forest marked by blazed trees, were the first conveniences of the settlers. Men and women rode on horseback through the woods. And as roads for carriages were gradually opened, fords and ferries were slowly succeeded by bridges, and logs and rails were laid down for rough corduroy highways. The roads ran usually over the hills and shunned the valleys, as the settlers lived on the heights and avoided the lowlands as being marshy, damp and subject to floods, and also more exposed to surprises from the Indians. The roads also crooked around from house to house, without reference to di- rectness, so as to accommodate the settlers in the best way. It was rather remarkable, and showed the high aim of the pioneers, that, while they early set apart a portion of the land beforehand for the support of churches, schools and public improvements, they left the roads and bridge-building to the immediate care of the settlers, and to the tardy votes of the town. Roads would come of themselves by stress of necessity, but the minister, the teacher and the miller must be put beyond doubt or neglect. Bread for the body, and bread for the soul, must be subject to no contingencies.
So, in due time. the roads came as they were forced upon the public attention. But, as it was, there were ten appropriations for the church and the schools, where there was one for bridges and
110
HISTORY OF WILTON.
-
roads. In the extracts from the town records, previously given in Chapter VIII. (pp. 69-71), will be found votes of the town, passed during the last century, for the appropriation of suins to be ex- pended in the construction and repair of roads and bridges. It will be observed that the persons taxed for these improvements had the privilege of working out the tax at rates established by a vote of the town, and that those who furnished oxen, carts or ploughs were allowed credit at fixed rates for their use.
At a later period, we see by the following tabulated appropria- tions, drawn from the town records, how heavy a drain upon the re- sources of the town was made by maintaining old roads and bridges, and opening new ones, in the twenty-one years from 1825 to 1845 inelusive.
WILTON ROAD BILL FOR TWENTY-ONE YEARS.
YEAR.
NEW ROADS AND BRIDGES.
REPAIRING ROADS.
REPAIRING BRIDGES.
TOTAL.
1825
$208 44
1
$7 50
$113 21
$329 15
1826
750 44
, 00
38 00
793 44
1827
187 04
24 76
145 75
357 55
1828
528 05
3 00
138 12
669 17
1829
70 16
207 99
278 15
1830
12 00
3 75
60 51
76 26
1831
2205 71
6 24
89 02
260 72
1833
20 00
4 70
299 32
324 02
1835
18 30
296 08
314 38
1836
1883 73
24 62
121 64
2029 99
1837
2257 00
69 00
520 20
2846 20
1838
1072 04
694 68
188 57
1955 29
1839
298 00
379 20
238 50
915 70
1840
58 29
394 02
616 30
1068 61
1841
2194 00
91 63
619 18
2004 81
1842
3579 72
411 82
229 34
4220 88
1843
693 26
106 24
151 02
950 52
1844
360 58
92 61
112 62
565 81
1845
262 22
239 G1
501 83
$16.543 92
$2,599 29
$4,781 20
$23,924 41
The foregoing table of the expense of the town of Wilton for making new roads, improving roads, and building and repairing bridges, for the twenty-one years therein stated, does not include the highway tax. The town raised, the same years, a tax for repair- ing highways of from six to eight hundred dollars annually.
The account from which the foregoing was copied was made
270 45
2476 16
1832
165 46
85 77
85 77
1834
111
ROADS AND BRIDGES.
in 1846, by Jonathan Parkhurst and Oliver Barrett, at that time selectmen of Wilton, and was found in the "Old Chest" of records. The labor of breaking out the roads, when drifted, and of keeping them open in the winter during those years was voluntary, and that labor and expense were not made matters of record, though the amount was large.
But the truth about the Wilton roads has been stated so forci- bly by Isaac S. Whiting, Esq., in his address at the dedication of the Town Hall, that we cannot do better than quote his words :
But the greatest corporate work of the early days was the roads. No better mark of the progress of a people in civilization can be had than its means of communication. Judged by this standard, the early inhabitants occupy advanced ground. Hardly one of the annual half-dozen town meeting's passed without accepting a road. The rapid settlement of the lands necessitated the occupation of remote districts. The whole of the town was settled over early, and roads by which to get from place to place were indispensable. Doubtless we must not set too high a value upon these early road-makings. Their very number would prechide much ex- cellence, and there is no mention of appropriations. Two days' work upon the roads for every man was all that was voted to repair them. The trail, or the rude pathway, was all that was needed for the horse with panniers, or for the ox-cart. But the real road building of the town, and what I consider its greatest work until now, did not begin until 1825, and ended in 1852. Wagons had now come into general use, and the old roads leading mostly to the centre of the town had been widened aud smoothed. and the larger streams spanned with bridges. But now a spirit of im- provement and enterprise set in, and new roads were pushed through to open new lands, and serve as thoroughfares for ourselves and our neigh- The Peterborough road, the Forest road, the Mil- ford road and others were built in this period, and the grade lessened on some of the old oues. Familiarity with these means of travel. that most of us were born to, blinds us to their importance and to the immense la- bors our ancestors endured to obtain them. If, as we ride along with our sleigh full, we would but consider that once the pathway was as rough as the pastures and woods and boulders on either side, we should realize the debt we owe to our forerunners. Without them business would be impossible, and social intercourse all but unknown. The records are not complete. and my examination with Mr. Putuam has not been exhaustive. but we figure up $9000 spent in these years for construction and land dani- ages. The real cost must have been several thousand more, -perhaps not far behind the cost of this building [the Town Hall. $20,000]. If I men- tion the railroad, which was built by private enterprise. I have named nearly all the public institutions that belong to pioneer work.
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