USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire as it is. In three parts. Part I. A historical sketch of New hampshire. Part II. A gazetter of New Hampshire. Part III. A general view of New Hampshire. Together with the constitution of the State > Part 3
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The enforcement of the acts of trade and navigation caused some difficulty. Edward Randolph was appointed surveyor and collector of the customs throughout New England. He sometimes acted in a violent and arbitrary manner ; while the people, on their part, most strenuously resisted any assumption of authority. In the execution of his commission he seized a ketch belonging to Portsmouth ; and, having been brought before the council on complaint of the master of it, he behaved with such insolence that the court compelled him to make a public apology and ask for pardon. His deputy, Walter Barefoot, was fined ten pounds for his arbitrary proceedings in the matter.
In the latter part of 1680 Mason came from England, empowered by the king to take a seat in the council. He soon endeavored to compel the people to take leases of him ; but the council to which they appealed for protection forbade such proceedings, and stated their intention of transmitting the grievances of the people to the king. After this he refused to sit in the council, and soon re- turned to England. Meanwhile President Cutts died, and was succeeded by his deputy, Major Waldron. Under his administration affairs went on much as before.
Mason, finding he could accomplish nothing under the
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circumstances then existing, labored to bring about a change of government ; and at his solicitation the king appointed Edward Cranfield lieutenant governor and commander-in- chief of New Hampshire, who accepted the office with the hope of gain. To insure this, Mason engaged to pay him one hundred and fifty pounds annually, and mortgaged the province for security. By his commission, which was granted in May, 1682, he was vested with new and extraor- dinary powers. He could suspend members of the coun- cil, veto laws passed by the assembly, dissolve the same at his pleasure, erect courts, and pardon criminals. He soon showed his tyrannical disposition by suspending two mem- bers of the council, Waldron and Martyn, but restored them on the meeting of the assembly. Hoping to concil- iate him, the assembly voted him a present of two hundred and fifty pounds. But his good humor was shortlived. At the next session they refused to pass a bill which he presented them for the support of the government; and he dissolved the assembly, having previously suspended Stile- man, a member of the council.
This arbitrary proceeding excited the resentment of all the people. The excitement rose to such a pitch that sev- eral persons of Exeter and Hampton, headed by Edward Gove, a member of the dissolved assembly, declared for " liberty and reformation," and endeavored to bring about a revolution. But the project was so rash and dangerous that the principal men not only discountenanced it, but also aided in apprehending Gove and his followers. A court was immediately held, and he, with several others, was convicted of treason. All but Gove were soon set at liberty. He was sent to England, imprisoned in the Tower of London for three years, when he was pardoned and his estate restored.
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On the 14th of February, 1683, the governor called on the inhabitants to take leases of Mason within one month. This they refused to do ; but some of the principal land- holders proposed to refer the matter to the governor, that he might state it to the king. Mason objected to this, say- ing he would have nothing to do with them unless they would acknowledge his title.
Cranfield suspended several members of the council, and appointed in their places those who would be more sub- servient to his own wishes. Things being thus prepared, Mason took out a writ against Major Waldron for holding lands and selling timber to the amount of four thousand pounds. The latter challenged the jury as interested per- sons, some having taken leases of Mason, and all living upon lands which he claimed. But the trial went on, and judgment was rendered against the defendant. Suits were instituted against others, with similar results ; but as Ma- son could find no purchaser of the lands, and was unable to keep possession of them himself, they continued to enjoy them as before.
The governor, with his council, had now usurped the whole legislative power, so that the people were compelled to make a stand for their liberties. Having raised money by subscription, they appointed Nathaniel Weare to make complaint to the king.
In the mean time Cranfield was disappointed with regard to the accumulation of wealth. Having abused the people so much, he could expect nothing from their favor. He attempted to raise money by pretending fear of foreign in- vasion ; but the assembly refused to pass the bill, and he again dissolved them.
Mr. Moody, the minister of Portsmouth, being a strong advocate of the cause of the people, was the object of his
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peculiar vengeance. Soon after the dissolution of the as- sembly, he signified to Moody his intention to partake of the Lord's supper on the next Sabbath, and required him to administer it according to the liturgy. As Cranfield had foreseen, he refused to do so, never having been episco- pally ordained. An action was commenced against him, and he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, but was released at the end of three weeks on condition that he should preach no more in the province. He went to Bos- ton and remained there for several years, but afterwards returned to Portsmouth.
Cranfield now undertook to tax the people by the aid of the council without the consent of the assembly. But the council, though composed principally of his friends, re- fused to adopt this measure until the rumor of a plot among the Indians to renew hostilities in the spring aroused their fears.
Warrants for the collection of the taxes were issued in the summer of 1684; but the constables every where en- countered great opposition. At Exeter forcible resistance was made to the sheriff .* Mason ordered out the troop of horse under his command to assist in enforcing the laws ; but not a man appeared on the day appointed.
The agent who was sent to England had been waiting a long time for depositions from home. Cranfield retarded the business by refusing to summon and swear witnesses,
* "History will justify us in boasting somewhat of Old Exeter. We find her people ever ready to resist oppression in every form. When the royal gov- ernor, Cranfield, undertook to impose taxes on the people of New Hampshire without their consent, at Exeter, his officers who were sent to collect the tax were beaten off with clubs by the men, and attacked by the women, with true Antinomian spirit, with boiling water, whenever they attempted to enter their houses."- Speech of Henry C. French, Esq., at the " Second New Hampshire Festival."
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and also by denying access to the public records. Weare at length made out his complaint in general terms, which was referred to the Board of Trade, who summoned Cran field to make his defence. When the evidence was all pre- sented, new articles of complaint were drawn up. After a hearing, their lordships made a report censuring the course of Cranfield. He had before applied for leave of absence ; which was now granted, and he sailed for Jamaica. Wal- ter Barefoot, his deputy, succeeded him, and continued in office until superseded by Dudley as president of New Eng- land. During his administration a treaty of friendship was concluded with the Pennacook and Saco Indians. Hagkins, a chief of the former tribe, having heard that the Mohawks were coming to destroy them, besought the protection of the English. It was stipulated that personal injuries on either side should be redressed ; that information of approach- ing danger from enemies should be given ; that the Indians should not remove without giving due notice ; and that, while these articles were observed, the English should assist them and defend them against the Mohawks and all other enemies. The peace continued about four years. 4
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CHAPTER V.
The Charter of Massachusetts forfeited. - Dudley appointed President of New England. - Succeeded by Andros. - His tyrannical Proceedings. - Revo- lution in England. - Temporary Union with Massachusetts. - Allen ap- pointed Governor and Usher Lieutenant Governor. - King William's War. - Attack on Dover. - Salmon Falls. - Expedition to Canada. - Tempora- ry Peace. - Attack on Oyster River. - Conclusion of Peace. - Usher's Ad- ministration. - Partridge supersedes him. - The Earl of Bellamont is ap- pointed Governor, and visits New Hampshire. - Allen's Efforts. - Dudley appointed Governor.
THE British government was becoming more and more oppressive while Charles II. occupied the throne. Fre- quent complaints of the New England colonies were made to him, to which he gave a ready ear, even then fearing the rising spirit of liberty which existed among his distant sub- jects. Some time before his death he declared the charter of Massachusetts forfeited. His successor, James II., issued a commission, appointing Joseph Dudley president of New England - thus bringing New Hampshire under the same government with Massachusetts. He managed affairs with comparative moderation, in order to bring the new system into operation without exciting the resentment of the people. But in a few months he was succeeded by Sir Edmund An- dros as captain general and governor-in-chief of New Eng- land. Andros entered upon the duties of his office with the fairest professions, but soon showed himself a rapacious tyrant. He appointed only such to the council as were
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willing to aid him in his oppressive schemes. The liberty of the press was restricted. The people were allowed to hold a town meeting only once a year, and then for the choice of officers. To prevent complaints being carried to England, he forbade any one to leave the colony without his express permission.
While the colonies were suffering such oppression, the report of a revolution in England reached them. William III. ascended the throne in 1688; but, before the news was well authenticated, the people assembled and im- prisoned Andros. A committee of safety was organized to assume the reins of government until they should re- ceive orders from England Andros was sent home as a prisoner.
In the mean time the people of New Hampshire were left without a government. They waited for orders from the mother country, but none came ; and in 1690 they held a convention of deputies chosen from each town. This assembly petitioned to be admitted under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts; which was granted, and delegates were sent to the General Court of that colony for two or three years. Their own wish was to become a constituent part of Massachusetts; but the king refused to grant a charter to that effect.
Mason had made some unsuccessful attempts to recover his estate during the administration of Andros. He died in 1688, leaving two sons, John and Robert, heirs to the claim. They afterwards sold their title to the New Hamp- shire lands to Samuel Allen, of London, who solicited the king for a commission as governor. Notwithstanding the desire of the people to be annexed to Massachusetts, the king gave him the appointment, with John Usher as his
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lieutenant, with power to act in his absence. Usher ar- rived and entered upon his duties in 1692.
While the colony was suffering the embarrassment at- tendant on a change of government as well as the claims of the Masonian proprietors, a fresh war with the Indians broke out, commonly called King William's war. The Baron de St. Castine, a French nobleman, had chosen the rude life of an Indian trader, and was now living at Penob- scot. Being connected with some of the chiefs by mar- riage, he had great influence with the natives. In 1688 Andros plundered his house and fort. Justly indignant at this base act, he urged the Indians to war. They, too, had some real or supposed injuries to avenge; and it proved no difficult matter to arouse a sanguinary conflict.
Thirteen years had passed since the seizure of the In- dians at Dover ; but they still remembered it, and longed for vengeance. Some of those who had been sold into sla- very had returned to excite their brethren. Wonolanset, however, still regarded the prophetic injunction of his fa- ther, and kept aloof from the contest.
The first outbreak was at North Yarmouth, Maine, where they killed some cattle. Several were taken prison- ers ; but Andros, hoping to conciliate the natives, ordered them to be set at liberty. This clemency not proving ef- M fectual, he led an army into the wilderness, but saw no In- dians. After he was deposed, those who managed affairs tried to prevent the renewal of hostilities, and sent messen- gers and presents for this purpose ; but, though the savages made fair promises, they were ready to break them at the first opportunity.
On the evening of the 27th of June, 1689, two squaws applied at each of the garrisoned houses in Dover for lodg-
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ing. The people, fearing no danger, readily admitted them. Mesandowit, one of the chiefs, was entertained at Major Waldron's. " Brother Waldron," said he, with his usual familiarity, while they were at supper, "what would you do if the strange Indians should come ?" " I can as- semble a hundred men," was the reply, " by lifting up my finger." With this fatal confidence they retired to rest. When all was quiet, those within opened the gates and gave the signal. The savages rushed in and began their bloody work. Waldron, though eighty years of age, seized his sword and drove the assailants back through two doors, but was stunned by a blow from a hatchet. He was then put to death with the most cruel tortures. Twenty-three persons were killed in this attack and twenty-nine taken prisoners. The captives were carried to Canada and sold to the French.
Several expeditions were now made against the enemy, but without success -the most that they could do being to destroy their corn. In the winter of 1690 the Count de Frontenac, governor of Canada, despatched three parties to lay waste the English settlements. One party attacked Salmon Falls ; and, though the inhabitants fought bravely, they were overpowered, with the loss of thirty killed and fifty-four prisoners. Their buildings were consumed, with the cattle which were in the barns. A number of men col- lected from the neighboring towns pursued them. A sharp conflict ensued ; but the Indians, having the advantage of situation, escaped.
After this predatory excursions were frequently made. Some were killed at Newington and at Exeter. 'Two com- panies which were out scouting came up with the enemy at Wheelwright's Pond, in Lee, where a bloody conflict took
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place. Fifteen of the English, including Captain Wiswal, were killed, and several wounded.
The colonies now resolved to make an expedition against Canada, which was regarded as the source of their troubles. In 1690 an army of two thousand men was raised, and the command given to Sir William Phipps ; but they did not reach the vicinity of Quebec until October. The troops be- came sickly and dispirited ; and this, in connection with the lateness of the season, compelled them to return without having accomplished any thing. But fortunately the In- dians desired a cessation of hostilities ; and peace continued until the next summer, when they attacked Wells, in Maine, but were repulsed. Soon after several persons were killed at Rye. But the colonists had become accus- tomed to Indian warfare, and were well prepared for de- fence. They kept out ranging parties to guard their fron- tiers and save them from surprisal. This kept the enemy so much in subjection that but little mischief was done; and in 1693 they sued for peace. They agreed to deliver up all their captives, to become subjects of the English government, and to observe perpetual peace. They might, perhaps, have kept their promises ; but the French urged them to renew the war. The very next year, Villieu; who was the commander at Penobscot, accompanied by a French priest, led a force of two hundred men against Oyster Riv- er, then a part of Dover, but now Durham. There were twelve garrisoned houses, of which five were destroyed ; the rest were successfully defended. Between ninety and one hundred persons were killed or taken prisoners. From this time until 1697 the inhabitants of New Hampshire continued to suffer from the incursions of their savage foe, though but few events occurred worthy of note. Among the victims was the widow of President Cutts. In 1696
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they made an attack at Portsmouth plain and killed four- teen.
After peace was concluded between the English and French governments, Count Frontenac told the Indians that he could no longer assist them, and advised them to bury the hatchet and restore the captives. They hesitated for a time, but finally made a treaty of peace. Most of the captives were restored. Thus terminated this distressing war with a cruel and treacherous foe.
Meanwhile Usher was managing the civil affairs of the colony. Somewhat imperious and overbearing in his man- ners, his conduct by no means pleased the liberty-loving sons of New Hampshire ; and the fact that he was in the interest of one who laid claim to their lands was enough to excite a prejudice against him, and to render his admin- istration, though devoid of any remarkable occurrences, a scene of petty strife.
In 1697 William Partridge, of Portsmouth, received a commission appointing him lieutenant governor in place of Usher. One of his first acts was to restore several mem- bers of the council who had been suspended by his prede- cessor. But the next year, the Earl of Bellamont, having been appointed governor of New York, Massachusetts Bay, and New Hampshire, came to New York, where he re- mained the first year after his arrival. During that time Allen .came over and assumed the command. His short administration was marked by continual altercations be- tween himself and the people. But in the spring of 1699 the Earl of Bellamont set out to visit his eastern colonies, and assumed the government of New Hampshire, to the great joy of the people. Partridge, who had withdrawn on the arrival of Allen, now returned and resumed his
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office. The earl departed in about eighteen days, leaving Partridge in command.
Allen now attempted to obtain possession of the territo- ry which he had purchased of the Masons. But the judg- ments of the courts previously rendered in favor of the claimants could not now be found, and he was compelled to commence anew. The courts of the colony having de- cided against him, he appealed to the king. Failing in the proof of some important points, he lost his case, though the royal council gave him permission to begin new suits in the New Hampshire courts. But at length, wearied out with continued disappointment and delay, he proposed to make a compromise with the people ; but his sudden death pre- vented its consummation.
In the mean time the Earl of Bellamont died ; and Queen Anne appointed Joseph Dudley governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. This was in 1702. The next year Usher was again appointed lieutenant governor.
After the death of Allen his son and heir renewed the suit ; but the jury rendered a verdict against him. He ap- pealed to the queen ; but the ministry suspended the final decision ; and at length his death ended the contest
CHAPTER VI.
Dudley holds a Conference with the Indians. - They commence Hostilities. - Various Attacks. - Defence of Durham. - Expeditions against Port Royal. - Death of Colonel Hilton. - Attempted Reduction of Canada. - Appoint- ment of Shute and Vaughan as Governor and Lieutenant Governor. - The latter is superseded by John Wentworth. - Progress in industrial Pur- suits. - Settlement of Londonderry. - Incorporation of new Towns. - Governor Shute returns to England. - More Trouble with the Indians. - Causes of their Hostility to the English. - Attempt to capture Ralle. - At- tack on Dover and other Places. - Expedition to Norridgewock and Death of Ralle. - Adventures of Captain Lovewell. - Ratification of Peace.
DUDLEY, on assuming his office, had some fears of an In- dian outbreak; and to prevent this, if possible, he called together the chiefs of several tribes and with them con- firmed peace, which they made the most solemn promises to maintain inviolate. But, notwithstanding their fair pro- fessions, urged on by the French, they soon renewed hos- tilities. The first attack was made in August, 1703, - only a few months after the conference, - upon the eastern set- tlements of Maine. From this time until peace was de- clared, in 1713, the inhabitants of the frontiers were kept in constant fear. Yet no very memorable actions were per- formed ; and the history of this war, commonly called Queen Anne's war, so far as it relates to New England, presents little else than individual instances of suffering and cruelty.
At Hampton village the savages killed five persons ;
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among whom was the widow Mussey, a speaker among the Friends. A winter expedition was undertaken against them, but resulted in nothing. In the spring of 1704 they renewed hostilities and attacked the settlements on Oyster and Lamprey Rivers. Colonel Church soon after sailed along the eastern shore and did the enemy considerable damage. In 1706 they attacked the garrison at Durham. The men were all absent ; but the women, putting on hats and disguising themselves as much as possible, defended the place so valiantly that the enemy fled. The next win- ter Colonel Hilton succeeded in surprising eighteen of the savages ; which, on account of the difficulty of finding the enemy, was regarded as a great victory. The same year an expedition was fitted out against Port Royal,* in Nova Scotia, the capital of the French settlements. On landing, they fell into an ambuscade of the Indians ; but Walton and Chesley, at the head of the New Hampshire troops, pushed on and put the enemy to flight. But disagreements arose among the officers ; and finally the army returned sickly and dispirited, but without having suffered any great loss.
For a considerable time but little was done on either side. The Indians were still prowling about, ready to fall upon any whom they might find off their guard. In 1710 a new effort was made to reduce Port Royal, which proved successful. While preparations were being made for this, and before the officers were appointed, New Hampshire was called to mourn the loss of the brave Colonel Winthrop Hilton. He had gone out with several others to a consid- erable distance from home to peel the bark from some trees which had been felled. While engaged in this the Indians
* Now called Annapolis.
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rushed suddenly upon them and killed three, one of whom was Colonel Hilton, and took two prisoners. The rest fled, unable to make any defence, their guns being wet. Thus fell this gallant man, to the great grief of the colony.
In 1711 the English government sent over a force to aid the colonies in attempting the conquest of Canada. To this New Hampshire contributed one hundred men. The army consisted of more than six thousand men, well sup- plied with the munitions of war. They set out with the fairest prospects of success ; but in one fatal night their hopes were blasted. A part of the fleet was wrecked in the St. Lawrence, and a thousand men perished : the rest returned. This failure emboldened the Indians, who re- newed their attacks at Exeter, Oyster River, and Dover. But in 1712 the news of the peace of Utrecht was received, to the great joy of the people. Hostilities were then sus- pended ; and not long after a formal peace was ratified with the Indians. A vessel was then sent to Quebec to ex- change prisoners. By this many were released from what had seemed a hopeless bondage and restored to their home and friends. Some, however, had become so attached to the life of the Indian that they preferred to remain rather than to return to civilized life.
On the accession of George I. to the throne of England, in 1715, a change of government was expected; and, though the assembly petitioned for the continuance . of Dudley, their request was not granted. Samuel Shute was appointed governor of Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire, and George Vaughan lieutenant governor of the lat- ter province. As Dudley was in daily expectation of his successor, though not then actually superseded, he gave up the command of New Hampshire to the lieutenant ; so that for a year Vaughan had the sole management of affairs.
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He attempted to establish the land tax of Great Britain in his province - a procedure which greatly offended the people.
Governor Shute arrived and published his commission in 1716. On assuming his office he removed several of the . councillors, and appointed citizens of Portsmouth in their places. This gave offence to the other towns of the colony. as they feared the preponderance of the trading interest. In the mean time a controversy arose between the govern- or and his lieutenant -the latter claiming the right to ex- ercise the command whenever the former was absent from the province. As Shute resided most of the time in Bos- ton, this would have given Vaughan almost the exclusive administration of business ; but, having disobeyed some of the instructions of the governor, he was complained of to the king, who removed him, and appointed John Went- worth in his place.
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