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 4
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During the long and distressing war with the Indians it required all the energy of the people of New Hampshire to save themselves from utter destruction. But the glad re- turn of peace brought with it a desire to develop the re- sources of the infant state. The noble white pines of the forest were well adapted to the use of the royal navy ; and, to preserve those suitable for masts, a surveyor was ap- pointed to mark all such with a broad arrow, and a law was enacted forbidding any person to cut a tree thus re- served except at the direction of the surveyor. But the peo- ple sometimes violated the law, which their acquaintance with the woods enabled them to do, often with impunity. They complained, too, that the surveyor neglected to mark the trees, and then prosecuted those who ventured to use them.
There were also in some localities many pitch-pine trees
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from which tar and turpentine were manufactured. A company of merchants attempted to monopolize the manu- facture of these articles ; but, when a large number of trees were prepared for use, they were destroyed by unknown hands.
The raising of hemp was commenced, but not prosecuted to any great extent, as there was no more land under cul- tivation than was needed for other purposes. Encourage- ment was given to the manufacture of iron - the ore being abundant in several localities. For the further.encourage- ment of the colonists, as well as for the benefit of the mother country, lumber was admitted into England free of duty.
In the spring of 1719 the province received an accession of inhabitants from the north of Ireland. They were the descendants of Scotch Presbyterians who had settled in the counties of Antrim and Londonderry for the sake of great- er religious freedom ; but as some penal laws were still in force, and as they were compelled to pay tithes, they deter- mined to seek a home in the new world. One hundred and twenty families embarked for America; of whom a part landed at Boston, the rest at Portland. Sixteen families selected a place then called Nutfield * as their future home. Soon after their arrival at this place a sermon was preached under a large oak, which was long regarded with peculiar veneration. As soon as they were settled they called Mc- Gregore to be their minister, who remained with them un- til his death. He is said to have been "a wise, affection- ate, and faithful guide to them both in civil and religious concerns." In the mean time they received additions to their number; and in 1722 their town was incorporated
* On account of the large number of walnut and chestnut trees growing there.
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under the name of Londonderry - from a city in Ireland memorable for its defence when besieged by the army of King James. Some of their number had suffered the hard- ships of this siege.
These settlers were conscientious, frugal, and industri- ous, and, as might have been expected, rapidly increased in wealth and influence. Their descendants emigrated to various places in New England, and now number many thousands. Among them are reckoned some of the most distinguished men of our country.
The way was now paved for the settlement of other un- occupied lands; and in 1722 four townships - Chester, Nottingham, Barrington, and Rochester - were chartered and incorporated. The signing of these charters was the last official act of Governor Shute. Though the people of New Hampshire were well satisfied with his management, he encountered so much opposition in Massachusetts that he returned to England. Lieutenant Governor Wentworth then took the command.
Again was the colony called to endure the hardships of an Indian war. Again the war whoop of the savage was heard, while the smoke of burning dwellings marked his · destructive progress.
There were various causes which operated to bring on this war. The English had always treated the Indians as subjects of the royal government, and, as such, endeavored to control them ; while the French permitted them to re- tain their savage independence. The royal governors at the north did not endeavor, like William Penn, to gain their good will by kind and just treatment. They some- times purchased land of them, but generally for an incon- siderable price. Even when a purchase was made, the In- dians, having no records, soon forgot the transaction, or
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thought that bargains made by their ancestors were not binding upon themselves. They complained, too, of the traders, who often took advantage of their ignorance. At first they were not aware that the building of dams and the cultivation of the soil would lessen their supplies of fish and game ; but when they found this to be the case they determined to check the further progress of the English.
The Jesuits had, at an early period, established mission- ary stations among the eastern Indians .* One of these was at Norridgewock, on the Kennebeck, under the care of Sebastian Ralle. By his gentle, condescending deport- ment, and by his kind treatment of the natives, he had gained their confidence and good will to such an extent that he possessed almost unlimited influence over them ; but the English regarded him as the chief instigator of strife, and determined on his capture. For this purpose a party was despatched under Colonel Westbrook; but Father Ralle escaped. This was in the winter of 1722. The In- dians could not suffer such an attempt against their spirit- ual father to remain long unrevenged. Before this they had been troublesome to the settlers in the eastern towns- burning their hay, killing their cattle, and the like ; but now they prepared for more desperate measures. The next summer they took several prisoners at Merry Meeting Bay, and soon after destroyed Brunswick. The govern- ment then decided upon hostilities ; and a formal declara- tion of war was issued at Boston and Portsmouth.
The first appearance of the enemy in New Hampshire was at Dover ; their next at Lamprey River; and soon after they attacked the settlements at Oyster River, Kingston, and Chester. There were several families of Quakers at
* Called by the French the Abenequis.
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Dover, who refused to use any means of defence, believing the use of arms unlawful. The savages marked the house of John Hanson for their prey. While Hanson, two of his sons, and his oldest daughter were absent, they entered the house and took his wife, with four of his children, prison- ers. Mr. Hanson afterwards went to Canada and redeemed his wife and three of the children. The other, a daughter, he could not obtain. He started a second time, hoping to procure her release, but died at Crown Point while on his way to Canada.
In 1724 a second expedition was made against Norridge- . wock. Father Ralle and a large number of the Indians were killed. The victorious party destroyed the chapel, and brought away the plate and furniture of the altar as trophies of the battle. Ralle was then sixty-eight years of age, and had been a missionary among the Indians for thir- ty-one years.
The colonial government offered a reward of one hun- dred pounds for each Indian scalp. This, together with · their hatred of the enemy, induced many parties to go out as volunteers. One of these companies, under the com- mand of Captain John Lovewell, of Dunstable, was much distinguished, at first by success, and afterwards by misfor- tune. In the first excursion they killed one and took a boy alive. Returning to Boston, they received the prom- ised reward and several presents in addition. This success increased the number of the company to seventy. They started on a second expedition ; but their provisions fell short, and thirty of the number were dismissed. The re- mainder went on, and in the town of Wakefield surprised ten Indians asleep, whom they killed. A third time they set out, intending to attack the villages of the Pequaketts on the upper branches of the Saco. One of the men falling
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sick, they built a stockade fort on the west side of Great Ossipee Pond. Here they left the surgeon and several of the company for a guard. The number was now reduced to thirty-four. Marching north some twenty-two miles, on the morning of the 8th of May, 1725, they saw a solitary Indian standing on a point of land projecting into a pond near which they had encamped .* Apprehending that he was placed there as a decoy, they concealed their packs among the trees and proceeded with great caution. In the mean time two parties of Indians, under Paugus and Wah- wa, came upon their track and pursued it until they came to the place where they had left their packs. Counting these, and finding the number of the English less than their own, they placed themselves in ambush near the spot.
Lovewell's company, having met the Indian who was first seen, killed and scalped him. Seeing no others, they returned to the place where they had left their packs. While looking for them, the Indians rose and commenced firing. Captain Lovewell and eight of his men were killed on the spot. The rest, under Lieutenant Wyman, reso- lutely defended themselves ; and towards night the savages retired. Paugus was slain.
On assembling the remnant of the company, it was found that nine were unhurt, and eleven wounded, but able to march. Their chaplain, Jonathan Frye, Ensign Robbins, and another were mortally wounded. These they were compelled to leave. They made the best of their way to the fort where the guard had been left; but, to their sur- prise, it was deserted. In the beginning of the action one man had fled from the field and informed them of the de- feat of Lovewell. From this place they set out for home.
· This pond is in Fryeburg, Maine. The scene of action is still pointed out. 5 *
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One or two perished of their wounds; the rest returned in safety.
The colonies now sent commissioners to complain to Vaudreuil, the governor of Canada, of the aid he had given the Indians. This produced a favorable effect; and in the latter part of 1725 a treaty of peace was made at Boston, and ratified the next spring at Falmouth.
CHAPTER VII.
Controversy with Massachusetts. - Grants of Townships. - A new Assembly is chosen. - Burnet's short Administration. - Belcher succeeds him. - Death of Wentworth and Appointment of Dunbar. - Party Strife. - Set- tlement of the Boundary. - War with France .- Siege and Capture of Lou- isburgh. - Project to invade Canada. - Approach of a French Fleet. --- Indian Hostilities. - Defence of Charlestown. - The Heir of Mason sells his Claim .- Controversy between Governor Wentworth and the Assem- bly. - Proposal to settle the Coos. - Jealousy and Resentment of the In- dians.
A CONTROVERSY now arose with Massachusetts respect- ing the boundary line between the two provinces. That colony claimed all the land to a line commencing at a point three miles north of the mouth of the Merrimack, thence running west and north parallel with the river to a point in the present town of Sanbornton, thence due west. To strengthen this claim by gaining possession of the disputed territory, several grants were made and new settlements commenced. The Indians had mostly disappeared from New Hampshire ; and now the fertile lands on the Merri- mack, once the dwelling-place of the Pennacooks, were taken possession of by emigrants from Massachusetts. The settlement of Concord was commenced in 1727. Town- ships were also granted to the descendants of soldiers who had been engaged in the wars of the previous century, and to the survivors of Lovewell's company. This aroused the
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New Hampshire government, which the same year granted several townships.
On the death of George I. the assembly, which had sub- sisted five years, was dissolved, and a new one called in the name of George II. On meeting, an act was passed limiting the duration of the assembly to three years. The house then attempted to remodel the courts ; ,but the coun- cil resisted. A contest sprang up between them, which the lieutenant governor terminated by dissolving the assembly. This gave offence to the people; but in the mean time William Burnet arrived and published his commission as governor of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He died within a few months after his arrival, and Jonathan Bel- cher succeeded him. This was in 1730.
Governor Belcher, having taken offence at some of the proceedings of Wentworth, treated him with great coldness and deprived him of a large part of his salary. The latter died soon after ; but his friends resented the affront and formed a party in opposition to the governor. David Dun- bar was appointed the successor of Wentworth, and imme- diately joined the opposition.
Whatever were the alleged grounds of the controversy, it is evident that Governor Belcher and his friends had pro- jected the union of New Hampshire with Massachusetts ; while the opposing party demanded a distinct governor, who should reside in their own province. The chief obstacle in the way of this was the want of adequate means of sup- porting him ; and to remove this, it became their object to enlarge their territory and to fix its boundaries. In 1731 a committee of both provinces met at Newbury, but through the influence of Massachusetts failed to come to an agreement. The representatives of New Hampshire
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then appealed to the king, and appointed John Rindge, of Portsmouth, to present the petition. The matter was re- ferred to the Board of Trade, and at length it was ordered that the settlement of the line should be made by a board of commissioners chosen from the councillors of the neigh- boring provinces. The board met at Hampton in 1737. The commissioners fixed upon the present eastern bounda- ry, but made no positive decision as to the southern line. Both parties then appealed to the king, who, in 1740, ter- minated the dispute in favor of New Hampshire, giving her a tract of land fifty miles in length by fourteen in breadth more than she had claimed .*
In the mean time the opponents of Governor Belcher were laboring strenuously to procure his removal, and were finally successful. He was succeeded in Massachusetts by William Shirley, and in New Hampshire by Benning Wentworth ; thus giving the latter colony what she could now, with her enlarged territory and increased resources, more justly claim -a distinct government.
In 1735 New England was visited by a severe epidemic known as the throat distemper. Its first appearance was at Kingston, New Hampshire, whence it spread in every di- rection. The number of victims in this province alone ex- ceeded one thousand, most of them children. This fatal scourge proved a great check to the progress of the colony.
In 1744 England declared war against France. As was expected, the colonies were soon involved in the conflict. The French governor of Louisburgh, on Cape Breton Isl- and, surprised the garrison of Canseau, an island north-east of Nova Scotia, which was a place of resort for the English
* New Hampshire claimed that her southern boundary should be a line com- mencing three miles north of the mouth of the Merrimack and running due west.
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fishermen. The prisoners were detained for some time and them dismissed on parole. The account which they gave of Louisburgh turned the attention of the English to that stronghold, and at length the bold project of attempting its reduction was formed. According to some accounts, the plan was originated by William Vaughan, of Portsmouth. Certain it is that he was one of the leading spirits in the enterprise.
Governor Shirley laid the matter before the General Court of Massachusetts ; and early in 1745, though reject- ed at first, it was finally carried by a majority of one vote. Vaughan immediately hastened to Portsmouth with a copy of a circular which had been prepared, asking for assist- ance. The assembly caught his enthusiasm, and without delay voted to raise men and money. Some of the other colonies also rendered assistance. William Pepperell was appointed commander-in-chief.
All things being prepared, the forces, to which New Hampshire contributed about five hundred men, sailed for Canseau, which had been appointed as a place of rendez- vous. Here they remained three weeks, waiting for the ice around Cape Breton to dissolve. On the last of April they came in sight of Louisburgh. Vaughan, who held the rank of a lieutenant colonel, but without a regular com- mand, volunteered to lead the first column to invest the city. During the whole siege the New Hampshire troops were brave, active, and laborious. For fourteen successive nights they were engaged in dragging the cannon over a morass; and as the wheels sank in the mire, Colonel Meserve constructed sledges on which to draw them.
The governor of the city, finding his supplies cut off and preparations making for a general assault, his troops being at the same time sickly and dispirited, resolved to surrender,
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which he accordingly did on the 17th of June. Thus this fortress, with the exception of Quebec the strongest in America, fell into the hands of the English.
Shirley now projected the conquest of Canada, which the British ministry encouraged. In the summer of 1746 New Hampshire raised eight hundred men as her quota. But no orders came from England, and consequently the troops were kept in a state of suspense and inaction. Towards au- tumn the country was alarmed by the approach of a fleet from France. Preparations were immediately made for de- fence. A new battery was placed at the entrance of Piscat- aqua Harbor, and another at the point of Little Harbor. But in a few weeks the French, weakened and dispirited by shipwreck and sickness, departed without having accom- plished their designs. After this the New Hampshire re- giment took up their quarters near Winnipiseogee Lake, where they spent the winter.
While the expedition against Cape Breton was in prog- ress, the frontiers suffered much from the Indian's. They first appeared at Great Meadow,* and then at Upper Ash- uelot,t killing one man at each place. In the spring of 1746 they took three prisoners at Number Four, # and soon after laid a plan to surprise the fort at Upper Ashue-
lot. A large party concealed themselves in a swamp at night, intending to rush in the next morning ; but a man who chanced to go out very early discovered them and gave the alarm. He defended himself against two Indians and escaped to the fort ; but two other persons were slain, and one was taken prisoner. At New Hopkinton § eight were carried away captive. Other places suffered from the ravages of the enemy ; and at length the Massachusetts gov-
* Now Westmoreland.
# Now Charlestown.
+ Now Keene.
§ Now Hopkinton.
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ernment sent troops to aid these exposed towns. Captain Paine came to Number Four, where a part of his men fell into an ambush. A skirmish ensued, in which five men were killed on each side, and one of the English was taken prisoner. Not long after this there was another engagement at the same place, in which the enemy were repulsed with considerable loss. Every spot was full of danger. Busi- ness was, to a great extent, suspended. If the people wanted bread, they were obliged to go to the mills with an armed guard. Even the lower towns did not escape. Several were killed at Rochester. The enemy appeared both at Pennacook* and Contocook,t killing some and taking others prisoners.
Some of the people of Massachusetts thought it inexpe- dient to defend a territory which was out of their jurisdic- tion, and at length prevailed on the assembly to withdraw their forces from the western frontier of New Hampshire. The inhabitants were then compelled to leave their homes. But the assembly of Massachusetts soon decided to resume the protection of these places. In the spring of 1747 Cap- tain Phineas Stevens, with a company of thirty rangers, . came and took possession of the fort at Number Four. On the 4th of April he was attacked by a large body of French and Indians, but defended himself so resolutely that the enemy retired.#
During the next two years the same scenes were enacted in various quarters. The Indians hovered about in small parties, ready to fall upon the unwary. Yet it is worthy of remark that they treated their captives with far more kindness than in previous wars. This was doubtless owing
* Now Concord. + Now Boscawen.
Į See gazetteer, under " Charlestown."
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to the high price that was paid for the ransom of prisoners. In 1749 peace was established.
In 1746 the heir of Mason, availing himself of some le- gal defect in the sale to Allen, sold his interest in the soil of New Hampshire to a company of twelve gentlemen in Portsmouth. They quitclaimed all the towns which had been previously granted and settled within the limits of their purchase, and also made new grants on fair and equi- table terms, so that the prejudice which was at first excited against them gradually died out.
When the extension of the boundary lines brought Fort Dummer * within the limits of New Hampshire, the gov- ernor, wishing to maintain it, caused six new members to be elected to the assembly from towns which were supposed to favor that project ; but the house excluded them, and the governor, being engrossed with the expedition against Louisburgh, yielded the point. On the return of peace, having received fresh instructions from the royal govern- ment, he called a new assembly, with members from those towns whose representatives had before been rejected. The assembly again resisted, and for three years no public busi- ness was transacted. The recorder's office was closed, the soldiers were unpaid. But in 1752 a new assembly was called, which came together with a spirit of moderation, and proceeded to the transaction of business.
During the same year it was proposed to plant settle- ments on the rich meadows of Coos -at Haverhill and Newbury. But a deputation of the St. Francis Indians
* In Hinsdale. The town was originally called by the same name. The New Hampshire assembly refused to assume the expense of supporting this fort, for the reason that it was fifty miles distant from any settlement made by the people of their own state. The Massachusetts government continued its support of this place, as well as of Number Four, until 1757.
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came to Number Four and remonstrated against it, threat- ening hostilities in case it should be pursued, so that the plan was abandoned. A party of the same tribe surprised four young men who were hunting on Baker's River. Two were taken prisoners, one escaped, and one was killed. One of the prisoners was John Stark, then sixteen years of age. The Indians, admiring his bold bearing, adopted him into their tribe ; but he was soon ransomed. This early captivity fitted him to be an expert partisan in the succeed- ing war.
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Two warriors also of the same tribe, named Sabatis and Plausawa, came to Canterbury, where they were cruelly murdered. A present was made to the tribe, intended " to wipe away the blood." The murderers were apprehended and brought to Portsmouth, but an armed mob released them before the day of trial. Rewards were offered for the apprehension of the rioters ; but no discoveries were made, as the people regarded the action meritorious. Afterwards, when a conference with the Indians was held at Portland, the St. Francis tribe refused to attend, but sent a message to the effect that the blood was not wiped away. They still remembered the injury, and were ready to avenge it. And it was not long before they had an opportunity.
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CHAPTER VIII.
The "Old French War."-Indian Hostilities. - Expeditions against Crown Point. -- Massacre at Fort Edward. - Rogers's Expedition against the St. Francis Indians. - Conquest of Canada. - Grants. -- Settlement of the western Boundary. - The Stamp Act. - Meserve is appointed Distribu- tor. - His Resignation. - Demonstrations of the People. - Benning Went- worth is superseded by John Wentworth. - Taxes. - Dartmouth College. - Division of the Province into Counties. - The Tea sent to Portsmouth is reshipped. - Convention at Exeter. - Seizure of Gunpowder and Arms at Fort William Henry. - Attempts of Wentworth to maintain Peace. - Close of his Administration.
FRANCE now resolved to connect her distant settlements in Canada and Louisiana by extending a line of forts from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi. She also wished to extend her limits to the east, in order to command naviga- tion in the winter. This encroachment upon territory claimed by the English led to war. At the first report of hostilities the Indians renewed their attacks upon the fron- tiers of New Hampshire. In August, 1754, they surprised the family of James Johnson, at Number Four, and carried away eight prisoners.
In the spring of 1755 an expedition was undertaken against Crown Point. , For this New Hampshire raised five hundred men. General Johnson, the commander of the forces, posted this regiment at Fort Edward, while he was encamped near Lake George. On the 8th of September he was attacked by a body of. French and Indians. A
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