USA > New Hampshire > Sketches of the history of New-Hampshire, from its settlement in 1623, to 1833: comprising notices of the memorable events and interesting incidents of a period of two hundred and ten years > Part 7
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61
PERIOD IV .- 1698-1713.
1711.]
soned houses and agitated with continual apprehensions of attacks.
The enemy executed in 1710, their long meditated design of killing Col. Hilton, whose activity and enterprise had in- spired them with a strong desire to put him out of the way. Having ventured with some men several miles into the forest to secure some masts, he was surprised and slain with two of his men. A pursuing party from Exeter found the mangled bodies of the slain on the next day, the fatal tomahawk still remaining buried in the Colonel's head. Thus fell one of the most estimable citizens, and one of the bravest defenders of New-Hampshire! His elegant silver headed cane is pre- served to this day by his descendants as a precious memorial. The lamented death of Hilton was quickly followed by the butchery or capture of several persons at Exeter, Kingston, and Dover : among the rest, four children at Exeter, while engaged in their play, and totally unsuspicious of danger, were scized by the enemy and led off into the wilderness .- But these losses were far more than balanced by the success of a second expedition to Port Royal, in which an hundred men from this Province led by Col. Walton, co-operated with the forces of the neighboring Provinces. Aided by a naval armament from England, the troops took the place with little resistance, and its name was changed to Annapolis, in honor of the Queen.
This important success encouraged an attempt the next year on Quebec itself. A powerful fleet under Admiral Walker, and several regiments of veteran troops were des- patched from England ; who on their arrival at Boston were joined by such large reinforcements of Colonists as swelled the the fire whole number to 6500. Never before had New-England seen rs mad amented on her waters and fields, a force so formidable. One hun- dred of the Colonial troops were furnished by New-Hampshire. port of & With the brightest anticipations of success, the expedition he Eng sailed from Boston, July, 1711, and had entered the mouth of ent on alithe St. Lawrence, when in one fatal night all their hopes were ntiersofblasted. The weather being thick and dark, and the Admiral ed theiliobstinately refusing to direct the course of the fleet according f the into the advice of the pilots, eight transports were wrecked on ter of than island, and more than a thousand men perished in the wa- ters and ters !- thic sad result of the rashness and obstinacy of one under the nan ! Disheartened by the disaster, the fleet returned to The Europe, and the Colonial troops to their homes. From the without wrecks the French obtained many cannon and other spoils of the gam great value. It was observed by the pious people of that day F
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62
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1713.
as a Providential interposition, that of the multitude who per- ished in that dreadful shipwreck, only one man belonged to New-England.
Small bands of savages still prowled around the frontiers, but were unable to commit very extensive depredations.
A scout of forty men continually ranged the woods from Kings- ton to Dover ; half the militia did duty at the garrisons, ready to pursue a hostile party at a moment's warning ; and spy boats were constantly employed off the coast, to prevent a sur- prisal by the Eastern Indians coming by sea. An interesting incident in the annals of savage warfare occurred at Dover. A number of Indians came into the town, killed two children, and made demonstrations of attacking a fortified house, in which were only some women-the men being absent. A resolute woman named Esther Jones mounted guard; and with a thundering voice called for aid, as if conscious it was at hand ; on which the enemy, outwitted by the stratagem, and imagining they might be overpowered, drew off without far- ther efforts.
In the autumn of 1712, arrived the welcome intelligence of the peace concluded between England and France by the treaty of Utrecht. No longer supported by aids from Canada, and weakened by sword and famine, the Indian Chiefs were easily induced in the ensuing summer to meet Gov. Dudley with the Councils of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, in conference at Portsmouth, where a peace was agreed on which happily continued for several years. Most joyfully did the people leave the garrisoned houses, and betake themselves to the peaceful pursuits of industry in their own dwellings and fields. Of the thirty-seven preceding years, twenty-thre had been years of war, in which New-England was com puted to have lost five or six thousand of the flower of he youth! New-Hampshire had a large share of these suffer ings, and, like a ship which has weathered out the storm, bu is become shattered and crippled, was left in a very deplorabl condition. In addition to the meritorious officers who fell b the hand of the enemy, the Province, within the period em braced in this chapter, lost other distinguished citizens by th ordinary course of death. The Rev. John Cotton of Hampton whose father, Seaborn Cotton, was his predecessor in th ministry in that place, died in 1710; as did also the Rev. Joh Pike of Dover, a pious and useful man. From a journal passing events kept by him, and still remaining in manuscrip historians have derived the knowledge of several interestir occurrences which had otherwise fallen into oblivion.
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PERIOD V.
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FROM THE PEACE OF 1713, TO THE FINAL SETTLEMENT OF THE BOUNDARY LINES AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A SEPARATE GOVERNOR FOR NEW-HAMPSHIRE IN 1741.
Soon after the restoration of peace, arrangements were made for the exchange of prisoners, and a vessel was fitted out for Quebec, which brought back the surviving captives to their friends.
Gov. Dudley had conducted the administration of the gov- ernment during the scenes of the late protracted war to general acceptance. The circumstance that he favored the views of those who opposed the claims of Allen, went a great vay in conciliating popular favor. Now and then his enemies ittacked his character; but on these occasions the New- Hampshire Assembly shewed themselves his steady friends by ddressing the Queen in his defence. As is truly remarked by Belknap, their " Addresses to the crown were frequent during his female reign, scarce a year passing without one or two." "hey either congratulated her Majesty on her victories in Jurope ; or petitioned for arms and military stores for their wn defence and for ships and troops to go against Canada ; or epresented their own poverty or the merits of Dudley ; or ranked her Majesty for her interposition in not permitting the lit of Allen to be decided against them.
George Vaughan of Portsmouth, obtained in 1715 a commis- on constituting him Lieut. Governor of New-Hampshire ; nd the circumstances of his being a native of the Province, ad the son of one of the most determined opposers of the roprietary claim, rendered the appointment quite acceptable. n his arrival from England and publishing his commis- on, Lieut. Gov. Usher, advanced in years, retired to private 'e at his seat in Medford. During the war he had made fre- ient journies from Boston, the place of his residence, to ew-Hampshire, and zealously promoted the defence and in- rests of the Province : but after all, his reserved, stately man-
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64
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1716.
ners and his connection with the Allen family, made him unpopular. Gov. Dudley, expecting soon to be superseded, left the administration of affairs in this Province wholly in the hands of Vaughan. The Assembly were very desirous of having the Governor retained in office, and petitioned the King to this effect ; but in vain. Col. Samuel Shute, an English officer, was the next year appointed to succeed him as Gover- nor of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire. Dudley passsed the evening of life in dignified retirement at his seat in Roxbu-
ry. Though like other eminent men he had his share of obloquy, yet his character commanded great respect. He was in the habit of praying with his children separately for their everlasting well being, and was attentive to the religious instruction of his servants : traits of character not unfrequent at that day among the distinguished men of New-England.
Of Shute's administration the first acts were rather unpop- ular. He displaced six of the old counsellors and appointed in their stead six others, all of Portsmouth : a measure offensive to the landed interest, on an apprehension that the Portsmouth gentlemen might be disposed to favor unduly the trading inter- est, and lay too much of the burden of supporting government on the farmers. There was a want of harmony between him and the House of Representatives. They complained of the removal of the old Counsellors, and refused their consent to an emission of bills of credit to the extent he desired ; on which after some unpleasant bickerings he dissolved them .- A warm controversy arose between him and Lieut. Governor Vaughan. The Governor resided for the most part in Massa- chusetts, as the more important of his two provinces. Vaughan contended that he had no authority in New-Hampshire except when he was personally present, and that during his absence from the Province the Lieut. Gov. was Commander-in-Chief. On the other hand Shute asserted his own claim of supreme authority in his absence as well as when present, and denied the right of the Lieut. Gov. to exercise any govermental pow- ers without express instructions. Vaughan ventured to disobey some of his instructions, and suspended Judge Penhallow, a warm friend to the Governor, from his seat in the Council .- Incensed at these steps, Shute repaired to Portsmouth, restored Penhallow and suspended Vaughan: and the public opinion sus sustained the Governor and censured the rashness of his Lieut A report of these proceedings being made to the King, Vaugh an was removed from office in 1717, and John Wentworth, ¿ merchant of Portsmouth, a man of fair reputation, conciliatory manners, and ample fortune, was appointed Lieut. Governor,
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65
PERIOD V .- 1713-1741.
1717.]
In February, 1717, occurred the greatest fall of snow recor- ded in the annals of New-England-almost burying under the frozen mass the small log houses of the new plantations. So effectually were even the most travelled roads blocked, that the magistrates and ministers of Boston, who had come out of the town on the first day of the storm to attend the funeral of the Rev. Mr. Brattle at Cambridge, were unable to return for some days. In some portion of the streets of Boston, the snow was six feet in depth ; and on the thousand hills of New- Hampshire it lay in immense bodies.
From the effects of the late war the country rapidly recov- ered, and soon exhited the spirit of improvement and enterprise. An edition of the Provincial laws, which had hitherto remained in manuscript, was printed in Boston in a volume of 60 folio pages. The fisheries in the eastern waters were successful : and the British Parliament gave an impulse to the lumber bu- siness by permitting the importation of lumber into England free of duty. Something was done toward the cultivation of hemp, but it soon appeared that all the land the people could till was no more than was requisite for the production of corn. The multitude of pitch pine trees invited the man- ufacture of tar and turpentine, and not a few persons engaged in this business, till too frequent incisions destroyed the trees.
No little ferment existed at this time among the Eastern In- dians. With utter dislike they saw the English settlements rapidly extending ; while the erection of mills, dams, and forts, injured their fisheries and interrupted their accustomed com- munications. They contended that the lands thus occupied had either been never sold by them, or sold by unauthorized persons ; and complained loudly of being cheated in trade .- To allay their discontents, Gov. Shute with several gentlemen of both his Provinces, went into Maine and held a conference with their Chiefs on an island in the Kennebec ; when he promised that trading houses should be established among them to furnish necessary supplies, and smiths sent to keep their guns in repair :- a promise never fulfilled. The bad conduct of some immoral men, who while they assumed the name, denied in practice the obligations of christians, had inspired them with strong prejudices against the religion of the English : so that one of their Sachems,in conversation with person who asked why they were so strongly attached to the French ? replied, " Because the French have taught us to pray o God, which the English never did." Bad men, bearing the christian name, but utterly void of christian principles, have
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66
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1719.
in most ages formed the grand obstacle to the propogation of christianity among unevangelized nations. Justice to the memory of the eastern Indians requires the admission, that the guilt of the blood shed in successive wars rests not on them alone, but attaches in part to unprincipled whites. The great Judge of the Earth, when he shall make inquisition for blood, will apportion the guilt among the real criminals with exact impartiality, and "render to every man according to his works."
Prior to this period, the population consisted with few ex- ceptions of the descendants of the original settlers who had established themselves on the different branches of the Pas- cataqua. Early in 1719 it received an important addition by the settlement of some Scottish families at Londonderry. A century before this date, their ancestors had emigrated from Argylshire in the west of Scotland to the Counties of Lon- donderry and Antrim in the north of Ireland, where they and their descendants shared largely in the persecutions of the Protestants in the reigns of Charles I. and James II. Bur- dened with rents and tythes, and thirsting for the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, three Presbyterian ministers, of whom one was the Rev.James M'Gregore, with many individ- uals of their Congregations, resolved on a removal to America, of which they had heard flattering reports. To the number of 120 families, they arrived, some at Boston and others at Portland, the preceding autumn, and passed the winter at different places. Mr. M'Gregore with sixteen others selected as their residence the tract then called Nutfield, now London- derry and Derry. He preached his first sermon there under a large Oak from the following passage: "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them : it shall be an everlasting covenant with them ; and I will plant them and multiply them and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore." Their original number soon received such large accessions by new emigrations of their countrymen, that in a few years the church they established included 230 communicants. The government of New-Hampshire extended to them a protecting hand, and they remembered with much gratitude the friendly offices of Lieut. Gov. Wentworth. Toward wealth and im- portance they made rapid advances. They were a well principled people ; frugal, hardy, industrious; and warmly attached to the Presbyterian doctrine and discipline. Many of them and of their descendants lived to a very advanced age. Mr. Mc'Gregore remained with them about ten years, till his death ; a faithful minister and guide, whose memory is
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67
PERIOD V .- 1713-1741.
1719.]
still holden in high respect. His son, the Rev. David Mc'Greg- ore, afterwards minister of Londonderry, had few superiors in usefulness and ability. Windham, Chester, Litchfield, Man- chester, Bedford, Goffstown, New-Boston, Antrim, Peterboro,' and Acworth in New-Hampshire ; together with some towns in Massachusetts, Maine, Nova Scotia, and Vermont, derived from Londonderry a considerable proportion of their first in- habitants. To this town we are to look for the origin of most of the Presbyterian churches now existing in New-England .- Its inhabitants endured for years much unmerited obloquy from their English neighbors confounding them with the proper Irish, from whom they essentially differed in language, manners, and religion : but these prejudices have been long worn away. Many of their descendants have risen to high respectability, among whom are numbered four Governors of New-Hampshire ; one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ; several distinguished officers in the revolution- ary war and in the last war with Great Britain, including Stark, Reid, Miller, and M'Niel ; a President of Bowdoin College ; some members of Congress ; and several distin- guished ministers of the gospel. These people claim the merit of having introduced into the State the culture of the potatoe and the use of the foot spinning wheel. The superior excellence of their linen cloth and thread procured for these products of their industry an extensive demand, and contrib- uted much to the wealth of the town. Probably not less than 20,000, possibly 30,000 of the present inhabitants of our country are the descendants of the Londonderry Colony.
This establishment, justly considered as the most respecta- ble Scottish settlement in New-England, gave a considerable impulse to the enterprise of New-Hampshire, and was soon followed by the formation of settlements in Chester, Litchfield, and Pelham. Not long after, the townships of Nottingham, Barrington, and Rochester were granted and incorporated, though not immediately settled. Many of the inhabitants of the old towns, desirous of providing farms for their children, began to think of a removal to places where lands were of easier acquisition. Other reasons also led to the procuring of these grants ; the best pines in the ungranted lands having been marked by the King's Surveyors, were reserved for the navy, and the people were forbidden to cut them under severe penalties ; while the pines within the incorporated townships were considered as private property. The convenience of possessing these valuable trees, often growing in this region to
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68
HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1721.
an immense size, excited of course an eager desire to obtain large grants of land.
Hitherto there had been no legal determination of the boundary line between Massachusetts and New-Hampshire .- People who lived near the supposed line, were sometimes taxed by both : the officers of both were perplexed with conflicting claims of jurisdiction, and occasionally imprisoned each other. At a meeting in 1719 of Commissioners from the two Provin- ces, New-Hampshire contended for the establishment of a line beginning at a point three miles north of the mouth of the Merrimack, and extending thence in a due west course as far as to the western boundary of Massachusetts. Happily for this State, Massachusetts rejected a proposition far more favorable to her interests than the decision in which she was finally obliged to acquiesce, and the business remained for many years unsettled.
On the night of the 17th of December, an unusual appear- ance in the heavens filled the people of New-England with alarm. It was the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, a phenomenon which before this date had been noticed in Eu- rope, but was new to the people of this country. No wonder those streaks and sheets of flanie, now of dazzling brightness and then of a bloody red, were terrible to eyes which beheld them for the first time. By many they were thought to be harbingers either of war and desolation, or of the day of Judgment. They are now seen with as little apprehension as a rainbow or an eclipse.
A portion of New-England was seriously distressed in 1721, by the prevalence of the small pox, chiefly in Boston and its vicinity, where five or six thousand persons took it the natural way, of whom some hundreds died. For the first time, inoculation was now introduced into the country. The Rev. Cotton Mather had seen some account of the success of this practice in Turkey, and recommended it to the physi- cians : of whom none had the courage to adopt it except Dr. Boylston, who tried the experiment in his own family. His success encouraged others to follow the example, and the practice was warmly supported by the clergy. It met how- ever with violent opposition-the prejudices of the people being at one time so strong against it, that it was deemed un- safe for Dr. Boylston to go out of his house at night. Many were of opinion that if any whom he inoculated should die, he ought to be treated as a murderer. But these mists of prejudice gradually fled away before the lights of experience,
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69
1722.]
PERIOD V .- 1713-1741.
and the practice finally obtained general currency and appro- bation.
Every attempt to conciliate the Eastern Indans had prov- ed unavailing. For some time they had exhibited threatening indications of hostility, stealing and killing the cattle of their English neighbors and burning stacks of hay. Some of the people had been compelled to abandon their habitations and retire to places of safety. Scouting parties were sent east- ward under the command of Col. Walton of Somersworth, whose presence imposed on the savages some restraint. Sebastian Ralle, a French Jesuit, a man of learning, address, and insinuating manners, who had long resided at Norridg- wock had acquired over the sons of the forest a commanding influence. With him the Governor of Canada held corres- pondence, and was able through the medium of his influence to direct them at pleasure. Aware that Ralle was a chief instigator of these troubles, the government sent in the depth of the winter of 1721 a considerable force under Col. West- brook to sieze him; but he discovered their approach in season to make his escape into the woods. Though they missed his person, they obtained his strong box of papers, furnishing ample proof that notwithstanding it was a time of peace between England and France, the Governor of Canada had been active in exciting the Indians to hostilities. The box is of ingenious construction and is still preserved as a curiosity. Provoked at this attempt on the Jesuit, whom they greatly venerated, the savages in the course of the next sum- mer attacked several fishing vessels on the castern shore, and destroyed Brunswick in Maine : on which war was declared against them in July, 1722, and a bounty offered for scalps. New-Hampshire made common cause with Massachusetts and furnished her full proportion of troops and commanders, among whom were Walton, Westbrook, Peuhallow, and es- pecially Lovewell of Dunstable.
The administration of Gov. Shute was on the whole accep- table to the people of this Province. Not so in Massachusetts, where he was engaged in a long and embittered controversy with the House of Representatives. His instructions from England required him to demand the settlement on the Gov- ernor of a fixed and permanent salary ; which they declined to vote, on the apprehension that it would render him too independent of the people. Shute pressed the subject perti- naciously, but they were firm in the refusal. Though a man of an humane disposition, yet his feelings were irritable ; having been used to military command, he could not bear
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