USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 14
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 14
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Simeon Atkinson and Col. Henry Gerrish on Fish street, Capt. Thomas Choat on High street, and Winthrop Carter, in the house now occupied by Nathaniel Webster, on the Plain.
Timothy Dix, a store-keeper, was also licensed.
The annual town-meeting was held for the first time at the west meeting-house.
FROM THE SELECTMEN'S BOOKS.
" paid Joseph Little for a School House on Corser Hill 7-16-0 paid Wm Danford for a school Dame Bashan 1- 0-3"
This is the first mention of Bashan-a locality containing at the time Benj. Severance, Wm. Danford, Moses Gerrish, and per- haps two or three other families.
FIRST STORE IN WEBSTER.
The first store ever kept in what is now the town of Webster was opened during the year, by Samuel Gookin, in a house that stood on the site now occupied by the residence of George Little, Esq., on Corser hill.
BUILDING OF SCHOOL-HOUSES.
1794. The inhabitants of Boscawen manifested a determina- tion to establish their schools on a permanent basis. Up to this time there were probably not more than four school-houses in the
149
CIVIL HISTORY.
1795.]
town, and an energetic committee was appointed, consisting of Henry Gerrish, Nathaniel Green, David Corser, Thomas Thorla, Silas Call, and Capt. Peter Kimball, who, with the selectmen, were to divide the town into as many districts as they might judge were necessary; that each district have the liberty of locat- ing its school-house, which should be built at the expense of the town ; that such houses as were already built should be appraised, and allowance made accordingly. The committee established eight districts.
THE GREAT FROST.
The spring of 1794 was very forward, but on the 17th of May occurred what was called the " great frost " throughout the coun- try, which destroyed the grain crop for the year ;- but, as reported by Mr. Price, it also destroyed the canker-worms, which had been destructive to vegetation.
TROUBLE WITH ENGLAND.
Nov. 10. The town, in response to a call from the general gov- ernment, appointed a committee "to devise ways & means for procuring the soldiers called for."
The lawlessness of England, in committing depredations upon American commerce while at war with France, was the occasion for this action in preparing for a war with the mother country. It was voted to pay soldiers eight dollars per month, including the pay from the federal government, to provide them with a suitable outfit of clothing, and a good blanket. No soldiers, however, were called for.
An aqueduct-probably the first in town-was laid during the year, conveying water from the house-lot laid out to the right of the houses of Samuel Sweatt and Henry Kingsbury, to the houses of Timothy Dix, Daniel Carter, Samuel Morrill, and Joseph Ger- rish. The water was conveyed in logs.
1795. The town voted to build a new pound, near Capt. Peter Kimball's, on Water street. It was built of stone, and is still in existence.
INCREASE OF TAVERNS.
At this period, there was a stream of emigration to the north- ern section of the state, and to Vermont. On the other hand, the
150
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1796.
markets were on the seaboard, and the whole country seemed to be in motion,-settlers going north, and farmers who had made a start in the world going south. Numerous taverns were estab- lished. In the section of the town west of Beaver-dam brook, there were three-one kept by Benjamin Couch, another by James Little, on Battle street,-the latter in the house now oc- cupied by George Sanborn,-and one kept by Jonathan Corser, in the house now occupied by Franklin Shepherd.
The inventory of the town for the year was made out for the first time in federal currency. The selectmen's accounts, how- ever, for this and the succeeding year, were in pounds, shillings, and pence. From 1797 the old currency disappears from the rec- ords.
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
1796. The proprietors of the town were called together at the instance of Col. Henry Gerrish, who was appointed their agent to petition the General Court of Massachusetts for a township of land. The ground of the petition was the fact that the legisla- ture of Massachusetts had already made grants of land to towns which, on the establishing of the line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, were assigned to New Hampshire, although they desired to remain with Massachusetts. Col. Gerrish undertook the agency at his own expense, he to have one half of the territory granted if his mission was successful. He spent much time and money, and apparently made out a strong case, but did not suc- ceed in obtaining a grant.
THE TRANSITION PERIOD.
The period from 1795 to 1800 was characterized by lawlessness throughout the country. It was a transition period. The coun- try was in an unsettled state. The success of the French Revolu- tion,-of license over liberty ; the spread of the infidelity of the times ; the circulation of Paine's " Age of Reason," and the writ- ings of Voltaire ; the political status of the country ; the war spirit which had been fanned almost to a flame, and which had been only partially allayed by Jay's treaty ; the revolt against the the- ological dogmas of the time,-all combined to make it a turbulent period. Boscawen was not exempt from the general disturbance.
151
CIVIL HISTORY.
1796.]
There were frequent breaches of the public peace by a band of confederates ; private as well as public property was destroyed, wan- tonly, and with malice ; horses were disabled; bee-benches rifled; apple-trees girdled ; wagons, carts, and farming implements dam- aged. Some of the perpetrators were apprehended, and brought before the courts. During the Revolutionary War, there had been a number of individuals who had manifested no sympathy with the cause of liberty, and who were regarded as tories. Though no arrests had been made in town, they had been closely watched by the patriotic citizens, and had been under social restraints. Later, they had opposed the adoption of the federal constitution ; and now a mistake on the part of the selectmen, for the year 1795, had enabled them to enlist public opinion against the established order of things.
In 1794, the selectmen of the town received no precept for a county tax prior to the making out of the other taxes, and no tax was laid; but before the expiration of the year the precept was received, and the selectmen had no alternative except to advance the money on their own account. Anticipating the same state of affairs the following year (1795), Capt. Joseph Gerrish, Enoch Lit- tle, and George Jackman, Esq., levied the usual tax in advance of the receipt of a requisition, which never came. The result was, that several discontented spirits refused to pay the tax, or, having paid it, sued for recovery.
Those suing were,-
" tax sned for
Enoch Eastman
.14 cts
Asa Conner
.28
Samuel Roby
.71
Timothy Eastman
1.38
John Gerold
1.26
Philip Barnard
.53
David Carter
1.22
James Little
1.71
Eliphalet Little
.99
Moses Jackman
.34
Ephraim Noyes
.35
Pearson Eastman
.28
Stephen Corser
.51
Jonathan Corser
2.10
152
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1797.
Benjamin Cass
.91
Tristam Barnard .71
Benj Rolfe 2.57
Silas Rolfe
.94
Silas Call
Samuel Gookin "
The selectmen paid the tax from their own purses. The politi- cal antagonism was so intense, that all sense of justice and equity seemed to be stifled. No reimbursement was ever made. It is the one solitary instance in the history of the town where a great injustice was suffered to go unrectified.
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
1797. The proprietors of Boscawen, at the outset, had respected the conscientious scruples of one of their number-Samuel Fowler- in regard to supporting the minister. The principle adhered to by him had taken firm hold of the community, and many men saw that it was unjust to compel a man to support a minister whose theological teachings he did not accept. The time was ap- proaching for a new order of things. After the death of Mr. Fowler, people without exception paid their taxes for the sup- port of a minister ; but during this year Mr. Silas Call entered his protest.
[From the Records.]
" This may certify that I am determined not to pay the Rev. Samuel Wood for preaching after this date for I cannot join him in his profes- sion sentiments or profession-therefore you are requested to record my protest against the same.
" May 22ª 1797
Silas Call."
The protest of Mr. Call was an expression of a rapidly growing feeling that the time had come for a separation of church and state. Other citizens manifested their opposition to the existing order of things in disorderly ways. There were those who utterly disregarded all religion, and who showed their dislike by break- ing the windows in the new meeting-house (in Webster), by nailing up the pulpit door, the doors of the pews, and in the de- filement of the pulpit and pews, especially those belonging to cit- izens active in town and society affairs. The houses being in part
153
CIVIL HISTORY.
1798.]
the property of the town, action was at once taken. Warrants were issued for the arrest of three or four lawless individuals, who were put under bonds to keep the peace.
BURNING OF THE EAST MEETING-HOUSE.
1798. On the night of February 22d, the East meeting-house was burned by an incendiary. At the annual meeting, in March, the town appointed Col. Henry Gerrish, Nathaniel Green, Esq. and John Chandler " to prosecute all such persons who have or shall commit any trespass on either of the public houses or high- ways or done any other public damage."
The real incendiary was probably a non-resident. That there were citizens who were accessories to the crime is altogether prob- able; but the chain of circumstantial evidence was not strong enough to warrant an arrest.
Measures were taken to erect another building, on another site. A committee, composed of citizens from adjoining towns, reported in favor of a site on the Woodbury plain, a half mile east of the former building. The town did not choose to locate it there. Several other localities were selected, and rejected in turn. Ere long, it became manifest that a majority of the citizens would not vote to build a house of worship.
A proposition to allow six or more persons to erect a meeting- house at their own expense, and to accept the same as a town- house, was voted down. Further action was postponed.
It was next voted that the selectmen be instructed to abate the ministerial tax of any person who requested it, "which in their judgment all things considered shall appear to them best to be done."
BURNING OF WATER STREET SCHOOL-HOUSE.
The school-house on Water street was destroyed by fire on the Sth of April. It was an incendiary act.
There had been some disaffection over its location ; but the burning of the edifice was regarded as an outbreak against law and order, which must be stopped. There was a sudden reaction of public sentiment. The citizens manifested their disapproba- tion so unmistakably, that some of the restless spirits were com- pelled to leave town to escape arrest, while others were put on
154
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1798.
their good behavior by the action of the town in securing indem- nity by civil process.
During this troublesome period, the malice of those regardless of law was directed, seemingly without reason, against particular individuals in the community. Those who followed the even tenor of their ways, as well as those who were prominent in directing public affairs, suffered at the hands of the lawless.
Mr. David Corser, who lived on Corser hill, in the house now occupied by Mr. Tilton, was especially annoyed. His cattle were mutilated, and his house fired into at night, the bullet lodging in the roof. Mr. Corser invoked the protection of the law, and sev- eral parties were arraigned.
A deposition before the court is given, as illustrative of the spirit of lawlessness prevalent at that time :
"I John Corser of lawful age testifieth & saith that some time the fore part of the last winter past, I was in David Corser's yard & saw his turkeys as he called them with their toes cut off a bleeding on the snow & he told me somebody had cut them off."
LAST EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A MEETING-HOUSE.
Once more, those who wanted a meeting-house proposed Wood- bury plain as a site, which was again rejected. The proposition was made to build on the old spot. The result was a tie vote,- 70 in favor, and 70 against. Then the advocates for a new house proposed to have it erected in the centre of the town, which was rejected by a decisive majority.
Another proposition was made, " that one half of the meetings for public worship should be on the plain on King street at such a place as they [the selectmen] shall provide till a new meeting house be built."
At this juncture, the meeting-going citizens of the town wisely decided to make no further efforts to secure the erection of an edi- fice by the town ; and those living in the easterly section united in building a meeting-house at the head of King street-the original of the present edifice.
The time had come for a new order of things. By the adop- tion of the federal constitution, all such political union as had ex- isted from the first settlement of the country, between church and state, was virtually abrogated. The non-recognition of religion as
·
CIVIL HISTORY.
1798.]
having aught to do with the state, had become an unwritten law. The state laws relating to parishes were not modified till a subse- quent period : but in this year (1797) there was a virtual sever- ance of church and state in Boscawen.
The school-house difficulty, on Water street, was settled by the people of the district. They proposed the erection of two houses,- one to accommodate the north end, and the other the south end,- the school to be taught alternately in each house. The north school-house was erected where it now stands ; the south house stood where the first school-house in town, probably, was erected- on the west side of Water street, north of Mr. Bradley Atkinson's. The site may still be recognized. The building was subsequently purchased by Moses Coffin, and removed to his farm, where it was occupied as a cooper's shop, and afterwards as a blacksmith's shop. It was demolished in 1874.
PRICES OF PRODUCE AND LABOR.
The prices of farm produce and labor will be seen by the follow- ing extracts from the account-book of Dea. Enoch Little, who was selectman in 1795-96 :
" John Jackman joiner to Enoch Little 1796.
Dr . £. S. D.
Nov 10th To 1 bushel wheat To a bushel rye 5- 4
0- 8-0
Dec Cth To one quarter 1-4-0
To butter & tub 37 1bs 30 which I expect is butter 1- 5-0 1797.
Apr 28th To 150 lbs pork & carrying it to you 3-6-0
May 18th To 6 lbs butter at 9 pence 0-4-6
30 To 33 lbs veal at 3} pence 9-7
To 2 casks of lime 3-0-0
To 46 lbs mutton at 2 pence 7-8
Feb 15th For three days work self & 2 hands
1-8-6
For horse 2 days 8-0
To a four feet table 1-10-0
To a clock 16-10-0
To a chest with one drawer
1- 5-0"
In another account we find the following prices :
" To 6 lbs lard at Sp 0-4-0
To 8 " flax at 11"
0-7-0
155
156
CIVIL HISTORY. [1798.
To 2 bush potatoes 0-4-0
To 3 " beans 0-3-0
To 3 yd cotton & linen cloth 0-1-2
To 19 lbs cheese at 5 p 0-7-6 To 12 " soap grease
To 23 galls molasses
0-6- 0 0-12-0
To 183 good cheese at 10 cents $1,88
To carrying 3 bbls of pork to Newbury $3,75 "
In the account with Moses Coffin, tailor, we have the following prices :
" To making a coat & cutting a waistcoat & breeches 0,87 To making surtout waistcoat & breeches & cutting 2 75 To making a jacket & trousers for Abraham 1,25 To calico for a gown 4,17 "
At this time, and for many years later, currency was reckoned in pounds, shillings, and pence. The silver money in circulation was either English or Spanish coinage. Very little federal cur- rency was in use. The foreign coinage held its place for the first forty years of the present century, and though the keeping of ac- counts in pounds and shillings began to give place to dollars and cents in speech, the old currency still held its own. Merchants were accustomed to mark the price of the articles in British cur- rency. Mr. Hezekiah Fellows, trader on Corser hill, never aban- doned the practice, but marked all his goods in pounds, shillings, and pence, to the day of his death.
One of the incidents of the period was the action of two men, who, having committed a trespass, came voluntarily before a jus- tice of the peace, and were fined.
" January the 3d A. D. 1800.
" Then Humphrey Carter & Thomas Thorla both of Boscawen in the county of Hillsborough state of New Hampshire personally came before me Nath' Green Esqr one of the Justices of Peace for said county & complained of themselves for being guilty of a breach of the peace in taking, stealing & destroying one bee hive with a quantity of honey in the night time the property of Joseph Gerrish Esqr at said Boscawen on or about the first day of Sept 1790, it is considered by me the said justice after hearing the above confession that the said Carter & Thorla pay a fine of one dollar each for the use of the state of New Hampshire for being guilty of a breach of the peace in so doing, which fine is paid to me accordingly.
" Nath1 Green jus Peacc."
Aliel OK. Chandler.
1800.]
CHAPTER X.
THE FIRST DECADE OF THE CENTURY.
HE citizens residing at the east end of the town, and who associated themselves together for the erection of a meeting- house, entered upon the work with zeal. The building was begun in 1799, and completed in 1800. The erection of this edifice by voluntary subscription brought about a marked change in the busi- ness transacted at the annual and special meetings of the town. One bone of contention was buried forever. There would be no more discussions of the vexed question of meeting-houses. From this time on the business related chiefly to the election of neces- sary officers, the laying out of roads, and the appointment of com- mittees on matters which the selectmen could not well attend to. The civil transactions, from 1800 onward, may be noticed by decades.
The determination of a majority of the inhabitants to have little or nothing more to do with meeting-houses is seen in the vote given Sept. 16, 1799, when the town voted "not to accept the proposition of the new society to pay in part for the building of the frame."
The society accepted the situation, and went on with the con- struction of the house.
MEETING-HOUSE ON THE PLAIN.
The building stood broadside to the road, with a tower, steeple, and spire surmounting the porch at the northern end. The spire was surmounted by a wooden weather-cock. The country joiner who fashioned it never having studied the rules of art, the cock was not regarded as a fitting adornment to the edifice. After the completion of the structure, it was resolved to have it removed,
158
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1800.
and a gilded vane placed upon the spire. Mr. William Jackman, who was an athlete in climbing, volunteered to ascend the lightning- rod from the belfry, and make the desired change. A great crowd assembled to witness the feat. Mr. Jackman ascended the taper- ing spire without difficulty, seated himself upon the golden ball, removed the cock, lowered it to the ground, drew up the vane and fixed it in its place, and then drew up a bottle of rum, took a dram, and threw the empty bottle to the ground, which, to the wonder and amazement of the crowd, did not break! The crowd manifested their appreciation of Mr. Jackman's exploit by fre- quent and hearty cheers.
The cock, though degraded from its high and dignified perch, had a longer lease of service than the vane. That disappeared in 1839, when the house was remodelled, while the cock has watched the changes of the wind, daily and nightly, through all these years, as it now does, from the sign-post of S. A. Ambrose's tar- ern.
There was a door at the front opening to the broad aisle, and a porch at the south end with stairs leading to the gallery. The interior of the building was after the style of the period,-square pews, seats that turned up, and which went down with a slam when the people took their seats after prayer, wall pews, floor pews, a deacon's seat and an elder's seat in front of the pulpit, a sounding-board, singers' seats in the front gallery, and common seats on the sides.
A pleasant-toned bell was purchased, and placed in the belfry in December, 1799. It probably was the first bell in the Merri- mack valley north of Dunstable. A bell, weighing six hundred pounds, was obtained in Chester, in 17SS. The bell in the North church, in Concord, was not obtained till 1802. The incident serves to show the public spirit of the new society, which, relieved from connection with the town, entered upon its work with great zeal.
DEATH OF WASHINGTON.
The news of Washington's death was received in Boscawen on the 16th of January, 1800, and the bell was tolled through the day by George Washington Webster. The mournful knell went out over hill and vale. People came riding to the meeting-house
159
CIVIL HISTORY.
1800.]
to hear the news, and in obedience to the general request the select- men issued the following notice for a meeting of the town :
." To the inhabitants of Boscawen : Agreeably to a request of a num- ber of the inhabitants you are desired to meet at the lower meeting house on Monday the 20th inst at 2 o'clock P M to signify whether it be your wish to have an oration or eulogium on the memory of General Geo Washington delivered at said house on a time that you may agree, also to take such other measures as they may think proper to show their last respect to the Friend of their country.
" Enoch Gerrish Benj Little Selectmen.
Timº Dix jr
" Boseawen Jan 18. 1800"
At the meeting held on the 20th, Col. Henry Gerrish, Maj. Enoch Gerrish, George Jackman, Nathaniel Green, and Timothy Dix, Jr., were appointed a committee to consult in regard to the proposed tribute of respect, and made the following report :
" That the Rev Sam1 Wood be desired to prepare & deliver an Ora- tion on the 22d of February, at eleven oclock in this house. That the Pulpit be shrouded with black, that the people be desired on the occa- sion agreeably to the Presidents Proclamation to wear a black crape or ribbond upon the left arm, same above the elbow, & that the Females of the town be requested to wear black ribbonds-said mourning to be worn from the Lord's day next four week's inclusive & that the inhabi- tants be requested to form procession at half past ten oclock on said day at Mr Somersby Pearsons & that a committee be chosen to make such arrangements as shall be thought necessary on said day."
There was a large gathering of the people on the day appointed, and the arrangements of the committee were duly carried out.
The oration of Mr. Wood took the form of a sermon, from the text,-" And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who de- livered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother."-Judges 3 : 9.
On the same day, a meeting was held at the West meeting- house, and a eulogy delivered " by Rev. Ariel Kendrick V. D. M."
Diligent inquiry has been made in order to ascertain the mean- ing of the cabalistic affix appended to Rev. Mr. Kendrick's name in the printed address delivered on the occasion ; but the few ven-
160
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1800.
erable men still living, who can remember Washington's funeral, are ignorant as to their meaning.
SMALL-POX HOSPITAL.
The small-pox suddenly made its appearance at the west end. A town-meeting was called, and a committee of safety appointed. The selectmen were instructed to prosecute all who might spread the infection. The infected were removed to a pest-house, and liberty was given to private individuals to establish a small-pox hospital. One was accordingly erected, in the pasture east of the road, on Water street, not far from the residence of Silas Call, now William Abbott's.
At the annual meeting in March, liberty was given to all who might choose so to do, who lived west of the spot where the old meeting-house stood, to pay their minister's tax in the west part of the town, and have preaching there accordingly; but the town refused to appoint a committee to see how much of the preaching should be at the east or how much at the west end. Mr. Wood had made a donation of $54 to the town for school purposes, for which he received a vote of thanks. The generous act made the town kindly disposed towards him personally, but did not turn the citizens from the purpose of dispensing with preaching at the town's expense. There was a steady increase of those who re- fused to pay a tax for the support of a minister. Suits were brought against them, which increased the discontent.
SUNDAY TRAVELLING.
The law against Sunday travelling was enforced at this date; but the town was fortunate in having a justice of the peace who performed his duties in a quiet way-who preferred to write a friendly note rather than to issue a process of law. One Philip Colby, having travelled on Sunday, and having been complained of, was thus admonished :
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