USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 9
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 9
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In a field near by, a negro, Dorset, and Moses Jackman, son of Richard Jackman of Contoocook, eleven years old, were hoeing corn. The first intimation Jackman had of the presence of the Ind- ians was their uprising around him. Dorset seized Jackman, and started to run with him ; but they soon separated, Jackman running towards the barn, and the negro towards the woods. Jackman stumbled and fell, and was taken. He once escaped, but was recaptured, and intimidated by the wielding of a tomahawk over his head. Dorset was overtaken. He made a desperate re- sistance, and was badly beaten about the head. He cried lustily for help, and his cries were heard by others at work half a mile away, who understood the meaning of it, and fled to the garrison, at the house of Capt. Jeremiah Clough.
Mrs. Thomas Clough had a narrow escape. She saw the Ind- ians, and made haste to the garrison. The alarm was given, but too late to prevent them from carrying off their captives.
The route taken by the savages was up the Merrimack, prob- ably to Franklin, where they crossed over the falls, one Indian carrying Jackman on his shoulders. They travelled fast, and at night encamped on Smith's river, in what is now the town of Hill. Jackman was barefoot, and the Indians kindly supplied him with moccasons. The Indians made a rapid march to Canada.
Arriving at Montreal, the two captives were imprisoned for a fortnight, while the Indians were trading off their furs. Jackman was sold to a Frenchman, and separated from Dorset, whom he never saw or heard from again.
79
CIVIL HISTORY.
1759.]
While in captivity, Jackman saw an Indian chief who had often been in Contoocook. The Indian recognized him at once. Jack- man remained in captivity till 1761, when peace was declared, and he was brought home by Enos Bishop, who went in quest of him. Bishop was peculiarly fitted to bring him through the wil- derness, having made his escape in 1754. Jackman was kindly treated, and obtained a knowledge of the French language during the four years of his captivity.
CLOSE OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
1758-59. The proprietors' books contain no important rec- ords for these years; but great events were taking place else- where. On the 24th of July, 1759, Niagara was taken by the British and colonial forces ; on the 27th, Gen. Amherst took pos- session of Ticonderoga. On the 13th of September the battle on the Plains of Abraham was fought, and the lilies of France gave place to the cross of St. George, in America. It was one of the decisive battles of history,-one of the turning-places of human destiny.
From that day forth there were to be no more midnight alarms of savage foes, no more tomahawking and scalping, no more cap- tivity for settlers on the frontier, no more murdering, burning, or plundering, but peace, prosperity, and the beginning of a new era in American history.
Gen. Wolfe, though dead, was a hero. His effigy was painted on tavern signs, his memory lauded everywhere.
A few days before the battle on the Plains of Abraham, a British fleet under Admiral Boscawen defeated a French fleet off Cape Vincent, in Portugal. The engagement occurred August 20, and the news reached America in September, just as intelligence arrived of the victory at Quebec. Wolfe, Boscawen, and Amherst were the heroes of the hour.
In all of the large towns the events were celebrated with festiv- ities. In Newbury an ox was killed, and the quarters roasted on a huge gridiron, near Rev. Mr. Sewell's meeting-house. The pro- prietors of Contoocook residing in Newbury shared in the enjoy- ments of the jubilee. Speeches were made, songs were sung, can- non fired, and men drank punch, egg-nog, and toddy to their hearts' content.
.
[1760.
CHAPTER V.
THE TOWN.
HE efforts of the committee appointed to secure a town char- ter were successful. The charter was granted on the 22d of April, to continue two years. The reason for this limitation is wholly a matter of conjecture.
THE CHARTER.
" Province of New Hampshire George the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France & Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c.
" To all whom these presents may come. Greeting.
" Whereas our loyal subjects inhabitants of a tract of land within our Province of New Hampshire known by the name of Contoocook, have humbly petitioued & requested that they may be erected & incor- porated into a township & enfranchised with the powers & privileges which other towns within our said Province by law have & enjoy ; and it appearing to us to be conducive to the general good of our said prov- ince, as well as to the said inhabitants in particular, by maintaining order & encouraging the culture of lands, that the same should be done :
" Know ye therefore that of Our Special Grace's certain knowledge, & for the encouraging the good order & purpose aforesaid, by & with the advice of our trusty & well beloved Benning Wentworth Esq, our Governor & commander in chief & of our council for said Province of New Hampshire, have erected & ordained, & by these presents, for us, our heirs & successors, do will & ordain that the inhabitants of the tract of land aforesaid or that shall inhabit or improve thereon, the same being limited & bounded as follows :
" Begining at the southerly side of Contoocook river's mouth, where the same falls into Merrimack river, running thence a course west sev-
C
William Temple
81
CIVIL HISTORY.
1760.]
enteen degrees south, seven miles one hundred rods, measured from a forked white pine near the mouth of Contoocook river, to a pitch pine & heap of stones ;- & from said pitch pine & heap of stones running north seventeen degrees west seven miles to a forked beach marked; & thence on a course east seventeen degrees south north to the Merri- mack river to a heap of stones ; thence by the river as the same runs to the mouth of Contoocook river again where it began: Shall have, & by these presents are declared, ordained to be a town corporate, & are hereby erected & incorporated in to a body politic & corporate, to have a continuance two years only by the name of Boscawen, with all the powers, authorities, privileges, immunities & franchises which any other town in said Province by law holds & enjoys; always reserving to us, our heirs & successors, all white pine trees that are, or shall be found growing, & being on said land fit for the use of our Royal Navy, re- serving to us, our heirs & successors, the power & right of dividing said town when it shall appear necessary & convenient for the benefit of the inhabitants thereof; Provided nevertheless, & it is hereby declared, that this our charter & Grant is not intended, nor shall in any manner be construed to extend to or affect the private property of the soil within the limits aforesaid; & as the several towns within our said province of New Hampshire are by the laws thereof enabled & authorized to assemble & by a majority of votes present to choose all such officers & transact such affairs as by said laws are declared.
" We do by these presents nominate & appoint Col Joseph Coffin Esq to call the first meeting of said inhabitants, to be held within said town within sixty days from the date hereof, by giving legal notice of the time & design of holding such meeting :- after which the annual meet- ing of said town for the choice of such officers & the management of the affairs aforesaid shall be held within the same on the first Tuesday of March annually.
" In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of our said Province to be hereunto affixed. Witness Benning Wentworth Esq our Gov- ernor & commander in chief of our said Province of New Hampshire, this twenty-second day of April in the thirty-third year of our reign & in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and sixty:
" BENNING WENTWORTH
" By His Excellency's Command with the advice of the Council " THEODORE ATKINSON Sec "
ADMIRAL BOSCAWEN.
There is but one other locality in the world bearing the name of Boscawen, and that an island in the Pacific ocean, belonging to the Navigators' group. Both were named for the brave old 6
82
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1760.
admiral who humbled the navy of France. It is probably a name of French origin. The de Boscawens were an established family as far back as the days of old King John, who granted the Magna Charta, in 1215, at Runnymede. The Boscawen manor-house was in Cornish. From the records of old England we learn that Henry de Boscawen had sons, Robert and Allan, and a daughter Mirabell. There were also Eweyne and Osbert. One married John de Abalanda, and another Eusada Reskyners. One de Boscawen married Alice de Trevale. These are Norman names, going to show that the de Boscawens came into England with William the Conqueror.
Hugh de Boscawen was, in 1711, first Lord Viscount Falmouth. His wife was Charlotte Churchill, niece of the Duke of Marl- borough.
In that same year, a baby came to gladden the master and mistress of the manor-house, which was named Edward de Bos- cawen.
When a boy, he was always brimming over with fun, and was a mimic withal. There was an old butler in his father's service who had a crick in the neck, and the boy, in mimicry, carried his neck in like manner, till the jest became a habit, and he had a crick in the neck through life. [Lives of English Admirals. ] His father made him a midshipman at an early age, and he was promoted so rapidly that, in 1737, at the age of twenty-six, he was placed in command of the Leopard, a frigate of fifty guns, in the expedition of Admiral Vernon against Cartha- gena. In 1742 he commanded the Dreadnaught, and captured the French frigate Media. In 1746 he commanded the Namure, and captured the French frigate Intrepid, bearing despatches from Quebec to France. In an engagement the next year he was wounded by a musket-ball in the shoulder.
The next year he was selected to command the East India fleet, with six ships of the line, besides frigates. In 1755 he com- manded the fleet on the North American coast, cruised off New- foundland to intercept French ships, and made several captures. In 1759 he was selected to cooperate with Wolfe and Amherst for the reduction of Canada. He sailed with a large fleet to the coast of France, and cruised off Toulon with fourteen ships of the line, watching for an opportunity to cripple the last fleet at the
83
CIVIL HISTORY.
1760.]
disposal of the French king. He fought a great battle off Cape Vincent, came off victor, all but annihilated the French navy, and returned to England to receive the applause of his country- men. Soon after landing he was suddenly taken sick, and died after a short illness.
A few weeks before his death, the Royal Magazine contained a poetical panegyric upon the heroic old admiral. We give a stanza :
" This hero to the brave will favor show, But to the coward is a deadly foe;
Strenuous for combat, dauntless as a tar, He may be called the thunderbolt of war."
The citizens of Boscawen selected an honorable name for their town. The orthography of the word has been rendered in many ways, as will be seen by the following list, kept by Mr. Daniel D. Webster when in charge of the post-office in Boscawen :
" Copied from letters sent to Boscawen P. O., from April, 1859, to March 15, 1861:
1. Boscawen.
18. Boscewine.
2. Bascawane.
19. Boscoine.
3. Bascawine.
20. Boscouin.
4. Bas Coeuen.
21. Boscowena.
5. Baskawen.
22. Boscuen.
6. Basquine.
23. Boscwen.
7. Boscauquine.
24. Boskaewen.
8. Boscawaen.
25. Bos Quane.
9. Boscawane.
26. Bos Quene Planys.
10. Boscaweain.
27. Bosquine.
11. Boscawene.
12. Bos Cawean.
29. Bosquiny.
13. Boscawean.
30. Boys Coyn.
14. Boscawiane.
31. Booscwen.
15. Boscawine.
32. Buscawwin.
33. Buskaine."
THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
The first town-meeting was called by the proprietors' clerk, Joseph Coffin.
" This may inform the Free holders & other inhabitants of the plan- tation formerly called Contoocook Is now by his excellency Benning
16. Boscawn,
17. Bosceane.
28. Bosquines.
84
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1760.
Wentworth Esq Governor &c In & over His Majesty's Province of New Hampshire made and Incorporated and Invested with Town privileges and the nominees thereof is by His Excellency's People called Boscawen, the said Freeholders and Inhabitants are hereby notified to meet at the Meeting House in said Town on the third Wednesday In June at Nine of the clock before noon to choose a town clerk assessors and all other Town officers for the year ensuing as the Law Directs. By order of His Excellency
" JOSEPH COFFIN " April 30 1760."
June 18. At the meeting thus called, Joseph Coffin was chosen moderator, George Jackman, Jr., town-clerk, John Webster, En- sign John Fowler, and Capt. Joseph Eastman selectmen and as- sessors, Benjamin Eastman constable, Andrew Bohonon surveyor of highways, and Dea. George Jackman and Moses Burbank fence-viewers.
Voted, that the selectmen furnish a town pound.
CALL TO REV. ROBIE MORRILL.
July 10. A town-meeting was held this date.
"Voted to raise £1200 old tenor-£800 upon the Rights, and £400 on the Polls & stakes [polls and estates] for supplying the Desk and other necessary charges."
Dea. George Jackman, Capt. Joseph Eastman, Ensign John Fowler, and Thomas Carter, were chosen to give a call to Rev. Robie Morrill, to become the minister of the town.
PROPRIETORS' CLERK.
With the election of George Jackman as town-clerk, and also as clerk of the proprietors, the official connection of Joseph Coffin with the town ceased. For twenty-eight years he had filled the office of proprietors' clerk. He resided at Newbury, and not only at- tended all the meetings there, but, from anything that appears in the records to the contrary, also attended the meetings held in Contoocook. The records were clearly and concisely kept. The papers drawn by him were so lucid, that they might be compre- hended by the smallest intellect. With the exception of the years from 1757 to 1760, the records are intact. Possibly no regular meeting of the proprietors was held while the petition for a charter was pending.
85
CIVIL HISTORY.
1760.]
George Jackman, Jr., who succeeded Col. Joseph Coffin, was reelected for thirty-five years in succession. Thus, for a period of sixty-three years, the records were kept by two competent men.
THE SETTLEMENTS.
The settlements at this time were almost wholly on King and Queen streets. Very few settlers had gone west of Cold brook. The only road leading west was the road through the Gulf, to- wards Great pond. A road from Queen street joined it, probably not far from the old burial-ground. These highways were only cart-paths. Mr. Ephraim Woodbury had taken up his resi- dence on the plot of land now known as Woodbury plain. There were settlers on Fish street, and Benjamin Eastman was living on High street. Edward Emery's cabin, and pos- sibly Thomas Cook's, near Little brook, were standing - ten- antless. Jacob and Jesse Flanders had begun their clearings at the lower end of Water street; but westward of Water street there were no settlements.
FRAMED HOUSES.
Framed houses were beginning to take the place of log cabins. It is not known who erected the first, but the house lately occu- pied by Mr. Franklin Morrill, by his father Benjamin Morrill, and by Rev. Robie Morrill, probably is the oldest framed house now standing ;- possibly it may have been the first erected.
SOLDIERS FOR THE REDUCTION OF CANADA.
It would seem that some of the citizens of Boscawen enlisted in the service for the final reduction of Canada. In the Boston Gazette for July 11 is an advertisement showing that all had not joined their company at the appointed rendezvous.
" July 11, 1760
" Return of men enlisted by Cap Alexander McNutt in the Province of New Hampshire for the total Reduction of Canada, who have declined appearing at the Place of Rendezvous
William Smith
Benjamin Rand of Contoocook
Joseph Atkinson )
" Whoever will take up the above Deserters or any one of them shall
86
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1761.
receive Ten Dollars for each man provided they are delivered in Boston to said Captain Alexander McNutt at the sign of the Black Horse at Capt Richardson's at the south end."
The records of Boscawen make no mention of William Smith and Benjamin Rand. It is probable that they were residents of other towns, who enlisted to obtain the bounty that may have been offered.
THE FIRST SCHOOL.
March 3. At this first annual meeting after the organization of the town, an appropriation of thirty pounds was made for a school, to be kept two months. The teacher employed was Mr. Varney, who had preached for a short time after the death of Rev. Mr. Stevens. He was the first teacher employed in the town. If a school was taught prior to this date, it was a private affair. Probably none was taught, and the instruction received by the children was given by their parents. The hardships had been too great, and the country too much disturbed by the frequent Indian alarms and the marchings to and from Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to admit of any organized effort in educational matters. It is gratifying to know that almost the first appropriation of the town was for public instruction. It was a significant indication of its future prosperity.
A committee was chosen, consisting of Richard Flood and John Webster, for the purpose thus set forth :
"To call the Committee to an account what they have Don with the Income of the Parsonage and School Land Savril year Past & to give an account to the selectmen of the same."
Voted, "that Joseph Eastman, Jolin Flanders and Moses Call settle accounts with Mr. Scales for preaching."
Voted, "that the selectmen settle with the constable & pay him as much upon the Pound for gathering Rates as is customary in other towns."'
SETTLEMENT OF REV. ROBIE MORRILL.
June 11. It was voted in town-meeting " that we Raise one hundred pounds old tenor for moving up Mr Robie Morrill from Chester."
" Voted that we raise £200 old tenor for providing ordination."
" Voted that we call Mr Robie Morrill to settle with us in the Gospel ministry."
87
CIVIL HISTORY.
1762.]
Joseph Hoit, Thomas Foss, and Moses Call were chosen a com- mittee to provide for the ordination.
The proprietors held a meeting, and took concurrent action in regard to the settlement of Mr. Morrill.
Dec. 18. The town voted "that we give Mr Robie Morrill seven hundred pounds old tenor for the year from the settlement at the Rate of - Dollars at six pound per dollar & to Rise fifty pound a year till it comes to one thousand old tenor & there to be stated at that & the privilege of the parsonage at 25 cords of Good Wood at his house or place of habitation yearly from Set- tlement so Longe as he shall continue to be our minister."
They kept good fires in those days ; but the chimneys were large, the fire-places wide, and twenty-five cords was not an ex- cessive amount of wood.
" Voted that we give Mr. Robie Morrill a Right of Land aquivelent to a right of Land for his one for ever and free from charges so Long as he shall continue to be our minister."
The action of the town and that of the proprietors, in thus conferring upon Mr. Morrill a right of land in the town, is a testimonial of the generosity of the inhabitants; but it was a nest-egg which subsequently hatched out a brood of troubles, as will be seen by and by.
Mr. Morrill was ordained December 29, but no record has come down to us of the proceedings.
SELECTMEN'S ACCOUNTS.
The accounts of the selectmen furnish some information in re- gard to the customs of the times :
" Paid Mr Varney for keeping school 1760 £30-0-0
Paid Capt Gerrish for a journey after a minister 12-10-0
To Capt Gerrish for a journey for the same 17-14-0 To John Fowler for three Bowls of punch at a Ven- due in bidding on town's meadow 1-16-0 Paid Mr John Webster for moving up Mr Morrill 16-10- 0 Paid to Dea Jackman for providing for ordination 140-0-0"
MR. MORRILL'S LAND.
1762. The proprietors, at the meeting held June 2, procured a right of land of Maj. Samuel Gerrish, at the expense of £1,000
88
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1762.
New Hampshire money, and conferred the same upon Rev. Mr. Morrill and his heirs forever. This was in accordance with a vote of the town, passed at a previous meeting.
· TOWN MATTERS.
It was voted to lay out the common land, and John Brown was chosen surveyor. Stephen Gerrish, Samuel Gerrish, John Web- ster, and Samuel Moody were appointed a committee to act with Mr. Brown.
It was voted that Samuel Fowler should be exempted from pay- ing a minister's tax.
" PAINS."
At this meeting the following vote was passed :
" Voted that every man who built a Pain in the fort have liberty to take it away."
This has reference to the houses erected by the settlers in the fort, during the trouble with the Indians. Whence the origin of the word "pain" ? It undoubtedly is a corruption of "pent- house "-" a shed, standing aslope from the main wall." [Web- ster. ] The houses would naturally have but one roof-a " pent- roof "-" one whose slope is all on one side." [Webster.]
BOUNDARY BETWEEN BOSCAWEN AND SALISBURY.
At a special town-meeting, Nathaniel Danforth, John Webster, and Peter Coffin were chosen a committee to settle the line and bounds between Boscawen and Salisbury. Peter Coffin, though a proprietor, was at the time living in Newbury, and probably was selected to represent the proprietors.
CONSTABLE JOHN WEBSTER'S ACCOUNT-1762.
" Credit by money pd Province treasurer 601-8-8
121- 5-0
Credit to money paid to Revd mr Morrill 233- 6- 8
Credit by bad money on John Smith's ministers tax 2-12- 0
[So John Smith was a citizen of Boscawen in 1762, and his money was bad!]
Credit by money Discounted to mr webster for Sar- ving a warrant and charges in carrying a woman out of town 3-14-0
89
CIVIL HISTORY.
1763.]
Credit by bad money Credit by 25 cords of Wood to Mr Morrill Credit for collecting money
15-13- 6 175-0-0 56-10-0
1209-9-2"
In the call for the annual meeting, held March 3, this year, was an article "To see if the Inhabitants & Proprietors will give the privilege of a saw mill with Land convenient for the same on the brook which leads from Great Pond near the mouth of the same to any party of men who shall appear to build the same ; also to see what we will do consarning a highway which runs through John Flanders Land to Great Pond; also to see what we will do in respect of procuring a highway Into the upper Inter- vale."
At the meeting, the clause in regard to the saw-mill was not acted upon. In regard to the highway, Capt. Stephen Gerrish and Capt. John Eastman were chosen to view the highway through John Flanders's land, and report at the next meeting. This road was that leading from the lower end of Water street to Great pond.
At this meeting, Ensign John Flanders and Capt. Stephen Ger- rish were chosen deer-keepers, and Capt. Joseph Eastman and Enos Bishop hogreeves.
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
1763. A meeting of the proprietors was held January 5, but for some cause, without transacting any business, was adjourned to June 1.
The original act of incorporation was to continue in force for only two years. The time having expired, the town petitioned for a renewal of the charter, which was granted.
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
A meeting of the proprietors was held June 1.
" It was put to vote whether the Proprietors would give the Privelege of the Great Pond brook to Mr. John Flanders for erecting a saw mill thereon & it was voted in the negative."
" Voted that Mr Robie Morrill should chose the Right or share of land belonging to him-Cold brook No 3."
90
CIVIL HISTORY.
[1764.
That settlements had been extended south-west of Queen street, is evident from a vote passed at this meeting :
" That John Webster be allowed to draw the Peace of land adjoining to him marked with the Letter X for the Half share of the Right of John Noyes & a piece of land at the upper end of Dagodon meadow for the half of Joseph Tappan, provided he will allow a cart way through the first mentioned peace where it now is."
The town gave Rev. Mr. Morrill the privilege of using the school and meeting-house lots for a pasture for the term of four years.
The town confirmed several informal votes, passed during the years 1758, '59, and '60, while the petition for a charter was in the hands of the General Court.
Mr. John Webster having procured a renewal of the town char- ter, which was received in October, the regular meeting for the choice of officers was held November 1, those chosen continuing in office till the next March.
Mr. Webster was paid £82 old tenor for his services-"72 Days man & horse."
WARNING OUT.
The first warning out, as it was called, in the history of the town after its incorporation, occurred this year, as per record.
" This may certify that John Uran with his wife and children was on the 5th Day of Feb 1763 Legally warned to Depart from the town of Boscawen within the time which the Law directs by us the subscrib- ers.
" Boscawen Feb 5. 1763
" GEORGE JACKMAN JOHN FLANDERS
Selectmen "
March 6, 1764. The town met at the meeting-house, chose Mr. John Fowler moderator and Mr. George Jackman clerk, and then, "it being cold, the meeting was adjourned to Capt John Fowler's to be held in half an hour."
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