USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Dublin > The history of Dublin, N.H. : containing the address by Charles Mason, and the proceedings at the centennial celebration, June 17, 1852, with a register of families > Part 3
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In May, 1766, one dollar on each right, making fifty dollars, was voted "for encouragement to Eli Morse for building a grist-mill on the stream near his house, provided he shall get it completed in a year and a half from this time." It is likely that he complied with the condition, and that his grist-mill was the earliest erected in the township. Samuel Twitchell's mill is mentioned in the record of the meeting of Dec. 22, 1768. At this time, a road was granted from Moses Adams's to Wil- liam Beal's, in the north-west part of the town,2 and from that road to No. 6 (Packersfield) line; also a road from that near Samuel Twitchell's3 to Middletown (Jaffrey) line. These roads doubtless opened the first communication with the towns ad- joining on the north and south.
The first meetinghouse was built by the proprietors, by taxes assessed upon their shares. At their first meeting, held in the township, in September, 1764, they fixed the place where the
1 Near the site of the house recently owned by Mrs. Sarah G. Pierce, now by Dr. Childs. - J. L. S.
2 In the present town of Harrisville. - J. L. S.
3 Who lived on or near the site of the Jacob Gleason house, and was father of the distinguished surgeon, Amos Twitchell, M.D., of Keene.
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ADDRESS OF CHARLES MASON
meetinghouse should stand, "by marking a tree, and cutting down several small trees, near the east line of the eleventh lot in the sixth range, where the land is to be set off for the purpose, as also for a burying-place and training field." The spot thus selected, and on which the meetinghouse was eventually built, is upon the high ground, across the old road, northerly, from the burying-ground. Nothing appears to have been done about the matter the next year, and nothing the year succeeding, be- yond choosing a committee to measure off the ten acres, and put up bounds.
A meeting of the proprietors in May, 1767, is stated to have been "warned by Reuben Kidder, Esq., a justice of the peace, according to law." He lived in New Ipswich, and attended and presided at the meeting, at an expense to the proprietors of eight shillings, as appears by his receipt. Probably the impor- tance of the business to be transacted induced them to take this precaution, in order to prevent all chance of calling in question the validity of their doings. At this meeting, they voted to build a meetinghouse "fifty feet long, thirty-eight feet wide, and proportionable as to the height"; and chose Moses Adams, Henry Strongman, and William Greenwood, a committee "to take care to effect the work." They also voted to raise four dollars by tax on each right, to build the meetinghouse.
They were not precipitate in entering upon the work, how- ever, it would seem; since at their next meeting, which was in December, 1768, more than a year and a half afterwards, they tried a vote to see if the proprietors would reconsider their former vote relating to the dimensions of the meetinghouse. But they refused to reconsider, and voted to build the house of the former dimensions; and also raised three dollars more on each share towards building it.
In February, 1771, they granted five dollars on each right, to carry on the building of the meetinghouse. These three as- sessments, amounting to twelve dollars on a share, or six hun- dred dollars in the whole, are all the money ever raised by the proprietors for the purpose. From a memorandum, headed "An Account of what hath been done toward Building the meetinghouse," and bearing date, Dec. 12, 1772, it appears, that, of the amount then expended (about £1,250, old tenor), above one half was paid to William Greenwood, who was a carpenter, and had the charge of building the house. He was paid in sums varying from ten shillings to fifteen pounds twelve shillings, lawful money, at sundry dates between October,
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
1769, and October, 1773, as his receipts show, which, to the number of twenty-four, are found among the papers of Eli Morse.
When the meetinghouse was so far finished as to be occupied does not appear. It seems probable, however, that it took at least two years to bring it to that stage. The first town-meet- ing held in it was Sept. 10, 1771. It was used for public worship the ensuing winter.
From 1763, the population of the township increased with considerable rapidity. New settlers came in from various places, - Sherborn, Natick, Medfield, Holliston, Framingham, Temple, Amherst, and elsewhere. Of the earlier settlers, by far the greater number came from Sherborn. There is no means of ascertaining what was the population of the town at any date prior to 1775, when it was three hundred five. A census of New Hampshire was taken in 1767, by the selectmen of each town and place; but there is no return from this township. There was probably no formal organization existing at that time, and consequently no officers to take the census.
A political organization of the inhabitants was effected in 1768, as appears by a record among the old papers of the town, which recites that, "at a meeting of the inhabitants of Mo- nadnock No. 3, by order of the General Court," held, Nov. 16, 1768, John Goffe, Esq., moderator, the following officers were chosen: Moses Adams, Eli Morse, John Muzzey, assessors; Joseph Greenwood, clerk; Henry Strongman, collector; Moses Adams, commissioner of assessment. Appended, of the same date, is a certificate of the justice that the above officers were legally chosen, according to an act of the General Court, and were sworn to the faithful discharge of their respective offices. This John Goffe is presumed to have been Colonel John Goffe of Bedford. The organization thus established was preserved; and like officers were chosen, annually, in March, till the town was incorporated.
The incorporation of the town took place in March, 1771. The petition for the purpose, to the Governor of the Province, appears to have been signed by Josiah Willard, Jr., as "the agent for and in behalf of the inhabitants and settlers." It sets forth, as the main ground of the application, that Dublin is rated among the towns and parishes in the Province for the Province- tax, and that the place "is not legally qualified to raise and collect said taxes, whereby they may be construed delinquents if the same should be omitted." The petitioner also begs leave
Province of Bieny bambine . "e "ille the wind" by the grace of God of Britain Finner and Wichand ching. (
" Will . Popli to whom Hem Présents shall Greding " "hi Victime legal Subjects Inhabitants "d "trait of Sand within our province of Iter Vi ampatore afriend commonly called und . " .... by the " Suene of "Putten or a Mensadnech. . S"3 containing by Volimation, about the miles Hive humidity ifstationed and requested us that they May be excited and Incorporated into a buonship and enfram . chesed with the sam Porces and Siviledges which other Clowns within our vad proving by fam have and cojey. Ind it appear "ny unto un lote contraire to the general good of our weitfire times as well as of the said onhabitants inparticular by ' sicontaining good order and encouraging the culture of the . "hind what if we should be done. Five yo that we of very aspecial genes certain knowledge and for His encouragement "and promotion of the good proposes and ende aferesit " Big & with the advice four "rarely and well being) Mehl . Wentworth Esquire ani Governos and Commander in chas;" and of our Council of the same hatt ccccted and ordained } by these Prevents for us our him and duceeffort to will mand ordain that the Inhabitants of the wait chait of Mind and . allcos who shall 'Imprese and inhabit thereen " hereafter , the same being butter and bounded as follows vist . Beginning of " " Birch The being the north east corner of Altiddie . Monadnock . Town ship and runs Youth Eighty degreesflest soron miles to . Hemlock &free marked; from thene running . South by the media Five elliles to a Voce , marked , from theme resending dinth Eighty deques Budt veren miles to a homeck alice marked from theme running south by the radi "tipe mais to "
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CHARTER OF DUBLIN,
"this 1. 1 Body 'effects and corporate lehave continuance " by the Same of Dretine , with all the parens
" .. . . minbulant on those who have gen
- and reefers all White " And was that are i shall? Foot being and growing within and fly Be Bad hus y" " Sind fit for the use of war "hepat Sary Reserving also To your friends and faceffers the hours and light of . h. vai bien when it shall fall De Gina achats thereef Provided nonwith light and .... verinet Hat. His Charter and "Fant is not . '.') and "ha i not in any manner be samband to affect the private Argenty of the grit within this . kindly aforsvant . And is hier "event and within our wind, pomer ans by the Sims there of is ablet and authorized to abermals and by the Majority of He before present to chase att auch officers & transat auch,
Grants nominato and appoint Thomas e here, je mi to self the first . Herting of void 'nhabitants to be held with in the said Toun'at any Time withen J'aise tage from Hi, dato hora, giving legal . Selve of His chin bad langen ketting auch efteling after which the annual elleting and You shall be held for the choice of and Offices and the projects afraid on the first abecedday of March,
In Testimony where we have caused the dias of one. said province de de hercunte affen Hetnefa sur y and Commander in chief afriend the " ( matt hey 1 March in the Eleventh year of our Rein domaine ? / J.
with wirite raggiunti' ,
Received Sie. 1: Fel 291.320
GRANTED BY KING GEORGE THE THIRD, 1771
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ADDRESS OF CHARLES MASON
to suggest to his Excellency, "that the said Dublin is presumed to be sufficiently inhabited and convenient for incorporation." The petition was dated, March 25th, and a charter was forth- with granted, bearing date the 29th of the same month.
For his services in this behalf, Mr. Willard received from the town thirty-two dollars, as appears by his receipt, dated Keene, Oct. 10, 1771. To meet this expenditure, the town, at the second town-meeting, held, May 29, 1771, made a specific ap- propriation; though it seems they had not got their ideas up fully to the exigency of the case, as the sum they appropriated was less by two dollars and a half than the amount of the bill. Besides the money paid him by the town, he received, as is shown by his receipt, seven shillings and sixpence, "in full satisfaction for services done the proprietors of Dublin in ob- taining a charter."
The charter thus granted was, doubtless, substantially the same as was usually granted to towns, in those times. It issues in the name of "George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and so forth." It contains a reservation of all white- pine trees upon the land "fit for the use of our Royal Navy." This reservation of pine ship-timber was in pursuance of Acts of Parliament relating to the preservation of his majesty's woods in America. We do not, however, learn that any requi- sition for the article was ever made upon the township, either prior or subsequent to the act of incorporation.
The town was incorporated by the name of DUBLIN. In the petition for incorporation, it is described as the tract of land "commonly called and known by the name of Dublin (or Monadnock No. 3)." When or how long it had been com- monly known by the name of Dublin does not appear. Up to that time, the name does not occur, so far as I have seen, in any of the papers of the proprietors, or of the township. It is commonly understood that the town was named from Dublin, Ireland. Why it should have been is not obvious, as it is pretty manifest that, before the incorporation of the town, all the Scotch-Irish who had ever been resident in it had removed, with the exception of one, - Henry Strongman. But he, it is said, was born in Dublin; and that circumstance may have settled the point.1 At all events, it is just as hard to tell why
1 If, as is most probable, Henry Strongman, the Scotch-Irishman, were the first permanent settler of the locality, it was most fitting that the proprietors should honor him by naming their new township from his native city of Dublin, Ireland. Strong-
10
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
it should not have been so named, since it must necessarily have some name, and it might as well be called Dublin as any- thing else.
In the deed of grant from the proprietors, the township was described as "North Monadnock, or Number Three," the names being in the alternative. In the papers of the original pro- prietors' clerk, Joseph Blanchard, Jr., and others emanating from non-residents, it is styled, pretty uniformly, "The North Monadnock Township." By the residents, it appears to have been called, commonly, "Monadnock Number 3." Sometimes the two designations were run together, making it "North Monadnock Number 3."
To understand why either the "North" or the "Number" should have been applied, it is to be borne in mind, that "Mo- nadnock" was a name of pretty extensive use in these regions. Thus, Rindge, otherwise called Rowley Canada, was Monad- nock No. 1; Jaffrey, called Middle Monadnock, or sometimes Middletown, was Monadnock No. 2; Dublin, or North Mo- nadnock, was Monadnock No. 3; Fitzwilliam, Monadnock No. 4; Marlborough, called originally New Marlborough, was Mo- nadnock No. 5; Nelson, formerly Packersfield, was Monadnock No. 6; Stoddard, which was Limerick, was, it is presumed, Monadnock No. 7; and Washington, formerly Camden, was Monadnock No. 8.
The meeting for the organization of the town, under the charter, was called, as provided in the instrument, by Thomas Morse, and was held, May 6, 1771. Mr. Morse was moderator. The first board of selectmen, then chosen, was Thomas Morse, Henry Strongman, and Benjamin Mason. Joseph Greenwood was chosen town-clerk.
Mr. Greenwood, for twenty years or more next after this time, was by far the most prominent business-man in the town. He was town-clerk in 1771, and from 1776 for seventeen years successively, during which time he was also selectman ten years, and town-treasurer some part of the time. He represented Dublin in the Convention of Delegates which met at Exeter, May 17, 1775. He was likewise a noted schoolmaster. Further- more, he was the first justice of the peace in the town. For some years, they had been obliged to send for a justice of the peace from a distance, when one was required. In the treasurer's account, settled in 1776, is found an item, "Paid Esq. Hale, for
man's dwelling was on the fifth lot of the sixth range, occupied by Ralph Wood in 1916, and recently by his father, the late Dr. Curtis A. Wood. - J. L. S.
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ADDRESS OF CHARLES MASON
swearing town officers, two years, twelve shillings." Precisely when Mr. Greenwood was appointed does not appear; but it was before May, 1777. He and Samuel Twitchell and Reuben Morse were, I conclude, the only justices of the peace in the town, until several years after the commencement of this century. He appears to have been a capable man, and to have done his business usually in a very correct and scholarly manner.
The subject of raising money to hire preaching was several times brought before the meetings of the proprietors; but it does not appear that the proprietors, as such, ever raised and applied any money for that purpose. Whatever preaching the settlers had, and it must have been very little, before the town was incorporated, was paid for, if at all, by individuals. It is said the first sermon preached in the township was at the house of Eli Morse,1 in the autumn of 1767, by the Rev. Samuel Locke of Sherborn, afterwards President of Harvard College.
At the second town-meeting, held, May 29, 1771, the town granted fifteen pounds for preaching. The money appears to have been expended in the course of the summer; as, in Sep- tember of the same year, they voted to have a month's preach- ing that fall, and granted nine pounds for the purpose.
On the 17th of October, 1771, the town made choice of Mr. Joseph Farrar for their gospel minister. He was a native of Lincoln, Mass., and graduated at Harvard College in 1767. They voted to give him, as a settlement, thirteen pounds six shillings and eightpence, in addition to the right of land (three lots) to which, as the first settled minister, he would be en- titled under the original grant, and to clear twenty acres of land in one of the lots. The salary was to be "forty pounds ($133.33) the first year, and to rise two pounds thirteen shil- lings and fourpence a year, till it gets to fifty-three pounds six shillings and eightpence, so to continue." In January, 1772, the town voted some prospective increase in the salary, which, however, as the case resulted, never became of any practical consequence.
Mr. Farrar seems to have experienced considerable diffi- culty in deciding the momentous question. But on the 3d of February, in a letter setting forth, at length, his endeavors, through reflection, prayer, and taking the advice of the rever- end fathers, to come to a right determination, he expressed his acceptance of the office.
1 On or near the site of the Dwight house, at the outlet of Monadnock Lake. - J. L. S.
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
As the laws then were, the freeholders of each town, con- vened in public town-meeting, had the right to agree with a minister for the town, and determine what annual salary should be allowed to him, and such minister was to be ac- counted the settled minister of the town; and the selectmen were to make rates and assessments upon the inhabitants of the town for the payment of his salary, in the same manner as for defraying other town charges. Only such as were con- scientiously of a different persuasion, and constantly attended the public worship of God on the Lord's day according to their own persuasion, were entitled to be excused from paying towards the support of the ministry of the town.
In this case, the arrangement was made, substantially, through the ordinary town-meetings. But before the ordina- tion took place, a meeting of the freeholders was held, at which it was voted to concur with what the voters had done with regard to giving Mr. Farrar a call to settle as their gospel minister. The ordination was on the 10th of June, 1772. A church was formed at the same time.
The connection between Mr. Farrar and his charge was not of long continuance. In September, 1775, we find a town- meeting called, upon three days' notice only, by the town- clerk, "by order of the selectmen," as the warrant states, "to consider the unhappy difficulty subsisting betwixt Mr. Farrar and his people, and to agree upon some proper means to settle the same." A committee was sent by the meeting to desire Mr. Farrar to come into the meetinghouse, to see if he would join in calling a fast. It is not stated whether or not he came. The meeting voted to send for five ministers named, to come on the first Tuesday of October, and join with them in keeping a day of fasting and prayer, and also to give them advice con- cerning the difficulty in question. It does not appear whether such a fast was held. But, on the 26th of October, the town voted "to dismiss Mr. Farrar, upon his request for a dismissal, provided he don't settle the difficulty between him and the town, before the town meet again on adjournment."
These difficulties, growing out of a disordered state of his mind, amounting to partial insanity, led to the calling, by the concurrence of the church and the town, of a council, which assembled, December 6, 1775; and its result was declared on the next day, and accepted by the parties. In this result, the council state it as their opinion, "that, in the instances com- plained of, the Rev. Mr. Farrar has given the church real cause
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ADDRESS OF CHARLES MASON
of uneasiness, but that it has proceeded from bodily diseases, which have greatly affected his mind, and not from any moral cause." At the end of six months, during which time it is sup- posed his pastoral duties were suspended, the difficulties still existing, he was, upon his own request, in pursuance of the result of the council, on the 7th of June, 1776, dismissed from his pastoral relation, by both the church and the town.
At a town-meeting, held on the same day on which Mr. Farrar was dismissed, the selectmen were instructed to hire preaching six months, and to procure three preachers, if they could find them. It appears from receipts existing, that they had several preachers; but they made no choice of a minister till August, 1777, when they voted to settle Mr. Edward Sprague, at a salary of sixty pounds ($200) a year. They voted also to give him, as a settlement, ten pounds a year, until it should make one hundred pounds, - provided he should con- tinue to be their gospel minister for the term of ten years, - and to furnish him thirty cords of firewood annually. By a subsequent arrangement, the hundred pounds settlement money was commuted, by his taking a lot of land (No. 22 in the 5th range), - he acknowledging payment of it in that way, and giving up all claims to the ministry lands of the town.
Mr. Sprague accepted the call upon the terms stated; and, on the 12th of November, 1777, his ordination took place. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Langdon, D.D., President of Harvard College, and was published.
Of the part which the inhabitants of this town took in the Revolutionary War, there is no very accurate knowledge, - though there seems to be no doubt that they cooperated heartily and unanimously in the movement for independence.
In March, 1775, the town chose a committee of inspection, who were to see that the Resolves of the Continental Congress be enforced. The only notice I have found of their doings is contained in a paper, which, as it is rather a curiosity in its way, I transcribe. In form, it appears like a regular legal adjudica- tion upon a matter which would seem to be of private right. It runs as follows: -
"DUBLIN, July 25, 1775.
"Whereas the Committee of Inspection in this town have this day met to consider of the complaint made by Ebenezer Hill against Wil- lard Hunt, wherein said Hill complains that said Hunt hath in an un- just manner seized his property in taking possession of some hay which he had on a meadow belonging to Samuel Ames, Jr .; and it
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
appears to us by evidence that the hay is Hill's property, and that Hunt hath seized on it in an unjust and violent manner:
"Therefore, voted that said Hunt immediately desist and let said Hill enjoy his property, or he shall be treated as a disorderly person and an enemy to the peace and good order of society.
"Voted that the above pass as a resolve of this committee.
BENJA. MASON, Chairman."
If the facts were proved, the judgment was certainly a righteous one, and very moderate and forbearing towards the delinquent.
In March, 1776, the Continental Congress passed a Resolve, recommending to the several assemblies, conventions, and councils, or committees of safety, of the United Colonies, im- mediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective colonies, who were notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who refused to associate to defend, by arms, the Colonies against the hostile attempts of Great Britain. A copy of this Resolution was transmitted to the selectmen of the several towns, by the Committee of Safety for the Colony of New Hampshire, with a circular from them, bearing date, Apr. 12, 1776, of the following tenor: -
"In order to carry the underwritten Resolve of the honorable Continental Congress into execution, you are requested to desire all males above twenty-one years of age (lunatics, idiots, and Negroes excepted) to sign the Declaration on this paper; and, when so done, to make return thereof, together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly, or Committee of Safety of the Colony. - M. WEARE, Chairman."
The declaration referred to was as follows: -
"In consequence of the above Resolution of the Continental Congress, and to show our determination in joining our American brethren in defending the lives, liberties, and properties of the inhabit- ants of the United Colonies:
"We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our power, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British fleets and armies against the united American Colonies."
The return from Dublin, which is not dated, but which was made probably in May or June, 1776, has appended to the list of names this certificate: -
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ADDRESS OF CHARLES MASON
"In compliance with your request, we have desired all the males in our town, above twenty-one years of age, to sign to the declaration on this paper, which they all did without any dispute. - Test: JOSEPH GREENWOOD, SIMEON BULLARD, JOHN MUZZEY, Selectmen of Dublin."
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