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 42
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463
POPULATION. STATISTICS
Dublin Stage Company operates a line of vehicles and electric barges, which convey passengers, baggage, express, and freight, between Harrisville railroad station and any point in Dublin. Except in the winter months, they take Dublin passengers to or from every train arriving at Harrisville. In the winter, the trips are less frequent, but, for special rates, the company will accommodate passengers for any train.
There are four churches in Dublin, the First Congrega- tional (Unitarian) Church, J. L. Seward, D.D., pastor; the Trinitarian Congregational Church, Rev. Harry A. G. Abbe, pastor; Emmanuel (Protestant Episcopal) Church, Rev. Reuben Kidner, pastor, open only in the summer; and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Roman Catholic, Rev. Daniel J. Cotter of Harrisville, pastor, open only in the sum- mer months.
There is one physician in Dublin (1916), A. H. Chilos, M.D. Aside from the societies connected with the churches, there is one secular society, in a flourishing condition at present, Monadnock Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Ladies of the town, without regard to their connections with other organi- zations, did much in 1914 and 1915, and during the great European war, in the way of making garments and articles for the benefit and relief of the sufferers, particularly in Bel- gium. In proportion to the population, Dublin was reported to be the banner town in the whole country in the amount done for this cause.
As a basis of comparison of the conditions existing in 1850 with those of the present time, showing the decline in agricul- ture in the town, since the incoming of summer residents on a large scale, the changes in the values of real estate, and the changes in the forms and character and values of personal belongings, we introduce a summary of the inventory of 1910 :-
142 polls.
Improved and unimproved lands and buildings, value . $809,205.00
151 horses, of the value of 14,510.00
10 oxen, of the value of 628.00
194 cows, value . 5,885.00
30 neat stock, value 561.00
3 sheep
12.00
8 hogs
110.00
Carriages and automobiles
16,120.00
Stock in public funds
2,700.00
Stock in banks and corporations in the state
11,513.00
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
Money on hand, at interest, or on deposit
$68,357.00
Stock in trade
28,560.00
Mills and machinery
3,600.00
Boats and launches
150.00
Total valuation .
$976,441.00
Taxes levied for all purposes, $16,110.12 Rate, $1.65 on $100.00 of valuation.
Fred 6. Loving
CHAPTER XI
POLITICAL AND MUNICIPAL HISTORY
T HE town records, for many years after Dublin was incor- porated, were very brief. Even during the period of the Revo- lution, the records of political actions are few. After the Declaration of Independence, a provisional state government was formed; and, by the record of a vote passed, January 22, 1778, it appears that the articles of confederation and perpetual union of the United States were brought before a meeting of the inhabitants for their consideration. The said record is as follows: ---
"After reading the articles of confederation, adjourned to the house of Mr. Sprague: - then
"Voted to accept of the articles of confederation and perpetual union, except the 8th article; and that the alteration in that article be, that all personal estate be taxed by the United States as well as real estate.
"Voted that the representative of this town should use his in- fluence that there be a full and free representation convened to lay a lasting plan of government for this State."
It is highly probable that the foregoing vote was passed at the suggestion of the Rev. Mr. Sprague, who, most likely, was responsible for its phraseology.
The convention to which allusion was made in the above vote assembled at Concord, June 10, 1778. The author of the former History of Dublin observed that the records did not show who was the representative from Dublin. The records of that constitutional convention reveal the fact that Dublin was classed with Marlborough, Stoddard, and Packersfield, and that no one was chosen to represent them. From the fol- lowing record of a town-meeting, held July 19, 1779, it appears that the convention prepared and sent abroad a system of government.
"The Declaration of Rights and Plan of Government being read, voted to adjourn to the first Tuesday in September next, at nine o'clock in the morning."
466
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
"Tuesday, Sept. 7, 9 o'clock. - Met on adjournment. The Moderator took his seat. The Declaration of Rights and Plan of Government being read and debated, the question being put for receiving the same, it passed in the negative; fifteen against it, seven for it."
It was rejected by a majority of votes in the State. Another convention was appointed, and met in June, 1781. Before proposing a plan of government that was wholly accepted, it held nine sessions, and did not close till October, 1783. At a town-meeting, "March 26, 1782, Amos Emery and Reuben Morse were chosen to go to the convention for forming a plan of government." A plan was passed, printed, and sent to every town, previous to March, 1782. The people were de- sired to state their objections, and return them. There is no record in the town's book of any vote upon the plan sent out. A manuscript, however, has been found among those preserved by the several town-clerks, by which it would seem that Dublin did not neglect to consider the said plan; for one ar- ticle in the warrant for the above-named meeting was, "To see if the town will make a return of their approbation or dis- approbation of the plan of government." It is not probable that they sent two members to the convention without fur- nishing them with some instructions. The only difficulty con- cerning the manuscript is the date, it being March 25th, in- stead of March 26th. This may have been an error in copying; for it is not in the handwriting of Joseph Greenwood, the town-clerk at that time. As it was a lengthy document, the delegates would be likely to be furnished with the original, and a copy taken for preservation at home. We give the docu- ment as interesting, if not authentic: -
"At the annual Town Meeting, March 25th, 1782, - An Article being inserted in the Warrant to Act upon the proposed Constitu- tion of Government, Voted that the following Alterations should be made: -
"Ist. The 17th Article of the Bill of Rights provides, 'That, in criminal prosecutions, the trial of Facts in the Vicinity where they happen is so essential to the Security of the Life, Liberty, and Estate of the Citizen, that no Crime or offence ought to be tried in any other County than where it is committed.' This Town thinks it would be proper to add, unless in cases of necessity, where the gen- eral Court shall judge it proper to make a particular Act to the con- trary. And for this Reason, that such may be the particular circum- stances of some particular County, by Reason of Disaffection, that
467
POLITICAL AND MUNICIPAL HISTORY
it may be impossible to convict offenders and bring them to Condign Punishment.
"2dly. The 23d Article of the Bill of Rights provides Against all retrospective Laws. But this Town humbly Conceive, That, under some particular Circumstances, they are highly necessary, in par- ticular in publick Convulsions; for it cannot be supposed that, in this imperfect state of things, that Punishments can be affixed to all the Violations of the Law of Nature.
"With respect to the 6th Article of the Bill of Rights, This Town are Unanimously of the Opinion that it ought to be added, after the second Paragraph, That every Denomination of Christians shall pay their proportion to the Support of Publick Teachers. And every Individual shall pay to the support of that Public Teacher upon whose Instructions he shall choose to stand.
"3dly. In the 30th page of the Constitution, it is provided, 'That no Bill or resolve of Senate or House of Representatives shall become a Law, or have force as such, until it be laid before the Governor for his revisal. And if he, upon revision, Approve thereof, he shall signify his Approbation by signing the same. But, if he has any objection to the passing such Bill or Resolve, he shall return the same, together with his objections thereto, in writing, to the Senate or House of Representatives, in whichsoever the same Originated; who shall enter the Objections, sent down by the Governor, at Large on their Records, and proceed to reconsider sd. Bill or Resolve. But if, upon reconsideration, three Quarters of sd. Senate, or House of Represen- tatives, shall, notwithstanding sd. Objections, Agree to pass the same, it shall, together with the Objection, be sent to the other Branch of the Legislature, where it shall also be reconsidered; and, if Approved by three Quarters of the Members present, it shall have the Force of a Law.' With regard to this Paragraph, this Town are unanimously of the Opinion, that, after a reconsideration of the Bill or resolve as above, if a Major Part of the Members present approve of the same, it ought to have the Force of a Law; and for this reason, that no Bill ought to require more to support it Against Objections than was necessary to form it. It may be presumed that every Reasonable Objection will be offered previously to the passing the Bill.
"4thly. In the 33d and 34th page of the Constitution, It is pro- vided that every Male Inhabitant of each Town or Parish with town Privileges, in the several Counties in this State, of twenty-one years of Age and Upwards, having a freehold Estate in his own Right, of the Value of one Hundred Pounds, situate in this state, or other Estate to that Amount, shall have a Right to vote for Senators. This Town is of the Opinion that forty pounds Estate is sufficient to entitle a man to a Vote for the first Branch of the Legislature; Be- cause the greater Part of this State is in its Minority, and Therefore the freeholds are low in Value. And We think that it is as Reason-
468
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
able that forty pounds should entitle a Man to this Vote as fifty pounds in the Bay State.
"4thly [so numbered in the original]. With respect to the Repre- sentation, this Town Agrees with the proposed Number of fifty at first. And the County of Rockingham for ever to remain at the Number of 20. And the other Counties to begin at their several pro- posed Numbers; and then to increase in their Number of Represen- tatives as their Rateable Poles increase, until their Number advances to 20, and there stop. And the several Representatives to be chosen in the following Manner: - The present general Court to divide the several Counties into Districts, as near as may be, without splitting Towns or Parishes; and the several Districts to choose their Repre- sentatives in one of these ways: 1. Let the several Towns be noti- fyed to Meet at the Meeting House in the West Town, the 1st year, and let the Election be preceded with a Sermon or an Oration upon free Government, where a Preacher or an Orator can be provided; and the 2d Year, at the Meeting House in the second West Town; and so on, in Turns. Or, if this is thot. too troublesome, Let every Town, at their Annual Meeting, or at the meeting called to choose a Governor, put in their Votes for A Representative. And the Select Men and Town Clerk of the several Towns in the District, Meet to- gether in some most convenient Place, and sort the Votes of the sev- eral Towns. And if any one is chosen, it is well; if not, Let the four highest that are voted for, if there are so many voted for, if not, as many as there are, and put their Names into a Box, and let one be drawn out, Which Shall be the Person to Represent the District.
"5ly. It is provided in the 48th page of the Constitution, 'That all judicial officers, the Attorney-General, Solicitor-General, and all Sheriffs, Coroners, Register of Probate, and other Civil officers, ex- cept such as are otherwise elected and Appointed by this Constitu- tion, or the Laws of the State, and all officers of the Militia and navy, shall be nominated and Appointed by the Governor, by and with the Advice or Consent of the Council.' With respect to these Appointments, this Town are clearly of the Opinion it will greatly Conduce to the Publick Welfare, that many of these officers be Appointed by the general Court such as the Justices of the superior and inferior Court, Sheriffs, Coroners, Registers of Probates, and other Civil Officers; and Major-Generals and Brigadier-Generals in the Militia. Because the General Court is Composed of a Collection of Men from the several Parts of the State, and Therefore must be best Acquainted with the Men qualified for such important Posts and offices.
"And with respect to Justices of the Peace, this Town judge the Present mode salutary and good, that the Justices be recommended by the Towns where they are Wanted, and Appointed by the Court; for the several Towns must needs know best who among them is qualified to keep the Peace, and Discharge the Duties of a Justice
Wilfred M. Fiske
469
POLITICAL AND MUNICIPAL HISTORY
of the Peace. And with respect to the Officers of the Continental Army this Town is of the Opinion that the Appointment of them should be made by the General Court, for the Reasons just above recited. And with respect to the officers of the Militia, this Town judge it proper, that the soldiers of the companies, with the Men in the alarm List, choose the Captains, Subalterns, and the non-com- mission officers. Because the immediate Design of Military Disci- pline is to teach the soldiers the Art of War; and as Men commonly receive Instruction more readily from Instructors of their own Choos- ing, than from others, so the choosing their own officers, especially those that have the immediate Command and Discipline of the Sol- diers, will not only, in our opinion, tend to promote Peace and Union in the Companies, but also the knowledge of the Art of War.
"This Town also proposes that the Commissioned officers of the several Companies choose their Field-officers. And when any officer, whether Field, Capt., or Subaltern, is chosen and accepted, he shall do his duty, and keep up good, strict Discipline; and not be suffered to resign, without Leave from his superior officers.
"And whereas it is provided in the 50th page of the Constitution, 'that no Person shall be eligible as Governor of this State more than three Years in seven.' With respect to this, this Town is Unanimously of the Opinion that this is a great Abridgement of Liberty. That the People of this State have a full and just Right to choose any Man, qualified as prescribed, as many Years successively as they shall judge proper.
"This Town likewise proposes, that the several Counties in this State be divided into two or More Districts, and that Judges of Probate and Registers of Probate be Appointed for each District. Because this will greatly ease the subject, with respect to the charge of travelling.
"And, for the same Reason, this Town proposes, that every Town Clerk shall be Register of Deeds in his own Town; and record all Deeds given of Land in his Town. And that the several Towns in this State be directed and required to provide such Clerks as can write a good Legible Hand. And Furthermore, It is provided in the 63d page, that no Justice's Commission shall continue for more than five years. This Provision appears to this Town entirely needless; for, if a Justice of the Peace discharges the duties of his office with Ability and Fidelity, there is no Reason why he should not be Con- tinued; and if he does not, let him be impeached and set aside."
The second plan of government, sent out by the convention, was approved by the people. At a town-meeting in Dublin, March 4, 1783, the decision was, "Voted to accept of the plan of government; twenty-five for the plan, the other six offered no objection." The new plan was not finished till October 31, of that year. It was printed a third time, and declared to be
470
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
the Constitution of New Hampshire, June 2, 1784. This Constitution may be found in the copies of the laws of New Hampshire, published between the years 1784 and 1792.
With regard to the Federal Constitution, the action, or rather non-action, of the town is described in the Address (see Chapter I). The State Constitution of 1784 was amended, and, as amended, went into operation in June, 1792. A war- rant for a town-meeting, to be held the 7th day of May, has been found, in which is the following article: "To take into consideration the amendments of the Constitution, and to act thereon as they shall see cause, agreeably to the requisi- tions of the convention." The doings of this meeting are not to be found in the town-records, nor is there any notice of the choice of a delegate to attend the convention.
No convention was called to revise or alter the Constitu- tion of 1792, till 1850. By order of the legislature, the people voted in March upon the question, which was decided in the affirmative. On all previous occasions of taking a vote on this subject, the vote of Dublin had been in the negative; but now it was sixty-nine in favor of, and only seventeen against, calling a convention. The delegate chosen, October 8, was Levi W. Leonard.
The convention met in November; and, at the annual town- meeting, the March following, fifteen questions, involving alterations and amendments of the Constitution, were sub- mitted to the people. They were all rejected, not one having two-thirds of the votes in its favor.
The votes upon the several questions in Dublin were as follows. They were decided by polling the house: -
Quest. 1. Do you approve of the Bill of Rights, as amended by the Convention? Yeas, 91; nays, 8.
Quest. 2. Do you approve of a House of Representatives to be constituted and chosen, as provided in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 90; nays, 21.
Quest. 3. Do you approve of a Senate to be constituted and chosen, as provided in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 54; nays, 40.
Quest. 4. Do you approve of the provision adopted by the Con- vention, on the subject of Governor and Lieutenant Governor? Yeas, 72; nays, 20.
Quest. 5. Do you approve of the biennial elections of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Legislature, and biennial sessions of the Legislature, as adopted by the Con- vention? Yeas, 5; nays, 114.
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POLITICAL AND MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Quest. 6. Do you approve of the amendments proposed by the Convention, in relation to the election and appoint- ment of County Judges, Judges of Probate, and other public officers, and their terms of office? Yeas, 50; nays, 40.
Quest. 7. Do you approve of the amendments proposed relat- ing to Trial Justices and Courts, and their Jurisdic- tion? Yeas, 96; nays, 12.
Quest. 8. Do you approve of the abolition of the religious test and property qualifications, as proposed in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 91; nays, 14.
Quest. 9. Do you approve of the mode of making future amend- ments to the Constitution, as proposed in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 83; nays, 12.
Quest. 10. Do you approve of the amendment providing that the Judges of the Supreme Court and the Attorney-Gen- eral shall be elected by the people, and the tenure of their office? Yeas, 19; nays, 21.
Quest. 11. Do you approve of the amendment requiring the elec- tion of a Superintendent of Public Instruction, as provided in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 75; nays, 20.
Quest. 12. Do you approve of the amendment requiring the elec- tion of a Commissioner of Agriculture, as provided in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 66; nays, 27.
Quest. 13. Do you approve of the amendment, provided in the amended Constitution, for deciding all elections by a plurality vote? Yeas, 11; nays, 103.
Quest. 14. Do you approve of the amendment abolishing the Council? Yeas, 89; nays, 11.
Quest. 15. Do you approve of the other alterations and amend- ments, as made in the amended Constitution? Yeas, 69; nays, 8.
As none of the above articles had two-thirds of the votes cast in favor, in the State, the convention proposed the fol- lowing amendments, to be accepted or rejected at the annual town-meeting, March, 1852: 1st, to abolish the property qualification; 2d, to abolish the religious test; 3d, to empower the legislature to originate amendments, and send them out to the people for acceptance or rejection. The first proposition was accepted by a two-thirds vote of the people, and the other two were rejected. The votes of Dublin were: for the first, yeas, 81, nays, 4; for the second, yeas, 70, nays, 14; and for the third, yeas, 75, nays, 4.
It will be perceived that of the fifteen propositions which
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HISTORY OF DUBLIN
the convention sent forth, there was a two-thirds vote in Dublin for ten.
Some later amendments to the state Constitution will be noted as we proceed with the following tables of town officers. It would be too tedious to describe them in detail. They be- long more properly to state history.
TOWN OFFICERS
1771
1777
Thomas Morse, Moderator
Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Thomas Morse
Henry Strongman Selectmen
Benjamin Mason
1772
Moses Adams, Moderator Joseph Twitchell, Town Clerk
Moses Adams Selectmen
Eli Morse and
Joseph Twitchell ) Assessors
1773
Moses Adams, Moderator Eli Morse, Town Clerk
Eli Morse
Samuel Twitchell Selectmen Reuben Morse
1774
Moses Adams, Moderator Eli Morse, Town Clerk
Eli Morse -
Moses Adams Selectmen
Joseph Greenwood
1775
Moses Adams, Moderator Eli Morse, Town Clerk Eli Morse -
Moses Adams Selectmen Joseph Greenwood
1776
Moses Adams, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood Simeon Bullard Selectmen
John Muzzey
Eli Morse, Moderator
Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk John Muzzey Reuben Morse Selectmen
Simeon Bullard
1778
William Greenwood, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood ) Eli Morse Selectmen
Reuben Morse
1779
Moses Adams, Moderator
Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood Moses Adams Selectmen
Reuben Morse
1780
William Greenwood, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood ) Simeon Johnson
Thaddeus Mason
Selectmen
Ezra Twitchell Simeon Bullard
1781
Eli Morse, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood | Reuben Morse Amos Emery Eli Morse Selectmen Nathan Bixby
William J. Lemans
473
POLITICAL AND MUNICIPAL HISTORY
1782
Samuel Twitchell, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood Moses Adams Selectmen Reuben Morse
1783
Samuel Twitchell, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Reuben Morse Joseph Hayward Selectmen Thaddeus Mason
1784
Eli Morse, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Joseph Greenwood Amos Emery Selectmen
Thaddeus Mason
1785
Stephen Ames, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Stephen Ames Reuben Morse Selectmen
Joseph Greenwood
1786
Reuben Morse, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Reuben Morse John Muzzey Selectmen
Benjamin Learned
1787
Benjamin Learned, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Reuben Morse John Morse Selectmen Benjamin Learned
1788
David Elliot, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Reuben Morse David Elliot Selectmen Samuel Twitchell
1789
John Morse, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Reuben Morse Samuel Twitchell & Selectmen John Morse
1790
John Morse, Moderator Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk Reuben Morse David Elliot Selectmen
John Morse
Reuben Morse, Representative for Dublin and Packersfield
1791
Samuel Twitchell, Moderator
Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk
Reuben Morse
Andrew Allison Selectmen
Nathan Bixby
1792
John Morse, Moderator
Joseph Greenwood, Town Clerk
Reuben Morse
John Morse Selectmen Samuel Twitchell
Samuel Twitchell, Representative of Dublin and Packersfield
1793
Benjamin Learned, Moderator James Emes, Town Clerk Nathan Bixby
Thaddeus Mason &Selectmen
Alexander Emes Samuel Twitchell, Representative
1794
Samuel Twitchell, Moderator Andrew Allison, Town Clerk Nathan Bixby James Emes Selectmen
Silas Pierce Samuel Twitchell, Representative
474
HISTORY OF DUBLIN
1795
John Morse, Moderator
Andrew Allison, Town Clerk
Reuben Morse
Andrew Allison Selectmen
Isaac Appleton
Thaddeus Mason, Representative
1796
John Morse, Moderator
Andrew Allison, Town Clerk
Reuben Morse
Isaac Appleton Selectmen
Thaddeus Morse
Thaddeus Mason, Representative
1797
John Morse, Moderator
Andrew Allison, Town Clerk
Reuben Morse
Isaac Appleton Selectmen
Thaddeus Morse )
Thaddeus Mason, Representative
1798
John Morse, Moderator
Cyrus Chamberlain, Town Clerk
Thaddeus Mason
James Emes Selectmen
Isaac Appleton
John Morse, Representative
1799
John Morse, Moderator
Cyrus Chamberlain, Town Clerk
Rueben Morse
Isaac Appleton Selectmen
Thaddeus Morse
John Morse, Representative
1800
John Morse, Moderator Cyrus Chamberlain, Town Clerk Reuben Morse Isaac Appleton Selectmen John Perry Thaddeus Mason, Representative
1801
Andrew Allison, Moderator
Cyrus Chamberlain, Town Clerk
Isaac Appleton
John Morse Selectmen
John Perry
Isaac Appleton, Representative
1802
Andrew Allison, Moderator
Cyrus Chamberlain, Town Clerk
Isaac Appleton
Andrew Allison Selectmen
Thaddeus Mason
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