USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Fitzwilliam > The history of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, from 1752-1887 > Part 28
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In the selection of a suitable instrument the Committee were early im- pressed with the superiority of "the School Piano" manufactured by Messrs. Steinway & Son, of New York City, and were unanimous in favor of accepting the offer which came from those celebrated manu- facturers.
The Committee agreed to pay for the Instrument delivered at the Fitz- william depot $365.00 including Stool and Cover. This amount was re- duced $10.00 on account of a slight defect in the finish of the instrument.
At the close of their report, which is here condensed, the committee say, we "cannot allow this opportunity to pass without congratulating the Association upon being the owners of this beautiful piano, and also the town for the privilege they will have from time to time of hearing it."
" The Fitzwilliam Musical Association," to which allusion
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HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
is made in the report which is given in part above, was duly organized April 7th, 1870, agreeable to the provisions of the General Statutes of New Hampshire in such cases made and provided. Its object is stated to be "to legally establish the ownership of the Piano Forte to be placed in the Town Hall of Fitzwilliam. " In Article 3 provision is made for the usual officers of such an association, while Article + declares that " all persons who assisted as singers or players at the 'Old Folks' Concert,' given at the Town Hall in Fitzwilliam in Jan. 1870, and also the actors and orchestra who assisted in the Dramatic Entertainments may become members of this Association by signing these Articles."
Provision is also made for calling meetings of the Associa- tion.
It is understood that the Musical Association keeps the in- strument insured. In real value the piano proves to be all that was anticipated respecting it when it was purchased over fifteen years ago. As this 'hall is the place for holding more or fewer literary or social entertainments annually, and as music must, most deservedly, enter largely into the proceedings on such occasions, the inhabitants of Fitzwilliam are certainly to be congratulated upon the possession of so pleasant and con- venient a place for their gatherings, and the means within their reach of cultivating and enjoying together one of the most elevating and ennobling of the arts of civilized life. May fifty years to come witness an equally great improvement in musical taste and attainments !
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
In his historical lecture, delivered in 1836, Rev. Mr. Sabin refers to the temperance society " as a very safe thing," that " does harm to none." It was called forth by the exigencies of the times, and " if it had not begun in one way, it surely would in another." The earliest active and prominent advo- cate of temperance principles was Dr. Preston Pond, who was a practising physician in town for several years about 1825-28. The doctor was ardent, and said a good deal, and from this circum- stance became very obnoxious to not a few of our people and I should
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EARLIEST TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
think from this cause lost no small part of his practice. At the first what there was to it, was some half a dozen pledged to each other in a still way to total abstinence from ardent spirits, and they were not to help others to it, more than drink themselves.
But the agitation of the subject did not cease, even though Dr. Pond was compelled to leave town. The first formal or- ganization was effected in the winter of 1829-30. The society was styled " The Fitzwilliam Friendly Association for the Promotion of Temperance," and the first board of officers were : Captain Dexter Whittemore, President ; Aaron Town- send. Vice-President : Deacon Calvin Coolidge, Deacon R. B. Phillips, Dr. Warren Partridge, Benjamin Davison, Ben- jamin Wilson, Directors, and Silas Cummings, M. D., Secre- tarv. A paper dated January 1st, 1830. setting forth the necessity, the objects, and the aim of the Association, and signed by the officers and the members (thirty-eight in number) was printed for general circulation. Five years later the society numbered three hundred and thirty-four members, though none joined it under twelve years of age, and none under twenty-one years, except with the consent of parents or guardians.
In 1842 a new organization, originating in what was known as the Washington movement, and named for " the Father of his country," took the place of the earlier society, and appears to have embraced within a few years a very large part of the population. The pledge adopted was as follows :
We the Subscribers pledge ourselves each to the others that we will not use any intoxicating drinks as a beverage, that we will not furnish them for others, that we will, in all suitable ways, discountenance their use and use our endeavors to redeem the intemperate.
The constitution of this society, based upon this pledge, was drawn up by Amos A. Parker, Esq., and it was signed in the space of three and one half years by six Imundred and sixty -. three of the inhabitants of Fitzwilliam, viz., by three hundred and fifty-three males and three hundred and ten females. In process of time against three of these names the word " broken" was written.
At the meeting for organization, March 2d, 1842, officers
342
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
were elected as follows : Amos A. Parker, Esq., President ; Dexter Whittemore, David Pierson, and John Reed, Vice- Presidents ; John P. Sabin, Secretary, and Benjamin J. Hawkes, Treasurer.
The first meetings were held in the village hall or in some one of the churches, but soon the gatherings often took place in the school-houses in all parts of the town.
The meetings were well attended, and nearly all the more prominent men and women of the town gave the society their cordial support. At these meetings all the phases of the tem- perance reformation were brought before the people by many earnest speakers, while measures for the suppression of the illegal traffic in intoxicating drinks received a large share of attention. From time to time Sunday-evening meetings were held at which the moral and religious aspects of the cause were particularly considered. At the meeting, January 7th, 1846, a resolution in these words called forth an earnest discussion : Resolved, That the sickness which frequently occurs in the case of Temperance men on going out of town, requiring the aid of strong drink, is peculiar in its character, and in the judgment of charity may be omitted.
This singularly worded, but very suggestive resolve was earnestly disenssed by at least eleven speakers, and laid over for further consideration. At the next meeting it was adopted.
This society appears to have been in active operation about twelve years, when, as was true in most of our New England towns, it gave place to other organizations of more or less effi- cieney.
That the Washington Temperance Society in Fitzwilliam accomplished a great amount of good between the years 1842 and 1854 there can be no question.
For several years (date about 1850-55) there was an active and efficient Lodge of Sons of Temperance, and at a more re- cent date (about 1867) a Lodge of Good Templars.
LIBRARIES.
Early in the history of Fitzwilliam the subject of providing a library seems to have been agitated, but nothing effectnal
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EARLIEST LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
was done till 1797, when, for himself and others, Nahum Par- ker, Esq., presented the following petition to the General Court of New Hampshire :
Petition for Incorporation of Library.
To the General Court of the State of New Hampshire now conven'd at Portsmouth humbly Sheweth Nahum Parker, that he with a number of others Inhabitants of Fitzwilliam purchased a Collection of Books for a Social Library, but find it necessary to be incorporated in order to realize the advantages Contemplated. Therefore pray that they may be incorporated with such privileges as are usually Granted in such Cases, and as in duty bound will pray
Nahum Parker, for the purchasers
Nov. 27th. 1797.
This petition appears to have been granted November 29th, 1797.
It is understood that this Association had a good degree of prosperity for twenty or thirty years, though, as it was dis- banded and the books sold at auction over forty years ago, but very few particulars concerning it can now be given. During the later years of its existence Dexter Whittemore was libra- rian, and the library was kept at his store. The books were well selected and of a high character, but generally were more solid and valuable than popular and attractive. Works of fic- tion were conspienous by their absence. From the best attain- able information the library contained over two hundred and fifty volumes, though many of them were old and well worn.
But the people were not long satisfied without a library, and measures were taken early in 1851 to form a new association for this purpose. The subscription paper which was circulated to obtain funds for this object is dated March 31st, 1851, and the money subscribed was to be paid by the 22d day of May following, and to be used " for the establishment of a town library." The first subscriptions upon the list were made by Nelson Howe and Dr. Silas Cummings for twenty-five dollars each, and these were followed by many others ranging from ten dollars to two dollars and fifty cents each, the whole amount raised before the meeting for organization having been two hundred and fifty-five dollars from forty-nine sul- scribers.
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HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
" The Fitzwilliam Library Association" was regularly or- ganized May 31st, 1851.
The by-laws adopted provide that " the members of the As- sociation shall consist of the representatives of shares in the property thereof, each share being valued at two and a half dollars actually paid in."
The officers were to be a Board of Supervisors, consisting of seven, a librarian, secretary, and treasurer. The supervisors were to recommend the books that should be purchased, but the Association must pass upon the list before the purchase could be made. The supervisors first chosen were Dr. Silas Cummings, Rev. Abraham Jenkins, Rev. J. S. Brown, J. J. Allen, Jr., Esq., William D. Locke, Rev. David Stowell, and Thomas W. Whittemore. Daniel Spaulding, Esq., was chosen Librarian and Secretary, and Dr. S. Cummings, Treasurer. In October, 1852, the librarian reported the number of books in the library to be four hundred and eighty-eight, and that there had been drawn out and returned during the year four- teen hundred and fifty-seven volumes. A year later there were four hundred and ninety volumes belonging to the li- brary.
For a number of years the size of the library remained about the same, though the number of the books drawn out rather diminished. In 1859 the librarian was authorized to furnish books to non-shareholders at the rate of fifty cents a year, which sum was changed in 1863 to twenty-five cents, the in- tention being to furnish the privileges of the library to the in- habitants of the town generally at a merely nominal cost. In 1863 Joel Whittemore was chosen Librarian, Secretary, and Treasurer. In 1869 Mr. Whittemore resigned these offices and Dr. Silas Cummings was chosen to fill them. During this year the subject of disposing of the library was considered, but no definite action was taken. At a little later date, by permission of the selectmen, the library was removed to a room under the Town Hall
At a meeting held January 21st, 1871, Daniel Spaulding, Librarian, reported that there were four hundred and seventy- five books in the library. At the same meeting Norman U.
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LIBRARY OFFERED TO THE TOWN.
Cahill introduced the following resolution, which after a full discussion was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, that we the shareholders of the Fitzwilliam Library Associ- ation do hereby donate and turn over to the Town of Fitzwilliam all our books and eases contained in our Library at this date ; Provided that each family in town may have a right in said Library by paying to the Librarian appointed by the town a sum not less than one dollar, and thereby constitute themselves and their families life members thereof, reserving, however, to ourselves and to our families a life membership with the right to take out books from said Library without pay- ment of any additional sum therefor, subject to rules hereafter pre- scribed.
And that the Society known as the Fitzwilliam Library Association is hereby dissolved.
This proposal was accepted by the town at the annual meet- ing, held March 14th, 1871, when the following action was taken :
Resolved. that the Town of Fitzwilliam does hereby receive. accept and approve of the generous donation of the Fitzwilliam Library Associ- ation of the books and cases contained in their late Library on the terms expressed in their resolutions adopted Jan. 21, 1871, and that the name of said Library shall be " the Fitzwilliam Town Library," and there shall be chosen annually, at the annual town meeting, a Librarian who shall have the charge of said Library and act as Treasurer and also act as Supervisor of said Town Library, and two Supervisors who shall have the general supervision of said Library and of the Library room and shall annually make a report to the town of the condition and standing of said Library.
And that the Librarian and Supervisors are hereby authorized and empowered to make such rules and regulations for the government and management of said Library, from time to time as they may deem ex- pedient, which said rules and regulations shall be recorded by the Clerk on the records of the Town, and that the centre room on the north side of the lower floor of the town house shall be assigned for the use of said Library and for such other literary and scientific meetings and exercises as the Board of Supervisors shall direct.
This arrangement developed a wider interest in the library ; several entertainments were given, the proceeds of which were used in purchasing new books, and the number of readers, which had materially fallen off, began at once to in- crease.
346
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
At the annual town meeting, March 13th, 1883, the town passed the following vote in relation to the library :
Voted that the supervisors take measures to make the town Library a free Library to all the citizens of the town under proper restrictions for the safe keeping of books.
In accordance with this vote, the supervisors called a meet- ing of the life members of the library, which was held at the library room, March 31st, 1883, when Dr. A. R. Gleason was appointed chairman of the meeting and Amos J. Blake, Esq., clerk. The records of the last meeting of the Fitzwilliam Library Association, held Jannary 21st, 1871, were read, as was also the portion of the General Laws of New Hampshire applicable to the matters before the meeting. So also were the vote of the town accepting the bequest of the Library As- sociation and the rules of the Fitzwilliam Town Library adopted by the supervisors, April 24th, 1873. Amos J. Blake, Esq., then moved the following resolution, which, after a full dis- cussion, was unanimously adopted :
Be it resolved, that agreeably to a vote passed at the Annual Town Meeting March 13, 1883 and the provisions of Chapter 50 of the General Laws of New Hampshire the Fitzwilliam Town Library shall hereafter be open to the free use of every inhabitant of the town, under proper rules and regulations to be made by the Librarian and Supervisors for the care, preservation and return of the books.
The action thns described making this a free public library has greatly increased the demand for books, and a wide and promising field of usefulness is now open before it, as one of the important institutions of Fitzwilliam.
It should be generally known that this library contains a much larger proportion of very valuable books than can be found in most town libraries. Many standard works in his- tory, biography, and science have a prominent place upon its shelves.
What proportion of the volumes drawn out and read may be classed as biographical, historical, scientific, or works of fie- tion, the reports of the supervisors do not give, but in most of our towns and cities, the latter exceed in number all the former. We are, however, informed that in Fitzwilliam there
347
INCREASE OF THE LIBRARY.
is evidently a growing interest among the younger readers in works of the more valuable character.
The growth of the library and the increase in the munber of readers is well shown by the following table, which is made up mainly from the reports of the supervisors. The table gives the number of volumes in the library, and the number of volumes issued during the twelve months ending March 1st of the year stated :
Year.
Volumes in Library.
Volumes issued, about
Year.
Volumes in Library.
Volumes Issued.
1871.
475
...
1880
1,346
3,000
1873
500
1881
1,431
3,000
1874
840
1,550
1582
1,532
3,400
1875.
943
1,575
1583
1,574
3,700
1876
1,059
1,600
1884
1,690
...
1877
1,123
2,500,
1885.
1,741
6,000
1878
1,177
2,600
1886
1,864
8,000
1879.
1,237
3,000 1887
1,882
8,000
..
The first printed catalogue of the books was given to the public in the Town Reports of March, 1875. A complete cata- logue was also printed in 1882, and lists of the additions made from time to time have been printed as convenience re- quired.
In 1877 the library of the Unitarian Society, containing over four hundred volumes, was loaned to the town library, with which it still remains. The books of this library go into practical use as a part of the town library, but they are not in- cluded in the number of volumes as given in the preceding table.
At some future period (may the time be far distant, how- ever) the town library is to receive a large and choice addition to its shelves. The late Jolin J. Allen, Jr., a native of Fitz- william, but resident in Keene for many years as Register of Deeds of Cheshire County, bequeathed his valuable private library to the town of Fitzwilliam, to be delivered to the town
348
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
after the decease of his wife. This library is an exceptionally well-selected one, and contains a larger proportion of books in extra bindings than is usual in private libraries in the conn- try. This addition will make our library one of the largest and best town libraries in the State. When this is received, and probably before, the library should have a better and more convenient room than it now occupies. Who will give the town a suitable library building ?
THE LIBRARY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1.
The facts respecting this library have been kindly furnished by Mr. Elisha Chaplin.
On March 20th, 1858, there was a meeting of the people of this district to see if the district, as such, would accept of the gift of one hundred dollars left by Mr. Newell Bent for the purpose of establishing a district library. It was voted to ac- cept this money, and a committee of three persons was raised to select and purchase books, viz., George Damon, John N. Richardson, and Winslow Phillips. At the same time the sum of twenty-five dollars was raised to meet expenses and to purchase a suitable bookcase.
At an adjourned meeting, held August 31st, 1858, Samuel S. Willard, Levi G. Smith, and Stillman Taylor were chosen as a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws.
The report which they made was accepted and adopted. and officers were chosen as follows : President, William Bent ; Vice-President, Moses Chaplin ; Librarian, Elisha Chaplin ; Secretary, John N. Richardson ; Treasurer, Charles Damon ; Directors, William H. Shirley, Winslow Phillips, and George Damon.
In 1861 Levi G. Smith was chosen Vice-President, and in 1876 his place was taken by Jonas Damon. In 1882 Winslow Phillips was chosen Librarian. In 1876 Arthur L. Phillips was chosen Secretary, and he was succeeded in 1880 by William H. Shirley. John N. Richardson was the second Treasurer chosen in 1861, and he was succeeded in 1876 by Arthur L. Phillips, while in 1880 this office was filled by William H. Shirley.
349
LIBRARY OF DISTRICT NO. 1.
In 1864 Levi G. Smith became one of the Directors, and in 1876 Elisha M. Bent became one likewise.
In 1868 the Sabbath-school of District No. 1 offered its library to the Bent Library Association, and it was accepted.
For twenty-five years this library has been maintained with a good degree of interest, and has been of great value to the people in the south-east part of the town. At the present time the number of volumes belonging to it is two hundred and seventy-three.
CHAPTER XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Military Companies-Town Hall-Fire Department-Fitzwilliam Savings- Bank-Post-Offices-Population -- Pauperism-Mortuary Record-Con- nection with the World-Mercuants and Traders-Inns and Hotels- Free-Masons-Odd Fellows-Wild Animals.
A LL over New England, as was true in many other parts of our country, the defence of the colonies against the incursions of hostile Indians rendered from the first the estab- lishment of some military organization of the utmost impor- tance, while later the French and Indian wars increased the urgency of this demand. Hence, a very large proportion of the people on the frontiers were always armed and equipped with the instruments of war, and in this fact we find the chief reason why the American colonies were in a better condition to meet the armies of the mother country at the opening of the Revolution than they would have been if the early set- tlements had been made in a time of peace.
As is true in nearly all the towns of New England, the in- terest in the military affairs of Fitzwilliam centres largely in the measures adopted to secure the independence of our coun- try from Great Britain, and to resene the same from the hands of its enemies in the great Rebellion. In both these instances the loyalty to right of the people of this town awakened and' kept alive the martial spirit till the great ends of freedom and justice were gained.
The war with Great Britain in 1812 had few to favor it among the inhabitants of this town, and it is not known that it furnished any soldiers for the regular army in that conflict.
What the town did in the Revolutionary War and also to suppress the Rebellion has been set forth in the two chapters devoted to those subjects. Previous to the Revolutionary War, as the difficulties between the colonies and the mother
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EARLIEST MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
country became more defined, a resort to arms seemed more certain, and measures of preparation for the coming struggle were taken by the various State and provincial legislative bodies, or by popular conventions called to consider the sitna- tion of affairs.
The men of Fitzwilliam voted February 23d, 1775, " to abide by the proceedings of the Continental Congress," and at a meeting held March 16th, 1775, a formal military organiza- tion was effected. At this meeting the town
Voted and Chose Mr John Mellen, Capt. of ye Militia of ye Town of Fitzwilliam
Voted and chose Mr Levi Brigham, Lieut.
Voted and chose Mr Samuel Kendall, Ensign.
Voted and chose Mr Daniel Mellen, Clark.
Voted and chose Messrs Caleb Winch, Reuben Pratt, Nathan Mixer, Benj. Davidson, Sarjants.
Voted and chose Messrs Leonard Brigham, Jonas Knight, David Perry, Ezekiel Mixer, Corporals.
This organization continued during the Revolutionary War, the company embracing all the men in town liable to do mili- tary duty, probably all the able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen and sixty.
As the population of the town increased, after the close of the Revolutionary War, another company was organized, and the town had two militia companies till the incorporation of Troy in 1815. The north company was the Third Company, and the south company was the Eighth Company of the Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment. Among the early cap- tains of the north company may be named John Bowker, Daniel Farrar, David Gary, John Gary, and Aaron Wright, and of the south company Jesse Hayden, Ebenezer Cutler, John Fay, Moses Chaplin, Luke Kendall, Timothy Kendall, William Locke, and Josiah Osborne. The dividing line be- tween the two companies was what is now called " the old road " from Richmond through Fitzwilliam village to Rindge. After the incorporation of Troy in 1815, there was only one company (of militia) in Fitzwilliam, the south company en- larging its borders and taking in that part of the north com- pany that remained in the town.
352
HISTORY OF FITZWILLIAM.
From time to time the laws of the State were modified with regard to the age when men became exempt from military duty, the number of days' service required of the enrolled men annually, the imposition of fines for the lack of arms and equip- ment, or for non-attendance at meetings for military drill, etc., but for a long course of years provision was always made for a large and effective body of citizen soldiery, to be held in readiness to repel foreign invasion or put down civil insurrec- tion.
As the records of the Fitzwilliam companies for these early years have not been preserved, it is impossible to give any his- tory of the companies even so far as to give a correct list of the captains. In 1825 a complete reorganization of the mili- tary system of New Hampshire was effected, and in 1826 the Adjutant-General of the State issued new orders respecting military service within the State, from which it appears that every free, able-bodied, white, male citizen, resident within the limits of any standing Company in the State who is of the age of 18 years and under the age of 45 years, (except such as are absolutely exempted from doing military duty, or hold a military commission in some other corps, or belong to some Independent Company raised at large) must, severally and respectively, be enrolled therein by the Captain or commanding Officer of such Company.
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