USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
Andover, Mass.
70
66
John Shedd,t
Dunstable, N. H.
70
66
Isaac Andrews,f
Ispwich, Mass.
69
Daniel Killam,
Wilmington, Mass.
69
Robert Carr,
Litchfield, N. H.
68
Zachariah Robbins,t
Westford, Mass.
68
Benjamin Pierce,f
Chelmsford, Mass.
6.6
66
David Livermore,
Sudbury, Mass.
62
66
Samuel Morrill,
Derryfield, now Manchester, N. H. 59
Nathaniel Johnston,
Andover, Mass.
POPE, WILLIAM. From the returns given in Hammond's Revolu- tionary War Rolls, we glean the following facts of the service of this soldier :
Vol. I, Lieut. of Commissioned Officers in Col. Thomas Stickney's Reg., Mar. 5, 1776, p. 161; Continental sol- dier enlisted for 3 yrs, or during the war in Col. Stick- ney's Reg., p. 568 on muster roll of Capt. Elijah Clay's Co., in Col. Nathan Hale's Reg. in 1777, p. 633.
Vol. II, Ensign in an account of rations due the offi- cers in Col. Stickney's Reg., Gen. Stark's Brigade, p. 163 ; Ensign on the pay roll of Capt. Ebenezer Webster's Co. in Col. Stickney's Reg. July, 1777, p. 164; Ensign on the pay roll of Capt. James Barman's Co. in Col. Moses Kelly's Reg. Aug. 8, 1778, p. 546 ; on list of soldiers in Capt. Clay's Co., Col. Poor's Reg. Mar. 12, 1778, p. 610; Priv. in 6th Co. in Reg. commanded by Col. George Reid in the yrs. 1777, 1778, 1779, p. 723.
Vol. IV, on list of subscriptions Vols. who recovered their bounty from the Selectmen of Hillsborough, p. 259.
*Served in French and Indian War.
¡Was in Battle of Bunker Hill.
147
I48
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
PRESTON, SAMUEL. In Rhode Island Expedition and at Bennington. RICHARDSON, DANIEL. Served for Marblehead, Mass., in the Bay State Service.
ROLF, JESSE. Served in Capt. Benjamin Emery's company, Colonel Baldwin's regiment raised to reinforce the Continental Army at New York September 20, 1776.
ROBBINS, PETER. The pay roll of Capt. James Ford, in Col. Moses Nichols' regiment, Stark's brigade, contains his name enlisted July 20, 1777, and discharged September 18, nine days allowed for travel home. This soldier doubtless saw further service. His sons, Curtice and Lyman, were in the War of 1812 at Portsmouth.
SARGENT, EBENEZER. Mustered in for three years or during the war December 17, 1777, in Captain Clay's company, under Colonel Poor; December 17, he was assigned to Captain Clough, Colonel Cilley's regiment in Sullivan's command. Again, in 1780, he was transferred to Colonel George Reid's regiment, so he must have seen continuous service during most, if not all, of the war.
SARGENT, JONATHAN. Served in R. I. expedition. Enlisted July 1, 1777, in Capt. Simon Marston's Co., Col. Joseph Senter's Reg .; dis- charged Jan. 7, 1778; served 6 months 7 days.
SARGENT, SAMUEL. He was a private in Capt. John Parker's Co., Col. Timothy Bedell's Reg. raised by N. H. and joined to the Northern Division Cont. Army under General Montgomery, 1775. Was with troops sent to succor Arnold at Quebec, and discharged Dec. 31, or immediately after the disaster of that campaign. Fol- lowing the sad experiences of the Canadian campaigns, not the least of which was the surrender at the Cedars in 1776, under the urgent appeals of Ethan Allen, a battalion was re-enlisted from Col. Bedell's men whose term expired Dec. 31, 1775, and Sergt. Samuel Sargent was among 53 men who joined from Col. Bedell's Reg. and he remained with them until May, 1776. The battalion formed a portion of that sturdy band of troops which became widely known as the Green Mountain Boys. Samuel Sargent ranking then as 1st Lieut. belonged to Captain Estabrook's Co. and was among the troops which surrendered at the Cedars May 21, 1776. He saw further service during the war.
SHEDD, JOHN, JR. Served in Capt. Joseph Pettingill's company un- der Col. Loammi Baldwin.
SIMOND (SYMOND) SAMUEL. In Captain Baldwin's company, Stark's regiment at Bunker Hill, as per pay roll of August 1, 1775. On roll of Captain Hale's company October 4, and Capt. Timothy Clement's Co., Apr. 15, '76. Was in the Canadian expedi- tion.
149
1
WAR ROLLS-CONTINUED.
SIMONDS (Symonds) WILLIAM, in Capt. Ebenezer Webster's Co., Col. Thomas Stickney's regiment, July 5, 1777, marched to relief of garrison at Ticonderoga 70 miles, when news of the evacuation reached them. (Three others from Hillsborough were in this expedition.) Mas 1st Lieutenant in Capt. William Humphrey's Co. in the Northern Army.
SYMONDS, NATHANIEL, son of Deacon Joseph. In Battle of Bun- ker Hill.
SPAULDING, SAMUEL. In Col. Mooney's reg. for defence of R. I. in '78 to credit of Deering which town paid 42 £ for said service. Paid July 22 & 28, 1779.
STEELE, MOSES, in Capt. Timothy Clement's Company July 1776, and saw further service.
STEVENS, CALVIN-Was at battle of Bunker Hill and served other- wise in war, though his name does not appear in the Revolu- tionary War rolls as published in the State Papers. He came to Hillsborough in 1776 and besides his service in the army he was very active at home.
TAGGART, ARCHIBALD. In Rhode Island ex. 1778. Entered Capt. Clay's company, Col. Hale's regiment for 3 years, Sept. 20, 1777. Was ensign. Was paid off and discharged Oct. 25, following. He was ensign in Lt. Col. Henry Gerrish's regiment. Capt. John Hale of Hopkinton, which marched from Hopkinton and adjacent towns in Sept., 1777, to join the Northern Continental Army at Sar- atoga.
TAGGART, CORP, JAMES. Was at Bunker Hill; under Captain Dear- born in Arnold expedition; remained in the army during the war. Was made Second Lieutenant but resigned August 25, 1778. Was at Valley Forge.
TAGGART, JOHN. Served in Captain Wait's company under Colonel Cilley, and was in the Sullivan expedition. Rem. to Maine.
TAGGART, JOSEPH. In Capt. Timothy Cleveland's company, Col. Pierce Long at Portsmouth from February 3, 1776, to December 7, 1776. Enlisted in Fourth regiment, Third battalion in April, 1777, for three years or during the war.
TAGGART, ROBERT. Served in the French and Indian war and was at Bunker Hill under Baldwin.
TAGGART, WILLIAM. Enlisted in Captain Clay's company under Colonel Hale. Was made Ensign.
150
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
TAYLOR, JOHN. Enlisted in Captain Emerson's company under Col- onel Cilley, but was reported absent, reason not given. He was described as dark complexion, dark hair, black eyes, five feet ten inches, 25 years old. Served also as private in Mass. Reg. (See Mass. Rolls, Vol. XV, page 374.)
TAYLOR, NATHANIEL. Enlisted November 7, 1776, for during the war in Colonel Stickney's regiment, but was transferred in 1777 to Colonel Hale's regiment, Third battalion of the Continental army. Returned April 6, 1781.
TAYLOR, WILLIAM. At Bunker Hill and in Arnold expedition.
TOWNE, ARCHELAUS, JR. He served in the Revolution to the credit of Amherst before coming to H. in 1787. His father died in the service at Fishkill, N. Y., Nov. 5, 1779. He acted as a scout and saw much active duty.
WHEELER, OLIVER. Enlisted in the 4th Hampshire Co .; served in Continental army for term of three months agreeable to order of General Court of June 22, 1780, as returned by Col. Elisha Porter, Capt, Hooker's Co.
WILKINS, ANDREW. Entered the army under Captain Baldwin, April 23, 1775, and served until Aug. 1, 3 months and 16 days, par- ticipating in the battle of Bunker Hill. Records are not clear after that date relative to this soldier.
WILKINS, ASAPH. Served to the credit of Amherst in Scammel's Regiment, Frye's Company, for 3 years. Name appears on the rec- ords as Asa.
WILKINS, LIEUT. ROBERT BRADFORD. A native of Amherst, he came to H. when a young man and was better known as "Bob Wilkes." He served throughout the war to the credit of Amherst first and then H. He became known to Lafayette and a strong friendship existed between them.
WINCHESTER, SAMUEL, family records show, fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and may have seen further service. He died in Danvers, Mass., aged 101 years. Elias Cheney, son of Dea. Tris- tram Cheney, married 2d Deborah, b. in 1777, in Hillsborough, dau. of Samuel Winchester, but have been unable to ascertain how much later he lived in this town. Deborah's marriage took place about 1797, and her residence is recorded as Hillsborough.
WYMAN, STEPHEN. Marched from Deering to Acworth to the as- sistance of Ticonderoga, July 1, 1777; returned the 3rd day, same month, word having been received that the fort had capitulated. He was in the muster roll of Capt. Ninian Aiken's Company, Col. Daniel Moore's Regiment. He lived in territory that eventually was included in Windsor.
15I
1
WAR ROLLS-CONCLUDED.
REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONERS.
The following Revolutionary pensioners were living in Hills- borough June 1, 1840:
William Dickey, age 85 years; David Livermore, age 78 years; Mary Gould, living with George Gould, age 79 years ; Martha Mann, 79; Thomas Kellom, 80; Daniel Kellom, 84;| Nathaniel Parmenter, 85; Isaac Farrar, 79; Thaddeus Goodwin, 87; Isaac Andrews, 84; William Parker, 84; Daniel Russell, age not given ; Abigail Robbins, living with Charles D. Robbins ; Lucy McNiel, living with Solomon McNiel.
CHAPTER VIII.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
Surrender of Cornwallis-End of the Revolutionary War-A Day of Rejoicing-The Hardships That Followed War-The Matter of Money-When Grain Was Legal Tender-Depreciation of Currency -Great Suffering-An Open Rebellion Suppressed-Taxes of Non- Residents-Bridge Across the Contoocook River-When Silver Coin Was a Boon-"Old" and "New" Tenor English Terms for Money- Tax List 1782-Land Titles-Drawing Town Lots-Change in Date of Town Meetings-First Name With a Middle Letter- Signing of Constitution-"Bob" Wilkins-State Militia of 1792- Hillsborough's Allotment-The Condition of a Country Town- The Social Attractions-Wild Animals-Wolves-Moose-Wild Turkies-Bear Stories-Signs and Portents-Capt. Bowman's Warning-Witchcraft-Aunt Jenny's Power Over the People- Heads of Families, 1790-Valuation of Hillsborough, 1795-Out of the Old Into the New.
The surrender of Lord Cornwallis in command of the British forces established at Yorktown, Va., nearly three months before, on October 19, 1781, virtually closed the War for Amer- ican Independence. In this battle the French combined with the colonists under Washington to bring about this happy ending of nearly seven years of warfare. So slowly did the news travel in those days that it was nearly a week before the glad tidings reached our remote hamlet on the hills. Great rejoicings followed and men, women and children joined in the festivities of a holiday, the first they had known for a long, long time. Nor did it really seem possible that the arch enemy of liberty had been overcome and the united colonies were free. The older and wiser ones even now shook their heads, for past experiences had shown and forecasts of the future admonished them that trials and hard- ships still threatened them, if not with powder and bullet with the hardships that inevitably follow in the wake of war during the reconstruction period.
Happily Hillsborough had been free of that element de- signated as "Tories" all through the struggle. This, to the stu-
152
I53
UNION ONLY IN NAME.
dent of the trying scenes, was somewhat remarkable. At this late day we can view dispassionately the influences of that period and Its outcome, fraught with so much of passion and recklessness. It is probably true that no war of such great and lasting results was ever fought out under more adverse circumstances or with less actual previous preparation or unification of forces or con- centration upon leadership. In reality it was a war where and when a minority won against not only superior numbers but against the wealth of the country. It was natural the men of property should be loyal to that government which had stood by them in the days of aggression by a foe that never slept, even if that government pressed upon them unreasonably.
The rebellion was poorly conceived and weakly conducted, but sprang from the hearts of men who would not brook tyranny, the men who were the sons of fathers who had fled from an overbearing king to the wilderness of America, not only to wor- ship "according to the dictates of their own will," but incidentally to set up a form of government the peer of all governments and the moulding power of progressive civilization which has outlived monarchies and proven that a government of the people by the people is the only executive and legislative union that approaches perfection and perpetuation. And yet, had a ballot been taken at the time of the uprising it is more than likely that the war would have been voted down, and if not abandoned been delayed for many years-probably forever. For the good of humanity it may have been better as it were. Let that be as it may it came and passed like a winter storm in the march of time, while we of to- day have only a vague conception of the hatred and bitterness that was associated with the mere utterance of those antagonistic terms "Tory" and "Rebel !"
Usually the peace that follows war has its burdens that weigh heavily for sometime, but it is seldom a victorious force comes out the furnace of fate with more serious handicap than the irregular chain of colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Georgia. A union existed only in name, and it was not until 1789 that a sufficient number of this league of states had signed the constitution of this new government and placed it among the nations of the world-a Republican experi-
I54
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
ment. New Hampshire has the honor of casting the vote which confirmed the constitution, thus becoming the ninth star in the grand galaxy of that banner which has since been augmented to forty-eight stars. Professor Fiske very aptly designated this as "the critical period of the American republic, which the wisest statesmen of the Old World predicted could not long endure."
All through the trying period of more than twenty years' duration, beginning in the early stages of the war, the matter of money as an exchange for such commodities as were needed was a serious problem. During the war the circulating medium had been Continental paper money issued by congress or the bills of credit by the state. With no stable government behind it, or assured promise of redemption this currency soon began to depreciate. To make matters worse, as if value depended on quantity, both state and congress issued this apology for "value received" in such extravagant amounts that even its commonness detracted from its face value. So rapidly was this depreciation that in 1777 the wages of the soldiers in the army was nominally double what they were two years before.
Under this threatening situation the New Hampshire legisla- ture in the spring of 1777 endeavored to establish the prices of the common articles of everyday consumption. Among the prices named were the following :
S.
d.
s.
d.
Wheat per bushel
7, 6. Wool
per 1b. 2, 2
Indian Corn ¥
3,
6. Cotton
66
3,
0
Oats
2,
0 Beef
66
0,
3
Beans
6,
0 Flannel per yard
3,
6.
Butter per lb.
-0,
10 Molasses per gal. 4,
0
Cheese
0,
6
N. E. Rum " 66 3,
10
Within a year Washington was writing "Our affairs are in a more distressed, ruinous and deplorable condition than they have been since the commencement of the war." Soon after, as if in desperation, Congress issued one hundred and thirty-one million dollars in Continental bills. The very volume of this vast output -for that day-defeated its own aims. Again Washington wrote, this time to the President of Congress : "A wagon load of money will not purchase a wagon load of provision."
DEPRECIATION OF CURRENCY. I55
The depreciation in the currency continued to increase, so during the year 1779, the purchasing power of a dollar shrunk five-fold; in other words, at the end of the year it required five dollars to purchase as much as one dollar twelve months before. Naturally this condition discounted the credit of the country, so it came out of the war without a bank, without "hard money," without credit. It is readily understood that money which could not be redeemed was very unstable currency.
The Historian of Newbury, Vermont, says very truthfully : "There was great distress in all parts of the country. Many became impoverished by the war; many left their native towns hoping to improve their conditions elsewhere. A few seized upon the opportunity to acquire wealth. Taxes were excessively high, and those who were so unfortunate as to own wild land, that in a few years might be valuable, could not sell then for little more than to pay the taxes imposed upon it. Many who owned farms were forced to sell them to men with more means than they. So many became large land-owners during that period, while a cor- responding number came out of the financial ordeal with smaller homesteads or none at all."
So oppressive was the situation upon the common people- and the great majority were in that class in those days-that the feeling against those in power became intensely bitter, a bitter- ness that finally found expression in open rebellion in certain sections of the state, so that a civil war seemed eminent. In this dilemma Colonel Reid, living in Londonderry which was the scene of much of this uprising, was made Bridgadier General and ordered to suppress the rebellion by arms if necessary. General Reid proved equal to the occasion, and quiet was quickly restored though the suffering was not mitigated.
Still the paper money in circulation contintied to grow less and less valuable, until January 1, 1780, it required twenty paper dollars to equal one in silver, and within nine months this ratio had reached the startling comparison of 72 to I. Money is usually plenty when it is depreciated in value, and there was enough of it, but this very abundance, as paradoxical as it may. seem, proved the ruin of many men.
,
I56
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
The little silver in circulation it must be remembered was not coined in this country, which did not issue silver until 1792, all bore a foreign imprint. It is interesting to note that in a sum of money of only one hundred pounds sterling five nations were represented. To add to the hardships of a depreciated currency a considerable amount of counterfeit coin was thrust upon the people. More simple in design than the currency of to-day it was much easier to imitate. Hillsborough was comparatively free from this evil at that time, though in more recent years, as will be described, it had its share of this kind of trouble.
In this state of uncertain monetary value something had to be accepted as a standard, and one of the most commonly accepted units was that staple product in those days, a bushel of wheat. There was a steady demand for it and it varied but slightly in price from year to year. So it became, among the agricultural class, the standard by which values were computed. It went to pay the taxes ; upon it was regulated the salary of the minister, and the wages of the laborer. Thus in those days, the hillsides and meadows of the pioneer farmers contributed not only to the wealth of the grower in abundance, but they regulated the prices of the day.
Never an easy fee to collect it became no easy matter to secure the taxes from the citizens of the town, even though under the great stress of the situation money was not always exacted, as witness the following quoted from a warrant issued to Alexander McClintock in the year 1782, which, after certain con- ditions which need not be repeated, goes on to say: "the said money must be paid in the following manner, viz.) in silver or gold, the Treasurers sertificates for intrist Due on Publick Securitys orders on the Treasurer Drawn by the President of the Counsel-in favor officers and soldiers in the three and six months servis, or in like orders in favour of any town parish bountys to soldiers or supplies to their families up to the last of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine or in the following specific articles-viz-Good new England Rum at two shillings pr Gallon. Beef Cattle at the first peread at three pence half penny pr pound weight, the second period, at three pence pr pound, the third and Last period two pence half pence-pr- pound. Mens Neat Leather shoes a Good Quality six shillings
I57
NON-RESIDENT TAXES.
pr pare, mens yarn Stockings of the best quality five shillings pr pair, others in proportion. Cotton and Cotton and Linen Cloath, seven eights of a yard wide of the best quality two shillings pr yard-Good yard wide tow and Linen Cloath at one shilling and six pence pr Yard." After specifying several other lines of goods the order ends by saying that the commodities shall be delivered.
Considerable trouble was caused through the collection of taxes from non-resident land-holders, of whom Hillsborough seemed to have more than her share.
PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO TAX NON-RESIDENTS, 1780.
State of New Hampshire
To the Honourable the Council and Assembly of Sd State in general Court Conveaned
May it Please your Honors we the Subscribers freeholders in the town of Hillsborough in Sd State Beg Leave to Petitions that whereas the Late John Hill Esqr Boston who was Sole Proprietor in this town Did Before the Commencement of the present war Promise to give one hundred Acres of Land towards Buildings a Bridge over the Con- necticut River So Called in this town which Bridge we should have Built foore or five years a goe had it not Ben for this unhappy War but at Last we have Compleated sd Bredg and the Shairs of the sd Jhon Hill Est Have Ben Solisted to Make good their fathers Promises. but refuses we therefore humbly petition that yoore Honnours would order a tax to be Levied on the Non Risidents Land lying in town to dyfree the Charges of building sd Bridge as we Labour under heavy Burdens in town and sd Bridge will be of grate Sarvis not ondly to this town but also to the Publick as sd Bridge cost us two thousand three hundred and three poond as Money was Last october and if yoore honours shall in yoore wisdom Se fit to grant this, our Petition we as duty Bound Shall ever Pray
Hillisborough the Eighth Day of May Anoq Dod 1761
Samuel Bradford jur
Zebediah Johnson
Jacob flint
wm taggart
archibald taggart Joseph taggart
Calven Stevens
George Willy Samul Bradford
David wright Isaac Andrews
william Pope
Nathaniel Haywood Saml Jones
James Jones
James Dutton
Isaac Andrews Jun
William Jones
Benim Jones
John Dutton
Benjamin Dutton
thadeus monroe
John Shedd
Nemiah wilkins
158
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
John Mead
timothy Bradford
William Grout
Lot Jennison
Daneeil Rolf
Smith Robertson
Jesse Rolf
William Booth
Jonathan Sargant
Jonathen Durant
Andrew Wilkins
George Booth
Joshua Easty
Benjmin Kimball
william taggart Junr
James taggart
William Gammett
Nathanell Colledge
Joseph Symonds
Samuel Symonds
Robert Taggard
Daniel Gibson
tristram Cheney
John Cheney
John mcCalley
Willial Hutchinson
John Gibson
Andrew Bixby
John mcClary
Wm Jones Junr
Alexander mcClintock John mcClintock
Fortunatus Wheeler
In 1782 it took one hundred dollars in paper money to get the value of one dollar in silver. As an illustration the price of a meal of pork and potatoes was fifty dollars. The Rev. Mr. Barnes' salary was only sufficient to pay for a pig and not a very large one at that. We are glad to note that the town made up for this deficiency. Rye sold at $75.00 a bushel. Eventually, as the country proved that it could meet even this trying ordeal, loans from Europe introduced silver in greater volume. Then the government began to coin money under its own seal and paper currency ceased to circulate. While this kind of money had af- forded uncertain relief when it was a last resort, it swiftly fol- lowed a downward course, leaving $200,000,000 loss in its wake, and then passed out of sight if not memory.
"OLD TENOR" AND "NEW TENOR."
Frequently in the old records and histories we find such terms as "Old Tenor," "Middle Tenor," "New Tenor," "Ster- ling," "Lawful Money," "Continental Money," and "Bills of Credit." A brief explanation of these expressions may interest some. The first mentioned was paper issued by Massachusetts about 1737, and by Rhode Island in 1740. In 1741 Massachusetts put out what became known as "New Tenor," to distinguish it from the first, now called "Old Tenor." Between these two was issued what was later denominated as "Middle" issue. As these became depreciated in purchasing value finally money was issued which law stated was a legal tender for debts and dues, hence the term "Lawful money." The effort of Congress to bridge the financial stream during the Revolution by issuing "Continental"
I59
TAX LIST, 1782.
money has been spoken of, and when we realize how rapidly and completely it lost its value we can appreciated the oft-quoted ex- pression of a sometime since "Not worth a continental!" The term "sterling" belonged to the English system of fixing standard weight and fineness so that it was always worth its face value. The terms belonging in the English currency, pounds, shillings and pence, continued to be used in this country, more or less, until about 1850, though our decimal designations of dollars and cents was inaugurated soon after the close of the Revolutionary War. Even to-day we occasionally hear such expressions as "four pence ha' penny," which was six and one-half cents; "nine pence," meaning twelve and one-half cents ; or "nine shillings," or one dollar and a half.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.