USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 20
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Another early comer was Maj. Isaac Andrews, tall, slim and straight as an arrow, dignified and courteous to a marked degree, and whose every step and movement told of his military training that made him dignified to the border of austerity.
Behind him, and almost his opposite in appearance and deportment came Lt. Samuel Bradford, shorter, stouter, florid- faced, and with a merry twinkle in his blue eyes, and a hearty "how'd-ye-do" on his lips. He, too, had been on the firing line, and never flinched where duty called him.
Another of the pioneers was Thaddeus Monroe, tall, broad- shouldered, stern and firm as the rock-ribbed hills of Concord End, as well he might be coming of a long lineage of warriors and defenders of the faith running back to the dark days of the Scottish Chiefs and down through the Cromwellian era to New England's Lexington and Bennington. A man of few words he was always to be counted upon where a good man was needed.
Ha! here comes James McColley, who has walked up from the Contoocook village, an early name for the hamlet since called "Bridge Village," and who can truly claim he is the only person present who was among the original pioneers of Old Number Seven, he having come in the arms of his parents when he was three years old, and returned upon the re-establishment of the colony in the town in 1763. He was a respected citizen.
Side by side with the last came Daniel Gibson, son of the leader of the men of '39, he himself having come as a child with his mother the following autumn. He was not given to an over- abundance of speech, but when he did speak men listened.
Next came Robert Taggard and four others by his name, all from Taggard's Farm, a name once covering considerable of the territory of Bridge Village. The Taggarts, as the name is spelled now, were of Scotch-Irish lineage, a fact borne out by their speech and appearance, and the unshakeable manner in which they always stood together upon any question that arose from a dog fight to the question of personal liberty.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Another Scotch-Irish family, four strong, were the Mc- Clintocks, always eager for an argument, but never ready to give up. They were a stalwart race, though not as tall as the Monroes or as slim as the Andrews. The Gammells, living near by, found it no great task to be promptly on hand, though never seeking an office. Another nearby representative was Benjamin Kimball, hale and hearty for his years, walking as erect almost as in the days of his youth.
There were James Karr, Thomas and William Murdough, and young Thomas, George and William Booth, Lot Jennison ;- they are coming too fast to even call them by name now. Word has been given out that Parson Barnes is about to open the meet- ing, after true New England style, with a prayer, and we know that his prayer will be broad enough to include all mankind, so with the rest we will enter the sacred sanctuary not desecrated a bit by this worldly meeting pervaded with the spirit of the Holy communion of the Sabbath. Again a spirit of solemnity hangs over the scene from the fact that of the eighty persons who could claim the night of franchise more than twenty would not be present to claim the privilege, for the reason that they were in the American army fighting the battles of the country. So slowly did the news travel in those days that the sufferings of Valley Forge was still a topic of conversation, and for all they knew Washington and his troops may have been swallowed up by the enemies. Is it a wonder if it was a sober, sedate crowd that filed into the town house and took seats on the sides or stood in the broad aisle as their inclinations determined, while the Chairman of the Selectmen rapped for order, and Rev. Mr. Barnes began his prayer, every listener bowing an uncovered head?
The following is the Clerk's record of this particular
TOWN MEETING.
Att a legale meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Hillborough held at the meeting house in Said town on thursday the 25th Day of march 1779
1ly Capt Joseph Symonds Moderator of Sd meeting
2ly Voted to aJon the Meeting to the house of the Reverent Mr Barns
3ly Voted Not to a low the Selectmen Pay for their Sarveses this Present year
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CLERK'S RECORD OF MEETING.
4ly Samuel Bradford Ju Chose fo town Clurk Votted
5ly Samuel Bradford Ju Leiut Ammi Andrews Capt James McCalley Chouse Selectmen Voted
6ly Capt Joseph Symonds William Jones Nathaneil Colidge Chose Committee of Safety Voted
7ly John McClintock Chouse Constebel Voted
8ly Capt Joseph Symonds Chouse town treshuer Voted
9ly William Hutchsion Lt Samuel Bradford Lt William Poop thomas Murdough Thadas Munrow John Nichols Samuel Symonds Wil- liam Booth Chouse Savars Voted
10. Timothy Bradford William Pope Chouse tything men
11ly Samuel Jones James Jones Haywards Voted
12ly Lt William Pope Chouse Seler of Lather Voted
13ly Jacob Flint Jadiah Preston Willm Booth Chouse feild Drivers Voted
14ly Jadiah Preston Chouse Sevare of Lumber Voted
15ly the Selectmen Chouse Prisers of Damages and fance vuers and assorses Voted
16ly Capt Joseph Symonds Chouse Clark of the Market Voted
17ly Voted to Dismiss the 4th Artickel in the warant
18ly Voted to Buld a Brige over the Rever this Present year
19ly Voted to Chouse a Committe to Look out a place to Buld Sd Bridge to over see and Carey on Said wor
20 LtMcNeill Samuel Bradford Ju Archibald taggart Nathaniel how- ard thadeus Munrow Chouse a Committe to Look out a Place to Buld Said Bridge and to over See and Carey on Said work Voted 21 Voted to Rais Six hundred Pounds to Clear and Repair highways this Present year.
22 Voted three Pounds pr Day for aman and the Same for a yoke of oxen with Emplements fit to work
23 Voted to Dismis the 7th artickel in the warrant
24 Voted to Seet the Pue ground in the meeting house
25 Voted that the Selectmen take Care of the ferrey the Present year
26 Voted to Rais one hundred and Eighty Pounds to Defray towns Charges the Present year
27 Heard the town a Counts & So the Meeting Dissolved atst Samuel Bradford T Clark
It must be remembered that this meeting was held in the original meeting house at the Centre, and second house of worship in the town. This was somewhat smaller than that other building, which was standing within the memory of many now living, and which was somewhat wrongfully designated as "The Old Meet- ing House." It will be noticed that Captain Symonds was chosen
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Moderator for a second term, and as far as we know without a dissenting vote. By the way, it is interesting to know that in those elections the check list was not in use, every man voting on his honor. There is no record of any complaint of the abuse of this privilege. There was very little, if any, political intrigue ; in truth, politics was not then a known quantity.
June 23, 1813, the legislature passed an act requiring towns to prepare a checklist for voting purposes, and the names made up from this afforded the foundation for the tax list. Previous to this every man voted "upon his honor" his name recorded as he voted, and this making the foundation for the tax list.
There was an adjournment to the house of Mr. Barnes for the reason there was no stove in the meeting house, and no doubt it was chilly standing round. It is very likely the balance of the meeting took place in this house. While noted as a hardy race no people enjoyed to a greater extent the comforts of the chimney corner than our ancestors, and seated in the great armed chair with a mug of cider flip handy many an evening, when Old Boreas reigned without with a furious whip, was whiled away in peaceful contentment.
In Art. 3 it was "Voted not to alow the Selectmen Pay for their Sarveses this Present year." This action was not uncom- mon, and it was the rule rather than the exception that these important officials serve without remuneration. In the early days of town government strictest economy was-in some instances had to be-practiced. We can imagine the protest that was raised by a few, and how Timothy Bradford, the chairman and Clerk of the town, arose in his brusque manner and few words entered a dissent against serving for nothing again. The records are silent in regard to his salary as Clerk, and probably he received a blank sum for this also. At any rate, he was not re- elected to either office. A few years later, when the towns came to elect Representatives to the General Court each man had to bear his own expense, and hence only men of means could afford the honor. In some instances the town paid the bill, and when the little commonwealth felt too poor to do so, it "voted not to send." To remedy this the state finally came to rescue, though it was not until 1800 the cost of the legislation was borne in a moderate way by the state.
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TOWN OFFICERS.
The records do not say how many ballots were required to secure a board of Selectmen, but finally three of the strongest men in town were chosen, and with or without salary it was safe to suppose that the affairs would be conducted in a satisfactory manner.
The Committee of Safety, an important office in those trying days, was filled by three strong men of undoubted patriotism.
John McClintock was chosen Constable, the most important office in town. It was not only his duty to maintain peace, but he performed the functions of sheriff and collector of taxes. No town meeting could be called without his signature to the warrant, and altogether it was the most difficult office to fill. Not infre- quently persons chosen to the positions refused to serve, and the Selectmen had to find some one willing to fill the vacancy. Some- times the man elected was compelled to find a substitute. The reward for filling the round of arduous duties was slight.
Captain Symonds was the first Town Treasurer, and he served for a long time in that capacity, though not in consecutive order. Eight surveyors of roads were chosen, but their duties could not have been onerous according to the records, for not much activity was displayed in opening new highways, or even in keeping the old ones in repair. There was neither time nor money, nor a great amount of travel to call for this.
The office of Tithing Man was created early in the conduct of religious affairs in New England, and the duties of the office were decidedly of a religious character. For this reason generally the best men in the community were chosen to the position. Their duty was to maintain order and decorum in the meetings, to see that the Sabbath, which began at six o'clock Saturday evening and ended at the same hour Sunday, was strictly observed not only in the matter of attending divine worship by the people of the locality but to see that no stranger infringed upon the sacredness of the "Lord's Day." It is related that a certain man living not far from this town house was discovered to be riding on the Sabbath, and he was quickly stopped by the nearest Tithing Man, who demanded why he was abroad on this holy day and what his errand might be. He declared that he was out of
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
grain, and having nothing upon which to feed his family, he had set out for the nearest mill hoping to get a supply. The Tithing Man, with a spark of humanity as well as the authority of his office, pointed out to him the sinfulness of his action and bade the other to tarry with him until sundown. Then he let the man have some of his own corn, gave him a generous swig of New England rum to keep up his spirits while riding homeward, and saw him started on his return trip. Another man, living in Hop- kinton, thought to visit a friend living in Hillsborough, but he failed to escape the watchful eye of one of Henniker's Tithing Men, so he was haled on the road and compelled to remain there until dark, when it was too late to make his journey and went back to his home a disappointed if not a wiser man. In the course of time the power of the office was somewhat abused, and a special act of the legislature in 1814, when party spirit ran high, caused many over-zealous officers to overstep the bounds of their good intentions. The law remained upon the statues until 1834, but was a dead letter for many years. In fact, with the separation of church from public affairs, the office ceased to be filled. The badge of the official was a stick a yard long tipped with brass or pewter.
The next officer chosen was "Hayward." This term, some- times given as "Haywarden," is found among the old English records in association with "Hedge-ward," "Fence-ward," and similar terms. It was there, as it became among the New Eng- land colonists, the official title of a town officer whose duty it was to impound stray cattle and field them until they were redeemed by their owners. In a few years these officers came to be known as "pound-keepers," and the old stone inclosure at the Centre is still standing as a reminder of the days when cattle, horses, sheep and hogs wandering at will were seized and imprisoned here. See list of pound-keepers for further particulars.
Art. 13 records the election of three good citizens as "field- drivers," a title which soon was substituted by that of hog-reeves. These officials were in close touch with the haywardens or pound- keepers, as it was their duty to see that no animals were found loitering or feeding by the roadside or in any inclosure not belonging to the owner. At this day it seems preposterous that
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TOWN OFFICERS-CONTINUED.
the duty could have been very irksome, but this was often the case. There is not a record of a town meeting down to a com- paratively recent date where this subject did not vex the action of the voters. About the time this office began to fall into disuse, through some suggestion never explained, as far as the writer knows, it became the custom to bestow this office upon the newly married men of the town, as if they did not have sufficient to harass them without it, as witness the vote taken in Antrim under date of March 9, 1813: "Voted Alexander Witherspoon, James Jameson, James Campbell, and all other newly married men be hog reeves." There is no record of a vote of this kind in Hills- borough, but there is no doubt of its intent being carried out. This idea generally prevailed in the different towns until the office was abolished some twenty-five years ago, more or less .*
In addition to the pound, which was sometimes known as "cow pen," or "wolf pen," was an inclosed tract of larger size known as "the night pasture," where stray animals could be turned loose without allowing them to wander.
Occupied as the farmers were in those days in tilling the few acres under cultivation, increasing these and improving their habitations, they found little time to build fences, even had there been inviting grazing plots to inclose, which there were not. The places affording the sweetest grasses for the cattle were about the buildings and along the roads, so it was the rule to make the most of these localities. Prone as these creatures are to wander, knowing no bounds, it became a matter of little wonder if the trespass of a neighbor's neat stock did not become an affair to be voted upon at town meeting, and steps were frequently taken to mitigate the evil. The writer has in the mind a town that received its name from the fact that it had become the pasture for cattle whose owners lived five or six-yes, ten miles-away in another township.
In order for each owner to recognize and prove his property it became the custom for him to place his peculiar mark upon such sheep, cattle and horses he possessed, and to publish the character
*Reeve comes from an old English syllable reve, and affixed to shire-reve be- comes in modern English "sheriff.'
Hence hog-reeve becomes "hog-riff" and meant "one to look after hogs.''
/
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
of these distinguishing marks in the Town's Book. The follow- ing are some of these entries :
"A Record of the artificial mak of Cattle and sheep of this town :
"Isaac Andrews mark a slant of the under side of Left ear
"William Uitchson mark a Swallow taill in the right ear.
"Abraham Andrews' Sheep mark a crop off from the left ear & a swallow tail in the right ear.
"Eliphalet Bradford's Sheep & cattle marked with a half crop from the right ear.
"March 3d 1799.
"True Coppy as directed
"Calvin Stevens T. C
"William Parker's Sheep marked with a slit in the off ear and a half penny from the Near ear.
"As directed Calvin Stevens T C"
Though the records of Hillsborough do not show any action of the kind, most of the towns chose annually a "deer reeve," whose duty it was to see that those animals were not wantonly slaughtered "out of season." This was not done purely out of any humane feeling, but venison was looked upon with favor by the early settlers, and very often it came in handy when domestic meat was not abundant. So to kill deer in the warm months was looked upon as a waste of provision that might be needed in the future.
Lt. William Pope was chosen sealer of leather, and as con- siderable tanning was done here in those days this was a position of considerable importance. In fact, there was not an office in the entire list that did not require good business tact and a con- stant attendance to its duty, as useless as most of them seem to-day. At this meeting the first consideration was given the matter of bridging the Contoocook River, which is treated fully elsewhere. Hitherto the river was forded or crossed by ferry, which was located just below the rapids, and this ferry was of sufficient importance to demand the watchful attention of the Selectmen. It is only fair to say that in estimating the amount of money raised for town charges, that the currency of the day had greatly depreciated, so that sums of good size in reality proved very small when considered in their true value.
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TOWN MEETINGS.
Town meetings were held at the Centre for over a hundred years-a long period-and then the gravity of population had so changed that it was no longer a convenient meeting place for the citizens of the town. After three or four years of agitation, at the annual election held March 9, 1874, it was recorded .. .
Art. 10th. Voted that the elections be held hereafter at the Bridge Village in accordance with the following agreement :
AGREEMENT
If the town of Hillsborough will vote to hold hereafter their town meeting and elections at the Bridge Village in said town we the under- signed hereby jointly and severally agree that we will see that a suitable place for holding such meeting and élections is provided and furnished at said Bridge Village free of expense to said town for the term of ten years next following said vote.
Hillsborough, N. H., March 9, 1874.
James S. Butler
W. B. Prichard
Charles Kimball
James Newman
0. Abbott
H. Marcy
Edward Grace
D. W. C. Newman
Edward S. Kendall
S. McNiel Ephraim Dutton
D. D. Bailey Francis Grimes
J. F. Grimes
W. H. Bean
S. Dow Wyman
J. C. Campbell
C. F. Greenleaf
Orlando Sargent
Albert O. Cutter
Charles Wyman .
R. E. Lovering
Levi W. Bixby
J. B. Whittemore Walter P. Straw
Eli L. Smith
Dr. Israel B. Chase
George A. Nichols B. F. Upton
Baxter Codman George H. Stewart
Cyrus P. McAdams B. F. Burtt
Norman Robbins
G. F. Sleeper
L. S. Eaton
S. O. Bowers
S. A. Brown
William B. Whittemore
J. H. Lovering
Edward Kellom
Warren W. Hill
James H. Forsaith
Charles F. McClary O. P. Greenleaf
John F. Glawson
The conditions of this agreement were satisfactorily filled, and without any bitterness of feeling on the part of those who had lost in the part taken, the town meetings began to be held at the Bridge Village, and so continue to this day.
I. S. Wilkins Brooks K. Webber
George W. Cook
George D. Peaslee
Edwin B. Morse
R. F. Lovering
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
CLERK OF THE MARKET.
Among the ideas and customs that the early settlers of New England brought with them from the old country was the provi- sion made in most of the original charters for a fair to be held once or twice a year, as soon as "fifty families resident and settled in town." In England and Ireland this practice had ob- tained a firm hold, which the years since have not entirely obliterated. These fairs were intended as a season for trade, traffic, the exchange of commodities by the inhabitants, and in a measure occupied the place more recently filled by the local merchant. There is no record to show that these fairs were held in Hillsborough, though many of its pioneers had come from Londonderry, which was the "mother of fairs" in this state.
Another feature in close association with this was the provi- sion for a weekly market day, and of course had its origin in the same source as the other. This action made it necessary to have an official whose duty it should be to regulate affairs connected with it, and to see that proper order was maintained ; hence there was elected annually a "Clerk of Market." Hillsborough carried out this part of the schedule until about 1800, but I have not seen any record to show that market day was ever observed in Hills- borough, though it may have been. In considering these civil and social functions and their performance it must always be borne in mind that with the New England colonists there was ever a disturbing factor-the Indians, wars, and minor difficulties that always arise in the settlement of a new country-to pervert, if not change, the policy of a people.
WARNING OUT OF TOWN.
Early in the history of colonization of New England the in- habitants showed their utter contempt for a lazy or indigent person. Owing either to personal shiftlessness or an overruling destiny that they could not apparently combat, the numbers of indigent persons had increased so far that a law was enacted in 1692-3, by which towns were ordered to warn by public proclama- tion all strangers to leave the town within three months. It will be noticed a certain degree of respect was shown to those against
Photograph by MANAHAN.
TWIN BRIDGES.
24I
WARNING OUT OF TOWN.
whom this was directed. Not only in Massachusetts but in New Hampshire this law was enforced, and many towns in the latter province have on their records notices where sundry persons were asked to "move on" lest they become a burden to the community.
I have not found such a vote on Hillsborough record books.
Not always did the persons thus warned out of town really leave, nor was it expected of them, but the measure was a means of legal safety to escape the support of any strangers that might come into town unable to provide for themselves, and the town from which they had come were held responsible for their keeping.
CHAPTER XIII.
MILITARY HISTORY, 1781 TO 1860.
The Military Spirit That Follows War-Military Leaders in Hills- borough-Organization of the Militia-Previous Code Had Been Indian Tactics-First Cavalry Troops-The Twenty-Sixth-Roll of First Artillery Company-War of 1812-Scenes at the Front- Dark Days of '14-Victories on the Sea-The Alarm at Ports- mouth-Chippewa and Niagara-"I Will Try, Sir"-Close of the War-Roll of Hillsborough Men-Florida War-Colonel Pierce in the Florida Campaign-Death of Lieut. J. W. S. McNiel- Letter Lieutenant McNiel-Reorganization of Militia in 1840- Hillsborough's Officers-The Mexican War-General Pierce and Major Steele-A Trying Campaign-The Gallant Ninth-Cork Musters-Carter Guards-Smith Rifles.
During the French and Indian War the colonists of New England had met the allied forces in tactics based upon Indian warfare. This system while seeming to lack all form of military training, according to Old World ideas, yet required a rigid discipline peculiarly its own, and succeeded where the best soldiers of England failed miserably. Out of this strategic system evolved the crude form of militia law which existed before the Revolution. Not finding this sufficiently strong the Provincial Congress, in 1774, enacted a statue providing that no able-bodied man should be exempted from military duty. It was ordered that troops should be organized in each locality under competent officials and to be called out at least four times a year for training and exercise. Any attempt to evade the law meant serious con- sequence to the delinquent.
The Revolutionary War was fought by the men and the sons of the men who had fought the Indian wars without special or organized training, and vanquished the best soldiery of Europe! Though victorious the survivors of that struggle at the close of the war felt that the time had come when it was necessary to train men in the militia, and this became an important element in every- day life. The militia laws of the state, passed in 1792 and remodeled in 1808, remained without essential alteration for
242
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COMPANY OF CAVALRY.
nearly forty years. Colonel Potter, in his work upon Military History of the State says very aptly: "Our militia was never better organized or in a more flourishing condition."
With such military leaders in the field, from time to time, as the Andrews, Baldwins, Bradfords, McNiels and others of not less prestige, it would seem strange if Hillsborough did not stand among the foremost in military tactics. Here, men were at its head who had had experience in former wars, and carried out the maxim of "in time of peace prepare for war."
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