USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 9
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
The next hostile movement by the enemy was taken in the following spring, or within four months of the capture of Fort
102
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
William and Mary. The British government acted upon the principle that the King of England "had, hath and of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America in all cases whatsoever."" On the other hand the colonists maintained there should be no taxation without repre- sentation. In some respects the older country yielded,, and the burden of the expense was lightened, but so long as a penny was demanded the now thoroughly aroused colonists claimed the un- derlying intention remained unchanged, and that additional hard- ship might be placed upon them at any time, a declaration that could not be honestly denied. Unable to ensnare the colonies with their promises, while still keeping armed forces upon New Eng- land soil, Great Britain finally resolved to subdue the people she could not coerce, a fatal mistake as she eventually learned .*
The opening of the year 1775, the darkest in the history of the New England colonists, found Boston invested with three thousand royal troops under General Gage. This fact, taken with the demoralized condition of the situations elsewhere and the pervading feeling of the coming conflict overshadowing the people caused a stagnation in business affairs, with an uncer- tainty of the result that the bravest dared not contemplate with confidence . The inhabitants of beleaguered Boston began to suffer for food and begged for assistance from their friends. While sending food and supplies to their distressed countrymen, the pioneers of liberty were secretly and silently gathering such stores of food and ammunition as they could for the inevitable strife. Concord, Mass., was selected as the headquarters for the munitions of war and a body of provincial militia was raised to protect same.
General Gage considered it to be a fine beginning to seize this
"Professor Sanborn, in his History of New Hampshire, says very truthfully, "There can scarcely be a doubt that seven years of patient waiting instead of seven years of fighting, with the ablest statesmen and orators of England as friends of America, might have secured to colonists absolute equality of political rights. Had the patriots of that age so waited, and so acted, we, their descendants, might today have been the subjects of a hereditary monarch. Our counties might have been the property of counts. and our independent yeomen, who own their farms and till them, who choose their pastors and support them, who make their laws and obey them, might have been the dependents of some 'born gentleman' like the Duke of Sutherland, who with great condescension visits his peasants twice a year and gives them advice, builds roads and allows them to walk in them, founds churches and sends them rec- tors, provides cottages and requires of the tenants a rent which abridges the com- monest comforts of life."-Author.
103
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.
store and teach the people, by doing it, a lesson that they might profit by it. Accordingly on the 19th of April, 1775, an im- portant date in American history, he sent a body of troops to chastise these audacious subjects, and incidentally to add to the supply of stores at Boston. Upon reaching Lexington this armed force, advancing with something of the spirit of troops on dress parade, was met by the provincial militia. Major Pitcairn, the pompous British commander, rode forward and brandishing his sword with an air of bravado, exclaimed : "Disperse, ye rebels ! Lay down your arms and retire."
His order was unheeded. Chagrined that this small body of untrained men and youths should have dared to hesitate in their reply, the British officer ordered his men to fire. Seven men fell before that deadly volley, while nine were wounded. This was the first blood spilled in the War for American Independence, and the reply was the shot that was "heard around the world !" Finding themselves outnumbered the patriots retreated, but all through the morning kept up a warfare upon the enemy, making the supplies they captured cost them dear. Before returning to Boston their numbers were reduced by two hundred and seventy- three men killed, wounded and missing! The patriots lost eighty- eight, not a large number, but enough to arouse the whole country and the burning words of Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death !," became the watchword everywhere. The news spread over New England like wildfire. Hilltops blazed with beacon fires ; valleys and hamlets rang with drum beats, and bells were rung to awaken the people to their peril.
Among those who figured in the fight at Concord and Lexing- ton, who afterwards became citizens of Hillsborough or were ancestors of those already settled in the "town on the hilltops," were at least the following, and how many more cannot be easily ascertained at this day :
Ensign Robert Monroe of Captain Parker's company, Lexington.
Silas Spaulding, Bejamin Pierce, Joshua Durant of Capt. Oliver Baron's company.
Levi Flint of Capt. John Bachiller's company.
Silas How and David How of Capt. Aaron Hayne's company.
Abraham Andrews in Capt. Joshua Walker's company at Concord.
104
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Capt. Joseph Robbins, Capt. Samuel Farrah, Edward Flint and Sergt. David Hartwell at Concord.
Benjamin Beard of Lt. Oliver Crosby's company.
Thomas Baldwin, Isaac Beard, Benjamin Dutton and John Bell of Capt. Edward Farmer's company.
Elijah Danforth of Capt. Jonathan Stickney's company.
Josiah Gilbert of Stow, Mass.
John Killom of Cambridge, Mass.
Corp. Samuel Murdough at Lexington.
It is difficult to verify all of these names, and there are doubtless errors as well as omissions.
The historian of a town cannot describe to any extent events outside of his immediate field of action, so in this work the battles of the Revolution can be treated only so far as they concerned the fortunes of the men from this place, and even then in a brief manner. These general facts can be gleaned from other histories, local and national, while we follow the scenes at home which others have not done. The steady-going, law-abiding inhabitants of Hillsborough were not in the habit of calling a town meeting at every trifling matter that came up, so the records are not filled with accounts of petty differences and neighborhood quarrels. Though men of decided opinions there were no religious discussions they could not settle within the sanctuary, nor po- litical sentiment they could not agree to leave to another day. Hence not a town meeting was held wherein any part of the business transacted was not promptly decided without argument. The course of action followed by the town during the seven years War for Independence is characterized by calm consideration of the affairs of the day, always tempered with an honest handling of each question regarding the well-being of its townsmen and its duty to its country.
At the annual meeting March 30, 1775, it was voted to pur- chase a stock of ammunition.
June 14, 1775, three days before the battle of Bunker Hill, the inhabitants met and chose a Board of Inspection or Committee of Safety, as it became better known. The members consisted of three of the oldest and staunchest citizens of the town, Captain Samuel Bradford, Lieut. Samuel Bradford and Timothy Wilkins. This board was re-elected in 1776, but Captain Bradford dying
105
MINUTE MEN OF HILLSBOROUGH.
in the summer, at a special meeting held September 23, 1776, Nathaniel Cooledge, a veteran of the French and Indian wars, was chosen to fill the vacancy.
Removed as this town was from the general routes of public information the news that hostilities had begun and war was imminent flew hither with the celerity of a winged messenger. Nor is this to any great extent a figure of speech. Three or four of the men then living in Hillsborough had fought throughout the Seven Years' War side by side with the Monroes, Haradons and others of the Minute Men of Lexington. The most conspicuous of these was Captain Baldwin, and no sooner was the fight over than some of the leaders there dispatched a man mounted upon a fleet horse to apprise him of the impending danger. It is needless to say perhaps that messengers were sent in every direction.
Though a peace-loving people there was probably not a man in town who had not done his part in all previous wars, providing he had been old enough to carry a musket. They were equally as ready now to shoulder the "old queen's arm" in defence of their country. Putnam unhitching his horse from the plow to mount him and ride to the front; Stark leaving the mill log upon its carriage to start in hot haste to Cambridge, show no more prompt action or clear-cut patriotism than did Capt. Isaac Baldwin when told the startling news. He was framing a barn in Deering when the tidings from Lexington reached him. Realizing what this meant, the hero of more than twenty battles in the French and Indian wars laid aside his tools in the midst of his work and hastened to his home. Within twenty-four hours he had raised a body of volunteers to go with him to the front. Stopping barely long enough to express a few hasty good-byes to their loved ones, this redoutable little company of patriots, others join- ing them as they advanced, started on their way towards the scene of war. The names of the members of this Spartan band, as far as can be enumerated now, were:
Ammi Andrews, Isaac Baldwin, Captain David Brooks, Andrew Wilkins, Ammi Andrews, Jr.,
Samuel Bradford, Silas Cooledge, Isaac Andrews,
John Brown,
Samuel Symonds.
106
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
This number comprised about one-fourth of the able-bodied men in town, and at no time was there a smaller number at the front. At times there was a larger percentage serving their country.
Upon reaching Hollis Captain Baldwin was informed that a British fleet had begun an attack on Portsmouth, and feeling it his duty to go to the relief of the garrison there, he changed his course. But, upon coming to Thornton's Ferry, the rumor was denied, and he again pushed on towards Boston.
This was on Saturday and the following day they reached Billerica, Mass., in season to attend divine worship, where they listened to a patriotic discourse delivered by Rev. Henry Cum- mings. They remained in this town until Monday morning, when they resumed their march, arriving at the headquarters of the American army at Cambridge, where they were received with a hearty welcome. Captain Baldwin was well known to many of the officers in command here and a large company, composed mainly of men of his vicinity, Hillsborough, Henniker and Hop- kinton, was enrolled under him.
Pay Roll of Capt. Isaac Baldwin's Company at Bunker Hill.
Isaac Baldwin*, Captain,
Stephen Hoit, 2d Lieutenant,
John Hale, Captain,
Ammy Andrews,* 2d ditto,
Ammy Andrews,* Sergeant.
John Hale, Lieutenant, Stephen Hoit, ditto.
Moses Kimball, ditto,
Andrews Wilkins*, Sergeant,
Moses Eastman, Sergeant,
Moses Bailey, ditto,
Moses Connet, ditto,
Reuben Kimball, ditto,
John Brown*, Drummer,
Henry Blake, Fifer,
Isaac Andrews*, Private,
Moses Darling, Private, Silas Cooledge*, Robert Taggart*,
David Brooks*, Samuel Simonds*,
Ammy Andrews, Jr .* , John Putney, Phinehas Kimball, Peter Howe,* Moses Jones,* Ephraim Hadley,
Robert Cunningham,
Collins Eastman.
Samuel Hildreth,
Enoch Eastman, Noah Parsons, Moses Trussell,
Joseph Shattuck,
Duty Stickney, Richard Straw, Timothy Clemment, John Stanley,
Joseph Presbey, Benjamin Stanley, Thomas Hills,
John McNiel,*
107
DEATH OF BALDWIN AT BUNKER HILL.
Thomas Eastman,
Daniel Cressy,
Peter Lovejoy,
Clifford Chafey,
Asahel Putney,
Isaac Cates,
Jonathan Durant*,
Samuel Bradford, Sergt. Major*,
James Gibson*,
Joseph Putney, Private,
George Bemaine*,
Samuel Barrowcliff.
A study of the above roll shows that in addition to the ten men who enrolled under Captain Baldwin at home eight others must have followed him and so joined the army at Cambridge. Thus Hillsborough had at least eighteen men then in the army, and it is not only possible but probable there were others.
To the great satisfaction of all Captain Baldwin's company was assigned to Col. John Stark's regiment. The night of June 17th they were quartered at Medford, and were sent with several other companies on the following morning to participate in the battle of Bunker Hill.
The story of that memorable day's sanguinary fight has been imperfectly told, and it is doubtful if at this distant day New Hampshire troops will receive ample credit for the part they per- formed. The company whose names have been listed certainly acted a valiant part, being from first to last in the thick of the battle. Near noon the gallant McClary from Epsom had com- mand of this division, and about one o'clock, as he was forming his men for an attack, Captain Baldwin fell pierced by a musket ball. Two of his townsmen, Lieut. John McNiel and James Gibson, witnessing this unfortunate fate of their leader, sprang forward and bore him to a more retired position. And there, with a little knot of weeping comrades, the life of the hero ebbed away, so he breathed his last about sunset.
Already the tide of battle had set in against the patriots. At the beginning of a retreat the brave General McClary had fallen, and in the death of Major Andrew McClary and Capt. Isaac Baldwin the Americans lost two men, who, if their lives had been spared, would have undoubtedly won high distinction in the war.
Mr. Smith, in describing his untimely death says most truth- fully: "The intelligence of Captain Baldwin's death filled the peaceful community where he resided with grief and mourning.
*From Hillsborough.
108
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
He was emphatically the pride of this townsmen. His kind heart, cheerful disposition and amiable manners had greatly endeared him to his fellow-citizens."
Captain Baldwin left a widow who, before her marriage, was Eunice Jennison of Natick, Mass., and four children, while a fifth was born a few weeks after his decease. The fatal bullet was extracted by Lieutenant Ammi Andrews, who afterwards pre- sented it to the widow as a sad memento of the day. Captain Baldwin was interred in a burial ground in Medford, Mass.
Capt. Isaac Baldwin was born in Sudbury, Mass., in 1736, and he was the head of the fifth family that came into the town in 1766 during the second settlement. As has been already men- tioned, he had been very active in the French and Indian War as a companion of William and John Stark and Robert Rogers. Everett, in his life of John Stark, says that Captain Baldwin had been in more than twenty battles, and was a man of undoubted bravery.
A little less than six weeks after Captain Baldwin and his men had started for the front, the following return was made to the state, and these seem to have been practically all of the able-bodied men left at home :
LIST OF LARUM MEN IN HILLSBOROUGH, 1776.
Rev. Jonathan Barnes,
Capt. Samuel Bradford,
Joseph Clark,
Lieut. David McNeal, Timothy Wilkins.
Ens. Timothy Bradford,
Andrew Bixby,
Dea. John Meed, Joshua Estey,
Nathan Cooledge,
William Jones,
William Taggart,
Thomas Murdough,
William Hutchinson, (17)
ASSOCIATION TEST.
Congress on March 14, 1776, owing to evident signs of disaffecta- tion among certain persons in the colonies passed the following act :
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Several Assemblies, Con- ventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United Col- onies, immediately to cause all Persons to be disarmed, within their Respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of
Capt. Joseph Symonds,
Lieut. Saml. Bradford,
George Booth,
109
SIGNERS OF ASSOCIATION TEST.
America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by Arms, the United Colonies, against the Hostile attempts of the British Fleets and Armies.
(Copy)
Extract from the Minutes Charles Thompson, Secy
In consequence of the above Resolution the General Assembly of New Hampshire, as other provinces did, recognized the same April 12, 1776, by indorsement and passage of what became known as the Association Test :
In order to carry the underwritten Resolve of the Hon'ble Continental Congress into Execution, you are requested to desire all males above Twenty one years of age (Lunaticks, Idiots, and Negroes excepted) to sign to the Declaration on the Paper ; and when so done, to make return thereof, together with the Name or Names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY or Committee of Safety of this Colony.
M. Weare, Chairman.
THE TEST.
We, the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and promise, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with Arms, oppose the Hostile Proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies.'
SIGNERS OF ASSOCIATION TEST.
Joseph Symonds
William Jones Jr
John McCalley
Isaac Andrews
John McClintock
Daniel Gibson
Archibald Taggart
Alexander McClintock John Graham
Samuel Preston
Asa Dresser
William Jones
Jedidiah Preston
Samuel Jones
William Taggart
Timothy Bradford
Andrew Bixbe William Hutchinson
William Love Benjamin Lovejoy
John Nichols James Taggart
John Gibson
Lot Jenison
William Pope
John Mead
George Booth
Daniel Rolf
Jonathan Barns
Nehemiah Wilkins
Samuel Bradford
Timothy Wilkins
Daniel Mc'neall
Samuel Symonds
Jacob Flint
Jonathan Durant refuses to sign. 1.
William Pope Archibald Taggart Selectmen.
IIO
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
This Association Test, as it was called, might well have been termed the Declaration of Independence by the people, for it is difficult to find an expression of defiance to the enemy more firmly stated than in this article. Friends, or Quakers, and non-com- batants were exempt from signing it, if it were their wish. A few here and there, declined to sign, but there was only one in Hills- borough. The exception in Hillsborough was a member of that religious body known as Friends, but if so he had already par- ticipated in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and he bore arms through- out the war.
The following men were credited as belonging to the training band of Hillsborough in 1776:
Alexander MoClintock, Samuel Murdough, John McClintock,
William Symonds, James Gibson, William Booth,
Jonathan Durant,
Nathaniel Howard John Gibson,
Benjamin Ruff, Nehemiah Wilkins, Joseph Tagart,
Daniel Gibson, Thomas Murdough, Jr., Lot Jennison,
Jedediah Preston, William Love,
Jonathan Sargent,
Benjamin Lovejoy, Abel Wilkins,
Andrew Bixby,
Jonathan Graham, Elias Cheney,
Nathan Taylor (24)
Last five recently added to the list.
Honered Sir. Among these above named we have about twenty guns and seven of them not fit to go into the war. the best of our guns are gone in the war either sold or our men with them. I should have sent your Honor a List before this time but Could not without sending on purpose
Sr I am your Hons. most Huml Ser Isaac Andrews
June the 3d 1776
To Honored Coln Stickney living in Concord
The list of taxpayers at the breaking out of the Revolution affords an interesting sidelight upon the inhabitants of the town, and is here reproduced from the Town's Book:
TAX LIST FOR 1776.
Capt. Isaac Andrews, Widow Mary Bradford,
Capt. Joseph Symonds, Lieut. Samuel Bradford,
Lieut. Ammi Andrews, Widow Eunice Baldwin, Lieut. Samuel Bradford, Jr., Ens. Timothy Bradford,
III
MILITARY MEN IN HILLSBOROUGH.
Timothy Wilkins,
Nathaniel Coolidge,
George Booth,
Jonathan Durant,
Asa Dresser,
Joshua Estey,
Jacob Flint,
Cornet John Grimes,
John Gibson,
James Gibson,
William Jones,
Daniel Gibson,
Lieut. Baxter Howe,
Nathaniel Hayward,
William Hutchinson,
Lot Jennerson,
Samuel Jones,
William Jones, Jr.,
Benjamin Lovejoy,
Dea. John Meade,
Lieut. Daniel McNiel,
Lieut. John McColley,
Thomas Murdough,
Lieut. William Pope,
John Mcclintock,
Alexander McClintock
John Nichols,
Daniel Rolf,
Jedediah Preston,
Jonathan Sargent,
Moses Steele,
William Taggart,
Ens. Archibald Taggart,
William Taggart, Jr.,
Nehemiah Wilkins,
William Love,
Andrew Bixby,
William Booth,
David Blanchard,
Major Raley, Riley or Raleigh.
James Taggart,
An examination of this list made nearly a year after the battle of Lexington shows that there were then forty-nine taxpayers in town, but two of these were women, the widows of Captain Baldwin, killed at Bunker Hill, and Captain Samuel Bradford, who died that summer. Of the forty-seven men eighteen were over fifty years of age, and beyond the military limit, though this did not deter the most of them from entering the service some- time during the war. This leaves twenty-nine liable to military duty, providing they were able physically, while there must have been sixteen youths between sixteen and twenty-one capable of doing military duty, for according to the returns of the towns made to the province Hillsborough was credited with forty-three men between 16 and 50 years able-bodied. At this same time the nearby towns numbered respectively as follows: Deering, 40; Henniker, 76; Hopkinton, 202; New Boston, 118; Weare, 149; Francestown, 46; Peterborough, 102 ; Washington, 35.
Under date of August 17, 1776, the Rev. Jonathan Barnes, "Considering the diffecoltys that we now laber under," relin- quished a portion of his salary to the town.
II2
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
The same year, 1776, September 2, it was voted to raise fifteen pounds in order to purchase a stock of ammunition, and at a special meeting December 10, it was voted to raise nine pounds for ammunition.
The pay roll of Capt. Timothy Clement in Col. Peirce Long's regiment mustered August 7, 1776, for service at New Castle, and mustered out December 7, 1776, gives the names of two soldiers from Hillsborough, William Taggart, Sergeant, advanced to Master Sergeant, mustered in October 22, and Joseph Taggart, mustered in September 13.
A return of the men enlisted in the First New Hampshire regiment, 1776, enlisted for during the war, contains the name of Nathaniel Graham, Hillsborough.
A list of the officers of the different battalions of New Hampshire troops serving in the Continental army, with dates of their commissions include the names of-
Baraillai How, 2d Lieutenant of First Battalion, his commis- sion dating November 7, 1776; Colonel Joseph Cilley.
Williams Taggert, Ensign, 2d Battalion, Nathan Hale, Colonel. Date of commission, November 7, 1776.
The rolls of men enlisted for three years or during the war, and belonging to the Fourth Regiment of New Hampshire Militia to complete the three battalions of the Continental Army, con- tained the names of the following five men from Hillsborough :
Nathaniel Taylor, Thomas Murdough, William Pope, Ebenezer Sargent, Joseph Taggart.
We now come to the most picturesque and remarkable cam- paign in the entire war, in which Hillsborough was nobly repre- sented. At the beginning of hostilities it was believed among the American colonies that a majority of the inhabitants of Canada were in sympathy with them, and that it would not require much of an effort to secure them as an ally. In order to accomplish this purpose it was thought best, if not necessary, to capture the French stronghold, Quebec, which was the key to the situation. Among the most ardent supporter of this daring project if not its author, was that young, fiery American commander, Benedict Ar- nold. The idea appealed to General Washington at once, and in August, following the battle of Bunker Hill in June, plans were
-
...
...
From an C'LD DRAWING.
OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, RIVER STREET.
NEW YORKSTORE
APOTHECARIES
TAGGART BLOCK, 1866, CORNER MAIN AND SCHOOL STREETS.
II3
ARNOLD'S EXPEDITION.
laid to undertake the expedition. Planned in secrecy it was thought to take Quebec by surprise, and to do this effectually the trip was designed to be made overland through the wilderness of Maine up the Kennebec River to its source, then over the high- lands known to the Indians as "the great carrying place" to the headwaters of the River Chaudiere and down that stream to its junction with the St. Lawrence about four miles above Quebec.
The detachment, says the Editor of the State Papers, was composed of men enlisted for that duty from the troops stationed in the vicinity of Boston, and placed under the command of Col. Benedict Arnold, with Lieut .- Col. Roger Enos as second in com- mand. They were relieved from duty in the several organizations to which they had belonged, and ordered to Cambridge common on the 8th and 9th of September, where they were assigned to two battalions of about 1,100 men each. On the evening of the 13th they marched to Medford, and sailing from Newburyport on the 19th reached the Kennebec on the following day, landing about three miles below Fort Western, which was the site of the present city of Augusta. From that place the detachment marched in four divisions, with rations for forty-five days. On the morning of the 27th of October Lieutenant-Colonel Enos, listening to the discouraging expression of his men, lost faith in the success of the expedition. Fearing that his cowardice would make others uneasy, Arnold gave him permission to return if he wished, so the faint-hearted officer returned to Cambridge at the head of three companies. And the worst of it was the fact the retreating troops took its share of the rations with them.
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.