USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire. Comprehending the events of one complete century and seventy-five years from the discovery of the River Pascataqua to the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety, Vol 2 > Part 16
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
the plunder of the frontiers and the fale of 1759. captives. The houfes were well furnifhed, and the church was adorned with plate. The fuddennefs of the attack, and the fear of a purfuit, did not allow much time for pillage; but the rangers brought off fuch things as were moft convenient for tranfportation ; among which were about two hundred guin- eas in money, a filver image weighing ten pounds, a large quantity of wampum and clothing. Having fet fire to the village, Rogers made his retreat up the river St. Fran- cis, intending that his men fhould rendezvous at the upper Cohos, on Connecticut river. They took with them five Englifh prifoners, whom they found at St. Francis, and about twenty Indians ; but thefe laft they difmiff- ed. Of the rangers, one man only was kill- ed ; and fix or feven were wounded. In their retreat, they were purfucd, and loft feven men. They kept in a body for about ten days, paffing on the eaftern fide of lake Mem- frimagog, and then fcattered. Some found their way to Number-four, after having fuf- fered much by hunger and fatigue. Others perifhed in the woods, and their bones were found near Connecticut river, by the people, who after feveral years began plantations at the Upper Cohos.
After the taking of Quebec, the remainder of the feafon was too short to complete the reduction of Canada. The next fummer General Amherft made preparations to ap- proach Montreal, by three different routes ; intending, with equal prudence and human- ity, to finifh the conqueft, without the effu- fion of blood. For the fervice of this year,
1760.
236
HISTORY OF
1760. eight hundred men were raifed in New- Hampshire, and put under the command of Col. John Goffe. They marched, as ufual, to Number-four ; but inftead of taking the old route, to Albany, they cut a road* through the woods, directly toward Crown Point. In this work they made fuch difpatch, as to join that part of the army which Amherft had left at Crown Point, twelve days before their embarkation. They proceeded down the lake, under the command of Col. Haviland. The enemy made fome refiftance at Ifle au Noix, which ftopped their progrefs for fome days, and a few men were loft on both fides. But this poft being deferred, the forts of St. John and Chamblee became an eafy conqueft, and finally Montreal capitulated. This event finifhed the campaign, and crowned Amherft with deferved laurels.
July 31.
Aug. II.
Macclin- tock's MS journal.
Sept. 8.
Whilft the New-Hampfhire regiment was employed in cutting the new road ; figns of hovering Indians were frequently difcovered, though none were actually feen. But they took the family of Jofeph Willard, from Num- ber-four, and carried them into Montreal, juft before it was invefted by the British army.
Olcott's MS letter.
The conqueft of Canada, gave peace to the frontiers of New-Hampfhire, after a turbu- lent fcene of fifteen years ; in which, with very little intermiffion, they had been dif- treffed by the enemy. Many captives return-
" This new road began at Wentworth's ferry, two miles' above the fort at No. 4, and was cut 26 miles ; at the end of which, they found a path, made the year before ; in which they puff-d over the mountains, to Otter Crock ; where they found a good road, which led to Crown Point. Their flores were brought in waggons, as far as the 26 miles extended ; and then tranfported on horfes over the mountains. A drove of cattle for the fopply of the army went from No. 4, by this route, to Crown Point.
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ed to their homes ; and friends who had long been feparated, embraced each other in peace. The joy was heightened by this confideration, that the country of Canada, being fubdued, could no longer be a fource of terror and dif- trefs.
The expenfe of this war, was paid by a pa- per currency. Though an act of Parliament was paffed in 1751, prohibiting the Gover- nors, from giving their affent to acts of Af- fembly, made for fuch a purpofe ; yet by a provifo, extraordinary emergencies were ex- cepted. Governor Wentworth was flow to take advantage of this provifo, and conftrued the act in a more rigid fenfe than others ; but his friend Shirley helped him out of his difficulties. In 1755 paper bills were iffued under the denomination of new tenor ; of which, fifteen fhillings were equal in value to one dollar. Of this currency, the foldiers were promifed thirteen pounds ten fhillings per month ; but it depreciated fo much in the courfe of the year, that in the mufter rolls, their pay was made up at fifteen pounds. In 1756 there was another emiffion from the fame plates, and their pay was eighteen pounds. In 1757, it was twenty-five pounds. In 1758, they had twenty-feven thillings fterling. In the three fuccceding years, they had thirty fhillings fterling, befides a bounty at the time of their inliftment, equal to one month's pay. At length fterling money be- came the ftandard of all contracts ; and though the paper continued paffing as a cur- rency, its value was regulated by the price of filver, and the courfe of exchange.
It ought to be remembered as a fignal fa-
1760.
Atkinfon's MS letters.
238
HISTORY OF
1760. vor of divine Providence ; that during this war, the feafons were fruitful, and the Colo- nies were able to fupply their own troops with provifions, and the Britith fleets and armies with refrefhments of every kind which they 1761. needed. No fooner were the operations of the war in the northern Colonies clofed, than two years of fcarcity fucceeded ; (1761 and 1762) in which the drought of fummer was fo fevere, as to cut fhort the crops, and ren- der fupplies from abroad abfolutely neceffary. Had this calamity attended any of the pre- ceding years of the war, the diftrefs muft have been extreme, both at home and in the camp. During the drought of 1761, a fire raged in the woods, in the towns of Barring- ton and Rochefter, and paffed over into the county of York, burning with irrefiftible fu- ry for feveral weeks, and was not extinguifh- ed till a plentiful rain fell, in Auguft. An immenfe quantity of the beft timber was de- ftroyed by this conflagration.
1762.
For the fucceeding part of the war, a fmaller body of men was required to garrifon the new conquefts ; whilft the Britifh troops were employed in the Weft India iflands. The fuccefs which attended their operations in that quarter, brought the war to a conclu- fion ; and by the treaty of peace, though many of the conquered places were reftored, yet, the whole continent of North America remained to the Britifh Crown, and the Colo- nies received a reimburfement of their ex- penfes.
The war being clofed, a large and valuable tract of country, fituated between New-Eng- land, New-York and Canada, was fecured to
ה
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the Britifh dominions ; and it became the 1762. intereft of the Governors of both the royal Provinces of New-Hampfhire and New-York, ·to vie with each other, in granting this terri- tory and receiving the emoluments arifing from this lucrative branch of their refpective offices. The feeds of a controverfy on this fubject had been already fown. During the fhort peace which followed the preceding war, Governor Wentworth wrote to Govern- or Clinton, that he had it in command from the King, to grant the unimproved lands with- Nov. 17. Council in his government ; that the war had prevent- minutes. ed that progrefs, which he had hoped for in `this bufinefs ; but that the peace had induced many people, to apply for grants in the weft- ern parts of New-Hampfhire, which might fall in the neighbourhood of New-York. He printed N. York communicated to him a paragraph of his narrative. Appendix, commiffion, difcribing the bounds of New- No. 3. Hampfhire, and requefted of him a defcrip- tion of the bounds of New-York. Before he received any anfwer to this letter ; Went- worth, prefuming that New-Hampfhire ought to extend as far weftward as Maffachufetts ; that is to the diftance of twenty miles eaft from Hudfon's river, granted a townfhip, fix miles fquare, called Bennington ; fituate twenty-four miles eaft of Hudfon's river, and fix miles north of the line of Maffachufetts. Clinton having laid Wentworth's letter be- fore the Council of New-York ; by their ad- fhire bo:): vice anfwered him, that the Province of New-York was bounded eafterly by Connec-
ticut river. This claim was founded on a grant of King Charles the fecond ; in which, " all the land from the weft fide of Connecti-
1749,
1750,
N. Hamp-
of Charters.
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HISTORY OF
1750. ' cut river, to the eaft fide of Delaware bay,' was conveyed to his brother James, Duke of York ; by whofe elevation to the throne, the fame tract merged in the crown of Eng- land, and defcended at the Revolution to King William and his fucceffors. The Province of New-York had formerly urged this claim againft the Colony of Connecticut ; but for prudential reafons had conceded that the bounds of that Colony fhould extend, as far as a line drawn twenty miles caft of Hud- fon's river. The like extent was demanded by Maffachufetts ; and, though New-York affected to call this demand 'an intrufion,' and ftrenuoufly urged their right to extend eaftward to Connecticut river ; yet the origi- nal grant of Maffachufetts, being prior to that of the Duke of York, was a barrier which could not eafily be broken. Thefe reafons, however, it was faid, could be of no avail to the caufe of New-Hampfhire, whofe firft lim- its, as defcribed in Mafon's patent, did not reach to Connecticut river ; and whofc late extent, by the fettlement of the lines in 1741, was no farther weftward than 'till it meets ' with the King's other governments.' Though it was agreed, between the two Governors, to fubmit the point in controverfy to the King ; yet the Governor of New-Hampfhire, contin- ued to make grants, on the weftern fide of Connecticut river, till 1754; when the re- newal of hoftilities not only put a ftop to ap- plications ; but prevented any determination of the controverfy by the Crown.
1754.
During the war, the continual paffing of troops through thofe lands, caufed the value of them to be' more generally known ; and
1
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when by the conqueft of Canada, tranquillity was reftored, they were eagerly fought by adventurers and fpeculators. Wentworth availed himfelf of this golden opportunity, and by advice of his Council, ordered a fur- vey to be made of Connecticut river for fix- ty miles, and three lines of townfhips on each fide, to be laid out. As applications in- creafed, the furveys were extended. Town- July 1. fhips of fix miles fquare were granted to va- rious petitioners ; and fo rapidly did this work go on, that during the year 1761, not lefs than fixty townfhips were granted on the weft, and eighteen on the eaft fide of the river. Befides the fees and prefents for thefe grants, which were undefined ; a refervation was made for the Governor, of five hundred acres in each townfhip ; and of lots for pub- lic purpofes. Thefe refervations were clear of all fees and charges. The whole number of grants on the weftern fide of the river, amounted to one hundred and thirty-eight ; and the extent was from Connecticut river to twenty miles eaft of Hudfon, as far as that river extended northerly ; and after that, weftward to Lake Champlain. The rapid progrefs of thefe grants filled the coffers of the Governor. Thofe who had obtained the grants were feeking purchafers in all the neighbouring Colonies ; whilft the original inhabitants of New-Hampfhire, to whom thefe lands had formerly been promifed, as a reward for their merit in defending the coun- try, were overlooked in the diftribution ; un- lef's they were difpofed to apply in the fame manner, as perfons from abroad ; or unlefs they happened to be in favor. When re- G ℮
1754.
1761.
Atkinfon's MS.
1763,
242
HISTORY OF
Informa- tion of the late P. Gil- man and M. Weare.
1763. monftrances were made to the Governor on this fubject, his anfwer was, that the people of the old towns had been formerly compli- mented with grants in Chichefter, Barnfted and Gilmantown, which they had neglected to improve ; and that the new grantees were better hufbandmen and would promote the cultivation of the Province.
The paffion for occupying new lands rofe to a great height. Thefe tracts were filled with emigrants from Maffachufetts and Con- necticut. Population and cultivation began to increafe with a rapidity hitherto un- known ; and from this time may be dated the flourifhing ftate of New-Hampfhire ; which before had been circumicribed and ftinted in its growth, by the continual dan- ger of a favage enemy.
The grants on the weftern fide of Con- necticut river, alarmed the government of New-York ; who, by their agent, made appli- cation to the Crown, reprefenting 'that it sthan Al- ' would be greatly to the advantage of the len's nar - rative 1774, page I. ' people fettled on thofe lands, to be annexed ' to New-York ;' and fubmitting the caufe to the royal decifion. In the mean time, a pro- Doc. 28. clamation was iffued by Lieutenant Governor Colden, reciting the grant of King Charles to the Duke of York ; afferting the jurifdic- tion of New-York as far eaftward as Connec- ticut river ; and enjoining the Sheriff of the County of Albany, to return the names of all perfons, who, under color of the New-Hamp- 1764. fhire grants, held poffeffion of lands weit- ward of that river. This was anfwered by a March 13. proclamation of Governor Wentworth, de- claring the grant to the Duke of York to be
1
243.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
obfolete, and that the weftern bounds of 1764. New-Hampfhire were co-extenfive with thofe of Maffachufetts and Connecticut ; encou- raging the grantees to maintain their poffef- fions, and cultivate their lands ; and com- manding civil officers to execute the laws and punifh diflurbers of the peace.
The application from New-York was re- July 20. ferred to the Board of Trade ; and upon Original MS.
their reprefentation, feconded by a report of a committe of the privy council, an order was paffed, by the King in Council ; declar- ing 'the weftern banks of Connecticut river, 6 from where it enters the Province of Maffa- ' chufetts Bay, as far north as the forty-fifth ' degree of latitude, TO BE the boundary ' line, between the two Provinces of New- ' Hampfhire and New-York.'
This decree, like many other judicial de- terminations, while it clofed one controverfy, opened another. The jurifdiction of the Governor of New-Hampshire, and his power of granting land, were circumferibed by the weftern bank of Connecticut river ; but the grantees of the foil, found themfelves involved in a difpute with the government of New- York. From the words TO BE, in the royal declaration, two very oppofite conclufions were drawn. The government fuppofed them to refer to the time paft, and conftrued them as a declaration that the river always had been the eaftern limits of New-York ; confequently, that the grants made by the Governor of New-Hampfhire, were invalid, and that the lands might be granted again. The grantees underftood the words in the fu- ture tenfe, as declaring Connecticut river
T
In
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HISTORY OF
1764. from that time to be the line of jurifdiction only, between the two provinces ; confe- quently that their grants, being derived from the Crown, through the medium of one of its Governors, were valid. To the jurifdiction, they would have quietly fubmitted, had no attempt been made to wreft from them their poffeffions. Thefe oppofite opinions, proved . a fource of litigation for ten fucceeding years; but, as this controverfy belongs to the hiftory of New-York, it is difmiffed, with one re- mark only. That though it was carried on with a degree of virulence, unfriendly to the. progrefs of civilization and humanity, with- in the difputed territory ; yet it called into action, a fpirit of vigorous felf defence, and hardy enterprife, which prepared the nerves of that people for encountering the dangers of a revolution, more extenfive and bene- ficial.
141 4761
L
1
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
CHAP. XXIII.
Beginning of the controversy with Great-Britain. Stamp att. Refignation of BRENNING WENTWORTH.
FROM the earlieft eftablifhment of the American Colonies, a jealoufy of their independence had exifted among the people of Great-Britain. At firft, this apprehenfion was perhaps no more than a conjecture found- ed on the viciffitude of human affairs, or on their knowledge of thofe emigrants who came away from England, difgufted with the abu- five treatment which they had endured at home. But from whatever caufe it arofe, it was ftrengthened by age ; and the conduct of the British government toward America, was frequently influenced by it. In the reign of James the firft, 'fpeculative reafon- ' ers raifed objections to the planting of thefe Hume, ' Colonies ; and foretold, that after draining " the mother country of inhabitants, they ' would fhake off her yoke and erect an in- ' dependent government.' Some traces of this jealoufy appeared in every fucceeding reign, See vol. Es not excepting that of William, whom Amer- ica, as well as Britain, was. proud to ftyle ' our great deliverer.' But it became moft evident, and began to produce its moft perni- cious effects, at a time when there was the leaft reafon for indulging the idea.
During the adminiftration of PITT, a lib- eral kind of policy had been adopted toward the Colonies; which being crowned with fuc-
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HISTORY OF
1760,
cefs, had attached us* more firmly than ever, to the kingdom of Britain. We were proud of our connexion with a nation whofe flag was triumphant in every quarter of the globe; and by whofe affiftance we had been deliver- ed from the danger of our moft formidable enemies, the French in Canada. The accef- fion of George the third, at this critical and important era, was celebrated here, with as true a zeal and loyalty, as in any part of his dominions. We were fond of repeating every plaudit, which the ardent affection of the Britifh nation beftowed on a young monarch, rifing to the throne of his anceftors, and pro- feffing to 'glory in the name of Briton.' At fuch a time, nothing could have been more cafy, than by purfuing the fyftem of com- mercial regulation, already eftablifhed, and continuing the indulgencies which had been allowed, to have drawn the whole profit of our labor and trade, into the hands of Britifh merchants and manufacturers. This would have prevented a fpirit of enterprife in the Colonies, and kept us in as complete fubjec- tion and dependence, as the moft fanguine friend of the Britifh nation could have wifhed.
1763. Bernard's felelt let- eers.
Oliver's letters.
We had, among ourfelves, a fet of men, who, ambitious of perpetuating the rank of their families, were privately feeking the ef- tablifhment of an American Nobility ; out of which, an intermediate branch of legiflation, between the royal and democratic powers, fhould be appointed. Plans were drawn, and prefented to the Britifh miniftry, for new
* Though it may be accounted a deviation from the proper ftyle of hif- tory, for the author to fpeak in the firft perfon ; yet he hopes to be excuf- ed in expreffiog the feelings of an American, whilft he relates the hiftory of his own time, and his own country.
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modeling our governments, and reducing their powers ; whilft the authority of Parlia- ment fhould be rendered abfolute and im- perial. The military Gentlemen of Britain, who had ferved here in the war, and on whom, a profufion of grateful attention had been be- ftowed, carried home reports of our wealth ; whilft the fons of our merchants and planters, who went to England for their education, exhibited fpecimens of prodigality which con- firmed the idea. During the war, there had been a great influx of money ; and at the conclufion of it, Britifh goods were largely imported ; by which means, the cafh went back again with a rapid circulation.
In no age, perhaps, excepting that in which Rome loft her liberty, was the fpirit of venal- ity and corruption fo prevalent as at this time, ty, 1765. in Britain. Exhaufted by a long war, and page 285. difgraced by a peace which deprived her of her moft valuable conquefts, the national fup- plies were inadequate to the continual drain of the exchequer. A new miniftry, raifed on the ruin of that by which America was conquered and fecured, looked to this coun- try as a fource of revenue. But, neglecting the 'principles of law and polity,' which had Bernard's been early fuggefted to them by an officious fel. & le :- ters. correfpondent ; and by which they might have gradually and filently extended their fyftem of corruption into America; they plan- ned meafures by which they fuppofed an ad- dition to the revenues of Britain might be drawn from America ; and the pretence was, ' to defray the expenfes of protecting, defend- 'ing and fecuring it.' The fallacy of this pretence was eafily feen. If we had not done
1763.
Hiftery of the mirori-
1
· 248
HISTORY OF
1763. our part toward the protection and defence of our country, why were our expenditures reimburfed by Parliament? The truth is, that during the whole war, we had exerted ourfelves beyond our ability ; relying on a promife from a Secretary of State, that it thould be recommended to Parliament to make us compenfation. It was recommended; the compenfation was honorably granted, and gratefully received. The idea of drawing that money from us again by taxes to repay the charges of our former defence, was unjuft and inconfiftent. If the new conquefts need- ed protection or defence, thofe who reaped the gain of their commerce, or enjoyed the benefit of grants and offices within thofe ter- ritories, might be required to contribute their aid. Notwithftanding this pretext, it was our opinion, that the grand object was to provide for dependents, and to extend the corrupt and venal principle of crown influence, through every part of the Britifh dominions. How- ever artfully it was thrown out, that the rev- enue to be drawn from us would eafe the tax- es of our brethren in Britain, or diminifh the load of national debt ; it was not eafy for us to believe that the miniftry had either of thefe objects fincerely in contemplation. But if it had been ever fo equitable that we fhould contribute to difcharge the debt of the nation, incurred by the preceding war ; we fuppofed that the monopoly and control of our com- merce, which Britain enjoyed, was a full equivalent for all the advantages, which we reaped from our political connexion with her.
The fame gazette, which contained the de- finitive treaty of peace, announced the inten-
m
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3
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
tions of the Britifh miniftry to quarter troops 1763. in America, and fupport them at our expenfe. N Hamp- The money was to be raifed by a duty on May 27. fhire GAZ. foreign fugar and molaffes, and by ftamps on all papers legal and mercantile. Thefe in- tentions were at firft thrown out in the form of refolves, and afterward digefted into acts of Parliament. The firft of thefe acts, re- ftricting the intercourfe which the American Colonies had enjoyed with the Weft-India iflands, caufed a general uneafinefs and fuf- picion, but was viewed as a regulation of trade, and was fubmitted to, though with re- luctance. The effect of this act was to call forth a fpirit of frugality, particularly in the introduction of a lefs expenfive mode of con- ducting funerals. Petitions and remonftran- ces were fent to England by fome of the Col- onies ; but inftead of any redrefs, a new act of Parliament was made for raifing a reve- nue by a general ftamp duty through all the American Colonies. The true friends of con- ftitutional liberty now faw their deareft in- terefts in danger ; from an affumption of power in the parent ftate to give and grant the property of the colonifts at their pleafure. Even thofe who had been feeking alterations in the colonial governments, and an eftablifh- ment of hereditary honors, plainly faw that the miniftry were defirous of plucking the Bernard's fele et let- fruit, before they had grafted the ftock on tere. which it muft grow. To render the new act lefs odious to us, fome of our fellow citizens were appointed to diftribute the ftamped pa- per, which was prepared in England and brought over in bales. The framers of the act boafted that it was fo contrived as to ex- H H
1764.
1764.
.
Tin
han
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HISTORY OF
1765. ecute itfelf ; becaufe no writing could be deemed legal without the ftamp; and all controverfies which might arife, were to be determined in the Courts of Admiralty, by a fingle judge, entirely dependent on the Crown.
May 28.
This direct and violent attack on our dear- eft privileges at firft threw us into a filent 1 gloom ; and we were at a lofs how to proceed. To fubmit, was to rivet the fhackles of flave- ry on ourfelves and our pofterity. To re- volt, was to rend afunder the moft endearing connexion, and hazard the refentment of a powerful nation. In this dilemma, the Houfe of Burgeffes in Virginia, paffed fome fpirited refolves, afferting the rights of their country, and denying the claim of parliamentary tax- ation. The Affembly of Maffachufetts pro- pofed a Congrefs of Deputies from each Col- ony, to confult upon our common intereft, as had frequently been practifed in times of common danger. Several fpeeches made in Parliament by oppofers of the ftamp-act were reprinted here ; in one of which the Col, Barre. Americans were ftyled 'Sons of liberty,' and the fpeaker ventured, from his perfonal knowledge of this country, to foretel our op- pofition to the act.
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