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 5
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I
التاريس
mint
66
HISTORY OF
1725. a lad of thirteen years old, to Canada, whence he was redeemed as ufual by a charitable col- lection.
Dec. 15.
This was the laft effort of the enemy in New-Hampfhire. In three months, the trea- ty which they defired was held at Bofton, and the next fpring ratified at Falmouth. A peace was concluded in the ufual form ; which was followed by reftraining all private traffic with the Indians, and eftablifhing truck-houf- es in convenient places, where they were fup- plied with the neceffaries of life, on the moft
Hutchinfon
B.J. 318. advantageous terms. Though the govern- ments on the whole, were lofers by the trade, yet it was a more honorable way of preferv- ing the peace, than if an acknowledgment had been made to the Indians in any other man- ner ..
None of the other Colonies of New Eng- land bore any fhare in the expenfes or calam- ities of this war ; and New-Hampfhire did not fuffer fo much as in former wars ; partly by reafon of the more extended frontier of Maffachufetts, both on the eaftern and wef- tern parts, againft the former of which the enemy directed their greateft fury ; and part- ly by reafon of the fuccefs of the ranging parties, who conftantly traverfed the woods as far northward as the White Mountains. The militia at this time was completely train- ed for active fervice ; every man of forty years of age having feen more than twenty years of war. They had been ufed to han- dle their arms from the age of childhood, and moft of them, by long practice, had become excellent markfmen, and good hunters. They were well acquainted with the lurking places
OF
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
of the enemy ; and poffeffed a degree of har- 1725. dinef's and intrepidity, which can be acquired only by the habitude of thofe fcenes of dan- ger and fatigue, to which they were daily ex- pofed. They had alfo imbibed from their infancy a ftrong antipathy to the favage na- tives ; which was ftrengthened by repeated horrors of blood and defolation, and not ob- literated by the intercourfe which they had. with them in time of peace. As the Indians frequently reforted to the frontier towns in time of fcarcity, it was common for them to vifit the families whom they had injured in war ; to recount the circumftances , of death and torture which had been practifed on their friends ; and when provoked or intoxicated, to threaten a repetition of fuch infults in fu- ture wars. To bear fuch treatment required more than human patience; and it is not im- probable that fecret murders were fometimes the confequence of thefe harfh provocations. Certain it is, that when any perfon was arreft- ed, for killing an Indian in time of peace, he was either forcibly refcued from the hands of juftice, or if brought to trial, invariably acquitted ; it being impoffible to impannel a jury fome of whom had not fuffered by the Indians, either in their perfons or families.
68
HISTORY OF
1
CHAP. XV.
)
WENTWORTH's administration continued. BURNET's fhort admin. iftration. BELCHER Succeeds him. WENTWORTH'S death and character.
January 5.
DURING the war, the Lieutenant Governor had managed the executive depart- ment with much prudence ; the people were fatisfied with his adminiftration, and enter- tained an affection for him, which was ex- preffed not only by words, but by frequent 1726. grants of money, in the General Affembly. When he returned from Bofton, where the treaty of peace was concluded, they prefented to him an addrefs of congratulation, and told him that 'his abfence had feemed long ; but ' the fervice he had done them filled their Court Rec- ' hearts with fatisfaction.' This address was General ords, followed by a grant of one hundred pounds. He had, juft before, confented to an emiffion of two thousand pounds in bills of credit, to be paid, one half in the year 1735, and the other half in 1736. An excife was laid for three years, and was farmed for three hun- dred pounds.
The divifional line between the Provinces of New-Hampfhire and Maffachufetts was yet unfettled, and in addition to the ufual difadvantages occafioned by this long neglect, a new one arofe. By the conftruction which Maffachufetts put on their charter, all the lands three miles northward of the river Merrimack were within their limits. On this principle, a grant had formerly been made to Governor Endicot, of fome lands at
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
Penacook ; which had been the feat of a nu- 1726. merous and powerful tribe of Indians. The quality of the land at that place invited the attention of adventurers from Andover, Brad- Maffachu- fetts Rec. ford and Haverhill ; to whom a grant was made of a townfhip, feven miles fquare; com- prehending the lands on both fides of the Merrimack, extending fouthwardly from the branch called Contoocook. This grant a- wakened the attention of others ; and a mo- tion was made in the Maffachufetts Affembly, Dec. 2r. for a line of townfhips, to extend from Dun- ftable on Merrimack, to Northfield on Con- necticut river ; but the motion was not im- mediately adopted. The Affembly of New- Hampfhire was alarmed. Newman, their agent, had been a long time at the Britifh Court, foliciting the fettlement of the line, and a fupply of military ftores for the fort. Frefh inftructions were fent to him to expe- dite the bufinefs, and to fubmit the fettlement of the line to the King. A committee was appointed to go to Penacook, to confer with N. Hamp- a committee of Maffachufetts, then employed thire Rec. in laying out the lands, and to remonftrate againft their proceeding. A furvey of other lands near Winipifeogee lake, was order- ed ; that it might be known, what number of townfhips could be laid out, independently of the Maffachufetts claim. On the other hand, the heirs of Allen renewed their endea- vours, and one of them, John Hobby, peti- tioned the Affembly to compound with him for his claim to half the Province ; but the - only anfwer which he could obtain was that ' the Courts of law were competent to the de- ' termination of titles,' and his petition was difmiffed.
70
HISTORY OF
1726. Both Provinces became earneftly engaged. Maffachufetts propofed to New-Hampfhire the appointment of commiffioners, to eftab- lifh the line. . The New-Hampfhire Affem- bly refufed, becaufe they had fubmitted the cafe to the King. The Maffachufetts people, forefeeing that the refult of this application might prove unfavorable to their claim of ju- rifdiction, were folicitous to fecure to them- felves the property of the lands in queftion. Accordingly, the propofed line of townfhips being furveyed, ' pretences were encouraged 'and even fought after, to entitle perfons to Hatchinfon ' be grantees.' The defcendants of the offi- LI. 331. cers and foldiers, who had been employed in expeditions againft the Narraganfet Indians, and againft Canada, in the preceding centu- ry, were admitted ; and the furvivors of the late Captain Lovewell's company, with the heirs of the deceafed, had a felect tract grant- ed to them at Suncook. There was an ap- pearance of gratitude in making thefe grants, and there would have been policy in it, had the grantees been able to comply with the conditions. New-Hampfhire followed the example, and made grants of the townfhips of Epfom, Chichefter, Barnftead, Canterbury, Gilmantown and Bow. All thefe, excepting the laft, were undoubtedly within their lim- its ; but the grant of Bow interfered with the grants which Maffachufetts had made, at Penacook and Suncook, and gave rife to a litigation, tedious, expenfive, and of forty years continuance.
Maffachu- Setts Rec.
1727.
May 18 &
30.
Thefe tracts of land granted by both Prov- inces were too numerous and extenfive. It was impracticable to fulfil the conditions, on
1
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
which the grants were made. Had the fame 1727. liberal policy prevailed here as in Pennfylva- nia, and had the importation of emigrants from abroad been encouraged, the country might have been foon filled with inhabitants ; but the people of Londonderry were already looked upon with a jealous eye, and a farther intrufion of ftrangers was feared, left they fhould prove a burden and charge to the community. People could not be fpared from the old towns. Penacook was almoft the only fettlement which was effected by emigrants from Maffachufetts. A fmall be- ginning was made, by the New-Hampfhire proprietors, at Bow, on Suncook river ; but the moft of the intermediate country remain- ed uncultivated for many years. Schemes- of fettlement were indeed continually form- ing ; meetings of proprietors were frequent- ly held, and an avaricious fpirit of fpeculat- ing in landed property prevailed ; but the real wealth and improvement of the country inftead of being promoted were retarded.
On the death of King George I ; the Af- fembly, which had fubfifted five years, was N. Hamy of courfe diffolved ; and writs for the elec- Nov. 251 fire Red tion of another were iffued in the name of George II. The long continuance of this Affembly was principally owing to the ab- fence of Governor Shute, in whofe adminif- tration it commenced ; and the uncertainty of his return or the appointment of a fuccef- for. It had been deemed a grievance, and an attempt had been made in 1724 to limit the duration of Affemblies to three years, in conformity to the cuftom of England. At Dec. 15: the meeting of the new Affembly, the firft
与节
٢
-
72
HISTORY OF
1727. bufinefs which they took up was to move for a triennial act. The Lieutenant Governor was difpofed to gratify them. Both Houfes agreed in framing an act for a triennial Af- fembly, in which the duration of the prefent Affembly was limited to three years (unlefs fooner diffolved by the commander in chief) writs were to iffue fifteen days at leaft, before a new election ; the qualification of a repre- fentative was declared to be a freehold eftate
Edition of of three hundred pounds value. The quali- Laws in 1771, page 166. fication of an elector was a real eftate of fifty pounds, within the town or precinct where the election fhould be made ; but habitancy was not required in either cafe ; the felect- men of the town, with the moderator of the meeting, were conftituted judges of the qual- ifications of electors, faving an appeal to the Houfe of Reprefentatives. This act having been paffed, in due form, received the royal approbation, and was the only act which could be called a conftitution or form of Government, eftablifhed by the people of New-Hampshire ; all other parts of their gov- ernment being founded on royal commiffions and inftructions. But this act was defective, in not determining by whom the writs fhould be iffued, and in not defcribing the places from which Reprefentatives fhould be called, either by name, extent or population. This defect gave birth to a long and bitter contro- verfy, as will be feen hereafter.
The triennial act being paffed, the Houfe were difpofed to make other alterations in the government. An appeal was allowed in all civil cafes from the inferior to the fuperi- or court ; if the matter in controverfy ex-
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ceeded one hundred pounds, another appeal was allowed to the Governor and Council ; and if it exceeded three hundred pounds, to the King in Council. The appeal to the Governor in Council was firft eftablifhed by Cutt's commiffion, and continued by fubfe- quent commiffions and inftructions. In Queen Anne's time, it was complained of as a grievance, that the Governor and Council received appeals and decided caufes, without taking an oath to do juftice. An oath was then prefcribed and taken. The authority of this court had been recognifed by feveral claufes in the laws ; but was difrelifhed by many of the people ; partly becaufe the judg- es who had before decided cafes, were gene- rally members of the Council ; partly be- caufe no jury was admitted in this court of appeal ; and partly becaufe no fuch inftitu- tion was known in the neighbouring Prov- ince of Maffachufetts. The Houfe moved for a repeal of the feveral claufes in the laws relative to this obnoxious court ; the Coun- cil non-concurred their vote, and referred them to the royal inftructions. The Houfe perfifted in their endeavors, and the Council in their oppofition. Both fides grew warm, and there was no profpect of an accommoda- tion. The Lieutenant Governor put an end to the feffion, and foon after diffolved the Af- fembly by proclamation.
A new Affembly was called ; the fame per- fons, with but two or three exceptions, were re-elected, and the fame fpirit appeared in all their tranfactions. They chofe for their fpeaker Nathaniel Weare, who had been fpeaker of the former Affembly, and having K
1727.
1728.
1
74
HISTORY OF
1728. as ufual prefented him to the Lieutenant Gov. ernor, he negatived the choice. The Houfe defired to know by what authority ; he pro- duced his commiflion ; nothing appeared in that, which fatisfied them ; and they adjourn- ed from day to day without doing any bufi- nefs. After nine days they chofe another Speaker, Andrew Wiggin, and fent up the vote, with a preamble, juftifying their form- er choice. The Lieutenant Governor approv- ed the Speaker, but difapproved the pre- amble ; and thus the controverfy clofed, each fide retaining their own opinion. The fpeech- es and meffages from the chair, and the an- fwers from the Houfe, during this feffion, were filled with reproaches ; the public bufi- nefs was conducted with ill humour, and the Houfe carried their oppofition fo far as to pafs a vote for addrefling the King to annex the Province to Maffachufetts ; to this vote the Council made no anfwer. But as a new Governor was expected, they agreed in ap- pointing a committee of both Houfes to go to Bofton, and compliment him on his arrival.
The expected Governor was WILLIAM BURNET, fon of the celebrated Bifhop of Sarum, whofe name was dear to the people of New-England, as a fteady and active friend to civil and religious liberty. Mr. Burnet was a man of good underftanding and polite literature ; fond of books and of the conver- fation of literary men ; but an enemy to of- tentation and parade. He had been Gov- ernor of New-York and New-Jerfey, and quitted thofe Provinces with reluctance, to make way for another perfon, for whom the Britifh Miniftry had to provide. Whilft at
.
75
NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
New-York, he was very popular, and his fame 1728. having reached New-England, the expecta- tions of the people were much raifed on the news of his appointment, to the Government of Maffachufetts and New-Hampfhire. Lieu- tenant Governor Wentworth characterifed him in one of his fpeeches as ' a gentleman of 'known worth, having juftly obtained an 'univerfal regard from all who have had the ' honor to be under his government.' He was July 22. received with much parade at Bofton, whith- er the Lieutenant Governor of New-Hamp- fhire, with a committee of the Council and Affembly, went to compliment him on his arrival .*
Mr. Burnet had pofitive inftructions from the crown to infift on the eftablifhinent of a. permanent falary in both his Provinces. He began with Maffachufetts, and held a long controverfy with the General Court to no pur- pofe. In New-Hampfhire, a precedenthad been eftablithed in the adminiftration of Dudley, which was favourable to his views. Though fome of the Affembly were averfe to a per- manent falary ; yet the Lieutenant Govern- or had fo much intereft with them, by virtue Belcher's of having made them proprietors in the late- ly granted townfhips, that they were induced to confent ; on condition that he fhould be
* Mr. Hutchinfon has reprefented Governor Purnet as a man of hu- mour, and given an anecdote refpecting his indifference to the cufton of laying grace at meals. The following ftory of the fame kind, perhaps will not be difagreeable to the reader.
One of the committee. who went from Bofton, to meet him on the tor- ders of Rhode. Ifland, and conduct him to the feat of government, was the facetious Cul. Tailer. Burnet complained of the long graces which were faid by clergymen on the road, and afked Tailer when they would fhort. n. He anfwered, ' The graces will increase in length, till you come to Bof. ' ton ; after that they will fhorten till you come to your governinent of "" New-Hampfhire, where your Excellency will find no grace at all.'
MS Letters
76
HISTORY OF
1729. allowed one third part of the falary, and they fhould be difcharged from all obligations to May 9. him. This bargain being concluded, the Houfe paffed a vote, with which the Council concurred, to pay, ' Governor Burnet, for the ' term of three years, or during his adminif- Journal of " iftration, the fum of two hundred pounds the Houfe of Repre- 'fterling, or fix hundred pounds in bills of fentatives. 'credit ; which fum was to be in full of all 'demands from this Government, for his fal- 'ary ; and all expenfes in coming to, tarrying ' in, or going from this Province; and alfo 'for any allowance to be made to the Lieu- 'tenant Governor; and that the excife on ' liquors fhould be appropriated to that ufe.' To this vote fix of the Reprefentatives enter- ed their diffent.
Sept. 1.
The Governor came but once into New- Hampshire. His death, which happened af- ter a few months, was fuppofed to be occa- fioned by the ill effect, which his controverfy with Maffachufetts, and the difappointment which he fuffered, had on his nerves.
1730. Letters of Francis Wilkes, Agent.
When the death of Governor Burnet was known in England, the refentment againft the Province of Maffachufetts was very high, on account of their determined refufal to fix a falary on the King's Governor. It was e- ven propofed, to reduce them to ' a more abfo- lute dependence on the crown ;' but a fpirit of moderation prevailed ; and it was thought that Mr. JONATHAN BELCHER, then in Eng- land, being a native of the Province, and well acquainted with the temper of his country- men would have more influence than a ftran- ger, to carry the favorite. point of a fixed falary. His appointment, as Governor of
ה
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
New-Hampfhire, was merely an appendage 1730. to his other commiffion.
.. .. Belcher was a merchant of large fortune Belcher's and unblemifhed reputation. He had fpent Letter to the Bifhop fix years in Europe ; had been twice at the of Lincoln. Court of Hanover, before the proteftant fuc- MS. ceffion took place in the family of Brunfwick ; and had received from the Princefs Sophia, a rich golden medal. He was graceful in his perfon, elegant and polite in his manners ; of a lofty and afpiring difpofition ; a fteady, generous friend ; a vindictive, but not impla- cable enemy. Frank and fincere, he was ex- tremely liberal in his cenfures, both in con- verfation and letters. Having a high fenfe of the dignity of his commiffion, he deter- mined to fupport it, even at the expenfe of his private fortune ; the emoluments of of- fice in both Provinces being inadequate to the ftyle in which he chofe to live.
Whilft he was in England, and it was un- certain whether he would be appointed, or Shute would return, Wentworth wrote let- ters of compliment to both. Belcher knew nothing of the letter to Shute, till his arrival in America, and after he had made a vifit to New-Hampfhire, and had been entertained at the Houfe of the Lieutenant Governor. He was then informed, that Wentworth had written a letter to Shute, of the fame tenor as that to himfelf. This he deemed an act of duplicity. How far it was fo, cannot now be determined. The perfuafion was fo ftrong in the mind of Belcher, that on his next vifit to Portfmouth, he refufed an invitation to Wentworth's houfe. This was not the only way in which he. manifefted his difpleafure.
78 .
HISTORY OF
Aug. 31.
1780. When the affair of the falary came before the Affembly, he not only refufed to make fuch a compromife as Burnet had done ; but obliged the Lieutenant Governor under his hand, to ' quit all claim to any part of the falary, and to acknowledge that he had no expectation from, or dependence on the Af- fembly, for any allowance, but that he de- pended wholly on the Governor.' The fame falary was then voted, and in nearly the fame words, as to his predeceffor. He allowed the Lieutenant Governor, the fees and perquifites only which arofe from regifters, certificates, licenfes and paffes, amounting to about fifty pounds fterling. Wentworth and his friends were difappointed and difgufted. He him- felf did not long furvive ; being feized with a lethargic diforder, he died within five months ; but his family connexions refented the affront, and drew a confiderable party into their views. Benning Wentworth, his fon, and Theodore Atkinfon, who had mar- ried his daughter, were at the head of the oppofition. The latter was removed from his office of Collector of the Cuftoms, to make room for Richard Wibird ; the Naval Office was taken from him and given to Ellis Hufke ; and the office of High Sheriff, which he had held, was divided between him and Eleazer Ruffell. Other alterations were made, which greatly offended the friends of the late Lieu- tenant Governor ; but Belcher, fatisfied that his conduct was agreeable to his commiffion and inftructions, difregarded his opponents and apprehended no danger from their re- fentment. Atkinfon vas a man of humour, and took occafion to prefs his difguft in a
Dec. 12. Æcat 59.
30 1
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
fingular manner. The Governor, who was 1730. fond of parade, had ordered a troop of horfe, to meet him on the road, and efcort him to Portfmouth. The officers of government met him, and joined the cavalcade. Atkin- fon was tardy ; but when he appeared, hav- ing broken the Sheriff's wand, he held one half in his hand. Being chid by the Gov- ernor for not appearing fooner, he begged his Excellency to excufe him, becaufe he had but half a horfe to ride.
In addition to what has been obferved, re- fpecting Lieutenant Governor Wentworth ; the following portrait of his character, by fome contemporary friend, deferves remem- brance.
' He was born at Portfmouth of worthy New-Eng- land weck- ' parents, from whom he had a religious edu- ly Journal. 'cation. His inclination leading him to the Dec. 28. ' fea, he foon became a commander of note, ' and gave a laudable example to that order, ' by his fober behaviour, and his conftant ' care to uphold the worfhip of God in his ' fhip. Wherever he came, by his difcreet ' and obliging deportment, he gained the love ' and efteem of thofe with whom he converfed. ' On his leaving the fea, he had confidera- ' ble bufinefs as a merchant, and always had ' the reputation of a fair and generous dealer. ' He has approved himfelf to the general 'acceptance of his Majefty's good fubjects ' throughout this Province, and under his ' mild adminiftration, we enjoyed great qui- ' etnefs.
"' He was a gentleman of good natural abil- 'ities, much improved by converfation ; ' remarkably civil and kind to ftrangers ; re-
10
=
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HISTORY OF
1730. 'fpectful to the minifters of the gofpel ; a ' lover of good men of all denominations ; 'compaffionate and bountiful to the poor ; ' courteous and affable to all ; having a con- ' ftant regard to the duties of divine worfhip, 'in private and public, and paying a due 'deference to all the facred inftitutions of ' Chrift .::
.. ' He had fixteen children, of whom four- ' teen yet furvive him.'
.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
CHAP. XVI.
DONBAR's Lieutenancy and enmity to BALCHER. Efforts to fettle the boundary lines. Divifions. Riot. Trade. Episcopal Church. Throat diftemper.
MR. WENTWORTH was fucceed- ed in the Lieutenancy by DAVID DUNBAR, 1731. Efquire, a native of Ireland and a reduced Colonel in the Britifh fervice ; who was alfo June 24. deputed to be furveyor of the King's woods. This appointment was made by the recom- mendation of the Board of Trade; of which Colonel Bladen was an active member, who bore no good will to Governor Belcher. Dunbar had been commander of a fort at Hutchinfon Pemaquid, which it was in contemplation to 11.224 379. annex to Nova-Scotia. He had taken upon him to govern the few fcattered people in that diftrict, with a degree of rigor to which they could not eafily fubmit. This conduct had already opened a controverfy, between him and the Province of Maffachufetts ; and it was very unfortunate for Belcher to have fuch a perfon connected with both his gov- ernments. What were the merits, which recommended Dunbar to thefe ftations, it is not eafy at this time to determine ; the only qualifications, which appear to have pleaded in his favor, were poverty and the friendfhp of men in power. He was an inftrument of intrigue and difaffection ; and he no fooner made his appearance in New-Hampfhire, than he joined the party who were in oppofition to the Governor. Belcher perceived the ad- vantage which his enemies would derive from L
D
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HISTORY OF
Belcher's
MS. letters,
1731. this alliance, and made all the efforts in his power to difplace him. In his letters to the miniftry, to the Board of Trade, and to his friends in England, he continually reprefent- ed him in the worft light, and folicited his removal. It is not improbable, that his nu- 'merous letters of this kind, written in his ufual ftyle, with great freedom and without any referve, might confirm the fufpicions, raifed by the letters of his adverfaries, and induce the miniftry to keep Dunbar in place, as a check upon Belcher, and to preferve the balance of parties.
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