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 6
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Within a few weeks after Dunbar's coming July 10. to Portfmouth, a complaint was drawn up a- gainft Belcher, and figned by fifteen perfons ; alleging that his government was grievous, oppreffive and arbitrary, and praying the King for his removal. This roufed the Gov- ernor's friends, at the head of whom was Richard Waldron, the fecretary, who drew of Addref- up a counter addrefs, and procured an hun- MS. copies fes. dred names to be fubfcribed. Both addreffes reached England about the fame time. Rich- ard Partridge, Mr. Belcher's brother in law, in conjunction with his fon Jonathan Belcher, then a ftudent in the Temple, applied for a copy of the complaint againft him, at the Belcher's Letters. Plantation office, and obtained it ; but could not get fight of the letters which accompani- ed it, though, on the foundation of thofe let- 1 ters, a reprefentation had been made by the Board of Trade, to the King.
The only effect which Dunbar's letters had at that time, was to procure the appointment of Theodore Atkinfon, Benning Wentworth and Jofhua Peirce, to be Counfellors of New-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
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Hampfhire ; and though Belcher remonftrat- 1731. ed to the Secretary of State againft thefe ap- pointments, and recommended other perfons in their room, he could not prevail, any far- ther than to delay the admiffion of the two former for about two years ; during which time, they were elected into the Houfe of Reprefentatives, and kept up the oppofition there. The recommendations, which he made of other perfons, were duly attended to when vacancies happened ; and thus the Council was compofed of his friends, and his enemies. The civil officers, whom he ap- pointed, were fometimes fuperfeded, by per- fons recommended and fent from England ; and in one inftance, a commiffion for the naval office, in favor of a Mr. Reynolds, fon of the Bifhop of Lincoln, was filled up in England, and fent over with orders for him to fign it ; which he was obliged punctually to obey.
From the confidential letters of the leading men on both fides, which have fallen into my hands in the courfe of my refearches, the views of each party may plainly be feen ; Waldron's; Belcher's. Atkinfon's & Them- though they endeavored to conceal them from each other. The Governor and his linfon's friends had projected an union of New- Hampfhire with Maffachufetts ; but were at a lofs by what means to bring it into effect. The moft defirable method would have been, an unanimity in the people of New-Hamp- fhire, in petitioning the Crown for it ; but as this could not be had, the project was kept out of fight, till fome favorable opportu- nity fhould prefent.
The other party contemplated not only
letters MS.
.
H
-
84
HISTORY OF
1731. the continuance of a feparate government, but the appointment of a diftinct Governor, who fhould refide in the Province, and have no connection with Maffachufetts. The greateft obftacle in their way, was the fmall- nefs and poverty of the Province, which was not able to fupport a gentleman in the char- acter of Governor. To remove this obftacle, it was neceffary to have the limits of territo- ry, not only fixed, but enlarged. They were therefore zealous, in their attempts for this purpofe ; and had the addrefs to perfuade a majority of the people, that they would be gainers by the eftablifhment of the lines ; that the lands would be granted to them and their children ; and that the expenfe of ob- taining the fettlement would be fo trifling, that each man's fhare would not exceed the value of a pullet.
. The Governor's friends were averfe to pref- fing the fettlement of the line ; and their rea- fons were thefe. The controverfy is either be- tween the King and the fubjects of his char- ter government of Maffachufetts ; or elfe, be- tween the heirs of Mafon or Allen and the people of Maffachufetts. If the controverfy be fettled even in favor of New-Hampfhire, the lands which fall within the line, will be either the King's property, to be granted by his Gov- ernor and Council according to royal inftruc- tions ; or elfe the property of the heirs of Mafon or Allen, to be difpofed of by them. On both fuppofitions, the people of New- Hampfhire can have no property in the lands, and therefore why fhould they be zealous about the divifion or tax themfelves to pay the expenfe of it ?
4
L
AY
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
The Governor, as obliged by his inftruc- 1731. tions, frequently urged the fettlement of the lines in his fpeeches, and declared, that the Affembly of New-Hampfhire had done more toward effecting it, than that of Maffa- chufetts .. A committee from both Provinces met at Newbury in the autumn of 1731, on Sept. 21. this long contefted affair ; but the influence of that party in Maffachufetts, of which Eli- fha Cooke was at the head, prevented an ac- commodation. Soon after this fruitlefs con- ference, the Reprefentatives of New-Hamp- fhire, of whom a majority was in favor of fet- tling the line, determined no longer to treat with Maffachufetts ; but to reprefent the matter to the King, and petition him to de- cide the controverfy. Newman's commif- Affembly fion, as agent, having expired, they chofe for Records. 08. 7. this purpofe, John Rindge, merchant, of Portfmouth, then bound on a voyage to Lon- don. The appointment of this gentleman was fortunate for them, not only as he had large connexions in England ; but as he was capable of advancing money, to carry on the folicitation. The Council, a majority of which was in the oppofite intereft, did nei- ther concur in the appointment, nor confent to the petition.
Mr. Rindge, on his arrival in England, petitioned the King in his own name, and in behalf of the Reprefentatives of New-Hamp- fhire, to eftablifh the boundaries of the Prov- ince ; but his private affairs requiring his re- turn to America, he did, agreeably to his in- ftructions, leave the bufinefs in the hands of Capt. John Thomlinfon, merchant, of Lon- don ; who was well known in New -Hamp-
1732. Fcb. 28.
1
P
..
86
HISTORY OF
1732 fhire, where he had frequently been in qual- ity of a fea commander. He was a gentle- man of great penetration, induftry and ad- drefs ; and having fully entered into the views of Belcher's opponents, profecuted the affair of the line, ' with ardor and diligence ;' employing for his folicitor, Ferdinando John Parris ; who being well fupplied with money, was indefatigable in his attention. The pe- tition was, of courfe referred to the Lords of Trade, and Francis Wilks the agent of Maf- fachufetts, was ferved with a copy to be fent to his conftituents.
: . Whilft the matter of the line was pending on the other fide of the Atlantic, the parties in New-Hampfhire maintained their oppofi- tion ; and were on all occafions vilifying and abufing each other, efpecially in their letters to their friends in England. On the one fide, Belcher inceffantly reprefented Dunbar, as the fomenter of oppofition ; as falfe, per- fidious, malicious and revengeful ; that he did no fervice to the crown, nor to himfelf ; but was 'a plague to the Governor and a ' deceiver of the people.' He was alfo very liberal in his reflections, on his other oppo- fers. On the other fide, they reprefented him as unfriendly to the royal intereft ; as obftructing the fettlement of the lines ; con- niving at the deftruction of the King's tim- ber, and partial to his other government, where all his intereft lay ; and that he had not even a freehold in New-Hampfhire. As an inftance of his partiality, they alleged, that in almoft every feffion of the Affembly of Maffachufetts, he confented to grants of the difputed lands, to the people of that Prov-
1733.
乳动与目
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
ince ; by which means, their Affembly raif- 1733, ed money, to enable their agent to protract the controverfy, that they might have oppor- tunity to lay out more townfhips ; while at the fame time, he rejected a fupply bill of the New-Hampfhire Affembly, and diffolved them, becaufe that in it, they had made an appropriation for their agent. The truth was, that the Council did not confent to the bill, becaufe they had no hand in appointing the agent, and the bill never came before the Governor. The frequent diffolution of Af- femblies was another fubject of complaint ; and in fact this meafure never produced the defired effect ; for the fame perfons were generally re-elected, and no reconciling mea- fures were adopted by either party.
The Governor frequently complained, in his fpeeches, that the public debts were not paid ; nor the fort, prifon, and other public buildings kept in repair ; becaufe of their failure in fupplying the treafury. The true reafon of their not fupplying it was, that they wanted emiffions of paper money, to be drawn in, at diftant periods ; to this the Governor could not confent, being reftrained by a royal inftruction, as well as in princi- ple oppofed to all fuch practices. But one emiffion of paper was made in his adminif- tration ; and for its redemption a fund was eftablifhed in hemp, iron, and other produc- tions of the country. When a number of merchants and others had combined to iffue notes, to fupply the place of a currency, he iffued a proclamation againft them ; and in his next fpeech to the Affembly, condemned them in very fevere terms. The Affembly
1734.
.
-
88
HISTORY OF
1734. endeavored to vindicate the character of the bills ; but in a few days he diffolved them, with a reprimand ; charging them with trif- ling, with injuftice and hypocrify. It muft be remembered, that his complaints of an empty treafury were not occafioned by any failure of his own falary, which was regular- ly paid out of the excife.
.. Belcher revived the idea of his predeceffor Shute, which was alfo countenanced by his inftructions, that he was virtually prefent in New-Hampfhire, when perfonally abfent, and attendidg his duty, in his other Province ; and therefore that the Lieutenant Governor could do nothing but by his orders. Dunbar "had no feat in the Council, and Shadrach Walton being fenior member, by the Gov- ernor's order fummoned them and prefided. He alfo held the command of the fort, by the Governor's commiffion, granted paffes for fhips, and licenfes for marriage ; and received and executed military orders, as occafion re- quired. The Lieutenant Governor contefted this point ; but could not prevail ; and find- ing himfelf reduced to a ftate of infignifi- cance, he retired in difguft, to his fort at Pemaquid ; where he refided almoft two years. The Governor's friends gave out that he had abfconded for debt, and affected to triumph over the oppofition, as poor and im- potent ; but their complaints, fupported by their agent Thomlinfon, and the influence of Bladen at the Board of Trade, made an im- preffion there much to the difadvantage of Mr. Belcher ; though he had friends among the miniftry and nobility ; the principle of whom was Lord Townfend, by whofe influ- ence he had obtained his commiffion.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
After Dunbar's return to Portfmouth, the 1734. Governor thought it good policy to relax his feverity ; and gave him the command of the fort, with the ordinary perquifites of office, amounting to about fifty pounds fterling. Not content with this, he complained, that the Governor did not allow him one third of his falary. The Governor's falary was but fix hundred pounds currency ; he fpent at leaft one hundred, in every journey to New- Hampfhire, of which he made two in a year. At the fame time Dunbar had two hundred pounds fterling, as Surveyor General of the woods ; which, with the perquifites, amount- ing to one hundred more, were divided be- tween him and his deputies. But it muft be remembered that he was deeply in debt, both here and in England.
. The rigid execution of the office of Sur- veyor General had always been attended with difficulty ; and the violent manner, in which Dunbar proceeded with trefpaffers, raifed a fpirit of oppofition on fuch occafions. The ftatutes for the prefervation of the woods impowered the furveyor to feize all logs, cut from white pine trees, without licenfe ; and it refted on the claimant, to prove his pro- perty, in the court of Admiralty. Dunbar went to the faw-mills ; where he feized and marked large quantities of lumber ; and with an air and manner to which he had been ad- cuftomed in his military capacity, abufed and threatened the people. That clafs of men, with whom he was difpofed to contend, are not eafily intimidated with high words ; and he was not a match for them, in that fpecies of controverfy, which they have denominated
M
T
0
1
90
HISTORY OF
1734 Swamp lare. An inftance of this happened at Dover, whither he came, with his boat's crew, to remove a parcel of boards, which he had feized. The owner, Paul Gerrith, warn- ed him of the confequence ; Dunbar threat- cned with death the firft man who fhould obftruct his intentions ; the fame threat was returned to the firft man who fhould remove the boards. Dunbar's prudence at this time, got the better of his courage, and he retired.
With the like fpirit, an attempt of the fame kind was fruftrated at Exeter, whither he fent a company in a boat to remove lumber. Whilft his men were regaling themfelves at a public houfe, in the evening, and boafting of what they intended to do the next day ; a number of perfons, difguifed like Indians, attacked and beat them ; whilft others cut the rigging and fails of the boat, and made a hole in her bottom. The party not finding themfelves fafe in the houfe, retreated to the boat, and pufhed off; but being there in danger of finking, they with difficulty regain- ed the fhore, and hid themfelves till morn- ing, when they returned on foot to Portf- mouth.
April 26.
This was deemed a flagrant infult. Dun- bar fummoned the Council, and complained to them of the riotous proceedings at Exeter, where there was 'a confpiracy againft his s life, by cvil minded perfons, who had hired ' Indians to deftroy him.' He propofed to the Council, the iffuing of a proclamation, of- fering a reward to apprehend the rioters. The major part of the Council were of opinion, that no proclamation could be iffued but by
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
the Governor.' Information being fent to 1734. the Governor, he iffued a proclamation ; com- manding all magiftrates to affift in difcover- ing the rioters.
This tranfaction afforded matter for com- plaint, and a memorial was drawn up by Thomlinfon, grounded on letters which he had received. It was fuggefted, that the Cov- ernor's pretence to favor the furveyor was deceitful ; that the rioters at Exeter were his greateft friends ; that the Council, wholly devoted to him, would not advife to a proc- MS letters. lamation till they had fent to Bofton ; that the proclamation was delayed ; and when it appeared offered no reward ; though Dun- bar had propofed to pay the money himfelf ; and, that by reafon of this delay and omif- fion, the rioters efcaped with impunity.
In juftice to Mr. Belcher, it muft be faid, that there was no delay on his part, the proc- lamation being fent from Bofton within fix days. It alfo appears, from the fecret and confidential letters of the Governor, that he difapproved the riot, and even called it rebel- lion ; that he gave particular orders to the magiftrates, to make inquiry, and take depo- fitions, and do their utmoft to difcover the rioters. If he did not advertife a reward, it was becaufe there was no money in the treaf- ury ; and if Dunbar had been fincere in his offer to pay it, he might have promifed it, by
* This was alfo the Governor's opinion ; and in his letters he frequent- ly afferts that Dunbar had no command in New-Hampfhire, whilit he was in either of his governments. To be confiftent, he fhould have maintain .- ed, that the Lieutenant Governor of Maff chufee's had no command whi ft he was in New Hampshire ; but there occurs an infrance of a proclamation iffuel by Lieutenant Governor Phips, ( March 25, 1737) on occafion of a riot at Bofton, whilft the Governor was in New Hampshire ; and at his return, he iffued another, in which he refers to the former, not only with- out cenfuring it, but in terms of approbation.
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HISTORY OF
1734. advertifement. The truc reafon that the rioters were not difcovered, was, that their plan was fo artfully conducted, their perfons fo effectually difguifed, and their confidence. in each other fo well placed, that no proof could be obtained ; and the fecret remained with themfelves, till the danger was over, and the government had paffed into other hands.
A law had been made, for holding the In- ferior Court of Common Pleas, alternately in each of the four old towns ; and the practice had been continued for feveral years, much to the convenience and fatisfaction of the people ; but Dunbar remonftrated againft it, to the Board of Trade, and moved for a dif- allowance of the act, becaufe the people who had obftructed him in his office deferved not fo much favor. The act was in confequence difallowed, and the courts were afterward confined to Portfmouth. The order for dif- allowance, came to the hands of Dunbar, who called a meeting of the Council, that they might advife to its publication. A majority of them would not confent, till the original order was fent to Bofton, and Governor Belch- er directed the publication of it. This tranf- action ferved as matter of frefh complaint, and was alleged as an argument for the ap- pointment of a Governor, who fhould refide conftantly in the Province.
1735.
June IS.
To finifh what relates to Dunbar. He was careffed by the party in oppofition to Belcher, under the idea that he had intereft enough in England, to obtain a commiffion for the government of New-Hampfhire. In 1737 he went to England to profecute his de- fign ; where, by his old creditors, he was ar-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
refted and thrown into prifon. Thomlinfon 1735. found means to liberate him ; but perceived that he had neither fteadinefs nor ability for fon's letters Thomlin- the ftation at which he aimed, nor intereft MS. enough to obtain it ; though, by his prefence in England, he ferved to keep up the oppofi- tion to Belcher, and was ufed as a tool for that purpofe, till the object was accomplith- ed. After which he was (1743) appointed, by the Eaft India Company, Governor of St. Helena.
The trade of the Province at this time con- fifted chiefly in the exportation of lumber and fifh to Spain and Portugal, and the Ca- ribbee Iflands. The maft trade was wholly confined to Great Britain. In the winter fmall veffels went to the fouthern Colonies, Belchers. letters. to of Trade. with Englith and Weft India goods, and re- the Board turned with corn and pork. The manufac- MS. ture of iron within the Province, which had been fet up by the late Lieutenant Governor Wentworth, and other gentlemen, lay under difcouragement, for want of experienced and induftrious workmen. The woollen manu- facture was diminifhed, and fheep were fcarc- er than formerly ; the common lands on which they ufed to feed, being fenced in by the proprietors. The manufacture of linen was much increafed by means of the emi- grants from Ireland, who were fkilled in that bufinefs. No improvements were made in agriculture, and the newly granted townfhips were not cultivated with fpirit or fuccefs.
There had not been any fettled Epifcopal Church in the province from the beginning, till about the year 1732; when fome gen- tlemen who were fond of the mode of divine
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HISTORY OF
1735.
worfhip, in the Church of England, contribu- ted to the erection of a neat building on a commanding eminence, in Portfmouth, which they called the Queen's Chapel. Mr. Thom- linfon was greatly inftrumental of procuring them affiftance in England, toward complet- ing and furnifhing it. It was confecrated in 1734 ; and in 1736 they obtained Mr. Ar- thur Brown for their Minifter, with a falary from the fociety for propagating the gofpel in foreign parts.
About this time, the country was vifited witha new epidemic difeafe, which has obtain- ed the name of thethroat diflemper. The general difcription of it was a fwelled throat, with white or afh-colored fpecks, an efflorefcence on the fkin, great debility of the whole fyf- tem, and a ftrong tendency to putridity. Its
Douglafs's practical hiftory of a new milia ry fever.
Fitch's Narrative.
firft appearance was in May 1735, at King- fton in New-Hampfhire, an inland town, fit- uate on a low plain. The firft perfon feized, was a child, who died in three days. About a week after, in another family, at the diftance of four miles, three children were fucceffively attacked, who alfo died on the third day. It continued fpreading gradually, in that town- fhip, through the fummer, and of the firft forty who had it none recovered. In Auguft it began to make its appearance at Exeter, fix miles north-eaftward ; and in September, at Bofton,* fifty miles fouthward, though it
* On its first appearance in Bofton, it was fuppofed to be nothing more than a common cold ; but when the report of the mortality in New - Hamp- faire was received, and a young man from Exeter, whofe brother had died of it, was feized (Odober 1735) the houfe was ihut and guardel, and a general alarm [pread through the neighbouring towns and colonics. Up- on his death, no infection was obferved in that houfe or neighbourhood ; but the diftemper appeared in other places, which had no communication with the fick. The phyficians did not take the infeRion, nor convey ic to their families, nor their other patients. It was therefore concluded that
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
was October, before it reached Chefter, the neareft fettlement on the weft of Kingfton. It continued its ravages through the fucceed- ing winter and fpring, and did not difap- pear till the end of the next fummer.
The moft, who died of this peftilence, were children ; and the diftrefs, which it occafion- ed, was heightened to the moft poignant de- gree. From three to fix children were loft out of fome families ; feveral buried four in a day, and many loft their all. In fome towns, one in three, and in others one in four of the fick were carried off. In the parifh of Hampton-Falls it raged moft violently. Twenty families buried all their children. Twenty feven perfons were loft out of five families ; and more than one fixth part of the inhabitants of that place died within thir- teen months. In the whole Province, not lefs than one thoufand perfons, of whom a- bove nine hundred were under twenty years of age, fell victims to this raging diftemper.
Since the fettlement of this country fuch a mortality had not been known. It was ob- ferved, that the diftemper proved moft fatal, when plentiful evacuations, particularly bleeding, were ufed ; a great proftration of ftrength being an invariable fymptom. The fummer of 1735, when the ficknefs began, was unufually wet and cold, and the eafterly wind greatly prevailed. But it was acknowl-
it was not like the ftnall pox, or the plague, communicable by infection, from the uck or from clothet , and the physicians, having by defire of the felectmen, beld a confultation, published their opinion ; that it proceeded entirely from ' fome occult quality in the cir.'
Weekly News Letter, April 29, 1736.
Dr. Doug lafs computes the number of perfons who had the diftemper in Bolton at 4000 ; of whom 114 died, which is one in 35. The whols number of inhabitants at that time was eftimated at 16,000.
1735.
60-838
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F
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HISTORY OF
1735. edged to be, not 'a creature of the feafons ;' as it raged through every part of the year. Its extent is faid to have been 'from Pema- quid to Carolina ;' but with what virulence it raged, or in what meafure it proved fatal to the fouthward of New-England, does not appear.
The fame diftemper has made its appear- ance at various times fince. In 1754 and 1755, it produced a great mortality in feve- ral parts of New-Hampfhire, and the neigh- bouring parts of Maffachufetts. Since that time it has either put on a milder form, or phyficians have become. better acquainted with it. The laft time of its general fpread- ing was in 1784, 5, 6 and 7. It was firft feen at Sanford in the county of York ; and thence diffufed itfelf, very flowly, through moft of the towns of New-England; but its virulence, and the mortality which it caufed, were comparatively inconfiderable. ' Its re- ' mote, or predifpofing caufe, is one of thofe tione, 1786 ' myfteries in nature, which baffle human ' inquiry.'
Dr Hall Jackfon's Obferva-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
The following TABLE, drawn from an account publifhed by Mr. FITCH, minifter of Portfmouth, July 26, 1736; is a BILL of MORTALITY for 14 months preceding.
Under|Between Above Abo. Abo. |Abo.| To.
TOWNS.
10
10 & 20
20
30
40
90
tal.
Portmouth
8 1
15
I
2
99
Dover
77
8
3
88
Hampton
37
8
8
1
1
55
Hampton-Falls
160
40
9
I
210.
Exeter
105
18
4
127
New-Caftle
II
2
I
37
Greenland
13
2
3
18
Newington
16
5
21|
Newmarket
20
I
I
22
Stretham
18
18
Kingfton
96
15
I
I
113
Durham
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