USA > New Hampshire > The history of New-Hampshire > Part 46
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1775.
was put to the British government in New-Hampshire, when it had subsisted ninety-five years.
From this view of the administration of Governor Wentworth, it is easy to conclude, that his intentions were pacific ; and whilst the temper of the times allowed him to act agreeably to his own principles, his government was acceptable and beneficial ; but when inatters had come to the worst, his faults were as few, and his conduct as temperate, as could be expected from a servant of the crown. If a comparison be drawn, between him and most of the other governors on this continent, at the beginning of the rev- olution, he must appear to advantage. Instead of widening the breach, he endeavored to close it; and when his efforts failed, he retired from a situation, where he could no longer exercise the office of a governor ; leaving his estate and many of his friends ; and preserving only his commission, as surveyor of the king's woods ; the limits of which were much contracted by the suc- ceeding revolution .*
CHAPTER XXV.
War with Britain. Change of government. Temporary constitution. In- dependence. Military exertions. Stark's expedition. Employment of troops during the war.
WHEN the controversy with Britain shewed symptoms of hos- tility, and the design of the ministry and parliament to provoke 1775. us to arms became apparent, the people of New-Hamp- shire began seriously to meditate the defence of their country. It was uncertain in what manner the scene would open ; for this and other reasons no regular plan of operations could be formed. By the old militia law, every male inhabitant, from sixteen years old to sixty, was obliged to be provided with a mus-
* [JOHN WENTWORTH, was son of Mark Hunking Wentworth, and was the fifth in descent from elder William Wentworth, mentioned under the year 1689. He was born about 1736, and graduated at Harvard college in 1755, and his name stands as the fifth in the class, being preceded by the names of Cushing, Appleton, Brown and Livingston. He received the appointment of governor when he was but 31 years of age, being advanced to that station at an earlier age than any of his predecessors, or any who has succeeded him. After leaving New-Hampshire in 1775, he was appointed governor of Nova- Scotia, and resided at Halifax, where he died 8 April, 1820, aged 84. He re- ceived the title of baronet from George III., and was honored by the univer- sities of Oxford, in England, and Aberdeen, in Scotland, with the degree of Doctor of Laws. He received a similar honor from Dartmouth college .- The late Dr. Dwight in speaking of his character, describes him as " a man of sound understanding, refined taste, enlarged views, and a dignified spirit ; and as retiring from the chair with a higher reputation than any other man who held the same office he did in the country."]
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STATE. MESHECH WEARE.
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ket and bayonet, knapsack, cartridge-box, one pound of powder, twenty bullets and twelve flints. Every town was obliged to keep in readiness one barrel of powder, two hundred pounds of lead and three hundred flints, for every sixty men ; besides a quantity of arms and ammunition for the supply of such as were not able to provide themselves with the necessary articles. Even those persons who were exempted from appearing at the common military trainings, were obliged to keep the same arms and am- munition. In a time of peace, these requisitions were neglected, and the people in general were not completely furnished, nor the towns supplied according to law. The care which the governor had taken to appoint officers of militia and review the regi- ments, for some years before, had awakened their attention to the duties of the parade ; which were performed with renewed ardor, after the provincial convention had recommended the learning of military exercises and manœuvres. Voluntary associations were formed for this purpose, and the most experienced persons were chosen to command on these occasions. To prevent false rumors and confusion, the committees of inspection in each town were also committees of correspondence, by whom all intelligence con- cerning the motions of the British, were to be communicated ; and proper persons were retained to carry expresses when there should be occasion.
In this state of anxiety and expectation ; when an early spring had invited the husbandman to the labor of the field ; General Gage thought it proper to open the drama of war. The alarm was immediately communicated front town to town
Apr. 19. through the whole country, and volunteers flocked from all parts ; till a body of ten thousand men assembled in the neighborhood of Boston, completely invested it on the land side, and cut of all communication with the country.
On the first alarm, about twelve hundred men marched from the nearest parts of New-Hampshire, to join their brethren, who had assembled in arms about Boston. Of these, some returned ; others formed themselves into two regiments, under the authority of the Massachusetts convention. As soon as the provin- May 17. cial congress of New-Hampshire met, they voted to raise two thousand men, to be formed into three regiments ; those which were already there to be accounted as two, and another to be enlisted immediately. These men engaged to serve till the last day of December, unless sooner discharged. The command of these regiments was given to the Colonels John Stark, James Reed and Enoch Poor. The two former were present in the memorable battle on the heights of Charlestown, being June 17. posted on the left wing, behind a fence ; from which they sorely galled the British as they advanced to the attack, and cut them down by whole ranks at once. In their retreat, they lost
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1775.
several men, and among others, the brave Major Andrew McCla- ry, who was killed by a cannon shot after he had passed the isth- mus of Charlestown .* On the alarm occasioned by this battle, the third regiment collected and marched to the camp ; and with June 20. the other New-Hampshire troops, was posted on the left wing of the army at Winter-Hill, under the immediate command of Brigadier-General Sullivan, who with the other general officers, received his appointment from congress.
It had been a common sentiment among the British troops, that the Americans would not dare to fight with them. This battle effectually convinced them of their mistake. They found that fighting with us was a serious thing ; and the loss which they sus- tained in this battle, evidently had an influence on their subse- quent operations.
Whilst the Scarborough frigate remained in the harbor of Pas- cataqua, frequent bickerings happened between her crew and the inhabitants. Captain Berkeley seized all inward bound ves- sels, and sent them to Boston. He also prevented the boats be- longing to the river from going out to catch fish. This conduct was conformable to the orders which he had received to execute the restraining act. In return, his boats were not permitted to fetch provisions from the town ; and one of them was fired upon in the night, by some of the guards stationed on the shore. A compromise, at length, was made between him and the committee of the town ; open boats were permitted to pass, to catch fish for the inhabitants ; and his boats were allowed. to take fresh provis- ions for the use of the ship. This agreement subsisted but a short time, and finally all intercourse was cut off.
After the departure of the ship, the people went in volunteer parties, under the direction of Major Ezekiel Worthen, whom the Aug. 24. convention appointed engineer, and built forts on the points
of two islands, which form a narrow channel, about a mile below the town of Portsmouth. One of these was called Fort Washington, and the other Fort Sullivan. The cannon which had been saved from the old fort and battery were mounted here, and the town was thought to be secure from being surprised by ships of war.
The tenth of September was the last day of exportation fixed by the general congress. Most of the vessels which sailed
* [ANDREW MCCLARY was son of Andrew McClary of Epsom, who with his brother John were early inhabitants of that town. The male line of the family name has become extinct. Major McClary was an active and efficient officer. Swett, Hist. of Bunker Hill Battle, 2d edit. p. 48.
In a letter from Colonel Stark to Matthew Thornton, written two days af- ter the battle of Bunker Hill, (see Coll. of N. H. Hist. Soc. ii. 145) it appears that the number lost from Stark's regiment, was 15 killed and missing, and 60 wounded ; the number from Colonel Reed's regiment was 3 killed, 1 miss- ing and 29 wounded. The number in Swett's History, where the names of the killed are given, is different from the account given in this letter.]
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out of the harbor were seized by the British cruisers, and carried into Boston. One was retaken by a privateer of Beverly, and carried into Cape-Anne.
In the following month, several British armed vessels were sent to burn the town of Falmouth ; which was in part effect- Oct. 18. ed, by throwing carcases and sending a party on shore, under cover of their guns. It was suspected that they had the same design against Portsmouth. General Washington despatch- ed Brigadier-General Sullivan from the camp at Cambridge, with orders to take the command of the militia and defend the harbor of Pascataqua. On this occasion, the works on the islands were strengthened ; a boom, constructed with masts and chains, was thrown across the Narrows, which was several times broken by the rapidity of the current, until it was impossible to secure the passage by such means ; an old ship was scuttled and sunk in the northern channel of the river ; a company of rifle-men, from the camp, was posted on Great-Island ; and fire-rafts were construct- ed to burn the enemy's shipping. These preparations served to keep up the spirits of the people ; but many families, not thinking themselves safe in Portsmouth, removed into the country, and there remained till the next spring.
A spirit of violent resentment was excited against all who were suspected of a disposition inimical to the American cause. Some persons were taken up on suspicion and imprisoned ; some fled to Nova-Scotia, or to England, or joined the British army in Boston. Others were restricted to certain limits and their mo- tions continually watched. The passions of jealousy, hatred and revenge were freely indulged, and the tongue of slander was un- der no restraint. Wise and good men secretly lamented these excesses ; but no effectual remedy could be administered. All commissions under the former authority being annulled, the courts of justice were shut, and the sword of magistracy was sheathed. The provincial convention directed the general affairs of the war ; and town committees had a discretionary, but undefined power to preserve domestic peace. Habits of decency, family government, and the good examples of influential persons, contributed more to maintain order than any other authority. The value of these secret bonds of society was now more than ever conspicuous.
In the convention which met at Exeter, in May, and continued sitting with but little interruption till November, one hundred and two towns were represented, by one hundred and thirty-three members.1 Their first care was to establish post offices ; to ap- point a committee of supplies for the army, and a committee of safety. To this last committee, the general instruction was sim- ilar to that, given by the Romans, to their dictators, ' to take un- ' der consideration, all matters in which the welfare of the prov-
(1) MS. Records of Convention.
48
.
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
[1775.
' ince, in the security of their rights, is concerned ; and to take ' the utmost care, that the public sustain no damage.'* Particu- ar instructions were given to them, from time to time, as occa- sion required. They were considered as the supreme executive ; and during the recess of the convention, their orders and recom- mendations had the same effect as the acts and resolves of that whole body.
By an order of the convention, the former secretary, Theodore Atkinson, Esquire, delivered up the province records, to a com- mittee which was sent to receive them, and Ebenezer Thompson, Esquire, was appointed in his place. The records of deeds, and of the probate office, for the county of Rockingham, were also removed to Exeter, as a place of greater safety than Portsmouth. The former treasurer, George Jaffrey, Esquire, was applied to for the public money in his hands, which, to the amount of one thousand five hundred and sixteen pounds, four shillings and eight pence, he delivered ; and Nicholas Gilman, Esquire, was ap- pointed treasurer in his room.f
During this year, three emissions of paper bills were made. The first, of ten thousand and fifty pounds ; the second, of ten thousand pounds ; and the third, of twenty thousand pounds. For the amount of those sums, the treasurer gave his obligation in small notes, which passed for a time, as current money, equal in value to silver and gold. But as emissions were multiplied, as the redemption of the bills was put off to distant periods, and the bills themselves were counterfeited, it was impossible for them long to hold their value.
Beside the three regiments which made part of the American army at Cambridge, a company of artillery was raised to do duty at the forts. A company of rangers was posted on Connecticut river ; and two companies more were appointed, to be ready to march wherever the committee of safety should direct. The whole militia was divided into twelve regiments ; the field officers were appointed by the convention, and the inferior officers were chosen by the companies. Out of the militia were inlisted four regiments of minute-men, so called, because they were to be ready at a minute's warning. They were constantly trained to military duty, and when called to service were allowed the same
* ' Ne quid detrimenti respublica capiat.'
t [NICHOLAS GILMAN was son of Daniel Gilman, of Exeter, a grandson of the Hon. John Gilman, one of the first council under President Cutt, in 1680. (See page 90.) He was born 31 October, 1731, and received a common school education. He was elected a counsellor under the temporary consti- tution of New-Hampshire in 1777, and, by annual elections, continued in of- fice until his death, 7 April, 1783. Three of his sons enjoyed some of the first offices in the state. Nicholas, the eldest, died while a senator in con- gress, in 1814. John Taylor, after having been governor of the state fourteen years, died 31 August, 1828, æ. 75. Nathaniel, now living, has been senator in the state legislature and state treasurer.]
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STATE. MESHECH WEARE.
1775.]
pay as the regiments in the continental army. In the succeeding winter, when the Connecticut forces had withdrawn from the camp, because their time of service was expired, sixteen companies of the New-Hampshire militia, of sixty-one men each, supplied their place, till the British troops evacuated Boston.
The convention having been appointed for six months only ; before the expiration of that time, applied to the general congress for their advice, respecting some mode of government for the future. In answer to which, the congress recommended
to them, 'to call a full and free representation of the Nov. 3. ' people ; that these representatives, if they should think it neces- ' sary, might establish such a form of government, as, in their ' judgment, would best conduce to the happiness of the people, ' and most effectually tend to secure peace and good order in the ' province, during the continuance of the dispute between Great- ' Britain and the colonies.' On receiving this advice, the con- vention took into their consideration the mode in which a
full and free representation should be called ; and finally Nov. 14. agreed, that each elector should possess a real estate of twenty pounds value, and every candidate for election, one of three hun- dred pounds ; that every town, consisting of one hundred families, should send one representative ; and one more for every hundred families ; and that those towns which contained a less number than one hundred should be classed. They had before ordered a sur- vey to be made of the number of people in the several counties ; and having obtained it, they determined, that the number of rep- resentatives to the next convention, should bear the following pro- portion to the number of people, viz.
Rockingham, 37850 people 38 representatives.
Strafford,
12713 13
Hillsborough,
16447
17
Cheshire,
11089 15
Grafton, 4101 6
In all,
82200
89
These representatives were to be empowered, by their constit- uents, to assume government as recommended by the general congress, and to continue for one whole year from the time of such assumption. The wages of the members were to be paid by the several towns, and their travelling expenses out of the public treasury. Having formed this plan, and sent cop- Nov. 16. ies of it to the several towns, the convention dissolved.
This convention was composed chiefly of men who knew noth- ing of the theory of government, and had never before been con- cerned in public business. In the short term of six months, they acquired so much knowledge by experience, as to be convinced,
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. [1776.
that it was improper for a legislative assembly to consist of one house only. As soon as the new convention came together, they Dec. 21. drew up a temporary form of government ; and, agree- 1776. ably to the trust reposed in them by their constituents,
having assumed the name and authority of the house of
Jan. 5. representatives, they proceeded to choose twelve persons, to be a distinct branch of the legislature, by the name of a coun- cil. Of these, five were chosen from the county of Rockingham, two from Strafford, two from Hillsborough, two from Cheshire and one from Grafton. These were empowered to elect their own president, and any seven of them were to be a quorum. It was ordained, that no act or resolve should be valid, unless pass- ed by both branches of the legislature ; that all money bills should originate in the house of representatives ; that neither house should adjourn for more than two days, without the consent of the other ; that a secretary, and all other public officers of the colony, and of each county, for the current year, all general and field officers of militia, and all officers of the marching regiments, should be appointed by the two houses ; all subordinate militia officers by their respective companies ; that the present assembly should subsist one year, and if the dispute with Britain should continue longer, and the general congress should give no directions to the contrary, that precepts should be issued annually to the several towns on or before the first day of November, for the choice of counsellors and representatives, to be returned by the third Wednesday in December.
In this hasty production, there were some material defects. One was the want of an executive branch of government. To remedy this, the two houses, during their session, performed, ex- ecutive as well as legislative duty ; and at every adjournment appointed a committee of safety, to sit in the recess, with the same powers, as had been given in the preceding year, by the conven- tion. The number of this committee varied from six to sixteen. The president of the council was also president of this executive committee. The person chosen to fill this chair was an old, tried, faithful servant of the public, the honorable Meshech Weare, Esquire, who was also appointed chief justice of the superior court. So great was the confidence of the people in this gentleman, that they scrupled not to invest him, at the same time, with the highest offices, legislative, executive, and judicial; in which he was con- tinued by annual elections during the whole war."
* [Of a character so beloved and esteemed as President Weare, a note more extended than this, should be given, but the want of suitable materials, will permit only the following notice.
The family of Weares was an early one in New-England, althoughi not among the earliest. Peter Weare, probably the first ancestor of the President who came hither, died 12 October, 1653, at Newbury, Massachusetts, in which place he had resided some time. His son, Nathaniel Weare, resided in
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STATE. MESHECH WEARE.
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This constitution was prefaced with several reasons for adopting government, viz. That the British parliament had, by many grievous and oppressive acts, deprived us of our native rights ; to enforce obedience to which acts, the ministry of that kingdom had sent a powerful fleet and army into this country, and had wantonly and cruelly abused their power, in destroying our lives and property ; that the sudden and abrupt departure of our late governor, had left us destitute of legislation ; that no judicial courts were open to punish offenders ; and that the continental congress had recommended the adoption of a form of government. Upon these grounds, the convention made a declaration in these words, ' We conceive ourselves reduced to the necessity of establishing a ' form of government, to continue during the present unhappy ' and unnatural contest with Great-Britain ; protesting and de- ' claring, that we never sought to throw off our dependence on ' Great-Britain ; but felt ourselves happy under her protection, ' whilst we could enjoy our constitutional rights and privileges ; ' and that we shall rejoice, if such a reconciliation between us and ' our parent state can be effected, as shall be approved by the
that place several years, and afterwards removed to Hampton, as intimated in a note, p. 103. Peter Weare, the son of Nathaniel, was born at Newbury, 15 Nov. 1660, and was appointed a counsellor of N. H. in 1698. The father of the President was Nathaniel Weare, who was probably son of Peter Weare, the counsellor. He had four sons and eight daughters. MESHECHI WEARE was the youngest of the sons, and was born at what was then Hampton, in 1714. He graduated at Harvard college, then under President Wadsworth, in the year 1735, and devoted some time to theological studies, which he re- linquished for the calls of civil and political life. He was chosen speaker of the house of representatives in 1752; and in 1754, was appointed a commis- sioner to the congress at Albany, and was afterwards one of the justices of the superior court of New-Hampshire. In 1776, he was chosen president of the state under the new constitution, adopted that year to continue during the war, and was annually elected to the same office during the contest with Great-Britain. He was also appointed to the office of chief justice in 1777, which he held at the same time he sustained the office of chief magistrate. In 1784, he was elected the first president under the constitution which was adopted in 1783, and which went into operation the following year ; but on account of his declining health, he resigned his office before the expiration of the political year. He enjoyed not only civil honors, but was complimented with those of a literary kind. In 1782, he was elected a fellow of the Amer- ican academy of arts and sciences, which two years before had gone into ope- ration in Massachusetts, under very favorable auspices. His election was announced to him by the corresponding secretary, Rev. Joseph Willard, the president of Harvard college.
Being worn out with public service and the infirmities of age, President Weare departed this life at his residence at Hampton-Falls, on the twenty- fifth of January, 1786, having entered on the 73d year of his age.
In speaking of his character, Dr. Belknap, who personally knew him, says, " he was not a person of an original inventive genius, but had a clear discern- ment, extensive knowledge, accurate judgment, calm temper, a modest de- portment, an upright and benevolent heart, and a habit of prudence and dili- gence in discharging the various duties of public and private life. He did not enrich himself by his public employment, but was one of those good men, ' who dare to love their country and be poor.' "
The two last paragraphs have been transferred from a note in the Appendix to the 2d vol. of the former editions, to this place.]
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HISTORY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
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' continental congress, in whose prudence and wisdom we con- ' fide.'*
Such was the language, and such were the sentiments of the people at that time ; and had the British government, on the re- moval of their troops from Boston, treated with us, in answer to . our last petition, upon the principle of reconciliation ; and restored us to the state in which we were before the stamp-act was made, they might even then, have preserved their connexion with us. But in the course of a few months, we not only found our petitions disregarded, and our professions of attachment to the parent state treated as hypocritical ; but their hostile intentions became so ap- parent, and our situation was so singular, that there could be no hope of safety for us, without dissolving our connexion with them, and assuming that equal rank among the powers of the earth for which nature had destined us, and to which the voice of reason and providence loudly called us. Britain had engaged foreign mercenaries to assist in subjugating us ; justice required that we should in our turn court foreign aid ; but this could not be had, whilst we acknowledged ourselves subjects of the crown against whose power we were struggling. The exertions which we had made, and the blood which we had shed, were deemed too great a price for reconciliation to a power which still claimed the right ' to bind us in all cases whatsoever,' and which held out to us un- conditional submission, as the only terms on which we were to expect even a pardon. Subjection to a prince who had thrown us out of his protection ; who had ruined our commerce, destroy- ed our cities and spilled our blood ; and who would not govern us at all, without the interposition of a legislative body, in whose election we had no voice, was an idea too absurd to be any longer entertained. These sentiments, being set in their just light by va- rious publications and addresses, had such force as to produce a total change of the public opinion. Independence became the general voice of the same people, who but a few months before had petitioned for reconciliation. When this could not be had, but on terms disgraceful to the cause which we had undertaken to support, we were driven to that as our only refuge. The minds of the people at large in most of the colonies being thus in-
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