USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 7
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A COLD WINTER.
The winter of 1779-80 was remarkable for the severity of the weather. Historians say that for "forty days, including the whole month of March, there was no perceptible thawing on the south side of any house." Snow laid four feet deep upon the level, from the middle of November to the middle of the following April.
THE DARK DAY.
During the year there were many wonderful auroral displays, and several large spots were seen upon the sun, while just pre- vious to the dark day it is stated that a strong smell of sulphur pervaded the atmosphere. On the 19th of May, 1780, occurred the Black Friday, or Dark Day, as it is called. On the event- ful morning the sun rose clear, but soon became obscured by clouds and smoke. By the middle of the day it was so dark
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that the fowls went to roost, and in the houses candles were lighted to see by. During the remainder of the day a sickly, melancholy gloom hung over the earth, while the first part of the night was equally dark, although the moon was at the full. Jonathan Calef's wife related the following incident : She and her father (Moses Garland) were out planting corn, when it began to grow dark so fast that her father sent her in the house, he fearing harm of some description.
The following lines, by an unknown writer of that date, are descriptive of the event :
" "T was on a May day of the far old year, Seventeen hundred eighty, that there fell Over the bloom and the sweet life of Spring, Over the fresh earth and the heaven of noon, A horror of great darkness, like the night In day of which the Norland sages tell,- The Twilight of the Gods. The low-hung sky Was black with ominous clouds, save where its rim
Was fringed with a dull glow, like that which climbs The crater's sides, from the red hell below. Birds ceased to sing, and all the barn-yard fowls Roosted; the cattle at the pasture bars Lowed and looked homeward; bats on their leather wings Flitted abroad; the sounds of labor died ;
Men prayed and women wept; all ears grew sharp To hear the doom-blast of the trumpet shatter The black sky, that the dreadful face of Christ Might look from the rent clouds, not as he looked, A loving guest at Bethany, but stern As Justice and inexorable Law."
(1781.) Feb. 12, Voted, "To Raise our Proportion of con- tinental men for three years or During the War, agreeably to orders sent from the General Court of the State."
Voted, "That our Proportion of men be Raised by a joint Charge or Expense of this whole town."
Voted, "To Raise our Proportion of Beef for the Continental army this current year agreeably to orders sent from the Gen- eral Court."
Voted, "To Choose a Town Treasurer, and chose Joseph Bean, Esq. to hire Soldiers, and to purchase Beef for said town."
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Capt. Matthew Pettengill, Capt. Ebenezer Webster, Capt. John Webster, Ens. Joseph Fifield, and Lieut. Robert Smith were chosen a committee "to Give Instruction from time to time to the Town Treasurer, and to call for his accounts when they think most proper."
Voted, "That the above committee act in behalf of the town."
( 1781.) This year the town voted to raise twelve thousand dollars, to be "worked out " on the roads at twenty-four dollars per day ! It was also voted to raise money to maintain one school, the whole year, and that "all ox-sleds be made four feet between joints !"*
The town instructed the selectmen to "look out for a place and build a bridge over the Blackwater."
THE CONSTITUTION.
(1782.) Jan. 8, a special town meeting was held to act on the proposed Constitution, and it was voted to choose a com- mittee to consist of nine persons, to consult upon the Constitu- tion and report at an adjournment, consisting of Joseph Bean, Esq., Joseph Bartlett, Esq., Jonathan Fifield, Lieut. John Pier- son, Jacob Cochran, Dea. John Collins, Capt. Ebenezer Web- ster, Lieut. Robert Smith, and Ensign Joseph Fifield.
Jan. 15. Met on adjournment. Voted, "That there be an amendment made to the 7th Article in the Bill of Rights by this addition, 'Without a voice of the General Assembly.'"
Voted, "To reject the manner of electing Senators and Rep- resentatives, asserting that every man of lawful age, being compos mentis and being friendly to the State and a proper Resident thereof, and of the Protestant Religion, has a right to elect and to be elected into either branch of the General Assembly."
Voted, "That the Governor when elected ought not to have power to Build or Demolish fortifications, without advice of Council."
* A regulation probably made with reference to breaking out roads.
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Voted, "The Governor may be elected Annually, so long as the People shall unite in his Abilities and good Conduct."
Voted, "To leave it with the Selectmen and Committee to state the objections."
March 12. Voted, "To send a Delegate to Concord, the first Tuesday in June."
The officers of the town for the first time were this year chosen by hand vote, but no treasurer was chosen. It is recorded that the ministerial tax of a citizen belonging to the Society of Friends was remitted, an example of religious toleration seldom exhibited in those times.
THE FIRST GUN SHIP.
The "America," a 74-gun ship, built at Portsmouth by orders from Congress, was launched on the 5th of November. This was the first line-of-battle ship built in the country, and was undoubtedly made staunch with timber reserved for the use of "the royal navy."
PAYING WAR CLAIMS.
(1783.) April 7, Voted, "That the Soldiers engaged for three years, in 1777, Shall receive Again what the Treasurer Allowed to the Town in the year 1782 on their account." For some reason, which does not appear by the record, the Treasurer did not pay to certain soldiers the amount due them, but left it in the treasury, subject to the action of the town ; and now, after the lapse of six years, in a legal town meeting it was voted to pay the arrearage.
THE CONSTITUTION ONCE MORE.
Sept. 8. Again the question of accepting the State Consti- tution was brought before the town, and it was voted "to alter the Eighteenth Article in the confederation agreeably to the proposal of Congress."
Voted, "That the Executive Power in the State of New Hampshire Shall be lodged with a President and Council, as Proposed by the Convention."
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Voted, "To Give twenty Dollars per Head for old wolves and Ten Dollars per head for young Do .- to those Catching them, belonging to this town."
IMPORTANT EVENTS.
This year several important events occurred. The Treaty of Peace between England and America was signed ; the American army was disbanded; the British evacuated New York and Charleston, and Washington surrendered his commission and bade farewell to his companions in arms.
A NEW COUNTY AGAIN PROPOSED.
(1785.) For a period of fourteen years, from the organization of counties, the sessions of the courts for Hillsborough county had been held only at Amherst. But the people in the northern section began to demand better accommodations for the transac- tion of county business. They voted that the courts should be held in the centre of the county, or that a portion of them should go to the northern section. The people of Salisbury were inter- ested, partly on account of their great distance from the shire town and partly with the hope of having their own town made a half shire. At the annual meeting this year it was voted, "To have all the Courts in and for the County of Hillsboro' held in the Centre of the County, or otherwise to have a New County."
Petitions to the General Court, to establish a half shire were presented by several towns, which resulted in an Act of the Legislature, in 1790, removing a portion of the county business to Hopkinton. Though not acceptable to the people of all the neighboring towns, it was a more favorable location for the northern section than Amherst, and there was a general acqui- esence in the Act. Hopkinton was now an important and a growing town. A court house was at once built for the use of the county, and was occupied for the inauguration of Governors and the holding of legislative sessions, four times within a period of ten years preceding 1808.
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WISE'S FERRY.
This same year the town voted "to petition the General Court for the privilege of a ferry across the Merrimack River." "Wise's Ferry" was subsequently established.
MORE ABOUT PAPER MONEY.
(1786.) Voted, "To allow Joseph Bean for the paper money he lost by counterfeit in the year 1780." The paper currency of the country had become so much depreciated as to be of scarcely more value than an equal amount of white paper. The people of the town, as well as of other towns in the State, had become thoroughly disgusted with it, and in the autumn of this year voted "not to have any paper money on any plan at present."
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION RATIFIED.
(1788.) The Legislature, on the 21st of June of this year, ratified the Constitution of the United States, making the requisite number of States to establish the validity of that instrument.
CHAPTER VIII.
CIVIL HISTORY, CONCLUDED.
" For we are the same that our fathers have been, We see the same sights that our fathers have seen. We drink the same stream, and we view the same sun. And we run the same course that our fathers have run."
THE FRUITS OF PEACE.
From the time the people of the young colonies threw off the British yoke, to 1790, was an eventful era in our nation's history, and especially in our own State. The adoption of the Federal Constitution, in 1787-1788, and the re-organization of the State government, which went into force June 10, 1784, brought about a new order of things ; and the inhabitants, hav- ing been freed from anxieties and doubts, settled down to the quiet and profitable pursuits of peace ; and, from this time on, the population of the town rapidly and steadily increased. Public confidence grew apace and prosperity began to send forth her sun-lit smiles.
TAXES.
(1791.) April 12, Voted, "That those taxes committed to Dea. John Collins, by the title of Continental and State Debt, be not collected at all."
Voted, "That the Present Selectmen be a Committee to take back those taxes, and also the Meeting house frame tax, in Mr. Jonathan Fifield's hand."
The latter vote shows that at least part of the Congrega- tional church building tax had been collected ; but there being 6
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so much disatisfaction relative to the erection of the building, it was judged best not to build by a tax upon the town but by private contributions.
THE PARSONAGE LAND.
( 1793.) April 15, Voted "to re-lease the Parsonage land for the term of 999 years, and the Selectmen be the persons to re-lease the same in behalf of the town."
The income derived yearly from this lease was to be ex- pended for the support of the ministry.
THE GREAT FROST.
(1794.) May 17, occurred what is known as the " great frost," destroying the grain crop for that season throughout the country, except the winter wheat and winter rye.
MINUTE MEN PAID.
Nov. 3. "Voted to choose a Committee of seven men to consult what encouragement to offer to those men who shall Engage as Minute men and report to this meeting."
"Voted Coll. Ebz'r. Webster, Capt. John C. Gale, Joseph Bartlett, Esqr., Lt. Joseph Adams, Benjamin Whittemore, Moses Fellows & Lieut. Joseph Fifield shall be s'd Committee." After an hour's adjournment the committee reported the fol- lowing, and it was-
"Voted that the town make up the wages of each man to Seven Dollars per month from the time they shall march, while in actual service, and also to furnish each man with one good Blanket Gratis, when called to march, and also to give each man one Dollar as a bounty when he enlisteth, and also when called to march to pay each man five dollars as advance pay." The above stipulations were made for forty men.
POST GUIDES.
(1795.) "Voted to pay William Williams 15 shillings for painting Post Guides."
This was the commencement of placing "guide boards" or "finger marks" at the corners where two or more roads met.
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They were put up in accordance with an Act of the Legislature requiring their erection.
This year the income from the parsonage lands was divided between the two societies.
CHURCH MUSIC.
(1799.) March 4, "Voted to give liberty for the whole of the front gallery to be altered & occupied as Singers' Seats."
In olden times there were no rules for singing. All sang as they pleased, and such tunes as were supposed to be familiar to most of the congregation. The singing was mostly "by rote."
The first settlers of Salisbury sang "Psalms"; then came hymnology. The singing at church was congregational. The minister read the psalm and repeated the first two lines, which the chorister took up and sang. A deacon in his seat, directly in front of the pulpit, then read a line which the congregation joined in singing, then another line was read and sung, and so on through the psalm. This was called "deaconing the psalm." A reform in the matter of singing seemed to be demanded ; singing schools were taught, singing books introduced, and the "church choir" became an institution in divine worship. Minister and people alike saw the necessity of uniformity and a leader in singing, that there must be rules governing the rhythm, and regulating the time, and that the people must learn "to sing by note instead of by rote."
To bring about this new order of things a great commotion was produced, and not unfrequently disturbances were created ; but the "Singing Master was abroad." Singing books were published, and the people soon became satisfied that the new way was the best ; and the old custom had to give way to the new, or the more modern. During the last decade of the last century, hymn-books were introduced, and with them came the bass-viol and other instruments. Previous to the introduction of the bass-viol, the "pitch pipe" and the "pitch fork" were used for "striking the key note" and for "setting the tunc." Jeremy Webster was the first leader of church music that there
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is any record or tradition of in the town. Later ones are mentioned in the biography. Abial Wardwell taught singing schools at this time, and for several years. He and Jeremy Webster lived on the South road about a mile from the meet- ing house. Enoch Little, of Boscawen, an excellent teacher, taught singing schools in Salisbury.
THE MEETING HOUSE BELL.
(1800.) Stephen Webster was voted seven dollars for ring- ing the "meeting house bell" for one year. This is the first notice of the church bell. It was probably bought and hung in 1799, and was noted far and wide for its clearness of sound. It has been said that residents of Springfield went to church by the ringing of this bell. It is quite certain that people in all the surrounding towns went to church, to their work, and returned to their meals by this signal. It could be distinctly heard at Concord, sixteen miles away.
(1804.) The General Court established the second Tuesday in March as the day for the annual town meeting.
PARTY CELEBRATIONS.
(1805.) Daniel Webster delivered the Fourth of July oration to the Federalists, at the "South Road," and Thomas Hale Pettengill to the Democrats, then called Republicans, at the "Center Road."
ACTION REGARDING THE MEETING HOUSE.
(1806.) April 25, "Voted to sell the floor seats on the east side of the broad alley of the South Road meeting house."
"Voted to choose a Committee to erect pews and dispose of them at Public Sale."
"Voted that John Sweat, Andrew Bowers, and Joel Eastman be a Committee for the above purpose."
"Voted that the proceeds of the sale of s'd pews be de- livered into the hands of the Selectmen, and they are ordered to lay it out in painting the Meeting-house, and such other repairs as they shall think proper." Four pews were finished
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and sold at auction, at the house of Josiah Rogers, October I. Ten per cent was paid down and the remainder in sixty days with interest.
Pew No. 59, sold to Levi Bean, for $74.50
Pew No. 60, sold to Capt. David Pettengill, for . 73.25
Pew No. 61, sold to Josiah Rogers, for. ยท 57.00
Pew No. 62, sold to Archelas Adams, for. 56.00
(1807.) The Journal of the House of Representatives shows that a motion was made that the session of the General Court, which by the Constitution is to be held in June next, be holden at Salisbury. The motion prevailed by a vote of 83 to 72.
June IS, the Senate amended the House vote, by striking out the word "Salisbury," and inserting "Concord." The House refused to concur in the amendment. The bill fell between the two houses, and Salisbury thereby failed to be honored by the presence of the Legislature of 1808.
FOURTH OF JULY ORATION.
(1808.) An oration was delivered at the Center Road, on the Fourth of July, by Ichabod Bartlett, then a Senior in Dart- mouth College.
COLD FRIDAY.
(1810.) Friday, the 10th of January, was one of the coldest days ever known in Salisbury. Very little snow had fallen all winter, while at this time there was none. Rev. Mr. Runnels, in his History of Sanbornton, says: "From the mild tempera- ture of forty-three degrees above zero, at sunset the evening before, the mercury sank to sixteen degrees below zero in six- teen hours." Few people ventured out of doors. To stand in the door, throw out water, and see it strike the ground frozen, was enough to satisfy the most incredulous. The wind was very strong and destructive. Caleb Morse, then an occupant of the one-story part of Sylvester Greene's house, where he carried on the hatter's trade, aided by his apprentice, "chained the roof of the building down to keep it from blowing away."
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His son Stephen says that his father sent him to the D. J. Mann house, after a pail of milk. On the way home the milk froze and the wind carried away his heavy cap, which was never found.
CHECK LIST.
(1813.) The check list was first used at the annual March meeting, a law requiring its use having been passed by the Legislature the year previous.
WARNER LINE.
(1815.) October 9, "Voted to choose a Committee to con- fer with the Selectmen in procuring evidence in favor of the Town, respecting the Settlement of the line between this town and Kearsarge Gore, & lay the same before the County Com- mittee at their adjourned meeting."
(1816.) November II, "Voted that our Representative be instructed to oppose the granting of the Petition of Thaddeus Hardy to have his lands in Salisbury annexed to Warner."
"Voted that the town do not agree to pay the Committee on line between Kearsarge Gore and this town."
THE COLD SEASON.
(1816.) This was noted as "the cold year," and great anx- iety was felt for food to sustain life. At this time means of communication were very limited, and if there should occur a general failure of the crops a famine was apprehended. Such was the apprehension in the summer of 1816. Rev. Ebenezer Price, in his Chronological History of Boscawen, remarks:
"The whole face of nature appeared shrouded in gloom. The lamps of heaven kept their orbits, but their light was cheerless. The bosom of the earth, in a mid-summer day, was covered with a wintry mantle, and man and beast and bird sickened at the prospect. Autumn returns, alas! not to fill the arm with the generous sheaf, but the eye with the tear of disappointment. On the 6th of June, the day of general election, snow fell sev- eral inches deep, followed by a cold and frosty night, and the
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following day snow fell and frost continued. July 9th, a deep and deadly frost killed or palsied most vegetables. The little corn which had the appearance of maturity was destitute of its natural taste and substance. But the providence of God was bountiful in supplying the article of bread from the crops of rye, which were uncommonly good."
A journal of the season, kept by Deacon Enoch Little, Sr., of Boscawen, states :
"The spring was very cold and backward, hay was very scarce, and a great deal of corn was fed to cattle, which made bread scarce. May was generally cold; June very cold. The 6th, 7th and 8th it snowed ; the ground was covered, and in the north part of the State it was a foot deep. June 10th, frost killed the corn on frosty land. July 9th, frost killed both corn and potatoes on pine land. July 17th, hay is very short, per- haps half a crop-no corn silked, and little hope of a crop. September 27th, frost killed almost all the corn in New Hamp- shire and not half of it is fit to roast. October, no corn of con- sequence. From four acres I shall not get eight bushels fit to eat. November, cattle came to hay early on account of short feed. December, generally cold. The prospects are alarming."
The crop of winter wheat and winter rye saved a vast amount of suffering and perhaps a famine in New England. There had been no such time of apprehension in Salisbury since its settle- ment. Hay, in the month of April, 1817, was $40 a ton ; corn or rye, $2 a bushel ; oats, $1; wheat, $3; cheese, 121/2 cents a pound, butter 25 cents, and pork 18 cents a pound, and there was literally no money to purchase with, and he who had shared with him who had not. There were no western wheat fields, and elevators filled with corn and other grain, and if there had been an abundance in other parts of the country, there were then no railroads to bring the grain to our doors in Salisbury. This, too, happened the next year after the war with Great Brit- ain ended, when the whole country was suffering from "war's desolation." Oats could not then be utilized as food for man, while at the present time they are made to yield a most nutri- tious and healthy article of diet.
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On a blank leaf of school records, in District No. I, is the following entry: "1817, May 31, cold & froze half an inch thick of ice."
PRESIDENT MONROE'S VISIT.
(1817.) This year, President Monroe made his tour through New England, and on July 18th visited Concord-the first President who had honored the capital of the State with his personal presence. He was received by the citizens with every mark of respect due to his exalted personal character, and his position as the unanimously chosen head of the nation. This was termed "the era of good feeling" in American politics. In his journey through New England he was received with the most genial hospitality, and every evidence of high personal regard was shown him. He was addressed at Concord by Hon. Thomas W. Thompson, an ex-Senator of the United States, a former resident of Salisbury, and made a feeling response.
A sumptuous dinner was given in his honor at Barker's tav- ern ; on the 18th, in the evening, he attended a musical concert ; on the 19th, he received calls during the day, and in the evening attended a private party at Col. Wm. A. Kent's. On the 20th, he attended public worship at "The Old North Church," and on Monday, the 21st, left Concord for the north, stopping at Salisbury South Road, at the residence of Mr. Andrew Bowers, whose guest he remained for one day. He desired to stop in the town which was honored as the birth place of Daniel Webster and Ichabod Bartlett, two members of Congress, ( who were then already known to fame,) and as the former home of Senator Thomas W. Thompson.
The residence of Andrew Bowers was at the corner of South and Mutton roads, and is still standing. At the only hotel in the place, numbers of citizens had collected anxious to see the President of the United States, but no preparations had been made for a reception, as his visit was unexpected until the Sun- day before his arrival. Samuel Greeley proposed to the assem- blage that a committee be appointed to wait upon His Excel- lency, at the residence of 'Squire Bowers, and ask him to take
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the 'Squire's arm and walk down past the residence of Thomas R. Little to the academy ; cross over to the home of Moses Clement on the north side of the. road, and walk up past the meeting house to the tavern, where the citizens could pay their respects to him. Mr. Greeley was appointed chairman of that committee, and immediately, with his associates, waited upon the President at the residence of 'Squire Bowers. The follow- ing is the speech of the chairman to the President of the United States :
"PRESIDENT MONROE: Your visit to our rural town is so unexpected that we have had no time to give you such a recep- tion as we would like to honor you with, and I hope you will take the will for the deed. Quite a large number of your fellow- citizens have assembled at the tavern opposite, who are desirous of meeting you and grasping your hand, and the good women of our little village would like to get a glimpse of you. We have been chosen a committee by the citizens to wait upon you, and propose to you that, at four o'clock, you take the arm of our friend, 'Squire Bowers, and walk down on the south side of the common to the academy, and pass up on the other side by the meeting house to the tavern, in view of the people of our village. On the lawn in front of the tavern our citizens will be happy to greet you. If this arrangement will be agreeable to you it will be gratifying to us. If you prefer any other way than this, take your own course, I ask ye !"
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