USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Swanzey > The history of Swanzey, New Hampshire, from 1734 to 1890 > Part 15
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The muster field was on the plain just north of Swanzey line.
At this time the militia was organized into companies and regiments
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MILITARY AFFAIRS.
for performing the military duties required. The battalion drill and battalion officers had been dispensed with some years previous.
The duties required by law of commissioned officers were for cap- tains or senior officers of companies to warn their men to meet in May at some central place to have their arms inspected, to have those militia laws read that were applicable for the performance of military duties and to instruct the men in military discipline. Previous to about 1830 the law required the May training to be on the first Tues- day in May. About that time it was changed to the second Tuesday in May. The companies were again warned out for drill by their commanding officers just before the annual muster. The colonels of regiments called the commissioned officers of their regiments togetlier for one day's drill before muster.
The muster was usually held in September. It was expected that the regiments would be reviewed by either a major or a brigadier-gen- eral, and that a member of the reviewing officer's staff would inspect the arms of each soldier in the regiment. The day for a regiment to muster was appointed by a general and by such an arrangement as would be most convenient to go from regiment to regiment and re- view and inspect one a day. It was usual to have a muster only on the days of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The place for a regiment to muster was designated by the colonel.
The arms for performing military duty required by law were, for a mounted officer and cavalry man, a pair of pistols and a sword; an artillery man, a sword ; an infantry man, a gun with a bayonet fitted to it ; a rifleman, a rifle without a bayonet. When the old flint lock was used, each man was required to have two spare flints, a priming wire and brush, cartridge boxes attached to a belt, and to hold a certain number of cartridges. All soldiers, excepting commissioned officers, had to be furnished with a knapsack and canteen.
All commissioned officers when on duty had to wear military uni- forms. The uniforms of field officers were a blue military swallow- tail coat, a felt cocked hat and white linen pants. The militia officers wore a blue swallow-tail military coat, white linen pants, and a leather military cap. The officers of the independent military companies wore uniforms to correspond with the style of uniform adopted by their company.
The rank of officers was indicated to some extent by the epaulette worn. Field officers wore a pair of silver epaulettes, captains an epau- lette upon the right shoulder, lieutenants an epaulette upon the left shoulder.
Field officers, when upon parade, almost invariably rode nice horses
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
with good equipage. It would have been considered a disgrace for an officer to appear otherwise. It was not usual for a field officer to own the horse or its equipage.
There were noted parade horses that were seen at musters year af- ter year, and were seen at a number of musters the same year. The letting of a good parade horse with its equipage was a source of con- siderable income. The general who reviewed, and his staff, procured for the business an elegant set of horses corresponding in color and match.
The sixth regiment was in as good condition in 1840 as it had been at any previous time or has been subsequently. The independent com- panies were Swanzey Artillery ; Winchester, Chesterfield and Hinsdale Light Infantries ; Richmond Grenadiers and Swanzey and Chester- field Rifle Companies. Most if not all these companies appeared at muster with full ranks, good music and were fairly well drilled.
At this time much pride was taken in most towns in having good uniformed military companies and have them make a good appear- ance on muster day. To prepare the companies for a creditable ap- pearance required much time to be spent in drilling and much money for uniforms.
Good music was considered an indispensable part of military dis- play. Most of the independent companies went to muster with a good band.
It was a point with most of these companies to be at the place of muster the day before in the afternoon, and to do some drilling. The time when companies expected to make their best display at ma- nœuvering was at an intermission usually of about an hour after the companies had been inspected.
For the duties of muster day the men were warned to meet at some particular place as early as six o'clock. The companies were organ- ized at once by its officers and the regiment by the adjutant, assisted by the quartermaster. The music of all the companies was consoli- dated into one band under the direction of the drum-major of the reg- iment. Then the field officers took the command of the regiment and marched it to the parade ground. Inspection was next in order by the general's inspector. The review by the general took place in the afternoon. If he was accustomed to making addresses he would make one to the regiment. If he was not so accustomed to this he would have a member of his staff, who was qualified, do it for him.
The closing duties of a regiment for the day under its commander consisted in battalion drill, firing in line, and often in a sham fight.
For a long time muster day was the people's great holiday of the
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MILITARY AFFAIRS.
year, and a time when showmen and pedlers went from muster to mus- ter, the former giving exhibitions of great variety and the latter dis- posing of goods of varied qualities.
There are no rolls of New Hampshire militia in the adjutant gener- al's office by which Swanzey's military history previous to 1815 can be known, except during the time of the Revolution. There can be no doubt but that it was an honorable one. It is certain that previ- ous to this time many of its most prominent citizens had military ti- tles which indicates their connection with the state militia.
There were probably no independent military companies in this part of the state till some years after the Revolutionary war, when a cavalry company was organized. Later still there were two cavalry companies in the sixth regiment. Swanzey furnished some of the men for the first company and most of them for the second.
The following Swanzey men were captains in the cavalry :
Jonathan Locke, Henry R. Morse, Phinehas Stone, David Aldrich, Jonathan Whitcomb.
Alva Whitcomb,
William Wright,
The company was disbanded about 1830.
The Swanzey artillery was formed about 1808. Men required to do military duty in the sixth regiment had a right to enlist into the company. But few ever did duty in the company that did not reside in Swanzey. It was substantially a Swanzey company. The fol- lowing men commanded the company. It is supposed the knowl- edge of the first five is obtained from traditional evidence, of others from the adjutant general's office.
Joseph Emerson, Nathan Whitcomb,
Otis Whitcomb, William Sebastian,
Levi Blake,
David Parsons,
Edward Goddard,
Thomas T. Wetherbee,
Joseph Woodward,
James M. Ramsdell,
Ahaz Howard,
Benjamin Read,
Calvin Page, Horace Drewry,
Luther Dickinson,
Benjamin F. Lombard,
William Read,
Lyman Gates,
David Bennett,
Sylvander L. Whitcomb.
Jonathan W. Capron,
About 1824, at the time Luther Dickinson commanded the com- pany, it was newly uniformed.
In 1840 these uniforms had become reduced in numbers and im-
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
paired by usage to such an extent that the company's appearance was not satisfactory to the members or to those who had been connected with it especially those who had been its officers. Early in the year measures were taken to see what could be done for obtaining new uni- forms. As a preliminary step the officers then in commission re- signed. A vote for officers resulted in the election of Benjamin Read, captain ; Horace Drewry, first lieutenant, and Albert Bates, second lieutenant. Such was the encouragement for obtaining members for the company if new uniforms were to be procured that seventy-seven complete uniforms were purchased, and equipments for three commis- sioned officers, and for sixty-four non-commissioned officers and privates. Ten uniforms without equipments were for the music.
After the new uniforms were obtained, and previous to the fall muster, the ladies, to show their appreciation of the military spirit . evinced in the company's re-organization, presented it with a splen- did flag. The presentation was made in front of the old meeting- house, which is now the town house. It was one of Swanzey's great days. The citizens were present in large numbers and there were many present from neighboring towns. We doubt if there have ever been so many good-looking, well-dressed ladies, brought together in Swanzey at any other time as stood in front of the artillery company when the presentation was made.
This was done by Miss Thankful Carpenter, daughter of Hon. Eli- jah Carpenter, and received in behalf of the company by the captain.
After the presentation the parties repaired to a bower where re- freshments were served, sentiments offered and responses made.
The state, in consideration of the improved condition of the com- pany, furnished it with a new well mounted six pound cannon which was retained until after the company ceased to maintain its organiza- tion.
A rifle company was organized about 1830, mainly by persons liv- ing in West Swanzey. It had its armory there. From the time of its organization to the time of its dissolution it had good numbers, a good uniform and was well drilled. It was a credit to the people of the west part of Swanzey.
The following were the commanders of the company :
Rufus Thompson,
Charles Greene,
Joseph Hammond, Elisha Hutchins,
Peter Holbrook, jr.,
Sylvanus Bartlett,
Erastus Dickinson, Aaron A. Sumner.
The officers of the militia company previous to 1815 we will not un- dertake to name. Could they be given correctly the list would embrace
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MILITARY AFFAIRS.
a large number of the most prominent and influential men of the town. The men that did duty in a militia company did not have to procure a military uniform. They only had to furnish themselves with equipments.
Since 1815 the Swanzey militia company have had the following commanders :
Samuel Stearns,
Hosea Bishop,
Benjamin Hammond, 2d, jr.,
Phinehas Stone, jr.,
John Grimes, 2d,
Lyman Leach,
Jonathan D. Ware,
Edmund Stone,
Amos Richardson, 2d, jr.,
Orlando Page,
Horatio Black,
Edwin Snow,
David Read,
William Moore,
Amos F. Fish,
Josiah B. Kellogg.
The following are names of Swanzey men who have been field offi- cers in the sixth regiment since 1815 :
COLONELS.
Phinehas Stone,
Amos Bennett,
David Aldrich,
Allen Hammond,
Thomas T. Trowbridge, Erastus Dickinson, Jonathan Whitcomb.
LIEUT. COLONELS.
Luther Dickinson, Benjamin Read.
MAJORS.
David Parsons, Elijah Hills.
Charles Morrill Hammond of Chicago (son of Capt. Benjamin Hammond of Swanzey), in the months of July and August, 1862, raised a company of infantry ; on Saturday was elected captain, and on the Tuesday following the company (Co. I) was joined with others constituting the 100th volunteer regiment of infantry of Illinois. On that same day he was elected major by the officers of the regiment, taking rank and mustered in August 30, 1862 ; after the battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863, he was in command of the regi- ment till September 4, 1864, when he was promoted to lieutenant colonel ; and on May 11, 1865, promoted to the rank of colonel. Twenty-three battles are recorded on the " Old 100th Ill. Flag," and Providence permitted him to be actively engaged in each one of them. The regiment under his command was mustered out at Chicago June 12, 1865.
1
CHAPTER V.
Ecclesiastical.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-FORMATION-EARLY HISTORY-MEMBERS- MIN- ISTERS-OFFICERS - PARSONAGE-CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY- NAMES OF MEMBERS - OFFICERS -LADIES' SOCIETY - SUNDAY SCHOOL - CHURCH CHOIR-SOCIETY FUNDS-MEETING HOUSES-BAPTIST CHURCHI-METIIO- DIST E. CHURCH-UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
T THE Congregational Church in Swanzey was organized Novem- ber 4, 1741, eight years after the township (then called Lower Ashuelot) was granted to its sixty proprietors. Previous to this time, and probably from its first settlement, the ordinances of religion had not been neglected, as most of the men prominent in proprietary and municipal matters were also leaders in church affairs. The following are some of the earliest recorded votes of the proprietors at meetings duly called for the purpose, and held at the house of Capt. Nathaniel Hammond.
1737, Sept. 7. "Voted to raise a rate or tax of 240 pounds, or 4 pounds on each right to defray the charges of building a meeting House, mending ways, and other necessary charges.
"Voted, That they will build a meeting house in said township 46 feet long, 36 feet wide and 20 feet stud, to be set on the rock near the corner of the lot No. 18 or near thereabouts.
"Voted that the lot in No. 63 in the 4th division be for the first minister, and No. 7 for the ministry.
"Voted and chose Messrs. Nathaniel Hammond, Samuel Hills, Samuel Farnsworth, Charles Lummas and Thomas Cresson a com- mittee to procure workmen to build the meeting-house or let it out to be done as shall be thought most proper.
"Voted and chose Mr. Samuel Hills to provide a minister to preach the Gospel in said township till the next proprietors' meeting."
Oct. 26. "Voted that the sum of three pounds on each right, or (154)
MT. CÆSAR IN BACKGROUND. FACING
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AUTOOLYIF PRINT W Y ALLEN, OAKDNIK
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CONGREGATIONALIST MEETING HOUSE, SWANZEY CENTRE.
WITH MT CÆSAR IN BACKGROUND FACING EAST
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ECCLESIASTICAL.
180 pounds in the whole, be raised to pay for preaching and other necessary charges.
"Voted, That Capt. Nathaniel Hammond and Charles Lumas be a committee to provide a preacher.
"Voted, That the committee shall pitch and lay out the lots for the minister and ministry."
1738, March 15. "Voted, That Capt. Nathaniel Hammond and Mr. Samuel Hills be a committee to employ a minister to preach in said town this 6 months ensuing."
Dec. 28. "Voted, That there be 4 feet in the length, and 4 feet in the breadth, and two feet in the heighth added to the meeting-house, and build a decent steeple on one end of said meeting-house as the committee and carpenters shall think fit."
1739, Sept. 18. "Voted, That Mr. Ephraim Jones, Nathaniel Ham- mond and Benjamin Brown be a committee to take the advice of some of the neighboring ministers concerning some suitable person to settle among us in the work of the Gospel ministry, and accordingly apply as soon as conveniently may be to some candidate in the ministry to preach upon probation in order for settling."
Oct. 9. "Voted to raise a rate or tax of 240 pounds or 4 pounds on each right to defray the cost and charges of preaching the Gospel in said township in time past, and for the future with what remains so far as it will hold out."
Dec. 28. The proprietors voted unanimously for Mr. Noah Mi- rick for their minister, offering to give him "200 pounds settlement in bills of credit (of old tenor) if he shall agree to settle in the work of the ministry among us; one lialf to be paid in 6 months after his ordination, and the other half in 12 months after said ordination."
"Voted, also, 130 pounds the first year and to add to it 5 pounds every year until it comes to 180 pounds, in bills of credit (of the old tenor) as his yearly salary, if he shall agree to settle in the work of the ministry among us, and be made as good from year to year as the money is at the present time, and be continued so as long as he shall remain our minister."
A committee consisting of Abraham Graves, Samuel Gunn, Thomas Crisson, William Scott and John Evans was chosen to treat with Mr. Mirick concerning his settlement, but no record is made of his accept- ing their proposals.
1740, April 4. In response to an article in their warrant to "choose and call a pious, learned and orthodox minister" the "worthy Mr. Thomas Goss" was chosen and invited to settle among them with sub-
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
stantially the same settlement and salary as that voted to Mr. Mi- rick-and with the same result. Probably both these men preached more or less in the township, as did also following them, a Mr. Gardner.
1741, April 13. The proprietors, at a meeting held at the house of Samnel Gunn, voted to call Rev. Timothy Harrington to be their minister with the salary above named, except it was to be 150 pounds instead of 130 the first year. Nathaniel Hammond, John Evans and Timothy Brown were chosen a committee to carry the proposals to Mr. Harrington-also to request him to supply them with preaching till he should give his answer.
May 4. It was "Voted to state Mr. Harrington's salary in case lie should take up with our proposals at silver money at 28 shillings per ounce."
Aug. 3. "Voted, That the proprietors will give Mr. Timothy Har- rington, liis heirs and assigns forever, one acre and an half of land situate lying on the Meeting-House Hill where he shall choose to pitch it, so as not to discommode tlie setting of the Meeting-House, in case he sliall settle in the work of the ministry amongst us."
" Voted also that the proprietors will exchange the school lot with Mr. Timotliy Harrington, viz. the house lot belonging to the school right for the house lot which the General Court has granted to the first minister in Ashuelot."
Mr. Harrington in his letter of acceptance says, "Gentlemen, as you have given me an invitation to settle among you in the work of the ministry and have also laid your proposals before me, I must con- fess they are generous and you willing to exert yourselves for the hon- orable support of the Gospel. The unanimity of your choice, the repeated instances of your affection to my person, and your earnest desire for my continuance among you seem to declare your invitation to be the call of God himself ; and that my accepting of it may be for the glory of God, the honor of Christ, the interest of religion and the mutual peace and comfort of you all."
Mr. Harrington was ordained and the church formed Nov. 4, 1741. There were at that time no settlements in what is now Sullivan County, and only two others in Cheshire County, viz. : - Upper Ashuelot (Keene) and Arlington (Winchester). There were present, and as- sisted in the ordination, elders and delegates from the churches in these two places, also from Sunderland and Northfield. The church covenant, which was in accordance with the Cambridge platform, was subscribed to by the pastor Timothy Harrington from the First church
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ECCLESIASTICAL.
in Cambridge, and twelve other men, viz., Nathaniel Hammond from church in Littleton ; Jonathan Hammond, Littleton ; Abraham Graves, Hatfield ; Samuel Gunn, Sunderland ; Charles Lumis, Bolton ; William Carr, Deerfield ; David Belding, Upper Ashuelot, and Samuel Hills, Thomas Cresson, John Evans, Nathaniel Hammond, jr., and Thomas Hammond, who were never in full communion before.
Rev. Mr. Harrington was chosen church clerk, and, January 5, 1744, Timothy Brown and Jonathan Hammond were chosen deacons. At the same time "Voted, That any person belonging to another church and coming to reside among us be required within the space of one year to bring a letter of dismission and recommendation from that church to this, or without an accepted reason for such failure, be debarred communion with us till done."
Rev. Mr. Harrington's house was burned by the Indians March 26, 1745, and with it the church records. But the important events and votes that could be recollected were confirmed by vote of the church, Oct. 2, 1745, and recorded. The inhabitants continued to suffer from the hostility of the Indians, and in 1747 they abandoned the town, and the members of the little church were scattered. Before leaving they buried many heavy articles of furniture in the ground, intending without doubt to return under more favorable circumstances. But though scattered, the church was not disbanded.
In 1748 their pastor requested of them "a testimonial of their ac- ceptance of his doctrine and conversation among them, and their consent to his settling in the work of the ministry in some other place where God in his providence might call him." To consider and act upon this request a meeting of the church was called to meet at Brook- field, Sept. 14, but as only six of the eighteen male members were present it was deemed imprudent for so small a number to act upon the subject, and they adjourned to meet in Rutland, Oct. 11th. At this meeting his request was granted on condition that he relinquish all claim to any arrearages of salary due to Nov. 4, 1744, and his salary for the years 1747 and 1748, and also his claim to the first minister's right of land in Lower Ashuelot. At this meeting also Anna, his wife, and Rose, his maidservant, were dismissed and recommended with him to "the first Chh. in Lancaster or to any other regular Chih. wherever Providence shall cast their lott." Mr. H. was subsequent- ly settled in Lancaster. As a token of his affectionate remembrance for the church in Swanzey he left it by will money for the purchase of a silver cup, costing $15.35. During his ministry, including the
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HISTORY OF SWANZEY.
original members, forty-five were admitted to the church : twenty-three males and twenty-two females, of whom twenty-five were from other churches.
1753, Aug. 21. The churches in Swanzey and Keene met at the schoolhouse in Swanzey and mutually and unanimously agreed to be one religious society and worship together for the space of three years, the towns being at equal expense for the support of the Gospel during that time. The church covenant was then subscribed to by twenty- one persons, viz. : Ezra Carpenter, pastor ; Abraham Graves, Nathan- iel Hammond, Jeremiah Hall, Thomas Cresson, David Foster, Timothy Brown, William Smead, Nathan Blake, William Carr, Jonathan Ham- mond, Joseph Ellis, Ebenezer Nimms, David Nimms, William Grimes, David Belding, Ebenezer Day, Samuel Hills, Joseph Hammond, Eli- akim King and Thomas Hammond. Mr. Carpenter was installed over this united church Oct. 4, 1753 ; the churches represented at the installation, 1st in Hingham, 3d in Plymouth, Kingston ; 1st in Lancaster, Nichewong, Poquaig, Deerfield, Sunderland and North- field. The union of these churches continued about seven years. When they separated Rev. Mr. Carpenter had his choice with which to remain, and chose Swanzey, continuing to be its minister till June, 1764, when at his own request he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council convened for that purpose. Tradition says that the council had but just left the meeting-house when a tornado passed and turned the meeting-house one quarter round, so that it was made to face the east instead of the south. Several buildings also were unroofed or blown down and one member of the council had a horse killed at the time. During his ministry thirty-five were admitted to the church. His salary was 100 pounds. He was appointed chaplain of the Crown Point expedition in 1757.
It appears that at some time previous to Feb. 28, 1754, David Fos- ter had been chosen deacon; that at this date the three deacons, Brown, Hammond and Foster, were dropped and the two latter re- chosen.
In 1769, Sept. 27, Rev. Edward Goddard of Shrewsbury was or- dained and settled over the church. Six churches by their pastors and delegates assisted at the ordination, viz., 1st in Lancaster, 1st in Shrewsbury, Holden, Keene, Warwick and Westmoreland. The town voted to pay him for a settlement 133 pounds 6 shillings and 8 pence lawful money, and for a salary 53 pounds 6 shillings and 8 pence the first two years, and after that time an annual increase of
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40 shillings till his salary amounts to 66 pounds 13 shillings and 4 pence. In addition to the above they also voted to bring him annu- ally thirty cords of fire wood.
Mr. Goddard continued to be minister of the church and town till July 5, 1798, at which time he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council composed of pastors and delegates from churches in Mon- tague, New Ipswich, New Salem, Walpole and Ashburnham. He also continued his connection with the church until the installation of his successor, Rev. Clark Brown, Sept. 5, 1810, at which time he was dismissed and recommended to the church in Warwick, with which he united becoming its pastor. At the time of his settlement in 1769 the church numbered forty-four members : twenty-two males and twen- ty-two females. In 1785 it numbered one hundred and twenty-five : fifty-seven males and sixty-eight females, besides sixteen non-resi- dents. During his pastorate deacons were chosen as follows : Jan. 29, 1770, Thomas Applin ; in 1777, Thomas Hammond and Daniel Warner ; and in 1782 Samuel Hills and Calvin Frink.
The first part of Mr. Goddard's ministry was evidently pleasant and prosperous ; the latter part was not so harmonious, although at a church meeting Feb. 13, 1798, it was voted unanimously in favor of his continuing their minister, but on account of his health voted to excuse him from preaching for a season. The church appeared to be ever friendly to him, but a growing feeling of discontent manifested itself on the part of the town, which compelled his resignation. Dur- ing his ministry several members were disciplined ; some for absent- ing themselves from church services and ordinances, and some for a too free use of that unruly member, the tongue, in slander. Most of the offenders confessed their faults and were continued in church fellowship.
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