USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Warner > The history of Warner, New Hampshire, for one hundred and forty- four years, from 1735 to 1879 > Part 13
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Thus warned, the legal voters of Warner met in the humble church at the Parade, Nov. 19, 1776 :
Chose Isaac Chase, Moderator .-
Voted, at said meeting that Capt. Francis Davis should go as Representative for said Town for one year to Represent said town in the assembly at Exeter.
Voted at Same meeting for Joshua Bayley of Hopkinton and Jeremiah Page of Dunbarton for members of the Council.
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FIRST REPRESENTATIVE.
There were seven sessions of the legislature this year for Mr. Davis to attend,-six at Exeter and one at Portsmouth.
Although Warner was settled in 1762. and was a dutiful subject of the royal government for a dozen years, she never had a representative in the "King's Assembly," nor any direct voice in the government of the Province. She had not risen to sufficient strength and importance for that, and perhaps she had no desire for it. But events crowd on apace. Lexington and Concord have gone into history. The battle of Bunker Hill has been fought. The sons of Warner, with the other New Hampshire soldiers, un- der Stark and Reid, behind the rail fence, have stood the brunt of the British onset. The immortal Decla- ration has been proclaimed. The country is indepen- dent, and the state is no longer a colony.
In this first legislative body chosen by the suffrages of a free people, Francis Davis appears the accredited representative from the town of Warner. It is a dis- tinction and an honor to be remembered with pride by his numerous descendants.
Capt. Davis, at this time, was in the vigor of ma- ture manhood, being 53 years of age. He took his seat in the assembly at Exeter among the influential men of the state. John Langdon, of Portsmouth, was chosen speaker of the assembly, and Meshech Weare, of Hampton Falls, was president of the council. It
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
was a legislature of rare ability, and the impress which it made upon the polity of the state will never be effaced.
After this first election of representative, in which Warner stood alone, a class or representative district was formed, consisting of Warner, Perrystown, Fish- ersfield, and New Breton.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1777.
Daniel Flood, moderator. Daniel Flanders, town-clerk.
Daniel Flanders,
Jacob Hoyt, Selectmen. Parmenas Watson,
Voted at said meeting to raise Twelve Pounds lawful money to hire a school for the current year.
They had but one school in town for several years. A recital of the other business which was transacted at this meeting would not interest the reader.
Jacob Hoyt, the new selectman, was the individual who run the potash and the hotel at the Lower village.
At a meeting held May 10, 1777,-
Voted to give the two men we should hire to serve in the Con- tinental Army for three years, one hundred dollars each man this Day hired.
They hired Philip Rowell and Aquila Davis that day.
CLASSED TOWNS.
In December, 1777, the inhabitants of Warner, Perrystown, Fishersfield, and New Breton, having
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TOWN AND CLASS RECORDS.
been classed as a representative district, and having been previously warned, met at the house of Daniel Flood (on Denney's hill), and made choice of Daniel Morrill, of Warner, for representative for one year. Mr. Morrill served during two sessions, both at Exeter, one of seventeen and the other of thirty-one days.
This was Deacon Daniel Morrill, who was one of the proprietors of the town, and whose residence be- fore coming to Warner was in Salisbury, Massachu- setts. He came to Warner about the year 1774, and settled on Pumpkin hill, on the first farm north of the Sally Bradley place. He had two sons, certainly,- Enoch and Richard,-who are yet well remembered by the people of Warner.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1778.
Parmenas Watson, moderator.
Daniel Flanders, town-clerk. Jacob Tucker, Zebulon Morrill, Selectmen.
Thomas Annis,
This board of selectmen is entirely new. Not much is known of Jacob Tucker, the chairman, ex- cept that he came from Amesbury, was in the Revo- lutionary army, and lived for a time, at least, on the present Harris land, on Tory Hill road.
Zebulon Morrill came from Amesbury, also. He settled in Joppa, on the farm that Capt. Matthew D. Annis now occupies, and remained there through life.
.
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
His son Samuel lived and died on the same farm. His other sons were Daniel, father of William K. and John, who lived on Burnt hill.
Thomas Annis, the third selectman, has already been introduced to the reader as the son of Daniel. Annis, senior, one of the first two settlers of Warner.
REPRESENTATIVE.
At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Warner, Perrystown, Fishersfield, and New Breton, held at the meeting-house in Warner, April 9, 1778,-
Chose Ebenezer Keyzer of Perrystown, Moderator,-
Voted, at said meeting that Capt. Daniel Flood should Go Representative for the above said towns, for one year.
This Ebenezer Keyzer, who served as moderator at the little church on the Parade, was originally from Haverhill, Mass. He settled on the shore of the pond at North Sutton, which has always borne his name. His father, at the Duston massacre at Haverhill in 1697, hid the girl, whom he afterwards married, under a pile of boards, and thus saved her life.
Capt. Flood served as representative at three ses- sions of the legislature : one session commenced in May, one in August, and one in October. They were all held at Exeter. It was the Revolutionary period, and the pressing wants of the army demanded un- usual legislation. The time for electing representa- tives was changed back to December from April, and
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TOWN AND CLASS RECORDS.
another representative was chosen, December, 1778. The records show that the inhabitants of the classed towns met at the inn of Jacob Hoyt, in Warner, Dec. 7, 1778, and after choosing Daniel Flood moderator,-
" Voted that Thomas Rowell should be Representative for the above-said towns for the year insuing."
The writer has been unable to gather much infor- mation in regard to this Thomas Rowell, except that he originally belonged in Amesbury, and was one of the proprietors of Warner. He is believed to be a brother to the great-grandfather of George S. and Charles P. Rowell. Mr. Rowell attended four sessions during his year,-all at Exeter.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1779.
Daniel Flood, moderator. Daniel Flanders, town-clerk. David Bagley, William Ring, Selectmen. Tappan Evans,
Another entire new board of selectmen is here pre- sented. .
David Bagley was a son of Joshua Bagley, of Ames- bury. The two came to Warner together, and settled at Bagley's Bridge, where Joshua, son of David, lived and died. Lieut. David Bagley held the office of town-clerk thirty-nine years. He was undoubtedly a very worthy man, but his education did not fit him
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
for a recording officer, and the records of the town are disfigured by many imperfections.
William Ring was from Amesbury, and was a son of Jarvis Ring, one of the original proprietors. He settled at the North village, where Gideon D. Wheel- er resides. Abner R. and James G. Ring were his sons.
Tappan Evans was from Salisbury, Mass. He set- tled on the Moses F. Colby farm, on the Pumpkin Hill road. He afterwards exchanged farms with Isaac Chase, and moved to the Stephen George place. His sons, whose homes were in Warner, were Capt. Nich- olas and Hon. Benjamin Evans.
In December, 1779, the classed towns met, and elected Isaac Chase, of Warner, for representative. He attended, during his year, four sessions,-three at Exeter and one at Portsmouth. During his term of service, the valuation of the several towns was fixed for the apportionment of the public taxes. Chase thought they were getting the valuation of Warner too high, and in addressing the house he stated that Warner was a poor, hard town, and that the inhabi- tants had all they could do to keep soul and body to- gether. Upon this a member from the present Sulli- van county jumped up and said, "Mr. Speaker, the gentleman tells the truth. I've been in Warner, and its a God-forsaken spot!" Chase yelled out, "It's a lie !"
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TOWN AND CLASS RECORDS.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1780.
Tappan Evans, moderator. Daniel Flanders, town-clerk. Parmenas Watson, Thomas Rowell, Selectmen. Zebulon Morrill,
At most of the meetings from 1776 to 1782, action was taken in regard to raising, paying, and supplying men for the Continental army.
A meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Warner, Perrystown, Fishersfield, and New Breton, was held at the house of Jacob Hoyt, innholder in Warner, Dec. 12, 1780, and, after choosing Nathaniel Bean, moderator,-
Voted that Capt. Tappan Evans should be the man to Repre- sent the above said towns the ensuing year.
During his year, Mr. Evans attended five sessions of the legislature, all at Exeter.
Nathaniel Bean was from Amesbury. He came to Warner about the year 1775, and settled on Pumpkin hill, where Capt. Joseph Jewell now resides. He died there, and was buried in the old cemetery to the northward of the Timothy Davis place. Mr. Bean built the first mills that were erected at the great falls (Waterloo). The names of his sons and daugh- ters were as follows : Nathaniel, Daniel, John, Susanna, David, Anna, James, Richard, Dorothy, Molly, and Gilman.
16
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1781.
Nehemiah Heath, moderator. David Bagley, town-clerk. William Ring, Francis Davis, Selectmen. Richard Bartlett,
Dea. Nehemiah Heath was from Hampstead. He settled in Warner, on the main road, at the place where John Tewkesbury now lives. His son, Dea. David Heath, followed him on the same farm.
Richard Bartlett was from Amesbury, a son of Sim- eon Bartlett, one of the proprietors of Warner. He settled on Burnt hill, where Stephen lived and died. He was a man of superior intellect and extensive reading. His sons were Stephen, Thomas H., and Col. Simeon.
1
CHAPTER XVIII.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS-TOWN AND CLASS RECORDS-
PRESIDENT OF THE STATE-LOCATION OF MEETING-HOUSE.
T a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Warner, held at the Parade, May 7, 1781, Nathaniel Bean serving as moderator,-
Voted, at said meeting to send one man to set in Convention at Concord, on the first Tuesday of June next, to form a system or Plan of Government for this State.
Voted, at said meeting to give the man that should Be here after Chosen to set in Convention 4s 6d per day, new emission.
Voted that Capt. Francis Davis Should Be the man for the above purpose.
A brief history of the numerous constitutional con- ventions which were held in the early days of the state will not be out of place here.
1. The first constitution of New Hampshire was adopted soon after the Revolution began, namely, Jan. 5, 1776. It was framed by the Exeter conven- tion. It was not designed or understood to be per- manent, but was to continue during the unnatural contest in which the country was then engaged. This is believed to be the first constitution adopted by any of the colonies.
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
2. A convention was called for the " sole purpose of forming a permanent Plan or system for the future Government of the State," to meet at Concord, June 10, 1778. (Neither in the first convention, nor in this, was Warner represented.) This convention of 1778 formed a plan of government, and sent it out to the people. It was rejected.
3. The same convention reassembled at Concord in June, 1779. Another constitution was agreed upon, and sent out to the people. This, also, was rejected. (Warner was not represented in this convention.)
4. Another convention was called. It met at Con- cord, June, 1781. Francis Davis was in this conven- tion. It framed a constitution which provided for " a supreme Executive Magistrate, to be styled the Governor of the State of New Hampshire-whose title should be His Excellency." It provided for a senate of twelve members, to be elected by districts : "And the several Counties in this State, shall, until the General Court shall order otherwise, be districts for the election of Senators, and shall elect the follow- ing number, viz., Rockingham 5, Strafford 2, Hillsboro' 2, Cheshire 2, and Grafton 1."
A house of representatives was provided for, to consist of fifty members, apportioned to the counties as follows: Rockingham, 20; Strafford, 8 ; Hillsboro', 10; Cheshire, 8; Grafton, 4. This constitution was sent out to the people, and rejected.
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CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
5. The same convention reassembled at Concord in August, 1782, and made some changes in the preced- ing constitution, one of which was, to have representa -. tives chosen by the towns,-such towns as had 150 ratable polls, to have a representative ; smaller towns, to be classed. This was sent out, and rejected.
6. The same convention reassembled at Concord, June, 1783; formed their constitution, sent it out, and it was accepted by a vote of the people, October 31, 1783. It was carried into full effect June 10, 1784, and, with but slight amendments, was in force till 1878, a period of ninety-four years.
At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Warner, Perrystown, Fishersfield, and Andover (New Breton no more), held at the meeting-house in War- ner, December 22, 1781, Francis Davis acting as moderator,-
Voted that Nathaniel Bean of Warner shall represent the above said towns for the year ensuing.
There were five sessions of the legislature during the year for which Mr. Bean was elected, three in Concord, one in Exeter, and one in Portsmouth.
The record next says (its exact words being quoted),-
The inhabitants and Freeholders of Warner held a meeting at the house of Jacob Hoyt in said town, January 16, 1782, to exemen and perruse the New Constitution or Plan of Government at which meeting Capt. Francis Davis was moderator voted that the meeting Be a jorned too Monday ye 21st Day of this instant
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
January at 12 o'clock, on the Day two persons at said meeting accepted of the new Constitution or Plan of government in full as it now stands, 3 persons at said meeting Rejected the above plan in full.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1782.
Tappan Evans, moderator. David Bagley, town-clerk. Abner Watkins, Philip Flanders, Selectmen. Thomas Annis,
Voted at said meeting that the Selectmen should serve in theire office the present year free from any Cost to the town.
This annual meeting, on account of some informal- ity, was pronounced illegal ; another was called and held at the meeting-house, July 11th, and the follow- ing officers were elected :
Nathaniel Bean, moderator. David Bagley, town-clerk. Parmenas Watson, Thomas Annis, Selectmen. Philip Flanders,
At a meeting held November 26, 1782, at the meet- ing-house, Isaac Chase acting as moderator,-
Voted to chuse a Committee to peruse the new plan of Gov- ernment and make theire Report at the a Jornment of this meet- ing.
Voted that Esqr. Sawyer, Capt. Davis, Capt. Flood, Daniel Morrill and Tappan Evans should be the above Committee.
Voted at said meeting that those persons that Call themselves Baptis in this town should Be Rated theire proportion to Mr. Kelley's sallery Rate this present year.
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TOWN AND CLASS RECORDS.
It is evident from the foregoing that certain of the citizens of Warner had already become restive under the burdens of the " minister tax," and that they sought to escape it by claiming not to belong to the " established order."
Voted at said meeting to pay Wm. Lowell nine pounds this present year to Be Reducted out of the obligation he has against the town that was given to his sons for Ingaging in the Conti- nental Army for this town.
At the a Jornment of the meeting from the 26 day of Nov. 1782 to the 10 Day of Dec. 1782, Isaac Chase Stood Moderator.
Voted not to Receive the new plan of Government as it now stands.
Voted to Receive the plan with some amendment and the meet- ing was Ree a Jorned to the 20th Day instant at the meeting house.
Att the Ree a Jornment of the meetting from the 10th Day of Dec. to the 20th instant, of which meeting Isaac Chase was Mod- erator,
Voted to chuse 3 men to Jone the above Committee in porusing the new plan of Government and to make objection against any part of said plan in writing.
Voted that Wm. Ring, Nehemiah heath and paul thorndick be the men; also voted Nathaniel Bean should Jine the above com- mittee.
Voted that David Bagley should provid a book too Record Beaths of children.
att the a Jornment of the meeting from the 20 Day of Decem- ber too the 26 Day Instant 1782, Nomber of voters present 32- one voted to Recive the plan of Government in full as it now stands, 31 against it as it now stands-Nineteen Recived the ob- jections which the Committee Drafted against the plan of Gov- ernment-Eleven against the objections-twenty nine objected a Gainst a Governor and prevey Council and the meeting was Diss- mesed.
The classed towns elected no representative in the
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
year 1782. There is no evidence that the inhabitants were called together that year for the purpose of electing one.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1783.
Isaac Chase, moderator. David Bagley, town-clerk. Parmenas Watson, David Bagley, Selectmen. Tappan Evans,
Att the a Jornment of the annual meeting from the 4th day of March, 1783, to ye 18th Day of this Instant march, voted that the Laws and Coarts of the State Should Stand in full force as theay now are untel the 10th Day of June 1784.
Voted to chuse a Committee of three men to settle the law . sute or Cary it on that is Commenced against the town by Mr. Nathaniel Been.
Voted that Daniel Flood, Tappan Evans and Isaac Chase Should Be the above Committee.
The presumption is, that the committee settled this " sute," for nothing more is heard from it.
The classed towns met at the meeting-house in Warner, March, 1773, and elected Nathaniel Bean as representative. The time for holding this election, it will be seen, has again been changed. Mr. Bean at- tended at three sessions this year, all in Concord.
THE CURRIER BRIDGE.
At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Warner, held at the meeting-house, April 28, 1783, Tappan Evans acting as moderator,-
Voted to Bild a Bridge over the River on the Road that leads from the Meeting House to Mr. Benjamin Currier's.
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TOWN AND CLASS RECORDS.
Who this Benjamin Currier was the writer knows not. The place referred to was the " Ensign Joseph Currier place." This was the second bridge on the river at this point.
Voted to raise 15 pounds Lawful money toward Bilding the Bridge above mentioned to Be worked out at 3 shilling per Day.
Voted to allow Aquila Davis, Hubbart Carter and Amos Flood as much money as was stoped out of theire wages and was alowed to the town out of the state tax for the year past 1782 by the Treasurer of the State.
Voted to allow Capt. Davis his account for setting on the Convention for times past which was one pound five shilling and 8 pence.
The convention that Capt. Davis had the honor of " setting on," was the constitutional convention which is spoken of on a former page.
The legal voters of the town were warned by the selectmen to assemble at the meeting-house, Nov. 3, 1783, to choose a moderator, and, among other things, " to see if the inhabitance of the town will vote to pertition the honorable General Court for a menment of our Incorporation with a New one according to Neals Boundree."
The meeting was held. Tappan Evans was chosen moderator, and then an adjournment was made to the 10th day of the same month.
At the a Jornment of the meeting voted Not to pertition for an amendment of our Incorporation.
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1784.
Tappan Evans, moderator. David Bagley, town-clerk. David Bagley, Richard Straw, 1 Selectmen. Zebulon Morrill,
This is the first appearance of Richard Straw, but not the last. He was a prominent man in town for many years. He came from the neighboring town of Hopkinton, and settled in Schoodac, on the farm that his son Richard occupied through his life. He was a colonel in the state militia, was one of the selectmen of the town several years, was a " licensed taverner," and a good farmer. His sons were Richard, Jonathan, and James. He died in 1840, aged 85, and was buried at the Parade.
At the same meeting voted not to Repaire the meeting house.
Voted to raise one hundred and sixty five pounds lawful money to pay William Lowell, Isaac Lowell and Stephen Colby's town bounties for service Down the town as Solders.
Voted to chuse a Committee to Consist of five men to Settle with the Baptis for the settlement and sallery Rate for the year 1782.
Voted that the meeting Should be a Jornd too the 9th Day of this instant month.
At the adjourned meeting,-
Voted to Give in the Sallery Rate for the year 1782 too all those persons that Breaight theire sertificats too sertify that theay had Joined the Baptis Society.
Voted to pertion to the General Coart for a new Incorpora- tion of our town according to McNeals Boundree.
245
PRESIDENT OF THE STATE.
At a second adjournment of this meeting, which took place the 30th of March,-
Voted too Reconsider the vote past to chuse a Committee to Settle with the Baptis.
According to the foregoing it appears that there was dissatisfaction with the act of incorporation (the charter of the town). As chartered, the town was to be six miles square ; but the surveyors, acting under the proprietors, could find no open territory of just such dimensions, but they took an equivalent, and more too, and took it where they could. And what the discontented ones now wanted was, to have the terms of the charter so changed as to correspond with . Neal's actual survey.
PRESIDENT OF THE STATE.
At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Warner, Perrystown, and Fishersfield (Andover has now joined New Chester), held at the meeting-house in Warner, March 30, 1784, Captain Daniel Flood acting as moderator,-
Voted that Capt. Francis Davis should go Representative for the above mentioned towns.
Voted for President, for Meshech Weare, 12.
The people of New Hampshire never voted for their chief magistrate till this election of 1784. The temporary constitution of 1776 provided for a coun- cil of twelve members, and a house of representatives
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
to be elected by the people. These two branches of the government conducted the affairs of the state. That constitution remained in force till June, 1784, when the new constitution went into effect. This new constitution, among its many provisions, had the following :
There shall be a supreme executive magistrate, who shall be styled, The President of the State of New Hampshire; and whose title shall be, His Excellency.
The president was to be chosen by the people.
Warner cast but 12 votes at this election for chief magistrate of the state,-all for Meshech Weare. The vote was unaccountably small, as the population of the town at that time must have been 600, and the number of legal voters about 120.
Capt. Francis Davis was chosen to office at this election for the last time. He served at two sessions of the legislature of 1784,-one at Concord in June, and one at Portsmouth in October. There was anoth- er session, held at Concord in February, which he did not attend. His work had been finished before that day. November 26, 1784, he was drowned in Beaver brook, at Derry. A storm had swollen the stream : the bridge, which at dark was perfectly safe, had been swept away before eight o'clock in the evening, and both horse and rider were plunged into the strong current and drowned. The body of Mr. Davis was carried far down the stream, and was not recovered
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SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE STATE.
till three days after the accident. It was then brought to Warner, and committed to the earth near his cho- sen home at Davisville. His age was 61.
At a legally warned meeting, which was held Nov. 8, 1784, at the meeting-house in Warner,-
Voted to chuse one man as a Defendant in behalf of the town against an action commenced against Daniel flood and Joseph Currier as a Committee in behalf of the town by Barned lowell of almsbury.
Voted that tappan Evans should be a Defendant against the above action and is Impowered to Carry on the case.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1785.
Isaac Chase, moderator. David Bagley, town-clerk.
Isaac Chase, Nehemiah Heath,
Selectmen. Paul Thorndike,
Paul Thorndike lived at the John Hardy place on Tory hill, but did not remain in town a great many years.
At an adjourned meeting held April 12th,-
Voted to except thomas Annis to serve constable for the cur- rent year for Jonathan Smith.
Voted not to alow Gideon Davis and Joseph hunt Solder Rats for their heads for the year 1784.
Voted to alow Zebulon morrill one pound ten shilling for his service as one of the Select men in the year past 1784.
SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE STATE.
At a meeting legally called, and holden at the meeting-house in Warner, March 29, 1785, to vote for
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
president of the state, John Langdon received 24 votes. No other candidate was voted for.
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