USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 15
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The Selectmen, Andrew Fuller, David Badger, and Levi Spaulding, called a meeting for July 18, and added, " As the time is short we would desire every one that hath money by him would bring it to the meeting with him."
Signed, Andrew Fuller, T. Clerk.
At this meeting, Ephraim Putnam was chosen Agent to go to " Exator," and the thirty shillings for the expenses of the New Hampshire delegates to Congress were provided.
At a town meeting Oct. 31, 1774, it was voted to purchase a Town . Stock of "Powder, Bawls and Flints," namely, one barrel of powder, one hundred " wait of lead and five Dussen of Flints," and Ephraim Putnam was chosen to make the purchase.
Thus preparations were making for possible hostilities, at the same time that delegates were appointed to use their utmost wisdom to bring about an honorable and enduring peace.
MOUNTAIN VIEW FROM H. J. RICHARDSON'S HOUSE.
CHAPTER VII. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The last meeting on record in Volume I, of our town's archives, is dated Jan. 20, 1775, and states that Dr. Benjamin Jones was elected a delegate to Exeter, where a convention was to choose an agent, or agents, to the Continental Congress, to assemble at Philadelphia in May ; and also to choose a com- mittee to apportion to each town its share of the expenses of such a congress.
At the annual meeting in March the town voted to raise money to pay the expenses of delegates to Congress.
The disturbances in and around Boston were reported in all the parts of New England with which Boston held communica- tion. The militia of New Hampshire were alive to all the interests of a true freedom as far as they were able to see them. The organization and training of men for military service in an emergency had not been wholly neglected. The report of the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775, sounded out among our northern hills as the tocsin for mustering their freedom loving inhabitants, and from all sides the brave yeomanry sprung to arms.
Four days after the famous fight and flight from Lexington and Concord, Captain Levi Spaulding of Lyndeborough marched with a company of sixty men to the seat of war. Thomas Boffee was his 2nd lieutenant; William Lee and James Hutchinson were sergeants, and twenty-three others of his fellow townsmen and neighbors were in the ranks; a list of whom is appended : Corporals, Benjamin Dike and Samuel Hutchinson. Fifer, Jacob Dutton. Privates, Nathaniel Batch- elder, Phineas Barker, Edward Bevins, James Campbell, Nehe- miah Hutchinson, John Johnson, Jesse Lund, John Rowe, Ephraim Smith, Isaac Carkin, David Carlton, * Ezra Dutton, Joseph Ellinwood, Samuel McMaster, Andrew Thompson, Jacob Wellman, Elisha Wilkins, Josiah Woodbury, Timothy Mc- Intire, Daniel Cram.
At a town meeting on May 3, 1775, it was voted to raise ten minute-men and voted upon the fidelity of the town, that
* David Carlton was mortally wounded in the battle of Bunker Hill, and died two days later, June 19, 1775. Jacob Wellman was also reported as mortally wounded, but he recovered and lived many years.
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
if these are called away upon any "Sudding Elerrim," those that tarry at home shall take care of their farms; and the selectmen were appointed to carry this vote into effect.
They chose Ephraim Putnam, Jr., delegate to the Congress at Exeter. Agreed to buy a town stock of provisions, and chose a committee to have charge of it. They also voted to pay each minute-man one shilling for each half-day's exercise in drill, which they desired should be performed each week.
Every vote passed in relation to the war for independence and raising and equipping men for the army indicates the patriotic spirit of the people, and the lively interest they took in the wel- fare of their country.
June 17, 1775, a meeting was called at which the whole "Training Band " was requested to assemble in order to choose three commissioned officers for the town, and those who had re- ceived powder or balls from the town were requested to return them to the Selectmen. While men read this notice in Lynde- borough, twenty-six of her gallant sons with their brave Cap- tain, Levi Spaulding, were under British fire and doing fatal work against their country's would-be oppressors, on memorable Bunker Hill. They were with the rear guard of the retreating Americans, like a fiery wall between them and their British pursuers. One of them, David Carlton, was mortally wounded and carried off the field by his brother-in-law, John Johnson, and on the second day after the battle, died. Another, Jacob Well- man, was reported as mortally wounded, but recovered, and later became Captain, serving his country faithfully, and becoming a prominent man in the town.
June 19, 1775 .- The meeting was held and officers were chosen according to the notification, and the town voted to sell school lot No. 126, " provided they can have the money down for it," and William Carson, James Boutwell and Amos Whitte- more were chosen a committee to effect the sale.
Among the provisions ordered for the town, were forty hogs- heads of salt, five of molasses, and one of rum. The citizens were evidently moderate drinkers, not sots.
On the 21st of November, 1775, the committee entrusted with the sale of the school lot reported that they had "sold the same to Mr. John Clark for the sum of 676, 10 Shillings," and had taken security of him, and were answerable for the same.
December Ist, 1775, at the town meeting, the question arose whether they would " join with Wilton in sending a Deligate to
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Exator," or send independently, which they viewed as their right. It was decided in the negative, because they were un- willing to renounce their " birthright and privileges."
February 29, 1776, the town voted to request the appointment of Andrew Fuller a Justice of the Peace and Joseph Herrick as Coroner.
That Andrew Fuller was not an unfit man for the office may appear from an incident, which in our day, may seem trivial. In his effort to enforce the statute againt profanity, he aimed to be honest and impartial. And once when he found himself a violator of it, he made out the regular papers in such cases, and imposed and paid the usual penalty of one dollar for the offense.
July 11, 1776 .- A meeting was held to see what means the town will take to raise their quota of men to go to "Cannidy." They voted that the men who were most able to hire should couple together and hire men until the number required was raised.
In October, 1776, the people anticipating an alarm soon, on Sunday, the 27th, after service, gave notice of a meeting on Monday, October 28, at which they voted to purchase a barrel of powder, and appointed Mr. Joseph Herrick to provide it, and empowered the Selectmen to hire money for the same.
November 9, 1776 .- Mr. Herrick informed the people that he had provided the powder as above, and as he is going to the " Westward Army " next Tuesday, he determines to carry the powder to the Training tomorrow for the town's acceptance.
A meeting called in the same manner as the preceding one was held November 11, 1776, at which Capt. John Stephenson was chosen as agent to consult with other agents at Dracut, Mass., in connection with merchants and farmers. At this meeting Mr. James Boutwell was chosen custodian of the town's stock of ammunition.
Tuesday, the 26th of November, the town voted to unite with Wilton, Duxbury School Farm and Mile Slip in the choice of a Deputy.
The annual meeting for this year (1777) gave attention to the usual routine work. But on the 8th of April a meeting con- vened with Capt. Levi Spaulding as moderator, at which a vote passed to give each man yet to be raised to make up the six- teen that are called for, one hundred dollars, with interest until it is paid. At the same meeting they voted to divide the
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
town into school districts, and appointed a committee for the purpose.
In a meeting held May 6th, 1777, a committee of five men was chosen to appraise and settle the turns done in the war from the 19th of April, 1775, to the present time, and Capt. Nathaniel Batchelder, Lieut. Reuben Spaulding, Deacon David Badger, Dr. Benjamin Jones and Mr. Joseph Herrick were the com- mittee. One hundred dollars bounty was voted to the sixteen men that have enlisted or shall enlist from this town, "except Joseph Wilson and Thomas Grush who have received hire from particular men."
Monday, December Ist, 1777 .- The town voted to set every month's turn of service for the colonies in the present war at twenty shillings. A protest was entered against this vote, and the like, stating, " Such votes are to us unreasonable," as they give " money out of our pockets to men that was hired by per- sons out of this town to do a turn for them ; therefore we protest we will pay none of such moneys.
Lyndeborough, January 12, 1778.
Signed,
Philip Fletcher
John Kidder
Joseph Herrick
Joshua Hadley
Andrew Fuller
Benjamin Jones Samuel Huston
John Savage
Joseph Batchelder
John Raynolds
Robert Badger
Reuben Spaulding
Aaron Lewis Eleazer Woodard
Isaac Day
Daniel Gould
David Badger
Nathaniel Phelps
Edmund Bickford
William Barron
Nathaniel Batchelder Reuben Batchelder
Benjamin Punchard
Attest pr. Peter Clark, T. Clerk."
Though an effort was made to have the votes passed Dec. I, 1777, reconsidered and disannuled, the town at subsequent meetings on Jan. 12 and Feb. 9, 1778, refused to reconsider, dis- annul, alter or amend them. At the last mentioned meeting, Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, from Congress, were read, and the town voted its approbation of them.
Annual meeting and usual election of town officers Mar. 10, 1778. But on Mar. 26, 1778,* the town voted to procure and
*T. Records, II .. p. 43.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
pay a man to take Asa Boutwell's place in the army ; and Capt. Peter Clark was chosen agent to hire the man. Samuel Barron of Amherst was hired, and performed the service; but when tendered 105 {, the stipulated sum, he refused it, because the currency had, in the meantime, so depreciated that it failed to fulfil the contract .* This tender was made early in 1780, and under date of November 15 of that year, the following note was addressed,
To the Town of Lyndeborough.
Gentlemen.
I hereby acquaint you that I have offered the nominall sum of money that I agreed to pay Samuel Barrons in Behalf of the Town as a Reward for his taking Asa Boutwell's place in the army, and he refuses to take the same. Therefore, I desire you would furnish me with money sufficient to pay him the said Barron, Forty for one, agreeable to the depreciating act.
Peter Clark.
Lyndeborough, Nov. 15, 1780.
A true copy att. Pr. Benj" Jones & T. Clerk. t
At the annual meeting Mar. 13, 1781, the town voted, "to raise money to enable Maj. Clark to fulfil his agreement with Samuel Barron, according to the Depreciation Act."#
At a town meeting May 4, 1778, Nehemiah' Rand, Esq., was chosen to represent the town at a convention to be held in Con- cord, on the 10th day of June next, for the purpose of forming a plan of government for this State. Voted, also, to add one hun- dred pounds, L. M. to Mr. Goodridge's stated salary for this present year. |
This seems to have been a generous addition, in view of all the other burdensome expense of war times.
The people in general were beginning to feel very sensibly the effects of carrying on the war. Prominent among these effects were the depreciation of their currency and the scarcity of the common necessaries of life. The latter result was regarded as the work of monopolists, which then unduly raised the prices of meats as well as of farm products and merchandise, even as they do today. Then there were the financial stringency consequent upon the vast expenditures needed to prosecute a war, and the insatiable greed of brokers and money changers to add to the many other distresses of the situation.
* T. Records, II., p. 44.
# T. Records, II, p. 90, 9thly.
+ Ib., p. 48. || T. Records, II, p. 50,
156
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
In an effort to relieve the pressing burdens, a convention was called to consider the best means of amelioration. The conven- tion was held at Concord, Sept. 22, 1779, at 10 o'clock A.M., and Nehemiah Rand was sent as delegate from this town, chosen Aug. 30, previous. At I o'clock P.M. on the same day, the town voted to accept the plan of government. An Order had been received from the general court to present reasons, if any existed, why " Parsons' Corner," so called, should not be set off and joined with Duxbury School Farm and a part of the Mile Slip, to form a new town. They opposed the measure, and appointed Deacon Cram, Capt. Levi Spaulding and Deacon Badger to oppose it in the Legislature .*
The reasons presented by this committee are printed in full in "Bouton's Town Papers," Vol. XII., pp. 519, 520. They were briefly these : In a time when there were only about forty families in town, the people in the southeast corner, being more compactly located, were the strongest advocates for plac- ing our meeting-house where it now stands, much nearer the east than the west side. The building was erected at an ex- pense from which the people, even yet, have hardly recovered. And now these petitioners seek to free themselves wholly from the responsibility incurred, and roll it more oppressively on the rest of the town. Moreover, a mountain crosses the north part of our town, running from east to southwest, beyond which the land is already filling up with new inhabitants, who are likely to be formed into a town by themselves at no very distant day. We can not expect to retain them because of the mountain bar- rier. In closing, the committee said, "If the Prayer of the Aforesaid Petitioners Should be Granted and the Land therein Mentioned be set off, And in Process of Time the west Part of the Town likewise It will leave a Poor Parish indeed such an One as Cannot by any means Support the Gospel and Other Necessary Charges."
" We therefore Submit these Considerations to Your Hon's Wisdom to Do therein as to Justice Shall Appertain And as in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray."
Levi Spaulding Benjamin Cram Committee. David Badger [The project did not succeed .- ED.]
In compliance with an address issued by the fore-mentioned *Parsons' Cor. Defection.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Concord convention of Sept. 27, 1779, to the several towns of the colony, a committee of nineneen men was appointed by our town, " to set a value " upon the necessaries of life, and to note any violation of the agreement fixed upon by the committee, acting under the instruction of the convention. The members of that committee were men of high standing, heads of fam- ilies from all parts of the town, whose character and judgment would have great weight and influence. Their names follow :* Peter Clark
Daniel Gould
Jeremiah Carlton
Nathaniel Phelps
Thomas Parsons
Capt. Wm. Barrons
Nehemiah Rand
Samuel McMaster
Nathaniel Batchelder
Deacon Putnam
Jacob Wellman
Amos Whittemore
David Badger
Nathan Parsons
Josiah Woodbury
Jacob Cram
John Raynolds
Jonathan Parsons
Joseph Herrick
At a legal meeting the 11th of October, 1779,
I. Voted to accept the report of this committee and
2. Voted "that this committee be continued, and follow the direction of the Convention in all respects for the appreciating our paper currency."
At the regular annual meeting, March 9, 1779, the sixth article to consider was the insufficiency of the pastor's salary, in view of the depreciated currency. The response to this matter was cordial, and it was voted to pay Rev. Sewall Good- ridge £750, L. M., including his stated salary for the year, " in corn, rye, wool, flax, pork, beef, or labor, at the price such articles used to be sold for in the year 1774.''
The town, Aug. 3, 1779, was requested to act on three arti- cles presented in a petition which had been sent to the select- men, signed by a number of persons .*
Article 1. To hear the complaint of any aggrieved person, and allow every one liberty to stand or sit, during the singing in public worship ;
Article 2. To see if the church and congregation may intro- duce Dr. Watts' version of the psalms and hymns into the public worship ; and
Article 3. To see if the town will grant the " Choreesters" (choir ? ) any particular seat or seats in the meeting-house.
*T. R., II, p, 60. t Vol. II, T. R., pp. 57, 58.
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
The petition was granted, and permission was given to intro- duce said "psalms and hymns " upon trial for three months ; and also voted four men's seats and three women's seats below in the meeting-house to accommodate the singers.
Feb. 3, 1780, the citizens were requested to state whether they were willing that Joshua Atherton Esq. might plead law in the county for any who wished to employ him. On March 28 following, the town unanimously voted their disapprobation of Mr. Atherton's pleading law.
At the same meeting, they voted to allow Mr. Nehemiah Rand's account for attending the conventions at Concord and Exeter for forming a plan of government, and supporting the credit of the currency for the years 1778 and 1779 ; (viz.) the quantity of 22 bushels and 3 pecks of corn, or money to pur- chase the same. Voted, also to allow thirty dollars for a day's work, previously hired at 3 shillings .*
The town voted April 17, 1780, to choose a committee to report to the committee of claims sitting at Exeter, the amounts of money, certified by oath, that had been "paid to or ex- pended on the Continental soldiers or their families since the year 1777."# Committee, Major Clark, Deacon Putnam, Jere- miah Carlton, Capt. Wellman and Esqr. Fuller.
The surrounding towns have all sought, and profited by securing portions of Lyndeborough territory .* In 1780, a peti- tion was sent to the General Court by several inhabitants of this town and of the northwest part of Amherst, praying that a half mile of the east side of this town be annexed to the northwest part of the town of Amherst, and formed into a new town. The Legislature gave the town the usual notice, to show cause why the petition should not be granted. The town at a legal meeting, held Sept. 28, 1780, chose Deacon Badger, Capt. Barron, and Capt. Spaulding to present a remonstrance to the Legislature against the aim of the petitioners, and the project for the time at least was defeated.
Jan. 29, 1781, the town chose a committee consisting of Capt. Jonas Kidder, Lieut. Amos Whittemore and Ensign John Savage, to make an average of what every man had done in town toward the war, since its commencement. The average was made month for month, according to the time spent in the army. A bounty of forty shillings per month was paid them
* T. R. I, p. 90, II, p. 66, 5thly.
+ T. Records II, pp. 68 and 69.
#T. Records II, p, 73.
|| T. Records II, p. 82.
159
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
for service done in the army. But citizens of this town were not to receive anything for service rendered for other towns, unless such service was properly certified, or proof of it was furnished by two reliable witnesses.
Another committee was chosen at the same meeting, consist- ing of Capt. Barron, Mr. Amos Persons, and Mr. Eleazar Woodward, and the commissioned officers, to raise and enlist the quota of men for the town .*
Feb. 20, 1781. At a legal meeting, Capt. Spaulding, Modera- tor, " Voted to accept the agreement which the committee has made with the men who engaged to serve in the Conti- nental Army for the term of three years."t The committee was authorized to give notes on the behalf of the town, which voted to give each soldier that enlisted in the Continental Army for three years a thousand dollars paper money, to be deducted out of their hire in proportion to the agreement. The agree- ment was that each soldier was to receive one-third of his wages or bounty, at the end of each year, which was secured to him by notes, given on behalf of the town. The selectmen were authorized to assess the money on the town.
THE SOLDIER'S AGREEMENT FOR THE YEAR 1781.
We the Subscribers, for and in consideration of Eight Dollars per month, to be paid in Indian corn at three shillings per bushel, or rye at four shillings per bushel, or money, or quick stock equal thereto, to be paid to us by the town of Lynde- borough in three years from the time of our passing muster, Do voluntarily inlist ourselves to serve in the Continental army the term of three years from the time we pass muster, and promise obedience to our officers and submit to the rules and regulations of the army during the said term.
Further, we agree that if we do not pass muster, the agree- ment to be void ; and we further agree with Capt. William Barron and Mr. Amos Persons and Mr. Eleazer Woodward together with the commissioned officers, a committee chosen by the town to hire our proportion of Continental men to take one thousand paper dollars and Reduct it out of the above sum, agreeable to the price of Grain in paper money.
Lyndeborough Feb. 1 1781.
John Putnam Moses Ordway
Samuel Punchard Jr. Edward Spaulding
+ T. Records II, p. 82. t T, Records II, p. 84.
¿T. Records II, p. 85.
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HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Israel Hails, During war. Luther Smith
A true Coppy Att. per. Benja Jones } Town Clerk
At a legal meeting held May 15, 1781, Maj. Peter Clark was chosen to represent the town in the convention called to meet at Concord, the first Tuesday of June next .*
July 10, the town voted, that constables shall not receive any of the old continental money for the town rates of those who are behind in their lists; but that they receive the new emis- sion in lieu thereof, at the rate of one dollar for forty of the old. Voted further, that the Treasurer shall not receive any of the old money after the 12th day of July, 1781.
The purchase of beef for the army was a matter of great importance in the Revolutionary War, as well as in the late war with Spain. This town was expected and required to furnish its share of the commodity or of money to buy it elsewhere. On the 15th of August, 1781, the town voted to raise "Two Hundred and Fifty Pound, Lawful Money in silver, to purchase army beef for this year."t
On the 19th of October, 1781, the army of Cornwallis sur- rendered to the American forces at Yorktown, Va. At this there were great rejoicings all over the land, and well there might be, for this was the master stroke, the decisive victory of the war. The fighting, practically, ceased with this battle. The armies still kept the field to guard danger points. But gradually the enemy withdrew, and Great Britain, at length, in Parliament decreed it inconsistent with her interests, any longer to continue the war. Not till November, 1783, however, . was peace definitely declared ; and then, the American army disbanded.
The contest thus closed was one of the most remarkable in the history of the human race ; nor can any believer in an over- ruling Providence fail to be deeply impressed with the idea that "the embattled farmers " of our new fledged states were Provi- dentially aided in the unequal, and as many feared, unavailing struggle. Our town might be pardoned for cherishing a little pride in the part taken by her citizens in that successful achievement. No eulogy can be more eloquent than the facts and votes chronicled in our town records. I have cited some of the votes of the town relating to the soldiers. The heroism of the soldiers themselves may be partly learned from the sketches
* T. Records II, pp. 94 and 95. + T. Records II, page 96.
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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
of the five captains which went from our town with the sub- ordinate officers and the men in the ranks. These brief biog- raphies alone would indicate some of the patriotic interest of our townsmen in their country's freedom. But a record more ex- tended and particular will not diminish our admiration for our Revolutionary predecessors.
A special record of individual service, collected by our worhty long-time Town Clerk, Mr. E. A. Danforth, at the sug- gestion of Mr. D. C. Grant, strongly seconded by his brother, W. H. Grant Esq., is of unusual interest, and is largely self- explanatory.
It is given as presented by our Clerk.
LYNDEBOROUGH, STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1776.
An account of those that went in the Service in the year 1776 and of those that Hired them, viz .:
Cap John Stephenson did a whole turn Hired Joseph Elenwood Junr. 12/0.
Mr. John Kidder did a whole turn hired Mr. John Rowe 12/0
Sart. Aaron Lewes did one quarter of a turn
Mr. Nathan Parsons did one quarter of a turn
they hired Mr. John Rynolds and Rynolds did half a turn for himself
Dea'n Ephraim Putnam and Son Ephraim did a whole turn they hired Nath'1 Bachelor.
Esq'r Andrew Fuller did two thirds of a turn
Lieut. Jonas Kidder one third of a turn they hired Samuel Butterfield
Deacon David Badger did half a turn
Mr. Robart Badger did half a turn. they hired Hezekiah Hamblet
Mr. George Goole and son Daniel did a whole turn
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