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Voted that the men "who work on the road shall have three shillings, six pence per day." This, of course, was less than one dollar, which reveals low standards. Odd to us now seems the obsolete office of "hogreaf" to which this meeting chose Benjamin Rand and Eber Angel. This job was to catch stray hogs. The name "hogreaf" later became a quip of re- proach as the lowest possible office a man could hold. One often heard the expression, "He aint fit to be hogreaf."
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(Notice of Meeting)
State of New Hampshire SS Cheshire
These are to warn the Inhabitants of Wendell Qualified by Law vote, that they meet at the dwelling house of Messrs Esek and Abitha Youngs in Wendell on Thursday the fifth Day of December next at ten of the Clock in the forenoon to join in Union with the town of Newport and Croydon to elect one Person to Represent us in the General Assembly, also to act on all Business we are directed to in a Precept we have received from the Assembly at Concord, Sept. 13, 1782.
Given under our hands this 14 day of November 1782.
Samuel Gunnison
Moses True Joseph Lear Selectmen of Wendell
(Meeting Held)
Wendell, December 5, 1782. Agreeable to the Notification the Inhabitants of Wendell, Newport, and Croydon met and proceeded as follows and Benj. Giles, Esq. was chosen by a unanimous vote to serve as a Representative for the above said towns for the present year. Also acted on all other business agreeable to the Precept received. Also those three men to give instructions to the Representative, namely Moses Whippel, Esq, Benj. Stephens and Samuel Gunnison. The business being finished the meeting is Dissolved.
Cheshire SS Att. a Legal Town meeting held in Wendell March 26, 1783. Daniel Sherburn chosen moderator for the meeting and business of the Day. Samuel Gunnison chosen town Clerk for the present year. Voted William Bowles Gideon Angel and Abitha Young be Selectmen of this town for the present year. Voted that Daniel Sherburn be the Constable of this town for the present year. Voted to give said Sherburn three Pounds twelve Shillings for serving Constable the present year. Voted that George Walker Lear
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and Joshua Whitne be Surveirs of highways in this Town for the present year. Voted that Daniel Gunnison be fence vewer for this year. Voted that Gideon Angel, Abitha Young and Joshua Whitne be a Committee to lay out roads in Town. Voted to raise ten pounds to defray Town charges for the present year. Voted to raise twenty five pounds to be laid out upon the roads this present year. Voted that the men that work on the roads shall have three shillings, six pence a day. Voted that Neamiah Woodward, Joshua Gage, and Esek Young be a Committee to settle with the town clerk and Selectmen for the years past. Voted that Benj. Rand and Joshua Gage be hog reafs for the present year.
Joshua Gage drawn to serve on the Petit Jury at Charles- town on the second Tuesday of April next. George W. Lear drawn to serve on the petit jury at Charlestown on the first thursday following the second Tuesday of April next.
CHAPTER XVII FIRST U. S. CENSUS OF WENDELL
The first census of the United States, authorized by the first Congress, soon after General George Washington took the oath of office as the first President (April 30, 1789) was taken by the newly formed Government during the year 1790-'91, and as a result the town of Wendell (then in Cheshire County) was shown to have had fifty-one heads of families with a total population of 267. But fifteen families had been annexed to Goshen, leaving thirty-six in Wendell.
At that time the State of New Hampshire had a population of 141,885 and the entire country 3,893,635.
The following were given as the names of "Heads" of those fifty-one families:
(Explanation: The first numeral after each name in the following list represents the number of males over 16 years of age in that family, including the head of the family him- self. The second numeral after each name represents the number of males in that family under 16 years of age. The
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third numeral after each name represents the number of females in that family, regardless of age.)
Eber Angell
2-1-4
Joseph Lear
1-1-4
Gideon Angell
2-2-2
James Libby
1-1-2
Noell Angell
1-1-2
Jenny McBritton 0-0-1
Stukeley Angell
1-1-1
Daniel Moses
1-1-1
George Ayres
1-0-2
Ichabod Perkins
3-0-3
Giles Bartlett
1-1-3
Benjamin Rand
1-1-2
Israel Bryant
1-1-5
Benjamin Rand, Jr.
1-1-1
James Bryant
Thomas Rankins
1-0-1
Joel Bayley
1-4-5
Daniel Sherburne
2-5-5
Job Clap
1-2-6
Parker Tandy
1-2-4
Joseph Cutt
4-1-3
Moses True
1-2-1
William Cutt
1-0-2
John Wheeler
2-1-1
Edward Dam
1-0-1
Joshua Whitney
1-4-4
Alden Freeman
1-0-3
Elijah Woodward
1-1-2
Ebenezer Freeman
4-3-2
Joshua Woodward
1-2-1
Joshua Gage
2-3-6
Nehemiah Woodward
2-2-3
Christopher Gardner
1-1-5
Richard Woodward
2-0-2
Daniell Grandell
1-0-2
Squire Woodward
1-3-4
Ephraim Gunnison
3-0-2
Thomas Woodward
1-1-3
Nathaniel Gunnison
1-0-2
Abiather Young
2-2-5
Samuel Gunnison
1-1-1
Cornelius Young
1-1-2
Benjamin Haywood
1-0-1
Edward Young
1-1-3
Giles Kelsey
1-3-1
Esek Young
3-0-4
Stephen Lang
1-0-1
James Young
1-2-3
William Lang
1-0-2
Robert Young
1-3-1
George W. Lear
1-1-3
No male names, except the "heads" of families were taken. The only female name taken was that of Mrs. McBritton. She was the "head of a family."
While this census showed New Hampshire to have 158 slaves, none were found in Wendell. Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont had no slaves.
Only a few of the foregoing family names appear in Suna- pee to-day.
From this table it appears there were 64 boys under six- teen and 70 males over sixteen, or 134 males in all. In addi- tion there were 133 females, making a grand total of 267.
It will be noted that from 1781 (when it was named Wen- dell) to 1791, ten years later, the number of heads of families had increased from twenty-four to fifty-one.
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The name "Angell" appears here four times. It was destined to continue until the present. The name "Bart- lett" appears for the first time as a resident, but Giles Bart- lett became a Goshenite.
The "George W. Lear" in the census list is the only one whose name was embraced in the list of ninety grantees in 1768. He was a settler as well.
The six families of "Woodwards" accounted for thirty-two of the town's population, while the "Young" family surpassed them with thirty-six.
Daniel Sherburne tops the one family record with twelve.
Poor Jenny McBritton, a widow who lost a son in the War, is put down as the head of a family of one.
The Goshen seceders are in the foregoing list. Goshen had not been formed at the moment the census was taken, so the 15 Goshen families must be deducted from the 51 fami- lies to get Wendell's exact condition. That means there were only 36 families in the last part of 1791.
CHAPTER XVIII
WENDELL IN PRESIDENT WASHINGTON'S TIME
The first Town officers after Washington became President: Moderator, John Foster
Clerk, Ichabod Perkins
Selectmen, John Foster, Ichabod Perkins and John Wheeler
Constable, Cornelius Young
Surveyors of Highways, Daniel Sanborn, Joseph Lear, Christopher Gardner, Gideon Angel, John Foster, Eber Angel and Lieut. Abiather Young
Town Treasurer, Ichabod Perkins
"Tything Men," Daniel Sharbon, Ebenezer Freeman and Lieut. Joshua Whitney
Hogreafs, Daniel Sharbon and Joshua Whitney Fence Viewers, George Lear and Daniel Sharbon Pound Keeper, Joseph Lear
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Committee to lay out roads, Moses True, Nathaniel Per- kins and Joshua Whitney
"Voted twelve pounds for schools." (Note by author-That was to give schools for a year for 146 scholars)
"Voted thirty pounds for repair of highways."
"Voted to postpone the building of a meeting house."
"Voted three shillings a day for Selectmen's pay." (Note by author-This should be noted by present day Selectmen)
"Voted Elder Woodward 'back rates abated.'"
The Town Meeting was held in Mr. Freeman's barn.
"Voted that the town be divided."
In 1792 the Town "voted to build a meeting house on Capt. Gage's land a little west of the school house." (Note, it was not built 'till 1831)
"Vote was four majority. Then rescinded."
"Voted not to let rams run at large, from August 20th to November 15th, on forfithuer of said ram on giving the owner proper notice."
In 1795 Stephen Lang, Giles Bartlett, Jacob Chipmore and Benj. Brattons had their school tax abated on the ground of living in Goshen.
Liquor License
The following verbatim authority to sell liquor is the first we find in the Town records:
"We the Selectmen of the Town of Wendell being per- suaded of the good conduct of the petitioner, Matthew Por- ter, and the necessity of a Public House of Entertainment do approbate him and fully give our consent that he keep a Public House of Entertainment and sell liquor in his house in this Town for one year from this date and be allowed all the Privileges as other Licensed Persons Subjects of this State."
"Nathaniel Perkins Abiather Young Selectmen of Wendell."
Wendell, May 28, 1795."
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Similar licenses were issued later. But prohibition was soon an issue.
CHAPTER XIX
WENDELL'S SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF 1812
Sunapee's contribution to the war effort of 1812 was large by comparison, but her soldiers saw but little actual com- bat. Here is the list-
First New Hampshire Regiment:
Capt. Thomas Currier's Company (Enlisted in 1813)
Samuel Rogers
2nd Lieut.
John Gage
Ensign
William Gage
Sergt.
Scribner Huntoon
William Lamb
Corbin Huntoon
Musician "
Joseph Avery
Private
Joseph Chase, Jr.
Richmond Clapp
"
Amos George
"
Thomas Lamb
James Young 2nd.
James Boyce
Daniel Pickernell
James Young
Samuel Pickernell
Hezikiah Peck
Ezek Young
"
Joseph Pillsbury
"
Capt. Reuben Marsh's Company (Enlisted in September 1814)
John Moore Corporal
William Lamb Private
Edward Crosby "
Private "
and Corporal
Jacob Stickney
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Capt. Joseph Kimball's Company (Enlisted in September 1814)
Abiather Young Ensign
Joseph Chase, Jr.
Private
Moses Follansbee "
Charles Gage
"
Nathan Rogers
"
Many of these names have already become familiar.
After the War of 1812 to enforce America's right to "free- dom of the seas," there was nothing of an eventful nature that happened in Wendell for several years, except that it was a period of building new roads, establishing small dis- trict schools, clearing new land by immigrants, improving farm cultivation, raising large families, and migration west.
CHAPTER X
WENDELL'S HEADS OF FAMILIES IN 1830
We were able to obtain for this book the result of the United States Census for Wendell for 1830 and herewith present it in full. It was never published before:
John Angell
Abel Cooper, Jr.
Smith Angell
Benj. Clapp
George Angell
John Clapp
Gideon Angell, 2nd
Joshua Cheney
Jonathan Crowell
Deborah Wd. Angell Abel Austin Jeremiah Adams
Daniel S. Currier
John Colby
Luke Atwood
Hough B. Clough
Zachariah Batchelder
Daniel B. Colcord
Daniel Batchelder
Benj. Colby, Jr.
Samuel Bailey Jacob Bailey John Bartlett
James Crossman Josiah Currin Medaphor Chase
Nathan Burpee
Hazen Crowell
Jonathan Dame
Ephraim Davis
John J. Balch John Chase Josiah Conant Abel Cooper
Eli Davis
Mersk Dodge
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Jonathan Dow
Benjamin C. Dame Abijah Emerson James Eastman Isaac Eastman
Joseph Perkins
Joseph Perkins, 2nd Charles Perkins
Francis Pingrey Thomas Pike Thomas Pickernell
Moses Eastman Ichabod Eastman
Philip Eastman
Josiah W. Freetor
Eliakim Putney
Joseph Gunnison
Samuel Rogers
Samuel Gardner
Charles Rogers
Betsy Wd. Gardner
John Gardner
Adam Redington Stephen Rowell William Roberton
Samuel George
Elijah George
John Randall Moses Sargent
Joseph George
Moses Sargent, Jr.
Benj. George
Charles Sargent
Elijah George, 2nd
Nathan Smith
Christopher Gardner
John Smith John Stickney
James Hutchins
Jacob C. Stickney
Ira Hurd
Caleb E. Hackett
Abraham Hook
Josiah Trow
Scribner Huntoon
William Trow
John Hopkins
William, 2nd
Jacob Kidder
Francis S. Trow
Thomas Kidder
Aaron Thomas
Samuel Knowlton
Jeremiah Whitney
Alexander Lamb
Jonathan Worcester
Robert Leer
Caleb Whitaker
Asabel Lear
Asa Winn
John Merit
Esek Young
Polly Wd. Messer
John Young
Moses Muzzy
John Young, 2nd
John McLane
Abiatha Young
Daniel March
William Young
Jeremiah Newell
Oliver Young
Nathaniel Perkins
Andrew Young
Enoch Perkins
117 Heads of Families 637 Total Population Of this number 1 was deaf and dumb and three were blind
Psebe Wd. Sranton
Caleb Heath
Samuel Scischo
Daniel George
Joseph Pillsbury John Putney
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There were no slaves and no colored people in Wendell at this time
This census was taken by Bradbury Bailey, Marshall of this District
Of the eighteen heads of families who dwelt in Saville in 1776, and who signed the Association Test, only two of the same family names are found in this census, taken fifty-four years later. All such family names had disappeared by 1830, save one. This means that the very first Rhode Island immigrants (12 in all) did not stick to Sunapee long. One exception! Of the six in that eighteen,-the six whose land was set off to form Goshen, those who came from Ports- mouth, only one family name was in Wendell fifty-four years thereafter, and that name was "Lear." To repeat, in 1776, Joseph Lear and George Walker Lear were in Saville. In 1830 Robert and Asabel Lear were the Lears in Wendell. Robert was the son of Joseph whose farm was set off to Goshen. From this fact, it results that Frank and Cedric Lear, who descended from Robert, reach farther back in our history than any others now in Sunapee. But their line was broken for a few years until said Robert, born in Goshen, as the son of Joseph married Miss Angell of Suna- pee and hence moved back from Goshen. (See Lear family.)
The truth is that the immigrants from southeastern New Hampshire who came in after the War, or during the War, were the ones who were more enduring in Sunapee, except the Angells and Youngs. Many Sunapee settlers went West with the Horace Greeley movement, and found "pickings" better. Some, however, went West, and then returned. We cannot follow them all.
While we know that the Youngs and Angells came from Rhode Island, they did not arrive until a few years after that first group of twelve who seem, on what evidence there is, to have come from Rhode Island. The twelve said to be from Rhode Island did remain for several years as the town records show, and until long after the Youngs and Angells arrived, but they moved away or died after the first gen-
The Vanished Union Church once at South Sunapee
The M. E. Church
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eration. Probably their blood remains through other names by the marriage route.
CHAPTER XXI ABOUT MEETING HOUSES AND MINISTERS IN SUNAPEE
A "meeting house" was the first subject the settlers talked over as soon as they had a shelter over their heads. The "south enders" and "north enders" had meetings separately, and in any convenient house, or even a barn, or out-of-doors, for a few years. They dwelt some eight miles apart, the ex- tremes.
Many a time the voters at town meetings would appoint a Committee to erect "a meeting house." They did not say "church," never, just "meeting house." But it was some- thing like fifty years before they saw one go up, that is, at the centre. The South Sunapee church was erected about 1875 and demolished about 1904.
Toward the end of the Revolution a group of young men came to settle but a new war threat arose and so they hur- ried off to meet it. They were Abiather Young, Esek Young, Nehemiah Howard, Thomas Woodward, Joshua Whitney and Joshua Gage. They served to the finish and came home to Wendell to begin life anew. Nehemiah Woodward prac- ticed being a Chaplain when with them at the front, and so, returning, began to be called "Elder," and to preach now and then.
He had a home near the Angell family at the southerly part of the town, just below the present depot, and there religious meetings were held for many years. The "Elder" married couples from all-around, and also preached funeral sermons, but his compensation was nil, pitifully small, for it had to be, the few settlers were so desperately poor.
Mr. Sturoc's article in the history of Cheshire County be- gins Woodward's career at Wendell in 1800, but it was much earlier than that. Mr. Sturoc wrote:
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"As early as 1800 Elder Nehemiah Woodward, a Congre- gationalist, was located on land known as 'the Minister's lot,' being a farm now (1860) owned by Gideon Angell in the southern part of the town. For more than thirty years re- ligious services were held in private dwellings or school houses. Elder Woodward finished his work in 1815 and went to Vermont to live." Thus wrote Sturoc.
Obviously Mr. Sturoc had not seen the earlier record, but what he does give us is helpful. The first Saville Minister, however, had a struggle all his life. No doubt he did much good, for the Church he prayed for came at long last.
Mr. Sturoc preserved for us the following item of history: "In July 1830 Elder Elijah Watson organized the Free Will Baptist Church, having fourteen members, and for twenty years this was the leading society in the town. The last member of that society was Mrs. Mary Conant, who was blind for fifteen years and died in 1879." The old Church at the south end herein presented prospered for a few years at about the same time as the Center Church.
In 1831 a second Church edifice was finally erected, called the "Free Meeting House" and was located at the Center. It was voted that those who purchased pews "shall pay for the same, one-half in money and one-half in grain."
This Church, like the south end Church, was used for many years. After that it was used for occasional meetings, and funerals for some years. When the new Methodist Church was erected nearly everyone worshipped there. The writer recalls at least one occasion when, as a mere lad, he attended a meeting in this old Church at the Lower Village. At later dates he recalls peeping into the building to see it going to ruin, and in 1906 saw it auctioned off and demol- ished.
About the only place the boys had in town to play ball was in the Church frontage, plus the roadway (formerly called "the Wendell commons").
Judge Albert D. Felch, now over seventy years of age, a Churchman, and for many years Superintendent of the Sun- day School, furnished us with an article he wrote for the
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Newport Argus on January 9th, 1914, from which we take many facts, with his permission.
The beginning of Methodism in Sunapee was in 1805 under the old circuit system which circuit included Unity, Gran- tham, Meriden, Sutton, Lempster, Claremont, Enfield, Croy- don and Wendell. In 1805 a man by the name of "Elder" Jones preached in the house of John Chase, now occupied and owned by Louis Davis, being the "Sturoc place." Later Elder Shaw preached in the same place. In 1818 Elder Guy Beck- ley and Elder Zebedee Twitchell, circuit preachers, held services in the district school house. This school house was just beyond the Jesse Barns place. In 1823 a man by the name of Elder Steele preached at the home of Abiather Young. Elder Steele was followed in 1830 by Elder Jordan. Elijah Hedding was also one of the circuit preachers.
In 1831 as stated, the church in the Lower Village was built and known as the Union Church. The land for the Church was given by Nathaniel Perkins and was to be used for religious services. If it ceased to be used for this it was to revert to the Perkins heirs. It so reverted and the prop- erty was sold by decree of court in 1906 and bid off to W. W. Currier.
Up to 1853 all our Sunapee people of various denomina- tions worshipped there together, then the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church took place. Rev. Joseph C. Emerson was its first pastor. The Free Will Baptists united with the Methodists and the Church consisted of twelve members at first, Andrew Young being a leader in the move- ment.
The Methodist Sunday School was organized June 1st, 1845, eight years before the organization of the Church, with Wil- liam Young as Superintendent.
During the pastorate of Elder Emerson the parsonage was built by him, being the home next west of the present Church. The old Church was built on the site now occupied by the Nathan Smith home. The Church edifice was erected in 1856, the building Committee consisting of John B. Smith, John Cooper and Moses Q. Eastman, and in 1866 a vestry was
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built and a bell purchased, under the pastorate of Rev. L. W. Prescott. But this Church and vestry were destroyed by fire on June 10, 1871.
The Church Trustees at once began the building of a new place of worship. The site of the old Church was sold to Nathan A. Smith, upon which was later built the present home of his widow. John B. Smith presented the society with the site of the new Church. The vestry, under the audi- torium, was used during the first three years for Church services. The dedication of the auditorium took place June 18, 1874, under the pastorate of Rev. Silas E. Quimby, and the debt paid.
Since the organization of this Church it has had pastors as follows: Reverends J. C. Emerson, 1853-1855; O. S. Morris, 1855-1856; J. C. Emerson, 1856-1860; J. W. Johnson, 1860-1862; Joseph Hayes, 1862-1864; Learned L. Eastman, 1864-1866; Samuel B. Robinson, 1866-1868; L. W. Prescott, 1868-1871; W. H. H. Stuart, 1871-1872; J. H. Hillman, 1872-1874; Silas E. Quimby, 1874-1877; B. W. Chase, 1877-1880; Samuel C. Keeler (father of Eugene Keeler) 1880-1883; Silas G. Kellog, 1883-1886; George N. Dorr, 1886-1888; Robert T. Wolcott, 1888- 1891; J. P. Pillsbury; Daniel Onstott, 1891-1892; C. W. Taylor, 1892-1897; E. S. Tasker, 1897-1900; William C. Bartlett, 1900- 1901; C. W. Martin, 1901-1902; George N. Dorr, 1902-1906; H. J. Foote, 1906-1911; C. F. Parsons, 1911-1913; F. P. Fletcher, 1913; H. Rees Jones, 1922; Nelson E. Canfield, 1926; C. B. Hansen, 1929; M. Harlan Scott, 1932; Andrew F. Swapp, 1934; G. Bennett Van Buskirk, 1940; and the present young and popular pastor, Brownlow L. Thompson. This Church has been so liberally-minded in these seventy years of its existence that all persons of all denominations have united to make and keep it active and helpful.
Sunapee born men who have become preachers in other towns and States are as follows:
Ezra S. Eastman, from the old family of that name. Baptist.
Edward R. Perkins, from the early Perkins family. Methodist.
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Charles E. Rogers, son of Charles Rogers who was son of Colonel Samuel Rogers, an old Sunapee family.
Alden C. Abbott, and his brother. Methodist.
Manson Abbott, Christian Science, sons of Stephen Abbott.
Joseph H. Trow, son of John Trow. Methodist. Trow Hill Family.
The Methodist Church Sunday School had the following early Superintendents, from 1853 on, viz: Solomon Bartlett, C. E. Rogers, Thomas P. Smith, John B. Smith, John Felch, Isaac Harriman, Dr. D. M. Currier, Rev. Silas E. Quimby, Rev. B. W. Chase, George H. Bartlett, Albert D. Felch, and recent members.
The Church is out of debt, and has a small permanent fund.
Mrs. Cady and Mrs. Chase, like their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Bartlett, are active in Church activities. It has a Christian Endeavor Society, and other working and charitable organizations and committees.
The Old South-End Meeting House was razed, as near as we can learn, in 1904. When it was built is more of a puzzle. A vote of the Town on April 2, 1785 was to build one "on the road where William Macbritton's old house stood formerly." That would probably be across the road from the cemetery. The word "formerly" used in 1785 would place the Mac- britton's house very early. Note the word "old" used in 1785. Some writers think that this Macbritton is the same man who signed the Association Test in 1776 as "William Mack Breney." Spelling was all off in those early records. It must have been the same one. "Jenny Macbritton" ap- pears in the Sunapee census of 1791 as a widow. The rec- ords show that "William Mabritton Jun" lost his life in the war service from Saville. The name "William Mack Breney" is no longer seen. The probabilities are that the old gentleman Macbritton built that old house and died, and the son went to war and was killed and the Church was built on the lot after a fire. Macbritton (Breney) may have
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built the first house in town, and the Church was undoubt- edly the first Church in Sunapee.
Deacon Asabel Lear was the leading spirit in the Church.
CHAPTER XXII
THE "SUNAPEE GUARDS" OF 1846.
To give an idea who the live young men of the town were at about the middle of the last century, rather than to em- phasize the military idea, especially, we produce here a roster of the "Sunapee Guards" of the New Hampshire militia, in 1846, which belonged to the 31st Regiment, of the Fifth Bri- gade of the Third Division.
It would have gone to the Mexican War, if called upon. Captain, Commissioned Officers: Moses F. Knowlton, Lieut. John P. Knowlton, Ensign, Albion Davis.
Non-Commissioned Officers: 1st Sergeant, Dennis C. Knowlton; 2nd Sergeant H. P. Muzzey; 3rd Sergeant, Janson George; 4th Sergeant, E. D. Cooper.
Musicians: James Trow, Benjamin F. Young, and Willard C. Severance.
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