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BRIGHT  LEGACY 

Oo«  haU  tke  iacoaic  fr»ai  tkls  Lcpcf,  which  waa  re- 
ceiTcd  la  iSto  vadcr  th«  will  of 

JONATHAN  BROWN  BRIGHT 
of  Waltham,  hlMMchmcttt.  it  to  be  expended  f»r  books 
for  the  Cell^  Libnurr.    Toe  ether  half  of  the  Incoaie 
it  devoted  to  •ehoUnhlpt  In  Harrmrd  Unircnitj  for  the 
beneSt  of  detceadaatt  of 

HBNRT  BRIGHT,  JR., 
who  died  at  Wateitowa.  Maaaachatcttt,  in  1686.  la  the 
abeencc  of  nidi  deteeadaatt,  other  perMBt  are  eligible 
to  the  teholafahlpa.  The  will  reqniret  that  thit  aaaooaco- 
■ent  ahaU  be  auide  ia  everf  book  added  to  the  Ubrarf 
•ader  Its  pwritioaa. 


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0 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  WARNER, 


IS'EW  HAMPSHIRE, 


—  FOB  — 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTY-FOUR  YEARS, 


BVom  173G  to  \&V9. 


-.     > 


—  BT  — 


WALTER    HARRIMAN. 


—  CONCORD,  N.  H.: 

PRINTED  BY  THE  REPUBLICAN  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

1879. 


US  11^03.25.5 


\^ 


^>      '         'J  / 


'/ 


M 


HARVARD  UNIVERSITY 
UBRARY 

FEB  2  5  1980 


PREFACE. 


Most  intelligent  people  have  a  desire  to  know 
something  of  their  country  and  of  theiir  forefathers. 
Edmund  Burke,  the  great  English  statesman,  says, — 
"  They  who  never  look  back  to  their  ancestors^  will 
never  look  forward  to  futurity y  To  rescue  the  early 
history  of  Warner  from  oblivion,  and  to  perpetuate  a 
knowledge  of  it  in  the  generations  to  come,  has  been 
my  purpose  in  this  undertaking.  Records  become 
dim  with  age,  and  are  destroyed ;  the  traditions  of 
events  which  occurred  in  the  preceding  century  are 
rapidly  fading  from  memory.  It  has  been  a  hundred  . 
'  and  forty-four  years  since  the  first  grant  of  Warner 
was  made.  The  last  surviving  original  grantee  of  the 
township  has  been  dead  ninety  years.  All  the  first 
settlers,  and  all  their  children^  long  since  departed  this 
life,  and  it  is  felt  that  the  writing  of  a  history  of  the 
town  has  been  delayed  too  long. 

In  July,  1878, 1  decided  to  undertake  this  task,  a 
task  in  which  I  have  expended  a  large  sum  of  money 
beyond  any  expected  remuneration,  and  thrown  in 
my  personal  services  as  a  gratuity.  My  labor  has 
been  a  "  labor  of  love."^  Warner  is  my  native  town, 
and  there  cluster  all  my  earliest  and  fondest  remem- 
brances. Every  brook  and  rock  and  tree  that  I  knew 
1 


4  HISTORY  OP  WARNER. 

in  my  childhood'is  still  dear  to  me,  and,  if  my^ishes 
are  regarded,  Warner  will  be  the  place  of  my  final 
rest 

I  have  travelled  nearly  2000  miles  in  gathering 
materials  for  this  book ;  have  searched  the  province 
records  at  Boston  and  at  Concord ;  the  county  records 
of  old  Hillsborough  at  Nashua,  and  of  Rockingham  at 
Exeter;  the  Masonian  records  at  Portsmouth, and  the 
town  records  of  Amesbury,  Salisbury,  Newburyport, 
Haverhill,  Bradford,  Andover,  and  Ipswich,  Mass^  and 
of  Concord,  Hopkinton,  Boscawen,  and  Sutton,  N.  H. 

Eeraembering  the  injunction,  "neither  give  heed 
to  fables  and  endless  genealogies^  which  minister  ques- 
tions, rather  than  godly  edifying  which  is  in  faith,'*  I 
have  made  this  work  not  a  genealogical  register,  but 
a  history  of  the  town. 

Names  of  individuals  have  been  written  strictly  in 
accordance  with  the  letter  of  the  record,  and  when- 
ever quotations  from  ancient  documents  have  been 
made,  the  original  orthography,  capitals,  abbrevia- 
tions, punctuation,  &c.,  have  been  preserved. 

The  XXXVIth  and  last  chapter  embraces  an  ad- 
dress which  the  author  gave,  in  1878,  on  the  Bound- 
aries of  New  Hampshire.  As  no  student  of  history 
within  the  state  can  fail  to  be  interested  in  the  angry 
and  prolonged  controversies  which  grew  out  of  this 
boundary  question,  and  as  the  inhabitants  of  Warner 
must  be  specially  interested  in  those  controversies, 
that  address  has  been  deemed  a  fitting  close  to  this 
volume.  At  one  time  it  was  supposed  that  the  terri- 
tory of  Warner  would  constitute  a  part  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  at  a  subsequent  period  it  seemed  probable  that 


PBEFACE.  O 

Warner  would  make  the  fractional  part  of  a  great  and 
noble  state  extending  westward  to  Lake .  Champlain, 
and  embracing  the  wliole  of  the  present  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Vermont ;  and  at  a  still  later  day  there  was 
danger  that  the  town  would  stand  on  the  very  bor- 
ders of  a  despoiled  and  dismembered  state,  embracing 
only  the  meagre  territory  which  constituted  the  grant 
to  Capt  John  Mason. 

The  small,  rough  map  which  accompanies  this  book 
is  intended;  mainly,  to  represent  the  outlines  of  War- 
ner, and  its  mountains  and  streams.  Entire  accuracy 
(particularly  in  regard  to  the  roads)  is  not  claimed  for 
the  map. 

Omissions  and  inaccuracies  of  various  kinds  will  of 
course  be  found  in  this  volume.  Several  of  these 
have  already  been  noticed  since  the  body  of  the  book 
was  printed.  By  the  merest  accident  the  name  of  R. 
Eugene  Walker,  son  of  Abiel,  is  not  included  in  the 
list  of  college  graduates,' nor  in  that  of  lawyers.  Mr. 
Walker  graduated  at  Brown  University  in  1875  ;  read 
law  with  Sargent  and  Chase,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  August,  1878.  He  opened  an  office  at  Concord 
the  next  month,  and  is  now  in  practice  there. 

The  book  has  been  open  to  all  who  were  willing  to 
contribute  portraits  to  embellish  its  pages,  and  I  am 
grateful  to  Mrs.  Abner  Woodman  and  Benjamin  E. 
Badger,  for  the  portrait  of  Benjamin  Evans ;  to  Mrs. 
George  H.  Witherle  and  L.  Willis  Bean,  for  tliat  of 
their  father ;  to  Mrs.  Herman  Foster,  for  that  of  her 
husband  ;  to  Abner  D.  Famum's  family,  for  that  of 
Franklin  Simonds ;  to  John  E.  Robertson,  for  that  of 
his  father ;  to  the  officers  of  the  bank  at  Warner,  for 


6  mSTOBT  OP  WARNER. 

that  of  Joshua  George  ;  and  to  the  sons  of  Asa  Pat- 
tee,  for  that  of  their  father.  To  those  who  have 
furnished  portraits  of  themselves,  I  am  also  under 
special  obligations. 

I  am  indebted  to  Levi  Bartlett,  whose  recollection 
of  early  incidents  and  historical  events  is  remarkable, 
for  many  facts  herein  set  forth ;  to  the  late  H.  H. 
Harriman,  whose  knowledge  of  the  topography  of  the 
town, — of  its  roads,  of  its  divisions  and  sub-divisions 
into  ranges  and  lots, — excelled  that  of  any  other  man  ; 
to  Mrs.  Hardy,  of  Hopkinton,  an  intelligent  old  lady, 
94  years  of  age,  the  mother  of  Col.  Tyler  B.  and 
Geo.  B.  Hardy ;  to  Charles  Davis,  of  Davisville,  S.  S. 
Bean,  L.  W.  Collins,  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Walker,  and  others, 
for  valuable  items  found  in  this  work. 

In  conclusion,  I  can  only  express  the  hope  that  the 
reading  of  the  book  will  afford  the  people  of  Warner 
(and  others)  as  much  satisfaction  as  the  publication 
of  it  has  afforded  the  author. 

W.  H. 

June  24, 1879. 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 


Taqm, 

Chapter  I. — Grants ;  Township  Number  One 11 

Chapter  II. — ^Description  of  township  Number  One; 
Its  boundaries ;  Its  soil  and  productions ;  Its 
ponds  and  streams ;  Its  mountains 24 

Chapter  III. — Proprietors'  records  ;  A  new  start ; 
First  saw-mill ;  The  inevitable  tax 41 

Chapter  IV. — ^First  meeting  in  the  township;  Dam 
and  flume;  First  proposals  td  settlers;  Troubles 
accumulate  ;  New  Hampshire  ap])ealed  to ;  No  re- 
lief ;  Indian  depredations ;  The  Masonian  propri- 
etors ;  Further  encouragement  to  settlers ;  Grant 
to  Rye 50 

Chapter  V. — A  new  epoch  ;  Settlement  of  the  town ; 
Daniel  Annis;  Reuben  Kimball;  The  first  child    65 

Chapter  TI. — Proprietors'  record  ;  Efforts  for  colo- 
nization ;  Gift  lots  ;  Settlers'  bond ;  Early  settlers    78 

Chapter  VII. — Early  settlers,  continued  ;  Boat  on  the 
Contoocook ;  Second  saw-mill 92 

Chapter  Till. — ^Tlie  Rye  grantees ;  Records  of  Ames- 
bury  proprietors ;  First  meeting-house ;  Hedged 
in  ;  The  Potash ;  The  old  tavern ;  First  grist-mill  111 

Chapter  IX. — ^The  Masonian  proprietors ;  A  new  grant ; 
Organizing  under  it 129 


8  HISTORT  OF  WARNER. 


Chapter  X. — Delinquent  rights ;  Second  meeting-house ; 

Another  town  ;  Trespassers ;  Running  the  lines . . .  141 

Chapter  XI. — Settlement  of  fii-st  minister  ;  Steps 
towards  incorporation ;  A  church  organized ;  The 
survey;  First  bridge;  Proprietors'  records 161 

Chapter  XII. — ^Proprietors'  records ;  The  Rye  grantees ;    * 
Board  of  arbitrators ;  Their  award  ;  '*  Parmer  '* 
again . ,. 158 

Chapter  XIII. — ^Tlie  town  incorporated ;  Mills  at  great 
falls ;  More  trouble  with  Rye ;  Burying-yard  and 
Parade  ;  Captain  Fi*ancis  Davis ;  Xearing  the  end ; 
Final  meeting 165 

Chapter  XIV. — ^The  intermediate  state ;  Firet  meeting 
of  the  settlers  ;  Fast  day ;  Rev.  Mr.  Kelley  called ; 
His  salary;  His  ordination;  The  first  juryman; 
Town  charter 176 

Chapter  XV. — Name  of  the  town;  Daniel  Warner; 

Col.  Seth  Warner;  His  character  and  services. . ..  190 

Chapter  XVI. — Warner's  first  meeting ;  Town  recoinis ; 
War-notes ;  The  census ;  Sage  tea ;  The  crisis  at 
hand ;  Convention  of  the  people ;  Governor  Went- 
worth 211 

Qhapter  XVII. — ^The  Exeter  convention ;  Not  a  col- 
ony, but  a  state ;  First  representative  ;  Town  and 
class  records 224 

Chapter  XVIII. — Constitutional  conventions;  Town 
and  class  records ;.  President  of  tlie  stato ;  Loca- 
tion of  meeting-house 287 

Chapter  XIX. — The  fedei-al  constitution;  Half-shire 
town  ;  Court's  committee  ;  Court-house ;  A  pro- 
test ;  Town  records  ;  House  under  the  ledge 253 

Chapter  XX. — ^Town  records ;  Half-shire  again ;  Anti- 
pedobaptists ;  Gen.  Aquila  Davis;  The  first  pound  270 


TABLE  OF  CONTEXTS.  9 

Paob. 

Chapter  XXI. — ^Town  records;  Pauper  sale;  Hon. 
Henry  B.  Chase ;  First  seliQol  committee ;  A  new 
pound  ;  Hon.  Benjamin  Evans 287 

Chapter  XXH. — ^Town  records  ;  The  cold  Friday ; 
War  of  1812  ;  Rev.  John  Woods ;  A  cold  season ; 
Masonic ;  Divorce  of  church  and  state  ;  Heresy ; 
Quaker  women  whipped 800 

Chapter  XXIII. — ^Town  records ;  Tlie  tornado 318 

Chapter  XXIV. — A  new  county ;  Tlie  nation's  guest ; 
Town  records ;  Cattle  show 827 

Chapter  XXV. — Town  records ;  Presidential  election ; 

Henniker  celebration  ;  First  poor-farm 842 

Chapter  XXVI. — ^Town  records ;  Second  poor-farm ; 
Farmers'  and  mechanics'  library ;  Cranberry  and 
hoop-pole  parties 357 

Chapter  XXVII. — ^Town  records ;  New  town  hall ; 
Railroad  opening ;  Tlie  banks  ;  Constitutional  con- 
vention ;  Homestead  exemption 874 

Chapter  XXVHI. — ^The  war ;  State  aid  ;  Bounties  to 
Soldiers ;  Raising  the  bid ;  Bounty-jumpers ;  More 
men  ;  The  anny  moves.- 894 

Chapter  XXIX. — End  of  town  records ;  Mountain 
road  ;  Warner  High  School  ;  River-Bow  Park ; 
Road  and  reservoirs  ;  Funding  the  debt ;  Constitu- 
tional convention ;  County  buildings ;  Under  the 
new  constitution 403 

Chapter  XXX. — Kearsarge  Gore ;  Tlie  Masonian  pro- 
prietors ;  The  curve  line ;  Survey  of  the  Gore ; 
Wilmot  incorporated  ;  The  Gore  records 429 

Chapter  XXXI. — Post-masters ;  Deputy  sheriffs ;  Law- 
yers; Physicians;  College  graduates;  High-school 
teachers ;  Debating  clubs ;  Literary  men  and  women  445 


10 


BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 


Paob. 

Chapter  XXXII. — Military  history  of  Warner;  Tlie 
Revolution;  Alarm  at  Coos;  War  with  France 
threatened ;  War  of  1812 ;  Tlic  Rebellion ;  State 
militia 477 

Chapter  XXXIII. — Ecclesiastical* history  of  Warner...  600 

Chapter  XXXIV. — Local  names ;  Population  of  War- 
ner ;  Four-score  years  and  ten  ;  Manufactures. . . .  521 

Chapter  XXXV. — Fatal  casualties  ;  Suicides  ;  Priva- 
tions; Woman  lost;  Wild  beasts;  Witchcraft...,  535 

Chapter XXX VI. — ^The  Boundaries  of  New  Hampshire: 
An  address  by  Gen.  Walter  Harriman,  delivei*ed  at 
Canterbury,  N.  H.,  May  3,  1878 560 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Paob. 

*"' Walter  Harriman  [^J^**J;pJS!'] 

*^Map  of  Warner 2U 

^Orison  Hardy 105 

v'George  Runels 123 

^Daniel  Barnard 13G 

Kisa  Pattee. 257 

vOBenjamin  Evans 298 

»^Gilman  C.  George 313 

v'Ezekiel  A.  Straw 331 

/Daniel  Bean,  Jr 354 

»^obert  Tliompson 8G1 

►^George  A.  Pillsbury 375 


Paok. 

Joshua  George 382 

^ra  Harvey 387 

^Harrison  D.  Robei*tson..  392 

^iFranklin  Simonds 410 

^Nchcmiah  G.Ordway...  423 

KAlonzo  C.  Carroll 447 

v:A.lbert  P.  Davis 452 

*  Herman  Foster 455 

^Levi  Bartlett 469 

^JohnC.  Ela 494 

Usaac  D.  Stewart 515 

"Salter  Scott  Davis 582 


OHAPTEE   I. 

GRANTS — ^TOWNSHIP  KUKBEB    ONE. 

IjFiHE  English  claimed  the  whole  of  North  America, 
^  from  Labrador  to  Florida.  They  claimed  it  by 
virtue  of  its  discovery  by  the  Cabots,  in  1497,  and  of 
subsequent  explorations,  and  efforts  to  colonize  it 
They  found  their  claims,  however,  interfered  with,  to 
some  extent,  by  the  occupation  of  Canada  by  the 
French,  and  of  New  Netherland  (now  New  York)  by 
the  Dutch. 

By  the  English  constitution,  the  title  to  all  the 
lands  of  the  natives  was  vested  in  the  king,  and  he 
might  grant  them  when,  to  whom,  and  for  what  con- 
sideration he  pleased.  His  grants  might  be  absolute, 
or  they  might  be  conditionaL 

The  grants  of  the  king,  with  corporate  powers,  con- 
stituted what  were  denominated  charter  gavemmerUa. 
Such  were  the  grants  to  Massachusetts,  Connecticut^ 
and  Bhode  Island.  Then  there  were  royal  govern- 
ments,— governments  in  which  the  king,  imtrammeled 
by  grants  of  the  soil,  still  retained  his  original  author- 
ity.   They  were  presided  over  by  a  governor,  who 


12  HISTOBT  OF  WARXEB. 

was  appointed  by  the  Crown,  and  who  was  removable 
at  the  king's  pleasure.  The  governor  was  assisted 
by  a  council,  generally  recommended  by  himself  but 
appointed  by  the  king,  and  he  had  a  negative  upon 
the  proceedings  of  any  assembly  of  the  people,  with 
power  to  prorogue  or  dissolve  it  whenever  he  saw  fit 
To  the  governor,  also,  was  committed  authority  to 
grant,  in  the  name  of  the  king,  any  unchartered  lands 
in  his  province.    Such  was  New  Hampshire. 

King  James  the  First  chartered  "The  Council  of 
Plymouth  ^  on  the  3d  day  of  November,  1620.  To 
give  a  clear  understanding  of  what  this  council  was, 
a  paragraph  from  its  charter  is  here  introduced: 
^  There  shall  be  forever,  in  our  town  of  Plymouth,  in 
our  county  of  Devon,  a  body  corporate,  consisting  of 
forty  persons,  with  perpetual  succession,  called  by  the 
name  of  the  Council  established  at  Plymouth,  in  the 
county  of  Devon, /or  tfie  planting,  ruling,  ordering^  and 
governing  of  New  England  in  America" 

To  this  council  was  granted  by  the  king  a  broad 
extent  of  territory,  reaching  nearly  to  the  mouth  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  river  on  the  north,  to  considerably 
below  the  southern  limit  of  New  England  on  the 
south,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean. 
The  language  of  the  charter  is,  "  all  the  lands  from 
forty  to  forty-eight  degrees  of  north  latitude,  from 
sea  to  sea." 

This  Plymouth  Council,  on  the  7th  day  of  Novem- 


GRANTS,  13 

ber,  1629,  granted  to  Capt  John  Mason,  of  the  county 
of  Hampshire.  England,  "All  that  part  of  the  main 
land  in  New  England,  lying  upon  the  sea-coast,  begin- 
ning from  the  middle  part  of  Merrimack  river,  and 
from  thence  to  proceed  northwards  along  the  sear 
coast  to  Piscataqua  river,  and  so  forwards  up  within 
the  said  river,  and  to  the  furtherest  head  thereof,  and 
from  thence  northwestward  until  three-score  miles  be 
finished  from  the  first  entrance  of  Piscataqua  river. 
Also,  from  Merrimack,  through  the  said  river,  and  to 
the  furtherest  head  thereof,  and  so  forwards  up  into 
the  land  westwards,  until  three-score  miles  be  finished ; 
and  firom  thence  to  cross  over  land  to  the  three-score 
miles  end  accounted  from  Piscataqua  river.'* 

This  is  the  state  of  New  Hampshire  in  its  incep- 
tion, and  Warner  is  included  within  the  limits  of  this 
grant  But  this  is  not  the  state  of  to-day.  These 
boundaries  have  been  extended,  and  the  domain  has 
been  doubled  in  amount 

The  king  in  his  grant,  and  the  council  in  theirs, 
were  not  entirely  unselfish  in  the  performance  of  their 
deeds.  They  made  valuable  reservations.  They  were 
actuated,  in  large  degree,  by  the  hope  of  gain.  When 
King  James  chartered  the  Council  of  Plymouth  in 
1620,  and  when  the  council,  in  1629,  made  the  grant  of 
New  Hampshire  to  Capt  John  Mason,  it  was  believed 
that  immense  quantities  of  gold  and  silver  existed  in 
these  mountains.     This  country  was  compared  to 


14  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Mexico  and  Peru,  from  ivhich  plunderers  had  re- 
turned laden  with  the  shining  dust  Indeed,  ^all 
Europe  began  to  dream  of  America  as  a  land  where 
the  sands  sparkled  with  gold,  and  the  earth  was  paved 
with  glittering  gems."  So,  in  the  charter  of  King 
James  aforesaid,  a  reservation  is  made  of  one  fifth  of 
the  gold  and  silver ;  and  in  the  grant  of  the  Council 
of  Pl3rmouth  to  Mason,  one  fifth  is  reserved  for  the 
king,  and  another  fifth  for  the  council,  and  these  two 
fifths  were  to  be  taken  from  the  whole  amount 
"brought  above  ground,  to  be  delivered,  above 
ground." 

Governors  of  provinces  made  grants  in  the  name 
of  the  king,  to  individuals  and  companies,  for  various 
considerations.  Innumerable  cases  occurred  in  which 
they  granted  lands  for  actual  or  supposed  service  to 
the  king  or  to  his  local  governments.  Especially  were 
such  grants  made  for  military  service.  Many  who 
had  been  engaged  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars 
were  affectionately  remembered  in  this  way.  Grants 
were  also  made  with  valuable  reservations  of  land 
and  timber,  the  reservations  being  worth,  after  the 
settling  and  opening  up  of  a  locality,  more  than  the 
whole  of  the  territory  granted  was  worth  before. 
Grants  were  also  made  for  stipulated  sums  of  money ; 
and  in  some  instances  the  grantees  simply  paid  cer- 
tain incidental  expenses.  Such  was  the  case  with  the 
proprietors  of  Warner. 


GRAXT9.  15 

It  is  not  known  that  the  grantees  of  Warner  had 
:»endered  any  particular  service  to  the  king,  or  to  his 
3>rovincial  government  of  Massachusetts.  Only  a 
small  number  of  the  sixty  had  been  engaged  in  any 
Tnilitary  service,  except  in  the  "home  guards.^  They 
gave  nothing  for  their  township  of  land,  as  has  al- 
ready  been  stated.  But  at  the  time  this  and  many 
other  grants  were  made,  the  boundary  line  between 
Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  was  in  controver- 
sy. Massachusetts  claimed  the  territory  of  Warner^ 
and  all  the  country  between  the  Merrimack  and  the 
Connecticut^  to  a  line  far  north  of  Warner.  New 
Hampshire,  of  course,  claimed  the  same  territory* 
The  dispute  had  been  warm  and  long  continued.  To 
gain  ground  in  the  contest,  Massachusetts  used  every 
endeavor  to  induce  men  to  accept  grants  of  townships. 
It  had  become  apparent  that  the  line  between  the 
provinces  must  soon  be  settled,  and  the  government 
of  Massachusetts  feared  that  their  claim  might  be 
greatly  restricted.  In  this  apprehension,  the  general 
assembly  of  that  province,  under  the  recommendation 
of  the  governor,  commenced  granting  the  lands  in 
controversy  to  actual  settlers  from  their  own  province, 
in  order  that,  if  she  should  lose  jurisdiction  over  the 
lands,  her  people  would  have  the  fee  in  the  soiL  Ac- 
cordingly, in  1725,  Penacook  (Concord)  was  granted 
to  actual  settlers  from  Andover,  Bradford,  Haverhill, 
and  other  towns  in   that  vicinity.    Pembroke  was 


16  HISTORY  OF  WABNEB* 

granted  in  1726,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years, 
Amherst,  New  Boston,  Bedford,  Boscawen,  Hillsbor- 
ough,  Keene,  Swanzey,  and  Peterborough  were  grant- 
ed. About  the  same  time  it  Avas  proposed  in  the 
legislature  of  Massachusetts  to  grant  two  tiers  of 
townships  from  the  Merrimack  to  the  Connecticut 
river,  under  the  pretence  of  having  a  line  of  settle- 
ments on  the  frontier  as  a  protection  against  the  Ind- 
ians, but  in  reality  to  secure  the  lands  to  the  people 
of  that  province,  and,  if  possible,  to  forestall  the  deci- 
sion of  the  boundary  question.  Hence,  grants  were 
made  with  rapidity,  and  on  terms  unusually  favorable 
to  the  grantees.  Hopkinton,  Henniker,  and  Warner 
were  all  granted  in  1735. 

TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE. 

In  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives, 
Thursday,  January  15th,  1735,  Edmund  Quincy, 
Esq.,  from  the  committee  of  the  two  houses,  on  the 
petitions  for  townships,  presented  the  following  re- 
port : 

"The  Committee,  appointed  the  14th  current  to 
take  into  consideration  the  several  Petitions  for  Town- 
ships, before  the  Court,  and  report  what  may  be  prop- 
er for  the  Court  to  do  thereon,  having  met,  and  ma- 
turely considered  the  same,  are  humbly  of  the  opin- 
ion that  there  be  a  careful  view  and  survey  of  the 
lands  between   Merrimack  and  Connecticut  Kivers, 


TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE.  17 

m  the  northwest  corner  of  Rumford  [Concord],  on 
le  Merrimack,  to  the  great  falls  [Bellows  Falls],  on 
he  Connecticut,  of  twelve  miles  at  the  least  in 
readth,  or  north  and  south,  by  a  committee  of 
i^leven  able  and  serviceable  persons  to  be  appointed 
T)y  this  Court,  who  shall,  after  a  due  knowledge  of 
"the  nature  and  circumstances  thereof,  lay  the  same 
into  as  many  Townships  of  the  contents  of  six  miles 
square,  as  the  land  in  width  as  aforesaid  will  allow  of; 
no  Township  to  be  more  than  six  miles  east  and  west ; 
and  also  lay  out  the  land  on  the  east  side  of  Connecti- 
cut River  from  said  falls  to  the  Township  [Winches- 
ter], laid  out  to  Josiah  Willard  and  others,  into  as 
many  Townships,  of  the  contents  of  six  miles  square, 
as  the  same  will  allow  of;  and  also  the  land  on  the 
west  side  of  the  River  of  Connecticut,  from  said  falls 
to  the  equivalent  land,  into  one  or  two  townships,  of 
the  contents  of  six  miles  square,  if  the  same  will  allow 
thereof.  [Massachusetts,  at  this  time,  laid  claim  also 
to  a  part  of  Vermont]  Five  of  which  Committee  to 
be  a  Quorum  for  surveying  and  laying  out  the  Town- 
ships on  each,  from  Rumford  to  Connecticut  River  as 
aforesaid ;  and  three  of  the  committee  aforesaid  shall 
be  a  Quorum  for  surveying  and  laying  out  the  Town- 
ships on  each  side  of  Connecticut  river  as  aforesaid ; 
and  that  the  said  committee  make  report  of  their  do- 
ings to  this  Court  at  their  session  in  May  next,  or  as 
soon  as  conveniently  they  can,  that  so  the  persons 


18  mSTORT  OF  WJLBNEB. 

whose  names  are  contained  in  the  several  Petitions 
hereafler  mentioned,  viz. ;  In  the  Petition  of  Hopkins 
ton,  in  the  Petition  of  Salisbury  and  Ameshuryy  in  the 
Petition  of  Cambridge,  in  the  Petition  of  Bradford  and 
Wenbam,  in  the  Petition  of  Haverhill,  in  the  Petition 
of  Milton  and  Brookline,  in  the  Petition  of  Samuel 
Chamberlain  and  Jonathan  Jewell,  in  the  Petition  of 
Nathaniel  Harris  and  others,  in  the  Petition  of  Ste- 
phens, Goulder,  and  others,  in  the  Petition  of  Morgan, 
Cobb,  and  others,  Jonathan  Wells  and  others,  Lys- 
com,  Johnson,  and  others,  in  the  Petition  of  Isaac  Lit- 
tle and  others,  in  the  Petition  of  Jonathan  Powers  and 
others,  John  Whitman,  Esq.,  and  others,  Samuel  Hay- 
ward  and  others,  Josiah  Fassett  and  others,  John 
Flynt  and  others,  Jonathan  How  and  others,  of 
Bridge  water,  that  have  not  heretofore  been  admitted 
grantees  or  settlers  within  the  space  of  seven  years 
last  past,  of  or  in,  any  former  or  other  grant  of  a 
Township,  or  particular  grant,  on  condition  of  settling  j 
and  that  shall  appear  and  give  security  to  the  value 
oi  Forty  Pounds  to  perform  the  conditions  that  shall  be 
enjoined  by  this  Court,  may,  by  the  major  part  of  the 
Committee,  be  admitted  Grantees  into  one  of  the  said 
Townships ;  the  Committee  to  give  public  notice  of  the 
time  and  place  of  their  meeting  to  admit  the  Gran- 
tees ;  which  committee  shall  be  impowered  to  employ 
Surveyors  and  chainmen  to  assist  them  in  surveying 
and  laying  out  said  Townships ;  the  Province  to  bear 


TOTTXSHIP  NUMBER  ONE.  19 

the  charge,  and  be  repaid  by  the  Grantees  who  may 
be  admitted ;  the  whole  charge  they  shall  advance, 
which  committee,  we  apprehend,  ought  to  be  directed 
and  impowered  to  admit  sixty  settlers  in  each  Town- 
ship, and  take  their  bonds,  payable  to  the  committee 
and  their  successors  in  the  said  Trust,  to  the  use  of 
the  Province,  for  tlie  performance  of  the  conditions  of 
their  Grant,  viz. ;  That  each  grantee  build  a  dwelling- 
house  of  eighteen  feet  square  and  seven  feet  stud  at  the 
least  on  their  respective  home  lots^  and  fence  in  and 
Ireak  up  for  plowing^  or  clear  and  stock  with  EngUsh 
grass  five  acres  of  land,  within  three  years  next  afler 
ih^  admittancey  and  cause  their  respective  Lots  ioheinr 
habited;  and  that  the  Grantees  do,  within  the  space  of 
three  years  from  the  time  of  their  being  admitted^ 
build  and  furnish  a  convenient  Meeting  House  for  the 
publick  worship  of  God,  and  settle  a  Learned  Ortho^ 
^  Minister ;  and  in  case  any  of  the  Grantees  shall 
fail  or  neglect  to  perfoim  what  is  enjoined  above,  the 
committee  shall  be  obliged  to  put  the  Bonds  in  suit 
and  take  possession  of  the  Lots  and   Rights  that 
shall  become  forfeited,  and '  proceed  to  grant  them  to 
other  persons  that  will  appear  to  fulfil  the  condition 
within  one  year  next  aflcr  their  last  mentioned  grant 
And  if  a  sufficient  number  of  petitioners  that  have 
had  no  grant  within  seven  years  as  aforesaid,  viz^ 
sixty  to  each  township,  do  not  appear,  others  may  be 
admitted,  provided  they  have  fulfilled  the  conditions 


20  BISTORT  OF  WASXER. 

of  their  former  grant.  The  committee  to  take  care 
that  there  be  sixty-three  house  lots  laid  out  in  as  reg- 
ular, compact,  and  defensible  a  manner  as  the  land 
will  admit  of;  one  of  which  Lots  shall  be  for  the  first 
settled  minister,  one  for  the  second  settled  minister, 
and  one  for  the  school ;  to  each  of  which  an  equal  pro- 
portion of  land  shall  accrue  in  all  future  divisions.*' 

The  foregoing  report  was  adopted  by  the  house, 
the  council  concurred  in  the  measure,  and  the  gov- 
ernor approved  of  the  same. 

^  Friday,  January  16, 1735,  In  the  House  of  repre- 
sentatives, ordered  that  Joseph  Gerrish,  Benjamin 
Prescott,  Josiah  Willard,  and  Job  Almy,  Esqrs^  Mr. 
Moses  Pearson,  and  Capt  Joseph  Gould,  with  such  as 
the  honorable  board  [Council]  shall  join,  be  a  commit- 
tee to  all  intents  and  purposes  to  eflfect  the  business 
projected  by  the  report  of  the  committee  of  both 
houses  to  consider  the  petitions  for  townships  which 
passed  [was  approved]  this  day,  viz.,  on  the  proposed 
line  between  Merrimack  and  Connecticut  rivers,  and 
on  both  sides  of  Connecticut  river ;  and  that  there  be 
granted  and  allowed  to  be  paid  out  of  the  public 
treasury,  afler  the  rate  of  fifteen  shillings  per  diem  (to 
each  of  the  committee)  for  every  day  he  is  in  the  ser- 
vice in  the  woods,  and  subsistence,  and  ten  shillings 
per  diem  for  every  day  to  each  one  of  the  said  com- 
mittee while  in  the  service  in  admitting  settlers  into 


TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE. 


21 


the  said  townships,  aiid  subsistence,  to  be  paid  a^ 

aforesaid/' 

*^In  Council^  same  day,  Read  and  concurred,  and 
Waiiam  Dudley,  Samuel  Wells,  Thomas  Berry,  Joseph 
Wilder,  and  John  Chandler,  Jr.,  Esqrs.,  are  joined  with 
the  committee  of  the  house  for  the  line  between  Mer- 
rimack  and  Connecticut  rivers.'' 

To  the  Salisbury  and  Amesbury  petitioners,  a  grant 
of  a  township  six  miles  square,  to  be  called  Number 
OnCj  was  made  to  the  following  sixty  persons : 

THE  GRANTEES. 


Dea.  Thomas  Stevens, 
CapL  Richard  Currier, 
Eleazer  Wells,  N 
Jacob  Currier,^ 
Daniel  Ring, 
Moses  Sargent, 
Jeremiah  Flanders, 
Ichabod  Colby, 
Paine  Wingate, 
Jonathan  Barnard, 
James  Ordway, 
Philip  Quimby, 
Capt  John  Sargent, 
Dr.  Nehemiah  Ordway, 
Joseph  Quimby,\    * 
John  Pre8sey,\ 


Daniel  Currier, 
Joseph  Peasley,  ^ 
Samuel  Straw, 
John  Allen,  ^ 
Joseph  Jewell^ 
John  Hoyt, 
John  Jewell,  2d, 
Elihu  Gould, 
Caleb  Clough,^ 
Stephen  Merrill, 
Nathan  Chandler,  ^ 
John  Challis,   % 
Aaron  Rowell, 
Edmund  March,  ^ 
Jonathan  Currier,  ^ 
John  Wells, 


22 


HI8I0BT  Of  WABNE8. 


Jonathan  Pressey,  k 
Samuel  Colby,  Sd, 
David  Bing, 
Joseph  Currier,  \ 
Samuel  Barnard, 
Jonathan  Blaisdell,  ^ 
Samuel  Parsons,  n 
John  Hoyt, 
William  Nichols,V 
Jarvis  Bing, 
Stephen  Patten, 
William  Straw, 
Samuel  Flanders,  v 
John  Jewell,  ^ 


Orlando  Colby;i 
John  Stevens,\ 
Francis  Davis, 
John  Nichols, 
Isaac  Chandler,^ 
Benjamin  Tucker, 
Jacob  Fowler, 
Timothy  Colby,\ 
Timothy  Sargent, 
Gideon  Bowell, 
Thomas  Bowell, 
Stephen  Sargent, 
Jacob  Sargent,  ^ 
Joseph  Jones. 


These  sixty  proprietors  lived  in  Salisbury  and 
Amesbury,  Massachusetts, — most  of  them  in  Ames- 
bury.  They  received  their  grant  of  this  township  in 
the  year  1735.  Some  of  them,  at  a  subsequent  day, 
became  residents  of  the  town,  but  a  majority  of  them 
did  not.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  clearly  set 
forth  the  perils  which  they  encountered,  the  discour- 
agements that  beset  them,  and  the  victories  which 
they  achieved.  In  short,  the  reader  will  here  find  a 
faithful  representation  of  the  intensely  interesting 
record  which  they  made. 

As  not  only  most  of  the  proprietors,  but  also  a  large 
proportion  of  the  settlers  of  Number  One,  were  of 


TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE.  23 

Amesbury,  that  town  may  be  considered  the  parent 
of  Warner :    and  Warner  need  not  be  ashamed  of 
her  parentage,  for  Amesbury  is  a  thriving,  wealthy 
place,  containing  now  a  large  population.    The  broad 
Merrimack  rolls  at  its  feet,  the  town  being  situated 
on  the  north  bank  of  that  famed  river.    Among  its 
many  attractions  is  the  home  of  the  world-renowned 
Quaker  poet,  John  G.  Whittier.     Powow  river,  fall- 
ing down  from  New  Hampshire,  passes  through  the 
centre   of  Amesbury,  and  carries  some  of  its  small 
machinery,  but  the  great  factories  there  are  run  by 
steam.     To  the  east  of  Amesbury,  and  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Merrimack,  lies  old  Salisbury,  extending 
to  the  ocean.     Salisbury  beach,  till  it  was  disfigured 
and  destroyed  by  the  cottages  which  have  been  erect- 
ed  there  within  a  few  years,  w*as  the  grandest  beach 
on  the  whole  coast     On  the  north  of  Amesbury  lies 
South   Hampton,  New   Hampshire ;   on   the  west  is 
Merrimac,  Massachusetts  ;  and  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  a  little  farther  down,  is  old  time-scarred 
Newburyport 

This  is  a  desirable  region,  but  it  began  to  be  filled 
up  early  with  an  enterprising  population ;  land  soon 
became  dear,  and  families  with  small  means  thought 
they  could  get  a  foothold  in  a  new,  wild  country  more 
readily  than  there.    Hence  the  migration  to  Warner 


CHAPTER   II. 

DESCRIPTION  OP  TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE — ITS  BOUNDARIES — 
ITS  SOIL  AND  PRODUCTIONS — ^ITS  PONDS  AND  STREAMS — ITS 
MOUNTAINS. 

IIIHE  centre  of  Warner — Number  One — is  eighteen 
J^  miles  from  the  state  house  at  Concord,  in  a  direc- 
tion a  little  north  of  west  It  is  bounded  on  Henni- 
ker,  Hopkinton,  Webster,  Salisbury,  Andover,  Wilmot, 
Sutton,  and  Bradford.  It  is  85  miles  from  Boston,  by 
the  most  direct  public  road,  and  95  by  railroad.  As 
granted  by  the  Massachusetts  government  in  1735,  its 
boundaries  were  as  follows:  ^Beginning  at  a  place 
called  and  known  as  Contoocook,  then  running  north, 
15  degrees  west,  6  miles;  then  running  from  each  end 
of  this  line,  west  5  degrees  south,  6  miles ;  thence  cross- 
ing and  running  over  on  a  straight  line,  from  the  west 
end  of  one  of  these  last  mentioned  lines,  to  the  other, 
so  as  to  make  up  the  quantity  of  six  miles  square  and 
no  more." 

There  was  no  Contoocook  village  at  this  time,  and 
no  inhabitant  anywhere  in  Hopkinton.  The  bound- 
ary did  not  begin  on  the  Contoocook  river;  and  the 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE.  25 

language  of  the  grantors  would  have  been  more  intel- 
ligible if  they  had  said,  '^beginning  on  the  Ihie  of  the 
township  of  Contoocook,"  for  Boscawen  had  already 
been  granted  by  that  name.  They  intended  to  begin 
at  the  junction  of  the  Boscawen  and  Hopkinton  lines; 
but,  as  Hopkinton  had  not  yet  been  surveyed,  though 
it  had  been  granted,  they  could  not  recognize  a  Hop- 
kinton line:  it  did  not  exist' 

This  comer  of  the  town  is  in  the  midst  of  a  swamp 
or  bog ;  and  the  pole  which  marks  it  can  be  plainly 
seen  from  the  road  leading  from  Davisville  to  Contoo- 
cookville,  some  eighty  or  one  hundred  rods  below  the 
former  plMe. 

The  grantors  intended  to  convey  ^  the  quantity  of 
six  miles  square,  and  no  more ;"  but  by  the  terms  of 
the  grant  they  did  not  convey  that  amount  The 
angles  which  they  made  were  not  right  angles;  and 
the  area  of  the  grant  fell  considerably  short  of  thirty- 
six  square  miles. 

Lots  and  ranges  were  laid  off,  but  no  official  survey 
of  the  town  was  ever  made  under  this  grant  fix>m 
Massachusetts.  No  bounds  were  ever  established. 
Other  and  grave  matters  crowded.  The  survey  was 
delayed ;  and  in  March,  1740,  the  decision  of  the  king 
on  the  boundary  question  put  an  end  to  the  Massar 
chusetts  claim  in  this  region. 

The  town  was  re-granted  in  1767,  by  the  Masonian 
Proprietors,  with  boundaries  precisely  the  same  as 


26  mSTOBT  OF  VITABNEB. 

those  in  the  Massachusetts  grant  The  township  was 
surveyed  for  the  first  time  in  August,  1772.  Hubertus 
Neal,  of  Concord,  a  skilful  and  popular  surveyor,  su- 
perintended the  job.  His  report  of  this  survey  is  in 
the  words  following : 

«At  the  request  of  the  proprietors  of  New  Almsbury 
[the  town  was  now  generally  called  by  that  name],  I 
have  laid  out  said  Township,  containing  the  quantity 
of  six  miles  square,  and  no  more,  as  foUoweth,  viz. ; 
Began  at  a  stake  in  a  meadow  in  the  line  of  Bos- 
cawen,  and  run  North  17  degrees  west,  six  miles  and 
126  rods,  to  a  birch  tree,  the  north-west  comer  of  Bos- 
cawen ;  thence  South  71  degrees  west,  three  miles 
and  70  rods,  to  a  beech  tree  by  the  comer  of  Stevens- 
town  [Salisbury] ;  then  same  course,  290  rods,  to  a 
small  beech  in  Perrystown  [Sutton]  line ;  then  by 
Perrystown  line,  South  16  degrees  east,  345  rods,  to  a 
beech  tree  and  heap  of  stones,  the  south-east  comer 
of  Perrystown ;  then  South  85  degrees  west,  three 
miles  and  70  rods,  to  a  beech  tree  and  heap  of  stones ; 
then  South  17  degrees  east,  four  miles  and  176  rods, 
to  a  beech  tree  in  the  line  of  Henniker ;  then  by  said 
line,  north  85  degrees  east,  and  by  Hopkinton  line,  to 

the  stake  first  begun  at 

^Hubertus  Neal, 

.  ^  Deputy  Surveyor.** 

The  Warner  of  to-day  is  precisely  this,  with  the 
Gore  added ;  but  it  will  be  seen  that  the  town  does 


DESCRIPTION  OF  TOWNSHIP  NUMBER  ONE.  27 

not  correspond  very  closely  with  the  terms  of  the 
grant  It  is  not  six  miles  square,  nor  is  it  regular  in 
shape  as  proposed.  It  is  more  than  six  miles  and  a 
third  in  length  on  the  Boscawen  end^  and  but  little 
more  than  four  and  a  half  on  the  west  end.  Its 
length  from  east  to  west  is  above  seven  miles.  The 
area  of  the  town,  without  the  Gore,  is  thirty-seven 
square  miles,  and  with  the  Gore  (which  embraces 
seven  square  miles),  it  is  forty-four.  The  north  line 
of  the  town,  before  the  Gore  was  added,  running  from 
the  south-west  comer  of  Salisbury,  near  Bartlett 
Hardy's  house,  crossed  the  north  road  at  the  site  of 
the  Sawyer  shanty,  and  struck  Sutton  on  the  line 
between  land  of  William  K.  Morrill  and  Nathaniel 
Page,  near  Stevens  brook 

The  reason  why  the  town  was  not  surveyed  and 
laid  out  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  grant  is 
obvious.  Obstacles  were  found  in  the  way.  Henni- 
ker  and  Hopkinton  on  the  south,  Boscawen  on  the 
east,  and  Salisbury  and  Sutton  on  the  north,  had  been 
granted  and  surveyed  before  1772,  and  their  limits 
had  been  established  by  due  metes  and  bounds.  The 
proprietors  of  Warner,  therefore,  had  to  take  their 
territory  where  they  could  find  it.  Only  on  the  west 
was  the  country  unsurveyed,  and  their  full  comple- 
ment  of  land,  and  more^  was  made  up  by  extending 
their  limits  in  that  direction.  Had  there  been  no  ob- 
structions on  the  north,  the  Eaton  neighborhood,  and 
8 


28  BISTORT  OF  WABNER. 

much  more  of  Sutton,  would  have  been  in  Warner. 
The  town  would  not  have  extended  as  far  west  as  it 
does  by  more  than  a  mile ;  and  the  two  western  ranges, 
which  sought  to  be  annexed  to  Bradford  in  1832, 
would  have  always  belonged  to  that  town. 

Township  *  Number  One, — New  Almsbury, — War- 
ner,— is  rocky  and  uneven,  like  most  of  the  towns  in 
central  New  Hampshire ;  but  the  soil,  as  a  rule,  is 
loamy,  warm,  and  productive.  It  is  admirably  adapt* 
ed  to  com  and  apples.  Wheat,  on  certain  farms,  is  a 
safe  crop.  Hay  is  a  good  crop  on  most  fiirms,  and 
pasturing  throughout  the  town  is  equal  to  that  of 
Merrimack  county  generally.  In  a  word,  most  of 
the  staple  crops  of  New  England  do  well  in  Warner. 
The  town  has  never  been  fairly  appreciated,  even  by 
its  own  people.  There  is  no  better  place  on  earth  to 
live  than  in  the  town  of  Warner.  It  is  a  matter  of 
regret  that  so  many  valuable  farms  have  been  de- 
serted. Look  at  the  abandoned  places  between  the 
old  cemetery  and  Kimball  Corner,  on  the  Gould  road, 
and  at  ^  Kiah  Comer,"  near  the  residence  of  Evans 
Davis!  Look  at  the  abandoned  Putney  and  Page 
fimns  in  School  District  No.  8,  the  Kelley  farm  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Minks,  the  Flood  farm  on  Sutton 
line,  the  Savory  farms  in  the  Gore,  and  the  great  farm 
on  Denny  hill !  These,  and  many  others  that  might 
be  named,  should  never  have  been  abandoned.  They 
ought  now  to  be  reiiccupied  and  rejuvenated.    A  resi- 


PONDS  AXD  STREAMS.  29 

dence  on  any  one  of  these  old  farms  is  to  be  preferred 
to  a  tenement  in  the  attic  of  a  three-story  block  in 
the  city,  or  to  a  home  on  the  exhausted  lands  in  the 
fever-stricken  South,  or  on  the  treeless  and  lonely 
prairies  of  the  West 

Then  think  of  the  mountains,  and  the  unequalled 
grandeur  of  the  scenery !  One  view  from  Kiah  Cor- 
ner, for  instance,  just  at  sunset^  will  do  more  towards 
lifting  the  soul  heavenward  than  scores  of  ordinary 
sermons.  It  is  said  that  the  native  forests  of  the  town 
were  gorgeous  beyond  description,  in  their  autumn 
glory.  The  rock  maple  and  the  pine  predominated, 
the  golden  hue  of  the  one  blending  beautifully  with 
the  deep  green  of  the  other.  One  of  the  distinguish- 
ing features  of  the  town  at  the  present  day  is  the 
large  and  thrifty  sugar  orchards  found  in  nearly 
eveiy  section. 

PONDS  AND  STREAM& 

Within  the  limits  of  Warner  there  are  six  recog- 
nized ponds, — viz..  Pleasant,  Tom,  Bear,  Day*s,  Sim- 
mons, and  Bagley's.  None  of  these  are  very  large, 
or  very  noted  Pleasant  pond  is  a  charming  little 
body  of  water,  embracing  fifteen  acres.  Like  the 
Dead  Sea,  it  has  no  visible  outlet  Massaseekum 
lake, — commonly  called  Bradford  pond, — ^lies  just 
beyond  the  west  line  of  Warner.  It  is  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  water,  a  mile  and  a  half  long  and  nearly  a 
mile  wide.    Its  shores  are  attractive,  its  waters  are 


80  BISTORT  OP  WARNER. 

dear  as  crystal,  and  its  islands  are  perfect  gems. 
Poetic  justice  requires  that  it  be  called  after  Massa- 
seekum,  the  last  of  the  Penacooks,  i^ho  dwelt  on  its 
evergreen  shores,  who  remained  after  the  departure 
of  his  tribe  till  the  coming  of  the  pale  face,  and  who 
was  found  dead  in  his  wigwam  by  an  early  English 
settler. 

Warner  river  was  formerly  called  Almsbury  river. 
(This  is  the  spelling  of  the  word  as  found  in  the  origi- 
nal writings.)  One  branch  of  it  rises  in  the  Sunapee 
range  of  mountains,  and  another  in  Massaseekum 
lake.  It  passes  through  Warner  diagonally,  from 
the  north-west  to  the  south-east  comer,  and  &lls  into 
the  Contoocook  a  mile  below  the  village  of  Gontoo- 
cookville.  The  Contoocook,  above  the  junction  of 
these  rivers,  makes  a  graceful  bend  to  the  left,  and, 
as  if  to  meet  the  weaker  stream  in  its  coming,  flows 
due  west  at  the  point  of  the  union.  The  united  riv- 
ers make  a  double  right-angle,  and  bear  off  to  the 
eastward. 

Schoodac  brook  rises  in  Long  pond  in  Webster,  flows 
south-westerly  through  White  plain  and  Schoodac,  and 
&lls  into  Warner  river.  Willow  brook  rises  in  Duck 
pond  in  Salisbury,  runs  in  a  southerly  direction,  and 
unites  with  Warner  river  at  the  village.  Stevens 
brook  rises  around  the  western  base  of  Kearsarge 
mountain,  takes  a  southern  course,  and  joins  Warner 
river  a  mile  below  Waterloo  village.    The  French  and 


MOUNTAINS.  81 

Meadow  brooks  are  branches  of  this,  coming  dovrn 
from  the  mountain  and  the  Gore.  Slaughter  brook 
rises  on  the  western  slope  of  tlie  Mink  Hills,  runs 
northerly,  and  empties  into  the  river  near  Timothy 
Eastman's.  This  brook  takes  its  name  from  the  fact 
that  Dea.  David  Heath,  in  hauling  out  timber  in  that 
locality,  had  the  neck  of  one  of  his  oxen  broken.  On 
the  ice,  in  a  broad  part  of  the  brook,  the  ox  was  hand- 
somely dressed,  and  the  meat  was  carried  home.  Page 
brook  rises  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  and 'flows 
into  Bradford  pond.  Harriman  brook  rises  in  the  Har- 
riman  meadow  at  the  southern  base  of  the  Mink  Hills, 
runs  southerly,  and,  afler  uniting  with  one  or  two 
others,  falls  into  the  Contoocook  river  ^ust  below  the 
old  Dea.  Connor  muster-field.  Silver  brook  rises  on 
the  eastern  slope  of  the  Mink  Hills,  passes  through 
the  North  village,  and  falls  into  Warner  river  at  the 
fair-ground.  The  Bartlett  brook  runs  north-easterly 
through  the  farm  of  Levi  Bartlett,  and  empties  into 
Warner  river  a  half  mile  below  the  village.  Ballard 
brook  rises  in  Joppa,  flows  in  a  northerly  direction, 
and  falls  into  the  river  near  the  old  Ballard  place, 
which  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Marshall  Dun- 
bar. 

MOUNTAINS. 

Bome  was  built  on  seven  hills,  but  Warner  stands 
on  seven  times  that  number.  She  is  literally  among 
the  mountains.    The  Mink  Hills  are  a  range  extend- 


82  BISTORT  OF  WARNEB. 

ing  from  near  the  river,  at  Waterloo,  back  three  miles 
in  a  south-westerly  direction.  Their  name  comes 
from  the  circumstance  that  minks  were  found  in  great 
numbers  about  the  meadow  at'the  foot  of  these  hills, 
and  the  brooks  that  come  down  the  ravines,  by  the 
surveyors,  when  they  came  to  make  the  first  division 
of  the  town  into  lots.  This  range  consists  of  four 
distinct  mountains,  yet  all  are  united  in  one.  The 
most  northern  of  the  four  is  Monument  hill ;  the  next 
is  Middle  Mink ;  the  next.  Bald  Mink,  and  the  last  is 
Stewart's  hill.  The  summit  of  the  latter  is  1808  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  The  view  from  this,  and 
from  the  summits  of  the  other  three,  is  extensive  and 
elevating.  Men  and  women  make  weary  journeys, 
cross  continents,  and  sail  the  seas,  to  obtain  views  not 
more  enchanting  than  can  be  had  from  the  top  of 
Monument  hill,  not  more  than  two  miles  from  Warner 
village. 

KEABSABGE. 

The  late  Dr.  Bouton  called  Kearsarge  ^the  peerless 
mountain"  of  Merrimack  county.  It  is  closely  identi- 
fied with  Warner.  It  lifts  its  head  2943  feet  above 
the  sea  level.  It  has  no  immediate  competitor.  To 
the  traveller  on  the  Northern  Railroad  it  presents  a 
bold  and  striking  outline.  It  is  a  prominent  landmark 
within  a  circle  whose  diameter  is  one  hundred  miles. 

A  controversy  iu  relation  to  the  origin  of  the  name 


MOUNTAINS,  88 

of  this  mountain  sprang  up  a  few  years  ago.  Some- 
body set  afloat  the  absurd  story  that  an  English  him- 
ter,  by  the  name  of  Hezekiah  Sargent,  came,  some 
time  previous  to  1750,  and  made  his  home  somewhere 
on  this  mountain,  and  hence  its  name ;  that,  further- 
more, the  said  Hezekiah  died  about  the  year  1800, 
and  was  buried, — but,  as  in  the  case  of  Moses,  "no  man  ' 
^oweth  of  his  sepulchre  unto  this  day/* 

It  is  a  sufficient  answer  to  this  to  sav  that  no  such 
man  ever  lived  on  Kearsarge  mountain,  on  the  top  or 
on  either  side  of  it.  The  story  is  a  fabrication.  The 
best  authority  for  it,  so  far  as  the  writer  knows,  is  a 
visionary,  crazed  man  (now  dead),  who,  in  his  last  will 
and  testament,  bequeathed  to  his  daughter /eno*  hedge- 
hogsy  when  she  should  catch  them  on  his  mountain 
ledge ! 

Two  hundred  years  before  the  ridiculous  tale  is  told 
of  this  Hezekiah  Currier  Sargent,  the  mountain  bore 
the  name  of  Kearsarge,  in  some  of  its  variations;  and 
a  hundred  and  seventy-five  years  before  this  remark- 
able character  is  placed  on  the  mountain  at  all,  or  is 
ever  heard  of  anywhere,  even  in  tradition,  Kearsarge 
was  known  hy  its  present  name.  This  hero  of  the 
wild  hunting-grounds  puts  in  an  appearance  too  late. 

The  name  unquestionably  comes  from  the  Indians, 
who  sojourned  at  its  base,  who  roamed  over  its  steep 
declivities,  or  who  saw*  it  from  afar.  It  is  not  easy  to 
convey,  by  the  use  of  English  letters,  the  precise 


84  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

sounds  of  the  unlettered  wild  men  of  the  forest  The 
thing  is  impossible,  and,  in  attempting  it,  we  have  the 
orthography  of  the  name  in  almost  an  unlimited  num- 
ber of  forms.  The  still  further  difficulty  may  be  no- 
ticed, that,  even  among  the  Indians  themselves,  the 
pronunciation  of  the  word  varied  as  much  as  the 
orthography  of  it  has  varied  among  white  men. 

In  1652,  Gov.  Endicott's  exploration  of  the  Merri- 
mack river  to  Lake  Winnipesaukee  was  executed. 
The  Endicott  rock,  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  was  then 
marked.  A  plan  was  made  of  this  survey,  and  the 
proof  is  at  hand  that  this  plan  must  have  been  made 
h^CTt  1670.  It  is  thus  endorsed:  ^Plat  of  Mere- 
mack  River  from  ye  See  up  to  Wenepeseoce  Pond, 
also  the  Corses  from  Dunstable  to  Penny — cook 

Jn""  Gardner  " 

Eearsarge  mountain  is  on  this  plan,  and  the  name 
18  spelled  Carsaga. 

Captain  Samuel  Willard,  of  Lancaster,  Mass.,  the 
prince  of  Indian  rangers,  saw  this  mountain  from  the 
top  of  Mouadnock,  July  31, 1725,  and  called  it  Cusor 
gee  mountain. 

On  the  margin  of  the  ancient  plan  of  Boscawen, 
which  was  granted  by  Massachusetts,  as  a  township, 
in.  1733,  appears  a  rude  representation  of  an  irregular 
hill  along  the  northern  boundary  line,  with  this  ap- 
pended inscription:  ^^ Supposed  to  be  one  o£  ye Kia- 
saga  Hills  " 


MOUNTAINS.  85 

A  plan  of  Kearsarge  Gore,  drawn  by  Col.  Henry 
Gerrish  subsequent  to  1751,  bears  the  following  title: 
"A  plan  of  Kaysarge  Gore,  near  Kyasarge!^ 

An  English  map,  published  according  to  Act  of  Par- 
Uament,  in  1755,  by  Thomas  Jeffreys,  geographer  to 
His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  of  Wales,  near  Char-  • 
ing  Cross,  and  taken  from  actual  surveys  made  in 
1750  by  Mitchell  and  Hazzen,  puts  our  mountain  in 
its  true  place,  and  spells  it  Kyasage. 

The  proprietor's  records  of  Sutton  state  that  a 
township  of  land  ^was  granted  to  Capt  Obadiah 
Perry  and  others,  in  1743,  lying  on  the  west  side  of 
Eiasarffe  HilL** 

In  June,  1750,  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  that 
town  was  called  by  Thomas  Hale,  who  represented 
that  the  land  laid  ^  on  the  westerly  side  of  Oiasarge 
WIV*  Again,  the  proprietors  of  that  town  spell  the 
name,  OvMargey .;  again,  CMa  Sarge ;  and  again, 
Keyasargy.  But  words  need  not  be  multiplied.  The 
position  here  taken  required,  perhaps,  no  substantia- 
tion at  all.  The  story  of  Hezekiah  Sargent  is  a  myth. 
The  mountain  has  been  known,  continuously,  as  Kear- 
sarge,  more  than  two  hundred  years ! 

But  another  controversy  concerning  this  mountain 
has  arisen  still  more  recently.  The  birth  of  this  latter 
controversy,  so  far  as  the  public  are  informed,  was  in 
1875.  The  Union  corvette,  or  sloop  of  war,  Kear- 
sarge,  became  famous  by  sinking  the  Confederate  Ala- 


/ 

I 


86  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

bama,  June  19^  1864.  Eleven  years  afterwards  the 
question  is  raised^  whether  this  gallant  vessel  took  its 
name  from  the  Kearsarge  of  two  hundred  years'  stand- 
ing, or  from  a  mountain  in  Carroll  county. 

The  Kearsarge  was  built  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in 
1861.  Major  Henry  McFarland,  of  Concord,  a  pay- 
master in  the  army,  wrote  a  letter  to  the  assistant 
secretary  of  the  navy  (G.  V.  Fox),  on  the  first  day  of 
June,  1861,  suggesting  that  one  of  the  sloops  of  war, 
which  were  then  being  built  at  Portsmouth,  be  called 
Kearsarge,  Gideon  Wells,  of  Connecticut,  was  sec- 
retary of  the  navy.  He  accepted  this  name.  He 
thought,  at  first,  that  Kearsage,  with  the  final  ^r"  left 
out,  was  the  true  orthography,  but  the  secretary  of 
the  treasury,  Salmon  P.  Chase,  corrected  him.  Con- 
cerning this  matter.  Secretary  Wells  wrote  as  foUows : 
^I  first  directed  that  the  corvette  should  be  called 
Kearsage ;  but  Mr.  Chase,  a  New  Hampshire  man,  cor- 
rected my  pronunciation  and  orthography.  We  had, 
I  recollect,  a  little  dispute,  and  that  I  quoted  Governor 
Hill,  but  Mr.  Chase  convinced  me  that  he  was  cor- 
rect'' 

Major  McFarland  says,  with  much  force  and  beauty, 
*^The  corvette  appears  to  me  to  have  been  named 
when  she  received  the  precise  designation  which  she 
defiantly  carried  through  storm  and  battle."  It  will 
be  well  to  remember  here  that  Salmon  P.  Chase  was 
a  native  of  Cornish,  a  New  Hampshire  town,  which 


MOUNTAINS.  87 

has  the  Kearsarge  of  Merrimack  county  in  plain 
view. 

Mr.  Wells  *•'  quoted  Governor  Hill."  This  is  further 
proof  that  it  was  the  mountain  in  Merrimack  county 
for  which  he  named  the  corvette,  Governor  Hill  hav- 
ing been  a  citizen  of  Concord,  a  large  land-owner  on 
that  mountain,  and  an  enthusiast  in  setting  forth  its 
lofty  grandeur. 

About  1865  a  large  hotel  was  built  on  the  Wilmot 
side  of  this  mountain,  and  named,  in  honor  of  the 
ship's  captain,  the  "  Winslow  House."  That  hotel  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1867,  and  was  rebuilt  on  a  larger 
scale.  A  reception  was  given  to  Admiral  Winslow,  in 
the  first  house,  and  he  was  present  at  the  opening  of 
the  second,  in  1868,  when  he  gave  the  proprietor  a 
stand  of  colors  and  a  picture  of  the  battle. 

Men  of  high  station,  both  in  the  state  and  country, 
as  well  as  others,  were  present  on  these  occasions, 
participating  in  the  festivities  and  congratulations  of 
the  hour.  Nobody  whispered  that  we  were  on  the 
wrong  mountain.  Probably,  into  no  one's  mind,  at 
that  timtj  had  the  idea  entered  that  a  rival  mountain 
was  entitled  to  these  honors. 

In  due  time  Admiral  Winslow  died,  and  a  boulder 
was  taken  from  the  original  Kearsarge  to  serve  as  a 
monument  at  his  grave.  And  now  the  controversy  as 
to  the  origin  of  the  ship'b  name  began  ;  but  the  &mr 
ily  of  the  Admiral  stood  by  otir  Kearsarge,  and  the 


88  SI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

bdulder  is  found  in  Forest  Hills  Cemetery,  Boston 
Highlands,  supporting  a  bronze  tablet  with  the 
following    inscription : 

Bear  Admiral 
,  John  Ancru3i  Winslow, 

U.  a  Navy, 

Bom  in  Wilmington,  N.  C, 

Nov.  19,  1811, 

Died  in  Boston,  Mass., 

Sept  29, 1873. 

He  conducted  the  memorable 

Sea-fight  in  command  of 

U.  S.  S.  Kearsarge, 

When  she  sank  the  Alabama  in  the 

English  Channel,  June  19, 1864. 

This  boulder  from 
Kearsarge  Mountain,  Merrimack  County,  N.  H., 

Is  the  gift 

Of  the  citizens  of  Warner,  N.  H.,  and  is  erected 

to  his  memory  by  his  wife  and 

surviving  children. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Boston  Joiinialj  writing 
from  Petersburg,  Virginia,  July  16, 1864,  says, — ^"The 
sinking  of  the  Alabama  by  the  Kearsarge  gives  great 
joy  to  the  soldiers.  They  are*  as  much  gratified  as  if 
they  had  won  a  victory.     The  men  of  the  Kearsarge 


MOUNTAINS.  39 

were  mainly  from  New  Hampshire.    Their  ship  was 
built  there,  and  it  bears  the  name  of  the  grand  old 
mountain  beneath  the  shadow  of  which  Daniel  Web- 
ster passed  his  childhood.    The  name  was  selected 
for  the  ship  by  one  of  the  publishers  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Statesman.    The  touristy  passing  through 
the  Granite  State,  will  look  with  increased  pleasure 
upon  the  mountain  whose  name,  bestowed  upon  a 
national  vessel,  will  be  prominent  in  the  history  of  ^ 
the  republia** 

Warner,  Wilmot,  Andover,  Sutton,  and  Salisbury 
all  claim  ownership  in  this  mountain.  Warner  and 
Wilmot  meet  on  the  very  summit ;  Andover  comes 
near  the  top ;  Salisbury  and  Sutton  not  quite  as  near. 
The  summit  of  Kearsarge  is  a  bald  rock.  It  was 
once  mostly  covered  with  wood  ;  but  about  seventy- 
five  years  ago  the  fire  ran  over  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain, increasing  in  intensity  for  several  days,  and  con- 
suming not  only  the  dead  and  living  trees,  but  burn- 
ing up  the  greater  portion  of  the  soil  itself. 

Standing  on  that  majestic  height,  one  feels  that  he 
is,  indeed,  on  the  king  mountain  of  all  this  region* 
It  stands  there  without  a  rival.  It  has  no  neighbor 
on  the  east, — nothing  to  intercept  a  view  of  the 
ocean.  At  the  south,  fifty  miles  away,  rises  the  Grand 
Monadnock,  its  equal,  and  its  solitary  neighbor  in  that 
direction.  At  the  west  lies  old  Ascutney,  triple- 
pointed,  and  grand  beyond  description  in  the  evening 


40  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

twilight ;  but  this  mountain  is  ^  over  the  border,''  for, 
by  the  decree  of  King  George  the  Third,  in  1764,  the 
west  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river  is  our  boundary. 
Then,  to  the  northward  and  hi  fair  view,  though  from 
thirty  to  sixty  miles  away,  the  nearest  equal  neigh- 
bors are  Cardigan,  White  Face,  and  Chocorua,  the 
sunmiits  of  the  two  latter  being  seldom  trodden  by 
human  feet  Each  of  these  mountains  is  sublime  in 
its  way,  but  Kearsarge  stands  alone  in  solitary  grand- 
eur, — ^the  Mont  Blanc  of  central  New  Hampshire. 


CHAPTEE   III. 

PBOPBIETORS'  RECORDS — A  NEW  START — ^PIRST   SAW-mLL — TEE 

INEVITABLE  TAX. 

¥NDER  the  sanction  of  the  king,  the  loyal  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts  has  made  a  grant  of 
township  Number  One,  in  the  line  of  towns,  and  the 
proprietors  of  said  township  are  fairly  in  possession  of 
the  premises  granted.  Now  the  question  presses, 
*^What  shall  be  done  with  the  prize?" 

Full  of  courage  and  expectation,  these  proprietors 
set  themselves  to  work.  There  were  among  them  di- 
versities of  gifts,  but,  for  a  time,  the  same  spirit  It 
is  evident  that  they  held  one  meeting  or  more,  of 
which  there  is  no  record  in  existence.  Of  the  second 
or  third  meeting  there  is  a  record.  It  was  held  in 
the  year  1736.  From  an  old  and  torn  leaf  in  the  rec- 
ord-book of  the  proprietors,  it  appears  that,  at  a  meet- 
ing  held  some  time  in  1736,  David  Ring,  Benjamin 
Tucker,  Timothy  Colby,  Joseph  Jewell,  and  Isaac 
Chandler  were  chosen,  a  committee  to  lay  out  sixty- 
three  lots  of  forty  acres  each,— one  lot  for  each  pro- 
prietor, one  for  a  school-lot,  one  for  the  first  minister. 


42  SI8T0RT  OF  WABNEB. 

and  one  for  a  parsonage.  That  committee  proceeded 
to  the  wilderness  on  their  mission.  They  found  no 
white  inhabitant  above  Penacook.  From  there  to 
Number  One  there  was  not  so  much  as  a  ^blazed** 
path;  but  they  reached  their  destination,  and  did 
their  work.  They  brought  in  a  return  of  their  do- 
ings at  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  in  Amesbury, 
Nov.  25, 1736.  The  record  of  said  meeting  is  in  the 
following  words : 

**A  meeting  of  ye  township  Number  One,  Nov.  ye 
25th,  1736,  Mr.  Pain  Wingait  was  chosen  moderator 
for  said  meeting ;  ye  committy  brought  in  a  return  of 
that  they  had  laid  out  63  lots  of  40  acres  to  each  lot 
in  4  ranges  which  was  received  in  and  voted  on  ye 
firmative." 

There  was  some  wrangling  at  this  meeting.  Disa- 
greements crept  in,  so  soon.  A  part  of  the  proprietors 
deemed  all  the  proceedings  thus  far  illegal  They 
contended  that  nobody  had  been  properly  authorized 
to  call  the  first  meeting,  and  some  plain  talk  waQ  in- 
dulged in.  Words  ran  higL  Jarvis  Ring  bluntly  said  to 
Rev.  Paine  Wingate,  ^  You  're  college  lamt,  I  know  j 
but  there's  men  here  that  can  beat  you  in  and  out  an 
the  lato." 

This  Paine  Wingate  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  and 
the  settled  minister  in  Amesbury.  He  had  a  son  by 
the  same  name,  who  settled  in  Stratbam,  New  Hamp- 
shire.   This  second  Paine  Wingate  and  John  Langdon 


A  NEW  STABT.  43  . 

were  the  first  two  senators  from  New  Hampshire  in 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

A  NEW  STABT. 

AU  the  proceedings  of  the  proprietors  and  of  their 
committees  up  to  this  time  fell.  The  lots  which  the 
committee  had  laid  out  were  thrown  up,  and  a  new 
start  had  to  be  made.  In  fact^  before  the  committee 
for  laying  out  lots  had  returned  from  Number  One 
and  reported,  certain  of  the  proprietors,  who  believed 
that  so  far  all  that  had  been  done  was  illegal,  went  to 
Boston  for  relief    They  were  successful,  for, — 

^At  a  great  and  general  court  held  in  Boston,  the 
24th  day  of  November,  1736,  the  following  vote  pass- 
ed the  two  houses,  and  was  consented  to  by  the  gov- 
ernor, viz. :  Voted  that  Deacon  Thomas  Stevens  of 
Almsbury,  be  and  hereby  is  empowered  to  assemble 
the  grantees  of  township  Number  One,  lying  in  the 
line  of  towns  between  the  rivers  of  Connecticut  and 
Merrimack,  giving  timely  notice  to  the  said  grantees 
admitted  into  said  township  by  the  committee  of  this 
court,  to  meet  and  assemble  at  some  suitable  place,  in 
order  to  choose  a  moderator  and  proprietors'  clerk, 
and  a  committee  to  allot  and  divide  their  lands,  and 
to  dispose  of  the  same,  and  to  pass  such  votes  and 
orders  as  by  them  may  be  thought  conducive  to  the 
speedy  fulfilment  of  the  conditions  of  their  grant,  and 

also  to  agree  upon  methods  of  calling  of  meetings  for 

4 


44  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

the  future.  Provided  none  of  their  votes  concerning 
the  dividing  or  disposing  of  their  lands  that  shall  be 
passed  while  they  are  under  the  care  and  direction 
of  the  committee  of  this  court,  shall  be  of  force  before 
they  are  allowed  of  by  the  said  court" 

Under  this  act  of  the  Massachusetts  authorities,  our 
p^roprietors  started  again.  Dea.  Thomas  Stevens  call- 
ed a  meeting  at  Amesbury,  April  25,  1737.  There 
w&s  a  full  attendance,  every  member  being  present  in 
person  or  by  a  substitute.  Below  is  an  exact  copy  of 
the  records  of  this  meeting : 

"By  order  of  ye  Grate  and  General  Court  to  Dea- 
con tho*  Stevens  the  proprietors  of  ye  township  Nom' 
one  Met  to  Gether  on  Aprl  ye  25"*  1737  att  ye  same 
Meeting  Jarvis  Ring  was  chosen  Moderator  for  said 
meeting.  Att  ye  same  meeting  Jonathan  Blaisdell 
was  Chosen  proprietors  Clarke  and  sworn  before  Or- 
lando Bagley  Justice  of  ye  Peace.  Att  ye  same  meet- 
ing voted  to  Chouse  three  Men  to  be  a  Committy  to 
Lay  out  and  Divide  s"^  township  as  thay  shall  Beceve 
order  from  ye  proprietors  of  s**  township. 

"Att  ye  same  meeting  voted  to  allow  s^  Committy 
eight  shillings  a  day  expended  in  laying  out  s^  Land. 

"Att  ye  same  meeting  Joseph  Jewell,  Jarvis  Ring 
and  timothy  Colby  was  chosen  a  Committy  to  Lay 
out  said  Land  as  soon  as  may  be,  and  to  proseed  to 
vew  8**  township  and  Lay  out  ye  Entervail  or  flood 
Land  to  Each  proprietor  in  Equal  proportion  in  Quan- 


A   NEW  START*  45  • 

tity  and  Quality^  and  al  so  a  Dmsion  of  Lots  of  up 
Land  to  each  proprietor  where  it  may  be  thought 
most  Convenant  by  them  for  a  settlement  in  Quantity 
and  Quality. 

^  Att  ye  same  Meeting  voted  that  as  soone  as  ye 
Committy  hath  Liiid  out  s^  Lots  thay  have  power  to 
warn  a  meeting  to  Receive  thair  Return  by  posting  it 
up  on  ye  two  Meeting  houses  in  Almesbury  and  on 
ye  west  Meeting  house  [Rocky  Hill]  in  Salisbury. 

**Att  ye  same  Meeting  voted  to  have  our  Anuell 
Meeting  on  ye  third  Wednesday  in  March  Anually." 

The  proprietors  had  now  started  on  the  right  track. 
They  were  energetic  men,  and  were  ready  to  grapple 
with  the  difficult  problem  of  surveying,  dividing  up, 
and  settling  a  township  in  the  wilds  of  a  new  country. 
They  hardly  forecast  the  nature  of  the  experiment, 
and  it  is  well  that  they  did  not.  Without  doubt  they 
felt  assured  that  they  had  a  good  thing.  All  the  ac- 
counts that  came  to  them  from  this  region  were  flatter^ 
ing.  One  report  said, — ^  The  soile  is  rich  and  Deap, 
the  Trees  are  verry  large  and  the  Brookes  are  stocked 
with  fish.*' 

This  second  committee  to  "  lay  out  and  divide  said 
township '^  also  went  promptly  to  the  discharge  of 
its  duty.  Two  of  its  members,  viz.,  Joseph  Jewell 
and  Timothy  Colby,  had  been  on  the  former  commit- 
tee, and  were  therefore  acquainted  with  the  ground. 
They  attended  to  this  work  in  the  early  autumn  of 


46  HISTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

1737,  adopting  the  survey  of  the  first  committee,  to  a 
great  extent  They  now  found  a  bridle-path,  which 
the  proprietors  of  Hopkinton  had  cleared,  running 
from  Penacook  over  Dimond's  Tiill,  and  on  over  ground 
where  Hopkinton  village  now  stands,  to  the  top  oi 
Putney's  hill.  They  crossed  the  Contoocook  river  on 
a  raft  of  logs  constructed  by  themselves.  They  re- 
mained in  township  Number  One  less  than  a  week, 
as  their  stock  of  provisions  failed  them.  But  they  re- 
turned to  Amesbury  with  exaggerated  accounts  of  the 
richness  of  the  new  country. 

In  January,  1738,  the  proprietors  held  their  next 
legal  meeting.    The  record  stands  thus : 

^  Att  a  Meeting  of  ye  proprietors  of  ye  Township 
No.  one  January  ye  21, 1738  Mr.  Stephen  Moril  was 
Chosen  Moderator  of  this  meeting. 

^  Att  ye  same  meeting  voted  to  Chouse  a  man  or 
men  to  clear  a  way  from  Contoocook  River  to  ye 
meeting  house  Lot  in  ye  township. 

^  Att  ye  same  meeting  samuel  straw  Gideon  Eowell 
was  chosen  to  clear  said  way  or  Rhod  as  a  fore  s'd  at 
8  shillings  per  day." 

The  ^  meeting-house  lot"  was  at  the  old  cemetery 
where  the  first  church  edifice  stood,  and  also  the 
second.  But  as  here  was  the  original  Parade  of  the 
township,  the  locality  will  be  designated  by  this  name 
hereafter.  The  ferry  over  the  Contoocook,  from 
which  this  ^  way"  was  to  be  cleared,  was  at  the  ^  still 


FIRST  SAW-MILL.'  47 

water,"  about  a  third  of  a  mile  below  the  present 
bridge  at  Contoocookville. 

FIRST  SAWMILL. 

^  Att  ye  same  meeting  voted  to  Bild  a  saw  mill  by 
ye  last  Day  of  August  Next  in  ye  town  ship  No.  one. 

"Att  ye  same  Meeting  Jonathan  Barnard  was  chos- 
en to  a  Gree  with  a  man  or  men  to  build  said  saw 
mill  and  Iron  work  and  bring  in  an  accompt  of  what 
it  will  Cost  at  ye  anual  meeting  in  March  next  for 
Bevisal  or  Refusal'' 

No  record  of  an  annual  meeting  in  March,  1738, 
is  in  existence,  and  the  presumption  is,  that,  if  such 
meeting  was  held,  no  business  of  importance  was 
transacted. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  June,  1738,  when  the  com- 
mittee appointed  in  April,  1737,  to  lay  out  lots,  made 
their  report  They  had  laid  out  sixty-three  house- 
lots,  of  five  acres  each,  on  the  plain  between  Charles 
P.  Sawyer's  and  Tom  pond.  The  committee  had 
probably  acted  under  the  direction  of  the  proprie- 
tors ;  and  these  lots  had  been  thus  laid  out  contig- 
uous to  each  other,  that  the  inhabitants  might  be  in 
a  situation  to  defend  themselves  against  any  attacks 
from  the  Indians,  who  were  hovering  about  with  hos- 
tile demonstrations.  The  plan  was,  that  each  settler, 
or  &mily,  should  have  one  of  these  house-lots  to  live 
on,  and  at  least  a  forty-acre  lot  elsewhere  for  a  farm. 


48  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

But  such  a  scheme  could  hardly  be  made  practicable 
in  any  case,  and  in  this  case  it  fell.  These  house-lots 
were  all  abandoned,  and  absorbed  in  subsequent  sur- 
veys. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March  21,  1739,  Thomas 
Rowell  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Jonathan  Blaisdell 
proprietors'  clerk.  At  the  same  meeting,  voted  to 
pay  Orlando  Colby,  Joseph  Jewell,  and  John  Challis, 
Jr.,  120  pounds  in  Province  bills,  old  tenor,  for  build- 
ing a  good  and  serviceable  saw-mill  in  the  township, 
on  the  ^Falls  called  Blackwater  Biver"  by  the  last 
day  of  August  next,  the  said  workmen  to  find  iron- 
works and  all  other  materials  for  said  mill,  according 
to  contract  Each  proprietor  was  to  pay  his  due  pro- 
portion to  defray  the  cost  of  building  the  mill,  or  for- 
feit his  right  in  the  township. 

The  proprietors  seem  to  have  labored  under  a  mis- 
apprehension, at  this  time,  in  regard  to  the  location  of 
Blackwater  river ;  but  the  error  makes  only  this  sin- 
^  gle  appearance. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  the  September  fol- 
lowing, at  Amesbury,  Jonathan  Blaisdell  and  Jona- 
than Barnard  were  chosen  ^  to  go  up  to  township 
Number  One,  and  view  the  saw  mill  there  in  process 
of  building,  and  the  highway  cleared  to  said  township ; 
and  also  to  select  the  place,  and  agree  with  a  man  or 
men  to  build  a  dam  for  said  mill."  These  men  were 
to  be  paid  eight  shillings  a  day  each,  from  the  day  of 


THE  INEVITABLE  TAX.  49 

leaving  home  till  the  day  of  their  return.  Eight 
shfllings  paid  all  the  bills,  for  service,  for  travel,  and 
for  subsistence.  Their  manner  of  travel  was  on 
horseback. 

THE  INEVITABLE  TAX. 

There  is  a  saying  that  ^^  nothing  is  sure  but  death 
and  taxes,"  and  the  proprietors  of  Warner  were  not 
left  without  witness  that  taxes  were  sure  enough.  In 
March,  1739,  a  tax  of  forty  shillings  to  a  right  was 
assessed  upon  these  proprietors.  It  was  the  first  reg- 
ular tax,  and  the  same  names  appear  in  this  tax-list 
as  are  found  on  the  roll  of  grantees  on  a  former  page. 
It  is  hardly  probable,  however,  that  all  these  men  had 
lived  and  held  their  rights  up  to  this  time,  though  it 
had  been  but  a  few  years.  The  assessors  placed  the 
tax,  in  each  case,  to  the  name  of  the  original  owner ; 
and  the  holder  of  the  right,  whoever  he  might  be, 
had  to  foot  the  bills.  This  tax  amountedt  in  the 
aggregate,  to  £120,  or  $400. 


11 


t 


OHAPTEE  IV. 

FIBST  MEETING  IN  THE  TOWNSHIF— DAM  AND  FLUME — FIB8T 
PBOPOSALS  TO  SETTLEBS  —  TROUBLES  ACCUMULATE  —  NEW 
HAMPSHIRE  APPEALED  TO — ^NO  REUEF — INDIAN  DEPREDA- 
TIONS— ^THE  MASONIAN  PROPRIETORS — FURTHER  ENCOURAGE- 
MENT TO  SETTLERS— GRANT  TO  RYE. 

U  T  the  annual  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  March 
tAA*  19, 1740,  John  Hoyt  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Jonathan  Barnard,  clerk.  The  meeting  then  adjourned 
to  May  the  12th ;  and  at  this  second  meeting,— 

^  Voted  to  adjourn  this  present  meeting  up  to  said 
township  No.  One,  at  the  Old  Campy  near  the  saw  mill, 
Monday,  the  28th  day  of  this  present  May,  at  12 
o'clock  on  said  day." 

It  is  not  known  how  many  of  the  proprietors  made 
the  long  journey  to  attend  this  meeting  at  the  old 
camp,  but  there  were  certainly  as  many  as  four  in 
attendance,  and  perhaps  twice  that  number.  It  was 
in  the  charming  month  of  May  that  this  meeting 
occurred.  Every  tree  was  clothed  in  a  foliage  of 
green,  every  blossom  was  scenting  the  air,  and  the 
whole  earth  was  adorned  in  beauty.    It  is  not  strange 


FIBST  MEETING  OF  THE  TOWKSHIP.  51 

ht  Uns  little  company  returned  to  Amesbury  enthu- 
■Htic  in  the  praises  of  their  new  inheritance. 

The  record  of  this  meeting  is  as  follows : 

*  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Township  No. 
Que  in  the  line  of  towns,  May  28th,  1740,  held  by  ad- 
jounmient  firom  Jonathan  Barnard's,  Inholder  in  Alms- 
buy,  at  the  old  camp,  near  the  saw  mill  in  said  Town- 
idpj  Joseph  Jewell  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Esse- 
kid  Morrill,  Clerk.** 

'  At  the  same  meeting,  Isaac  Chandler  and  Henry 
Carrier  were  chosen  a  committee  to  view  the  said 
mill,  and  take  deUvery  thereof,  if  finished  according 
to  oontract" 

The  committee  reported  the  same  day  ^  that  they 
had  viewed  said  mill,  and  received  her  for  the  Propri- 
etors* nse.** 

'^  Att  ye  same  meeting  voted  to  ad  jom  that  same 
meeting  Back  to  the  house  of  Jonathan  Barnard  in 
Almesbury  aforesaid  on  the  11th  day  of  June  next** 

This  mill  was  at  the  great  natural  fall  where  the 
Davis  mills  now  stand.  The  old  camp,  where  their 
agents  and  workmen  all  ^put  up,"  was  near  the 
spring  at  the  stone  watering-trough.  The  water  from 
this  spring  was  represented  as  being  ^  clear  as  crys- 
tal, and  very  cold."  It  was  a  fine  spot  for  one  to  rest 
and  refresh  the  ^  inner  man."  The  camp  stood  on  dry 
ground,  forty  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  river,  and 
commanded  a  pleasing  view  of  the  valley.    No  plow 


52  HI8T0BT  OF  WABKEB. 

had  turned  the  soil,  no  axe  had  felled  the  trees,  of  this 
primitive  region.  The  subsistence,  whether  victuals 
or  drink,  of  those  who  tarried  here,  was  brought  from 
below.  Their  shelter  was  rude  and  inexpensive  ; 
their  bed,  the  luxuriant  boughs  of  the  hemlock  and 
the  pine. 

Joseph  Jewell,  who  has  now  a  family  representative 
by  the  same  name  in  Warner,  had  the  honor  of  being 
the  first  man  ever  elected  to  office  on  our  soil  His 
constituency,  to  be  sure,  was  not  large,  but  no  doubt 
it  was  *  eminently  respectable.'' 

DAM  AND  FLUME. 

The  following  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  next  record 
of  the  proprietors  : 

*^  June  ye  11***  1740,  by  adjournment  of  ye  meet- 
inge  of  ye  proprietors  of  Township  No.  one  in  the  line 
of  towns  Joseph  Jewell  beinge  moderator  again  open- 
ed ye  meetinge,  att  ye  same  meetinge  voted  and  Re- 
solved to  Give  to  Ezekiel  Morrill  sixty  pounds  in  Bills 
of  Credit  for  Bildinge  a  dam  and  floom  att  ye  saw  mill 
in  the  Township  No.  one  to  be  paid  at  the  finishinge 
of  said  dam  and  floom  accordlnge  to  the  Condition 
of  the  Bond  Baringe  date  with  these  presents  which 
said  Morrill  giveth  to  the  proprietors.** 

They  also  voted  at  this  meeting  that  the  said  Mor- 
rill should  "  have  the  improvement  [use]  of  each  pro- 
prietor's part  of  the  mill  till  said  proprietor  should 


TROUBLES  ACCUMULATE.  53 

pay  in  his  share  of  20  shillings  for  building  dam  and 

floODL'' 

FIRST  PROPOSALS  TO  SETTLERS. 

At  a  meeting  in  Amesbury,  August  29, 1740,  Voted 
to  give  to  the  first  five  families  that  would  settle  in 
the  township  20  pounds  each,  provided  they  would 
"fulfill  the  Court  Act"  by  building  a  house  and  clear- 
ing five  acres  of  land  by  the  15th  day  of  the  next 
June,  each  settler  to  receive  5  pounds  within  one 
month  from  the  time  he  first  moves  his  wife  and  fam- 
ily to  said  township,  and  5  pounds  a  year  for  three 
years  afler,  in  case  he  remained  so  long. 

At  the  same  meeting,  Capt.  Thomas  Rowell  was 
chosen  to  prepare  a  petition  to  the  Great  and  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  for  a  longer  time  for  comply- 
ing with  the  requirements  of  their  charter  respecting 
the  settling  of  the  township. 

These  grantees  had  now  been  in  possession  more 
than  five  years,  but  not  a  solitary  settler  had  planted 
his  foot  on  the  soil  of  Number  One. 

TROUBLES   ACCUMULATE. 

The  last  two  foregoing  votes  were  passed  after  the 
royal  decree,  that  Massachusetts  had  no  jurisdiction  in 
the  premises,  had  been  issued.  The  territory  of  the 
township  had  been  adjuSged  to  be  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  not  in  Massachusetts.    But  the  proprietors  did 


54  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

not  relinquish  their  undertaking:  they  persevered: 
they  still  sought  to  stimulate  settlement^  and  get  pos- 
session of  the  soil.  They  felt  that  no  government 
would  drive  out  bona  fide  settlers,  or  impose  new  bur* 
dens  upon  them.  In  this  they  were  right :  but  men 
are  naturally  timid  and  cautious.  Before  taking  grave 
responsibilities  and  burdens  upon  their  shoulders,  they 
want  to  be  assured  that  there  are  no  insurmountable 
obstacles  in  the  way. 

Meeting  after  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held^ 
but  settlers  did  not  appear.  The  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  was  appealed  to  again,  but  no  relief 
came  from  that  quarter.  Discouragement  ruled  the 
hour.  Some  of  the  grantees  proposed  to  sacrifice 
what  they  had  done,  and  surrender  the  claim,  but  the 
majority  thought  otherwise.  Time  rolled  on,  and  at 
last  the  harassed  proprietors  supplicated  another 
"throne." 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  APPEALED  TO. 

At  a  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Bar- 
nard, Innholder,  in  Amesbury,  Feb.  1, 1741,  "  Voted, 
that  Capt  Thomas  Rowell,  and  Lt  Joseph  Jewell,  be 
a  committee  to  prepare  a  petition  in  the  name  of  the 
proprietors,  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  Prov* 
ince  of  New  Hampshire,  to  obtain  orders  and  direc- 
tion in  relation  to  bringing  forward  the  settlement  of 
the  Township^-and  that  each  proprietor  pay  5  shill- 


NEW  HAIIPSHIRB  APPEALED  TO.  55 

ings  to  the  said  committee  on  or  before  the  4th  in- 
stant, to  enable  them  to  perform  the  duties  required.** 

In  pursuance  of  this  vote,  the  committee  acted^ 
though  not  in  great  haste.  In  May,  1742,  they  pre- 
sented the  following  petition  to  the  government  of 
New  Hampshire.  It  is  here  copied  without  alteration : 

^  To  his  Excelli  Benning  Wentworth  Esq'  Gov*  in 
Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  New 
hampshire :  to  the  hon^  his  Majesty's  Council 

^  The  humble  petition  of  Capt.  Thomas  Rowell  and 
Joseph  Jewell  in  the  name  and  by  order  of  the  pro- 
prators  of  a  Township  called  No.  One,  in  the  Line  of 
Towns  from  Rumford  to  Connecticut  River,  Humbly 
shewing :  That  whereas  the  Province  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts in  the  year  1735,  granted  severall  Townships 
and  laid  them  out  from  Rumford  to  Connecticut  Riv- 
er, among  the  Rest  your  Petitioners  for  services  done, 
obtained  a  Grant  of  a  Township  of  six  miles  square : 
Since  which  time  your  petitioners,  have  laid  out  Two 
Divisions  of  Lots  and  Built  a  Saw  mill  thereon  and 
cleared  considerable  of  their  Lots  and  done  consider- 
able in  order  for  settling ;  But  so  it  is,  that  by  the  de- 
termination of  his  Majesty  in  Council  upon  the  Boun- 
dary Line  between  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
and  New  Hampshire,  the  said  Township  lieth  to  the 
Northward  of  the  s^  Boundary  Line,  and  in  the  Gov- 
ernment of  New  Hampshire : 

^  Wherefore  we  your  Excely*  and  Hon"  most  Hum- 


56  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

ble  Petitioners  looking  upon  ourselves  as  suitable 
objects  of  favor  and  compassion  as  any  of  his  Maj- 
esty*s  subjects,  would  therefore  -humbly  pray  your 
ExceF  and  Honors  to  take  (Jur  case  into  your  most 
wise  and  just  consideration  and  alow  and  confirm 
unto  your  most  Humble  petitioners  the  afores^ 
Town  ship  and  give  us  such  suitable  and  conven- 
ient time  for  bringing  forward  the  setelment  as 
your  Excel^  and  Hon"  in  your  great  wisdom  shall 
judge  most  fitt  and  convenient;  and  your  petition- 
ers as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

«  Thomas  Rowell 

^  Joseph  Jewell 

^  Essex  Almsbury 

"May  the  12;  1742." 

NO  RELIEF. 

Here  the  case  is  intelligibly  stated,  and  the  petition 
is  warmly  pressed,  but  the  government  of  New  Hamp- 
shire has  no  authority,  and  cannot  act.  The  propri- 
etors called  for  a  Jishj  but  New  Hampshire  could  not 
give  even  a  stonCy  and  they  were  turned  away  empty. 
Township  Number  One  was  found  to  be  within  the 
domain  granted  to  Capt.  John  Mason  in  1629.  The 
title  to  the  soil  was  claimed  by  Mason's  heirs ;  and 
the  prospect  of  finding  them,  and  making  any  favor- 
able negotiation  with  them,  was  very  distant  So 
here  was  another  bitter  disappointment  to  the  Salis- 
bury and  Amesbury  proprietors. 


INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS.  57 

But  this  is  not  all:  the  old  adage,  that  ^Curses 
never  come  singly "  seems  to  have  been  repeatedly 
verified  in  the  case. of  the  grantees  of  Warner.  Be- 
Bides  what  has  already  been  stated,  the  first  French 
and  Indian  war  came  on  about  this  time^  or  a  year 
before,  greatly  retarding  settlements  in  all  frontier 
towns,  and  depreciating  the  value  of  unsettled  lands. 
The  war  continued,  with  more  or  less  violence,  for  six 
or  seven  years,  hostilities  being  terminated  by  the 
trteaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  October,  1748. 

Hostilities  were  renewed,  however,  in  1752,  and 
were  continued  till  1760.  In  this  second  Indian  war 
the  colonies  changed  their  policy  from  a  defensive  to 
an  aggressive  warfare,  with  the  best  results.  The  enr 
emy  were  conquered  and  dispersed.  After  this,  settle- 
ments went  forward  all  along  the  line  of  the  frontier 
with  rapidity,  and  with  but  little  molestation. 

INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS. 

Warner  was  never  the  seat  of  any  Indian  tribe, 
though  the  red  men  roved  through  our  forests  and 
sojourned  by  our  waters.  On  the  banks  of  Warner 
river,  on  the  shores  of  Schoodac  brook,  in  Harriman 
meadow,  and  probably  elsewhere,  Indian  relics  have 
been  often  found. 

A  particular  mention  of  some  of  the  Indian  depre- 
dations committed  in  the  neighborhood  of  township 


f 


68  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNEB* 

Number  One,  shortly  after  1745,  will  be  both  proper 
and  interesting. 

In  April,  1746,  the  Indians  made  a  descent  on  the 
settlers  in  Hopkinton,  and  carried  away  eight  cap- 
tives. Among  this  number  was  Mary,  daughter  of 
David  Woodwell.  After  a  detention  of  six  months 
among  the  French,  at  Montreal,  she  returned  to  Al- 
bany, and  soon  after  to  Hopkinton,  Mass.,  her  native 
place.  She  was  twice  married,  but  died  a  widow, 
among  the  Shakers  at  Canterbury,  in  1829,  in  the 
one  hundreth  year  of  her  age. 

In  May,  the  Indians  killed  two  persons  in  Boscawen, 
and  carried  away  one  captive.  In  August,  two  more 
captives  were  taken  in  the  same  town.  In  the  same 
month,  five  men  were  killed  and  two  captured,  in 
Concord.  The  scene  of  this  tragedy  is  marked  by  a 
stone  monument  on  the  Hopkinton  road.  About  this 
time  many  persons  were  killed  or  taken  captives  in 
Claremont,  Charlestown,  Keene,  Hinsdale,  and  other 
places.  In  Warner,  no  persons  were  killed  or  taken 
captive :  none  were  here :  but  the  Indians  burnt  the 
rude  saw-mill,  which  had  been  built  in  1740,  at  Davis- 
ville,  and  been  accepted  for  the  ^proprietors'  use.'* 

In  1753,  Nathaniel  Meloon,  living  at  the  Meloon 
meadow,  near  Smith's  Comer  in  Salisbury,  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Indians,  together  with  his  wife  and  three 
children,  viz.,  Sarah,  Rachel,  and  Daniel.  Another  son 
of  Mr.  Meloon,  a  lad  of  twelve  years,  discovered  the 


INDUK  DEPREDATIONS.  59 

Indians  approaching  the  house,  sprang  for  the  woods, 
and  made  good  his  escape. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meloon  and  the  three  captured  chil- 
dren were  carried  to  Canada,  and  sold  to  the  French  at 
Montreal.  Another  son  was  added  to  the  family  dur- 
ing its  residence  with  the  French,  who  was  baptized 
Joseph  Marie.  After  a  residence  of  four  years  and 
a  half  with  the  French,  Mr.  Meloon,  with  his  wife^ 
returned  to  his  farm  in  Salisbury.  His  house  was  on 
the  upper  Warner  road,  a  little  west  of  Smith's  Corner^ 
and  near  Warner  line.  One  daughter  died  with  the 
Indians.  The  other  daughter  (Rachel),  who  was  nine 
years  old  when  she  was  captured,  returned  to  the  fam- 
ily after  eight  or  ten  years,  having  acquired  the  hab- 
its and  manners  of  the  Indians,  and  become  much 
attached  to  them. 

Many  meetings  were  held  by  the  proprietors  in 
1741,  1742,  and  1743,  but  nothing  worthy  of  note 
was  transacted:  nothing  really  could  be. 

At  their  annual  meeting,  March  21,  1744,  they 
commenced  a  renewed  effort  for  relief.  Emulating 
the  example  of  the  old  gentleman  who  removed  the 
boy  from  his  apple-tree,  they  proposed  to  try  more 
effectual  remedies  than  those  first  resorted  to :  they 
proposed  to  drop  epistolary  correspondence,  and  put 
in  a  penonal  appearance  before  the  New  Hampshire 
authorities.  The  following  vote  is  found  in  the  rec- 
ords of  this  meeting : 
6 


60  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

^  Voted  that  thomos  Rowell  and  Joseph  Jewell  be  a 
committee  to  Goe  down  to  the  Governor  of  New 
Hampshire  to  receive  orders  and  instructions  respect- 
ing ye  settlinge  of  ye  s**  Township." 

The  seat  of  government  was  then  at  Portsmouth. 
It  was  but  a  short  journey  from  Amesbury  there,  and 
without  doubt  this  committee  performed  the  journey ; 
but  how  futile  their  efforts  were,  and  must  of  neces- 
sity have  been !  New  Hampshire  was  as  powerless  to 
afford  the  assistance  which  they  needed,  as  Massachu- 
setts herself  Neither  had  the  slightest  authority  over 
the  matter  in  hand. 

THE  MASONIAN  PROPRIETORS. 

July  31,  1746,  twelve  gentlemen,  all  living  in 
Portsmouth  but  one,  purchased  of  John  Tufton  Ma- 
son, tracts  of  land  containing  ^  two  hundred  thousand 
acres,  more  or  less,')  it  being  all  the  land  that  the 
said  Mason  then  claimed  in  the  province.  The  names 
of  these  twelve  purchasers  were  Theodore  Atkinson, 
Mark  Hunking  Wentworth,  Richard  Wibird,  John 
Wentworth,  George  Jaffrey,  Samuel  Moore,  Nathaniel 
'  Meserve,  Thomas  Packer,  Jotham  Odiorne,  Thomas 
Wallingford,  Joshua  Pierce,  and  John  Moffat 

This  was  an  important  step  to  the  proprietors  of 
Warner,  as  the  township  became,  at  this  time,  the 
lawful  property  of  the  aforesaid  twelve  men.  ^  New 
lords,  new  laws,"  is  the  old  adage;  and  the  Ames- 


THE  XASONIAN  PROPBIETORS.  61 

bury  proprietors  could  not  determine  whether  it 
would  prove  a  good  thing  or  a  fearful  thing  to  fall 
into  the  hands  ^  of  this  company.  The  company  con- 
sisted of  men  of  wealth  and  position,  and  they  will  be 
known  henceforth  as  the  Masonian  Proprietors. 

Theodore  Atkinson  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard,  in 
the  class  of  1718.  Soon  after  leaving  college,  he  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  court  of  common  pleas.  He 
was  many  years  colonel  of  the  First  Begiment  New 
Hampshire  Militia ;  also  was  collector  of  customs, 
naval  officer,  and  high  sheriff  of  the  province.  He 
was  appointed  secretary  of  the  province  in  1741,  and 
chie^justice  of  the  supreme  court  in  1754. 

Mark  Hunking  Wentworth  was  a  brother  to  Gov. 
Benning,  and  the  father  of  the  last  royal  governor, 
John  Wentworth. 

Nathaniel  Meserve  built,  in  1749,  the  "America," 
for  the  British  government, — doubtless  the  first  ship 
of  the  line  built  in  America.  He  was  a  colonel  of  New 
Hampshire  troops  in  the  expedition  against  Crown 
Point,  having  the  command  at  Fort  Edward.  In  the 
second  expedition  against  Louisbourg.  in  1758,  he  and 
his  son,  Lieut  Nathaniel  Meserve,  fell  victims  to  the 
small-pox. 

Col.  Samuel  Moore  was  a  wealthy  ship-master,  at 
Portsmouth.  He  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  New 
Breton,  now  Andover. 

George  Jaffrey,  Joshua  Pierce,  Jotham  Odiom^ 


62  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

and  Richard  Wibird  were  members  of  the  council  of 
the  province,  and  Samuel  Solly,  who  soon  became  one 
of  the  Masonian  proprietors,  by  purchase  or  by  the 
death  of  an  original  member^  was  also  on  the  council 
board. 

The  grantees  of  Warner,  notwithstanding  all  these 
accumulating  discouragements,  kept  heart  as  well  as 
possible,  and  pushed  ahead.  They  trusted  that  the 
Masonian  proprietors  would  do  the  fair  thing.  They 
held  a  fully  attended  meeting  at  Amesbury,  Decem- 
ber 18, 1749,  and 

"  Voted  to  build  five  houses  in  said  Township,  at 
the  cost  of  the  proprietors ;  the  dimensions  to  be  ac- 
cording to  the  Act  of  Court" 

January  26, 1750, — ^less  than  six  weeks  after  the 

above  vote  was  passed, — the  following  record  is  found : 

^  We  the  subscribers,  pursuant  to  the  above  vote, 

have  built  four  houses  on  the  Township  No.  one  in 

the  line  of  towns  agreeable  to  order  of  Court 

Thomas  Colby,        Jarvis  Ring, 
Moses  Morrill,         Gideon  Straw.'' 

FURTHER  ENCOURAGEMENT  TO  SETTLERS. 

At  a  meeting  in  Amesbury,  Feb.  12th^  of  the  same 
year,— 

^  Voted  that  the  five  first  families  that  will  go  and 
settle  shall  have  the  5  houses  voted  last  meeting  and 


A  KEW  COMPUCATION — GRAKT  TO  RYE.  63 

shall  receive  20  pounds  old  tenor,  provided  they  go 
there  to  work  next  spring  and  move  their  families  by 
the  last  of  September  next'' 

^  att  ye  same  meetinge  voted  that  each  proprietor 
pay  his  proportion  of  ye  charge  that  has  Been  m 
Buldinge  the  Houses  in  said  township  at  the  next 
annuell  meetinge.'' 

These  houses  stood  on,  or  very  near,  the  Stephen 
Davis  muster-field.  They  were  never  occupied,  but 
were  burned  by  the  Indians  at  the  same  time  they  put 
fire  to  the  saw-milL  And  so  this  scheme,  also,  ended 
in  smoke. 

A  NEW  COMPLICATION— GRANT  TO  RYR 

The  Masonian  proprietors,  on  the  14th  day  of 
March,  1749,  granted  the  town  of  Warner  to  seventy- 
six  men,  seventy  of  whom  belonged  in  Rye  and  New- 
castle. Most  of  these  were  Jennesses.  The  other 
six  were  Joseph  Parsons  of  Bradford,  Mass.,  Andrew 
McClary  and  John  Blake,  Jr.,  of  Epsom,  Stephen  Ger- 
rish  of  Boscawen,  Hunking  Wentworth  and  Thomas 
Packer  of  Portsmouth 

The  Salisbury  and  Amesbury  proprietors  must  have 
known  of  this  grant  when  they  were  building  houses 
and  making  other  efforts  to  induce  families  to  become 
settlers  in  Number  One,  but  they  regarded  this  grant 
to  the  Bye  proprietors  as  condUional^  and  they  did 


64  HI8T0BT  OF  WjLBNEH. 

not  believe  those  proprietors  would  be  able  to  fulfil 
the  conditions  prescribed.  Too  much  space  would  be 
required  to  insert  those  conditions  here.  It  is  enough 
to  say,  they  were  extremely  exacting  and  harsh. 

But  at  last  the  multitude  of  adversities  (not  the 
least  of  which  was  the  renewal  of  the  French  and 
Indian  war,  which  stopped  the  tide  of  emigration  to 
the  frontier)  compelled  the  grantees  of  Warner  to  de- 
sist in  their  endeavors  for  the  settlement  of  the  town- 
ship. From  1750,  onwards,  for  eight  or  ten  years, 
*  they  rested  from  their  labors,"  so  far  as  caring  for 
their  interest  in  the  *^  disputed  territorjr**  was  con- 
cerned. 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  they  recommenced 
efibrts  for  the  settling  of  the  town  as  soon  as  1760  or 
1761.  There  are  no  records  in  existence  covermg 
this  period,  but  there  is  proof  that  their  agents  or 
employes,  in  passing  through  Concord  and  Hopkinton, 
notified  the  inhabitants  thereof  that  settlers  in  Num- 
ber One  would  receive  a  gift  of  40  acres  each,  and 
liberal  treatment,  if  they  availed  themselves  of  these 
ofiers  promptly. 


CHAPTER   Y. 

A    NEW  EPOCH — SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  TOWN — DANIEL  ANNIS-^ 

BEUBEN  KDtBALL — THE  FIRST   CHILD. 

yjtoLUMBUS  discovered  America  in  1492.  Capt 
yr  John  Smith,  of  Jamestown  memory,  discovered 
the  Isles  of  Shoals  in  1614.  Plymouth  was  settled 
in  1620 ;  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  and  Portsmouth 
at  Odiome's  Point,  in  1623 ;  Nashua,  in  1673 ;  Concord, 
in  1727 ;  Boscawen  and  Canterbury,  in  1734 ;  Hop- 
kinton,in  1742, — ^but  the  inhabitants  of  that  township 
left  their  homes  a  few  years  after  this  on  account  of 
the  hostility  of  the  Indians.  They  returned,  how- 
ever, in  1752.  Salisbury  was  settled  in  1750 ;  Hen- 
niker,  in  1761 ;  Warner,  in  1762 ;  Sutton,  in  1767 ;  and 
Bradford,  in  1771. 

About  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  Warner  and 
the  adjacent  towns,  the  tide  of  emigration  was  setting 
strongly  inland.  Cheap  land  w^as  sought  for.  The 
romance  of  a  home  on  the  frontier  influenced  thour 
sands.  Young  men  and  young  women  were  seeking 
the  virgin   soil  of  the  wilderness.     Many  who  had 


66  HISTOBT  OF  WARNEB. 

reached  middle  life  were  doing  likewise.  They  did 
not  hesitate  to  brave  the  trials  and  deprivations 
inseparable  from  a  life  in  the  woods.  While  many  of 
these  adventurers  were  called*  to  endure  disappoint- 
ment, hardship^  and  want,  most  of  them  bettered 
their  condition  by  disposing  of  such  property  as  they 
had  nearer  the  sea,  and  going  back  into  the  unoccu- 
pied country. 

SETTLEMENT    OP  THE  TOWN. 

A  peculiar  interest  attaches  to  those  who  happen 
to  have  been  the  first  settlers  in  any  town  or  place. 
We  naturally  desire  to  know  who  they  were,  where 
they  came  from,  and  how  they  fared.  We  are  also 
interested  in  ascertaining  the  exact  spot  on  which 
they  settled,  and  the  exact  time  when  the  event  oc- 
curred. 

The  curiosity  of  the  readers  of  this  volume  will  be 
gratified  in  these  respects,  for  the  author  has  been 
unexpectedly  successful  in  searching  for  facts  in  rela- 
tion to  these  points.  In  the  spring  of  1762,  the  first 
settlements  in  Warner  were  made.  Daniel  Armis  and 
Reuben  Kimhall,  with  their  families,  made  these  set- 
tlements. Kimball  was  the  son-in-law  of  Annis,  and 
they  both  came  from  Hopkinton. 

The  Salisbury  and  Amesbury  proprietors,  not  relin- 
quishing their  claim  to  the  township,  began  to  make 
renewed  exertions  to  people  it  as  soon  as  1761.   They 


68  jHISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

and  settlers  of  Penacook  (Concord)  belonged  in  Ha- 
verhill,  Bradford,  and  that  vicinity.  About  1745,  Dan- 
iel Annis  disposed  of  his  property  in  Bradford,  and 
moved  to  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  He  settled  the 
east  side  of  the  Merrimack,  perhaps  at  or  near  the 
spot  where  the  village  of  East  Concord  now  stands. 
He  was  assigned,  among  others,  in  1746,  "to  man  the 
garrison  near  Captain  Ebenezer  KastmanV  In  1748 
he  ufiited,  with  others,  in  a  petition  to  "  His  Excellen- 
cy Benning  Wentworth,  Captain  General  and  Gover- 
nor of  His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Hampshire,'* 
praying  that  a  small  number  of  soldiers  might  be 
placed  in  the  garrison  near  Henry  Lovejoy's  grist-mill, 
^  which  he  had  erected  at  great  expense,  which  was 
.  a  good  mill,  and  at  a  place  the  most  advantageously 
to  accommodate  the  three  towns  of  Rumford  [now 
Concord],  Contoocook  [now  Boscawen],  and  Canter- 
bury." The  petitioners  set  forth  that  *^the  ill  con- 
sequences of  abandoning  the  garrison  the  past  year 
hath  been  severely  felt  by  us."  Lovejoy's  mill  was  at 
West  Concord,  on  the  stream  which  is  the  outlet  of 
Penacook  lake. 

Hopkinton,  though  granted  by  Massachusetts,  in 
1735,  to  citizens  of  Hopkinton  in  that  province,  soon 
found  itself,  as  did  Warner,  outside  the  limits  of  that 
jurisdiction.  A  new  charter  had  to  be  obtained,  as  in 
the  case  of  Warner,  and  it  had  to  come  from  the  Ma- 
sonian  proprietors.     When  this  took  place,  most  of 


'«. 


SETTLEMENT  OP  THE  TOWN.  67 

gave  assurances  that  if  they  should  maintain  author- 
ity in  the  premises  they  would  accord  most  generous 
treatment  to  any  and  all  who  should  become  settlers 
in  Number  One.  They  were,  indeed,  hampered^  and, 
one  would  think,  utterly  defeated  in  their  enterprise, 
by  the  complications  which  have  been  referred  to ; — 
but  they  still  persisted  in  claiming  the  township  as 
rightfully  theirs ;  and  after  a  struggle  of  several  years 
more,  and  the  expenditure  of  large  sums  of  money, 
they  were  victorious. 

As  already  stated,  the  first  two  families  to  settle  in 
Warner  were  from  Hopkinton,  our  nearest  neighbor- 
ing town  on  the  south-east  The  home  of  Daniel  An- 
nis  was  on  the  south-west  slope  of  Putney's  hill.  He 
owned  lot  No.  &,  on  the  west  side  of  South  Range,  and 
lot  No.  5  on  the  east  side  of  the  same  range;  and  he 
lived  on  one  of  these  lots.  He  also  owned  land  on 
'  Sugar  hill,  and  two  intervale  lots  on  the  south  side  of 
Contoocook  river.  He  had  not  been  long  a  resident 
of  Hopkinton, — not  more  than  five  or  six  years :  in- 
deed, nobody  had  been  there  a  great  while. 

Charles  Annis  was  bom  in  Enniskillen,  Great  Brit- 
ain, in  1638.  He  came  to  Essex  county,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1666 ;  and  he  is  believed  to  be  the  common 
ancestor  of  all  the  Annises  in  New  England.  We  soon 
find  them  in  Newburyport,  Amesbury,  Bradford,  and 
Haverhill.  We  find  Daniel  and  John  (brothers)  in 
Bradford,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1740.    The  proprieton 


SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  TOWK.  69 

the  old  Hopkinton  grantees  retired.  The  few  origi- 
nal members  that  remained  called  a  meeting  in  1750, 
at  Concord,  N.  H.,  to  admit  new  proprietors,  and  to 
stimulate  settlement  Daniel  Annis,  and  several  fam- 
ilies of  the  Kimballs,  enlisted  in  this  enterprise,  and 
became  settlers  in  Hopkinton.  Annis  became  also  a 
proprietor  (he  being  a  man  of  considerable  means), 
but  he  did  not  move  to  Hopkinton  till  about  1757. 

Beuben  Kimball's  home,  or  that  of  his  father  (Jer- 
emiah), was  on  Putney's  hill.  The  first  Kimball  that 
is  found  in  this  country  is  Henry.  He  came  over  in 
the  Elizabeth,  from  Ipswich,  England,  in  1634,  and 
settled  in  Watertown,  Mass.  A  nephew  of  his,  by 
the  name  of  Caleb,  came  to  Ipswich,  Mass.,  and  was 
killed  in  King  Philip's  war,  at  Bloody  Brook,  1675. 
Richard,  a  brother  of  the  latter,  settled  in  Bradford, 
Mass.,  and  raised  a  large  family.  Thomas,  another 
brother,  was  an  early  settler  at  Bradford,  and  was 
killed  by  the  Indians,  May  3,  1676.  At  the  same 
time  his  wife  and  five  children  were  taken  prisoners, 
and  carried  forty  miles  into  the  wilderness.  On  the 
13th  day  of  June  following  they  were  set  at  liberty, 
and  allowed  to  go  home. 

The  Kimballs  soon  abound  in  Essex  county,  and  in 
other  parts  of  Massachusetts.  At  as  early  a  day  as 
1746,  a  number  of  them  are  found  in  Concord,  N.  H. 
These  came  from  Bradford  and  that  vicinity.  They 
are  also  among  the  early  settlers  of  Hopkinton.  Some 


mmmmrmi^m^'^^m^i^^m^^'^^'^^ 


70  HISTOBT  OF  WABXER. 

of  these  came  direct  from  Essex  county,  while  others, 
like  Daniel  Annis,  came  first  to  Concord,  and  thence 
to  Hopkinton.  They  settled  near  Kimball  Fort,  which 
stood  on  the  highest  point  o^  land  on  the  Concord 
road,  a  mile  below  Hopkinton  village.  They  settled, 
also,  on  and  around  Putney's  hill.  Jeremiah  Kimball 
came  from  Bradford,  Massachusetts.  He  died  in  May, 
1764,  aged  56,  and  was  buried  at  the  Old  Fort  on 
Putney's  hill.  He  was  the  father  of  Reuben,  who 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Daniel  Annis,  and  set- 
tled in  Warner  in  1762. 

These  two  men,  not  being  quite  satisfied  with  their 
situation  in  Hopkinton,  took  a  tramp  up  into  town- 
ship Number  One.  This  they  did  in  the  early  sum- 
mer of  1761.  It  was  but  a  short  trip,  and  they  came 
and  returned  the  same  day.  They  were  pleased  with 
the  country,  as  well  as  with  the  liberal  propositions 
which  the  proprietors  of  the  township  were  making. 
They'  made  a  second  journey,  tarried  longer,  and  se- 
lected their  lots.  During  the  summer  and  fall  of  this 
year  they  cleared  a  number  of  acres,  sowed  winter 
rye,  and  made  preparations  for  building.  Annis  se- 
lected the  ground  where  Paine  Davis  now  resides.  It 
was  Lot  72  in  the  first  survey,  containing  sixty  acres. 
Kimball  went  up  south-west,  a  third  of  a  mile,  and 
selected  a  forty-acre  lot,  which  for  many  years  con- 
stituted one  half  of  the  old  Origen  Dimond  farm.  It 
was  Lot  No.  26,  of  the  first  survey,  but  the  lots  were 


SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  TOWN.  71 

not  surveyed  and  numbered  till  after  these  men  had 
made  their  settlements* 

Annis  had  a  large  family, — not  less  than  four 
sons  and  three  daughters,  now  young  men  and 
young  women.  The  sons  were  Daniel,  Jr^  Thomas, 
Hoses,  and  Solomon,  and  the  daughters  were  Hannah 
(Mrs.  Kimball),  Rachel,  and  Ruth. 

In  the  spring  of  1762,  these  families  ^came  to 
stay."  Mr.  Annis,  the  first  of  May,  had  his  house 
completed.  It  stood  on  the  little  plat  of  ground 
between  the  main  road  and  the  railroad,  just  above 
Paine  Davis's  shed.  The  front  door  of  the  house  was 
within  ten  feet  of  the  present  wall.  The  humble  bam 
of  this  pioneer  stood  on  ground  which  the  present 
large  bam  on  that  place  covers,  and  the  barnyard 
was  where  the  shed  now  is.  Across  the  road,  on  the 
side-hill, — ^perhaps  five  rods  from  the  front  of  the 
house, — ^was  a  living  spring,  from  which  the  family  for 
years  obtained  their  supply  of  water.  But  the  sjpring  . 
became  dry  long  years  ago,  and  those  who  drew  there- 
from thirst  no  more. 

Here,  after  fifty  years  of  vicissitude  and  toil,  Daniel 
Annis  pitched  his  tent  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  pitched  wisely.  Hopkinton  had  now  a  small  num- 
ber of  inhabitants,  but  none  of  them  had  crossed  the 
Contoocook  river  to  found  their  homes.  To  the 
northward,  the  habitation  of  no  white  family  could  be 
found  this  side  of  Canada.    The  stillness  of  the  day 


72  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNEB. 

and  the  silence  of  the  night  may  have  been,  for  a 
time,  unwelcome  to  the  stirring  nature  of  Daniel  An- 
nia.  No  stage-coach  rolled  along  the  public  way ;  no 
railroad  train  thundered  by  at  the  rear;  no  wood- 
man's axe  echoed  in  the  distance ;  no  birds  sang  in 
the  wilderness  ;-and  yet  it  was  a  charming  place. 
The  soil  was  productive :  a  part  of  the  intervale  was 
open  prairie  land.  A  road,  such  as  it  was,  led  by  the 
front  door  of  the  house,  connecting  New  Hopkinton 
with  the  meeting-house  lot  in  New  Almsbury.  The 
peaceful  river  was  sweeping  gently  by,  a  few  feet  at 
the  rear  of  the  house,  and  the  gray  summit  of  old 
Kearsarge  stood  out  boldly  at  the  north. 

Daniel  Annis  brought  a  part  of  his  family  with  him 
to  this  new  home  the  first  of  May,  1762 ;  but  he  lefl 
his  wife,  two  unmarried  daughters,  and  one  or  two 
sons  at  Putney's  hill.  He  had  not  yet  disposed  of  his 
property  there.  Reuben  Kimball,  and  Hannah  Annis 
his  wife,  came  to  Warner  with  the  father,  and,  if  we 
make  no  account  of  the  Indians,  Hannah  Annis  Kim- 
ball was  the  first  woman  who  ever  slept  in  town. 
Kimball  and  his  wife  made  their  home  with  Mr.  An- 
nis till  the  last  of  June.  Having  completed  their 
humble  log  house  and  their  humbler  barn,  and  hav- 
ing dug  and  stoned  their  well,  which  was  ^  seven  feet 
deep,"  Reuben  and  Hannah,  the  30th  day  of  June, 
1762,  went  up  to  this  primitive  home  on  the  hill, 
there  to  make  their  abode.  ^  Sis  acres  were  then  in 


SKTTLEMEXT  OF  THE  TOWN.  iS 

corn,  potntoes,  and  winter  rye.  The  latter  was  now 
^  five  feet  talL  with  long  heads^  and  beginning  to 
turn.''     Kimb<ill  was  24  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  22. 

Daniel  Annis  now  brought  other  members  of  his 
family-  to  Warner, — ^perhaps  all  the  others.  He  lived 
here  the  remainder  of  his  days  (28  years),  died  in 
1790,  and  his  dust  sleeps  in  an  unknown  grave  in  the 
old  cemetery  at  the  Parade. 

When  this  Kimball  lot  was  surveyed,  and  the  title 
of  the  occupant  to  it  was  confirmed  by  the  Amesbury 
proprietors,  it  was  numbered  26.  It  was  a  *'  gift  lot^" 
containing  forty  acres.  It  was  half  a  mile  long,  and 
forty  rods  wide.  The  whole  lot  was  annexed  to  the 
Dimond  farm  in  1767,  but  at  a  subsequent  time  it  was 
divided.  The  south  end  (and  the  larger  part  of  the 
lot)  still  constitutes  a  part  of  that  farm ;  but  the  nocth 
end,  on  which  Kimball's  buildings  stood,  has  for  a 
great  many  years  been  a  part  of  the  Ira  P.  Whittier 
pasture,  which  was  formerly  owned  by  Oilman  C. 
Creorge,  and  by  his  father  before  him. 

To  visit  the  site  of  the  buildings  where  this  young 
couple  settled  in  1762,  one  should  go  to  the  Ballard 
place  (now  owned  and  occupied  by  Marshall  Dunbar); 
go  up  the  new  Joppa  road  from  Dunbar's  shop  a  few 
rods,  and  turn  in  to  the  left ;  then  follow  Dunbar^s 
cart-path  up  through  his  first  and  second  fields ;  get 
over  the  wall  from  the  latter  into  Whittier's  pasture, — 
and  there,  about  twenty  feet  froYn  the  wall,  will  be 


74  mSTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

found  indistinct  traces  of  the  old  cellar,  and  of  the 
foundations  of  the  house  and  bam.  Tlie  old  well  is 
distinctly  marked,  and  an  ancient  apple-tree  stands 
near  by.  It  is  a  sightly  place,  there  being  nothing  to 
obstruct  the  view  to  the  north,  the  east,  or  the  west 
But  no  buildings  have  stood  on  this  ground  to  tell  the 
story  of  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  that  young  family,  for 
a  hundred  and  twelve  years.  A  solemn  air  seems  to 
pervade  the  place,  for  here,  on  this  lonely  height,  a 
century  and  a  sixth  ago,  on  a  dark  October  night, 
when  the  storm  was  howling  down  the  mountain 
sides,  the  first  child  of  Warner  was  bom ! 

Subsequently,  another  child  was  bora  here  to  the 
same  parents,  and  still  another ;  but  after  living  here 
five  years,  Kimball  sold  his  farm  to  his  brother-in-law, 
Abner  Watkins,  and  moved  to  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Kimball  road,  where  he  died  in  1811.  His  son 
Jeremiah  followed  him  on  the  same  place.  The  two 
sons  of  Jeremiah, — Chellis  F.  and  Reuben, — are 
well  remembered  by  the  people  of  Warner  of  the 
present  day. 

This  second  home  of  Reuben  Kimball,  too,  is  de- 
serted. It  was  near  the  comer  (sometimes  called 
Kimball  Comer)  where  one  road  leads  off  to  Joppa, 
and  the  other  down  to  the  Parade.  Four  generations 
of  Kimballs  have  lived  at  this  place, — Reuben,  senior, 
Jeremiah,  Rev.  Reuben,  and  his  children.  But  the 
old  two-story  red  house  was  taken  away  many  years 


THE  FIRST  CHILD.  75 

ago,  and  the  farm,  as    a    place  of  residence,  was 
given  up. 

The  body  of  Reuben  Kimball,  the  first,  was  buried 
at  the  Parade,  under  the  blossoming  apple-trees,  near 
the  wall,  and  not  far  from  the  south-east  comer  of  the 
cemetery.  On  the  slab  that  marks  the  grave  4ire  the 
following  words  : 

In  Memory 

of 

Mr.  Beuben  Kimball, 

Who  died  May  2,  1811, 

Aged  73. 

THE  FIRST  CHILD. 

The  place  has  now  been  designated  where  Wamer^s 
first  child  was  bom.  The  event  occurred  in  October, 
1762.  The  baptismal  name  of  this  child  was  Daniel, 
and  his  life  was  one  of  quiet  romance.  Bom  and 
cradled  in  the  region  of  hills.  Daniel  Kimball  gazed, 
with  youthful  eye,  on  the  grandeur  of  a  broken  coun- 
try. He  learned  to  love  the  mountains,  and  when  he 
^  became  of  age,'*  he  made  his  adopted  home  in  their 
very  midst  He  started  out,  in  1783  or  1784,  to  *^seek 
his  fortune."  With  a  small  bundle  of  clothes  swung 
on  a  stick  over  his  shoulder,  he  sallied  forth.  His  eye 
was  towards  the  north, — the  country  of  cheap  land ; — 
in  fact,  the  country  where  the  land  was  free  to  actual 

settlers.     He  travelled  alone,  passing  through  Sutton, 
6 


76  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

New  London,  Springfield,  and  on  to  Enfield,  making 
the  whole  journey  between  "  sun  and  sun.*'  He  put 
up  at  Enfield  for  the  night  Archelaus  Stevens  and 
his  family  had  gone  up  there  from  Hampstead,  and 
settled,  a  few  years  before  this  time.  Daniel  Kimball 
stopped  with  this  family,  and  ate  and  slept  in  their 
house.  Polly  Stevens  was  a  blooming  damsel  of 
eighteen.  Possibly  Daniel  K.  was  aware  of  her  pres- 
ence in  that  house,  but  he  pushed  on  the  next  morn- 
ing up  into  Canaan.  He  selected  a  lot  on  Sawyer's 
hill,  in  that  town,  and  went  industriously  to  work. 
Every  Saturday  night  he  returned  to  his  patron  fami- 
ly in  Enfield.  In  due  time  Daniel  Kimball  and  Polly 
Stevens  were  "no  more  twain.'*  They  made  their 
pleasant  and  satisfactory  home  on  Sawyer's  hill. 
Their  first  house,  to  be  sure,  was  made  of  logs,  but 
it  was  just  such  a  one  as  the  male  head  of  this  little 
family  had  been  born  in,  and  there  was  no  complain- 
ing. Within  ten  years  from  their  first  occupancy  of 
this  place,  they  had  a  comfortable  frame  house,  and  it 
stands  to-day.  It  is  good  enough.  Their  farm  was 
about  an  average  one  in  that  locality.  It  was  good 
for  wheat,  oats,  grass,  and  potatoes,  but  only  moder- 
ately good  for  corn.  Their  roads  were  steep  and 
rough,  and  they  have  not  been  much  improved  since 
that  day.  The  home  of  Kimball  was  on  the  ridge  of 
Sawyer's  hill,  two  miles  north-west  from  "  Canaan 
street"    At  the  rear  of  his  buildings  abruptly  rises 


THE  FIRST  CHILD.  77 

Moose  mountain,  to  the  height  of  2,300  feet  In  front, 
at  the  south-east,  and  in  full  view  to  its  very  base, 
stands  old  Cardigan,  lifting  its  silvery  head  3,100  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Thus  the  view  from  this 
point  is  very  striking. 

Just  across  the  road  from  the  Kimball  house,  and 
not  five  rods  from  the  front  door,  is  a  natural  pond, 
embracing  less  than  a  sixteenth  part  of  an  acre.  This 
pond,  on  the  28th  day  of  August,  1878,  was  full  of 
fragrant  lilies.  Here  this  couple  settled  down  for 
life.  Here  they  raised  up,  to  be  men  and  women,  ten 
healthy  children.  Here  they  lived  respected,  and 
died  in  peace. 

The  writer  has  pursued  this  "  first  child  of  Warner^ 
to  the  end ;  has  found  where  he  was  bom,  where  he 
performed  his  life-work,  and  where  he  died.  He  has 
followed  him  to  his  grave.  He  is  inurned  in  the  old 
cemetery  on  Sawyer's  hilL  A  clump  of  red  rose- 
bushes and  a  white  marble  slab  mark  his  burial-place 
on  the  mountains.  On  this  slab  the  chisel  of  the 
engraver  has  only  said, — 

Daniel  Kimball, 

Died  July  29, 1843, 

Aged  80. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

PBOPBIETORS'   RECORD — EFFORTS  FOR  COLOXIZATIOX— GIFT  LOTS 
— SETTLERS*   BOND — NEARLY  SETTLERS. 

APPARENTLY  without  much  fear  of  the  Jen- 
nesses  before  their  eyes,  the  Salisbury  and 
Araesbury  proprietors  met  at  Amesbury,  in  June, 
1763,  and  proceeded  to  business.  The  exact  record 
of  this  meeting  is  in  the  words  following: 

**att  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  township  No. 
one  in  the  line  of  towns,  on  ye  21st  of  June,  1763, 
voted  that  Joseph  Jewell  Francis  Davis  Moses  Morrill 
and  Daniel  Quimby  be  a  Committee  to  Go  and  hire  a 
servayer  and  what  help  thay  shall  think  Proper  and 
Go  and  Run  a  Line  Round  said  township  att  the  same 
meeting  voted  to  allow  the  committee  half  a  Dollar 
per  Day  for  thare  time  voted  that  this  meeting  be  ad- 
journed to  the  19th  day  of  July  next  at  Captain  Jon- 
athan Barnard's  house." 

This  committee,  for  some  unknown  reasons,  never 
perfonned  the  duty  assigned  them.  They  may  have 
taken  a  tramp  in  some  portions  of  the  township,  but 
they  run  no  line  round  the  town,  and  made  no  report 
of  such  transaction. 


PBOPRIETORS'  RECORD.  79 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  July  the  19  th, — 

**  Voted  that  the  first  ten  settlers  Provided  thay 
shall  settel  Emediately  on  s"^  township  shall  have  for 
thare  Incouragement  a  forty  acre  Loot  of  upland  and 
five  acres  of  Intervail  Each,  the  five  acres  of  Interval 
Nigh  8*  upland.** 

On  the  9th  day  of  August,  1763,  the  proprietors  of 
Number  One  met  again  at  the  house  of  Capt  Jona- 
than Barnard,  Innholder,  in  Amesbury,  and  after  or- 
ganizing,— 

Voted  to  lay  out  a  division  of  60  forty-acre  lots  of 
the  best  land  in  the  township,  exclusive  of  intervale, 
and  that  Enoch  Blaisdell,  Barnard  Hoyt,  and  Elipha- 
let  Danford  be  a  committee  for  laying  out  the  said 
lots. 

At  the  same  meeting,  voted  that  the  men  that  will 
first  agree  to  settle  in  the  township  with  their  fami- 
lies shall  have  their  choice  of  the  forty-acre  lots. 

Voted  that  each  proprietor  shall  pay  eighteen  shill- 
ings, old  tenor,  to  defray  expenses  of.  laying  the  setr 
tiers'  division  of  lots. 

The  names  of  those  persons,  who  at  this  meeting 
agreed  verbally,  or  by  letter,  to  become  settlers  in 
township  Number  One,  are  as  follows,  viz. : 

Enoch  Blaisdell,^  Barnard  Hoyt, 

Eliphalet  Danford,  Daniel  Flanders, 

Stephen  Danford,^  Zebulon  Flanders,^ 


> 


80  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

Samuel  Walker,  Nathan  Currier, 

Elijah  Blaisdell,^  Bartholomew  Heath, 

Moses  Pressey,  Joshua  Bagley,  "^ 

Jeremy  Fowler,''  •    Daniel  Chase,'' 

Paskey  Pressey,  Isaac  Chase,^ 

Thomas  Jewell,  Abner  Watkins,'' 
William  Rowell,  Jr.,       Francis  Davis,'' 

Nathan  Goodwin. 

A  part  of  these  men  became  actual  settlers ;  others 
settled  only  **  by  proxy." 

The  proprietors  met  again  the  30th  of  August,  of 
the  same  year,  to  receive  the  report  of  the  committee 
for  laying  out  ^  Settlers'  Lots."  The  committee  re- 
ported that  they  had  been  upon  their  mission,  and 
had  laid  out  and  numbered  sixty  40-acre  lots  for  set- 
tlers, but  they  presented  no  plan  of  their  survey,  and 
none  is  in  existence.  It  is  therefore  impossible  to  de- 
termine the  exact  situation  of  those  sixty  lots.  They 
were  resurveyed  and  renumbered  in  1770.  The  com- 
mittee were  allowed  for  their  service  75  pounds  and 
4  shillings. 

SETTLERS'  BOND. 

The  proprietors  of  the  township  were  generous  to 
the  first  settlers.  They  granted  to  each  one  a  40-acre 
lot  of  land ;  they  granted,  also,  five  acres  of  intervale 
land  to  each  one  of  the  first  ten  settlers  who  should 
apply  immediately.    Each  settler  as  he  came  was  to 


EARLT  SETTLERS.  81 

make  his  own  selection  from  the  sixty  lots  till  they 
should  all  be  taken  up. 

But  there  were  obligations  resting  upon  the  other 
party.  A  bond  had  been  agreed  upon  at  some  pre- 
vious meeting  for  the  settlers  to  sign,  the  conditions 
of  which  were,  that  ^  each  settler  should  build  a 
house  16  by  18  feet  square,  or  equivalent  thereto, 
and  clear  three  acres  of  land  fit  for  grass,  pasturing, 
or  tillage, — the  houses  to  be  built  in  two  months,  and 
the  land  to  be  cleared  in  three  months,  after  the  lot 
had  been  selected.'' 

On  the  fulfilment  of  these  requirements,  the  settler 
was  to  receive  a  deed  of  the  40-acre  lot  which  he  had 
selected  and  improved,  and  (if  one  of  the  first  ten)  a 
deed,  also,  of  five  acres  of  intervale  ^  nigh  said  upland." 

EARLY  SETTLERS. 

During  the  year  1763,  a  few  families  availed  them- 
selves of  the  foregoing  propositions,  and  became  resi- 
dents of  No.  One.  Daniel  Flood  came  that  year,  and 
settled  on  what  has  long  been  kno\vn  as  Denney's 
hill^  But  he  did  not  come  from  Rye,  as  many  have 
believed.  The  Christian  name  of  the  first  man  in 
America  by  the  name  of  Flood,  was  Edmund.  He 
came  to  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  the  ship  Ann,  in  1623, 
but  he  disappears  from  there  before  1627.  He  may 
have  died,  may  have  gone  back  to  England,  or  may 
have  removed  to  the  new  settlement  at  Merry  Mount 
The  next  one  we  find  of  this  name  is  Henry  Flood, 


82  BISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

in  Boston.  We  find  Richard  Flood  in  Haverhill,  in 
1741.  In  the  roll  of  Capt.  John  Hazzan's  company 
for  the  reduction  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Pointy  in 
1757,  we  find  Daniel  and  Silas  Flood.  One  of  these 
was  the  father,  and  the  other  the  uncle,  of  Daniel, 
Amos,  and  Richard  (brothers),  who  came  to  Warner 
from  Amesbury. 

Daniel  Flood,  prompted,  undoubtedly,  by  the  lib- 
eral offers  of  the  proprietors  of  Warner,  came  to 
town  a  single  man,  in  quest  of  a  home.  In  pursuing 
his  journey  up  the  river,  he  called  at  the  last  house 
(that  of  Daniel  Annis)  for  rest  and  refreshment  This, 
also,  was  the  first  house  that  he  saw  above  the  Con- 
toocook  river.  Before  the  snow  flew  the  coming  win- 
ter, he  had  his  log  house  completed  and  in  good  order, 
on  Denney's  hill.  He  also  had  Raehelj  second  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Annis,  safely  domiciled  there.  Unlike 
old  Jacob,  our  hero  did  not  serve  fourteen  years,  nor 
even  seven,  for  hk  Rachel.  She  went  promptly,  and 
with  the  ready  consent  of  her  parents.  Stingy  old 
Laban  was  not  there  to  speculate  in  his  daughter's 
attractions. 

Paakey  Presseyy  with  his  family,  came  also  from 
Amesbury,  in  1763.  He  settled  in  Joppa,  on  the 
farm  which  Capt.  Matthew  D.  Annis  occupied  after- 
wards for  fortj*-  years,  and  on  which  James  Emerson 
now  resides.  Mr.  Pressey  served  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war. 


^. 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  83 

Isaac  Waldron  and  his  two  sons,  Isaac,  Jr.,  and 
Jacob,  came  the  same  year  from  the  same  town,  and 
settled  on  that  part  of  the  Gould  road  called  Wal- 
dron's  hill,  Jacob  Waldron  was  one  of  the  selectmen 
of  Warner,  being  chosen  at  the  first  election  after  the 
incorporation  of  the  town.  His  sons  were  Abraham, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  and  Benjamin. 

Perhaps  others  came  the  same  year,  though  there 
k  no  certainty  of  it  But  from  this  time  forward  the 
settlement  of  the  town  was  expedited.  During  the 
succeeding  decade,  the  following  persons,  many  of 
them  with  families,  were  added  to  the  population  of 
the  youthful  town, — viz.,  Daniel  Flanders,  Isaac  Chase}^ 
Eliphalet  Danforth,  Francis  Davi^  Samuel  Roby, 
Richard   Goodwin,  Joseph   Currier,  Philip   Flanders, 

I/'  fc^  v^ 

Abner  Watkins,  Elijah  Blaisdell,  Joshua  Bagley,  Dan- 
iel Chast^Daniel  Young,  Daniel  Currier,  Jeremy  Fow-^ 

\jf^  .        *^  

ler,  Barnard  Hoyt,  Enoch  Blaisdell,  Parmenas  Watr 

son,  Nehemiah  Heath,  Joseph  Sawyer,  Jacob  Tucker, 

Moses  Clark,  Ebenezer  Eastman,  Theodore  Stevens, 

Jonathan  Fifield,  David  Gilmore,  Seth  Goodwin,  Eze- 

kiel  Goodwin,  Joseph  Foster,  Abner  Chase,  Stephen 

'  Edmunds,  Hubbard  Carter,  Thomas  Rowell,  Robert 

Gould,  Theophilus  Currier,  and  Nathaniel  Trumbull. 

The  sons  of  Daniel  Annis  each  settled  down  upon 
his  lot  during  this  period. 

Daniel  Flanders  came  from  Hawke  (now  Danville); 
lived  at  the  lower  village,  near  the  Henry  B.  Chase 


84  HISTORY  OF  WABNEB. 

place.  He  was  Wamer^s  first  town-clerk.  His  farm 
extended  across  the  river,  and  the  lightning  struck 
one  of  his  trees  near  the  Hutchinson  place,  broke  it 
down,  and  shivered  it  to  pieces.  Flanders  hauled  it 
home  for  firewood,  and,  in  doing  this,  stuck  a  sliver 
into  his  hand.  He  got  cold  in  this  slight  wound,  and 
died.  From  that  circumstance  most  of  the  people  be- 
lieved, and  some  believe  to  this  day,  that  the  electric 
fluid  poisons  the  wood,  and  that  a  scratch  from  a 
splinter  of  such  a  tree  is  sure  death. 

Isaac  Chase  came  from  Amesbury ;  settled  first  on 
the  Stephen  George  place,  afterwards  on  the  Moses  F. 
Colby  farm.  He  often  served  as  moderator  of  town- 
meetings,  and  as  selectman.  He  was  one  of  the  early 
representatives  of  the  "  classed  towns.*' 

Francis  Davis  was  from  Amesbury.  He  settled  at 
Davisville,  and  was  prominent  in  the  afiairs  of  the 
town  and  state  for  many  years,  as  the  records  herein- 
after will  show.  His  sons  were,  Zebulon,  Wells,  Fran- 
cis, Aquila,  Paine,  and  Nathan. 

Samuel  Rohy  settled  in  Schoodac,  near  the  Bos- 
cawen  line,  where  he  died  at  a  good  old  age.  He  had 
a  large  family,  and  one  son  (Hiram)  yet  remains. 

Richard  Goodwin  came  from  South  Hampton,  and 
settled  just  above  Rev.  William  Kelley's,  between  the 
Parade  and  Kimball  Corner.  He  was  a  brother  to 
Ezekiel  and  Seth. 

Joseph  Currier  was  from  Amesbury.    He  lived  at 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  85 

the  present  Richard  S.  Foster  place.  He  was  the 
father  of  Jacob  and  Capt.  Benjamin  Currier,  and  the 
grandfather  of  the  late  John  Cunier,  Jr.  He  was 
familiarly  known,  in  his  day,  as  "  Ensign  Jo  Currier.'* 

Phiiip  Flanders  was  from  Hawke,  a  brother  to 
Daniel,  who  came  to  Warner  with  him,  and  to  James 
and  Christopher,  who  came  afterwards.  Philip  settled 
where  the  symmetrical  elm  tree  now  stands,  it  being 
the  first  place  on  the  Schoodac  road.  He  was  the 
father  of  ^  Major  Philip,"  who  lived  on  the  pine  plain^ 
and  who  is  yet  remembered  by  many  of  the  people  of 
Warner. 

Abner  Watkins  was  from  Nottingham  West  (now 
Hudson).  He  settled  in  Joppa,  on  Lot  25,  by  the 
first  survey;  and  in  1767  he  bought  Lot  No.  26  of 
Eeuben  Kimball,  for  £40  lawful  money.  He  lived  on 
the  exact  spot  where  the  Origen  Dimond  house  now 
stands.  He  married  Ruth,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
Daniel  Annis.  He  was  one  of  the  early  selectmen  of 
Warner.  He  was  also  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  After 
a  residence  of  several  years  in  Joppa,  Watkins  ex- 
changed farms  with  William  Merrill,  of  Nottingham 
West,  went  back  to  his  birth-place,  and  Merrill  came 
to  Warner.  In  due  time,  Merrill  conveyed  the  farm 
to  Isaac  Sweaty  of  Boscawen.  Sweat  conveyed  it  to 
Samuel  Pearson,  of  Newburyport,  Pearson  to  Isaac 
Dimond,  Dimond  to  his  son  Origen,  and  the  latter  to 
Smith  Rand.    Watkins,  in  1793   or   1794,  returned 


86  HISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

to  the  shadow  of  Kearsarge,  and   settled    in    the 
Gore. 

Joshua  Bagley  was  from  Salisbury,  Mass.     He  set- 
tled at  the  present  Samuel  H.  Bow  place,  by  Bagley's    ^ 
bridge.    His  son  David,  who  was  town-clerk  thirty- 
nine  or  forty  years,  occupied  the  same  farm  till  his 
death,  as  did  also  his  grandson  Joshua. 

Daniel  Young  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
army.  He  lived  on  land  now  owned  by  Levi  Bartlett, 
some  little  distance  south  of  the  Gould  road  and  west 
of  Bartlett  brook.  His  buildings  were  destroyed  by 
fire. 

Daniel  Currier  came  from  Amesbury,  and  settled  in 
Joppa,  where  his  son,  Zebulon  D.,  long  resided,  and 
where  his  grandson,  Charles  Currier,  now  live&  He 
was  the  father  of  Stephen,  Daniel,  Jr.,  Zebulon  D.,  and 
Nathan. 

Barnard  Hoyt  was  from  Amesbury.  His  lot  was  at 
Waterloo,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river.  He  was  the 
ancestor  of  David  and  Barnard  Hoy  t 

Parmenas  Watson  settled  in  Joppa,  near  the  Clarks. 
There  is  no  house  now  standing  on  the  place  which 
he  occupied,  but  a  bam  remains.  The  present  Joppa 
school-house  is  very  near  the  site  of  the  house  in 
which  he  lived  and  died.  He  was  one  of  the  first  dea- 
cons of  the  Congregational  church,  and  he  frequently 
served  as  selectman  of  the  town.  He  was  the  father 
of  Jonathan,  and   the  grandfather  of  Capt.  Cyrus. 


EARLY  SETTLEES.  87 

Nehemiah  Heath  came  from  Hampstead,  and  settled 
at  the  place  where  John  Tewksbiirjr  now  resides,  near 
the  site  of  the  old  ^  Kelley  stand.'*  He,  also,  was  one 
of  the  first  deacons  of  the  Congregational  church. 
His  son,  Dea.  David  Heath,  followed  him,  on  the  farm 
and  in  the  church. 

Joseph  Satoyer  was  also  from  Hampstead.  He  set- 
tled near  the  old  cemetery,  on  the  right  hand  side 
of  the  road  leading  up  to  Joppa.  His  sons  were 
Moses  and  Edmund :  the  one  lived  near  Bear  pond, 
and  the  other  at  what  is  now  called  "  the  old  poor-farm.** 

Jacob  Tucker  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  His 
home  in  Warner  was  on  land  now  owned  by  the  Har- 
ris family,  on  Tory  Hill  road. 

Ehenezer  Edstman  was  from  Concord.  He  settled 
on  Waldron's  hill, — a  soldier  of  the  Revolution. 

Theodore  Stevens  was  also  from  Concord.  He  took 
up  a  settler's  lot  on  Waldron's  hill,  but  never  really 
made  his  home  in  town. 

Ehenezer  Stevens^  his  son.  took  possession  of  the  lot, 
and  occupied  it  many  years.  But  most  of  his  life- 
time was  spent  on  the  river  above  Roby's  Comer, 
where  he  was  surrounded  by  a  large  family,  all  en- 
gaged in  manufacturing  business. 

Jonathan  Fifield  lived  just  below  Gould  Annis's, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  main  road,  but  did  not  re- 
main  long  in  town.  His  wife  had  the  misfortune  of 
being  considered  a  wUch. 


88  HISTORY  OF  WABNEB. 

David  Oibnore  was  from  Amesbury.  He  first  set- 
tled at  Davisville,  then  on  the  Gould  road,  and  last  in 
school  district  No.  8,  near  Wiggin  Comer.  He  was 
the  father  of  John  and  Mitchell,  and  the  grandfather 
of  Mitchell,  Jr.,  Aiken,  Elijah  R.,  and  others. 

8eth  Goodwin  was  from  South  Hampton,  or  Ames- 
bury.    He  settled  on  the  Moulton  place,  in  Schoodac. 

Uzekiel  Goodwin  (a  brother  to  Richard  and  Seth) 
lived  at  the  Dea.  Bailey  place,  where  John  Johnson 
now  resides.  He  was  a  temperance  man  at  that  early 
day.  When,  in  the  Revolution,  the  regiment  to  which 
he  belonged  was  called  out  to  do  picket  duty  for  the 
night,  a  ration  of  rum  was  issued  to  each  man.  Good- 
win did  n't  drink,  but  he  made  the  rum  serviceable  to 
himself  He  always  found  a  man  to  take  his  place  on 
guard, — however  black  or  bleak  the  night, — for  his 
gill  of  liquor.  Whether  the  rigid  prohibitionists  of 
to-day  would  approve  this  practice,  "  deponent  know- 
eth  not" 

Joseph  Foster  came  from  Amesbury,  lived  in  the 
Kimball  district,  where  David  Foster,  his  grandson, 
now  resides.  His  sons  were  Joseph  and  Benjamin, 
and  his  grandsons  living  in  Warner  are  David  and 
Stephen. 

Ahner  Chase  was  a  brother  to  Isaac  and  Daniel. 
He  lived  at  one  time  in  Waterloo ;  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolution. 

Stephen  Edmunds  was  from  Amesbury.     He  settled 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  89 

where  his  grandson  by  the  same  name  now  resides, 
on  Tory  hilL  His  son  John,  who  was  the  father  of 
the  last  Stephen,  occupied  the  farm  dunng  his  lifetime. 

Huhhard  Carter  was  on  Tory  hill,  at  the  ^  Ben  Sar- 
gent place,''  which  is  now  in  possession  of  a  son  of 
Abner  Sargent     Carter  was  in  the  Revolution. 

Robert  Gould  came  from  Amesbury,  and  settled  on 
the  Gould  road.  He  was  a  brother  to  Jonathan  and 
Amos,  and  the  father  of  John  and  David. 

Theophilus  Currier  was  from  Amesbury.  He  set- 
tled at  the  ^Kiah  Comer,"  near  the  Evans  Davis 
place.  His  sons  were  Enoch,  William,  and  Theophi- 
lus. The  sons  of  Enoch,  are  Enoch,  the  2d  (now  liv- 
ing), and  Jesse  D.  Ezekiel  G.  Currier,  the  tanner, 
was  a  son  of  William. 

Nathaniel  TrumhuU,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was 
bom  at  Concord,  in  1746.  He  settled  in  Schoodac, 
near  John  Jones's,  and  died  there  seventy-five  years 
ago. 

Darnel  Annia,  Jr.j  settled  on  the  Ira  P.  Whittier 
place.  He  received  a  forty-acre  lot  as  a  settler  at 
that  place,  and  he  bought  the  lot  and  gore  which 
constitute  the  Ballard  farm,  and  added  that  to  his 
domain. 

Thomas  Annis  selected  his  forty  acres  just  below 
his  father's,  at  the  Samuel  H.  Dow  place.  He  built 
his  house  and  other  buildings  on  the  upper  side  of 
the  road,  where  the  old  cellar  is  now  visible.    In 


90  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

1771,  Thomas  bought  of  his  father,  Daniel  Annis,  sen- 
ior (who  was  now  growing  old  and  inBrm),  the  home- 
stead of  the  old  gentleman.  The  Hillsborough  coun- 
ty records  show  that  Thomas  paid  his  father  £180, 
lawful  money,  for  the  sixty  acres  of  land  where  he 
then  lived,  with  the  house  and  bam  thereon,  ^  the 
said  land  being  all  the  land  which  was  granted  unto 
me,  the  said  Daniel  Annis,  by  the  Proprietors  of  the 
township  of  New  Almsbury,  as  a  settler."  This  is  the 
Paine  Davis  place.  After  this  purchase,  Thomas  went 
there  to  live.  He  built  on  the  exact  spot  where  the 
house  now  stands,  and  probably  built  the  identical 
house  that  Davis  now  occupies. 

Thomas  Annis  was  thrifty,  and  by  additional  pur- 
chases was  soon  in  possession  of  a  large  estate.  The 
land  all  about  Tom  pond  was  his,  and  the  pond  owes 
its  name  to  this  circumstance. 

Moses  Annis  took  his  forty  acres  as  a  settler,  where 
Moses  G.,  commonly  called  Gould  Annis,  now  resides ; 
but  Gould  does  not  descend  from  this  Moses.  He 
left  no  heirs.  Gould  was  the  son  of  Moses,  which 
was  the  son  of  Thomas,  which  was  the  son  of  Daniel. 
He  is  therefore  a  great-grandson  of  the  original  settler. 

Solomon  Annis  selected  his  forty  acres  still  further 
down  the  main  road.  The  old  cellar  which  he  dug  is 
distinctly  seen,  but  it  has  been  covered  by  no  house 
for  a  great  many  years.  Pass  down  the  road  from 
Moses  G.  Annis's,  cross  the  little  brook  and  rise  the 


EABLT  SETTLERS.  91 

hiQ  nearly  to  the  top,  turn  square  to  the  left,  get  over 
the  fence  and  go  a  few  rods  towards  the  railroad,  and 
there  will  be  seen  the  cellar  which  Solomon  Annis 
finished  the  day  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

In  April,  1778,  ^  Solomon  Annis,  of  township  No.  6, 
oonnty  of  Lincoln,  in  the  Province  of  Mass.  Bay,** 
deeded  to  Moses  Annis  this  lot  of  land  which  he  had 
received  as  a  settler,  for  £28  lawful  money.  This 
Lincoln  county  lies  on  the  coast  of  Maine,  beyond 
the  Kennebec.  Solomon  Annis,  having  a  roving  dis- 
position, had  gone  down  there,  glowing  representa- 
tions having  been  made  of  the  richness  of  the  coun- 
try, and  of  the  chances  for  thrift  He  soon  found 
however,  that  all  was  not  sunshine  in  that  place.  He 
packed  up  and  returned  with  his  family  to  Warner, 
where  he  ended  his  daya 

Each  one  of  the  settlers  already  named  availed  « 
himself  of  the  generous  offer  of  the  proprietors,  and 
selected  his  giftrlot  according  to  his  own  best  judg- 
ment Most  of  them  did  wisely  in  coming.  They 
were  generally  destitute  of  means,  but  were  willing 
to  work,  and  anxious  to  better  their  fortunes  They, 
and  those  who  followed  them  in  succeeding  years  as 
settlers,  came  with  no  pomp  or  parade,  but  in  the 
most  quiet,  humble,  and  undemonstrative  way.  ^Not 
many  wise  men,  after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not 
many  noble,*'  indeed,  not  many  of  'very  lofty  preten- 
sions, were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Warner. 

7 


CHAPTER  VIL 

EABLT    SETTLERS,  CONTINUEIX— BOAT    ON    THE    CONTOOCOOK — 

SECOND  SAW-MILL. 

B TIRING  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  for  several 
years  after  its  close,  settlements  were  made  in 
Warner  with  encouraging  rapidity.  But  the  gift-lots 
had  been  appropriated,  and  settlers  now  had  to  pay 
money  for  their  lands.  Perhaps  they  could  better 
afford  to  do  this  than  the  first  comers  could  afford  to 
accept  them  as  a  gift.  It  would  be  a  difficult  task  to 
determine  in  what  order  the  settlers  came  to  town  in 
those  years,  and  that  task  is  not  attempted  here. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  early  settlers  of  Warner 
do  not  appear  in  the  following  catalogue,  because 
they  appear  elsewhere  on  these  page&  The  names 
of  others,  who  are  as  worthy  as  the  best,  do  not 
appear  at  all,  because  the  writer  has  no  knowledge  of 
them,  and  because  it  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  book 
to  notice  every  individual,  nor  even  every  family. 

Ephraim  Morrill  came  from  Amesbury,  and  settled 
at  the  Moses  Morrill  place,  near  the  Pumpkin  Hill 
school-house.    He  had,  at  least,  two  sons, — Ephraim, 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  93 

bom  in  1790,  and  Moses,  born  in  1794.  The  old 
homestead  is  occupied  by  the  widow,  and  a  son  of  the 
latter. 

.  Christopher  Flanders j  a  •  brother  to  James,  came 
firom  Hawke,  remained  but  a  few  years  in  town,  and 
removed  to  Canada. 

Samuel  Savory  was  from  Derry.  He  first  settled  at 
the  Quimby  or  Jacob  Chase  place,  within  the  limits  of 
Salisbury,  then  moved  into  the  Gore.  His  sons  were 
Bobert^  John,  and  Daniel,  and  his  only  grandsons  now 
in  Warner,  are  Jesse,  George,  and  John.  [See  account 
of  tornado.] 

Moses  Colby  settled  in  Warner,  on  Burnt  hilL  He 
was  the  father  of  Samuel,  and  the  grandfather  of 
Charles  H.  and  Samuel  W.  He  was  bom  in  Newton, 
N.  H.  After  his  arrival  in  Wamer  he  lived  fifteen 
years  in  a  log  house  without  chimney  or  windows. 
His  grandson,  Samuel  W.,  occupies  the  original  home- 
stead. 

Asa  Hdrriman  was  of  the  fifth  generation  from 
Leonard,  who  came  from  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1640, 
and  settled  in  Rowley,  Mass.  Asa's  father  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  French  war,  and  also  in  the  Revolution. 
He  moved  from  Georgetown,  Mass.,  to  Epping,  N.  H., 
in  1777.  Asa,  at  the  age  of  18,  went  to  live  with  his 
uncle,  Capt  Benjamin  Evans,  of  Rocky  hill,  Salisbury, 
Mass.  He  there  married  his  wife,  and  in  1787,  at 
the  age  of  21,  settled  in  Wamer.    On  the  9th  day  of 


9li  mSTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

March,  1794,  he  was  killed  while  felling  trees.  He  was 
then  28  years  of  age.  He  left  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren,— two  girls,  one  six  and  the  other  four  years  of 
age,  and  two  boys,  Benjamin  K,  aged  three  years,  and 
David  E,  aged  one.  His  widow  lived  sixty-two  years 
to  a  day  after  his  decease. 

JSezekiah  Colby  came  from  Amesbury,  and  made  a 
temporary  home  between  the  Parade  and  Eev.  Will- 
iam Eelley's  house.  In  the  course  of  six  months  or 
a  year  he  selected  a  farm  for  his  future  residence,  it 
being  the  Mark  Colby  place.  His  sons  were  Chellis 
F.,  Philip,  Willaby,  Samuel,  and  John  P. 

Levi  Colby  was  a  brother  to  this  Hezekiah.  He  set- 
tled at  the  Fair  Ground ;  and  the  railroad,  when  it 
came  along,  ploughed  through  his  old  cellar.  Fred 
Myron  Colby,  the  young  writer  of  Warner,  is  a  great- 
grandson  of  this  Levi,  being  the  son  of  Levi  0.,  who 
was  the  son  oL Valentine,  who  was  the  son  of  LevL 

David  Colby  was  another  brother  to  Hezekiah.  He 
lived  at  the  Willaby  Colby  place,  which  is  now  owned 
by  Francis  Robbins.  He  was  the  father  of  William, 
who  was  drowned  in  the  great  freshet  of  1824,  and  of 
David,  who  died  not  many  years  since.  The  latter 
was  a  good,  honest  soul,  but  a  little  peculiar.  His 
&ce  was  set  like  a  flint  against  innovation.  The  cut- 
ting of  the  railroad  up  through  his  old  homestead 
vexed  him  very  much.  When  inquired  of  how  the 
railroad  folks  were  getting  on  up  there,  his  character- 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  •      95 

istic  answer  was,  ^They  goes  headlong^  and  they're  going 
toOedevU!'' 

Simeon  Bartlett^  a  brother  to  Joseph  and  Richard, — 
a  son  of  Simeon  Bartlett,  of  Amesbury  (one  of  the 
proprietors  of  Warner), — settled  on  the  north-eastern 
slope  of  Burnt  hill,  but  died  at  an  early  age.  His 
daughter  married  Dr.  Lyman. 

Benjamin  Hill  was  from  Hopkinton.  His  farm  was 
the  present  Warner  poor-farm,  on  Burnt  hilL 
.  Josiah  Melvin  was  from  Pelham.  Melvin's  Mills  vil- 
lage takes  it  name  from  him.  Some  of  his  descend- 
ants are  yet  in  Warner,  but  the  family,  like  most 
others  in  this  day  of  enterprise  and  easy  transit,  are 
much  scattered. 

Thomas  Barnard,  who  settled  at  the  North  village,* 
near  the  present  residence  of  his  son,  Joseph  0.,  was 
from  South  Hampton. 

.  John  Clement,  father  of  John,  and  grandfather  of 
John  W.,  was  from  Salisbury,  N.  H.  John  W.  Clemr 
ent's  farm,  on  Tory  hill,  was  the  homestead  of  the 
first  John,  and  the  second. 

Isaiah  Flanders,  whose  home  was  at  Warner  vil- 
lage, was  from  South  Hampton.  He  had  several 
daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Nehemiah  Ord- 
way,  another  a  Mr.  Dike,  and  another  a  Mr.  Tewks- 
bury. 

Francis  Davis  came  from  Amesbury,  in  1789,  and 
settled  on  a  good  farm  near  the  Kiah  Comer.    His 


96  HISTOBT  OF  WABNKB. 

grandson,  Evans  Davis,  now  occupies  the  same  place. 
His  sons  were  William  F.  and  Francis  Davis ;  and  of 
his  daughters,  one  married  Nathan  Foster,  another 
Migor  Joseph  S.  Hoyt,  and  another  a  Mr.  Whitcomb. 

Ebenezer  Sargent,  father  of  Dea.  James,  and  great- 
grandfather of  Alfred  W.  Sargent,  of  the  North  vil- 
lage, was  from  Amesbury.  He  settled  where  Dea. 
James  Sargent  lived  most  of  his  lifetime,  and  where 
Willaby  Colby  and  his  son  John  now  reside. 

Isaac  Walker  settled  in  Schoodac,  his  house  being 
on  ground  now  within  the  limits  of  Schoodac  ceme- 
tery. He  did  not  remain  long  at  this  particular  place. 
He  was  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Philip  Walker 
was  his  son,  Isaac  and  Barnard  Walker  his  grand- 
sons, and  Abiel  is  his  great-grandson. 

Bichard  F.  Bogers,  father  of  John,  Thomas,  and 
Joseph  S.,  was  from  Newburyport. 

The  Dimonds^ — Ezekiel,  Israel,  and  Isaac  (broth- 
ers),— were  from  Dimond's  hill,  in  Concord.  Ezekiel 
settled  in  the  Mirick  neighborhood,  where  his  son  Cal- 
vin lived  and  died.  Israel  (generally  called  ^  Potter 
Dimond")  lived  at  Dimond's  Comer,  and  Isaac  lived  in 
Joppa,  where  his  son,  Capt  Origen,  resided  many  years. 

Nathaniel  C.  Whittier,  the  father  of  Bichard  B.,  was 
from  Salisbury,  Massachusetts.  He  came  to  Warner 
in  1795,  and  died  at  Waterloo  in  1815,  aged  31.  His 
widow  lived  to  the  age  of  93,  and  died  a  few  years 
ago  at  Warner  village. 


EABLT  SETTLERS.  97' 

Deacon  Bailey  was  from  Haverhill,  Mass.  He 
bought  his  farm  (which  is  now  owned  by  John  John- 
son) of  Ezekiel  Goodwin.  His  sons  were  Dudley, 
Robert,  and  Webster  Bailey.  ^ 

Oapt.  John  Dermey  was  an  Englishman,  and  a  sea- 
firing  man.  He  lived  on  Denney's  hill  afler  the 
Flood  family  were  gone,  and  gave  name  to  that 
pleasant  eminence.    His  children  all  died  young. 

DecL  Jonathan  Wiggin  was  from  Stratham.  He 
was  the  father  of  Lot,  Jonathan,  Thomas,  George 
W.,  and  Stephen.  Thomas  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Philip  Osgood  was  from  South  Hampton.  He  set- 
tled at  Waterloo,  where  John  Davis,  2d,  resides.  He 
was  the  father  of  Levi,  Caleb,  Jacob,  Joseph,  Tappan, 
Hiilip,  and  Nehemiah.  The  second  generation  have 
all  passed  away,  and  the  only  grandsons  of  Philip, 
senior,  now  living  in  Warner,  are  Noah,  John,  and 
Jacob,  sons  of  Jacob. 

Reuben  Cloughj  the  father  of  Joseph  and  Reuben, 
was  from  Sandown.  He  settled  in  Schoodac,  at  the 
Wm.  D.  Trumbull  place.  He  was  the  grandfather  of 
Reuben  Clough,  Jr.,  and  of  Joseph,  Jr. 

Isaac  Dalton  was  from  Salisbury,  Massachusetts. 
He  came  to  Warner  in  1784,  and  settled  in  the  North 
village,  where  Levi  0.  Colby  resides,  at  the  foot  of 
the  Minks.  Here  he  carried  on  both  farming  and 
tanning.    Late  in  life  he  removed  with  his  family  to 


98  mSTOBT  OF  WABNEE. 

the  main  road,  at  the  lower  end  of  Warner  village^ 
and  there  died  in  1838.  Mrs.  John  Stewart  was  his 
daughter,  and  his  sons  now  living  are  Col.  Isaac  and 
Dr.  John  K  Dalton,  both  in  the  West 

Philip  Colby,  the  father  of  Thomas  and  Philip,  3d, 
and  the  grandfather  of  Timothy  L.,  came  from  South 
Hampton,  and  settled  on  a  great  farm  in  school  dis- 
trict No.  10.  His  grandson,  Timothy  L,  is  in  posses- 
sion of  the  old  homestead. 

John  Colby  was  a  brother  to  the  above  Philip,  but 
a  much  older  man.  He  had  one  son,  Hezekiah,  2d. 
Hi8  house  was  near  the  Caleb  Kelley  place,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Mmk  hills.  Hezekiah  lived  and  died 
on  the  old  homestead,  but  it  is  now  deserted. 

The  SargenUj — ^William,  Stephen,  and  Abner  (broth- 
ers),— ^were  from  Amesbury.  William  was  the  father 
of  Capt.  William  R  and  of  Abner,  Jr. ;  Stephen,  the 
&ther  of  Abner  on  Tory  hill,  of  Daniel,  and  of  Jacob 
R,  deceased ;  and  Abner,  the  father  of  Harrison  R 
They  all  lived  between  the  Burnt  Hill  school-house 
and  Smith's  Comer. 

Benjamin  Currier  was  from  Deer  field.  He  settled 
on  Pumpkin  hill,  near  the  old  cemetery.  He  had  at 
least  two  sons, — ^Benjamin  and  Daniel  P., — who  reside 
in  Manchester,  and  carry  on  the  carriage  business 
there.  He  had,  also,  certainly  one  daughter,  who 
married  Capt  SafTord  Watson,  and  who  is  now  living, 
a  widow,  at  Sutton  Mill  Village. 


EABLT  SETTLERS.  99 

Stephen  Currier  was  a  brother  to  Benjamin.  He 
also  lived  on  Pumpkin  hill,  but  further  on  towards 
the  mountain.  He  was  both  fanner  and  tailor.  Only 
one  of  his  sons  (Robert  Davis  Currier,  of  Bedford)  is 
now  living. 

Damd  HIardy,  the  father  of  Dea.  Jesse,  was  from 
Amesbury.  He  settled  in  Joppa,  where  his  grandson, 
Josiah  C.  Hardy,  now  resides. 

Stephen  Hardy  was  from  Bradford,  Mass.  He  setp 
Ued  near  Hardy  Springa  His  sons  were  Joseph, 
Daniel,  and  Solomon. 

Daniel  Watson  lived  in  Joppa.  Capt  George  Watr 
son  was  his  son,  and  the  sons  of  George  were  Alfred, 
Daniel,  George,  and  perhaps  others. 

Abijah  Watson  lived  in  the  comer  of  Salisbury.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  a  minister.  His  sons  were  Elder 
Joseph  (whose  home  was  where  John  Shepherd  Davis 
resides,  near  Bradford  pond),  Nicodemus,  Abijah, 
David,  and  Jonathan. 

Ccdeh  Watson  was  a  brother  to  Abijah,  and  the 
two  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  sons  of 
CSaleb  were  Ithamar,  Safibrd,  Moses,  Caleb,  and  per- 
haps others. 

JSphraim  Band  was  from  Bye.  He  built  the  house 
at  the  Lower  village  which  stands  across  the  old  Hen- 
niker  road  from  the  yellow  store.  He  was  the  father 
of  J.  Noyes  Band. 

Nathaniel  Fage  was  from  Weare.    He  settled  in 


100  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

the  westerly  part  of  Warner,  where  his  son  Samuel 
followed  him,  and  the  lattefs  son,  Nathaniel,  followed 
kutk 

Paul  Page,  a  relative,  came  from  Derry,  and  bought 
the  Samuel  Morrill  farm.  He  removed,  in  his  old 
age,  to  Warner  village,  and  there  died  a  few  years 
since. 

Oliver  Hall  was  from  HoUis.  fiUs  old  farm  is  now 
in  possession  of  one  or  more  of  the  sons  of  Cyrus 
Colby. 

The  Badgers, — Benjamin  and  Stephen  (brothers), — 
were  sons  of  Obadiah  Badger,  of  Amesbury,  who 
served  fourteen  years  in  the  French  and  Revolution- 
ary wars.  They  came  to  Warner  not  far  from  1785, 
and  settled  near  together,  and  not  far  from  the  resi- 
dence of  Ebenezer  S.  Badger.  The  sons  of  Benjamin 
were  Elliot  C,  Stephen  C,  and  the  aforesaid  Eben- 
ezer S. 

Stephen  Badger  served  in  the  Revolution,  was 
taken  prisoner,  carried  to  England,  and  confined  in 
Dartmoor  prison.  When  called  on,  with  others,  to 
swear  allegiance  to  the  king  in  order  to  secure  re- 
lease, he  gave  what  might  be  called  a  profane  answer, 
but  one  that  did  credit  to  his  patriotic  blood.  When 
the  officer  in  charge  said  to  this  mere  boy  (for  he  was 
little  more  than  that),  ^  Sir,  are  you  ready  to  swear 
allegiance  to  the  king?"  the  young  hero  replied, 
*  Begad,  I  don't  know  your  king!"    The  king  pro- 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  101 

nonnced  him  ^an  obdurate  boy,'*  but  ordered  his 
rdease. 

Eliot  CoJby  was  from  Amesburj\  He  settled  on  the 
road  betweeD  the  Parade  and  Kimball  Corner.  His 
BODS  were  John  (who  lived  through  life  on  the  old 
homestead),  Ezekiel,  and  Stephen.  Elliot  and  his  son 
Stephen  were  Revolutionary  soldiers. . 

Gideon  Davis  was  from  Amesbury, — a  brother  to 
Capt  Francis  Davis.  He  settled  near  the  ^  Great 
fdla,"  on  the  Moses  Davis  farm.  His  sons  were  John 
(the  carpenter),  Eobert,  Gideon,  and  Moses. 

Moses  Mirick  was  born  in  Newburyport  in  1773 ; 
came  with  the  family  to  Boscawen  in  1780 ;  settled, 
first,  on  becoming  of  age,  in  Henniker,  and  then  in 
Warner,  where  his  youngest  son,  William,  resides. 
Edmund  Mirick,  of  Henniker,  is  another  son  of  his, 
and  Henry  K  is  a  grandson.  The  family  have,  in 
recent  years,  changed  the  orthography  of  the  name  to 
Merrick. 

TAe  Emersons, — Eliezer  and  Ithamar  (brothers), — 
came  from  Concord,  N.  H.,  in  1795.  They  bought 
two  adjoining  farms  near  Waterloo.  Eliezer  had  a 
son  by  the  same  name,  who  occupied  the  old  home- 
stead till  1845,  when  he  went,  with  his  family,  to  Wis- 
consin. He  died  there  in  August  of  the  same  year, 
aged  50. 

Ithamar  had  one  son  (Jonathan),  who  lived  to  mar 
ture  age,  and  occupied  the  old  homestead  the  larger 


102  ^      HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

part  of  his  life.  His  only  son  (Reuben)  died  in  the 
war,  and  his  only  living  daughter  is  Mrs.  William  G. 
Andrews. 

Timothy  L.  Dawlin  came  from  the  old  country,  and 
settled  at  the  Amaziah  Hall  place  in  Bradford.  He 
was  the  grandfather  of  John  H.,  Timothy  Leavitt^ 
Mrs.  Moses  £.  Gould,  and  others. 

Jere  Wheeler,  the  father  of  Moses  D.,  came  from 
Dunbarton  to  Warner.  He  built  a  blacksmith  shop 
at  Kimball  Comer,  but  afterwards  was  at  the  village. 

Zebulon  Flanders^  of  South  Hampton,  married  Han- 
nah French,  of  Kingston,  settled  at  the  North  village, 
where  Capt  Timothy  and  Walter  M.  Flanders  now 
reside,  and  had  children  by  the  following  names : 
Nathaniel,  Ezekiel,  Zebulon,  Benjamin  F.,  Levi,  Tim- 
othy, Hannah,  John,  and  Washington. 

Mosea  Flanders^  the  father  of  Ezekiel,  Amos,  John, 
and  CoL  William  G.,  was  a  brother  to  Zebulon.  He 
came  from  South  Hampton. 

Henry  JohnBon,  the  father  of  Capt  John  H.,  Moses, 
Capt  Stephen  B.,  and  Henry,  came  from  Sutton,  and 
settled  in  School  District  No.  10. 

Caleb  Kelley  was  from  Amesbury,  or  that  vicinity. ' 
He  settled,  first,  on  the  main  road,  above  Waterloo, 
and  ^Kelley  hill"  takes  its  name  from  him.  He  went 
from  there  to  the  north  side  of  the  Mink  hills.  His 
son  Caleb  occupied  this  latter  place  till  his  death, 
when  the  remnant  of  the  family  moved  to  Wisconsin. 


EARLT  SETTLERS.  108 

Samuel  Brmm  settled  on  Bible  hill,  where  his 
youngest  son,  John  IL,  resides.  The  rest  of  the  sons 
have  departed  this  life.  Two  of  them,  Capt  Newell 
and  Jeremiah,  died  in  Ohio. 

■ 

Isaac  Day  lived  in  the  south-west  comer  of  the 
town^  on  the  main  road  from  Bradford  to  Henniker. 
He  was  a  large  farmer,  a  tavemer,  and  a  manufac- 
turer of  gravestones ;  besides,  he  sometimes  preached. 
The  little  horn-pout  pond  in  that  quarter  received  its 
name  from  him.  He  had  a  large  family.  One  of  his 
sons  ia  now  in  Bradford  and  another  in  Tennessee!, 
but  most  of  his  numerous  descendants  are  on  ^  the 
unseen  shora**  4 

Jacob  WhUcomh  was  bom  in  Stow,  Mass.,  in  1743. 
He  came  to  Henniker  in  1770,  and  to  Warner  about 
1780.  He  settled  where  his  son  John  died  a  few 
years  since.  His  wife  was  Olive  Wetherby,  also  of 
Stow.  He  was  usually  called  Doctor  Whitcomb,  be- 
cause he  could  pull  a  tooth  or  set  a  broken  bone 
quite  successfully,  though  he  was  neither  dentist  nor 
surgeon.    He  was  a  leading  farmer. 

FarrvngUm  Hawks  came  from  Hudson,  and  com- 
menced in  the  wilderness  of  Warner  on  what  is 
known  as  the  Jonathan  Straw  place.  After  remaining 
there  two  years,  he  made  a  second  start  in  the  un- 
broken forest  This  was  near  Bradford  pond,  on  the 
£Burm  now  occupied  by  John  Shepherd  Davis.  Mr. 
Hawks  built  a  log  house  here,  and  made  a  good  be- 


104  HI8T0RT  OF  WARNEB. 

ginning.  Having  no  barn,  he  threshed  his  grain  on  a 
ledge,  and  carried  it  on  his  back  three  or  four  miles, 
through  wood-paths,  to  Hoyt's  mill  (since  Melvin's.) 
He  remained  on  this  farm  a  few  years,  and  then  made 
his  third  start.  He  bought  of  Joshua  Pierce,  of  Ports- 
mouth, one  of  the  Masonian  proprietors,  a  hundred- 
acre  lot  in  the  western  range  of  Warner,  on  Bible 
hilL  He  cleared  fourteen  acres  on  this  lot,  and  then 
sold  it  to  Enos  Collins,  of  Burnt  hill,  who  took  pos- 
session about  the  year  1802,  and  erected  the  first 
frame  house  on  that  road.  This  place  is  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  J.  Herbert  Ewings.  Mr.  Hawks,  for 
his  fourth  and  last  move,  simply  crossed  the  highway, 
and  took  possession  of  a  lot  in  Bradford.  Mrs.  Nathan 
Marshall  and  Mrs.  Timothy  Dowlin  were  his  daugh- 
ters, and  Colbum  and  David  were  his  sons.  Colbum 
occupied  the  old  homestead  during  his  lifetime. 

Daniel  Sanborn  was  bom  in  Raymond  in  1767.  He 
married  Betsey,  daughter  of  Jacob  Whitcomb,  and 
settled  in  the  chestnut  region  of  Warner.  He  had  a 
large  family  of  children,  now  all  dead.  The  names  of 
the  sons  were  Jacob,  Moses,  Daniel,  John,  and  Ste- 
phen. The  old  homestead  is  now  occupied  by  the 
widow  of  John,  and  Warren,  her  son. 

Nathan  Colby  was  from  South  Hampton.  He  set- 
tled on  the  place  now  owned  by  Samuel  Sargent,  on 
the  Slaughter  Brook  road.  His  sons  were  Barnard, 
Jacob,  Mark,  Nathan,  and  Cyrus. 


a^ 


<3-t..^ 


""y^ 


HllitlTf*  I'riMlin-r,.,  Bnltm. 


EARLY  SETTLERS.  105 

■ 

Jonathan  Hardy  came  from  Bradford,  Mnss^  and 
settled  at  the  Marden  Seavey  place,  on  Tory  hilL 
His  sons  were  Thaddeiis,  John,  P.aiil,  Silas,  and  per- 
haps there  were  othera  Among  his  grandsons  are 
Darius,  John  A^  Bartlett,  Sylvester,  Orin,  and  On- 

80IL 

Orison  Hardt  (a  grandson  of  Jonathan)  was  bom 
at  Warner,  Nov.  30, 1823.  The  Hardys  came  from 
England.  Thomas  Hardy,  or  Hardie,  was  one  of  the 
first  twelve  who  settled  in  Ipswich,  Mass.  This  oc- 
curred in  1633.  Joseph  Hardy  settled  at  Salem  in 
1634.  His  son  James  (a  mariner)  married  Ruth 
Marshy  and  had  a  large  family.  His  son  Joseph  mar- 
ried, in  1648,  Mary,  a  daughter  of  John  Grafton,  "a 
man  of  repute." 

John  Hardy,  a  brother  to  Joseph,  the  first,  of 
Salem,  settled  there  in  1634.  He  was  selectman  of 
that  town  in  1647,  and  perhaps  for  several  years.  He 
died  in  1652.  He  had  a  son  John,  who  settled  in 
Bradford,  Mass.  This  John  had  a  son  Thomas,  and 
this  Thomas  a  son  John,  who  is  believed  to  have  been 
either  the  father  or  the  grandfather  of  Jonathan,  who 
came  to  Warner  and  settled  on  Tory  hill. 

Silas  Hardy,  one  of  the  sons  of  Jonathan,  married 
Rhoda,  daughter  of  Abner  Harvey.  He  was  a  famous 
school-teacher  in  his  day,  and  also  a  teacher  of  sing- 
ing. The  names  of  his  children  are  as  follows :  Leon- 
ard, Sylvester,  Almina  (Mrs.  William  R  Sargent),  Jo- 


148  HI8I0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

referred  to  again  in  the  following  pages.    It  was  the 
first  proper  survey  of  the  township  ever  made. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  Ames- 
bury,  April  21, 1770,  the  following  articles  appear  : 

^  To  see  if  the  proprietors  will  choose  a  man  or 
men  to  carry  on  the  Law-suit  commenced  by  Increase 
Morrill  agamst  Jonathan  Parmer  of  Chester  for  Tres- 
pass.** 

^  Also,  to  do  what  is  thought  proper  towards  clear- 
ing a  way  from  Boscawen  to  Perrystown." 

At  the  meeting  held  under  this  warrant, — 

^  Chose  Jonathan  Barnard  and  Ezekiel  Evans  a 
committee  to  take  advice  of  the  Lords'  Proprietors  in 
relation  to  the  Law-suit  against  said  Parmer,  and 
chose  the  said  Evans  to  clear  the  way  from  Boscawen 
to  Perrystown." 

In  the  years  1770  and  1771  taxes  were  assessed,  at 
one  time,  two  dollars  on  each  right ;  at  another  time, 
three  dollars ;  and  at  another  time,  one.  Highways 
were  laid  out  in  different  sections  of  the  town,  but 
principally  in  the  eastern  and  southern  parts,  and 
most  of  them  leading  to  the  meeting-house,  the  great 
religious  and  political  centre.  Some  of  these  roads 
were  decently  made ;  others  were  made  barely  pass- 
able for  cart  and  oxen;  others  were  mere  bridle 
paths. 


BUNXIXG  THE  LIKES.  149 

In  1771,  the  report  of  the  committee  on  roads  con- 
dudes  as  follows : 

^  Also,  laved  out  a  road  between  every  Range  in 
all  the  divisions  except  where  thej'  are  altered  by  the 
points  of  Compass." 

All  the  roads  laid  out  in  those  years  were  to  be 
three  rods  in  width.  It  is  a  pity  that  this  early  ex- 
ample could  not  have  been  followed  more  closely  in 
after  years  by  the  authorities  of  Warner. 

Among  the  prominent  and  active  proprietors  of  the 
township  under  the  Masonian  grant,  were  Jonathan 
Barnard,  Benjamin  Evans,  Simeon  Bartlett,  Ezekiel 
Evans,  Nehemiah  Ordway,  and  Ezekiel  Dimond.  The 
history  of  these  men,  in  all  its  details,  would  greatly 
interest  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  which  they  found- 
ed, but  only  a  small  part  of  that  history  is  known  to 
the  present  generation. 

*  Captain  Jonathan  Barnard,  innholder,"*  is  briefly 
mentioned  on  a  preceding  page. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Evans  lived  at  Rocky  Hill,  Salis- 
bury, Mass.  He  was  a  large  farmer,  a  tanner,  and  a 
dealer  in  cattle.  He  also  served  in  the  legislature  of 
his  native  state,  and  was  a  sheriff  many  years.  As  a 
proprietor,  he  owned  lands  in  Warner.  Asa  Harriman, 
who. was  his  nephew,  bought  sixty  acres  of  his  land 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Mink  hills,  and  named  his 
first  son  for  him. 

Simeon  Bartlett  was  a  resident  of  Amesbury.    He 


150  HBTOBT  OP  WABVES. 

was  a  brother  to  Dr.  Josiah  Bartlett,  one  of  the  sign- 
ers of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  one  of 
the  early  chief  magistrates  of  New  Hampshire.  Sim- 
eon was  the  father  of  Joseph',  Bichard,  and  Simeon 
Bartlett,  who  settled  in  Warner,  and  the  grandfather 
of  Levi,  Stephen,  Thomas  H.,  and  Col.  Simeon. 

Ezekiel  Evans  was  a  resident  of  Salisbury,  Mass., 
and  was  a  brother  to  Capt  Benjamin.  The  Ezekiel 
Evans,  of  Warner,  was  a  distant  relative  of  his. 

Nehemiah  Ordway  resided  in  Amesbury,  and  was 
a  doctor.  He  was  proprietors'  clerk  a  great  many 
years.  He  visited  Warner,  and  remained  in  town 
some  months,  perhaps  a  year,  at  one  time.  He  had 
two  adjoming  lots  in  the  North  village,  the  one  being 
the  lot  on  which  his  great-grandson,  John  Ordway,  re- 
sides. He  was  the  father  of  Bev.  Nehemiah,  noticed 
in  a  former  chapter,  and  of  Bradshaw,  who  settled  in 
.  Warner,  and  who  was  the  father  of  Nehemiah  and 
Samuel,  recently  deceased. 

Ezekiel  Dimond  was  originally  from  Amesbury.  He 
was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Warner,  and  was  regard- 
ed at  one  time  as  a  citizen  of  the  town,  though  he  had 
no  permanent  residence  here.  He  settled  on  Di- 
mond's  hill,  in  Concord,  where  he  remained  through 
life.  He  was  the  father  of  Israel,  at  Dimond's  Comer, 
Ezekiel,  in  the  Mirick  neighborhood,  and  Isaac,  at 
Joppa. 


CHAPTER  XL 

SETTLEMEKT  OP  FIRST  MINISTER — STEPS  TOWARDS  INCOBPOBA- 
TION — A  CHURCH  ORGANIZED — THE  SURVEY — FIRST  BRIDGE — 
proprietors'    RECORDS. 

iX  T  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  in  Amesbury, 
•A^U  Nov.  14,  1770,  Voted  to  pay  a  dollar  and  a 
half  on  each  right  for  the  first  year,  and  a  dollar  a 
year  on  each  right  for  the  next  four  years,  and  fifty 
cents  on  each  right  for  the  sixth  year,  on  condition 
that  the  inhabitants  settle  an  orthodox  minister  in 
town  within  two  years  from  December,  1770. 

As  there  were  sixty  rights  on  which  this  tax  was 
to  be  assessed,  this  proposed  aid  from  the  proprietors 
would  amount  to  the  handsome  sum  of  $90  the  first 
year,  $60  a  year  for  the  next  four  years,  and  $30  for 
the  sixth  year.  The  proprietors  believed,  of  course, 
that  the  town  would  be  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers 
and  wealth,  and  that  the  demand  for  foreign  help  to 
sustain  the  church  would  be  growing  less  and  less. 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

Chose   Nehemiah  Ordway,  Simeon  Bartlett,  and 

ff 

Dea.  Daniel  Morrill,  a  committee  to  treat  with  the 


152  HI8I0BT  OF  WABNER. 

aettlers'  committee  in  relation  to  settling  a  minister 
in  town,  and  having  constant  preachbg^  according  to 
the  charter. 

COKTRACT  BETWEEN  THE  PARTIES. 

^Almsbnry  March  13, 177L  Fonnant  to  the  votes  of  the 
proprietors  of  New  Almsburj,  so  called,  in  New  Hampshire,  at 
iheir  meeting  Not.  14, 1770,  at  the  Widow  Esther  Colby's,  We 
the  subscribers,  in  our  capacity  Do  by  these  presents  engage  and 
bind  ourselves  to  Isaac  Waldron  Joseph  Sawyer  and  Isaac  Chase 
all  of  New  Almsbury  aforesaid  committee  of  the  settlers  in  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  and  sixty  '  milled'  dollars  to  be  paid  90 
dollars  on  or  before  December  next,  and  60  dollars  a  year  for 
4  years  after  December  next,  and  30  dollars  in  five  years  after 
December  next  which  payment  well  and  truly  to  be  made  we  bind 
ooxselves  and  successors  in  the  penal  sum  of  108  poundiB  lawful 
money  witness  our  hands  in  presence  of — 

Samuel  Barnard  Nehemiah  Ordway  \ 

Benjamin  Evans  Simeon  Bartlett        >  Committee.'' 

Daniel  Morrill         ) 

Two  of  the  committee  from  the  settlers  had  made 
a  journey  to  Am&bury  in  the  fulfilment  of  their  mis- 
sion with  regard  to  settling  a  minister.  They  met 
the  committee  of  the  proprietors,  on  the  day  above 
written,  and  then  and  there  signed  the  contract  in 
behalf  of  the  settlers.    It  was  in  the  words  following : 

<«  Almsbury,  March  13,  1771.  We  the  subscribers,  Isaac  Wal- 
dron Joseph  Sawyer  and  Isaac  Chase,  committee  of  the  settlers 
in  New  Almsbury  in  New  Hampshire  in  our  capacity  Do  by 
these  presents  bind  and  oblige  ourselves  in  the  sum  of  108  pounds 
lawful  money,  to  Dr.  Nehemiah  Ordway  Simeon  Bartlett,  and 
Deacon  Daniel  ^lorrill  of  Salisbury,  to  be  paid  on  or  before  De- 
cember, 1772 :  The  conditions  of  the  above  obligation  are  such 


CONTRACT  BETWEEN  THE  PARTIES.  158 

• 

that  if  the  above  said  Isaac  Waldron  Joseph  Sawjer  and  Isaac 
Chase  or  the  inhabitants  of  New  Almsbury  shall  settle  a  Learned 
Orthodox  Gospel  Jlinister  in  New  Almsbury  as  above  expressed 
on  or  before  December  in  the  year  1772,  then  the  above  obliga- 
tion to  be  void  and  of  none  effect,  or  else  to  stand  in  full  force 
and  virtue :  In  witness  whereof  we  have  set  our  hands  the  day 
and  date  above  written: 
In  presence  of— 
Samuel  Barnard  Joseph  Sawyer )  p         •«.     » 

Benjamin  Evans  Isaac  Chase      ) 

This  contract  needs  no  explanation^  as  there  is  no 
ambiguity  about  it  It  was  religiously  observed  by 
the  two  contracting  parties.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
township  settled  their  ^learned  orthodox  minister^ 
ten  months  before  the  expiration  of  the  time  in  which 
they  had  bound  tliemselves  to  do  this,  in  order  to  se- 
cure the  stipulated  sums  from  the  proprietors  to  sup- 
port preaching,  and  the  proprietors  on  their  part 
promptly  paid  over  every  dollar,  according  to  con- 
tract 

To  be  prepared  to  meet  the  conditions  of  this  con- 
tract, the  proprietors  were  obliged  to  levy  additional 
taxes  on  the  rights,  and*  they,  at  their  annual  meeting 
in  March,  1771,^—    •  * 

^  Voted  to  raise  4  dollars  on  each  right  to  defray 
the  charges  of  the  year. 

^  Voted,  also,  that  Seth  Goodwin  have  28  acres 
more  of  land,  if  he  will  accept  it  in  lieu  of  the  15  dol- 
lars voted  him  at  a  former  meetings  \mder  his  distress- 
ed circumstances." 


154  HIBTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

What  the  distressed  circumstances  of  Mr.  Goodwin 
were^  there  is  no  living  witness  to  tell  He  may  have 
been  disabled  bj  an  accident;  his  family  may  have 
been  sick ;  perhaps  his  buildings  were  burned,  or  his 
** cattle  died,  and  blighted  was  his  com;"  or  his  gift- 
lot  did  n't  ^  pan  ouf*  as  well  as  he  expected.  But  we 
may  console  ourselves  with  the  reflection  that  it  could 
not  have  been  a  very  grave  matter,  for  the  proprie- 
tors, who  were  alive  to  every  cry  of  distress,  evidently 
thought  that  about  fifteen  dollars  would  make  him 
whole.    He  lived  at  the  Moulton  place  in  Schoodac. 

At  a  meeting,  May  29, 1771, — 

^  Chose  Capt  Benjamin  Evans,  Nathan  Currier,  and 
Benjamin  Osgood  a  committee  to  prosecute  Trespass- 
ers on  lands,  or  for  cutting  timber." 

At  a  meeting,  July  30, 1771,  ordered, — 

£  s.  A  q. 
To  Mrs.  Tarbiatha  Barnard,  for  expenses  of  propri- 
etors' meetings —  0-  6-4-0 
To  "MLn,  Esther  Colby,  for  meetings  at  her  house,  2-  2-6-0 
To  Nehemiah  Ordway,  Jr.,  for  preaching,  1-10-0-0 
For  preaching  in  1771—                                                 16-10-0-0 

At  the  same  meeting. — 

Chose  a  committee  to  renew  the  bounds  of  lots,  so 
that  they  might  be  recorded  in  the  proprietors'  book ; 
and  to  see  if  those  persons  who  had  engaged  to  be- 
come settlers  had  complied  with  the  terms  of  their 
agreement,  and  if  not,  to  m^ike  a  demand  of  their 
lots. 


A  CHUBCH   ORGANIZED.  155 

STEPS  TOWARDS  INCORPORATION. 

At  Amesbury,  October  24, 1771, — 
Chose  Ezekiel  Evans  and  David  Bagley  a  commit- 
tee to  get  the  town  incorporated. 
At  another  meeting,  held  November,  1771, — 

"  Voted  that  Eliphalet  Danford  have  the  Interval 
laying  in  his  Lot"  (This  intervale  and  lot  belong  to 
the  Bagley  farm,  which  is  now  owned  by  Samuel  H. 
Dow.) 

At  the  same  meetings — 

^  Voted  that  there  shall  be  laid  out  a  40  acre  lot 
for  Uhe  first  ordained  minister,'  near  the  Meeting 
House,  and  also,  a  40  acre  parsonage  Lot  and  a  40 
acre  School  Lof 

A  CHURCH  ORGANIZED. 

A  church  was  organized,  and  Rev.  William  Eel- 
ley  was  ordained  and  settled  in  New  Amesbury 
(Warner),  Feb.  5,  1772.  A  biographical  sketch  of 
Mr.  Kelley  will  be  found  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 
His  home  in  Warner  was  on  the  road  that  leads  up 
southerly  from  the  Parade.  He  built  his  house  after 
his  settlement  in  town.  It  was  a  small,  one-story 
building.  Afler  living  in  this  several  years,  he  added 
a  two-story  front,  it  being  the  first  two-story  frame 
house  built  in  town.  That  front  now  stands  in  War- 
ner Lower  Village,  opposite  John  Aiken's.  It  was  for- 
11 


166  HI8T0BT  OP  WARNER. 

merlj  occupied  by  Capt.  Joshua  Sawyer,  and  is  now 
occupied  by  his  grandson,  Herbert  Sawyer. 

Let  him  who  can  appreciate  the  grandeur  of  a 
perfect  landscape  go  up  from  the  guidepost,  at  the 
Parade,  to  the  site  of  Rev.  William  Kelley's  house.  It 
will  be  on  his  left  hand.  He  must  not  come  to  this 
place  from  the  opposite  direction,  nor  in  the  middle 
of  the  day.  It  must  be  at  the  hour  of  sunset,  for  all 
views  are  comparatively  tame  at  any  other  hour. 
Standing  there,  on  the  strong  foundations  of  the  Kel- 
ley  house,  facing  the  north,  he  will  catch  a  view  that 
transcends  in  some  respects  all  other  views  to  be  had 
in  Warner. 

THE  SURVEY. 

The  town  was  surveyed  in  August,  1772,  as  stated 
in  the  second  chapter.  The  work  was  done  imder  the 
supervision  of  Hubertus  Neal,  of  Penacook,  deputy 
surveyor.  William  Perkins  and  Zebulon  Davis  were 
the  sworn  chainmen ;  Francis  Davis  and  Ezekiel  Evans 
were  the  committee  for  conducting  the  survey.  This 
party,  failing  to  find  an  unappropriated  territory  six 
miles  square,  and  corresponding  with  the  terms  of  the 
grant,  found  an  equivalent  by  extending  the  town- 
ship westward. 

.  Zebulon  Davis  was  the  oldest  son  of  Capt  Francis. 
He  was  at  this  time  24  years  of  age.  When  he  set- 
tled down  in  life,  he  lived  at  the  Charles  P.  Sawyer 
place.    His  sons  were  Stephen,  Alpheus,  and  Zebulon. 


FIRST  BRIDGE.  157 

At  a  proprietors'  meeting,  September,  1772, — 

Ordered  for  the  proprietors'  part  for  preaching,  18-  6 

Ordered  to  Hubertus  Neal  for  running  out  the  town,  6-13 

FIRST  BRIDGE. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  meeting,  October  13, 1772,  the 
following  article  appears : 

"  To  see  if  the  proprietors  will  assist  the  inhabitants 
in  building  a  bridge  over  Amesbury  River,  near  Mr. 
Daniel  Flanderses,  and  in  repairing  road  to  Perrys- 
town." 

At  the  meeting  which  followed,  David  Bagley  and 
Ezekiel  Dimond  were  chosen  a  committee  to  repair 
said  road,  but  no  mention  is  made  of  the  bridge,  in 
the  records  of  this  meeting.  Still,  it  is  probable  that 
some  provision  was  made  at  that  meeting,  or  at  one 
which  soon  followed,  for  building  the  bridge.  A  bridge 
was  built  the  next  year  (1773),  and  it  stood  about 
twenty  rods  down  the  river  from  the  present  bridge, 
by  the  brick  school-hoyse. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March  24,  1773, — 

Voted  that  the  assessors  raise  five  dollars  on  each  right  to  de- 
fray charges : 

Voted  to  allow  Ezekiel  Evans  for  11  days  senrice  running 
out  the  town,  2-17-0 

Voted  to  allow  Francis  Davis,  self  and  son,  for  the  same 
senrice,  2-  2-6 

Ordered  to  pay  to  the  settlers'  committee  for  preaching,     18-4M) 

At  the  same  meeting,— 

Chose  Benjamin  Evans  and  Simeon  Bartlett  a  committee  to 
proceed  in  the  law  and  ^ect  Jonathan  Parmer  off  his  lot  of 
Land,  and  all  other  trespassers  in  the  township. 


OHAPTEE    XII. 

PBOPBIETOBS'  RECORDS — ^THE  RYE  GRANTEES — BOARD   OF  ARBI- 
TRATORS— THEIR  AWARD — ^'^  FARMER"    AGAIN. 

AT  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1773,  ^  Chose  a 
committee  to  meet  a  number  of  Gentlemen 
belonging  to  Rye,  upon  their  desire,  and  hear  their 
proposals  and  make  report  at  the  adjournment  of  this 
meeting — then  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  5th  day 
of  May.'' 

No  business  was  transacted  at  the  adjourned  meet- 
ing ;  but  at  another,  held  June  3,  1773,  ^  Voted,  that 
Nehemiah  Ordway,  Nathaniel  Currier,  Benjamin 
Evans,  Simeon  Bartlett,  Henry  Morrill,  Samuel  Bar- 
nard, Daniel  Morrill,  Theodore  Hoyt,  Peter  Sargent, 
and  Thomas  Barnard,  or  any  five  of  them,  be  a  com- 
mittee to  proceed  with  the  Rye  committee  and  have 
the  case  submitted  to  men  for  Arbitration^  unless  the 
Bye  committee  propose  to  take  a  sum  of  money 
which  our  committee  shall  deem  reasonable  and  think 
proper  to  pay." 

Said  Rye  committee  consisted  of  Richard  Jenness, 


BOARD  OF  ARBirHATORS.  159 

Richard  Jenness,  Jr.,  Samuel  Jenness,  Francis  Jenness, 
Nathaniel  Rand  (cordwainer),  and  Ozam  Doust 

BOARD  OF  ARBITRATORS. 

The  proprietors'  committee  met  the  Rye  committee 
in  conference,  and  July  20th,  1773,  the  two  commit- 
tees agreed  to  submit  all  matters  in  dispute  to  a 
board  of  arbitrators.  Each  party  gave  bonds  in  the 
sum  of  1000  pounds,  lawful  money  of  the  province  of 
New  Hampshire,  to  abide  the  judgment  of  this  board. 
Their  agreement  was  in  the  words  following : 

"  All  disputes  and  controversies  that  hare  been  and  stfll  me 
existing  between  sundry  persons  who,  under  the  name  of  Jen* 
nestown  Proprietors,  claim  title  to  lands  within  the  bonndi 
of  New  Amesbury  in  the  county  of  Hillsboro'  and  Province  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  the  Proprietors  of  said  New  Amesbozj, 
are  submitted  for  final  determination,  to  Thomas  Waldron,  Ben- 
jamin Chadboum,  Benjamin  Greenleaf  and  Woodbury  Langdon.'' 

Afler  due  deliberation,  the  arbitrators  announced 
the  following 

AWARD, 

'^  Know  all  men  by  these  presents  :  That,  whereas,  the  above 
named  Richard  Jenness,  Richard  Jenness  Jr.,  Francis  Jenness, 

Samuel  Jenness,  Nathaniel  Rand  and  Ozam  Doust ^Nehemiah 

Ordway,  Daniel  Quimby,  Simeon  Bartlett,  Nathaniel  Currier 
and  Benjamin  Evans,  have,  by  their  Bonds  of  even  date  with 
these  presents  by  them  respectively  executed,  submitted  to  our 
final  determination  the  controversies  and  disputes  in  the  condi- 
tion of  the  foregoing  obligation  mentioned :  having  taken  upon 
us  the  Burden  submitted  to  us,  and  heard  the  parties  and  their 
evidence  thereupon, — We  do,  for  the  putting  an  end  to  the  said 


160  BSnOBT  OP  WARNER. 

GontroTeny  and  Dispute  make  and  publiah  this  our  Award,  in 
manner  following ; 

'^  That;  within  six  months  from  the  date  of  these  Presents,  the 
said  Proprietors  of  New  Amesbnry  shall  pay  unto  the  Proprietors 
of  Jenncstown,  the  sum  of  140  pounds  Lawful  money  of  the  ProT- 
inoe  of  New  Hampsliire,  with  interest  for  the  same  sum  from 
this  day  until  paid ;  And  that  the  said  Proprietors  shall,  upon 
the  receipt  thereof,  release  unto  the  said  New  Amesbury  proprie- 
tors all  their  Bight,  Title,  and  Interest  in  and  unto  all  the  Lands 
lying  within  the  bounds  of  said  Township  of  New  Amesbury,  and 
•hall  free  them  from  the  claims  of  all  persons  claiming  right  un- 
der the  said  Jennestown  Grant,  and  the  said  Proprietors  of  Jen- 
oestown  shall  indemnify  them  of  all  damages  that  may  accrue  by 
such  claims — and  that  this  Award  shall  be  a  final  end  of  all  said 
oontrovcrsies  and  disputes  between  said  parties  to  us  submitted. 

'^Witness  our  hands  and  seals  this  twentieth  day  of  July  Anno 
Domini,  177a 

Thomas  Waldron 

Benjamin  Ghadboum 

Benjamin  Greenleaf 

Woodbury  Langdon." 

The  proprietors  met  at  the  Widow  Esther  Colby^s, 
in  Amesbury,  July  27,  1773,  and  voted  to  raise  eight 
dollars  on  each  right,  to  sustain  the  action  of  the  com- 
mittee in  relation  to  the  settlement  of  the  difficulties 
with  the  Rye  proprietors, 

December  2, 1773,— 

£• «.  d.  g. 

Ordered  to  committee  for  settling  dispute  with  Bye  pro- 
prietors— 143-3-S-O 

Ordered  to  Benjamin  Evans  for  services  and  money, 
paid—  14-*-8-2 

"PARMER"  AGAIN. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  held  March  10, 1774,  Ben- 
jamin Evans  and  Simeon  Bartlett  were  chosen  a  com- 


ACTION  AGAINST  TRESPiSSEBS.  161 

mittee  to  "  eject  Jonathan  Fanner,'*  or  any  other  per- 
son on  land  in  New  Amesbury,  claiming  under  the 
Jennestown  proprietors,  in  case  the  said  Jeunestown 
committee  neglect  to  remove  the  said  trespassers. 

At  the  same  meeting,  voted  to  lay  out  and  allot  dl 
the  common  land  in  the  township. 

Voted  that  Isaac  Chandler,  Joseph  Pudney,  and 
Dea.  Kimball,  of  Hopkinton,  be  a  committee  to  exanif^ 
ine  and  see  whether  the  settlers  ^  have  fulfilled  ac- 
cording to  agreement**     , 

At  the  same  meeting,  voted  to  raise  four  dollars  on 
each  right,  to  defray  the  charges  for  the  year. 

The  Jonathan  Palmer  case  seems  to  have  been  a 
perfect  ^Pandora^s  box**  to  the  proprietors  of  War- 
ner. A  multitude  of  evils  sprang  from  it,  and  much 
litigation  grew  out  of  it  It  appears  that  Palmer  was 
from  Chester;  that  he  came  to  Warner  about  the 
year  1765;  that  he  came  when  the  town  was  techni- 
cally the  property  of  the  Rye  grantees ;  that  he  came 
under  their  auspices,  and  took  up  a  40-acre  lot^  and 
made  certain  improvements  upon  it  It  appears,  fur- 
ther, that  the  Amesbury  proprietors  made  repeated  at- 
tempts to  drive  him  out,  taking  the  ground,  first,  that 
the  Rye  people  had  no  jurisdiction ;  and,  second, 
that,  even  if  they  had  jurisdiction.  Palmer  had  failed 
to  comply  with  their  conditions  of  settlement.  He 
had  selected  an  ordinary  lot  to  make  a  farm  of,  though 
it  was  very  fair  for  pasture  land.    It  was  a  half  mfle 


162  mnoBT  op  wabneb. 

longy  and  forty  rods  wide.  It  has  for  a  great  many 
years  constituted  a  part  of  the  Joshua  Bagley  farm, 
which  is  now  Samuel  H.  Dow's.  It  heads  on  the  Ori- 
gen  Dimond  lot,  and  stretches  along  northward,  on 
the  upper  side  of  the  Dunbar  farm,  across  Ballard 
brook,  the  north-east  comer  running  over  the  main 
road  and  just  reaching  the  railroad.  At  that  point  is 
the  comer  bound,  a  little  below  the  buildings  on  the 
said  Bagley  farm. 

On  this  lot  Palmer  cleared,  or  partly  cleared,  three 
or  four  acres,  and  built  something  that  he  called  a 
house,  though  the  Amesbury  proprietors  called  it  a 
**  frame."  The  new  Joppa  road  runs  very  near  the 
site  where  this  frame  stood.  The  Amesbury  proprie- 
tors allowed  that  if  Palmer  had  complied  with  the 
terms  of  settlement  prescribed  by  the  Rye  grantees 
(even  though  they  had  no  authority),  he  should  go 
unmolested.  But  they  denied  that  he  had  done  this, 
and  claimed  that  he  was  simply  a  trespasser  on  land 
not  his  own.  They  therefore  voted,  in  March,  1767, 
^  to  give  Increase  Morrill  a  40  acre  Lot  near  where 
Parmer  built  a/ram€,  he  [Morrill]  complying  with  the 
terms  and  settling  as  other  settlers."  This  meant  that 
Morrill  was  to  have  the  very  lot  that  Palmer  had  pre- 
empted, and  the  first  step  was  to  drive  Palmer  off. 
The  law  was  appealed  to  for  this  purpose,  and  Ports- 
mouth was  the  theatre  of  the  conflict  But  the  law's 
delays  and  the  law's  uncertainties  were  again  exem- 


ACTION  AGAINST  TRESPASSERS.  168 

plified.  Palmer  still  "  held  the  fort"  Seed-time  and 
harvest  came,  years  passed  on,  and,  in  August,  1770, 
a  meeting  was  called  at  Amesbury  ^  To  see  if  the  pro- 
prietors will  choose  a  committee  to  carry  on  the  Law- 
suit commenced  by  Increase  Morrill,  against  Jonathan 
Palmer,  of  Chester,  for  Trespass ;"  and  Ezekiel  Evans 
and  Jonathan  Barnard  were  chosen  to  take  the  advice 
of  the  Lords'  proprietors  in  relation  to  the  law-suit 
against  said  Palmer.  ^ 

Then,  after  another  long  delay  intervened,  the  pro- 
prietors, March  24, 1773,  chose  a  committee  to  proceed 
in  this  law-suit,  and  eject  this  man  from  the  lot  he  had 
selected.  And,  finally,  this  latter  vote  is  repeated 
and  emphasized  at  the  annual  meeting,  March  10, 1774. 

Justice  requires  the  presentation  of  the  grounds  on 
which  Palmer  stood  and  claimed  a  verdict  He  con- 
tended he  was  rightfully  there,  because  he  entered 
upon  the  lot  under  the  sanction  of  the  Rye  granteea 
He  contended  further,  that  even  if  he  had  acquired 
no  rights  under  the  Rye  people,  he  had  acquired  a 
perfect  title  under  the  Amesbury  proprietors  by  ful- 
filling every  obligation  which  they  demanded  of  set- 
tlers. This  the  Amesbury  people  denied.  They  rep- 
resented, in  court  and  elsewhere,  that  he  had  not  com- 
plied with  a  single  condition ;  that  the  land  he  had 
pretended  to  clear  was  covered  with  logs  and  with 
standing  trees,  and  that  the  house  he  had  built  ^  was 
unfit  for  a  pigeon-roost" 


164  HOIOBT  OF  WABMES. 

Palmer  fooght  valiantly,  single-handed,  and  against 
great  odds.  He  evidently  lost  the  field  in  one  en- 
counter, but  he  seems  to  have  regained  it  in  another. 
The  records  of  Hillsborough  county  show  that  this 
redoubtable  Jonathan,  of  New  Amesbury,  in  May, 
1774,  sold  and  deeded  to  his  brother,  James  Palmer, 
of  the  same  place,  for  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds,  lawful 
money,  a  tract  of  forty  acres  of  land,  described  by 
him  as  follows : 

^  It  being  a  Lot  that  was  laid  out  to  me  by  my  right, 
and  afterwards  recovered  to  me  by  law." 

Thus  the  contest  with  this  individual  seems  to  have 
ended  in  a  victory  for  Mm,  whatever  may  have  been 
the  fate  of  the  one  who  held  under  him.  He  was 
not  ejectecL  He  sold  his  lot,  and  took  his  money  and 
his  departure  from  the  scene  of  action. 


OHAPTEE   XIII. 

THE  TOWN  INCORPORATED — MILLS  AT  GREAT  FALLS — HOBE 
TROUBLE  WITH  RTE — ^BURTING-TARD  AND  PARADE— CAPTAIN 
FRANCIS    DAVIS — ^NEARINQ  THE  END — HNAL  MEETINO. 

U  T  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1774,  the  pro- 
•AA»  prietors  took  further  action  hy  choosing  Moses 
Flanders,  Ezekiel  Evans,  and  Francis  Davis  as  a  com- 
mittee for  getting  the  town  incorporated.  This  comr 
mittee  attended  to  their  duty,  and  in  the  month  of 
September  following  the  town  was  incorporated  by 
the  name  of 

WARNER. 

£  $.  d 

October^  1774,  Ordered  to  Capt  Francis  Davis  for 

getting  the  town  incorporated —  24-13-6 

Ordered  to  committee  in  Warner,  for  preaching —  18-  0-0 

At  the  same  meeting,  Francis  Davis  and  Ezekiel 
Evans  were  appointed  ^to  allot  all  the  midivided  land 
in  the  township  into  Lots  to  each  Proprietor  in  Divi- 
sions  as  it  will  hold  out" 

In  November  following,  this  committee  reported  as 
follows : 

^'  In  pursuance  of  the  above  vote,  We  the  subscribers  have 
been  on  the  Township  of  New  Amesbuiy  (now  Warner),  and 


166  HmOBT  OF  WjkBKER. 

Iiare  lajed  out  all  the  undivided  land,  and  find  it  to  make  (with 
what  lots  were  drawn  and  thrown  up)  an  80  acre  Lot,  a  60  acre 
Lot  and  a  40  acre  Lot,  to  each  Proprietor,  reserving  the  County 
Boad  (main  road),  that  goes  through  any  part  of  the  above  Divi- 
•ion  of  40  acre  Lots,  and  any  othes  roads  that  may  be  wanted 
for  the  use  of  the  town  and  that  may  be  laid  out  by  the  Select- 
men ;  also  reserving  the  mill  privilege  belonging  to  Gapt  Davis 
from  damage  of  flowing  the  40  acre  Lots  according  to  the  true 
intent  of  the  Proprietors  in  granting  said  Privilege. 

Francis  Davis  )  r^^^z^^^^  » 
Nov.  1774.  Ezekiel  Evans  {  Committee. 

MILLS  AT  GREAT  FALLS. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March,  1775,  at  Amesburyi 
the  proprietors  chose  their  o£Scers  for  the  ensuing 
year,  and  then,- 

*  Voted  that  the  collector  give  notice  by  News  Par 
per  in  Newbury  Port,  Mass.  and  in  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
at  what  time  the  taxes  must  be  paid  by  the  Proprie- 
tors, and  that  said  collector  shall  have  sixpence  per 
pound  for  gathering  the  Bates." 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

^  Voted  to  empower  the  assessors  to  sell  the  mill 
privilege  at  Great  Falls  in  the  upper  part  of  the  town 
to  any  person  that  will  pay  $100,  one  half  of  the 
purchase  money  to  be  paid  next  December,  and  the 
other  half  to  be  paid  one  year  alter ;  said  assessors  to 
give  a  Deed  to  the  purchaser  and  take  security  for 
the  money .** 

Voted  to  raise  $3  on  each  right,  to  defray  the 
necessary  expenses  of  the  year. 


MILLS  AT  GREAT  FALLS.  167 

Other  business  was  transacted  at  this  meeting,  as 
was  usual  at  most  meetings,  in  reference  to  lines,  lots, 
and  divisions.  Constant  changes,  in  these  particulars, 
were  being  made. 

The  great  falls,  mentioned  above,  are  the  falls  at 
Waterloo  village. 

Nothing  occurred  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
proprietors,  in  March,  1776,  worthy  of  note,  but  at 
the  annual  meeting  of  1777,  a  committee  was  chosen 
^  To  guard  against  encroachments  upon  the  proprie- 
tors' lands."  Said  committee  were  authorized  to  see, 
when  in  Warner,  that  no  person  had  taken  possession 
of  any  lot  of  land  without  grant  or  purchase. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1778,  John  Barn- 
ard and  Simeon  Bartlett  were  chosen  ^to  advertise 
and  make  sale  by  auction  of  the  Mill  Privilege  at  the 
Great  Falls,  and  to  give  the  buyer  a  lawful  convey- 
ance, and  oblige  him  to  build  a  Saw  Mill  in  one  year 
and  a  Grist  Mill  within  three  years  from  the  time  of 
his  purchase,  and  to  keep  the  mills  in  repair.** 

Voted  $2  each  to  a  committee  who  had  settled  a 
land  difficulty  between  Christopher  Gould  and  Chris- 
topher Flanders. 

"  Voted  to  give  Charles  Barnard  4  acres  if  there  be 
so  much  of  Common  land  at  the  end  of  Carter's  Lot- 
as Sawyer  must  have  4  acres  from  said  Barnard's  Lot 
or  have  a  law-suit" 


168  HIBTOBT  OF  WABMEB. 

MORE  TROUBLE  WITH  RYE. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March,  1779,  nothing  but 
routine  business  was  transacted ;  but  at  a  meeting  held 
at  Amedbury,  April  the  29th  of  that  year,  Simeon 
Bartlett  and  John  Barnard  were  chosen  ^  to  confer 
with  a  committee  of  the  Proprietors  of  Jennestown, 
80  called,  and  see  if  they  will  remove  the  encroach- 
ments in  the  township  by  persons  acting,  or  claiming 
under  said  Jennestown  Grant" 

In  case  of  a  failure  of  this  committee  to  get  a  fair 
settlement,  they  were  instructed  to  take  counsel,  and 
appeal  to  a  court  of  law  for  redress  of  their  wrongs. 

It  is  diflScuIt,  in  the  absence  of  any  records  of  their 
own,  to  understand  this  conduct  of  the  Rye  people. 
According  to  the  award  of  the  commissioners,  they 
were  to  relinquish  ^  all  their  right,  title,  and  interest 
in  and  unto  all  the  lands  in  the  township  of  New 
Amesbury."  To  this  award  they  submitted  (as  did 
the  other  party),  but  such  records  as  are  in  existence 
show  that  they  did  not  in  good  faith  abide  by  it 

The  head  man  of  the  Bye  grantees,  or  proprie- 
tors, was  Richard  Jenness.  Perhaps  this  trouble  is 
chargeable  to  his  door.  Perhaps  it  was  lands  in  War- 
ner that  he  conveyed  to  parties  by  fraudulent  papers, 
and  if  so,  these  difficulties  are  accounted  for. 

This  Richard  Jenness,  representative  for  the  towns 
of  Rye  and  Newcastle,  was  expelled  from  the  assem- 


BURTING-YARD  AND  PABADE«  169 

biy  of  the  province,  at  Portsmouth,  May  12, 1773,  for 
the  forgery  of  deeds  of  conveyance  of  lands. 

The  inhabitants  of  Rye  and  Newcastle,  after  this 
action  of  the  assembly,  were  called  npon  to  elect 
another  representative  to  take  the  place  of  the  ex- 
pelled member,  and  Amos  Seavey,  of  Bye,  was  chosen. 
This  man  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Seaveys  of  War* 
ner.  His  son  Andrew  settled  between  the  Mink  hills 
and  Bradford  pond ;  and  the  three  sons  of  Andrew,— 
Bums,  Marden,  and  James, — are  well  remembered  by 
the  people  of  Warner. 

BURYING-YARD  AND  PARADE. 

At  their  annual  meeting  in  March,  1784,  the  pro- 
prietors took  steps  for  having  ample  grounds  set  off 
from  the  meeting-house  lot,  for  a  cemetery  and  a  per- 
manent  training-field.  Simeon  Bartlett  and  David 
Bagley  were  appointed  a  committee  to  carry  forward 
this  project  They  attended  to  their  duty,  and  report- 
ed that  they  had  ^  set  off  from  the  Meeting  House  Lot 
about  thirteen  acres  of  land  for  Burying-Yard,  Train- 
ing-Field [or  Parade]  and  Highways." 

The  metes  and  bounds  of  this  tract  are  given  in 
detail  in  the  report  of  the  committee,  but  they  would 
not  interest  the  reader,  and  are  therefore  not  present- 
ed  here.  It  is  sufficient  to  say,  that  this  tract  of  land 
is  at  the  old  cemetery,  heading  on  the  Gould  road, 
and  extending  back  north  to  the  river.    It  is  forty* 


170  H18T0BT  OP  WABNEB. 

one  rods  in  width  on  the  road,  and  some  sixty  rods 
deep.  It  is  no\y  mostly  covered  with  a  thrifty  pine 
gprowth;  but  in  1784,  and  for  twenty  years  before  that^ 
it  was  a  beautiful  slope,  carpeted  with  greensward 
down  to  the  river's  edge.  Here,  on  this  tract,  was 
erected  the  first  house  of  worship  within  the  town^ 
ship,  and  here  the  second  house  also.  Here  all 
classes,  ages,  and  conditions  were  wont  to  congregate 
on  the  Sabbath  day.  They  toiled  up  the  long  ascent 
from  the  east ;  they  came  in  from  the  north,  crossing 
the  river  almost  under  the  shadow  of  the  church  edi* 
fice ;  they  came  down  the  Gould  road  from  Waldrorfs 
hill  and  the  Minks ;  they  poured  in  from  the  south  in 
great  numbers,  passing  the  residence  of  their  minis- 
ter, and  often  receiving  kindly  recognition  from  him 
on  the  way.  The  young  and  gay  assembled  at  that 
sacred  place ;  and  the  aged  pilgrims,  leaning  upon 
their  staves,  were  there  also,  waiting  for  the  consola- 
tion of  Israel.  During  the  intermission,  these  vener- 
able  fathers  and  mothers,  on  bright  summer  days, 
^  gathered  at  the  river  "*  to  recount  the  past,  and  to 
recall  the  graves  of  their  kindred,  far  away. 

Here,  also,  was  planted  the  first  ^^  city  of  the  dead  " 
within  the  township.  Here,  year  afler  year,  were  the 
town  elections  held,  and  here  the  class,  embracing 
Warner,  Fishersfield,  Perrystown,  and  New  Breton, 
assembled  annually,  to  make  choice  of  a  representor 
tive  to  the  general  court     Here  the  town  militia, 


CAPTAIN  FRANCTS  DATIS.  171 

both  under  the  king  and  under  the  United  States, 
met  on  parade  for  discipline  and  drill.  Here  Captains 
Davis,  Flood,  and  others,  in  the  exercise  of  lawful 
authority,  drew  the  sword  and  took  command.  Here 
the  men  were  warned  to  meet  on  parade ;  and, 
before  the  independence  of  the  country,  they  were 
sometimes  ^^  notified  and  warned  to  assemble  at  the 
King's  Parade  for  military  drill  and  exercise.'' 

CAPTAIN  FRANCIS  DAVIS- 

As  Francis  Davis  was  the  first  man  to  be  put  in 
command  of  the  soldiery  of  Warner,  his  authority,  in 
the  shape  of  a  commission,  is  herewith  presented. 

ProTince  of  \  John  Wentwortb  Esq.,  Captain  Greneral  and 
New  Hampshire  )  Governor  in  Chief,  in  and  over  His  Majesty's 
Province  of  New  Hampshire,  in  New  England, 

To  Francis  Davis  Esquire — Greeting. 

By  virtue  of  the  Power  and  Authority,  in  and  by  His  Majes- 
ty's Koyal  Commission  to  Me  granted  to  be  Captain  General,  &c 
over  His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Hampshire  aforesaid,  I  Do, 
by  these  Presents,  reposing  especial  Trust  and  Confidence  in  your 
Loyalty,  Courage,  and  good  Conduct,  constitute  and  appoint  Ton 
the  said  Francis  Davis,  to  be  Captain  of  the  22d  Company  of 
Foot,  in  the  Ninth  Regiment  of  Militia,  in  the  Province  of  New 
Hampshire,  of  which  John  Goffe  Esq.  is  Colonel. 

You  are  therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  Duty 
of  a  Captain  in  leading,  ordering,  and  exercising  said  company  in 
Arms,  both  inferior  Officers  and  Soldiers,  and  to  keep  them  in 
good  Order  and  Discipline ;  hereby  commanding  them  to  obey 
you  as  their  Captain,  and  yourself  to  observe  and  follow  such  Or- 
ders and  Instructions  as  you  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from 
Me,  or  the  Commander  in  Chief  for  the  time  being,  or  other  your 
superior  Officers  for  His  Majesty's  Service,  according  to  Military 
Bules  and  Discipline,  pursuant  to  the  Trust  reposed  in  Yon. 
12 


172  mSTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

Giyen  under  m  j  Hand  and  Seal  at  Arms,  at  Portsmoath  the 
Ninth  Day  of  March,  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  the  Beign  of  Hii 
Majesty  King  George  the  Third. 

Annoque  Domini  1773.  J'  Wentworth* 

By  His  Excellency's  Command, 
Theodore  Atkinson,  Sec'y. 

As  the  cemetery  in  those  days  did  not  extend  so 
far  down  towards  Levi  Bartlett's  as  now,  Captain 
Davis  often  paraded  his  company  on  ground  now 
within  its  enclosure.  At  other  times  the  company 
was  paraded  in  the  road,  by  the  ledge,  and  at  other 
times  on  the  gentle  slope  just  at  the  north-east  comer 
of  the  cemetery. 

These  grounds  are  the  property  of  the  town  to-day, 
.  but  time  has  wrought  great  changes  there.  Unbroken 
silence  now  reigns  on  that  venerable  spot  The  voice 
qf  prayer  and  the  voice  of  command  will  be  heard 
there  no  more  forever.  The  dead  only  sleep  there. 
But  with  what  unrivalled  poetic  beauty  Longfellow 
says,— 

''  There  is  no  death !  what  seems  so  is  transition ; 
This  life  of  mortal  breath 
Is  but  the  suburb  of  the  life  elysian, 
Whose,  portal  we  call  death. 

''  In  that  great  cloister's  stiUness  and  seclusion, 
By  guardian  angels  led, 
Safe  from  temptation,  safe  from  sin's  pollution, 
They  live  wham  toe  call  deadJ" 

NEARING  THE  END. 

As  the  ¥^ork  of  the  proprietors  of  Wcimer  drew 
towards  a  close,  it  naturally  became   less  and  less 


NEARING  THE  END.  178 

important  The  record  of  proprietors'  meetings,  from 
about  1785  onward,  becomes  yearly  less  interesting. 
From  1784  to  1792  the  proprietors  met  annually,  to 
keep  their  organization  intact,  and  to  transact  what- 
ever business  must  necessarily  come  before  them,  but 
they  did  little  in  those  years  except  to  confirm  tiUes^ 
to  rectify  the  boundaries  of  lots,  to  make  trifling 
grants  to  certain  settlers,  for  one  reason  and  another, 
and  to  divide  up  and  draw  the  last  remnants  of  their 
lands.  Having  become,  to  a  large  degree,  residents 
of  Warner,  the  proprietors,  from  1792  onward,  held 
all  their  meetings  in  old  township  Number  One. 

On  the  13th  day  of  April,  1792,  the  following  warn- 
ing was  posted  up  at  two  public  places  in  Warner : 

''  In  the  name  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  we  Do  Hereby 
Notify  and  warn  all  the  proprietors  of  the  township  of  Warner 
in  the  County  of  Hillsboro'  in  this  State  that  are  legal  Totert  m 
proprietors'  meetings,  to  assemble  and  meet  together  at  the  bouse 
of  Doct.  John  Currier  in  Warner  on  thurs  Day  the  24tb  Day  of 
may  next  att  one  of  the  clock  in  the  P.  M.  to  act  as  foUowath, 
Tia. : 

firstly  to  chuse  a  moderator  to  goyem  said  meeting : 

2  ly  to  see  if  the  proprietors  will  vote  to  Ratify  and  Gonfimie 
the  proceeding  of  the  former  proprietors  meetings  which  wmi« 
warned  and  held  out  of  this  State  or  any  part  thereof : 

3  ly  to  See  if  the  proprietors  will  vote  to  chuse  a  committee  to 
Bring  an  action  or  actions  against  any  person  or  persons  that  are 
in  possession  of  lands  in  the  town  of  Warner  not  baring  any  title 
to  the  same  from  under  the  proprietors  of  the  township  of  said 
Warner. 

4  ly  to  See  if  the  proprietors  will  chuse  any  committee  to  settle 
with  the  former  Collectors  and  all  other  persons  indebted  to  the 


174  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

pzoprietoTs  or  that  have  any  demand  against  them ;  and  to  Dia- 
pose  of  the  Bemaining  Common  Land  or  any  part  there<rf. 

The  proprietors  met  agreeably  to  the  above  wan> 
ing,  May  24, 1792,  and  chose  Nathaniel  Bean,  Esq., 
moderator. 

^  att  the  same  meeting  voted  to  chuse  a  committee 
of  three  to  Examine  the  former  votes  of  the  proprie- 
tors and  See  what  part  of  them  is  Necessary  to  be 
Ratified  and  make  a  Report  at  the  adjournment  of 
this  meeting." 

Nathaniel  Bean,  Lt  Wm.  Ring  and  Richard  Bart- 
lett  were  chosen  said  committee. 

^  att  the  Same  meeting,  voted  to  chuse  a  conimittee 
to  Bring  an  action  or  to  Support  one  in  Behalf  of  the 
proprietors  with  those  on  Lands  not  claiming  them 
under  almesbury  proprietors.'* 

Simeon  Bartlett,  James  Flanders,  and  Nathaniel 
Bean  were  chosen. 

^  att  the  Same  meeting,  voted  that  James  flanders 
Esq.  and  Mr.  Tappan  Evans  be  a  committee  to  Dis- 
pose of  a  gour  of  land  by  Mr.  Moses  Clements." 

FINAL  MEETING. 

The  last  legal  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  at  the 
house  of  Levi  Bartlett,  in  Warner,  March  29, 1830. 
The  record  of  this  meeting  is  in  the  words  following : 


FINAL  MEETING.  175 

''Met  according  to  warning  and  chose  Dea.  David  Heath, 
Moderator,  and  Levi  ]  Harriett,  Clerk. 
'•'On  motion  of  Benjamin  Evans  Esq. — 

"  Besolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  discontinue  the  proprietors' 
meetings  in  Warner,  and  to  choose  an  agent  to  take  the  notes 
and  collect  the  funds  of  the  proprietors,  pay  all  demands  against 
thenii  and  divide  the  money  that  remains  equally  among  the 
legal  proprietors.  * 

"The  above  Resolution  was  carried  in  the  affirmatiye,  and 
Stephen  Bartlett  was  chosen  to  take  the  funds  and  dispone  of 
them  as  directed  above. 

"  Then  the  meeting  adjourned. 

Levi  Bartlett,  Clerk.'' 

Thus  ended  the  work  of  the  proprietors  of  Warner. 
Much  of  shadow  and  but  little  of  sunshine  had  been 
found  in  it  Ninety-five  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
first  grant  of  the  township  had  been  made.  All  ot 
the  original  grantees,  and  most  of  the  men  and  women 
of  the  next  generation^  had  gone  to 

'^  That  undiscovered  country,  from  whose  boome 
No  traveller  returns." 

Many  of  those  grantees,  unlike  the  prophet  of  old, 
never  so  much  as  beheld  the  promised  land ;  but  their 
descendants,  generation  after  generation,  have  caused 
the  hills  and  valleys  of  Warner  to  teem  with  plenty, 
and  to  echo  the  voices  of  contentment  and  gladness. 


OHAPTEE  XIV. 

THE  IKTEBMEDIATE  STATE — FIRST  MEETINO  OF  THE  8ETTLEB8'— 
FAST  DAT — ^REV.  MB.  KELLEY  CALLED— HIS  SALARY — HIS 
ORDINATION — ^THE    FIRST   JURYMAN — TOWN    CHARTER. 

KAVING   pursued  the  proprietors  of  township 
Number  One,  in  the  line  of  towns,  through 
their  many  tribulations,  to  the  end  of  their  authority 

and  the  termination  of  their  existence  as  a  legal  or* 

« 

ganization,  the  reader  is  now  invited  to  go  back  and 
consider  the  transactions  of  the  settlers  in  the  town- 
ship. 

In  December,  1770,  the  inhabitants, — the  settlers 
of  the  town  then  generally  called  New  Almsbury, — 
met  together  for  the  first  time  to  take  action  concern- 
ing their  affairs.  Hitherto  all  their  municipal  matters 
have  been  managed  by  the  proprietors  of  the  town- 
ship, most  of  whom  lived  in  another  province.  Now 
the  occupants  of  the  soil  begin  to  be  heard.  The  pro- 
prietors may  control  their  own  property  in  the  town- 
ship, whether  held  by  them  in  common  or  individ- 
ually, but  may  not  longer  control  the  general  affairs 
of  the  settlers. 


THE  INTERMEDIATE  STATE.  177 

There  is  yet,  however,  no  legal  town  organization. 
No  act  of  incorporation  has  been  passed.  Hence  no 
tax  can  be  collected,  no  road  or  bridge  can  be  built, 
no  school  can  be  supported,  except  by  voluntary  con- 
tribution. This  period,  from  1770  to  1774,  may  be 
called  the  intennediate  state.  It  stands  between  the 
legal  authority  of  the  proprietors  over  the  inhabitants 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  legal  town  organization  on 
the  other.  The  town  is  not  only  not  yet  organized, 
but  it  has  no  name^ — no  legal  name.  It  was  granted 
by  Massachusetts  as  township  Number  One,  but  that 
grant  fell  for  want  of  jurisdiction  on  the  part  of  the 
grantor,  and  another  grant,  from  another  party,  had 
to  be  obtained.  The  proprietors,  being  residents  of 
Amesbury,  Mass.,  and  that  vicinity,  generally  called 
the  town  New  Almsbury  (spelling  the  name,  for  some 
unaccountable  reason,  with  an  / ).  But  in  convey- 
ances of  land  and  other  legal  documents,  up  to  the 
time  of  its  incorporation  in  1774,  the  town  is  called 
"  New  Almsbury  or  township  Number  One." 

It  is  probable  that  the  Rye  proprietors  (if  they  had 
gone  forward,  settled,  and  organized  the  town)  would 
have  given  it  the  name  of  Jennestown.  But  the  town 
has  never  absolutely  been  known  by  that  name, 
though  it  may  have  been  indifferently  called  by  it  in 
certain  cases.  So  it  was  called,  occasionally,  by  the 
Masonian  proprietors,  "  Rye  Town.''  And  on  an  old 
English  map,  made  from  the  survey  of  Mitchell  and 


178  HISTOBT  OF  WjkBKER. 

Hazzen  in  1750,  it  is  distinctly  marked  at  the  foot  of 
*^Kyasage,"  and  there  called  Rye  Town.  But  the 
only  established  legal  name  that  the  town  ever  had 
is  the  one  it  now  bears. 

FIRST  MEETING  OF  THE  SETTLERS. 

The  first  public  meeting  of  the  settlers  of  the  town 
was  held  in  the  meeting-house  at  the  Parade,  Decem- 
ber 27, 1770.  This  meeting  took  action  only  in  re- 
gard to  the  religious  affairs  of  the  parish.  At  that 
time  the  town  and  church  were  one.  The  record  of 
the  proceedings  of  that  meeting  is  given  below,  in 
full,  and  is  as  follows : 

''  Whereas  the  Proprietora  of  a  tract  of  land  usually  known  by 
the  name  of  New  Almsbury  in  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire, 
by  Nehemiah  Ordway^  Simeon  Bartlett,  and  Daniel  Morrill,  their 
committee,  have  promised  and  engaged  to  pay  ninety  Dollars  for 
the  first  year,  and  sixty  dollars  a  year  for  the  four  years  next  fol- 
lowing, and  thirty  dollars  for  the  sixth  year,  to  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  a  Gospel  Minister  in  said  New  AlmsSurj*  and  to  sup- 
plying the  same  place  with  preaching  till  such  Minister  can  be 
settled  therein,  provided  such  Minister  be  ordained  and  settled 
within  two  years  from  this  time  ; 

''And  Whereas,  said  Proprietors  have  further  engaged  a  right 
of  Land  as  a  Projirietors'  Share  in  said  New  Almsbury,  to  the 
first  Ordained  Minister  in  the  same  placQ,  and  also  the  Improve- 
ment [use]  of  an  other  Right  or  Share  in  said  New  Almsbury,  as 
a  Parsonage  during  his  continuance  in  the  Ministry  there ;  in 
consideration  of  said  promises  and  engagements  of  the  Proprie- 
tors aforesaid,  and  in  consideration  also  that  Isaac  Waldron,  Isaac 
Chase,  and  Joseph  Sawyer,  a  committee  chosen  and  appointed  by 
the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  New  Almsbury  will  use 
their  best  endeavors  that  an  Able  and  Learned  Minister  of  the 
Gospel,  approved  by  the  Pastors  of  the  neighboring  Churches, 


FIRST  MEETING  OP  THE  SETTLERS.  179 

may  be  settled  and  ordained  in  said  New  Almsbury  according  to 
said  proposal  of  the  Proprietors  aforesaid :  We  whose  names  are 
hereunto  subscribed  being  inhabitants  of  said  New  Almsbury  and 
being  willing  to  encourage  and  promote  so  laudable  a  desipi ;  Do 
promise  each  for  himself  to  paj  to  the  said  Isaac  Waldron,  Isaac 
Chase,  and  Joseph  Sawyer,  or  to  the  8ur\'ivor8  of  them  our  just 
and  ratable  proportion,  according  to  our  respective  estates,  of 
whatever  sum  or  sums  of  money  shall  be  needed  to  defray  the 
charges  of  hireing  some  Preacher  qualified  as  aforesaid  to  preach 
in  said  New  Almsbury  on  probation  for  settlement,  and  also 
for  the  settlement  and  Ordination  of  said  minister,  and  also  for 
his  yearly  Salary  or  allowance  afterwards ;  Said  Minister  to  be 
chosen  and  his  Salary  appointed  by  the  majority  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  said  New  Almsbury,  and  the  allowance  per  day  to 
Preachers  as  by  custom  to  be  the  price  to  be  paid,  and  if  any- 
thing further  be  given  for  the  encouragement  of  a  Minister  to 
settle  among  us  the  same  shall  be  by  agreement  by  the  inhabi- 
tants, and  all  charges  or  sums  of  money  to  be  paid  by  us  as  afore- 
said shall  be  assessed  by  the  said  Waldron,  Chase,  and  Sawyer,  or 
their  survivors  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Province  Taxes  are  by 
Law  assessed,  and  paid  by  each  of  us  respectively  our  said  Tax 
within  one  calendar  month  from  the  time  we  are  notified  of  the 
same;  provided  the  Proprietors  aforesaid  shall  well  and  faith- 
fully perform  all  of  their  several  promises  and  engagements,  and 
that  we  shall  and  may  have  the  full  benefit  of  the  money  which 
thereby  shall  be  paid  by  said  Proprietors,  the  same  shall  be  de- 
ducted, when  paid,  out  of  the  Salary  of  said  Preacher  or  minister, 
and  our  several  assessments  abated  in  proportion  to  the  money 
so  paid  by  said  Proprietors,  and  that  all  of  the  money  paid  by  as 
and  the  said  Proprietors  shall  be  faithfully  applied  to  the  support 
of  the  Gospel  in  said  New  Almsbur}\  And  in  case  no  minister 
of  the  Gospel  shall  be  Ordained  in  said  town  within  the  space  of 
two  years,  or  in  case  the  Proprietors  aforesaid  shall  neglect  to  pay 
any  sum  by  them  promised  for  the  term  of  one  year  from  the 
time  said  money  was  to  be  paid,  in  either  case  the  promise  by  ns 
made  shall  be  Void  as  to  all  time  to  come,  but  shall  stand  good 
against  us  for  all  debts  due  any  Gentleman  for  preaching  in  said 
town  by  us  engaged.  Provided  further  that  this  writing  shall  be 
of  no  force  against  any  Subscriber  of  the  same  unless  Nine  Tenths 


180  HDTORT  OF  WARNER. 

in  number  of  the  present  inhabitants  of  said  New  Almsbniy  shall 
sabscribe  the  same ;  and  in  case  of  failure  of  performance  by  either 
of  ns  subscribing^  of  any  of  the  articles  according  to.  the  trae 
intent  and  meaning  of  the  writing,  then  we  are  each  of  us  to  for- 
feit for  each  and  every  such  failure  ef  his  own,  ten  pounds.  Law- 
ful money,  to  be  collected  by  the  said  Waldron,  Chase  and  Saw- 
yer, said  money  to  be  applied  to  the  support  of  the  Crospel  as 
above  directed. 

^'In  consideration  of  all  the  articles  above  written,  we  hare 
hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  this  27th  day  of  December, 
1770.^ 

Though  the  meaning  of  the  above  bond  or  obliga- 
tion is  somewhat  obscured  by  verbiage,  the  reader 
will  probably  be  able  to  comprehend  it  It  has  been 
thought  best  to  give  it  in  full  here,  as  it  is  em- 
braced in  the  proceedings  o(  the  first  meeting  of  the 
settlers.  Forty-five  names  are  appended  to  the  docu- 
ment They  are  substantially  the  names  that  appear 
on  a  former  page^  in  the  list  of  early  settlers,  and 
they  need  not  be  repeated. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township, 
held  Feb.  14/1771,  Joseph  Sawyer  acting  as  moder- 
ator,— 

^  Voted  that  Mr.  Nehemiah  Ordway  stay  one  day  more. 

^  Voted  that  the  committee  designated  in  the  Bond  for  provid- 
ing preaching,  shaU  send  for  Mr.  Wm.  Kelley  to  preach  here 
three  Sabbaths,  and  that  Mr.  Joseph  Sawyer  shall  board  the  min- 
uter." 

At  another  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  held  May 
14, 1771,  Francis  Davis  acting  as  moderator, — 

"  Voted  to  hire  three  days  preaching ; 

*^  Also,  voted  that  Mr.  Daniel  Flanders  shall  keep  the  Settlers' 
Bond,  taken  from  Daniel  Gale's  of  Concord.'' 


FAST  DAY. 


181 


This  was  a  bond  given  by  the  settlers  to  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  town,  for  the  fulfilment  of  their  obli- 
gations in  relation  to  building  houses,  clearing  lands, 
and  making  improvements  generally  upon  their  gift- 
lots.  It  had  been  several  years  in  the  custody  of 
Mr.  Gale. 

At  another  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  and  free- 
holders of  New  Almsbury,  held  at  their  meeting-house 
Sept  26,  1771,  Francis  Davis  acting  as  moderator, 
and  Daniel  Flanders  as  clerk, — 

'^  Voted  to  hire  Mr.  Eelley  six  Sabbaths  from  this  date,  and 
that  Joseph  Sawyer  board  Mr.  Kelley  during  said  term  of  time." 

FAST  DAY. 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

<^  Voted  that  Mr.  Kelley  appoint  a  Day  of  Fast,  and  that  Mr. 
Isaac  Waldron  go  to  the  neighboring  Ministers  and  invite  them  to 
attend  said  Fasf 

.  There  is  no  evidence  on  record  going  to  show  that 
Isaac  Waldron  saddled  his  horse  and  pushed  off  to 
Salisbury,  to  Boscawen  Plain,  to  Hopkinton,  and  to 
Henniker,'  to  invite  the  ministers  of  those  towns  up 
to  this  fast, — no  evidence,  in  fact,  that  Mr.  Kelley 
appointed  such  a  day  in  accordance  with  the  above 
vote.  Fasting  has,  in  all  ages  and  among  all  nations, 
been  resorted  to  in  times  of  mourning  and  sorrow. 
Joshua  and  the  elders  of  Israel  remained  prostrate 
before  the  ark  from  morning  until  evening,  without 
eating,  ailer  the  Israelites  were  defeated  by  the  men 


182  HI810RT  OF  WABKEIL 

of  Al  The  king  of  Nineveh,  terrified  by  Jonah's 
preaching,  made  an  order  that  not  only  the  men,  but 
the  beasts  also,  should  continue  without  eating  or 
drinking.  The  Jews,  in  times  of  public  calamity, 
made  even  the  children  at  the  breast  fast  But  no 
good  reason  appears  fpr  this  Fast  day  in  Warner.  The 
inhabitants  had  got  through  the  Red  sea.  Neither  war, 
pestilence,  nor  famine  stalked  abroad  in  the  land.  The 
harvests  of  1771  were  abundant  The  infant  town  of 
New  Almsbury  was  rapidly  filling  up  with  substantial 
settlers.  The  second  meeting-house  had  been  just 
erected,  and  all  the  people  were  attending  upon  the 
minbtrations  of  the  sanctuary.  The  young  clergy- 
man, who  was  soon  permanently  settled  over  the 
parish,  was  popular  in  the  pulpit  and  fascinating  in 
manner  out  of  it  There  was  every  reason  for  thanks- 
giving,  but  none  whatever  appears  iov  fasting. 

MR.  KELLEY  CALLED. 

The  inhabitants  met  at  their  meeting-house  Nov.  4, 
1771,  and  after  choosing  Francis  Davis,  moderator,  and 
Daniel  Flanders,  clerk, — 

"  Voted  to  give  Mr.  William  Kelley  a  Call  to  Settle  in  the 
Ministry  in  this  place,  and  that  our  said  committee,  Waldron, 
Chase  and  Sawyer,  shall  extend  the  call  to  Mr.  Kelley  in  behalf 
of  the  Lihabitants." 

At  this  and  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  Dea  17, 
1771,  the  salary  and  maintenance  of  Rev.  Mr.  Kelley 
were  fixed  by  the  following  votes : 


MR.   KIXLEY  CALLED.  188 

"  Voted  to  give  Mr.  Kelley  for  the  first  year  40  pounds,  lawful 
money,  and  to  rise  one  pound  ten  shillings  a  year,  for  13  years 
and  four  months,  or  till  his  Salary  shall  amount  to  sixty  pounds 
a  year,  lawful  money. 

''  Voted,  also,  to  give  Mr.  Kelley  $100,  in  labor  at  two  and  six- 
pense  per  day,  or  if  dinners  are  found,  the  work  to  be  performed 
at  2  shillings  per  day. 

"  Voted,  also,  to  give  Mr.  Kelley  20  cords  of  Wood  annually  to 
be  cut  and  hauled  to  his  door. 

*^  Voted,  also,  to  cut  down  and  clear  the  trees  from  three  acres 
of  land  each  year,  for  three  years,  on  Mr.  Kellej^'s  Lot — and  that 
said  nine  acres  of  land  shall  be  cleared  by  a  tax  on  the  Inhabi- 
tants at  the  rate  of  $7.50  per  acre — workmen  to  be  hired  at 
2s,  &d.  per  day  and  commence  their  day's  work  at  7  o^dock  in  the 
momingP 

This  salary  looks  small  to  the  people  of  the  present 
day,  but,  if  it  was  paid  promptly,  it  was  sufficient  It 
aflforded  the  family  of  Mr.  E^Uey  ample  support 
Money  was  money  at  that  time. 

The  regular  salary  ^vas  forty  pounds  a  year,  which 
was  $133.33.  Then  they  added  $100  a  year  in  labor 
at  ^  two  and  six"  a  day,  the  laborer  **  finding  himselC'' 
This  was  laid  out  about  his  buildings,  and  in  general 
farm  work.  Then  they  added  twenty  cords  of  wood 
annually,  cut  and  hauled  to  his  door ;  and  then,  again^ 
in  addition  to  all  this,  they  were  to  clear  three  acres 
of  land  a  year  on  his  farm  for  three  yeara  These 
payments,  in  the  aggregate,  amounted  to  not  less 
than  $275,  which  was  as  good  as  $800  or  $1000 
now. 

But  this  is  not  all,  for  they  voted  to  rise  $5  a  year 


184  BISTORT  OF  WARKEB. 

for  thirteen  years  and  a  third,  or  until  the  direct  sal-- 
ary  should  amount  to  sixty  pounds,  or  $200,  a  year^ 
While  this  (if  paid)  yielded  Mr.  Kelley  a  fair  support,, 
the  settlers  were  not  ground  down  by  heavy  taxation. 
The  proprietors  paid  $90  of  this  sum  the  first  year, 
sixty  dollars  a  year  for  the  next  four  years,  and  thirty 
dollars  for  the  sixth  year.    Af\;er  the  sixth  year  they 
left  the  inhabitants  to  go  alone. 

ORDINATION. 

Rev.  William  Kelley  was  ordained  and  settled  in 
New  Amesbury,  Feb.  5,  1772.  This  appears  among 
the  records  of  the  proprietors  in  a  former  chapter.  A 
church  was  organized  at  the  same  time,  a  full  account 
of  which,  and  of  its  several  pastors,  will  be  found  un- 
der the  head  of  "  Ecclesiastical  History.** 

The  only  record  in  the  books  of  the  inhabitants, 
referring  to  the  ordination,  is  found  in  their  doings 
at  the  annual  meeting,  held  March  25, 1772.  At  this 
meeting,  Isaac  Chase  acting  as  moderator,  and  Par- 
menas  Watson  as  clerk, — 

^  Voted  to  allow  Mr.  Isaac  Waldron's  account  for  pro- 
viflion  he  made  the  Ministers  at  the  Ordination, —  2-  1 

''Voted  to  allow  Isaac  Chase's  account  for  hoard  of. Min- 
isters and  other  services  performed  for  the  town, —  1-11 

£M.d. 

**  Voted  to  allow  Mr.  Joseph  Sawyer  for  hoard  of  Mr. 

Kellej,  and  other  services  for  the  town,  all  lawful 

monej —  3-3-  3 

£  #. 

''  Voted  to  raise  to  defray  the  necessary  charges  of  the 

year,  lawful  money —  52-10 


ORDIXATION.  185 

At  this  meeting,  Daniel  Flanders,  Seth  Goodwin, 
and  Daniel  Flood  were  chosen  assessors,  and  Jacob 
Tucker  collector,  for  the  year.  Their  duties  had 
reference  simply  to  the  matters  of  the  church.  No 
selectmen  or  other  officers  were  chosen  for  the  gen- 
eral management  of  town  affairs  during  the  continu- 
ance of  this  intermediate  state. 

The  sale  of  the  pews  in  the  meeting-house,  which 
occurred  in  September,  1772,  has  already  been  set 
forth  among  the  transactions  of  the  proprietors. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  March 
30, 1773,  Isaac  Chase  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Dan- 
iel Flanders,  clerk.  Dea.  Parmenas  Watson,  Francis 
Davis,  and  Dea.  Nehemiah  Heath  were  chosen  asses- 
sors ^to  take  Invoice  and  make  out  the  Rates."  Jacob 
Tucker  was  again  chosen  collector. 

The  assessors  were  instructed  to  carry  the  town 
inventory  to  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state.  This 
was  done  under  the  direction  of  the  royal  government 
of  the  province. 

A  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was  held  June  17, 
1773,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  John  Goflfe,  Esq., 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  province  tax.  The  sum 
required  of  the  town  of  New  Amesbury  was  £3  16«. 
lawful  money. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  March 
29,  1774,  Isaac  Chase  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
Daniel  Flanders,  clerk.    Capt  Daniel  Flood,  laeut 


186  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

Jacob  Woldron,  and  Isaac  Chase  were  chosen  asses- 
sors^ and  Jacob  Sawyer,  collector. 

''Voted  to  raise  £54  lawful  money,  to  defray  all  expenses  of 
town  and  for  preaching  above  the  IS  pounds  to  be  received  from 
the  proprietors  for  preaching." 

''Voted  that  we  should  be  (/lad  to  have  the  town  Incorporated 
and  that  the  Assessors  send  a  letter  to  the  Proprietors  to  see  what 
they  will  do  about  having  it  incorporateiL" 

The  condition  of  affairs  was  not  satisfactory  during 
this  period.  Perhaps  there  was  not  much  actual  dis- 
order in  town,  but  there  was  wanting  that  wholesome 
fear  of  law  which  has  been  found  essential  in  all  com- 
munities. There  could  be  no  compulsion,  for  the 
town  government  that  then  existed  was  simply  the 
voluntary  association  of  men.  Hence  the  inhabitants 
would  be  "  glad  to  have'  the  town  incorporated."  The 
proprietors,  it  will  be  recollected,  had  already  initiated 
steps  looking  to  this  end. 

THE  nRST  JURYMAN. 

At  a  meeting  held  June  14, 1774, — 

^' Voted  to  allow  Dea.  Nehemiah  Heath's  account  of  Eight 
Shillings,  and  nine  pence,  Lawful  money,  for  his  services  as  Jury- 
man to  Amherst." 

In  the  account  of  this  meeting  is  the  following 
record : 

"  This  day  Stephen  Edmunds  appeared  at  town  meeting  and 
acknowledged  it  to  be  the  first  time  tliat  he  ever  appeared  at  a 
town  meeting  in  this  town." 


CHARTER.  187 

It  is  not  quite  clear  whether  this  fact  was  an- 
nounced by  Mr.  Edmunds  in  a  feeling  of  exultation, 
or  confessed  in  a  spirit  of  contrition. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  which  was 
held  July  14, 1774,— 

"  Voted  that  the  Records  which  have  been  destroyed  by  J^re, 
in  consequence  of  the  burning  of  the  present  Clerk's  house,  shall 
again  be  recorded  as  he  has  collected  them,  and  stand  good." 

''Voted  that  Captain  Francis  Davis  shall  go  and  get  the  toim 
Incorporated,  if  the  Proprietors  will  find  the  money  to  do  it  with.'' 
[The  proprietors  did  find  the  money.] 

''  Voted  that  Captain  Daniel  Flood  shall  keep  the  Covenant 
Obligation,  for  us,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Almsbuiy."  [This  is 
supposed  to  refer  to  the  Church  Covenant,  and  this  is  the  last 
vote  ever  given  by  the  town  in  its  inchoate  state.] 

In  September,  1774,  Francis  Davis  went  on  his 
mission  to  the  seat  of  the  provincial  government  at 
Portsmouth.  There  he  was  joined  by  Ezekiel  Evans, 
of  Salisbury,  Ma^s.  (agent  for  the  proprietors),  whose 
mission,  like  his  own,  was  to  get  the  town  incorpo- 
rated. They  found  no  insurmountable  obstacles  in 
their  path,  but  were  entirely  successful  in  their  un- 
dertaking.   They  obtained  the  following 

CHARTER. 

Province  of  )  George  the  Third  by  the  grace  of  Qoi  of 
New  Hampshire  j  Great  Britain  France  and  Ireland  King  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,  &c. 

To  all  People  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come^ 

Greeting. 

Whereas  our  loyal  subjects  Inhabitants  of  a  Tract  of  Land 

within  our  Province  of  New  Hampshire,  aforesaid,  commonly 

called  and  known  by  the  Name  of  New  Almsbuiy,  containing  by 

18 


188  HI8T0RT  OP  WABNEB. 

estimation  about  six  Miles  square,  hare  humblj  petitioned' and 
requested  Us  that  they  may  he  erected  and  incorporated  into  a 
Township  and  enfranchised  with  the  same  powers  and  prirfleges 
which  other  Towns  within  our  said  Province  by  Law  hare  and 
enjoy,  and  it  appearing  to  us  to  be  conducive  to  the  general  (jood 
of  our  said  Province  as  well  as  to  the  said  Inhabitants  in  particu- 
lar, by  maintaining  good  order  and  encouraging  the  culture  a£ 
the  Land  that  the  same  should  be  done — 

Know  ye  that  We  of  our  special  grace,  certain  Icnowledge,  and 
for  the  encouragement  and  promotion  of  the  good  purposes  and 
ends  aforesaid,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  our  trusty  and  well  be- 
loved John  Wentworth  Esq.  our  Governor  and  Commander  in 
Chief  of  our  said  Province  and  of  Our  Council  of  the  same,  hare 
created  and  ordained,  and  by  these  presents  for  Us  Our  Heirs  and 
Successors,  do  will  and  ordain  that  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Tract  of 
Land  and  others  who  shall  improve  and  inhabit  therein  hereafter, 
the  same  being  butted  and  bounded  as  follows,  viz : — 

Beginning  at  a  place  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Contob- 
cook,  thence  running  North  fifteen  degrees  West  six  Miles,  then 
running  from  each  end  of  the  Line,  West  five  degrees  South,  six 
miles,  then  crossing  and  running  over  on  a  Straight  Course  from 
one  end  of  these  last  mentioned  lines,  at  the  end  of  the  said  six 
miles,  to  the  other,  so  as  to  make  up  the  quantity  of  six  Miles 
square  and  no  more,  Be  and  they  are  hereby  declared  to  be  a 
Taum  CarporaUy  by  the  name  of — 

WARNER, 

To  have  continuance  forever,  with  all  the  Powers  and  authorities. 
Privileges,  immunities  and  Franchises  which  any  other  Towns  in 
our  said  Province  by  Law  hold  and  enjoy,  to  the  said  Inhabitants 
or  those  who  shall  hereafter  inhabit  there,  and  to  their  successors 
forever,  always  reserving  to  Us  Our  Heirs  and  Successors,  all 
White  Pine  Trees  that  are  or  shall  be  found  being  and  growing 
upon  the  said  Tract  of  Land  fit  for  the  use  of  Our  Royal  Navy. 
Beserving  also,  unto  Us  our  heirs  and  Successors  the  power  of 
dividing  said  Town  when  it  shall  appear  necessary  and  conven- 
ient for  the  Inhabitants  thereof — 

Provided  nevertheless,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  that  this  Char- 


CHARTER.  189 

ter  and  Grant  is  not  intended  and  shall  not  in  any  manner  be 
construed  to  affect  the  private  property  of  the  soil  within  the 
limits  aforesaid : — 

And  as  the  several  Towns  within  our  said  Province  are,  by  the 
Laws  thereof,  enabled  and  authorized  to  assemble,  and  by  Major- 
ity of  the  voters  Present,  to  chuse  all  officers  and  transact  such 
affairs  as  in  the  said  Laws  are  Declared,  we  Do  by  these  Presents 
nominate  and  appoint  Captain  Francis  Davis  to  call  the  fint 
Meeting  of  the  said  Inhabitants  to  be  held  in  the  said  Town  at 
any  time  within  sixty  Days  frome  the  Date  hereof,  Giving  Legal 
Notice  of  the  time  and  Design  of  holding  such  Meeting,  after 
which  the  annual  Meetings  for  said  Town  shall  be  held  for  the 
choice  of  said  officers  and  the  Purposes  aforesaid,  on  the  First 
Tuesday  in  the  month  of  March  annually. 

In  Testimony  whereof  We  have  Caused  the  seal  ,of  our  said 
Province  to  be  hereunto  affixed. 

Witness  our  aforesaid  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chiei^  this 
third  day  of  September,  in  the  14th  year  of  our  Beign  Annoque 
Domini  1774. 

J'  Wentworth. 

By  His  Excelleni^ir't 
Command^ 

Theo.  Atkinson,  Sec'y. 


CHAPTEE    XV. 

HjlME  OF  THE  TOWN — DANIEL  WARNER — COL.  SETH  WARNER — 

HIS  CHARACTER  AND   SERVICES. 

IjlIuE  names  of  towus  are  often  brought  by  the  first 
•At  settlers  from  the  homes  they  left.  Thus,  to  hun- 
dreds of  towns  in  New  England  and  to  thousands  in 
the  country,  English  names  have  been  applied.  Thus 
,Hopkinton,  Salisbury,  and  Bradford  came  by  the 
names  they  bear.  Towns  are  also  frequently  named 
for  persons  of  character  and  worth.  Boscawen  takes 
its  name  from  Lord  Boscawen  of  the  British  navy ; 
Webster  takes  the  name  of  the  foremost  man  of 
America ;  Wilraot  received  its  name  from  Dr.  Wil- 
mot,  an  Englishman,  who  at  one  time  was  supposed 
to  be  the  author  of  the  celebrated  Junius  papers ;  Hen- 
niker  received  its  name  from  Gov.  Wentworth,  who 
conferred  it  upon  the  town  in  honor  of  his  friend, 
John  Henniker,  a  merchant  in  London,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  British  parliament  when  that  town  was 
incorporated. 

Warner,  New  Hampshire,  was  the  only  town  by 


NAME  OF  THE  TOWN.  191 

that  name  in  the  United  States  till  a  recent  date. 
There  is  no  other  now  east  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains, and  but  one  west  of  those  mountains  by  that 
name.  The  author  of  this  volume  has  no  doubt  that 
this  name  was  conferred  upon  his  native  town  in 
recognition  of  the  services  of  Colonel  Seth  Warner,  the 
champion  of  the  New  Hampshire  Cause  in  the  mem- 
orable contest  between  this  province  and  that  of  New 
York.  The  late  B.  K  Harriman  never  entertained  a 
doubt  that  the  town  received  its  name  from  this 
source.  The  writer  never  heard  such  doubt  ex- 
pressed till  a  few  years  since ;  so,  in  1870,  he  pre- 
pared so  much  of  this  chapter  as  relates  to  Col.  War- 
ner, to  be  woven  into  a  history  of  the  town,  which 
the  late  H.  H.  Harriman,  at  that  time,  had  some 
thought  of  writing. 

But  it  is  found  that  difierences  of  opinion  exist 
There  are  those  who  believe  that  the  town  received 
its  name  from  Daniel  Warner,  of  Portsmouth,  who 
was  in  the  provincial  council  from  1753  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Revolutionary  strife.  The  tradi- 
tion seems  to  be,  that  this  Daniel  Warner  came  into 
the  township  before  its  incorporation,  and,  finding  no 
bridge  over  the  river,  promised  to  contribute  forty 
dollars  towards  building  such  a  structure  if  the  inhab- 
itants would  call  the  town  by  his  name,  and  that  the 
town  accepted  the  proposition. 

With  the  utmost  respect  for  those  who  entertain 


192  •       HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

this  belief,  the  author  must  dissent  from  it^  and  for 
the  following  reasons : 

1.  It  is  evident  (for  the  records  everywhere  have 
been  searched)  that  Daniel  Warner  never  owned  an 
acre  of  land  in  the  township  before  or  since  its  incor- 
poration ;  and  there  is  no  evidence,  and  but  little 
probability,  that  he  ever  set  foot  upon  its  soil.  In 
other  sections  of  New  Hampshire  this  man  held  large 
landed  estates,  and  his  honors  would  naturally  have 
come  (if  at  all)  from  a  section  where  his  interests 
were,  instead  of  from  one  where  he  had  no  interests, 
and  where  he  was  probably  entirely  unknown. 

2.  According  to  the  tradition,  it  was  ^  Col.  Warner** 
who  proposed  to  contribute  the  forty  dollars.  But 
Daniel  Warner,  of  the  council,  was  never  a  colonel  at 
all,  and  was  never  known  by  that  title.  Seth  Warner 
was  a  colonel,  and  if  either  one  of  the  Warners  rode 
through  the  township  and  found  no  bridge,  this  is 
probably  the  man.  He  was  in  close  correspondence 
with  Gov.  Wentworth  during  the  "  border  war,"  at  the 
very  time  the  town  was  incorporated,  as  well  as  for 
several  years  before.  His  name  was  as  familiar  in 
New  Hampshire  at  that  time  as  a  household  word. 
Ethan  Allen  made  journeys  to  Portsmouth  to  consult 
with  the  government  of  the  province  during  the  bor- 
der difficulty,  and  why  should  not  Seth  Warner  have 
done  this  ?  He  was  the  stern  defender  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Grants,  and  he  had  the  confidence  of  the 


r 


NAME   OF  THE  TOWN.  193 

New  Hampshire  government  more  than  Allen.  If  he 
ever  made  this  journey^  his  ttnte  course  teas  through  the 
totm  of  Warner. 

3.  Daniel  Warner  never  paid  a  dollar  towards  build- 
ing or  repairing  any  bridge  in  town !  The  silence  of 
the  records  is  proof  of  this,  and  the  believers  in  the 
^  tradition"  admit  that  nothing  was  ever  paid.  Yet 
Daniel  Warner  was  a  man  of  great  wealth  through 
life,  and  he  left  at  his  death  a  large  estate.  What 
shall  be  said  of  this  act  of  bad  faith  on  his  part  ?  As 
the  story  runs,  the  people  of  the  town  promptly  per- 
formed their  part  of  the  contract,  and  then  he  refused 
to  perform  his.  It  was  a  downright  swindle! — and 
the  voice  of  every  man  and  woman  in  town,  if  the 
name  came  from  that  source,  would  have  demanded  a 
change. 

4.  Daniel  Warner  was  not  loyal  in  the  great  strug- 
gle for  national  existence.  He  followed  in  the  foot- 
steps  of  his  chief,  the  royal  governor.  In  short,  he 
was  a  tory,  and  he  fell  under  the  ban  of  an  exacting 
public  opinion. 

The  Committee  of  Safety  of  the  colony  of  New 
Hampshire  sent  out,  in  April,  1776,  to  the  seve- 
ral towns  of  the  colony,  the  following  pledge  or 
test: 

*^  We,  the  subscribers  do  hereby  solemnly  engage  and  promise, 
that  we  will  to  the  utmost  of  our  Power,  and  the  risque  of  oar 
Lives  and  Fortunes,  with  Arms,  oppose  the  hostile  proceedings 


194  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

of  the  British  Fleets  and  Armies  against  the  United  American 
Colonies." 

This  was  New  Hampshire's  declaration  of  indepen- 
dence. It  preceded  the  national  declaration  of  July 
4th.  Eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
(8199)  persons  signed  it,  and  seven  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-three (773)  refused  to  sign.  Among  those  who 
refused  to  sign  this  patriotic  test  were 

Dani£L  Warner 

and 

Jonathan  Warner. 

In  the  list  of  persons  in  Portsmouth,  reported  to 
the  Committee  of  Safety  as  ^  notoriously  disaffected  to 
the  Common  Cause/'  is  the  name  of 

Jonathan  Warner. 

The  Committee  of  Safety,  in  1777,  ordered  the 
sheriff  of  Rockingham  county  to  seize  from  Jona- 
than Warner  two  hogsheads  of  rum,  for  the  use  of 
the  American  army,  ^^  as  he  would  not  sell  it  to  the 
army  at  a  reasonable  rate."  Daniel  Warner^  the 
father,  was  the  chief  member  of  this  firm,  and  it  was 
his  property  that  was  thus  confiscated  by  order  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety.  These  two  Warners  (father 
and  son)  clung  to  the  fortunes  of  Gov.  Wentworth, 
who  was  compelled  to  flee  the  country.  They  both 
refused  to  sign  the  Association  Test  They  both  had 
their  property  confiscated.  They  were  both  on  the 
side  of  the  enemy  in  the  supreme  struggle  of  the  col- 


NAME  OP  THE  TOWN.  195 

onies  for  independence,' and  the  public  odium  rested 
severely  upon  the  heads  of  both. 

In  that  day  of  intolerance  and  hate,  when  the  un- 
faithful were  pursued  ;  when  they  were  driven  from 
the  town,  the  state,  and  even  across  the  seas ;  when 
they  were  tarred  and  feathered ;  when  their  printing- 
presses  were  destroyed,. and  their  houses  were  sacked 
and  burned ;  when  their  names  were  hissed,  and  their 
persons  treated  with  indignity, — is  it  probable  that  the 
patriotic  citizens  of  Warner  had  so  little  self-respect 
as  to  tolerate  this  name,  if  derived  from  the  quarter 
claimed?  Is  it  probable  that  Capt  Francis  Davis, 
who  had  three  sons  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  two 
of  whom  were  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill, — Francis 
Davis,  the  i5rst  representative,  elected  the  year  that 
gave  the  nation  birth, — is  it  probable  that  he  would 
have  submitted  tamely  to  this  dishonor,  \7hen  the 
mere  expression  of  a  wish  on  his  part  would  have 
caused  an  immediate  repudiation  of  the  name  ? 

Is  it  probable  that  John  Langdon,  Meshech  Weare, 
Josiah  Bartlett,  John  Sullivan,  or  any  of  their  com- 
peers, would  have  permitted  the  name  to  stand,  if 
bestowed  to  honor  one  who  proved  unfaithful  in  the 
^  time  that  tried  men's  souls"  ? 

Assuming*  that  the  town  takes  its  name  from  Col. 
Seth  Warner,  a  brief  sketch  of  his  character  and  ser- 
vices will  be  useful  and  interesting  to  the  reader. 
His  life,  though  short,  was  an  active  one,  and  full  of 


196  HI8I0BT  OF  WARNER. 

incident;  but  space  will  not  permit  any  extended 
reference  to  his  public  career.  He  was  bom  in 
Hoxbury,  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  in  1743. 
He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Warner,  who  in 
1763  removed  with  his  family  to  Bennington,  in  the 
New  Hampshire  Grants.  This  was  the  second  year 
after  the  settlement  of  that  town. 

In  1765,  Seth  Warner,  at  the  age  of  22,  went  back 
to  Cionnecticut,  and  married  a  young  lady  who  had 
been  his  school-mate,  and  of  whom  it  is  said,  ^  She 
was  always  his  first  choice  at  the  spelling-school.'" 
Their  home  in  Bennington  was  opposite  ^  The  Wild- 
Cat  Tavern,"  which  became  famous  in  history  as  the 
head-quarters  of  the  Vermont  patriots  during  the  bor- 
der struggle,  and  also  during  the  subsequent  struggle 
for  independence.  An  air  of  romance  seems  to  hover 
over  this  whole  region.  It  is  a  magnificent  country, 
and  the  stirring  events  which  transpired  there  have 
made  it  memorable  forever.  The  hotel  took  this 
name  from  the  fact  that  on  the  large  sign  which 
creaked  in  the  wind  there  was  a  full-sized  painting  of 
a  fierce  wild-cat  The  Council  of  Safety  held  a  per- 
petual session  in  that  tavern  during  the  first  years  of 
the  Revolution,  and  Gen.  Stark  was  not  an  unknown 
guest  in  that  house.  He  mounted  his  horse  at  its 
front  door  on  the  morning  of  August  16,  1777,  and 
rode  to  the  battle. 

Benning  Wentworth,  the  royal  governor  of  New 


BETH  WARNER.  197 

Hampshire,  granted  Bennington  to  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  proprietors  in  1749.  He  granted  many 
other  townships  in  the  present  state  of  Vermont 
(which  territory  was  called  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants),  claiming  that  the  province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire extended  westward  to  within  twenty  miles  of 
the  Hudson  river.  The  New  York  authorities  dis- 
puted this  claim,  and  contended  that  their  jurisdiction 
extended  eastward  to  the  Connecticut  river.  A  bitter 
controversy  grew  up  between  the  two  colonies,  the 
settlers  upon  the  grants  generally  siding  with  New 
Hampshire.  New  York  made  attempts  to  drive  these 
settlers  out,  or  to  compel  them  to  pay  for  their  lands 
again,  and  to  pa}'  to  New  York.  When  the  execu- 
tive officers  of  New  York  came  to  eject  the  settlers 
from  their  possessions,  they  were  resisted.  At  the 
head  of  these  settlers  stood  Seth  Warner, — a  man  of 
noble  physique,  two  or  three  inches  above  six  feet 
tall,  straight  as  a  hickory  tree,  and  compactly  built. 
In  the  History  of  Vermont,  by  Samuel  Williams,  ll.  d., 
it  is  said  of  Warner,  ^  He  was  cool,  steady,  resolute, 
and  fully  determined  that  the  laws  of  New  York 
respecting  the  settlers  should  never  be  carried  into 
execution'' 

The  government  of  New  York,  early  in  this  contro- 
versy, offered  a  reward  of  £20  each  for  the  arrest  of 
Warner  and  several  others,  but  that  offer  did  not  in 
the  least  weaken  the  firmness  of  these  patriotic  men. 


198  HI8I0BT  OF  WABKEB. 

They  continued,  without  wavering,  to  defend  the  set- 
tlers under  the  New  Hampshire  Gran^  and  to  resist, 
with  force  when  necessary,  all  attempts  of  the  New 
Yorkers  to  drive  them  out 

To  show  still  further  the  heat  of  the  controversy, 
and  the  hazard  of  opposing  the  New  York  authorities, 
the  following  enactment  of  that  government  is  pre- 
sented : 

"  If  any  person  or  persons  oppose  any  civil  officer  of  New  York 
in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duty,  or  wilfully  bum  or  destroy 
the  grain,  com  or  hay  of  any  other  person ;  or  if  any  persons,  un- 
lawfully, riotously,  and  tumultuously  assembled  together  to  the 
disturbance  of  the  public  peace,  shall  wilfully  and  with  force,  de- 
molish or  pull  down,  or  begin  to  demolish  or  pull  down,  any 
dwelling-house,  bam,  stable,  grist-mill,  or  outhouse,  within  either 
of  the  counties  of  Albany  or  Charlotte,  then  each  of  such  offences 
■hall  be  judged  felony,  without  benefit  of  clergy,  and  the  offenders 
therein  shall  be  adjudged  felons,  and  shall  suffer  death,  as  in  case 
of  felony,  without  benefit  of  clergy." 

A  copy  of  this  law  was  forwarded  to  the  sheriffs, 
and  was  posted  up  by  them  in  public  places,  with  the 
following  clause  added : 

''And  in  case  such  offenders  shall  not  respectively  surrender 
themsdoeSf  he  or  she,  so  neglecting  or  refusing^  shall,  from  the 
day  appointed  for  his  surrender  as  aforesaid,  be  adjudged,  deemed, 
and  (if  indicted  for  a  capital  offence  hereafter  to  be  perpetrated) 
convicted  of  felony,  and  shall'  suffer  death,  as  in  case  of  persons 
convicted  of  felony  by  verdict  and  judgment,  without  benefit  of 
clergy." 

At  the  same  time  the  governor  of  New  York  issued 
a  proclamation,  offering  a  reward  of  fifty  pounds  each 
for  apprehending  and  securing  Seth  Warner,  Ethan 


SFTH  WARNER.  199 

Allen,  Remember  Baker,  and  several  others.  And  yet 
these  undaunted  men  remained  true  to  their  convic- 
tions. This  "  bloody  code,"  and  this  additional  re- 
ward, failed  to  move  them.  Though  they  might,  in 
a  figurative  sense,  have  adopted  the  words  of  Paul, 
^  In  labors  more  abundant,  in  stripes  above  measure, 
in  prisons  more  frequent,  in  deaths  oft,"  yet  they 
never  swerved. 

It  appears  that  Albany  and  Charlotte  counties 
were  made,  by  the  New  York  authorities,  to  cover 
the  whole  of  the  New  Hampshire  Grants.  It  appears 
further,  from  the  spirit  of  this  law,  that  the  settlers 
generally  stood  boldly  by  their  rights,  and  did  not 
quietly  tolerate  the  partisans  of  New  York  who  were 
in  their  midst.  They  undoubtedly  made  the  water 
rather  hot  for  them. 

Various  associations  were  formed  among  the  set- 
tlers for  the  protection  of  £heir  rights,  and  a  conven- 
tion  of  representatives  from  the  several  towns  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Green  Mountains  was  called.  In  the 
meantime  the  government  of  New  York  was  making 
grants  and  establishing  courts  in  this  territory.  The 
sheriff  of  Albany  county  being  required  to  execute  a 
writ  of  possession  against  James  Breckenridge,  of 
Bennington,  called  to  his  assistance,  by  order  of  the 
New  York  government,  a  posse  of  750  armed  men. 
The  settlers,  having  timely  notice  of  his  approach, 
prepared  for  resistance.    Seth  Warner  was  at  their 


200  HI8I0BT  OF  WARNEB. 

head.  He  formed  his  men  just  west  of  the  Wild-Cat 
Tavern,  in  two  ranks,  facing  the  enemy.  They  stood, 
with  grounded  arms,  in  silence,  Warner  at  the  front 
The  sheriff,  having  approached  to  within  ten  rods  of 
Warner's  line,  with  his  army,  halted,  and,  after  a  few 
minutes'  consultation  with  his  officers,  beat  a  hasty 
retreat.    Not  a  gun  was  fired  on  either  side. 

John  Munro,  a  sheriff*  under  New  York  authority, 
moved,  perhaps,  by  a  hope  of  reward  and  a  desire  for 
notoriety,  on  the  22d  day  of  March,  1772,  resolved  to 
attempt  the  arrest  of  Warner.  He  soon  found  his 
opportunity.  Warner,  in  company  with  a  single 
friend,  was  riding  in  the  vicinity  of  Munro's  resi- 
dence, and  being  met  by  Munro  and  several  of  his 
dependents,  a  brisk  conversation  ensued,  in  the  midst 
of  which  Munro  seized  the  bridle  of  Warner's  horse, 
and  commanded  those  present  to  assist  in  arresting 
him.  Warner  instantly  struck  Munro  over  the 
head  with  a  dull  cutlass,  and  levelled  him  to  the 
ground. 

In  the  History  of  Vermont,  by  Williams,  already 
referred  to,  it  is  said, — ^  In  services  of  this  dangerous 
and  important  nature  Warner  was  engaged  from  the 
year  1765  to  1775."  And  it  may  be  added,  that,  dur- 
ing this  whole  period  of  ten  years,  he  was  on  intimate 
relations  with  the  government  and  people  of  New 
Hampshire.  John  Wentworth,  and  those  in  authority 
with  him,  would  have  been  guilty  of  base  ingratitude 


8ETH   WABNER«  201 

if  they  had  not,  in  some  manner,  acknowledged  or 
recognized  his  services. 

In  the  Revolution,  Col.  Warner's  record,  though  cut 
short  by  wounds  and  disease,  was  a  brilliant  one.  He 
was  in  at  the  tap  of  the  drum.  He  commanded  the 
small  force  that  took  Crown  Point.  A  regiment  of 
*^  Green  Mountain  Boys  '*  was  raised,  and  Seth  War- 
ner, as  lieut  colonel,  was  placed  in  command.  In 
the  Life  of  Ethan  Allen,  by  Jared  Sparks,  referring 
to  this  matter,  it  is  stated  that,  after  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  "Allen  and  Warner 
set  off  on  a  journey  to  the  Continental  Congress,  with 
a  design  of  procuring  pay  for  the  soldiers  who  had 
served  under  them,  and  of  soliciting  authority  to  raise 
a  new  regiment  in  the  New  Hampshire  Grants." 

In  both  these  objects  they  were  successful.  By  an 
order  of  congress  they  were  introduced  on  the  floor 
of  the  house,  and  when  they  had  each  addressed  the 
house  they  withdrew:  It  was  resolved  by  congress 
that  a  regiment  should  be  raised,  not  exceeding  500 
men,  and  to  consist  of  seven  companies.  A  lient 
colonel  was  to  be  the  highest  officer.  The  commit- 
tees of  safety  of  several  townships  assembled  at  Dor- 
set to  choose  officers  for  the  new  regiment  The 
choice  fell  on  Seth  Warner  for  lieut  colonel,  and  on 
Samuel  Safford  for  major.  A  portion  of  the  commit- 
tee wanted  Allen  for  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
regiment :  he  received  five  votes,  and  Warner  forty. 


202  HI8T0BT  OP  WABNER. 

In  September,  1775,  Warner  is  found  at  the  head 
of  this  regiment  during  the  siege  of  St  John's  by 
Gen.  Montgomery.  Their  term  of  service  having 
expired  on  the  20th  of  November,  Montgomery  dis- 
charged them  with  thanks  for  meritorious  services, 
and  they  returned  to  the  New  Hampshire  Grants.   In 

the  attack  on  St  John's,  our  force  under  Gen.  Mont- 
gomery was  completely  successful,  as  the  British  army 
was  captured  and  destroyed.  Warner  and  his  regi- 
ment bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  that  engagement 

Warner,  in  dead  of  winter,  raised  another  force, 
and  marched  to  join  Gen.  Wooster  at  Quebec.  This 
winter  campaign  in  Canada  proved  extremely  dis- 
tiressing.  In  the  spring  of  1776  a  large  body  of 
British  troops  arrived  at  Quebec,  and  the  American 
army  was  compelled  to  make  a  hasty  retreat  CoL 
Warner  took  a  position  exposed  to  great  danger,  and 
requiring  the  utmost  vigilance.  He  was  always  at 
the  rear,  picking  up  the  wounded  and  diseased,  drum- 
ming up  the  stragglers,  and  keeping  just  before  the 
advance  of  the  British  army. 

Congress,  on  the  5th  day  of  July,  1776,  resolved  to 
raise  a  regiment,  consisting  of  new  troops  and  a  por- 
tion of  those  who  had  served  with  so  much  reputation 
in  Canada,  to  be  commanded,  as  before,  by  a  lieut 
colonel.  Warner  was  again  appointed,  but  the  New 
York  people  were  bitterly  hostile  to  him.  The  Pro- 
vincial Congress  of  that  state  demanded  his  removal 


SETH  WARKEB.  203 

from  the  command, "  especially  as  this  Warner  hath 
been  invariably  opposed  to  the  legislature  of  this 
state,  and  hath  been,  on  that  account,  proclaimed  an 
outlaw  by  the  late  government  thereof."  But  Warner 
was  not  interfered  with.  He  raised  his  regiment  and 
repaired  to  Ticonderoga,  where  he  remained  till  the 
close  of  the  campaign.  When  the  American  army 
fell  back  from  Ticonderoga,  it  was  hotly  pursued  by 
the  British.  Warner  again  took  position  at  the  rear, 
and  had  several  fierce  engagements  with  the  advance 
line  of  the  invading  army.  From  the  History  of  Ver» 
mont^  by  Henry  W.  DePuy,  the  following  facts  may 
be  gathered.  At  Hubbardton  the  advanced  corps  of 
the  British  army  overtook  the  rear  of  the  American 
army,  on  the  7th  day  of  July,  1777.  The  larger  part 
of  this  army  had  gone  forward.  All  that  wajs  left  of  it 
was  a  part  of  Hale's,  a  part  of  Francis's,  and  a  part  of 
Warner's  regiments.  The  enemy  attacked  them  with 
superior  numbers  and  the  highest  prospect  of  success, 
but  our  army  opposed  them  with  great  spirit  and  vig- 
or. No  officers  or  troops  could  have  displayed  more 
courage  and  firmness  than  ours  displayed  through  the 
whole  action.  Large  reinforcements  of  the  enemy 
arriving,  it  became  impossible  to  make  effectual  op- 
position. Francis  fell  in  rallying  his  men  for  a  fresh 
onset  Hale  was  captured  with  his  regiment  "  Sur^ 
rounded  on  every  side  by  the  enemy,  but  calm  and 

undaunted,  CoL  Warner  fought  his  way  through  all 
U 


204  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

opposition.''  He  brought  off  the  troops  that  were  not 
captured  with  Hale,  checked  the  enemy  in  their  pur- 
suit, and,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  arrived  safely 
with  his  troops  at  Manchester.  To  the  northward  of 
that  town  the  whole  country  was  now  deserted.  Bur- 
goyne,  with  his  disciplined  army,  was  moving  down 
through  there,  as  Sherman  moved,  at  a  later  day,  in 
his  march  to  the  sea.  But  at  Manchester,  Warner 
determined  to  make  a  stand.  And  DePuy  says,  in 
conclusion,  ^  Encouraged  by  his  example  and  firmness, 
a  body  of  the  militia  soon  joined  him,  and  he  was  once 
more  in  a  situation  to  protect  the  inhabitants,  harass 
the  enemy,  and  break  up  the  advanced  parties.'' 

Col.  Warner,  in  obedience  to  Gen.  Schuyler's  com- 
mand, scoured  the  country,  up  and  down,  west  of  the 
mountains,  to  gather  up  and  bring  to  Bennington 
such  property  as  the  British  might  supply  themselves 
with.  Large  droves  of  cattle  were  thus  brought  in 
and  sold,  under  the  direction  of  the  Council  of  Safety. 
What  tories  there  were  in  that  region  escaped  and 
joined  the  enemy.  Through  the  whole  of  this  un- 
pleasant business,  just  recited,  the  firmness  and  hu- 
manity of  Warner  were  conspicuous.  Only  one  per- 
son was  killed  by  the  scouts  during  the  summer. 

Schuyler,  who  at  first  had  contented  himself  with 
granting  the  Vermonters  half  a  ton  of  powder,  sent  to 
Warner,  a  few  weeks  before  the  battle  of  Bennington, 
$4,000,  and  an  order  for  whatever  clothing  could  be 


SETH   WARNER.  205 

procured  at  Albany.  He  also  ordered  all  tlie  troops 
from  New  Hampshire,  which  were  then  marching 
towards  the  camp,  to  miite  with  Warner.  The  corre- 
spondence between  Stark  and  Warner  at  this  point 
is  voluminous  and  intensely  interesting. 

About  the  first  of  August,  1777,  Gen.  Stark  arrived 
at  Manchester,  on  the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  with 
800  New  Hampshire  militia,  on  his  way  to  the  seAt  of 
war  on  the  Hudson.  The  battle  of  Bennington,  in 
which  Stark  deservedly  won  great  renown,  was  fought 
the  16th  day  of  August,  1777.  Col.  Warner  rode  with 
Stark  to  the  field,  and  was  with  him  through  the  whole 
engagement  Ex-Governor  Hiland  Hall,  in  his  admi- 
rable history  of  Vermont,  says, — 

^'  Warner's  residence  was  at  Bennington ;  he  was  familiarly  ac- 
quainted with  every  rod  of  ground  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
posts  which  had  been  occupied  by  Baum,  and  their  approaches ;  he 
was  a  colonel  in  the  continental  army,  superior  in  rank  to  any  offi- 
cer in  the  vicinity ;  and  he  had  already  acquired  a  high  reputa- 
tion for  bravery  and  skill, — all  which  naturally  made  him  the 
chief  counsellor  and  assistant  of  Stark  in  his  deadly  struggle  with 
the  enemy." 

Warner's  efficiency  was  felt  throughout  the  coming 
battle.  In  discovering  the  position  and  strength  of 
the  enemy,  in  arranging  the  disposition  of  the  troops^ 
in  determining  the  time  and  point  of  attack,  and  in 
the  execution  of  every  design,  his  services  were  inval- 
uable. 

Wamefs  regiment  was  at  Manchester  on  the  15th 


206  mBTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

under  command  of  Miyor  Safibrd,  who  brought  it  up 
to  participate  in  the  second  engagement  on  the  ISth, 
and  to  save  the  day. 

This  is  not  the  place  for  a  full  description  of  that 
important  battle, — a  battle  in  which  New  Hampshire 
played  a  most  prominent  part  Bnrgoyne,  who  had 
believed  that  '^six  hundred  men  could  march  from 
the  Hudson  to  the  Connecticut,  subjugating  all  the 
intervening  region,  without  any  risk  of  loss,''  and  who 
had  boasted  that  bis  should  be  a  tnumphal  march 
down  through  the  country  to  the  sea-board,  found  an 
impassable  barrier  at  Bennington.  His  army  of  1,500 
men,  under  Col.  Baum,  was  routed  and  destroyed. 
Baum  was  mortally  wounded.  Burgoyne  hurried  up 
Col.  Breyman,  in  the  afternoon,  to  reinforce  Baum^ 
but  Warner's  intrepid  regiment  came  up  in  hot  haste, 
swung  into  line  on  the  double-quick  at  the  opportune 
moment,  and  put  Breyman  and  his  force  to  flight 
The  day  was  ours.  The  field  was  ours,  and  the  can- 
non, and  the  munitions,  and  the  mm;  and  certain 
historians  have  asserted  that  our  army,  the  rest  of 
that  day,  gave  humble  heed  to  1  Timothy,  5:23. 

New  Hampshire  was  proudly  represented  on  that 
battle-field,  for,  in  the  first  place,  Gen.  Stark,  the  hero 
of  the  day,  was  New  Hampshire's  favorite  son ;  and  in 
the  second  place,  fully  one  half  of  his  men  were  New 
Hampshire  soldiers.  Col.  Moses  Nichols,  of  Amherst ; 
Col.  David  Hobart,  of  Plymouth ;  and  Col.  Thomas 


SETH   WARXER.  207 

Stickney,  of  Concord,  each  with  his  regiment,  was 
conspicuous  in  that  engagement 

Capt  Ebenezer  Webster  (the  father  of  Daniel)  was 
also  in  this  battle.  His  company  constituted  a  part  of 
Col.  Stickney's  regiment,  and  he  fought  with  distin- 
guished bravery.  Stark,  in  speaking  of  Webster,  said, 
^His  face  was  so  dark  that  gunpowder  wouldn't 
black  it" 

The  town  of  Warner  was  well  represented  at  Ben- 
nington. In  Capt  Webster's  company  there  were  five 
of  our  men,  viz.,  Paskey  Pressey,  sergeant,  Robert 
Gould,  Abner  Watkins,  Francis  Davis,  John  Palmer. 

Asa  Patney,  who  went  into  the  service  fix)m  Hop- 
kinton,  but  who,  immediately  after  the  war,  became  a 
permanent  resident  of  Warner,  was  severely  woimded 
in  this  battle. 

THE  DAY  BRIGHTENS. 

The  Colonies  had  long  been  depressed  by  disaflter 
and  defeat,  but  the  decisive  victory  at  Bennington 
turned  the  tide  of  success,  and  brought  light  out  of 
darkness.  The  American  cause  looked  up.  A  change 
of  officers  took  place  at  this  time.  Gates  took  com- 
mand of  the  army  of  the  north.  Arnold,  who  up  to 
this  period  had  been  faithful,  and  whose  career  had 
been  brilliant,  was  also  with  that  army,  as  was  the 
patriot  of  Poland,  the  accomplished  Kosciusko.  There 
was  a  grand  uprising  of  the  people  through  the  whole 


208  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

country  in  consequence  of  this  staggering  blow  to 
Burgoyne's  army.  Doubt  and  fear  gave  way  to  con- 
fidence and  courage.  The  halting  became  bold^  and 
the  timid  became  aggressive.   ' 

'^  Then  JVeedam  sternly  said, '  I  shun 
No  strife  nor  pang  beneath  the  sun, 
When  human  rights  are  staked  and  won.' " 

Col.  Warner  at  this  time  was  but  34  years  of  age, 
yet  the  credit  due  to  him  for  the  triumphant  result  at 
Bennington  is  second  only  to  that  due  to  the  general 
commanding.  In  reporting  this  battle  to  Major-Gen. 
Gatesy  Gen.  Stark  recognizes  the  solid  merits  of  War- 
ner, and  pays  him  this  proud  compliment :  ^  Colonel 
Wamefa  superior  skill  in  the  action  was  of  extraor- 
dinary  set^vice  to  meP 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Bennington,  Warner  was 
promoted  to  the  full  rank  of  colonel  by  the  ^Conti- 
nental Congress,  but  his  active  service  did  not  long 
continue.  He  is  reported  sick  at  Hoosac,  the  latter 
part  of  August  The  indefatigable  exertions  which 
he  had  mad^  in  the  cause  of  right, ''  as  God  gave  him 
to  see  the  right,"  and  the  constant  exposure  and 
fatigue  to  which  he  had  been  subjected  from  his  early 
manhood,  undermined  his  constitution  and  hastened 
his  death.  Disease  in  an  aggravated  form  struck  its 
fangs  into  his  system,  and  totally  unfitted  him  for 
active  service.  His  limbs  became  paralyzed,  and  he 
suffered   intense   pain.     He  did  not,  however,  i^elin- 


SETH  WARNER.  209 

quish  the  field  at  once.  In  a  memorial  to  Congress 
in  1786,  asking  a  pension  for  the  family  of  Col.  War- 
ner, and  signed  by  Gov.  Thomas  Chittenden,  Ethan 
Allen,  Samuel  Safford,  Gideon  Brownson,  and  seven 
others  of  the  foremost  men  of  Vermont,  the  following 
statement  appears : 

"After  the  battle  of  Bennington,  Col.  Warner  began  sensibly 
to  decline,  so  that  there  remained  but  little  prQspect  of  his  fatnie 
usefulness.  He,  however,  grappled  with  his  disorder,  and  contin* 
ued  in  the  service  at  intervals,  until,  receiving  a  wound  from  an 
ambush  of  Indians  near  Fort  George,  in  September,  1780  (at 
which  time  the  only  two  of  his  officers  that  were  with  him  fell 
dead  at  his  side),  he  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the  service." 

In  1782.  Col.  Warner  returned  to  Roxbury.  Conn., 
his  native  town,  in  hopes  of  obtaining  relief  from  the 
painful  disorders  under  which  he  was  suffering ;  but 
his  hopes  proved  fallacious.  He  gradually  wasted 
away  until  the  26th  of  December,  1784,  when  an  end 
was  put  to  his  sufferings.  He  was  41  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  died  poor ;  but  in  October, 
1787,  the  legislature  of  Vermont  generously  granted 
to  his  heirs  two  thousand  acres  of  landy  in  the  north- 
west part  of  the  county  of  Essex. 

One  sketch  of  his  short  life  closes  with  these  words: 

"  Col.  Warner  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  war,  which  were 
justly  due  his  merits.  The  Bev.  Thomas  Gaufield  preached  from 
the  text,  ^  How  are  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the  weapons  of  war 
perished.'  An  immense  concourse  of  people  attended  his  funeral, 
and  the  whole  was  performed  with  uncommon  decency  and  affec- 
tion. He  left  an  amiable  consort  and  three  children  to  mourn 
their  irreparable  loss." 


210  HI8I0RT  OP  WARNER. 

A  modest  white  shaft  marks  the  place  of  his  rest^ 
in  the  old  cemetery  of  his  kindred,  at  Roxbury.    And 

Oh  I  where  can  dust  to  dust 

Be  consigned  so  well. 
As  where  Heaven  its  dews  shall  shed 
On  the  martyred  patriot's  bed, 
And  the  rocks  shall  raise  their  head 

Of  his  deeds  to  telL 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WARNER^S  HRST  MEETIXG — TOWN  RECORDS — WAR-XOTES — THE 
CENSUS — SAGE  TEA — ^THE  CRISIS  AT  HAND — CONVENTION  OP 
THE  PEOPLE— GOVERNOR  WENTWORTH. 

^yr  ARNER  is  now  a  body  corporate,  having  a  legal 
W  name.  A  new  era  in  its  history  here  com- 
mences. The  public  interests,  which  have  been  main- 
ly controlled  by  the  proprietors,  are  now  conducted 
by  the  town.  Hereafter  ttixes  are  levied  not  simply 
upon  lands,  but  upon  all  estates,  both  personal  and 
real.  Under  the  town  organization  every  man  is  a 
man,  whether  rich  or  poor;  every  one  is  permitted  to 
have  a  voice  in  the  management  of  public  affidrs. 

The  warrant  for  the  first  meeting  of  the  legal  town 
of  Warner  is  in  the  words  following : 

Province  of  )  By  power  and  authority  Beceiyed  from  His 
New  Hampshire  >  Excellency,  John  Wentworth,  Esq.  these  aie 
to  notify  and  warn  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Warner  to  assemble  and  meet  together  on  Tuesday  ye  fourth 
Day  of  October  next  insuing  at  the  meeting  house  at  ten  of  the 
clock  in  the  forenoon  To  act  as  followeth — 

1  ly  to  chuse  a  moderator  To  Kegulate  said  meeting 

2  ly  to  chuse  a  Town  Clerk 

3  ly  to  chuse  a  constable 

4  ly  to  chuse  Selectmen 


212  HI8I0RT  OF  WABKEB« 

6  Ij  to  ohuse  other  Town  officen  ub  the  law  Directs 

6  ly  to  see  if  the  town  will  Except  of  the  Ber.  mr.  Wm  KeHej 
for  their  minister  and  confirm  all  their  former  votes  and  Proceed- 
ings 

7  Ij  to  see  what  method  the  town  will  come  into  for  mending 
the  highways  in  said  town 

8  Ij  to  see  if  the  town  wiU  Build  a  Bridge  over  the  Biyer  in 
said  Town 

9  Ij  to  see  if  the  Town  will  get  the  Books  that  are  wanting  and 
consider  what  some  or  somes  of  money  the  town  shall  think  Proper 
to  he  Baised  to  Defray  the  charges  of  the  present  year 

10  ly  to  act  on  any  other  Business  the  town  shall  think  Proper 
to  he  done  when  met 

Dated  Warner  Sept  ye  17th  day  )  Francis  Davis, 

and  in  the  year  1774  )  By  appointment. 

WARNER  TOWN-MEETING. 

Under  the  above  warrant  the  town  of  Warner  met 
for  the  first  time.  At  the  hour  of  ten,  Francis  Davis 
stood  up  in  the  majesty  of  the  law  and  called  the 
assemblage  to  order.  Rev.  Mr  Kelley  invoked  the 
Divine  blessing.  The  warrant  was  then  read,  and  the 
town  proceeded  to  business,  a  record  of  which  is  here 
given  verbaiim  and  in  full : 

At  A  Meeting  of  the  Ereeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  this  Town 
of  Warner  Legelj  Warned  and  held  at  their  meeting  House  In 
aaid  Town  on  tuesday  the  4th  Day  of  October  1774  at  ten  of  the 
dock  in  the  forenoon  of  which  meeting  Mr.  Isaac  Chase  was 
Chosen  moderator — 

Voted  at  Said  meeting  that  Daniel  Flanders  Should  be  Town 
Clerk  for  the  Present  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  mr.  Stephen  Edmunds  Should  be 
Constable  for  the  present  year — 

Voted  at  the  same  meeting  that  Capt.  Daniel  Flood  should  be 
the  first  Select  man  for  the  present  year — 


WARNER  TOWN-MEETIKG.  218 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  Lt.  Jacob  Waldron  Should  be  the 
second  Select  man  for  the  Present  year — 

also  Toted  that  Mr.  Isaac  Chase  Should  be  the  third  Select  man 
the  Present  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  Capt  Daniel  Flood  be  a  tything- 
man  for  said  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  Capt.  Francis  Davis  be  a  tythingman  for 
said  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  mr.  Daniel  Annis,  sen.  Should  be  a 
Seveare  of  the  highways  for  the  Present  year — 

Voted  at  the  same  meeting  that  mr.  Isaac  Waldron,  sen.  be  a 
serare  of  highway  the  Present  year — 

also  Voted  at  the  same  meeting  that  Deacon  Nehemiah  Heath 
Should  be  the  third  seveare  of  highway  the  Present  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  abner  Watkins  Should  be  a  seveare 
of  Highway  the  Present  year — 

Voted  at  same  meeting  that  Daniel  Currier  should  be  a  Fence 
Vewer  for  the  said  Present  year — 

also  Voted  at  said  meeting  that  Isaac  Waldron,  Junior,  should 
be  Hogg  Reaf  for  the  present  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  Moses  Clark  should  be  Leather 
Sealler  for  the  Present  year — 

also  voted  that  ^Ir.  Daniel  Annis  should  be  Sealler  of  waits  and 
measures  for  the  present  year — 

also  voted  that  Paskey  Pressey  should  be  Field  Driver  for  the 
present  year — 

also  voted  at  said  meeting  to  Eecieve  the  Rev.  mr.  Wm-Kelley 
as  the  town's  minister  and  Establish  aU  the  former  votes  and 
Records  of  said  Inhabitants — 

also  voted  at  said  meeting  that  the  highways  should  be  cleared 
and  mended  the  present  year — 

Voted  at  said  meeting  to  build  a  Bridge  over  the  River  this 
fall- 
also  voted  that  the  Select  men  should  procure  a  Book  to  keep 
the  Records  of  the  town  and  to  record  the  Children  and  the  mark 
of  the  Beast  in 

also  voted  to  Raise  24  pounds  Lawful  Money  to  repair  highways 

also  voted  that  men  and  oxen  shall  work  at  2  shilling  lawfull 
money  per  Day. 


214  HI8T0RT  OP  WABNER. 

Thus  closes  the  record  of  the  first  Warner  town- 
meeting.  It  has  no  signature,  but  it  stands  in  the 
hand-writing  of  Daniel  Flanders,  who  that  day  was 
chosen  the  first  clerk  of  the  town. 

It  thus  appears  that  the  persons  who  had  the  honor 
of  being  the  first  civil  officers  in  the  legal  town  of 
Warner  were, — 

Isaac  Chase,  moderator. 
Daniel  Flanders,  town-clerk. 
Daniel  Flood,     ^ 
Jacob  Waldron,  >  Selectmen. 
Isaac  Chase,       ) 

These  officers  were  weU  distributed  over  town, — 
Chase  at  the  Stephen  George  place,  Flanders  at  the 
Lower  Village,  about  opposite  the  present  blacksmith 
shop,  Flood  on  Denney  hill,  and  Waldron  on  the 
Gould  road.  These  officers  were  elected  for  only  the 
fraction  of  a  year  (five  months),  but  the  election  was 
none  the  less  important  on  that  account  It  was  the 
•  first  under  the  charter.  It  was  the  initial  step  in  the 
new-bom  town.  The  election  was  held  under  author- 
ity, directly  descended,  of  George  the  Third,  by  the 
Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland, 
King,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c.  It  was  held  on  a 
bright,  autumnal  day,  in  the  little  humble  frame 
church  at  the  Parade,  which  cost  sixty  dollars.  The 
town  was  out  in  full  force,  the  number  of  voters  at 
that  time  being  about  45,  and  the  population  of  the 


ANNUAL  3IEETING,  MARCH,  1775.  215 

There  were  no  national  parties  then  ;  all  were  sub- 
ject to  the  Crown.  There  were  no  whigs  or  tories,  no 
democrats  or  republicans,  no  slavery-propagandists  or 
free-soilers.  There  were  no  local  parties, — no  prohi- 
bition or  license  party,  no  cranberry  or  hoop-pole  par- 
ty. There  were  no  caucuses,  no  rally ing-committees, 
no  vote-distributors.  No  pledges  were  made,  to  be 
broken, — no  promises,  to  be  forgotten.  ^  Everything 
was  lovely,  and  the  goose  hung  high.** 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1776. 

Daniel  Flood,  moderator. 
Daniel  Flanders,  town-clerk. 
Daniel  Annis,  sen.,  ^ 
Abner  Watkins,       >•  Selectmen. 
Joseph  Sawyer,       ) 

At  this  meeting  a  full  complement  of  highway  sur- 
veyors, hog-reeves,  tythingmen,  fence-viewers,  field- 
drivers,  sealers  of  leather  and  of  weights  and  meas- 
,  ures,  cullers  of  staves,  and  corders  of  wood,  was  chosen. 

''Voted  that  Ebenezer  Eastman  being  chosen  sevear  of  the 
highways  should  be  Reconsidered  and  he  not  serve. 

'*  Voted  at  said  meeting  that  Samuel  Trumbull  should  be  a 
seveare  of  the  highways  for  the  year  Insuing.'' 

PALMER  ONCE  MORE. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  May  2,  1775,  the 
record  says,  ^  Capt.  Daniel  Flood  stood  moderator.'' 

'^  Voted  at  said  meeting  ihat  all  the  rates  of  Mr.  Jonathan 
Palmer  for  his  own  head  for  years  past  and  for  the  Present  year 
should  be  Blotted  out  of  all  Bates.'' 


216  HISTORT  OF  WARKEB. 

I 

WAR-NOTES. 

^  At  the  same  meeting,  voted  that  the  Selectmen  should  pioyide 
Powder,  Lead,  and  flints  for  a  Town  Stock,  and  as  many  Fire- 
arms as  should  be  found  Wanting  In  Town." 

At  a  legally  called  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Warner,  held  at  their  meeting-house  Aug.  8,  1776, 
Capt  Francis  Davis,  Capt  Daniel  Flood,  and  Daniel 

Annis,  sen.,  were  chosen  a  committee  of  safety. 

t 

THE  CENSUS. 

The  Provincial  Congress  or  Convention,  held  at 
Exeter,  issued,  on  the  25th  of  August,  1775,  an  order 
to  the  several  towns  and  places  in  the  province  for 
taking  a  census,  in  which  the  inhabitants  should  be 
classified ;  and  also  for  taking  an  account  of  the  nam- 
ber  of  fire-arms,  the  quantity  of  powder,  &C.,  in  each 
town  and  place.-  In  answer  to  this  requisition,  the 
authorities  of  Warner  made  the  following  return  : 

Males  under  16  years  of  Age,  78 

Males  from  16  years  of  age  to  50  not  in  the  Army,  43 

All  males  above  50  years  of  age,  6 

Persons  gone  in  the  army,               '  6 

All  Females,  126 

Negroes  and  Slaves  for  Life,  1 


262 


Guns  in  town  fit  for  use,  21 
Guns  wanting  in  Town,  26 
Powder  in  Town,  none 
Warnor,  Sep.  ye  9th,  1775 

Then  the  above  named  Daniel  Annis  one  of  the  Selectmen  for 


THE  CENSUS.  217 

the  Town  of  Warner  after  being  Duly  cautioned  made  Solom  oath 
To  the  Truth  of  the  above  account 
Before  me  Daniel  Flanders 

Town  Clerk. 

The  reader  will  not  infer  from  the  above  that  War- 
ner once  had  a  slave :  she  had  not,  though  the  state, 
at  one  time,  had  more  than  six  hundred.  ^  Negroes 
and  Slaves  "  were  put  into  one  column.  When  Dan- 
iel Annis,  senior,  made  the  above  return  (but  omitted 
to  sign  it),  Warner  had  one  colored  man  (not  a 
slave).     His  name  was  Ichabod  Twilight 

From  our  neighboring  town  on  the  north  came  the 
following  report : 

The  exact  account  of  the  number  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Peixyes 
Town    ' 

Males  under  16  years  of  Age  39 

from  16  years  of  Age  To  50  years  of  age  22 

from  Fifty  years  of  age  and  upwards  5 

gon  in  the  army  4 

Females — ^two  without  any  age  2 

Females  58 

Negroes  and  Slaves  for  life  0 


130 


Gxms  fit  for  use,  12 

Guns  wanting  for  Town,  17 

Powder  for  Town,  none 

Benj.  Wodley 

Warner,  Sept.  ye  9th  1775  then  the  above  named  Benjamin 
Wodley  aceseser  for  Perryes  Town  Personally  appeared  and  after 
Being  Duely  Cautioned  made  Solom  oath  To  the  Truth  of  the 
above  account  Before  me 

Daniel  Flanders  Town  ClerL 


218  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

This  Benjamin  Wodley  was  the  father  of  the  late 
Judge  Wadleigh,  of  Sutton.  He  lived  on  the  fiirm 
that  Judge  Wadleigh  occupied  afler  him  through  life. 
Among  his  grand-children  are  Erastus  and  Gilbert 
Wadleigh. 

SAGE  TEA. 

In  the  Bill  of  Indictment  which  Jefferson  drew 
with  so  strong  a  hand  against  the  Crown  of  England, 
is  the  following  article:  "^For  imposing  Taxes  on  us  wiihr 
out  our  consenV*  But  this  hardly  expresses  the  popu- 
lar feeling  of  that  time.  The  people  of  the  colonies 
did  not  object  to  taxation ;  they  were  ready  for  that. 
It  was^  taxation  without  representation''  that  inflamed 
their  passions,  and  representation  was  sternly  denied 
them. 

The  ships  of  the  East  India  Company,  laden  with 
tea,  were  arriving  in  the  American  ports.  If  the  tea 
was  landed,  the  duties  must  be  paid.  As  early  as 
December,  1774,  three  of  these  ships,  which  had  been 
sent  to  Boston  by  this  company,  were  boarded  by  a 
party  of  armed  men  disguised  as  Indians,  and  their 
cargoes  were  thrown  into  the  dock. 

"  Afl  the  Mohawks  kinder  thought, 
The  Yankees  had  n't  ought 
To  drink  that  are  teaJ' 

It  was  the  exorbitant  tax  which  the  British  govern- 
ment imposed  upon  this  luxury  that  so  enraged  the 
colonists.  When  the  report  of  this  transaction  reached 


THE  CRISIS.  219 

the  infant  settlement  of  Warner,  one  resigned  old 
lady  said, — ^  Well,  for  my  part,  I  've  never  ^een  no 
China  tea  yet,  and  I'm  sure  sage  is  good  enough 
for  me !" 

THE  CRISIS  AT  HAND. 

This  is  not  the  history  of  the  country,  nor  even  of 
the  state.  It  will  not  therefore  be  proper  to  set  forth, 
to  much  extent  here,  matters  of  a  general  character. 
The  causes  of  discontent  in  the  colonies,  the  acts 
of  the  British  government  which  hastened  forward 
American  independence,  the  measures  adopted  by  the 
delegates  from  the  several  colonies  in  Congress  assem- 
bled,— these  are  subjects  that  do  not  legitimately  be- 
long to  a  local  history  like  this.  Nor  is  this  the  appro- 
priate place  to  speak  in  detail  of  the  battles  of  the  Rev- 
olution, of  the  strength  of  the  armies,  of  the  gallantry 
of  commanders,  or  of  the  endurance  of  men.  These 
things  can  only  be  mentioned  incidentally  here.  It 
is  the  purpose  of  the  author  to  make  a  just  record  of 
whatever  the  people  of  Warner  have  done;  and  in 
order  that  such  record  may  be  made  intelligible,  brief 
allusions  to  general  history  become  necessary. 

As  the  year  1775  is  ushered  in,  it  becomes  evident 
that  a  rupture  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother 
country  is  at  hand.  On  the  19th  day  of  April,  the 
skirmish  at  Lexington  ^.pd  the  fight  at  Concord  take 
place.    The   car  of  the  Revolution  is   rumbling  on. 

ft 

The  provincial  governor  of  Kew  Hampshire,  John 
15 


•v 


220  HI8T0BT  OF  WARXEB. 

Wentworth,  labors  zealously  in  his  sphere  to  prevent 
the  threatened  rupture ;  but  the  spell  of  royal  influ- 
ence is  broken.  In  an  earnest  message  to  the  council 
and  assembly  of  New  Hampshire,  May  5, 1775,  Gov. 
Wentworth  says, — 

''  We  cannot  but  view  with  inexpressible  concern  the  alarming 
Pitch  to  which  the  unfortunate  Dispute  between  Great  Britain 
and  her  Colonies  is  daily  advancing.  Connected  as  we  are  with 
our  Parent  State  by  the  Strongest  Ties  of  Kindred,  Beligion, 
Duty  and  Interest,  it  is  highly  incumbent  upon  us,  in  this  Time 
of  Greneral  Disquietude  to  manifest  our  Loyalty  and  attachment 
to  che  best  of  Sovereigns,  and  our  firm  and  unshaken  Regard  for 
the  British  Empire.*' 

But  Gov.  Wentworth  entirely  mistook  the  spirit  of 
the  times,  and  his  fight  was  simply  a  fight  against 
destivy.    Separation  was  inevitable. 

CONVENTION  OF  THE   PEOPLE. 

The  assembly  desired  a  short  recess,  that  the  mem- 
bers might  consult  with  their  constituents,  and  the 
governor  adjourned  them  to  the  12th  of  June.  Be- 
fore that  day  a  convention  of  the  people  had  been 
called,  and  was  in  session  at  Exeter.  (Reference  has 
already  been  made  to  this  convention.)  The  dele- 
gates had  come  freshly  from  their  constituents,  and 
the  voice  of  the  convention  was  regarded  as  the  voice 
of  the  people. 

The  assembly  met  at  Portsmouth,  pursuant  to  ad- 
journment, on  the  12th  of  June.  The  governor  made 
a  renewed  effort  for  conciliation,  but  it  was  entirely 


PROCLAMATION.  221 

unavailing.  Some  of  his  opponents  were  rash,  and 
some  of  his  adherents  were  very  imprudent.  A  bit- 
ter feeling  grew  up.  Violence  was  threatened.  The 
governor  retired  to  Fort  William  and  Mary,  and  his 
house  was  pillaged.  .  He  afterwards  went  on  board 
the  Scarborough,  and  sailed  for  Boston,  having  ad- 
journed  the  assembly  to  the  28th  of  September ; — ^but 
it  met  no  more.  In  September,  he  issued  from  the 
Isles  of  Shoals  the  following 

PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas  the  General  Aflsembly  is  now  under  adjonrnment  to 
Thursday  the  28th  Instant,  and  it  appearing  to  me  no  way  con- 
ducive  to  His  Majesty's  service  or  the  welfare  of  the  Province, 
that  the  Assembly  should  meet  on  that  day,  but  that  it  is  expe- 
dient to  prorogue  them  to  a  farther  time,  I  have  therefore  thought 
fit  to  issue  this  Proclamation,  proroguing  the  meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  to  be  held  at  Portsmouth  on  the  28th  of  Septem- 
ber, instant,  to  the  24th  of  April  next,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  fore- 
noon ;  and  the  General  Assembly  is  hereby  prorogued  accordingly 
to  that  time,  then  to  meet  at  the  Court  House  in  Portsmouth 
aforesaid. 

And  hereof  all  persons  concerned  are  to  take  notice  and  Gh>y-. 
em  themselves  accordingly. 

Given  at  Gosport,  the  21st  day  of  September,  in  the  fifteenth 
year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord,  Greorge  the  Third,  &c.y 
and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Christ,  1775. 

J'  Wentworth. 

By  His  Excellency's  Command, 
Theodore  Atkinson,  Sec'y. 

This  was  the  closing  act  of  Gov.  TTentworth's  ad- 
ministration. It  was  the  last  receding  step  of  royalty. 
Henceforward  the  people   bear  rule,  and  the  chief 


222  HI8T0RT  OP  WABHEB. 

magistrate  of  the  state,  instead  of  coming  with  a  com- 
mission from  king  or  potentate,  comes  armed  with  the 
credentials  of  the  popular  will. 

Gov.  Wentworth  was  born  in  Portsmouth  in  1736. 
He  was  a  son  of  Mark  Hunking,  and  a  nephew  of  Gov. 
Benning  Wentworth.     He  graduated  at  Harvard ;  en* 
gaged  in  mercantile  business,  with  his  father,  in  Ports- 
mouth ;  visited   England   in  1760,  and  became   ac- 
quainted with  the  king  and  others  in  authority.     He 
was  appointed  governor  of  the  province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire on  the  resignation  of  his  uncle  in  1766.  He  was 
very  popular  in  this  office  for  some  years.  He  cleared 
and  cultivated  a  fine  farm  on  Smith's  pond,  in  Wolfe- 
borough,  to  encourage  the  settlement  of  that  region ; 
obtained   a  charter  for  Dartmouth   college  ;•  made 
grants  of  land,  built  bridges,  cut  roads,  and  fostered 
every  enterprise  for  the  benefit  of  the  province.     But 
the  Revolution  could  not  be  stayed,  and  he  gave  way 
to  it  without  dishonor. 

Though  Gov.  Wentworth  never  set  foot  on  New 
Hampshire  soil  after  issuing  his  proclamation  from 
the  Shoals,  he  continued  in  the  country  two  years 
after  hostilities  commenced,  expecting  the  subjugation 
of  the  colonies.  He  wrote  to  friends  from  Nantasket 
road,  in  March,  1776.  He  wrote  from  Halifax  in 
.  April,  76 ;  from  Long  Island,  November,  76 ;  fix>m 
New  York,  January,  77 ;  and  again,  in  June  of  the 
same  year. 


\ 


SIR  JOHN  WENTWORTH.  228 

He  sailed  for  England  in  February,  1778,  and  made 
his  home  in  London.  After  peace  was  declared,  he 
removed  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  the  office  of  "  Survej^or  of  the  King's  Woods,'*  to 
which  he  had  long  before  been  appointed.  In  1792 
he  was  appointed  lieut  governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  aad 
in  1795  was  created  a  baronet  Sir  John  Wentworth 
continued  in  office  till  1808,  when  he  retired  with  an 
annual  pension  of  £500.  He  died  at  Halifax,  April  8, 
1820,  aged  83. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THB  EXETER  CONVENTION — NOT  A  COLONY,  BUT  A  STATE — FIRST 
REPRESENTATIVE — TOWN   AND  CLASS  RECORDS. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  IHG. 

lyaac  Chase,  moderator. 
Daniel  Flanders,  town-clerk. 
Joseph  Sawyer,       ) 
Daniel  Flanders,       >  Selectmen. 
Parmenas  Watson, ) 

'<  Voted  at  said  meeting  that  a  man  should  work  out  their  high* 
way  Rate  at  2  shilling  lawful  money  a  Day. 

"  Voted  to  hire  no  school  for  said  year. 

^Also  voted  not  to  move  the  meeting  house,  nor  Build  a 
Bridge  over  the  River  against  Where  said  meeting  house  now 
stands." 

THE  EXETER  CONVENTION. 

The  reader  is  invited  to  turn  back  to  the  Exeter 
convention.  The  royal  government  and  authority 
having  disappeared  from  New  Hampshire,  the  people 
proceeded  to  perfect,  as  far  as  possible,  their  pro- 
visional government.  The  convention,  which  had  as- 
sembled at  Exeter  in  May,  was  elected  but  for  six 
months.  Previous  to  its  dissolution  in  November,  pro- 
visions were  made,  in  accordance  with  the  recommend- 
ation of  the  congress  of  the  colonies  at  Philadelphia, 


THE  EXETER  CONVENTION.  225 

for  calling  a  new  convention.  Copies  of  these  pro- 
nsions  were  sent  out  to  the  several  towns,  and  then 
the  convention  was  dissolved. 

Many  of  the  small  towns  and  places  in  the  colony 
felt  unable  to  send  delegates  (the  towns  being  obliged 
to  pay  such  delegates  for  attendance).  This  call  for 
delegates  came  to  Warner.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
town  were  notified  to  meet  the  4th  day  of  December, 
1775,  "to  choose  a  delegate  to  a  Convention  to*  be 
held  at  Exeter,  for  the  formation  of  a  Constitution  or 
form  of  government  for  the  colony." 

Under  this  call  a  meeting  was  held,  but  no  delegate 
was  chosen.     The  record  says, — 

"  The  Inhabitants  of  Warner  met  at  their  Meeting  Honse,  in. 
order  to  choose  a  man  to  Represent  the  town  in  Congress  in  Exe> 
ter  passed  a  vote  in  the  negative  not  to  send  any." 

A  convention,  however,  was  chosen,  consisting  of 
seventy-six  members.  It  assembled  at  Exeter,  Dec- 
21,  1775.  Matthew  Thornton  was  made  president  of 
said  convention.  He  was  a  physician,  and  his  resi- 
dence  was  at  Londonderry.  He  was  one  of  the  three 
New  Hampshire  men  who  subsequently  became  sign- 
ers of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  There  were 
many  able  men  besides  Thornton  in  that  body.  It 
continued  a  convention  or  congress  till  January  5, 
1776  (sixteen  days),  and  then,  by  leave  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  resolved  itself  into  a  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, or  Assembly,  for  the  colony  of  New  Hamp- 


226  HISTOBT  OF  WABNER. 

[«1 


shire.    It  drew  up  a  temporary  form  of  governments^ 
adopted  a  constitution,  appointed  committees  of 
ty,  and  exercised  nil  the  functions  of  a  government  of% 
a  free  people.    This  constitution  provided  for  annual 
elections,  and   coordinate   branches   of  government, 
each  having  a  negative  upon  the  other.    The  council    ^^ 
was  to  consist  of  twelve  members,  any  seven  of  whom 
were  to  be  a  quorum.    The  members  of  this  branch 
were  to  elect  their  presiding  officer,  as  the  members 
of  the  house  were  to  elect  theirs.    But  this  system 
had  a  material  defect    It  provided  for  no  executive. 
The  two  houses  assumed  the  executive  duty  during 
the  session ;  and  they  appointed  a  committee  of  safety, 
to  sit  in  the  recess. 

NOT  A  COLONY,  BUT  A  STATE. 

This  congress  or  convention  of  delegates  from  the 
people,  having  held  several  sessions  at  Exeter,  having 
assumed  the  name  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
adopted  a  constitution,  and  chosen  twelve  persons  to 
constitute  a  distinct  and  coordinate  branch  of  the 
legislature  by  the  name  of  the  Council,  took  up  the 
subject  of  the 

DECLARATION. 

on  the  10th  day  of  September,  1776.     The   record 
says, — 

The  Declaration  of  the  Representatives  of  the  United  States 
of  America  in  Congress  Assembled,  July  4,  1776,  for  Indepen- 
dency Being  read  and  Published  in  this  House — 


HRST  REPRESENTATIVE.  227 

Toted  and  Resolved,  That  this  Colony  Assume  and  take  upon 
themselves  the  Name  and  Style  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  that  all  Commissions,  writs,  Processes,  and  all  Law  Proceed- 
ings which  heretofore  were  mude  and  issued  in  the  Name  and 
Style  of  the  Colony  of  New  Hampshire,  shall  henceforth  be  made 
and  issued  in  the  Name  and  Style  of  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  not  otherwise. 

Sent  up  by  Samuel  Dudley  Esq. 

Concurred. 

FIRST  REPRESENTATIVE. 

On  the  18th  day  of  September,  1776,  this  body, 
now  the  legislature  of  the  state,  took  steps  for  a  new 
election,  the  first  under  the  state  government,  and  the 
first  after  the  people,  through  their  representatives  at 
Philadelphia,  had  declared  their  independence  of  the 
Crown.  The  legislature  instructed  the  secretary  to 
issue  precepts  to  the  several  towns  of  the  state  for 
the  choice  of  representatives,  and  prescribed  their 
form.  In  the  month  of  October  the  precepts  were 
issued.  Warner  received  hers,  which  was  in  the 
words  following : 

State  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  Government  and  People  of  said  State 

To  the  Selectmen  of  Warner  in  said  State 

Greeting : 
You  are  hereby  required  to  Notify  the  Legal  Inhabitants  pay- 
ing taxes  in  the  town  of  Warner,  giving  them  fifteen  days  notice, 
to  meet  in  some  convenient  place,  in  your  town,  to  elect  one  per> 
son,  (having  a  real  Estate  of  the  value  of  Two  hundred  pounda 
Lawful  money  in  this  State,)  to  Represent  them  in  the  Assembly 
to  be  held  at  Exeter  on  the  third  Wednesday  in  December,  and 
to  Empower  such  representative  for  the  term  of  one  year  from 


228  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

their  first  meeting,  to  transact  such  Business  and  pursue  such 
measures  as  they  may  Judge  necessary  for  the  public  good*  And 
the  person  who  shall  be  elected,  you  are  to  Notify,  that  he  attend 
at  time  and  place  above  mentioned.  And  at  said  meeting  Erery 
Voter  as  aforesaid,  on  one  paper  is  to  bring  in  Votes  for  two 
Persons,  being  reputable  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  within 
your  County,  having  a  Eeal  Estate  of  Two  hundred  Pounds,  to 

serve  as  members  of  the  Council  for  the  year  ensuing. 

By  order  of  the  Council  and  Assembly. 

The  town  acted  promptly,  and  its  record  here  fol- 
lows: 

By  order  from  the  Council  and  assembly  of  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  to  us  we  Do  hereby  Notify  and  Warn  all  the  free* 
holders  and  Inhabitants  of  this  town  of  Warner  that  they  assem* 
Me  themselves  and  meet  together  at  the  meeting  house  in  said 
Warner  on  Tuesday  ye  Nineteenth  Day  of  November  next  at  one 
of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  To  Proceed  as  followeth,  Via 
lly  to  chuse  a  moderator  to  govern  said  meeting — 
2d  to  chuse  one  man  as  Representative  for  one  year  from  the 

third  Wednesday  in  December  next — 
3d  to  chuse  two  men  within  this  County  to  Sett  as  members  of 
the  Council  for  the  aforesaid  Term  and  to  act  on  any  other 
Business  that  may  be  thought  Proper. 

Dated  Warner  October  ye  29th  day,  1776. 

Joseph  Sawyer         \ 

Daniel  Flanders        >  Selectmen. 

Parmenas  Watson    * 

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  Duubarton  for  members  of  the  Council. 


FIRST  REPRESKNTAHTE.  229 

There  were  seven  sessions  of  the  legislature  this 
year  for  Mr.  Davis  to  attend, — six  at  Exeter  and  one  at 
Portsmouth. 

Although  \yarner  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,  Avas  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,  Avas  president  of  the  council    It 


280  HISTORY  OF  WARXEB. 

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  Hojt,  >  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  yeafs. 
A  recital  of  the  other  business  Avhich  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 


TOW^*  AKD  CLASS  BECORDS.  281 

^een  classed  as  a  representative  district,  and  having 
T>een  previously  warned,  met  at  the  house  of  Daniel 
Flood  (on  iDenney'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. 

Parinenas  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. 


232  BISTORT  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  meetinj]^  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 
Bepresentative  for  the  abore  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 


TOWN   AND   CLASS  RECORDS.  238 

another  representative  was  chosen,  December,  1778. 
The  records  show  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  classed 
towns  met  at  the  inn  of  Jacob  Hoy t,  in  Warner,  Dec. 
7, 1778,  and  after  choosing  Daniel  Flood  moderator, — 

"  Voted  that  Thomas  Eowell  should  be  Bepresentative  for  the 
abore-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-derk. 
David  Bagley,  \ 
William  Ring,   v  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 


•  • 


284  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

« 

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.  -Pve  been  in  Warner,  and 
its  a  God-forsaken  spot!"  Chase  yelled  out,  "/^^  a 
Her 


TOWN  AND  CLASS  BECORDS.  235 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1780. 

Tappan  Evans,  moderator. 
Daniel  Flanders,  town-clerk. 
Parmeuas  Watson,  \ 
Thomas  Eowell,      \  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  Bepie- 
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  Amesburj'.  He  came  to 
Warner  about  the  year  1775,  and  settled  on  Pumpkin 
hill,  whei'e  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 


286  HISTOBY  OF  WABNEB. 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1781. 

Nehemifth  Heath,  moderator. 
Dayid  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
William  Ring,        \ 
Francis  Davis,       %  Selectmen. 
Bichard  Bartlett,  ) 

Dea.  Nehemiah  Heath  was  from  Hampstead.  He 
settled  in  Warner,  on  the  main  road,  at  the  place 
where  John  Tewkesbury  now  lives.  Hb  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. 


OHAPTEE   XVIIl. 

OONSTTTUTIONAL   CONVENTIONS — ^TOWN    AND    CLASS    RECORDS — 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  STATE — ^LOCATION  OF  MEEnNG-HOUSB* 

Uf  T  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of 
tAAt  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  Pls£n  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  coimtry  was  then  engaged.  This 
is  believed  to  be  the  first  constitution  adopted  by  any 
of  the  colonies. 


288  HI8T0BT  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  rejiscted. 
(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 
Grovernor  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  fifly  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. 


/ 


CONSTITDTIONAL  COXVEXTIOXS.  239 

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  TVamer  held  a  meeting  at 
the  house  of  Jacob  Hoyt  in  said  town,  January  16,  1782,  to 
exemen  and  perruse  the  Kew  Constitution  or  Plan  of  Government 
at  which  meeting  Capt.  Francis  Davis  was  moderator  voted  that 
the  meeting  Be  a  jomed  too  Monday  ye  2l8t  Day  of  this  instant 


240  HI8I0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

January  at  12  o'clock,  on  the  Day  two  persons  at  said  meeting 
accepted  of  the  new  Constitution  or  Plan  of  goyemment  in  full 
as  it  now  stands,  3  persons  at  said  meeting  Rejected  the  aboFe 
plan  in  full. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1782. 

Tappan  Evans,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
Ahner  Watkins,   \ 
Philip  Flanders,  \  Selectmen. 
Thomas  Annis,     ) 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  the  Selectmen  should  senre  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  llth^  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  Got- 
emment  and  make  theire  Eeport  at  the  a  Jornment  of  this  meet- 
ing. 

Voted  that  Esqr.  Sawyer,  Capt.  Davis,  Capt  Flood,  Daniel 
Morrill  and  Tappan  Evans  sliould  be  the  above  Committee. 

Voted  at  said  meeting  that  those  persons  that  Call  themselves 
Baptis  in  this  town  sliould  Be  Ratc«l  theire  proportion  to  ^Ir. 
Kelley's  sallery  Bate  this  present  year. 


TOWN  AND  CLASS  BECOBDS.  241 

It  is  evident  from  the  foregoing  that  certain  of  the 
^^itizens  of  Warner  had  ah'eady  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 
j)re8ent  year  to  Be  Reducted  out  of  the  obligation  he  has  against 
tJie  town  that  was  given  to  his  sons  for  Ingaging  in  the  Conti- 
iiental  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  Keceive  the  new  plan  of  Government  as  it  now 
stands. 

Voted  to  Keceive  the  plan  with  some  amendment  and  the  meet- 
ing was  Eee  a  Jomed  to  the  20th  Day  instant  at  the  meeting 
house. 

Att  the  Eee  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  pomsing 
the  new  plan  of  Government  and  to  make  objection  against  any 
part  of  said  plan  in  writing. 

Voted  that  Wm.  King,  Nehemiah  heath  and  paul  thomdick  be 
the  men ;  also  voted  Nathaniel  Bean  should  Jine  the  above  com- 
mittee. 

Voted  that  David  Bagley  should  provid  a  book  too  Beoord 
Beaths  of  children. 

att  the  a  Jornment  of  the  meeting  from  the  20  Day  of  Decern- 
*  ber  too  the  26  Day  Instant  1782,  Nomber  of  voters  present  82 — 
one  voted  to  Eecive  the  plan  of  Government  in  full  as  it  now 
stands,  31  against  it  as  it  now  stands — Nineteen  Becived  the  ob- 
jections which  the  Committee  Drafted  against  the  plan  of  Crov- 
emment — 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 


242  HI8I0RT  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. 
Parmeuas  Watson,  \ 
David  Bagley,         \  Selectmen. 
Tappan  Evans,        ) 

-  Att  the  a  Jomment  of  the  annual  meeting  from  the  4th  day  of 
March,  1783,  to  ye  ISth  Day  of  tliis  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 
sate  or  Cary  it  on  that  is  Commenced  against  the  town  hy  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  Curriers. 


TOWN   AND  CLASS  IIECORDS.  248 

Who  this  Benjamin  Currier  was  the  writer  knows 
iiot  The  place  referred  to  was  the  "  Ensign  Joseph 
Currier  place."  This  was  the  second  bridjj;e  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  Jomment  of  the  meeting  voted  Not  to  pertition  for 
an  amendment  of  our  Incorporation. 


244  mBTOBT  OF  WABKEB. 


ANNUAL  MEEnXG,  MARCH,  ITSI. 

Tappan  EvanB,  moderator. 
David  Bagleji  town-clerk. 
David  Bagley,    *  \ 
Bichaid  Straw,    \  Selectmen. 
Zebnion  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  tavemer/' 
and  a  good  farmer.  His  sons  were  Richard,  Jonathan, 
and  James.  He  died  in  1840,  aged  85,  and  was 
buried  at  the  Parade. 

At  tbe  same  meeting  voted  not  to  Kepaire  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  cliuse  a  Committee  to  Consist  of  five  men  to  Settle 
with  the  Baptis  for  the  settlement  and  sallery  Bate  for  the  year 
1782. 

Voted  that  the  meeting  Should  be  a  Jomd  too  the  9th  Day 
of  this  instant  month. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting, — 

Voted  to  Give  in  the  Sallery  Kate  for  the  year  1782  too  all 
those  persons  that  Breaiglit  theire  sertificats  too  sertify  that 
theay  had  Joined  the  Bnptis  Society. 

Voted  to  pert  ion  to  tlie  General  Court  for  a  new  Incorpora- 
tion of  our  town  according  to  McXeals  Boundree. 


PRESIDENT  OF  THE  STATE.  245 

At  a  second  adjournment  of  this  meeting,  which 
took  place  the  30th  of  March, — 

Voted  too  Eeconsider  the  vote  x>Ast  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  Bepresentatiye  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 


246  HmOBT  OF  WARNBB. 

to  be  elected  by  tbe  people.  These  two  branches  or 
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  ExceUeficy. 

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  t^t  that  time  must  have  been  600,  and  the 
number  of  legal  voters  about  120. 

Capt  Francis  Davis  was  chosen  to  oflBce  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 
nbi  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 


SECOND  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  STATE.  247 

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  Bamed  lowell  of 
almsburj. 

Voted  that  tappan  Evans  should  be  a  Defendant  against  the  ' 
aboTe  action  and  is  Impowered  to  Carry  on  the  case. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MAKCH,  1786. 

Isaac  Chase,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
Isaac  Chase,  ^ 

Nehemiah  Heath,   \  Selectmen. 
Paul  Thomdike,     j 

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 
Sats  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 


248  BISTORT  OF  WABNE31. 

president  of  the  state,  John  Langdm  received  24  votes. 
No  other  candidate  was  voted  for. 

Warner,  Sutton,  and  Fishersfield,  in  1785,  elected 
Matthew  Harvey,  of  Sutton,  representative.  Mr.  Har- 
vey went  from  Deerfield,  and  settled  on  the  large 
farm  at  North  Sutton  which  Jonathan  Harvey  came 
into  possession  of^  and  occupied  through  life.  The 
sons  of  Matthew  Harvey  were  Jonathan,  who  served 
in  congress,  Matthew,  who  served  in  congress  and 
who  was  governor  in  1830,  John,  Philip,  and  perhaps 
others. 

Mr.  Harvey,  during  his  year,  served  at  three  ses- 
sions of  the  legislature, — two  at  Portsmouth  and  one 
at  Concord. 

At  a  meeting  held  October  11,  1785, — 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  should  settle  with  ^Ir.  Tappan  Evans 
on  account  of  his  Carrying  on  the  law  sute  Commenced  against 
the  town  b}*  Bamet  LowelL 

Voted  to  Sell  the  howling  of  the  Rev.  ^Mr.  Kellej's  Sellaiy 
wood  for  the  current  year  to  the  loest  Bider. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1786. 

Isaac  Chase,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
David  Bagley,     \ 
Richard  Straw,    >  Selectmen. 
Zebulon  MorriU, ) 

Voted  that  Thomas  Annis  Constable  Should  not  Collect  the 
minister  tax  he  has  a  Gainst  those  people  that  have  Brought 
theire  sertiilcates  to  sartify  thcay  Iiave  Joined  the  Baptis  Society 
and  also  those  people  Called  Sheaker. 


SECOND  PRESIDENT  OP  THE  STATE.  249 

There  were  people  in  town  at  this  time  professing 
to  be  Shakers,  a  denomination  which  was  introduced 
into  this  country  in  1774.  One  or  two  of  the  follow- 
ers of  this  sect  in  Warner  (and  perhaps  there  were 
no  others  in  town)  lived  on  the  Tory  Hill  road.  One 
of  the  leading  principles  of  this  religious  denomination 
is  opposition  to  war. 

An  adjourned  meeting  was  held  March  28^  1786^ 
and  of  this  meeting  the  record  says, — 

Whereas  Isaac  Chase,  Moderator  of  the  above  meeting  Besinecl 
his  seat,  Voted  to  Chuse  another  man  as  a  moderator  in  his  sted. 

Voted  that  Joseph  Sawyer  should  be  moderator  of  this  meeting. 

Voted  to  Rais  18  pounds  for  Schooling  for  the  Current  year. 

Voted  that  the  Sellect  men  Should  Divid  the  School  money 
into  Districts. 

Volt  for  President, 

John  Sullivan,  None.  • 

John  Langdon,  29 

Sullivan  is  here  -placed  firsts  because  he  was  elected, 
though  Warner  did  not  give  him  a  single  vote.  This 
rule,  of  placing  the  successful  candidate  at  the  head, 
will  be  adhered  to  throughout  this  volume. 

Voted  the  Select  men  with  a  sever  Should  preamble  the  County 
Boad  and  make  such  alterations  and  exchanges  as  theay  shall 
Judge  Best. 

Warner,  Sutton,  and  Fishersfield  elected  Zephaniah 
Clark,  of  Fishersfield,  for  representative,  in  the  year 

•       

1786.  He  attended  three  sessions  during  the  year^— 
one  at  Concord,  one  at  Exeter,  and  one  at  Portsmouth. 
Total  number  of  days^  76. 


250  mBTOBT  OF  WABKEB. 

Mr.  Clark  kept  a  hotel,  and  carried  on  a  large  farm 
at  what  is  known  as  the  Chandler  place,  in  Newbury. 
It  is  the  place  which  our  townsman,  Jonathan  H. 
Maxon,  recently  owned  and  occupied. 

At  a  meeting  legally  called,  and  held  at  the  meet- 
ing-house. Sept  29,  1786,  James  Flanders  acting  as 
moderator, — 

Voted  to  Bild  a  Bridge  over  the  Biver  on  the  County  Boad 
Where  the  old  Bridge  now  is  or  as  near  that  place  aa  may  be 
Thought  Proper. 

Voted  not  to  Bild  a  Meeting  House. 

Voted  to  Reconsider  the  vote  past  not  to  Bild  a  meeting  house. 

Voted  too  Bild  a  meeting  house. 

Voted  the  meeting  shoald  Be  a  Jomed  to  the  19th  day  of  Oct 
next. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting, — 

Voted  not  to  raise  money  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  river. 

James  Flanders,  whose  name  appears  above,  was 
from  Hawke,  N.  H.  (Danville).  He  settled  on  Burnt 
Hill,  between  the  Clough  and  Bartlett  places,  but  no 
house  now  occupies  the  site  of  his  buildings.  It  ap- 
pears, by  public  documents  now  in  existence,  that  he 
was  both  ^^  farmer  and  cordwainer."  He  had  a  small, 
productive  farm,  which  occupied  his  time  in  summer, 
and  he  made  and  mended  shoes  in  winter.  He  was 
much  in  public  life :  was  in  the  state  senate  nine  or 
ten  years,  and  in  the  house  as  many.  While  his  edu- 
cation was  scant,  his  judgment  was  sound,  and  for 
many  years  he  was  a  leading  man  in  the  councils  of 


TOWN  AND  CLASS  BECOBDS.  251 

the  state.  He  was  a  ready  and  effective  speaker,  and 
his  influence  in  the  halls  of  legislation  was  large.  His 
sons  were  Calvin,  Abner,  Ezra,  Philip,  and  Timothy. 
Walter  P.  Flanders,  of  Milwaukee ;  William  W.,  of 
Wilmot;  the  present  Philip,  of  Warner;  Isaac  C. 
Flanders,  who  lived  many  years  in  Manchester,  but 
who  has  returned  to  Warner, — and  many  othei^s,  are 
his  grandsons. 

AXXUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1787. 

Daniel  Flood,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
James  Flanders,        \ 
Benjamin   Sargent,  V  Selectmen. 
Chellis  Foote,  ) 

Far  JPresident. 

John  Sullivan,  None. 

John  Langdon,  94 

Benjamin  Sargent  was  from  Amesbury.  He  settled 
on  Tory  hill,  where  a  son  of  Abner  Sargent  now  re- 
sides. His  sons  were  Humphrey,  Simeon,  Asa,  Isaac, 
Moses,  and  Benjamin.  The  latter  occupied  the  old 
homestead  through  his  life. 

Chellis  Foote  was  also  from  Amesbury,  and  his 
home  in  Warner  was  at  the  Chellis  F.  Kimball  place. 
He  was  the  father  of  Kimball's  wife. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Warner,  Sutton, 
and  Fishersfield,  held  at  the  meeting-house  in  War- 
ner, March  26,  1787,  Capt  Daniel  Flood  acting  as 

moderator,  James  Flanders  was  chosen  representative. 
17 


252  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

LOCATION  OF  THE  MEETING-HOUSE. 

At  a  meeting  held  August  30, 1787^ — 

Voted  to  chase  a  Committee  of  three  men  out  of  three  Indifer- 
ent  Towns  to  appoint  a  place  where  to  Set  a  meeting  hoose  in 
this  town. 

Chose  CoL  Joshua  Bayley,  of  Hopkinton;  Lieut. 
Phineas  Bean,  of  Salisbury ;  and  Lieut  Moses  Connor^ 
of  Henniker,  for  said  committee. 

Voted  to  Set  the  meeting  house  when  Bilt  at  the  place  where 
the  Committee  shall  appoint 

The  old  sixty-dollar  church  at  the  Parade,  which 
answered  very  well  for  1770,  was  considered  hardly 
good  enough  for  1787.  Besides,  there  was  a  growing 
uneasiness  in  regard  to  its  location. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


THE  FEDERAL  CONSTITUTION — HALF-SHIRE  TOWN — COURT  8  COM- 
MITTEB — COURT-HOUSE — A  PROTEST — ^TOWN  RECORDS — HOUSE 
UNDER  THE  LEDGE. 


a 


5^HE  *^ Articles  of  Confederation/*  which  served 
U  good  purpose  through  the  struggle  of  the  colo- 
nies for  independence,  were  not  sufficient  for  the 
country  when  the  storm  had  passed.  Soon  after  the 
close  of  the  Revolution,  the  necessity  of  **  a  more  per- 
fect union  "  began  to  be  made  apparent  The  proper 
steps  for  a  national  convention  having  been  taken  by 
the  congress,  delegates  from  all  the  states  except 
Rhode  Island  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787, 
to  consider  the  question  of  the  reorganization  of  the 
government  On  the  17th  day  of  the  September  fol- 
lowing, this  convention  of  delegates  agreed  upon  and 
reported  a  "  federal  constitution."  This  constitution 
was  soon  submitted  to  the  several  states,  to  be  by 
them  ratified  or  rejected.  It  was  to  go  into  efiect 
when  nine  of  the  thirteen  states  had,. by  their  conven- 
tions, approved  of  the  same. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  in  Warner  Jan.  24, 1788, 
Thomas  Annis  acting  as  moderator, — 

Voted  not  too  Except  of  the  new  Constitation. 


254  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

This  was  the  federal  constitution  framed  at  Phila- 
delphia,  and  the  voice  of  Warner  seems  to  have  been 
against  it.  The  above  vote  id  to  be  regarded  as  a 
vote  of  instructions  to  the  delegate  to  be  chosen  from 
Warner  to  sit  in  the  convention  which  was  to  act  on 
this  constitution. 

The  record  continues : 

Voted  to  chuse  a  man  to  Joine  a  Convention  at  Exeter  on  the 
2d  Wednesday  in  February  next  on  account  of  the  new  Constitu- 
tion. 

Voted  for  Nathaniel  Bean  Esq.  to  Joine  said  Convention. 

Voted  to  a  Jom  this  meeting  uutel  the  town  can  be  Sentered 
Belative  to  Setting  a  new  meeting  house. 

•  The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  the  7th  day  of 
February. 

The  New  Hampshire  convention,  called  to  consider 
the  federal  constitution,  was  held  at  Exeter  on  the 
2d  Wednesday  of  February,  1788.  It  excited  a  deep 
interest,  not  only  in  N'ew  Hampshire,  but  throughout 
the  country.  It  was  composed  of  an  able  body  of 
men.  Gen.  John  Sullivan  was  its  president,  and  Hon. 
John  Calfe  its  secretary.  Langdon,  Pickering,  Bart- 
lett,  John  T.  Oilman,  Joshua  Atherton,  Parker,  Bel- 
lows, West,  Livermore,  Badger,  and  other  leading 
spirits,  were  there.  The  debates  ran  high.  Sullivan, 
Langdon,  Pickering,  and  Livermore  were  the  princi- 
pal speakers  in  favor  of  ratification  ;  while  Atherton 
of  Amherst,  Parker  of  Jaflfrey,  and  others,  violently 
opposed  it    Among  the  things  objected  to  with  great 


THE  FEDERAL  CONSTITUTION.  255 

vehemence  in  the  constitution,  was  the  clause  per- 
mitting the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade  after  1808, 
and  prohibiting  any  material  action  on  the  subject 
before  that  time.  Mr.  Atherton  opposed  this  clause 
with  much  warmth.  "The  idea,"  he  says,  ^that 
strikes  those  who  oppose  this  clause,  so  disagreeably 
and  forcibly,  is,  that  if  we  ratify  the  constitution,  we 
become  eonsenters  to  and  partakers  in  the  sin  and 
guilt  of  this  abominable  traffic  in  slaves,  at  least  for  a 
certain  period,  without  any  positive  stipulation  that  it 
shall  even  then  be  brought  to  an  end." 

The  friends  of  the  constitution  did  not  dare  risk  a 
vote  on  the  question  of  ratification.  They  pleaded  for 
an  adjournment,  in  the  belief  that  further  discussion 
among  the  people  would  work  a  favorable  change  in 
public  opinion.    The   motion   to  adjourn  prevaQed. 

During  the  recess,  the  constitution  continued  to  be 
the  standing  topic  of  discussion  in  town  and  neigh- 
borhood meetings,  and  it  continually  increased  in 
strength.  Some  towns  which  had  instructed  their 
delegates  to  oppose  ratification,  *^  changed  drag-ropes,** 
and  instructed  them  to  favor  it 

Eight  states  had  already  given  their  assent  to  the 
constitution.  The  ni7ith  only  was  necessary  to  its 
ratification.  The  adjourned  meeting  of  the  conven- 
tion was  held  at  Conco/'d  in  June.  Amendments  were 
proposed  by  those  who  were  determined  to  defeat  the 
constitution,  but  they  were  voted  down.    Then  the 


256  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

opponents  in  their  turn  urged  an  adjournment,  but 
this  was  defeated.  The  majority  was  clearly  against 
them.  Finally,  on  the  fourth  day  of  the  session,  the 
momentous  question  was  taken.  While  the  secretary 
was  calling  the  roll  of  the  members,  a  death-like 
silence  prevailed.  When  he  had  finished.  Gen.  Sulli- 
van arose  and  announced, — 

Number  of  votes /br  ratification,  67 

Number  of  votes  against  ratification,  46 

^-ond  New  Hampshire  ratifies  the  constitution  of  the  United 
States. 

The  result  excited  throughout  the  country  a  thrill 
of  joy.  At  Portsmouth  the  event  was  celebrated  by 
a  grand  procession,  and  other  demonstrations  of  popu- 
lar gratification. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  in  accordance  with  the  instruc- 
tions which  his  constituents  had  given  him,  voted 
against  ratification. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  Feb.  7th, — 

Voted  not  to  Bild  a  meeting  house  on  the  plain  above  Joseph 
Currier's,  and  the  meeting  was  dismissed. 

The  Joseph  Currier  place  is  the  present  Richard  S. 
Foster  place,  and  "on  the  plain  above  Joseph  Cur- 
rier's" means  on  the  plain  to  the  eastward,  where  the 
meeting-house  was  finally  located. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1788. 

Joseph  Sawyer,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  to^vn-clerk. 
Benjamin  Sargent, ) 
Richard  Bartlett,     >  Selectmen. 
Parmenas  Watson, ) 


\ 


i 


^c^  .^^^^e^fe^ 


H^ii^rP*t'ri>di»gQ»..in*t*. 


HALF-SHinE  TOWN.  257 

For  Presidentf 

John  Langdon,  11 

Josiah  Bartlettj  54 

The  legal  voters  of  the  classed  towns, — Warner, 
Sutton,  and  Fishersfield, — met  at  the  meeting-house  in 
Warner,  March  27, 1788,  and  chose 

James  Flanders,  representative. 

HALF-SHIRE  TOWN. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  May  22, 1788,  Capt  Asa 
Pattee  was  chosen  to  serve  on  the  jury  at  Amherst 

Voted  to  have  a  half  shaire  town  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
County. 

Voted  not  to  Except  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  concerning 
the  place  Where  to  Set  the  meeting  house. 

Voted  not  to  Bild  a  Meeting  House  on  the  plain  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Kiver  against  tlie  new  Bridge. 

The  record  continues : 

It  was  put  to  vote  to  See  if  the  town  would  Bild  a  meeting 
house  where  the  old  one  now  Sets,  30  for  that  place  28  against  it. 
So  it  past  in  the  afarmetive. 

Motion  was  made  to  Set  a  meeting  house  in  the  Senter  of  the 
town  38  for  the  Senter  18  against  it,  so  it  past  in  the  negitiye. 

Voted  to  petition  the  General  Coart  for  a  Committee  to  ap- 
point a  place  Where  to  Set  a  meeting  house  in  this  town  and 
the  meeting  was  dismissed. 

Asa  Pattee.  The  name  of  Pattee  appears  in  the 
foregoing  records  of  the  meeting  of  May,  1788  The 
orthography  of  this  name  has  undergone  several 
changes.  Petty,  Pettee,  Patty,  and  Pattee,  all  come 
from  the  same  original  word. 


258  HISIOBT  OP  WARNER. 

Sir  William  Pattee  was  physician  to  Cromwell  and 
Eang  Charles  the  Second.  He  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Royal  Society,  and  was  knighted  in  1660. 
He  was  a  copious  writer  on  •political  economy,  and 
Macaulay  mentions  this  fact  in  his  History  of  Eng- 
land. 

Peter  Pattee,  a  son  of  Sir  William,  was  bom  in 
Lansdown,  England,  in  1648.  In  1669,  on  account  of 
certain  political  notions  which  he  entertained,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  take  a  hasty  departure  from  his 
country.  He  went  to  Virginia.  After  remaining 
there  a  few  years,  he  removed  to  Haverhill,  Mass.  In 
November,  1677,  he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
Crown.  He  married  at  Haverhill,  and  became  the 
father  of  a  large  family.  He  built  the  first  mill  and 
established  the  first  ferry  in  Haverhill,  and  the  ferry 
retains  his  name  to  this  day. 

Peter  Pattee  was  the  grandfather  of  Captain  Asa, 
who  is  mentioned  in  the  above  record,  who  was  bom 
at  Haverhill  in  1732,  and  who  came  to  Warner  about 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  captain 
in  the  old  French  and  Indian  war,  and  was  present  at 
the  taking  of  Quebec  in  1759.  On  coming  to  Warner 
he  located  where  the  village  now  is,  and  built  the  first 
frame  house  in  that  village,  viz.,  the  Dr.  Eaton  house. 
Here  he  kept  a  hotel  a  number  of  years.  He  was  the 
father  of  John  (who  was  the  father  of  Asa,  Jesse,  and 
Cyrus),  and  of  Daniel,  who  settled  in  Canaan,  and 


court's  committee.  259 

Ti'hose  descendants  are  prominent  people  in  Grafton 
county.  Mrs.  Daniel  Bean  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Currier 
were  his  daughters. 

Asa  Pattee,  whose  portrait  is  here  seen,  was  the  son 
of  John,  the  grandson  of  Captain  Asa,  and  the  gi*eat, 
great,  great  grandson  of  Sir  William.  He  was  bom 
at  Wanier,  Oct.  14,  1800,  and  was  educated  at  the 
district  school  on  Tory  Hill,  and  at  the  Ballard  school 
in  Hopkinton.  He  married,  in  1827,  Miss  Sally  Col- 
h}%  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Colby,  one  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary soldiers,  and  a  prominent  man  a  century  ago. 

Mr.  Pat  tee  was  a  practical  farmer  through  life,  hav- 
ing one  of  the  best  farms  in  town.  He  served  repeat- 
edly as  selectman,  and  also  as  representative.  He 
died  Jan.  9,  1874,  aged  74.  His  sons  were  Stephen 
C,  John  (deceased),  Dr.  Luther,  and  Dr.  Asa  P.  His 
daughters  were  Mrs.  Palmer  (deceased)  and  Mrs.  E 
C.  Cole. 

COURTS  COMMITTEE. 

State  of  New  Hampshire. 
In  the  House  of  Representatives,  June  17,  1788. 
Whereas  Benjamin  Sargent  and  Richard  Bartlett,  Selectmen 
of  the  town  of  Warner,  in  behalf  of  said  town  have  petitioned  the 
General  Court,  setting  forth  that,  whereas  the  said  town  hath,  for 
a  long  time,  greatly  suffered  for  want  of  a  larger  Meeting  House, 
and  are  so  unhappy  as  not  to  agree  upon  a  place  to  build  a  new 
one,  and  praying  said  Court  to  take  it  under  their  wise  considera- 
tion and  appoint  a  Committee  to  appoint  them  a  place  to  set  said 
meeting  house,  or  relieve  them  in  some  other  reasonable  way, 
therefore  Be  it  Resolved  that  Col.  Ebenezer  Webster,  Major  Rob- 
ert Wallace  and  Lt.  Joseph  Wadlej  be  a  Committee  to  fix  on  a 


260  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

spot  in  said  town  to  build  said  meeting  boose  on,  the  expense  of 
wbicb  Committee  to  be  defrayed  by  the  inhabitants  thereoi 

Thomas  Bartlett,  Speaker. 

John  Langdon,  President 

The  senate  concurred  with  the  house  in  the  fore- 
going action,  and  the  committee  went  upon  their  mis- 
sion. On  the  12th  of  September,  1788,  they  reported 
as  follows  : 

The  Committee  having  attended  to  the  business  referred  to, 
and  after  viewing  the  greater  part  of  the  town,  with  the  situation 
of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  agree  to  report,  as  their  opinion  that 
the  spot  of  ground  where  the  old  Meeting  House  now  stands  is 
the  most  suitable  place  to  set  the  new  meeting  house  on. 

Eb.  Webster,  ^ 
Warner  R.  Wallace,     >  Committee. 

Sept  12, 1788.  J.  Wadley,     j 

Here,  then,  was  a  victory  for  the  old  Parade, — but 
let  the  reader  pause,  and  see  what  becomes  of  this 
report 

NOT  PEACE,  BCT  A  SWORD. 

At  a  meeting  legally  called,  and  holden  Oct  30, 
1788,  to  take  this  report  into  consideration,  Joseph 
Sawyer  acting  as  moderator, — 

Voted  not  to  Bild  a  meeting  house  on  the  spot  of  Land  that 
was  a  Greead  upon  by  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Greneral 
Court 

So  the  tables  were  turned.  But  the  friends  of  the 
old  site  were  not  satisfied.  They  claimed  that  in  a 
full  meeting  they  would  have  a  majority,  and  they 
demanded  another  trial.  The  whole  town  was  aroused. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  261 

The  selectmen  called  the  legal  voters  together  again 
at  the  meeting-house,  Nov.  25, 1788.  After  choosing 
Tappan  Evans  moderator, — 

Voted,  at  said  meeting  to  Beconsider  that  vote  past  the  30th 
day  of  October,  which  was  not  to  Bild  a  meeting  house  on  tlie 
spot  of  Ground  agreed  upon  by  the  Committee  appointed  by  the 
Court 

Voted  at  said  meeting  not  to  Bild  a  meeting  house  on  the  spot 
of  ground  agreed  upon  by  the  same  Committee.  [Thus  the  old 
site  is  again  rejected.] 

Voted  not  to  appoint  any  place  or  places  to  Meet  att  for  publick 
worship  this  winter,  and  the  meeting  was  dissmissed. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1789. 

Tappan  Evans,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
Eichard  Bartlett,   \ 
Ei  chard  Straw,       >  Selectmen. 
Tappan  Evans,       ) 

TOWN  POUND. 

Voted  not  to  Bild  a  pound  the  current  year. 
Voted  to  Raise  30  pound  for  schooling  for  the  current  year,  to 
be  paid  in  produce  at  cash  price. 

The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  divide  the  town 
into  districts  for  the  accommodation  of  scholars. 

Voted  that  every  district  shall  have  the  liberty  to  provide  their 
own  school-masters.  pro\ided  theay  Do  it  in  a  proper  season  of  the 
year,  if  not  the  Selectmen  is  to  provide  a  master  for  thenu 

A  meeting  was  held  March  29, 1789,  to  vote  for 
president  of  the  state,  with  the  following  result : 

John  Sullivan,  None. 

Josiah  Bartlett,  £3 


262  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

-  Voted  not  to  chuse  a  Bepresentative  for  the  present  year* 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  April  25,  the  last 
vote  was  reconsidered,  and  James  Flanders  was  cho- 
sen representative. 

At  the  same  meeting,  voted  to  build  a  meeting- 
house between  Joseph  Currier's  and  Isaac  Chase's, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  Also,  chose  a  build- 
ing committee,  consisting  of  Joseph  Sawyer,  Tappan 
Evans,  Richard  Straw,  Jacob  Waldron,  Benjamin  Sar- 
gent, Reuben  Kimball,  and  William  Morrill. 

William  Morrill  was  from  Rye.  He  settled  in  the 
westerly  part  of  Warner,  between  the  Mink  Hills  and 
Bradford  pond.  After  his  day,  the  old  homestead  was 
occupied  many  years  by  Captain  Stephen  Hoyt 
Samuel,  Israel,  and  Francis  were  his  sons,  and  Mrs. 
Watson,  Mrs.  Cheney,  and  Mrs.  Hoyt,  his  daughters. 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

Voted  that  the  Committee  should  advertise  the  lower  pew- 
ground  in  the  meeting  house  above  voted  to  Be  Built  and  sell  the 
same  at  publick  vandue  in  behalf  of  the  town. 

COURT-HOUSE. 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

Voted  for  Doct.  Currier,  Esq.  Bean  and  Mr.  James  flanders  for 
Committee  to  Draw  subscription  papers  and  present  them  to  the 
Inhabitauce  too  see  how  much  theuy  will  sine  towards  Bilding  a 
Coart  house  in  this  town. 


COURT-HOUSE.  263 

Warner  was  now  making  some  effort  to  become 
the  half-shire  town  of  Hillsborough  county,  but  Hop- 
kinton  had  more  money  and  a  much  larger  popula- 
tion than  Warner  at  that  time,  and  the  courts  went 
there. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  at  the  meeting- 
house, April  30,  the  meeting-house  building  commit- 
tee reported  that  they  had  agreed  with  Isaac  Chase 
for  half  an  acre  of  land  on  which  to  build,  and  had 
taken  a  deed  for  the  same.  Then  the  meeting  ad- 
journed for  two  hours.  This  was  to  give  the  voters 
an  opportunity  to  go  over  the  river  and  take  a  view 
of  the  situation. 

The  meeting,  on  reassembling, — 

Voted  to  c&use  a  committee  too  petition  the  Greneral  Coart  in 
behalf  of  the  town  that  our  representative  may  have  a  seat  for 
the  present  year. 

There  had  been  some  informality  about  the  elec- 
tion of  representative  this  year.  In  the  first  place,  on 
the  regular  day  for  the  election,  the  town  "  voted  not 
to  send."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  that  vote  was  re- 
considered, and  James  Flanders  was  elected.  But  it 
does  not  appear  that  the  other  towns  of  the  district 
(Sutton  and  Fishersfield)  participated  in  this  election. 
Warner  stood  alone.  Perhaps  that  was  irregular,  but 
this  was  the  end  of  the  class. 

The  petition  to  the  General  Court  was  successful, 
and  Mr.  Flanders  took  his  seat  in  the  house. 


284  HISTOBT  OP  WABNEB. 

At  the  same  meeting,  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Benjamin  Sargent,  Tappan  Evans,  and  Richard  Straw, 
was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  building  of  the 
house,  to  hold  the  funds  which  might  be  realized,  and 
to  give  security  for  the  same. 

Voted  to  Impower  the  same  Committee  to  sell  the  Bilding  of 
the  meeting  house  to  him  that  Will  Do  the  most  towards  Bilding 
the  meeting  house  for  what  the  pew  ground  is  sold  for  if  theay 
can  Do  it  to  the  advantage  of  the  town,  if  not  for  that  Committee 
to  proceed  in  Bilding  the  meeting  house  as  far  as  the  money  that 
the  pews  sold  for  Will  Groo.  [Here  is  a  chance  for  the  reader  to 
exercise  his  intellect.] 

A  PROTEST. 

On  the  19th  day  of  June,  1789,  certain  citizens  of 
the  town  made  solemn  protest  against  the  building  of 
the  meeting-house  near  Joseph  Currier's.  Among 
other  things  in  this  protest  they  said, — 

We  whose  names  are  underwritten  are  and  shall  be  dissatisfied 
with  said  house  as  a  Meeting  House  for  the  town  of  Warner,  and 
we  shall  give  no  aid  to  the  building  of  the  same,  for  the  following 
reasons : — 

1.  Because  a  Committee  from  the  Court  appointed  another 
place. 

2.  Because  it  will  necessarily  cost  a  large  sum  of  money  to 
make  highways  to  said  house  to  convene  the  people,  which  other- 
wise would  not  be  wanted. 

3.  Because  we  have  the  land  to  purchase,  which,  in  another 
place,  we  have  in  plenty. 

Signed, 

Aquila  Davis,  Moses  Stevens, 

Joseph  Bartlett,  Jedediah  Peabody, 

Calvin  Flanders,  Benjamin  Whitcomb, 


HOUSE  UNDER  THE  LEDGE* 


265 


Edmund  Sawjer, 
Jonathan  Smith, 
Mosea  AnnUi 
John  Hall, 
James  Pressej, 
Nathan  Daria, 
Wells  Davis, 
Dayid  Gilmore, 
Moses  Clement, 
Parker  Clement, 
Oliver  Clement,    . 
William  Morrill, 
Paskey  Pressej, 
Daniel  Watson, 
Zebulon  Morrill, 
Moses  Clark, 
Benjamin  Foster, 
John  Person, 
Stephen  Badger, 
Jonathan  Watson, 


Joseph  Bnmap, 
Asa  Putney, 
Francis  Davis, 
Joseph  Foster, 
Jonathan  Colby, 
John  Davis, 
William  Bing, 
Ezekiel  Goodwin, 
William  Carrier, 
Isaac  Waldron,  Jr., 
Jacob  Whitcomb, 
Thomas  Annis, 
Francis  Thnrber, 
Moses  Sawyer, 
William  Lowell, 
John  Kelley, 
William  Sanbom^ 
Jonathan  Gronld, 
Jonathan  Straw, 
Moses  Flanders. 


Here  are  the  names  of  forty-six  men,  several  of 
whom  were  leaders  in  town  affairs,  and  most  of  whom 
stood  high  in  the  church.  It  was  a  formidable  pro- 
test, and  it  shows,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  intense  feel- 
ing existed  throughout  the  town  on  the  question  of 
changing  the  location  of  the  meeting-house. 

HOUSE  UKDER  THE  LEDGE. 

Notwithstanding  this  large  array  of  names,  the  work 
of  building  went  on.  During  the  summer  of  1789, 
the  heavy  hard-wood  frame  of  the  new  church  was 
raised,  and  the  house  was  partially  finished.  It  was 
called  ^The  House  under  the  Ledge.**     It  was  a 


266  HISIOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

square  building  (about  50  by  60  feet),  looking  like  a 
great  bam,  open  up  to  the  ridgepole*  Tbe  swallows 
built  their  nests  in  it,  and  they  were  oflen  seen,  dur- 
ing religious  services,  flitting  across  the  open  space, 
like  birds  of  evil  omen.  The  house  was  never  plas- 
tered, except  on  a  small  space  back  of  the  pulpit 
Galleries  ran  around  on  three  sides.  The  pews  were 
square,  like  sheep-pens.  The  pulpit  was  so  high  that 
the  necks  of  the  congregation  ached  as  they  looked 
at  the  minister.  There  was  a  porch  and  great  door 
at  the  south,  there  was  another  door  opening  on  the 
west,  and  another  on  the  east,  like  the  gates  of  Jeru- 
salem. 

Such  was  the  temple  of  worship  in  Warner,  from 
and  after  1790.  It  also  served  as  a  town-house. 
Town-meetings  were  held  in  it  from  the  beginning, 
and  for  many  years  after  it  ceased  to  be  occupied  for 
religious  purposes.  About  the  year  1855  it  was  taken 
down,  and  the  main  part  of  the  frame  was  worked 
into  the  bridge  at  Ela's  mill.  Having,  probably, 
served  its  purpose  in  bearing  invisible  spirits  over 
the  dark  stream  that  separates  time  from  eternity,  it 
becomes  the  strong  bridge  to  bear  visible  feet  across 
Warner  river. 

THE  WAR  NOT  ENDED. 

Returning  to  the  records  of  the  town,  it  will  be  seen 
that  peace  did  not  yet  reign.    At  a  meeting  in  the 


JOSEPH  BARTLETT.  267 

old  meeting-house,  at  the  Parade,  Nov.   19,  1789, 
Thomas  Annis  acting  as  moderator, — 

Voted  not  to  meet  in*the  new  meeting  house  for  Beligioos  wois 
ship  for  the  inter. 

At  another  meeting,  held  the  next  month,— ^ 

Voted  that  Mr.  Kelley  should  not  preach  in  the  new  meeting 
house,  for  the  inter  time. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1790. 

James  Flanders^  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
William  King,     ) 
Joseph  Bartlett,  >  Selectmen. 
Aquila  Davis,      ) 

Joseph  Bar  tie  tt  was  from  Amesbury.  He  was  a 
son  of  Simeon  Bartlett,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
town,  and  Simeon  was  a  brother  to  Dr.  Josiah  Bart- 
lett, of  Kingston,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  and  governor  of  the  state.  Four 
brothers, — Joseph,  Ricliard,  Sinjeon,  and  Levi,— came 
to  Warner,  and  here  made  their  homes.  Levi  became 
insane,  and  was  consumed  in  a  building  that  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  Richard  and  Simeon  are  spoken  of 
on  a  former  page.  Joseph  was  the  father  of  our  ven- 
erable townsman,  Levi  Bartlett  He  lived  at  the 
Lower  Village,  near  the  Henry  B.  Chase  place,  and 
was  there  engaged  in  trade.  He  also  taught  school 
and  did  something  at  farming.     He  was  a  man  of 

marked  character  during  his  lifetime,  and  was  conaid- 
18 


S68    '  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

erably  in  public  business,  serving  as  selectman,  town- 
clerk,  and  representative.  While  he  was  a  very  cir- 
cumspect and  excellent  man,  he  did  enjoy  fuii.  At 
one  time  he  was  the  only  justice  of  the  peace  in 
town,  and  sometimes,  particularly  when  the  minister 
was  away,  he  solemnized  marriages  as  a  magistrate. 
There  was  a  man  in  town  having  the  nickname  of 
^  Highamblecod ;"  and  there  was  a  Widow  Ash,  whom 
the  boys,  for  some  reason,  had  nicknamed  ^  The  Wid- 
ow Ash-beetle."  This  couple,  becoming  enamored  of 
each  other,  presented  themselves  to  Squire  Bartlett 
and  were  married ;  but  the  match  was  evidently  not 
''made  in  heaven."  A  few  months'  time  proved  that 
neither  the  man  nor  the  woman  had  found  an  ^  affin- 
ity.** In  short,  they  were  both  sick  of  the  bargain, 
and  both  desirous  of  throwing  it  up.  The  man,  sup- 
posing that  he  who  could  build  up  could  also  tear 
down,  and  that  the  magistrate  or  minister  who  could 
marry  a  couple  could  also  annul  the  marriage,  rushed 
up  to  Bartlett  one  morning,  in  a  grieat  flurry,  and 
said,  ^^ Squire,  we're  going  to  be  sot  back!  and  I 
want  you  to  make  out  the  papers!"  Bartlett  told 
him  to  come  in  again  in  an  hour,  and  the  papers 
would  be  ready.  He  came  according  to  appointment, 
and  the  Squire  handed  him  the  following : 

Highamblecod  got  into  a  nettle. 

And  swore  he  'd  not  live 
With  the  widow  Ash-beetle ; 


PBESIDENT  OF  THE  STATE.  269 

And  the  widow  Ash-beetle 

Swore  by  her  ^od^ 
She  never  would  sleep  with  Highamblecod. 

Joseph  Bartletty  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

The  man  could  neither  read,  write,  nor  cipher ;  but 
he  proudly  seized  this  paper  and  departed.  He  met 
Calvin  Flanders,  and  told  him  that  Bartlett  had  given 
him  a  divorce,  which  he  asked  Flanders  to  read. 
Flanders  read,  and  copied. 

Joseph  Bartlett  died  in  the  year  1829,  at  the  age 
of  70,  and  was  buried  near  the  site  of  the  old  first 
churcL 

FOR  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  STATE. 

At  a  meeting  legallj^  called,  and  holden  at  the  old 
meeting-house  in  Warner,  March  SO,  1790,  Nathaniel 
Bean,  moderator,  voted  as  follows : 

For  Josiah  Bartlett,  None. 

John  Pickering,  28 

Nathaniel  Peahodj,  12 

Joshua  Wentworth,  10 

At  the  same  meeting,  chose  James  Flanders  repre- 
sentative.   • 

It  will  be  seen  that  Josiah  Bartlett  received  no 
vote  in  Warner  at  this  election.  But  he  was  elected 
by  a  large  majority.  He  was  reelected  in  1791,  in 
1792,  and' again  in  1793,  when  the  title  of  the  chief 
magistrate  was  changed  from  president  to  governor. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  old  meeting-house,  August 
30, 1790,— 


270  msxoBT  OF  wabner. 

Vot^  too  BecoQsider  two  former  votes^  vu,  one  was  that  the 
town  voted  not  to  meet  in  the  new  meeting  house  for  pnblick 
worship,  and  the  other  was  that  Mr.  Kellej  should  not  preach  in 
the  new  meeting  house  for  the  futer. 

Voted  that  Mr.  Kelley  should  preach  in  the  new  meeting  house 
for  the  futer  and  the  Inhabitance  meet  there  for  public  worship. 

So  the  friends  of  the  site  ^  under  the  ledge/'  near 
Ensign  Joseph  Currier's,  are  at  last  triumphant,  and 
the  old  Parade,  as  a  place  of  prayer  and  a  place  of 
strife,  is  forever  abandoned.  Peace  only,  and  the 
silence  of  the  grave,  rest  on  that  sacred  spot 


CHAPTER   XX. 

TOWN  RECORDS — HALP-SHIRE  AGAIN — ANTI-PED0BAPTI8T&— GBN. 

AQUILA  DAVIS — ^THE  FIRST  POUND. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1791. 

This  was  held  at  the  new  meeting-house. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-clerk. 
Eichard  Straw^        \ 
Richard  Bartlett^   >  Selectmen. 
Joseph  Sawyer,      )  « 

JFor  President.  • 

Josiah  Bartlett,  79 

Voted  not  to  choose  a  representatiye. 

Voted  to  Kais  25  pounds  for  the  use  of  a  school  for  the  current 
year,  to  he  paid  Good  Wheat  at  5  shillings  per  hushell,  Good  Bie 
att  4  shillings  per  hushell,  good  Endion  com  att  3  shillings  per 
hnshelL 

This  meeting  adjourned  to  March  22,  when  James 
Flanders  was  chosen  representative. 

Voted  to  take  down  the  old  Meeting  House  and  appropriate  the 
staff  towards  fencing  the  Buring  Ground. 

Thus  fell,  at  last,  this  ancient  landmark  of  the 
fathers. 


272  HDIOBT  OF  WIBNBB. 

At  a  meeting  held  August  8, 1791, — 

Voted  for  James  Flanders  for  a  delegate  to  set  in  Conyention 
to  be  held  at  Concord  on  the  first  Wed.  of  September  nezt^  for 
the  purpose  of  revising  the  State  Constitution. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1702. 

T>aniel  Floods  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 
Bichard  Straw^      \ 
Bichard  Bartlett,  >  Selectmen. 
Francis  Ferrin,      ) 

James  Flanders,  representative. 

jPot  Prendent. 
Josiah  Bartlett,  64 

Francis  Ferrin  lived  at  the  Jere  Gove  place,  in  Jop- 
pa.  His  son  Benjamin  occupied  the  old  homestead 
through  his  lifetime,  and  the  tatter's  son  Jonathan 
live'd  there  some  years,  then  sold  out  and  moved  to 
Manchester. 

HALF-SHIRE  AGAIN. 

At  a  meeting  held  Sept.  3, 1792,  to  take  action  con- 
cerning the  amended  state  constitution,  and  for  other 
purposes,  there  were  present  21  voters.  On  the  ques- 
tion of  revising  the  constitution  of  the  state,  there 
were  2  affirmative  and  14  negative  votes,  but  not- 
withstanding this  majority  of  12  in  Warner  against 
revision,  the  constitution  was  revised,  though  but  few 
changes  were  made.  One  of  the  changes  made  was 
in  the  title  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  state. 


HALF^HIRJB  AOAIN.  278 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

Voted  that  our  Representative  should  reject  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  on  fixing  a  place  for  a  half  shear  in  this  Countj. 

The  committee  referred  to  was  one  which  had  been 
appointed  by  the  legislature,  and  which  had  reported 
in  favor  of  Hopkinton.  Warner  was  dissatisfied  with 
this  report,  but  opposition  to  it  availed  nothing.  In 
December,  1792,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature^ 
and  approved  by  Josiah  Bartlett,  president,  removing 
one  half  of  the  terms  of  court  for  Hillsborough  coun- 
ty, from  Amherst  to'  Hopkinton.  One  section  of  said 
act  was  in  the  words  following : 

Sec.  A,  And  he  it  further  enacted,  that  this  Act,  at  th^  expira- 
tion of  two  years  from  the  passing  thereof,  shall  he  null  and.  voidj 
unless  a  suitable  House  for  holding  said  Courts  he  erected  at  said 
Hopkinton  within  that  time,  without  being  a  County  charge. 

Half  of  the  courts  of  Hillsborough  county  were  at 
once  held  in  Hopkinton,  in  accordance  with  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  The  inhabitants  of  that  town,  with 
commendable  promptitude,  erected  a  good  and  suffi- 
cient court-house,  at  their  own  expense,  and  from  this 
time  till  the  formation  of  Merrimack  county,  Hopkin- 
ton was  a  half-shire  town. 

Not  only  have  the  walls  of  that  court-house  rung 
with  the  eloquence  of  Webster  and  other  eminent 
"  knights  of  the  green  bag,"  but  they  have  also 
echoed  the  voice  of  the  \aw-inaker8, — the  represent- 
atives of  the  people. 


274  HI8T0RT  OF  WABNEB*- 

A  session  of  the  legislature  was  held  there  in  June, 
1798,  another  in  1801,  another  in  1806,  and  anoth- 
er in  1807. 

John  Taylor  Gilmnn  was  twice  inaugurated  gov- 
ernor in  that  court-house,  and  John  Langdon  twice. 

After  Merrimack  county  was  formed,  in  1823,  and 
the  courts  were  removed  to  Concord,  the  upper  story 
of  this  building  was  converted  into  an  academy,  and 
the  lower  story  was  used  as  a  town  hall. 

Many  a  son  and  daughter  of  Warner,  who  had  been 
educated  at  that  old  academy,  felt  a  pang  of  sorrow 
on  learning  that  the  honored  edifice  had  been  swept 
away  in  1875  by  the  devouring  flames. 

ANTI-PEDOBAPTISTS, 

The  religious  afiairs  of  the  town  became  greatly 
disturbed  shortly  after  the  year  1790.  Indeed,  they 
had  always  been  sufficiently  unsettled  to  remind  even 
good  men  of  the  passage,  "  In  the  world,  ye  shall 
have  tribulation." 

The  records  of  the  town  set  forth  the  formation  of 
a  second  religious  society,  in  the  following  terms : 

Warner  february  ye  28th,  1793. 
This  may  Certify  that  tlie  pearsons  hereafter  named  have  man- 
ifested that  theay  are  of  the  antipedo  Baptis  principle  and  are 
desirors  to  be  received  as  members  of  said  society  in  Warner, 
whose  names  are  as  follows  : 

Timothy  Clough,  Ezekiel  Fbnders, 

Jonathan  Stevens,  William  Morrill, 

Peter  Bagley,  John  Gould, 

Hophni  Flanders,  Phineas  Danforth, 


AKTI-PEI>0BAPTIST8.  275 

Reuben  KimbaU,  Philip  Walker, 

Caleb  Jones,  John  Davis, 

Abraham  Currier,  James  Pressej, 

William  Currier,  Asa  Harriman, 

Stephen  Badger,  Moses  Pressej, 

Enos  Collins,  Parker  Clement, 

William  Trumbull,  Francis  Daris, 

Christopher  Flanders,  Ezekiel  Morrill, 

Jonathan  Wiggin,  Jonathan  Smith,  ^ 

Joseph  Bumap,  Simeon  Straw, 

Charles  Barnard,  Asa  Putnej, 

Enoch  Currier,  John  Colbj, 

Ezra  Waldron,  Thomas  Annia, 

Simeon  Bartlett,  Jonathan  Colbj, 

Benjamin  Edmunds,  William  Sanborn, 

Joseph  Maxfield,  Jedediah  Peabodj, 

Jeremiah  Kimball,  Nathaniel  Bean,  Jr., 

Philip  Ooodwin. 

The  above-named  persons  are  received  as  members,  and  signed 
the  Society  articles  by  order  of  said  Society  to  all  whom  it  may 
Concern. 

Nathaniel  Bean  1  Committee  for  and 
Richard  Bartlett  >  in  behalf 

William  Wiggin  )    of  said  Society. 

This  movement  was  one  of  considerable  force.  For- 
ty-six men,  most  of  whom  were  heads  of  families^ 
stood  out  and  made  this  public  declaration. 

But  what  are  Anti-pedobaptists  ?  Webster  says, — 
^  Pedobaptists  are  those  who  believe  in  the  baptism 
of  infants,  and  Anti-pedobaptists  those  who  are  op- 
posed to  the  baptism  of  infants.** 

On  this  theological  ground  those  people  swarmed 
from  the  old  hive  and  established  another  church.    It  . 
would  be  uncharitable  to  doubt  their  sincerity ;  bot. 


276  HISTORY  OF  WABNEB. 

in  1793  It  was  freely  charged  that  the  movement  on 
the  part  of  most  of  those  engaged  in  it  was  entered 
into,  not  so  much  to  maintain  a  principle,  as  to  get 
divorced  from  the  ^  standing  order,"  and  released  from 
the  burdensome  "  minister  rates." 

They  built  a  meeting-house  in  1793,  or  the  next 
year,  at  the  Lower  Village.  It  stood  on  the  very 
ground  now  occupied,  in  part,  by  the  engine-house. 
It  was  a  square,  two-story  building,  with  but  little 
architectural  beauty,  and  was  never  only  partially 
finished.  No  settled  minister  ever  presided  over  this 
branch  of  the  church.  It  enjoyed  only  occasional 
preaching,  and  that  in  the  summer  season.  When  a 
man  who  felt  that  he  had  a  call  to  visit  ^  the  waste 
places  of  Zion"  came  this  way,  he  occupied  the  pul- 
pit a  Sunday  or  two.  One  of  these  itinerants,  whose 
acquaintance  with  grammar  was  not  very  intimate, 
seeing  no  book  in  oi;  about  the  desk,  arose  at  the 
commencement  of  the  service  and  inquired,  "  Does 
the  people  of  Warner  keep  a  Bible  ?"  But  no  doubt 
the  congregation  generally  enjoyed  the  services  of 
such  as  were  worthy  and  well  qualified. 

After  a  few  years  the  society  dwindled  away,  and 
their  house  of  worship  went  to  ruin.  It  was  sold  at 
auction  in  1825,  and  pulled  down. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1793. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  moderator. 
David  Baglcy,  to>vn-clerk. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  277 


For  Gh>nemar. 


Josiah  Bartlett,  43 

Timothy  Walker,  83 


Nathaniel  Bean, 

Eichard  Straw,        ^  Selectmen. 


James  Flanders,  representative. 

I 

Benjamin  Sargent,) 

The  amended  constitution  now  came  into  force,  and 
the  people  for  the  first  time  cast  their  votes  for  gov- 
emor.  But  voting  was  not  regarded  as  a  duty  then 
so  much  as  now.  The  whole  vote  of  the  state  in 
1793  was  but '9,854.  Now,  with  a  population  not 
more  than  double  what  it  then  was,  we  cast  nearly 
eighty  thousand  (80.000)  votes  in  contested  elections. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  March  28th, — 

« 

Voted  to  alow  Comet  Richard  Straw  for  providing  for  mis 
Weed  in  her  late  sickness  and  the  Doctor's  Bill  £     #.   cL 

which  was  1    16    8 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Warner, 
held  August  7,  1793,  at  the  West  meeting-house  (that 
is,  the  house  under  the  ledge), — 

Voted  that  the  meeting  house  for  the  futer  should  he  used  and 
In  joyed  hy  every  Heligias  Society  in  this  town  as  much  of  the 
time  as  Each  Society's  proportion  of  town  taxes  are. 

Voted  to  chuse  a  Committee  to  porpotion  the  time. 

Voted  to  Bild  the  seats  and  put  up  the  pillars  under  the  Gal- 
lery Beams  in  the  meeting  house. 

Voted  to  perches  of  the  Baptis  Society  theire  porpotion  of  the 
Ground  that  the  meeting  house  stands  on  according  to  the  sun 
that  it  was  first  purchased  by  the  town. 


278  HIBflOBT  OF  WARNER. 

# 

ANNUAL  BIEETING,  MARCH,  1791. 

Tappan  Evans,  moderator. 
V  David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Gh>vemor. 

John  Tajlor  Gilman,  8 

Timothy  Walker,  64 

James  Flanders,  representative. 

Joseph  Bartlett,    \ 

John  George,        \  Selectmen* 

Edmund  Sawyer,  ) 

John  George  moved  into  Warner  from  Hopkinton, 
and  built  the  large  house  at  the  Lower  Village  in 
which  Jonathan  Badger  now  resides.  It  is  the  first 
house  east  of  the  Henry  B.  Chase  buildings.  The 
sons  of  Mr.  George  were  Stephen,  John,  Daniel,  and 
Joshua  ;  and  his  daughters  were  Mrs.  Joshua  Sawyer, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Ames,  Mrs.  Daniel  Runels,  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
H.  Bartlett. 

After  remaining  at  this  place  a  number  of  years, 
he  sold  to  John  Eaton,  and  moved  to  Vennont  Mr. 
Eaton  was  from  Haverhill,  Mass.  He  first  settled  in 
Sutton,  at  what  is  now  called  the  "Grange."  He 
went  from  there  to  Davisville,  from  Davisville  to  the 
Lower  Village,  and  from  the  Lower  Village  to  Hatley, 
Canada  East,  where  he  died.  His  children  were  Fred- 
erick, Ruth  K.  (Mrs.  Sherburne),  Rebecca  D.,  John, 
Sally  (Mrs.  Dresser),  Hiram,  Lucretia,  Dr.  Jacob. 
Charles,  Lucien  B.,  and  Horace. 


GEN.   AQU1LA  DAVIS.  279 

Edmund  Sawyer  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  one  of  the 
early  settlers,  who  lived  near  the  Parade.  Edmund 
lived  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  "  old  poor-farm.'* 
So  far  as  the  writer  knows,  his  sons  were  Jacob,  Rev. 
Daniel,  and  Edmund ;  and  his  daughters  were  Mrs. 
Elliot  C.  Badger  and  Mrs.  Stephen  K.  Hoyt 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  June  9th,  1794,  Gen. 
Aquila  Davis  was  chosen  representative.  It  had  been 
ascertained  that  James  Flanders  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate.  He  therefore  resigned  the  office  of 
representative,  and  the  town  elected  another  man. 

Mr.  Flanders  had  been  a  candidate, — that  is^  had 
been  voted  for, — for  senator,  by  those  who  thought 
him  the  best  man,  for  two  or  three  years.  They  had 
no  namineeSy  at  that  time,  for  whom  the  voters  were 
compelled,  by  party  discipline,  to  cast  their  ballots. 
Character,  and  not  the  caucus ;  brains,  and  not  bar- 
gains; merit,  and  not  money,  it  is  presumed,  were 
chiefly  relied  on  in  those  days  to  secure  public  favor. 

Mr.  Flanders  was  elected  to  the  senate  every  year, 
beginning  with  1794  and  ending  with  1803,  except 
the  year  1799,  when  CoL  Henry  Gerrish,  of  Bos- 
cawen,  received  the  election. 

Aquila  DaviSy  who  now  comes  forward  as  repre- 
sentative, is  entitled  to  special  notice.  The  sons  of 
Captain  Francis  Davis  were  Zebulon,  Wells,  Francis^ 
Aquila,  and  Nathan.  Aquila  was  born  in  Amesbury, 
Mass.,  June  27, 1760.    He  came  to  Warner  with  the 


280  HISTORY  OF  WARKEB. 

fiEtmily  a  few  years  afler  the  settlement  of  the  town, 
which  took  place  in  1762.  At  the  age  of  17,  he  is 
found  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  having  enlisted  for 
three  years.  He  saw  much  hard  service  during  those 
years,  on  the  Hudson  river,  in  New  Jersey,  and  else- 
where. Among  other  events  which  came  under  his 
own  eye,  was  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  of  enlistment  he  received  the  fol- 
lowing discharge : 

Aquila  Davis  of  the  3  N.  H.  Eegiment,  formerlj  an  inhabitant 
of  Almsbury  in  the  County  of  Hillsboro'  and  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  having  faitlifully  and  honorably  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  term  of  three 
years — ^it  being  the  term  of  his  enlistment,  is  discharged  the  ser^ 
vice,  and  has  liberty  to  return  to  his  own  home. 

D.  Litermore,  Captain, 
West  Point  Com'ding  3d  N.  H.  Reg. 

May  10, 1780. 

After  the  Revolution,  Aquila  Davis  took  an  active 
part  in  the  state  militia.  He  commanded  the  30th 
regiment  from  1799  to  1807.  He  was  brigadier-gen- 
eral of  the  fourth  brigade  from  1807  to  1809.  In 
1812,  Gen.  Davis  raised  the  first  regiment  of  N.  H. 
volunteers,  enlisted  for  one  year,  and  was  chosen  and 
commissioned  its  colonel.  A  copy  of  his  commission 
here  follows : 

Ths  President  of  the  United  States  or  America. 

To  All  Who  Shall  See  These  Presents,  Greeting : 

Know  Ye,  That,  reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  the 
patriotism,  valor,  fidelity  and  abilities  of 

Aquila  Davis 


GEN.   AQUILA  DlTIS.  281 

1  haye  appointed  him  Colonel  of  Infantry  of  Volunte^s  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States  conformablj  to  the  provisions  of  the 

acts  of  Congress 

He  is  therefore,  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty 
of  Col.  of  Infantry  of  Volunteers,  by  doing  and  performing  all 
manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging,  and  he  is  to  observe 
and  obey  the  orders  of  the  President  of  the  United  States^  and 
of  the  officers  set  over  him^  according  to  the  rules  and  discipline 
of  war. 

And  I  do  strictly  charge  and  require  all  officers  and  soldiers 
under  his  command  to  be  obedient  to  his  orders. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Washington,  this,  13th  day  of  Janu- 
ary, in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
thirteen,  and  in  the  37th  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States. 

James  Madison* 
By  Command 

of  the 
President. 

W.  Eustis. 

The  law  for  raising  volunteers  having  been  repeal- 
ed by  congress  a  few  days  after  the  foregoing  com- 
mission was  issued,  the  first  regiment  of  New  Hamp- 
shire volunteers  was  mostly  transferred  to  the  forty- 
fifth  regiment  United  States  infantry,  and  Col.  Davis 
was  commissioned  its  lieut.  colonel.  His  services  in 
the  army  were  arduous,  but  faithfully  performed.  It 
is  related  of  him,  that,  while  stationed  on  an  island  in 
Lake  Champlain,  he  mounted  a  battery  of  large  guns^ 
and  kept  the  British  at  respectful  distance  from  the 
island  by  this  formidable  contrivance,  which,  in  real- 
ity, was  nothing  but  an  array  of  huge  guns  made 
from  pine  logs,  and  so  painted  as  to  deceive  the  eye 


282  HKTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

at  a  little  distance.  That  example  was  copied,  over 
and  over  again,  during  the  late  war. 

Upon  the  return  of  peace,  Gen.  Davis  retired  to  his 
mills  at  Davisville,  and  devoted  most  of  his  time  to 
his  usual  vocation.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment 
and  superior  general  abilities.  He  often  represented 
the  town  in  the  legislature,  but  did  not  aspire  to 
political  distinction.  He  had  a  large  family  of  sons 
and  daughters,  the  names  of  the  former  being  Paine, 
Theodore  S.,  Nathaniel  A.,  Nathan,  Charles,  Aquila, 
and  James.  He  died  Feb.  27, 1835,  aged  74,  while 
on  a  journey  to  Sharon,  Maine,  and  was  buried  at 
Davisville,  with  Masonic  honors,  on  the  3d  of  March. 

Gen.  Davis  enjoyed  life,  and  was  always  noted  for 
good  humor  and  ready  wit.  One  illustration  of  this, 
only,  will  be  given.  Some  time  between  the  years 
1815  and  1820,  there  was  a  brigade  muster  at  Smith's 
Corner,  in  Salisbury.  Rev.  John  Woods,  of  Warner, 
was  chaplain  of  the  day.  Woods  had  a  young,  frisky 
horse,  and  after  arriving  at  the  muster-field  the  horse 
became  quite  unmanageable,  in  consequence  of  the 
bustle,  the  brass  bands,  and  the  glistening  guns.  Gen. 
Davis  was  there,  as  a  looker-on,  having  his  old  war- 
horse,  a  beautiful  animal,  but  as  calm  amidst  the  din 
and  whirl  of  the  muster-field  as  a  summer's  morning. 
The  chaplain  was  to  make  his  prayer  on  horseback, 
within  a  "  hollow  square "  formed  by  the  soldiers. 
Not  daring  to  ride  his  own  horse,  Mr.  Woods  found 


To\^rN  RECORDS.  283 

Gen.  Davis,  and  said  to  him, — ^  My  horse  is  afraid  of 
guns,  and  I  wish  you  would  let  me  take  yours."  **0h ! 
yes,  take  hira,  take  him,"  said  the  General ;  "  but  if 
your  horse  is  more  afraid  of  guns  than  mine  is  of 
pray  era  y  I  *m  mightily  mistaken  !*• 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1795. 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-derk. 

Jf^or  Oovemar* 

John  T.  Gilman,  64 

Aquila  Davis,  representative. 

Bichard  Straw,        \ 
Benjamin  Sargent;  \  Selectmen. 
Joseph  Bartlett,      ) 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  should  put  up  post-guides  in  proper 
places,  at  the  town's  cost. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1796. 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
Joseph  Bartlett,  town-clerk. 

-For  Oovemor. 

John  T.  Gilman,  62 

Timothy  Walker,  26 

Aquila  Davis,  representative. 

Bichard  Straw,  "^ 

Joseph  Bartlett,  \  Selectmen. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  J 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1797. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-clerk. 
19 


284  BISTORT  OF  WAtoEB. 

F0r  Oovemor. 

John  T.  Gilman,  10 

Timothy  Walker,  65 

AquiU  DaTiSy  representatiye. 

Beujamin  Sargent,    \ 

Philip  Flanders,  Jr.,  (  Selectmen. 

Bichard  Straw,  ) 

Philip  Flanders,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  James,  and  the 
father  of  Philip,  Isaac  C,  and  of  Mrs.  Caleb  Sargent, 
Mrs.  David  Sargent,  Mrs.  Reuben  Clough,  Mrs.  Ezekiel 
6.  Currier,  Mrs.  John  Bean,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Mariner  East- 
man, Mrs.  William  D.  Trumbull,  and  Miss  Hannah 
Flanders. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,   1798. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

John  T.  Gilman,  9 

Timothy  Walker,  68 

Aqaila  Dayis,  representative. 

Bichard  Straw,         \ 
Benjamin  Sargent,    >  Selectmen. 
Bichard  Bartlett,      ) 

THE  FIRST  POUND. 

Voted  to  Bild  a  ponnd  30  feet  square  and  7  feet  high. 

Voted  to  Bild  said  pound  on  Dea.  Heath's  Land,  between  Jo- 
seph Currier's  and  his  house. 

Voted  that  the  pound  should  Be  Bilt  with  Green  White  pine 
Logs  with  the  Bark  taken  o& 


TOWN  RECORDS.  286 

Voted  that  there  shall  be  a  Good  and  sufRcient  Door  made  in 
said  pound  with  white  oak  well  framed  to  Geather  one  post  of  the 
Door  to  be  framed  into  the  sile  or  Bottom  Log  with  a  Bound 
Gndgen  and  also  into  the  Log  over  the  Door. 

The  building  of  this  pound  was  sold  at  auction,  to 
Tappan  Evans,  at  ten  dollars  and  a  half.  It  stood  a 
little  east  of  John  Tewkesbury's  bam,  nearly  its  width 
east  of  the  ground  which  the  Congregational  church 
afterwards  covered. 

A  pound,  in  those  days,  was  thought  to  be  as  indis- 
pensable as  a  tythingman. 

At  a  meeting,  April  17, 1798,  the  report  of  a  com- 
mittee which  had  been  appointed  to  divide  the  town 
into  school  districts  was  accepted.  Ten  districts  were 
created  by  this  committee.  That  is  about  as  many 
as  there  ever  should  have  been ;  but  at  one  time  the 
town  could  boast  of  twenty-four  districts,  such  as  they 
were. 

Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  of  three  men  to  Draw  a  plan  of 
each  school-house  to  Be  Bilt  in  each  of  the  districts,  and  Joseph 
Bartletty  Nathaniel  Bean  and  Aquila  Davis  was  chosen. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1799. 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

John  T.  Gilman,  30 

Timothy  Walker,  30 

Joseph  Bartlett,  representative. 

Benjamid  Sargent,  \ 

John  E.  Kelley,       >  Selectmen. 

Stephen  Colby,         ) 


286  HISTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

John  R  Kelley  was  a  nephew  of  Rev.  William  Kel- 
lejf  who  brought  him  up.  He  was  engaged  consid- 
erably in  trade.  He  lived  at  one  time  on  the  very 
spot  where  Levi  Bartlett's  present  house  stands^  and 
had  a  store  and  house  there,  both  under  one  roo£  At 
another  time  he  was  in  trade  at  the  ^  Kelley  stand,'' 
opposite  the  first  pound.  There,  also,  he  kept  a  hotel, 
which  on  the  16th  of  January,  1828,  was  consumed 
by  fire. 

Stephen  Colby  was  a  son  of  Elliot  Colby,  and  a 
brother  to  John  and  Ezekiel.  He  was  the  father  of 
Moses  F.  and  Chase.  Dimng  a  part  of  his  life  he 
occupied  the  Moses  F.  Colby  place.  [See  Military 
History.] 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

TOWN  RECORDS — PAUPER  SALE — HON.  HENRY  B.   CHA8B — ^FIBST 
SCHOOL  COMMITTEE — A  NEW  POUND— HON.  BENJAMIN  EVANS. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1788. 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemarj 

John  T.  Oilman,  10 

Timothy  Walker,  78 

Joseph  Bartlett,  representative. 

Richard  Straw,     \ 

Timothy  Felton,    >  Selectmen. 

Amos  Gould,         ) 

Timothy  Felton  was  from  Danvers,  Mass.  He  re- 
sidedy  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  certainly,  a  little 
above  Ira  P.  Whittier's  house,  on  the  same  side  of  the 
main  road.  Dr.  John  Hall  had  occupied  the  same 
house  before  him,  but  it  was  removed  from  that  site 
many  years  ago.  Mr.  Felton  was  remarkable  for  ex- 
tensive reading  and  general  information. 

Amos  Gould  was  from  Amesbury, — a  brother  to 
Robert  and  Jonathan.  He  lived  between  the  old 
cemetery  and  Kimball's  Comer,  near  the  Elliot  Colby 
place. 


288  HISTOBT  OF  WARNEB. 

PAUPER  SALE. 

At  a  meeting  held  Sept  15^  1800, — 

Voted  to  sell  the  keeping  of  Buth  Davis,  wife  of  Joseph  Dayis, 
per  week  at  the  Lowest  Bidder  and  the  person  that  first  takes  her 
•hall  EemoTe  her  to  the  next  person  that  shall  take  her  on  his 
own  Cost  and  so  on  tel  march  meeting. 

Struck  off  to  philip  Osgood  the  Keeping  of  mis  Dayis  eight 
weeks  at  6  shilling  and  eight  pence,  to  Thomas  Bamed  eight 
weeks  at  5  shilling  and  9  pence  per  week. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  Should  make  Serch  and  Inquire  for 
the  property  of  Josepli  Davis  and  his  wives  and  Secure  the  Same 
that  it  may  he  Kept  for  there  support  also  to  see  if  theay  can  get 
any  help  from  her  Children  towards  her  support. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1801- 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor. 

John  T.  Oilman,  18 

Timothy  Walker,  111 

Joseph  Bartlett,  representative. 

Daniel  Whitman,  \ 

Timothy  Felton,    \  Selectmen. 

John  E.  Kelley,    ) 

Daniel  Whitman  was  not  a  resident  of  Warner  a 
great  many  years.  He  kept  a  hotel  at  the  Dr.  Eaton 
house,  a  short  time  after  Captain  Pattee  went  out 
He  removed  to  Virginia,  there  made  his  home,  and 
there  died. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1802. 

James  Flanders,  moderator 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  289 

For  Oovemar. 

John  Taylor  Gilman,  42 

John  Langdon,  113 

Aquila  Davis,  representative. 

Eichard  Straw,    \ 
Nathaniel  Bean,  K  Selectmen. 
Jacob  Collins,      ) 

Jacob  Collins  was  from  South  Hampton.  He  and 
his  brother  came  into  town  at  the  same  time.  Enos 
settled  first  on  Burnt  Hill,  and  then  on  Bible  Hill.  He 
was  the  father  of  Moses,  Enos,  and  John  H.  Jacob 
settled  first  at  Waterloo.  His  house  was  between  the 
mouth  of  Sutton  Lane  and  Dolphus  Bean's  building& 
The  main  road  lies  over  his  old  cellar.  He  had  a 
blacksmith  shop,  which  stood  on  ground  afterwards 
occupied  by  Willaby  and  John  P.  Colby's  shoe-shop. 
Mr.  Collins  moved  from  here  up  into  what  is  now  dis- 
trict No.  10.     His  sons  were  John,  Levi,  and  Jacob. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1808. 

James  Flanders^  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Oavemar. 

'     John  Taylor  Gilman,  60 

John  Langdon^  111 

Aqiiila  Davis,  representative. 

Richard  Straw,      \ 

Kichard  Bartlett,  >  Selectmen. 

Joseph  Sargent,    ) 

Voted  to  chuse  a  Committee  of  three  men  to  Draw  a  Draft  or 
plan  of  the  Bridge  to  he  Bilt  acrost  the  river  near  the  Baptis 
meeting  house. 


290  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Joseph  Sargent  was  from  Amesbury.  He  settled 
in  Schoodac,  where  two  of  his  grandsons  now  reside. 
Caleb,  Ambrose;  David,  Joseph,  Zebulon,  and  Clark 
were  his  sons.  He  served  as  sdectmen  several  times, 
and  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years. 

At  a  meeting  held  August  29, 1803,  two  jurymen 
were  selected.    The  record  is  as  follows : 

nicholas  Erans  Choosen  moderator  and  David  heath  and  Moses 
annis  Jun.  was  Choosen  to  Serre  as  petit  Jurors. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1804. 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

JFot  Oovemor. 

John  T.  Oilman,  70 

John  Langdon,  112 

Aqaila  Davis,  representative. 

Benjamin  Sargent,  \ 

Joseph  Sargent,       >  Selectmen. 

Joseph  Bartlett,      r 

Voted  not  to  raise  any  money  to  hier  preaching. 

Voted  to  raise  1000  dollars  towards  Bilding  School-houses. 

Voted  that  Every  District  Shall  have  theire  own  perpotion  of 
the  1000  Dollars  towards  Bilding  school-houses  in  theire  owne 
Distrects  according  to  the  veluatious  for  the  town  taxes. 

Voted  that  mr.  peabody  may  have  liberty  to  pole  to  mr.  Gil- 
more's  Distrect. 

The  exact  meaning  of  the  above  language  does  not 
appear ;  but  probably  the  intention  of  the  vote  was, 
to  disannex  Mr.  Peabody  from  the  Foster-Kimball  dis- 
trict, to  which  he  belonged,  and  annex  him  to  the 


TOWN  RECORDS.  291 

Gilmore-Burnap  district  This  "inr.  peabody  was 
Jedediah  Peabody.  He  lived  on  the  old  Major  Hoyt 
road^  and  near  Henniker  line.  There  is  a  large  tract 
of  land  lying  on  that  road,  called  the  *^  Peabody  pas- 
ture,'' having  upon  it  chestnut  trees  of  immense  size. 
This  lot  was  once  the  mowing,  tillage,  pasture,  and 
woodland  of  Jedediah  Peabody.  Here  he  lived  and 
prospered ;  but  the  buildings  have  been  gone,  and  the 
place  given  up  as  a  farm,  more  than  half  a  century. 

The  Peabody  children,  to  reach  the  Burnap  school, 
must  have  travelled  from  two  and  a  half  to  three 
miles.  They  were  obliged  to  go,  first,  down  across  the 
Henniker  line,  then  to  make  more  than  a  right  angle, 
and  pass  by  the  Jacob  Whitcomb,  Dea.  Wiggin,  and 
David  Gilmore  places,  to  the  top  of  the  school-house 
hill,  where  that  institution  of  learning  then  stood  which 
Mr.  Peabody  had  the  liberty  "  to  pole  to." 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  July  16,  1804, — 

Voted  to  chuse  a  committee  of  three  men  to  Exemon  and  tij 
John  0.  Ballard  and  Samuel  Ballard  wether  theay  are  of  an  a 
Bilaty  according  to  Law  to  support  their  farther. 

Voted  to  support  major  Bal}ard  three  months  to  lowest  Bidder 
per  week ;  the  support  of  major  Ballard  Bid  off  by  Daniel  Bean 
at  68  cents  per  week. 

This  Major  Ballard  lived  on  what  is  known  as  the 
"Ballard  place"  (now  Dunbar's).  He  had  been  a  man 
of  standing  and  wealth,  but  had  lost  his  property  by 
a  habit  which  has  cursed  its  millions,  and  he  was  now 
a  town  charge. 


292  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

John  0.  Ballard  became  the  famous  teacher  at 
Hopkinton  Lower  Village,  whom  hundreds,  who  have 
been  his  favored  scholars,  yet  remember.  Before  Mr. 
Ballard  established  his  schooF  at  Hopkinton,  he  con- 
ducted a  similar  one  a  few  years  in  Warner.  The 
house  in  which  he  kept  this  school  was  between  the 
Parade  and  Rev.  Wm.  Kelley*s ;  but  no  trace  of  even 
the  foundations  or  cellar  of  that  building  can  now  be 
found.  Hezekiah  Colby,  the  father  of  Chellis  F., 
Philip,  Willaby,  Samuel,  and  John  P.,  on  coming  from 
Amesbury,  lived  in  this  house  a  year  or  two,  and  till 
he  permanently  settled  on  the  Mark  Colby  farm. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,.  1805. 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovernor. 

John  Langdon,  141 

John  T.  Oilman,  54 

Aqaila  Davis,  representative. 

William  Ring,       \ 

I^ichard  Bartlctt,  >  Selectmen. 

Moses  Annis,        ) 

Voted  to  raise  150  dollars  to  hier  preaching  the  Ensuing  year. 

Voted  not  to  raise  any  money  to  finish  the  meeting-house. 

Voted  to  Give  major  Straw's  School  Distrcct  Liberty  to  Bild 
their  school  house  on  a  nother  spoot  of  Ground  that  the  town's 
Committee  Did  not  appoint  whear  tlieay  can  be  beter  Convened. 

Voted  that  Each  society  in  this  town  Should  have  theire  poi^ 
potion  of  the  150  dollars  voted  to  be  raised  to  hier  preaching,  to 
hier  such  ministers  as  Shall  be  most  agreeable  to  them. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  298 

Moses  Annis,  who  comes  fonvard  here  as  one  of  the 
selectmen,  is  not  the  son,  but  the  grandson  of  Daniel 
the  first  The  first  Moses  died  before  1790,  and  left 
no  descendants.  This  Moses  was  a  son  of  Thomas, 
and  the  father  of  the  present  Moses  G.  Annis.  The 
first  Moses  lived  on  the  Gould  Annis  farm  till  his 
death,  and  then  the  second  took  possession. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  Oct  3, 1805, — 

Nathaniel  flood  was  Choosen  to  finish  the  collection  of  the 
taxes  committed  to  his  farther  Daniel  flood,  Deceased,  which  he 
Did  not  coUect 

ANNUAL  MEETING,   MARCH,  1806 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-clerk. 

-For  Governor, 

John  Langdon,  124 

Timothy  Farrar, .  29 

James  Flanders,  representative. 

Bichard  Straw,    \ 

Joseph  Bartlett^  \  Selectmen. 

David  Heath,      ) 

At  a  legally  called  meeting,  held  April  16, 1806, 
Henry  B.  Chase  acting  as  moderator, — 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  Should  Esertain  and  coUect  to  Greatb- 
er  all  the  household  furneture  Cloathing  &c.  belonging  to  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Davis  late  of  Warner  desseced — and  sell  the  same  in 
that  Way  and  manner  as  theay  Shall  Judge  will  be  mose  advan- 
tage to  the  town's  use. 

Voted  to  give  a  bounty  of  20  cents  to  any  pearson  or  pearsona 


.294  HISTORT  OP  WABNEB. 

living  in  the  town  of  Warner  tliat  Shall  Kill  a  crow  within  the 
bonds  of  said  town  and  Bring  the  Same  to  the  Selectmen  from 
this  time  to  the  first  Day  of  July  next 

Henry  B.  Chase  was  born* in  Cornish,  N.  H.  He 
came  from  there  to  Warner  in  1805,  and  opened  a 
law  office  in  the  Lower  Village.  He  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Nathaniel  Bean.  He  was  the  first  postmaster 
in  Warner,  his  appointment  being  dated  1813.  He 
was  also  the  first  register  of  probate  for  Merrimack 
county ;  was  appointed  in  1823,  and  released  from  the 
office  in  1840.  He  served  repeatedly  as  representa- 
tive in  the  legislature  of  the  state,  and  was  speaker  of 
the  house  in  1817. 

There  was  a  scheme  in  the  early  part  of  the  cen- 
tury for  connecting  the  waters  of  the  Merrimack  and 
Connecticut  rivers  by  means  of  a  canal.  This  canal 
was  to  pass  up  through  Warner  to  Sunapee  lake,  and 
thence  onward  to  the  Connecticut  river  at  Claremont 
During  the  year  1816  a  committee  of  the  Massachu- 
setts legislature,  with  which  Henry  B.  Chase  was  as- 
sociated by  the  legislature  of  New  Hampshire,  made 
a  thorough  survey  of  the  contemplated  route.  The 
lake  was  found  to  be  more  than  800  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  two  rivers,  and  the  enterprise  was  aban- 
doned as  wholly  impracticable. 

Mr.  Chase  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  a  sound  law- 
yer, and  an  upright  citizen.  He  died  January,  1854, 
aged  77,  leaving  one  son,  a  lawyer  in  Liouisiana,  and 


TOWN  RECORDS.  295 

three  daughters^ — Mrs.  Grimes,  Miss  Nancy  Chase, 
and  Mrs.  Otis  Brewer,  of  Boston. 

LICENSES. 

Warner,  May  ye  3cl,  1806. 

this  may  Certify  that  we  appoint  Ezra  flanders  as  a  Betailer 
of  Speriatous  Lequars  by  the  Glass  or  Gill  at  his  store  or  house  in 
wamer  for  the  year  1806. 

Richard  straw,  I 

Dayid  heath,     |  Selectmen. 

From  four  to  six  licenses  of  this  character  were 
granted  to  as  many'  different  persons  each  year.  It 
was  a  period  of  dissipation,  from  the  year  1800,  or  be- 
fore that,  to  about  1830.  The  licensed  places  were 
not  confined  to  the  villages,  but  were  distributed  over 
town,  and  they  afforded  excellent  opportunities  for 
neighborhood  idleness  and  wrangling. 

Ezra  Flanders  was  a  son  of  James.  His  "  store  or 
house "  was  both  store  and  house,  being  the  ancient 
yellow  building  in  the  Lower  Village,  between  the 
site  of  the  Anti-pedobabtist  church  and  the  old  Hen- 
niker  road. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1807. 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor, 

John  Langdon,  97        ,    * 

James  Flanders,  representative. 

Richard  Straw,  \ 

David  Heath,     >  Selectmen. 

Moses  Annis,     ) 


296  HISTORY  OF  WARNEB. 

Voted  to  Baise  500  doUars  to  support  schools. 

Voted  not  to  raise  any  money  to  hier  preaching. 

Voted  not  to  raise  any  money  to  finish  the  meeting  house. 

x 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1808. 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

JFar  Governor. 
John  Langdon,  83 

Richard  Bartlett,  representative. 

Bichard  Straw,    \ 

Joseph  B.  Hoyt,  >  Selectmen. 

Moses  Annis,       ) 

Voted  to  Choose  assessors  to  asest  the  Selectmen  in  making 
ftnd  porportioning  the  Invcntary  the  present  year. 

Voted  to  raise  200  dollars  towards  finishing  the  meeting  honse. 

FIRST  SUPERINTENDING  COMMITTEE. 

Voted  to  Choes  a  Committee  to  Enspect  and  Examon  the 
School  masters  that  may  be  hiered  to  teach  Schools  in  this  town 
the  Ensuing  year  wether  theay  are  Qualified  as  the  Law  Directs. 

Henry  B.  Chase,  William  Ring,  and  Abner  Flanders 
were  chosen  for  said  committee. 

Joseph  B.  Hoyt,  who  appears  here  as  one  of  the 
selectmen,  was  from  Kensington.  He  settled  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  and  erected  his  first  buildings 
on  the  hill,  up  easterly  a  half  mile  from  the  present 
house.  His  best  tillage  land  was  there,  but  he  had 
no  road,  and  never  could  have  had  one  at  that  place. 
After  a  residence  of  a  few  years  on  the  hill,  he  came 
down  to  the  Henniker  road,  and  rebuilt  there.    He 


TOWN  RECORDS.  297 

became  a  major  in  the  state  militia,  as  did  two  of  his 
sons, — Joseph  S.  and  Stephen  K.  Capt  John  Hoyt, 
who  died  young,  was  another  of  his  sons.  Stephen 
K.  occupied  the  old  homestead  a  great  many  years, 
but  he  is  now  residing  in  Portland,  Me. 

At  a  meeting  legally  called,  and  holden  Feb.  11, 
1809,— 

Voted  not  to  concur  with  the  church  in  calling  William  Harlow 
to  settle  as  a  Gospel  minister  in  this  town. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S09. 

Bichard  Bartlett,  moderator. 
/  David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Jeremiah  Smith,  66 

John  Langdon,  140 

Bichard  Bartlett,  representatire. 

Benjamin  Evans,  \ 

Joseph  Bartlett,    >  Selectmen. 

Moses  Annis,         ) 

Voted  to  Bild  a  pound  with  stone,  with  a  Large  pece  of  hewed 
timber  all  round  on  the  top. 

Edmund  Sawyer  hid  off  the  huilding  of  the  pound 
at  thirty-seven  dollars,  and  did  the  job  in  April,  1809. 
That  pound  now  stands,  it  being  in  Warner  village, 
on  the  north  side  of  Pumpkin  Hill  road. 

Beryamin  EvanSj  a  son  of  Tappan  Evans,  was  bom 
at  Newburyport  in  1772,  but  was  brought  to  Warner 
with  the  family  before  1780.    His  mother  was  called 


298  HISTORY  OF  WABNES. 

''the  handsomest  woman  in  Newbiiryport,'*  and  the 
aon^  was  a  man  of  striking  personal  appearance. 

The  writer  has  been  unable  to  gather  many  facts 
in  relation  to  the  early  life  of  this  noted  man.  His  ed- 
ucation was  limited,,  but  having  commanding  natural 
abilities,  he  wielded  a  large  influence  in  Warner,  and 
in  the  state  for  many  years.  He  married  a  Miss  Wad- 
leigh  (an  aunt  of  the  late  Judge  Wadleigh,  of  Sutton), 
and  commenced  life  at  Roby's  Corner.  There  he  had  a 
farm  and  a  saw-mill,  the  mill  being  a  few  rods  below 
the  present  river  bridge.  In  1803  he  went  into  mer- 
cantile business  at  South  Sutton,  and  at  once  became 
a  prominent  and  influential  man  there.  Though  he 
remained  at  Sutton  but  four  years,  he  served  several 
times  as  moderator  at  town  meetings,  and  several 
times  as  selectman.  In  1807  he  returned  to  Warner, 
and  made  his  home  from  that  time  through  life  at  the 
village.  He  was  the  leading  business  man  in  town 
for  a  long  period  of  time.  Besides  carrying  on  his 
country  store,  he  dealt  largely  in  cattle  and  hides, 
and  was  extensively  engaged  in  coopering.  He  lived 
some  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  in  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Bates  house,  and  the  remainder  of  his 
life  at  the  Porter  house.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  knew  every  man  in  town,  and  could 
readily  call  each  one  by  name.  He  served  as  mod- 
erator of  town  meetings,  as  selectman,  and  as  repre- 
sentative to  the  General  Court  a  great  many  years. 


r 


n, 


T^Zrf^TO^ 


.Prii«iT.4Co.,lV»«>". 


BENJAMIN   EVANS. 


299 


He  was  elected  senator  in  old  district  No.  8  in  ISSO, 
and  was  in  the  governor's  council  in  1836  and  1837. 
He  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Merrimack  county  in 
1838,  and  he  held  this,  his  last  office,  till  1843,  the 
year  before  his  decease. 

He  had  six  daughters,  but  no  son  who  lived  to  ma- 
ture age.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Reuben 
Porter ;  another,  Nathan  S.  Colby ;  another,  Dr.  Leon- 
ard Eaton  ;  another,  Stephen  C.  Badger ;  another,  H. 
D.  Robertson ;  and  the  last,  Abner  Woodman. 

Mr.  Evans  died  November  12, 1844,  at  the  age  of 
72  years,  and  his  dust  sleeps  on  a  beautiful  table-land 
in  Pine  Grove  Cemetery. 
20 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

TOWN  RECORDS — ^THE  COLD  FRIDAY — WAR  OP  1812 — REV.  JOHN 
WOODS — A  COLD  SEASON — MASONIC — DIVORCE  OP  CHURCH 
AND  STATE — HERESY — QUAKER  WOMEN   WHIPPED. 

iTlHE  "cold  Friday,"  which  aged  people  rememher 
•Ai  with  a  shudder,  occurred  January  19,  1810. 
The  mercury  ruus  lower  every  winter  than  it  run 
that  day ;  but  the  out-door  man,  in  this  country,  has 
never  seen  weather  more  severe  than  that  On  that 
day  a  harsh,  violent  wind  prevailed  from  morning  till 
night,  and  many  buildings  were  destroyed  by  it.  The 
cold  Friday  was  known  and  is  remembered  through- 
out the  New  England  states. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,   1810. 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-clork. 

For  Oovemor, 

John  Langdon,  181 

Jeremiah  Smith,  37 

• 

Bichard  Bartlett,  representative. 

Daniel  Bean,  ^ 

Moses  Annis,  >  Selectmen. 

David  Heath,) 


TOWN  RECORDS.  301 

Daniel  Bean  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel.  He  lived  at 
Waterloo,  and  was  largely  engaged  through  life  in 
running  mills  at  the  great  falls,  and  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  also  kept  tavern  in  the  very  house  now 
occupied  by  Dolphus  Bean,  from  1804  to  1829.  His 
first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Capt  Asa  Pattee,  and  his 
second,  a  Miss  Sibley,  of  Hopkinton.  His  sons  were 
Daniel^  Jr.,  William  H.,  Stephen  S.,  and  Dolphus  S. ; 
and  his  daughters  were  Mrs.  Andrews,  Mrs.  Kimball, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Eaton,  of  Bristol,  Mrs.  Nathan  Martin,  Mrs. 
A.  G.  Haines,  and  Mrs.  N.  G.  Ordway.  Mr.  Bean  died 
in  April,  1855,  aged  81. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1811. 

Kichard  Bartlett,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

,FoT  Oovemor. 

Jol^n  Langdon,  192 

Jeremiah  Smith,  46 

Richard  Bartlett,  representative. 

David  Heath,  J 

Daniel  Bean,   \  Selectmen* 

Moses  AnniSf   ) 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1812. 

Richard  Bartlett,  moderator. 
David  Heath,  town-clerk. 

JF'or  Oavemor. 

WiUiam  Plumer,  160 

John  T.  Gilman,  73 


802  SI8T0BT  OF  WjLRKER. 

Benjamin  Evans,  representatiye. 

Jacob  Collins,    \ 

Darid  Heath,    V  Selectmen. 

Bichard  Straw,) 

The  town  records  are  now  kept  very  accurately. 
Dea.  Heath  is  a  fair  penman  and  a  good  scholar. 

WAR  OF  1812. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Warner  met  accord- 
ing to  warning,  August  24, 1812,  chose  Richard  Bstt- 
lett,  moderator,  and  took  action  as  follows : 

Whereas  by  an  act  of  Congress  of  the  United  States  passed 
April  10,  .1812,  it  is  among  other  things  declared  that  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  be  authorized  to  require  of  the  Execo- 
tiyes  of  the  several  States  and  Territories  to  take  effectual  meas- 
nzes  to  organize  and  equip  according  to  law  and  hold  in  readiness 
to  march  at  a  moment's  warning  their  respective  proportions  of 
100,000  Militia,  it  is  also  declared  that  said  detached  militia  shall 
not  be  compelled  to  serve  a  longer  time  than  six  months  after 
the  J  arrive  to  the  place  of  rendezvous — 

Therefore  Voted  that  the  town  of  Warner  pay  or  cause  to  be 
paid  to  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  belonging  to 
said  town  who  are  liable  by  said  Act  of  Congress  to'  be  called 
upon,  the  sum  of  five  dollars  for  each  and  every  month  they  shall 
actually  be  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  according  to  said 
Act,  and  the  sum  of  two  dollars  when  ordered  to  march. 

The  two  dollars  for  pocket-money,  and  the  five 
dollars  per  month  in  addition  to  the  regular  govern- 
ment pay  of  the  soldier,  was  a  very  handsome  bounty. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1813. 

James  Flanders,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  803 

For  Chvernwr. 

John  Tavlor  Oilman,  81 

William  Plumer,  199 

Bichard  Bartlett,  representatiye. 

Jacob  Collins,       \ 

Henry  B.  Chase,  >  Selectmen* 

Abner  Flanders,    ) 

Voted  that  Nathaniel  Bean  pole  off  to  the  north  Village  School 
District  for  the  futer. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  Should  Converse  with  John  O.  Bal- 
lard concerning  the  Support  of  his  farther  for  the  futer  and  See 
if  it  is  not  his  Bight  by  Law  to  Support  him.  * 

Abner  Flanders,  one  of  the  selectmen,  was  another 
of  the  sons  of  James.  He  removed  to  Vermont  when 
quite  a  young  man,  and  there  settled.  He  was  sev- 
eral years  a  representative  in  the  legislature  of  that 
state,  from  his  adopted  town,  Hyde  Park, 

REV.  JOHN  WOODS. 

At  a  legal  town  meeting,  held  Oct.  8, 1813, — 

Voted  to  Joine  with  the  Church  in  this  town  in  Giveing  Mr, 
John  Woods  a  call  to  Settle  in  the  minestry  in  this  town. 

Voted  to  Give  Mr.  Woods  300  Dollars  annually  for  his  Services 
as  a  minester  in  this  town. 

Here  is  a  cordial  indorsement  of  the  young  minis- 
ter, but  for  some  unknown  cause  the  town  "  soured 
on  him  "  just  three  weeks  after  the  above  votes  were 
passed. 

At  a  meeting,  held  Nov.  1st,  the  vote  giving  to  Mr. 


804  HISTOBT  OF  WARHEB. 

Woods  $300  annually  was  reconsidered  ;  and  at  th^ 
same  time  the  town  voted  not  to  give  him  the  inter- 
est on  the  parsonage  money,  amounting  to  twenty- 
two  dollars  and  a  half  annually. 

In  this  connection  the  following  record  should  be 
presented.  The  bad  orthography  and  the  grammat- 
ical blunders  are  attributable  to  the  town-clerk. 

December  1813,  then  peorsonely  apeared  philip  flandeis  Jun. 
and  Graye  his  Desent  against  the  Settlement  of  Mr.  John  woods 
as  a  minister  in  this  town. 

Notwithstanding  these  hostile  indications,  Rev.  Mr. 
Woods  came  on  according  to  agreement  He  was 
ordained  June  22,  1814,  one  of  the  hottest  June  days 
ever  known.  He  remained  in  Warner  till  1823.  [See 
Ecclesiastical  History.] 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1814. 

Thomas  Annia,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-clerk. 

FcT  Oovemor, 

John  T.  Gilman,  82 

WiUiam  Plumer,  232 

Benjamin  Evans,  representative. 

Thomas  Hackett,  '\ 

Ahner  Flanders,    >  Selectmen. 

Bichard  Straw,      ) 

Thomas  Hackett,  senior,  lived  on  the  Tory  Hill 
road,  near  where  Richard  B.  AVhittier  now  resides, 
perhaps  on  the  exact  spot.    The  second  Thomas  (who 


TOWN  BECORDS.  805 

was  the  selectman)  was  a  son  of  the  first  He  lived 
a  number  of  years  at  the  McAIpine  place.  While  in 
Warner  he  drew  a  thousand-dollar  prize  in  a  lottery, 
and  in  him  was  verified,  for  the  millionth  time,  the 
adage,  ^It  is  easier  to  stand  adversity  than  pros- 
perity." 

ANNCAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1816. 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
David  Baglev,  town-derk. 

For  Governor, 

John  T.  Gilman,  70 

William"  Plumer,  229 

Philip  Flanders,  representative. 

Eichard  Straw,     ^ 

Thomas  Hackett,  v  Selectmen. 

Moses  Annis,       ) 

Voted  that  no  horse  nor  Cattle  Shall  he  alowed  to  run  at  Large 
on  the  highway  in  thid  town  from  the  first  daj  of  December  tel 
the  Last  Day  of  march  under  the  penalty  of  paying  25  cents  per 
head  one  half  to  complainer  the  other  to  use  of  the  town  for  every 
offence. 

[Unless  there  has  been  a  radical  change  in  the 
seasons,  there  must  have  been  some  blunder  about 
the  above  vote.] 

Philip  Flanders,  representative,  was  a  brother  to 
James,  Daniel,  and  Christopher.  He  lived,  as  stated 
elsewhere,  at  the  Elm  farm. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S16.         • 

Thomas  Annis,  moderator. 
David  Baglej,  town-dork. 


806  HI8I0BT  OF 


For  ChwrnjOT. 

William  Plainer,  240 

James  Sheafe,  65 

Henry  B.  Chase,  representatiye. 

Benjamin  Evans,  \ 

Thomas  Hackett,  \  Selectmen. 

Moses  AnniS|        ) 

Voted  to  receire  Jonathan  Watkins  and  the  farm  he  lives  on  if 
the  Same  shall  be  anexed  to  the  town  of  Warner  by  an  act  of  the 
Qeneral  Coart. 

Voted  to  receive  the  land  owned  by  Thaddeos  Hardy  if  anexed 
on  to  wamer  by  an  act  of  the  General  coart 

A  COLD  SEASON. 

The  summer  of  1816  was  cold  and  unfruitful.  On 
inauguration  day,  in  June,  there  was  snow  to  the 
depth  of  four  inches  on  a  level.  Not  a  month  in  the 
whole  season  escaped  the  frost,  and  the  corn-crop,  as 
w'ell  as  certain  other  crops,  was  substantially  de- 
stroyed. There  was  great  scarcity  in  the  country, 
and  much  sufTering  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1816 
and  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  1817.  Com, 
which  in  productive  seasons  sold  for  fifty  cents  a 
bushel;  would  now  bring  three  dollars,  and  there  was 
almost  none  to  be  had  at  that. 

It  was  probably  at  this  time  that  Isaac  Dalton, 
who  was  afterwards  for  many  years  a  deacon  in  the 
CJongregational  church,  inquired  of  Enoch  Morrill,  a 
brother  church-member,  at  the  close  of  the  services 


one  Sabbath  day,  if  he  could  spare  him  a  bushel  of 
com.  **  Ask  me  to-morrow,"  said  Morrill,  **  and  I  will 
tell  you."  No  more  was  said.  On  Monday  morning, 
Dalton,  who  lived  at  the  Levi  0.  Colby  place,  trudged 
off  over  to  Morrill's,  on  Pumpkin  Hill,  a  distance  of 
four  miles,  with  a  bag  under  his  arm,  and  said,  ^I 
have  come  to  see  if  you  could  spare  me  that  com  I 
spoke  to  you  about  yesterday."  ^  I  have  no  com  to 
sell,"  was  the  unexpected  reply ;  ^  and  I  answered  you 
as  I  did,  that  you  might  learn  to  remember  the  Sab- 
bath day  and  keep  it  holy." 

Such  people  may  have  been  conscientious,  but  their 
influence  and  example  were  hurtful.  Their  religious 
beliefs  were  harsh  and  unrelenting,  their  visages  were 
austere  and  sour,  and  boys  and  girls  habitually. shmi- 
ned  these  **  vessels  of  vinegar  on  the  highway  to 
heaven." 

The  summer  of  1816  was  very  discouraging  to  the 
farmers  and  people  of  Warner.  Indeed,  it  was  so  to 
the  whole  of  New  England,  but  the  spring  of  1817 
opened  auspiciously.  The  season  was  a  remarkably 
productive  one,  and  every  man  could  say  to  his 
neighbor, — ^"For  the  pastures  of  the  wilderness  do 
spring,  for  the  tree  beareth  her  fruit,  the  fig-tree  and 
the  vine  do  yield  their  strength." 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1817. 

Aquila  Davis,  moderator. 
Dayid  Baglej,  town-clerk. 


808  HI8I0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

Far  Ghvenwr. 

William  Plamer,  241 

James  Sheafe,  49 

Henxj  B.  Chase,  ropresentatire. 

James  .B^&n,     \ 

Bichard  Straw,  >  Selectmen. 

Beuben  Porter,  ) 

Voted  to  Discontinue  the  road  from  the  Gide  post  near  Joseph 
currier's  a  crost  the  river  to  the  Gide  post  Southerly  of  Buring 
Grround  to  the  road  Leading  to  hiniker. 

Capt.  Joseph  Smith  was  chosen  Collector  of  taxes  at  one  cent 
and  nine  mills  on  the  Dollar. 

James  Bean  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel,  who  settled  on 
Pumpkin  Hill.  He  was  born  May,  1785,  and  he  al- 
ways resided  in  town.  He  died  at  the  age  of  45.  No 
sons  of  his,  but  four  daughters,  are  now  livirtg,  viz., 
Mrs.  Tufts,  of  Medford,  Mass.,  Mrs.  Ira  Harvey,  Mrs. 
Geo.  T.  Watkins,  of  Kansas,  and  Mrs.  Geo.  S.  RowelL 

Reuben  Porter  was  from  Weymouth,  Mass.,  where 
he  was  bom  about  1790.  He  came  to  Warner  in 
1812,  and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Moses  Long,  who  was  then  at  the  Centre  Village.  He 
abandoned  that  study  to  engage  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness. Subsequently  he  went  to  North  Sutton,  where 
he  had  a  large  farm  to  care  for  and  cultivate.  He 
served  several  years,  both  in  Warner  and  Sutton,  as 
selectman ;  also  served  as  representative  from  Sutton, 
and  as  senator  for  old  District  No.  8,  in  1834  and 
1835.  lie  recently  returned  with  his  family  to  War- 
ner, and  is  now  living,  at  the  age  of  nearly  90. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  809 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MAECH«  1818. 

Benjamin  Evans,  moderator. 
David  Bagley,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

William  Flumer,  262 

Scattering,  34 

Benjamin  Evans,  representatiye. 

James  Bean,  "^ 

Beuben  Porter,        V  Selectmen. 

Timothy  Flanders, ) 

Voted  that  Kiea  Sarge  Gore  Should  be  anexed  to  the  town  of 
Warner. 

Stephen  Cnrrier,  jr.,  Choosen  Collector  of  taxes  for  one  cent 
and  four  mills  on  the  dol.  ' 

The  Gore  was  annexed  to  Warner  by  act  of  the 
legislature  at  the  June  session  of  1818. 

Timothy  Flanders  was  another  of  the  sons  of  James. 
He  lived  (certainly  for  many  years)  at  Melvin's  Mills, 
and  died  there  some  thirty  years  ago. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S19. 

Kichard  Bartlett,  moderator. 
David  Baglejy  town-clerk. 

FcT  Governor. 

Samuel  Bell,  185 

William  Hale,  64 

Benjamin  Evaus,  representative. 

James  Bean,     "^ 

Keuben  Porter,  >  Selectmen. 

Bicbard  Straw,  j 


SIO  HI9T0BT  OF  WARNER^  ^ 

Voted  that  the  easterly  part  that  is  below  thomases  pond  so 
cold  of  the  School  District  no.  one  Should  be  Sot  off  to  a  School 
District  by  them  Selves. 

This  was  the  establishment  of  the  Davisville  school 
district  The  inhabitants  of  Davisville  had,  prior  to 
this,  belonged  to  the  Dimond's  Comer  district. 

Jonathan  Emerson  was  appointed  to  collect  the 
taxes  at  one  cent  and  four  mills  on  the  dollar. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  August  21, 1819, — 

Voted  that  the  road  from  wells  Davises  to  Nathaniel  Bean's  be 
Discontinuard  as  a  publick  road  for  the  present  but  to  be  pasable 
by  Gats  and  Bars  for  the  present. 

MASONIC. 

A  lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  called  "War- 
ner Lodge,  No.  35,"  was  organized  in  1819.  As  its 
hall,  furniture,  records,  &c.,  were  destroyed  by  fire  in 
May,  1849,  and  the  lodge  thereafter  soon  ceased  to 
exist,  but  little  is  known  of  its  history  or  its  work. 
It  had  upon  its  rolls  the  names  of  many  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  town.  Among  its  officers,  during  the 
period  of  its  existence,  were  Aquila  Davis,  Henry  6. 
Chase,  Henry  Lyman,  Stephen  Putney,  Joshua  Saw- 
yer, James  Bean,  Thomas  R  White,  Nathaniel  Davis, 
H.  G.  Harris,  Caleb  Buswell,  Noah  T.  Andrews,  Abner 
B.  Kelley,  Isaac  Gould,  Zebulon  Davis,  Daniel  Wat- 
son, Isaac  Dal  ton,  Daniel  Runnels,  Nicholas  Fowler, 
Richard  Bartlett,  Nicodemus  Watson,  Abner  Wat- 
kins,  Chase  Fowler,  James  Allison,  Ithamar  Watson, 
David  Harvey,  Joseph  Clough,  and  others. 


To  show  the  standing  of  this  lodge  while  it  had  an 
existence,  the  following  extract  from  the  report  of  a 
^  visiting  brother,"  is  presented. 

1842.    I  went  to  Warner  in  December  last,  where  I  found  a 

^ood  number  of  brethren  assembled.     Warner  Lodge  is  not,  per- 

liaps,  second  to  any  lodge  in  point  of  respectability,  under  the 

jurisdiction  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 

Samuel  Jones, 

D.  D.  G.  M. 

J^armation  of  Harris  Lodgt^  No.  91,  F.  and  A,  JIf,  Warner^ 

New  Hampshire. 

A  petition,  signed  by  Gilmau  C.  George,  Alonzo  C. 
Carroll,  Wesley  R.  Leversee,  Wm.  W.  Davis,  Samuel 
Davis,  James  G.  Ela,  John  R  Cogswell,  Garland  Cale^ 
Hiram  Buswell,  Augustus  K.  Putnam,  C.  G.  McAlpine, 
Philip  C.  Wheeler,  Frank  W.  Graves,  John  R  Robert- 
son, Lemuel  Willis,  Stephen  W.  Davis,  Zebulon  Davis, 
Rufus  Rand,  Philip  C.  Bean,  and  N.  G.  Ordway,  was 
presented  to  the  M.  W.  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, at  its  Annual  Communication  in  May,  1875, 
praying  for  a  charter  for  a  lodge  at  Warner,  to  be 
named  Harris  Lodge j  which  petition  was  granted. 

September  30th,  1875,  the  lodge  was  constituted, 
consecrated,  and  its  officers  installed  by  the  Most 
Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Hampshire,  at  the 
town  hall.  The  ceremonies  were  performed  by  R 
W.  Bro.  Solon  A.  Carter,  M.  W.  Grand  Master. 

The  ladies  who  furnished  the  collation,  and  others, 
about  one  hundred  in  number,  were  present  by  special 
invitation. 


812  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  installed 
officers  of  Harris  Lodge : 

Gilman  C.  George,  Master. 
Wesley  B.  Leversee,  Senior  WardeD. 
Philip  C.  Wheeler,  Junior  Warden. 
Alpnzo  C.  Carroll,  Treasurer. 
James  O.  £la,  Secretary. 
Augustus  B.  Pitman,  Senior  Deacon. 
John  B.  Cogswell,  Junior  Warden. 
Bev.  Lemuel  Willis,  Chaplain. 
Frank  W.  Graves,  Marshal. 
Samuel  Davis,  Senior  Steward. 
Stephen  W.  Davis,  Junior  Steward. 
Wm.  W.  Davis,  Tyler. 

September  J  1S76. 
Elected.  AppaitUed. 

Gilman  C.  George,  W.  M.  Fred.  Bean,  S.  D. 

Benjamin  F.  Heath,  S.  W.  J.  B.  Cogswell,  J.  D. 

Samuel  Davis,  J.  W.  S.  W.  Davis,  S.  S. 

AlOnzo  C.  Carroll,  T.  Henry  C.  Davis,  J.  S. 

James  G.  Ela,  S.  Philip  M.  Wheeler,  Tyler. 

Philip  C.  Wheeler,  Bep.  to  Lemuel  Willis,  Chaplain. 

Grand  Lodge.  A.  B.  Putnam,  Marshal 

October,  2877. 
Elected.  Appointed 

G.  C.  George,  W.  3L  Fred.  Bean,  S.  D. 

Philip  C.  Wheeler,  S.  W.  Charles  C.  Cole,  J.  D. 

J.  B.  Cogswell,  J.  W.  Henry  C.  Davis,  S.  S. 

A.  C.  Carroll,  T.  Philip  F.  Clough,  J.  S. 
James  G.  Ela,  S.  Samuel  Davis,  Marshal, 

B.  F.  Heath,  Bep.  to  G.  L.  Lemuel  Willis,  Chaplain. 

Warren  C.  Johnson,  Tyler. 

October,  1878. 

Elected.  Appointed. 

G.  C.  George,  W.  :^L  C.  C.  Cole,  S.  D. 

A.  B.  Putnam,  S.  W.  Wm.  W.  Burbank,  J.  D. 


'iotypc  Prinlin:  Cn. ,  Ihuum. 


GIUIAN  C.  GEORGE.  313 

W.  Scott  D^vis,  J.  W.  Edgar  W.  Stevens,'  S.  S. 

A.  C.  Carroll,  T.  Moses  H.  Eoby,  J.  S. 

James  O.  Ela,  Si  Philip  F.  Clough,  Chaplain. 

J.  B.  Cogswell,  Rep.  to  G.  L.     Samuel  Dn\*is,  [Marshal. 

Fred.  W.  Davis,  Tyler. 

GiLMAN  C.  George.  William  George,  an  English- 
man,  settled  at  Lynn  in  1637.  James  George  is  found 
in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1653,  Richard  in  Bos- 
ton in  1655,  and  John  in  Charlestown  in  1657.  It  is 
probable  that  one  of  these  was  the  ancestor  of  Gilman 
C.  George,  who  was  a  son*  of  James  and  Hannah 
(Church)  George,  and  a  grandson  of  Dea.  Austin 
George.  Born  in  Dunbarton,  Oct.  10, 1820,  Gilman 
C.  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  good  common-school^ 
and  subsequently  of  an  academic  course  of  study  at 
Hopkinton  and  "Franklin.  He  taught  school  several 
winters.  The  family  removed  to  Warner  in  March, 
1840,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Ira  P.  Whittier. 

January  23,  1844,  Mr.  George  married  Nancy, 
daughter  of  Elliot  C.  and  Judith  (Sawyer)  Badger. 
H.  Maria,  Adelaide  B.,  Ambrose  (who  died  in  infancy), 
Frank  G.,  and  Nellie  F.  are  the  children  who  have 
been  born  to  this  couple.  In  1859  (after  the  death 
of  his  parents)  Mr.  George  sold  his  farm  and  removed 
to  Warner  Village.  Here  he  carried  on  the  stove  and 
tin  ware  business  till  January,  1870,  when  he  was 
elected  cashier  of  the  Keursarge  National  Bank.  In 
1874  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  Kearsarge  Sav- 
ings Bank,  which  two  positions  he  still  holds. 


814  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

He  was  a  captain  in  the  state  militia  in  1843  and 
1844,  and  was  town-clerk  in  1808,  '69,  70,  and  71. 
He  is  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  a  notary  public ;  also, 
an  active  member  of  Warner  Grange,  and  of  the  Or- 
der of  Sons  of  Temperance.  He  has  been  Worship- 
ful Master  of  Harris  Lodge,  No.  91,  continuously  since 
its  organization  in  1875. 

DIVORCE  OF  CHURCH   AND  STATE. 

The  year  1819  was  an  epoch  in  the  religious  his- 
tory of  New  Hampshire.  The  Toleration  Act,  so 
called,  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  that  year,  and 
approved  July  1, 1819.  The  vital  part  of  that  act 
here  follows : 

Provided,  that  no  person  shall  be  compelled  to  join  or  support, 
or  be  classed  with,  or  associated  to  any  congregation,  church,  or 
religious  society,  without  his  express  consent  first  had  and  ob- 
tained ; 

Provided,  also,  if  any  person  shall  choose  to  separate  himself 
from  such  society  or  association  to  which  he  may  belong,  and 
shall  leave  a  written  notice  thereof  with  the  clerk  of  such  society 
or  association,  he  shall  thereupon  be  no  longer  liable  for  any  fu- 
ture expenses  which  may  be  incurred  by  said  society  or  associa- 
tion. 

The  public  mind  had  long  been  getting  restive  un- 
der the  compulsory  support  of  the  ministry,  and  this 
act  was  simply  the  outgrowth  of  a  strong,  predom- 
inating sentiment.  It  put  an  end  to  all  town  action 
relative  to  the  support  of  the  church,  and  to  all  irk- 
some taxation  levied  on  an  unwilling  people,  but  it 


HERESIE.  815 

<]id  not  diminish   the  amount  contributed  for  the 
maintenance  of  public  worship. 

To  show  something  of  the  growth  of  religious  tol- 
erance^  a  few  sections  are  here  introduced  from  a  stat- 
ute on  heresy y  passed  at  an  early  day  in  Massachu- 
setta 

HERESIE. 

« Although  no  Human  Power  is  Lord  over  the  faith  and  con- 
sciences of  men,  yet  to  avoid  damnable  Heresies,  tending  to  the 
subverting  the  Christian  Faith  spreading  among  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  Jurisdiction,  'tis  enacted  that  if  any  person  within  this 
Jurisdiction  shall  broach  and  maintain  any  Damnable  Heresies, 
as  denying  the  Immortality  of  the  Soul,  or  the  Resurrection  of 
the  Body,  or  any  sin  to  be  repented  of  in  the  regenerate,  or  any 
evil  to  be  done  by  the  outward  man  to  be  accounted  sin,  or  shall 
deny  that  Christ  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  our  sins,  or  shall  af* 
firm  that  we  are  not  justified  by  his  Death  and  Itighteousness, 
but  by  our  own  Merit ;  or  shall  deny  the  morality  of  the  4th 
Commandment,  or  shall  openly  condemn  or  oppose  the  Baptizing 
of  Infants,  or  shall  purposely  depart  the  Congregation  at  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Ordinance  of  Baptism,  or  shall  deny  the  Ordi- 
nance of  ^lagistracy,  or  their  lawful  authority  to  make  War  and 
Peace,  and  to  punish  the  outward  Breaches  of  the  first  Table,  or 
shall  endeavor  to  seduce  others  to  any  of  those  opinions,  every 
such  person  lawfully  convicted  shall  be  Banished  this  Jurisdic- 
tion. 

If  an  offender  after  said  Conviction,  or  Becantation  shall  com- 
mit the  same  offence  a  second  time,  he  shall  be  Banished  or  put 
to  Death  as  the  Court  shall  direct. 

Blasphemous  Books  of  John  Veers  or  JLodoxcick  Muggleton  to 
be  delivered  to  the  next  ^lagistratc  on  penalty  of  ten  pounds  for 
ever}*^  Book  found,  half  to  tlie  Count}'  and  half  to  the  Informer. 

All  the  Books  found  in  any  person's  custody  to  be  burnt  by  the 
Hangman  the  next  Lecture*day. 

No  Master  of  any  Vessel  may  bring  any  Quaker  or  other  B]a»* 
phemous  Heretick  into  this  County  on  penalty  of  one  hundred 
21 


816  •  HI8T0BY  OF  WARNER. 

pounds  to  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer,  and  give  secnritj  to  carry  the 
persons  back  again,  and  to  lie  in  Prison  till  the  Fine  be  paid  and 
Security  given. 

Persons  concealing  such  Quaker  or  Blasphemous  Heretick, 
knowing  them  to  be  such,  on  Conviction  shall  pay  40s  an  hour  for 
such  concealment,  and  shall  lie  in  Prison  till  the  Fine  be  paid. 

Quakers,  not  Inhabitants,  may  be  apprehended  by  any  Consta- 
ble  or  Select-man,  and  conveyed  from  Constable  to  Constable  till 
they  are  brought  before  a  ^lagistrate,  who  shall  commit  them  to 
Prison  without  Bail  till  the  next  Court  of  Assistants,  when  they 
•hall  be  tryed  by  a  special  jury,  and  being  convicted  shall  be  Ban- 
ished, not  to  return  on  pain  of  Death. 

Wandering,  Vagabond  Quakers,  having  no  dwelling  nor  appar- 
ent business  but  to  seduce  others  to  their  opinion,  shall  be  whipt 
at  the  Cart's  Tail  through  the  Town  where  they  are  apprehended, 
and  then  be  conveyed  from  Constable  to  Constable  till  they  are 
carried  through  the  last  town  in  the  Jurisdiction.  _ 

The  Constables  shall  disburse  the  Charges  in  apprehending, 
whipping  and  passing  of  Quakers,  to  be  repaid  by  the  Treasurer 
out  of  the  next  County  rates,  and  Constables  may  impress  Carts, 
Horses,  Oxen,  or  Men  for  the  execution  of  this  Law. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  state  that  these  laws,  and  such  as 
these,  were  never  enacted  on  New  Hampshire  soil ; 
,but  New  Hampshire  belonged  to  the  jurisdiction  of 
Massachusetts,  and  it  is  humiliation  enough  to  know 
that  her  soil  has  been  disgraced  by  the  execution  of 
.  8uch  laws  upon  it 

QUAKER  WOMEN  WHIPPED. 

In  December,  1662,  three  Quaker  women  were 
publicly  whipped  in  New  Hampshire.  In  the  depth 
of  winter,  the  constables  were  ordered  to  strip  them 
and  tie  them  to  a  cart ;  then  to  drive  the  cart  and 


QUAKER  WOMEN  WHIPPED.  817 

^vrhip  these  three  women  through  eleven  towns,  with 
t;en  stripes  apiece  in  each  town.     The  route  lay 
through  Dover,  Hampton,  Salisbury,  Newbury,  Row- 
ley, Ipswich,  Wenham,  Ljmn,  Boston,  Roxbury,  and 
JDedham,  a  distance   of  eighty  miles.     They  were 
ivhipped  at  Dover  and  Hampton,  and  then  marched 
^  through  dirt  and  snow,  half-leg  deep,"  in  a  very  cold 
day,  to  Salisbury,  and  there  whipped  again.     They 
would  probably  have  fallen  dead  long  before  reaching 
the  end  of  the  journey,  but  at  Salisbury  they  were 
happily   released.     Walter  Barefoot  persuaded  the 
constable  to  make  him  his  deputy,  and  having  re- 
ceived the  warrant,  he  set  them  at  liberty,  and  they 
returned  to  Dover. 


OHAPTEE  XXIII. 

TOWK  RECORDS — THE  TORNADO. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1820. 

Benjamin  Erans,  moderator. 
David  Bagleji  town-clerk. 

For  OwsemoTj 
Samuel  Bell,  234 

Bicbard  Bartlett,  representative. 

Bichard  Bartlett,   \ 

Reuben  Porter,       >  Selectmen. 

Timothy  Flanders, ) 

The  support  of  the  town's  poor  (there  being  eleven 
persons)  was  sold  to  the  lowest  bidder.  The  prices 
ran  from  22  to  79  cents  per  week. 

The  record  of  this  meeting  continues : 

Darid  Baglcy  Choosen  Collector  at  one  cent  and  seven  mills 
on  the  dollar. 

the  sense  of  Legal  voters  was  taken  Relative  to  forming  a  new 
County;  against  the  new  County  207 — in  favor  of  the  new 
County  35. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  182L 

James  Bean,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-clerk. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  819 

For  Oovemor, 

Samuel  Bell,  217 

David  L.  MorriU,  12 

James  Bean^  representative. 

James  Bean,  \ 

Timothy  Flanders,    >  Selectmen. 

Is'athaniel  Flanders^  ) 

The  support  of  the  poor  was  sold  to  the  lowest  bid- 
f3er,  one  person  being  put  up  at  a  time.  This  course 
y^ns  followed  several  years. 

Voted  that  no  swine  shall  he  allowed  to  go  at  large  in  the 
Elaine  road  from  Hopkinton  line  to  Sutton  and  Bradford  lines, 
^without  being  liable  to  be  impounded  by  Hogreeves. 

Abner  Woodman,  Jr.,  was  appointed  collector  of 
taxes. 

The  town  records  are  now  in  perfect  order;  the 
orthography  is  correct,  and  the  handwriting  faultless. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  the  new  town-clerk,  was  a  son  of  Rev. 
Wm.  Kelley,  the  first  minister  of  Warner.  He  was 
bom  March,  1788.  He  obtained  a  good  academic 
education,  and  when  a  young  man  he  was  considera- 
bly engaged  in  school-teaching.  After  his  marriage, 
he  lived  just  above  his  father,  near  the  Parade,  a  few 
years.  Subsequently  he  went  into  business  at  the 
Lower  Village,  where  J.  Noyes  Rand  now  resides. 
He  served  frequently  as  town-clerk  and  as  representa- 
tive of  the  town.  In  June,  1830,  he  was  elected  state 
treasurer,  and  he  held  that  office  six  years.    He  was 


820  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

afterwards  a  clerk  for  six  years  in  one  of  the  depart- 
ments at  Washington.  He  was  post-master  at  Warner 
from  1855  to  1861 ;  and  he  died  in  Warner,  January, 
1872,  aged  83  years. 

He  left  three  daughters,  viz.,  the  widow  of  Rev.  J. 
Wellman,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Peabody  of  Henniker,  and 
Miss  Lavinia  Kelley  of  Concord ;  also,  one  son,  Moses 
Kelley,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Flanders  was  a  son  of  Zebulon,  and 
the  oldest  of  a  large  family  of  children.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Dea.  Nehemiah  Heath.  He  always 
.  resided  within  half  a  mile  of  the  place  of  his  birth, 
where  he  died  at  a  good  old  age,  about  the  year  1860. 
Two  sons  and  one  daughter,  only,  survive  him,  viz., 
John  and  Nehemiah  Flanders,  of  Stewartstown,  and 
Mrs.  Keyser,  on  the  old  homestead. 

THE  TORNADO. 

High  winds  have  always  been  considered  one  of  the 
greatest  disparagements  to  a  country.  In  tropical 
climates  these  are  much  more  common  than  farther 
from  the  equator.  The  discoverers  of  that  part  of  the 
United  States,  then  called  North  Virginia,  which  now 
composes  New  England  and  the  states  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey,  in  speaking  of  its  natural  advantages 
to  the  Crown,  said,  that  by  the  appearance  of  the 
forests,  hurricanes  did  not  often  visit  the  land. 

Webster  says,  a  toniado  is  "  a  violent  gust  of  wind. 


or  a  tempest  distinguished  by  a  whirling  motion  f 
a.nd  Worcester  says,  *^  In  a  tornado^  the  wind  blows 
from  its  borders  towards  the  centre."  The  winged 
Tnessenger  of  death,  which  bore  down  through  Warner 
on  that  fatal  September  day  of  1821,  was  a  tornado, 
and  so  let  it  hereafter  be  forever  known. 

The  day  and  hour  when  this  visitation  occurred,  in 
Warner,  was  Sunday,  September  9,  1821,  about  five 
o'clock  in  the  aflemoon.  The  8th  and  9th  were  warm 
days:  the  latter  was  stiUry.  About  five  o'clock  a 
black  cloud  was  observed  to  rise  rapidly  in  the  north- 
west, and  to  bear  south-easterly,  illumined  in  its 
course  by  incessant  flashes  of  lightning.  There  was  a 
most  terrifying  commotion  in  the  cloud  itself,  which 
gave  warning  of  fearful  desolation.  A  high  wind  pre- 
vailed as  far  back  as  Lake  Cbamplain,  but  the  tornado 
acquired  no  destructive  force  till  it  passed  over  Gran- 
tham mountains.  In  Crovdon  the  house  of  Deacon 
Cooper  was  shattered,  and  his  bam,  with  its  contents, 
was  entirely  swept  away.  No  other  buildings  were 
directly  in  its  narrow  path,  till  it  nearly  reached  Sun- 
apee  lake.  Here  it  came  in  contact  with  the  farm 
and  buildings  of  John  Harvey  Huntoon,  of  Wendell, 
now  Sunapee.  There  were  eight  persons  in  the 
house.  They  had  beheld  the  frightful  appearance  of 
the  cloud ;  had  seen  the  air  before  it  filled  with  birds, 
and  broken  limbs  of  trees,  and  rubbish  of  all  kinds ; 
but  there  had  not  been  much  time  for  reflection  or 


822  HISTORY  OF  WAHNER. 

for  seeking  safety.  The  tornado,  afler  a  moment's 
warning,  was  upon  them,  and  the  house  and  the  two 
bams  were  instantly  prostrated  to  the  ground.  A 
broadside  of  the  house  fell  upon  Mr.  Huntoon  and  his 
wife,  who  were  standing  in  the  kitchen.  The  next 
moment  it  was  blown  off  and  dashed  to  pieces.  Mrs. 
Huntoon  was  swept  at  least  ten  rods  from  the  house. 
A  child  eleven  months  old  was  sleeping  on  a  bed  in 
the  west  room :  the  dress  it  wore  was  soon  after  found 
in  the  lake,  a  hundred  and  fifty  rods  from  the  house. 
The  child  could  not  be  found.  The  Wednesday  fol- 
lowing, its  mangled  body  was  picked  up  on  the  shore 
of  the  lake,  whither  it  had  floated  on  the  waves.  The 
bedstead  on  which  the  child  was  sleeping  was  found 
in  the  woods,  eighty  rods  from  the  house,  northerly, 
and  clear  out  of  the  general  track  of  the  cyclone. 
The  other  seven  persons  of  the  household  were  in- 
jured, but  none  of  them  died.  Every  tree  on  a  forty- 
acre  lot  of  woodland  was  levelled  to  the  ground.  A 
bureau  was  blown  across  the  lake.  A  horse  was 
dashed  against  the  rocks  and  killed. 

The  tornado  passed  across  Sunapee  lake,  drawing 
up  into  its  bosom  vast  quantities  of  water.  New  Lon- 
don suffered  a  loss  of  property  estimated  at  §9,000. 
Eight  or  ten  barns,  five  or  six  houses,  and  many  out- 
buildings were  entirely  or  partially  destroyed  in  that 
town.  From  New  London  the  tornado  passed  acrass 
the  northerly  part  of  Sutton,  cutting  a  swath  through 


THE  TORNADO.  S23 

the  forests  which  is  visible  to  this  day,  but  coming  in 
contact  with  no  buildings.  It  then  bore  up  the  north- 
west side  of  Kearsarge  mountain,  apparently  in  two 
columns.  In  pitching  do\vn  over  the  mountain  into 
the  Gore,  the  two  columns  merged  into  one,  and 
came  with  crushing  force.  The  thunders  rolled  fear- 
fully, the  forked  lightning  flashed  on  the  dark  back- 
ground,  and  the  flood  was  driven  with  the  gale.  In 
this  valley,  between  the  two '  spurs  of  the  mountain, 
stood  seven  dwelling-houses.  The  tornado  first  struck 
the  barn  of  William  Harwood,  and  demolished  that; 
passing  onward,  its  outer  limits  came  in  contact  with 
the  houses  of  M.  F.  Goodwin,  James  Ferrin,  and  Ab- 
ner  Watkins.  All  of  these  houses  were  damaged: 
Ferrin's  barn  was  destroyed,  and  Watkins's  unroofed. 
Next  in  the  line  of  march  stood  Daniel  Savory*8 
house.  Hearing  a  frightful  rumbling  in  the  heavens, 
Mr.  Samuel  Savory,  aged  72,  the  father  of  the  propri- 
etor (who  was  away),  hastened  up  stairs  to  close  the 
windows.  The  women  started  to  his  assistance,  when 
the  house  whirled  and  instantly  rose  above  their 
heads,  while  what  was  left  behind, — timbers,  bricks, 
etc., — almost  literally  buried  six  of  the  family  in  the 
ruins.  The  body  of  the  aged  Samuel  Savory  was 
found  at  a  distance  of  six  rods  from  the  house,  where 
he  had  been  dashed  against  a  stone  and  instantly 
killed.  His  wife  was  severely  injured.  Mrs.  Daniel 
Savory  was  fearfully  bruised  on  the  head,  arms,  and 


824'  HISTOBT  OF  WABNER. 

■ 

breast,  and  an  infant  which  she  held  in  her  arms  was 
killed  The  house  of  Robert  Savory  stood  very  near 
this  place,  and  that,  also,  was  utterly  demolished. 
Mrs.  Savory  and  the  children  (six  in  number)  were 
buried  together  under  the  bricks  and  rubbish.  Some 
of  them  were  severely  injured,  but  none  killed.  Not 
only  the  houses,  but  the  barns  and  outbuildings  at 
the  two  Savory  places,  were  utterly  cleaned  out  Not 
one  stone  was  led  upon  another.  Trees,  fences,  shin- 
gles, the  legs,  wings,  and  heads  of  fowls,  filled  the  air. 
Crops  were  swept  oflf  clean ;  stones  pai-tly  buried  in 
the  earth  were  overturned  ;  trees  of  every  description 
were  denuded  of  their  branches,  or  twisted  off  at  the 
trunk,  or  torn  up  by  the  roots.  There  were  twenty- 
four  hives  of  bees  at  the  Robert  Savory  place, — per- 
haps the  property  of  both  families :  these  were  swept 
out  of  sight  in  an  instant  The  ground  was  sweetened 
with  honey  for  half  a  mile,  but  no  hive  and  no  sign 
of  a  bee  has  since  been  seen.  The  Savorys  and  Ab- 
ner  Watkins  had  caught  a  noble  old  bear  on  the 
mountain,  and  had  chained  him  to  a  sill  of  Robert 
Savory's  barn,  intending  to  exhibit  him  at  the  muster, 
which  occurred  the  10th  day  of  September,  back  of 
George  Savory's  present  house.  Though  the  barn 
was  entirely  destroyed  to  its  foundation,  the  sill  to 
which  the  bear  was  chained  being  a  cross-sill,  and 
bedded  into  the  ground,  remained  in  its  place,  and 
the  bear  was  unhurt  But  he  was  not  exhibited  the 
next  day  on  the  muster-field. 


THE  TORNADO.  325 

John  Palmer,  who  lived  up  to  the  eastward  of  the 
Savorys  a  third  of  a  mile,  saw  the  terrible  cloud,  in 
shape  like  an  inverted  tunnel.  He  saw  the  air  filled 
with  leaves,  limbs,  quilts,  clothing,  crockery,  and 
almost  every  conceivable  thing.  He  heard  the  omi- 
nous rumbling,  and  sprang  to  enter  the  house  with 
the  purpose  of  fleeing,  with  his  wife,  to  the  cellar. 
He  got  the  door  but  partly  open,  when  the  house 
gave  wa}',  burying  Mrs.  Palmer  under  the  rubbiflh, 
and  inflicting  serious  injuries.  In  this  valley  between 
the  hills,  everything  in  the  direct  course  of  the  tor- 
nado was  rooted  out  Bridges  made  of  logs  were 
scattered  in  every  direction,  timbers  being  thrown  to 
the  right  and  left,  and  even  to  the  rear,  as  well  as  to 
the  front 

The  tornado  passed  on  over  the  next  spur  of  the 
mountain,  two  and  a  half  miles,  and  then  bore  down 
on  the  houses  of  Peter  Flanders  in  Warner,  and  of 
Dea.  Joseph  True,  just  in  the  edge  of  Salisbury. 
[Peter  Flanders  was  the  father  of  True  and  Oliver 
Flanders,  the  latter  of  whom  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead.] Dea.  TJrue  was  father-in-law  of  a  Mr.  Jones. 
Jones  and  his  wife  were  on  a  visit  at  True's.  Being  at 
the  door,  they  were  apprised  of  the  danger,  and  they 
called  out  lustily  to  the  family  to  seek  refuge  as  best 
they  could.  The  buildings  were  whirled  aloft  and 
torn  into  fragments,  falling  around  the  family  like 
missiles  of  death ;  but  no  one  at  this  house  was  killed 


826  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

outright  The  buildings  of  Mr.  Flanders,  also,  were 
scattered  like  chaff,  the  violence  of  the  gale  being 
unabated.  Anna  Richardson,  an  elderly  woman  living 
with  Mr.  Flanders,  and  a  child  of  the  latter,  were 
crushed  to  death.  Several  others  were  grievously 
wounded,  one  of  whom  (a  child  of  Mr.  True's)  died  a 
short  time  afterwards. 

From  here  this  remarkable  cyclone  passed  on  over 
Bagley's  pond,  drawing  up  vast  sheets  of  wafer  from 
its  surface,  and,  after  destroying  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Morrill,  near  Boscawen  line,  it  lifted  itself  into  the 
heavens  and  vanished. 

At  the  close  of  a  mass  meeting  which  the  writer 
addressed  at  Painesville,  Ohio,  in  1869,  an  old  gentle- 
man, to  appearance  bowed  with  sorrow,  came  forward 
and  made  himself  known  as  Mr.  Huntopn,  the  father 
of  the  child  that  was  destroyed  by  the  tornado.  He 
had  left  the  shores  of  Sunapee  and  the  marks  of  the 
desolation  of  1821,  forty  years  before  this,  and  had 
established  his  home  in  Ohio.  He  appeared  discon- 
solate and  care-worn  ;  but  he  has  no\V  gone  where  the 
inhabitant  doth  not  say, — 

^  I  am  sick,  and  I  am  weary." 


CHAPTER   XXIT. 

A    NEW  COUNTY — ^THB  NATIOX*S  GUEST — ^TOWN  RECORDS— CAT- 
TLE SHOW. 

AT  the  June  session  of  the  legislature  of  1821,  a 
resolution  was  adopted  directing  the  selectmen, 
in  the  several  towns  embraced  in  the  contemplated 
new  county  of  Merrimack,  to  insert  the  following 
article  in  the  warrants  for  the  next  annual  town 
meetings  : 

To  take  the  sense  of  the  legal  voters,  by  yeas  and  nays^  regard- 
ing the  expediency  of  erecting  a  new  County  in  this  State,  to  be- 
composed  of  the  following  towns,  viz. :  Allenstowu,  Bow,  Canter- 
bury, Concord,  Chichester,  Epsom,  Northfield,  Pembroke,  Loudon^ 
Pittsfield,  Andover,  Boscawen,  Bradford,  Dunbarton,  Fi&hersfield, 
Henniker,  Hopkintou,  New  London,  Salisbury,  Warner  and  Wil- 
mot :  Provided  some  one  town  near  the  centre  of  said  proposed 
new  county,  shall  furnish,  free  of  expense  to  the  county,  a  suiB- 
cient  Court  House  for  the  accommodation  of  the  courts  in  said 
proposed  new  county. 

In  March,  1822,  on  this  question,  the  vote  stood  : 


TEAS. 

STATS. 

AndoTer^ 

202 

6 

Boscawen, 

230 

9 

Canterbury, 

152 

8 

0 

Concord, 

622 

6 

Dnnbarton,  ° 

140 

18 

828  msTOBY  OF  wabnebI 


TKA.S. 

ITATS. 

Epsom, 

29 

63 

Hopkinton, 

3 

324 

Loudon, 

199 

5 

Pembroke, 

142 

53 

Salisbury, 

240 

19 

Allenstown, 

11 

56 

Bow, 

190 

6 

FisheTsfield, 

6 

86 

Henniker, 

4 

97 

New  London, 

8 

92 

Northfield, 

172 

2 

Sutton, 

3 

135 

Warner, 

41 

171 

No  returns  from  Bradford,  Wilmot,  or  Kttsfield, 
can  be  found ;  but  the  majority  for  the  new  county 
was  decisive.  For  some  reason,  however,  the  legisla- 
ture, at  its  next  session,  took  no  action  on  this  ques- 
tion. But,  by  act  of  the  legislature  at  the  June  ses- 
sion  of  1823,  the  county  of  Merrimack  was  created. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1822. 

Benjamin  Erans,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-clerk. 

For  Qovemor, 
Samuel  Bell,  160 

Voted  to  send  two  representatives.   ' 

JRepresenUUives. 
Benjamin  Evans,  James  Bean. 

Timotbj  Flanders,    \ 
Benjamin  Evans,      >  Selectmen. 
Nathaniel  Flanders,  ) 

Abner  Woodman,  Jr.,  collector  of  taxes. 


TOWN   RECORDS.  829 

On  the  question  of  creating  a  new  county,  there 
were  41  yeas  and  171  nays. 

Cbose  Beaman  French  culler  of  Staves. 

Voted  to  make  Capt  Cyrus  Watson  some  compensation  in  con- 
sequence of  his  being  hurt  in  2klarch,  1821,  hy  means  of  obstruc- 
tion in  the  highway  near  the  Bridge  by  the  Baptist  Meeting 
Hoose. 

Voted  to  give  Capt.  Watson  sixty  dollars  if  he  will  be  satisfied 
with  that  sum. 

Voted  that  the  Poor  of  the  town  be  set  up  at  auction  on  the 
same  terms  as  they  were  last  year. 

There  were  16  persons  to  be  provided  for,  and  the 
board  ranged  from  9  cents  to  $1.49  per  week. 

Voted  to  give  Enoch  Osgood  Slo  for  injury  received  in  falling 
from  the  bridge  by  the  Baptist  Meeting  House. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1828. 

Benjamin  Evans,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-clerk. 

JFor  Oovemar. 

Levi  Woodbury,  186 

Scattering,  13 

JiepresentcUives, 

Benjamin  Evans,  Henry  B.  Chase. 

Timothy  Flanders,  \ 
Benjamin  Evans,     >  Selectmen. 
Daniel  George,         ) 

Struck  off  the  collection  of  Taxes,  at  one  cent  5  mills  on  the 
dollar,  to  James  B.  Straw. 

The  support  of  the  poor  was  this  year  put  up  in 
gross,  and  *^  struck  off  to  Samuel  Hill  at  $279.50.'* 


880  BISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

Samuel  Hill  was  the  oldest  son  of  Benjamin  Hill. 
After  the  father  had  gone  from  town,  Samuel  occu- 
pied the  homestead  awhile,  which  was  the  present 
poor-farm. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the 
clothes  of  the  paupers,  and  see  that  they  [the  paupers,  not  the 
clothes]  are  treated  with  humanity. 

Major  Daniel  George  was  a  son  of  John  George, 
and  was  born  at  Hopkinton  Lower  Village.  He  was 
actively  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  Warner  a 
great  many  years.  He  also  built  and  kept  a  hotel, 
near  his  store  and  dwelling-house.  He  was  a  lieuten- 
ant in  Capt  Joseph  Smith's  company,  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  was  afterwards  a  major  in  the  state  militia. 
He  was  considerably  in  public  life,  and  was  a  very 
prompt,  energetic  man.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
first  wife  being  the  sister,  and  his  second  wife  the 
daughter,  of  John  Bean.  He  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  but  only  two  of  them  remain, — Daniel  B. 
George,  of  Cincinnati,  and  Mrs.  Henry  C.  Barnabee,  of 
Boston.  His  second  wife,  now  the  widow  of  Rev. 
Lemuel  Willis,  still  survives. 

James  B.  Straw,  who  was  appointed  collector  of 
taxes,  at  this  time,  lived  on  Tory  Hill,  at  the  John 
Hardy  place,  though  he  was  a  Salisbury  man  by  birth. 
His  wife,  Mehitable,  was  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Fisk, 
of  Wilmot,  and  a  sister  to  John  Fisk,  who  was  acci- 
dentally killed  at  the  saw-mill  on  Stevens  brook. 


(f~'(^.  0V^i.<sS^5~ 


EZEKIEL  A.  STRAW.  381 

EzEKiEL  A.  Straw,  a  son  of  the  above  named  couple, 
was  born  at  the  Hardy  (now  Jacob  Chase)  place,  Dec. 
30,  1819.     A  few  years  after  his  birth  the  family 
removed  to  Lowell,  and  Mr.  James  B.  Straw  entered 
into  the  seryice  of  the  Appleton  Manufacturing  C!om- 
pany.    He  died  at  Lowell  in  1830.    Ezekiel  A.,  in 
due  time,  entered  the  English  department  of  Phillips 
academy,  at  Andover,  Mass.,  where  he  applied  him- 
self successfully  to  the  study  of  practical  mathematics. 
Upon  leaving  this  institution,  he  was,  in  the  spring  of 
1838,  employed   as   assistant  civil  engineer  on  the 
Nashua  &  Lowell  Railroad,  then  in  process  of  con- 
struction.    In  July  of  that  year  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Amoskeag  Manufacturing   Company  as 
civil   engineer.      He   continued  in  this  position  till 
1851,  when  he  was  appointed  agent  of  this  company, 
and  placed  in  charge  of  their  land  and  water-power. 
His  duties  and  responsibilities  were  enlarged  again  in 
1856,  and  again  in  1858.     In   1844  Mr.  Straw  was 
sent,  in  behalf  of  the  Amoskeag  Company,  to  England 
and  Scotland,  to  obtain  information  and  machinery. 
His  mission  was  successful. 

In  1859,  '60,  '61,  '62,  and  '63,  Mr.  Straw  was  elected 
from  the  city  of  Manchester  to  the  legislature  of  the 
state.  The  last  three  of  these  years  he  was  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Finance.  In  1864  and  1865  he 
was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  and  was  president  of 
that  body  the  last  year. 
22 


882  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

In  1872,  after  a  long  and  bitter  contest,  he  was 
elected  governor  of  the  state,  and  was  reelected  in 
1873.  He  served  his  state  with  credit  to  himself  in 
all  these  positions. 

Mr.  Straw  was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte  Smith 
Webster,  of  Amesbury,  Mass.,  in  1842.  He  has  two 
daughters  and  one  son.  The  latter  is  now  ah  agent 
of  the  Amoskeag  Company. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1824. 

*  Henry  B.  Chase,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kellej,  town-clerk. 

Far  Oovemor. 
Dayid  L.  Morrill,  109 

Leyi  Woodbury,  44 

Itepre$entat%vt8, 
Henry  B.  Chase,  Abner  B.  Kelley. 

Daniel  George,  \ 

Harrison  G.  Harris,  \  Selectmen. 

Jacob  Sawyer,  ) 

James  B.  Straw,  collector. 

Support  of  the  poor  "  struck  oflf "  again  to  Samuel 
Hill. 

Jacob  Sawyer  was  a  son  of  Edmund,  and  Edmund 
was  a  son  of  Joseph,  who  came  from  Hampstead  in 
1763,  and  settled  near  the  Parade.  Jacob  was  bom 
(and  he  probably  lived  at  this  time)  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  ^  old  poor-farm."  There  are  several 
sons  of  Jacob  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  al 
"^(^n  of  standing. 


CALEB  BUSWELL.  888 

# 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1825 

Br.  Caleb  Buswell,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley^  town-clerk. 

For  Oonemor. 

Dayid  L.  Morrill,  190 

Scattering,  12 

Hepresentatives. 

m 

Timothy  Flanders,  Caleb  BoswelL 

John  Palmer,  \ 

Benjamin  £.  Harriman,  >  Selectmen. 
Nathan  S.  Colby,  ) 

Struck  off  the  collection  of  Taxes,  at  one  cent  five  mills,  to 
Elliot  C.  Badger. 

Stmck  off  the  support  of  the  Poor  for  the  year  to  Moses  Har- 
riman,  at  9294. 

Caleb  Buswell  was  born  at  Grantham  in  1795.  His 
parents  were  originally  from  Concord.  He  was  a 
ready  scholar,  and  a  superior  mathematician.  He  be- 
came a  practising  physician  before  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  having  graduated  with  honor  from  the 
medical  college  at  Hanover.  He  settled  first  at  Sun- 
apee,  where  he  held  the  offices  of  town-clerk  and 
selectman.  He  settled  at  Warner  in  1820,  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  short  professional  life  was  spent 
In  1825  he  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  fortieth  reg- 
iment of  N.  H.  militia,  which  office  he  resigned  after 
holding  it  two  years.  He  served  as  moderator  in 
Warner,  and  also  as  representative  in  the  legislature. 
In  1828  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Newport,  hav- 


884  HI8T0RT  OF  WABKER. 

ing  sold  his  interests  to  one  of  his  students  in  Warner 
(Dr.  Leonard  Eaton).  While  on  a  visit  with  his  fam- 
ily, in  August,  1828,  he  diecf  of  a  fever,  at  Waterford, 
New  York,  at  the  age  of  33.  He  was  a  brother  to 
Hiram  Buswell,  of  Warner,  and  his  daughter  (and 
only  child)  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  King  S.  Hall,  of  Lake 
Village. 

John  Palmer  lived  in  that  part  of  Warner  called 
the  Gore.  The  exact  place  of  his  residence  is  stated 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  his  being  one  of  the  houses 
demolished  by  the  tornado.  He  was  a  moderate 
fanner,  and  a  surveyor  of  land.  He  has  one  son  now 
living,  Thomas  Palmer,  of  Bradford. 

Nathan  S.  Colby  was  a  son  of  Ezekiel,  who  was  a 
son  of  Elliot  Colby.  His  father  lived  on  the  Salisbury 
road,  where  Charles  H.  now  resides.  At  an  early  day 
he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Warner  village, 
and  continued  in  it  through  life.  He  also  built  the 
hotel  at  that  place  (which  has  recently  been  remod- 
elled), and  acted  as  landlord  till  Nathan  Walker  took 
charge.  He  was  a  quick,  stirring  man,  and  was  much* 
in  public  life,  though  he  died  at  an  early  age.  He 
was  twice  married ;  his  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
Hon.  Benjamin  Evans,  and  his  second,  a  Miss  Darrah, 
of  Bedford,  N.  H.  He  died  about  forty  years  ago. 
Two,  only,  of  his  children  now  survive,  viz.,  Dea. 
Charles  H.  Colby,  Jr.,  of  Warner,  and  Mrs.  John  C. 
Pearson,  of  Fisherville. 


GEN.  LAFAYETTE.  335 


THE  NATION'S  GUEST. 

Gen.  Lafayette's  visit  to  this  country,  in  1824  and 
1825,  was  a  notable  event  Though  more  than  forty 
^ears  had  elapsed  since,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, he  had  left  these  shores,  and,  though  the  country 
had  undergone  wonderful  changes,  the  affection  of 
the  people  for  the  friend  of  Washington,  and  the 
friend  of  the  Republic  in  its  dire  necessity,  knew  no 
abatement  He  was  the  Natioris  Guesiy  and  his  jour^ 
ney  throughout  the  United  States  was  one  continuous 
ovation. 

He  came  to  Concord,  where  a  grand  reception 
a.waited  him,  June  22,  1825.  Among  the  military 
companies  which  were  ordered  out  by  the  command- 
er-in-chief, to  do  escort  duty  at  the  capital  of  the 
state,  was  the  Warner  Light  Infantry,  Capt  Wm.  Cur^ 
rier.  Capt  Currier  was  a  son  of  Theophilus,  and  was 
bom  at  the  "  Kiah  Corner,"  so  called.  He  was  a  tan- 
ner and  farmer,  and  he  lived  many  years  at  the  Moul- 
ton  place  in  Schoodac.  The  aged  people  of  Concord 
remember  the  bearing  and  appearance  of  his  company 
on  that  occasion,  and  speak  of  it  in  terms  of  praise. 

After  spending  a  few  days  at  the  capital,  and  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  state,  Lafayette  made  a  start 
from  Concord,  Monday,  June  27th,  to  the  westward, 
attended  by  a  committee  of  the  legislature.  On  reach- 
ing the  line  of  Warner,  near  Rufus  Putnam's,  he  was 


886  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

received  by  an  escort  of  our  citizens,  and  a  short  ad- 
dress of  welcome  was  made  by  Dr.  Moses  Long.  He 
was  escorted  to  the  meeting-house  at  Kelley's  tavern. 
In  front  of  the  church,  on  the  green,  stood  a  long  ta- 
ble laden  with  choice  refreshments.  It  was  now  noon. 
Before  Lafayette  could  alight  from  his  carriage,  an 
eager  crowd  pressed  forward  to  look  upon  his  face  and 
to  grasp  his  hand.  Among  the  rest,  little  squealing 
Johnny  Pherson,  of  Sutton  or  Bradford, — a  man  who 
never  weighed  but  75  pounds, — elbowed  his  way  up 
to  the  carriage*  shoved  up  his  diminutive  hand^  and, 
with  a  nasal  whine,  ejaculated,  ''How  Hye  doy  Gfineral 
Za/ayette  f    I  thought  I  know  'd  ye  !  " 

As  the  distinguished  guest  passed  on  through  War- 
ner village,  the  old  brass  cannon  waked  the  echoes 
among  the  hills ;  and  all  along  through  Warner  the 
old  and  young  thronged  the  way  to  catch  a  glimpse 
of  that  remarkable  man's  face. 

The  New  Hampshire  committee  accompanied  their 
guest  to  Pattee's  hotel  in  Claremont,  where  the  Ver- 
mont authorities  took  him  in  charge. 

CATTLE  SHOW. 

The  second  cattle  show  of  the  Merrimack  County 

Agricultural  Society  took  place  at  Henniker,  Oct  19, 

1825.    It  was  thought  to  be  a  great  success.    Ezekiel 

Webster,  the  brother  of  Daniel,  was  president  of  the 

ociety.    At  that  time  he  was  in  the  full  vigor  of 


CATTLE  SHOW.  887 

mature  manhood^  and  was  looking  towards  congress. 
Fhe  report  states  that  ^  he  gave  an  ingenious,  able, 
smd  appropriate  address."  The  exhibition,  in  all  its 
parts,  was  an  attractive  one.  ^  A  plough  with  an  iron 
mould-board  was  much  admired."  ^Miss  Sweet,  of 
Concord,  presented  an  elegant  bonnet  made  by  her- 
self, the  chief  article  in  its  composition  being  the 
downy  substance  of  the  milk-weed."  ^'The  African 
gourd  (the  snake-bean),  whose  pods  are  said  to  grow 
to  the  length  of  two  feet  and  upwards ;  the  Tangier 
bean,  whose  pod  is  short  and  of  a  beautiful  purple 
color ;  and  tha  nondescript  pea,  with  a  very  small  pod, 
arrested  much  attention." 

The  first  premium  ever  given  to  an  inhabitant  of 
Warner,  at  any  fair,  was  given  at  this  time,  and  only 
one  citizen  of  Warner  received  a  premium.  The 
record  runs  thus: 

Amos  Putnejy  Warner,  2d  best  bull  under  4  years,  92.* 

The  animal  that  drew  this  money  was  a  native,  of 
yellowish  color,  large,  but  very  homely.  Leve  Max- 
field,  who  was  Putney's  henchman,  and  who  felt  that 
this  animal  had  put  all  others  into -the  shade,  in  driv- 
ing him  home,  remarked,  with  a  wise  nod  of  the  head, 
^They  won't  bring  no  hulls  next  year  !  " 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1826. 


Benjamin  Evans,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Eelley,  town-clerk. 


888  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

For  Oovemor.  ^ 

Dayid  L.  MorriU,  59 

Benjamin  Pierce,  197 

.Sg^resentatives. 
Benjamin  Evans,  Daniel  George. 

Nathan  S.  Colby,  \ 

Jacob  Sawyer,       >  Selectmen. 

John  Palmer,        ) 

Voted  to  buy  a  farm  to  put  the  town  poor  on. 

Chose  Stephen  George,  Stephen  Bartlett,  and 
Stephen  Davis,  as  a  committee  to  purchase  such 
&rm. 

Voted  to  sell  at  auction  the  support  of  soldiers  [meaning  din- 
ner for  soldiers]  muster  day,  to  the  lowest  bidder. 

Struck  off  to  Benjamin  Evans  at  20  cents  for  each  soldier. 

The  poor  were  disposed  of  in  lots  to  different  par- 
ties. Capt.  Cyrus  Watson  was  appointed  collector  of 
taxes.  He  was  a  Joppa  man  by  birth,  but  he  carried 
on  blacksmithing  at  Warner  village.  He  was  a  son 
of  Jonathan,  and  a  grandson  of  Dea.  Parmenas,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Warner. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  May  13,  1826, — 

Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  at  the  last  annual  meeting, 
for  purchasing  a  farm  for  the  poor. 

At  the  same  meeting, — 

Voted  to  raise  no  money  for  purchasing  a  farm. 

The  year  1826  was  remarkable  for  being  the  great 
*^  grasshopper  year,"  and  also  for  being  the  year  of  the 


BEKJAMIN  E.   HABBIMAK.  889 

iamous  '^August  freshet."    That  freshet  carried  off 
dearly  all  the  bridges  of  Warner,  did  great  damage  to 
foads,  and  entirely  destroyed   the  crops  on  certain 
tracts  of  land.    The  WDley  family  at  the  White  Moun- 
tain Notch  was  destroyed  by  this  freshet,  which  oc- 
curred August  28, 1826. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1827. 

Benjamin  Evans,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-derk.. 

For  Oovemor. 

Benjamin  Pierce,  ^  216 

Scattering,  17 

BepreserUatives. 

Benjamin  Evans,  Abner  B  Kelley. 

Nathan  S.  Colby,      \ 

Benj.  E.  Harriman,  \  Selectmen. 

Daniel  George^  ) 

Levi  Flanders  took  the  support  of  the  poor  at  $273. 

Capt  John  Stewart  took  the  contract  to  "  victual  ^ 
^he  soldiers,  muster-day,  at  19^  cents  each. 

Abner  Woodman,  Jr.,  was  appointed  collector. 

Benjamin  E.  Harrbian  was  a  son  of  Asa,  and  was 
l)om  in  Warner,  Jan.  14,  1791.  His  remotest  ances- 
tor in  this  country  was  Leonard^  who  came  from  York- 
shire, England,  in  1640,  and  whose  name  reappears, 
in  the  eighth  generation,  in  the  son  of  Leonidas  Har- 
riman,  of  Warner. 

Benjamin  E.  was  but  three  years  of  age  when  his 


840  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

fiither  died^  leaving  four  young  children  to  the  care 
of  the  mother.  The  family  knew  what  it  was  "  to  be 
hungry  "*  and  ^  to  suffer  need,"  but  seldom  knew  what 
it  was  ^  to  abound/'  In  due  time  the  boys  (Ben  and 
David)  became  able  to  work,  and  ultimately  to  carry 
on  the  farm.  After  this  ^  there  was  always  meal  in 
the  barrel" 

B.  E.  Harriman  (as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  children 
of  Asa)  had  a  slim  chance  for  schooling,  but  he  was 
naturally  studious,  and  was  a  devoted  reader  of  his- 
tory, both  ancient  and  inodern.  After  his  sons  were 
tolerably  well  advanced  in  mathematics,  he  worked 
out  for  them  many  a  difficult  arithmetical  problem, 
which  the  district  ^  master  "  was  unable  to  solve.  He 
served  a  great  many  years  as  moderator  at  town 
meetings,  eight  or  ten  years  ,as  selectman,  two  years 
as  a  member  of  the  legislature,  and  two  years  (1847 
and  1848)  as  chairman  of  the  board  of  road  commis- 
sioners for  Merrimack  county.  He  also  frequently 
acted  as  magistrate  in  the  trial  of  causes. 

He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Zebulon  Flanders, 
and  had  eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  lived  to 
mature  age, — viz.,  Henry  H.,  Benjamin  F.,  Walter, 
David  C,  Elhanan  W.,  Augustine  W.,  Leonidas,  Han- 
nah, Helen,  and  Frank  P.,  all  of  whom  are  now  livin 
except  Elhanan  W.,  who  died  at  Piermont,  June, 
aged  28,  and  Henry  H.,  who  died  at  Wa' 


BENJAXIH  E.  BABBDUK. 


841 


Beiyamin  E.  Harrimnn  died  on  the  fann  where  he 
was  boni,  and  where  he  always  lived,  in  October, 
1856,  aged  65,  and  was  buried  on  the  river  bank,  at 
Pine  Grove  Cemetery. 


h 


CHAPTER    XXT. 

TOWN  RECORDS — PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION — HENNIKER  CELEBRA- 
TION— FIRST  POOR-PARM. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1828. 

Benjamin  Evans,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-clerk. 

FcT  Oovemor. 

John  Bell,  88 

Benjamin  Pierce,  276 

Repreaentatwes, 
Benjamin  Evans,  Abner  B.  Kellej. 

Nathan  S.  Colby,     \ 

Benj.  E.  Harriman,  >  Selectmen. 

Stephen  Davis,         ) 

Zebulon  D.  Currier,  collector. 

The  support  of  most  of  the  poor  was  bid  off  by 
Francis  Davis,  Jr.,  at  $197. 

Stephen  Davis  was  a  son  of  Zebulon,  and  grandson 
of  Francis.  His  brothers  were  Alpheus  and  Zebulon. 
He  was  born  where  he  lived  and  died,  which  is  the 
place  now  occupied  by  Charles  P.  Sawyer.  Dr.  Dana 
D.  Davis  was  his  son. 


GEN.  JACKSON.  848 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION. 

In  the  state  convention  of  the  Jackson  party  at 
Concord,  June,  1828,  the  delegates  from  Warner  being 
Capt  Joshua  Sawyer  and  John  E.  Dalton, — 

Besohred,  That  we  would  pardon  Private  injuries,  but  the  con- 
duct of  the  Federal  party  during  the  last  War,  in  aiding  and 
assisting  a  foreign  foe  against  our  common  country,  we  never  can 
forget,  and  never  tcill  forgive  while  such  conduct  is  attempted  to 
be  justified. 

This  resolution  is  not  introduced  here  on  account 
of  the  sentiment  embodied  in  it,  but  because  it  was 
written  by  Warner's  young  delegate,  John  K  Dalton, 
who  at  that  time  became  a  voter.  But  the  resolution 
clearly  shadows  the  animus  of  the  campaign,  which 
was  a  most  exciting  and  fiery  one.  The  party  posi- 
tions  were  well  defined.  One  party  now,  for  the  first 
time,  distinctively  took  the  name  of  "Democratic 
party.*'  This  supported  General  Jackson  for  the 
presidency.  The  other  was  popularly  called  the 
"Federal  party,"  and  it  supported  John  Quincy 
Adams,  who  was  then  president  of  the  United  States. 

Great  bitterness  was  manifested  in  that  campaign. 
The  fever  of  excitement  ran  high.  Gunpowder  was 
burnt ;  political  meetings  were  rife  ;  rum  flowed  free- 
ly ;  every  man  was  pronounced  in  his  position.  On 
the  4th  of  July  of  that  year,  extraordinary  celebra- 
tions took  place  all  through  the  country.  The  day 
rang  with  patriotic  utterances.    At  Warner  village 


844  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

the  multitudes  assembled  to  indorse  the  hero  of  New 
Orleans.  Among  the  sentiments  or  ^^  toasts"  then 
and  there  offered  was  the  following,  by  Abner  R 
King :  • 

The  Toryism  of  the  Revolation,  changed  to  Federalism,  and 
sustained  the  first  Adamses  reign  of  terror, — ^joined  Burr's  '^  un- 
ion of  all  honest  men/'  hypocritically  pretending  to  he  the  dis- 
ciples of  Washington  by  sacreligiously  affixing  his  venerable 
name  to  their  treasonable  Societies, — subsequently  assumed  the 
name  of  Federal  Republicans  under  Monroe's  reign  of  modera- 
tion, and  now  claiming  the  title  of  exclusive  Republicans,  under 
the  present  reign  of  corruption.  But  Rhubarb  is  Rhubarb, 
Madam,  call  it  what  you  please. 

On  the  same  national  day,  there  was  another  dem- 
onstration in  town.  This  was  on  the  top  of  Bald 
Mink.  A  large  number  of  Jackson's  admirers  as- 
cended  the  steep  declivity  in  the  early  morning. 
Such  enthusiasm  ruled  the  hour  that  they  apparent- 
ly mounted  up  with  wings  as  eagles.  They  carried 
their  commissary  stores,  and  did  their  cooking  on  the 
mountain.  The  meeting  was  boisterous,  but  success* 
ful.  An  address  of  thirty  minutes'  duration  was  de- 
livered by  one  of  the  leading  men,  toasts  were  offered, 
and  the  proceedings  afterwards  found  their  way  into 
the  public  prints.  David  Stewart  climbed  a  tree,  and, 
hooking  his  crooked  leg  around  one  of  its  branches, 
blazed  away.  He  added  an  inch  of  powder  to  each 
successive  charge,  and  when  the  charge  of  four  inches, 
solidly  rammed  down,  exploded,  his  old  Queen's  Arm, 
though  strongly  griped,  went  into  fragments.    But 


GEN.  JACKSON.  845 

Stewart  was  not  cooled,  in  his  warfare  against  the 
enemy,  by  this  untoward  casualty,  tliough  it  com- 
pelled him  to  change  ^  the  mode  and  manner  of 
attack." 

One  ardent  patriot,  who  shall  be  nameless,  went 
down  a  precipice  headlong,  not  less  than  ten  feet,  but 
came  out  iinharmed,  carelessly  remarking,  ^  I  did  n't 
know  I  got  so  nigh  the  aidger  Whatever  else  hap- 
pened, Jackson  was  indorsed  that  day  with  unmis- 
takable emphasis. 

The  great  Chatham  had  Scaid,  ^Let  me  make  the 
battads  of  a  people,  and  I  care  not  who  makes  its 
laws;**  and  the  supporters  of  Gen.  Jackson  introduced 
ballads  into  this  election.  One  of  their  songs'  was 
very  popular  in  some  parts  of  the  country.  A  single 
verse  will  be  sufficient  to  show  the  vivacity  of  the 
campaign. 

Tune :  *'  I  Ve  kissed  and  I  Ve  prattled  with  fifty  fair  maids.'' 

I  'ye  seen  all  the  heads  of  departments  and  state, 

And  I've  studied  tliem  well,  d'  ye  see  ? 
And  tho'  some  are  called  cufming,  and  others  called  grecttf 
Yet  Jackson  '*s  the  hero  for  me. 
Bold  Jackson 's  the  man, 
Let  them  say  what  they  can,— 
Old  Hickory 's  the  hero  for  me. 

The  other  side  in  this  campaign  should  be  present- 
ed, but  Warner  and  the  adjoining  towns  were  so  near- 
ly unanimous  for  Andrew  Jackson,  that  the  opposition 
made  little  or  no  demonstration  in  this  vicinity.  There 


846  HI8T0BT  OF  WABKEB. 

was  opposition,  however,  in  the  country,  strong  and 
resolute.  Those  who  advocated  the  reelection  of  John 
Quincy  Adams  (that  pure  and  able  man),  were  not 
lacking  for  argument,  and  New  Hampshire  cast  her 
vote  for  him  as  she  had  done  in  1824. 

At  the  election  in  November,  the  vote  of  Warner 
stood  thus : 

Jackson  electors,  310 

Adams  electors,  90 

THE  RETURNS. 

The  Warner  people,  December  6,  1828,  having  re- 
ceived news  of  Jackson's  election,  brought  out  the  old 
brass  field-piece  to  celebrate  the  victory.  They  took 
it  up  to  Denny's  hill.  The  fourth  discharge  was  pre- 
mature, and  Mitchell  Gilmore,  Jr.,  lost  his  right  arm ; 
Capt.  Safford  Watson  was  injured  in  the  hand ;  and 
Daniel,  son  of  Capt.  Benjamin  Currier,  narrowly  es- 
caped instant  death,  as  the  flying  ramrod  cut  the 
clothes  from  his  shoulder  and  scarred  his  neck. 

HENNIKER  CELEBRATION. 

The  8th  day  of  January,  being  the  anniversary  of 
Jackson's  victory  at  New  Orleans,  was  celebrated  in 
1829  with  great  spirit  and  eclat  Jackson  was  now 
the  president-elect,  and  the  knowledge  of  that  fact 
added  ten-fold  to  the  pomp  and  excitement  of  the 
day. 

The  Henniker  celebration  was  one  of  unusual  in- 


TOWN  BECOBDS.  847 

terest  in  all  respecta  It  was  conducted  on  a  broad 
scale.  The  committee  in  charge  spared  no  pains  nor 
money  necessary  to  make  the  demonstration  success- 
faL  They  provided  dinner  for  a  vast  concourse,  and 
the  populace  responded  bountifully  to  the  invitation 
to  ^  come.**  The  wheeling  was  never  better,  for  not 
a  flake  of  snow  fell  that  season  in  central  New  Hamp- 
shire  till  that  atlernoon.  The  cannon  stood  on  an  em- 
inence,  belching  forth  its  continuous  thunder,  which 

« 

rolled  up  the  valley  to  the  south  side  of  the  Mink 
fiiUs,  resembling  the  jar  of  a  perpetual  earthquake. 
IFrank  Pierce  was  the  young  and  talented  orator  of 
-the  day;  and  among  the  invited  guests,  who  were 
present,  were  Gen.  Benjamin  Pierce,  Hon.  Bodwell 

Smerson,  of  Hopkinton,  Judge  Horace  Chase,  Hon. 

Matthew  Harvey,  Benjamin  E.  Harriman,  and  others. 

The  sentiment  of  the  latter  was  as  follows : 

Gov.  John  Bell, — Doomed  to  be  buried,  on  the  2d  Tuesday  of 
March,  like  the  great  Bell  of  Moscow,  beneath  the  ruins  of  the 
fallen  fabric  that  supported  him. 

The  prediction  proved  to  be  correct  for  though  the 
state  had  gone  for  Bell  the  preceding  March,  and  for 
Adams  in  November,  the  effect  of  Jackson's  election 
was  such  that  Gen.  Pierce,  the  Jackson  candidate  for 
governor,  was  triumphantly  elected  in  March,  1829. 

ANNUAL  MEE.TING,  MARCH,  1820. 

Benjamin  Evans,  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-clerk. 
28 


848  HvraoBT  OF  wabner. 


For  Governor, 


Benjamin  Pierce,  298 

John  Bell,  69 


Abner  B.  Kelley,  Nathan  S.  Colby. 

Daniel  Jones,  "^ 

^Philip  Colby,  Jr.,         >  Selectmen. 
Mitchell  Gilmore;  Jr.,  J 

Asa  Pattee  was  appointed  coUectox. 

The  support  of  the  poor  was  divided  up  among  fif^ 
teen  different  parties. 

Daniel  Jones  lived  in  Schoodac,  near  Boscawen  line. 
He  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  Jones^  whose  residence  was 
just  within  the  limits  of  Boscawen.  Mr.  Jones  was 
a  large  farmer  and  an  active  business  man.  He  was 
extensively  engaged  in  lumbering  for  many  years. 
He  served  the  town  both  as  selectman  and  represent- 
ative, but  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  leaving  a  number 
of  sons  and  daughters,  who  are  in  Warner,  Hopkin- 
ton,  and  Concord. 

Philip  Colby,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  Hezekiah  Colby,  who 
came  from  Amesbury,  and  made,  first,  a  brief  stay  at 
the  Parade,  and  then  settled  at  the  Mark  Colby  place. 
Mr.  Colby  lived  at  Waterloo,  and  was  both  farmer  and 
carpenter.  He  kept  a  store  several  years  (in  the 
neighborhood  of  1820)  in  the  building  now  occupied 
as  a  dwelling-house  by  Mrs.  Geo.  W.  Osgood.  He 
was  post-master  at  Waterloo  in  1829  and  1830.  He 
served  the  town  both  as  selectman  and  representa- 


EXHIBITIONS.  849 

tive.  He  died  March,  1867,  aged  78.  He  had  two 
claughtersy— one  the  wife  of  William  H.,  and  other 
tlie  wife  of  Stephen  S.  Bean.  The  former  has  been 
dead  a  number  of  years. 

Mitchell  Gilmore,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  John,  and  a 
grandson  of  David  Gilmore,  one  of  the  early  settlers. 
Mitchell  was  bom  and  reared  in  school  district  No.  8. 
He  learned  the  blacksmith  business,  and  was  engaged 
in  it  when  he  lost  an  arm,  in  December,  1828.  After 
this,  he  was  engaged  several  years  in  trade.  He  also 
served  as  selectman,  town-clerk,  and  representative. 
Having  been  elected  as  register  of  deeds  for  Merri- 
mack county,  he  removed  to  Concord,  where  he  still 
resides.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Currier  of 
Warner,  and  they  have  one  daughter  (the  y^ife  of  ex- 
(xov.  Weston)  and  two  sons. 

An  elephant  was  on  exhibition  at  Daniel  George's, 
in  1829,  the  first  that  ever  stepped  foot  in  Warner. 

The  first  menagerie  came  in  1832.  It  was  ex- 
hibited on  a  snowy,  sloshy  day  in  May,  on  the  plat 
between  Elliot  C.  Badger's  house  and  the  ground  that 
the  church  now  occupies. 

The  first  circus  performance  in  town  was  in  June, 
1834,  on  ground  a  little  above  where  the  late  Jesse 
Savory's  house  stands. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1880. 

Benjamin  Evans^  moderator. 
Abner  B.  Kelley,  town-clerk. 


mSTOBT  OF  WABHEB. 

Fo/f  Cfov€moT. 

Matthew  Harrey,  280 

Timothy  Upham,  67 

JXepresenUUives. 

Nathan  S.  Colby,  Zebulon  Davis. 

Daniel  Jones,  % 

Mitchell  Gilmore,  Jr.,  >  Selectmen. 

Philip  Colby,  Jr.,      ) 

John  Bean  was  appointed  collector. 

The  support  of  the  Poor  was  struck  off  to  John  Bean  at  $400. 

On  the  question  of  setting  off  the  two  westerly 
ranges  of  lots  from  Warner  to  Bradford,  the  vote 
Btood, — affirmative,  25 ;  negative,  205. 

2«ebuIon  Davis  was  a  son  of  Zebulon,  who  was  a 
Bon  of  Capt  Francis.  The  first  Zebulon  lived  at  the 
Charles  P.  Sawyer  place;  the  second  (now  elected 
representative)  lived  at  the  Lower  Village,  where  he 
carried  on  the  wheelwright  business  through  life. 
Warren  Davis,  now  in  trade  at  the  Lower  Village,  is 
bis  son. 

Abner  B.  Kelley,  having  been  elected  state  treas- 
urer, resigned  the  office  of  town-clerk,  and  the  select- 
nen,  July  12, 1830,  appointed  Thomas  H.  Bartlett  to 
ill  the  vacancy. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1831. 


TOWN  BEC0RD8.  861 

Far  €h>9€mor. 

Sftmiial  DixiBmoor^  250 

lehalMMl  Bartlett,  76 

HqpreaenUUivtB. 

Zebulon  Davis^   Benjamin  £•  Harriman. 

Daniel  Jones,        \ 

Daniel  George,        >  Selectmen. 

Abner  Woodman,  ) 

Stephen  Hoyt  was  appointed  collector. 

Levi  Flanders,  senior,  took  the  poor  to  support  at 
$549. 

Thomas  H.  Bartlett  was  a  son  of  Richard,  who  came 
from  Ameshnry,  and  a  brother  to  Stephen  of  Burnt 
HilL  He  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  a  large 
part  of  his  lifetime.  He  died  many  years  ago,  leav- 
ing a  widow,  who  was  the  daughter  of  John  George. 

Abner  Woodman  was  from  Salem,  N.  H.  He  settled 
on  Pumpkin  Hill,  but  during  the  last  years  of  his  life  he 
was  at  Warner  village.  He  served  both  as  selectman 
and  as  representative.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Hill, 
and  his  second,  who  survives,  was  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Evans. 

Capt  Stephen  Hoyt  was  bom  in  Bradford.  He 
settled  in  the  west  part  of  Warner,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  commanded  the  old  artillery 
company  in  its  best  days.  In  1841  he  removed  to 
Sutton,  and  there  served  as  collector  of  taxes  and  as 
selectman  of  the  town,  but  returned  to  Warner,  and 
died  in  1866. 


852  mSTOBT  OF  warneb. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1882. 

B.  E.  Harriman,  moderator. 
Thomas  H.  Bartlett,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemar. 

Samuel  Dinsmoor,  250 

Ichabod  Bartlett,  65 

JUpre^entatives. 
Benjamin  K  Harriman^  Daniel  Jones. 

Nathan  S.  Colby, .      \ 

Timothy  Davis,  >  Selectmen. 

Cummings  ^larshall,  ) 

The  support  of  the  poor  was  ^  struck  off"  to  £ze- 
kiel  Flanders,  Jr.,  at  $540. 

Samuel  Worthley  was  appointed  collector. 

The  question  of  setting  off  the  western  ranges  again 
came  up,  and  Daniel  George  was  appointed  as  agent 
of  the  town  to  oppose  the  movement 

Timothy  Davis  was  a  son  of  Robert,  who  came  from 
Amesbury,  and  settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  Ben 
Davis  place.  Mr.  Davis  settled  in  life  near  his  fa- 
ther's residence,  on  Pumpkin  Hill,  where  he  remained 
till  old  age  unfitted  him  for  the  cares  of  a  large  farm. 
For  the  last  eight  or  ten  years  of  his  life  he  lived  on 
the  Plain,  where  Mr.  Stanley  now  resides.  His  old 
homestead  on  Pumpkin  Hill  is  owned  and  occupied 
by  Mr.  Tucker.  Mr.  Davis  died  about  the  year  1861, 
leaving  two  children, — Mrs.  Oilman  A.  Bean,  now  of 
Woburn,  Mass.,  and  Henry  H.  Davis,  of  Warner. 


TOWN  BEOoras.  858 

GummiDgs  Marshall  wajs  born  and  reared  on  Bible 
Hill.  His  father,  Richard  Marshall,  came  from  Hud- 
sou,  N.  H.,  and  settled  on  that  hill,  at  the  place  which 
liis  son  Nathan  occupied  a  great  many  years.  Cum- 
mings  settled  in  District  No.  10,  where  his  son-in-law, 
Iiemuel  W.  Collins,  resides,  and  died  there  a  few  years 
ago.- 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S88. 

B.  E.  Harriman,  moderator. 
Mitchell  Gilmore,  Jr.,  town-elerk. 

Foir  Governor. 

Samuel  Dinsmoor,  242 

No  opposition  recorded. 

Jiq)re$enUiHve8. 
Daniel  Jones,  Nathan  S.  Colby. 

Timothy  Davis,      \ 

B.  K  Harriman,     >  Selectmen. 

Daniel  Bean,  Jr.,  ) 

John  Harriman  was  appointed  collector. 

On  the  question  of  purchasing  a  farm  for  the  poor, 
104  voted  in  the  affirmative,  and  62  in  the  negative. 

The  moderator  appointed  Benjamin  Evans,  Daniel 
George,  and  John  Hardy  as  a  committee  to  purchase 
a  farm,  and  all  necessary  stock,  tools,  and  furniture  to 
run  the  same. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  go  in  a  body  to  appraise  property 
and  make  their  Inventory. 

Voted  to  dispense  with  Superintending  Sciiool  Committee's 
visiting  schools  the  present  year. 


854  HISIOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  dispose  of  the  Poor  till  the  Commit- 
tee for  that  purpose  furnish  a  Farm  and  House. 

The  committee  set  themselves  about  their  work 
without  delay,  and  bought  a  farm  of  Cephas  Hough- 
ton, to  which  the  poor  were  all  conveyed  in  the 
month  of  April  Said  farm  is  at  the  top  of  the  hill, 
on  the  old  Henniker  road,  between  Stephen  Foster's 
and  the  Stephen  K.  Hoyt  place. 

Dai^iel  Bean,  Jr.,  who,  at  the  election  of  1833,  was 
chosen  to  the  office  of  selectman,  was  bom  in  Warner, 
Dec.  4, 1804.  Nathaniel  Bean,  his  grandfather,  was 
a  prominent  and  influential  man  in  town  for  many 
years.  He  came  from  Amesbury  between  1770  and 
1775,  and  settled  on  Pumpkin  Hill,  at  the  present 
Capt  Joseph  Jewell  place.  He  was  a  forehanded 
farmer.  He  built  the  first  mills  at  Waterloo.  He 
served  as  moderator,  as  selectman,  as  representative, 
and  as  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  ratified  the 
federal  constitution.  ^ 

The  maternal  grandfather  of  Daniel  Bean,  Jr.,  was 
Captain  Asa  Pattee,  and  Daniel  and  Sally  (Pattee) 
Bean  were  his  parents. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education 
mainly  from  the  public  schools  of  Warner,  though  he 
was  a  student  for  a  term  or  two  at  Hopkinton  acad- 
emy, where  he  gave  attention  to  the  higher  English 
branches  and  to  Latin.  He  taught  school  in  Warner 
and  the  adjoining  towns  some  six  or  eight  winters, 


*«afi»*3a4s».^ 


.:z,.^^,-^i,c£^  C^Ce^'/ 


DAXIEL  BEAX,  JR.  855 

commencing  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  His 
second  school  was  a  large  and  turbulent  one.  Five  or 
six  of  the  scholars  were  over  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  some  of  them  were  bent  on  mischief.  Mr.  Bean, 
though  but  eighteen,  was  resolute  and  determined.* 
For  some  misdemeanor  he  called  one  of  the  young 
men  to  account.  The  student  seized  a  billet  of  wood, 
and  the  master  seized  the  fire-shovel,  one  well-aimed 
blow  from  which  brought  order  out  of  chaos,  and  se- 
cured a  suspension  of  hostilities  for  the  rest  of  the 
term. 

Mr.  Bean  had  clear  and  settled  con^lctions  on  all 
questions  of  public  concern,  and  he  was  not  easily 
swerved.  He  stood  firmly  by  his  own  conceptions  of 
right,  whether  men  frowned  or  favored.  He  was  a 
relentless  foe  to  rum  and  tobacco.  He  sought  only 
that  popularity  ^  which  follows,  not  that  which  is  run 
after ;"  still,  he  received  the  suffrages  of  his  fellow- 
townsmen,  and  served  several  years  as  selectman,  and 
also  as  representative  in  the  General  Court 

He  moved  to  Medford  in  April,  1840,  and  engaged 
in  the  baking  business.  He  returned  to  Warner  in 
the  spring  of  1843,  and  purchased  and  carried  on  the 
Eliezer  Emerson  farm.  In  the  spring  of  1851  he 
went  a  second  time  to  Medford,  but  returned  again  to 
Warner  in  the  autumn  of  1852,  where  he  died  Feb. 
7, 1853,  aged  48, 

Mr.  Bean  married,  Feb.  3,  1828,  Miss  Martha  C, 


856  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

daughter  of  Jacob  Davis,  and  had  Lemuel  Willis,  born 
AprU  2, 1829;  Henry,  b.  Jan.  8, 1832;  Sarah  Pattee, 
b.  May  7,  1835.  Henry  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
years.  Lemuel  W.  married,  aft  Concord,  Mass^  Miss 
Sarah  Wheeler,  and  is  there  engaged  in  business. 

Sarah  P.  Bean  married  George  H.  Witherle,  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Castine,  Maine,  where  she  has 
resided  the  last  seventeen  years. 


CHAPTER   XXVI, 

TOWN  RECORDS — ^SECOND  POOR-FARM — FARMERS'    AND  MBCHAN- 
ICS'   UBRART — CRANBERRY   AND    HOOP-POLE  PARTIES. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1884. 

B.  E.  Harriman^  moderator. 
M    Gilmore,  Jr.^  town-clerk. 

For  OovemoTj 

William  Badger,  268 

No  opposition  vote  recorded. 

*   HepresentcUives. 

Nathan  S.  Colby,  Timothy  Davis. 

B.  E.   Harriman,  \ 

Daniel  Bean,  Jr.,  >  Selectmen. 

Asa  Pattee,  ) 

John  Harriman  was  appointed  collector. 

Chose  a  committee  of  five,  consisting  of  the  select- 
men, with  Nathan  S.  Colby  and  Philip  Colby,  senior, 
added,  to  dispose  of  the  poor-farm  and  buy  another. 

The  first  farm  (on  which  the  poor  were  kept  but 
one  year)  proved  unsatisfactory.  This  committee 
purchased  the  second  farm  of  Moses  Harriman,  it 
being  the  one  still  owned  by  the  town  on  Burnt  Hill. 


858  msTOST  of  warneb. 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MABCH,  1885. 

Nathan  S.  Colby^  moderator. 
Mitchell  Gilmore^  Jr.,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor, 

William  Badger,  '  297 

Joseph  Healej,  49 

m 

*  Jtepresentatives, 
•  Timothy  Davis,  Philip  Colby,  Jr. 

Asa  Pattee,         \ 

M.  Gilmore,  Jr.,  v  Selectmen. 
Nathan  Davis,  J 

Elliot  C.  Badger  was  appointed  collector. 

Nathan  Davis  was  a  son  of  Gen.  Aquila  Davis.  He 
served  two  years  as  selectman,  and  two  as  representa- 
tive. He  lived  at  Davisville,  and  died  there  many 
years  ago. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1836. 

Nathan  S.  Colby,  moderator. 
Clark  Sargent,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor. 

Isaac  Hill,  268 

Scattering,  5 

RqpreBentatxves. 

Philip  Colby,  Jr.,  IVIitchell  Gilmore,  Jr. 

Nathan  Davis,      '\ 

Abner  Woodman,  >•  Selectmen. 

Asa  Pattee,  ) 

James  M.  Harriman  was  appointed  collector. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  859 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  open  the  road  from  Xathaniel  Bean's 
to  Edmund  S.  Davis's. 

Clark  Sargent  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Sargent,  of 
Schoodac.  He  lived  at  Warner  village,  and  was  a 
painter  by  occupation. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1^37. 

B.  K  Harriman,  moderator. 

Clark  Sargent,  town-clerk* 

< 

For  Governor. 

Isaac  Hill,  238 

Joseph  Healey,  7 

Bqn'uentaHveB. 
Mitchell  Gilmore,  Jr.,  Nathan  Davis. 

Abner  Woodman,  \ 

John  Stewart,       \  Selectmen. 

Abner  Watkins,    ) 

James  M.  Harriman,  collector. 

Voted  to  receive  our  proportion  of  the  '^  Surplus  Bevenue'* 
money. 

Voted  that  the  money  be  loaned  in  sums  not  to  exceed  $200, 
and  not  less  than  $50. 

Captain  John  Stewart  lived  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Mink  Hills,  where  his  father  settled  before  him  in 
the  wilderness.  He  added  much  during  his  life  to  the 
paternal  acres.  He  married,  for  his  first  wife,  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Dea.  Isaac  Dnlton,  and  died  in  1851, 
leaving  four  sons  and  one  daughter, — viz..  Rev.  Isaac 
D.  of  Dover,  Cyrus  of  Wisconsin,  Leonard  of  Warner, 
John  of  California,  and  Mrs.  James  Bean  of  Warner. 


860  HISTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

Abner  Watkins  was  a  son  of  Jason,  who  was  a  son 
of  the  original  Abner.  He  was  bom  and  reared  at 
the  Gore,  but  he  lived  many  years  in  Lowell,  Mass. 
After  returning  from  there  to  •Warner,  he  lived  where 
Henry  Seavey  resides,  and  served  the  town  as  select- 
man and  representative.  One  son  of  his  (if  no  more) 
is  living,  viz.,  Geo.  T.  Watkins,  of  Kansas,  who  is  now 
a  member  of  the  legislature  of  that  state. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  183S. 

B.  E.  Harriman,  moderator. 
Clark  Sargent,  town-clerk. 

For  Ocvemor. 

Isaac  HiU,  388 

James  Wilson,  77 

Representatives. 

Nathan  Davis,  Abner  Woodman. 

Abner  Watkins,      \ 

John  Stewart,  >  Selectmen. 

Bobert  Thompson,  ) 

Voted  to  poll  the  house  on  the  question  of  making  Town  Clerks 
Begisters  of  Deeds.    [Affirmative  vote,  94;  negative  vote,  115.] 
Voted  that  the  Selectmen  appoint  a  Collector. 

Isaac  Hill,  it  will  be  observed,  received  a  majority 
of  311,  in  Warner,  which  was  larger  than  any  other 
town  in  the  state  gave  him.  Claremont,  the  same 
day,  gave  James  Wilson  311  majority,  which  was 
lai^er  than  any  other  town  in  the  state  gave  him. 


ROBERT  THOMPSON.  861 

Robert  Thompson,  whose  name  appears  in  the  above 
record,  was  born  at  Hooksett,  April  24, 1803.  Of  his 
remote  ancestry  nothing  is  positively  known,  though 
the  Thompsons  are  found  among  the  earliest  immi- 
grants to  this  country.  The  name  is  spelled  in  not 
less  than  four  different  ways, — Thompson,  Tomson, 
Thomson,  and  Tompson. 

Edward  Thompson  came  in  the  Mayflower  in  1620, 
and  died  Dec.  4th,  between  Cape  Cod  and  Plymouth. 
John,  his  brother,  came  in  1643.  He  was  representa- 
tive from  Middleborough,  Mass.,  eight  years,  beginning 
in  1674.  Archibald  Thompson  settled  at  Marblehead 
in  1637,  and  Edward  in  Salem  the  same  year.  The 
latter  two  were  from  Framingham,  Suffolk  county, 
England. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Thompson  settled  in  Braintree.  He 
was  town-clerk  there  in  1696,  and  for  several  years 
afterwards.  He  left,  at  his  death,  eight  children  and 
twenty-eight  grandchildren. 

From  some  one  of  these  branches  of  the  family 
Robert  Thompson  undoubtedly  descended.  His  grand- 
father was  from  Newbury,  Mass.  He  settled  in  Con- 
cord, N.  H.,  where  he  died  about  the  year  1801,  leav- 
ing a  large  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  one  of  the 
sons  being  Robert,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  This  Robert  ^married  Judith,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Noyes,  settled  at  Hooksett,  and  worked  at 
the   shoemakers'   trade.    They  had   two  children, — 


862  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Jeremiah  H.  Wilkins, 
and  Robert,  now  living  at  Warner. 

Bobert  Thompson,  the  first,  died  in  1803,  the  very 
year  that  Robert  the  second  was  born.     The  orphan 
boy  was   taken   by  his  grandmother  Noyes  to  her 
home  in  Bow,  where  he  remained  till  after  his  sister's 
marriage,  when  he  went  to  live  with  her  at  Suncook. 
He  took  his  little  bundle  in  a  handkerchief,  contain- 
ing all  he  had  in  the  world,  and  made  this  exchange 
of  homes  Feb.  9,  1818.     He  remained  with  Mr.  Wil- 
kins, acting  as  his  clerk,  and  as  a  copartner  with  him, 
till  1825,  except  for  five  months,  when  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  store  of  John  White,  of  Salisbury.     In 
1826  the  firm  of  Wilkins  &  Thompson  was  by  mutual 
consent  dissolved,  and  the  junior  member,  after  pros- 
pecting for  several  weeks,  pitched  upon  Warner  for 
his  future  home.     He  hired  a  store  of  John  E.  Kelley 
for  $25  a  year,  purchased  his  stock  of  goods  at  Bos- 
ton, and,  full  of  hope  and  ambition,  commenced  trade 
the  last  of  June,  1825.     Being  then  but  22  years  of 
age,  and  looking  younger  than  that,  he  was  popularly 
called  "  the  boy  trader."     But  by  enterprise  and  close 
attention  to  business,  and  by  receiving,  in  payment 
for  goods,  certain  commodities  which  had  not  hitherto 
been  articles  of  traffic,  he  soon  laid  the  foundation  for 
a  successful  business  life. 

In  1828  he  had  the  misfortune  to  be  burnt  out 
Speaking  of  the  fire,  the  iV.  H.  Statesman  of  that  day 


ROBERT  THOMPSON.  868 

Sad, — ^^  Wednesday,  Jan.  16,  1828,  the  tavern  house 

of  Capt  John  E  Kelley,  of  Warner,  was  consumed  by 

fire,  and  a  store  connected   therewith,  occupied  by 

^Kobert  Thompson.    No  insurance  on  the  property.** 

^Aiter  this  fire  Mr.  Thompson  removed  to  the  village, 

^where  he  has  since  remained.    He  has  often  acted  as 

moderator  at  town-meetings,  as  selectman,  and  as 

town-clerk.    He  has  also  been  three  years  a  member 

of  the  legislature  of  the  state. 

In  1831  Mr.  Thompson  married  Sarah  B.,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Henry  Lyman,  who  died  in  1833.  In  1835  he 
married  Susan,  daughter  of  Joseph  Bartlett  Five 
children  were  born  to  this  couple,  viz.,  Sarah  L., 
Bhoda  B.,  Mary  W.,  Robert  H.,  and  Arthur. 

Mr.  Thompson's  second  wife  died  in  1849,  and  in 
1851  he  married,  for  his  third  wife,  Miss  Eunice 
George,  of  Salisbury. 

Robert  H.  Thompson  was  in  business  with  his  fa- 
ther a  few  years,  prior  to  January,  1876,  when  he  died. 
Arthur  served  in  the  eleventh  regiment  three  years 
during  the  Rebellion.  He  married  Carrie  Beckler,  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  in  1867,  and  is  now  in  company 
with  his  father. 

Mary  W.  Thompson  married  Frank  L  Martin,  of 
Bradford,  May  3, 1866. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S39. 

B.  K  Harriman,  moderator. 
Clark  Sargenty  town-derk. 
24 


864  HIBTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

John  Page,  364 

James  Wilsoii,  70 

Abner  Woodman,  Abner  Watkins. 

Bobert  Thompsoni    \ 

B*  E.  Harriman,        >  Selectmen. 

Benjamin  C.  Davis,  ) 

Chose  Darid  Colbj  tythingman. 

-  Benjamin  C.  Davis  was  a  son  of  Robert^  and  a 
brother  to  Timothy.  He  occupied  through  life  the 
old  homestead  of  his  father  on  Pumpkin  Hill^  which  is 
now  in  possession  of  John  Osgood. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1840. 

B.  £.  Harriman,  moderator. 
Leonard  Eaton,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemar. 
John  Page,  302 

Eno8  Steyens,  39 

Itepreaentatives, 

Abner  Watkins,  Asa  Pattee. 

B.  E.  Harriman,      ^ 

Bobert  Thompson^  \  Selectmen. 

Benj.  C.  Davis,        ) 

Heath  Flanders  was  appointed  Collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
John  Currier,  Jr.,  Geo.  W.  Cutting,  H.  H.  Harriman. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1811. 

B.  E.  Harriman,  moderator. 
Leonard  Eaton,  town-clerk. 


farmers'  and  mechanics*  ubbaiit.  365 

FcT  Oovemar. 

John  Page,  872 

£no8  Stevens^  45 

Hepresentatives. 
Asa  Pattee,  Robert  Thompson. 

Benj.  £.  Harriman,  \ 

H.  D.  Kobertsoni       \  Selectmen. 

Jas.  M.  Harriman,    ) 

Heath  Flanders  was  appointed  collector. 

James  M.  Harriman  was  a  son  of  Moses^  who  came 
to  Warner  from  Henniker,  and  settled  on  Burnt  Hill. 
The  family  was  origintilly  from  Plaistow.  James  M. 
was  a  colonel  in  the  state  militia.  He  served  two 
years  as  representative^  and  repeatedly  as  selectman. 

FARMERS'  AND  MECHANICS'  LIBRARY. 

The  following  record  appears  in  the  town  books  : 

Whereas,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  New  Hampshire,  ap- 
proved July  1, 1831,  granting  and  authorizing  persons  to  assume 
and  exercise  corporate  powers  in  certain  cases,  Therefore,  be  it 
remembered,  that,  on  the  20th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1841, 
we,  Stephen  K.  Hoyt,  Abner  Woodman  and  Timothy  Davis,  with 
many  others,  have  this  day  associated,  united  and  formed  a  Li- 
brary Company,  and  do  hereby  assume  and  bear  the  name  and 
title  of  *^  Farmers'  and  Mechanics'  Library  Association,''  in  the 
town  of  Warner. 

By  order  of  the  Society. 

'  Hiram  Buswell,  Clerk. 

A  tme  copy,  attest. 

Leonard  Eaton,  Town  Clerk. 


366  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1842. 


B.  K  ECarriman,  moderator. 

Ira  Harvey,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemar. 

Henry  Hubbard, 

280 

John  H.  White, 

43 

Enos  Stevens, 

29 

Daniel  Hoit, 

13 

Itqpresentatives. 

Bobert  Thompson,  John  Stewart  « 

Jas.  M.  Harriman,  \    . 

Enos  Collins,  >-  Selectmen. 

James  Davis,  ) 

Franklin  Simonds  was  appointed  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
John  Currier,  Jr.,  J.  M.  Chick,  J.  W.  Perkins. 

James  Davis  was  the  youngest  son  of  Gen.  Aquila. 
His  home  was  at  Davisville^  but  he  died  before  the 
expiration  of  the  year  for  which  he  was  elected  as 
selectman. 

Saturday,  June  11, 1842,  was  a  winter  day.  Snow 
fell  without  ceasing  throughout  New  Hampshire,  from 
morning  till  night  While  it  disappeared  as  it  came 
on  the  lowlands,  it  accumulated  to  considerable  depth 
on  the  hills,  and  strong,  healthy  sheep,  that  were  left 
in  the  pastures,  were  frozen  to  death  in  many  cases. 
The  selectmen  of  Warner  sold  the  building  of  the 
road  that  day  around  under  the  ledge  at  Stevens ville. 


DOMINANT  PARTY  DIVIDED.  867 


CRANBERRY  AND  HOOP-POLE  PARTIES. 

At  this  tinae  (1842)  the  dominant  political  party  in 
Earner  was  rent  by  internal  discord.  It  was  split 
into  two  factions,  or  wings, — one  wing  being  called 
the  ^  Cranberry  party,"  and  the  other  the  "  Hoop- 
pole  party."  It  is  not  difficult  to  account  for  the 
origin  of  these  names.  B.  E.  Harriman  owned  a  large 
cranberry  meadow,  and  he  and  his  family  were  some- 
what prominent  in  one  wing.  H.  D.  Robertson  car- 
ried on  an  extensive  business  in  coopering.  He 
bought  hoop-poles  by  the  dozen  cords,  and  he  and  his 
personal  friends  were  leaders  in  the  other  wing. 
Thus  the  names  are  accounted  for ;  but  it  is  not  easy 
to  explain  the  cause  of  the  division.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear that  any  vital  principle  was  in  jeopardy.  It  does 
not  appear  that  either  faction  was  promulgating  her- 
esy, political  or  religious.  All  worshipped  at  the  same 
political  shrine,  and  voted  the  same  general  ticket. 
But  yet  the  lines  were  distinctly  drawn,  and  the  con- 
test was  sharp  and  exciting.  The  two  armies  were 
about  equal  in  numbers  and  strength,  and  victory 
perched  first  on  this  banner  and  then  on  that;  more 
frequently,  perhaps,  there  was  a  drawn  battle,  and 
honors  were  easy.  In  1846  neither  wing  could  elect 
a  representative,  and  this  defeat  of  both  factions  led 
to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  in  1847,  and  to  subsequent 
concord  and  good-fellowship. 


i  HIBTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  ISIS. 


Erastot  VVilkins,   moderator. 
Ira  Harvey,  town-clerk. 

JFar  Oovemar. 

Henry  Hubbard, 
Jobn  H.  White, 
Anthony  Colby, 
Daniel  Hoit, 

231 
64 
19 
13 

Itfpruentatioes. 

H.  D.  Bobertflon,  Bobert  Thompson. 

Enos  Collins,  \ 

H.  D.  Bobertson,  \  Selectmen. 

Stephen  Bartlett,  ) 

Franklin  Simonds,  collector. 

SuperifUending  School  Committee. 
J.  W.  Perkins,  J.  M.  Chick,  Nathaniel  Page. 

Voted  that  the  use  of  the  Town  Meeting  House  be  granted  to 
all  Beligious  Societies  in  their  turn. 

Voted  to  buy  Joseph  Sawyer's  farm,  if  the  buying  of  said  farm 
will  prevent  the  road  that  is  laid  out  near  said  Sawyer's  from 
being  made. 

Enos  Collins  was  a  son  of  Enos,  who  came  from 
Amesbury,  and  settled  on  Bible  Hill.  In  his  early 
days  he  was  much  engaged  in  school-teaching ;  but 
his  leading  business  through  life  was  farming.  Dr. 
WntL  S.  Collins,  of  Nashua,  is  his  son^  and  another  son 
is  in  Colorado. 

Stephen  Bartlett  was  a  son  of  Richard,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Simeon,  one  of  the   proprietors  of  Warner. 


TOWN  BCC0B06.  869 

Stephen  occupied  through  life  the  farm  on  which  he 
^aa  bom,  and  which  is  now  in  possession  of  one  or 
^ore  of  hin  sons. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH.  1S44. 

Bobert  Thompson^   moderator. 
Ira  Harvey,  town-clerk. 


For  Oovernor. 

John  H.  Steele, 

238 

John  H.  White, 

45 

Daniel  Hoit, 

36 

Anthony  Colby, 

30 

It^l>reBentcUive$. 

Harrison  D.  Robertson,  Enos  Collins. 

Stephen  Bartlett,     \ 

Levi  Flanders,  V  Selectmen. 

Nathaniel  A.  Davis, } 

Franklin  Simonds,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
J.  M.  Chick,  H.  H.  Harriman,  Jesse  D.  Cnrrier. 

Levi  Flanders  was  a  son  of  Levi,  and  a  grandson 
of  Zebulon,  and  his  home  was  at  the  North  village. 
About  the  year  1868  he  removed  to  Missouri,  and 
there  established  a  new  home.  His  health  soon  gave 
way,  and  he  died  a  few  months  after  his  settlement  in 
that  distant  state. 

Nathaniel  A.  Davis  was  another  of  the  sons  of  Gen. 
Aquila,  and  his  home  through  life  was  at  Davisville. 
There  were  his  mills,  and  there  he  was  engaged 
largely  in  the  lumber  business.     He  died  several 


870  HIBIOBT  or  WABNSB. 


yean  since,  leaving  his  sons  in  possession  of  the  mill 
property. 

At  the  presidential  election  of  1844,  the  Polk  electors  XMeired 
'831  votes ;  Clay,  35 ;  Bimey,  34. 

On  the  qaestion,  ''Shall  capital  punishment  be  abolished?" 
164  ^foted  yea,  and  169  nay. 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1845. 

Erastns  Wilkins,  moderator. 
Ira  Haryey,  town-clerk. 


FcT  Ocvemor. 

John  H.  Steele, 

231 

Daniel  Hoit, 

41 

Anthony  Colby, 

22 

John  H.  White, 

16 

Bqjreientatives. 
Enos  Collins,  Daniel  Bean,  Jr. 

Levi  Flanders,  \ 

Nathaniel  A.  Daris,  ?  Selectmen. 
H.  H.  Harriman,       3 

Asa  Pattee,  collector. 

'     Superintending  School  Committee. 
W.  Harriman,  J.  Currier,  Jr.,  H.  W.  Woodman. 

Henry  H.  Harriman  was  the  oldest  son  of  B.  E. 
Harriman,  and  was  born  July  11, 1813.  In  his  early 
days  he  was  a  successful  and  popular  school-teacher. 
Later  in  life  he  was  both  wheelwright  and  farmer,  but 
was  better  known  as  a  practical  surveyor,  and  as  ad- 
ministrator in  the  settlement  of  estates.  In  these  two 
Utter  branches  of  business  he  found  congenial  em- 


TOWN  RECORDS.  871 

ployment  most  of  the  time  for  many  of  the  last  years 
of  his  life.    He  served  the  town  as  selectman  and  as 
representative.    He  fell  dead  in  his  field,  April  18, 
1878,  aged  64. 
At  a  meeting  legally  holden  Sept  3, 1845, — 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  pay  for  the  board  of  Moody  W. 
Flanders,  at  the  Asylum  for  the  Insane  at  Concord,  so  long  as 
they  may  think  proper. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1846. 

Erastus  Wilkins,  moderator. 
Ira  Harvey,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Anthony  Colby,  25 

Jared  W.  Williams,  816 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  69 


None  elected. 


Itqpre8enUU%ne9. 

Thomas  Colby,     \ 

J.  M.  Harriman,  >•  Selectmen. 

Jacob  Jones,        } 

Wm.  R.  Sargent,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
H.  W.  Woodman,  A.  B.  Kelley,  James  W.  Sargent. 

m 

Erastus  Wilkins  was  born  in  Concord,  was  clerk  in 
the  store  of  Robert  Thompson  a  number  of  years,  and 
was  afterwards  in  trade  for  himself,  both  at  the  Lower 
Village,  and  at  the  Centre.  He  married  a  daughter 
of  Stephen  George,  and  the  family  now  resides  in 
Boston. 


872  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

Thomas  Colby  was  a  son  of  Philip,  of  District  No. 
10.  He  carried  on  the  business  of  farming  near  the 
old  homestead  till  about  fifteen  years  ago,  when  he 
removed  to  Wilmot,  where  he  and  his  son  are  engaged 
in  the  same  vocation. 

Jacob  Jones  was  a  brother  to  Daniel,  was  born  in 
Boscawen,  where  he  lived  many  years  after  his  ma- 
turity, was  afterwards  a  resident  of  the  Schoodac  dis- 
trict in  Warner,  and  then  of  Warner  village. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S47. 

H.  D.  Bobertson,  moderator. 
Moses  D.  Wheeler,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Jared  W.  Williams,  336 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  54 

Anthony  Colby,  .30 

ItepresentcUives, 
J.  M.  Harriman,  Daniel  Bean,  Jr. 

H.  H.  Harriman,   \ 
'  Geo.  A.  Pillsbury,  >  Selectmen. 

John  Currier,  ) 

Asa  Pattee,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
A.  B.  KeUey,  W.  Harriman,  J.  S.  Herrick. 

John  Currier,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  Jacob,  and  a  grand- 
son of  Joseph.  He  occupied  the  homestead  of  his  an- 
cestors through  life.     He  was  both  u  selectman  and 


TOWN  RECORDS.  878 

deputy  sheriff  a  number  of  years,  but  he  died  when  a 
young  man,  about  the  year  1860. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1848. 

H.  D.  Robertson,  moderator. 
Moses  D.  Wheeler,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor, 

Jared  W.  Williams,  348 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  91 

Iiq}reserU€U%ve3. 
James  M.  Harriman,  Franklin  Simonds. 

Thomas  Colby,       \ 

Jacob  Jones,  >  Selectmen. 

Walter  Harriman,  j 

The  record  says,— 

And  the  said  Walter  Harriman  came  forward,  and  in  open 
Town  Meeting,  then  and  there,  declined  serving  as  Selectman. 

Then  said  inhabitants  of  said  town  chose  Abner  Woodman  for 
third  Selectman. 

0 

Wm.  R  Sargent  was  appointed  collector. 

Superintending  ScJiool  Committee, 
A.  B.  Kelley,  W.  Harriman,  J.  S.  Herrick. 

Moses  D.  Wheeler  is  a  son  of  Jeremiah.  He  has 
been  engaged  most  of  his  lifetime  in  the  business 
of  blacksmithing  at  Warner  village,  but  has  served 
the  town  several  times  in  each  of  the  capacities  of 
town-clerk,  selectman,  and  representative. 


OHAPTEE  XXYII. 

TOWN  RECORDS — NEW    TOWN    HALL — RAILROAD    OPENING ^THE 

BANKS— CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTION — HOMESTEAD    EXEMP- 
TION. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,   1849. 

H.  D.  Robertson,  moderator. 
Wm.  Carter,  Jr.,  town-clerk. 

Far  Governor. 

Samuel  Dinsmoor,  337 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  54 

Levi  Chamberlain,  22 

ItqprtBenUUivts. 

Franklin  Simonds,  Walter  Harriman. 

Geo.  A.  Pillsburj,  \ 

Thomas  Colby,        \  Selectmen. 

Jacob  Jones,       ~    ) 

John  Harriman,  collector. 

Stq>enntefiding  School  Committee. 

A.  B.  Kelley,  J.  S.  Herrick,  W.  Harriman. 

NEW  TOWN  HALL. 

Voted  to  raise  a  committee  to  sell  the  town  house,  select  a  site 
for  a  new  one,  and  report  a  plan  for  the  same  at  an  adjourned 
meeting. 

Robert  Thompson,  Nathaniel  A.  Davis,  and  Cum- 
mings  Marshall  were  appointed. 


GEORGE  ALFRED  PILLSBURT.  875 

George  Alfred  Pillsbury.  John  and  Snsan  (Wad- 
leigli)  Pillsbury,  of  Sutton,  had  three  sons  and  one 
daughter, — viz^  Simon  W.,  Oeorge  Alfred,  born  Aug. 
29,  1816,  Dolly  W.  (Mrs.  Cummings),  John  S.,  and 
Benjamin  F. 

Simon  W.  died  in  1836,  at  the  age  of  24.  He  was 
a  close  student,  and  was  believed  to  be,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  one  of  the  best  mathematicians  in  the  state. 
John  S.  became  identified  with  Warner  not  far  from 
1844.  From  that  time  till  1851  he  was  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  in  town,  either  as  clerk  or  propri- 
etor. He  married  his  wife  (Miss  Mahala  Fisk)  in 
Warner.  After  the  close  of  1851  he  was  engaged  in 
trade  a  few  years  at  East  Andover  and  at  Concord. 
In  1855  he  settled  at  St.  Anthony's  Falls,  Minne- 
sota, and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business.  From 
1863  to  1875  he  served  in  the  state  senate.  He  was 
elected  governor  of  Minnesota  in  1875,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1877,  the  elections  occurring  biennially. 
He  is  now  largely  interested  in  the  manufacture  of 
flour.  Benjamin  F.  remained  in  Sutton  till  1878,  em- 
ployed mainly  in  fanning,  but  filling  acceptably  the 
offices  of  selectman  and  representative.  In  1878  he 
removed  to  Granite  Falls,  Minn. 

George  A.  Pillsbury,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  went 
to  Boston  in  1836  as  a  clerk  at  the  6o3*l$ton  Market^ 
but  returned  to  Sutton  in  1837,  and  before  he  was  21 
years  of  age  was  engaged  there  in  the  stove  business. 


876  HISTOBT  OF  WABKER. 

In  this  he  continued  till  ^840,  when  he  came  to  War- 
ner as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  John  U.  Pearson.  For 
about  eight  years  he  was  actively  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  in  Warner ;  theil  for  a  year  or  more  he 
was  in  a  wholesale  dry-goods  house  in  Boston.  In 
1849  he  reentered  the  mercantile  business  in  War- 
ner, having  bought  Ira  Harvey's  stock  of  goods,  and 
taken  a  lease  of  his  store.  In  the  spring  of  1851  he 
sold  back  his  interests  to  Mr.  Harvey,  and  went  out 
of  mercantile  business  entirely. 

Mr.  Pillsbury  served  as  post-master  at  Warner  from 
1844  to  1849,  as  selectman  in  1847  and  1849,  and  as 
representative  in  1850  and  1851.  He  was  chairman 
of  the  committee,  appointed  by  the  Merrimack  county 
delegation  in  1851,  for  building  the  new  jail  at  Con- 
cord. In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 
purchasing  agent  of  the  Concord  Railroad  Corporation, 
which  position  he  filled  for  nearly  twenty-five  years. 
During  this  time  his  purchases  amounted  to  from  one 
hundred  thousand  to  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
per  annum.  He  removed  to  Concord  in  1852.  In 
.  1866  he  was  elected  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  Concord,  and  he  held  this  position  till  March, 
1878,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  leaving  for  the 
West  At  this  time  the  bank  was  the  strongest  in  the 
state.  He  wns  elected  in  1867  the  first  president  of 
the  National  Savings  Bank,  at  Concord,  and  he  held 
this  position  till  1874,  when  he  resigned.     He  was 


GEORGE  ALFRED  PILLSBURT.  877 

several  times  elected  a  member  of  the  city  council  of 
Concord.  In  March,  1876,  he  was  elected  mayor  of 
the  city  by  a  large  majority,  and  was  reelected  to  the 
same  oflSce  in  March,  1877.  He  gave  to  the  city  of 
Concord  the  fine-toned  bell  now  on  the  Board  of 
Trade  building.  He  and  his  son,  Charles  A.,  substan- 
tially  paid  for  the  new  organ  in  the  First  Baptist 
Church,  of  Concord,  which  cost  $4,000.  In  March, 
1878,  he  sold  out  his  real  estate  interests  in  Concord, 
and  removed  to  Minnesota. 

Mr.  Pillsbury,  May  9,  1841,  married  Margaret  S. 
Carleton,  and  they  have  had  born  to  them  two  sons 
and  one  daughter, — viz.,  Charles  A.  [see  College  grad- 
uates], Mary  Ida,  bom  at  Warner,  April,  1848,  died 
May,  1849,  and  Fred.  Carleton,  born  August,  1852. 

Fred.  C,  in  1872,  went  to  Minneapolis  as  a  clerk 
for  his  uncle,  John  S.  Pillsbury,  and  he  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  large  firm  of  C.  A.  Pillsbury  &  Co. 

At  an  adjonraed  meeting,  June  4,  1849^  the  committee  on  the 
town  house  presented  a  report  which  was  accepted. 

Voted  to  adopt  so  much  of  the  Committee's  report  as  relates  to 
the  removing  of  the  old  house  and  repairing  the  same. 

Chose  N.  A.  Davis,  C.  Marshall  and  Philip  Colby  a  Committee 
to  remove  and  repair  the  same. 

Voted  to  leave  it  discretionary  with  the  committee  as  to  the 
length  which  the  posts  shall  be  cut. 

Voted  to  leave  the  selection  of  a  site  for  the  house  to  the  above 
committee. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  borrow  $800  of  the 
surplus  revenue  to  alter  and  repair  the  town  house. 

On  the  6th  day  of  June,  1849,  Benjamin  Wadleigh^ 


878  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

Asa  Page,  and  John  Pillsbury,  all  of  Sutton,  as  a  com- 
mittee  for  that  purpose,  met  at  the  town-bouse  in 
Waraer,  heard  all  persons  who  desired  to  be  heard, 
and  appraised  the  pews  in  tife  town-house  at  75  cents 
each.  The  number  of  pews  being  fifty-six,  the  sum 
total  was  $42. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  Aug.  11, 1849,  the  commit- 
tee chosen  to  rebuild  the  town-house  declining  longer 
to  serve,  a  motion  to  adjourn  was  made,  which  was 
decided  in  the  affirmative.  So  the  ^  house  under  the 
ledge"  was  left  on  it?  foundations. 

RAILROAD  OPENING. 

On  the  21st  day  of  September,  1849,  the  Concord 
&  Claremont  Railroad  was  formally  opened  to  War- 
ner, and  the  event  was  duly  celebrated.     A  train  of 
nine  cars  was  run  down  to  Concord  in  the  morning, 
carrying  500  people  from  Warner  and  other  towns. 
At  eleven  o'clock,  the  train,  augmented  by  the  addi- 
tion of  some  nine  cars  and  800  passengers,  started  on 
the  return.     So  heavy  was  the  train  that  two  locomo- 
tives were  required,  one  being  placed  in  front  and  the 
other  at  the  rear.     The  front  cars  were  open  stake 
cars.     There  was  a  crowd  of  persons  standing  on  the 
front  end  of  the  first  car,  and  supporting  themselves 
by  putting  their  hands   upon   the   tender.     At  the 
crossing  by  the  new  prison  the  coupling  between  the 
head  locomotive  and  the  front  car  broke,  the  engine 


RAILROAD  OPENIKO.  879 

shot  ahead,  and  those  who  were  leaning  on  the  tender 
fell  forward  upon  the  track.  The  train  was  forced 
forward  by  the  locomotive  at  the  rear.  Matthew 
Harvey  Gould,  a  young  man  about  twenty  years  of 
age,  a  son  of  Col.  Enoch  Gould,  and  brother  of  the  con- 
ductor, Moses  R  Gould,  fell  in  such  a  position  that  both 
legs  were  crushed  and  nearly  cut  off  below  the  knee. 
Two  or  three  others  were  severely  but  not  fatally 
injured.  The  wounded  were  immediately  taken  back 
to  Concord,  and  surgical  aid  was  summoned.  Young 
Gould  died  a  few  minutes  after  reaching  Concord, 
and  before  amputation  could  have  been  performed. 

This  sad  affair  cast  a  dark  shadow  over  all  the  sub- 
sequent proceedings  of  the  day.  But  the  train  went 
on  to  Warner,  where  it  arrived  at  one  o'clock.  A  pro- 
cession  was  immediately  formed,  under  the  guidance 
of  Daniel  Bean,  Jr.,  as  marshal,  which  marched 
through  Main  street,  led  by  the  Fisherville  band,  and 
back  to  the  stand  provided  for  the  speakers  near  the 
depot  After  bountiful  refreshments,  provided  by  the 
citizens  of  Warner,  had  been  partaken  of.  Gov.  Hill, 
CoL  Cyrus  Barton,  M.  W.  Tappan,  E  B.  West,  W. 
Harriman,  J.  A.  Gilmore,  and  Gen.  Low  (the  president 
of  the  road),  all  made  speeches  of  an  encouraging  and 
congratulatory  nature. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  train  returned  to  Con- 
cord, with  nothing  further  to  mar  the  festivities  of  the 

occasion. 
25 


380  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNER. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1850. 

H.  D.  Robertson^  moderator. 
Wm.  Carter,  Jr.,  town-clerk. 

.  For  O<yoemor. 

Samuel  Dinsmoor,  320 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  66 

Levi  Chamberlain,  26 

ItepresentcUives. 
Walter  Harriman,  George  A.  Pillsburj-. 

John  Currier,  Jr.,^ 

Origen  Dimond,      >  Selectmen. 

James  Bean,  ) 

Ira  Dimond  was  appointed  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee, 
E.  W.  Fuller,  S.  S.  Bean,  Parsons  Whidden. 

William  Carter,  Jr.  (son  of  William,  senior),  was  en- 
gaged in  trade,  first  at  the  George  stand  in  the  Lower 
Village,  then  at  the  Robertson  stand  at  the  Centre. 
His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Elliot  C.  Badger,  and  his 
only  surviving  son  is  William  S.  Carter  (now  of  Leba- 
non), who  served  in  the  Eleventh  N.  H.  Regiment 
Mr.  Carter  died  in  1851,  aged  about  36. 

Gapt.  Origen  Dimond  was  a  son  of  Isaac,  and  a 
grandson  of  Ezekiel,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  Warner. 
He  was  born  in  that  district  called  Joppa,  and  he 
remained  on  the  old  homestead  till  advancing  years 
began  to  unfit  him  for  the  management  of  a  large 
farm,  when  he  secured  a  few  acres  and  a  pleasant  cot- 
tage in  the  village,  where  he  now  resides. 


THE  BANKS.  381 

James  Benn,  a  son  of  Nathaniel,  juniorj  and  a 
grandson  of  Nathaniel,  senior^  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  Warner.  He  was  bom,  where  he  has  al- 
ways resided,  at  the  foot  of  Monument  hill.  His  first 
wife  was  Marinda  Stewart^  who  died  young,  and  his 
second  is  Mary,  both  daughters  of  Capt  John  Stewart 
Two  of  Mr.  Bean's  sons  were  in  the  army  during  the 
Rebellion. 

Having  now  reached,  in  the  town  records,  the  mid- 
dle of  the  century,  and  approximated  the  present^ 
these  brief  notices  of  persons  elected  to  office  will  be 
generally  omitted. 

THE  BANKS. 

At  the  June  session  of  the  legislature  of  1860  a 
charter  was  obtained  for  the  Warner  Bank,  with  a 
capital  of  $50,000.  The  bank  was  soon  organized. 
Its  presidents  were  Joshua  George,  Dr.  Jason  EL 
Ames,  Franklin  Simonds,  and  N.  G.  Ordway.  Its 
cashiers  were  Francis  Wilkins  and  George  Jones. 
The  latter  served  two  years  in  the  state  senate. 

This  bank  was  closed,  and  the  Kearsarge  National 
Bank,  with  a  like  capital,  was  organized  in  1867.  The 
first  president  of  this  bank  was  N.  G.  Ordway.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Joshua  George,  at  whose  decease 
Mr.  Ordway  was  again  elected  president,  which  posi- 
tion he  still  holds.  The  cashiers  of  this  bank  have 
been  George  Jones  and  Oilman  C.  George. 


882  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

In  1874  the  Kearsarge  Savings  Bank  was  organized 
in  connection  with  the  National  Bank,  and  the  two 
are  substantially  under  one  and  the  same  manage- 
ment 

Joshua  George  was  bom  at  the  Lower  Village, 
where  Jonathan  Badger  now  resides,  March  24, 1791. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Harriman)  George, 
who  were  natives  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  and  who,  after 
their  marriage,  settled  in  Hopkinton,  N.  H.  They 
afterwards  moved  from  Hopkinton  to  Warner,  and 
from  Warner  to  Topsham,  Vt,  where  they  died. 

At  the  time  the  family  removed  to  Topsham,  Joshua 
was  fourteen  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  commenced  driving  cattle  and  sheep  from 
Topsham  to  Brighton,  a  distance  of  150  miles.  He 
took  down  a  drove  through  Hanover  and  New  Lon- 
don, over  Kimball's  hill,  through  Warner,  Hopkinton, 
Nashua,  &c.,  to  Brighton,  usually  once  in  two  weeks. 
He  followed  this  course  for  seven  years,  making  each 
trip  without  assistance.  He  began  to  buy  in  Warner 
while  living  in  Topsham,  and  when  thirty  years  of 
age  he  came  to  Warner  and  settled  at  the  place  which 
was  ever  after  his  home.  His  first  wife  (a  Miss  Cres- 
sey  of  Bradford)  lived  but  a  year  after  her  marriage. 
His  second  wife,  Miss  Ann  F.  Upton,  was  also  of  Brad- 
ford. She  died  in  middle  age,  and  all  her  children 
died  young,  except  John,  and  Mrs.  Frank  Wilkins. 
Several  years  after  her  decease,  Mr.  George  married, 


^,^K«f^^    -^ 


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Hdiotrpc  PtiminBC"-*'-"*™'- 


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JOSHUA  GEORGE.  888 

for  his  third  wife,  a  daughter  of  Col.  Moses  Gerrish,  of 
Boscawen. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  an  active,  persevere 
ing  man  during  his  whole  life.  He  dealt  largely  in 
cattle,  and  was  always  ready  for  a  trade  of  any  kind. 
He  was  president  of  Warner  Bank  for  a  number  of 
years  after  its  organization  in  1850.  He  was  also 
president  of  the  National  Bank,  in  which  office  he 
continued  till  his  death,  at  the  age  of  84.  He  was 
always  prompt  to  the  minute  to  meet  every  engage- 
menty  and  he  had  no  patience  with  a  dilatory  man. 
He  was  very  particular  and  exact  in  all  his  official 
duties.  If  he  owed  a  debt  he  paid  it  when  due, 
though  he  had  to  ride  all  night  for  that  purpose,  and 
if  a  man  owed  him  he  exacted  pay  according  to  con- 
tract He  valued  every  dollar  he  earned.  He  was 
an  "  everlasting  talker,"  but  if  he  saw  difficulty  ahead, 
he  at  once  became  silent  He  shunned  a  quarrel  as  a 
pestilence.  He  was  no  politician,  and  was  never  a 
candidate  for  office.  He  had  a  keen  sense  of  the 
ridiculous,  and  the  man  who  could  outdo  him  in  story- 
telling was  rarely  found.  He  was  genial  and  kind  in 
his  family. 

His  son  John  fitted  for  college,  studied  law  with 
Chief-Justice  Perley,  and  with  George,  Foster  &  San- 
born, at  Concoi'd,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1864. 
In  18G3  and  1864  *he  served  on  the  staff  of  Gov. 
Gilmore,  with  the  rank  of  colonel.    His  father  had 


884  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

large  real  estate  interests  in  Chicago  and  Sycamore^ 
HL,  and  for  sixteen  years,  as  his  father's  attorney,  he 
was  directly  and  indirectly  attending  to  those  inter- 
ests He  is  now  living  at  the  old  homestead  in  War- 
ner. Mrs.  Wilkins,  the  daughter  of  Joshua  George, 
died  in  1878,  aged  43. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  Oct  8, 1850,  Ahner  B. 
Kelley  and  Leonard  Eaton  were  chosen  delegates  to 
the  constitutional  convention  of  that  year. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  ISol. 

H.  D.  Bobertson,  moderator. 
Moses  D.  Wheeler^  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Samuel  Dinsmoor,  242 

John  Atwood,  128 

Thomas  E.  Sawyer,  20 

JRepreaerUatives. 

(3eo«  A.  Pillsbury,  Leonard  Eaton. 

John  Currier,  Jr.,  ^ 

Origen  Dimond,     >  Selectmen. 

James  Bean,         J 

Ira  Dimond,  collector. 

Sigperintending  School  Committee, 
Dr.  "VVhidden,  S.  S.  Bean,  H.  H.  Harriman. 

HOMESTEAD  EXEMPTION. 

The  sense  of  the  qualified  voters  was  taken  on  the 
following  question : 


HOMESTEAD  EXEMPTION.  885 

Y^  It  it  expedient  for  the  legislature  to  enact  a  law  to  exempt  the 
homesteads  of  families  from  attachment  and  levy  or  sale  on  execn- 
^on,  to  the  amount  of  $600  ? 

The  result  in  Warner  was,  yeas,  114 ;  nays,  134. 

The  question  had  been  submitted  to  the  people  by 
the  legislature  of  1850.  In  the  state  the  affirmative 
of  the  question  prevailed,  and  the  law  was  enacted  in 
June^  1851. 

The  sense  of  the  voters  was  also  taken  on  the  ques- 
tion of  accepting  the  new  state  constitution  which  the 
convention  had  framed.  The  constitution  was  divided 
into  fifteen  sections  or  parts,  and  each  part  was  voted 
on  separately.  There  was  an  average  of  about  20 
votes,  in  Warner,  in  favor  of  these  propositions,  and 
an  average  of  about  250  votes  against  them. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1852. 

H.  D.  Robertson,  moderator. 
Robert  Thompson,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemar. 

Noab  Martin,  280 

John  Atwood,  67 

Thomas  K  Sawyer,  84 

Itepresentatives. 
Leonard  Eaton,  H.  H.  Harriman. 

Levi  Collins,         'j 

Wm.  R.  Sargent,  V  Selectmen. 

Abner  Woodman,  j 

Daniel  Savoiy,  collector. 


886  BISTORT  OF  WABNEB/ 

Superiniending  School  Committee. 
A.  B.  Kelley,  E.  B.  West,  S.  W.  Colby. 

TOWN-HOUSE  •AGAIN. 

Chose  N.  A.  Davis,  Erastus  Wilkins,  and  R  Thomp- 
son a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  ques- 
tion of  a  new  town-house,  and  to  report  at  a  subse- 
quent meeting. 

After  the  defeat  of  the  state  constitution  in  March, 
1851,  the  convention  reassembled,  and  presented  cer- 
tain amendments  which  were  submitted  to  the  people 
in  three  questions.  The  result  in  Warner  was  as  fol- 
lows: 

1.  On  the  question  of  abolishing  all  religious  tests 
from  the  constitution,  there  were  22  yeas  and  157 
nays. 

2.  On  the  question  of  abolishing  a  property  quali- 
fication, there  were  33  yeas  and  109  nays. 

3.  On  the  question  of  having  amendments  in  the 
future  proposed  by  the  legislature  instead  of  a  con- 
vention, there  were  11  yeas  and  146  nays. 

The  second  proposition  (and  that  only)  was  carried 
in  the  state,  and  the  property  qualification  fell  from 
the  constitution. 

Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  to  get  the  Town  Hall  insured, 
when  said  House  passes  into  their  hands. 

Voted  that  an  agent  he  appointed  to  sell  the  old  House  when 
the  actual  pew-holders  can  be  settled  with  for  75  cents  a  pew. 


mxiy  -^ 


'CIAA^<^ 


IRJL  HARVEY.  887 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1853. 

H.  D.  Bobertson,  moderator. 
Bobert  Thompson,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Noah  Martin,     .  801 

John  H.  White,  66 

James  Bell,  12 

BepresentativeM. 

H.  D.  Boberteon,  Ira  Harvey. 

Levi  Collins,  \ 

Beuben  Clough,  Jr.,  >  SelectmexL 

Bobert  Thompson,     ) 

Greorge  Savory,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
A.  B.  Kelley,  K  B.  West,  H.  0.  Howland. 

Ira  Harvey.  David  Harvey,  with  his  family  (in- 
cluding his  son  Abner),  came  from  Amesbury.  They 
settled  on  an  excellent  farm  on  Tory  Hill.  Abner 
occupied  the  family  homestead  during  his  lifetime, 
and  was  a  forehanded  farmer.  He  had  a  large  family 
of  sons  and  daughters.  The  names  of  the  sons  were 
David,  Abner,  Jr.,  and  Ira. 

Ira,  the  youngest  but  one  of  twelve  children,  was 
bom  December  3,  1809.  In  childhood  and  youth  he 
suffered  from  infirm  health,  and  gave  evidence  of 
being  unsuited  to  the  hard,  out-door  labors  of  the 
fann.    He  attended  the  schools  of  his  own  district 


888  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

punctually,  and  lengthened  out  his  school-days  by 
going  into  adjoining  districts.  He  also  attended 
school  at  Hopkinton  academy  one  term,  in  the  fall  of 
1828. 

In  September,  1829,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he 
went  as  clerk  into  the  store  of  Jeremiah  Paige  at 
Bradford,  and  remained  till  June,  1834.  Tlieu,  after 
spending  a  few  months  at  home  on  the  farm,  he  be- 
came a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Nathan  S.  Colby  at  War- 
ner. Here  he  remained  till  February,  1837.  From 
April  to  July,  1837,  he  acted  as  clerk  for  Robert 
Thompson ;  then  hired  the  Colby  store,  and  com- 
menced a  successful  business  for  himself  on  a  very 
small  capital.  He  continued  at  this  stand  most  of  the 
time  till  1873,  when  he  retired  finally  from  active 
business.  He  has  served  frequently  as  town-clerk, 
and  has  also  represented  the  town  in  the  legislature. 

Mr.  Harvey  was  married.  Sept  11,  1838,  to  Mary, 
daughter  of  James  Bean,  and  the  children  of  these 
parents  are  Mrs.  Baxter,  Mrs.  Wilson,  Frederick,  Ab- 
bie,  and  Dr.  Luther. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1854. 

H.  D.  BobertsoD;  moderator. 
S.  Thompson,  town-clerk. 

For  Qwitmor. 

NatLaniel  B.  Baker,  257 

Jared  Perkins,  75 

James  Bell,  24 


TOWN  RECX)RDS.  389 

HepresenUUives. 
H.  D.  Sobertson,  Levi  Collins. 

Samuel  W.  Colby,  \ 

Lewis  Holmes,        >  Selectmen. 

J.  M.  Harriman,    } 

Wm.  K.  Sargent,  collector. 
Superiiitending  School  Committee. 
H.  0.  Howland,  S.  S.  Bean,  N.  J.  Pinkham. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1856. 

H.  D.  Kobertson,  moderator. 
George  T.  Watkins,  town-clerk. 

Jf^or  Oovemor. 

• 

Ralph  Metcalf,  177 

Nathaniel  B.  Baker,  245 

Scattering,  10 

JiepresentcUivea. 

Levi  Collins,  Benjamin  C  Davis. 

Lewis  Holmes,         \ 

J.  M.  Harriman,       >  Selectmen. 

Reuben  Clough,  Jr.,  ) 

George  Savory,  collector. 

SuperifUending  School  Commiitee. 

H.  0.  Howland,  N.  J.  Pinkham,  A.  B.  Kelley. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1866. 

H.  D.  Robertson,  moderator. 
Geo.  T.  Watkins,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor. 

Ralph  Metcalf,  183 

John  S.  Wells,  284 


890  HI8I0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

Jtq>r€$eniativ€S. 

Benjamin  G.  Davis,  Lewis  Holmes. 

A.  W.  Harriman,  \ 

TL  M.  Dunbar,       >  Selectmen. 

S.  G.  Pattee,  ) 

Greorge  Savory,  collector. 

3tq>eriniending  School  Committee. 
H.  0.  Howland,  N.  J.  Pinkham,  L.  WiUis. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1857. 

H.  D.  Kobertson,  moderator. 
Creo.  T.  Watkins,  town-clerk. 

JP'or  Oovemor. 

WUliam  Haile,  185 

John  S.  Wells,  279 

Itq>reserU€Uives. 

Lewis  Holmes,  Samuel  W.  Golby. 

A.  W.  Harriman,  "j 

K  M.  Dunbar,      >  Selectmen. 

S.  G.  Pattee,        j 

Franklin  Simonds,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
*  A.  B.  Kelley,  H.  H.  Harriman,  L.  W.  Collins. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,   MARCH,  1858. 

H.  D.  Robertson,  moderator. 
Qeo.  T.  Watkins,  town-clerk. 

JP'or  Oovemor. 

William  Haile,  195 

Asa  P  Gate,  283 


TOWN  RECORDS.  i  891 

Hepresentativea. 

Samuel  W.  Colby,  Walter  Harriman. 

Stephen  C.  Pattee,  \ 

Moses  J.  Collins^    >  Selectmen* 

Gkorge  Foster,        ) 

Franklin  Simonds,  collector. 

Superintending  School  CommiUee. 
L.  W.  Collins,  E.  M.  Dunbar,  W. 


'    Chose  Levi  Savory  to  take  charge  of  the  town  hall. 

Voted  that  the  town  hall  shall  not  be  let  short  of  $5  per  eyen- 
ing,  and  shall  be  free  for  the  use  of  the  town  people. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1850. 

H.  D.  Kobertson,  moderator. 
Gilman  A.  Bean,  town-clerk. 

Far  Qovemor, 

Ichabod  GU)odwin,  198  . 

Asa  P.  Cate,  278 

B^ntBeniaiiveB. 

Cummings  ^larshall,  Ephraim  M.  Dunbar. 

George  Foster,       \ 

John  Kogers,  \  Selectmen. 

Jacob  K.  Sargent,  ) 

H.  H.  Harriman,  collector. 

Superintending  School  CommiUee, 
S.  C.  Pattee,  Oscar  B.  Harriman,  B.  Warren  Couch. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1860. 

H.  D.  Robertson,  moderator. 
G.  A.  Bean,  town-dezk. 


I 


892  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

For  Chvemor. 

Ichabod  Ooodwin^  217 

Asa  P.  Gate,  279 

Itq^e$entatxves. 
G.  Marshall,  K  M.  Dunbar. 

Nathaniel  A.  Davis,  ^ 

Moses  J.  GoUins,        \  Selectmen. 

J.  M.  Hiarriman,        ) 

H.  H.  Harriman,  collector. 

Superintefiding  School  Committee. 
S.  G.  Pattee,  B.  W.  Gouch,  Samuel  Davis,  Jr. 

Harrison  Darling  Eobertson,  whose  name  has 
frequently  appeared  on  the  preceding  pages,  was  a 
native  of  the  adjoining  town  of  Hopkinton.  The 
public  records  inform  us  that  John  Eobertson  came 
from  England  and  settled  at  Salisbury^  Mass.,  and 
that  he  was  killed  by  the  Indians  at  that  place  Oct. 
21, 1676.  Also,  that  Wm.  Eobertson  came  from  Eng- 
land and  settled  in  Concord,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1670, 
and  that  both  of  these  left  many  descendants. 

Harrison  D.  Eobertson  was  probably  a  descendant 
of  one  of  these  families.  He  was  bom  at  Hopkinton 
(old  village)  in  1806.  His  father's  name  was  John, 
and  his  mother  was  a  Darling.  Mr.  Eobertson  came 
to  Warner  when  a  youth  or  young  man,  and  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business,  which  occupied  his  atten- 
tion^  more  or  less,  through  life.    He  also  carried  on 


'^JJtf-y^tf^ 


Hetiotypc  Printint,  Co.,  laouun. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  393 

the  coopering  business  on  an  extensive  scale.  He 
was  one  of  Warner's  most  active  and  influential  men 
a  great  many  years,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  He 
held  the  office  of  post-master  fourteen  years,  of  repre- 
sentative four  years,  and  of  moderator  and  selectman 
a  great  number  of  years. 

His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Benjamin 
Evans,  and  his  second  (who  survives  him)  a  daughter 
of  Dudley  Bailey.  He  died  in  1862,  aged  56,  leaving 
one  son, — John  E.  Robertson,  now  of  Concord.  Mrs, 
E.  H.  Carroll,  of  Warner,  is  his  grand-daughter. 

AXXUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1861. 

Walter  Harriman,  moderator. 
6.  A.  Bean,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovernor. 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  194 

George  Stark,  271 

Representatives, 
Augustine  W.  Harriman,  Stephen  C.  Pattee. 

Samuel  W.  Colby,  \ 

John  P.  Colby,  >  Selectmen. 

Hezekiah  B.  Harriman,  ) 

H.  H.  Harriman,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
S.  C.  Pattee,  B.  W.  Couch,  S.  Davis,  Jr. 

Voted  that  interest  be  charged  on  all  taxes  unpaid  on  the  first 
day  of  January  next  after  the  taxes  are  assessed. 


CHAPTER   XXYIII. 

THE   WAB — STATE   AID — BOUNTIES   TO   SOLDIERS — PRAISING    THE 
BID— BOUNTY-JUMPEBS — MORE  MEN — ^THE  ARMY  MOTES. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1862. 

Walter  Harriman,  moderator. 
OUman  A.  Bean,  town-^slerk 

For  Oovemor. 

Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  191 

Qeorge  Stark,  238 

Paul  J.  Wheeler,  26 

Il,  W.  Harriman,  S.  C.  Pattee. 

Samuel  W.  Colby,  \ 

John  P.  Colby,        K  Selectmen. 

H.  B.  Harrtman,     ) 

Charles  P.  Bowell,  collector. 

SupenrUending  School  Committee. 
Bey.  Henry  Stetson. 

STATE  AID. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  make  diligent  in- 
quiry, and  if  they  find  any  families  that  desire  and  need  assist- 
ance, who  come  under  the  Laws  passed  last  June  in  regard  to  fur- 
nishing aid  to  volunteers  in  the  U.  S.  service,  that  they  should 
furnish  such  an  amount  as  in  their  opinion  shall  seem  just  and 
proper. 


TOWN  BECORDS.  895 

BOUNTIES  TO  SOLDIERS. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  Aug.  21,  1862,  to  act  on 
the  petition  of  Reuben  Porter  and  others  in  regard  to 
paying  bounties  to  volunteers,  Stephen  C.  Pattee  act- 
ing as  moderator, — 

Voted  to  adopt  the  resolution  iutioduced  by  George  Jones, 
which  is  as  follows : 

Reaohedy  That  the  town  of  Warner  will  pay  each  volanteer 
$150,  to  be  paid  when  the  soldier  is  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  to  fill  up  our  quota  under  the  first  call  of  the  Pre^ 
ident  for  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers,  agreeably  to  the 
warrant.  • 

Voted  to  authorize  the  Selectmen  to  borrow  a  sum  of  money 
not  exceeding  $10,000,  to  pay  the  bounty  to  volunteers  agreeably 
to  the  foregoing  resolution  of  George  Jones.       ^ 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  Sept  15, 1862,  Sam- 
uel Davis,  Jr.,  acting  as  moderator, — 

Voted  that  the  town  of  Warner  indemnify  the  Selectmen  from 
all  loss,  cost  or  expense  to  which  they  may  be  subjected  by  rea- 
son of  borrowing  money  on  the  credit  of  said  town,  agreeably  to 
a  vote  passed  by  said  town  on  the  21st  day  of  August,  1862,  to 
pay  volunteers  $150  each. 

The  reason  does  not  appear  why  indemnification 
was  thought  to  be  necessary  in  this  case  more  than  in 
others ;  nor  can  the  reader  understand  how  the  second 
vote  could  indemnify  the  selectmen  more  than  the 
first,  as  a  vote  of  instructions  carries  indemnification 
with  it 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  pay  Walter  Harri- 
man  $150  as  town  bounty. 

[The  individual  referred  to  here  has  never  called 

for  nor  received  said  bounty.] 
26 


896  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1863. 

Bobert  Thompson,  moderator. 
6.  A.  Bean,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Joseph  A.  Gilmore,  96 

Iza  A.  Eastman,  261 

Walter  Harriman,  103 

Itqyresentatives, 
John  P.  Colby,  Hezekiah  B.  Harriman. 

Samuel  W.  Colby,  ^ 

Moses  D.  Wheeler,  >  Selectmen. 

Elijah  B.  Gilroore,  j 

Charles  P.  Bowell,  collector. 

SuperifUendxng  School  CommiUee. 
'     Henry  Stetson,  S.  C.  Pattee,  L.  W.  Collins. 

Voted  to  instruct  our  representatives  to  oppose  the  purchase  of 
a  County  Poor  Farm. 

One  person  who  received  votes  for  governor  at  this 
election  was  not  a  candidate  of  any  organized  party, 
but  was  voted  for  by  such  as  were  dissatisfied  with 
the  regular  candidates,  or  with  one  of  those  candi- 
dates. 

At  a  meeting,  held  Sept.  19, 1863,  to  act  on  the 
petition  of  Oilman  A.  Bean  and  others, — 

To  see  if  the  Town  will  Tote  to  pay  $300  to  each  drafted  man 
or  his  substitute, — on  motion  of  B.  F.  Harriman,  Voted  to  in- 
struct the  Selectmen  to  pay  each  conscript,  or  his  substitute, 
9300,  ten  days  after  being  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  897 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed 
to  borrow  the  money  and  give  to>\'n  notes  sufficient  to  pay  each 
drafted  man,  or  his  substitute,  $300,  agreeably  to  the  resolution 
of  B.  F.  Harriman,  as  just  passed. 

A  subsequent  meeting  was  held  Dec.  4, 1863,  and 
the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  fill  the  quota  of  the 
town,  ^  under  the  last  call  of  the  president  for  300,000 
volunteers,"  and  to  advance  the  bounty  money  offered 
to  volunteers  by  the  United  States  and  by  the  state 
of  New  Hampshire ;  also,  to  borrow  a  sufficient  sum 
of  money  on  the  credit  of  the  town  to  pay  the  same. 


/• 


ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1864. 

Robert  Thompson,  moderator. 
G.  A.  Bean,  town-clerk. 

jFor  Oovemor. 

Joseph  A.  Gilmore,  196 

Edward  W.  Harrington,  261 

Hepresetitatives. 
John  P.  Colby,  Hezekiah  B.  Harriman. 

Moses  D.  Wheeler,  J 

E.  E.  Gilmore,        >  SelectmexL 

C.  G.  McAlpine,      ) 

Charles  P.  Rowell,  collector. 

Superintending  School  CommiUee. 
H.  S.  Huntington,  S.  C.  Pattee,  L.  W.  Collins, 

Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen  (if  in  their  power)  to  change 
the  town  debt  from  the  present  rate  of  six  per  cent,  interest,  to 
the  rate  of  6  per  cent,  for  three  years,  or  four  per  cent,  for  6  years. 


898  BISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  June  4,  1864,  the  following 
resolution^  offered  by  F.  P.  Harriman,  was  adopted : 

Besoh'edy  That  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  raise^  by  note  or 
otherwise;  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  pay  three  hundred  dol- 
lars each  to  drafted  men  or  their  substitutes,  who  are  now  or 
may  hereafter  be  drafted^  to  fill  the  present  or  any  future  quota 
of  the  town. 

RAISING  THE  BID. 

At  a  meetings  held  July  7  th  of  the  same  year, — 

Yoted  to  adopt  the  resolution  of  Stephen  S.  Bean,  which  was 
as  follows : 

Besolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Warner  be  author- 
ized to  procure  volunteers  to  be  enlisted  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  to  be  credited  to  said  town,  a  number  not  exceed- 
ing fifty,  and  that  they  be  authorized  to  pay  a  sum  not  exceeding 
$800  to  each  volunteer  so  enlisted,  and  that  they  be  further  au- 
thorized to  borrow,  upon  the  credit  of  the  town,  a  sum  of  money, 
not  exceeding  940,000,  for  said  purpose. 

At  another  meeting,  held  Aug.  20th  of  the  same 
year, —   . 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  hereby  instructed  to  pay  Oliver 
P.  Beddington,  a  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  $300,  as  bounty 
for  a  substitute  furnished  by  him,  and  credited  to  the  town. 

Voted  to  choose  an  Agent  to  recruit  soldiers  in  the  insurgent 
States,  as  provided  by  an  act  for  that  purpose,  approved  August 
19,  1864. 

Christopher  G.  McAlpine  was  appointed  as  such 
agent. 

Samuel  Davis,  Jr.,  was  appointed  to  recruit  in  War- 
ner and  Concord. 


WORTHLESS  RECRUITS.  899 

BOUXTY-JIBIPERS. 

The  town,  state,  and  national  bounties  now  amount- 
ed to  $1,000  or  $1,200  to  a  man,  and  "  bounty-jump- 
ing "  became  a  business.  A  man  would  enlist  for  a 
certain  town,  take  his  bounty,  desert,  and,  under 
another  name,  enlist  for  another  town ;  and  so  con- 
tinue, enlisting  and  deserting,  to  the  end  of  the 
war. 

The  South  was  visited,  the  great  cities  were  hunt 
ed,  and  Canada  was  raked  over  for  recruits.  Even 
the  doors  of  jails  and  prisons  were  opened,  in  certain 
cases,  and  the  inmates  were  granted  immunity  from 
punishment  on  enlisting  as  soldiers  to  vindicate  the 
integrity  of  the  government.  Of  such  recruits,  625 
were  sent  forward  to  fill  the  depleted  ranks  of  the 
11th  N.  H.  Regiment,  but  only  240  of  them  ever 
reached  the  regiment  at  all.  Other  commands  fared 
no  better,  and  some  not  as  well. 

The  N.  H.  Adjutant-General's  Report  (vol.  2,  1866), 
beginning  on  page  574,  and  ending  on  page  ^90, 
gives  the  names  of  425  recruits  who  were  enlisted  in 
1864,  under  the  stimulus  of  these  extravagant  boun- 
ties, 300  of  whom  deserted  in  less  than  two  months 
after  being  mustered  into  the  service ;  122  are  not 
accounted  for  (most  or  all  of  whom  undoubtedly  de- 
serted) ;  two  died ;  and 'one  served  his  country ! 


400  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 


MORE  MEN. 


A  call  for  500,000  more  men  was  made  by  the  pres- 
ident in  August,  1864,  and  another  meeting,  to  pro- 
vide ways  and  means  to  meet  that  call,  was  held  in 
Warner  on  the  27th  day  of  that  month. 

N.  G.  Ordway  offered  a  preamble  and  resolution, 
which  were  adopted,  setting  forth  what  had  been 
done  at  previous  meetings,  and  approving  the  same  ; 
also  approving  of  what  had  been  done  by  the  select- 
men and  the  agents  appointed  to  procure  recruits, 
and  instructing  the  selectmen  and  agents  to  use  their 
best  efforts  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town,  under  the  last 
call  of  the  president,  in  any  legal  manner. 

Frank  P.  Harriman  presented  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  town  be  authorized  to  pay  a  sum  of  money, 
not  exceeding  $800,  as  heretofore  voted,  to  all  who  have  been  res- 
idents in  town  for  three  months,  who  may  be  or  have  been  en- 
listed for  three  years,  under  the  last  call  of  the  President  for 
500,000  men,  or  in  that  proportion  for  a  less  term  of  service ; 
and  also,  that  the  town  be  authorized  to  pay  the  sum  of  $300,  in 
addition,  provided  the  State  bounty  be,  by  any  means,  cut  off ; 
also  the  town  be  authorized  to  pay  $200,  in  addition  to  the  $800, 
piovided  the  present  quota  of  the  town  be  filled  without  a  draft 

THE  ARMY  MOVES. 

At  a  meeting,  held  Sept  3,  1864, — 

Voted  to  pay  to  one  year's  men  $600. 

Voted  three  chtcrs  to  Gen,  iSherman  and  his  Amxy  for  taking 
Atlanta  1 


TOWN   RECORDS.  401 


PRESIDENTIAL  ELECTION,  NOVEMBER,  1864. 

Robert  Thompson^  moderator  ;  prayer  was  offered  by  Rev. 
Lemuel  Willis. 

The  Lincoln  electors  received  203  Totes. 
"    McClellan  "  "         276    " 

Voted  to  pay  Don  E.  Scott  a  bounty  of  S150.  [Scott  had  en- 
listed before  the  town  offered  bounties  of  S 150,  but  was  not  mu$-' 
tered  till  afterwards.] 

Another  meeting  was  held,  Dec,  16, 1864,  and  the 
selectmen  were  instructed  to  pay  $300  to  any  citizen 
of  Warner  who  had  furnished,  or  who  should  furnish, 
a  substitute  for  himself,  to  enter  the  service  as  a  part 
of  the  quota  of  the  town. 

A]S"XUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S65. 

Kobert  Thompson,  moderator. 
Moses  D.  Wheeler,  town-clerk. 

For  Chvemor, 

Frederick  Smyth,  190 

Edward  W.  Harrington,  241 

Hqn'esentcUives. 

Elijah  H.  Gilmore,  John  Bogera. 

C.  G.  McAlpine,  \ 

J.  M.  Harriman^  >  Selectmen. 

Geo.  P.  Harvey,  ) 

Samuel  Davis,  Jr.,  collector. 

Superinietiding  Sc/iooi  Committee. 
S.  C.  Fattee,  S.  Davis,  Jr. 


402  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

On  the  question  of  the  expediency  of  buying  a 
county  poor-fann,  the  vote  stood,  yeas,  5 ;  nays,  145. 

Voted  to  fund  the  floating  debt  of  the  town  by  issuing  bonds 
to  an  amount  not  exceeding  $50,000,  said  bonds  to  bear  interest 
not  exceeding  6  per  cent,  per  annum. 

TOWN  FARM. 

At  a  meeting,  held  Feb.  6, 1866,  Samuel  Davis,  Jr., 
acting  as  moderator, — 

Beuben  Porter  moved  that  the  Town  Farm  be  sold,  and  the 
TOte  stood,  yeas,  21 ;  nays.  23. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  18d6. 

Robert  Thompson,  moderator. 
M.  D.  Wheeler,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

Frederick  Smyth,  194 

John  G.  Sinclair,  257 

Mqpreaentatives. 
Elijah  R.  Gilmore,  John  Rogers. 

J.  M.  Harriman,  \ 

L.  TV.  Collins,       >  Selectmen. 

Charles  Carrier,    ) 

Samuel  Daris,  Jr.,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
S.  C.  Pattee,  S.  Davis,  Jr.,  Albert  Heald. 


OHAPTEE  XXIX. 


END  OP  TOWN  RECORDS — MOUNTAIN  ROAD — ^WARNER  HIGH 
SCHOOL — RIVER  BOW  PARK — ROAD  AND  RESERVOIRS — FUND- 
ING THE  DEBT  —  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONTENTION  —  COUNTT 
BUILDINGS — UNDER  THE   NEW  CONSTITUTION. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1867, 

Kobert  Thompson,  moderator. 
John  K  Bobertson,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemar. 

Walter  Harriman,  186 

John  6.  Sinclair,  268 

Onslow  Stearns,  10 

HepresentcUives. 
Samuel  Davis,  Moses  J.  Collins. 

L.  W.  Collins,     \ 
Charles  Currier,  \  Selectmen. 
,  Joseph  Mace,      ) 

Geo.  S.  Howell,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
S.  C.  Pattee,  S.  Davis,  Albert  Heald. 

On  the  question,  ''Is  it  expedient  to  abolish  pauper  settle- 
ments in  town,  and  throw  the  entire  support  of  paupers  upon  the 
counties  ?"  the  vote  stood,  yeas,  11 ;  nays,  124. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  raise  money  on  the 
credit  of  the  Town,  to  renew  or  change  notes  against  the  town, 
and  to  take  such  measures  as  they  deem  expedient  to  meet  the 
floating  debt. 


^404  HISrOBT  OF  WARNER. 

Walter  Habriman  was  born  at  the  foot  of  the  Mink 
Hflls,  in  Warner,  April  8, 1817.  Reared  on  a  large, 
rough  farm,  he  was  early  acquainted  with  work.  He 
received  a  good  public  school  and  academic  education, 
and  in  his  early  days  taught  schools  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, Vermont,  Massachusetts,  and  New  Jersey. 
While  in  pursuit  of  a  school  in  the  latter  State,  he 
walked  two  hundred  miles,  having  no  money  to  pay 
fiures.  At  the  age  of  22,  while  in  New  Jersey,  he 
wrote  several  sermons,  portions  of  which  afterwards  . 
found  their  way  into  print  At  the  age  of  23  he  con- 
nected himself  with  the  Universalist  denomination, 
and  commenced  preaching  in  Warner.  In  the  spring 
of  1841  he  settled  in  Harvard,  Mass.  After  remain- 
ing there  four  years,  he  returned  to  Warner,  and  not 
long  thereafter  abandoned  the  pulpit  altogether.  He 
was  then  engaged,  for  a  time,  in  mercantile  business. 
In  1849  he  was  elected  as  representative  to  the  legis- 
lature of  the  state  from  the  town  of  Warner.  During 
the  session  of  that  year  he  frequently  occupied  the 
speaker's  chair.  He  was  reelected  in  1850,  and  again 
in  1858,  and  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  the 
speakership  the  last-named  year. 

In  1853  he  was  elected  state  treasurer,  and  in  1854 
was  reelected  by  seventeen  majority,  though  his  party 
in  tlie  legislature,  at  that  session,  was  unable  to  elect 
senators  or  a  state  printer. 

In  1856  he  was  appointed  by  the  president  of  the 


WALTER   HARRIMAX,  405 

United  States  on  a  board  of  three  commissioners,  to 
classify  and  appraise  Indian  lands  in  Kansas  Territory, 
The  amonnt  of  land  to  be  appraised  was  equal  to 
about  two  thirds  of  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  The 
commissioners,  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  often 
slept  on  the  open  prairie,  and  sometimes  in  Indian 
wigwams. 

In  1859  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  from 
District  No.  8,  and  was  reelected  in  I860. 

In  the  spring  of  1861  he  became  the  editor  and 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Weekly  Union^  at  Man- 
chester, which  paper  strongly  indorsed  the  national 
administration  in  its  efforts  to  preserve  the  unity  of 
the  republia 

In  August,  1862,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
11th  Regiment  N.  H.  Vols.,  and  was  with  his  com- 
mand at  the  closing  scene  when  Lee  surrendered. 
[See  Chapter  XXXIL] 

In  June,  1865,  he  was  elected  by  the  legislature  as 
secretary  of  state,  and  in  1866  was  reelected  to  the 
same  office. 

In  1867,  being  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  gov- 
ernor, he  met  the  opposing  candidate,  Hon.  John  G. 
Sinclair,  in  joint  debate,  at  thirteen  different  places. 
He  was  elected  by  a  decisive  majority,  and  was  re- 
elected, after  a  severe  contest,  in  1868. 

Upon  the  accession  of  Gen.  Grant  to  the  presiden- 
cy, he  was  appointed  naval  officer  at  the  port  of  Bos- 


406  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

» 

ton  for  four  years,  and  was  reappointed  for  a  like 
term  in  1873. 

He  has  taken  part,  in  one  and  another  of  the  excit- 
ing political  campaigns  of  the  past,  in  many  of  the 
states  of  the  Union. 

In  a  discussion  at  the  old  meeting-house,  in  Loudon 
Centre,  with  Hon.  Cyrus  Barton,  of  Concord,  Februa- 
ry, 1855,  Mr.  Barton  dropped  dead  at  his  side. 

Mr.  H.  gave  the  oration  at  the  centennial  celebra- 
tion in  Concord,  July  4, 1876. 

The  honorary  degree  of  a.  bl  was  conferred  On  him 
by  Dartmouth  college,  in  1867. 

In  the  spring  of  1872  he  became  a  resident  of  Con- 
cord, his  present  home. 

He  married,  in  September,  1841,  Apphia  K.,  daugh- 
ter of  Capt  Stephen  Hoyt  She  died  in  September, 
1843.  In  October,  1844,  he  married  Almira  R.  An- 
drews. Their  oldest  child  and  only  daughter  (Geor- 
gia) was  bom  July,  1846.  She  married  J.  R  Leeson, 
a  merchant  of  Boston.  The  two  sons  are  spoken  of 
in  Chapter  XXXI. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,   1868. 

Bol>ert  Thompson^   moderator. 
John  E.  Hobertson,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor. 

Walter  Harriman,  222 

John  G.  Sinclair,  274 


TOWN  RECORDS,  407 

JRepresentatices. 

Samuel  Davis,  Moses  J.  Collins. 

Charles  Currier,      \ 

Gilman  A.  Bean,     >  Selectmen. 

John  W.  Clement,) 

George  S.  Kowell,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee, 
Samuel  Davis,  A.  Heald,  H.  S.  Huntington. 

Voted  that  one  half  of  the  Railroad  Tax,  and  one  half  of  the 
remainder  of  the  Literary-  Fund  now  on  hand,  he  divided  equally 
among  the  several  School  Districts  in  Town,  and  the  remaining 
one  half  among  the  scholars. 

John  E.  Robertson  having  resigned  the  office  of 
town-clerk,  the  selectmen,  Dec.  8,  1868,  appointed 
Gilman  C.  George  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1860. 

Eohert  Thompson,  moderator. 
Gilman  C.  George,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor. 

Onslow  Steams,  214 

John  Bedell,  269 

Bepresentatives. 
Christopher  G.  McAlpine,  Lemuel  W.  Collina. 

Gilman  A.  Bean,    \ 

John  W.  Clement,  >•  Selectmen. 

Isaac  K.  Connor,    ) 
* 

Cjrus  Hale,  collector. 

Superintending  Scfiool  Committee, 
Messrs.  Huntington,  Pattee,  and  Heald. 


408  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

MOUNTAIN  ROAD. 

The  Warner  and  Kearsarge  Road  Company  was 
chartered  by  the  legislature  in  1866. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  in  Warner,  Sept.  1,  1869, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  building  of  a  road  to 
the  top  of  Kearsarge  mountain,  Stephen  C.  Pattee 
was  chosen  moderator.  H.  H.  Harriman,  in  behalf  of 
the  petitioners,  explained  the  feasibility,  distance,  and 
grades  of  the  proposed  road,  and  estimated  the  whole 
expense,  including  land  damages,  at  $5,000. 

N.  G.  Ordway,  in  remarks  favoring  the  road,  pro- 
posed to  guarantee  the  building  of  the  southerly  end, 
from  a  point  in  McHammond's  pasture  to  a  junction, 
at  some  suitable  point,  with  the  Tory  Hill  road,  free 
of  expense  to  the  town,  if  the  town  would  lay  out 
and  build  the  balance. 

Voted  that  a  committee  of  seven  be  appointed  by  the  Modera- 
tor, to  examine  the  proposed  route,  and  make  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  the  road. 

The  moderator  appointed  H.  H.  Harriman,  W.  Scott  Davis,  L. 
W.  Collins,  C.  G.  ilcAlpipe,  Uriah  Ager,  G.  C.  George,  and  Wm. 
B.  Sargent. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  committee  made  a 
long  report,  and  after  much  discussion  the  meeting 
adjourned,  no  action  having  been  taken. 

wahner  high  school. 

In  the  will  of  the  late  Franklin  Simonds,  dated 
August  19,  1869,  the  following  clause  appears  : 


WARNER  HIGH  SCHOOL.  409 

My  wish  is  to  leave  some  token  of  my  regard  for  the  town  of 
"Warner,  which  has  so  long  been  the  place  of  my  residence.  An 
appropriation  towards  the  support  of  a  High  School  in  said  town, 
occurs  to  me  as  the  best  form  of  such  a  token.  In  order  to  secure 
for  the  school  proper  interest  and  oversight,  as  well  as  adequate 
support,  I  desire  that  it  shall  be  so  constituted  that  the  town  will 
have  the  right  and  duty  to  sustain  it,  and  that  its  advantages  will 
be  open  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  said  town  without  any  distinc- 
tion whatever  on  account  of  religious  or  other  opinions. 

I  therefore  give  to  Robert  Thompson,  Greorge  Jones,  Gilman 
A.  Bean,  Stephen  S.  Bean,  Stephen  C.  Pattee,  Samuel  W.  Colby, 
and  Henry  S.  Huntington,  all  of  Warner,  and  to  their,  sarvivors 
and  successors,  appointed  as  is  hereinafter  pro>nded,  the  sum  of 
Twenty  Thousand  Dollars,  in  trust  for  the  following  uses  and 
purposes,  and  subject  to  the  conditions  following. 

Then  the  ^conditions"  are  stated  in  detail,  and  at 
length.  In  substance  they  are  as  follows:  The  trus- 
tees are  to  manage  the  fund,  and  apply  the  income  to 
the  support  of  the  school ;  the  whole  town  to  be  made 
and  constituted,  under  the  General  Statutes  of  New 
Hampshire,  a  high  school  district ;  such  district  to  pro- 
vide and  maintain  a  suitable  building,  of  the  value  of 
not  less  than  $6000,  for  the  use  of  the  school;  said 
building  to  be  located  in  Warner  village. 

If  the  high  school  district  should  not  be  constitut- 
ed, or  if  the  building  should  not  be  provided,  within 
the  space  of  three  years  after  the  decease  of  the  tes- 
tator, then  the  bequest  was  to  fall.  If,  again,  said 
high  school  district  should  be  dissolved,  or  should  neg- 
lect, for  the  space  of  twelve  months  in  succession,  to 
maintain  a  school,  then  the  fund  was  to  be  withdrawn. 

Mrs.  Abigail  K.  Simonds  (wife  of  the  above),  by  her 


410  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

will,  dated  Sept  1,  1870,  added  $5000  to  the  fore- 
going fund.  She  also  gave  $5000  towards  huilding 
the  school-house. 

Franklin  Simonds.  The  writer  has  hut  little  knowl- 
edge of  the  ancestry  of  Mr.  Simonds.  He  may  have 
descended  from  Moses  Simonds,  who  was  bom  in  Ley- 
den,  who  came  to  this  country  in  the  ship  Fortune^  in 
1621,  and  settled  in  that  part  of  Plymouth  which  is 
now  Duxbury.  This  Moses  was  one  of  the  original 
purchasers  of  Dartmouth,  Mass.;  and  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  Bridgewater. 

Franklin  Simonds  was  bom  at  Lexington,  Mass. 
He  left  home  when  20  years  of  age,  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness in  New  Ipswich,  N.  H.  During  his  residence 
there  he  became  acquainted  with  his  future  wife  (Abi- 
gail Kimball,  of  Fitchburg),  who  was  a  teacher  at 
New  Ipswich.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Simonds  lived 
at  Peterborough,  at  Drewsville  (a  village  of  Walpole), 
and  at  Newport,  before  coming  to  Warner.  After 
coming  to  Warner,  which  occurred  about  the  year 
1836,  he  carried  on  the  cotton  factory  above  Gould's 
mills  a  short  time,  and  was  also  engaged  in  trade  at 
Waterloo.  He  served  as  deputy  sheriff  seventeen 
years,  and  two  years  as  representative  in  the  legisla- 
ture. He  also  served  a  number  of  years  as  president 
of  Wamer  Bank.  His  only  child,  who  lived  to  ma- 
ture age  (Miss  Alice  Simonds),  died  suddenly  at  Rye 
Beach,  a  few  years  before  the  decease  of  her  father. 


21,.i^ 


IWwiype  Priniln-  Co. .  E«w>„. 


HIGH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT.  411 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Wumer,  Jan.  4, 1870,  S.  C.  Pattee  acting  as  moder- 
ator,— 

Voted  that  a  Committee  of  nine  be  appointed  by  the  Modera- 
tor to  solicit  subscriptions  towards  building  a  School  House,  to 
report  at  a  subsequent  meeting  what  further  sum  of  money  may 
be  thought  necessar}-  to  comply  with  the  Will  of  the  late  Mr.  8i- 
monds^  also  incidental  expenses. of  running  the  school;  and  that 
when  this  meeting  adjourn,  it  adjourn  to  meet  at  this  place  on 
Saturday  previous  to  the  next  annual  town  meeting. 

The  moderator  appointed  N.  G.  Ordway,  Samuel  BL 
Dow,  Henry  S.  Huntington,  Albert  Heald,  Samuel 
Davis,  W.  Scott  Davis,  Oilman  A.  Bean,  C.  G.  McAl- 
pine,  and  John  Rogers  for  said  committee. 

HIGH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting,  March  5,  1870, — 

Voted  that  the  town  resolve  itself  into  a  High  School  District. 

The  committee  appointed  Jan.  4,  reported  that  they 
had  obtained  subscriptions  towards  building  a  house 
for  the  high  school,  amounting  to  $1,912.76.  They 
also  expressed  it  as  their  judgment  that  the  number 
of  pupils  for  whom  provision  should  be  made  in  the 
high  school  building  is  about  100.  In  regard  to  the 
current  expenses  of  the  school  such  as  repairs  of  the 
building,  insurance,  fuel,  etc.,  the  committee  presented 
the  following  resolution  ; 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that  the 
funds  received  from  scholars  from  adjoining  towns,  in  the  nature 

27 


412  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

of  tuMon^  will  fully  cover  the  annual  expense  of  running  the 
•qhooL 

In  reference  to  the  hiring  of  teachers^  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted  by  the  •committee  : 

Besolyedj  that  in  the  judgment  of  this  committee,  good  and 
coifipetent  teachers  for  the  High  School  can  be  secured  by  the  in- 
come of  the  fund  left  by  Mr.  Simonds. 

In  reference  to  the  cost  of  the  school-house,  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  adopted : 

Besolvedy  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  committee,  36000  will 
furnish  a  suitable  wooden  building  for  a  High  School. 

The  committee  further  reported,  that, — 

As  the  amount  raised  by  subscription  is  $1,912.76,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  balance  to  be  raised  by  the  Town  is  $4,087.24,  and 
we  recommend  that  this  sum  be  raised  by  tax  upon  the  town. 

The  meeting,  after  receiving  the  foregoing  report 
of  the  committee,  adjourned,  without  taking  action, 
to  the  26th  day  of  March. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1870. 

Stephen  G.  Pattee,  moderator. 
Oilman  G.  George,  town-clerk. 

JPor  Oavemar. 

Onslow  Steams,  193 

John  Bedell,  224 

Samuel  Flint,  19 

Hepresentatives. 
G.  0.  McAlpine,  L.  W.  Collins. 


DISTRICT  DISSOLVED.  418 

John  K  Robertson,  \ 

E.  M.  Dunbar,        >  Selectmen. 

Jacob  Osgood,  ) 

Cyrus  Hale,  collector. 

Superintending  School  CommiUee. 
Messrs.  Huntington,  Heald,  and  Dayia* 

HIGH  SCHOOL  AGAIN. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  March  26, 1870, — 

Voted  to  proceed  to  choose  a  Prudential  Committee. 

S.  C.  Pattee,  W.  S.  Davis,  and  L.  W.  Collins  were 
chosen. 
Then  the  following  resolution  was  passed : 

Hesolved,  That  this  meeting  does  not  deem  itself  called  upoiii 
by  sound  policy,  to  entertain  any  proposition  now  before  it,  look- 
ing to  the  sale  of  the  Town  House  to  the  High  School  District. 

Voted  to  dissolve  the  meeting. 

DISTRICT  DISSOLVED. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  March  1, 1871,  S.  C.  Pat- 
tee  acting  as  moderator, — 

Resolved,  That  the  High  School  District,  established  and  consti- 
tuted by  the  vote  of  the  town  on  the  5th  day  of  March,  1870,  be 
and  is  hereby  discontinued  and  dissolved. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1S71. 

S.  C.  Pattee,  moderator. 
G.  C.  George,  town-clerk. 

For  Governor, 

James  A.  Weston,  259 

James  Pike,  176 


414  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

Representatives. 
Charles  Currier^  Closes  D.  \\nieeler* 

John  K  Bohertson,  "j 

E.  M.  Dunbar,  ^Selectmen. 

Jacob  Osgood,  J 

Cjnu  Hale,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee, 
H.  S.  Huntington,  S.  Davis,  Walter  Sargent 

KEVIVIFIED. 

At  a  legal  meeting,  held  at  the  to^n  hall,  March 
18, 1871,  Stephen  S.  Bean,  moderator, — 

Besolved,  That  the  town  of  Warner,  in  view  of  the  bequests  of 
Fianklin  Simonds,  late  of  Warner,  of  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
and  of  Abigail  K.  Siraonds,  late  of  Warner,  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars, as  a  fund,  the  income  to  be  applied  for  the  purpose  of  a  high 
school,  establish  a  high  school,  and  that  said  town  be  and  hereby 
is  constituted  a  high  school  district,  including  the  whole  territory 
of  said  town. 

• 

THE  HOUSE  ERECTED. 

During  the  summer  of  1871,  the  high  school  build- 
ing, with  brick  walls,  was  erected  and  finished.  The 
first  term  of  school  in  it  commenced  the  4th  day  of 
December  of  that  year.  The  cost  of  the  building, 
fences,  etc.,  was  something  above  $10,000,  but  the 
whole  amount  was  contributed  by  individuals,  as  fol- 
lows : 

Mrs.  Simonds,  $5,000 

Oilman  A.  Bean,  2,160 


ROADS  AND  RESERVOIRS.  415 


Samuel  H.  Dow, 

S2,160 

George  Jones, 

250 

C.  G.  ircAlpine, 

250 

John  E.  Boberteon, 

260 

Ira  Harvey,  Wm.  K.  Morrill,  Reuben  Clough,  Leon- 

# 

idas  Harriman,  and  John  G.  Bean  made  smaller  con- 
tributions. 

RIVER-BOW  PARK. 

In  1871  Stephen  C.  Pattee  inaugurated  a  home  fair 
at  Warner.  That  year  and  the  next  the  exhibitions 
were  in  the  street  In  1873  Nehemiah  G.  Ordway 
laid  off  from  his  intervale  land,  between  the  river  and 
the  railroad,  ten  or  twelve  acres  for  a  fair  ground.  He 
erected  buildings  and  stalls,  and  made  a  track  for 
horse-trotting.  In  1875  the  "River-Bow  Park  Com- 
pany" was  incorporated  by  the  legislature.  The 
company,  which  embraces  eight  or  ten  of  the  sup- 
rounding  towns,  organized  in  1876,  and  purchased  the 
grounds  and  buildings.  The  presidents  of  this  society 
have  been  Levi  Bartlett,  E  C.  Bailey,  N.  G.  Ordway, 
and  S.  C.  Pattee,  and  its  exhibitions  have  been  suc- 
cessful. 

ROADS  AND  RESERVOIRS. 

A  special  meeting  was  called,  October,  1871,  to  see 
if  the  town  would  aid  **  The  Warner  and  Kearsarge 
Road  Company"  to  the* extent  of  $3,000;  also,  to  see 
if  the  town  would  exempt  from  taxation,  for  the  term 
of  ten  years,  one  half  of  the  taxable  value  of  the  mUl 


416  BISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

property,  upon  Warner  river,  of  those  mill-owners  who 
have  paid  their  proportion  of  the  expense  of  forming 
a  reservoir  at  Long  pond  in  Sutton  ;  also,  to  exempt 
from  taxation,  for  ten  years,  the  whole  of  said  mill 
property,  whenever  said  mill-owners  shall,  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  selectmen  of  said  town  of  Warner,  in 
the  like  manner,  have  established  Bradford  pond  as 
an  additional  and  permanent  reservoir  for  the  water- 
power  of  said  river,  and  to  instruct  the  representatives 
of  the  town  to  procure  the  necessary  legislation  for 
the  foregoing  purpose. 

After  discussion,  voted  to  pass  over  both  articles  in 
the  warrant 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH.  1872. 

Stephen  C.  Pattee,  moderator. 
Augustus  K.  Putnam;  town-clerk. 

For  Governor. 

Ezekiel  A.  Straw,  188 

James  A.  Weston,  249 

Itqpre9entat%ve$. 
Charles  Currier,  Moses  D.  Wheeler. 

John  E.  Kobertson,    \ 

Chas.  H.  Colby,  Jr.,  >  Selectmen. 

John  H.  Dowlin,         ) 

Greorge  8.  Eowell,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee, 
H.  S.  Huntington,  S.  Davis,  Walter  Sargent. 


ROAD  BOND.  417 

At  the  presidential  election,  November,  1872,  Ste- 
phen S.  Bean,  moderator, — 

The  Grant  electors  received  152  votes. 
"    Greeley      «  <^       254     « 

The  town  proceeded  to  act  on  the  third  article  in 
the  warrant,  having  reference  to  aid  to  the  Mountain 
road.  Stephen  C.  Pattee  introduced  a  resolution, 
authorizing  and  instructing  the  selectmen  to  subscribe 
for  and  hold,  in  the  name  of  the  town,  twenty  shares, 
of  the  value  of  $100  each,  of  the  stock  of  the  '^War- 
ner and  Kearsarge  Road  Company,"  provided,  How- 
ever, that  the  foregoing  resolution  shall  not  be  bind- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  town  until  said  road  is  comr 
pleted,  or  until  responsible  parties  shall  furnish  a 
bond,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  selectmen,  to  build  said 
road  without  further  assistance  from  the  town! 

Samuel  Davis  proposed  the  following  amendment 
to  the  resolution : 

And  provided  further,  that  the  town  have  two  fifths  of  the  five 
directors;  and  that  the  first  and  second  selectmen  shall  he  ex  officio 
said  directors. 

The  amendment  was  adopted,  and  the  resolution^ 
thus  amended,  passed. 

ROAD  BOND. 

N.  G.  Ordway  and  Wm.  R  Chandler  furnished  a 
bond,  in  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars,  on  the  27th 
day  of  February,  1873,  to  complete  the  Mountain 
road,  without  expense  to  the  town  of  Warner  beyond 


418  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

the  appropriation  of  $2000  made  in  November^  1872 ; 
the  soid  Ordway  and  Chandler  binding  themselves  to 
complete  the  road  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June, 
1874,  to  a  point  about  eight  rods  below  the  summit 
of  Kearsarge  mountain, — and  the  selectmen,  for  the 
town,  coming  under  obligation  to  pay  over  the  $2000 
appropriated,  on  these  conditions. 

This  road  was  built,  under  the  supervision  of  N.  G. 
Ordway,  in  1873  and  1874,  commencing  at  Hurricane 
Crate,  and  extending  to  near  the  top  of  the  mountain. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1873. 

Stephen  S.  Bean,  moderator. 
Angofltus  B.  Putnam*  town-clerk. 

FcT  Oovernor, 

Ezekiel  A.  Straw^  153 

James  A.  Weston,  226 

Samuel  K.  Mason,  7 

HepreaentativeB. 

John  E.  Robertson,  John  W.  Clement. 

Charles  H.  Colby,  Jr.,  \ 

John  H.  Dowlin,  >  Selectmen. 

Stephen  S.  Bean,  ) 

George  S.  Rowell,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
S.  S.  Bean,  Walter  Sargent,  Frank  W.  Graves. 

Voted  to  exempt  the  capital  stock  in  the  Shoe  Factory  from 
taxation  for  the  term  of  ten  years. 


FUNDING  THE  DEBT.  419 


ANNUAL  MEETING,   MARCH,  1874. 

Samuel  Davis,  moderator. 
Augustus  R.  Putnam,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovemor. 

James  A.  Weston,  242 

Luther  McCutchins,  172 

ItepreaenUUiveB. 

John  E.  Bobertson,  John  W.  Clement. 

John  H.  Dowlin,    \ 

J.  ^I.  Harriman^    >  Selectmen. 

George  W.  Dow,    ) 

George  Upton,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
S.  S.  Bean,  S.  C.  Pattee,   S.  Davis. 

FUNDING  THE  DEBT. 

Voted  to  fund  the  town  debt  in  what  is  known  as  5-20  Bondi ; 
the  amount  not  to  exceed  §30,000;  the  bonds  to  be  in  denomina- 
tions of  not  less  than  $50,  nor  more  than  $1000 ;  the  rate  of 
interest  not  to  exceed  6  per  cent. 

James  M.  Harriman,  Albert  P.  Davis,  and  Samuel 
H.  Dow  were  appointed  as  a  board  of  commissioners 
to  prepare  said  bonds  and  determine  the  denominar 
tions  of  the  same ;  also,  to  have  full  authority  to 
negotiate  and  sell  said  bonds,  provided  they  shall  not 
be  sold  at  less  than  par. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1875. 

Stephen  C  Pattee,  moderator. 
Augustus  B.  Putnam,  town-clerk. 


^^  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

JPor  Governor. 

Pereon  C.  Cheney,  202 

Hiram  B.  Boberts,  '  238 

SepreienUUives. 

John  H.  Dowlin,  Nehemiah  G.  Ordway. 

J.  M.  Harriman^    \ 

George  W.  Dow,     \  Selectmen. 

Philip  C.  AVheeler,  ) 

George  Upton,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
Messrs.  Bean,  Davis,  and  Pattee. 

ASSESSORS. 

At  a  special  meeting,  August  14,  1875,  S,  S.  Bean 
offered  the  following  resolution : 

Besolved,  That  the  town  proceed  to  choose  by  ballot  six  persons 
to  serve  as  assessors  the  present  year. 

The  resolution  was  adopted,  and  the  following  per- 
sons were  chosen, — viz.,  Charles  Currier,  Hezekiah  C. 
Dowlin,  Samuel  H.  Dow,  Bartlett  Hardy,  Reuben 
Clough,  and  George  Savory. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,   1876. 

N.  G.  Ordway,  moderator. 
Augustus  B.  Putnam,  town-clerk. 

-For  Governor. 

Person  C.  Cheney,  253 

Daniel  Marcy,  222 

liepresejitativea. 
John  H.  Dowlin,  N.  G.  Ordway. 


•  • 


CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION.  421 

Jesse  D.  Currier,    \ 

Philip  C.  Wheeler,  >•  Selectmen. 

Paine  Davis,  ) 

George  W.  Smith,  collector. 

SuperxtUen^ing  School  Committee. 

S.  C.  Pattee,  E.  C.  Cole,  R.  Eugene  Walker. 

On  the  question,  "Is  it  expedient  to  revise  the  Constitution  of 
the  State  ?''  the  vote  stood,  yeas,  139 ;  nays,  114 

On  motion  of  A.  P.  Davis, — 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  sell  the  Stock  in 
the  Warner  and  Kearsarge  Mountain  Boad  Company,  held  by  the 
town,  at  public  auction. 

At  the  presidential  election,  November,  1876,  N.  G. 
Ordway  acting  as  moderator,  the  Hayes  electors  re- 
ceived 253  votes ;  Tilden  electors,  219. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION. 

N.  G.  Ordway  and  William  H.  Walker  were  chosen 
delegates  to  the  constitutional  convention,  to  be  held 
in  Concord  the  December  following. 

Albert  P.  Davis,  Warren  C.  Johnson,  and  Wm.  K. 
Morrill  were  appointed  a  committee  to  take  into  con- 
sideration the  question  of  enlarging  and  repairing 
the  town-house. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,   1877. 

N.  G.  Ordway,  moderator. 
Benjamin  F.  Heath,  town-clerk. 

For^  Oovemor. 

Benjamin  F.  Preacott,  256 

Daniel  Marcy,  218 


422  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

lUpresenkUives. 

N.  6.  Ordway,  Henry  C.  Davis. 

Jesse  D.  Currier,  \ 

Pbine  Davis,  >  Selectmen. 

James  6.  Ela,      j 

George  Savory,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee, 
Messrs.  Pattee,  Cole,  and  Walker. 

THE  NEW  CONSTITUTION. 

The  constitutional  convention,  which  assembled  at 
Concord  in  December,  1876,  continued  in  session 
eleven  days,  framed  a  constitution,  and  submitted  the 
same  in  thirteen  questions  to  the  qualified  voters  of 
the  state.  At  the  annual  election,  March,  1877,  the 
vote  was  taken,  and  all  the  propositions  were  adopted 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  (that  being  required), except  the 
first  and  twelfth.     Those  were  defeated. 

The  vote  of  Warner,  on  the  several  propositions, 
stood  as  follows : 

1.  Do  you  approve  of  striking  out  tbo  word  '^  Protestant  "  in 
the  Bill  of  Bights,  as  proposed  in  the  amended  Constitution  ? 
Yeas,  93 ;  nays,  228. 

2.  Do  you  approve  of  so  amending  the  Constitution,  that  the 
general  court  shall  he  authorized  to  provide  for  the  trial  of  causes 
in  which  the  value  in  controversy  does  not  exceed  one  hundred 
dollars  and  title  to  real  estate  is  not  concerned,  without  the  in- 
tervention of  a  jury,  us  proposed  by  the  amended  Constitution  ? 
Yeas,  196;  nays,  123. 

3.  Do  you  approve  of  the  biennial  election  of  governor,  coun- 
cillors, members  of  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  and 


THE  NEW  CONSTITUTION.  423 

biennial  sessions  of  the  legislature,  as  proposed  in  the  amended 
Constitution  ?     Yeas,  203;  nays,  117. 

4.  Do  yon  approve  of  a  house  of  representatives  based  npon 
population,  and  constituted  and  chosen  as  provided  in  the  amend- 
ed Constitution  ?     Yeas,  28 ;  nays,  294. 

6.  Do  you  approve  of  a  senate  of  twenty-four  members,  to  be 
constituted  and  cliosen  as  provided  in  the  amended  Constitution  ? 
Yeas,  188 ;  nays,  131. 

6.  Do  you  approve  of  the  election,  by  the  people,  of  registers 
of  probate,  solicitors,  and  sheriffs,  as  provided  in  the  amended 
Constitution  ?     Yeas,  208 ;  nays,  105. 

7.  Do  you  approve  of  abolishing  the  religious  test  as  a  qualifi* 
cation  for  office,  as  proposed  in  the  amended  Constitution  ?  Yeas, 
136 ;  nays,  83. 

8.  Do  you  approve  of  prohibiting  the  general  court  from  au- 
thorizing towns  or  cities  to  loan  or  give  their  money  or  credit  to 
corporations,  as  proposed  in  the  amended  Constitution  ?  Yeas, 
182 ;  nays,  130. 

9.  Do  you  approve  of  changing  the  time  for  holding  the  state 
election  from  March  to  November,  as  proposed  in  the  amended 
Constitution  ?     Yeas,  233 ;  nays,  89. 

10.  Do  you  approve  of  authorizing  the  general  court  to  provide 
that  appeals  from  a  justice  of  the  peace  may  be  tried  by  some 
other  court  without  the  intervention  of  a  jury,  as  proposed  in  the 
amended  Constitution  ?     Yeas,  182 ;  nays,  126. 

11.  Do  you  approve  of  authorizing  the  general  court  to  increase 
the  jurisdiction  of  justices  of  the  pence  to  one  hundred  dollars,  as 
proposed  in  the  amended  Constitution  ?     Yeas,  144 ;  nays,  266. 

12.  Do  you  approve  of  the  proposed  amendment  prohibiting 
the  removal  from  office  for  political  reasons  ?  Yeas,  149 ;  nays, 
166. 

13.  Do  you  approve  the  proposed  amendment  prohibiting 
money  raised  by  taxation  from  being  applied  to  the  support  ol 
the  schools  or  institutions  of  any  religious  sect  or  denominatioUi 
as  proposed  in  the  amended  Constitution  ?  Yeas,  205 ;  HAySy 
101. 

Nehemiah  Geoboe  Ordwat  vras  bom  at  the  extreme 
west  end  of  the  North  village,  Nov.  10, 1828.    At  the 


424  HI8T0RT  OF  WARNER. 

age  of  eight  years  he  went  to  live  with  his  grand- 
father, Isaiah  Flanders,  at  Warner  village.  In  sum- 
mer seasons,  till  he  was  about  17  years  of  age,  he 
assisted  in  the  cultivation  of  his  grandfather^s  farm. 
After  a  time,  in  the  winter  season,  he  was  engaged 
successively  in  the  country  stores  of  H.  D.  Robertson, 
Robert  Thompson,  and  George  Wadleigh.  At  the  age 
of  18  he  attended  a  high  school  at  Bradford,  taught 
by  Gilbert  Wadleigh.  The  next  year  he  went  to  Bos- 
ton, purchased  a  stock  of  goods,  and  set  up  a  small 
store  near  the  ground  that  Union  Hall  now  stands 
upon. 

In  June,  1855,  he  was  elected  a  doorkeeper  of  the 
New  Hampshire  house  of  representatives,  and  in 
1856  was  reelected  to  the  same  office.  He  was  also 
elected  assistant  clerky  pro  tern.,  of  the  house,  in  1856. 
In  July  of  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  by  Gov. 
Haile  sheriff  of  Merrimack  county,  and  in  the  fall 
of  that  year  he  removed  to  Concord.  In  1857  he  was 
elected  marshal  of  that  city,  and  collector  of  taxes. 

During  the  political  campaign  of  1860,  he  served 
as  chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Committee. 

In  1861  he  was  appointed  general  agent  of  the 
Post-office  Department  for  the  New  England  states. 

In  December,  1863,  he  was  elected  sergeant-at- 
arms  of  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives, 
and  was  reelected  in  18C5,  '67,  '69,  '71,  and  '73,  so  that 
he  held  this  office  for  twelve  consecutive  years. 


NEHEMIAH  GEORGE  ORDWAT.  425 

He  served  on  the  staff  of  Gov.  Smyth,  with  the 
rank  of  coloneL 

At  the  March  election  in  1875  he  was  elected  as 
one  of  the  representatives  from  Warner  to  the  legisla- 
ture of  the  state,  and  was  reelected  in  1876  and  1877. 
In  1875  and  1876  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Railroads,  and  in  1877  as  chairman  of  the  ^ 
Committee  on  Finance. 

In  the  fall  of  1876  he  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the 
constitutional  convention,  which  met  at  Concord  in 
December  of  that  year. 

In  November,  1877,  he  was  appointed  by  the  gov- 
ernor a  member  of  the  tax  commission,  which  board 
reported,  at  the  session  of  the  legislature  in  1878, 
nineteen  bills  for  changing  the  mode  of  the  assess- 
ment and  collection  of  taxes  upon  the  various  classes 
of  property  in  the  state. 

At  the  November  election  of  1878  he  was  elected, 
under  the  amended  constitution,  to  the  state  senate, 
for  the  Merrimack  district,  for  the  term  of  two  years. 

The  remodelling  and  enlarging  of  the  hotel  at 
Warner  village  was  .mainly  due  to  Mr.  Ordway,  and 
his  prominence  in  the  bank,  in  the  construction  of  the 
Mountain  road,  and  in  the  establishment  of  the  Fair 
grounds,  is  set  forth,  to  some  extent,  elsewhere  in  this 
and  in  the  XXVIIth  chapters. 

Mr.  Ordway  married,  in  1848,  Nancy,  youngest 
daughter  of  Daniel  Bean,  Sen.    Their  children  who 


426  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

have  lived  to  mature  age,  are  Mrs,  E.  L.  Whitford, 
of  Concord,  George  L.  (who  is  spoken  of  in  Chapter 
XXXI),  and  Florence. 


ANNUAL  MEETING,'MARCH,  1878. 

L.  W.  Collins,  moderator. 
B.  F.  Heath,  town-clerk. 

For  Oovernor, 

B.  F.  Prescott,  248 

Frank  A.  McKean,  236 

Rq)re8entative8.     ' 
Henrj  C.  Davis  ;  one  vacancy. 

L,  W.  Collins,  \ 

Benjamin  G.  Flanders,  >  Selectmen. 
Reuben  Clough,  ) 

George  Upton,  collector. 

Superintending  School  Committee. 
E.  C.  Cole,  Fred  Myron  Colby,  Geo.  N.  Tewksbury. 

On  motion  of  A.  P.  Davis, — 

Besolred,  That  our  Representative  in  the  General  Court  be  in- 
structed to  vote  against  any  appropriation  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
building the  County  Poor-Farm  buildings. 

COUNTY  BUILDINGS. 

At  a  special  meeting,  April  13,  1878,  Leonidas  Har- 
riman,  moderator, — 

Voted  to  return  to  the  Town  system  of  supporting  paupers. 
Yeas,  236 ;  nays,  none. 

Voted  again.^t  rebuilding  the  County  Buildings,  which  had  been 
destroyed  by  fire.     Yeas,  210  \  nays,  none. 


TOWN  RECORDS.  427 

Besolved,  That  we  believe  the  best  interests  of  the  county 
require  that  the  county  property  at  Boscawen  should  be  sold  im- 
mediately. 

UNDER  THE  NEW  CONSTITUTION. 

Under  the  new  constitution,  State  elections  are  to 
be  held  biennially,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  November. 
Town  elections  are  held,  under  a  law  of  the  state,  an- 
nually, in  March,  as  usual  The  first  election  under 
this  constitution  took  place  Nov.  5, 1878,  when  a  gov- 
ernor, members  of  congress,  coimcillors,  members  of 
the  senate  and  house  of  representatives,  and  county 
ofiGicers,  were  elected  for  two  years.  Warner  having 
a  less  population  than  1800,  is  entitled  to  but  one 
representative  under  the  new  constitution. 

At  this  election  in  Warner,  L.  W.  Collins  was  cho- 
sen moderator. 

Far  Governor. 

Natt  Head  received  227  Totes. 
Frank  A.  McKean  received  247  votes. 
Warren  G.  Brown  received  6  votes. 

I 

Charles  H.  Couch  was  elected  representative. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  A.  P. 
Davis,  P.  C.  Wheeler,  and  J.  EL  Dowlin,  to  re-fund  the 
bonded  debt  of  the  town. 

ANNUAL  MEETING,  MARCH,  1879. 

L.  W.  Collins,  moderator. 
Llojd  H.  Adams,  town-clerk. 
28 


428  HISTORY  OF  WARNER* 

L.  W.  Collins,    \ 

B.  C.  Flandera,  >  Selectmen* 

fieuben  Clough,  ) 

Creorge  Upton,  collector. 
Luther  J.  Clement,  treasurer. 

SSPORT  OF  THB  COMMITTEE  APPOIXTED  TO   RE-FUKD  THE  DEBT 

OF  THE  TOWN. 

The  committee,  appointed  on  the  5th  day  of  November,  1878, 
for  the  purpose  of  re-funding  the  bonded  debt  of  the  town  at  a 
lower  rate  of  interest,  in  making  this  preliminary  and  partial 
report,  beg  leave  to  say,  that  they  have  sold  nearly  $19,000  of  the 
new  5-20  4  per  cent,  bonds,  leaving  only  about  $1,000  unsold  at 
this  date.  Your  committee  have  no  doubt,  when  the  1st  day  of 
May,  1879,  arrives,  at  which  time  the  old  6  per  cent,  town  bonds 
are  redeemable,  that  without  borrowing,  and  from  the  sale  of 
the  new  bonds  cUone,  they  will  have  sufficient  money  with  which 
to  redeem  every  6  per  cent,  bond  outstanding. 

Tour  committee  congratulate  the  town  over  this  successful 
financial  operation,  whereby  a  saving  in  interest  alone  will  result 
to  the  town  of  more  than  $2,300  during  the  period  before  these 
4  per  cent,  bonds  are  due — a  sum  equivalent  to  the  payment  of  12 
per  cent,  of  our  bonded  debt. 

A.  P.  Davis, 
P.  C.  Wheeler, 
J.  H*  DowLix, 

Committee. 
Wam^,  March  1, 1879. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

KEARSARGE  GORE — THE  MASONIAN  PROPRIETORS — ^THE  CURVE 
UKE — SURYET  OF  THE  GORE — ^WILMOT  INCORPORATED — ^THV 
GORE  RECORDS. 

IjlIhE  history  of  Kearsarge  Gore  is  interesting  in 
J%  every  line,  and  especially  so  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Warner,  because  for  sixty  years  and  upwards 
the  Gore  has  constituted  a  part  of  Warner.  This 
chapter  will  set  forth,  in  detail,  the  story  of  that 
mountain  region. 

The  Masonian  proprietors  cannot  y^i  be  dismissed. 
They  played  an  important  part  in  the  early  history  of 
the  Gore,  as  well  as  in  that  of  Warner.  Capt  John 
Mason's  grandsons  were  John  and  Robert  Tufton,  and 
Mason  left  a  large  property  to  these  grandsons,  on 
condition  that  they  would  take  his  name.  This  they 
did.  John  Tufton  Mason  had  the  Mason  interest  in 
New  Hampshire.  He  sold  this  interest  (as  has  been 
already  stated)  to  a  company  of  twelve  gentlemen, 
whose  names  appear  on  a  former  page.  These  gran- 
tees of  the  Mason  property  are  usually  called  ^'The 
Masonian  Proprietors.*'  They  were  men  of  character 
and  standing  in  the  province,  and  they  conducted 


480  HI8I0R7  OF  WARNER. 

themselves  generally  with  commendable  prudence. 
They  were  certainly  generous  towards  actual  settlers 
upon  their  lands. 

Previous  to  the  time  when'  the  twelve  came  into 
possession,  much  litigation  and  strife  had  grown  out 
of  the  Mason  claim.  The  government  of  the  province 
had,  to  a  certain  extent,  recognized  and  defended  this 
claim,  and  the  people,  many  of  them,  were  greatly 
irritated  thereat  Cases  of  assault  occasionally  grew 
out  of  this  matter.  There  are  still  in  existence  tl^e 
original  depositions,  on  oath,  of  Barefoot  (deputy  gov- 
ernor) and  Mason,  relating  to  an  assault  made  on 
their  persons  by  Thomas  Wiggin  and  Anthony  Nut- 
ter, who  had  been  members  of  the  assembly. 

These  two  men  went  to  Barefoot's  house,  in  Ports- 
mouth, where  Mason  lodged,  and  entered  into  discus- 
sion with  the  latter  about  his  proceedings,  denying 
his  claim,  and  using  such  language  as  provoked  him 
to  take  hold  of  Wiggin  with  an  intention  to  thrust 
him  out  at  the  door.  But  Wiggin,  being  the  stronger 
man  of  the  two,  seized  Mason  by  the  cravat,  and 
threw  him  into  the  fire,  where  his  clothes  and  one  of 
his  legs  were  burned.  Barefoot,  coming  to  the  rescue, 
met  a  similar  fate,  having  two  of  his  ribs  broken,  and 
one  tooth  knocked  out 

Another  incident,  showing  the  contempt  in  which 
these  men  and  their  measures  were  held,  even  by  the 
lower  class  of  people,  is  the  following : 


KEARSABGE  GORE.  431 

Mary  Rann,  aged  30  years,  or  thereabouts,  n-itnesseth,  that 
the  2l8t  day  of  March,  1684,  being  in  company  with  Seabahk 
Hog,  I  heard  her  say, — it  was  very  hard  for  the  governor  of  this 
province  to  strike  Sam  Seavey  before  he  spoke.  The  said  Hog 
said  also  that  it  was  well  for  the  governor  that  the  said  Seavey^s 
mother  was  not  there,  for  if  she  had,  there  had  been  bloody  work 
for  him.  I  heard  the  said  Hog  say  also,  that  the  governor  and 
the  rest  of  the  gentlemen  were  a  crew  of  pitifnl  curs,  and  did 
the}'  want  earthly  honor  ? — if  they  did,  she  would  pull  off  her 
head-clothes,  and  come  in  her  hair,  to  them,  like  a  parcel  of  piti- 
ful, beggarly  curs  as  they  were  ;— come  to  undo  us,  both  body  and 
soul ;  they  could  not  be  content  to  take  our  estates  from  us,  but 
they  have  taken  away  the  gospel  also,  which  the  devil  would  have 
them  for  it 

Sworn  in  the  court  of  Pleas,  held  at  Great  Island  (New  Castle) 
the  7th  of  Nov.,  1684. 

THE  CURVE  LINE. 

Long  and  bitter  controversies  grew  out  of  the  ques- 
tion of  the  north-western  boundary  of  the  Mason 
grant.  That  question,  after  much  dispute,  was  finally 
determined.  The  sixty-mile  bound  on  the  south  was 
fixed  on  the  line  between  Fitzwilliam  and  Richmond, 
and  on  the  east  at  the  point  in  Conway  where  the 
Saco  river  enters  the  state  of  Maine.  A  straight  line 
from  point  to  point  would  pass  over  Monadnock  moun- 
tain, through  Antrim,  Henniker,  Boscawen,  over  Lake 
Winnepesaukee  and  Ossipee  mountain,  to  the  Saco 
river.  Warner,  on  this  basis  of  settlement,  would 
have  been  outside  of  the  Masonian  grant  It  would 
have  belonged  to  the  province,  and  not  to  individuals, 
and  the  proprietors  of  the  town  (or  those  who  intend- 
ed to  become  such)  would  have  gone  to  the  govern- 


482  HI8T0BT  OP  WJLBNEB. 

ment  of  the  province  for  their  grant  But  the  Ma- 
sonian  proprietors  claimed  to  a  curved  line,  that 
should  be  substantially  sixty  miles  from  the  ocean  at 
every  point  Before  the  final  determination  of  this 
matter  the  proprietors  of  Warner  had  bought  their 
township  of  the  Mason  claimants,  and  had  paid  them 
$600  for  it  The  state  subsequently  recognized  this 
claim,  on  the  part  of  the  Lords'  proprietors,  to  a 
curved  line,  and  Warner  and  Kearsarge  Gore  were 
toithin  the  Mason  grant  That  curved  line  sweeps 
around  to  the  west  and  north  of  Kearsarge  mountain,- 
passing,  in  its  course,  through  Sunapee  lake. 

SURVEY  OF  THE  GORE. 

\     At  a  meeting  of  the  Masonian  proprietors,  at  Ports- 
mouth, April  7,  1779, — 

Voted  that  Messrs.  John  Pcnhallow  and  John  Pierce  be  a  com- 
mittee to  employ  Capt.  Hubertus  Neal,  or  some  good  Surveyor, 
to  take  a  surrey  of  the  ungranted  land  in  and  about  the  Moun- 
tain Kier  Sarge,  and  to  lay  out  the  same  into  100  acre  Letts. 

In  December,  1781,  those  proprietors  divided  up 
sundry  tracts  of  their  unappropriated  lands  in  the 
state  between  themselves,  and  among  those  tracts  was 
the  following : 

A  Tract  of  land  Surveyed  and  Returned  by  Henry  Gerriah, 
called  Kyah  Sarge,  all  the  lots  in  said  Plan,  n'ith  a  reserve  in 
each  lot,  of  five  acres  for  high  ways  if  wanted. 

.    The  proprietors  put  the  numbers  of  these  lots,  and 
of  lots  in  other  parts  of  the  state,  upon  bits  of  paper. 


EEARSAR6E  GORE.  438  . 

dropped  these  bits  into  a  hat,  and  drew  therefrom. 
Thomas  Wallingford  drew  twelve  of  the  Kearsarge 
Gore  lots,  John  Wentworth  drew  ten,  Mark  Hunking 
Wentworth  eight,  Solloy  and  Marsh  drew  a  number, 
and  the  rest  of  the  proprietors  did  likewise,  till  all 
were  gone. 

So,  before  any  settlements  were  made  in  Kearsarge 
Gore,  the  lands  there  were  held  by  individuab,  of 
whom  the  settlers  purchased  their  lots. 

WILMOT  INCORPOBATED. 

Kearsarge  Gore,  at  the  time  mentioned,  stretched 
over  the  mountain  northward,  nearly  to  the  present 
village  of  Wilmot  Centre.  Till  the  year  1807,  this 
Gore  constituted  a  sort  of  a  town  by  itself.  In  the 
Gore  records  it  is  often  called  a  town.  The  inhabitants 
met  annually,  chose  their  town  officers,  and  conduct- 
ed, in  many  respects,  like  organized  towns.  In  June, 
1807,  Wilmot  was  incorporated,  taking  two  thirds  of 
its  territory  from  New  London,  and  the  other  third  ^ 
from  the  Gore.  A  part  of  the  language  of  the  act  of 
incorporation  is  as  follows : 

''And  also,  all  the  lands  and  inhabitants  within  said  Kearsarge 
Gore,  north  of  a  straight  line  begining  at  the  sonth-^rest  comer 
of  Andover,  thence  running  westerly  to  the  highest  part  of  said 
Mountain,  thence  westerly,"  &c.,  to  Sutton  line. 

That  boundary  on  the  mountain  has  never  been 
changed. 


484  H18T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

THE  GORE  REORDS. 

State  of  N.  H.  >  Application  being  made  to  me  by  a  No  of 
HiUsboro'  S.  S. )  the  Inhabitants  of  Kearsarge  (jore  in  said 
oonnty  seeking  forth  that  they  Laboured  under  many  difficnltys 
on  account  of  not  haveing  A  legal  meeting  to  appoint  publick 
officersy  Praying  that  a  warnt  might  essue  forth  at  purpos,  these 
are  Theirfore  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  N.  H.  to  Notify  and 
warn  all  the  freeholders  and  others  Inhabitants  belonging  to  said 
(Sore,  Qualified  by  law  to  Vote  in  town  Meeting  to  assemble  and 
meat  at  the  House  of  3[r.  Joshua  Quimby's  in  said  Gore  on  Mon- 
day the  25th  day  of  tliis  Instant  August  1794  At  one  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  when  met  to  Act  as  follows  viz 

If  ly,  to  Chuse  a  ^loderator  to  Govern  Said  Meeting. 

2|  ly,  to  Chuse  a  Clark  to  Record  the  Procedings  of  Said  Meet- 
ing. 

3,  ly,  to  See  What  sums  of  Money  the  Inhabi  tents  will  vote  to 
Raise  this  present  year  and  what  Meathod  to  take  to  make  the 
taxes  in  one  or  more. 

4,  ly,  to  Chuse  Select  Men  and  A  Collector  for  the  Present  year. 
6,  ly,  to  Chuse  t3'thingmen  for  this  present  year. 

6,  ly,  to  Chuse  High  way  Surveyors  and  all  other  Publick  oflR- 
cers  that  the  Law  Required. 

7,  ly,  to  Act  on  any  other  Business  thought  proper  When  Met. 
Give  Under  m}*  hand  and  Sealed  at  Warner  in  said  County 

the  first  Day  of  August  1794. 

James  Flanders,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

[How  much  of  the  poor  spelling  and  bad  grammar 
in  the  above  belongs  to  the  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
how  much  to  the  "  Clark,"  or  whoever  made  the 
record,  no  one  can  tell.] 

Warner,  Aug.  1,  1794 — Mr.  Wm.  Quimby  you  are  here  by 
Ordered  to  Post  up  this  in  the  most  Public  Place  in  the  Inhab- 
ited Gore  fifteen  days  before  the  last  Monday  of  August,  Present 
to  the  James  Flanders  in  Warner  I  have  Posted  up  said  warning 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Jo;»hua  Quimbys  in  said  Grore.  [This  is  not 
signed.] 


KEARSARGE  GORE.  435 

Present  to  A  warrent  met  at  a  Time  and  place  fleeting  appoint- 
ed by  Esq.  Flanders  proceeded  to  Chuse  a  moderator  Nathan 
Clough,  then  Chused  persons  of  the  following  Xames  into  office 
Voted  Wm.  Quimb\'  Clark  Swam  into  office. 

Select  Men  Voted  Wm.  Graves,  Abner  Watkins,  Nathan  Cross. 

Collector  Voted,  Nathan  Clough. 

Constable  Voted,  Nathan  Clough. 

Highway  Surveyors  Voted,  Samuel  Quimby,  Tliomas  CrosSy 
Elisha  Smith. 

Meeting  Adjourned  to  the  second  Monday  of  September  next 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Joshua  Quimby's  in  said  Gore  met  at  the 
said  time  and  place  Agreeable  to  the  Adjournment  to  Act  on  the 
articles  wich  was  Prospouhd. 

1,  ly.  Voted  to  raise  fifty  £  lawful  Money  this  present  year. 

2,  ly.  Voted  Isaac  Chase  Heigh  way  Sunrar — 
Said  Meeting  Dismisst. 

The  Gore  had  been  settled  a  few  years  betore  this 
meeting  was  called  and  this  organization  effected.  A 
few  families  had  got  in  on  both  sides  of  the  mountain 
as  early  as  1788.  Clough,  Graves,  Cross,  and  Smith 
belonged  to  the  north  side  of  the  mountain;  the 
QuimbySj  Chase,  and  Watkins,  to  the  south  side. 
Joshua  Quimby,  at  whose  house  the  first  meeting  was 
held,  lived  on  a  road  (then  in  existence)  leading  from 
the  Savory  places  up  easterly  to  the  Currier  Quimby 
place,  in  the  edge  of  Salisbury.  Perhaps  it  was  at  the 
very  spot  where  John  Palmer's  house  was  afterwards 
destroyed  by  the  tornado. 

At  the  annual  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Kearsarge  Gore 
leagerly  warned  and  held  in  said  Grore  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Wm. 
Quimby's  on  Monday  30th  day  of  March,  1795 — 

Voted  Nathan  Clough  moderator. 

Voted  Wm  Quimby  Clark  for  the  insning  year. 


486  BISTORT  OP  WABNEB. 

Voted  Abner  Watkins,  Wm.  GraveSi  Nathan  Ciom,  Selectmen 
for  the  insning  year. 

Voted  Aboer  Watkins  to  see  the  petision  through  the  general 
CSoort  [This  was  a  petition  asking  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
to  levy  a  penny  tax  (a  tax  of  one  penny  per  acre)  on  the  non- 
resident hinds  in  the  €rore.] 

Voted  to  raise  $10  to  defray  town  charges,  and  $25,  to  repair 
highways,  to  be  hiid  out  in  hibor. 

The  annual  meeting  of  March,  1796,  was  held  at 
the  house  of  Thomas  Wells. 

Nathan  Clough,  Moderator,  Ebenezer  Scales,  clerk. 

Nathan  Clough,  Abner  Watkins,  and  Nathan  Cross,  Selectmen. 
Timothy  Walker  received  16  votes  for  Gov.  Eaised  932,  to  de- 
fray town  charges. 

Voted  to  receive  what  Abner  Watkins  said  at  the  Court  Con- 
eeming  the  penny  Tax. 

''  Voted  that  the  said  watkins  is  to  take  the  Care  of  the  same. 

*'  Voted  Jason  Watkins  Collector  and  Constable  for  the  year  in- 
suing." 

Voted  to  raise  forty  dollars  for  school. 

The  following  record  now  appears : 

This  may  Certifie  that  Moses  Palmer  the  son  of  John  Palmer 
was  Boam  June  the  12,  1791. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  March,  1797,  Ahner  Wat- 
kins was  chosen  moderator,  and  Jason  Watkins,  clerk. 

Abner  Watkins,  Samuel  Priest,  and  Nathan  Cross 
were  chosen  selectmen. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1798  the  officers  of  the 
preceding  year  were  chosen,  except  in  one  instance  : 
Thomas  Wells  was  substituted  for  Abner  Watkins  as 
selectman. 


KEARSARGE  .GORE.  437 

Voted  to  raise  15  £  for  schooling. 

At  a  meeting  legally  called,  and  holden  at  the  house 
of  Jonathan  Watkins,  July  6,  1798,  among  other 
things, — 

To  see  where  the  People  will  Tote  to  take  a  part  of  the  School 
money  that  was  raised  for  School  last  spring  to  help  huild  a  school 
house  and  how  much  Money  they  Will  take  out  of  that  sum  on 
this  side  of  the  mountain. 

Voted  to  keep  the  old  sum  for  schooling  and  the  Bemainder  to 
huy  Kails  and  Glass. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  March,  1799,  two  new 
selectmen  were  elected,  viz.,  Benjamin  Cass,  of  the 
north  side,  and  Foster  Goodwin,  of  the  south  side. 

Voted  to  send  a  petition  to  Court  to  git  our  Meeting  changed 
to  the  first  Monday,  and  by  Abner  Watkins. 
Voted  to  raise  15  pounds  for  school  this  year. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1800,  a  meeting  was  held 
at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Scales, — 

Voted  to  build  a  school-house  by  the  twentieth  of  March. 

Voted  to  raise  $G0  to  build  the  school-house,  to  sine  a  bond  to 
pay  their  Equel  proportion  of  Sixt}''  Dollars. 

Voted  Mr.  Abner  Watkins  to  Draw  the  bond  for  to  sine. 

Voted  Jason  Watkins  and  Ebenezer  Scales  in  Committee  for  to 
sell  the  school-house  built. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  March,  1800, — 

Voted  to  raise  $10  to  defray  charges. 

Voted  10  pounds  for  schooL 

Voted  to  remove  the  fences  and  bars  that  are  crost  the  road. 


488  HISTO^T  OP  WARNER. 

Officers  for  the  year  nearly  the  same  as  for  the  pre- 
ceding year. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  March,  1801, — 

Voted  Mr.  Cast  in  Moderator.     [  Cas$  is  probably  meant.] 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1802,  Ebenezer  Fisk  ap- 
pears, and  is  chosen  selectman.  He  probably  lived 
on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain.  He  was  the 
father  of  John  Fisk,  who  was  accidentally  killed  in  a 
saw-mill  at  Warner. 

Voted  fifteen  votes  for  John  Langdon  for  Governor. 
Voted  ten  votes  for  James  Flanders  for  senitor. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  1803, — 

Voted  to  Doe  nothing  about  polley  Simpson. 

Voted  21  votes  for  Langdon  6  for  Gilman  for  Grovemor. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March,  1804,  Benjamin 
Cass,  Ebenezer  Fisk,  and  James  Palmer  were  chosen 
selectmen. 

Voted  that  all  having  demands  against  the  town  shaU  bring 
tham  Every  anual  meatain  for  afnter. 

Voted  that  Eich  Destrect  shall  Bild  their  own  school  honsen 
and  furnish  tham  the  meatain  Dismist. 

There  were  two  school  districts  in  the  Gore,  one  on 
the  north  and  one  on  the  south  side  of  the  mountain ; 
also,  two  school-houses. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March,  1805,  Jeremiah 
Brown  was  chosen  moderator. 

Voted  to  raise  §100  with  the  non-resident  tax  for  the  highway 
for  the  Present  year. 

Voted  to  send  a  pertition  to  General  Cort  for  a  Committee  to 
settle  the  Line  between  Salisbury  and  Kearsarge  Gore. 


EEARSAR6E  GORE.  489 

Voted  in  Abner  Watkins  to  be  the  man  to  present  the  portion 
to  gineral  Cort. 

The  annual  meeting  of  1806  wjis  held  at  the  house 
of  Thomas  Cross  on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain ; 
at  which  meeting,- 

Voted  Samuel  Thompson  in  moderator. 

Voted  S.  TbompsoBi  Noab  Little  and  Inslej  Greeley  in  Select- 
men. 

Nothing  worthy  of  record  was  transacted  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  1807  Immediately  following  the 
account  of  that  meeting,  this  record  is  found  on  the 
books  of  the  Gore : 

Marig  CoTenant 
12  march  1807  than  Alder  Watson  marid  John  Sayeiy  and 
Salley  Straw. 

Wilmot  is  now  incorporated,  and  the  Gore  is  sev- 
ered. The  part  of  it  on  the  south  side  of  the  moun- 
tain still  remains  the  Gore,  and  maintains  its  organi- 
zation, but  the  larger  half  is  gone.  In  1790  its  pop- 
ulation was  103;  in  1800  it  was  179;  in  1810  (more 
than  half  its  territory  having  been  dissevered)  it  was 
reduced  to  125. 

A  military  company  was  organized  in  the  Gore  at 
an  early  day,  and  Jonathan  Watkins  (son  of  Abner) 
had  the  honor  of  taking  command.  This  company 
came  out  for  inspection  and  duty,  as  the  companies  of 
towns  came,  at  least  twice  a  yean  In  1810  Capt 
Watkins,  with  his  command,  met  the  Wilmot  com- 
pany for  drill  and  exercise  on  the  top  of  Kearsarge. 


440  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

Near  the  close  of  the  day  the  two  companies  were 
brought  face  to  face  on  the  very  summit  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  a  ^  sham  fight"  of  great  spirit  was  indulged 
in.  This  battle  was  2000  feet  higher  than  Hooker's 
celebrated  fight  ^  above  the  clouds/'  on  Lookout 
Mountain. 

The  annual  meetings  of  1808, 1809,  and  1810  were 
barren  of  interest.  In  1811  the  Gore  was  permitted 
to  have  a  voice,  through  her  representative,  in  the 
legislative  halls  of  the  state.  Wilmot  and  the  Gore 
were  classed.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  school- 
house  on  the  south  side  of  the  mountain,  March  5th. 
Thomas  Annis  was  chosen  moderator.  [This  was  not 
the  first  Thomas  (son  of  Daniel),  but  one  of  the  third 
generation,  and  he  remained  in  the  Gore  but  a  short 
time.]  The  class  elected  Eliphalet  Gay,  of  Wilmot, 
for  representative,  and  then  the  Gore  chose  Robert 
Savory,  John  Palmer,  and  Jason  Watkins  for  select- 
men. 

Voted  to  postpole  the  9th  article  tel  the  ajurnment. 

Thomas  Anuis  hid  of  the  Collector's  beth  at  two  cents  per  Dol- 
lar. 

Voted  A  bounty  on  crows  heads  voted  12^  cents  on  old  wous 
6  cents  for  young  crows  Killed  in  K  Gore. 

The  election  of  1812  is  void  of  interest;  no  repre- 
sentative appears  to  have  been  voted  for.  The  elec- 
tion of  1813  is  more  lively.     The  warrant  reads  : 

In  the  name  of  the  state  of  new  hampshire  we  Doe  liear  by 
notify  and  warn  all  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitance  of  the 


KEARSAR6E  GORE.  441 

town  of  Kearsarge  Gore  and  Wilmot  qualified  to  vote  in  town 
meeting  to  samble  and  meet  at  tlie  school  house  in  saide  Kear- 
sarge  Gore  on  the  second  day  of  March  1813,  at  one  o^clock  in 
tlie  after  noon  to  act  as  follows 

1,  ly,  to  Chuse  a  moderator  to  goyem  said  meeting 

2,  ly,  to  vote  for  some  Person  for  Bepresentative  tour  general 
Cort. 

Jason  Watkins  "^ 

Ezra  Waldron   >  Selectmen. 

John  Palmer    J 

Pursuant  to  this  notice  the  towns  met,  and  the 
record  of  the  meeting  follows : 

At  a  town  Meeting  Legally  notified  and  holden  in  the  town  of 
Kearsarge  Gore  on  the  second  day  of  March  anno  Domini  1813 
the  following  votes  were  givenin  for  Bepresentative  to  gineral 
Cort  viz,  their  was  a  Majority  for  Jason  Watkins. 

Jason  Watkins  town  Clark 

in  the  same  ower  Come  in  Wilmot  and  Voted  for  Eliphet  Gray 
Bepresentative  General  Cort 

Jason  Watkins  Town  Clark. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  district  elected  two  repre- 
sentatives that  day,  though  entitled  to  but  one.  The 
merits  of  the  controversy  cannot  now  be  known.  Gay 
certainly  took  his  seat  in  June,  and  Watkins  made  no 
contest  It  was  alleged  on  the  part  of  Gay's  friends 
that  Watkins  was  elected  before  the  legal  hour ;  that 
when  the  Watkins  party  saw  the  Wilmot  folks  com- 
ing in  large  force  down  the  mountain,  from  the  Car- 
rier Quimby  place,  towards  Samuel  Savory's,  they  set 
forward  the  nearest  clock  there  was  to  the  school- 
house,  rushed  in  their  votes,  and  elected  Watkins  be- 
fore the  time  set  for  the  organization  of  the  meeting. 


442  BISTORT  OP  WARNER. 

General  Eliphalet  Cray  was  a  man  of  wealth,  and  a 
hotel-keeper.  He  supplied  his  friends  with  victuals 
and  drink,  both  to  and  from  this  meeting.  They 
came,  with  pungs  and  sleighs,  ^a  Andover,  Beech  Hill, 
Googgins*s  Mills,  and  Smith's  Comer.  On  arriving  at 
the  Gore  they  took  possession  of  the  polls,  treating 
what  had  been  done  as  a  nullity.  Benjamin  Stanley's 
house  was  the  scene  of  conflict  That  was  the  school- 
house  of  the  district  at  that  time,  and  it  stood  precise* 
ly  where  it  now  stands.  Many  years  ago  it  was  con- 
verted into  a  dwelling-house.  Here  it  was  that  the 
contending  factions  swayed  to  and  fro ;  here  it  was 
that  victory  was  both  won  and  lost 

The  meeting  for  ioion  officers  that  year  was  held 
the  9th  of  March.  John  Palmer  was  elected  moder- 
ator, and  Jason  Watkins,  clerk. 

Isaac  Palmer,  Isaac  Annis,  and  Robert  Savory  were 
chosen  selectmen. 

Voted  that  the  south  west  Corner  of  Salisbury  should  not  send 
to  our  school  With  out  A  greein  with  our  Selectmen. 

The  list  of  voters  of  Kearsarge  Gore,  as  made  up 
by  the  selectmen,  Feb.  16,  1814,  was  as  follows: 

Abner  Watkins,  Abner  Watkins,  2d,  Abner  Watkins,  3d,  Dan- 
iel Savory,  Ezra  Waldron,  Ezekiel  Trumbull,  Foster  Goodwin, 
Isaac  Palmer,  John  Palmer,  Jonathan  Smith,  James  Palmer, 
John  Savory,  John  Palmer,  Jr.,  Jason  Watkins,  Jonathan  Wat- 
kins, Jabez  Harvey,  Jacob  Waldron,  Joseph  Wells,  Joseph  Palm- 
er, Moses  Palmer,  Nathan  Hunt,  Robert  Savory,  Samuel  Savo- 
ry, Samuel  Wells,  Stephen  Stanley,  William  Harwood. 

The  proceedings  of  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Gore 


KEABSARGE  GORE.  443 

in  March,  1814,  were  commonplace,  and  they  need 
not  be  recounted. 

The  district  meeting,  for  the  choice  of  representa- 
tive, was  held  at  Wilraot,  and  though  not  a  man  from 
the  Gore  attended  that  meeting,  Jason  Watkins  was 
triumphantly  elected  representative,  and  he  served 
his  constituents  faithfully  in  the  legislature  of  the 
state.  Undoubtedly  there  was  a  feeling  abroad  in 
the  district  that  Watkins  was  unfairly  treated  in  1813. 

Jason  Watkins  was  born  in  Joppa.  He  was  a  son 
of  Abner  Watkins,  senior,  and  the  father  of  Abner,  3d 
(who  held  many  positions  in  Warner),  and  of  the  wife 
of  William  G.  Flanders. 

Nov.  10, 1814,  the  selectmen  of  Kearsarge  Gore, 
and  of  Wilmot,  established  or  confirmed  the  boundary 
line  between  the  two  territories.  They  left  it  pre- 
cisely as  it  stands  in  the  charter  of  Wilmot  of  1807. 
Their  report  is  signed  as  follows :  % 

Isaac  Palmer    )       Selectmen 

Bobert  Savory  )  Kearsarge  (jore. 
Samuel  Kimball  )  Selectmen 

r     ^ 

Obadiah  Clough  )  Wilmot. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March  7,  1815,  holden  at 
the  school-house  in  the  Gore  for  the  choice  of  a  repre- 
sentative, Eliphalet  Gay  was  chosen  moderator,  and 
J.  Youngman,  of  Wilmot,  representative. 

The  proceedings  of  the  local  meeting  of  that  year 
29 


444  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

would  not  interest  the  reader,  nor  would  those  of 
1816  or  1817. 

As  the  election  of  March  10,  1818,  was  the  last 
election  ever  held  in  Kearsarge  Gore,  the  record  of 
its  proceedings  is  given  in  full. 

John  Palmer,  Jr.,  was  chosen  moderator. 

Jason  WatkinSy  town-clerk. 

John  Palmer,  Jr.,  Abner  Watkins,  Jr.,  and  Robert  Savoij, 
were  chosen  selectmen. 

James  Ferrin  (the  father  of  the  late  Lorenzo,  and  of  Stephen 
N.),  Jabez  Harvey,  and  Jonathan  B  Watkins  were  chosen  fence 
viewers,  and  Daniel  Savory,  surveyor  of  lumber. 

Voted  to  raise  §75  to  defray  town  charges  the  present  year. 

John  Watkins  bid  off.  the  Collector's  berth  at  four  cents  per 
Dollar. 

Voted  to  have  meetings  of  worship  in  t/ie  School  house. 

The  last  vote  above  was  the  last  ever  given  in 
Kearsarge  Gore  as  a  municipal  organization,  for,  by 
act  of  the  legislature  of  the  state,  approved  June  13, 
1818,  the  Gore  was  annexed  to,  and  made  forever x 
thereafter  part  and  parcel  of,  the  town  of  Warner. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

POST-M ASTER55 — DEPUTY   SIIERl  FFS — LAWYERS  —  PH YSICI ANl 
COLLEGE    GRADUATES — HIGH-SCHOOL    TEACHERS — DEBATING 
CLUBS — LITERARY  MEN   AND  WOMEN. 

HERE  was  no  post-office  in  Warner  till  1813. 
•fW  Before  the  year  1800  nothing  like  an  efficient 
post-office  establishment  existed  in  the  country.  In 
1791  the  legislature  of  New  Hampshire  passed  a  law 
establishing  "four  routes  for  posts,  to  be  thereafter 
appointed  to  ride  in  and  through  the  interior  of  the 
state.** 

These  "posts,"  or  riders,  were  appointed,  two  of 
whom  started  out  from  Concord,  and  two  from  Ports- 
mouth. They  went  out  one  way  and  returned  anoth- 
er, making  a  round  trip  a  w^eek.  They  took  the  mail 
matter  that  accumulated  at  these  principal  offices,  and 
in  this  way  it  was  distributed.  They  "carried  and 
fetched."  The  first  rider,  starting  from  Concord,  rode 
through  Weare,  New  Boston,  Amherst,  Wilton,  Tem- 
ple, Peterborough,  Dublin,  Marlborough,  Keene,  West- 
moreland, Walpole,  Alsf^ead,  Acworth,  Charlestown, 
Claremont,  Newport,  Lempster,  Washington,  Hills- 
borough, Henniker,  and  Hopkinton,  to  Concord. 


446  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

The  second  rider,  starting  also  from  Concord,  rode 
through  Boscawen,  Salisbury,  Andover,  New  Chester, 
Plymouth,  Haverhill,  Piermont,  Orford,  Lyme,  Han- 
over, Lebanon,  Enfield,  CanaanJ  Grafton,  Alexandria, 
and  Salisbury,  to  Concord.  The  other  two  started  out 
from  Portsmouth,  and  performed  their  circuits  in  the 
southern  and  eastern  sections  of  the  state. 

As  late  as  December  31, 1809,  David  George,  post- 
master at  Concord,  published  a  list  of  letters  remain- 
ing in  the  office  at  that  place,  which  contained  the 
following  out-of-town  names : 

Bichard  H.  Ayer,  Dunbarton ;  Ikliss  Mary  Carter,  Bow ;  Tim- 
othy Chandler,  Dauiel  Cooledge,  Miss  Hannah  Corbett,  Canter^ 
bury ;  Prine  Avers,  Nortbfield ;  Jeremiah  Eastman,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Mirick,  John  Noyes,  Henniker;  Nathaniel  Green,  Kev. 
Christopher  Page,  Daniel  Young,  Hopkinton;  Rev.  Sebastian 
Streeter,  John  Maynard,  Weare ;  Daniel  Lord,  Bradford. 

In  1813  a  post-office  was  established  at  Warner 
Lower  Village,  and  Henry  B.  Chase  was  the  first  post- 
master. He  held  the  office  till  1817.  when  Dr.  Henry 
Lyman  was  appointed,  who  held  it  till  1825,  when 
Levi  Bartlett  was  appointed.  Mr.  Bartlett  held  the 
office  till  1830,  when  it  was  discontinued. 

During  the  year  1829,  and  a  part  of  the  year  1830, 
there  was  an  office  at  Waterloo,  and  Philip  Colby,  Jr., 
was  post-master.  This  office,  and  that  at  the  Lower 
Village,  were  consolidated  in  the  year  1830,  and  es- 
tablished at  Warner  village,  with  H.  D.  Robertson  for 
post-master.  He  held  the  office  till  1844,  when  George 


j^.S-y(i^dM^^ 


p,PoowiCo-." 


ALOXZO   C.  CARBOLL.  447 

A.  Pillsbury  was  appointed.  William  Carter,  Jr.,  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Pillsbury  in  1849,  and  Oilman  C.  Sanborn 
succeeded  Mr.  Carter  in  1851.  In  1855,  Abner  B.  Kel- 
ley  was  appointed ;  in  1862,  Hiram  Buswell,  who 
held  the  office  fifteen  years.  In  1877  the  present 
incumbent,  E.  H.  Carroll,  was  appointed. 

Mr.  Buswell  was  from  Grantham.  He  came  to 
Warner  when  a  young  man,  and  engaged  in  Ihe 
business  of  painting.  No  other  man  has  held  the 
post-office  as  long  as  he.  He  has  also  held  the  office 
of  commissioner  for  Merrimack  county  two  years. 

In  1865  another  office  was  established  at  Waterloo, 
and  Walter  H.  Bean  was  appointed  post-master.  He 
resigned,  after  holding  the  office  six  or  eight  months, 
and  T.  Leavitt  Dowlin  was  appointed.  The  office  waa 
discontinued  after  an  existence  of  a  year  or  two. 

In  1871  an  office  was  established  at  Roby's  Comer, 
with  Moses  H.  Roby  as  post-master,  which  continues 
unchanged. 

Alonzo  C.  Carroll,  the  father  of  the  present  post- 
master of  Warner,  was  bom  at  Croydon,  Nov.  24, 
1826.  His  parents  were  John  P.  and  Rachel  Carroll. 
When  he  was  12  years  of  age  his  mother  died,  and 
the  family  was  broken  up.  He  and  one  of  his  sisters 
went  to  Grafton  to  live  with  a  relative,  where  they 
remained  together  five  years,  and  till  the  marriage  of 
the  sister.  Then  for  two  or  three  years  Alonzo  C. 
was  found  at  Quincy,  Mass.,  driving  a  stone-team 


448 


HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 


from  the  quarries  to  Boston,  He  returned  to  Grafton, 
and  bought  the  old  "  Hortou  farm,"  which  he  carried 
on  for  three  years.  In  1851  he  removed  to  South 
Sutton,  and  engaged  in  the  s'tove  business,  and  in 
1853  he  added  to  this  a  dry-goods  and  grocery  store. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  concerned  in  the  patent- 
right  business.  In  1860,  having  sold  out  his  interests 
at  South  Sutton,  he  went  into  partnership  with  Geo. 
Putney,  in  manufacturing  bobbins  at  Sutton  Mill  Vil- 
lage. In  1863  he  reengaged  in  the  stove  business, 
and  in  1867  went  into  trade  with  George  Thompson, 
at  the  Potter  Place. 

In  1868  he  bought  out  Hale  &  Adams,  at  the 
Robertson  store,  in  Wa.mer,  and  commenced  trade 
there.  He  kept  the  Winslow  House,  on  Kearsarge 
mountain,  during  the  season  of  1869.  In  April,  1870, 
he  commenced  trade  in  the  Union  Hall  building, 
where  he  still  continues.  Besides  carrying  on  a  large 
trade  at  this  place,  he  kept  the  Warner  and  Kearsarge 
Mountain  House  through  the  season  of  1874,  and  a 
.part  of  the  season  of  1875.  In  the  summer  of  1878 
he  again  took  charge  of  the  hotel,  and,  in  his  hands,  it 
is  a  popular  and  well-patronized  summer  resort. 

Mr.  Carroll  married,  in  1849,  Miss  M.  A.  Hale,  who 
died  in  1866,  leaving  two  sons, — Clarence  F.  and  E 
H.  Carroll.  In  September,  1868,  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  11.  Adams,  of  Warner.  Ills  oldest  son  is  a 
successful  school-teacher,  and  his  youngest,  when  not 


DEPDTT  SHERIFFS.  449 

occupied  in  the  post-office,  is  engaged  in  the  store  of 
his  father. 

DEPUTY  SHERIFFS. 

The  first  deputy  sheriff  in  Warner  was  Calvin  Flan- 
ders, son  of  James.  He  lived  at  the  place  in  the 
Lower  Village  where  the  late  Zebulon  Davis  lived 
and  died.  He  was  appointed  about  the  year  1790, 
and  held  the  office  nearly  twenty  years. 

In  1808  George  W.  Kelley  was  appointed.  He  also 
lived  at  the  Lower  Village.  He  was  a  son  of  Sheriff 
Moses  Kelley,  of  Hopkinton,  and  Moses  was  a  brother 

to  Rev.  William,  the  first  minister  in  town. 

Mr.  Kelley  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  till 
1813,  when  Richard  Pattee,  who  kept  the  hotel  at  the 
Carter  place,  was  appointed. 

In  1816  Capt  Joseph  Smith  received  the  appoint- 
ment He  continued  in  possession  of  the  office  till 
1820,  though  in  1819  Stephen  Currier,  Jr.,  and  John 
Kimball  were  deputized  for  a  special  purpose,  which 
will  hereafter  appear. 

Capt.  Smith  had  been  many  years  in  the  regular, 
army  before  the  war  of  1812,  and  had  been  stationed 
both  at  Boston  and  at  Portland.  He  was  captain  of 
the  Warner  company  in  "  the  last  war  with  England." 
His  home  was  at  the  Dr.  Eaton  house,  where  he  died, 
November,  1824,  aged  50. 

In  1820  Stephen  Currier,  Jr.;  was  the  only  sheriff, 
and  he  continued  such  till  1829.     While  sheriff  his 


450  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

home  Wcos  at  the  Lower  Village.  His  father  was  Dan- 
iel Currier,  of  Joppa ;  his  son  Charles  occupies  the 
old  homestead. 

In  1829  Stephen  George  (who  held  the  office  till 
1838)  was  appointed.  He  was  a  son  of  John  George, 
and  a  brother  to  John,  2d,  and  to  Daniel  and  Joshua. 
He  died  in  Michigan,  while  on  a  journey  to  the  West 

Franklin  Simonds  succeeded  Mr.  George  as  sheriff, 
in  1838,  and  continued  in  the  office  till  1856,  a  period 
of  eighteen  years. 

In  1856,  John  Currier,  Jr.,  was  appointed. 

In  1863,  Gilbert  Davis. 

In  1868,  Albert  P.  Davis. 

In  1876,  George  N.  Tewksbury. 

In  1877,  the  present  incumbent,  David  C.  Harriman. 

LAWYERS. 

Nathaniel  Green,  a  brother  to  Judge  Samuel  Green, 
was  the  first  lawyer  to  hang  out  a  sign  in  Warner. 
He  opened  an  office  at  the  Lower  Village,  near 
Joseph  Bartlett's,  in  1795;  but  not  finding  a  very 
promising  field  to  cultivate,  he  remained  m  town  but 
a  year  or  two. 

Jeremiah  Hall  Woodman  came  in  1797,  but  re- 
mained no  longer  than  his  predecessor.  He  removed 
to  Dover  in  1798,  and  became  a  lawyer  of  large  prac- 
tice and  good  standing. 

Parker  Noyes  was  the  third  in  the  line  of  succes- 


LAWYERS.  451 

« 

sion.  He  was  reared  in  South  Hampton.  He  came 
to  Warner  in  1799,  and  opened  his  first  oflSce.  It 
was  at  the  Lower  Village.  After  remaining  in  town 
two  years,  he  took  down  his  sign  and  carried  it  to 
what  is  now  Franklin  Lower  Village.  At  this  place 
his  office  was  just  across  the  road  from  Capt  Eben- 
ezer  Webster's,  and  Daniel  Webster,  was  his  law  stu- 
dent He  was  offered  a  seat  on  the  supreme  bench 
by  Gov.  Morrill,  but  declined  it  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

Henry  B.  Chase  was  the  fourth  lawyer  in  -Warner. 
He  came  in  1805,  and  remained  through  life.  [See  a 
preceding  chapter.] 

Harrison  Graj'  Harris  was  the  next  in  order,  and 
the  first  at  Warner  village.  He  was  born  in  the  beau- 
tiful town  of  Harvard,  Mass.,  in  1790.  He  read. law 
mainly  with  his  brother,  Judge  John  Harris,  of  Hop- 
kinton ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1815,  and  com- 
menced practice  in  Warner  in  1816.  He  held  some 
of  the  public  offices  of  the  town ;  connected  farming 
with  his  law  business  for  many  years;  and  finally 
made  agriculture  his  chief  pursuit.  He  was  eminent 
in  his  day  in  the  Masonic  order,  as  was  his  son  (John 
A.)  after  him.  He  died  at  Warner,  March,  1875, 
aged  84. 

Edward  B.  West  was  the  sixth  lawyer  ift  town.  He 
came  from  Concord  about  the  year  1848,  remained  a 
few  years,  and  then  changed  his  residence  to  Nashua, 


452  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

where'  he  was  actively  engaged  in  his  profession  some 
ten  or  twelve  years.  He  then  accepted  a  government 
office  at  the  Navy  Yard,  and  removed  to  Portsmouth, 
where  he  now  reside^- 

Samuel  Davis,  Jr.,  a  native  of  Bradford,  graduated 
at  West  Point,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  opened  an  office  first  at  Enfield,  but  came 
from  there  to  Warner  as  early  as  1859.  He  has  not 
given  his  whole  attention  to  the  law,  but  has  connect- 
ed farming  and  the  care  of  schools  with  it  In  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  major  of  the  16th  N.  H. 
regiment.  Since  the  war  he  has  served  in  various 
town  offices,  and  two  years  in  the  legislature  of  the 
state. 

Albert  P.  Davis  was  born  at  Warner,  May  2,  1885. 
He  is  descended  from  an  ancient  family.  Willi  Davis, 
a  native  of  Wales,  came  to  New  England  in  1640. 
He  took  the  freeman's  oath  at  Amesbury  in  1645,  On 
the  2d  day  of  December,  1677,  his  sons,  Francis  and 
Samuel,  together  with  "  a  large  number  of  the  sons  of 
the  first  settlers,"  took  the  same  oath.  This  Willi  (or 
William)  and  this  Francis  were  the  ancestors  of  Capt 
Francis  and  his  brother  Gideon,  the  great-grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Gideon  settled  on  the 
Moses  E  Davis  farm  in  1782,  and  the  farm  has  re- 
mained in  the  hands  of  the  family  to  the  present  day. 

The  sons  of  Gideon  and  Mary  (Clieney)  Davis  were 
John,  Robert,  Gideon,  Moses,  and  Oliver;  and   the 


c/H?  S). 


't*c<ri^ 


Hillotype  Ptinlins  C«, .  *mM«>- 


ALBERT  P.  DAVIS.  453 

daughters  were  Molly,  Ruth,  and  Anna.  The  children 
of  the  above-named  John  and  Mary  (Pervere)  Davis 
were  John,  Sally,  Rachel,  Lois,  Zaccheus,  and  Eleazer. 
Zaccheus  married  Lucinda  Pervere  of  Sandown,  and 
to  this  couple  were  born  Albert  P.,  Mary,  Charles  S., 
and  Zaccheus.  Albert  P.  married  Lavonia  W.,  daugh- 
ter of  Abner  Harvey,  Jr.  They  have  two  children, 
Ida  M.  and  Woodbury  R 

Albert  P.  Davis  received  a  good  academic  educa- 
tion, and  for  some  fifteen  years  was  a  well  known  and 
popular  school-teacher.  He  served  as  deputy  sheriff 
from  1868  to  1876,  and  while  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  this  office  he  devoted  his  leisure  hours  to 
the  study  of  the  law.  Being  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1876,  after  a  rigid  examination,  he  went  immediately 
into  practice  as  a  lawyer  in  his  native  town,  where 
his  success  has  been  equal  to  his  highest  expectation. 

As  a  newspaper  correspondent  he  wields  a  ready  pen, 
and  ranks  with  the  enterprising  writers  of  the  day. 

To  the  foregoing  list  of  lawyers  maj'  be  added  the 
names  of  such  as  have  been  reared  in  Warner  and 
have  followed  the  profession  elsewhere. 

John  Kelley,  the  oldest  son  of  Rev.  Wm.  Kelley, 
was  a  lawyer.  He  commenced  business  in  North- 
wood,  where  he  had  gratifying  success.  Desiring  a 
larger  town  for  a  home,  he  went  to  Exeter,  and  there 
remained  through  life.    He  was  register  of  probate 


454  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

for  Rockingham  county  a  great  many  years ;  was  also 

a  member  of  the  legislature  of  the  state,  and  of  the 

< 

constitutional  convention  of  1850. 

Stephen  C.  Badger  was 'a  lawyer  by  profession. 
His  first  office  was  at  New  London.  After  remaining 
there  a  few  years  he  removed  to  Concord.  For  a 
long  time  he  was  clerk  of  the  courts  of  Merrimack 
county.  He  was  also  assistant  justice  of  the  police 
court  of  Concord.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Evans. 

Henry  B.  Chase,  the  second  (a  son  of  Henry  B.), 
graduated  at  Dartmouth  about  the  year  1839 ;  studied 
law,  and  settled  in  Louisiana,  where  he  still  remains, 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  practice. 

Herman  Foster  read  law  with  Henry  B.  Chase, 
opened  an  office  in  Manchester,  and  was  successful  in 
his  profession. 

John  H.  Watson,  a  son  of  Capt.  Cyrus  Watson,  be- 
came a  successful  lawyer  and  editor  in  Lawrence, 
Mass. 

Edwin  W.  Harriman,  a  son  of  John,  read  law,,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Concord  in  1864.  He 
shortly  afterwards  went  into  practice  in  the  state  of 
Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1865  or  1866. 

John  George,  son  of  Joshua,  was  also  admitted  to   • 
the  bar  at  Concord  in  1864.     [See  Chapter  XX\ai.] 

Walter  Channing  Harriman  read  law  at  Concord, 
first  with  L  D.  Stevens,  and  then  with  Tappan  & 


HERMAN   FOSTER.  455 

Albin."  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  at  Concord,  Dec. 
13,  1876,  and  commenced   business  at  Portsmouth 

April,  1877.     He  is  now  solicitor   for   Rockingham 

county. 

Jesse  Pattee,  a  son  of  Stephen  C,  read  law  at 
Haverhill,  N.  H.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1877.  Soon  after  being  admitted,  he  went  into  prac- 
tice at  Brockton,  Mass.,  where  he  now  is. 

George  L.  Ordway  (son  of  N.  G.)  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1878.  He  served  on  tlie  staff  of  Governor 
Prescott,  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  In  March,  1879, 
be  commenced  business  in  the  line  of  his  profession  at 
Denver,  Colorado. 

Herman  Foster  was  born  at  Andover,  Mass.,  Oct 
31, 1800.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Reginald  Foster^ 
who  came  from  Exeter,  England,  and  settled  at  Ips- 
wich, Mass.,  in  1638.  His  grandfather,  Obediah,  was 
born  in  1741,  and  his  father,  John,  in  1770,  at  An- 
dover. The  other  children  of  John  Foster  are  Mrs. 
K  S.  Badger,  of  Warner ;  John,  a  leading  merchant  of 
Boston;  and  George  (now  of  Bedford),  who  served 
several  years  as  selectman  of  Warner,  and  who  has 
since  been  two  years  in  the  state  senate  from  the 
third  district 

The  subject  of  this  notice  removed  with  his  father's 
family  from  Andover,  Ma^ss.,  to  Hudson,  N.  H.,  in  1810. 
He  had  prepared  for  college  at  an  early  day,  but  a 
disease  of  the  eyes  prevented  him  from  pursuing  a 


456  RISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

college  course.  He  was  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness a  number  of  years.  In  November,  182G,  he  was 
married  to  Harriet  M.  A.  Whittemore,  of  West  Cam- 
bridge. He  removed  to  Warner  in  March,  1830,  and 
purchased  the  Ballard  farm,  on  which  he  lived  eight 
years.  He  then  removed  to  Warner  Lower  Village, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  with  Hon. 
Henry  B.  Chase.  Being  admitted  to  the  bar,  be  com- 
menced practice  in  Manchester  in  1840,  where  he 
died  Feb.  17,  1875,  aged  74.  He  left  no  children. 
Mrs.  Foster  still  survives. 

He  was  a  representative  in  the  state  legislature  in 
1845, 1846,  1868,  and  1869,  and  was  state  senator  in 
1860  and  1861.  The  latter  year  he  was  the  president 
of  that  body. 

He  was  appointed  assessor  of  internal  revenue  by 
President  Lincoln,  in  1862,  but,  after  holding  the 
office  a  few  months,  he  resigned.  In  1861  Dartmouth 
college  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  Mas- 
ter of  Arts. 

He  held  a  high  position  as  a  lawyer,  and  was  much 
valued  as  a  counsellor  in  important  cases. 

Mr.  Foster,  while  living  in  Warner,  became  greatly 
attached  to  the  town  and  people,  and  this  attachment 
continued  fresh  and  strong  to  the  end  of  his  days. 


'ei'fn.-a^^i^ 


^5fiT:;ieJi^       ^ 


THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION'.  457 


rnYsiciAxs. 

Esculapius  was  the  god  of  medicine  among  the 
ancient  pagans.  Luke,  in  divine  revelation,  is.  called 
the  "  beloved  physician."  He  was  the  friend  and  com- 
panion of  Paul.  He  wrote  the  book  that  bears  his 
name  ;  also  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  The  profession 
has  ancient  and  high  authority,  and  a  good  physician 
is  ever  a  welcome  friend.  It  is  believed  that  Warner 
has  had  its  share  of  acceptable  physicians. 

1.  Dr.  John  Currier  was  the  first.  He  lived  at  the 
Carter  stand.  Very  little  is  known  of  him  or  his 
connections.  He  gave  more  attention  to  farming  and 
to  the  hotel  than  to  his  profession.  Possibly  he  may 
not  have  been  an  acknowledged  M.  D. 

2.  Dr.  Cogswell  was  the  next  physician  in  Warner. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Elliot  Colby,  but  remained 
in  town  only  a  short  time. 

3.  Dr.  John  Hall  was  from  Chelmsford,  Mass.  His 
first  place  of  residence  in  Warner  was  at  the  Felton 
place,  just  above  Ira  P.  Whittier's.  At  his  next  place 
of  residence  in  town,  which  was  at  the  John  Colby 
house  on  the  Plain,  he  lived  many  years.  He  finally 
removed  to  Maine,  and  died  there  thirty  or  forty 
years  ago. 

4.  Dr.  Thomas  Webster  was  from  Haverhill,  Mass. 
He  lived  near  the  Georges  at  the  Lower  Village.  He 
built  and  occupied    the  one-story  house  that  Mrs. 


458  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Charles  George  occupied  many  years,  and  till  its  de- 
struction by  fire. 

5.  Dr.  William  Dinsmoor  was  from  Goflfstown.  He 
boarded  at  Pattee's  tavern  at  the  Lower  Village. 
While  in  Warner  he  married  a  sister  of  Jonathan  and 
Matthew  Harvey,  and  shortly  after  his  marriage  re- 
inoved  to  Henniker. 

6.  Dr.  Henry  Lyman  came  from  Lebanon  about 
the  year  1806.  He  had  a  large  practice  in  Warner 
some  twenty  or  twenty-five  years.  He  died  Septem- 
ber, 1829,  aged  43,  and  was  buried  at  the  Parade. 

7-  Dr.  Silas  Walker  was  from  Goflstown.  He  came 
and  settled  at  the  Lower  Village  about  the  year  1810, 
but  remained  in  town  only  a  few  years. 

8.  Dr.  Jacob  Straw  came  in  1819,  and  boarded  at 
Levi  Bartlett's,  in  the  Lower  Village.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  a  year  or  two  in  Warner,  he  went  to  Henni- 
ker, and  there  finished  his  work.  He  was  two  years 
in  the  state  senate. 

9.  Dr.  Moses  Long  was  from  Hopkinton.  He  es- 
tablished himself  in  Warner  not  far  from  1820,  his 
first  office  being  at  the  Centre  village.  His  second 
office  and  home  in  Warner  was  at  the  Lower  Village, 
where  he  continued  in  practice  fifteen  or  eighteen 
years.  In  1835  he  removed  to  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
and  there  followed  his  profession  a  few  years.  He 
then  went  with  his  brother,  Col.  Stephen  H.  Long, 
into  bridge-building  in  Mississippi,  but  returned  to 
Rochester,  and  died  there  twenty-five  years  ago. 


PHTsiaANS.  459 

10.  Dr.  Caleb  Buswell  came  from  Grantham,  and 
settled  at  the  Centre  village.    [See  Ch.  XXIV.] 

11.  Dr.  Leonard  Eaton,  a  son  of  Nathaniel,  was 
bom  June  10,  1800,  at  the  Putnam  place,  just  within 
the  limits  of  Hopkinton.  Nathaniel  Eaton,  the  father, 
was  from  Haverhill,  Mass.  On  coming  back  into  the 
country  he  first  settled  at  the  Putnam  place,  but  after 
remaining  there  a  few  years  removed  to  Sutton, 
where  his  son,  George  C,  now  resides.  He  died  in 
May,  1875.. 

Leonard  Eaton  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Caleb 
Buswell,  and  received  his  degree  at  the  Dartmouth 
Medical  College.  He  was  a  successful  physician  at 
Warner  through  life.  He  served  several  years  as 
town-clerk,  two  years  as  representative,  and  two  as 
senator  for  district  No.  8.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  constitutional  convention  of  1850. 

Dr.  Eaton  married  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Benjamin 
Evans,  and  had  three  daughters,  the  youngest  of 
whom,  Mrs.  Hilliard  Davis,  died  several  years  ago. 
The  other  two  are  Miss  Susan  Eaton,  and  Maria,  wife 
of  Hon.  John  Y.  Mugridge,  of  Concord.  Dr.  Eaton 
died  in  November,  1867,  at  the  age  of  67  years. 

12.  Dr.  Stevens  was  from  Charlestown,  Mass.  He 
commenced  practice  in  Warner  (his  office  being  at 
the  Lower  Village)  in  1834,  remained  a  year  or  two, 
and  then  returned  to  his  "  native  heath.^ 

13.  Dr.  Parmalee  was  from  Lebanon.    He  came 
80 


460  HI810BT  OF  WARNER. 

into  town  in  1835,  or  thereabouts,  and  he  was  both 
at  the  Lower  Village  and  at  Waterloo.  Henry  B. 
Chase  was  his  uncle. 

14.  Dr.  Charles  A.  Savory  came  from  Hopkinton  to 
Warner,  not  far  from  1844.  After  an  extensive  prac- 
tice of  four  years*  duration  in  town,  he  removed  to 
Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  still  continues  in  the  profession. 

15.  Dr.  Parsons  Whidden  was  from  Canterbury. 
He  came  to  Warner  when  Dr.  Savory  left,  took  his 
place,  and  remained  in  town  a  number  of  years. 

16.  Dr.  John  M.  Fitts  was  from  Boscawen.  He 
commenced  business  in  Warner  not  far  from  1854^ 
remained  five  or  six  years,  and  went  to  Sutton. 

17.  Dr.  Moses  S.  Wilson  was  from  Salisbury.  In 
1859  he  went  into  practice  in  Warner,  married  a 
daughter  of  Ira  Harvey,  returned  to  his  native  town, 
and,  in  company  with  his  father,  who  was  also  a  phy- 
sician, was  in  active  business  there  till  the  war ;  was 
assistant  surgeon  in  the  7th  N.  H.  regiment;  went 
to  Illinois  after  the  war,  and  died  there,  a  young  man, 
several  years  ago. 

18.  Dr.  John  G.  Parker  came  to  Warner  from  Dub- 
lin in  1860.  A  good  physician,  but  he  died  at  War- 
ner in  1867. 

19.  Dr.  Frank  W.  Graves  was  from  Concord.  He 
settled  in  Warner  in  1864,  and  was  in  active  practice 
in  town  five  or  six  years.  He  is  now  settled  in  Wo- 
burn,  Mass. 


PHTSICIANS.  461 

20.  Dr.  J.  M.  Rix  came  from  Dalton  in  1867,  and 
is  now  in  Warner. 

21.  Dr.  J.  R.  Cogswell  came  from  Littleton  in  1874, 
and  is  now  in  Warner. 

The  names  of  those  who  have  gone  out  from  War- 
ner, as  physicians,  will  be  given  from  recollection,  and 
the  list  may  be  very  inaccurate. 

Dr.  John  E.  Dalton  was  a  son  of  Dea.  Isaac  Dalton. 
Afler  taking  his  degree  as  a  physician,  he  decided  to 
cast  his  lot  in  the  West  He  made  the  long  journey 
to  Ohio  by  stage,  by  canal,  and  by  steamboat,  about 
the  year  1832.  He  settled  in  Ohio,  where  he  contin- 
ued in  practice  many  years.  He  is  still  somewhere 
in  the  Great  West 

Dr.  Daniel  Davis,  a  son  of  Capt  Jacob  Davis,  com- 
menced practice  at  Wellfleet,  on  Cape  Cod,  when  a 
young  man,  married  his  wife  there,  made  that  his 
home,  and  died  there  a  few  years  since. 

Dr.  James  F.  Sargent  was  a  son  of  Joseph,  and  a 
grandson  of  Joseph  Sargent,  senior,  of  Schoodac.  He 
pursued  his  medical  studies  with  Dr.  Moses  Long, 
graduated  at  Dartmouth,  and  commenced  practice  at 
Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1834.  Subsequently,  for  several 
years,  he  enjoyed  a  successful  practice  at  Contoocook- 
ville,  and,  at  a  later  day,  a  like  practice  at  Concord, 
where  he  died  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  54. 

Dr.  Dana  D.  Davis  was  a  son  of  Stephen  Davia 
He  took  his  degree  as  a  physician,  married  the  only 


462  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

daughter  of  Levi  Bartlett,  went  to  Louisiana,  and  com- 
menced business  there  with  flattering  prospects.  He 
died  of  yellow  fever^  at  Baton  Bouge^  in  1844.  His 
son  (Wm.  D.  Davis)  he  never  saw,  as  he  was  born 
after  the  father's  departure  for  the  South. 

Dr.  Moses  Hill  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Hill,  whose 
farm  was  that  now  owned  by  the  town.  Moses  was 
bom  at  that  place.  He  commenced  practice  in  Man- 
chester, then  settled  in  Iowa,  and  died  on  a  visit  to 
Louisiana. 

Dr.  Henry  L  Watson  is  claimed  as  a  Warner  boy. 
He  was  a  son  of  Ithamar  Watson,  of  Salisbury,  who 
lived  a  number  of  years  in  Warner.  Dr.  Watson 
commenced  his  professional  work  at  Guildhall,  Ver- 
mont, where  he  had  an  extensive  practice,  but  twelve 
or  fifteen  years  ago  he  changed  his  residence  to  Lit- 
tleton, N.  H.     He  is  well  situated  at  the  latter  pl^ce. 

Dr.  David  Bagley  was  a  son  of  David  Bagley,  of 
Melvin's  Mills,  and  a  grandson  of  Ebenezer  Bagley, 
who  came  from  Amesbury,  and  settled  on  the  shore 
of  .the  pond  near  Salisbury  line,  which  takes  his 
name.  Dr.  Bagley  commenced  practice  in  the  state 
of  Georgia  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago,  and  his  *^flag 
is  still  there." 

Dr.  Wm.  S.  Collins,  a  son  of  Enos,  received  a  good 
academic  education,  studied  medicine,  took  his  degree 
at  Dartmouth,  and  commenced  business  in  Grafton, 
where  he  remained  five  years.    Afterwards  he  was 


PHTSICIANS.  463 

actively  engaged  in  his  profession  at  Loudon  some 
twenty-one  years,  and  he  is  now  located  in  Nashua. 

Dr.  Luther  Pattee,  a  son  of  Asa,  has  been  estab- 
lished in  business  at  Candia,  "Wolfeborough,  and  Man- 
chester. He  is  now  at  the  latter  place,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  Asa  F.  Pattee,  another  of  the  sons  of  Asa,  be- 
gan in  Amesbury,  the  old  parent  of  Warner.  He 
went  from  there  to  Boston,  where  his  situation  is 
entirely  satisfactory. 

Dr.  Byron  Harriman,  a  son  of  John,  studied  medi- 
cine under  the  direction  of  Gage  &  Moulton,  at  Con- 
cord, took  his  degree  at  Hanover,  and  went  into 
practice  in  Iowa.  He  has  given  attention  to  other 
business  as  well  as  to  his  profession,  and  has  been  suc- 
cessful. He  is  at  present  the  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Hampton,  Iowa,  to  which  office  he  has  been  three 
times  elected. 

Dr.  Luther  Harvey,  a  son  of  Ira  Harvey,  pursued 
his  studies,  in  part,  with  Dr.  Wilson,  in  Illinois.  After 
taking  his  degree,  he  commenced  practice  in  that 
state  with  flattering  prospects. 

Dr.  William  H.  Pattee,  son  of  Stephen  C,  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Luther  Pattee,  attended  lectures  at 
Dartmouth,  and  received  his  degree  at  the  University 
of  Vermont,  in  1877.  He  is  now  in  pmctice  at  Bel- 
mont, N.  H. 

Dr.  Benjamin  E.  Harriman  studied  medicine  under 


464  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

the  direction  of  Dr.  A.  H.  Crosby,  of  Conoord,  attend- 
ed lectures  at  the  University  of  Vermont,  and  at 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  N.  Y.,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Dartmouth  in  the  fall  of  1877.  He  opened 
an  office  in  Manchester  the  following  December, 
broke  down  in  health  in  June,  1878,  and  is  now 
(March,  1879)  in  Florida,  where  he  has  been  spending 
the  winter. 

COLLEGE  GRADUATES. 

Warner  has  been  more  noted  for  giving  her  sons 
and  daughters  a  good,  practical  education,  than  for 
sending  them  away  to  colleges  and  other  popular 
institutions  of  learning ;  hence  the  list  of  graduates 
is  not  large. 

John  Kelley,  who  is  spoken  of  elsewhere,  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  Warner  student  to  take  a  de- 
gree at  college.   He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in  1804. 

Hosea  Wheeler  graduated  in  1811  at  the  same  col- 
lege. He  became  a  Baptist  minister,  and  died  at 
Eastport,  Maine,  in  1823.  He  was  a  son  of  Daniel 
Wheeler,  who  came  from  Amesbury,  and  lived  at  the 
John  Reddington  place  on  Warner  river.  The  other 
sons  of  Daniel,  senior,  were  Daniel,  Abijah,  Gideon, 
and  Leonard. 

John  Morrill  graduated  at  Amherst  college,  and  be- 
came a  missionary  in  the  West  His  family  is  un- 
known to  the  writer. 

Asa  Putney,  who  was  a  son  of  Asa,  senior,  grad- 


COLLEGE  GRADUATES.  465 

uated  at  Amherst  not  far  from  the  year  1820.  He 
became  a.  Congregational  minister,  and  preached  at 
Croydon,  and  in  Vermont 

Stephen  C.  Badger  graduated  at  Dartmouth  in 
1823.     [See  a  preceding  page.] 

Richard  Bean,  a  son  of  Nathaniel,  senior,  received 
a  "liberal  education ;"  but,  owing  to  some  difficulty 
with  the  authority  of  the  college,  he  did  not  take  his 
degree.  He  studied  law,  but  had  hardly  completed 
his  studies  when  he  died. 

Samuel  Morrill,  a  brother  to  William  K.,  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  in  1835,  and  died  while  a  member  of 
the  Bangor  Seminary. 

James  Madison  Putney,  a  son  of  Amos,  and  grand- 
son  of  Asa,  senior,  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  taught 
an  academy  in  Kentucky,  and  died  there  about  the 
year  1840. 

Henry  B.  Chase,  son  of  Hon.  Henry  B.,  graduated 
at  Dartmouth  in  1839.     [See  a  preceding  page.] 

John  George,  son  of  Major  Daniel,  graduated  at 
Dartmouthyjiot  far  from  1845,  and  died  shortly  after 
his  graduation,     i^c^ 3^ 

Ezekiel  Dimond  graduated  at  Middlebury,  Vt,  be- 
came Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  Agricultural  col- 
lege at  Hanover,  and  died,  a  young  man,  in  1872. 
His  grandfather,  Ezekiel,  settled  in  the  Mirick  district; 
his  father,  Ezekiel,  lived  at  the  Ballard  place,  where 
Prof  Dimond  was  bom. 


466  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

Edmund  S.  Hoyt,  son  of  Major  Stephen  K-,  grad- 
uated at  Dartmouth.  He  is  now  in  the  book  trade, 
and  is  a  publisher  of  books  at  Portland,  Maine. 

John  C.  Ager,  son  of  Uriah,  graduated  at  New 
Church  college,  Urbana,  Ohio,  in  1858.     [See  Chapter 

xxxin.] 

Charles  Alfred  Pillsbury,  son  of  George  A.,  was 
born  at  Warner,  Oct.  3,  1842.  He  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  college  in  the  class  of  1863.  Soon  after 
receiving  his  diploma  he  went  into  a  wholesale  provi- 
sion house  at  Montreal,  with  John  K  Robertson.  He 
remained  there  some  four  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Minneapolis,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  flour.  The  well  known  firm  of  C.  A.  Pillsbury  & 
Co.  consists  of  himself,  George  A.,  John  S.,  and  Fred 
C.  Charles  A.  Pillsbury  has  been  elected  a  state  sen- 
ator in  his  district  for  six  vears. 

Henry  L,  a  son  of  Barnard  Colby,  commenced  his 
studies  at  Dartmouth,  remained  two  years,  and  then 
entered  the  army.  He  died  shortly  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 

George  L,  son  of  N.  G.  Ordway,  graduated  at  the 
Rochester  (New  York)  University  in  1875.  [See  a 
preceding  page.] 

George  F.,  son  of  Stephen  S.  Bean,  is  about  to 
graduate  at  Brown  University,  Providence,  R  I. 


EDUCATIONAL.  467 


HIGH  SCHOOL  TEACHERS. 

The  first  term  of  the  Warner  high  school  com- 
menced Dec.  4, 1871. 

E.  C.  Cole,  A.  B.,  a  native  of  Bethel,  Maine,  and  a 
graduate  of  Bowdoin  college,  was  principal  of  this 
school  during  the  first  three  years  of  its  existence. 

N.  N.  Atkinson,  A.  B.,  of  Minot,  Maine,  a  graduate 
of  Colbj'^  University  (Waterville),  was  principal  dur- 
ing the  next  two  years. 

William  Goldthwaite,  A.  B.,  a  graduate  of  Colby 
Univei-sity,  succeeded  Mr.  Atkinson,  and  is  yet  the 
principal  of  the  school. 

Miss  Helen  E.  Gilbert,  a  graduate  of  Concord  high 
school,  was  assistant  teacher  one  year. 

Miss  Annie  B.  Westgate,  of  Plainfield,  a  graduate 
of  New  London  Scientific  Institution,  was  assistant 
one  year. 

Miss  M.  F.  Reddington,  daughter  of  Oliver  P.  Red- 
dington,  and  a  graduate  of  Warner  high  school^  was 
assistant  during  the*  third  year. 

Stephen  S.  Bean,  of  Warner,  was  assistant  two 
years. 

Miss  Alice  P.  Goodwin,  of  Franklin,  was  assistant 
one  year. 

Miss  Emma  E.  Phelps,  was  assistant  two  terms,  and 
Miss  Annie  M.  Hill,  of  Concord,  was  assistant  one 
term. 


468  mSTOBY  OF  WABNEB. 

Miss  M.  F.  Reddington,  having  been  absent  from 
the  school  two  years,  and  having  graduated  during 
that  time  at  the  New  London  Scientific  Institution, 
returned,  and  accepted  the  position  of  first  assistant, 
which  she  now  fills. 

DEBATING  CLUBS. 

At  various  times  between  1835  and  1850,  debating 
dubs  existed  and  flourished  in  Warner.  In  the  years 
1846  and  1847,  in  particular,  a  deep  interest  was  felt 
in  these  clubs.  Walker's  hall  (the  only  hall  then  in 
town)  was  crowded  to  overflowing  on  the  evening  of 
each  debate.  In  those  years,  instead  of  excluding  all 
religious  and  political  questions, — all  questions  of  an 
exciting  nature, — such,  only,  were  the  questions  se- 
lected. Many  of  the  debates  were  able  and  instruc- 
tive, and  the  audiences  were  highly  entertained. 
Though  their  zeal  ran  high,  the  disputants  generally 
maintained  a  respectful  and  manly  bearing.  The 
names  of  those  who  participated  in  these  debates  are 
given  from  recollection,  and  are  as  follows : 

Levi'  Bartlett,  B.  R  Harriman,  Stephen  K.  Hoyt, 
John  Colby  (the  drover),  H.  H.  Harriman,  Clark  Sa^ 
gent,  Geo.  A.  Pillsbury,  Dr.  C.  A.  Savory,  John  Foster, 
B.  F.  Harriman,  John  Currier,  Jr.,  Rev.  R  W.  Fuller, 
Levi  Flanders,  Wm.  K.  Bartlett,  Jesse  D.  Currier,  S. 
S.  Bean,  W.  Harriman. 


.Je.cn-  /ia^-^!~6^CC~r- 


Hclioiype  PHnllni  Co.,  & 


LEVI  BARTLETT.  469 

LITERARY  MEN    AND  WOMEN. 

Levi  Bartlett  was  bom  April  29, 1793.  His  grand- 
father, Simeon  Bartlett,  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
Warner.  His  father,  the  late  Joseph  Bartlett,  Esq., 
was  a  country  trader  at  the  Lower  Village  for  over 
thirty  years,  and  was  quite  extensively  engaged  in 
farming,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  potash.  ^  Squire 
Bartlett "  had  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  Levi  be- 
ing the  second  child.  When  about  12  years  of  age 
he  was  employed  in  his  father's  store  for  a  couple  of 
years.  When  he  was  14  years  of  age  his  father  placed 
him  in  the  bookstore  of  Thomas  &  Whipple,  at  New- 
buryport  Like  many  another  country  lad  among 
strangers,  he  was  woefully  homesick,  and  was  allowed 
to  return,  at  the  end  af  a  few  months,  to  the  paternal 
roof  At  the  age  of  16  he  was  sent  to  Salem,  Mass^ 
to  the  West  India  goods  store  of  his  uncle,  James 

^^^  • 

Thomdike;  but  the  embargo  and  non-intercourse  with 
foreign  nations  caused  a  stagnation  in  business.  Mer- 
chants failed  on  every  hand,  and  young  Bartlett  be- 
came utterly  disgusted  with  "store-keeping.**  He 
wrote  to  his  father  that  "  tanners  were  the  lords  of 
creation,"  and  that  no  business  but  tanning  appeared 
to  be  prosperous  in  and  about  Salem.  In  the  summer 
of  1810  he  left  Salem  and  returned  home.  His  father 
built  a  tannery  opposite  his  house,  in  which  the  young 
man  was  placed,  with  experienced  workmen,  and  in 


470  HTSTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

due  time  he  took  charge  of  the  business.  He  contin- 
ued in  it,  with  varying  success,  till  1838,  when,  yield- 
ing to  an  ever-increasing  desire  to  become  a  tiller  of 
the  soil,  he  sold  out  his  tanneries  and  began  the  rec- 
lamation of  an  exhausted  farm,  which  came,  at  that 
time,  into  his  possession.  The  farm  was  situated  near- 
ly a  mile  from  his  home,  and  he  and  his  men  trav- 
elled daily  the  hilly  road  between  the  two  places 
till  his  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1843,  when 
he  built  upon  and  removed  to  the  farm,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided. 

Mr.  Bartlett,  in  1844,  was  invited  to  become  a  reg- 
ular  contributor  to  the  New  England  Farmer,  and 
from  that  date,  till  long  afler  he  had  passed  his 
eightieth  year,  he  wrote  regularly  for  various  agri- 
cultural periodicals.  He  was  assistant  editor  of  the 
Journal  of  Agriculture,  at  Boston,  during  its  brief  life. 
He  wrote  constantly  for  the  Country  Gentleman^  and 
occasionally  for  the  Farmer's  Monthly  Visitor^  the 
Statesmanj  and  the  Manchester  Mirror.  He  was  as- 
sociate editor  of  the  Boston  Cultivator  in  1848  and 
1849.  His  writings  have  been  published  in  the  peri- 
odicals of  various  states  of  the  Union,  and  have  some- 
times been  copied  into  Englibh  papers.  When  an 
** Advisory  Board  of  Agriculture  of  the  Patent  Office  " 
met  at  Washington  in  1859,  Mr.  Bartlett  was  selected 
by  a  committee  from  that  board  to  represent  New 
Hampshire,  and  he  was  present  during  its  session  of 


LEVI  BABTLETT.  471 

eight  days.  A  year  later,  when  a  series  of  important 
lectures  on  scientific  agriculture  was  to  be  given  at 
Yale  college,  Hon,  Henry  F.  French,  then  of  Exeter, 
and  now  the  assistant  secretary  of  the  treasury  at 
Washington,  and  Mr.  Bartlett,  were  invited  from  this 
state  to  be  present 

Afler  he  had  passed  his  eightieth  birthday,  he  be- 
gan and  completed  a  ^  Genealogical  and  Historical 
Account  of  the  Bartlett  Family,"  which  has  been 
largely  distributed.  He  claims  one  Adam  Bartelot^ 
who  came  over  to  England  from  Normandy  with  the 
Conquerer,  and  settled  in  Sussex,  as  the  founder  of 
the  family.  The  preparation  of  this  work  cost  a  vast 
amount  of  patient  research  and  labor. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bartlett  was  a  Federalist^  ^'dyed 
in  the  wool,"  and  consequently  was  not  liable  to  be 
troubled  with  office  in  a  town  that  was  for  many 
years  the  very  **  keystone  of  the  Democratic  arch  of 
New  Hampshire."  He,  however,  held  the  office  of 
post-master  for  the  five  years  immediately  preceding 
Gen.  Jackson's  term  at  the  White  House. 

Mr.  Bartlett  attended  the  district  school  at  the 
Lower  Village,  and  was  a  student  a  term  or  two  at 
the  academy  in  Amesbury,  Mass.,  but  this  somewhat 
meagre  training  was  supplemented  by  constant^  va- 
ried, and  extensive  reading,  and  particularly  by  the 
study  of  geology  and  chemistry  as  connected  with 
agriculture.    He  acquired  a  great  amount  of  useful 


472  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

information,  and  he  is  always  ready  to  commanicate 
from  his  store  of  facts  and  anecdotes,  to  any  with 
whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

June  1,  1815;  Mr.  Bartlett  married  Hannah,  only 
daughter  of  Rev.  Wm.  Kelley,  the  first  minister  of 
Warner.  They  had  two  children,  who  lived  to  ma- 
ture age, — viz.,  William  K.,  bom  July  21,  1816,  and 
Lavina  K.,  born  March  14,  1818.  William  K.  Bartlett 
married  Harriet  N.,  daughter  of  Nathan  Walker.  In 
his  early  days  he  was  considerably  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, and  for  fifteen  years  was  clerk  in  the  New  Toik 
k  Erie  Railroad  Co.,  most  of  the  time  residing  at  Port 
Jervis.  He  resigned  this  position  in  1868  on  account 
of  failing  health,  and  he  now  resides  at  East  Concord, 
occupj'ing  his  time  in  tilling  the  soil,  and  in  corre- 
sponding for  the  papers.  Lavina  K.,  the  daughter, 
married  Dr.  Dana  D.  Davis  [see  a  preceding  page]. 
Her  only  son  and  child,  Wm.  D.  Davis,  is  a  clerk  in 
the  custom  house  at  New  York  city. 

Dr.  Moses  Long  was  a  man  of  education  and  cul- 
ture. He  had  decided  literary  tastes,  and  he  wrote  and 
published  several  valuable  articles.  One  of  these,  which 
he  called  ^  Historical  Sketches  of  Warner,"  he  pub- 
lished in  pamphlet  form  about  the  year  1830.  Speak- 
ing of  the  productions  of  Warner  in  these  sketches, 
the  Doctor  says,  ^^  melons,  squashes,  and  pompiom 
abound."  Nobody  except  the  author  appeared  to 
know  what  ''pompions"  were.  Stephen  George  (a  very 


FRED  MYRON  COLBT.  478 

good  man,  but  one  who  could  be  a  little  rough  when 
he  made  an  effort),  in  reading  these  sketches,  came  to 
the  sentence  quoted  above,  and  halted.    ^  What  are 
pompions  f"  he  presently  said  to  his  family.   **  I  Ve 
been  in  town  twenty  years,  and  I  Ve  never  seen  a 
pompion  yet :  bring  me  the  dictionary/'    The  diction- 
ary was  brought,  but  there  was  not  much  in  it  (per- 
haps it  was  Walker's  first  edition).    The  mysterious 
word  was  not  there.     George  sprang  from  his  chair,  • 
seized  his  hat,  and  started  for  the  doctor,  who  lived 
a  mile  away.     It  was  now  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
Arriving  at  the  doctor's  house,  he  rapped  sharp  and 
loud   on  the  front  door,  waited  a  minute,  and  gave 
another  succession  of  startling  raps,  reminding  one  of 
Ethan  Allen.     The  doctor,  supposing  there  was  an 
urgent  demand  for  his  professional  services,  sprang 
from  his  bed,  pulled  a  garment  or  two  partly  on,  and 
made  for  the  door,  on  opening  which  he  was  saluted 
by  his  well  known  townsman  thus:  ^  What  in  h — 
are  pompions  f'' 

Fred  Myron  Colby  was  bom  in  Warner,  Dec.  9, 
1849.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at  the  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  at  Concord.  He  is  not  college- 
learned,  but  self-learned.  He  has  a  knowledge  of  two 
languages  besides  his  own,  and  a  wide  and  varied 
reading,  being  able  to  quote  from  the  old  poets  and 
chroniclers  for  days.  His  early  life  was  passed  on  a 
farm,  and  subsequently  he  was  a  school  teacher.    He 


474  HI9T0RT  OF  WARNER.  • 

began  to  write  for  the  press  in  1872,  when  a  novel 
of  his  was  published  by  R  M.  DeWitt,  of  New  York. 
This  successful  venture  was  followed  by  other  attempts 
in  the  same  channel.  Two  of  his  novels,  ^  The  Pio- 
neers of  Kentucky,"  and  ^  Rolf  the  Cavalier,"  sold  to 
the  extent  of  60,000  copies. 

Besides  these,  Mr.  Colby  has  written  several  serials 
for  the  Fireside  Companion,  and  other  story  papers. 
He  has  been  a  frequent  contributor  to  Potter^s  Maga- 
zine and  the  National  Repository  ;  and  articles  of  his 
have  appeared  in  the  Home  Guest,  Cultivator^  Cottage 
Hearth,  Washington  Chronicle,  New  York  Uvening  Postj 
and  other  well  known  publications.  The  press  of 
New  Hampshire  has  also  been  a  repository  of  many 
of  his  sketches.  The  winter  of  1875  he  spent  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  as  the  correspondent  of  Boston 
and  New  Hampshire  papers. 

Mr.  Colby  is  at  present  engaged  upon  a  work  to  be 
entitled  "  The  Historic  Homes  of  New  Hampshire," 
for  which  he  has  been  gathering  material  during  the 
past  year.  Though  bis  highest  aim  is  to  be  a  student 
rather  than  an  author,  he  must  certainly  be  ranked 
as  one  of  our  most  talented  young  writers,  and  one 
destined  to  make  his  mark  in  the  annals  of  letters. 

Such  approved  writers  as  John  A.  Harris,  William 

•  

K.  Bartkttj  and  Albert  P,  Davis  should  not  be  over- 
looked. Nor  should  Miss  3Ianj  Rogers  be  forgotten, 
who,   though   not   known    to   fame,   charmed    many 


PEACE  FOREVERMORE.  475 

hearts  and  lifted  the  cloud  from  many  a  brow  by  her 
sweet  and  soothing  poetic  effusions. 

3Iiss  Hannah  F.  MorrUlj  daughter  of  John  Morrill, 
of  Burnt  Hill,  under  the  signature  of  "Mrs.  H.  F.  M. 
Brown,"  wrote  much  and  vigorouslj^,  some  twenty-five 
or  thirty  years  ago,  for  the  papers  of  Ohio,  in  which 
state  she  lived. 

Miss  Amanda  B.  Harris  is  a  constant  contributor 
to  the  Literary  Worlds  Tht  Congregaiionalist,  and  the 
New  York  Evening  Post,  the  high  character  of  which 
publications  is  well  known.  She  has  written,  also,  for 
Appleton's  Journal,  and  for  various  other  periodicals. 

Miss  Hannah  Maria  George,  daughter  of  Gilman  C. 
George,  has  a  literary  gift,  and  is  a  writer  of  good 
repute  in  her  sphere. 

The  individual  who  was  conducting  the  Weekly 
Union  at  Manchester  during  the  first  stages  of  the 
war,  received  from  an  anonymous  hand  and  published 
the  following  beautiful  poem.  Let  the  author  (whatr 
ever  his  name)  be  enrolled  among  the  literary  char- 
acters of  the  to.wn. 

Peace  Forevermore. 

When  shall  the  sound  of  cannon's  roar,  and  rattle 

Of  shot  and  shell,  that  fall  like  rain, 
No  more  be  heard,  and  the  smoke  of  battle 

Be  seen  no  more  upon  the  plain  ? 

When  will  the  moon  rise  calmly  o'er  the  field  of  gloij, 

Tlie  stars  their  pure,  soft  radiance  shed 
O'er  blood-stiined  soil,  where  lie,  in  vestments  gory, 

The  woanded  ones, — ^the  dying,  and  the  dead  ? 
81 


476  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

When  will  the  stars  and  stripes, — Flag  of  the  Free, — 
Now  trailing  in  the  dast  of  civil  war  and  crime. 

Be  reared  again  upon  the  staff  of  Liberty, 
To  float  triumphant  through  every  age  of  time  ? 

O'er  our  fair  land,  ^'  in  majesty  stalks  Sorrow ;" 

Pale,  ghastly  Death  rides  on  before ; 
And  millions  cry.  Oh !  when  will  dawn  the  morrow 

Of  Unity  and  Peace  forevermore  ? 

KW.  C. 

Warner,  June  25, 1861. 


/ 


OHAPTEE  XXXII. 

MILITART  HISTORY  OP  WARNER — THE  REVOLUTION  —  ALAIQI 
AT  COOS — ^WAR  WITH  FRANCE  THREATENED — WAR  OP  1812 — 
THE  REBELLION — STATE  MILITIA. 

WARNER  was  not  settled  till  after  the  French 
wars  ended,  but  she  had  a  small  population 
when  the  Revolution  broke  upon  the  country,  and  the 
patriotism  she  displayed  was  not  inferior  to  that  ot 
other  towns.  Warner  men  were  at  Bunker  Hill  with 
Stark,  and  at  Bennington  under  the  same  commander. 
They  were  at  Saratoga  and  West  Point  They  were 
in  Rhode  Island  and  in  Canada.  They  were  at  Mon- 
mouth and  Morristown.  In  fact,  they  were  in  most 
of  the  battles  of  the  Revolution  east  of  the  Susque- 
hanna. Some  of  those  men  returned ;  others  were 
killed ;  and  still  others  were  reported  "  missing." 

Not  among  the  suffering  wounded; 

Not  among  the  peaceful  dead ; 
Not  among  the  prisoners.    JUissinff — 

That  was  all  the  message  said. 

Ten  Warner  men,  on  the  alarm  at  Lexington,  in 
April,  1775,  seized  such,  arms  as  they  had,  and  hast- 
ened  to  the  scene  of  action.  This  was  fourteen 
months   prior   to   the   Declaration  of  Independence. 


478  HI8T0RT  OF  WARNER. 

Before  their  arrival  at  Cambridge  the  British  had 
been  driven  back  in  disorder  and  defeat.  It  was  not 
certain  when  they  would  attempt  another  advance 
from  Boston.  It  was  not  certain  that  they  ever  would. 
All  America  was  aroused,  and  a  volunteer  army  of 
thirtv  thousand  men  had  assembled  in  and  about 
Cambridge  a  few  days  after  the  "  Concord  fight" 
Twenty  thousand  of  these  (most  of  whom  were  poorly 
prepared  for  the  service)  were  sent  home  by  the 
American  generals.  Probably  most,  perhaps  all,  of 
these  ten  Warner  men  returned  to  their  homes.  As 
they  were  not  organized  into  any  regiment  or  com- 
pany, their  names  are  borne  upon  no  roll.  The  state 
allowed  Warner  for  this  service  as  follows : 

£       8. 

Lexington,  ten  men — 1775 — ^22     10 

This  was  about  §7.50  to  a  man;  from  which  it  ap- 
pears that  the  service  must  have  been  of  short  dura- 
tion. The  presumption  is,  however^  that  a  part  or  all 
of  these  men  subsequently  entered  the  service  at  the 
call  of  the  country  for  soldiers.  On  the  17th  day  of 
the  June  following  ^  the  alarm  at  Lexington,"  War- 
ner was  well  represented  at  Bunker  Hill,  as  was  New 
Hampshire  generally.  It  is  proper  to  state  here  that 
the  American  army  consisted  of  about  1500  men  in 
that  battle,  and  that  one  thousand  of  these  were  New 
Hampshire  soldiers ! 


WARNER  PATRIOTS.  479 

THE  ROLL. 

The  following  is  a  list,  as  accurate  as  it  can  be 
made,  of  Warner  men  who  served  at  different  times, 
and  for  different  periods,  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 

Hubbard  Carter,  live<l  on  Tor}-  Hill;  promoted  to  be  ensign. 
See  a  preceding  page. 

Amos  Flood :  at  Bunker  Hill,  in  Marcy's  company,  Reid's  regi- 
ment ;  lost  a  gun  in  battle ;  state  allowed  him  for  it  1£ 
8s. ;  was  the  father  of  the  late  Daniel  Flood,  house-car- 
penter, and  of  Amos,  Jr. 

Philip  Rowell,  the  ancestor  of  George  S.  and  Charles  P.  Rowell. 

Aquila  Davis.     See  preceding  pages. 

Isaac  Waldron,  lived  on  Gould  road. 

WiUiam  Britton,  never  returned. 

John  Pluraer,  enlisted  at  Henniker,  under  Capt.  Blood. 

William  Lowell. 

Isaac  Lowell,  in  Capt.  Ebenezer  Webster's  company. 

Barnard  Lowell,  a  sea-captain  after  the  Revolution ;  died  at  sea. 

Elliot  Colby,  ser^'ed  in  Col.  Stickney*s  regiment.  See  a  pre- 
ceding page. 

Stephen  Colby,  son  of  Elliot.     See  a  preceding  page. 

Ephraim  Hoyt,  brother  to  Jacob,  the  first  hotel-keeper. 

Nathan  Martin,  served  one  year. 

Simeon  Ward,         "        "      " 

Ebenezer  Eastman.     See  a  preceding  page. 

James  Palmer. 

John  Palmer. 

Israel  Rand. 

Richard  Bartlett.     See  a  preceding  page. 

Joseph  Bartlett.  "  " 

Jonathan  Roby,  at  Bunker  Hill. 

Francis  Davis,  at  Bunker  Hill;  son  of  Capt.  Francis'  After 
the  war,  removed  to  Vermont,  and  died  there. 

Wells  Davis,  another  son  of  Capt.  Francis ;  at  Bunker  Hill ;  lived 
at  North  village. 

Ichabod  Twilight,  a  colored  man ;  never  returned. 

Paskey  Pressey.     See  a  preceding  page. 

David  Gilmore.         "  *'  " 

Daniel  Young.  «  "  « 

Robert  Gould.  "  "  ** 

Abner  Watkins.       "  "  « 

Reuben  Kimball.      "  "  " 


480  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

Isaac  Walker.     See  a  preceding  page. 

Ezekiel  Goodwin.     *•'  "  " 

Nathaniel  Trumbull.  "  " 

Jacob.  Tucker.  "  "  « 

Abner  Chase.  "  "  « 

Isaac  Dal  ton.  "  "  " 

James  Presaey,  a  son  of  Paskey. 

Stephen  Richanbon,  enlisted  at  the  age  of  18. 

John  Davisy  lived  across  the  narrow  road  from  the  old  Deacon 

Bailey  school-house ;  was  the  father  of  John,  William,  and 

Amos. 
Joseph  Burke,  lived  where  Isaac  C.  Flanders  now  resides,  at  the 

Lower  Village ;  was  in  the  War  of  1812,  also  in  state 

militia. 

To  this  list  may  be  added  the  names  of  a  number 
of  Revolutionary  patriots  who  entered  the  service 
from  other  places,  but  who  settled  in  Warner  shortly 
after  the  war,  and  ended  their  days  here. 

Asa  Putnev  was  one  of  these.  He  went  into  the 
service  from  Hopkinton ;  had  an  arm  shattered  by  a 
musket-ball  at  Bennington ;  settled  in  school  district 
No.  8.  The  following  record  appears  in  the  archives 
of  the  state  : 

Paid  Sergeant  Asa  Putney,  of  Gen.  Stark's  Brigade,  wounded 
at  Bennington  Aug.  10,  1777,  for  his  half  pay  from  Sept.  24, 
1777,  to  Sept.  24,  1779,  24  months,  at  30s.,  £36. 

Joseph  Burnap  served  in  the  army ;  after  the  war 
he  settled  in  Warner,  in  school  district  No.  8,  as  now 
numbered.  He  came  from  Reading,  Mass.  The  farm 
on  which  he  was  reared  was  light  and  sandy,  and  he 
determined,  on  changing  his  residence,  to  shun  "  mul- 
len-stalk  "  land.  He  ran  into  the  other  extreme,  and 
settled  on  a  very  hard,  rocky  soil.     But  he  was  Indus- 


,    ALARM  AT  COOS.  481 

trious,  frugal,  and  satisfied.  He  had  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  all  of  whom  have  passed  on,  except  the 
widow  of  David  E.  Harriman.  She  still  survives, 
though  rising  80  years  of  age. 

Charles  Barnard,  another  Revolutionary  soldier, 
came  after  the  war,  and  settled  on  Burnt  Hill.  See 
another  page.   . 

William  H.  Ballard  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Kevolution. 
Joseph  B.  Hoyt     See  another  page. 
Stephen  Badger.     See  another  page. 
Anthony  CJark  was  a  waiter  to  Gen.  Washington. 
Dr.  John  Hall  served  several  years;  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker 
HilL 

ALARM  AT  COOS. 

There  was  no  Coiis  county  in  the  days  of  the  Rev- 
olution,  and  "  Coos  "  meant  the  northern  part  of  the 
state,  above  Hanover  and  Plymouth.  Serious  alarm 
was  excited  there  in  October,  1780,  by  the  irruption 
into  the  eastern  part  of  Vermont  of  a  large  body  of 
Canadian  Indians,  led  by  one  Horton,  a  British  officer. 
With  savage  fury  they  plundered  and  burnt  the  town 
of  Royal  ton,  Vt,  and  killed  and  captured  as  many  of 
the  people  as  fell  in  their  way.  New  Hampshire 
raised  a  volunteer  force  to  hasten  to  the  threatened 
locality,  and  Warner  furnished  fifteen  men  for  the  ex- 
pedition. The  invading  army  took  the  alarm,  and 
beat  a  hasty  retreat 

Most  of  the  men  of  Warner  who  were  subject  to 
military  duty  had  gone  into  the  army  before  this 


482  HISTORY  OF  WABNEB. 

alarm  at  Coos  occurred,  and  the  fifteen  who  sprang  to 
arms  to  repel  the  threatened  incursion  were  mostly  old 
men  and  boys  under  age.   They  were  never  organized 
into  any  company,  and  hence  no  rolls  of  these  men 
are  in  existence.     The  state  allowed  them  ^12  17s., 
or  ^2.66  each.    Their  service  was  short,  consisting  of 
a  march  of  fifteen  miles  out  and  back.     The  name  of 
one  of  these  patriots  has  come  down  to  us  by  tradi- 
tion.    This  is  Jacob  Hoyt,  inn-keeper,  and  dealer  in 
ashes,  at  the  Carter  place.     The  alarm  came  in  the 
forenoon  of  the  day,  and  the  men  gathered  up  such 
equipments  as  they  could  find,  and  hurried  off  before 
noon.     Hoyt  had  n't  a  spear  of  hair  on  his  head,  but 
he  had  a  great  shaggy  wig,  which  he  wore  on  select 
occasions.   He  hunted  up  an  old  knapsack,  into  which 
he  threw  his  wig,  a  half  loaf  of  bread,  and  a  pound  or 
two  of  cheese.     They  marched  up  over  "  Kimball's 
Hill,"  in  Sutton,  reached  the  "  Hominy  Pot,"  in  New 
London,  that  niglit,  and  went  into  camp.    They  made 
their  suppers  of  such  as  they  had,  and  went  to  sleep. 
They  awoke  in  the  morning  and  took  breakfast    Our 
hero  then  pulled  the  wig  out  of  the  bottom  of  the 
knapsack,  and,   brushing   the   crumbs  of  bread  and 
cheese  out  of  the  hair,  adjusted  it  to  his  bald  head, 
and   complacently  remarked, — "  I  '11  let   the   British 
know  if  they  kill  mcj  they  '11  kill  somebody." 

But  the  sacrifice  was  not  demanded.    The  men  had 
gone  but  a  mile  in  the  morning,  when  they  were  met 


WAR  OP  1812.  483 

bv  a  horseman,  who  came  with  orders  for  them  to 
return  to  their  homes. 

WAB.  WITH  FRANCE  THREATENED. 

In  1799  war  between  the  United  States  and  France 
was  threatened,  and,  as  a  precautionary  measure,  the 
authorities  filled  up  the  ranks  of  the  American  army. 
Enlistments  were  brisk  for  a  time,  and  a  small  num- 
ber of  Warner  men  entered  the  service. 

Jacob  Davis,  a  son  of  Wells,  and  grandson  of  Fran- 
cis, was  one  of  these.  He  was  stationed,  a  number  of 
years,  at  one  of  the  forts  in  Boston  harbor.  He  was 
afterwards  a  captain  in  the  state  militia.  He  had  two 
sons, — Dr.  Daniel  and  Henry, — and  one  daughter,  the 
wnfe  of  Daniel  Bean,  Jr.  He  died  at  Waterloo,  a  few 
years  since,  at  a  great  age. 

Winthrop  D.  Ager  was  another  of  these  soldiers. 
He  was  in  the  service  twenty  years ;  was  a  sergeant- 
major  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  He  died  at  East- 
port,  Me.,  in  1821. 

Ammi  Peabody,  a  son  of  Jedediah,  was  another, 
and  Israel  Collins  another.  There  may  have  been 
others  still,  whose  names  cannot  be  ascertained. 

AVAR  OP  1812. 

ROLL   OF    CAPT.   JOSEPH   SMITH's   COMPAXY. 

Joseph  Smith,  captain,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year. 
Daniel  George,  1st  lieut.,  "  " 

James  Bean,  2d  lieut,  "  ** 

Bichard  Pattee,  ensign,  ^  ^ 


484  HISTORY  OP  WARMER. 

Stephen  George,  sergeant,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  jear. 

Philip  Osgood,  M  u  « 

David  Straw,  "  "  ** 

Daniel  Flood,  «  "  ^ 

Benjamin  Evans,  corporal,  "  " 

Daniel  Bean,  "  "  '' 

John  Barnard,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  ISIJ^  for  one  year.     Promoted  to 

coq)oral  April  1,  1813. 
Esekiel  Bioby,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.     Promoted  to 

corporal  "May  1,  1813.  ♦ 

Samuel  Roby,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.     Promoted  to 

corporal  May  12,  1813. 
Jeremiah  Silver,  musician,  enlisted  Feb.  1, 1813,  for  one  year. 

Absent  sick. 
William  Barnard  Walker,  musician,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813|  for 

one  year. 

Privates. 

David  Bagley,  enlisted  •  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year. 

Eobert  Bailey,                          "  " 

Timothy  B.  Chase,                   "  « 

Timothy  Chandler,                   "  " 

Moses  F.  Colby,                       «  " 

Charles  Colby,                           "  "  ' 

Phineas  Danforth,                    "  " 

ZadocDow,                               "  " 

John  Davis,                                "  " 

Jesse  Davis,                              "  ^ 

Joshua  Elliot,                           "  « 

Stephen  G.  Eaton,                    "  " 

Moses  C.  Eaton,                        "  '         u 

Enoch  French,                           "  " 

Amos  Flood,                  •          "  " 

A£ariner  Flood,                          "  " 

Thomas  W.  Freelove,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.  Desert- 
ed April  3,  1813. 

David  Hardy,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year. 

James  Hastings,                   *^  " 

Richard  Hunt,                      "  « 

Isaiah  Hoyt,                          "  " 

David  E.  Harriman,              "  " 

Ezra  Jewell,                           "  " 

Winthrop  ^I.  Lowell,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.  Absent 
sick. 

William  Little,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  fur  one  year. 

James  Little,                         "  "  * 


WAR  OF  1812.  48') 

Joseph  Maxfield,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year. 

John  Morrill,  "  « 

Nehemiah  Osgood,  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.     Promoted  April 

3,  1813,  to  fife-major. 
£ben  Stevens,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year* 
Roval  W.  Stanley,  "  " 

Samuel  G.  Titcomb,  "  " 

Abraham  Waldron,  "  " 

Plumer  Wheeler,  "  " 

Samuel  Wheeler,  "  " 

James  Wheeler,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.     Died  May 

3, 1813. 
Ebenezer  Woodbury,  enlisted  Feb.  1, 1813,  for  one  year.     Died 

April  10,  1813. 
Humphrey  Bursiel,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year. 
John  Smith,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year.     Deserted  April 

12,  1813. 
Ambrose  C.  Sargent,  enlisted  Feb.  1,  1813,  for  one  year. 
Jonathan  Stevens,  "  " 

CAPT.  JONATHAN  BEAN's  COMPANY. 

Gapt.  Bean  was  of  Salisbury.     Warner  had  fifteen  men  in 
his  command. 

Nicholas  Evans,  sergeant,  enlisted  Sept.  11, 1814,  for  ninety  days. 

Joel  B.  Wheeler,  corporal, 

Isaiah  S.  Colby,  private. 

Mariner  Eastman, 

Joseph  Goodwin, 

Seth  Goodwin, 

John  Goodwin, 

Nathaniel  Hunt, 

David  H.  Kelley, 

James  G.  Ring, 

James  H.  Stevens, 

Stephen  Sargent, 

Thomas  Thurber, 

Abner  S.  Colby,  enlisted  Sept.  11,  1814,  for  ninety  days.     Died 

Oct.  31,  1814. 
Jacob  Harvey,  enlisted  Sept.  11,  1814,  for  ninety  days.     Died 

Oct.  31, 1814. 

IN   OAPT.  SILA*S   call's   COMPANY. 

Eeuben  Clough,  ensign,  enlisted  Oct.  2,  1814,  for  forty  days. 
Harden  Seavey,  sergeant,  "  " 


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486  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Simeon  Bartlett,  private,  enlisted  Oct.  2,  1814,  for  40  days. 
Jacob  Colby,  "  "  " 

John  Hall,  "  "  " 

Christopher  Sargent,  musician,  "  *' 

IN   CAPT.   JOSIAH   BELLOWS'S   COMPACT. 

David  Harvey,  private,  enlisted  Sept.  26, 1814,  for  sixty  days. 
Samuel  Page,  "  "  « 

Benj.  Spalding,       "  "  **  • 

Daniel  Wheeler,      "  •'  ** 

Six  other  Warner  men  served  in  four  or  five  dif- 
ferent companies.     The  following;  are  their  names : 

Daniel  Pillsburv,  corporal,  Nathaniel  Jones,  private, 

Obadiah  Whittaker,  corporal,       Benj.  C.  Waldron,  private, 
Dudley  Trumbull,  private,  Joseph  Burke,  private. 

THE  REBELLION. 

New  Hampshire  raised  34,500  men  for  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion.  She  raised  seventeen  regiments  of 
infantry,  a  force  of  cavalry,  of  heavy  artillery,  and  of 
sharpshooters.  Warner  had  men  in  many  of  these 
organizations.  The  whole  number  furnished  by  the 
town  was  200. 

Citizens  of  Warner,  124 

Kecruited  abroad,  76 


200 


FIRST   REGIMEXT  (THREE  MOXTHS). 

J.  Frank  Osgood,  mustered  May  2,  '01 ;  discharged  Aug.  9,  '61. 

Otis  S.  Osgood,  ''  " 

Daniel  Stevens,  "  « 

Henry  Wi.cc.q:in,  *•  " 

Henry  E.  IJaJgor,  **  " 

Jubal  Eaton.  •*  " 

John  B.  Kand,  '^  " 


THE  REBELLION.  487 


\ 


SECOKD    RECilMEXT  (THREE   YEARs). 

Harrison  Robertson,  mustered  June  3,  18G1 :  discharged  for  dis- 
ability, Aug.  2,  1801. 

Abner  F.  Harvev,  mustered  June  1,  1861 ;  died  of  disease  Feb. 
13,  1863/ 

Leonard  E.  Barnard,  mustered  May  17, 1864 

FIFTH    REGIMENT. 

James  H.  Ferrin,  mustered  Oct.  12, 1861 ;  promoted  to  sergeant; 
transferred  to  invalid  corps  April  15,  1864. 

SEVENTH   REGIMENT. 

James  M.  Osgood,  mustered  Aug.   15,  1862 ;  discharged  for  dis- 
ability, April  15,  1864. 
(xeorge  Waldron,  mustered  Dec.  7,  1863. 

ELEVENTH    REGIMENT. 

Walter  Harriman,  Colonel,  commissioned  Au^.  20^  1862;  presi- 
dent of  Division  Court-martial  in  April  and  3Iay,  1863  j 
resigned  at  Milldale.  Miss.,  July  1,  1863;  recom missioned 
as  colonel  Aug.  15,  1S63 ;  in  command  of  brigade  at  vari- 
ous times ;  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
May  6,  1864 ;  held  at  ^lacon,  Ga..  and  at  Charleston,  S. 
C. ;  under  fire  of  our  own  guns  at  the  latter  place  53  days 
and  nights ;  exchanged  Aug.  4,  1864 ;  returned  to  reg^ 
ment  before  Lee's  army :  entered  Petersburg,  April  3, 
1865,  in  command  of  a  brigade  of  nine  regiments;  ap- 
pointed Brigadier-General  by  Brevet,  "for  gallant  conduct 
during  the  war,  to  date  from  March  13,  1865;"  mustered 
out,  June  4, 1865. 

Company  D. 

Leander  W.  Cogswell,  Captain  (a  Henniker  man,  but  closolj 
identified  with  company  D,  and  with  the  11th  regiment), 
commissioned  Sept.  4,  1862  ;  in  command  of  the  regiment 
at  London,  Ky.,  September,  1863  ;  continued  in  command 
through  the  "  Siege  of  Knoxville,''  and  till  January  15th  ; 
detailed  May  22,  1864,  as  Asst.  Ins.  Geu.  on  the  staff  of 
Gen.  S.  G.  Griffin ;  detailed  Dec.  1,  on  court-martial  ser- 
vice ;  commissioned  lieut.  colonel  of  the  regiment  Aug.  20, 
1864 ;  honorably  discharged  at  close  of  war. 


488  HISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

Charles  Davis,  Jr.,  first  sergeant,  mustered  Sept  2, 1862;  pro- 
moted to  second  lieutenant,  and  then  to  first ;  appointed 
captain  Sept.  20,  1SG4,  but  not  mustered  for  lack  of  men 
in  the  compnnj' ;  wounded  Sept.  30,  1SG4  ;  honorably  dis- 
charged as  first  lieutenant,  Jan.  20,  18Go. 

David  C.  Harrinian,  second  lieutenant,  commissioned  Sept  4, 
1862;  promoted' to  first  lieutenant  Feb.  27, 18G3  ;  resigned 
at  Milldjile,  Mis^s.,  July  1,  1863;  appointed  first  lieutenant 
in  the  18th  regiment  Oct.  6,  1864;  mustered  out  June  10, 
1865.     See  18th  reg. 

Henry  L.  Colby,  quartermaster-sergeant ;  .appointed  Aug.  2, 1862; 
mustered  out  June  4,  1865. 

Greorge  T.  Edmunds,  sergeant,  mustered  Aug.  29, 1862 ;  promoted 
to  first  sergeant ;  wounded  July  30,  1864 ;  dischargped  for 
disability  ^Eay  15,  18()5. 

(}eorge  E.  Davis,  sergeant ;  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  wounded 
July  12,  1863;  discharged  for  disability  Nov.  10,  lS6a 

Charles  C.  Jones,  corporal ;  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862;  wounded 
Dec.  13,  1862  ;  discharged  for  disability  May  7,  1863. 

William  Stevens,  corporal ;  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  promoted 
to  sergeant ;  wounded  severely  July  30,  1864  ;  discharged 
for  disability  June  6,  1805. 

Lewis  Childs,  corporal;  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862;  wounded  se* 
verely  July  30,  1864;  mustered  out  May  12,  1865. 

Nathaniel  Bean,  corporal ;  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  discharged 
for  disability,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  16,  1863;  died 
sooA  after  his  discharge. 

George  H.  Colby,  musician ;  mustered  Aug.  29, 1862 ;  died  of 
disease  at  Covington,  Ky.,  Aug.  15,  1863. 

Frank  P.  Ager,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  mustered  out  June  4, 
1865. 

John  F.  Badger,  must.  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

Frederick  £.  Badger,  must.  An;::.  29.  1862 ;  died  of  disease  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  8,  1863. 

Imri  Ball,  must.  Aug.  29.  1S62 :  must,  out  June  4,  1865. 

Hazen  Bartlett,  must.  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  wounded  and  captured  at 
the  battle  of  the  ^line,  July  30,  1864 ;  died  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  at  Petersburg,  Va ,  Sept.  5,  1864. 

David  S.  Burbank,  must.  Aug.  29,  1862;  promoted  to  corporal; 
must,  out  June  4,  1865. 

William  S.  Carter,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  promoted  to  com- 
missary-sergeant Sept.  2, 1862 ;  must,  out  June  4, 1865. 

Plummer  E.  Carter,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Edgar  0.  Couch,  must.  Aug.  29,  1862;  wounded  slightly  twice; 
captured  Julv  30.  1864.  at  the  Mine ;  died  of  disease  at 
Danville,  Va!,  Feb.  1.  1865. 

Philip  Colby,  must.  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  died  of  disease  Feb.  28, 1863. 


THE  REBELUON.  489 

Er  Collins,  mustered  Au^.  29,  18G2 ;  discharged  for  disability  at 

Hampton,  Va.,  Aug.  1,  18C3. 
William   :\I.  Corser,  must.  Aug.  29,  18G2;  m.  out  June  4,  18C5. 
Charles  S.  Davis,  must.  Aug.  2i),  1SG2 ;  wounded  slightly  May 

12,  18G4  ;  ])romoted  to  corporal ;  wounded  Sept.  30,  1S64; 

promoted  to  sergeant  ^Earcli  1, 18Go  ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 
Timothy  B.  Eastman,  must.  Aug.  29,  18G2 ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 
Henry  L.  French,  must.  Aug.  2i),  1{:<62  ;  discharged  for  disability 

at  Newport  News,  Va.,  ]Maix;h  13,  18G3 ;  reenlisted   into 

Heavy  Artillerv. 
Thomas  B.  Flanders,  mustered  Aug.  29, 18G2. 
Jubal  £aton,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862. 
Frank  B.  Flanders,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  wounded  seveiely 

June  18,  18G4  ;  mustered  out  June  4,  1865. 
Charles  £.  Hardy,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 
Joseph  B.  Hoyt,  must.  Aug.  29,  18G2  ;  died  of  disease  at  Aquia 

Creek,  Va.,  Feb.  5,  18G3. 
Warren  F.  Hackett,  m.  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  m.  out  June  4,  1865. 
James  M.  Jewell,  must.  Aug.  29,  18G2 ;  discharged  for  disability 

at  Washington,  D.  C,  ^larch  19,  1863. 
George  T.  Ordway,  must.  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  wounded  slightly  May 

12,  18G4  ;  m.  out  June  4,  1865. 

Henry  Osgood,  mustered  Aug.  29, 1862 ;  promoted  to  sergeant ; 

m.  out  June  4,  1865. 
Imri  Osgood,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  wounded  severely  Dec 

13,  18G2  ;  discharged  at  Washington,  D.  C,  on  account  of 
wounds,  May  3,  1864. 

Henry  E.  Page,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 

Plummer  B.  Page,*  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  wounded  severely 
May  6,  1864;  m.  out  June  4,  1865. 

George  Roby,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1  ^G2 ;  transferred  to  Veteran 
Resen^e  Corps.  Nov.  15,  18G3  ;  m.  out  Aug.  5,  1865. 

Joseph  S.  Rogers,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 

Trask  W.  Royleigh,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Don  E.  Scott,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 

Cyrus  P.  Savory,  mustered.  Aug.  29,  1862 ;  m.  out  June  4, 1865. 

Addison  Scobv,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862  ;  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity Dec.  27,  1863. 

Frank  Stevens,  mustered  Aug.  29,  1862;  promoted  to  corporal; 
mustered  out  June  4,  1865. 

Arthur  Thompson,  mustered  Aug.  29, 1862 ;  m.  out  June  4, 186S. 

SIXTEENTH   JIEGIHEXT   (XIKE  MONTKS). 

• 

Samuel  Davis,  Jr.,  major,  commissioned  Nov.  1, 1862 ;  m.  out 

Aug.  20, 1863. 
Philip  C.  Bean,  second  lieutenant,   commissioned  Nov.  4^  1862 ; 

mustered  out  Aug.  20^  1863.  A^ 


490  BISTORT  OF  WARNER* 

Beuben  B.  Porter,  second  lieutenant,  commissioned  January  19, 

1803;  mustered  out  August  20,  18^3. 
Moses  C.   Harriman,  sergeant,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1862 ;  m.  oat 

Aug.  20,  1803. 
James  Bean,  Jr.,  corporal,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1SG2 ;  must,  out 

Aug.  20,  18(k5. 
Gilman  ^L  Blake,  corporal,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  died  at  New 

Orleans,  June  17.  1803. 
Creorge  H.  ^lelvin,  corporal,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  promoted  to 

sergeant ;  m.  out  Aug.  20,  1S03. 
Edwin  B.  Hard>%  musician,  niu:»tered  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  mustered 

out  Aug.  20,  18(>3. 
Zenas  A.  Bartlett,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  m.  out  Aug.  20, 186a 
Charles  D.  Cheney,         ''  "  "  "  "         « 

Daniel  Chenev,  mustered  Oct.  23, 1802  ;  discharged  for  disability 

June  2*7,  1803. 
Alphonso  Colbv,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1803 ;  died  at  Brashear  City, 

May  11,^180)3. 
Charles  G.  Davis,  mustorod  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  m.  out  Aug.  20,  1863. 
Charles  H.  Flanders,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802  ;  died  at  Cairo,  IlL, 

Aug.  9,  180.3. 
Blanchard  A.  Hardy,  must.  Oct.  23, 1802 ;  m.  out  Aug.  20,  1863 
Justus  C.  Harriman,  must.  Oct.  23,  1802;    died  at  Baton  Rouge, 

La.,  Mav  4.  1803. 
John  M  Hemphill,  must.  Oct.   23.  1862 ;  died  at  New  Orleans, 

April  30,  1803. 
John  M.  Johnson,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  m.  out  Aug.  20, 1803. 
Henry  L.  Johnson,       ''  "  "  **  " 

George  P.  Jones,  "  "  «  "  « 

Charles  H.  Melvin,      "  "  •'  "  « 

William  H.  Onlway,  must.  Nov.  12, 1802  :  m.  out  Aug.  20,  1863. 
Horace  Osgood,  mustered  Oct.  23.  1802;  promoted  to  corporal; 

m.  out  Aug.  21),  1803. 
John  Pearson,  mustered  Oct.  23, 1862 ;  died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La., 

June  27,  1803. 
Hamilton  P.  Sargent,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802 ;  died  at  Brashear 

City,  June  10,  lj<03. 
Moses  D.  Sargent,  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802. 

Leonard  E.  Sargent,  must.  Oct.  23,  1802;  m.  out  Aug.  20,  1863. 
David  F.  Sargent,  mustered  Oct.  23, 1802  ;  died  at  Port  Hudson, 

La.,  July  10,  1803. 
Daniel  B.  Webster,  mustered  Xov.  4,  1802 ;  died  at  Brashear 

City,  La.,  April  27,  1803. 
Clarence  L.  Wilkins,  mustered  Oct.  23. 1802 ;  promoted  to  hospi- 
tal steward  ;  m.  out  \\\^.  20.  1803. 
Wells  H.  Davis,  enlisted  at  Newport;  mustered  Oct.  23,  1802; 

died  at  Cairo,  111.,  August,  l5f03. 


THE  REBELLION.  491 

EIGHTEENTH   REGIMENT  (XINE   MONTHS). 

David  C.  Harriman,  first  lieutenant,  commissioned  Oct.  6, 18C4 ; 

must,  out  June  10.  lS(>o.     [See  11th  Regiment.] 
Elbridge  Eaton,  corporal,  must.  Sept.  14,  1SG4 ;  must,  out  June 

10,  1805. 
Alfred  H.  Davis^  Jr.,  must.  Sept.   13,  1864 ;  must,  out  July  29, 

1865. 
Geo.  J.  Flanders,  must.  Sept.  17, 1864;  must,  out  June  10,  1865. 
Walter  M.  Flanders,  must.  Sept.  17,  1864;  must,  out  May  30, 

18G5. 
Frank  P.  Harriman,  must.  Sept.  17,  1864 ;  must   out  July  29, 

I860. 
Leonidas  Harriman,  must.  Sept  17,  1864 ;  promoted  to  coipoxal; 

must,  out  June  10,  1805. 
Leonard  Stewart,  must  Sept.  17, 1864 ;  must  out  Jane  10, 1866. 

N.  H.  BATTALION,  FIRST  N.  E.  CAVALRY. 

Henry  F.  Hunt,  must  Dec.  19,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability, 

Nov.  12,  1863. 
John  Hunt,  must  Jan.  5, 1864 ;  must  out  July  15,  1865. 

FIRST   REGIMENT   N.    H.    VOLUNTEER   CAVALRY. 

Perry  H.  Cheney,  must  Aug.  9,  1864 ;  discharged  for  disability, 
July  19,  1865. 

Charles  G.  Davis,  must  Aug.  9,  1864 ;  must,  out  July  15,  1865. 
[See  16th  Regiment  J  '    - 

George  P.  Davis,  must  Aug.  9, 1864  ;  must,  out  July  15,  1865. 

Sylvanus  Harriman,  must  Aug.  15,  1864 ;  promoted  to  corporal ; 
discharged  for  disability,  July  17,  1865. 

Reuben  M.  Gregg,  must.  Dec.  7,  1863;  promoted  to  corporal; 
must,  out  July  15,  1865. 

Charles  C.  Flanders,  must.  Aug.  15,1864;  discharged  for  disa- 
bility, July  10,  1865. 

FIRST   REGIMENT   HEAVY   ARTILLERY. 

Joseph  E.  Lawrence,  must  Sept  5,  1864 ;  m.  out  Sept  11, 1865. 
William  Herbert  Sawyer,  must.  Sept  13, 1864 ;  must  out  June 

15,  1865. 
Henry  L.  French,  must  Dec.  17,  1863;  must  out  May  30, 1865. 

[Sec  11th  Regiment] 

FIRST   REGIMENT  U.    8.  SHARP-SHOOTERS. 

* 

William  G.  Andrews,  sergeant,  mustered  Sept.  9,  1861;  promoted 
to  first  lieutenant,  Dec.  20,  1861 ;  promoted  to  captain, 
Oct.  1, 1863;  wounded  August  10, 1804;  mustered  out  at 
end  of  three  years,  Sept  8, 1864. 

82 


492  HISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

AuBtin  Andrews,  mustered  Sept.  9, 1861 ;  promoted  to  sergeant ; 
must,  out  Sept.  8,  ISCJ. 

Walter  H.  Bean,  mustered  Sept.  9,  1861 ;  promoted  to  corporal ; 
wounded  severely  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  April  13,  1862  ;  dis- 
charged for  disability  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Sept.  15,  1862. 

Frank  Bean,  mustercnl  Sept.  9,  1801.^ 

Henry  £.  Badger,  mustered  Sept.  9,  1861 ;  wounded  August  30, 
1862;  must,  out  Sept.  8,  1804.     [See  First  Regiment.] 

Reuben  K.  Emerson,  mustered  Sept.  9, 1861 ;  died  at  Graines's 
Hill,  Va.,  June  3,  1862. 

John  B.  Rand,  mustered  Sept.  9,  1861 ;  wounded  July  2,  1863; 
transferred  to  Veteran  Reserre  Corps,  April  1, 1864.  [See 
First  Regiment.] 

Harrison  Robertson,  must.  Sept.  9,  1861;  wounded  July  3,  1863; 
must,  out  Sept.  8,  1864.     [See  2d  Regiment] 

Harlan  S.  Willis,  must  iSept.  9,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability, 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  Nov.  25,  1861. 

William  D.  Chase,  must  Sept  9,  1861 ;  must  out  Sept  8,  1864 

Charles  A  Watkins,  must  Sept  9,  1861. 


Jerome  B.  Porter,  serve<l  in  the  2d  Reg't  U.  S.  Sharpshooters ; 
itiust  Dec.  12, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability.  May  9, 1862. 

James  A.  Wadleipjh  was  a  member  of  Co.  F,  11th  N.  H.  Reg*t; 
must.  Aug.  29,  1862,  as  of  Sutton;  wounded  December  13, 
1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  Oct.  1,  1863, 
,    as  of  Warner;  must  out  at  close  of  the  war. 

Alfred  Kelley,  served  in  the  5th  Wisconsin  Regiment  of  infantry; 
lost  an  arm  December  13^  18G2;  discharged  for  disability. 
Sept  15,  1803. 

Augustus  ^[elvin,  enlisted  in  Massachusetts  into  Fletcher  Web- 
ster's regiment ;  was  transferred  to  the  regular  army,  and 
served  througli  tlie  war. 

Enrolling  officers  were  appointed  throughout  the 
country  during  the  war,  whose  duty  it  was  to  make 
and  keep  accurate  lists  of  the  men  who  had  gone  into 
the  service,  and  also  of  those  who  were  subject  to  mil- 
itary duty,  so  that  when  calls  were  made  for  men  the 
proper  number  could  be  allotted  to  each  town.  Capt 
Timothv  Flanders  was  the  enrolling  officer  for  War- 
ner. 


STATE  MILITIA.  498 

An  immense  debt  and  the  necessity  for  heavy  tax- 
ation grew  out  of  the  war,  and  internal  revenue  laws 
were  enacted  to  meet  in  part  tlie  exigency.  Benja- 
min F.  Harriman  was  assistant  assessor  of  internal 
revenue  under  those  laws  for  several  years  after  the 
war,  his  district  being  Warner  and  several  of  the  adja- 
cent towns. 

STATE  MILITIA. 

The  rolls  of  the  state  militia  are  meagre  and  imper- 
fect. The  following  list  of  general  and  field  officers 
which  Warner  has  furnished,  is  given  mainly  from 
recollection. 

Aquila  Davis,  Brigadiex^GreneraL 

Bichard  Straw,  Colonel. 
Simeon  Bartlett,       '^ 
Isaac  Dalton,  Jr.,     '' 
James  ]VL  Harriman, '' 
John  C.  Ela,  « 

Hiram  Dimond,  Lieutenant-ColoneL 
Timothy  D.  Robertson,        " 
William  G.  Flanders, ,  ** 

John  A.  Hardy,  *' 

Calvin  A.  Davis,  " 

Bartlett  Hardy, 

Daniel  Bnnels,       Major. 

Joseph  B.  Hoyt,  " 

William  H.  Ballard,  '« 

Joseph  Burkey  " 
Daniel  George, 
Joseph  S.  Hoyt, 

Eliezer  £merson«  ^ 

Stephen  K  Hoyt,  " 


ti 


it 
u 


494  HI8T0RT  OF  WABNER. 

John  C.  Ela,  a  son  of  John  and  Amy  (Campbell) 
Ela,  was  born  at  Derry,  March  3, 1826.  The  other 
children  of  this  couple  are  Betsey  C,  Abner  C^  and 
Emma  Jane. 

The  first  £la  found  in  this  country  is  Daniel.  He 
was  a  tanner  and  taverner  at  Haverhill,  Masa,  as 
early  as  1675. 

The  mother  of  John  C.  was  a  Campbell,  and  Duncan 
Campbell,  a  bookseller,  and  a  man  of  note  in  his  day, 
is  found  in  Boston  as  early  as  1685.  He  was  from 
Scotland.  His  children  were, — William,  bom  1687; 
Archibald,  1689;  Matthew,  1691;  Susanna^  1696; 
and  Agnes,  1699. 

Mr.  John  Ela  came  with  his  family  from  Deny  to 
Warner,  in  1844.  He  was  a  cloth-dresser  and  miller. 
He  died  September,  1867,  aged  71.  Mrs.  Ela  died 
December,  1876,  aged  78. 

John  C.  Ela  married  Clara  B.  Manning,  May  10/ 
1851,  who  died  June  19,  1852.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife,  February,  1858,  Louisa  J.,  daughter  of 
Caleb  Watson,  of  Salisbury,  N.  H.  They  have  three 
children, — two  daughters  and  a  son. 

Mr.  Ela  is  the  proprietor  of  the  saw-mill,  the  grist- 
mill, and  the  carding-mill  at  Warner  village,  where  a 
large  amount  of  business  is  annually  done.  To  the 
grist-mill,  people  come  with  their  grain  from  all  the 
surrounding  towns. 

In  1849  John  C.  Ela  was  the  colonel  of  the  fortieth 
regiment  of  New  Hampshire  militia. 


(Tn^  .^,  ^/^ 


Hclinlvpc  Prinlin;  Co..  Ilmton. 


STATE  MIUTIA.  495 

The  first  military  trainings  in  Warner  were  at  the 
Parade.  Here,  as  early  as  1773,  and  when  the  prov 
inces  were  subject  to  the  Crown,  Capt  Davis  called 
together  the  "  22d  company  of  Foot,  in  the  9th  regi- 
ment of  Militia."  Here,  for  many  j'ears  after,  those 
liable  to  military  duty  were  warned  to  appear  **  armed 
and  equipped  as  the  law  directs."  There  were  usually 
two  trainings  (one  in  May  and  one  in  September) 
each  year. 

There  have  been  regimental  musters  in  Warner,  on 
ground  at  the  rear  of  George  Savor3'*s  buildings,  on 
Denney's  hill,  at  Stephen  Davis's,  on  the  Plain,  at  the 
rear  of  Stanley's  buildings,  on  what  is  now  the  fair 
ground,  and  on  the  Badger  intervale. 

No  entertainment  ever  quite  equalled  an  old-fash- 
ioned muster,  in  the  estimation  of  a  patriotic  youth.  / 
It  furnished  him  his  chief  theme  of  thought  and 
conversation  for  days  and  weeks  before  it  occurred. 
Stalks  were  cut,  reaping  was  done,  and  grain  was 
threshed  under  the  inspiration  of  the  coming  festival. 
At  length  the  day  arrives.  The  boys  have  had  a  poor 
night's  rest,  and  even  the  head  of  the  family  has  not 
slept  as  soundly  as  usual.  An  early  start  is  made  : 
many  go  on  foot,  while  others  ride,  with  three  on 
the  seat  and  one  on  the  peck-measure  in  the  hind 
end  of  the  wagon.  Presently  daylight  dawns  ;  all 
hands  hurry  up ;  now  the  sun  lifts  his  yellow  disc 
above  the  line  of  hills;  now  the  muster-field  is  in 


496  HI8T0RT  OF  WABNEB. 

full  view.  The  troops,  by  the  activity  of  the  adjo- 
tEDt,  are  in  line.  The  Hopkinton  Rifle  Company, 
with  their  tall,  black  plumes,  are  stationed  against 
a  wood;  the  Hopkinton  Light  Infantry,  with  white 
pantaloons  and  showy  uniforms,  are  on  the  right; 
the  Henniker  Rifles,  with  light  gray  suits,  grape  butr 
tons,  and  white  plumes,  make  a  conspicuous  figure. 
The  Warner  Artillery,  with  their  old  brass  field-piece 
(a  four-pounder),  and  their  black  broadcloth  with  red 
trimmings,  together  with  their  black  plumes  tipped 
with  red,  look  warlike  and  substantial ;  the  Warner 
Light  Infantry,  handsomely  uniformed  with  white 
pants,  blue  coats,  and  large  white  plumes  having 
red  tops,  extort  general  admiration.  Then  the  many 
infantry  companies,  whose  officers  are  decked  with 
showy  regalia,  and  the  cavalry  with  spirited  horses 
and  shrill  bugle,  on  the  extreme  left,  complete  the 
« line  of  battle." 

The  field  officers  are  at  their  posts,  on  horseback, 
at  the  right,  the  centre,  and  the  left,  facing  the  troops, 
while  the  general  and  his  staff,  with  their  close-fitting 
buff  pantaloons,  long-topped  boots,  and  waving  feath- 
ers, are  in  camp  at  the  rear.  In  due  time  tliey  will 
be  ready  for  the  inspection,  the  review,  and  the  ad- 
dress. 

Go  now  to  the  spectators,  a  motley  throng.  All 
seem  to  be  "  present  or  accounted  for."  The  north 
has  given  up,  and  the  south  has  kept  not  back.     The 


STATE  MILITIA.  497 

substantial  yeomanry,  the  wealthy  and  the  great  (as 
men  count  greatness)  are  there,  as  well  as  the  poor 
and  humble.  The  cripples  are  all  present ;  the  ^  black 
ducks"  are  vociferous  and  happy;  the  children  are  on 
hand  ;  and  the  old  people  are  not  without  a  witness. 
The  din  of  the  peddlers  is  unceasing ;  the  rattle  of  the 
tumblers  is  a  familiar  sound  ;  the  singing  of  the  song- 
sters attracts  much  attention.  Old  Prince,  with  his 
tight  corduroy  trowsers,  is  on  the  ground,  with  a 
sheet  or  two  of  gingerbread  already  under  each  arm 
(the  contributions  of  favored  bystiinders),  and  his 
clear  melodious  voice  is  ringing  out, — 

We  thank  the  noble  king  of  France, 
Both  men  and  money  he  did  advance ; 
We  thank  the  noble  king  of  Spain, 
The  states  of  Holland  shall  shear  the  same. 

But  the  great  event  of  the  day  is  the  sham-fight  : 
that  closes  the  military  exercise.  The  regiment  is 
divided  into  two  wings  as  nearly  equal  as  possible. 
These  two  armies  take  their  positions  ;  the  bands  are 
playing ;  the  field-officers  are  hurrying  in  hot  haste, 
their  horses  white  with  foam.  These  animals  have 
been  selected  for  their  spirit  and  beauty.  Carter's 
splendid  gray  steed,  "  The  Fierce  Eagle,"  is  for  many 
years  a  conspicuous  figure  at  the  parades  of  the  40th 
regiment.  .     • 

The  reader  is  specially  invited  to  go  back  to  the 
muster  of  1828,  at  Stephen  Davis's, — the  first  ever 


498  BISTORT  OF  WARNER. 

held  on  that  ground.  Col.  Simeon  Bartlett  is  in  com- 
mand ;  the  day  is  delightful,  and  the  ^  Right  Arm  of 
National  Defence''  never  appeared  to  better  advan- 
tage than  now,  at  an  annual  ilBview  in  Warner. 

It  is  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ;  the  sham-fight 
has  just  commenced  ;  the  sharp  cracking  of  the  mus- 
ketry back  under  the  pines  has  begun,  and  the  deep 
roar  of  the  four-pounder  jars  the  ground.'  *  A  young 
man  about  twenty  years  of  age,  one  who  is  a  little 
ungainly  in  appearance,  who  tapers  the  wrong  way, 
wearing  a  No.  5  hat  and  No.  14  boots,  comes  along, 
eating  a  seed-cucumber,  and  complacently  remark- 
ing, ^  They  jest  begins  to  let  'er  rip  a  little  now  T 
You  are  right,  my  boy,  and  "  the  combat  deepens." 
The  rank  smell  of  powder  impregnates  the  air  ;  the 
horses  nervously  paw  the  turf;  one  throws  his  rider 
violently  to  the  ground  and  plunges  through  the 
crowd ;  he  is  caught  at  the  great  rock  near  the  gate. 

Trees  and  underbrush  have  been  cut  and  dried, 
from  which  a  fort  has  been  built,  supplied  with  a  deep 
straw  bedding ;  a  company  occupies  this  redoubt,  and 
pours  an  incessant  fire  upon  the  opposing  line.  The 
old  artillery  moves  up  in  majestic  style,  Capt  Saflbrd 
Watson  cutting  cabalistic  figures  in  the  air  with  his 
sword  to  denote  the  advance,  the  halt,  and  the  fire. 
The  gunners  are  discharging  the  piece  with  great 
rapidity,  and  from  the  fortification,  as  well  as  all 
along  the  line,  a  deafening  roll  of  musketry  is  heard. 


STATE  MILITIA. 


499 


Above  the  roar  and  tumult,  the  clear  voice  of  Capt 
Watson  rings  out,  *^  Charge  the  fort  /" — and  the  bur- 
nished field-piece  is  instantly  run  up  to  within  ten 
feet  of  the  object  of  attack ;  the  hot  blaze  issues  from 
its  mouth,  and  the  fort  is  instantaneously  enveloped 
in  smoke  and  flame.  The  company  defending  it  has 
retreated.  The  crackling  flames  and  thick  darkness 
make  a  scene  for  a  painter.  The  cavalry,  in  marvelous 
quick  time,  with  frantic  horses,  wheel  into  line  at  the 
rear  of  the  artillery  to  cut  ofi*  their  retreat ;  the  Hop- 
kinton  Rifles  charge  upon  their  flank  and  capture  the 
gun;  but  the  Henniker  Rifles  (being  allies  of  the 
artillery)  advance  on  the  double-quick  to  the  defence 
of  the  latter ;  the  cannon  is  retaken,  and  the  battle, — 
which  has  long  hung  in  even  scale,  and  which  has 
been  bravely  fought,  though  not  bloody  in  its  re- 
sults,—comes  to  an  end. 


CHAPTEE   XXXIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

IjlIHE  history  of  the  Congregational  church  for 
J%  the  first  half  century  after  the  settlement  of 
the  town  is  substantially  embodied  m  the  preceding 
pages  of  this  volume.  It  was  so  closely  interwoven 
with  the  history  of  the  town  as  to  make  it  impossible 
to  present  the  one  without  presenting  the  other  also. 
The  Congregational  church  was  organized  the  6th 
day  of  February,  1772,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Kelley,  the  first 
settled  minister,  was  ordained  that  day.  The  churches 
which  were  represented  on  this  occasion  by  ministers 
and  delegates  were  those  of  Concord,  Pembroke,  Hen- 
niker,  Salem,  Hampstead,  and  Plaistow.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  these  churches,  tagether  with  Mr.  Kelley 
and  several  of  his  parishioners,  met  at  the  house  of 
Isaac  Waldron,  Jr.,  on  the  Gould  road,  where  they 
formed  into  a  council,  with  Rev.  Timothy  Walker,  of 
Concord,  as  moderator.  They  then  and  there  pro- 
ceeded and  organized  the  first  church.  The  cove- 
nant was  signed  and  assented  to  by  William  Kelley, 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  501 

Joseph  Sawyer,  Richard  Goodwin,  Nehemiah  Ileath, 
Francis  Davis,  Abner  Chase,  Moses  Clark,  and  Parme- 
nas  Watson. 

When  the  council  had  convened  and  organized,  it 
was  rumored  that  they  could  not  go  on,  because  there 
was  not  a  sufficient  number  of  persons  giving  evi- 
dence of  piety  to  form  a  church.  Isaac  Waldron, 
senior,  sent  them  word  that  rather  than  have  them 
fail  for  want  of  numbers  he  would  take  hold  and  join 
the  church  himself,  though  he  preferred  to  be  ex- 
cused ! 

Having  organized  the  church,  the  council  pro- 
ceeded to  the  humble  meeting-house  at  the  Parade, 
where  the  services  of  ordination  were  participated 
in  by  Rev.  Mr.  Walker,  Rev.  Jacob  Emery  of  Pem- 
broke, Rev.  Henry  True  of  Hampstead,  Rev.  Abner 
Bayley  of  Salem,  Rev.  Giles  Merrill  of  Plaistow,  and 
Rev.  Jacob  Rice  of  Henniker. 

Rev.  William  Kelley  was  bom  at  Newbury,  Mass., 
in  1744.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1767,  studied 
for  the  ministry  with  Rev.  Henry  True,  of  Hampstead, 
and  married  Lavinia  Bayley,  daughter  of  Rev.  Abner 
Bayley,  of  Salem,  N.  H. 

Mr.  Kelley  was,  in  stature,  rather  below  the  medium 
size  of  men.  In  manner  he  was  genial  and  pleasant 
His  theology  was  that  of  the  moderate  Calviniste. 
His  sermons  and  prayers  were  short  for  the  times  in 
which  he  lived.     When  the  service  was  finished,  Mr. 


502  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Kelley  would  come  down  from  the  pulpit^  and  pass 
along  the  middle  aisle  to  the  door,  bowing  right  and 
left  to  all.  The  congregation  would  remain  seated 
till  he  had  passed  out.  Those  were  the  days  of  cour- 
tesy and  reverence. 

Mr.  Kelley  was  never  settled  over  any  church  but 
this,  and  he  closed  his  regular  services  here  in  1801, 
though  he  continued  to  preach  more  or  less  in  town 
and  in  adjoining  towns  till  his  death.  He  died  of 
apoplexy,  May  18, 1813,  aged  68,  and  his  dust  sleeps 
in  the  old  cemetery,  a  few  feet  to  the  rear  of  the 
point  where  his  pulpit  stood,  and  where  his  eloquence 
was  so  faithfully  poured  forth. 

In  Mr.  Kelley's  day,  two  of  those  who,  for  a  time, 
led  the  singing,  were  Enoch  Morrill  and  Jacob  Os- 
good. There  were  but  few  singers.  Among  them 
were  Miriam  Stevens  (wife  of  Jacob  Osgood),  Rachel 
Flood  (wife  of  Enoch  Osgood),  and  Mrs.  John  Hardy, 
of  Tory  Hill.  At  first  there  were  no  musical  instru- 
ments, but  a  church  meeting  in  1797  voted  "  to  admit 
the  Bass  Viol  in  Publick  Worship."  The  town  ap- 
proved of  this  step  by  voting,  in  March,  1800,  "  that 
the  singers  should  be  admitted  to  use  Bass  Viols  and 
any  other  sacred  instruments  on  the  Sabbath  in  the 
meeting-house  for  the  future." 

The  church  was  not  strong  in  numbers  or  in  wealth. 
It  was  divided  and  weakened  by  the  location  of  the 
meeting-hou.se  '•'  under  the  ledge,"  and  by  other  causes. 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  503 

and  it  was  destitute  of  a  settled  minister  for  thirteen 
years  after  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Kelley. 

Rev.  John  Woods  came  next.  He  was  settled  June 
22,  1814.  Mr.  Woods  was  born  at  Fitzwilliam  in 
1785.  He  graduated  at  Williams  college  in  1812, 
and  made  his  first  settlement  in  Warner.  He  lacked 
the  agreeable  manners  of  his  predecessor,  but  was  a 
man  of  much  intellectual  strength.  One  who  knew 
him  says, — ^  He  was  a  man  who  threw  up  the  sub- 
soil,  and  laid  deep  foundations.*'  He  was  strictly  Cal- 
vinistic  in  his  doctrines.  He  was  dismissed,  on  his 
own  request,  from  the  pastorate  in  Warner,  June  17, 
1823;  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Newport  from 
1824  to  1851;  and  after  this  he  preached  a  short 
time  at  Fitzwilliam,  where  he  died  May  4,  1861,  aged 
76  years. 

Rev.  Jubilee  Wellman  was  settled  in  September, 
1827  (the  flock  having  been  without  a  shepherd  for 
four  years).  Mr.  Wellman  w^as  born  in  Greenfield, 
Mass.,  in  1793 ;  was  settled  first  at  Frenchport,  Me,, 
then  at  Warner,  where  he  remained  ten  years,  then 
at  Westminster,  Vt.,  and  finally  at  Lowell,  Vt.,  where 
he  died  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  62  years.  During  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Wellman  in  Warner,  the  church  was 
united  and  strong. 

Rev.  Amos  Blanchard  was  settled  in  1837.  He 
was  born  in  Peacham,  Vermont  After  graduating 
at  the  Andover  Theological   Seminary  in  1828  he 


504  HI8T0RT  OF  WARNER« 

went  West,  and  edited  a  religious  journal  in  Cincin- 
nati three  years.  He  returned  to  Vermont  and  set- 
tled at  Lyndon,  then  at  Warner, — where  he  remained 
less  than  three  years, — then  at  Meriden,  N.  H^  where 
he  continued  twenty-five  years.  He  died  at  Bamet, 
Vt,,  in  1869,  aged  68.    He  was  an  able  and  worthy  man. 

Rev.  James  W.  Perkins  was  next  in  order.  He 
was  born  at  Mont  Vernon,  N.  H. ;  was  educated  as  a 
physician,  but  was  inducted  into  the  ministry  in  1834. 
He  first  settled  at  New  Hampton,  then  at  Warner, 
where  he  commenced  his  labors  in  1840,  and  closed 
them  in  1846.  After  leaving  Warner,  Mr.  Perkins 
was  at  Alstead  and  at  Deering,  but  since  1857  has 
been  preaching  in  Wisconsin. 

Rev.  Robert  W.  Fuller  was  installed  over  the  church 
at  Warner  in  June,  1846.  He  was  bom  at  Milford, 
N.  H.,  in  1807 ;  was  settled  first  at  Westmoreland, 
then  at  Acworth,  then  at  Warner,  where  he  remained 
about  four  years.  After  leaving  Warner  he  preached 
at  South  Westmoreland  and  at  Lempster.  He  was  a 
man  of  talent,  but  of  strong  will  and  great  indepen- 
dence. 

Rev.  Harrison  0.  Howland  commenced  supplying 
the  pulpit  in  1852.  He  was  born  at  West  Brookfield, 
Mass.,  in  1813.  He  settled  first  at  Ashland,  N.  Y., 
then  at  Warner,  where  he  remained  five  years,  then 
at  Chester,  N.  H.,  and  finally  at  Girard,  Pa,  where  he 
died  in  1872,  aged  58. 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  505 

Rev.  Daniel  Warren,  a  native  of  Rochester,  Vt, 
Tvas  installed  in  1857.  His  first  settlement  was  at 
Waterbury,  Vt,  where  he  continued  thirteen  years, 
and  till  1838.  After  that  he  preached  at  various 
places  in  the  same  state.  He  remained  in  Warner 
nearly  six  years,  and  substantially  finished  his  labors 
here.     He  died  at  Lowell  in  his  native  state. 

Rev.  Henry  S.  Huntington  commenced  supplying 
the  pulpit  in  1863,  but  sickness  compelled  him  to 
withdraw  from  it  for  a  period.  His  ordination  took 
place  in  1866,  and  he  closed  his  labors  with  the 
church,  October,  1872.  Mr.  Huntington  was  born  at 
Norwich,  Conn.  He  graduated  at  Yale  college,  and 
his  first  settlement  was  at  Warner.  He  preached  in 
Warner  from  eight  to  ten  years.  His  next  settle- 
ment was  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  his  third  at  Gor- 
ham,  Maine,  where  he  now  officiates. 

Rev.  Matthew  A.  Gates  (who  came  from  Salem,  N. 
H.)  immediately  followed  Mr.  Huntington  as  pastor  of 
the  church.  He  continued  in  this  position  till  August, 
1876,  a  period  of  nearly  four  years,  and  then  removed 
to  St  Johnsbury,  Vt 

Rev.  George  A.  Beckwith,  the  present  pastor,  com- 
menced his  services  with  the  church  July  1,  1878. 

The  first  six  deacons  of  this  church  were  Parmenas 
Watson,  Nehemi'ah  Heath,  David  Heath,  Isaac  Dalton, 
Reuben  Kimball,  and  Ezra  Barrett 

The  old   meeting-house   **near  Joseph  Currier^s** 


506  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

was  abandoned  by  the  Congregational  church  as  a 
place  of  worship  in.  1819,  and  a  new  house  was 
erected  near  the  Kelley  stand.  That  house,  in  1845, 
was  removed  to  its  present  location  at  the  village  ;  it 
was  modernized,  and  its  galleries  were  removed  in 
1856 ;  it  was  enlarged  and  improved  in  1868.  In 
1866,  a  bell  of  deep  and  mellow  tone  was  hung  in 
the  steeple. 

In  1872  the  church  had  existed  one  hundred  years, 
and  on  the  12th  day  of  June  of  that  year  its  centen- 
nial celebration  took  place.     A  large  congregation  of 
town's-people,  former  residents,  and  friends  from  far 
and  i\ear,  came  together  to  commemorate  the  event 
The  celebration  partook  largely  of  the  character  of  a 
town  celebration.    Rev.  Mr.  Huntington  gave  an  able 
and  instructive  historical  address  (or  sermon)  in  the 
forenoon,  after  which  an  ample  collation  was  served 
in  the  vestry.     In  the  afternoon  Stephen  S.  Bean  was 
called  to  the  chair,  and  various  sentiments  and  re- 
sponses, interspersed  with  prayer  and  singing,  occu- 
pied the  next  two  hours.     Rev.  Dr.  Bouton  of  Con- 
cord, Rev.  Mr.  Buxton  of  Webster,  Rev.  Mr.  Terry  of 
Plaistow,  Rev.  Mr.  Bullard  of  Hampstead,  and  others, 
participated  in  these  exercises.     Mr.  Huntington,  in 
his  published  account  of  this  day's  doings,  closes  as 
follows : 

A  sentiment  rcferrinj?  to  our  country  was  responded  to  by  Gov. 
Harrinian.  He  glanced  at  the  l*ilgrims,  and  then  at  the  present, 
speaking  of  the   results  of  ninety  years  of  government,  of  our 


THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  607 

national  grandeur,  prosperity,  and  progress ;  and  at  the  close  of 
his  address  ''  America*'  was  sung  by  the  congregation* 

A  poem  of  much  merit,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Alfred  W. 
Sargent,  a  young  member  of  the  church,  was  read  by  him ;  com- 
munications and  letters  were  read  by  the  chairman ;  after  which 
the  Sacrament  was  administered  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bullard  and  Bev. 
Mr.  Terry. 

In  the  evening  there  was  a  social  reunion,  at  which  many 
reminiscences  were  g^ren ;  other  letters  were  read ;  also,  a  poem, 
written  by  Mrs.  L.  K.  Davis,  a  member  of  the  church ;  and  re- 
marks were  made  by  several  persons  from  abroad,  among  whom 
were  Hon.  Stephen  C.  Badger  and  Bev.  Daniel  Sawyer,  formerly 
of  Warner. 

THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  present  Baptist  church  of  Warner  is  not  the  off 
spring  or  representative  of  the  old  Anti-pedobaptist 
church  of  1793.  That  died  **  without  issue."  The 
present  church  is  of  comparatively  recent  origin,  not 
having  yet  been  in  existence  fifty  years.  It  was  or- 
ganized in  the  month  of  September,  1833,  and  their 
house  of  worship  was  dedicated  at  the  same  time. 
Rev.  Ira  Person,  of  Newport,  preached  the  dedicsr 
tory  sermon  in  the  forenoon,  and  in  the  afternoon 
the  newly-formed  church  received  the  fellowship  of 
the  denomination,  when  a  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  E.  K  Cummings,  of  Concord. 

Rev.  George  W.  Cutting,  a  native  of  Shoreham,  Vt, 
was  the  first  pastor  of  this  church.     He  was  settled 
January,  1835,  and  continued  in  this  relation  till  Sep- 
tember, 1840,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call  from 
88 


508  BISTORT  OF  WAR5EB. 

the  Baptist  church  in  Lyme.  After  remaining  at  Lyme 
a  few  years,  Mr.  Cutting  had  charge  of  a  church  at 
Fitzwilliam,  but  about  ten  years  ago  he  left  New 
England  to  make  his  home  in  Iowa.  He  was  very 
popular  in  Warner,  both  with  his  church  and  with  the 
people  of  the  town. 

Bev.  John  M.  Chick,  a  native  of  Wells^  Me^  and  a 
graduate  of  New  Hampton  Theological  Institution, 
was  the  second  pastor.  He  commenced  his  services 
with  this  church  in  September,  1840,  and  continued 
with  it  nearly  six  years.  While  he  was  looking  after 
the  interests  of  the  parish,  his  wife  was  engaged  in 
school,  where  she  had  flattering  success.  Mn  Chick 
now  resides  at  Ayer  Junction,  Mass. 

Eev.  J.  S.  Herrick  was  the  third  pastor.  He  came 
in  1846,  and  remained  five  years.  Since  leaving 
Warner  he  has  been  settled  in  Rumney,  and  in  Troy, 
N.  H.  He  still  presides  over  the  Baptist  church  at 
the  latter  place,  where  he  has  been  settled  a  great 
many  years. 

Rev.  L.  Sherwin  succeeded  Mr.  Herrick.  He  com- 
menced his  labors  in  February,  1852,  but  in  April, 
1863,  he  resigned  his  charge  on  account  of  failing 
health,  and  was  soon  "  called  to  lay  his  armor  ofll" 

Rev.  N.  J.  Pinkham,  a  native  of  Dover,  and  a  grad- 
uate of  New  Hampton  Theological  Institution,  came 
in  April,  1853,  and  remained  till  February,  1857.  He 
now  has  charge  of  a  church  at  Thompson,  Conn. 


THE  BAPTIST  CHURCH.  609 

Rev.  Henry  Stetson,  of  Maine,  was  pastor  of  this 
church  from  1860  to  1864. 

Rev.  Albert  Heald,  from  1865  to  1870,  when  he  re- 
signed to  accept  a  call  from  the  church  at  Amherst 
He  is  now  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Meriden. 

Rev.  William  H.  Walker,  a  graduate  of  Brown  Uni- 
versity, and  of  Newton  Theological  Institution,  became 
the  pastor  in  May,  1873,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

Among  the  early  pillars  of  this  church  were  Nar 
thaniel  Eaton,  Jonathan  Emerson,  Richard  F.  Rogers, 
and  Jesse  Hardy.  The  church  has  a  fund  of  $2,000, 
which  was  left  by  two  of  its  deceased  members.  One 
half  of  this  amount  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Abigail  K. 
Simonds,  and  the  other  half  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Betsey 
Dimond  Tucker.  The  interest  of  this  money  goes 
towards  the  support  of  preaching.  The  church  has 
also  a  parsonage,  which  was  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Simonds. 

The  Free  Will  Baptists  have  had  an  organization  in 
town,  and  at  one  time  and  another  have  had  consid- 
erable preaching,  but  they  have  never  had  a  church 
edifice  or  a  settled  minister.  They  have  occupied  the 
town  hall  and  the  school-houses.  In  early  days  their 
religious  services  were  often  held  in  private  houses, 
and  sometimes  in  the  shady  grove.  The  old  school- 
house  under  the  hill,  in  District  No.  8,  was  for  many 
years,  through  the  sumiijer  seasons,  a  recognized  sanc- 
tuary. A  church  organization  existed  there,  and  the 
church  ordinances  were  regularly  observed.  Men  and 


510  BISTORT  OF  WABNEB. 

women  poured  in  from  every  direction,  and  there  was 
generally  a  large  and  devoted  congregation. 

The  Methodists  have  had  an  organization  in  Warner, 
and  in  times  past  have  maintained  public  worship. 
A  meeting-house,  partly  (perhaps  mainly)  built  by 
them,  now  stands  in  a  good  state  of  preservation  at 
the  Lower  Village.    It  is  not  regularly  occupied. 

The  Universalists  organized,  and  (largely  through 
the  activity  of  Daniel  Bean,  Jr.)  built  a  meeting-house 
in  1844.  For  several  years  there  appeared  to  be 
health  and  pei^severance  in  the  organization.  The 
desk  was  occupied  two  or  three  years  by  a  native- 
born  citizen  of  the  town ;  at  a  later  day  by  Rev. 
J.  F.  Witherell ;  and  still  later,  by  Rev.  Lemuel  Willi% 
and  others. 

Mr.  Willis  was  born  at  Westmoreland,  N.  H.  He 
was  a  strong  man,  and  during  bis  active  life  was  set- 
tled at  Salera,  Haverhill,  and  Cambridgeport,  Mass., 
and  at  Claremont  and  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  In  1847  he 
married,  for  his  second  wife,  the  widow  of  Major  Dan- 
iel George,  and  during  his  last  years  he  resided  in 
Warner,  where  he  died  in  1878.  His  sons  are  Dr. 
Willis,  of  Boston,  Algernon  S.,  of  Claremont.  and  Har- 
lan S.,  of  Warner.  His  only  daughter  (the  wife  of 
Philip  C.  Bean)  died  several  years  since. 

The  meeting-house  was  purchased  in  1865  by  N. 
G.  Ordwav,  moved  down  street  bv  him,  and  remod- 
elled.     The  lower  story  is  now  occupied   by  A.  C. 


THE  08G00DITES.  511 

Carroll,  merchant,  and   the  post-office.    The   upper 
story  is  Union  hall. 

The  Osgoodites  (so-called)  were  at  one  time  quite 
numerous  in  Warner.  In  Canterbury,  and  some  other 
towns,  there  was  a  small  number.  The  sect  sprung 
into  existence  about  the  year  1812.  Jacob  Osgood, 
son  of  Philip,  was  its  founder.  His  physical  weight 
sometimes  reached  350  pounds.  He  was  a  man  of 
considerable  ability  and  of  the  warmest  sympathies. 
After  his  decease,  Nehemiah  Ordway  and  Charles  H. 
Colby  became  the  "  ruling  elders.*'  In  their  best 
days,  and  perhaps  always,  these  people  claimed  mirac- 
ulous gifts,  such  as  the  healing  of  the  sick.  Their 
meetings  were  peculiar,  consisting  of  one  service,  all 
taking  part  Songs,  prayers,  and  exhortations  were 
intermixed  without  much  regularity.  When  there 
came  a  lull,  unlike  the  Quakers,  they  did  not  sit  in 
silence.  Bro.  Osgood,  without  rising,  would  close  the 
exercises  in  these  words :  "  If  there 's  no  more  to  be 
said,  meeting  *s  done." 

For  their  spiritual  songs  they  relied  less  on  Watts 
than  on  their  own  ready  talent  They  were  naturally 
inclined  to  antagonize  other  denominations.  About 
the  year  1830,  and  for  two  or  three  subsequent  years, 
there  was  unusual  religious  excitement  in  and  about 
Warner.  Great  ^revival  meetings"  were  held,  one 
of  which  was  on  Kearsarge  mountain.  The  Osgood- 
ites composed  a  song  (referring  to  this  fact)  which 


512  HIBTORT  OF  WABMEB. 

was  very  popular  in  their  meetings  for  years.  It 
consisted  of  twelve  or  fifteen  verses,  the  first  of  which 
was  as  follows : 

In  eighteen  hundred  thirty-two, 
A  band  of  locusts  hove  in  view  ; 
They  were  quite  thick  in  every  town  : 
They  had  great  meetings  all  around. 

This  sect  was  opposed  to  "  bearing  arms,**  and  many 
years  ago  two  or  three  of  its  members  were  committed 
to  jail  at  Hopkinton  for  refusing  to  do  military  duty, 
or  to  pay  fines.  They  pleaded  ^conscientious  scru- 
ples/' but  refused  to  **  pay  an  equivalent,"*  as  provided 
in  the  thirteenth  article  of  the  Bill  of  Rights^  and  they 
were  carried  to  jail.  But  the  military  authorities, 
seeing  that  these  men  rather  gloried  in  their  ^  mar- 
tyrdom,'*  went  and  released  them. 

The  sect  has  substantially  passed  away.  Notwith- 
standing its  many  and  striking  peculiarities,  the  men 
and  women  who  composed  it  were  probably  about  an 
average  class  in  all  that  goes  to  make  good  neighbors 
and  upright  citizens. 

There  are  also  Adventists  in  Warner ;  how  numer- 
ous or  how  active  at  the  present  time  the  \vriter  pre- 
sumes not  to  say.  But  whether  their  numbers  be 
small  or  great,  their  rights  are  the  same.  Under  the 
liberal  laws  of  this  country  every  one  is  left  free  to 
enjoy  his  own  religious  convictions  in  his  own  way. 
We  cannot  altogether  harmonize  our  beliefs,  but  we 
can  certainly  "  agree  to  disagree"  till  the  time  come 


ECCLESIASTICAL.  513 

when  there  shall  be  neither  Jew  nor  Greek,  nor  bond 
nor  free,  nor  barbarian,  nor  Scythian,  but  when  dis- 
cord and  division  shall  cease  utterly. 

The  following  is  an  imperfect  list  of  persons  who 
have  gone  out  from  Warner,  and  taken  position  in  the 
ministry : 

Asa  Putney.  [See  College  Graduates.] 
Hosea  Wheeler.  [See  College  Graduate&] 
Daniel  Sawyer^  a  son  of  Edmund  and  grandson 
of  Joseph,  was  educated  for  the  ministry.  He  was 
settled  over  a  Congregational  church  in  Merrimack, 
where  he  preached  many  years.  He  has  probably 
been  settled  at  other  places,  but  he  has  now  retired, 
in  his  old  age,  to  a  quiet  home  in  Hopkinton. 

John  Gould,  a  son  of  John,  and  grandson  of  Jona- 
than, was  bom  and  reared  on  the  Gould  road.  He 
became  a  minister,  and  connected  himself  with  the 
Methodist  denomination.  After  preaching  in  the  New 
England  states  some  twenty-five  years,  his  health  be- 
coming impaired,  he  went  West,  and  took  up  a  farm 
in  Iowa.  This  was  in  1857.  The  change  was  benefi- 
cial. He  joined  the  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  was  star 
tioned  one  year  at  Waverly,  was  presiding  elder  four 
years  on  Cedar  Falls  District,  and  was  then  four  years 
on  the  Upper  Iowa  District.  His  health  again  failed, 
and  for  the  last  six  years  of  his  life  he  was  compelled 
to  inactivity.    He  was  a  fine-looking  man,  had  good 


514  HISTORY  OF  WABNEIU 

abilities,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem.     He  died  at 
Osage,  Iowa,  in  1872,  not  far  from  70  years  of  age. 

Reuben  Kimball^  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  grandson 
of  Keuben  (the  first),  obtained  a  good  education,  and 
taught  school  in  his  early  days.  He  remained  on  the 
old  homestead  of  his  grandfather  and  father,  on  the 
Kimball  road,  and  devoted  his  attention  mainly  to 
agriculture  till  he  reached  the  age  of  40  or  upwards. 
He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  ministry,  and 
studied  a  few  years  at  Gilmanton  Theological  Institu- 
tion. He  was  settled  over  the  Congregational  church 
of  Wilmot,  and  also  over  that  of  North  Conway.  He 
died  at  the  latter  place  a  few  years  since.  He  was  a 
man  of  most  agreeable  manners,  and  all  who  knew 
him  were  his  friends. 

Miss  Lois  Hoytj  whose  father  was  a  brother  to 
Major  Joseph  B.  Hoyt,  and  whose  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Sawyer,  senior,  educated  herself 
for  the  work  of  a  missionary,  married  a  Mr.  Johnson, 
of  HoUis,  and  went  with  her  husband  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands  over  forty  years  ago,  where  she  still  remains. 
She  is  now  a  widow,  but  is  surrounded  by  a  family  of 
sons  and  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  content  with 
their  home  on  the  isles  of  the  sea. 

Joseph  Sargent  J  a  son  of  Zebulon  and  grandson  of 
Joseph,  senior,  of  Schoodac,  was  born  about  the  year 
1816.  He  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Universalist 
denomination  in  Pennsylvania  when  a  young  man, 


t/  Q.  ^t^ti^^c^^ 


^ 


ISAAC  DALTON  STEWART.  515 

but  during  most  of  his  active  life  he  was  in  the  New 
England  8tate&  He  was  admirably  adapted  to  the 
pulpit  He  preached  a  few  years  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  many  years  in  Vermont  He  was  chaplain  of  one 
of  the  Vermont  regiments  in  the  late  war^  and  shortly 
after  his  return  from  the  scenes  of  strife  he  died  at 
Barre,  aged  about  50. 

Ahoah  Sargenty  a  brother  to  the  above  named,  joined 
the  Free  Will  Baptist  denomination,  and  entered  the 
ministrv.  As  a  man  and  minister,  be  has  the  full  con- 
fidence  and  respect  of  all  who  know  him.  He  enjoyed 
a  long  pastorate  at  Ashland,  N.  H.,  and  is  now  stiir 
tioned  at  Wilmot  Flat 

Isaac  Dalton  Stewart.  The  Stewart  family  was 
of  Scotch  origin.  A  branch  of  this  family  settled 
in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  a  number  of  its  mem- 
bers came  to  New  England,  between  1725  and 
1760.  John  Stewart  (one  of  these)  came  from  Ire- 
land when  20  years  of  age,  and  settled  at  Haverhill, 
Mass.  This  was  in  1750.  His  son  John,  who  was 
bom  at  Haverhill,  in  1758,  settled  first,  after  he  be- 
came of  age,  in  Deering,  N.  H.,  and  then,  in  1799, 
removed  to  Warner,  having  bought  sixty  acres  of 
land  on  the  south  side  of  the  Mink  Hills.  He  made 
his  home  with  Jacob  Whitcomb  (father  of  the  late 
John)  till  he  had  opened  a  clearing  and  built  a  tem- 
porary house. 

John  and  Mary  (McClure)  Stewart  were  the  parents 


516  BISTORT  OF  WABNER. 

of  Thomas,  John,  Polly,  Susan,  Lucindo,  David^  Will- 
iam, and  Nancy.  The  last  named  John,  and  Hannah 
(Dalton)  Ste\Vart,  were  the  parents  of  Isaac  D. 

Philemon  Dalton,  with  his  wife  and  child^  came  to 
this  country  from  England  in  the  ship  Increcise,  reach- 
ing these  shores  April  15, 1635.  His  great-grandson, 
Isaac  Dalton,  had  six  children;  and  their  names  are  all 
given  in  a  letter  written  on  the  battle-field  of  Louis- 
bourg  in  1745,  a  copy  of  which  letter  is  now  held  by 
B.  Dalton  Dorr,  of  Philadelphia.  One  of  the  six  was 
the  grandfather  of  Dea.  Isaac  Dalton,  who  was  bom  at 
Salisbury,  Mass.,  March  2,  1761,  and  who,  with  his 
wife  (Eleanor  Merrill),  moved  to  Warner  in  1784,  as 
stated  in  Chapter  VH.  These  were  the  maternal 
grand-parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Isaac  D.  Stewart  was  bom  in  Warner,  Dec.  23, 1817. 
ffis  fondness  for  books  and  school  was  developed  in 
childhood,  and  when  16  years  of  age  he  was  teaching 
his  first  school.  At  18  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  after 
teaching  there  two  years  he  returned  with  a  full  pur- 
pose of  taking  a  college  course  of  study.  When  about 
fitted  for  such  course,  his  plans  were  changed,  and 
after  two  years  in  a  theological  school  he  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  denomination,  and 
was  ordained  Feb.  2, 1 843.  His  pastorates  have  been. — 
Meredith  Village,  2  years;  Laconia,  8;  New  Hampton, 
10 ;  Boston,  2  ;  and  Dover,  6. 

He  was  married,  Feb.  8,  1843,  to  Elisabeth  G.,  onl}' 


ISAAC  D.  STEWART.  517 

daughter  of  Isaac  Rice,  Esq^  of  Henniker.  Their  only 
child.  Frances,  was  born  July,  1845,  and  in  September, 
1871,  she  married  George  Frank  Mosher,  of  China,  Me., 
the  present  editor  of  the  Morning  Star. 

Mr.  Stewart  left  Laconia  in  poor  health,  in  1852 ; 
went  West,  remained  one  year,  and  returned  to  enter 
the  New  Hampton  Institution  as  a  teacher.  He  taught 
two  years ;  and  when  he  left  the  school  for  the  pastor- 
ate there,  he  continued  to  act  as  treasurer  of  the  insti- 
tution. He  represented  the  town  of  New  Hampton 
two  3'ears  in  the  legislature  of  the  state. 

The  positions  of  trust  and  honor  assigned  him  in 
denominational  work  have  been  many,  among  which 
are  the  following:  He  was  a  member  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Board  for  many  years,  and  chairman  till  he 
declined  a  reflection;  was  secretary  of  the  Anniversary 
Convention  for  eighteen  years,  and  one  of  the  commit- 
tee that  arranged  all  of  the  annual  meetings  of  the 
benevolent  societies;  has  been  four  times  chosen  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference,  the  denomina- 
tional body  that  meets  once  in  three  years,  and  has 
been  secretary  of  the  conference  since  1868.  He  was 
one  of  the  corporators  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  print- 
ing establishment  fourteen  years,  which  position  he 
resigned  in  1873,  on  being  elected  treasurer  and  agent 
of  the  establishment.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
the  publisher  of  the  Morning  Star,  and  of  whatever 
said  establishment  has  issued.    He  was  a  trustee  of 


518  HI8T0RT  OP  WARNER. 

Bates  college,  in  Maine,  till  he  declined  a  reelection, 
and  is  still  a  trustee  of  Hillsdale  college^  in  Michi- 
gan, and  of  Storer  college,  at  Harpers  Ferry,  West 
Virginia. 

As  an  author,  he  prepared  the  Minutes  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  for  publication ;  wrote  the  history  of 
the  Free  Will  Baptists  for  the  first  half  century  of 
their  work ;  and  prepared  and  published  the  Ministers' 
Manual.  He  is  still  an  industrious  and  hard-working 
man. 

Marshall  G.  Kimball.  John  Kimball  was  bom  at 
Waltham,  Mass.,  June  4, 1788 ;  he  came  to  Warner  to 
live  in  1816,  where  he  was  actively  engaged  in  busi- 
ness some  twenty  years.  He  married  Hannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Bean.  Mr.  Kimball  died  at  Manchester 
in  1841,  and  Mrs.  Kimball  in  1865.  Ten  of  their 
children  are  now  living, — viz.,  John  H.,  Henry,  Mrs. 
Darling,  Mrs.  Smith,  Marshall  G.,  Mrs.  Varney,  Newell 
8.,  Albert  H.,  Caleb  J.,  and  Mrs.  Olzendam. 

Marshall  G.  Kimball  was  born  at  Warner,  June  22, 
1824.  He  was  a  natural  scholar;  he  received  his  ed- 
ucation at  the  public  schools  of  Warner  and  Manches- 
ter, and  at  Dartmouth  college.  He  concluded  a  course 
of  study  at  the  Cambridge  Divinity  School  in  1854, 
and  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Unitarian  denomina- 
tion. His  first  regular  settlement  was  at  Barre,  Mass., 
though  he  had  preached  at  Watertown  and  several 
other  places  previous  to  that.     He  is  now  at  Shebpy- 


JOHN  CURTIS  ACER.  519 

gan,  Wis.  Possessing  abilities  of  a  high  order,  as  well 
as  culture  and  genial  manners,  he  is  a  universal  favor- 
ite wherever  known. 

John  Curtis  Ager^  a  son  of  Uriah,  was  born  in  War- 
ner, March,  1835.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  left 
home  and  found  employment  in  Fisherville,  in  a  cot- 
ton mill.  From  this  time  (depending  upon  his  own 
resources)  he  managed,  by  close  economy,  to  secure 
ten  or  twelve  weeks'  schooling  each  year.  His  chief 
employments,  until  he  became  of  age,  were  working 
in  cotton  mills,  shoemaking,  and  farming,  and,  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  time,  teaching  country  schools. 

From  his  earl}^  childhood  he  had  felt  a  strong  de- 
sire to  become  a  minister.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  a 
course  of  lectures  on  the  doctrines  of  the  New  Church 
was  delivered  at  Warner  by  the  Rev.  Abiel  Silver, 
which  determined  him  at  once  to  devote  himself  to  the 
New  Church  ministry.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  after 
six  months'  preparation  in  the  New  London  academy, 
he  entered  ah  advanced  class  in  the  New  Church  col- 
lege at  Urbana,  Ohio.  During  the  year,  as  his  means 
were  limited,  he  was  permitted  to  undertake  the 
studies  of  two  classes.  His  health  failed,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  Urbana  in  the  spring  of  1857,  after  a 
college  residence  of  little  more  than  a  year.  Recruit- 
ing his  health  during  the  summer,  he  took  charge,  in 
the  autumn,  of  the  New  Church  academy  at  Contoo- 
cook.    He  continued  in  this  position  nine  months, 


520  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

carrying  on  at  the  same  time  his  college  studies,  so 
that  he  was  *  enabled  to  graduate  with  his  class  in 
June,  1858. 

After  holding  a  pasition  of  tutor  in  his  ahna  mater 
for  two  years,  he  was  appointed  Professor  of  Philoso- 
phy and  English  Literature.  In  1861,  on  account  of 
the  war,  and  the  consequent  financial  prostration,  the 
college  was  compelled  to  suspend  its  sessions,  and  Mr. 
Ager,  receiving  an  invitation  from  the  New  Church 
society  in  Brookline,  Mass.,  to  become  its  pastor,  ac- 
cepted it.   ^ 

In  January,  1865,  he  removed  to  Brooklyn,  N.  T., 
and  took  charge  of  the  New  Church  society  in  that 
city,  a  position  which  he  still  holds. 

He  was  for  several  years  editor  of  the  New  Jertaor 
lem  Messenger  J  the  only  weekly  paper  in  that  church, 
and  he  has  also  served  as  Secretary  of  the  American 
Swedenborg  Publishing  Society. 

His  summer  residence  is  in  Warner,  and  instead  of 
losing  his  attachment  to  the  place  of  his  birth,  he  is 
continually  looking  forward  to  the  time  when  he  can 
make  it  his  permanent  home. 

John  Ceoroe,  a  son  of  Charles,  a  grandson  of  Major 
Daniel,  and  a  great-grandson  of  John,  senior,  entered 
the  ministry  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  denomination, 
had  a  successful  pastorate  of  two  or  three  years  at 
Loudon  Centre,  and  is  now  stationed  over  a  church  at 
Amesbury,  Mass. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

LOCAL    NAMES — POPULATION    OP    WARNER — FOUR-SCORE  TEARS 

AND  TEN — ^MANUFACTURES. 

VERY  town  has  its  odd  local  names.  Webster 
KA  has  its  Bashan,  Sutton  its  Nauvoo,  Wilraot  its 
Shindagan,  and  so  forth.  Warner  has  its  local  names, 
the  origin  of  some  of  which  is  here  given. 

Waterloo  village  came  by  its  name  in  the  follow- 
ing manner :  Samuel  Champlin  was  in  trade  at  War- 
ner village,  near  Ira  Harvey's  house.  He  owed 
Thomas  Whitman  of  Boston,  for  goods,  §2,000.  Whit- 
man came  up  to  look  after  the  debt,  and  he  succeeded 
in  getting  Henry  B.  Chase  and  Stephen  Currier,  Jr., 
to  sign  a  note  with  Champlin  for  the  amount.  This 
was  in  1819.  Champlin  was  to  secure  Chase  and 
Currier  by  collaterals ;  but  instead  of  doing  this,  he 
ran  away.  Currier  and  John  Kimball,  of  Bean's  HUh, 
were  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitive,  having  been  ap- 
pointed deputy  sheriffs  for  this  purpose.  They  over- 
hauled Champlin  at  Waterloo,  New  York,  a  charming 
town  at  the  foot  of  Seneca  lake.  Kimball  thought 
it  the  most  delightful  village  he  had  ever  seen.  They 
brought  back  their  man,  and  Kimball  brought  back 


522  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

the  name  and  applied  it  successfully  to  the  village  of 
his  residence.    The  Duke  of  Wellington   had   then 
recently  borne  down  the  "  Man  of  Destiny  '*  on  the 
immortal  battle-field  of  Belgium,  and  Waterloo  had 
become  forever  historic. 

The  North  village  has  been  known  by  that  name 
a  hundred  years.  There  was  quite  a  farmer's  village 
on  the  Gould  road  at  an  early  day.  The  lots  headed 
on  the  road,  and  extended  back  each  way  a  half  mile. 
They  were  but  forty  rods  wide,  and  they  contained, 
of  course,  but  forty  acres  eacli.  A  number  of  these 
were  chosen  by  settlers  as  ^  gift  lots ;"  others  were 
bought  and  occupied  soon  afler  the  gifl  lots  were  ex- 
hausted. Between  Kiah  Corner  and  Bartlett's  brook, 
ten  or  twelve  deserted  cellars  can  be  counted  where 
families  once  resided.  It  was  a  bustling,  lively  street, 
a  century  ago. 

Directly  to  the  north  of  this  cluster  of  farm-houses 
was  another  smart  settlement,  extending  from  the 
Elliots  at  one  extreme,  to  Bradshaw  Ordway's  at  the 
other,  and  taking  in  on  the  one  side  Wells  Davis  with 
his  mills,  and  on  the  other  Isaac  Dalton  with  his  tan- 
nery. The  people  of  the  south  road  called  this  settle- 
ment of  the  north  road  the  North  village. 

Tory  Hill  received  this  name  in  the  days  of  the 
Revolution.  There  was  a  family  or  two  on  that  road 
who  were  opposed  to  war.  They  inclined  towards 
the  Shakers  in  their  religious  views,  and,  ultimately, 


LOCAL  NAMES.  528 

openly  avowed  themselves  Shakers.  The  intolerance 
of  that  period  knew  no  bounds.  Everj'  man  of  the 
proper  age,  who  was  not  willing  to  take  up  arms  in 
the  cause  of  the  colonies,  was  denounced  as  a  Tory 
and  treated  with  derision.  But  generations  have 
come  and  gone  since  the  last  vestige  of  Shakerism 
disappeared  from  Warner,  and  the  name  of  the  hill 
has  had  no  significance  for  a  hundred  years. 

Pumpkin  hill  derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that 
when  the  land  was  new,  huge  pumpkins  {pampions, 
Dr.  Long  would  say)  were  produced  on  that  eleva- 
tion. It  was  no  unusual  thing  to  find  a  pumpkin  that 
weighed  seventy-five  pounds. 

Burnt  hill  is  so  called,  because,  before  any  white 
man  had  stepped  foot  in  Warner,  a  high  wind  had 
swept  down  the  forest  trees  on  that  hill  by  the  acre. 
The  Indians  had  set  fire  to  the  dead  wood,  and  a 
large  part  of  the  hill  had  been  burnt  over.  It  has 
been  stated  that  the  Indians  raised  corn  on  this  burnt 
groimd. 

Schoodac  gets  its  name  from  the  harsh  music  of  a 

saw-mill.    The  first  saw-mill  ever  built  there  was  on 

the  exact  spot  where  the  present  mill  stands,  by  the 

old  Col.  Roby  place.     The   saw-gate  (if  that  is  the 

proper  term)  worked  up  and  down  with  a  good  deal  of 

friction,  and  seemed  continually  to  say  S-oJHhO'dtxc — 

s-o-hro-chdac  ! 

The  section  of  Warner  called  Joppa  is  not  supposed 
84 


524  HIBTOSY  OF  WABNEIU 

to  bear  a  vory  striking  resemblance  to  the  Joppa  of 
Judea,  on  the  majestic  shore  of  the  Mediteranean ; 
nor  has  it  been  the  abode  of  any  pious  Dorcas^  at 
'whose  bier  Peter  has  proclaimed,  with  miraculous 
authority, — ^*^Tabitha,  arise!"  but  Samuel  Pearsons 
once  dwelt  there,  on  the  Origen  Dimond  farm,  and  he 
came  from  a  locality  called  Joppa,  down  by  the  salt 
water  in  Newburyport  He  brought  the  name  with 
him  to  Warner. 

POPULATION  OF  THE  TOWN. 

Warner  has  been  settled  a  hundred  and  seventeen 
years.  In  less  than  sixty  years  after  the  first  sod  was 
turned,  the  population  of  the  town  reached  its  highest 
figure. 

In  1775  it  was  262 

In  1790  «  863 

In  1800  "  16C9 

In  1810  "  1838 

In  1820  «  2446 

In  1830  «  2222 

In  1840  «  2126 

In  1850  «  2038 

In  1860  *'  1971 

In  1870  "  1667 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  increase  for  fifteen  years 
after  the  first  census  was  very  great ;  also,  that  the 
population  w.is  nearly  doubled  in  the  decade  between 
1790  and  1800.  The  large  increase  between  1810 
and  1820  is  partly  attributable  to  the  annexation  of 
the  Gore,  which  took  place  in  1818.    Since  1820  the 


POUR-SCORE  YEARS    AND  TEX.  525 

population  of  the  town  has  been  decreasing,  but  the 
indications  now  are  that  the  census  of  1880  will  show 
that  we  are  holding  our  own. 

We  have  more  adults, — more  voters,  certainly, — 
now,  than  we  had  in  1820,  but  the  children  are  far 
less  numerous  than  at  that  time.  The  town-house  is 
full,  but  the  school-houses  (some  of  them)  are  nearly 
empty.  A  century  ago,  and  even  fifty  years  ago,  in 
riding  over  a  town  like  Warner,  one  would  see  from 
five  to  eight  white-haired  children  racing  about  the 
premises  of  almost  every  young  farmer.  He  will  do 
well  now  if  he  can  find  half  that  number.  The  sub- 
ject is  an  important  one,  and  it  demands  the  careful 
consideration  of  the  moralist,  the  minister,  and  of  all 
thinking  people. 

The  population  of  the  stxde  in  1860  was  326,073, 
that  being  the  highest  point  it  ever  reached.  It  fell 
off  in  the  following  decade,  being  but  318,300  in  1870. 
It  is  believed  that  the  next  census  will  show  an  in- 
crease. Merrimack  and  Hillsborough  counties  made 
an  increase  of  2800  between  1860  and  1870,  but  the 
other  eight  counties  made  a  loss. 

FOUR-SCORE  YEARS  AND  TEN. 

An  erroneous  impression  prevails  in  regard  to  the 
question  of  longevity.  The  general  opinion  appears  to 
be,  that  life  is  becoming  shorter  and  shorter  as  time 
advances.    The  fact,  however,  undoubtedly  is,  that  in 


526  HI8T0BT  OP  WARNEB. 

this  country,  for  the  last  century  or  two,  the  average 
age  of  mankind  has  been  increasing. 
.  Turning  back  to  remote  antiquity,  we    find   the 
Psahnist  declaring,  ^  The  days  of  our  years  are  three- 
score years  and  ten ;  and  if  by  reason  of  strength 
they  be  fournscore  years,  yet  is  their  strength  labor 
and  sorrow.**    This  would  be  hardly  true  of  the  peo- 
ple of  this  country  at  the  present  time.    Three-ecore 
years  and  ten  is  70  years.     Men  and  women  are  now 
young  at  70.     Even  at  80  many  are  vigorous  and 
healthful,  in   both  body  and  mind,  and  not  a  few  re- 
tain their  faculties  almost  unimpaired  till  they  have 
reached  the  age  of  90. 

The  names  of  Warner  persons,  dead  and  living  (so 
far  as  they  can  be  recalled),  who  have  reached  the 
age  of  four-score  years  and  ten,  are  here  presented. 

Gideon  Davis,  brother  to  Capt.  Francis,  died  on  the  Moses  R 
Davis  place  at  the  age  of  92. 

Mrs.  Hannah,  widow  of  Zebulon  Flanders,  lived  to  be  near!}-  94. 
Mrs.  Sarah,  widow  of  Asa  Harriman,  died  in  1856,  aged  91. 
Anthony  Clark,  the  Kevolutionary  soldier,  died  at   the  age  of 

100. 

^liss  Hannah  Sibley  died  at  Timothy  Eastman's,  rising  90 

years  of  age. 

John  Davis,  the  carpenter,  and  the  father  of  John,  Zaccheus, 
and  Eleazer,  died  at  the  age  of  90. 

Mrs.  Betsey,  widow  of  Jonathan  Straw,  died  at  Alfred  W.  Sar- 
gent's, a  few  years  since,  at  the  age  of  101. 

Nathaniel  Eaton  (wlio  is  reasonably  claimed  as  a  Warner  man) 
died  at  the  age  of  100  years  and  5  days. 

John  Whitcomb,  a  hard-working  farmer  through  life,  died  in 
1878,  aged  93. 


MANUFACTURES.  527 

Mrs.  Nathaniel  C.  Whittier,  the  mother  of  Richard  B.,  died 
in  Warner  at  the  age  of  93. 

Noah  T.  Andrews  died  November,  1878,  two  months  above  90 
years  of  age. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Andrews  was  from  Wallingford,  Conn.  He 
settled  in  Claremont,  N.  H.,  when  a  young  man,  and  Noah  T. 
was  bom  there  (on  the  exact  spot  where  the  town  hall  now  , 
stands),  September,  1788.  He  married  Sally  (daughter  of  Daniel 
Bean),  and  had  children  by  the  following  names :  Sarah  B.  (Mrs. . 
John  P.  Colby),  Almira  B.  (jVlrs.  Harriman).  Harriet  B.  (Mrs.  G. 
G.  Haines),  Susan  T.  (Mrs.  H.  D.  Adams),  N.  Tyler,  WiUiam  G., 
Helen  M.  (Mrs.  A.  I.  Sawtelle),  Charles  C.  Austin,  and  Fran* 
ces  M. 

Mrs.  Miriam,  widow  of  Jacob  Osgood,  is  now  living  at  the  age 
of  99. 

William  Lamphier,  of  Joppa,  is  nearly  if  not  fully  100  years  of 
age. 

Mrs.  Heath,  widow  of  Dea.  David  Heath,  has  gone  consider- 
ably beyond  her  fourscore  years  and  ten. 

Reuben  Porter,  who  is  referred  to  on  the  preceding  pages  of 
this  book,  is  nearly  90.  . 

Timothy  Eastman  and  wife  are  living  in  the  enjoyment  of 
good  health,  he  being  not  much  short  of  90  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Eastman  came  from  Hopkinton  about  the  year  1820,  and 
settled  in  the  bow  of  the  river,  where  he  lias  always  resided. 
Mrs.  Eastman  (a  sister  of  the  late  Stephen  Sibley)  was  also  from 
Hopkinton.  Their  sons,  now  living,  are  George  and  Timothy  B. ; 
and  their  daughters  are  Laura,  Mrs.  Andrews,  Mrs.  Wheeler,  and 
Mrs.  John  S.  Bean,  of  Wisconsin. 

MANUFACTURES. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  make  an  accurate  tod 
complete  report  of  the  manufactures  of  Warner,  past 
or  present,  and  that  job  is  not  attempted  here. 

Many  manufacturing  establishments,  great  and 
small;  have  gone  down  since  the  first  saw-mill  was 


528  HISTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

erected  at  Davisville  in  1739,  but  others  have  ans^tr; 
and  it  is  believed  that  the  manufacturing,  which  is 
done  in  town  at  the  present  time,  will  equal  if  not 
excel  that  of  any  previous  period. 

Commencing  on  the  river,  where  it  enters  the  town- 
ship, we  find  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill,  now  in*  the 
hands  of  Mason  Holmes.  The  first  grist-mill  at  those 
falls  was  built  in  the  year  1788.  A  saw-mill  may 
have  existed  there  a  few  years  previous  to  this  time. 
The  grist-mill  was  built  by  Stephen  Hoyt,  of  Bradford, 
and  it  was  his  custom  to  come  and  grind,  the  last  week 
in  every  month.  The  rest  of  the  time  the  mill  was 
closed.  The  next  owner  was  Thomas  Eaton,  who  sold 
•to  Edward  Crcssey  and  Ebenezer  Simmons;  and  they 
gave  the  old  mill  and  privilege  to  Josiah  Melvin,  on 
condition  that  it  should  be  put  in  -good  order  and  run 
as  a  grist-mill.  In  the  spring  of  1827  Mr.  Melvin 
built  the  new  mill,  which  now  stands.  The  next 
owner  was  his  son  Richard,  who  sold  to  his  brother 
Nathan ;  the  latter  sold  to  Abner  W.  Bailey  ;  Bailey 
sold  to  Dr.  J.  H.  Ames,  and  Ames  to  Lewis  Holmes, 
the  father  of  the  present  proprietor.  Melvin's  mill 
and  the  Calico  school-house  were  old  familiar  land- 
marks to  the  generations  that  have  passed  away. 

Following  down  the  river,  we  next  come  to  the  fac- 
tory of  John  Rogers,  where  excelsior,  bedsteads,  and 
chairs  are  manufactured.  Next  below  Rogers  was  the 
w^oollen  mill.     This  was  converted  into  a  box-factory 


MANUFACTURES.  529 

by  Samuel  K.  Page,  of  Henniker,  who  was  burnt  out 
in  the  summer  of  1878. 

Bartlett's  excelsior  factory  comes  next,  which  takes 
the  place  of  the  Stevens  carriage  and  chum  shops. 
Mr.  Bartlett  and  two  or  three  sons  are  engaged  in 
business  here. 

Stephen  C.  Pierce,  a  manufacturer  of  chairs,  comes 
next;  and  Oliver  P.  Reddington,  manufacturer  of  hubs 
and  clothes-pins,  next 

Waterloo  (great  falls)  has  been  a  manufacturing 
point  almost  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  town. 
Nathaniel  Bean  erected  saw-  and  grist-mills  here  at 
least  a  hundred  years  ago;  and  there  was  a  day  when 
the  little  village  could  boast  of  a  tannery,  a  clothing-, 
mill,  a  trip-hammer,  and  a  paper-mill. 

In  1816,  Daniel  Bean,  Henry  B.  Chase,  and  John 
Kimball  erected  a  paper-mill,  in  which-all  grades  of 
paper,  from  the  finest  note  to  the  coarsest  wrapping, 
were  manufactured.  Noah  T.  Andrews  was  the  work- 
man who  built  the  wheels  and  the  gearing.  The  first 
dam  was  twenty  rods  above  the  mill.  Wm.  Parker,  of 
Boston,  bought  out  the  original  owners,  and  the  mill 
was  under  the  control  of  Gibbs  &  Greenleaf  a  number 
of  3'ears.  Then  a  Mr.  Foley  had  possession ;  then  Mr. 
Newton ;  then  Mr.  Churchill. 

Modern  mills,  with  improved  machinery,  sprang  up 
round  about,  and  the  Waterloo  mill  could  not  compete 
with  them  in  the  manufacture  of  paper.    Not  far  from 


580  HI8T0BT  OP  WABNEB. 

1842  the  gate  was  shut  down,  and  the  wheels  ceased 
revolvmg.    The  dam  and  the  mill  soon  went  to  decay. 

Samuel  Couch,  who  afterwards  carried  on  black- 
smithing  near  Smith's  Comer,  had  a  shop  at  these 
fsdls,  just  below  the  grist-mill,  which  shop  was  supplied 
with  a  trip-hammer  accompaniment 

Dudley  Morrill  and  Nicodemus  Watson,  about  1812, 
built  a  clothing-mill  and  carding-mill  at  the  falls.  This 
mill  went  into  the  hands  of  David  Watson  and  Clark 
Sargent,  and  then  into  the  hands  of  Frederick  Eatoa 
Levi  Bartlett  came  into  possession,  and  converted  the 
mill  into  a  tannery. 

Daniel  Bean,  Jr.,  carried  on  the  bakery  business 
here  for  a  year  or  two ;  but  it  was  given  up  shortly 
after  his  decease  in  1853. 

There  is  now  a  saw-mill  and  grist-mill  at  the  &lls, 
the  property  of  N.  G.  Ordway. 

At  Warner  village,  the  first  grist-mill  was  near  the 
Edmund  S.  Davis  Louse.  Jacob  Davis  owned  it  at  one 
time.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  hiany  years  ago.  The 
saw-mill  that  nearly  occupies  the  site  of  the  old  grist- 
mill was  built  by  Robert  Thompson.  The  grist-mill 
and  carding-mill,  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  were 
built  by  Ciipt.  Nicholas  Fowler  and  Nathan  S.  Colby 
in  1830.  These  mills  have  been  occupied  by  several 
parties.  For  a  number  of  years  prior  to  1844  they 
were  owned  by  Timothy  D.  Robertson. 

John  Ela  came  up  from  Derry  in  1844,  and  bought 


MANUFACTURES.  581 

Mr.  Robertson  oul ;  and  John  C.  Ela,  son  of  the  former, 

became  sole  proprietor  in  1878. 

At  Davisville  there  was  once  an  iron  foundry,  where 

various  articles  were  manufactured,  such  as  hand-irons, 

clock- weights,  and  the  like.     Old  iron  was  run  up  and 

used  for  these  purposes  instead   of  ore.     Woollen 

cloth  was  also  manufactured  there;  but  the  cloth-mill 

went  down  stream  in  the  great  August  freshet  of 
1826. 

The  leading  business  there  now  is  the  manufacture 
of  what  is  called  straw  hoard.  Walter  Scott  and  Hen- 
ry C,  sons  of  Nathaniel  A.  Davis,  and  grandsons  of 
Gen.  Aquila,  are  the  proprietors  of  these  mills. 

John  Davis,  3d,  who  came  to  Warner  from  Salem, 
Mass.,  and  his  son,  are  carrying  on  the  tannery  busi- 
ness on  Willow  brook.  The  sons  of  Moses  EL  Clark 
have  built  a  shingle-mill,  with  a  threshing-machine 
attachment,  on  the  same  brook,  to  take  the  place  of 
one  recently  destroyed  by  fire.  Francis  M.  Watson 
and  son  have  also  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of 
various- kinds  of  wares  on  the  same  stream. 

Just  above  B.  F.  Ha rri man's  carriage-shop  on  Silver 
brook,  is  the  site  of  the  old  saw-mill  and  grist-mill 
and  distillery  of  Wells  Davis. 

Francis  Davis  (a  son  of  Wells)  had  a  large  farm,  a 
grist-mill,  and  a  saw-mill,  on  Harriman  brook,  where  ' 
he  was  actively  engaged  the  best  part  of  his  life.    In 
his  old  age  he   erected  another  mill  on  the  same 


532  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

stream,  but  within  the  township  of  Henniker,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  80. 

Dea.  Ezra  Barrett  manufactured  scythe-snaths  at 
Warner  village.  David  H.  Foster  manufactured  rakes 
on  Bartlett  brook.  There  was  a  brickyard  on  Silver 
brook,  near  the  Willaby  Colby  road,  and  another  by 
Isaac  Dow's,  near  Pleasant  pond. 

Capt  Nicholas  Evans,  a  brother  to  Benjamin,  had  a 
tannery  near  his  house  (now  the  Henry  H.  Davis 
house)  on  Pumpkin  Hill  road. 

There  was  a  grist-mill  on  Willow  brook,  near  A.  D. 
Famum's.  John  Morgan  had  a  shop  on  the  rivulet 
at  New  Market,  where  he  turned  out  wooden  bowls, 
mortars,  trays,  &c.  There  is  limestone  in  Joppa,  near 
Josiah  C.  Hardy's,  and  many  years  ago  lime  was  man- 
ufactured there. 

*^  Potter  Dimond"  manufactured  earthen  ware  at 
Dimond's  Corner.  He  had  a  large,  two-story  shop  or 
factory,  the  foundations  of  which  are  yet  distinctly 
seen.  His  son,  Col.  Hiram  Dimond,  was  at  one  time 
engaged  in  trade  at  that  corner,  which  was  quite  a 
business  centre. 

Walter  Scott  Davis.  Davisville,  in  the  south- 
easterly corner  of  the  town,  is  one  of  the  beautiful 
villages  of  Warner.  It  has  the  finest  water-power  to 
be  found  on  the  "  Alnisbury"  river,  and  the  proprietors 
of  Number  One,  quick  to  avail  themselves  of  every 
advantage,  placed  their  first  mills  there.    It  is  a  man- 


Hdlwit"  Pml'ng  Co..  B«««m- 


WALTER  8C0TT  DAVIS.  533 

ufacturing  viUage,  though  D.  C.  Hubbard  is  engaged 
in  mercantile  business,  and  Charles  Davis,  Charles  P. 
Sawyer,  Theodore  S.  Davis,  and  others  there,  are 
among  our  best  farmers.  The  village  takes  its  name 
from  the  Davis  family,  who,  from  the  first  settlement 
at  the  ^  old  camp,"  have  been  in  continuous  possession 
of  the  falls. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  grandson  of  Gen. 
Aquila  Davis,  and  a  son  of  Nathaniel  A.,  the  names  of 
whose  children  (now  living)  are  as  follows :  Stephen 
C,  Walter  S.,  Oilman,  Lucretia  A.,  Mary  E.,  Stillman 
Cand  Henry  C. 

W.  Scott  Davis  was  born  at  Davisville,  July  29, 
1834.  He  obtained  an  excellent  education,  for,  besides 
enjoying  the  advantages  of  a  good  district  school,  he 

ft 

was  a  student  at  a  high  school  in  Contoocook,  at  Gil- 
manton  academy,  at  Tubbs  Union  academy  in  Wash- 
ington, at  Thetford  (Vt.)  academy,  and  at  the  New 
London  Scientific  Institution.  He  earned  money 
enough  in  teaching  schools  during  the  winter  seasons 
to  pay  all  the  expenses  of  board,  books,  tuition,  and 
clothing,  incurred  at  these  several  academies. 

In  1854,  at  the  age  of  20  years,  he  went  into  busi- 
ness with  Samuel  H.  Dow.  The  firm  dealt  largely  in 
hemlock  bark,  in  wood,  and  in  lumber,  for  some  ten 
years  or  more.  In  18G5,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Paine  Davis,  which  carried  on  the  same  business,  with 
farming  added.      This  partnership  was  dissolved  in 


534  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

1871,  Paine  retaining  the  wood  and  bark  branch,  and 
W.  S.  the  lumber  branch,  of  the  business.  The  same 
year  the  latter  entered  into  partnership  with  George 
W.  Dow,  in  the  paper  (or  straw  board)  business.  Davis 
bought  Dow  out  in  the  fall  of  1875,  and  took  his 
brother,  Henry  C^  into  company  with  him,  and  this 
firm  still  continues.  They  manufacture  600  tons 
($40,000  worth)  of  straw  board  annually,  and  the  firm 
stands  deservedly  high  wherever  known.  They  have 
also  a  grist-mill,  a  saw-mill,  and  a  threshing-machine, 
all  run  by  water. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Davis  invented  improvements  in  tur- 
bine water-wheels,  for  which  he  received  letters  patent 
in  February,  1871. 

He  lived  at  Davisville  till  April,  1874,  when  he 
removed  to  Contoocook.  In  March,  1878,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  the  general  court  from  Hop- 
kinton,  and  was  known  as  an  influential  member  of 
the  House.  He  declined  the  nomination  that  was 
tendered  him  at  the  next  election. 

May  3, 1857,  Mr.  Davis  married  Miss  DoUie  Jones, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Jones,  senior,  who  was  a  particu- 
lar friend,  and  at  one  time  a  partner  in  the  lumber 
business  with  Gen.  Aquila  Davis.  Six  children  have 
been  born  to  these  parents,  three  of  whom  died  of 
scarlet  fever  in  the  spring  of  1869,  one  died  in  infan- 
cy in  1874,  and  two  survive. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

PATAL    CASUALTIES— SUICIDES — PRIVATIONS — WOMAN    LOST — 

WILD  BEASTS — ^WITCHCUAPT. 

I^IHE  casualties  by  which  inhabitants  of  Warner 
Jit  have  lost  their  lives  have  been  of  frequent  oc- 
currence, and  the  following  catalogue,  though  large, 
probably  does  not  embrace  them  all.  As  dates  are 
wanting  in  many  cases,  no  attempt  has  been  made  to 
place  these  casualties  in  the  exact  order  of  their  oc- 
currence. 

Capt.  Francis  Davis  (the  founder  of  Davisville)  was  drowned 
at  Deny,  Nov.  26, 1784. 

Ebenezer  Sargent,  father  of  Dea.  James,  iras  killed  at  the  pres- 
ent Willaby  Coli)y  place,  by  falling  down  a  flight  of  stairs. 

John  Weed,  in  crossing  Bagley's  bridge,  fell  over  into  the 
river  and  was  drowned.     This  took  place  about  the  year  1785. 

A -child  of.  Isaac  French  was  smothered  in  bed.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
French  lived  near  the  Grould  road  and  Bartlett's  brook.  They 
were  not  overstocked  with  intelligence.  A  young  child  of  theirs, 
which  was  well  at  bedtime,  was  dead  in  the  morning.  On  hear- 
ing of  this  sudden  death,  the  neighbors  came  in  and  inquired  how 
long  the  child  had  been  sick,  and  the  father  said, — '^  It  went  to 
bed  as  well  as  over  't  was  in  the  world,  but  when  it  waked  up 
Hwas  dead's  a  hammer!"  ^^Ves,"  said  his  amiable  spouse,  ''and 
you  was  the  inatimigator  of  it;  for  you  rolled  over  and  squshed 
it  to  death !" 


686  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

Paine  Davisi  son  of  Francis,  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree  about 
1790. 

David  Steven?,  whose  home  was  either  on  Waldron's  hill,  or  in 
the  Badger  neighborhood,  was  killed  in  rolling  a  large  boulder 
down  a  precipice,  between  the  old  Gilmore  and  Putney  farms. 

Asa  Harriman  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree  March  9,  171VL 
^  A  young  daughter  of  Wells  Davis  was  drowned  in  a  well,  at  the 
North  village,  about  1705. 

Alonzo,  a  son  of  Major  William  H.  Ballard,  was  burnt  up  with 
the  house  of  Mr.  B.  while  the  parents  were  at  church. 

Levi  Bartlett,  an  insane  man,  lost  his  life  in  a  house  that  was 
consumed  by  fire,  near  Richard  Bartlett *s,  in  the  year  1800. 

Miriam  Groodwin  and  Judith  Elliot,  two  young  ladies,  were 
drowned  in  the  river  near  where  the  Fair  Ground  bridge  now 
stands.  One  of  these  was  the  daughter  of  Ezekiel  Groodwin,  at 
the  Dea.  Bailey  place,  and  the  other  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Elliot, 
near  the  Capt  Nat.  Flanders  place.  A  tree  had  fallen  across  the 
river  at  this  point,  on  which  people  were  accustomed  to  pass  and 
repass.  There  was  a  bridge  over  the  river,  but  it  w;as  down 
where  the  depot  now  is.  These  girls  came  down  from  home, 
crossed  the  river,  hand  in  hand,  on  the  trunk  of  this  tree,  went 
to  Dr.  HalFs,  and  to  another  place,  to  invite  their  young  friends 
to  a  party,  and  then  started  on  their  return.  Both  were  drowned. 
Their  bodies  were  recovered  the  next  dav,  one's  hand  lirmlv 
clasped  in  that  of  the  other.     This  occurred  not  far  from  1805. 

Jonathan  Watson,  of  Joppa,  son  of  Dea.  Parmenas,  and  father 
of  Capt  Cyrus,  was  thrown  from  the  tongue  under  the  wheel  of 
a  loaded  cart  and  killed,  Sept.  4,  1820. 

Samuel  Savory  and  a  child  of  Daniel  Savory,  Siliss  Anna 
Bichardson  and  a  child  of  Peter  Flanders,  were  killed  by  the  tor- 
nado (as  stated  on  a  preceding  page)  Sept.  9,  1821. 

Asa  Sargent,  son  of  Benjamin  Sarpjent,  senior,  of  Tory  Hill, 
was  killed  bv  a  fall  in  the  barn. 

William  Colby,  son  of  David,  senior,  wad  drowned  in  Warner 
river,  in  the  great  freshet  of  Feb.  14,  1824. 

Thorndiko  Felton,  son  of  Timothy,  was  frozen  to  death  in  the 
winter  of  1828. 

Daniel  Floo<l,  a  stui  of  the  original  Daniel,  was  drowned  in  the 
Pemigewasset  at  Franklin. 


FATAL  CASUALTIES.  587 

Dnznmer  Pattee  was  thrown  from  a  wagon  loaded  with  furni- 
ture, and  instantly  killed,  on  the  plain  near  llilrs.  Pearson's,  ahout 
the  year  1833. 

Mrs.  Stewart,  wife  of  Capt.  John  Stewart,  was  thrown  from  a 
wagon  and  killed,  Sept.  24, 1834. 

A  child  of  H.  G.  Harris  got  a  fresh-shelled  bean  into  its  throat. 
The  mother  ran  with  the  child  to  Dr.  Eaton's,  but  it  was  hardly 
alive  when  she  reached  there,  and  she  carried  it  back  dead. 

John  Roby,  of  Schoodac,  was  found  dead  in  the  road,  the 
weather  being  severely  cold. 

Harvey  Currier,  of  Joppa,  was  found  dead  in  a  pasture,  town- 
meeting  night,  1837. 

Albert  Morrill,  of  Joppa,  was  found  dead  in  the  road  in  the 
winter  of  1838. 

Cyrus  Colby's  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  about  the  year  1840, 
and  a  child  of  his  perished  in  the  flames. 

Samuel  Savory  was  found  dead  in  the  road,  in  the  winter  season. 

Mrs.  John  Foster  lost  her  life  from  her  clothes  taking  fire, 
about  the  year  1845. 

Mr.  John  Foster,  who  came  from  Hudson  to  Warner  in  1830, 
was  drowned  at  the  dam  on  Willow  brook  in  1850. 

Imri  Whitcomb,  son  of  John,  was  killed  in  sledding  wood,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  1845. 

John  Fisk  fell  from  a  saw-mill  on  Stevens  brook,  and  was 
killed.  He  left  a  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  one  of  the  latter 
being  the  wife  of  Gov.  Pillsbury,  of  Minnesota. 

Lorenzo  Colby,  a  son  of  }3arnard,  was  drowned  at  Melvin's 
mill  in  1850,  aged  about  twenty  years. 

Joseph  Fisk,  son  of  John,  was  drowned  in  Warner  river  in 
1851,  aged  about  l7. 

A  son  of  Abel  B.  Waldron  was  also  drowned  in  Warner  river. 

A  son  of  Lorenzo  Ferrin  was  drowned  at  the  old  John  Colby 
abutment  in  Warner  river. 

Samuel  Kelley,  a  youth  from  fifteen  to  twenty  years  of  age, 
son  of  Caleb,  was  drowned  at  Waterloo. 

A  son  of  T.  D.  Robertson, was  drowned  at  the  Badger  bridge 
in  Warner  river. 

Elliot  C.  Badger  fell  down  a  flight  of  stairs,  and  was  instantly 
kflled. 


/     • 


538  HISTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

Mn.  Frederick  Eaton  lost  her  life  hj  being  thrown  from  a 
wagon  near  Ela's  bridge,  about  1860.  Dea.  Frederick  Eaton  was 
a  brother  to  Dr.  Jacob,  now  of  Harrard,  ^lass.,  to  'Rev,  Dr.  £a- 
ton,  of  Palmyra,  X.  Y.,  and  to  John  Eaton,  late  of  Sutton,  who 
was  the  father  of  Gen.  John,  Lucius,  Frederick,  Charles,  and 
perhaps  others. 

A  child  of  Mr.  Hurd,  on  the  Plain,  lost  its  life  by  falling  into 
a  pail  of  scalding  water. 

A  child  of  William  H.  Bean,  Jr.,  of  Waterloo,  lost  its  life  in 
the  same  manner. 

Tappan  Osgood  was  found  frozen  to  death  near  Smith's  Comer. 

John  Hall,  a  son  of  Oliver,  was  killed  on  the  railroad  below 
Baglej's  bridge. 

Martin  Bean  bled  to  death  in  the  woods,  from  a  cut  in  the  foot 

Nathaniel  A  Davis,  son  of  Gen.  Aquila,  fell  from  a  stack  of 
boards  at  his  mill,  about  twelve  years  ago,  and  died  from  the 
effects  of  the  falL 

Nehemiah  Ordway,  enfeebled  by  age,  made  a  misstep  on  the 
Willaby  Colby  road,  fell  down  the  embankment  into  the  riyer, 
and  was  drowned. 

Webster  B.  Davis  received  a  fatal  hurt  from  a  fall  at  Ela's 
saw-mill. 

Capt  Joseph  Jewell's  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  18G8, 
and  a  son  of  his  perished  in  the  flames. 

Miss  Comfort  Peasley,  whose  home  was  at  the  comer  where 
Stillman  Cheney  resides,  was  run  over  and  kiUed  by  a  train  of 
cars  at  Enfield. 

Henry  Trumbull,  of  Schoodac,  was  accidentally  killed  in  load- 
ing a  gun  in  1877. 

SUICIDES. 

Mrs.  Watkins,  wife  of  the  second  Abner,  threw  herself  into  a 
well  about  the  year  1816.  Her  home  was  at  the  Fairbanks 
\   place. 

Lucy  Kelley,  daughter  of  Caleb  Kelley,  senior,  an  insane 
young  woman,  hung  herself  in  1831. 

Levi  Osgood,  on  the  Slaughter  Brook  road,  cut  his  throat  about 
the  year  1830. 


PRIVATIONS.  539 

Mrs.  Cuttings  wife  of  Bey.  Geo.  W*  Catting,  an  insane  woman, 
hung  herself  in  1838. 

Timothy  Flapders  hung  himself  at  the  North  village  in  1839. 

A  Mrs.  Brown,  who  lived  at  Davisville,  hung  herself  in  1840| 
or  near  that  time. 

Henry  L.  Tramboll,  on  Tory  Hill,  hung  himself  about  the 
year  1845. 

Stephen  Sanborn,  at  the  Jonathan  Straw  place,  hung  himself 
in  1867. 

Alfred  Davis,  at  the  Lower  Village,  shot  himself  with  a  gun 
not  far  from  1870. 

PRIVATIONa 

The  first  settlers  of  any  country  are  compelled  to 
sufier  privations  and  hardships  peculiar  to  their  situa- 
tion, but  they  are  exempt  from  many  of  the  exac- 
tions and  annoyances  that  pertain  to  older  communi- 
ties. This  is  a  life  of  compensations,  and  possibly 
the  pioneers  in  the  wilderness  may  gain  on  one  hand 
as  much  as  they  lose  on  another.  What  if  our  ances- 
tors did  bore  with  a  pod-auger,  tap  with  a  gouge, 
mow  with  a  straight  snath,  light  their  houses  with 
pine  knots,  eat  with  wooden  spoons,  and  drink  from  a 
gourd :  their  lives  were  as  happy  as  ours  are  at  the 
present  day. 

For  the  first  ten  years  there  were  none  but  log 
houses  in  town.  The  first  frame  house  was  built  by 
David  Bagley  in  1774,  the  year  the  town  was  incor- 
porated. Francis  Davis  and  Reuben  Kimball  built 
frame  houses  the  next  year. 

Everybody  ^  went  to  meeting,'*  but  on  the  severest 


OA 


540  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNEB. 

December  day  the  smell  of  fire  was  not  there  known. 
The  walls  of  the  church  edifice  were  as  cold  as  an 
iceberg,  and  as  destitute  of  finish  and  ornament  as 
the  cave  of  Macpelah. 

In  mid-winter,  when  the  snow  was  deep,  and  the 
roads  impassable  for  horses  or  cattle,  three  men  went 
to  Hopkinton  (five  or  six  miles)  and  brought  back 
two  or  three  women  on  hand-sleds,  for  help  in  cases 
of  sickness. 

Some  of  the  inhabitants  qn  the  Grould  road  cut  haj 
on  the  Harriman  meadow,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Minks,  before  any  settlement  had  been  made  there, 
and  hauled  it  home  on  hand-sleds  in  the  winter,  a 
distance  of  two  or  three  miles. 

At  an  early  day  the  beavers  constructed  a  dam 
across  Willow  brook,  at  the  foot  of  the  Harris  mead- 
ow ;  a  pond  was  created,  the  bushes  were  killed,  and 
the  grass  grew  tall  and  rank.  Tradition  says  two 
men,  by  the  name  of  Hadley,  came  from  below  War- 
ner, cut  and  stacked  the  hay  on  this  meadow,  drove 
up  cattle,  and  kept  them  on  it  through  the  winter. 
These  men  amused  themselves  in  tending  their  stock, 
and  in  hunting  and  fishing.  They  built  their  hut 
against  a  large  hollow  pine  log,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  meadow.  Towards  spring  their  dog  gave  unmis- 
takable signs  of  the  presence  of  game.  [This  is  tra- 
dition.] They  cut  through  the  thin  crust  of  the  log, 
and  came  directly  upon  a  bear,  which  they  immedi- 


PRIVATIONB.  541 

ately  dispatched.  These  young  men  aflerwards  set- 
tled near  Dimond's  Corner,  but  soon  left  for  a  newer 
country.  ^ 

The  luxury  of  a  post-office,  or  newspaper,  or  letter, 
was  not  known  for  years  afler  the  settlement  of  the 
town. 

Store-keepers  kept  nothing  but  articles  of  down- 
right necessity  (if  rum  and  tobacco  be  excepted). 
The  light  goods  which  now  fill  the  drawers  and 
shelves  of  the  country  store  were  not  wanted,  and 
could  not  have  been  paid  for  had  they  been  wanted. 

There  were  no  carriages,  and  but  few  horses.  The 
little  travel  which  the  first  inhabitants  indulged  in 
was  made  by  ox-teams  or  on  horseback. 

There  were  no  matches.  Fire  was  kept  by  burying 
up  coals  or  pine  knots  in  the  ashes.  To  provide 
against  an  exigenc}^,  some  families  procured  a  little 
steel  bar,  a  flint  rock,  and  a  piece  of  dry,  decayed 
wood,  called  punk.  The  punk  would  catch  the  spark 
of  fire  which  a  concussion  between  the  rock  and  steel 
produced.  But  only  a  few  families  had  this  appli- 
ance, and  fire  often  had  to  be  sought  for  at  the  houses 
of  the  neighbors.  This  was  not  altogether  back  in 
the  "  dark  ages."  The  writer,  in  his  day,  has  been 
out  in  quest  of  fire  more  than  once. 

Household  furniture  was  very  scant,  and  farming 
implements  were  rude  and  poor.  Grain  was  threshed, 
in  many  instances,  on  the  smooth  ledges  of  the  hills. 


'542  HISTORY  OF  WARNER. 

Barn  floors  were  small  and  inadequate;  the  mountain 
sides  were  rough,  and  while  the  kernel  might  easily 
be  carried  down,  the  straw,  being  bulky  and  compara- 
tively worthless,  might  be  left  There  can  be  pointed 
out  to-day,  on  the  mountains  of  Warner,  ^  threshing- 
floors,"  perhaps  not  unlike  that  of  Oman  the  Jebusite, 
on  Mount  Moriah. 

WOMAN  LOST. 

In  1796  the  widow  of  Asa  Harriman,  finding  her 
cows  had  not  come  up  one  night  as  tisual^  started  in 
pursuit  of  them  just  before  dark.  She  became  bewil- 
dered, and  had  no  idea  which  way  pointed  towards 
home.  She  pursued  the  forest  paths  for  hours.  At 
length  a  dim  light  was  discernible.  It  was  at  the 
house  of  Benjamin  Badger,  which  was  not  less  than 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  her  own,  in  a  straight  line, 
and  there  was  no  road  of  any  kind  leading  from  one 
of  these  houses  to  the  other.  It  was  now  ten  o'clock. 
Mr.  Badger  took  his  lantern  and  escorted  the  lost 
woman  home.  Reaching  there,  they  found  the  three 
youngest  children  asleep  on  the  floor,  but  the  oldest, 
a  girl  of  eight  years,  was  gone.  It  wiis  now  midnight 
The  young  children  told  them  that  Nancy  went  to 
find  her  mother,  and  had  not  come  back.  They  at 
once  started  in  search  of  the  missing  girl,  and  in  a 
wood-path,  at  least  half  a  mile  from  home,  they  found 
her  fast  asleep,  at  the  side  of  a  log,  where,  as  the 


WILD  BEASTS.  548 

mother  always  expressed  it,  ^  she  had  cried  herself  to 
sleep/' 

This  girl  after\vards  became  the  wife  of  Captain 
Thomas  Stewart,  and  among  her  children  now  living 
are  Col.  Thomas  W.  and  John  H.  Stewart,  merchant 
tailors  of  Concord. 

WILD  BEASTS. 

In  former  times  wild  beasts  roamed  through  the 
forests  of  Warner,  as  well  as  elsewhere.  Solomon  An- 
nis  shot  a  large  wild-cat  in  1766.  Abner  Watkins  and 
Thomas  Annis  killed  a  bear  on  the  Mink  Hills,  in 
1769. 

Wolves  were  somewhat  troublesome  to  the  first 
settlers.  In  some  seasons  they  destroyed  large  num- 
bers of  lambs. 

Dr.  Long,  in  his  ^  sketches,"  alludes  to  the  case  of 
two  young  men  who  were  driven  from  Pumpkin  hill 
by  a  bear.  As  good  old  Mrs.  Caleb  Jones  used  to  tell 
the  story,  it  ran  thus :  These  two  young  men  came 
up  from  Kingston  (her  native  town).  They  had  bar- 
gained for  a  wild  lot,  at  or  very  near  the  highest 
point  on  Pumpkin  hill,  but  they  had  paid  no  money 
and  got  no  deed.  They  came  on  with  their  axes, 
and  commenced  in  the  early  summer.  They  built  a 
rude  shanty,  the  front  end  of  which  was  entirely  open, 
and  the  rear  end  came  against  the  stub  of  an  old  tree 
that  had  been  broken  down.    There  was  a  wide  aper- 


544  HISTOBT  OF  WABMER. 

ture,  also,  at  that  end,  called  the  window.  WhOe 
these  young  adventurers  were  peacefully  partaking 
of  their  meridian  meal  one  day,  an  old  bear  climbed 
up  the  stump,  and  gazed  in  belligerently  upon  them. 
They  instantly  sprung :  they  stood  not  on  the  order 
of  their  going,  but  went  They  made  the  best  time 
they  could.     Nathaniel  Bean  was  near  the  road  as 

m 

they  threw  themselves  down  the  hill,  by  him,  on  a 
dead  run,  one  of  them  bare-headed.  Bean  sang  out, 
"  What 's  the  rush  ?'  but,  like  Job,  they  answered  not 
a  word.  When  they  reached  Tappan  Evans's,  they 
sank  down  in  utter  exhaustion.  After  wiping  the 
profusion  of  sweat  from  their  faces,  they  told  their 
tale.  Evans  gave  the  destitute  one  an  old  hat ;  they 
took  their  departure  from  town ;  and  Pumpkin  hill 
and  the  old  bear  knew  them  no  more. 

The  Savorys  caught  a  bear  on  the  mountain  in 
1821,  and  Isaac  Cheney,  of  Wilmot,  caught  another 
at  a  later  day. 

In  the  winter  of  1833  B.  K  Harriman  and  Marden 
Seavey  caught  a  large  deer.  They  started  him  up  in 
the  great  woods  between  Nathaniel  Page's  old  farm 
and  How's  tavern. 

WITCHCRAFT. 

Coleridge  did  not  believe  in  ghosts  ;  "  he  had  seen 
too  many  of  them."  But  some  of  our  ancestors  did 
believe  in  ghosts  for  the  same  reason  :  they  had  seen 
both  ghosts  and  witches  with  their  own  et/ea,  and  of 


WITCHCRAFT.  546 

course  that  settled  the  question.  The  names  of  good^ 
respectable  Warner  people  might  be  given,  who  ap- 
peared to  believe  in  this  mischievous  delusion  without 
a  doubt.  They  would  declare,  on  their  oaths,  that 
they  had  seen  and  recognized  witches  riding  through 
the  air  on  a  broomstick !  (They  always  would  ride  a 
broomstick!)  One  man  saw  a  witch  riding  in  this 
manner,  who  flew  so  low  that  her  toe-nails  ripped  the 
shingles  from  the  ridge-pole  of  his  house,  there  being 
no  weather-boards  to  protect  them.  The  names  of 
half  a  dozen  of  the  inhabitants  of  Warner,  who  were 
considered  witches  and  accused  of  crime,  might  be 
given,  but  they  are  withheld. 

Among  the  province  laws  of  New  Hampshire,  the 
following,  which  was  enacted  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly at  Portsmouth  in  1679,  is  found : 

If  any  Christian,  soe  called,  be  a  witch,  yt  is,  hath,  or  con- 
sulted with  a  familiar  spirit,  he  or  they  shall  be  put  to  death. 

Though  the  disgrace  of  enacting  a  law  like  this  at- 
taches to  New  Hampshire,  and  justly,  it  is  a  great  sat- 
isfaction to  know  that  the  law,  or  such  as  that,  was 
never  executed  within  the  limits  of  the  province. 
No  innocent  blood  has  ever  been  shed  in  New  Hamp- 
shire on  account  of  witchcraft  But  persons  have 
been  accused  of  this  crime,  and  put  on  trial  for  their 
lives.  The  following  is  one  of  the  cases  of  this  char- 
acter. 


/^ 


546  mSTOBY  OF  wabmeb. 


COXPLAIXT  OF  SUSAXXAH  TUIUMIXQ8  OF  LITTI.E    HAJtBOK. 

On  Lord's  day  30th  of  March,  at  night,  going  home  with  Good- 
wife  Barton,  she  separated  from  her  ^t  the  freshet  next  her  house. 
On  her  return  she  heard  a  rustling  in  the  woods,  and  there  did 
appear  to  her  old  Goodwife  Walford.  She  asked  me  where  mj 
consort  was.  I  answered,  I  had  none.  She  said,  thy  consort  is 
at  home  by  this  time ;  lend  me  a  pound  of  cotton.  I  told  her  I 
had  but  two  pounds  in  the  house,  and  would  not  spare  any  to  mj 
mother.  She  said  I  had  better  have  done  it;  that  xny  sorxow 
was  great,  and  it  should  be  greater — for  I  was  going  a  great 
journey,  but  should  never  come  there.  She  then  left  me,  and  I 
was  struck  as  with  a  clap  of  fire  on  my  back,  and  she  vanished 
towards  the  water-side,  in  my  apprehension  in  the  shape  of  a  caL 
She  had  on  her  head  a  white  linen  hood  tied  under  her  chin,  and 
her  waistcoat  and  petticoat  were  red. 

Taken  upon  oath,  April  18, 1656. 

Now,  according  to  this  affidavit,  only  one  guilty 
party  has  put  in  an  appearance,  and  that  is  Susannah 
Trimmings,  the  accuser.  She  lied  in  saying  that  she 
had  no  consort,  and  probably  lied,  also,  in  regard  to 
the  amount  of  cotton  she  had.  Perhaps  that  accounts 
for  the  clap  of  fire  that  struck  her  on  the  back. 

But  let  us  hear  the  damaging  testimony  of  other 
witnesses  who  appeared  against  old  mother  Walford 
in  this  important  suit. 

The  account  continues  : 

Her  husband,  Oliver  Trimmings,  says,  she  came  home  in  a  sad 
condition.  She  passed  by  me  with  her  child  in  her  arms,  laid  it 
on  the  bed,  sat  down  upon  the  chest  and  leaned  upon  her  elbow. 
Three  times  I  asked  her  how  she  did, — she  could  not  speak.  I 
unlaced  her  clothes,  and  soon  she  spake  and  said,  this  wicked 
woman  will  kill  me.     I  asked  her  what  woman.     She  said  Good- 


WITCHCRAFT.  547 

wife  Walford.     I  tried  to  i>eT8nade  her  it  was  only  her  wealmess. 
She  told  roe  no,  and  related  as  above,  that  her  back  was  a  flame 
of  fire,  and  hor  lower  parts  were  numb  and  without  feeling.     I 
pinched  her  and  she  felt  not. 
Taken  on  oath. 

Nicholas  Rowe  testified  that  Jane  Walford,  shortly  after  she  was 
accused,  came  to  the  deponent  in  bed  in  the  evening  and  put  her 
hand  on  his  breast  so  that  lie  could  not  speak,  and  was  in  great 
pain  till  the  next  day.  By  the  light  of  the  fire  in  the  next  room, 
it  appeared  to  be  Groody  Walford,  but  she  did  not  speak. 

Agnis  Puddington  deposes,  that  on  the  11th  of  April,  1656, 
Mrs.  Evans  came  to  her  house  and  lay  there  all  night ;  and  a  lit- 
tle after  sunset  the  deponent  saw  a  yellowish  cat;  and  Mrs. 
Evans  said  she  was  followed  by  a  cat  wherever  she  went.  John 
came  and  saw  a  cat  in  the  garden — ^took  down  his  gun  to  ^hoot 
her ;  the  cat  went  up  a  tree,  and  the  gun  would  not  take  fire. 
She  afterwards  saw  three  cats,  the  yellow  one  vanished  away  on 
the  plain  ground ;  she  could  not  tell  which  way  they  went 

Court  of  Associates,  June,  1656. 
Jane  Walford  being  brought  to  this  court  upon  suspicion  of 
being  a  Witch,  is  to  continue  bound  until  the  next  court,  to  be 
responsive. 

What  downright  absurdity  is  here ! — and  yet  a  court 
of  justice  (so-called)  listened  to  this  sloppy  stufl^  in- 
stead of  ordering  the  accusers  under  arrest,  or  out  of 
the  court-house. 

As  no  further  record  is  found  of  this  case,  the  pre- 
sumption is  that  the  woman  was  not  brought  up  for  a 
second  trial. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Wiljiam  Morse,  of  Salisbury,  Mass^ 
was  accused  of  witchcraft,  and  sentenced  to  be  hung ; 
but  by  the  persistence  and  firmness  of  Gov.  Brad- 


548  HI8T0BT  OF  WABNEB. 

street,  her  life,  after  a  severe  and  protracted  struggle 
with  the  courts,  was  saved. 

The  accuser  of  this  woman,  and  the  main  witness 
against  her,  was  Zachariah  Davis.  His  testimony,  in 
full,  here  follows : 

When  I  livi^  at  Salisbury,  William  Moneys  wife  asked  me 
whether  I  could  let  her  have  a  small  passell  of  winges  and  I  toU 
her  I  woode,  so  she  woode  have  me  bring  them  oyer  for  her  the 
next  time  I  came  over,  but  I  came  over  and  did  not  think  oi  the 
winges,  but  met  goody  Morse,  she  asked  me  whether  I  had 
brought  over  her  winges  and  tel  her  no  I  did  not  thinke  of  it,  so 
I  came  3  or  4  times  and  had  them  in  my  minde  a  litel  before  I 
came  over  but  stil  forgot  them  at  my  coming  away  so  meting 
with  her  every  time  that  I  came  over  without  them  aftar  I  had 
promised  her  the  winges,  »o  she  tel  me  she  wonder  at  it  that  my 
memory  should  be  soe  bad,  but  when  I  came  home  I  went  to  the 
bamc  and  there  was  3  cafes  in  a  pen.     One  of  them  fell  a  danc- 
ing and  roreing  and  was  in  such  a  condition  as  I  never  saw  on 
cafe  in  before,  but  being  almost  night  the  cattle  came  home  and 
we  put  him  to  his  dam  and  he  sucke  and  was  well  3  or  4  days, 
and  on  of  them  was  mv  brothers  then  come  over  to  Nuberv,  but 
we  did  not  thinke  to  send  the  winges,  but  when  he  came  home 
and  went  to  the  banie  this  cafe  fel  a  dancing  and  roreing  so  wee 
put  him  to  the  cowe,  but  he  woode  not  sucke,  but  rane  a  roreinge 
away  soe  wee  gate  him  againe  with  much  adoe  and  put  him  into 
the  bame  and  we  heard  him  rocr  severall  times  in  the  night  and 
in  the  morning  I  went  to  the  bame  and  there  he  was  seting  upon 
his  taile  like  a  doge,  and  I  never  see  no  cafe  set  aftar  that  man- 
ner before  and  soe  he  remained  in  these  fits  while  he  died. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to,  June  7,  1G79. 

On  this  evidence  a  jury  of  twelve  men, — no,  of 
twelve  idiots  or  devils^ — in  Essex  county,  Mass.,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1679,  condemned  a  woman  to  death! 
Shame  on  our  country,  that  a  score  of  innocent  lives 


WITCHCRAFT.  649 

were  sacrificed  in  the  province  of  Massachusetts,  on 
testimony  as  contemptible  as  this ! 

For  a  time  nobody  was  secure.  Old  and  young 
alike  were  dragged  to  execution.  In  and  about  Salem 
many  people  fled  the  country.  Fear  sat  on  every 
countenance.  Terror  filled  every  breast.  The  mania 
was  irresistible ; — and  to  Cotton  Mather,  more  than  to 
any  other  one,  belongs  the  honor  of  leading  this  in- 
famous crusade  against  persons  guilty  of  no  crime. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE  BOUNDARIES   OP    NEW   HAMPSHIRE:    AN  ADDRESS   BT  GEN. 

WALTER  HARRIMAN,  DELIVERED  AT  CANTERBURY,  N.  H.,  MAT 
8,  1878. 

WrfHE  question  of  boundary  has  always  been  an  interesting 
d^  one,  even  from  that  period  of  antiquity  when  "  Terminate 
tr%  the  tutelar  god  of  bounds,  was  so  obstinate  that  he  would 
not  stir  an  inch  for  Jupiter."  The  boundaries  of  nations,  of 
states,  of  towns,  and  even  of  farms  and  city  lots,  vitally  ooneem 
OS.  What  litigation,  what  strife,  what  wrangling8  and  wars,  hare 
not  grown  out  of  this  question  of  boundary.  Men  are  pecnlxazly 
sensitive  about  their  territorial  limits ;  they  want  all  that  belongi 
to  them,  and  some  want  more.  They  go  to  law  and  follow  the 
courts  for  years,  and  spend  thousands  .of  dollars  about  the  title 
to  a  strip  of  land  not  worth  a  ten-dollar  bill. 

I  believe  the  people  of  New  Hampshire  of  the  present  day  are 
but  imperfectly  informed  of  the  bitter  and  protracted  controver- 
sies which  the  state  has  had  in  regard  to  her  boundary  lines. 
Perils  by  false  brethren  have  beset  her,  and  perils  on  every  hand. 
Indeed,  she  has  barely  escaped  annihilation.  More  than  two 
hundred  years  elapsed,  from  the  time  when  John  Mason  received 
his  gprant  of  the  embryo  state,  before  the  territorial  limits  of  New 
Hampshire  were,  by  due  metes  and  bounds,  determined. 

The  title  to  a  new  country  is  acquired  by  discovery,  by  pur- 
chase, or  by  conquest.  The  British  government  claimed  title  to 
this  country  by  discovery.  To  be  sure,  tliey  found  it  occupied  by 
various  Indian  tribes,  but  the  English  did  not  recognize  the 
claims  of  the  roving  aborigines  to  the  proprietorship  of  the  soil 
Holding  that  that  belonged  to  civilized  man,  the  authorities  of 
that  realm  proceeded  to  occupy  this  country,  and  to  found  settle- 
ments here. 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW'   HAMPSHIRE.  551 

On  the  third  day  of  November,  1620,  King  James  the  First 
chartered  the  Council  of  Plymouth.  I  quote  from  the  words  of 
that  charter.  "  There  shall  be  forever,  in  our  town  of  Plvmouth, 
in  our  county  of  Devon,  a  body  corporate,  consisting  of  forty 
persons,  with  perpetual  succession,  called  by  the  name  of  the 
council  established  at  Plymouth,  in  the  count}'  of  Devon,  for  the 
planting,  ruling,  ordering,  and  governing  of  New  England  m 
America.^^ 

And  then  the  names  of  those  ap2>ointed  to  this  council  are  an- 
nounced. The  charter  continues :  ''  And  we  do  grant  to  said 
council  all  the  lands  from  forty  to  forty-eight  degrees  north  lati- 
tude, from  sea  to  sea,  and  all  jurisdictions,  royalties,  etc,  in  said 
land,  and  islands  and  seas  adjoining,  provided  they  are  not  a^ 
tually  possessed  by  any  other  Christian  prince  or  state." 

On  the  nineteenth  of  March,  1628,  the  Council  of  Plymouth 
made  a  grant  of  Massachusetts  to  Sir  Heniy  Koswell  and  others. 
We  of  New  Hampshire  are  only  interested  now  in  the  northern 
boundary  of  that  grant.  After  naming  the  boundaries  on  the 
south  and  the  Merrimack  river  on  the  north,  it  is  then  added, — 
*^And,  also,  all  those  lands  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  rohieh 
lie  and  he  within  the  space  of  three  English  miles  to  the  north- 
voardofthe  said  riner  Merrimack^  ox  to  the  northward  of  any 
and  every  part  thereof."  (I  shall  have  occasion  to  notice  this 
language  more  particularly  hereafter.)  The  Atlantic  ocean  was 
the  eastern  boundarj-  of  this  Massachusetts  grant,  and  the  South 
sea,  meaning  the  Pacific  ocean,  the  western.  To  our  minds,  the 
extension  of  this  grant,  on  westward,  across  plains  and  over  the 
Eocky  Mountains  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  appears  perfectly  wild  and 
chimerical.  On  the  fourth  of  March,  1629,  King  James  the  First 
chartered  the  ^lassachusetts  Company.  This  charter  recites  the 
establishment  of  the  Plymouth  Council  and  its  grant  to  Roswell 
and  others.  It  confirms  this  grant  to  them,  and  to  Saltonstall, 
Craddock,  and  others,  who  had  been  admitted  associates  with 
them.  It  constitutes  the  grantees  a  corporation  by  the  name  of 
"  The  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New 
England/'  It  grants  the  same  lands  as  wefe  granted  to  Roswell 
and  others,  and  by  the  same  description,  verbatim. 

Now  we  come  to  the  grant  on  which  the  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire is  builded.     I  therefore  ask  you  distinctly  to  remember  that 


552  HI8I0BT  OF  .WARNER. 

the  Council  of  Plymouth,  Nov.  7, 1629, ''  and  in  the  fifth  year  of 
the  xeign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  Cliarles,  by  tha  grace  of  God 
King  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,"  etc.,  granted,  assigned,  aliened,  enfeoffed,  and  confirmed 
unto  Capt.  John  Mason,  his  heirs  gnd  assigns  forever,  **  all  that 
part  of  the  main-land  in  New  England,  lying  upon  the  sea-coast, 
beginning  from  the  middle  part  of  Merrimack  river,  and  from 
thence  to  proceed  northwards  along  the  sea-coast  to  Piscataqoi 
river,  and  so  forwards  up  within  the  said  river  and  to  the  further- 
est  head  thereof,  and  from  thence  nort/i^westward  until  three-ecore 
miles  be  finished  from  the'  first  entrance  of  Piscataqua   river. 
Also,  from  Merrimack,  through  the  said  river,  and  to  the  further- 
est  head  thereof,  and  so  forwards  up  into  the  land  westward^  un- 
til three-score  miles  be  finished ;  and  from  thence  to  cross  overland 
to  the  three-score  miles  end  accounted  from  Piscataqua  river,  to- 
gether with  all  islands  and  isletts  within  five  leagues  distance  of 
the  premises  and  abutting  upon  the  same."     Then  it  is  added, 
^  which  said  portions  of  lands,  with  the  appurtenances  thereto  be- 
longing, the  said  Capt.  John  Mason,  with  the  consent  of  the 
President  and  Council,  intends  to  name  New  HampshireJ* 

In  this  great  charter  we  find  the  foundation  of  our  state.  It 
VKU  the  Btate,  in  its  early  infancy,  and  every  loyal  son  and  daugh- 
ter of  New  Hampshire  feels  a  deep  interest  in  these  initial  steps 
in  its  creation.  Mason  conferred  the  name  New  Hampshire  upon 
this  domain  in  the  New  World,  because  the  county  of  Hampshire 
in  England  was  the  place  of  his  residence. 

Capt.  John  ^lason  was  a  merchant  of  London,  but  became  a 
sea  officer,  and  afterwards  governor  of  Newfoundland  in  America, 
where  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  this  country,  which  led  him, 
on  his  return  to  England,  into  a  close  attachment  with  those  who 
were  engaged  in  its  discovery.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  a  vacan- 
cy in  the  Council  of  Plymouth,  Mason  was  elected  a  member, 
and  became  their  secretary.  He  was  also  appointed  governor  of 
Portsmouth  in  Hampshire,  England.  • 

It  is  essential  to  my  purpose  to  state  that  the  Province  of 
Maine,  so-called,  bounded  west  by  the  Piscataqua  river,  was  grant- 
ed April  3,  1G30,  by  the  Crown,  to  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges.  The 
Plymouth  Council,  prior  to  this,  namely,  the  seventh  of  June, 
1635,  had  surrendered  its  charter  to  the  King,  and  ceased  to  exist 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  558 

October  7,  1691,  a  new  charter  was  granted  to  the  Massachusetts 
Company, by  William  and  Mary,  and  in  this  charter  was  included- 
the  Province  of  Maine,  formerly  granted  to  Gorges.     So,  from 
this  time  forward,  New  Hampshire  had  Massachusetts  to  contend 
with,  not  only  on  the  south,  but  on  the  east  as  well. 

I  do  not  feel  called  upon,  in  this  place,  to  give  particular 
attention  to  the  grant  made  to  Gorges  and  Mason.  August  10, 
1622,  of  what  was  called  "  The  Province  of  Maine,"  which  grant 
extended,  on  the  coast,  from  the  river  ^lerrimack  to  the  Sagada- 
hoc, as  that  was  superseded  by  later  grants ;  nor  to  the  supple- 
mentary grant  of  **  Laconia  "  to  the  same  parties,  for  that  soon 
disappears  from  the  public  records,  and  the  presumption  is  that 
it  was  forfeited,  or  that  it  failed  through  some  defect  or  informal- 
ity. Besides,  the  boundaries  of  that  grant,  on  the  north  and 
west,  were  painfully  indefinite  and  uncertain, — ''  The  said  lands 
lying  and  bordering  upon  the  great  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  Iro- 
quois, and  other  nations  adjoining."  One  is  reminded  here  of 
what  Rufus  Choate  said,  when  attacking  the  Commissioners  on 
the  boundaries  of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts.  Said  he, — 
'^  I  would  as  soon  think  of  setting  forth  the  boundaries  between 
sovereign  states  as  beginning  at  a  blue-jay  on  the  bough  of  a 
pine  tree,  thence  easterly  to  a  dandelion  gone  to. seed,  thence  due 
south  to  three  hundred  foxes  with  fire-brands  tied  between  their 
tails." 

I  need  not  consider  here  the  union  of  New  Hampshire  with 
Massachusetts  under  one  government,  which  lasted  thirty-nine 
years,  nor  the  fact  that  at  a  subsequent  time  one  governor 
ruled  over  both  provinces  for  a  long  ])eriod.  I  need  not  consider 
the  famous  Wheelright  Deed,  even  if  that  deed  was  genuine  and 
not  a  forgery.  I  need  not  investigate  the  question  whether  the 
line,  from  point  to  point  in  Mason's  grant,  should  be  a  curve  or 
a  straight  line  ;  nor  need  I  attempt  to  settle  the  question  of  the 
validity  of  the  claim  of  Mason's  heirs  to  certain  portions  of  the 
soil  of  the  state ;  nor  allude  to  the  grant  made  to  Edward  Hilton 
in  1630,  sometimes  called  the  Swamscot  patent.  In  none  of  the 
disputes  arising  upon  these  points  were  the  outer  limits  of  New 
Hampshire  involved.  The  boundaries  of  the  state  were  not 
menaced,  and  T  shall  therefore  permit  those  questions  to  sleep. 


554  HISTOBT  OF  WABNEB. 

STRIFE  WITH  MASSACHUSETTS. 

• 

Daring  periods  of  great  public  concern,  like  King  Philip's 
War  of  1675,  or  the  invasion  of  Canada  in  1690,  the  boundary 
controversies  were  silent,  but,  generally,  till  the  final  adjustment 
of  those  questions,  the  condition  of  affairs  was  substantially  as 
stated  by  Grov.  Belcher,  in  a  letter  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  in  Lon- 
don, in  which  he  says, — ^^  I  have  taken  all  possible  care  to  have 
the  long-contested  boundaries  betwixt  the  Massachusetts  and 
New  Hampshire  adjusted  agreeable  to  His  Majestjrs  fiojal  Or- 
ders to  me,  but  I  can  see  no  prospect  of  its  being  accomplished, 
and  the  Borderers,  on  the  lines  (if  your  Lordships  will  allow  me 
so  vulgar  an  expression),  live  like  toads  under  a  harrow,  being 
run  into  jails,  on  the  one  side  and  the  other,  as  often  as  they 
please  to  quarrel,  such  is  the  sad  condition  of  His  ^lajestj's  sub- 
jects that  live  near  the  lines.  They  pull  down  one  another*s 
houses,  often  wound  each  other,  and  I  fear  it  will  end  in  blood- 
shed unless  His  Majesty,  in  his  great  goodness,  gives  some  effect- 
ual Order  to  have  the  Bounds  fixt." 

This  strife  having  become  intolerable,  unusual  efforts  were 
initiated,  about  1730,  for  a  settlement.  The  Assembly  of  New 
Hampshire  proposed  that  a  committee,  consisting  of  disinterested 
persons,  be  appointed  by  the  two  governments  to  "  sit  on  the 
case."  They  proposed  Col.  William  Codrington  and  Col.  John 
Wanton,  of  Rhode  Island,  and  Mr.  John  Lydall,  merchant,  of 
Boston,  to  act  for  New  Hampshire.  After  much  wrangling  be- 
tween the  two  governments,  and  the  failure  of  this  project,  on 
the  recommendation  of  Gov.  Belcher,  who  was  governor  of  both 
provinces,  and  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  an  act  was  passed  as 
follows  :  "  Be  it  enacted  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  Coun- 
cil, and  Representatives  convened  in  General  Assembly,  that  the 
Hon.  Adolph  Phillips  of  New  York,  chosen  and  appointed  by 
the  two  governments,  and  the  Hon.  Joseph  Jenks  of  Rhode 
Island,  chosen  and  appointed  on  the  part  of  this  government,  and 
the  Hon.  Joseph  Talcott  of  Connecticut,  chosen  and  appointed 
by  the  government  of  ^fassachusetts  Bay,  be  commissioners  to 
repair  to  the  places  where  the  aforesaid  controversy  arises,  and 
fully  to  hear  each  side,  and  iinally  to  fix  and  settle  said  bounda- 
ries between  the  said  provinces,  according  to  His  Majesty's  afore- 


BOUNDARIES  OP  NE^V   HAMPSHIRE.  555 

said  instrnctions ;  that  is  to  say,  the  boundary  between  the  prov- 
ince of  New  Hampshire  and  the  late  province  of  Maine,  as  well 
as  the  other  boundary  between  New  Hampshire  and  the  Masss^ 
chusetts  Bav." 

In  April,  1731,  Gov.  Belcher,  in  his  message  to  the  Council 
and  House  of  Bepresentatives  of  New  Hampshire,  says, — "  I  am 
now  to  acquaint  you,  gentlemen,  that  the  late  General  Court  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  have  pafit  a  law  much  of  the  nature  of 
that  past  here  the  last  fall,  for  settling  the  long-disputed  bounds/' 
The  secretary  brought  down  a  copy  of  this  act  of  Massachusetti, 
and  Joshua  Pierce  and  Nathaniel  Weare,  Esqrs.,  were  appoint- 
ed a  committtee  to  draw  up  objections  to  the  same.  I  will 
not  quote  in  extenso  from  the  objections  they  drew  up.  A  single 
paragraph  will  be  sufficient  They  saj', — "We  have  carefully 
perused  the  transcript  of  the  act  passed  by  the  government  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  for  settling  the  boundary  lines,  which  we 
can  by  no  means  think  reasonable,  nor  corresponding  to  His  Maj- 
esty's instructions  in  scarce  one  paragraph,''^  New  Hampshire 
adhered  substantially  to  the  terms  of  her  act;  Massachusetts 
adhered  to  hers,  and,  after  much  irritation  and  bickering,  thie 
scheme  also  failed.  Perplexed,  but  not  in  despair,  New  Hamp- 
shire tried  again.  On  the  seventh  day  of  May,  1731,  she  voted 
"That  there  be  a  Committee  from  the  General  Assembly  ap- 
pointed, to  meet  a  like  Committee  from  the  General  Assembly  of 
Massachusetts,  at  Newbury,  the  tenth  day  of  June  following,"  to 
try  once  more  for  an  agreement.  But  the  Assembly  of  Massa- 
chusetts did  not  readily  respond.  They  did  not  come  to  time  on 
the  tenth  of  June.  Effort  upon  effort  was  made  to  secure  such 
meeting  at  Newbury,  but  for  weeks  and  months  to  no  purpose. 
At  length,  however,  a  meeting  of  the  committee  of  the  two  prov- 
inces was  effected  at  the  appointed  place.  It  occurred  the  thir^ 
tieth  of  September,  1731,  but  was  utterly  barren  of  results.  At 
this  meeting,  the  committee  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts  claimed 
that  all  lands  or  towns  which  either  government  are  inposBession 
of  J  be  reserved  to  the  several  governments,  both  as  to  jurisdiction 
and  property.  The  New  Hampshire  committee  utterly  refused 
to  comply  with  this  demand,  stating  that  it  would  bring  the 
dividing  line  at  least  eleven  miles  and  three  quarters  to  the  north 
ward  of  the  Merrimack  river,  instead  of  three  miles,  according  to 
36 


» 

556  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

the  terms  of  their  grant  When  the  New  Hampshire  committee 
had  peremptorily  refused  these  hard  terms,  the  Massachusetts 
committee  stated  that  *'  they  could  not  act  any  further,  for^  a» 
they  had  particular  directions,  they  were  ohliged  to  conform  to 
ihem,^^  And  this  attempt  at  settlement  went  also  to  the  ^  tomb 
of  the  Capulets." 

An  appeal  to  the  king  was  now  the  only  alternative.  Such 
appeal  was  taken,  and  New  Hampshire  having  no  agent  in  Eng- 
land to  present  her  cause,  appointed  Capt  John  Rindge  for  that 
purpose.  He  was  a  merchant  in  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire, 
and  was  about  to  take  passage  for  London  on  his  mercantile  husi- 
ness.  Being  a  man  of  means,  he  advanced  what  money  was 
necessary  to  prosecute  the  design  of  his  appointment.  On  his 
arrival  in  England  he  petitioned  the  king  in  behalf  of  the  prov- 
ince of  New  Hampshire  to  establish  its  boundaries.  Having 
accomplished  his  private  business,  and  being  obliged  to  return 
home,  Capt.  Bindge  left  the  care  of  the  petition  with  John  Thom- 
linson,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  London,  who  was  well  known  here. 
This  petition  was  presented  to  the  court  of  Great  Britain,  Feb. 
28,  1732.  His  Majesty  referred  it  to  the  Lords  of  the  Council, 
March  29,  1733,  and  their  Lordships  referred  the  same  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade  in  April.  Five  long,  wearisome  years  elapsed 
after  the  presentation  of  this  petition  before  definite  action  was 
taken.  How  execrable  is  procrastination !  This  matter,  so  vital 
to  the  well-being  of  the  provinces,  must  be  put  off.  Disorder  and 
contention  are  again  rampant ;  men  pass  away ;  years  come  and 
go ;  and  at  last,  on  the  ninth  day  of  April,  1737,  His  Majesty's 
commission,  under  the  great  seal,  is  issued.  It  was  directed  to 
twenty  commissioners,  discreet  men,  living  in  His  Majesty's 
other  loyal  provinces,  not  less  than  five  of  whom  should  consti- 
tute a  quorum.  The  king  directed  that  the  commissioners  should 
hold  their  first  session  at  Hampton,  N.  H ,  Aug.  1,  1737. 

This  commission  was  sent  to  Capt.  John  Rindge,   of  Ports- 
'  mouth,  who  kept  it  till  the  meeting  of  the  commissioners,  and 
then  delivered  it  to  them.     The  expense  of  it,  amounting  to  135 
pounds  sterling,  was  paid  by  the  agents  of  New  Hampshire. 

On  the  day  appointed,  eight  of  the  commissioners  met  at  Hamp- 
ton. They  published  their  commission,  opened  their  court,  chose 
William  Parker,  of  Portsmouth,  clerk,,  and  George  jMitchell,  sur- 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  557 

vejor.     The  following  are  the  names  of  the  eight  who  met  and 
constituted  the  court : 

Wm.  Skene,  President, 

Erasmus  James  Phillips,  ^Nova  Scotia. 

Otho  Hamilton, 


Samuel  Vernon, 
John  Gardner, 

John  Potter,  >  Rhode  Island. 

Ezekiel  Warner, 
George  Gomel, 


I 


Able  men  from  each  of  the  two  provinces  were  to  act  as  agents 
before  this  board.  The  Assemblies  of  the  provinces  convened  at 
the  same  time,  that  of  Massachusetts  at  Salisbury,  and  that  of 
New  Hampshire  at  Hampton  Falls,  only  six  miles  apart.  **  With 
the  utmost  vigilance  and  jealousy  they  watched  one  another."  It 
was  an  occasion  of  vast  moment  to  those  directly  concerned. 

To  overawe  the  adverse  party,  a  large  cavalcade  was  formed  in 
Boston,  which,  with  a  troop  of  horse,  escorted  Gov.  Belcher  to  the 
scene  of  conflict.  This  pomp  and  display  was  the  occasion  of  the 
following  satirical  verses,  in  an  assumed  Hibernian  style  : 

Dear  Padd}',  you  ne'er  did  behold  such  a  sight 
As  yesterday  morning  was  seen  before  night : 
You  in  all  your  born  days  saw,  nor  I  did  n't  neither, 
So  many  fine  horses  and  men  ride  together. 

At  the  head,  the  lower  House  trotted  two  in  a  row  : 
Then  all  the  higher  House  pranced  after  the  low : 
Then  the  Governor's  coach  galloped  on  like  the  wind. 
And  the  last  that  came  foremost  were  the  troopers  behind. 

The  commissioners  met  at  the  place  and  on  the  day  appointed. 
The  New  Hampshire  agents  were  ready,  and  they  presented  their 
case.  The  Massachusetts  agents  were  not  ready.  The  purport 
of  the  New  Hampshire  claim  was  this  :  that  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  the  province  should  begin  at  the  end  of  threie  miles  north 
from  the  Merrimack  river  where  it  runs  into  the  Atlantic  ocean, 
and  from  thence  should  run,  on  a  straiglU  line  tcest,  up  into  the 


5o8  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

main  land,  towards  the  South  tea,  until  it  meets  with  His  Majes- 
ty's other  governments.  That  the  eastern  houndazy  should  he* 
gin  at  the  entrance  of  Piscataqua  harbor,  and  so  pass  up  the  same 
,  into  the  river  Ncwichwannock  (now  Salmon  Falls),  and  through 
that  unto  the  farthest  head  thereof,  :^nd  from  thence  north-wes^ 
ward,  that  is,  north,  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  point  westerly,  as  far 
as  the  British  Dominion  extends.  That  the  western  half  of  the 
Isles  of  Shoals  lay  within  the  province  of  New  Hampshire. 

Such  was  the  New  Hampshire  case  as  contended  for  through 
weary  year^,  and  as  presented,  by  the  agents  of  the  proyince.  to 
the  king's  commissioners  at  Hampton.  There  was  no  ambiguity 
about  this  claim,  and  it  came  to  the  comprehension  of  every  mind. 
It  will  be  seentliat  New  Hampshire  did  not  claim  from  the 
mouth  of  Merrimack  river,  according  to  the  conditions  of  Mason's 
grant,  but  from  a  point  three  miles  north  of  it  The  reason  is 
this  :  the  grant  of  ^^lassachusctts  antedates  that  of  New  Hamp- 
.  shire,  and  the  boundaries  of  that  grant  began  **  at  a  point  three 
English  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  river."  The  authorities  of 
New  Hampshire  readily  assented  to  this  claim  on  the  part  of 
Massachusetts. 

The  commissioners  adjourned  to  Aug.  4,  met  again,  and  the 
Massachusetts  agents  were  ready.  They  now  presented  their 
case.  It  demanded  a  boundary  line  on  the  south  side  of  New 
Hampshire,  beginning  at  the  sea,  three  English  miles  north  from 
the  black  rocks  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  as  it  emptied  itself  into 
the  sea  sixty  years  ago ;  thence  running  parallel  with  the  river  as 
far  north  as  the  junction  of  the  Pemigewasset  and  Winnipesau- 
kee  at  Franklin,  thence  due  north  as  far  as  a  certain  tree,  com- 
monly known,  as  they  said,  for  more  than  seventy  years,  as  Endi- 
cott's  tree,  standing  three  English  miles  northward  of  the  said 
junction,  and  from  thence  due  west  to  the  South  sea.  This  Endi- 
cott  tree  was  at,  or  very  near,  Sanbornton  Square. 

On  the  easterly  side  of  New  IIjiuii)shire,  their  case  claimed  a 
boundary  line  beginning  at  the  entrance  of  Piscataqua  harbor, 
passing  up  the  same  to  tlio  river,  through  that  to  the  farthest 
head  thereof,  and  from  thence  a  due  north-xcesi  line  till  120  miles 
from  the  moutli  of  Piscataqua  liarbor  be  iinished. 

Now  let  us  brii^tly  examine  this  claim,  j^oing  tirst  to  our  eastern 
boundary.     There  is   no  substantial  disagreement  between  the 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE.  559 

claims  of  the  two  provinces  till  we  get  to  the  head  of  the  river. 
That  is  at  Great  East  pond,  lying  between  "Wakofield,  New 
Hampshire,  and  Acton.  Maine.  A  line  (hie  iiorth'%cei*t  from  that 
pond,  according  to  the  Massachusetts  claim,  would  pass  through 
Ossipee,  Tuftonborough,  Moultonborough,  Sandwich,  Thornton, 
Woodstock,  and  Benton,  to  the  Connecticut  river  at  Bath,  cutting 
off  at  least  one  third  of  the  whole  area  of  the  state — cutting  off 
the  whole  of  Coos  county,  most  of  Carroll,  and  a  large  and  impor- 
tant part  of  Grafton.  It  would  barely  have  left  the  Great  lake 
within  our  borders,  but  the  "Crystal  Hills,"  as  they  were  foi^ 
merly  called,  would  have  formed  no  part  of  the  state  of  New 
Hampshire. 

Now,  go  to  our  southern  border.  The  province  of  Massachu- 
setts insisted  that  by  the  terms  of  their  charter  the  line  must 
begin  at  the  ocean,  three  miles  north  of  the  Merrimack  river,  and 
run  parallel  with  the  river  on  the  north  side  to  the  great  bend  at 
Dracut,  and  then,  turning  at  right  angles,  continue  on  three  miles 
from  the  river,  but  on  the  eastioard  of  it,  up  through  the  heart  of 
the  state,  to  a  line  parallel  with  the  junction  of  the  rivers  at 
Franklin,  and  still  three  miles  further  on,  to  a  point  now  in  San- 
bornton,  at  the  aforesaid  Endicott  tree ;  then,  turning  square  to 
the  left,  run  due  west  to  the  Connecticut  river,  or  to  "  His  Majes- 
ty's other  governments.*'  Tliis  line,  running  due  xceat  from  the 
Endicott  tree,  would  pass  through  Hill,  Danbury,  Springfield,  and 
Croydon,  to  the  Connecticut  river  opposite  "Windsor;  and  thus,  all 
of  New  Hampshire  south  of  that  line  and  xcest  of  the  Merrimack 
river,  togetlier  with  the  strip  three  miles  wide  east  of  that  river, 
would  have  been  severed  from  this  province  and  added  to  Massachu- 
setts. In  this  tract  is  comprised  another  full  third  of  New  Hamp- 
shire— the  whole  of  Cheshire  county,  the  whole  of  Hillsborough 
county  except  the  town  of  Pelham  and  a  part  of  Hudson,  and  the 
lion's  share  of  Merrimack  and  Sullivan  counties.  This  jiroposed 
mutilation  of  our  territory  on  the  south-west,  together  with  that  on 
the  north-east,  would  have  left  the  province  with  less  than  one 
tliird  of  its  present  area,  and,  in  the  eye  of  the  country,  we  should 
have  been  weak  ;  in  wealtli  and  population,  insignificant ;  and  in 
shape,  as  uncomely  as  a  New  Hampshire  senatorial  district. 

The  Massachusetts  authorities,  anxious  to  secure  every  advan- 
tage, hastened  the  granting  of  townships  all  over  the  disputed 


560  HmOBT  OF  WARNER. 

territory.  From  Boscawen  on  the  east  to  Charlestown  on  the 
west,  they  laid  oH  two  tiers  of  townships,  and  gave  every  encour- 
agement to  cause  persons  to  become  grantees  of  these -lands.  The 
controversy  about  the  boundaries  was  pending,  and  they  acted 
upon  the  principle  that  "  possession  is  nine  points  in  the  lawl** 

Now  we  return  to  the  king's  commissioners  at  Hampton.  Per- 
haps there  has  seldom  been  displayed  such  stratagem^  such  per- 
sistence and  sharp  practice,  as  the  contending  parties  displayed 
before  this  boanl.  They  were  men  of  marked  ability',  and  their 
souls  were  in  the  work.  I  cannot  follow  them  in  their  arguments 
or  their  subterfuges.  Time  will  not  permit.  The  pleas,  the  repli- 
cations, the  rejoinders  and  sur-rejoinders,  which  were  indulged  in 
ad  libitum,  consumed  days  and  weeks.  A  painful  suspense  bur- 
dened every  mind:  but  finally  the  decision  came,  sttch  as  it  wa$! 
On  the  second  day  of  September  the  commissioners  decided  the 
eastern  boundary,  and  decided  it  substantially  in  accordance  with 
the  New  Hampshire  claim.  They  begin,  in  this  decision,  at  the 
mouth  of  Piscataqua  harbor,  and  proceed  northward  through  the 
harbor  and  river  to  the  head  thereof,  and  thence  north  two  degrees 
fcesty  as  far  as  the  king's  possessions  go,  it  being  precisely  the 
boundary  line  of  to-day. 

In  regard  to  the  southern  boundar\*  thev  were  unable  to  make 
a  decision,  and  they  referred  this  most  harassing  and  momentous 
branch  of  the  subject  to  "the  wise  consideration  of  His  Most 
Sacred  Majesty,  the  King."  The  ^lassachusetts  province  was 
enraged  at  the  decision  on  the  eastern  line.  It  appealed  from 
that  decision,  and  carried  the  war  to  the  court  of  Great  Britain. 
Thomlinson,  the  New  Hampshire  agent,  was  there,— quick,  vigi- 
lant, and  influential.  Thom.as  Hutchinson,  the  agent  of  the  ad- 
verse party,  .a  man  of  rare  talent  and  perseverance,  was  sent  over 
from  Boston  to  engineer  the  cause  of  ^lassachusetts.  Greek  met 
Greek,  and  the  heat  of  the  contest  knew  no  abatement.  The  New 
Hampshire  position  before  the  Icing,  in  council,  was,  as  it  had 
been  before  every  other  tribunal,  that,  when  the  grant  of  Massa- 
chusetts, bv  the  council  of  Plvmouth  in  1628,  and  the  charter  of 
Massachusetts  in  1G2*.),  wj-re  made,  the  course  of  the  ^Eerrimack 
river,  except  near  th»3  ocean,  was  not  known  by  the  grantors.  It 
was  supposed  to  run.  in  its  whole  course,  from  west  to  east,  and 
in  this  view  only  can  the  language  of  the  grants  be  intelligible. 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  561 

If  the  river,  two  thirds  of  its  length,  runs  $otith.  and  if  the  grantors 
knew  the  fact,  how  could  they  say  "  all  those  lands  which  lie  and  be 
within  the  space  of  three  English  miles  to  the  northicard  of  said 
river"?  They  do  not  say,  all  those  lands  within  three  miles,  on 
the  norUi  and  east  side  of  the  river,  or  within  the  space  of  three 
miles  on  the  right  hand  side,  as  we  ascend  the  river.  Note  the 
exact  words,  '^within  the  space  of  three  English  miles  to  the 
northward  of  said  river,  or  to  the  northward  of  any  and  every 
part  thereof." 

I  have  no  doubt  that  the  grantors  intended  a  line  substantially 
east  and  west,  but  the  Massachusetts  authorities  rejected  this  con- 
struction of  the  language  employed,  and  persisted  in  their  claim 
to  fully  two  thirds  of  all  the  territory  within  our  present  bounds. 
Even  more :  they  intended  to  '•  gobble  up  "  the  whole  province. 
The  agents  of  Massachusetts,  in  one  of  their  written  arguments 
before  His  Majesty's  commissioners  at  Hampton,  closed  with 
these  significant  words  :  ''  And  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  then 
hoped,  by  putting  a  more  adcantageotia  construction  on  their 
charter,  to  have  made  out  a  right  to  the  whole  ftrovince  of  New 

m 

Sampshtrey 

Gov.  Belcher  was  a  supple  tool  of  the  Massachusetts  authori- 
ties, and,  in  a  wily  and  adroit  manner,  did  his  utmost  to  forward 
their  schemes.  He  finally  became  very  unpopular  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  in  1741  he  was  superseded  in  the  office  of  governor  by 
Benning  Went  worth,  a  favorite  son  of  the  province. 

But  an  appeal  has  been  taken  to  the  king.  Another  season  of 
long  waiting  aild  anxiety  is  endured.  Months  depart,  years  roll 
round,  but  no  relief  comes.     Still  justice  standeth  not  afar  off. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  March,  1740,  tlie  great  decision  of  the  Lords 
of  Trade,  under  the  sanction  of  the  king,  is  promulgated,  and  New 
Hampshire  is  grateful  to  George  the  Second  for  terminating  the 
long  dispute. 

The  royal  decision  is  far  better  than  even  New  Hampshire's 
claim.  In  regard  to  the  eastern  boundary,  it  confirmed  the  jnd^ 
mcnt  of  the  commissioners,  giving  to  this  province  the  south- 
westerly half  of  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  and  confirming  the  boundary 
clear  on  to  Canada,  as  it  stands  to-day.  The  decision  on  the 
southern  line  was  a  surprise  to  everybody.  It  established  ^'a 
curved  line,  following  the  course  of  the  river  Merrimack  at  the 


662  HISTOBT  OP  WABNEB. 

distance  of  three  miles  on  the  north  side,  beginning  at  the  Atlan- 
tic ocean  and  ending  at  Pavrtucket  falls  (now  Liowell),  and 
thence  due  west  to  Ills  Majesti^M  other  ffovemments.** 

The  decision  was  a  total  and  overwhelming  defeat  to  the  Mas- 
sachusetts claim.  It  was  much  more  than  that.  The  falling  of 
the  walls  of  Jericho  on  the  sounding  of  the  ram's  horn,  could  not 
have  astonished  Jo:ihua  more  than  this  decision  of  the  king  aston- 
ished the  zealous  politicians  of  Massachusetts  in  1740.  It  gave  to 
New  Hampshire  a  large  tract  of  valuable  territory  beyond  what  she 
had  asked.  The  line  claimed  by  this  province,  before  committees, 
commissioners,  and  kings,  starting  at  the  ocean  where  it  now  is, 
would  run  through  South  Hampton,  Newton,  Hampstead,  Deny, 
Londonderry,  Litclifield,  Merrimack,  Amherst,  Mont  Vernon, 
Lyndeborough,  Peterborough,  Dublin,  Marlborongh,  Swanzey, 
and  to  the  Connecticut  river  in  Chesterfield.  So,  by  this  un- 
looked-for decision,  New  Hampshire  gaine<l  possession  of  parts  of 
all  the  towns  just  enumerated,  together  with  the  whoie  of  Plais- 
tow,  Atkinson,  Salem,  AVindham,  Pelham,  Hudson,  Nashua,  Hol- 
lis,  Brookline,  Miltbrd,  Wilton,  ^lason,  Greenville,  Temple,  New 
Ipswich,  Sharon,  Kindge,  Jafhrey,  Fitzwilliam,  Troy,  Kichmond, 
Winchester,  and  Hinsdale ;  gained  a  tract  of  land  more  than  four 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres  in  extent,  and  better  in  quality 
than  the  average  of  our  New  England  country.  That  decision 
stands  good  to-day. 

The  king,  ignoring  the  sixty* mile  point  in  Mason's  grant  on 
the  east,  carried  the  line  on  to  Canada  because  the  province  of 
Maine  was  extended  there,  and,  ignoring,  also,  on  the  south,  the 
sixty-mile  point  from  the  ocean,  carried  on  the  line  with  !Massa- 
chusetts  to  "  His  Majest^'^s  other  govenimeuts,''  and  thus  Ma- 
son's curce,  or  his  straight  line  from  point  to  point,  is  obsolete. 
The  king  does  not  recognize  it,  and  New  Hampshire  knows  it  not. 

CONTEST   WITH  NEW  YORK. 

We  come  now  to  another  border  war,  in  which  New  Hamp- 
shire was  one  of  the  belligerents.  Previous  to  the  Bevolution, 
both  New  Y»>rk  an<l  New  Hanipsliii-e  claimed  all  the  territory 
that  now  constitutes  the  state  of  Vermont.  New  York  claimed 
it  under  the  t^nus  of  lier  royal  jjrant.  Charles  the  Second,  in 
1663,  granted  to  his  brother  James,  Duke  of  York,  and  to   his 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEAV  HAMPSHIRE.  568 

heirs  and  assigns,  "  AH  the  lands  from  the  west  side  of  Connecti- 
cut river  to  the  east  side  of  Delaware  bay."  This  language 
seems  plain  enough  ;  but,  as  New  York  never  extended  to  Dela- 
ware bay  on  the  south,  nor  to  within  a  hundred  miles  of  it ;  as 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  had  established  their  western 
boundaries  beyond  the  Connecticut  river,  and  on  a  line  but  twen- 
ty miles  east  of  the  Hudson ;  and  as  George  the  Second,  in  de- 
ciding the  boundaries  of  New  Hampshire,  allows  her  line  to  ex- 
tend westward  "  till  it  meets  with  the  Kinjr's  other  governments," 
Benning  Wentwortb,  and  those  in  authority  in  this  province, 
claimed  the  territory  of  Vermont.  It  is  proper  that  I  should  say 
here,  that  Gov.  Clinton,  in  a  letter  to  Gov.  Wentworth  in  1750, 
took  the  position  that  the  colony  of  Connecticut  was  extended 
upon  the  New  York  grant  by  an  agreement,  and  that  Massacho- 
setts  first  went  upon  their  grounds  ^'  by  intrusion,"  and  that  the 
possession  was  left  so  long  undisturbed  by  New  York  that  it  be- 
came permanent.  His  successors  took  the  same  position  through 
all  the  coming  struggle,  but  I  hardly  see  how  they  could  main- 
tain it.  The  original  grant  of  Massachusetts  was  prior  to  that  of 
the  Duke  of  York,  and  the  Massachusetts  grant  extended  '^  from 
the  Atlantic  ocean  on  the  east  part,  to  the  South  sea  on  the  west 
part." 

Gov.  Wentworth,  nothing  daunted  by  these  allegations  from 
New  York,  went  ahead.  He  had  granted  the  township  of  Ben- 
nington, in  1749,  naming  it  for  himself.  He  proceeded,  in  the 
years  following,  to  lay  out  to^nis  on  the  disputed  territory,  and  to 
receive  large  fees  and  presents  from  grantees  for  his  official  ser- 
vices. In  a  single  year  (1761)  he  granted  sixty  townships,  and, 
in  all,  between  the  years  1749  and  1764,  he  granted,  in  the  king's 
name,  to  New  England  people,  nearly  one  hundred  and  forty 
townships  of  land,  about  six  miles  square,  on  what  is  now  the  ter- 
ritory of  Vermont. 

During  all  these  years  New  York  sternly  protested,  but  Went- 
worth sternly  persisted.  Both  parties  appealed  to  the  king,  and, 
July  20,  1704,  King  George  the.  Third,  by  an  order  in  council, 
declared  "  the  west  bank  of  Connecticut  river  to  be  the  boundary 
between  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  and  that  of  New  York." 
This  order  was  received  and  promulgated  in  America,  April  10, 
1765. 


/ 


564  HI8T0RT  OF  WABNER. 

Lieutenant-Governor  Cadwallader  Golden,  then  acting  as  chief 
magistrate  of  New  York,  treating  the  grants  which  had  been 
made  by  New  Hampshire  as  nullities,  and  the  settlers  under  them 
as  trespassers  on  the  king*8  domain,  proceetied  at  once  to  grant 
the  lands  anew  to  others,  mostly  to  New  York  speculators.  In 
two  years'  time  his  patents  covered  most  of  the  lands  occupied  by 
the  New  Hampshire  settlers.  He  was  stimulated  to  this  work  by 
the  very  great  gains  derived  from  the  patent  fees,  he  receiving  for 
every  thousand  acres  he  patented  the  sum  of  $31.25,  while  six 
other  government  ofticials  had  a  similar  temptation.  The  secre- 
tary  of  the  province  received  $10,  the  clerk  of  the  council  $10, 
the  auditor  $4,624-,  the  receiver-general  $14.62^,  the  attorney- 
general  $7.oO,  the  surveyor^neral  $12.50.  Thus,  the  total 
amount  of  fees  for  one  thousand  acres  was  $90.50,  and  this 
amount  was  exacted  for  eoery  thousand  acres,  even  when  many 
thousands  were  included  in  the  same  patent.  The  fees  amounted 
to  $2,a00  to  a  township. 

The  like  motive  operated  upon  succeeding  governors,  not  only 
inducing  them  to  di:»regard  the  just  and  equitable  claim's  of  the 
New  Hampshire  grantees  and  settlers,  but  also  to  disobey  and  set 
at  naught  the  positive  injunctions  of  the  king,  forbidding  them, 
in  the  most  poreniptory  terms,  from  making  such  grants. 

In  the  autumn  of  1766  the  settlers  on  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants  west  of  the  Green  Mountains  called  a  convention,,  and,  on 
mature  deliberation,  agreed  to  send  an  agent  to  the  court  of  Great 
Britain,  to  state  to  the  king  and  council  the  illegal  and  unjust 
proceedings  of  the  governor  of  New  York,  and  to  obtain  redress 
of  their  grievances.  They  appointed  Samuel  Robinson,  Esq..  as 
their  agent.  Mr.  Robinson  went  upon  his  mission,  and  the  re- 
sult was,  an  order  of  the  king  in  council,  dated  July  24,  1767,  de- 
manding tliat  the  governor  of  New  York  should  not,  ^'  upon  pain 
of  His  Majesty's  highest  displeasure,  presume  to  make  any  grant 
whatsoever  of  any  part  of  the  lands  described  in  said  report  (Rob- 
inson's), until  His  ^Lajesty's  further  pleasure  should  be  known 
concerning  the  same.'' 

This  onlfT  w;is  oln^ved  for  a  vear  or  two,  but  as  soon  as  the  fall 
of  1760  it  was  wliolly  disregarded,  and  grants  of  the  prohibited 
land  were  freely  ni;ule  by  the  succeeding  governors  of  Xew  York, 
until  the  Revolutionary  period.  The  whole  quantity  of  land  grant- 


BOUNDARIES  OP  NEW  HAMPSHIRE.  565 

ed  in  direct  violation  of  this  order  exceeded  two  millions  of  acres. 
Numerous  suits  of  ejectment  were  brought  ajijainst  the  settlers, 
which  were  tried  before  the  su]»renie  court  at  Albany,  in  June, 
1770.  The  court  refused  to  allow  the  Now  Hampshire  charters 
to  be  read  in  evidence  to  the  jury,  and  rendered  judgment  for  the 
plaintiffs  in  all  cases.  The  settlers  met  in  convention,  and  re- 
solved to  defend  their  rights  "against  the  usurpation  and  unjust 
claims  of  the  governor  and  council  of  New  York,  by  force^  as  law 
and  justice  were  denied  them.'' 

Col.  Seth  Warner  was  the  guiding  spirit  in  this  convention, — 
a  man  whose  countenance,  attitude,  and  movements  indicated 
g^at  vigor  of  body  and  mind.  He  championed  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Cause  in  that  contest  through  all  its  fiery  trials,  with  a  bold- 
ness and  a  persistence  seldom  witnessed. 

But  the  black  clouds  which  portend  the  Revolutionary  war  are 
rolling  up.  The  separation  from  the  mother  country  and  the 
independence  of  the  colonies  begin  to  be  shadowed.  The  drama 
of  the  war  opens  at  Lexington,  an<l  all  local  and  provincial  con- 
tests are,  in  large  degree,  held  in  abeyance.  On  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Grants  there  was  a  set  of  intrepid  men,  trained  to  hardy 
enterprise,  and  ready  to  encounter  danger.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  hostilities,  a  compan}'-  of  these  j>eople,  styling  themselves 
Green  ^lountain  Boys,  marched  to  Ticonderoga,  under  Ethan 
Allen,  and  wrested  that  fortress  from  the  British.  Another  de- 
tachment, under  Col.  "Warner,  took  po5»Ression  of  Crown  Point. 
The  spirit  of  independence  prevailed.  The  people  on  the  New 
Hampshire  Grants  resist(»d  the  claims  of  New  York.  The  royal 
decision  had  fixed  the  boundary  of  New  Hampshire  at  the  west 
bank  of  the  Connecticut  river.  So,  on  the  24th  day  of  July, 
1776,  a  convention  was  held  at  Dorset,  Vt.,  which  consisted  of 
fifty-one  members,  representing  thirty-five  towns,  which,  by  ad- 
journment, met  again  September  25,  the  same  year;  and  again, 
at  Westrtiinster,  January  15, 1777.  At  this  latter  meeting  of  the 
convention  it  was  resolved,  no  one  contradicting,  "  That  we  do 
hereby  proclaim  and  publicly  declare  that  the  district  of  territory- 
known  by  the  name  and  desrription  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants,  b}''  right  ought  to  be,  and  is  hereby  declared  forever  here- 
after to  be,  considered  as  a  separate,  free,  and  independent  juris- 
diction or  state,  by  the  name,  and  forever  hereafter  to  be  called. 


566  HI8T0RT  OF  ^UBNEB. 

known,  and  distinguished  bj  the  name,  of  New  Connecticnt." 
This  convention  adjourned,  to  be  held  at  the  meeting-house  it 
Windsor  the  first  Wednesday  of  the  June  following.  At  this 
meeting  at  Windsor  the  convention  unanimously  resolved,  '^  That 
the  said  district  shall  now  and  herenfter  be  called  and  known  bv 
the  name  of  Vermont." 

New  Hampshire  was  understood  to  be  not  aveise  to  the  erec- 
tion of  this  new  stite.  At  any  rate,  she  uttered  no  protest 
against  it  Slie  felt  that  the  territory  of  Vermont  was  placed  be- 
yond her  reach ;  that  the  royal  decree  of  17G4,  declaring  ^'  the 
west  bank  of  the  Connecticut  river,  from  where  it  enters  the 
province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  to  the  4oth  degree  of  latitude,  to 
be  the  boundary  line  between  New  Hampshire  and  New  York,'' 
was  a  barrier  that  could  not  l>e  overcome.  Besides,  the  Sevolu- 
tionary  war  was  now  pressing  on  the  infant  colonies  with  fearful 
force.  The  overshadowing  cause  of  the  country  eng^rossed  the 
patriotism  of  the  hour,  and  if  New  Hampshire  was  guilty  of  any 
lapses  relative  to  her  boundary  lines  in  this  great  exigency,  she 
is  to  be  pardoned. 

DISMEMBERMENT  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

But  the  strangest  part  of  these  transactions  remains  to  be  con- 
sidered. No  sooner  had  Vermont  organized  a  government,  than 
a  disposition  was  manifested  by  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants  in 
border  towns  east  of  the  Connecticut  river  to  dissolve  their  con- 
nection with  New  Hampshire  and  unite  with  the  people  of  Ver- 
mont. Accordingly,  on  the  11th  day  of  March,  1778,  a  petition 
from  sixteen  towns  on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river  was  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  of  Vermont,  then  in  session  at  Windsor, 
praying  to  be  admitted  into  its  union.  The  inhabitant's  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  river  were  conveniently  situated  to  unite  with 
those  on  the  western  side,  and  it  is  probable  that  they  generally 
held  the  same  opinions  and  views.  They  argued,  that  the  origi- 
nal grant  of  New  Hampshire  to  John  ^lason  was  circumscribed 
by  a  line  dniwn  at  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  from  the  sea,  *'  and 
that  all  the  lands  westward  of  that  line,  being  royal  grants,  had 
been  held  in  siil)je<'tion  to  the  government  of  New  Hampshire 
by  force  of  the  royal  commissions,  which  were  vacated   by  the 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  567 

assumed  independence  of  the  American  colonies ;  and,  therefore, 
that  tlie  inhabitants  of  all  those  lands  had  reverted  to  a  state  of 
nature.-' 

But  this  was  a  mere  pretence,  and  a  weak  one.  It  was  I^ew 
Hampshire  on  the  Connecticut  river  as  positively  as  it  was  on 
the  Piscataqua.  It^was  New  Hampshire  outside  of  the  Masonian 
line  by  the  same  authority  that  it  was  inside.  All  the  bounda- 
ries that  New  Hampshire  or  any  other  province  liad  up  to  this 
period  were  derived  from  the  king.  The  people  here  were  his 
subjects.  The  royal  decree  had  fixed  the  boundaries  of  New 
Hampshire,  the  western  boundary  being  determined,  in  1 764,  on 
the  west  bank  of  Connecticut  river.  Hence,  to  us,  that  movement 
in  the  border  towns  appears  like  inexcusable  secession.  The  in- 
habitants in  those  towns  had  nothing  to  complain  of.  They  had, 
in  every  possible  way,  expressed  themselves  satisfied  with  their 
situation.  Those  towns  were  settled  under  the  grant  of  the  gov- 
ernor of  New  Hampshire.  They  were  within  the  lines  thereof. 
Most  of  them  sent  delegates  to  the  convention,  or  congress,  of 
New  Hampshire,  which  met  at  Exeter  in  1775,  the  convention 
which  formed  the  constitution  and  government  under  which  they 
were  then  living.  From  the  commencement  of  the  Bevolutionaxy 
war  they  had  applied  to  their  government  for  assistance  and  pro- 
tection, and  had  received  it. 

But  the  disaffected  towns  were  not  to  be  restrained.  They 
had  presented  their  request  to  the  General  Assembly  of  Vermont 
to  be  admitted  to  a  union  with  that  state,  and  in  June,  1778,  at 
its  session  in  Bennington,  the  legislature  of  Vermont,  on  the 
representation  of  a  committee  from  the  New  Hampshire  towns, 
that  the  said  towns  were  not  connected  with  any  state  in  respect 
to  their  internal  police,  and  that  sixteen  towns  had  assented  to  a 
union  with  Vermont,  in  accordance  with  articles  mutually  agreed 
upon,  "Therefore,  voted  and  resolved,  tliat  the  sixteen  towns, — 
viz.,  Cornish,  Lebanon,  Enfield,  Dresden,  Canaan,  Cardigan, 
Lyme,  Orford,  Piermont,  Haverhill,  Bath,  Lyman,  Guntbwaite, 
Apthorp,  Laudaff,  and  Morristown, — be  and  hereby  are  entitled 
to  the  privileges  and  immunities  vested  in  any  town  within  this 
state."  They  also  resolved  "  that  any  other  towns,  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  river,  might  be  admitted  on  producing  a  vote  of  a 
majority  of  the  inhabitants,  or  on  the  appointment  of  a  repre- 


668  HI8T0RT  OF  WARNEB. 

I 

sentative."  Tluis  was  this  union  consummated.  Tlius  was 
New  Hampshire  dismembered,  but  the  storm  of  popular  in- 
dignation began  to  howl.  The  leaders  in  the  seceded  towns 
made  endeavors  to  have  the  government  of  New  Hampshire  ap- 
point commissioners  to  join  such  as  they  would  appoint,  to  meet 
and  decide  how  much  territory  should  be  severed  from  the  state, 
where  the  boundary  should  be,  etc.  Of  course,  neither  Presi- 
dent Wearo  nor  his  council  nor  his  government  would  listen  to 
such  a  proposal.  The  members  from  New  Hampshire  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  at  Thiladelphia  were  entreated  to  resist  this 
scheme.  Meshech  Weare  addressed  them  a  letter,  in  which  he 
says, — '^  By  the  best  information  I  have,  aboiU  one  third, — nearly 
one  haJfy-'^i  the  people  in  the  defective  towns  are  averse  to  the 
proceedings  of  the  majority,  who  threaten  to  confiscate'  their 
estates  if  they  do  n't  join  with  them ;  and  I  am  very  much 
afraid  the  affair  will  end  in  the  shedding  of  blood.''  He  also 
wrote  a  very  strong  letter  to  Govenior  Chittenden,  of  Vermont, 
a  fair  construction  of  which  would  be,  ''If  you  proceed,  you  do  it  at 
your  peril."  The  Hon.  Timothy  AValker,  of  Concord,  who  at  this 
time  was  a  member  of  the  council  of  the  state,  wrote  an  able  ad- 
dress to  the  inhabitants  of  Vermont,  in  which  this  passage  occurs: 
"  It  is  well  known  in  New  Hampshire  that  the  disappointment^^ 
of  a  small  junto  of  aspiring,  avaricious  men,  in  their  endeavors 
to  raise  themselves  to  a  degree  of  importance  in  the  state  far 
beyond  what  their  numbers  or  estates  gave  them  any  pretence 
to,  is  the  source  of  all  this  feud.''  Ethan  Allen,  in  a  characteristic 
letter  to  the  government  of  New  Hampshire,  speaking  of  those 
who  fomented  this  disturbance,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  says,-r- 
"Argument  will  be  lost  on  them,  for  the  heads  of  the  schism,  at 
large,  are  a  petulant,  pettifogging,  scribbling  set,  that  will  keep 
any  government  on  earth  in  hot  water."  I  am  very  glad  to  state 
that  both  Allen  and  Warner,  and  other  good  men  in  Vermont, 
set  their  faces  squarely  against  the  dismemberment  of  New 
Hampshire,  from  the  start. 

The  bold  attitude  assumed  by  New  Hampshire,  and  the  oppo- 
sition to  tliis  movement  which  Vermont  found  at  home,  caused  a 
halt  in  thej^e  proceedings.  Vermont  desired  admittance  to  the 
confederacy  of  states.  JSlie  sent  Col.  Allen,  whose  personal  in- 
fluence was  great,  on  to  Philadelphia  to  obtain  recognition  for 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NETS'   HAMPSHIRE.  569 

the  state.  It  was  known  that  Kew  York  would  oppose  this  to 
the  bitter  end.  Allen  went  on  his  mission.  He  returned  and 
made  his  report,  on  the  10th  of  October,  1778,  to  the  legislature 
of  Vermont,  then  in  session  at  Windsor.  In  that  rcjiort  we  iind 
the  following :  ''  From  what  I  have  heard  of  the  disapprobation 
at  Congress  of  the  union  with  sundry  towns  east  of  Connecticut 
river,  I  offer  it  as  my  opinion,  that,  except  this  state  recede  from 
such  .union  immediately,  the  whole  power  of  the  United  States 
of  America  will  join  to  annihilate  the  state  of  Vennont,  and  to 
▼indicate  New  Hampshire."  .  At  this  session  of  the  legislature, 
representatives  from  ten  of  the  **  sixteen  towns  "  took  their  seats 
in  the  General  Assembly,  but  their  situation  became  embarrass- 
ing in  the  extreme.  Immediately  upon  the  presentation  of  Al- 
len's report,  the  legislature  took  measures  *'  to  recede  from  the 
union  "  which  had  l>een  formed  with  the  sixteen  towns  east  of 
the  river,  and,  on  the  21st  day  of  October,  1778,  the  assembly 
voted,  first,  ''  That  the  towns  east  of  the  river,  included  in  the 
union  with  this  state,  shall  not  be  included  in  the  county  of  Cum- 
herland;"  and,  second,  ''That  the  towns  on  the  east  side  of 
Connecticut  river  shall  not  be  erected  into  a  distinct  county  by 
themselves."  This  was  not  the  entertainment  to  which  those 
towns  supposed  they  had  been  invited,  for,  by  these  votes,  the 
sixteen  towns  were  denied  any  connection  with  existing 
counties,  and  denied  the  formation  of  any  county  by  them- 
selves. Of  course,  the  union  was  virtually  dissolved,  and  it 
is  said  that  "our  arn^y  in  Flanders"  furnished  no  language 
adequate  to  this  occasion.  But  the  vote  was  not  unanimous. 
On  each  question  there  were  twenty-eight  votes  favorable  to  the 
New  Hampshire  towns,  and  thirty-three  votes  unfavorable.  The 
qext  day  (Oct.  22)  the  members  from  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
and  a  number  from  the  border  towns  on  the  west  side,  made  sol- 
emn protest  against  tliis  ])roceeding,  and  voted  themselves  ''  dis- 
charged from  any  and  every  confederation  and  association  with 
the  state  of  Vermont."  They  then  withdrew  from  tlie  assembly. 
But  the  end  is  not  yet.  Heated  discusbion,  wrangling,  crimi- 
nation and  recrimination,  are  rife.  The  rejected  members  from 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  with  some  others  on  the  west  side,  form- 
ed themselves  into  a  convention,  and  invited  all  the  towns  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  to  unite  and  set  up  another  state,  by  the  name 


570  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

of  New  Connecticut.  Their  leading  purpose  was,  to  take  aboot  all 
of  Vermont  east  of  the  mountain  chain,  and  a  strip  from  the  west 
side  of  New  Hampshire,  twenty  miles  in  width  or  more,  and  out 
of  this  tract,  up  and  down  the  Connecticut  valley,  erect  their  new 
state.  In  this  view  a  convention  of  delegates  from  several  towns 
on  both  sides  of  the  Connecticut  was  held  at  Cornish,  the  ninth 
day  of  December,  177S.  That  convention  resolved  to  go  forward 
without  regard  to  the  limits  established  by  the  king  in  1764^  and 
to  make  the  following  proposals  to  New  Hampshire,  namely, 
either  to  agree  with  them  on  a  dividing  line,  or  to  submit  the  dis- 
pute to  congress,  or  to  arbitrators  mutually  chosen.  If  neither  of 
these  propositions  could  be  accepted,  then,  if  they  could  agree 
with  New  Hampshire  on  a  form  of  government,  they  would  con- 
sent '^  Tliat  the  whole  of  the  grants  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
should  connect  themselves  with  New  Hampshire,  and  become  one 
entire  state,  as  before  the  royal  determination  in  1764.''  Till  one 
or  other  of  these  proposals  should  be  complied  with,  they  deter> 
mined  ^^  to  trust  in  Providence  and  defend  themselves." 

Vermont  was  in  peril.  The  exigency  seemed  to  demand  a  more 
emphatic  declaration  on  her  part ;  so  at  the  next  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  that  state,  which  met  at  Bennington,  Feb. 
12, 1779,  referring  to  the  union  of  New  Hampsliire  towns  with 
Vermont,  it  was  resolved,  '*  That  the  said  union  be  and  is  here- 
by dissolved,  and  made  totally  void,  null,  and  extinct ;  and  that 
His  Excellency  the  Governor  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  directed  to 
communicate  the  foregoing  resolve  to  the  President  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire."  Thus  was  this  brief  union 
formally  dissolved.  But  a  tempest  had  been  created,  and  it  was 
not  easy  to  control  the  storm.  The  inchoate  state  was  shak- 
ing in  the  wind.  The  governor  of  Vermont  wrote  letters  to  the 
Assembly  of  New  Hampshire,  informing  them  of  the  separation, 
but  those  letters  were  not  entirely  satisfactory.  The  Assembly 
of  New  Hampshire  desired  a  frank  avowal  against  9JiY future 
connection.  It  was  a  day  of  distrust  and  jealousy,  and  nothing 
was  sure.  I  exonerate  no  party  and  cast  censure  on  none.  I  ad- 
mit that  leading  men  in  New  Hampshire,  all  through  this  contro- 
versy, held  that  tlie  state  should  have  persisted  in  her  claim  to  all 
the  territory  of  Vermont.  Woodbury  Langdon,  a  delegate  in 
congress  at  this  time,  believed  that  such  a  stand,  boldly  taken 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  571 

• 
and  tinflinchingly  maintained,  would  have  proved  successful.     As 

I  liave  said,  New  Hampshire  at  first  acquiesced  in  the  indepen- 
dence of  Vermont,  but  after  the  attempt  on  her  part  to  sever  from 
this  state  a  portion  of  its  territory,  a  chan<;e  took  place,  so  much 
80,  that  by  1779  both  the  people  and  the  authorities  of  Xew 
Hampshire  were  in  favor  of  asserting  claim  to  the  whole  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Grants. 

In  the  year  1779  an  attempt  was  made  to  form  a  new  consti- 
tution for  New.  Hampshire.  In  this  constitution  the  claim  to  the 
whole  of  Vermont  was  indirectly  recognized.  Though  this  form 
of  government  was  defeated,  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  claiming 
Vermont  did  not  abate.  New  York  renewed  her  claim  to  the 
same  lands  with  much  vigor,  and  it  was  suspected  by  Vermont 
that  intrigues  were  being  formed  to  divide  that  state  between 
New  Hampshire  and  New  York,  by  the  ridge  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tains. At  any  rate  Vermonters  caught  new  alarm,  and,  that  they 
might  lose  no  point  in  the  game,  they  extended  their  claim  west- 
ward into  New  York,  and  revived  it  eastward,  into  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Congress  had  been  appealed  to,  but  the  Revolutionary  war  en- 
grossed its  great  care,  and  congress  was  slow  to  act.  Indeed,  less 
than  nine  disinterested  states  could  not  act.  A  deficiencv  in  the 
representation  caused  a  long  delay, — a  year  or  more, — but  at  last 
the  question  came  up.  New  York  and  New  Hampshire  both 
pleaded  that  Vermont  had  no  right  to  independence.  The  agents 
of  the  new  state  spiritedl}'  asserted  their  rights,  and  offered  to  be- 
come a  part  of  the  Union.  Should  this  be  denied  them,  they  rep- 
resented (to  use  the  words  of  Gov.  Chittenden)  that  "they  should 
be  under  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  making  the  best  terms 
with  the  British  that  might  be  in  their  power  " 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  January,  1781,  a  convention  of  dele- 
gates from  forty-three  towns  was  held  at  Charlestown,  N.  H.  A 
IK)rtion  of  the  towns  here  represented  were  on  the  New  Hamp- 
shire* side  of  the  river.  Each  of  the  parties  to  the  controversy 
was  ably  represented  before  this  convention,  and  the  delegates 
were  wannly  beset  on  every  hand.  Now  Hampshire,  through  her 
agents,  was  active  and  hopeful.  Twelve  of  the  delegates  were  mem- 
bers of  the  council  and  assembly  of  New  Hampshire.  The  New 
York  agents,  who  favored  a  new  state  that  should  be  bounded 
37 


572  HISTOBT  OF  WARNER. 

by  the  Masonian  grant  on  tlie  east  and  the  Green  Mountains 
on  the  west,  were  pressing  their  views  with  vigor.  Vermont  had 
also  in  the  field  men  of  indomitable  energy  and  perseverance  to 
engineer  the  cause  of  that  state.  It  was  no  idle  convention.  The 
governor  of  Vermont  had  designated  Col.  Ira  Allen  as  one  of  the 
agents  of  that  state.  When  Allen  arrived,  the  convention  had 
been  in  session  two  days ;  a  committee  had  been  appointed  to 
consider  the  situation,  and  report  thereon.  Allen  soySy — ''At 
length  the  committee  reported  to  unite  all  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants  to  New  Hampshire,  which  was  adopted,  and  went,  in  fact, 
to  annihilate  the  state  of  Vermont"  Now  the  friends  of  that 
state  aroused  themselves.  Allen  assured  the  members  of  the  con- 
vention that  the  governor  and  council,  and  some  of  the  leading 
men  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountain,  were  for  extending  their/ 
claim  to  the  Mason  line,  and  that  he  was  authorized  to  say,  if  the 
convention  would  take  proper  measures,  that  ''  the  legislature  of 
Vermont  would  extend  their  claim,  at  their  adjourned  term,  in 
February,  1781  (the  next  month),  and  that  he  was  aui/iorized  to 
gioe  such  assurance,^' 

Allen  continues  :  ''The  report  was  recommitted;"  "  the  friends 
of  New  Hampshire  were  much  pleased  with  their  success,  and 
well  enjoyed  the  night,  but  the  scene  changed  the  next  morning. 
The  committee  reversed  their  report,  and  reported  to  unite  all  the 
territory  of  New  Hampshire  west  of  Mason's  line,  with  the  state 
of  Vermont,  which  report  was  accepted  by  a  great  majority." 

Twelve  members  protested  and  withdrew.  The  convention  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  confer  with  the  legislature  of  Vermont, 
which  was  to  meet  at  Windsor  during  the  next  month,  and  then 
adjourned  to  meet  at  Cornish  (only  three  miles  from  Windsor)  at 
the  same  time. 

Agreeably  to  adjournment,  the  Charlestown  convention  met  at 
Cornish,  Feb.  8,  1781 ;  the  legislature  of  Vermont  assembled  at 
Windsor.  The  New  Hampshire  towns  were  desirous  of  being 
united  again  with  Vermont,  in  one  separate,  independent  govern- 
ment ;  and  the  convention,  in  due  form,  so  notified  the  legisla- 
ture. This  application  was  warmly  received,  and  on  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  February,  the  articles  of  union  were  agreed 
upon  and  contirmed.  It  was  provided  that  the  question  of  com* 
pleting  the  union  on  the  terms  proposed  should  be  submitted  to 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  573 

the  86Teral  towns  in  the  state  of  Vermont,  and  to  the  towns 
in  Kew  Hampshire,  to  the  distance  of  about  twenty  miles  from 
Connecticut  river;  and  that  if  two  thirds  of  the  towns  on  each 
side  of  the  river  approved  of  the  union,  it  should  be  considered  as 
ratified  and  completed. 

The  two  bodies  then  adjourned  to  meet  again  in  their  respect* 
ive  places  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  April  following.  The  terras 
of  union  were  submitted  to  the  towns,  and  at  the  adjourned  meet- 
ing of  the  legislature,  at  Windsor,  April  o,  1781,  the  result  of  the 
vote  on  the  question  of  union  was  made  known.  The  following 
towns  on  the  New  Hampshire  side  of  the  river  had  given  in  their 
allegiance  to  the  state  of  Vermont, — viz.,  Alstead,  Gilsnm,  Hins- 
dale, Chesterfield,  Surry,  Mario w,  Kichraond,  Westmoreland, 
Cornish,  Plainfield,  Croydon,  Savillc  (now  Sunapee),  Newport, 
Charlestown,  Claremont,  Acworth,  Lempster,  Grantham,  Grafton, 
Lebanon,  Dresden  (part  of  Hanover),  Hanover,  Haverhill,  Pied- 
mont, Dorchester,  Lyme,  Gunthwaite  (now  Lisbon),  Landaff, 
Lyman,  Lincoln,  Morristown  (now  Franconia),  Bath,  Cardigan 
(now  Orange),  and  Lancaster. 

The  assembly  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  on  the  conventiofn, 
and  ''  inform  them  that  the  union  is  agreed  on  by  a  major  part 
of  the  towns  in  this  state,  agreeably  to  the  articles  of  union  as 
proposed  ;  and  that  tlie  assembly  will  wait  to  receive  the  members 
returned  to  sit  in  the  assembly,  on  the  union's  taking  place,  to- 
morrow morning  at  9  o'clock."  Forty-four  members  had  been 
chosen  from  the  New  Hampshire  towns  east  of  the  Connecticut 
river;  they  were  introduced  by  the  committee  to  the  legislature 
of  Vermont ;  they  produced  their  credentials,  took  the  oaths  of 
office,  and  were  conducted  to  their  seats  in  the  house. 

Thus  was  the  second  union  between  these  contracting  parties 
consummated,  and  the  same,  with  due  jioinp  and  ceremony,  was  pro- 
claimed. The  next  session  of  the  legislature  of  this  new  state, — a 
state  now  stretching  from  Lake  Charaplain  to  the  Pemigewasset 
river, — was  at  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  October,  178L  One  hundred 
and  thirty  members  were  present,  representing,  according  to 
Hiland  Hall's  history,  fifty-seven  towns  west  of  the  river,  and 
forty-five  towns  east. 

When  the  legislature  convened  at  Charlestown,  as  above  stated, 
Thomas  Chittenden  had  been  reelected  governor,  but  no  choice 


574  HI8T0BT  OF  WAJKNEB. 

had  been  made  of  licuteiuuit-governor.  The  House  elected  CoL 
Elisha  Payne,  of  Lebanon,  to  that  office.  Two  members  of  the 
council  also  belonged  to  the  east  side  of  the  river.  Mr.  Payne 
was  perhaps  the  leader  of  this  moTement  among  the'  New  Hamp- 
shire towns.  He  came  from  Connecticut  in  1773,  and  settled  in 
Cardigan,  now  Orange.  He  was  for  a  time  a  trustee  of  Dart- 
mouth college.  At  the  October  session  of  the  Vermont  Assembly 
in  1778  (during  the  first  union)  he  was  a  representative  from 
Cardigan.  He  wa«  prominent  in  all  these  conventions  which  I 
have  mentioned,  and  in  April,  1781,  he  represented  J^ebanon  in 
the  Vermont  Assembly ;  and  now,  in  October  of  the  same  year,  he 
is  made  lieutenant-governor  of  his  cherished  state..    . 

Congress,  at  last,  after  years  of  vexation  and  delay,  had  pro- 
ceeded so  far,  in  August,  1781,  as  to  lay  it  down  as  an  indispen- 
sable preliminary  to  tlie  recognition  of  Vermont  as  a  member  of 
the  Union,  that  she  should  '^  explicitly  relinquish  all  demands  of 
land  and  jurisdiction  on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river,  and  on 
the  west  side  of  a  line  drawn  twenty  miles  eastward  of  Hudson's 
river.''  Here  was  a  stumbling-block  and  a  rock  of  offence  not  to 
be  disregarded.  This  resolution  of  congress  was  laid  before  the  . 
assembly,  but  that  body  stood  firm.  They  would  not  submit  the 
question  of  their  independence  to  any  power  whatever;  but  they 
would  refer  tlje  question  of  their  jurisdictional  boundary  to  com- 
missioners mutually  clioseu ;  and  when  they  should  be  admitted 
into  the  American  Union,  they  would  submit  any  such  disputes  to 
congress. 

They  proceeded  to  their  work  ;  they  extended  Vermont  coun- 
ties over  tliis  Xew  Hampshire  tract ;  they  levied  taxes,  created 
courts,  and  appointed  sheriiit's  and  justices  of  the  peace, — aU  in 
New  Hampshire,  They  did  with  the  east  side  of  the  river  as 
they  did  with  the  west,  or  attempted  to.  The  state  of  society 
within  tlie  seceding  towns  was  deplorable.  The  majorities  at- 
tempted to  control  minorities.  Affairs  reached  such  a  pitch  as  to 
bring  the  divided  inhabitants  in  these  towns  into  direct  collision. 
New  Hampshire,  of  course,  relinquislied  jurisdiction  to  none  of 
her  territory  or  people.  Strong  remonstrances  against  the  au- 
thority of  Vermont  came  to  tlie  Comnuttee  of  Safety  of  2sew 
Hampsliire,  nunuTously  sij^ned  by  citizens  on  the  disputed  dis- 
trict.    John  Clark,  of  Laudaff,  sent  in  a  memorial,  setting  forth 


BOUNDARIES  OF  KEIT  HAMP8HIRR.  57r> 

the  violence  tliat  had  been  committed  on  him,  because,  as  he  al- 
legedy  he  had  stood  for  New  Hampshire, ''  in  opposition  to  wheed- 
lings,  flatteries,  ])roiiiise8,  frowns,  throats,  insults,  and  exeTV  other 
conceivable  machination."  Memorials  came  from  all  parts  of  the 
district  over  which  Vermont  attempted  to  exercise  authority. 

Cheshire  was  Washington  count}*,  under  Vermont  rule.  Samuel 
Davis,  of  Chest(frfleld,  in  Washington  count\',  a  constable  under 
Vermont  authority,  complains,  that  on  the  night  of  the  fifth  of 
November.  1781,  in  attempting  to  sene  a  precept  on  James  Rob- 
ertson, in  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Bingham,  John  Gandy,  Jr.,  did, 
by  force  and  arms,  oppose  him,  the  said  Davis,  and  did  not  suffer 
him  to  make  his  service,  ^'all  which  is  against  the  peace  and 
dignity  of  this  state."  Whereupon,  the  sheriff  of  Washington 
coonty  was  order«;d  to  take  the  body  of  John  Gandy,  Jr.,  of  said 
Chesterfield,  and  him  commit  to  the  common  jail  in  Charlestown. 
This  he  did.  Nathaniel  Bingham  was  in  like  manner  committed 
to  Charlestown  jail  for  hindering  and  opposing  the  aforesaid  con- 
stable in  the  execution  of  his  office.  Bingham  and  (randy  peti- 
tioned the  authorities  of  New  Hampshire  for  release.  Acoom- 
.  panying  this  petition  was  a  statement  made  b}''  Bingham  of  the 
offence.  It  was,  in  substance,  this :  That  the  town  of  Chester- 
field was  destitute  of  any  officers,  civil  or  military,  who  would  act 
under  the  authority  of  New  Hampshire ;  that  a  number  of  friends 
were  assembled  at  his  house  tlie  evening  of  Nov.  5,  to  nominate 
one  or  two  persons  for  justice  of  the  peace,  to  be  commissioned  by 
the  assembly;  that  about  eight  o'clock,  Samuel  Davis,  acting  as 
constable  under  Vermont,  came  in  with  five  others,  took  a  book 
from  under  his  coat,  and  said  ho  would  like  to  read  a  paragraph ; 
that  he  (Bingham)  forbade  his  reading  any  Vermont  laws  in  his 
house,  and  advised  him  to  withdraw ;  that  John  Gandy  told  D»- 
vis  if  he  read  any  riot  act  there,  he  (Gandy)  would  kick  him  into 
the  fire ;  that  Davis  said  he  had  a  precept  against  one  of  the  com- 
2)any  ;  and  that  ho  (Bingham)  forbade  his  reading  any  Vermont 
precept  under  his  roof,  on  which  Davis  and  his  attendants  left. 

The  New  Hamjishire  assembly  took  up  the  cise  at  once,  and, 
Nov.  27,  1781,  unanimously  enacted  that  the  committee  of  safety 
be  empowered  to  issue  their  order  to  the  sheriff  of  Cheshire 
C4)unty  to  release  from  prison  all  persons  in  Cheshire  or  Grafton 
county  confined  there  by  order  of  any  pretended  court,  mag^ 


576  msTORT  OP  wabner. 

tntey  or  other  officer  claiming  anthoritj  under  Vermont  They 
farther  empowered  the  committee  to  cause  to  be  apprehended 
and  committed  to  prison,  in  any  of  the  countiei(y  all  persons  act* 
ing  under  the  pretended  authority  of  the  state  of  Vermont,  and 
for  this  purpose  the  sherifEs  were  Empowered  to  raise  the  posse 
comitatus.  Under  the  authority  thus  given,  Col.  Enoch  Hale^  of 
Bindge,  sheriff  of  Cheshire  county,  proceeded  to  the  release  of 
the  prisoners  in  Charlestown  jail.  He  demanded  Bingham  and 
Gandy.  On  being  refused,  he  attempted  to  break  the  jail,  when 
he  was  immediately  seized  and  committed  to  jail  himself  by  the 
Vermont  authorities. 

Hale,  the  imprisoned  sheriff,  called  on  Oen.  Bellows  to  raise 
the  militia  for  his  liberation.  Bellows  at  once  notified  President 
Weare  of  the  state  of  things,  and  went  about  his  work.  This 
alarme4  the  Vermonters,  and  onlers  were  issued  by  Gov.  Chit- 
tenden for  their  militia  to  oppose  force  to  force.  The  sheriff 
(Wm.  Page),  and  others  in  authority  under  the  laws  of  Vermont, 
aroused  themselves  to  resist  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  New 
Hampshire  to  rescue  Col.  Hale  or  the  other  prisoners  confined  at 
Charlestown.  Tlie  regiment  of  militia  under  Col.  Samuel  King 
was  immediately  placed  in  a  state  of  readiness  by  Vermont  to 
meet  any  attack  that  might  be  made.  The  excitement  was  in- 
tense, and  every  one  felt  that  "  the  hour  had  struck." 

While  this  was  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  western  part  of 
the  state,  the  authorities  of  Xew  Hampshire  in  the  eastern  part 
were  not  idle  and  indifferent  spectators.  President  Weare,  the 
committee  of  safety,  and  all  others  in  authority,  realized  the  grav- 
ity of  the  occasion,  and  acted  with  decision  and  vigor.  The 
sheriff  of  Hillsborough  county  (^Eoses  Kelley,  Esq.)  was  ordered 
"to  raise  the  body  of  his  county,"  for  the  purpose  of  liberating 
Col.  Hale.  Gen.  Nichols  was  ordered  to  assist  the  sheriff  "  in 
raising  the  body  of  the  militia  in  Hillsborough  county."  Gen. 
Benjamin  Bellows,  of  Walpole,  was  ordered  to  raise  as  many  of 
the  militia  of  his  county  as  possible,  to  take  command  of  them, 
and  be  in  readiness  to  cooperate  with  those  raised  in  Hillsborough 
county.  Francis  Blood,  of  Temple,  was  ordered  "  to  supply  the 
troops  with  beef  from  the  cattle  collected  for  the  armv,  and,  if 
practicable,  to  exchange  a  sutKcient  quantity  of  beef  to  supply 
them  with  bread." 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  OH 

Gov.  Chittenden,  of  Vermont,  appointed  Gen.  Payne  (the  lieu- 
ton  ant-govern  or)  to  take  command  of  the  militia  of  the  state,  to 
call  to  his  aid  Generals  Fletcher  and  Olcott,  and  such  of  the  field- 
officers  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains  as  he  thought  proper. 
About  the  same  time,  a  committee  from  the  state  of  Vermont 
was  sent  to  Exeter  '*  to  agree  on  measures  to  prevent  hostilities." 
William  Page,  the  Vermont  sheriff,  was  on  this  committee.  He 
had  no  sooner  reached  Exeter  than  he  was  arrested  and  cast  into 
prison,  and  held  as  a  hostage  for  the  release  of  the  sheriff  of 
Cheshire.  The  assembly  of  New  Hampshire  issued  a  proclama- 
tion allowing  forty  days  for  the  people  in  the  revolted  towns  to 
repair  to  some  magistrate,  and  subscribe  a  declaration  that  they 
acknowledge  the  extent  of  New  Hampshire  to  Connecticut  river, 
and  that  they  would  hereafter  obser%'e  the  peace.  They  also 
ordered  the  militia  of  all  the  counties  to  hold  themselves  in  readi- 
ness to  march  against  the  revolters.  The  committee  of  safety  of 
New  Hampshire  issued  a  warrant  to  Jonathan  Martin,  of  Wilton, 
ordering  him  to  arrest  Col.  Samuel  King,  of  Chesterfield,  who, 
as  magistrate,  committed  Bingham  and  Gandy  to  jail ;  also,  to 
avrest  Nathaniel  S.  Prentice,  Moses  Smith,  and  Isaac  Griswold. 
Another  warrant  was  issued  to  Robert  Smith,  of  Londonderry, 
commanding  him  to  arrest  Benjamin  Giles,  of  Newport.  (Pren- 
tice, Griswold,  and  Giles  were  deputy  sheriffs  under  Vermont 
rule.)  Smith  "apprehended  the  body"  of  Prentice  and  carried 
him  to  Exeter,  where  he  was  committed  to  jail.  He  also  arrested 
King,  carried  him  a  dozen  miles,  when  he  was  forcibly  rescued. 
Gen.  Hellows,  in  addressing  President  Weare  in  reference  to  this 
rescue,  says, — "  The  mob,  after  refreshment  at  King's,  sought  for 
all  those  who  assisted  Smith  in  the  arrest,  some  of  whom  they 
caught  and  abused  in  a  shameful  manner,  by  striking,  kicking, 
and  all  the  indignities  which  such  a  hellish  pack  can  be  guilty  of." 

Meantime,  General  George  Washington,  then  commanding  the 
armies  of  the  Kevolution,  had  been  applied  to  by  a  committee  of 
congress,  who  had  under  consideration  the  question  of  admitting 
Vermont  into  the  Union  and  determining  its  boundaries.  Said 
committee  prevailed  on  Gen.  Washington  to  address  a  letter  to 
the  governor  of  Vermont.  And  now  the  climax  is  at  hand.  On 
the  first  day  of  Januarj',  1782,  Washington  wrote  as  requested. 
The  letter  is  too  long  to  be  inserted  here ;  but  it  advised  the  gov- 


578  HI8T0BT  OF  WARNER. 

emor  and  the  people  of  Vermont  to  relinquish  their  late  exten- 
sion as  an  '^  indispensable  preliminary"  to  their  admittance  into 
the  Union.  Washington  intimated  that  if  they  refused  to  com- 
ply with  this  requirement  they  must  be  considered  as  having  a 
hostile  disposition  towards  tlie  Uuiteil  States,  in  which  cane  co€t- 
dan  on  the  part  of  congress  would  become  necessary. 

This  letter,  taken  in  connection  with  the  action  of  congress, 
hereinbefore  mentioned,  had  the  desired  effect.  The  war  ended. 
The  assembly  of  Vermont,  which  had  been  in  session  at  Charles- 
town,  N.  H.,  and  which  had  adjourned  to  meet  at  Bennington 
the  last  day  of  January,  1782,  was  not  ready  to  act  at  once,  as  no 
quorum  appeared  till  Feb.  11.  On  the  23d  day  of  February, 
Anno  Domini  1782,  tlie  said  assembly  did  solemnly  resolve, 
''  That  the  west  bank  of  Connecticut  river,  and  a  line  beginning 
at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  ^lassachusetts  state,  from  thence 
northward  twenty  miles  east  of  Hudson's  river,  as  specified  in  the 
resolutions  of  August  last,  shall  be  considered  as  the  east  and 
west  boundaries  of  Vermont,  and  that  this  assembly  do  hereby 
relinquish  all  claim  and  demand  to,  and  right  of  jurisdiction  in 
and  over,  an}*"  and  every  district  of  territory  without  said  bound- 
ary lines." 

Thus  ended  this  bitter  and  prolonged  contest, — a  contest  which, 
for  years,  had  been  productive  only  of  mischief,  by  dividing  fami- 
lies and  neighborhoods,  and  distracting  the  country.  Thus  end- 
ed, also,  this  second  union  of  certain  disaffected  New  Hampshire 
towns  with  the  state  of  Vermont.  The  summary  work  of  dissolu- 
tion was  accomplislied  in  the  absence  of  the  Kew  Hampshire 
members.  Before  they  arrived  at  their  posts  in  Bennington,  the 
die  had  been  cast ;  Vermont  had  gone  back  over  the  river,  and 
the  boundary  of  New  Hampshire  rested  on  the  west  bank. 

ALONG  THE   HIGHLANDS. 

Now  the  boundaries  of  this  state  are  established  on  the  south, 
on  the  east,  and  on  the  west,  never,  probably,  to  be  disturbed 
while  the  foundations  of  the  government  stand. 

But  I  have  not  yot  encircled  the  state.  New  Hampshire,  on 
the  soutli-oast,  Kordors  on  the  ocean,  and  on  the  north,  on  Her 
Britannic  Majesty's  Dominion.     Our  northern  boundary  line  is 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  579 

"  along  the  highlands,"  between  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  ocean 
and  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and  is  about  thirt3'-8even  miles  in 
length.  I  shall  dwell  very  briefly  on  this  branch  of  my  subject ; 
shall  exclude  much  that  ntight  properly  be  introduced  here,  but 
which  is  not  necessar}'  to  an  understanding  of  the  main  facts. 
There  has  been  no  dUpute  about  this  line :  there  was  a  disagree* 
ment  and  a  delay.  By  the  royal  decree,  in  1740,  Xew  Hampshire 
was  extended  to  Canada.  That  country  was  tlien  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  French.  It  was  conquered  by  the  English  in  1759, 
and  became  a  British  province.  When  the  treaty  of  peace  was 
concluded  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  Sept.  3, 
1783,  it  was  agreed  and  declared  that  the  boundaries  should  be 
from  the  north-west  angle  of  Kova  Scotia,  along  the  highlands 
which  divide  those  rivers  that  empty  into  the  St.  Lawrence  from 
tliose  which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  '^  to  the  narth-westem' 
most  /lead  of  Connecticut  river;  then  down  along  the  middle  of 
that  river  to  the  45^  of  north  latitude ;  thence  due  west,"  etc. 

Now,  the  question  in  controversy  has  been,  "What  was  meant  by 
the  words  "  the  north-westernmost  head  of  Connecticut  river  '*  ? 
This  river  has  three  recognized  heads.  The  eastern  is  in  Lake 
Connecticut,  a  small  lake  in  the  northern  extremity  of  the  state, 
and  about  midway  of  the  state  from  east  to  west,  as  our  lines  now 
are.  The  head  of  this  branch  is  the  lake,  and  at  the  very  outlet 
of  the  lake  it  takes  the  name  of  Connecticut  river.  West  of  that, 
rising  further  north  at  the  rid^e  of  the  highlands,  is  Indian 
Stream.  It  flows  south,  passing  by  Connecticut  lake  on  the  west, 
and  emptying  into  the  Connecticut  branch  several  miles  below  the 
lake.  Still  farther  west,  rising  in  the  highlands,  is  Hall's  Stream, 
flowing  south,  west  of  Indian  Stream,  and  falling  into  the  Con- 
necticut branch  yet  lower  down. 

Several  attempts  were  made,  up  to  1823,  to  settle  the  point  in 
controversy,  but  they  were  fniitless,  and  the  subject  was  then 
dropped  till  .1842.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  legislature 
of  New  Hampshire,  in  1789,  *'  to  run  our  nortliern  line."  Having 
attended  to  dutj',  that  committee  reported  that  "  they  had  spotted 
a  birch  tree  for  the  north-east  corner  of  the  state ;"  that  "  they 
tlien  spotted  along  the  highlands,  south-westward,  to  the  head  of 
the  north-west  branch  of  Connecticut  river,  then  down  said  river 
to  the  main  river,  about  half  a  mile  below  latitude  4o^  north." 
88 


580  HISTORY  OF  WARNER* 

This  could  have  been  none  other  than  Hall's  Stream,  for  that  anit/ 
&lls  into  the  Connecticut  below  the  4o^.  And  that  **  birch  tree," 
if  it  stands,  is  to-day  the  north-east  comer  of  New  Hampshire  and 
the  north-west  comer  of  Maine.  It  stands  on  the  great  *^  divid. 
ing  ridge,"  on  Crown  mountain,  in  latitude  45*^  19^  north. 

The  English  hare  contended  that  a  fair  construction  of  the 
treaty  would  make  the  main  branch  of  the  rirer  the  boundary 
line,  because  the  other  streams  do  not  bear  the  name  of  Connecti- 
cut, but  distinct  names.  If  this  view  had  prevailed,  our  state 
would  have  been  less  in  territory  than  it  now  is,  by  three  good- 
sized  townships.  But  if  this  first  view  could  not  be  entertained, 
then  the  English  have  insisted  that  Indian  Stream,  the  middle 
branch  of  the  three,  must  be  accepted  as  the  boundary.  It  is 
larger  than  Hall's  Stream,  and  more  direct  in  its  course.  They 
contended  that  little  brooks  and  rivulets  were  not  to  be  consid- 
ered. Now,  if  the  boundary  had  been  fixed  here.  New  Hampshire 
would  have  been  less  in  territory  than  it  now  is  by  at  least  one 
large  township. 

Our  government  contended,  from  the  beginning,  for  Hall's 
Stream.  It  is  the  north-west  branch  of  Connecticut  river,  and 
therefore  its  source  is  the  "  north-westernmost  head  of  Connecti- 
cut river."  No  one  can  go  into  that  country,  or  look  upon  a  cor- 
rect map  of  it,  without  being  convinced  that  HalFs  Stream  fully 
answers  to  the  designation  in  the  treaty.  It  is  considerable  in 
size ;  its  head  is  in  the  liigblands,  north  of  the  4oth  degree ;  it  is 
a  branch  of  the  Connecticut ;  and  it  is  more  north-west  than  Ind- 
ian Stream.  Carri gain's  map,  Morse's  Geography,  and  Belknap's 
History  have  all,  since  1789,  taken  it  for  granted  that  the  high- 
lands and  Hairs  Stream  constitute  our  northern  boundary. 

But  the  question  hung  fire  till  1842.  Webster  and  Ashburton, 
in  the  treaty  of  Washington  of  that  year,  accepted  this  line,  and 
determined  it  to  be  the  boundary  forever  between  the  British  pos- 
sessions and  the  state  of  New  Hampshire. 

Thus,  for  years  and  centuries,  has  the  question  of  boundary,  in 
one  form  or  another,  agitated  the  people  of  this  state.  Happily 
for  us  and  for  posterity,  those  questions  have  now  for  long  years 
been  adjusted,  and  we  have  had  peace.  There  has  been  no  at- 
tempt to  disturb  anv  boundarv  line  when  once  fairlv  determined. 
There  will  be  none.  What  New  Hampshire  is,  as  to  its  territorial 


BOUNDARIES  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE.  581 

limits,  it  will  remain.  It  is  not  large  in  area  or  in  population, 
but  respectable  in  both.  In  extent  of  territory  it  excels  Massa- 
chusetts, Connecticut,  Ehode  Island,  New  Jersey,  and  Delaware ; 
and  in  population,  according  to  the  census  of  1S70,  it  excels 
Hhode  Island,  Delaware,  Florida,  Nebraska,  Nevada,  and  Oregon. 
New  Hampshire  is  a  good  state  to  be  bom  in,  equally  good  to 
live  in,  and  quite  as  good  as  any  place  on  earth  to  be  buried  in. 
In  productiveness  of  soil,  she  is  above  an  average  of  the  states  ;  in 
healthfuluess  of  climate  and  in  the  grandeur  of  her  mountains, 
she  is  unsurpassed.  She  has  produced  her  full  share  of  the  great 
men  and  eminent  women  of  the  country,  and  is  still  producing 
them.  Her  population  enjoy  as  much  of  the  good  things  of  this 
life  as  any  people  under  the  sun ;  and  those  of  us  to  the  manor 
bom  who  have  attained  to  middle  age,  and  especially  those  of 
us  who  are  admonished  by  the  lengthening  shadows  that  night  is 
coming  on,  should  remain  on  our  ''  native  heath,"  hallowed  by  the 
recollection  of  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  two  hundred  years,  and 
finish  our  journey  at  home,  thanking  God  if  we  may  do  this  in 
faith,  looking  for  a  city  that  hath  foundations. 


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