n- ANNALS TOWN OF KEENE, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1734, TO THE YEAR 1790; WITH CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, AND A CONTINUATION, FROM 1790 TO 1815. BY SALHIA HALE. KEENE: PRINTED BY J. W. PRENTISS AND COMPANY. 1851. PREFACE. The following annals were compiled at the request of the New- Hampshire Historical Society, and of several citizens of Keene. It was thought of some public importance to seize the opportunity, now rapidly passing away, of placing on record, to preserve from oblivion, the most interesting events which, since its first settlement, have oc- curred in this place It has been'the principal object of the compiler to give a correct and lively impress of the age gone by. This he thought could be best accomplished by copying freely and fully such written documents as came under his inspection. " Speak, that I may know thee," was the address of a Grecian sage to a stranger. That the present generation and posterity may know their ancestors, they have here been brought forward to speak for themselves. For the facts and proceedings, not related in the words of the actors the public are indebted to Thomas Wells, Joseph Ellis, and several others, aged and respectable inhabitants of this town, or of that portion of Sullivan which once formed a part of it. 1826. The corrections and additions, made in this second edition, are included in brackets — [ ] . 1850. ^4 JENIVERSITY OF CALIFORN SANTA EAliBARA ANNALS OF KEENE. Keene, which is one of the shire towns in the County of Cheshire,^ was first settled under the authority of Massachu- setts, At the time of its settlement, the line between that colo- ny and New-Hampshire had not been surveyed, nor its direc- tion ascertained, and it was generally supposed that the valley of the Ashuelotf would fall within the boundaries of the former. 1732. In June, Gov. Belcher, in his speech to the " Great and Gen- eral Court" of Massachusetts, recommended, that "care be taken to settle the ungranted land." In the House of Representatives, it was thereupon voted, " that there be seven towns opened, of the contents of six miles square ; one West of the Narraganset town, that is near Wachusett Hill ; one between the equivalent lands and Rutland, on or near the road lately laid out from Swift River to Rutland; one at Poquaig, (Athol) on Miller's River; one West of the town called Northtown ; two on Ashuelot Riv- er, above Northfield ; and the other in the eastern country, at the head of Berwick : that committees be appointed to admit settlers and lay out house lots, so that the settlements may be made in a defensible manner, and to direct in the drawing thereof, but not to lay out any further division without directions from this Court ; that there shall be sixty -three house lots, laid out in each tow^nship, one for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, one for the school, and one for each of the sixty settlers, who * Since this was written, the County of Sullivan has been set off from the County of Cheshire. t In the Indian language, the word Ashuelot is said to mean a collection of ma- ny waters. 4 ANNALS OF KEENE. shall settle thereon, in his own person, or by any of his children ; the rest of the land to be allotted or divided equally into sixty- three parts ; that one year from the survey be allowed for the ad- mission of settlers, and that the committee be directed to demand and receive, from each settler, at his admission, five pounds,^ part of which shall be employed for reimbursing the province the money to be advanced for paying the committees, and the charges of the survey, the remainder to be employed for build- ing houses of public worship, or otherwise, as the General Court shall order ; that each settler actually live on his land within three years after his admission, and continue there for the space of two years after, in person and with his family, if such he have ; that he do, within five years from his admission, build a house on his land, of eighteen feet square and seven feet stud, at the least, and within the same time do sufficiently fence and till, or fit for mowing, eight acres of land ; and in case any set- tler fail of performance, his right to be forfeited ; and the com- mittee for admitting settlers are directed to take of each, at the time of admission, a bond for twenty pounds for the use and ben- efit of the settlers, in case he fail of performing the conditions mentioned ; and the settlers, in each town, shall be obliged to build a suitable meeting-house, and settle a learned and orthodox minister in such town, within five years from their admission." 1733. On the first of July, this vote was concurred by the Council, and " consented to " by the Governor ; but the committee ap- * This was probably of the paper money then current in Massachusetts. Like the continental money of later times, it was at par when the first issues were made, but afterwards depreciated greatly. The following table, showing its value at different periods, will enable the readpr to calculate the value of the sums hereafter mentioned in this history. The second and fourth columns show the value, in paper, (old tenor) of an ounce of silver, which was equal to six shillings and eight pence, lawful money. d. a. s. d. (]■ s. 1702 6 10 2 1728 18 1705 7 1730 20 1713 8 1737 26 1716 9 1741 28 1717 12 1722 14 1749 60 Soon after 1749, old tenor rose to fifty shillings the ounce, the General Court of Massachusetts having engaged to redeem it at that rate with the money received from the British Parliament, as a reimbursement for the expenses incurred in taking Lou- isburg. At fifty shillings the ounce, one hundred pounds were equal to j£l3, 6s. 8i. lawful ; and forty-five shillings were equal to one dollar. ANNALS OF KEENE. pointed to make the survey not attending to their duty, itiwas, Oct. 19, 1733, voted, that another committee, consisting of Jo- seph Kellogg, Timothy Dwight, and William Chandler, be ap- pointed, with directions, forthwith to lay out the|townships at Poquaig and on Ashuelot River, " unless they find that, by rea- son of laying out the township granted to Col. Willard and oth- ers, ("Winchester) the land remaining at Ashuelot River will not well serve for two townships, in which case, they are directed to lay out only one on that river." 1734. In February, the committee made a return to the General Court of a " Plat of two townships, each of the contents of six miles square, situated on each side of Ashuelot River, above the tract of land lately granted to Col. Josiah Willard and others, beginning at a spruce or white pine tree, standing about midway between the South and East branches of said river, about five perch East of the bank of the main river, and thence running each way as described on the plat." This is the dividing line between the upper and lower townships. The plat was accept- ed, and the lands contained in said townships were declared to lie in, and constitute a part of the County of Hampshire. In March, a committee was appointed to lay out house lots, in the townships mentioned, who, in June, made a report of a plat of the house lots in the upper township on Ashuelot River. Of these lots, fifty-four were laid out on the village plain, twen- ty-seven on each side of the main street, and the other nine upon the plain, on Swanzey line, north of the factory. They were 160 rods long, and eight wide, each containing eight acres. The surveyors reported, that near the spruce or white pine tree, above mentioned, they made their first station. Hence originated the the name, Statia, which has been applied to an excellent farm in that quarter of the town. The lots owned by Daniel Watson, and Dr Twitchell, are the most northerly of the house lots.=^ This committee being also authorized to admit settlers, they notified all persons, desirous of taking lots, to meet at Concord, in Massachusetts, on the 26th of June. A few days previous to * The North hne of the North house lot, West of Main-street, being No. 28, passes very nearly under the South foundation of the Passenger Station. b ANNALS OF KEENE. that time, the General Court voted, that, after the sixty persons for each township shall have drawn lots, given bonds, and paid their five pounds, according to the order of this Court, passed July, 1732, they forthwith assemble, at Concord, Mass., and then and there choose a Moderator and Proprietors' Clerk, agree up- on rules and methods for the fulfilment of their respective grants, for making further divisions, and for calling other meetings, and attend to any other matters or things necessary for the speedy settlement of said townships. No charter was ever granted to the proprietors by Massachusetts, and their title to the lands rest- ed wholly upon these several votes of the General Court. [Agreeably to notice given, the committee held a meeting at Concord, on the 26th of June, 1734; and. those came also, who expected or desired to be admitted as proprietors. Sixty indi- viduals, having paid five pounds each to the committee, were admitted ; and drew lots for the house lots. The names of the proprietors follow, the number of his house lot being prefixed to each name. No. 1 is the South lot, on the "East side of the street ; No. 54 the South lot on the West side ; Nos. 27 and 28 are the most northern lots on the East and West sides ; Nos. 55 — 63 are those laid out on Swanzey line. 1. Capt. S.imuel Sady, .54. Edward Twist, 55. John Burge, 2. Jeremiah Hall, 53. David Harwood, 56. Ebenezer Mason, 3. Samuel Heyvvond, 52. Amos Foster, 57. Daniel Hoar,, 4. Mm Witt, 51. Ebenezer Witt, 58. Elisha Root^. '^ 5. Joseph Wright, 50. Jonas Wilson, 59. Mark Ferry, 6. Samuel Flood, 49. Isaac Tomberlin, 60. Josiah Fisher, 7. Solomon Kees, 48. Jabez Ward, 61. Elias Witt, 8. Jonathan IMorton, 47. Josiah Fisher, C2. Samuel Witt, 9. Thomas Weeks, 46. Thomas Abbott, 63. Stephen Blake.] 10. Isaac Power, 45. Robert Gray, 11. William Hoaton, 44 Jonathan Southwick, 12. Eleazer Allen, 43. John Nims, 13. Minister's Lot, 42. Joseph Ellis, 14. Daniel Haws, 41. John Guild, 1.5. John Hawks, 40. John Corbitt, 16. Philemon Chandler, 39. Nathaniel Ro(^kvvood, 17. Rohert Moor, .38. Nathan Fairbanks, 18. Israel How, 37. Abraham Master, 19. William Witt, 36. Nicholas Sprake, Jr., 20. Jonathan Whitney, .35. Joseph Allen, 21. Joseph Hill, 34. Benjamin Wliitney, 22. William PufTer, 33. David Chandler, 23. Bartholomew Jones, 32. Isaac Ileaton, 24. Joseph Priest, 31. David Moss, 25. Jonas Kees, 30. Edward Hall, 26. William Smeed, 29. Ministry Lot, 27. Joseph Hill, 28. School Lot, ANNALS OF KEENE. The next day, a full meeting of the proprietors was held at Concord ; Samuel Sady [pften in the records spelt Smvdei/] was chosen Moderator, and Samuel Heywood, Proprietors' Clerk, " who was sworn before the worshipful Justice Goddard ;" and the meeting was adjourned to the 18th of September, then to be held on the township. In the succeeding September, seven persons, proprietors or \ sons of proprietors, whose names were Jeremiah Hall, Daniel Hoar, Seth Heaton, Elisha Root, Nathaniel Rockwood, Josiah Fisher, and William Puffer, set out for the township. None of them having previously visited it, they were accompanied by Deacon Alexander, of Norlhfield, as a pilot. They did not ar- rive at the line of ihe township until late in the evening of the 18th, the day to which the meeting was adjourned ; and as soon as their pilot informed them they had passed it, they opened the meeting, and adjourned to the next day. At the meeting held the next day, a vote was passed, that the whole of the interval land in the township should be surveyed, and that half of it should be lotted out in two enclosures, one so situated as to accommodate the 54 house lots, laid out on the village plain, the other so as to accommodate the 9 house lots, laid out on Swanzey line. A committee was also appointed "to search and find out the best and most convenient way to travel from the upper unto the lower township." At this period. Upper Ashuelot was a frontier settlement, in \ the bosom of the wilderness. It was of course most exposed to 1 savage incursions, and was liable to suffer, in their extremity, all i those distresses and calamities, which may be alleviated, if not ' prevented, by the assistance and good offices of others. Its near- est neighbor was Noithfield, twenty miles distant; Winchester, which was first granted, not being then settled, or containing at ! most not more than two or three huts. 1735. The next meeting of the proprietors was held at Concord, Mass. on the last Wednesday of May. The committee appoint- ed to survey the interval land made a report. The lots they had laid out contained eight acres ; and as they were not all equal in quality, the proprietors voted that certain enumerated lots 8 ANNALS OF KEENE. should have qualification, or allowance, to consist of from two to four acres each, and appointed a committee to lay out these allowances. The practice of qualifying lots, thus introduced, was afterwards pursued, and occasioned great irregularity in the future allotments of land. At this meeting, a committee was also appointed "to join with such as the lower town proprietors shall appoint, to search and find out whether the ground will admit of a convenient road from the two townships on Ashuelot river, down to the town of Townsend." At a subsequent meeting, held in September of the same year, on the township, the proprietors were assessed in the sum of sixty pounds, and a committee was " appointed to hill out this money according to the proprietors' directions." It appears by the rec- ord, that the mode of hilling out the money remaining in the treasury was often practised. A committee was also appointed to lay out a road to the Saw-mill place, which is about three- quarters of a mile North from the house lots, and where the low- er saw-mill on Beaver Brook now stands.^ A vote was also passed, offering one hundred acres of " middling good land," and twenty-five pounds, to any person or persons who would engage to build a saw-mill, and saw boards for the proprietors, at twen- ty shillings per thousand, and slit work for ^3, IO5. per 1000. John Corbet and Jesse Root appeared, and undertook to build the mill, and a committee was thereupon appointed to lay out the land. The mill was to be finished by the first day of July, 1736. Under date of May, 1735, appears a record of the ex- pense of laying out the second division of lots. The surveyor was allowed 15 shillings, (70 cents,) four others were allowed 12 shillings, and two others 10 shillings per day. 1736. On the 30th day of September, a meeting of the proprietors was opened, according to appointment, at the house lot of Joseph Fisher, but was immediately removed to the house of Nathan Blake. This house was probably the first erected in the town- ship. A committee was appointed " to agree with a man to build a grist-mill," and they were authorized to offer " not ex- * Now (I860) the loweat bat one. ANNALS OF KEENE. 9 ceeding forty pounds encouragement therefor." The proprietors also voted to build a meeting-house, at the South end of the town street, at the place appointed by the General Court's com- mittee, (near where Mr Carpenter's [Robinson's] house now stands,) to be forty feet long, twenty feet stud, and thirty-five feet wide, and to lay boards for the lower floor — the house to be fin- ished by the 26th day of June, 1737. At the same meeting, a vote was passed to widen the main street, which was originally but four rods wide. It provided that, if the proprietors of the house lots, on the West side of the street, would surrender four rods in depth, on the end of their lots adjoining the street, they should have it made up in quan- tity, in the rear. This proposition was acceded to ; and to this measure the village is indebted for its broad and elegant main street. No person had hitherto attempted to remain through the win- ter on the township. Those who came in the summer to clear their lands, brought their provisions with them, and erected tem- porary huts to shelter them from the weather. In the summer of 1736, at least one house was erected ; and three persons, Nathan Blake, Seth Heaton and William Smeed, the two first from Wrentham and the last from Deerfield,made preparations to pass the winter in the wilderness. Their house was at the South end of the street. Blake had a pair of oxen and a horse, and Heaton a horse. For the support of these, they collected grass in the open spots ; and in the first part of the winter, they em- ployed them in drawing logs to the saw-mill, which had just been completed. Blake's horse fell through the ice of Beaver Brook and was drowned. In the beginning of February, their own provisions were exhausted, and to obtain a supply of meal, Heaton was despatched to Northfield. There were a few fami- lies at Winchester, but none able to furnish what was wanted. Heaton procured a quantity of meal ; but before he left North- field, the snow began to fall, and when, on his return, he arrived at Winchester, it was uncommonly deep, and covered with a sharp crust. He was told " that he might as well expect to die in Northfield and rise again in Upper Ashuelot, as ride thither on horseback." Remembering the friends he had left there, he nevertheless determined to make the attempt, but had proceeded 2 10 ANNALS OF KEENE. but a short distance when he found that it would be impossible to succeed. He then returned, and directed his course towards Wrentham. Blake and Smeed, hearing nothing from Heaton, gave the oxen free access to the hay, left Ashuelot, and on snow shoes proceeded either to Deerfield or Wrentham. Anxious for their oxen, they returned early in the spring. They found them near the Branch, south-east of Carpenter's, [Robinson's] much emaciated, feeding upon twigs and such grass as was bare. The oxen recognized their owner, and exhibited such pleasure at the meeting as drew tears from his eyes. 1737. At a meeeting of the proprietors, held May 12, they voted to assess sixty pounds on the proprietors of the house lots, for the purpose of hiring a gospel minister, and chose a committee to agree with some meet person to preach the gospel among them. This meeting was adjourned, to be held at the meeting-house place, on the 20th of May. On the day appointed, it was there opened, but was immediately removed to the interval land, and there a vote was passed, that another division of meadow land should be made. A committee was also chosen to "represent this propriety in applying to, and receiving of, the Honourable the General Court's committee for this township, the money granted to said proprietors when they shall have the frame of a meeting-house raised, and forty proprietors settled on the spot." The next meeting was held at the meeting-house /ra?we, June 30. Jeremiah Hall was recompensed for his services in search- ing for, and laying out a road to Townsend, and two others were added to the committee appointed to apply to the General Court's committee " for the one hundred pounds," mentioned in the proceedings of of the last meeting. It was also voted, " that no meeting of the proprietors be held, for the future, but at this place, so long as there shall be seven proprietors inhabiting here." At a meeting held October 26, a vote was passed, that " the ivorthy Mr Jacob Bacon should draw for the second division of meadow land, for the whole propriety." This is the first time that the name of Mr Bacon, who was the first settled minister of the town, is mentioned in the records. At the same meeting a vote was passed, to lay out one hun- ANNALS OP KEENE. %% dred acres of upland to each house lot or right. The proprie- tors were to draw lots for choice, and he who drew No. 1, was to make his pitcli by a certain day ; and those who drew the successive numbers on successive days, excluding Sundays, thus " giving every man his day." Each lot was surveyed by a committee, in such place and in such shape as the proprietor drawing it directed. Some of the plans recorded in the propri- etors' records, exhibit figures which Euclid never imagined, and probably could not measure. Common land was left in every part of the township, in pieces of all sizes and shapes. In this manner, great confusion in lines was introduced, by which the owners of real estate are yet perplexed and embarrassed. [The first pitch under the vote before mentioned, was made by a Mr Morse, the fortunate drawer of the right to choose first. Attention was first attracted to it by finding a certified copy of the laying out among the papers of the late Noah Cooke, Esq., which was obligingly communicated to the compiler by his son, Josiah P. Cooke, Esq., of Boston. In this copy, the pitch is thus described : — Beginning at a stake on the West side of the road, marked for the N. E. corner, (which is near the junction of Wash- ington and Cross-streets,) then runs W. 108 rods — then S. 16° W. 120 rods— then S. 11° W. 38 rods, for the S. W. corner— then E. 53 rods— then E. 30° N. 32 rods— then E. 27 rods to the road (Main-streeet) at the causeway — then N. 6 rods to a stake on the West side of the road — then E. 42}j rods to the S. E. cor- ner—then N. 3° W. 44 rods— then W. 10° N. 16 rods— then N. 10° E. 40 rods— then W. 10° N. 8 rods— then N. lO'^ E. 40 rods to where it began. A memorandum on the copy, in the hand- writing of the deceased Mr Cooke, states that the south-west corner of the pitch is " the south-west corner of my house lot." Starting from that point, the lines have been run, by Mr Sturte- vant, and are shown by the dotted lines on the map at the end of the book. It will be seen that they enclose what is now the most compact part of the village. These boundaries cannot be far from correct. That the South line crosses the present Main street before it turns and " runs North 6 rods," raises a doubt whether the starting point is the true S. W. corner of the pitch, or should be farther West ; but other circumstances, and espe- cially the fact, that the West line runs along the edge of the up- 12 ANNALS OF KEENE. land, tend to remove this doubt. And it is not at all improba- ble, indeed the survey may be assumed to prove, that the road " to go to the saw-mill " then turned to the right, at the North line of the houselots, and, taking a straight course to the saw- mill, passed East of where the street now goes, until it came near the site of the glass factory, and that it was afterwards al- tered. The land is described as " lying on the plain called Saw- mill Plain," — so called, doubtless, from the saw-mill just erected on Beaver Brook ; and an allowance is made of eight acres and sixty rods for two roads, one eight rods wide to go to the saw- mill ; the other four rods wide to go to the river. No road up the river being mentioned proves that no such road then existed.] 1738. On the 7th February, Jacob Bacon, A. M. was chosen Pro- prietors' Clerk and Treasurer. A vote was passed, raising 240 pounds to support the preaching of the gospel, and other neces- sary charges, and a committe appointed to provide preaching. A committee was also appointed " to procure an anvil, bellows, vice, sledge-hammer and tongs, fit for the work of a blacksmith, and to let the same to a blacksmith, as long as he shall use and improve them in the proprietors' business, by faithfully doing their work, at their request, before any other business or work, for any other person or persons whatsoever." At a meeting of the proprietors, held at the meeting-house in the township. May 1, the proprietors proceeded to the choice of a suitable person to settle in the ministry, and Mr Jacob Bacon was unanimously chosen. A vote was also passed, offering Mr Bacon, as a settlement, 150 pounds, (in bills of credit of the old tenor,) provided he accept the call of the proprietors. By anoth- er vote, he was offered a yearly salary of 130 pounds (old tenor) for ten years, with an addition of ten pounds yearly afterwards, so long as he continued the minister of the place, and a commit- tee was appointed to lay these proposals before him. The proposals were accordingly laid before him by a letter from the committee. On the 5th of August, Mr Bacon, by let- ter, accepted the call on condition that the town would furnish him " a yearly supply of fire-wood, at his door." At a meeting held Oct. 2, the proprietors voted " to add ten ANNALS OP EEENE. 13 pounds to Mr Bacon's salary, at the end of ten years after his settling among them, and thereby raise his salary to 150 pounds, money of the present currency ; and to find him so much good fire-wood as he shall need, ready drawn to his door." Although the whites were, at this time, at peace with the In- dians, yet, deeming it not prudent to remain without some means of defence, the proprietors, at this meeting, voted, that they would finish the fort, which was already begun, and that every one that should v/ork, or had worked, at said fort, should bring in his ac- count to the surveyor of highways, and should be allowed there- for, on his highway tax-bill. This fort was situated on a small eminence, a few rods North of the house of Dr Adams.^ When completed, it was about 90 feet square ; there were two ovens, and two wells in the inclosure. It was built of hewn logs. In the interior, next to the walls, were twenty barracks, each having one room. On the outside, it was two stories high, in the inside, but one, the roof over the bai-racks sloping inwards. In the space above the barracks, were loop-holes to fire from with muskets. There were two watch-houses, one at the south-east corner, and one on the western side, each erected on four high posts set up- right in the earth. And for greater safety, the whole was sur- rounded by pickets. On the 18th of October, a church was gathered, and Mr Ba- con ordained, the churches represented being those of Wrentham, Sunderland, Northfield and Medvvay. December 4, the proprietors voted, " to finish the meeting- house, on the outside, workman-like, viz : to cover it with good sawed clapboards, well planed, good window frames well glaz- ed, and handsomely to case the doors ; and so far to finish the inside as to lay the lower floor and build the body of the seats, the pulpit, one pew, the table and deacon's seat, all completely, workman-like." About this time, John Andrews came from Boxford, to settle in Upper Ashuelot. He sent back Ephraim Dorman and Joseph Ellis, with a team of eight oxen and a horse, to bring up his fur- niture. The route they came, which was probably then the best, if not the only one, led through Concord, Worcester, Brookfield, * On the spot where now (1850) stands the new house of Dr Charles G. Adams. 14 ANNALS OF KEENE. Belchertown, Hadley, Hatfield, Deerfield, Northfield, Winches- ter, Swanzey, and on the bank of the Ashuelot to the house lots. When they passed through Swanzey, it rained hard, and they did not reach the station until night. As it continued to rain, was very dark, and as the water, which already covered the mea- dov/s, rose rapidly, they, apprehensive of being drowned, un- yoked their oxen, chained their cart to a tree, and hastened to the settlement, then a mile distant. As soon as day light ap- peared, the next morning, a boat was despatched in search of the cattle and furniture. When passing over BuUard's Island, a man cried to them for help. It was Mark Ferry, the hermit. — Wearied with the noise and bustle of the settlement, he had re- tired to a cave, which he had dug into the bank of the rivery where he constantly resided. The water had now driven him from his dwelling, and compelled him to seek refuge on a stump, where he then sat, with a calf in his arms, over which he had drawn a shirt. The boatman answered, " we must take care of the neat cattle first," and passed on. They soon came to the cart, which was afloat. Proceeding further, and guided by the sound of the bells, which the cattle as usual wore, they found them on several little hillocks, some with only their heads out of water. They forced them into the water, and guided them, swimming, to high land, where they left them until the flood subsided. Hearing cries for help below them, they proceeded to Crissen's house, in the borders of Swanzey, to the chamber and to the top of which the family had been driven. These they took off, and, on their return home, took Ferry and his calf into the canoe. This, which was known by the name of Andrews' flood, was the highest ever known in the township. The water came within a few feet of the street. North of Capt. Blake's old house. Mr Andrews was the father of ten children, nine of whom he brought with him. Between September, 1744, and September, 1745, every one of the nine died of the throat distemper, and he then returned disconsolate to his former residence. January 7, a meeting of the proprietors was held. In the war- rant calling it, an article was inserted, " To make such grant or ANNAL3 OF KEENE. 15 grants of land, to such person or persons as they shall think de- serve the same, for hazarding their lives and estate by living here to bring forward the settling of the place." Upon this article, the following vote was passed, which probably gives the names of nearly all the men then residing in the township, and the num- ber of dwellings erected. " Voted, to grant ten acres of upland to each of the persons hereafter named, viz : Jacob Bacon, clerk, Josiah Fisher, Joseph Fisher, Nathan Blake, William Smeed, Seth Heaton, Joseph Ellis, Ebenezer Nims, Joseph Guild, Jo- seph Richardson, Isaac Clark, Edward Dale, Jeremiah Hall, Ebenezer Force, Daniel Haws, Amos Foster, Ebenezer Day, Beriah Maccaney, Jabez Hill, Obed Blake, Jeremiah Hall, Jr., David Nims, Timothy Puff'er, Ebenezer Daniels, Nathan Fair- banks, John Bullard, David Foster, Solomon Richardson, Abner Ellis, Benjamin Guild, Asa Richardson, Ebenezer Hill, Samu- el Fisher, Ephraim Dorman, Timothy Sparhawk, Jonathan Un- derwood, John Andrews, Samuel Smith, Samuel Daniels, (39) and to such other persons, having an interest here, who, from the first of next March, to March, 1742, shall make up the quantity or space of two years in living here, and build a legal dwelling- house, to the number of sixty, including those before mentioned." A rumor of war having reached the township, the proprietors, February 25, voted that they would build another fort, whenever seven of the proprietors should request it. It is not known that this fort was ever built. They also voted that there should be allowed, for every man who should work upon the forts, eight shillings, and for every pair of oxen, four shillings, per day. The long and spirited contest, between the provinces of Mas- sachusetts and New-Hampshire, respecting the divisional line between them, had been carried before the King in council, and in 1740, a decision was made, that from a point three miles North of Pawtucket Falls, the line should run due West until it reached his majesty's other governments. This left Upper Ash- iielot far within the boundaries of New-Hampshire. Upon this subject, the proprietors, on the 3d day of October, held a meet- ing, and the following proceedings appear upon their records. " The proprietors being informed that, by the determination of his majesty in council respecting the controverted bounds be- tween the province of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, they 16 ANNALS OF KEENE. are excluded from the province of the Massachusetts Bay, to which they always supposed themselves to belong. " Therefore, unanimously voted, that a petition be presented to the King's most excellent majesty, setting forth our distrest estate, and praying we may be annexed to the said Massachu- setts province. " Also unanimously voted, that Thomas Hutchinson, Esq. be empowered to present the said petition to his majesty, and to appear and fully to act for and in behalf of this town, respecting the subject matter of said petition, according to his best dis- cretion." Mr Hutchinson had previously been appointed the agent of Massachusetts, to procure an alteration of the order in council. He made a voyage to England, but failed to accomplish the ob- ject of his agency. It is remarkable that, in his history of Mas- sachusetts, he makes no mention of his appointment. 1741. At a meeting held September 7th, the proprietors voted, "that the meeting-house be removed from the place where it now stands, to the most convenient place on the hill, over against the house of Mr Isaac Clark." This hill which has entirely disap- peared, was a conical eminence in the street, a few rods South of the old Ralston tavern.^ The meeting-house was according- ly removed thither, and was placed near the centre of the street, the travelled path being East of it. At the same meeting it was voted, " that if the collectors shall be obliged to go through a course of law, to recover their collec- tions, and the Massachusetts law, by which we are, or have been supported, should fail, they should be remunerated for their ex- penses, from the proprietors' treasury." 1749. July 27, the proprietors voted, that, " whereas there was a vote passed by this propriety, December 4, 1738, to glaze the meeting- house, and set the glass in lead, and to cover the outside with sawed clapboards, we do now, having thought sedately upon it, agree, and vote, to set the glass in wood, and to cover the out- * On the site of which stands the honse of Gen. Wilson. ANNALS OF KEENE. 17 side with shingles, for the following reasons : 1, because we judge it stronger; and 2, because we can do it at less expense of money, which is no small article, not easy to be obtained by us, at this day. And, whereas the proprietors agreed, with the first committee, to make the doors plain, we now agree to have them done otherwise, even iramed, or pannel doors, and the North door to be a double folding door, and that the committee agree with a man to do it well, and decently, as becomes such a house." 1744. January 16, a vote was passed, allowing Jeremiah Hall eight pounds, old tenor, " for getting that 100 pounds, at Boston, of Col. Dudley." This was probably the sum, which the General Court of Massachusetts had directed should be paid to the pro- prietors, on the erection of a meeting-house. In March, of this year, war was declared by Great Britain, against France and Spain, which was soon followed by a war between the colonists and Indians. The dread of savage incur- sions, increased the labors and distresses of the frontier settle- ments. The attention of the whites was diverted from the culti- vation of their lands, to the defense and protection, of themselves and families. They dared not perform their usual labors in the field, nor even go far from their forts, without carrying arms, and being accompanied by a guard ; and they lived in perpetual ap- prehension of a sudden attack. Upper Ashuelot was also visited by a distressing sickness. — Between August, 1744, and October, 1745, a great number died in the township, most of them of the throat distemper. 174^. At a meeting, held February 5, the proprietors voted, " that the support granted to the Rev. Mr Bacon, for the year 1744, being 154 pounds, old tenor, (d£130 for salary, and £24 for fire- wood,) and which, by reason of war and sickness, was ne- glected, and not assessed, be brought into the assessment of this ye£u-." In the warrant, calling this meeting, an article was inserted, ♦' to see if the proprietors will seek any further protection, in case 3 18 ANNALS OF KEENE. the war continues ; and if so, to agree upon some method how they will do it." The proprietors " voted, not to act upon this article." On the 10th of July, deacon Josiah Fisher was killed, as he was driving his cow to pasture. The road leading up the river, then left the main street, by Mr Lamson's tan yard, led along the margin of the meadow, back of his house, crossed West- street a few rods West of Aaron Hall's house, and continued up the river, near the adjoining low land, until it came upon the route of the present turnpike, above deacon Wilder's house, now occupied as a tavern. Fisher was found dead, and scalped, in the road, near where Mr Lamson's bark house now stands ; and it was supposed that the Indian who shot him, was conceal- ed behind a log, which then lay within the present limits of Mr Lamson's garden. He had a brass slug in his wrist, which, at the time, was conjectured to have been cut from a warming pan, that had lately been lost by one of the inhabitants. 1746. March 19, the proprietors agreed to raise the sum of forty pounds, lawful money of New-England, ($133.33,) or one hun- dred and sixty pounds, old tenor, for the Rev. Mr Bacon's sup- port the present year. From this vote, it appears that, at this time, old tenor, in comparison with lawful money, was as four to one. Here occurs a chasm in the proprietors' records, which the fol- lowing relation of events will sufficiently account for. In the early part of the year 1746, the General Court of Mas- sachusetts sent a party of men to Canada, for what purpose, is not now recollected, and perhaps was not generally known. On their return, they passed through Upper Ashuelot. On arriving in sight of the settlement, they tired their guns. This, of course, alarmed the inhabitants, and all who were out, and several were in the woods making sugar, hastened home. From some cause or other, suspicion was entertained, that a party of Indians had followed the returning whites; and for several days the settlers were more vigilant, and more circumspect in their movements ; sf'ldom leaving the fort, except to look after their cattle, which were in the barns, and at the stacks, in the vicinity. ANNALS OF KEENE. 19 Early in the morning of the 23d of April, Ephraim Dorman left the fort to search for his cow. He went northwardly, along the borders of what was then a hideous and almost impervious swamp, lying East of the fort, until he arrived near to the place where the turnpike now is. Looking into the swamp, he per- ceived several Indians lurking in the bushes. He immediately gave the alarm, by crying " Indians ! Indians !" and ran towards the fort. Two, who were concealed in the bushes, between him and the fort, sprang forward, aimed their pieces at him, and fired, but neither hit him. They then, throwing away their arms, ad- vanced towards him ; one he knocked down by a blow, which deprived him of his senses ; the other he seized, and, being a strong man, and able wrestler, tried his strength and skill, in his favorite mode of " trip and twitch." He tore his antagonist's blanket from his shoulders, leaving him nearly naked. He then seized him by the arms and body, but as he was painted and greased, he slipped from his grasp. After a short struggle, Dor- man quitted him, ran towards the fort and reached it in safety. When the alarm was given, the greater part of the inhabitants were in the fort; but some had just left it, to attend to their cat- tle. Capt. Simms, the commander, as was the custom every morning before prayers, was reading a chapter in the bible. He immediately exclaimed, " rush out, and assist those who are out to get in." Most of the men immediately rushed out, and each ran where his interest or affections led him ; the remainder chose positions in the fort, from which they could fire on the enemy. Those who were out, and within hearing, instantly started for the fort ; and the Indians, from every direction, rushed into the street, filling the air with their usual horrid yell. Mrs M'Kenny^ had gone to a barn, near where Miss Fiske's house now stands, to milk her cow. She was aged and corpulent, and could only walk slowly. When she was within a few rods of the fort, a naked Indian, probably the one with whom Dorman had been wrestling, darted from the bushes on the East side of the street, ran up to her, stabbed her in the back, and crossed to the other side. She continued walking, in the same steady pace as be- fore, until she had nearly reached the gate of the fort, when the * In a record of births and deaths, kept by Mr Ichabod Fisher, this name is spelt Maccaiiey. 20 ANNALS OF KEENK. blood gushed from her mouth, and she fell and expired. John Bullard was at his barn, below Dr Adams's ; he ran towards the fort, but the instant he arrived at the gate, he received a shot in his back. He fell, was carried in, and expired in a few hours. Mrs Clark was at a barn, near the Todd house, about fifty rods distant. Leaving it, she espied an Indian near her, who threw away his gun, and advanced to make her prisoner. She gath- ered her clothes around her waist, and started for the fort. The Indian pursued ; the woman, animated by cheers from her friends, outran her pursuer, who skulked back for his gun. Na- than Blake was at his barn, near where his son's house now stands. Hearing the cry of Indians, and presuming his barn would be burnt, he determined that his cattle should not be burnt with it. Throwing open his stable door, he let them loose, and presuming his retreat to the fort was cut off, went out at a back door, intending to place himself in ambush at the only place where the river could be crossed. He had gone but a few steps, when he was hailed by a party of Indians, concealed in a shop between him and the street. Looking back, he perceived seve- ral guns pointed at him, and at this instant several Indians start- ed up from their places of concealment near him, upon which, feeling himself in their power, he gave himself up. They shook hands with him, and to the remark he made, that he had not yet breakfasted, they smilingly replied, that " it must be a poor En- glishman, who could not go to Canada without his breakfast." Passing a cord around his arms above the elbows, and fastening them close to his body, they gave him to the care of one of the party, who conducted him to the woods. The number of Indians belonging to the party, was supposed to be about 100. They came near the fort, on every side, and fired whenever they supposed their shot would be effectual. They, however, neither killed nor wounded any one. The whites fired whenever an Indian presented himself, and several of them were seen to fall. Before noon, the savages ceased fir- ing, but they remained several days in the vicinity. The guns first fired were heard at the fort in Swanzey, the commander of which immediat«>ly sent an express to Winches- ter, with information that the Indians had made an attack upon Upper Ashuelot. From Winchester an express was sent to the ANNALS OF KEENE. 21 next post, and so on from post to post to Northampton, where Col. Pomeroy commanded. Collecting all the troops, and mili- tia there, and pressing all the horses in the place, he instantly, at their head, set out for Upper Ashnelot, and on his way added to his number all the disposable force in the intermediate setlle- ments. In little more than 48 hours from the time the express started from Swanzey, he, with 400 or 500 men, arrived at Upper Ashuelot, the distance down and back, being, at least, ninety miles. The arrival, so soon, of this relief, was as unexpected, as it was gratifying to the settlers. The next morning, Pomeroy sent out his men to scour the woods in search of Blake. While these were absent, the Indians again showed themselves on the meadow, south-east of the fort, where they killed a number of cattle. To recall the troops an alarm was fired, but was not heard. In the afternoon, they returned unsuccessful, and that evening Mr Bullard and Mrs M' Kenny were buried. The next morning, they found the track of the Indians, and followed it, until they came to the place of their encampment at night. This was East of Beech Hill, not far from ihe present residence of Capt. Chapman. It appearing that they dispersed, when de- parting from this place, they were pursued no farther. Col. Pom- eroy, on his way back to the fort, found that a house, belonging to a Mr Heaton, and standing near the place where his son's house now stands, had been burnt. Among the ashes, they dis- covered human bones, and the leg of an Indian, unconsumed. As it is known to have been the custom of the Indians to take the most effectual means in their power to conceal the amount of their loss, they had doubtless placed in this house, before they set it on fire, the bodies of such of their party as had been killed, which they had not otherwise concealed. The number, as near as could be ascertained, was nine, and one or two were burnt in the barn of Mr Blake. The next day, inquiry was made for Mark Ferry, the hermit. As he did not reside among them, and had never performed the duties of relation, friend or companion to any of the sel tiers, they felt little solicitude for his fate ; but Col. Pomeroy, offering to send a party of men, they agreed to send a pilot to the place where they supposed he might be found. This was Ferry mea- dow, on the slieam called Ferry brook, within the present limits 22 ANNALS OF KEENE. of Sullivan, whither he had repaired, as to a place of safety, when driven by the flood from his cave on Bullard's Island. They found his horse confined under the shelter of the root of a fallen tree, and looking further, espied him perched high upon the limb of a large tree, mending his clothes. His personal appearance indicated that he had not received the benefit of shaving, nor ablution, for months. They compelled him to descend, brought him to the fort, led him to the officers' quarters, and, with mock formality, introduced him to all the officers, and gentlemen of the parly. Apprehending no farther danger to the settlers. Col. Pomeroy and his men returned to their homes. In the early part of May, the same, or another party of In- dians, hovered about the settlement, watching for an opportuni- ty to make prisoners, and to plunder. For several successive nights, the watch imagined that they heard some person walk- ing around the fort. When it came to the turn of young M'- Kenny, whose mother had been killed, to watch, he declared he should fire, on hearing the least noise without the fort. In the dead of night, he thought he heard some person at the picket gate, endeavoring to ascertain its strength. Having loaded his gun, as was usual among the first settlers of the country, with two balls and several buck shot, he fired through the gate, which was made of thin boards. In the morning blood was discover- ed on the spot, and also a number of beads, supposed to have been cut, by the shot, from the wampum of the Indian. The inhabitants remained in the fort until March, or April, 1747. About this time, they passed an informal vote, releasing Mr Bacon, their minister, from all his obligations to them, and resolved to abandon the settlement, which resolution was imme- diately executed. Soon after, a party of Indians visited the place, and burnt all the buildings, except the mill on Beaver brook, and the house in which the miller had resided. It has been already mentioned, that Mr Blake, when captured, was pinioned, and conducted by an Indian into the woods. Af- ter travelling about two miles, they came to a small stony brook. The Indian stooped to drink, and as Blake's hands were not con- fined, he thought he could easily take up a stone, and beat out his brains. He silently prayed for direction ; and his next ANNALS OF KEENE. 23 thought was, that he should always regret that he had killed an Indian in that situation, and he refrained. No particulars of his journey to Canada have been obtained, except that he passed by Charleslown. At Montreal, he, with another prisoner of the name of Warren, was compelled to run the gauntlet. Warren, receiving a blow in the face, knocked down the Indian who gave it; upon which, he was assaulted by several, who beat him unmercifully, making him a cripple for life. Blake, exhibiting more patience and fortitude, received no considerable injury. He was then conducted to Quebec, and thence to an Indian village several miles North of that place, called Conissadawga.^ He was a strong, athletic man, and possessed many qualities which procured him the respect of the savages. He could run with great speed, and in all the trials to which he was put, and they were many and severe, he beat ev- ery antagonist. Not long after his arrival at the village, the tribe lost a chief by sickness. As soon as his decease was made known, the wo- men repaired to his wigwam, and with tears, sobs, and clamor- ous lamentations, mourned his death. The funeral ceremonies performed, the men sought Blake, dressed him in the Indian cos- tume, and invested him with all the authority and privileges of the deceased, as one of the chiefs of the tribe, and as husband of the widow. In the family to which he now stood in the relation of father, there were, as he has often remarked, several daugh- ters of uncommon beauty. Yet, notwithstanding this good fortune, he still had difficulties to encounter. The tribe was divided into two parties, his friends and his enemies. The former consisted of the great mass of the tribe, who respected him for qualities, to which, they had not equal pretensions ; the latter, of those who were envious of his success, and had been worsted in their contests with him. — These, to humble his pride, sent far into the northern wilderness, and procured a celebrated Indian runner, to run against him. At the time assigned, the whole tribe assembled to witness the race ; and a Frenchman, from Quebec, happened to be present. Perceiving the excitement among them, he advised Blake to * In Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, •' Conissadawga " occurs as the name of a Canadian tribe of Indians. 24 ANNALS OP KEENE. permit himself to be beaten, intimating that fatal consequences might ensue, if he did not. The race was run, and Blake, as advised by the Frenchman, permitted his antagonist to reach the goal, a moment before he did. He persisted, however, after his return from captivity, in declaring that he might have beaten him if he had tried. The event of the race restored harmony to the tribe, and Blake was permitted to live in peace. But, remembering the family he had left, he felt anxious to return to his home. After much intercession, the tribe propos- ed, that, if he would build a house, like those of the English, he should be permitted to go to Quebec. Presuming, that, when there, he could more easily obtain his liberty, he gladly acceded to the proposition. With such tools as the Indians possessed, he prepared the necessary timber, splitting the boards from the tree, and soon completed his task. He then went to Quebec, and gave himself up to the French. He had been there but a short time, when his Indian wife came in a canoe to reclaim him. He refused to return ; but she soliciting and even demand- ing it, he declared to her, that, if he should be compelled to set out with her, he would overturn the canoe, and drown her; up- on which, she concluded to return without him. In the fall, the French commandant gave Blake his election to pass the winter, as a laborer, with a farmer, in the vicinity of Quebec, or be con- fined in the common gaol. He chose the latter, and had no reason to regi-et his choice, as he had a comfortable room, and sufficient rations assigned him. He remained in confinement until spring, when his liberation was procured in the manner which will now be related. Among the numerous parlies, which the love of war, and of adventure, brought upon the frontier settlements, was one con- sisting of a small number of Indians, commanded by Lieutenant Pierre Raimbout, a young Frenchman. In the autumn of 1747, this party penetrated the wilderness, as far as the southern bank of the Ashuelot, in Winchester, about two miles below the vil- lage. They then halted, and the commander, taking his gun, passed alone over a neighboring hill, which descended abruptly to the southward. While standing near a road, which led along the foot o^ the hill, he saw, and, at the same moment, was seen by, a soout, consisting of Mr Alexander and Mx Willaid, of ANNALS 01=- KEENE> 25 Northfield, and Dr Hall, of Keene, who were then travelling this road, in a du'ection towards Northtield. Perceiving that he could not escape, he, in French, asked for quarter. Not understanding him, Alexander fired, and he felL On examination, they con- cluded his wound was mortal, took his arms, and presuming he had a party near him which would be drawn to the spot, by the report of the musket, they hastened to Northfield. The Indians repaired immediately to the spot, and finding their commander wounded, but yet alive, they removed him lo the bank of the river, where he had left Ihem. Supposing his wound was mor- tal, and alarmed for their own safety, they then left him, and re- turned precipitately to Canada, informing his father, a wealthy old gentleman, who resided near Quebec, that his son had been killed by the English. Raimbout remained as he was left, until the next morning. Feeling his strength revive, he then attempted to rise, and, after several efforts, succeeded. Prompted by the love of life, he then determined to endeavor to reach some settlement, and give him- self up. Wandering about, he at length came to the road lead- ing to Northfield, then about five miles distant. This road he followed, and with much ditficulty reached that place. The man whom he first saw was Alexander, who had shot him, and to him he surrendered himself. Alexander immediately conveyed him to the house of Mr Doolittle, who was then surgeon, physi- cian, and clergyman of the place, where he was carefully attend- ed to, and his wound completely cured. He was an interesting young man, and, by his behavior, gained the respect and affec- tion of the inhabitants. During the winter, he made a visit to Boston. He was very anxious to return to Canada ; and the relatives and friends of Samuel Allen, a young man who had been captured at Deerfield, in 1746, were desirous of procuring his release, in exchange for Raimbout. Application was therefore made to the Governor of Massachusetts, who consented to send a party, with a flag, to Can- ada, to negotiate the exchange. Raimbout also engaged that some other English prisoner should be released, in exchange for him. As he was an officer, considerable reliance was placed upon this engagement ; and it was agreed that, should it be ratified by the Governor of Canada, the other prisoner should be Mr Blake. 4 26 ANNALS OF KEENE. The party consisted of John Hawks, Matthew Clesson, and John Taylor. Hawks was one of the proprietors, though not an inhabitant, of Keene ; he commanded fort Massachusetts, near Hoosack, when it was taken in 1746, and had just returned from captivity ; he was an active officer in all the Indian wars of this period, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, in the war of 1756. Considering it possible that the French Governor might re- fuse to ratify the engagement of the Lieutenant, Mrs Blake fur- nished Hawks with funds to redeem her husband. The party, accompanied by Raimbout, set out from Deerfield, for Canada, in February, 1748. The season was inclement, and the snow was deep. They travelled on snow shoes, and earned their pro- visions on their backs. At night, they encamped on the snow, in the Indian mode, and often without shelter or covering. Their route led up the Connecticut to Charlestown ; thence up Black river, to the present town of Ludlow ; thence over the highlands, in Mount Holly, to a branch of Otter Creek ; thence down Otter Creek, about twenty-four miles ; thence a westerly course, until they struck a stream, which they followed to its junctiort with Lake Champlain, opposite Ticonderoga ; thence on the ice of the lake, by Crown Point, to Canada. At Montreal, Raimbout was delivered to the French com- mander, and search was made for young Allen, who was at length found among the Indians ; and though he had resided with them only eighteen months, yet, unaccountable as it may appear, he had become strongly attached to their mode of life, displayed great aversion to returning home, and even attempted to avoid his deliverers. When brought into the presence of Col. Hawks, he acknowledged, with reluctance, that he recognized him, though he was his uncle, and had been well known to him, at Deerfield,— nor would he converse in English. Various means were used to weaken his strange predilection, but all without effect, and his obstinacy was only conquered by threats and force. Nor did his Indian attachments cease in his old age ; and he often declared, that the Indian mode of life was the most happy .^ * Hoyt's Indian Wars, ANNALS OF KEENE. 27 After obtaining Allen, Hawks, and his party, proceeded to Quebec. On their way, they stopped at the house of old Raim- bout, whose feelings may be imagined, when he saw, standing before him, that son whom he believed to be dead. Unwilling to be delayed, Hawks promised to visit him again, on his re- turn. Arriving at Quebec, he made application for the release of Blake, according to the engagement of Raimbout. The Governor refused, alleging that the Lieutenant had no authority to make such an engagement. Hawks persisted in urging his claim, as a matter of right. He also appealed to his feelings, as a man, representing to him the forlorn situation of Mrs Blake, and the expectations she had been permitted to indulge, and prayed that he might not be sent back the messenger of disap- pointment. The Governor still refusing, he declared that he could not return to her without her husband ; and requested to know what sum was required as his ransom, adding that he would endeavor to pay it. The Governor, pausing a moment, replied, " take him and keep your money." ^ / Expressing his gratitude. Hawks hastened to the prison, and , gave to Blake the glad tidings of his release. On their way to New-England, the party again stopped at the house of old Raimbout. The neighbors were invited ; a sumptuous feast was prepared ; " wine," to use the language of Blake, " was as plenty as water ;" the evening, and the night, were spent in dancing; the happy father and mother opening the ball, and displaying all the liveliness of youth. Quebec, it should be re- membered, had then been settled nearly a century and a half, and was far in advance of all the English colonies in refinement of manners. To the rough and sedate Englishmen, who had seldom been out of the woods, the whole scene was novel, and excited emotions, to which they had not been accustomed. Hawks and his party then proceeded on their journey. Ap- prehending that the savages would pursue them, and attempt to release young Allen, which they had shown a strong inclina- tion to do, Lieutenant Raimbout accompanied them a part of the way. In the beginning of May, 1748, they arrived at their homes. In October, 1748, peace was declared between England and France. The Indians, however, continued their depredations 28 ANNALS OF KEENE. until June, 1749, and a treaty of peace was not made with them until September, of that year. 1750—59. On the restoration of peace, the settlers who had been driven from their lands, by the war, made preparations to return. The exact time when Upper Ashuelot was again occupied, has not been ascertained. It was, probably, some time in 1750 ; cer- tainly as early as 1751 ■; as it is wilhin the recollection of Thom- as Wells, now living, who came to re&ide here in 1752, that eight or ten dwelling houses had then been erected. [The sketch here presented of Keene Village, as it was in 1750, has been drawn by the compiler from the recollection of descriptions of it given him by Thomas Wells, and other aged people, who resided here near that time, and had heard people older than themselves talk about it. No building was then stand- ing, and the sites of such only as are designated on the sketch have been precisely ascertained. There was a dwelling house on the road to Boston, near Beaver Brook. The well used by the fannly,who occupied it, was at the foot of the declivity South of it, near where now grows a large elm tree. It had a high curb, made of small round timber, like a cob house, with a plat- form leading to it from the top of the bank. When the alarm was given, at the time of the attack by the Indians, a man, whose name has not come down to us, descended into this well, re- mained there two days, and then ascended, unharmed. When Keene was abandoned, it contained about forty dwelling houses in all. It may be worth whi^e to put on record a few facts in regard to Main-street. Where the back part of the Cheshire House now stands, was once a bog, or quagmire, which continued South to Church-street, and beyond it. About opposite the Rail- road Station, but rather North of it, there was a considerable de- pression in the street ; men now living remember walking erect under the causeway, the top of which was several feet below the present surface ; and younger men than they remember when the water (Beaver Brook in a freshet overflowing its banks) was so deep, at this place, that boats were guided, and men swam, from one point on the street to another. On the West side of ANNALS OF KEENE. 29 TO.ASHSrwaMP SKETCH of KEENE 1750 1,2,3, SITES 0¥ MEETESf& HOUSE 30 ANNALS OF KEENE. the street, just South of Gen. "Wilson's garden, was a pond sur- rounded by alders, and after this period visited by wild ducks. A little South of this pond, in the middle of the street, was a conical hill, on which the third meeting-house was placed. And many men now living have most disagreeable recollections of the horrible travelling caused by the deep, adhesive mud which, in the spring of the year, covered many portions of Main-street, as well as of West-street and Court-street. But all the streets have become so dry that but little inconvenience is now felt in travelling, at the worst season of the year. This change has been effected, partly by deepening and clearing out the channels of the Ashuelot River and Beaver Brook, partly by agricultural drains throughout the valley, and partly by carting on gravel, and thus raising and hardening the surface of the streets.] 1753. On the 11th of April, the proprietors, on application to Ben- ning Wentworth, then Governor of New-Hampshire, obtained a charter, granting them the land embraced in the original limits of Upper Ashuelot, and a small additional strip on the eastern side. The preamble recites that, " Whereas sundry of our lov- lug subjects, before the settlement of the dividing line of our Province of New-Hampshire, and our other government of the Massachusetts Bay, had, by permission of our said governm.ent of Massachusetts Bay, begun a settlement of a tract of land on Ashuelot River, and made sundry divisions of, and improvements upon, said tract, and there remained until the Indian war forced them off, and being desirous to make an immediate settlement upon the premises, and having petitioned our Governor in coun- cil for his majesty's grant of the premises to be so made as might not subvert and destroy their former surveys ;" therefore a grant is made to them of the said tract, they are constituted a corpora- tion by the name of Keene,^ and the inhabitants are declared entitled to all the privileges, and immunities, that other towns in the Province exercise and enjoy. A reservation is made of all [ * Gov. Wentworth was fond of complimenting his noble friends in England by scattering their names over New-Humpshire and Vermont, as any one may perceive who will cast his eyes over the maps of those States. At '.his time, or about this time, a Sir Benjamin Keene was Minister from England to Spain; and it is prob- ably that man's name which, in this way, has been made immortal.] ANNALS OF KEENE. 31 white, and other pine trees, fit for masting the royal navy, and of a rent of one ear of Indian corn, annually, until 1763, and af- terwards, of one shilling, proclamation money, for every hundred acres. And Benjamin Bellows is authorized to call the first meeting of the proprietors and inhabitants. The first meeting of the proprietors, under this charter, was held at Keene, on the first Wednesday of May. Votes w^ere passed, granting to Benjamin Bellows 122 Spanish milled dol- lars, for his services and expenses, in obtaining the charter ; and to Ephraim Dorman 8 dollars for going to Portsmouth — raising 122 pounds, old tenor, to procure preaching and granting to Theodore Atkinson, the Secretary of the Province, three hun- dred acres of land. On the same day, a town meeting was held, and various town officers were chosen. The inhabitants immediately directed their attention to the concerns of religion. As a place for public worship, they erect- ed a building, on a green plat near the house of Aaron Apple- ton. It was buih of slabs, the earth serving as a floor. And, with the inhabitants of Swanzey, they made a joint arrange- ment for the settlement of a pastor. In the warrant, calling a town meeting, to be held June 13, is the following article : "to see if they (the freeholders, &c.) will make choice of the Kev. Mr Carpenter for our minister." From the expressions here used, it is probable the church had already acted on the subject. At the meeting, Mr Carpenter was cho- sen ; the sum of " fifty pounds, silver money, at six shillings and eight pence the ounce, or equivalent in our own province bills," was offered him as a settlement ; and the town engaged to find him, yearly, twenty cords of fire-wood. A contract was subse- quently made with Mr Carpenter, which w^as to continue in force three years, and in which it was stipulated that he should receive, from Keene, a salary of twenty-six pounds, lawful mo- ney. He also officiated as the minister of Swanzey. In December, the inhabitants voted to build a meeting-house, 45 feet long, and 3-5 wide ; and agreed to set it at " the crotch of the roads, so called, one road leading up the riv^er, and the other across the river to Ash Swamp." This place must have been several rods West of Aaron Hall's house, on West-street. 32 ANNALS Of KEENE< irsi. But in January, of the next year, "in consideration of the un* fitness of the ground, and the exposedness to fire, and to the en- emy, in case of a war," they voted, to set the house " on the road that goeth from the town street to the mills, on the highest ground, between the causeway, by William Smeed's, and the bridge, by the clay pits." Smeed lived where Dr Twitchell now does, and the bridge was North of Col. Perry's store. [The mills here mentioned must have been the mills on Bea- ver Brook, and the road Washington-street. At this time, prob- ably, there was no road where the East end of West-street now is. Mr Guild states, from his own recollection, that the South side of the meeting-house was about on a line with the North line of West-street, as it now runs,] In this year, the savages again committed acts of hostility.— Some time in the fall, an express arrived at Keene, bringing in- formation, that a party of the enemy had appeared in the vicin- ity of Penacook, (Concord,) where they had killed, and captured, several whites. This was in the afternoon. The inhabitants immediately assembled, and appointed several persons to keep guard, through the night, directing them to walk, continually, from the house of David Nims, (near Lewis Page's house, in Prison-street,) to the meadow gate, (near Mr Carpenter's ;) and agreed immediately to complete the fort, the re-building of which had already been commenced. The next day every one able to labor, went to work upon the fort, and soon prepared it for the reception of the settlers. 1 755. When traces of Indians were discovered, near any of the fron- tiers, it was the custom to fire, as an alarm to all within hearing, three guns in regular and quick succession. If heard at any of the posts, it was answered in the same manner ; if not answer- ed, the alarm was repeated. In June, the people at Westmore- land,, discovering traces of Indians, fired an alarm, which was heard at Keene. A body of men was immediately sent to their relief; but they returned without discovering the enemy. That they were lurking in the vicinity, and that they followed home ANNALS OF KEENE. 33 the party from Keene, is probable, as, the next day they captured Benjamin Twitchell. He had been to Ash Swamp ; on his re- turn, he took with him a tub, which, it is supposed, he carried upon his head. This tub was afterwards found, on the East bank of the river, near where the mills now stand ; and there the Indians probably seized him. He was conducted up the river ; in the meadows, West and North of deacon Wilder's, the In- dians killed several oxen, a horse and colt. The colt was cut up, and the best pieces of meat carried off. In this meadow, they left a bow made of leverwood, and several arrows. They encamped, for the night, in M'Curdy's meadow, in Surry, where four crotched sticks were discovered driven into the ground, in such positions as led to the belief that to each was confined one of the limbs of the prisoner. The party then proceeded to Que- bec, where Twitchell met with Josiah Foster and his family, who were captured at Winchester. For the honor of Foster, the par- ticulars of his capture should be recorded. Returning home, one evening, he found his house in the possession of Indians, who had captured his wife and children. He could have escaped, but he determined to give himself up, that he might share their fate, and have an opportunity to alleviate their sufferings. He accompanied them to Quebec, carrying his wife on his back, a great part of the way. There they remained until, being ran- somed, they were sent, by water, to Boston. Twitchell was put on board the same vessel, but, being taken sick, he was set on shore, and died in a few days. A month or two afterwards, a party of Indians were discover- ed in the meadow. South of the town line, by the people of Swanzey. They, with four soldiers to guard them, were com- ing, in a body and armed, to work in the North meadows. The soldiers, who were in advance, heard a rustling in the bushes, and one, supposing it caused by a deer, fired his musket at the spot. The Indians, supposing they were discovered, rose and fired at the soldiers, who, frightened, ran to the quarter, now called Scot- land. The people, coming up, saw the Indians, attacked them, and drove them to the plain. West of the factory. An express was instantly sent to Keene ; and a party of fifteen men, under Capt. Metcaff, went out to meet them. This party went first to the foot of the hill, beyond Mr Heaton's, supposing the Indians 5 34 ANNALS OF KEENE. would there cross the Branch. Remaining there a short time, without discovering any Indians, a Mr Howard proposed to go to another ford still farther up. Josiah French, a shrewd man, observed, " those who wish to meet with the Indians, had better stay here : I feel no desire to see them, and will go over the hill with Howard." It was agreed to go over the hill ; but no soon- er had they reached the top of the nearest eminence, than they discovered nine Indians crossing at the ford they had left. They lav in wait for them a few hours, but did not see them afterwards. Returning to the fort, Howard received no mercy from the men, women and children within it. Several days afterwards, the men went, in a body and armed, to hoe Mr Day's corn, near Surry, and discovered that an old house, in that neighborhood, had been burnt ; it was supposed to have been set on fire by the same party of Indians. Afterwards, but in what year is not recollected, another, and the last party of Indians made a visit to Keene. The inhabit- ants had cleared and fenced a large common field consisting of about two hundred acres, laying southwardly of Mrs Lanman's [Thomas Thompson's] house. This field was used as a cow pasture, and the access to it was by a path which led southward- ly along the high ground East of the place where the turnpike and Baker's lane unite. When driving their cows to this pas- ture, it was the custom of the inhabitants not to go in the path, for fear of a surprise, but on one or the other side of it. Early one morning, they came suddenly upon a party of Indians, con- cealed in thick bushes, and busily engaged in mending their moccasons. They instantly started up and escaped. It was af- terwards ascertained that the leather, with which they were mend- ing their moccasons, had been stolen, the night before, from a tannery at Walpole or Charlestown. 1736. The term for which Mr Carpenter was settled having expired, the town, October 5, 1756, voted " to carry on and maintain the worship and ordinances of God in unity with the people of Swanzey, in the manner we have for three years past, for the space of one year to come." ANNALS OF KEENE. 35 1760. A similar vote was annually passed until 1760, when the town " voted not to join with the people of Swanzey in maintaining and carrying on the worship and ordinances of God." In the warrant calling for a town meeting to be held the 31st day of December, 1760, an article was inserted, " to see if the town will give a gentleman a call in order to settle in the work of ministry among us." The proceedings of this meeting, and also of another meeting held February 16, 1761, are lost. But from the proceedings of a meeting held March 26, 1761, it ap- pears that the town had given a call to " the worthy Mr Clement Sumner." His salary was fixed at thirty-five pounds sterling and his fire-wood, with an annual increase of one pound ten shillings sterling, until fifteen pounds should be added. The amount of his settlement is not known. 1761. In April, the town voted, " That the Rev. Mr Sumner's salary be stated on commodities as they be now and so from year to year. Commodities as they be now : wheat at os. 2\d. sterling per bushel ; pork at od. per pound ; beef at 2d. per pound ; In- dian corn at 1^. Sd. per bushel ; rye at 2s. 6d. per bushel ; labor in the summer at 25. per day." This was afterwards rescinded upon the suggestion of Mr Sumner, that the article of beef was stated above the market price. Mr Sumner accepted the call, and the ordination took place on the 11th of June. For several years from this period, but few interesting facts can be gleaned from written documents, or from oral tradition. Amos Foster, an inhabitant of the town, died this year. In his will he bequeathed one half of his estate to the town. The value of the legacy is not known ; but in August the town voted that Mr Sumner's settlement, and his salary for the first year, should be paid from this fund. In September, the town voted to build a house for sick sol- diers. 1762. Among the town officers chosen this year was a clerk of the market, and a deer reif. "Whether the former had any duties to 36 ANNALS OP KEENE. perform is not known. It was the duty of the latter to enforce the laws against killing deer in the spring. The first office was annually filled for the succeeding ten years, and the latter until 1782. 1761. At the annual meeting this year, the town voted six pounds sterling to defray the charges of a school. 1765. By a vote of the town, each man was to be allowed for labor on the highway, two shillings and sixpence (probably lawful money) per day, until the last of September, and afterwards, two shillings per day ; one shilling for a yoke of oxen, and six- pence for a cart. 1766. The following votes are found on the records of this year : " Voted, That Benjamin Hall be agent to represent the town in behalf of a shire town. " Voted, That the security for the money given to the town by Capt. Nathaniel Fairbanks, deceased, the interest of which was for the use of a school in this town, be delivered to the care of the town treasurer, and his successors in office for the time being." 1767. According to an enumeration made the 7th of October, the number and description of inhabitants were as follows : Unmarried men, from 16 to 60, ... 51 Married men, from 16 to 60, 66 Boys from 16 and under, 84 Men upwards of 60, 4 Females unmarried, 146 Married women, 68 Widows, 8 Total, 427 1768. Josiah Willard was chosen to represent the town in the Gen- eral Assembly at Portsmouth. He was the first representative chosen. ANNALS OF KEENE. 37 1770. The town was now first divided into school districts, being four in number. [The proprietors this year " Voted to Elisha Briggs liberty to lay out forty acres, in any of the common land in this township, he the said Briggs discharging the proprietors and grantees from what Col. Bellows requires of them for the charter of this town, which sum is sixteen dollars and three quarters, which offer Mr Briggs accepted, and engaged to bring a discharge in a month." From this vote it appears that the proprietors, at this lime, val- ued the best land then undivided at between forty and fifty cents the acre.] 1771 « This year, the State, which before consisted of but one coun- ty, was divided into five, and Keene was made one of the shire towns for the county of Cheshire. The Inferior Court held its first session here, in October, 1771, and the Superior Court, in September, 1772. 1772. The inhabitants, having become dissatisfied with the Eev. Clement Sumner, he was this year dismissed, in pursuance of a vote of the town, his own consent, and the result of an ec- clesiastical council. 1773. The following muster roll has been handed to the compiler, by a veteran of the Revolution : A LIST OF THE FOOT COMPANY IN KEENE. Lieut. Benjamin Hull, Ensign, Micliae! Metcalf, Clerk, Simeon Clark, Serj. Elijah Blake, Serj. Tliomas Baker, Serj. Isaac Esty, Serj. Jedediah Carpenter, Corp. Dun Guild, Corp. Joseph Blake, Corp. Abijah Metcalf, Benjamin Archer, Jonathan Archer, Asahel Blake, John Brown, Disha Briggs, John Baloh, Benjamin Balch, Jr., Luther Bragg, Samuel Bassett, John Burt, Nathan Blake, Jr., Obadiah Blake, Jr., Rojal Blake, Naboth Bettison, Thomas Baker, Jr., John Pray Blake, Cephas Clark, Seth Clark, Eliphalet Carpenter, Ebenezer Carpenter, Samuel Chapman, Silas Cook, Isaac Clark, Siiiieon Clark, Jr., Jonas Clark, John Day, Jr., John Daniels, Reuben Daniels, John Dickson, Addington Daniels, Ebenezer Day, Jr., Jacob Day, James Dean, Timothy Crossfield, Joseph Ellis, Jr., 38 ANNALS OF KEENE. Gideon Ellis, Jr., Simeon Ellis, Timothy Ellis, 3d, William Ellis, Caleb Ellis, Stephen Esty, James Efidy, Henry Ellis, Benjiimin Ellis, Benjamin Ellis, Jr., Joshua Ellis, Jabtz Fisher, Silas French, David Foster, Jr., Peter Fiskin, Aaron Gray, Jr., William Goodenow, John Griggs, Joseph Gray, Samuel Hall, Jesse Hall, Peter Hubbert, Seth Heaton, Jr. John Houghton, Joseph Hills, Davis Hovvlet., Ziba Hall, Jonathan Heaton, Luther Heaton, Nathaniel Kingsbury, Daniel Kingsbury, Stephen Larrabee, Daniel Lake, Ezra Metcaif, Jonathan Metcaif, Moses Marsh, Eli Metcaif, Daniel Metcaif, William Nelson, David Nims, Jr., Ebenezer Newton, Asahel Nims, Eli;ikim Nims, Zadock Nims, Alpheus Nims, Joshua Osgood, Benjamin Osgood, Jr., Amos Partridge, Jonathan Pond, Abiathar Pond, Nathan Rugg, Josiah Richardson, Eleazer Sanger, Abner Sanger, To Col. JOSIAH WILLARD. Keene, August 7, 1773. Robert Spencer, Jeremiah Stiles, Richard Smith, John Swan, Jacob Town, Joseph Thatcher, Abraham Wheeler, Jr, Joseph Willson, William Woods, Oliver Wri;ht, Jedediah Wellman, David Willson, Daniel Willson, Thomas Wells, John White, James Wright, Zadock Wheeler, Walter Wheeler, Samuel Wadsworth, Abijah Wilder, Jonathan Wheeler, Thomas Wilder, Thomas Morse, I Ephraim Leonard, Peter Daniels, 1 Luke Metcaif, I Isaac Wyman, Jr, EPHRAIM DORMAN, C, Errors Excepted. THE ALARM LIST BELONGING TO KEEME. Lieut. Seth Heaton, Dea. David Foster, John Day, Abraham Wheeler, Nftthan Blake. Joseph Ellis, Uriah Willson, Ebenezer Nims, David Nims. Gideon Ellis, Lieut. Andrew Balch, Aaron Gray, Ebenezer Day, Eliphalet Briggs, Benjamin Archer, Capt. Isaac Wyman, Doct. Obadiah Blake, Lieut. Timothy Ellis, Thomas Frink, Esq. Doct. Josiah Pomeroy, Doct. Gideon Tiffany, Elijah Williams, Israel Houghton, Samuel Woods, Samuel Daniels, Jesse Clark, Joseph Brown, Robert Gillmore, Obadiah Hamilton, Peter Rice, Elisha Ellis, Isaac Billings, Josiah Ellis, Timothy Ellis, Jr., Ichabod Fisher, William Gray, Benjamin Hall, Jr., Benj imin Osgood, Nathaniel Hall, Samuel VVoods, Jr., ^John Connolly, Samuel Colhoun, Ebenezer Cooke, Daniel Snow, Eliphalet Briggs, Jr. !? From votes of the town, it appears that Nathaniel Niles and Augustine Hibbert preached this year, as candidates for settle- ment ; and that, in 1774, William Fessenden and Elias Jones preached also as candi- dates. To the latter, the town unanimously gave a call, and of- fered him d£133 65. 8d. as a settlement, and seventy-five pounds ANNALS OF KEENE. 39 as an annual salary. What answer he gave to the call does not appear. Elijah Williams, Esq., an attorney at law, who came to Keene in 1771, was, this year, appointed a Justice of the Peace, as ap- pears from the following precept: Province of Neiv-Hampshire, ) ForfsmotUh, 2Sth May, 1774. j To Mr Simeon Jones, Clerk of His Majesty's Court of Gen- eral Sessions of the Peace, for the county of Cheshire, in said Province. I am commanded by His Excellency the Governor, to direct that you enter, in the general commission of the Peace, for said county, the name of Elijah Williams^ Esquire, who is appoint- ed, by His Excellency, a Justice of the Peace, for said county. You'lj therefore, hereby take order accordingly. By His Excellency's command, THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'y. The discussions and excitement, which preceded the revolu- tionary war, began, about this time, to extend to the interior towns. In Keene, nearly all the inhabitants were decided whigs ; but a few were neutral or silent, and a very small num- ber were avowed tories. Against the two last classes, the pop- ular indignation was often directed, and sometimes with such irregular violence, as called for the interj)osition of the sober and considerate citizens. In a warrant, calling a town meeting, to be held the 26lh of September, the following articles were inserted : " To see if it be the mind of the town to provide ammunition for a town stock, and grant money for the same." And " to see if it be the mind of the town to sign the covenant and engagement, which was sent and recommended, by the committee of correspondence, relating to the non-importation agreement." Upon the first article, the town " voted, to get a stock of am- munition for the town, viz : 200 lbs. of good gunpowder, 400 lbs. of lead, and 1200 flints ; and to raise twenty-four pounds, lawful money, for providing said articles." Upon the other article, the following preamble and vote were adopted : " Whereas the towns, in this province, have chosen members to represent them in a General Congress of all the col- onies, now sitting, at the city of Philadelphia, to consult and de- 40 ANNALS OF KEENE. termine what steps are necessary for the colonies to adopt, voted, therefore, not to sign the non-importation agreement, until we hear what measures said Congress have agreed upon for them- selves and their constituents." October 17th, Capt. Isaac Wyman and Lieut. Timothy Ellis were chosen delegates to attend the County Congress, at Wal- pole. No information, concerning the object or proceedings of this Congress, has been obtained. [In the winter of this year, Elijah Williams, Esq. instituted a suit against a citizen of Keene, the writ being in the form then usaal, commencing " George the Third, by the grace of God, King," &c. Immediately afterwards, a large number of people, many coming from the neighboring towns, assembled at Keene, seized Williams, and took him with them to their place of meet- ing, which was a barn standing by itself, in a field. They re- quired him to stop the suit, and to promise that he would issue no more writs in the name of the King. Perceiving he had no alternative, he complied, and was then set at liberty.] 1775. On the 4th of January, at a legal town meeting, the inhabit- ants voted, " to come into the measures recommended by the Continental Congress, in their association agreement." They chose, agreeably to said advice, Isaac Wyman, Timothy Ellis, Thomas Baker, Dan Guild, and William Ellis a Committee of Inspection. They also chose Isaac Wyman to represent the town, at the meeting, to be held at Exeter, on the 21st day of said January, for the choice of delegates to the Continental Congress. At a town meeting, held February 23, Capt. Isaac Wyman was chosen " to represent the town in the General Assembly, holden at Portsmouth, on the said 23d day of February, and so, day by day, during their sessions." On the 19th of April, was fought the battle of Lexington. An aged gentleman, then an inhabitant of Keene, gives the follow- ing account of the proceedings of the citizens on that occasion. The instant that news of the battle arrived in town, which was in the forenoon, Capt. Dorman, who then commanded the militia, called upon Capt. Wyman. " The regulars," said he, " have ANNALS OF KEENE. 41 come out to Concord, have killed six men, and the battle was rag- ing when the messenger started. "What shall be done?" " Send expresses," said Capt. Wyman, "to every part of the town, notify- ing the inhabitants to meet, forthwith, on the green, and be gov- erned by their decision." Expresses were sent, the citizens met, in the afternoon, and a vote was unanimously passed, that a body of men should be sent to oppose the regulars. The question was asked, who shall lead them ? Capt. Wyman was nominated, was chosen, and though far advanced in years, cheerfully con- sented to go. Volunteers were then called for, and about thirty presented themselves. Capt. Wyman directed them to go home immediately, and prepare provisions for their use, for, said he, " all the roads will be full of men, and you can procure nothing on the way;" and he then appointed sunrise, the next morning, the time, and his house the place, of rendezvous. At sunrise they met, and imm.ediately started for Concord. In the after- noon, Gen. Bellows, Col. John Bellows, and Thomas Sparhawk, arrived from Walpole, and riding to his house, inquired for Capt. "Wyman. Being answered, that he started at sunrise, at the head of a company of men, they exclaimed, " Keene has shown a noble spirit I" and hastened onwards. They were soon fol- lowed by a party of men from Walpole. At an informal meeting of the inhabitants, held the 27th of April, they chose Timothy Ellis a delegate to meet the commit- tee, at Exeter, and to sit, as a member, in the Provincial Con- gress, whenever they convene. He expressed his willingness to accept the office, but declared that he had not, and could not, in season, procure money enough to bear his expenses. The in- habitants, thereupon, voted, that he might draw from the treasu- ry four pounds, lawful money. Soon after the battle of Lexington, several tories, among whom was Elijah Williams, Esq., left this vicinity, and joined the British, in Boston. In the warrant calling a town meeting, on the 7th day of De- cember, one of the articles was, " to see if it be the mind of the town, that the names of those persons, who buy, sell, or make use of bohea tea, be advertised in the public prints." At the meeting, held on the day appointed, this article passed in the negative ; but a committee of inspection was appointed to see 6 42 ANNALS OF KEENK. that the resolves of the Continental Congress be complied with. After dismissing two other articles, relating to the troubles of that period, the town unanimously adopted the following Resolves, which may be termed the Statute Law of Keene. And here it may be proper to state, that no judicial courts were held in the county, from 1774 to 1778. " Whereas, by the unhappy disputes now subsisting between Great Britain and the American Colonies, the laws of several of them have been entirely subverted, or wholly neglected, to the great detriment of society, and of individuals, whereby many disorderly persons, taking undue advantage of the times, as a cloak to put their revengeful designs in execution, do wickedly and maliciously threaten to abuse and destroy the persons and property of many of the good and wholesome inhabitants of the land, and the Executive power being thrown by ; and the Con- gresses, neither Continental or Provincial, have, as yet, found out, or published, any method or system of government, for the securi- ty of our persons or property ; and until such a system as they in their wisdom shall see fit, or some other, be proposed, — " We, the inhabitants of the town of Keene, in the county of Cheshire, and province of New-Hampshire, legally convened, being desirous of order and good government, and for the se- curity of our lives, persons and property, do pass the following Resolves : " 1st. It is Resolved, that a committee of three good and steady men of the town, be chosen to act upon, and a proper officer ap- pointed, to prosecute the Resolves hereafter mentioned. " 2d. Whereas, profane cursing and swearing are highly pro- voking to Almighty God, and offensive to every true Christian, which we fear, if not discountenanced, will provoke the Divine Majesty to bring heavy judgments upon us, and still heavier, de- liver us up to the desire of our enemies ; to prevent cursing and swearing, be it Resolved, that if any person, or persons, shall profanely curse or swear, and shall be thereof convicted, before the committee, by sufficient witnesses, or by confession of the party, every such offender shall forfeit and pay to the committee, for the use of the poor of said town, a sum not exceeding three shillings, nor less than one ; according to the repeatedness of the offense ; and pay cost of prosecution, which cost shall be ascer- 'i ANNALS OF KEENE. 43 tained by the committee, before whom the person shall be con- victed ; and in case any person, convicted as aforesaid, shall re- fuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he, she or they shall be immediately committed to the common gaol, not exceeding ten days, nor less than three, for said forfeiture, and until he pay all just costs. " 3d. Whereas, it is highly necessary that every person, of able body, should betake himself to some honest calling, and not mis- spend their time iti loitering and tippling, in licensed houses, or elsewhere, in this town ; to prevent which, " Be it Resolved, that if any person or persons, fit and able to work, shall refuse so to do, but loiter and misspend his or their time, wander from place to place, or otherwise misorder them- selves, by drinking or tippling in any of the licensed houses, or elsewhere, in this town, after nine o'clock at night, or continue in any of the aforesaid houses above the space of one hour, un- less on necessary business, all such persons, being convicted of any of the aforesaid articles, before said committee, by sufficient witnesses, shall, for every such offense, forfeit and pay to the said committee, for the use of the poor of said town, the sum of two shillings, and all just costs of trial, which shall be adjudged by said committee, and in case any person, convicted as afore- said, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and ad- judged, he or they, shall be committed to the common gaol, there to remain not exceeding ten days, nor less than three days, for said forfeiture, and until he pay all just costs. " 4th. Whereas, personal abuse tends to promote ill blood and discord among society, to prevent which, be it Resolved, that if any person or persons shall smite, or strike, or threaten to abuse, or destroy, the person or property of another, he or they, so of- fending, shall, for the first offense, pay to the said committee, for the use of the poor of said town, the sum of five shillings, and costs of prosecution, and double that sum for the second offense ; and for the third, or any after offense, shall be imprisoned, or publicly whipt, according to the judgment of the committee, before whom they are convicted ; and in case any person, being convicted as aforesaid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he or they shall be commit- ted to the common gaol, there to remain, not exc^ding ten 44 ANNALS OF KEENE. days, nor less than four, for said forfeiture, and until he pay all just costs. " 5th. Further, be it Resolved, that if any person, or persons, shall presume to purchase, or bring into this town, any teas, of what sort soever, until the minds of the Congress, respecting that article shall be fully known, shall, forthwith, deliver up such teas to one or more of the committee, to be stored by them and kept for the owner, until the minds of the Congress be known re- specting that matter ; and in case any person shall refuse to de- liver up said teas, the committee have power to imprison him until he docs. " 6th. And for the better execution of all and every the fore- going articles, it is Resolved, that all and each of the said com- mittee shall have full power and authority to bring before them any of the inhabitants of this town, or any person residing in said town, that shall offend in any of the foregoing resolves, and upon his or their own views, or other sufficient conviction of any such offense, to impose the fine and penalty for the same, and to commit the offender until it be satisfied. " 7lh. It is likewise Resolved, that the officer appointed shall have power and authority to carry any person, that shall be found trespassing in any of the foregoing particulars, before said com- mittee for trial, and if need be, may command aid and assistance in discharging his trust ; and any person refusing to give aid or assistance, as aforesaid, he or they shall forfeit the sum of three shillings for every offence, and have their names inserted in the public Gazette, as unfriendly to good order. " And all masters and heads of families, in this town, are here- by directed to take effectual care that their children, servants, and others under their immediate government, do no trespass, in any of the foregoing particulars. " Chose Thomas Baker, Eliphalet Briggs, and Dan Guild, as a committee to judge, determine, and act upon said Resolves, and put them in execution, and chose Elijah Blake officer for the purpose mentioned in said Resolves." The town voted, 37 to 27, to give Mr John Remele a call to settle as a minister. They otfcn-d him d£133 65. Set. as a settle- ment, and 75 pounds as a salary. His reply was, " that the town had offered generously enough for his support, but he could not ANNALS OF KEENE. 45 think it his duty to settle in any place, where there was so much opposition." [It is well remembered that, in the year of the battle of Bunker Hill, Elisha Briggs projected, and Samuel Bassett and Aaron Willson, by the aid of a bee, excavated, the canal from the pond on West-street to a point on the river about a hundred rods below. The North end of the canal was a few rods North of the road, the pond not then extending as far South as now. By shorten- ing the distance, a sufficient fall was obtained to carry a grist mill and saw mill. These mills and the dam were built by Eli- sha Briggs. The grist mill was placed two or three rods North of the road as it now runs, and nearly North of the present grist mill ; the saw mill was placed where the factory now stands ; and the dam where it now is. The mills were sold to Nathan Blake, and were, for some time, known as Blake's mills. Briggs, about this time, projected and surveyed the canal, conducting the waters of White Brook into Ash Swamp Brook.] The population of Keene, this year, was 756. 1776. [It has been stated, that in April, 1775, at an informal meeting of the inhabitants, Timothy Ellis was chosen a delegate to meet the Committee at Exeter. This committee was probably the Convention of which Belknap, the historian of New-Hampshire, thus writes: — " In the Convention, which met at Exeter, in May, (1775,) and continued sitting with but little interruption till No- vember, one hundred and two towns were represented by one hundred and thirty-three members. Their first care was to es- tablish post offices ; to appoint a committee of supplies for the army, and a Committee of Safety. To this last committee the general instruction was similar to that given, by the Romans, to their dictators, — ' to take under consideration all matters in which the welfare of the province, in the security of their rights, is con- cerned ; and to take the utmost care that the public sustain no damage.' Particular instructions were given to them, from time to time, as occasion required. They were considered as the su- preme executive ; and during the recess of the Convention, their orders and recommendations had the same effect as the acts and resolves of that whole body." 46 ANNALS OF KEENE. This extract informs the reader of the origin of the Commit- tee of Safety for the State, and enables him the better to un- derstand the following document, obtained from the office of the Secretary of Stale : To the Selectmen of Keene. COLONY OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, April mil, 1776, In order to carry the underwritten RESOLVE of the Hon^ble Congress into Execution, You are requested to desire all Males above Twenty-One Years of Age, (Lunalicks, Idiots, and Ne- groes excepted,) to sign to the DECLARATION on this paper; and when so done to make return hereof, together with the Name or Names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the GEN- ERAL ASSEMBLY, or Committee of Safety of this Colony. M. WE ARE, Chairman. IN CONGRESS, March 14th, 1776. Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies^ Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the Unit- ed Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed^ within their respective Colonies, who are notorionsly disaffected to the cause of AMERICA, Or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by ARMS the United Colonies,' against the Hostile Attempts of the British Fleets and Armies. / » Extract from the Mimites, ^^°''^''' CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'ij. In consequence of the above Resolution, of the Hon. Conti- nental CONGRESS, and to show our Determination in joining our American Brethren, in defending the Lives, Liberties and Properties of the Inhabitants of the UNITED COLONIES: We the Subscribers, do hereby solemnly engage, and prom- ise, that we will, to the utmost of our Power, at the Risque of our Lives and Fortunes, with ARMS oppose the Hostile Pro- ceedings of the American COLONIES. British Fleets and Armies against the United Thomas Frink, Nathan Blake, Eliphalet Briggs, Jr., Josiah Richardson, Joseph Blake, D.inicl Kingsbury, Dan Gui:d, Eli Metcalf, Ichabod Fisher, Thomas Wilder, Isaac Wyman, David Foster, Ephraiin Dorman, Seth Heaton, Andrew Balch, Gideon Ellis, Thomas fJaker, Benjairiiri Archer, Joseph Ellis, Simeon Washburn, David Nims, Elisha Briggs, Benjamin Archer, Jr.,. Samuel Wood, Eliiihalet Briggs, Nalhanicl !*riggs, Elijah Bli.kf, Uri.h Willson. John Le I'ourveau, Duvid Foster, Jr., ANNALS OF KEENE. 47 Timothy Ellis, Gideon Tiffany, Jesse Hall, Michael Metcalf, Jesse Clark, Gideon Ellis, Jr., David Nims, Jr., Abrnhani Wheeler, William Kills, Joshua Osgood, Nathaniel Kingsbury, Reuben Daniels, Reuben Partridge, Cephas Clark, Ebenezer Carpenter, Timothy Ellis, Jr., Eliakim Nims, Caleb Ellis, Joseph Willson, Davis Howlett, Timoihv Ellis ye 3d, Benjamin Willis, Samuel Chapman, John Balch, Abijah !Melcalf, Henry Ellis, Luther Bragg, Seth Heaton, Jr., Josiah Ellis, Benjamin Osgood, Ebenezer Newton, Daniel Willson, Ezra Hiirvey, David Harris, Obadiah Blake, Jr., Zadoc Nims, Isaac Clark, Bartholomew (jTimes, David Willson, Benjamin Balch, Ebenezer Day, John Dickson, Naboth Bettison, Abraham Wheeler, Jr., James Wright, John Houghton, Silas Cook, Nathan Blake, Jr., Nathan Rugg, Stephen Larrabee, Robert Spencer, Ebenezer Cook, Joshua Ellis, Jotham Metcalf, Moses Marsh, Simeon Clark, Jr,, Benjamin Ellis, Asahel Blake, Samuel Bnssett, Jedediah Wellman, Jonathan Heaton, Simeon Ellis, Benjamin Ellis, James Crossfield, Joseph Ellis, Jr., Thomas Baker, Jr., Thomas Wells, Achilles Mansfield, Royal Blake, William Gray, Aaron Gray, Jr., John Daniels, Samuel Daniels, Jedediah Carpenter, William Goodenough, Adin Hoi brook, Hezekiah Man, Jeremiah Stiles, Samuel Hall, Jonathan Archer, Abraham Pond, Silas French, Eliphalet Carpenter, Benjamin Willard, Jacob Town, John Day, Peter Rice, Isaac Esty, Jonathan Dwinell, Thomas Dwinell, John Connolly, Abijah Wilder, Zadoc Wheeler, Daniel Snow, William Nelson, Israel HoughKm, William Woods, Asaph Nichols, Elisha Ellis, Thomas Fields, Michael Spronght, Benjairiin Tiffany, James Eddy. Benjamin Osgood, Jr., John Swan, James Hunt. Agreeably to the within direction, we have requested all in this Town to sign, as herein set forth ; and hereto annexed the names of all those who Refuse to sign the within Decla- ration, viz : Maj. Josiah Willard, John White, lit. Benjamin Hall, Eleazer Sanger, Doctor josiah Pomeroy, Abner Sanger, Samuel VVadsworth, Thomas Cutter, Robert Gihnan, James Perkins, ELTPHALET BRTGGS, Jr., 1 ^ , . JOSIAH RICHARDSON, ^eMmen JOSEPH BLAKE, \oftheTownof DANIEL KINGSBURY, J ^^e^cj The representatives of the General Assembly having desired their constituents to nominate Justices of the Peace, the inhabit- ants, April 3d, " voted, unanimously, that it is the mind of this town that Col. Isaac Wyman be appointed." August 2d, " Capt. Eliphalet Briggs was chosen a delegate, to meet with other delegates, at Walpole, to consult and agree 48 ANNALS OF KEENE. upon such methods as shall be thought necessary for the general good, and our mutual defense and safety." This Convention was called by order of a sub-committee of the several Commit- tees of Safety in the county. The small pox having been introduced into the town, hospi- tals had been erected, where such persons as chose to resort to them, were inoculated. This disease, it seems, had been spread by persons leaving the hospitals without being sufficiently cleans- ed ; whereupon, at a town meeting, held September 27, eleven resolves were passed, prescribing strict regulations for the gov- ernment of the hospitals. EHphalet Briggs, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, a worthy citizen, and staunch whig, died of this disease, and was buried at the foot of the hill, on the road leading to Roxbury. In December, Jeremiah Stiles was chosen one of the Committee of Safety, in his stead. 1777. In the beginning of this year, Samuel "Whitman preached as a candidate. January 14, the town nominated Jeremiah Stiles as a Jus- tice of the Peace. They also voted to raise sixteen pounds for ammunition. The following memorandum is copied from the records of this year : " Whereas orders were sent from the Court to the Selectmen, desiring them to assist the commanding officers of the militia in the town, by causing a town meeting to be called, in order to raise men for the continental army during the war, in obedience to which, a legal meeting was warned, and the town met on the 31st of March, made several proposals for encouragement, and voted thirty pounds to each man, if a sufficient number would turn out, but as not any appeared, the meeting was dismissed and nothing voted, that was conclusive or valid." In May or June, a Court, appointed by the Committee of Safety in the County, was held at Keene, before whom were brought the principal tories in the county, to be tried for their offenses or opinions. It has not been ascertained who were members of this Court, but Benjamin Giles, of Newport, and Col. Hammond, of Swanzey, were probably two. The tories ANNALS OF KEENE. 49 were guarded by a body of men, of whom Mr Floyd, of "Wal- pole, was commander. The Court sat nearly two weeks, before they came to any decision ; and it was supposed by some, at the time, that the object of this delay was, that the violent whigs, by whom they were surrounded, might become weary and disperse, and leave them at liberty to give a more lenient judgment than was demanded. In the end, the Court decided that the tories should be confined to their farms, and give bonds for their good behavior. At a town meeting, held June 11, a committee was chosen " to state the price of articles, labor, &c., as the law directs." The town voted to pay to each man that has or shall enlist into the continental army, for the term of three years, or during the war, to make up the quota of this town, the sum of thirty pounds, exclusive of the bounty given by this State ; and also to allow those that have done service in the war heretofore, in the same proportion as fifty-six pounds is for three years ; and a commit- tee was chosen to make an exact proportion of what every man had done in the war, in time past, in order that an exact assess- ment may be made for the above said charge. [About this time, a furious fight between a man and a bear took place in the North part of the town, of which the following account has been furnished by his son. Mr Eleazer Wilcox, of Gilsum, going into his pasture, and having with him his gun, loaded with a small charge of powder, saw a very large bear, six or eight rods from him. Taking a bullet from his pocket, he dropped it into his gun, fired, and hit her in the head. She fell, but before Wilcox could get to her, sprang up and ran off. He then went to Mr Joshua Osgood's, who was an experienced hunter and had a large dog, and they together followed the track of the bear, which was marked by her blood. Having followed it about three miles, supposing they were near her, they separat- ed that they might have more chance of obtaining a shot at her. On a sudden, Wilcox saw the bear advancing, in a furious rage, towards him. His gun missed fire ; the bear, coming near him, knocked it from his hand with her paw, and then, by a blow on the head, knocked him down. He rose on his knees, when the bear, putting her paws on his shoulders, endeavored to throw him on the ground ; but he, being a very athletic man, main- 7 50 ANNALS OF KEENE. tained his position with desperate effort. During the struggle, the dog aided him and perhaps saved his life by frequent and furious attacks. Osgood soon came up ; for some time, the combatants being closely grappled and their positions often changing, he hesitated to fire, fearing to kill his neighbor ; but perceiving the case desperate, he at length fired, and fortunately shot the bear in the side, without hitting Wilcox. She ran off, and the next day was found dead, East of the Branch. Mr Wilcox, having received many wounds, and strained his back severely in the struggle, was carried home on a litter; and, though he lived many years, never entirely recovered. A wolf was seen in this town, {-me trste,) in the summer of 1848, or 1849, on the old road to Walpole, near Surry line. Mrs Sturtevant, who is the widow of Cornelius Sturtevant, Jr., the printer, was born in 1770, and is now living with mental faculties bright and vigorous, well remembers that, in early girl- hood, when going to school from W^est-street to the school-house just South of the old Ralston house, she passed the old jail, standing near where the Emerald House now stands. It was made of hewn logs, with a small hole for a window. She and her companions often stopped to hear a Mr Baxter, who was confined there, sing the Vicar of Bray. This Baxter was a tory, lived in Surry or Alstead, and was probably then confined for toryism. Tradition speaks of him as wealthy for the time, bold, reckless, fond of enjoyment, and of defying public opin- ion. He doubtless sang the Vicar of Bray to reproach and provoke the rebels outside for having deserted their King and sworn allegiance to the new government. He emigrated to Nova Scotia. The battle of Bennington was fought this year. On the fall of Ticonderoga, urgent calls came from the Americans in that region to the people of Vermont and New- Hampshire to hasten to their assistance. The compiler has seen, in the hands of an old man, employed on that occasion as express runner, a mis- sive, of few words and undirected, which, like the burnt and bloody cross of the Scotch Highlanders, was received to be borne, as speedily as possible, into every village and town in the neighborhood, and being read by a few in a place, car- ried or sent on to the next, summoning every man to the aid ANNALS OF KEENE. 51 of his country, and appointing the place of meeting. In this way, the peril of the army was quickly made known to the peo- ple. Maj. Ellis, Josiah Richardson, Joshua Durant and others, immediately crossed the Green Mountains, and soon found themselves in front of the Hessian breastwork, sustaining and returning an incessant fire. The Major, somewhat excited, ordered a charge, and himself and most of his men leaped over, among whom was Durant. The Hessians wavered, scattered and fled. Durant pursued a party of three, and gaining fast up- on them, the hindmost turned back, their muskets at this mo- ment touching each other. Durant fired first and killed his an- tagonist. While reloading, the other two turned back upon him. He wrenched his bayonet from his gun, seized one by the col- lar, and was about to stab the other, when both called for quar- ter and surrendered themselves prisoners. The three were broth- ers. For many years afterwards, Durant occasionally wore, as trophies, a waistcoat and silver mounted breast pin taken from the man he had killed. Mr Richardson came home with the glory of having captured three Hessians. He allowed the world to believe the story to be true, as in fact it was, but to his friends he admitted that, ei- ther from terror, or dissatisfaction with their condition, they ap- peared to be not very unwilling captives. A pest-house was erected, this year, at a secluded spot near the South end of Beech Hill, since known as pock pasture, for the inoculation of the small pox. A Doctor Pomeroy was the attending physician. He lived in the house afterwards oc- cupied by General Reed, of revolutionary memory, which stood on the West side of Main-street, nearly opposite but below the site of the fort. A large number were inoculated, of \\hom six died. This Gen. Reed, whose ordinary place of residence was Fitz- William, is remembered here as an aged blind man, and as al- most daily seen, after the close of the war, walking up and down Main-street, aiding, and guided by, Mr Washburn, who was par- alysed on one side. He received a pension.] In December, in town meefing, Capt. Stiles, Capt. Howlet, and Jabez Fisher were successively chosen representative, and each declined accepting the office ; Timothy Ellis was then 52 ANNALS OF KEENE. chosen, and consented to serve. The town voted " to empower the representative to act in behalf of the town, in the choice of delegates to the Continental Congress. A similar vote was af- terwards annually passed, from which it may be inferred, either that the town did not consider their representatives had authori- ty, or that the latter were unwilling, to act in this behalf, without such a vote. At the same meeting, the town " voted unanimously to give Mr Aaron Hall, who has been preaching among us, a call to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this town." They also voted to give him, as a settlement d£183 6s. Scl., and an an* nual salary of eighty pounds, both sums " to be made equal in value to what the same sums were four years ago, when silver and gold were current among us." The committee, chosen for the purpose, laid the proceedings of the town before Mr Hall, who accepted the call. The ordi« nation took place on the 18th of February, 1778. Mr Hall was a beloved and popular minister to the time of his death, in 1814. 1778, At a meeting, held January 17th, the inhabitants, " after read- ing and conferring upon the Articles of Confederation of the Continental Congress, voted thai it is the minds of the town that they be established by this State. " Voted further to instruct the representative to use his influ- ence, in the General Assembly, that a free and full representa- tion of every town in this Slate take place to a Convention, to meet at such time and place as the General Assembly shall ap- point," to form a plan of government for said Stale. Chose Capt. Stiles, Major Ellis, and Capt. Griswold, dele- gates to meet at Surry, and consult with the delegates of the other towns. April 27, Jeremiah Stiles was chosen a delegate to meet in the Convention to be held at Concord for the purpose of forming a Constitution and plan of government for the State. It must be well remembered, by those at all acquainted with our history, that the territory now constituting the State of Ver- mont, was originally claimed by New- Hampshire ; and that long ANNALS OF KEENE. 53 before the Revolution, the executive of this State granted many townships within its limits. It was subsequently claimed by New- York, the government of which in many instances made grants of the same townships. This produced an animated, and in some instances, a virulent contest, between those who claimed the same land under these conflicting gi-ants; and be- tween the officers appointed by the different States and their adherents. At a convention of delegates from most of the towns in this territory, then called the New-Hampshire Grants, held at Westminster, in 1777, it was declared an independent State, by the name of Vermcmt. Against this proceeding, New- York protested, and brought the subject before the Continental Congress. In June, 1778, sixteen towns, lying on Connecticut River, in New-Hampshire, were, at their request, made to the Legislature of Vermont, admitted a part of the new State ; and, in October, proposals were made to New-Hampshire, that all the towns lying West of the Masonian or curve line, should al- so be admitted to a uniop. With subsequent proceedings of the Vermont Legislature, not only these sixteen towns, but most of the towns lying on the West bank of the river, were dissatis- fied, and the project was started of so extending the acknow- ledged boundaries of New-Hampshire as to embrace the dissat- isfied towns in Vermont. And many were in favor of erecting a new State, to be composed of the western half of New-Hamp- shire, and the eastern half of Vermont. To determine on the course to be pursued, a convention of delegates from the towns on both sides of the river was appointed, to be held at Cornish, on the 19lh of December. In the warrant calling a town meet- ing to be held at Keene, December 7th, an article was inserted, " to see if it be the mind of the town to choose a delegate to meet at Cornish, to take into consideration matters relating to the State of Vermont." At the meeting, this article was dis- missed. 1779. At a meeting, held March 2d, the town voted " that the se- lectmen bo a committee 1o give the representative instructions to use his influence that the delegates from this State to thi; Con- tinentEil Congress, lay claim to the New-Hampshire Grants, so 54 ANNALS OF KEENE.- called, provided that Congress will not confirm the same into a new State." In this year, Capt. Mack, of Gilsum, probably incited by some of the zealous whigs in Keene, collected a party with a view of apprehending several tories, who resided here, and who were suspected of furnishing the enemy with provisions. On the evening of the 30lh of May,^ they assembled at Partridge's tav- ern, near Wright's mills, on the road to Surry. In the night, Mack sent forward several men, with directions to place them- selves separately at the doors of those houses where the tories resided, and prevent their escape. At sunrise he rode into Keene, at the head of his party, with a drawn sword ; and when he came to the house of a tory, he ordered the sentinel, standing at the door, to " turn out the prisoner." The prisoner being brought out, and placed in the midst of his party, he proceeded onward. Having gone through the street, collected all of them, and searched their cellars for provisions, of which he found little, he returned to the tavern of Mr Hall, situated where Dr Twitch- ell's house now stands, and confined them in a chamber. But when he first made his appearance, information was sent to Mr Howlet, who then commanded the militia, of the commo- tion in the village. He instantly sent expresses to warn his company to appear forthwith in the street, with their arms and ammunition. [They came about the middle of the forenoon, were paraded, facing South, in front of the meeting-house, then standing South of where it now does — on a line with the North line of West-street — and were ordered to load their guns with powder and ball. Mack paraded his company across the street from the tavern to the Watson house, facing their antagonists. Col. Alexander, of Winchester, who then commanded the regi- ment, had been sent for, and now came. He asked Capt. Mack if he intended to pursue his object ? I do, replied he, at the hazard of my life. Then, said the Colonel, emphatically, you * The first lines of a song, remembered by an aged citizen, fixes the day when this party visited Keene : " Upon the thirty-first of May, " Appeared in Keene, at break of day, "A mob, both bold and stout." Those who lived in these times, well remember that the muses were not silent amid the din of arms. ANNALS OF KEENE. 55 must prepare for eternity, for you shall not be permitted to take vengeance, in this irregular mode, on any men, even if they are tories. This resolute speech cooled the ardor of many. After deliberating a while, Mack ordered his party to face about, and led them a short distance southward ; and the militia then went into the meeting-house. Not long afterwards the mob faced about again, and marched silently, by the meeting-house, towards Surry ; but though silently, they did not march in silence, for the women, as they passed, furnished noisy and lively music, on tin pans and warming pans, until they disappeared from view. This occurrence is now [1850] related on the authority of John Guild, who then lived in the village, is now eighty-one years of age, and distinctly remembers what then took place. He says, moreover, that one of the tories taken was a Mr Wads- worth, a blacksmith, v»'ho lived in a house situated where Dr C. G. Adams's house now is, and was called the Fort House. The relics of a blacksmith's shop are still visible on the lot adjoining Dr Adams's, North. The relator's father, Dan Guild, settled in Keene, in 1758, and liv^d in a house situated where the Judge Newcomb house was afterwards built and yet remains. He remembers that there was one room, in his father's house, the walls of which consisted of timber nearly a foot square, and presumes such timber was used as a protection against the Indians. Dan Guild was a somewhat distinguished man in those early times. He is described, in the town records, as Lieutenant Dan Guild ; he was one of the committee appointed to "judge, deter- mine and act" on all violations of the laws of Keene, when all other laws were silent ; he was jailor of the county, and removed the jail from the place where it was first established, near where the Emerald House stands, to his own house, then situated be- tween the Field house and the Washburn house ; or, to speak intelligibly to the present generation, between Dr Smith's house and the compiler's ; a few years afterwards he was appointed one of a committee to build a new jail, and built one, of wood, in Washington-street, where the stone jail now stands.] At a meeting, held July 7, the town chose a committee to hire and agree with five men to serve in the continental army, on the best terms they can ; and the same committee were em- 56 ANNALS OF KEENE. powered to hire two men for the Rhode Island service, at the town's charge. Sept. 7, the town, "after hearing the plan of government, late- ly formed by the Convention at Concord, read, and the several articles therein debated, voted unanimously to reject the same, for the following reason, viz : That the mode of representation is not agreeable to the sentiments of the town." " Voted, further, to instruct our delegate to use his influence, (if the Convention proceed to amendments,) that the mode of representation be as follows : — That every town, consisting of one hundred families, shall be entitled to send a representative ; that larger towns send one for each hundred families, and small- er towns be classed together so as to send one for each hundred families, and the whole to be paid out of the public chest." At the same meeting, the following preamble and vote passed: " Whereas the Selectmen of Portsmouth sent an address to this and the rest of the towns in this State, desiring their presence and assistance, by their delegates, to meet at Concord, in Con- vention, to see if they can come into some agreement to state the price of the several articles bought and sold in this State ; therefore, voted, that Capt. Jeremiah Stiles attend said Conven- tion, as a delegate from this town." October 20, the town voted to raise three hundred and thirty pounds for paying the charge of raising men for the defense of the State of Rhode Island, and the sum of £iSl for the charge of raising men for the continental service. [In the warrant notifying a town meeting to be held Dec. 6, an article was inserted " to see if it be the mind of the town to choose a committee to state the price of articles bought and sold, agreeable to the Convention of this State." At the meet- ing held in pursuance of the waiTant, this article was dis- missed.] 1780. March 7, the town voted, " that the singing in public worship- be performed without reading line by line as they sing." [They also voted to refer the stating of an equivalent sum for the Rev. Mr Hall's salary to the Selectmen for the present year; said sum to be ascertained by them in the month of September ANNALS OF KEENE. 57 next — and the sum by them stated to be equivalent to his an- nual salary as voted by the tov^^n.— (See vote 1777.) " Voted the sum of five thousand pounds ($16,666.66) for mending the roads in said town ; — said sum to be paid in labor at four dollars for each hour's labor per man, and for oxen and utensils equivalent as usual." June 27, the town voted to give fifty dollars (as it is valued and stipulated in the act of Court,) to each able bodied man that will engage in the continental service, in behalf of the town, for the space of six months.] In the warrant calling a town meeting, to be held July 20, the following article was inserted :— " Whereas, by an act of the General Assembly of this State, each town is obliged to provide monthly a quantity of beef for the use of the continental army, for the space of five months ; therefore to see what method the town will take to procure said quantity of beef." At the meeting, the town voted " to raise 11,309 pounds of beef; each person to have liberty to pay his equal proportion thereof in beef, or to pay so much money in lieu thereof as he was taxed in the last State and continental tax." In a warrant calling a town meeting, is the following re- cital :— " Whereas, the Selectmen have received letters from some of the principal gentlemen in this county, who think it advisable, in this critical juncture, that a County Convention of delegates from the several towns, be called, to meet at Walpole, the loth of No- vember, to consult on matters relating to the jurisdiction of the New-Hampshire Grants ;" — and then a meeting is warned to choose one or more persons to represent the town in said Con- vention. At the meeting, held November 13, pursuant to the war- rant, Daniel Newcomb and John Houghton were chosen del- egates. The following proceedings of this Convention are extracted from the " Vermont State Papers," an interesting volume lately published by the authority of that State. 8 58 ANNALS OF KEENE. At a Convention of Delegates from the several towns in the County of Cheshire^ in the State of Nexn- Hampshire, held at Walpole, in said County, on the loth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, Voted, That Dr Page, Col. Hunt, Capt. Holmes, Daniel Jones, Esq. and Col. Bellows, be a committee to confer with gentlemen from any parts of the territory, called the New- Hamp- shire Grants, concerning the jurisdiction of the said Grants, and to consider what is proper to be done by the inhabitants thereof, relative to their jurisdiction ; that the same may be ascertained and established. Which committee, after due inquiry and con- sideration, report as follows, viz : The committee appointed by the Convention, held at Walpole, November 15th, 1780, do Re- port, that we have conferred with the several gentlemen present, who were committees from the different parts of the territory, called the New-Hampshire Grants, viz : Cumberland, Glouces- ter and Grafton Counties, and do find, that many matters lately agitated, with respect to the jurisdiction of the New-Hampshire Grants, render a union of the inhabitants of that territory indis- pensably necessary. The said inhabitants received the grants of their lands from the same jurisdiction, and settled them while a union was extant ; which was an implicit engagement of au- thority, that it should be continued. But we were unjustly de- prived of the advantages resulting from it, in the year 1764, by an arbitrary decree of Great Britain, to which we never acceded; which decree, however, cannot be esteemed efficacious, since the declaration of independence ; it being one of those iniquitous measures, by which they were attempting to oppress the colo- nies; and for which we have since thrown off subjection. This being the case, the union re-exists. And shall we throw it off? God forbid. The situation of the territory aforesaid, by reason of their being a frontier, as well as many other matters, which are obvious, respecting commerce and transactions of a public nature, makes it expedient that they be united in all their inte- rests, in order to make their etlorts, in that quarter, against the common enemy, more vigorous and efficacious. In respect to government, great disadvantages may arise by a division. In that case, delinquents may easily evade the operation of justice, by passing from one State to another, and thereby be induced more readily to practice iniquity in that part where the body of the inhabitants, and the principal traffic, centre. And we imag- ine that a union of public interests, is the only means by which the contentions and animosities, now subsisting among the in- habitants of the territory aforesaid, can be brought to a happy issue ; for, so long as the course of justice is in different chan- nels, where people are so nearly allied, disturbances will arise. ANNALS OF KBENE. 69 From authentic information, we cannot but apprehend, that the State of New- Hampshire is greatly remiss, il not grossly negli- gent, (to call it by no harsher name,) in trusting atiairs of such great importance as the settlement of their western boundary, to a committee, some of whom, we conceive, would risk the loss of half the State, rather than New- Hampshire should extend their claim West of Connecticut river. And, from the best au- thority that can be obtained, it appears that the agent of the State aforesaid, is endeavoring to confirm a division of the grants, con- trary to their true interests ; which has given the people, on the grants, just occasion to rouse and exert themselves in support of a union of the whole. We, therefore, earnestly recommend, as the only means to obtain a union, preserve peace, harmony, and brotherly love, and the interest of the community in general, that a Convention be called from every town within the said grants, to be held at Cliarlestown, on the third Tuesday of Janu- ary next, at one of the clock, in the afternoon ; and that one or more members be appointed from each town, with proper in- structions to unite in such measures as the majority shall judge most conducive to consolidate a union of the grants, and eflect a final settlement of the line of jurisdiction. B. BELLOWS, "I S. HUNT, 1 D. JONES, } Committee. L. HOLMES, I W. PAGE, J In Convention, at Walpole, Nov. 16, 1780. The above Report being repeatedly read, — Voted, That it be accepted; and a sufficient number of copies be printed and trans- mitted to the several towns on the New-Hampshire Grants, on both sides of Connecticut River, for their notice, to appoint one or m>ore members to attend the said General Convention ; which shall be deemed a sufficient notification. By order of the Convention, BENJAMIN BELLOWS, Chairman. A true Copy, — Attest, Daniel Neavcomb, Clerk. At a meeting held Dec. 11, the town "chose Timothy Ellis and Daniel Newcomb delegates to represent this town in the Conven- tion to be holden at Charlestown, the third Tuesday in January next, to act relating to the jurisdiction of the New-Hampshire Grants;" and they voted "to instruct the delegates to come into a union with said Grants, in case they (the said Grants) be an- nexed to the State of New-Hampshire, and not otherwise." 60 ANNALS OF KEENE. 1781. The Convention was held at Charlestown, on the day ap- pointed, and was attended by delegates from forty-three towns. A majority voted in favor of uniting with the State of Vermont. On the 24th of January, the Selectmen, reciting that, " by a late act of the General Assembly, each town is obliged to fur- nish their quota of men for the continental army as soon as pos- sible," called a meeting to be held Feb. 7, " to see what method the town will take to raise their quota." At the meeting, thus called, the following votes were passed : Voted, to choose a committee to make an average of what ser- vice each man has done heretofore, as to hiring men or going personally into the service of the United States. Upon further consultation and consideration, voted to postpone the average to some future time ; and Voted, to divide the rateable inhabitants of the town into twelve equal classes, and each class to procure a man to serve in the continental army the space of three years, or during the war, upon their own charge, as soon as may be. And a committee was chosen to divide the town into classes, and proceed as is directed in the aforesaid act. At a meeting, held March 26, the town voted not to unite with the New-Hampshire Grants, on the West side of Connecticut River, 58 being against, and 29 in favor of the union. The town stood almost alone in this vote ; Hinsdale, Walpole, Sur- ry, Gilsum, Alsiead, Charlestown, Acworth, Lempster, Wen- dell, Claremont, Newport, Cornish, Croydon, Plainficld, Gran- tham, Marlow, Richmond, Chesterfield, and Westmoreland vot- ing in favor of the union. By virtue of a precept from the General Assembly, a town meeting was called, and held on the 30th day of May, at which Daniel Newcomb was chosen a delegate to a Convention, to be held at Concord on the first Tuesday of June, for the purpose of forming a plan of government. At the same meeting, the town voted, that Thomas Baker stand in nomination for a Justice of the Peace, in order to be put in said Ofiice by the General Assembly. At a meeting, held December 11, the plan of government, which had been agreed on by the Convention at Concord, was ANNALS OF KEENE. 61 laid before the town. " After hearing it read, and consulting upon the same," Josiah Richardson, WilHam Banks, Ichabod Fisher, Major Howlet, and Daniel Newcomb were chosen a committee " to make sach remarks upon it, in writing, as they think agreeable to the town," and make report at a future meeting. At a meeting subsequently holden, this committee reported, that " it appears to them that the following paragraph in said form of government, viz : ' and to prevent an undue influence in this State, which the first magistrate may acquire by the long possession of that important office, as also to stimulate others to qualify themselves for the service of the public in the highest station, no person shall be eligible, as Governor of this State, more than three years in any seven,' is inconsistent with the rights of the people of New-Hampshire, as declared in the elev- enth article, in the first part of said Constitntion ; and that when a person hath governed the State three years faithfully, and suc- cessfully, his fidelity and experience ought rather to recommend him as a proper person to be elected Governor the next year, than to disqualify him from governing within four years. The committee, therefore, report, as their opinion, that the foregoing paragraph of the said Constitution ought to be expunged there- from, and that the inhabitants of this town ought then to approve and accept of said Constitution, without any further alteration or amendment ; and rather than said Constitution should be reject- ed by reason of the foregoing objection thereto, or be again sent for the examination of the people, the committee are of opinion that the said Constitution onght to be approved, accepted and established as it now stands." This Report was unanimously accepted, 82 voting in favor of it, and none against it. 178S. The town, March 5, voted a premium of forty shillings, to be paid to any inhabitant of the town, for killing a grown wolf, and twenty shillings for killing a wolf's whelp, in this or any circumjacent town. At a mreiiiig, heltl April 16. the town voted to choose a com- mittee to make an account of the service each man has done in 62 ANNALS OF KEENE. the present war, and make an average, so that each man may have credit for what he has ah-eady done ; and also to divide or class the inhabitants into twelve equal classes, (credit for what each man has done to be given him,) and each class to pro- vide, or hire, a man for the space of three years, or during the war, upon their own cost; said classes to be so made, that each pay equal taxes. A vote was also passed to reconsider a. former vote of the town, on the plan of government ; and take the same into fur- ther considerarion ; and a committee was chosen to propose amendments. At an adjourned meeting, " the committee on the Constitu- tion," recommended the following amendments, which were adopted, 53 yeas, 3 nays : 1st. That an exception be subjoined to the 17th article in the Bill of Rights, in the following words, viz : " except in cases where it shall appear that an impartial trial cannot be had in such county, and the Legislature shall, by act, order the trial to be in some adjacent county." 2d. That the 23d article, in the Bill of E,ights, be expunged, and the following article be substituted : " Retrospective laws are, in most cases, oppressive and unjust, and ought not to be made for the decision of civil cases, or the punishment of offen- ders, unless in cases of persons absconding and going over to the enemy, as at the late revolution, where the laws prior to the oflense, were imperfect." 3d. As to the mode of representation, let it be as mentioned in the Constitution, in all respects, excepting the following amendments, viz : that fifty members for the House of Repre- sentatives be the present number ; and the county of Rocking- ham having their equal proportion according to the number of rateable polls ; said number in that county not to increase or diminish ; and the other counties as they increase in number of rateable polls, to increase in number of Representatives, until they aiTive to as great a number as the county of Rockingham ; and that the delegates, at their first meeting, divide the counties into districts, and then the delegates of each district, by them- selves, vote for a representative for their own district, out of their own body; and after each district is set off, the delegates to meet ANNALS OF KEENE. 63 for the future in some convenient place, in their own district, and annually elect a member for said district. 4th. That all persons who have now a right by law to be vo- ters in town affairs, be considered as qualified for electors of Governor, Senators, or any other officer, to be chosen by the people at large, as mentioned in the Constitution, and that those who are elected have the same qualifications mentioned in the Constitution. 5th. That the Governor be prohibited from erecting permanent fortifications without the advice of counsel ; and from demolish- ing such as have been, or may be, constructed by order of the Legislature, or advice of council, without their assent. 6th. That annual elections are a sufficient security against ev- ery abuse of power ; such parts of the Constitution as limits the number of years for which a person shall be eligible to any office, be expunged from the Constitution. The votes of this and the other towns were transmitted to the State Convention, which held an adjourned meeting in the sum- mer of this year. By them a new draft was prepared, which was also submitted to the people. On the 5th of November, the town of Keene voted unanimously " to receive the Bill of Rights as it now stands." A vote was also passed not to receive the other part of the Constitution, except there be some amendments. And a committee was chosen to propose amendments. At an adjourned meeting, the town voted to accept the Con- stitution, with the am.endments proposed, which were as fol- lows : — 1st. That the mode pointed out in said Constitution, for dis- charging the wages of the representatives by the towns, will have a tendency to lessen the number, and bv that means pro- duce an injury to the State ; they, therefore, think it advisable that each representative be paid, not only for his travel, but also his wages, from the Treasury of the State. 2d. That the General Court appoint all Judicial officers, in- stead of their being appointed by the Governor and Council, and that the Governor, of course, commission them. The disputes, which originated in the claim of the inhabitants of Vermont to be acknowledged as a separate State, still contin- ued to disturb the repose of the county. The new State had 64 ANNALS OF KEENE. commissioned civil and military officers on this side of Connect- icut River, between whom, and the officers commissioned by New-Hampshire, contests sometimes arose, which the militia were once called out to terminate. In September, when the In- ferior Court, acting under the authority of New-Hampshire, as- sembled at Keene, a mob, headed by Samuel Davis, of Chester- field, and composed of persons favorable to a union with Ver- mont, assembled also for the purpose of preventing the court from transacting business. As disturbances were expected, a large number of the opposite party came into the village. At the opening of the court, Davis, followed by bis party, entered the court-house, went up to the clerk, laid his hand upon the docket, and declared it should not be opened. At this moment, a Mr Fairbanks, of Swanzey, addressed the court, praying them to adjourn for an hour, that the people present might assemble on the common, and the strength of both parties be ascer- tained. The court adjourned ; the two parties paraded sep- arately, Davis at the head of one, and Fairbanks, of the other. The former being much the smaller, their courage failed, and the court proceeded in their business without further molest- ation. Davis and several others were arrested, by a warrant from the court, and gave bonds to appear at the next term of the Superior Court, and to keep the peace. He then went out and addressed his followers, advising them to be cool and orderly, as the most likely mode of obtaining their object. When the Superior Court assembled, an attempt was also made to prevent it from proceed- ing to business, which entirely failed. Davis and two others were indicted, " for that they, with others, committed an assault upon the Justices of the Inferior Court and their clerk, and com- pelled them to desist from executing the lawful business there- of." They pleaded guilty, and threw themselves upon the mer- cy of the court, who, " having taken matters into consideration^ forgave them, and ordered them to be discharged." At the same term, Robert Wier was indicted, for that he, at said time, at Kcene, to encourage the rioters, did openly and publicly, with aloud voice, in the English language, speak the following words, viz: — "Col. Ashley (meaning the first Justice of said Inferior Court) is for arbitrary power, and arbitrary power he shall have ; ANNALS OF KEENE. 65 damn the Court, and their authority." He also pleaded guilty, was forgiven and discharged. 17S3. At a town meeting, held June 19, the town " voted unani- mously that the representative be instructed to use his influence, that all who have absented themselves from any of the United States of America, and joined wilh, or put themselves under the protection of, the enemies of the United States, be utterly debar- red from residing within this State." This vote was passed at the request of the representative, Daniel Kingsbury, to be instruct- ed on the subject. The Continental Congress having proposed and recommend- ed such an alteration in the eighth article of the Confederation, as to make the population of the several States, instead of the value of the granted land therein, the rule for the apportionment of national taxes, the town, September 2, voted to accept of the alteration of said article, as recommended by the Continental Congress. In the warrant calling a town meeting, to be held October 17, is found the following article : " To choose a suitable person to represent the town at a Convention, to be holden at Peterbo- rough, the 23d instant, to consult upon matters of public griev- ance, viz : a multiplicity of lawsuits, pensioning the officers of the army, and many others not named, in order to take some suitable measures for the redress of said grievances." At the meeting, held on the day appointed, Maj. Davis Howlet was elected, and a committee was appointed to give him instructions. These instructions were as follows : " That the said delegate use his influence, in Convention, that the following matters of grievance be laid before the General Court : distress by law- suits ; that all sorts of neat cattle and grain be made a lawful tender for the payment of debts, (in case of suits only,) the same to be appraised by judicious men under oath; to regulate the fee table, especially attorneys' fees, that they may not draw pay for the travel and attendance of their clients in court, except in cases where it is necessary for clients to attend ; that the offi- cers of the continental army be not allowed five years' pay; that State securities be made a lawful tender in case of suit." 9 66 ANNALS OF KEENE. At an adjourned meeting, the doings of this Convention were read, but " the town, not fully agreeing to approve thereof, voted to dismiss the meeting." The treaty of peace with Great Britain having secured to the tories the privilege of returning to this country, to collect their debts and settle their affairs, Elijah Williams, Esq. came to Keene, for that purpose, in the beginning of this year. His ap- pearance here so exasperated the zealous whigs, that they seized him and carried him before Thomas Baker, Esq., a Justice of the Peace. What were the charges against him, or whether any charges were exhibited, has not been ascertained. The Justice, perhaps with a view to protect him from outrage, ordered him to recognize for his appearance at the Court of Sessions, to be held at Charlestown, in April, and committed him to the custody of the sheriff. With this, the populace were not satisfied, and they discovered an intention of assaulting and beating him ; but he was surrounded and guarded to his lodgings by the old and the young men who happened to be present. The animosity of the whigs, aggravated probably by the arts of those who were indebted to him, was, however, so great, that they determined he should not thus escape their vengeance. On the day before that appointed for the sitting of the court, a party concealed themselves in the pines near Fisher Brook, intending, when he passed with the sheriff, to get him into their power, The sheriff passed without him, relying upon the promise he had made to appear at court the next day. This circumstance excited their suspicions; they came immediately into the street, seized Williams at his lodgings, and, placing him in the midst of them, repaired to a tavern in Ash Swamp. When he arrived there, two bundles of black -beech rods v\^ere produced, from wliich it appeared that a plan had been concerted to compel him to run the gauntlet, with the view, probably, of inducing him, by such harsh treatment, again to leave the country. But by this time, a large number of considerate citizens had assembled and arrived at the tavern. A proposition was made, that the whole subject should be referred to a committee. A committee was appoint- ed ; their report was too favorable to Williams, to suit the ma- ANNALS OF KEENE. 67 jorily, and was rejected. Another committee was appointed, who reported that he should leave the town the next day, and leave the State the next week. This report was agreed to ; bat the minority, still dissatisfied, privately sent out messengers, to collect more of their friends. This being communicated to those who were disposed to protect Williams, they advised him to re- tire immediately. An attempt was made to prevent him from mounting a horse, which had been offered him by a friend. A conflict ensued, in which the horse was overthrown, and several persons were knocked down with clubs. He at length, howev- er, mounted, with the assistance of his friends, and rode through the crowd, which continued to oppose him. The next day, he repaired to Charlestown, and presented him- self to the court, which, thereupon, passed the following order : *' that Elijah Williams, Esq., now in the keeping of Isaac Gris- wold, by virtue of a mittimus from Thomas Baker, Esq. con- tinue in the custody of the said Isaac, until he shall have trans- acted the business upon which he came into this part of the country, and then be permitted to leave this State, upon his good behavior, without further molestation." After settling his affairs, Williams repaired to Nova Scotia. Shortly after, in conse- quence of ill health, he returned to Deerfield, his native town, died, and was buried by the side of his ancestors. [At a town meeting called by petition to act on the subject of building, a new meeting-house, and held Nov. 3, a vote was passed " to build a new meeting-house, provided the town can agree upon ways and means to defray the charge of building, and the form and dimensions of said house." And then Lieut. Hall, Deacon Kingsbury, Maj. Howlet, Col. Ellis, Benjamin Archer, Capt. Stiles, David Nims, Jr., Lieut. Partridge and Thomas Baker, Esq. were appointed a commit- tee to consider other matters relating to building said meeting- house, and an adjournment for four weeks took place. At the adjourned meeting the committee reported " That the town build a new meeting-house seventy feet in length, and fif- ty feet in breadth, with a belfry and steeple at one end and a porch at the other, agreeably to the plan exhibited ; That said house stand partly on the spot where the old meeting-house now stands, extending some farther North and West ; That the new 68 ANNALS OF KEENE. house be set up as early as may be in the spring of the yeaf 1786, and finished with all convenient dispatch; That the town choose a committee of seven judicious men to bargain for and receive materials for said building, also to procure and agree with skilful persons to undertake and accomplish the labor of erecting and completing the building of said house under the di- rection of the town ; That the sum of three hundred pounds be immediately assessed on the inhabitants of the town to be paid in labor and materials for the building, and that the town be classed into ten different classes, and that each class procure its proportion for said building in labor, timber, boards, shingles, clapboards, and stone for underpinning — said materials to be de- livered at the spot to the committee appointed to receive them — and that those persons who do not choose thus to pay, in twelve months after said assessment, pay their proportion to their re- spective constables in money ; That the town impower their last mentioned committee to make sale of the old meeting-house to the best advantage, and that the pews in the new meeting-house be sold at public auction, to the highest bidder, on the first Tues- day of February next, taking security of the several purchasers, one quarter part made payable in one year from the sale in glass, lime, nails, oil, paint, iron, or cash, the remainder on the first day of September, 1786, in money, or such pay as will answer to pay the workmen ; and that none be allowed to bid but such persons as belong to the town ; said pews to be sold by a committee to be appointed by the town for that purpose." The town voted " to accept the report and to proceed in the manner and form, and the ways and means, pointed out by said committee for building a new meeting-house in said town. A committee was appointed for both purposes — to procure materi- als, and to sell the pews — which committee consisted of Lieut. Hall, Abijah Wilder, Thomas Baker, Esq. Maj. Davis Hovvlet, Dea. Daniel Kingsbury, Benjamin Archer, and Lieut. Partridge. This meeting was kept alive a longtime, by successive adjourn- ments ; and by the record it appears that often, when it was held, it did nothing. 1785. At a town meeting held by adjournment, on the first Tues- day of February, at the house of Mr Ralston, the Pews in the ANNALS OF KEENE. 69 meeting-house, about to be erected, were sold at auction, to the persons whose nanries follow, and at the prices annexed : — PEWS ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE. Dnniel Newcomb, Esq. Abijah Wilder, Daniel Newcomb, Esq. Benjamin Hall, James Wright, Thomas Baker, Jr. Nathan Blake, Jr. Abel Blake, Isaac Billings. Josiah Richardson, Aaron Emes, Col. Timothy Ellis, Thomas Baker, Esq. Benjamin Hall, Esq. Aaron Willson, Israel Houghton and 7 Elisha Briggs, ) Alpheus Nims, Davis Howlet, Isaac Blake and Joseph Blake, Royal Blake, Thomas Field, Asa Dunbar, Esq. Alexander Ralston, John Swan, Luther Emes, Jotham Metcalf, Daniel Kingsbury, Reuben Partridge, John Houghton, Cornelius Sturtevant Elijah Dunbar, Abraham Wheeler, Jun. Thomas Baker, Jr. Stephen Chase, Benjamin Kemp, Timothy Batch and ) Ebenezer Robbins, ) Elisha Briggs, Eliakim Nims, Daniel Newcomb, Esq. Elisha Briggs, Benjamin Willis, Jr. Isaac Billings, Elisha Briggs, Asa Ware and ) Jonas Osgood, 5 JVb. 15. 20, 17. 18. 62. 19. 61. ■ 57. 46. 34. 16. 63. 14. 47. 24. 25. 9. 21. 27. 60. 26. 35. 33. 59. 36. 28. 56. 31. 30. 45. 10. 3. PEWS J\'b. 13. 16. 10. £ s. 18 18 10 18 18 10 17 16 10 16 10 15 10 15 10 16 15 16 10 15 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 14 14 13 10 13 10 13 10 13 10 12 10 12 12 12 11 10 Eliphalet Briggs, John P. Blake and > Andrew Slyfield, ) David Nims, Jr. William Woods, Benjamin Archer, Benj;imin Hall, Eli Metcalf, Benjamin Balch, Isaac Griswold, Daniel Newcomb, Esq, Ebenezer Day, Thaddeus Metcalf, Ephraim Wright, David Wilson, Joshua Duranl, Eri Richardson, John Dickson, Samuel Bassett, David Foster, Asahel Blake, Jesse Clark, Hananiah Hall and ) Samuel Osgood, 3 Josiah Willard, Josiah Willard, John Stiles, Joseph Brown, Bartholomew Dwinell and John Stiles, Daniel Wilson, Dan Guild, Simeon Clark, Josiah V/illard, IN THE GALLERY. £ s. 9 10 8 10 9 10 17. 7 10 15. 11. 8. 12. 20. 6. 14. 23. 6 10 Daniel Kingsbury, Eliphalet Briggs, Elisha Br'/ggs Nathaniel French, !\lillet Ellis. Daniel Newcomb, Esq. Elisha Brings, Abijuh Wilder, Reuben Partridge, Thomas Field, Alexander M'Daniels, Eliphalet Briggs, Timothy Balch. 48. 11. 61. 49. 12. 50. 44. 1. 55. 13. 42. 22, 64, 23, 43. 7. 53. 32. 52, 6. 41. 4. 39. 5. 38. 2. 37. 40, JVb, 19. 21. 7. 9. 22. 18. 25. 24. 29. 10 10 8. 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 54. 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 12 10 10 05 10 10 05 05 10 05 05 The pews on the floor, (63,) sold for 789 pounds ; those in the gallery, (25,) for 60 pounds ; the whole number for 849 pounds, — about $3.0C0. 70 ANNALS OF KEENE. At another adjourned meeting, held June 21st, the town " vo- ted 1o set the new meeting-house on the spot where the com- mittee have laid the foundation, any former vote to the contrary notwithstanding." Tliis spot was a few rods North of that de- si c^nated by the town. When erected its length was East and West, and it fronted the South, its North side being 70 feet South of its present South end. In 182S, it was moved to where it now stands, on the North side of the conniion, its front being changed.] 17S6. At a meeting, lield January 12, the town chose a committee to take an account of all the services done by the town during the late war, that the same may be sent to the committee of claims in said State. [At a town meeting, held Nov. 28, " The plan proposed by the General Court's committee, for emitting a paper currency, being read, it was unanimously rejected without any proposals of amendment." 1787. This year the town of Sullivan was incorporated, being form- ed from parts of the towns of Keene, Packersfield, (now Nelson) Stoddard, and Gilsum. The territory taken from Keene consist- ed of 1920 acres. In September of this year ai)peared the first number of the first newspaper published in the town. It was called "The New-Hampshire Recorder," and was printed by James D. Grif- fith. A file of this paper, from September, 178S, to March, 1791, bound in one volume, is now in the possession of the Hon. John Prentiss. This volume contains accounts of many incidents that occurred in Keene ; and some lucubrations show- ing the feelings and principles of the times. Among them are several articles denouncing African slavery, in the strongest terms. Tradition does not tell whence Mr Griffith came, nor any thing about him ; but he is probably the same person mention- ed in a paragraph in the " Specimens of Newspaper Literature," a work just published. " He (John Gill) continued the publi- ANNALS OF KEENE. 71 cation (in Boston) of the Continental Journal till some time in the year 1785, when he sold the right of it to J. D. Griffith."] 17S8. January 7th, the town chose the Rev. Aaron Hall a delegate to sit in Convention, to be held at Exeter, " for the full and free investigation, discussion, and decision upon, the proceedings of the Federal Convention," which framed the Constitution of the United States. After a short session, the Exeter Convention, on the 2od of February, adjourned to the 21st of June. February 8th, the town " voted, that they will not, at present, shew their minds whether they will accept or refuse the new Constitution." [At a meeting held in March, the town " voted the sum of two hundred pounds to pay for finishing the new meeting-house, to be assessed immediately."] At the same meeting, voted to accept the report of the com- mittee on the claims of those that served in the late w^ar, and were not allowed in the last average, so far as that each one shall have two-thirds of the sums set to the several names in said report; and they also voted to raise the sum of one hun- dred and six pounds, to pay the amount of this and a former av- erage. The names and sums, mentioned in this report, are on the record, and are, one-third being deducted, as follows : £ 5. d. £ s. d. Slnipon Clark, 2 2 4 Timothy Ellis, 3d, 1 1 2 Jon;Uh;m I'ond, 2 2 4 Lieutenant Wrijiht, 2 10 2 M;ij. Duvis Huwlet, 2 2 4 Ahrahani V\' heeler. 17 2 Thomas field, 2 2 4 Royal ni.ike, 4 14 Adin Hnllirook, 2 2 4 Captain Richardson, 1 4 Capt. Stephen Griswold, 2 2 4 Beijjaniin Willis, 2 1 2 Josliua Osjood, 1 12 Isaac Esty, . 1 8 10 .Jonathan Dwiiiell, 1 1 2 Maj. Josi.ih Willard, 1 16 8 Gideiin Ellis, 1 1 2 Samuel liall, 2 2 4 [The Recorder of the 16th of September, contains an adver- tisement offering for sale " the Rev. Mr Hall's Oration, delivered June 30, being the day appointed by the inhabitants of Keene to celebrate the ratification of the Federal Constitution, by the State of New-Hampshire." In the same paper, of Oct. 14, is published an extract of a let- ter from a gentleman in Connecticut to his friend in Keene, stat- 72 ANNALS OF KEENE. ing that " the Hessian louse hath devoured all our wheat — not any left for the reaper to gather." From the Recorder of November 4, it appears that " the new meeting-house was dedicated to the Divine Being," on the pre- ceding Wednesday. The introductory prayer was by the Rev. INIr Olcott, of Charlestown ; a discourse by the Rev. Mr Hall ; and the concluding prayer by the Rev. Mr Fessenden, of Wal- pole. In the paper of Nov. 18, " The public are informed thai the printing-office will be removed to-morrow into the new building opposite to Col. Wy man's tavern, in the Main-street." Wy- man's tavern was kept in the house now owned by the Rev. Mr Barstow. Dec. 30, — Isaac Wyman " begs leave to inform the public that he shall not in future vend any liquors." In the same pa- per, the editor says, " We hear from Westmoreland, that as a person was working in a field in that town, last Friday, he was surrounded by seven wolves ; but receiving immediate assist- ance, he escaped their devouring jaws." 17S9. In the Recorder of Feb, 3, Uzzel Hurd " informs the public that he officiates in the capacity of Postriding from the printing- office in Keene to the Northerly part of the county, once a fort- night, (bad weather iexcepted.) He will forward the papers to those who wish to take them in the following towns, viz : Gil- sum, Surry, Alstead, Marlow, Acworth, Lempster, Washington, Unity, Wendell, Newport, Claremont, Croydon, Cornish, Pro- tectwortli, [now Springfield] Grantham, and Plainfield." In the Recorder of Aug. 27, the public are informed that the pupils under the care of Mr Willard will perform, the next week, the Tragedy of George Barnwell, &c. " Tickets of admission half a pistareen each." In several nights in October, the wolves came within a few rods of the Main-street and killed several sheep. 1790. In the warrant calling a town meeting, to be held April 6, was the following preamble and article : ANNALS OF KEENB. 73 " Whereas, that infectious distemper, called the small pox, is like to spread in some of the neighboring towns, (as is reported,) . and that to take it by inoculation is much the safest way: " To see if the town will give their consent that Doct'r Jonas Prescott should erect a hospital in some convenient place in the town, for the purpose of inoculating those who shall apply for that purpose, under such restrictions and regulations as the law directs, or act in that particular as they shall then think fit." The town voted to dismiss the article. The time may come when the perusal of these proceedings of the town may lead to inquiry into the nature of the terrible dis- ease once known by the name of small pox. The following advertisement, if published in the newspapers of the present day, would startle the farmers of this county : — " Wanted, fifteen or twenty tons of FLAX, by .John Patten, Keene. — Cash given for SALTS." There is some prospect that the cultivation of fiax may again become profitable ; but not so the making of salts for sale. But what was meant by salts ? many readers may perhaps inquire. An aged dealer in the article describes them as the crude product of the lye of wood ashes boiled down. — In former times, when the chief ob- ject of the landholder was to burn all the wood he could, they were prepared, on the burnt fields or in the house, in quantities varying from fifty to five hundred pounds, and then sold, at four cents a pound, to the manufacturers of potash. The Recorder of September 30, announces that " His Excel- lency the President, with advice of Council, has been pleased to appoint the Hon. Daniel Newcomb Chief Judge of the Inferior Court for the county of Cheshire, who has accepted the ap- pointment, and takes his seat this week, at the Court held in Charlestown." The Rev. Aaron Hall published a sermon against profane swearing.] The number of inhabitants in Keene, this year, was 1314. After this period, but few, if any, events have occured, which would be interesting or instructive. The adoption of the Na- tional and State Constitutions, and the regular administration of th(^ laws, have calmed the agitations which once were too common, and compelled the restless and discontented to engage 10 7'4 ANNALS OF KEENE. in the quiet occupations of productive industry. Society has improved, the town has prospered, and now presents one of the fairest evidences of the benign effects of a regular government and of free institutions. In the warrant for the annual town meeting, held in March, 1848, was the following article : — "To see if the town will vote to request the Hon. Salma Hale to prepare a new edition of the History or Annals of Keene, tc be brought up to a later period ; — or take any measures relative to the same." " This article being under consideration, on motion of Mr Hale, who expressed a desire that some other person might be induced to perform the work therein mentioned, the town " Voted, That, should the Annals of Keene be revised and con- tinued to a later period, the Selectmen, for the time being, are hereby authorized to subscribe for and take for the use of the town,, fifteen hundred copies thereof, at such price as they may think rea- sonable." As no other person could be induced to undertake the task, the in- dividual designated in the warrant has performed it ; and he now of- fers it to his fellow-townsmen, hoping it may be acceptable, but still fearing it may not prove equal to their expectations. CONTINUATION OF THE ANNALS OF KEENE FROM 1790 TO 1815. 1791. In this year the town chose Lockhart Willard, Eli Metcalf, and Luther Emes, " a committee to inspect the several mill- dams, and see that there are sluices in the same agreeably to a law of this State." At this time there was a statute in force, passed in 1789, entitled " An Act for opening sluices in each dam across Ashuelot River, so that salmon and other fish may have free passage through the same from Connecticut River." This statute was repealed in 1794, with a saving as to all mat- ters transacted during its existence. It is much to be regretted that the inhabitants living near the sources of all the large rivers in New-Hampshire, and along the small rivers and streams en- tering into them, did not, from the earliest times, take care that regulations were made and adhered to, as has always to this day been done in England, for preserving to fish, who choose the ocean for their winter residence, their natural right to ascend in summer all fresh water streams to their sources, and to the dwellers on those streams their natural right to catch them there. By the law of nature and nations, Massachusetts is bound to give them free passage ; and the highest authority in constitu- tional law has decided that no vested rights even now stand in the way of the restoration and perpetual enjoyment of the natu- ral rights aforesaid. In the early settlement of the country, vast numbers of salmon and shad were caught yearly, at the foot of 76 ANNALS OF KEENE. Bellows Falls, in Walpole. Tradition says that shad were sold for four pence a piece, and salmon for three pence a pound. The town voted to raise eighty pounds to purchase a bell for the new meeting-house, and chose Peleg Sprague, Esq. a com- mittee to purchase it. At the close of the records of the meet- ing occurs the following memorandum : — " N. B. — To encourage the purchase of a bell, Judge New- comb declared, in town meeting, that he would pay (exclusive of his own proportion) the proportion of ten men whom the Selectmen should judge to be the least able to pay. Squire Sprague declared to the same purport for four." Afterwards Mr Sprague's bill, for paying for the bell and for hanging it, was allowed, amounting lo 95/. 2^. Sd. 2q. In May, a town meeting was held " to consider the articles proposed by the Convention of the State as and for amend- ments of the Constitution of the State." The number of amend- ments proposed appear to have been 72, and the town took a vote on each separately. The purport of the several amend- ments does not appear. Of the 72 proposed, all but ten were adopted or approved by the town. Several were adopted with the qualification that the first Wednesday of June be substituted for the last Wednesday of October. This probably had refer- ence to the day of the annual meeting of the Legislature. 1793. When the Rev. Mr Hall was ordained in 1778, the stipulated salary was eighty pounds. This year, the town voted " to raise one hundred pounds for the Rev. Mr Hall's salary the present year." In April, Henry Blake & Co. commenced the publication of "The Columbian Informer; or Cheshire Journal." A single copy of this paper has been obtained, dated February 24, 1795, and numbered 100. Mr Blake dying some time in the year 1795, William Ward Blake, his brother and partner, but not a printer, continued the publication of the paper unlil August of the same year, when the establishment was sold to Cornelius Sturtevant, Jr. & Co. ANNALS OF KEENE. 77 1794. The town voted to raise the sum of ninety pounds to pur- chase a larger bell (to weigh 1000 pounds) for the new meeting- house ; and Judge Newcomb was appointed a committee to lay out the money. Among the memoranda of Mr Abijah Willson, is one stating that, on the 17th of May, a severe frost destroyed the apples, then as large as bullets. In a warrant calling a town meeting to be holden in Decem- ber, was the following article : — " To see if the town will raise money for the purpose of raising and paying the soldiers." At the meeting a vote was passed " that the soldiers raised in the town of Keene should have forty shillings ($5.66) per month, including their established pay, while in actual service." It is not clear to what soldiers this vote referred. It was shortly after the suppression of the insurrection in Pennsylvania, and the final defeatof the western Indians by Gen. Wayne. There may have been, at this time, a recruiting party in Keene ; and this vote may have been prompted by a recollection of the merit and in- sufficient pay of the soldiers in the revolutionary war, and by attachment to the new government. The established pay was five dollars per month. Luther Smith having engaged to make a clock for the meet- ing-house, to warrant it and keep it in repair for ten years, for thirty-six pounds, a number of the citizens raised by subscrip- tion, a sum nearly amounting to that, and the clock was made and put up. It did good service for a time — for how long a time has not been ascertained. The town now enjoys the con- venience of a more costly clock, the generous donation of a per- son now living. 1 795. For the salary of the Rev. Aaron Hall one hundred and thir- ty pounds was raised this year, fifty pounds being added to the stipulated eighty. For the purpose of ascertaining at what time a post otfice was first established in Keene, who was the first deputy Postmaster, how often and in what time the mail passed between Boston and Keene, a letter of inquiry was addressed to the Postmaster 78 ANNALS OF KEENE. General ; who, by letter dated the 23d day of November, re- plied that " Owing to the destruction of a large part of the books and papers of the Department, by the fire of 1836, we have no means of giving satisfactory answers to the inquiries contained in your letter of the 5th inst. We are enabled, however, to state posi- tively that, in the early part of 1795, Asa Bullard was the Post- master at Keene, N. H. (then spelt Keen.) His account, render- ed for the quarter (or part of the quarter, possibly,) ending 31st March, 1795, shows that the net proceeds of the office for that quarter amounted to $1.36. The next quarter, it appears, they came up to $4.49. By the Auditor's records, which go back to 1775, it does not appear that any account, prior to the above, was opened with the office at Keene. From this circumstance, and the fact that Keene is not mentioned in the list of offices, (about two hundred in number, and believed to be all then in operation in the United States,) to which a circular of the Post- master General was sent, under date of 18th June, 1792, it seems very probable that Asa Bullard was the first Postmaster of Keene, and that he was appointed some time in the first quarter of 1795, or, possibly, in the latter part of 1794. " It appears by a copy of a letter from the First Assistant Postmaster General, to Jeremiah Libbey, Esq., Postmaster of Portsmouth, N. H., dated 16lh Sept. 179-1, that ' Ozias Silsby's proposal for carrying the mail from Boston to Keen,' had then just been accepted ; and contracts were enclosed for execution. It is not stated when the contract was to go into operation, nor how frequently the mail was to be conveyed. It seems that the route to Keene was by the way of Portsmouth ; and it is not probable that the service beyond Portsmouth was oftener than once a week, because it appears that, in winter, it was at that time but twice a week between Boston and Portsmouth. Hov/ long the mail was in passing between the two places, (Boston and Keene,) we have not, from any of the existing records, been able to ascertain." It has been ascertained that Asa Bullard was an officer in the revolutionary war — probably a Captain, for he was so styled when he first came to Keene. While here he received an ap- pointment in the militia which gave him the rank of Major, and he was afterwards known as Major Bullard. He resided and kept the post office in the rough-cast house formerly occupied by Elijah Dunbar, and now by Joshua Wyman. He after- wards removed to Walpolc and kept tavern there ; and it was at his house that for some time the club of scholars and wits, who ANNALS OF KEENE. 79 made themselves and the Farmers' Museum famous throughout the country, by their lucubrations, and consisted of Joseph Den- nie, afterwards editor of the Port Folio, at Philadelphia ; Eoyal Tyler, afterwards Chief Justice of Vermont ; Samuel Hunt and Koger Vose, both afterwards members of Congress ; Samuel West, and others, held their periodical symposiums. The Columbian Informer of Feb. 24, 1795, contains an adver- tisement of Jotliam Johnson, of Leominster, by which he in- forms the public " that he transports the mail from Boston to Charlestown, No. 4, and during the winter conveys the mail in a convenient close sleigh, for the benefit of those gentlemen and ladies who will please to favor him with their company, in said mail stage, at f^d. per mile, with 14 lbs. baggage gratis. The mail sets off from Boston, on Wednesday morning, arrives at Leominster on the evening of the same day ; Thursday arrives at Capt. BuUard's Coffee House in Keene ; — Friday morning leaves Keene, and arrives at Charlestown at 2 o'clock, P. M. ; — same day returns to Walpole ; Saturday arrives at Keene, at 9 A. M; at Marlborough, 11, A. M., and on Monday arrives at Boston, at 7 o'clock, in the evening." John Draper and his wife came from Watertown to Keene, about this time, and established themselves in West-street.-— They were once rich, and it is related of her that, when the Brit- ish had possession of Boston, in 1776, she several times rode in- to Boston, in a chaise, and brought back kegs of powder con- cealed under her cloak. She was a littled startled when, on one occasion, her horse being frightened, a British officer took hold of the bridle, and led him along until he became calm. It is al- so said that a portion of her time was occupied in running bul- lets for the rebels, which, until wanted for use, were hid in the hay-mow. Cornelius Sturtevant, Jr. & Co. commenced the publication of " The Rising Sun " in August of this year. One volume only is now known to be in existence. Its appearance is better than that of the Recorder. 1796. In this year, deacon Abijah Wilder brought water into the village from Beaver Brook, and it was used by himself and ma- 80 ANNALS OF KEENE. ny other families for several years ; but the logs in which it was brought decayed, and that source of supply was abandoned. — The exact spot where it was taken from Beaver Brook, is not remembered, but supposed to be just above the junction of the Sullivan and Gilsum roads. It is remembered that the line of logs went West of the glass factory, and that the top of the rise South-west of the factory was about twenty feet lower than the source. In the files of the Rising Sun, for the fall of this year, may be seen a sharp contest in advertisements, between Moses Johnson and Allen & Dorr. A single advertisement often filled a col- umn or more, and contained brags, prices, sarcasm, sly hints and " damnable insinuations." There are a few yet living who knew these men in their prime and glory, and they would doubt- less be amused by reading the advertisements at length; but only the prices of a few articles will be given, that the reader may compare them with present prices. _ , , , Moses Johnson leads off by stating his prices as followfe,:-^ Chintzes and Calicoes, from Is. 8d. to 2s. — best superfine Chintz- es, 35. 4c/. — best bandanna Handkerchiefs, 5s. — India Cottons, Is. Gd. to 2s. Ad. — Copperplate Furniture, superfine, 2s. Sd. — Bohea Tea, 2s. 4d. — Hyson Tea, 8s. — N. E. Rum, per gallon, 5^. 8(7. — W. I. Rum, 8s. 6d. — good Codfish, 5d. — Gunpowder, 8s.— Ad. Nails, per 1000, 2s. Ad. And he offers for Butter, Qd. per pound. The India Cottons are remembered as very flimsy goods. The next week Allen & Dorr offer their goods for a trifle less; and the next after Johnson underbids, &c. &c. The Rising Sun of Sept. 13 contains the following paragraph ; " A few weeks ago a Sea Serpent was seen in Portsmouth har- bor, supposed to be one hundred feet in length, and as big round as a barrel." The paper of Oct. 11, records the death of " Master George Nims, son of Alpheus Nims, in the sixth year of his age. He was possessed of an extraordinary memory, so that he could re* tain, almost verbatim, discourses of considerable length." In this year, upon an application to alter the road from Surry to Keene, a new road was laid out near where Court- street now is. In its course from North to South, for the last fifty or sixty ANNALS OF KEENE. 81 rods, it passed two or three rods West of Court-street, and en- tered the road to Ash Swamp under the western portion of Keyes's store. For fifteen or twenty years previous to this time, the travel from Surry and Walpole to Boston came into West- street about where School-street now does. 1797. The Constitution of the State adopted in 1792 contained a provision that " no person of any one particular religious sect or denomination shall ever be compelled to pay towards the sup- port of the teacher or teachers of another persuasion, sect or de- nomination." This provision gave occasion to frequent appli- cations, sometimes made from conscientious motives, sometimes from various olher motives, to be released from paying ministe- rial taxes, on the ground that the applicant belonged to a differ- ent religious sect or denomination from the minister for whose benefit the tax was assessed. And when such applications were denied by the Selectmen, and the taxes collected by legal pro- cess, suits were instituted to recover back the money. At the hearing of these suits, it was made a question what tenet or ten- ets constituted a " particular religious sect or denomination," and what was sufficient proof that the person suing entertained a conscientious belief in them. Dr Ziba Hall instituted such a suit against the Selectmen of Keene. The Rev. Mr Hall, the minister settled by the town, was a Congregationalist, and taught the doctrines of Calvin; in other words he belonged to what was then called the "standing order;" and Dr Hall professed to be a Universalist. The case was tried in October of this year ; the contest was an earnest one, and ex- cited much feeling. A large number of depositions were used at the trial, of some of which the substance or short extracts will be given, generally in the words used in the depositions, to show- to what points the lawyers, who managed the case, thought proper to direct the attention of the court and jury, and to gi^e some idea of the state of religious feeling at that period. It ap- pears, by other papers in the case, that oral testimony was also given to the jury, and it cannot therefore be now known on what grounds they gave their verdict. Addington Daniels says, that at March meeting, 1795, he 11 82 ANNALS OF KEENE. heard Dr Hall forbid the Selectmen taxing him any more to the minister, two of them being then present. According to the best of his remembrance, the Doctor told them that he was a Univer- salist, and had been to hear Mr Winchester, and paid him, and would when he had an opportunity. Barzillai Snow says, that he has often heard Dr Hall converse upon the Universalist persuasion, and endeavored to maintain it i — and professed himself to be one — and attended the meeting twice when Mr Winchester preached. Charles Hill says, that from his first acquaintance to the last he discovered Dr Hall to be a Universaler in sentiment — that he attended the meeting of that denomination, when he had an op- portunity, and was often in dispute with persons of other senti- ments in support of his own. In answer to a question by Dr Hall, — Do you believe me to be conscientious in my belief? the witness said, I do. Jeremiah Stuart, of Winchendon, says that Dr Hall was his neighbor four or five years, and he had often had conversations with him on religious matters — and the Doctor satisfied him that he was fixed in that persuasion called Universalists ; — that he ever appeared to be conscientious in what he professed ; and while he was a townsman conducted like a good citizen and neighbor. Dr Phinehas Parkhurst says, that, in the year 1781, he went to live with Dr Hall, at Lebanon, and lived with him two years; that he appeared to be a strict Universalist ; that he ever defend- ed that sentiment in disputing with others, and procured divers books to support the same tenet — that he has often heard him say that Christ died for all men, and that all men will be saved ; and that he never knew any person more attentive to the study of the bible to get arguments to support his reli- gious tenet. Rev. Isaiah Potter, of Lebanon, says, that about the year 1780, Dr Hall came to Lebanon to live ; that he attended pub- lic worship as steadily as is common for gentlemen of the fac- ulty, until, becoming dissatisfied with the public administration of his minister, he neglected to attend ; that nevertheless he was taxed, but manifested unwillingness to pay ; that he does not recollect that the Doctor ever pleaded that he had become of a ANNALS OF KEENE. 83 different persuasion ; neither did he apprehend, judging from outward appearance, that ihe Doctor was greatly tied in his conscience to any religious denomination ; but, judging from outward appearance, the deponent did apprehend that free- dom of thought and of purse were matters of some weight with him. Joshua Ellis says that he lives near Dr Hall ; that about four years ago the Doctor said he had rather hear the Baptists preach than our ministers, but said he did not care, nor did it make any odds what society he attended. And at one time the Doctor told me we did not know any thing by the bible, for they alter it ; for, said he, if you compare a bible printed fifty years ago with one lately printed, they were not alike. And at one other time, about two years ago, he told me there was not any thing in the New Testament to prove that there was any Sabbath day at all, and that, when the Jewish dispensation ceased, the Sabbath was at an end. About two years ago, (which was after he had sued the Selectmen,) he told me he was a Universalist. Paul Clark says he has lived with Dr Hall part of several years past ; that he has heard said Hall say that we could not prove by the New Testament that there was any Sabbath ; that he had as lieves work on Sunday as any day, only he would not disturb the people ; that within about a year he has heard him say he was a Universalist; that he could not know, from Dr Hall's conversation, what his religious sentiments were, for he talked, sometimes one way, and sometimes another. To a question put by the Selectmen, the deponent answers — I do not know that I ever heard any person so loose and profane respect- ing religious matters. Abel Blake's deposition was taken, but only a question by the Selectmen and the deponent's answer need be given : — Dose Dr Hall appeeor to bee cencear in any riligious cente- ment? Answer. — From his conversation and conduct, it dose not appeeor to me that he is. What instructions the court gave to the jury is unknown. They probably declared it to be their opinion that there was no such religious sect or denomination recognized by the laws as Universalists. The jury gave a verdict for the defendants. — 84 ANNALS OF KEENE. Not long afterwards resolutions were passed by the Legislature recognizing the Universalists, the Free Will Anli-pedo Bap- tists, and the Methodists, as distinct religious sects or denomi- nations. 1798. In this year Peleg Sprague, of Keene, an eminent lawyer, was chosen a representative in Congress for two years from the fourth of March, 1799. After attending one session at Philadelphia, he resigned his seat, and died in August, 1800, aged 43. 1799. The compiler has obtained from the Hon. John Prentiss some recollections of the period when he came to reside in Keene. The " New-Hampshire Sentinel " was established in the early part of this year. The printing-office was then in a low build- ing South of the present residence of Mrs Newcomb ; but in October, it was removed to a new building South of Dr Ed- wards's tavern, which stood where the Cheshire House now stands. The post-office was kept by Dr Daniel Adams at his house South of the present residence of his son, Dr Charles G. Adams. Until within a few years of 1799, the business part of the town was at the South end of Main-street. The mail from Boston was brought once a week — in winter in a double sleigh, in summer on horseback — two days being occupied in passing between Boston and Keene. Jotham .Johnson, of Leominster, (mail contractor,) run a four horse stage one summer, but find- ing only slight encouragement, and the roads being very bad, he discontinued it. Another stage, the first night to Groton, and the next to Keene, once or twice a week, began running about 1803. Among the contributors to the Sentinel were two that de- serve honorable mention — one, the late John Orr, afterwards a member of Congress from Maine, then a student in a law office here, who furnished " The Gay Preacher," and other lively ar- ticles ; the other Samuel West, Esq., who contributed occasion- ally an editorial paragraph. ANNALS OF KEENE. 85 A few extracts from the Sentinel, of this year may be interest- ing to the readers of the same paper at this time. March 30. — The oldest man scarce recollects such a winter as the past. Since the middle of November the ground has been covered with snow. The mail sleigh from Boston to "Walpole has passed through this town eighteen weeks successively. May 11. — The snow now, in many parts of the town, [in dense forests, it may be presumed,] is two or three feet deep. — Indeed the week past has seemed more like the uncomfortable month of March than the mild serenity of May. July 6. — The declaration of Independence was celebrated in this town, on Thursday last, by the united exertions of the fed- eral citizens, and no mark of respect, which could be paid to so glorious an event, was wanting. The rising sun of that day was saluted by music, the ringing of the bell, and the discharge of vollies of musquetry. At nine o'clock, A. M., the company of infantry commanded by Capt. Alpheus Nims, and the company under the command of Capt. Isaac Griswold, formed on the meeting-house common, and at 11 o'clock escorted a large and respectable procession through the street to the meeting-house, where, after an address to the Throne of Grace, adapted to the occasion, by the Rev. Aaron Hail, an oration, worthy so glori- ous a theme, was pronounced by Noah Cooke, Esq., to a large and attentive audience — an address calculated to promote the true principles of liberty and national attachment. When the orator had closed, several pieces of music were performed, by the Society in this town, and the federal songs of " Hail, Colum- bia," and " Adams and Liberty," sung with spirit and effect. The following was a volunteer toast : — Peleg- Spragve, Esq., our icorthy Representative in Congress — The man of our choice — May his fair repubhcan character receive its due re- spect. July 20. — Died, Mrs Abigail Nims, of this town, consort of Mr David Nims, aged SO. Her descendants were SJ — children 10, grand-children 50, great-grand-children 21. Mrs Nims ac- companied the first settlers in this town. A charter for the Third New-Hampshire Turnpike leading from Bellows Falls through Keene and New Ipswich to Towns- end, was granted on the 25th of December. 86 ANNALS OF KEENE. 1800. At a town meeting held on the 27th day of January, Daniel Newcomb, Esq., David Forbes Esq., Dr Ziba Hall, Lockhart Willard, Esq., Capt. Abel Blake, Mr Ebenezer Robbins, and Noah Cooke, Esq., were chosen a committee " to make arrange- ments to carry into effect the measures, recommended by Con- gress and by the proclamation of the President of the United States, for the observance of the 22d day of February next, pub- licly to testify their grief for the death of General George Wash- ington." Dr Daniel Adams and Maj. John Pray Blake were appointed Marshals for that day ; and the committee were au- thorized to make choice of a person to pronounce an oration suit- able to the occasion. The committee, in the Sentinel of the 8th of January, publish- ed the arrangements which they had adopted — directing that " the inhabitants shall assemble at the house of Maj. Todd, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, in habiliments of mourning, — the males with crape or black ribbon on the left arm below the el- bow, the females with a black sash, — and there form a proces- sion and proceed to the meeting-house," in a prescribed order. The exercises in the meeting-house were to be " an instrument- al dirge, prayer, vocal and instrumental music, an oration by Samuel West, Esq., a eulogy succeeded by music, and a con- cluding prayer. They further direct that "the desk, communion table, front gallery and pillars in the meeting-house shall be shrouded in black, the bell be muffled and tolled from ten o'- clock until the procession enters the meeting-house, and after the public exercises, to be lolled until sunset, and that a flag in mourning shall be hoisted half mast, at ten o'clock, and continue until sunset." From a subsequent paper it appears that the celebration took place agreeably to the order of arrangements. The stores and shops were shut, and the concourse of people was large. The introductory prayer was by the Rev. Mr Goddard, of Swanzey; the ode sung was composed for the occasion ; of the oration the editor remarks that, " from the well known abilities of the orator, the public expectation was raised, and it was not disappointed." The closing exercises were, a solemn dirge, — " Columbia's Guardian sleeps in dust," prayer by the Rev. ANNALS OF KEENE. 87 Mr Hall, and the Dying Christian, " Vital Spark of heavenly flame," &c. The following is the ode sung, but by whom composed has not been ascertained : Now let jour plaintive numbers gpntly rise, In weeping strains and softly swelling sighs; Columbia's Glory 's fled! Virtue commands and piety approves The general grief; the man his country loves Is numbered with the dead. His was the meed of glory's brightest fame. His be the wreath — to his immortal name Ascribe the honors just. This joyless day, in shrouded, sullen gloom — This hapless eve, we come to re-entomb The Hero's sacred dust. Awful reverse! on this once joyous morn, Delightful era, was our patriot born; But ah, he 's seen no more. How fills the eye with sorrow's copious tears! How swells the heart with sad foreboding fears, Columbia's joys are o'er. Before Thy Throne, Great God, we humbly bring Our infant realm: be Thou our friend and king. Till time shall be no more. In the warrant calling a meeting to be held in March, was an article " To see if the town will purchase any shares in the turn- pike leading from Walpole through Keene to the line of Massa- chusetts." At the meeting the article was dismissed. The salary of the Rev. Mr Hall was this year raised to four hundred and fifty dollars. No choice of a Senator for this district being made this year, by the people, Daniel Newcomb was chosen by the Leg- islature. Jeremiah Stiles, Esq., whose name has been often mentioned in these annals, and occurs much oftener in the records of the town, died the 6th of December, aged 56. A large concourse of his fellow-townsmen attended his funeral, at which a dis- course was delivered by the Rev. Laban Ainsworth. He had officiated for many years as a Justice of the Peace, an office of much more importance then than now. The population of Keene was 1645. 88 ANNALS OF KEENE. The plan of the Village, on the opposite page, has been pre- pared with much labor and care. It was protracted by George W. Sturtevant, Esq. from surveys made by him and others ; and the position of the buildings and the owners' names have been ascertained, by frequent consultations with many persons whose recollections go back to that period. The figures on the plan refer to the table below. REFERENCES. 1. — Judge Newcomb. 2._M;ij. Willard. 3. — Dorman house. 4. — Thomas Baker. 5. — Old Cemetery. 6. — School House. 7. — Blakf^'s Tavern. 8.— Dr Adams. — Post Office. 9.— Lockhart Willard. 10. — School House. 11. — Washburn house. 12.— David Simmons. 13.— Thomas Field's house and shop. 14.— Eli Metcalf. 15. — Thomas Shapley. 16. — Widow Goodnow. l7._Thomas Wells. 18._0id Printing Office. 19. — Samuel Dinsmoor. 29.— Abel Blake. 21. — Alexander Ralston. 22. — Low shops. 23. — Ralston's tavern. 24. — Bemis, watch maker. 25.— Ralston's distillery. 26. — Dunbar house. 27.— Masonic Hall. 28. — Peter Wilder's house and shop. 29. — Luther Smith's shop. 30.— Dr Ziba Hall. 31. — Moses Johnson's house. 32. — Coopers' shops. 33. — Dinsmoor's office. — Store. — Print- inj; Office. 34. — Dr I'Mwards's tavern. 35. — Peleg Sprague's house and office. .36.— Daniel Watson. 37. — Watson's shop. 38. — Johnson's store. 39. — Joseph Dorr's store. 40. — Lamson's Tannery. 41. — Dwelling house in rear of Johnson's store. 42. — Draper's Bake House. 43. — James Morse. 44. — Noah Cooke. 45. -Saw Mill. 46.— Grist Mill. 47._Nathan Blake. 48. — James Wyman. 49. — John Warner. 50.— Dr Charles Blake. 51. — William Lamson. 52. — Rev. Aaron Hall. 53 — Josiah Richardson. 54._Abijah Wilder. 55. — Mosey Johnson's pot and pearlash works. 56. — Israel Houghton. 57. — Nehemiah Towns. 58.— Elias Rugg. 59. — Samuel Bassett. 60.— Asahel Blake. 61. — Court House. 62. — Meeting House. 63. — .Allen & Bond's store. 64. — David Forbes's office. 65. — Blacksmith's shop. 66. — Dwelling house and shop. 67.— Dr M'Carty. 68. — Dr M'Carty's small house. 69.— Sfiinney house and shop. 70. — Samuel Daniels. 7L— Alpheus Nims. 72. — Eliphalet Briggs. 73. — Jeremiah Stiles. ^.^ 74. — Joseph Stiles. f^ 75. — Grout house. j[>' 76.— Jail. J^ ' 77._Abel Wilder. ' 78.— School House. 79. — Nathaniel Briggs. 80. — Horse sheds. 81. — Cemetery. 82.— Warner's Fulling Mill. ANNALS OF KEENE. 89 90 ANNALS OF KEENE. 1801. A Mr John Butler, while digging a cellar, on the first day of April, in Washington-street, found, under a stump, fifty snakes of various kinds — house adders, striped, green, and white bellied snakes. They measured from one foot to three feet in length. All were torpid but the house adders. The anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was cel- ebrated in Keene this year. The oration, by Samuel West, Esq. was highly praised. An article in the New-Hampshire Sentinel gives notice that the mail from Walpole would be discontinued on the first day of October, and that, after that time, there would be a mail from Boston through Keene to Brattleborough once a week, leaving Boston on Tuesday at nine o'clock in the morning, and arriv- ing at Brattleborough on Thursday, at seven o'clock in the af- ternoon. 180S. An effort was again made to induce the town to grant a li- cense for the inoculation of the small pox, in a house or houses in any remote part of the town, which was again unsuccessful. A charter for a Turnpike from Keene to Fitzwilliam was granted this year. On the resignation of Dr Daniel Adams, John G. Bond was appointed Postmaster. 1803. This year, the town voted to raise five hundred dollars in full for the Rev. A. Hall's salary. When settled in 1778, his salary was only $266.66. A vote was also passed empowering the Selectmen to treat with the Turnpike and Branch Bridge Corporation respecting building the bridge over the Branch between Judge Newcomb's and Sandy Hill ; and instructing them, if they could not agree, to build the bridge in behalf of the town. This vote shows that the Turnpike from Keene to Fitzwilliam was then in process of construction. At the session of the State Legislature holden near the close of this year, a charter was granted for a Bank at Keene to be ANNALS OF KEENE. 91 called the Cheshire Bank. It was organized, in 1804, by the choice of Daniel Newcomb, Xoah Cooke, John G. Bond, Jo« seph Dorr, and James Mann, for Directors. Subsequently Dan- iel Newcomb was chosen President, and Elijah Dunbar, Cashier. Its place of business was a brick building, erected for the pur- pose, on the spot now covered, or partly covered by the North- east corner of the Railroad Passenger Station. By an advertisement, dated Dec. 3, Dearborn Emerson in- forms the public that he runs a line of stages, on the middle post road from Boston to Walpole, twice a week, passing through Concord, Groton, New Ipswich, Jaffrey, Marlborough, and Keene to Walpole ; leaving Boston every Wednesday and Saturday morning at 4 o'clock — arriving at New Ipswich at 6 o'clock in the evening — leaving there at 4 o'clock every Thurs- day and Monday morning, arriving at Keene at noon, and at Walpole at 6 o'clock in the evening. The fare to Keene was $4.50. From a remark in the advertisement that " the road, the most part of the way, is a good turnpike," it may be inferred that the Third New Hampshire Turnpike was then finished. It is in the recollection of several persons, that just previous to this time, proably before the turnpike was completed, a stage was run from Boston to Keene, the trip occupying two days, and the night being passed at Groton, and that the fare was then $5.00, and had before been $6.00. Emerson's advertisement further stated that stages run, in connection with his, from Walpole to Hanover. About this time a turnpike was opened from Hano- ver to Concord. The fare from Keene to Boston was probably reduced, for a time, to meet the competition of that route. Be- fore 1800, nearly all the travel from Hanover, and even fom Ha- verhill, to Boston, passed through Keene. 1804. The town voted that the Selectmen be authorized to move the seats in the body of the meeting-house. The new-Hampshire Sentinel, of May 5, records that a nest of snakes, of almost all kinds and colors, from three to eighteen inches long, numbering upwards of three hundred, and occupy- ing a space less than three f(>et square, was accidentally discov- ered in this town. Tliis fact may be of use to naturalists. 92 ANNALS OF KEENE. And this brings to mind the fact that, long ago, a young man brought to the compiler a young snake, about two inches long, which he said he took from an egg found in digging a post hole in muddy ground. It had two perfect heads branching from the neck. ISOS. Daniel Newcomb was elected Senator, from District No. 9. In the summer the price of corn in Keene was ten shillings per bushel, and was much higher farther North. A charter lor the Cheshire Turnpike, leading from Keene to Charlestown, was granted this year. 1806. Lockhart "Willard, of this town, was chosen Senator, this year. He had long been, and long continued to be, a useful and re- spected citizen. Thomas Baker, Esq. died, aged 76 years. He was appoint- ed chairman of the committee to "judge, determine and act" upon the laws of Keene ; and was, in 1781, or soon after, ap- pointed a Justice of the Peace, in which office he served for many years. The Turnpikes from Keene to Fitzwilliam, and from Filz- william to Winchendon were finished this year. is®r. The mail stage, this year, passed from Boston through Keene to Hanover and back, three times a week, starting from Boston at 4 o'clock in the morning, and arriving at Keene at 8 o'clock in the evening. In July, during a shower, a whirlwind passed across the northern part of the village, in a north-easterly direction, unroof- ing a large shed, owned by Aaron Seamans, standing on the farm north-east of the mill-pond, — then laying in ruins a barn that stood near — then a house a few rods beyond, and for near- ly half a mile farther prostrating all the fences, in its way. — Large pieces of limber were carried eight or ten rods, pieces of board farther, and shingles to the top of Beech Hill. Its chief ANNALS OF KEENE. 93 force was confined to a path a few rods wide, and but little more than half a mile in length. At the term of the Superior Court, held in Keene in October, came on the trial of a prosecution instituted by the inhabitants of Walpole against certain citizens of Keene " for taking and carrying away, in the night time, a piece of ordnance of the value of two hundred dollars, the property of said town of Walpole." For the better understanding of this matter it is necessary to go back to a remote period of our history. In the early settle- ment of the country, on Connecticut River, four forts were erect- ed on its banks, and each was supplied, by His Majesty the King of England, with a large iron cannon. These forts were numbered — that at Chestertield being No. 1, that at Westmore- land No. 2, that at Walpole No. 3, and that at Charlestown No. 4. These cannons remained in those several towns, after the achievement of our independence, were prized as trophies of victory, and made to speak, in triumphant tones, on every fourth of July, and other days of public rejoicings. Their reports sounded to the inhabitants of the adjoining towns, as exulting claims to superiority, they having no such trophies to speak for them. That at Walpole was left unguarded, in the Main-street. In the spring of this year, a citizen of Keene, then a youth, but since distinguished in the service of his country, having received an elegant sword for his gallant defense, in the war of 1812, of Fort Covington, near Baltimore, arranged a party who repaired to Walpole, in the night, took possession of the cannon and brought it in triumph to Keene. The whole population of Walpole were indignant at being deprived, in this way, of their valued trophy, and determined to a|>peal to the laws to recover it. Several attempts to arrest the offenders proved abortive, but this only added to their zeal. A re- spectable citizen of Walpole was sent to aid the sheriff. Know- ing that he, whom they most wished to secure, concealed him- self, whenever apprized that the officer was visible, they lay in ambush for him in the swamps South and West of his father's residence. It happened that Dr Adams was at this time gun- ning, as was his frequent habit, in the same grounds. He saw them, aad linowi^ig that they saw him, he walked hurriedly 94' ANNALS OF KEENE. away. They followed, he hastened his walk, they theirs, until the walk became a run, and the run a race. His knowledge of the minute topography of the place enabled him to take such direction as might best suit his purpose. Methinks I see him now, lightly springing from hassock to hassock, from turf to log, now and then looking back, with face sedate and eagle eye, to see how his pursuers sped. By turning and winding, he led them into a bog, and gained distance while they were struggling to gain firm foothold. They outran him, however, and arrested him at his door ; but were soon convinced they had not caught the right man, and returned, not the less irritated, to Walpole. Several of the delinquents were at length arrested and brought to trial. The court (Chief Justice Smith, afterwards Governor, presiding) decided that the said cannon was not the property of the said town of Walpole, and the defendants were discharged. It was immediately drawn near the court house, loaded and fired. " May it please your honors," said counsellor Vose, '' the case is already reported." 1S08. Lockhart Willard, Esq. was again chosen Senator for this district. Samuel Dinsraoor was appointed Postmaster in the place of John G. Bond, removed. 1S09. This was the year in which the sufferings from the Embargo exasperated a large portion of the people of New England. It is worthy of note that the Selectmen of Keene on being legally requested so to do, called a meeting of the qualified voters of the town " to take into consideration the present alarming situa- tion of our country ; to express our sentiments thereon ; and to adopt such measures for a redress of grievances as shall be thought expedient." It was the practice, in revolutionary times, for towns to resolve, and even act, iti their corporate capacity, in relation to public affairs ; but the instances have been few in which they have so done since the adoption of ihe Constitution of the United States. This instance is not now mentioned to censure it. It might be attended with many good results, if all ANNALS OF KEENE. 95 the citizens of a town were to be called together occasionally to discuss public measures. At such meeting, all parties might be heard, and argument be combated by argument. At this meet- ing several resolutions were adopted, but no measures Avere de- termined on. The irritation of the people of Walpole, at the loss of their valued trophy, or more, perhaps, at the manner in which they had been deprived of it, continued unabated; and they determin- ed to take redress into their own hands. They had been inform- ed that the cannon was concealed in a granary, in a back store, on the South side of West-street, near Main-street. On the evening of the fourth of July, a plot w^as arranged to regain pos- session of it. A confederate (a stage-driver) was sent immedi- ately to Keene, in a huge stage wagon, to gain information and take measures to facilitate the execution of the project. He as- certained that it was concealed in the place mentioned ; bar- gained for some grain ; and at his suggestion was allowed to take the key that he might get the grain very early in the morn- ing, without disturbing the clerks. Returning immediately, he met on their way, a cavalcade of about thirty, mostly young men, commanded by a military officer of high rank, and made his report. They left their horses in the cross road, then fringed with bushes, leading from Court-street to Washington- street ; and in a few minutes entered the granary. The first motion of the cannon, the night being still, made a terrific noise. The town bell was rung and an alarm of fire was raised. The men in the granary labored for a time without success, and al- most without hope. Outside, men were seen skulking behind buildings, and flitting from corner to corner. At length, by a desperate effort, it was lifted into the wagon, and the team hur- ried towards W^alpole. At break of day, we were welcomed home by the ringing of the bell, and by the applause of a crowd awaiting in anxiety the return of their fellow-townsmen. In the mean time, a large number of the citizens of Keene mounted their horses and pursued the returning party ; but for- tunately they took the wrong road, and thus a desperate conflict was avoided. A report was current, at the time, that they took the wrong road by design ; but this was pronounced a base and baseless slander. 96 ANNALS OF KEENE. But the history of the King's cannon is not yet complete. It was soon afterwards furtively taken, by a body of men from Westminster, Vermont, to be used in celebrating the declaration of independence ; and was retaken, on a sudden onset, by a large body of men from Walpole, the Selectmen at their head, while actually in use for that purpose. It was afterwards taken by men from Alstead ; and report says that it was, after that, ap- propriated by an iron founder, and transmuted into implements of husbandry. Ichabod Fisher died on the 2 1st of November, aged 81. He was one of the most useful citizens, was for twenty-one years Town Clerk, and for twenty-two years Clerk of the Proprietors, and was, during the active years of his life, employed, as much as any other person, in the transaction of town business. In 1776, he was appointed Register of Probate for the county, which office he held nine years. ISEO, Samuel Dinsmoor, of Keene, was this year elected a member of Congress. He afterwards held the offices of Judge of Probate for the county and Governor of the State. 1811. Mr Nathan Blake, the same who was taken captive by the Indians, in 1746, died on the 4th of August, aged ninety-nine years and^ye months. 1813. The town of Roxbury was this year incorporated, formed of parts of each of the towns of Packersfield, Marlborough * and Keene. An earnest remonstrance from Keene against the division of the town was addressed to the Legislature, but it proved unavailing. The territory taken from Keene consisted of 1472 acres. 1813. This year, though fertile in events elsewhere, oppressing his- torians by their variety and magnitude, affords no important in- cident to the annalist of Keene ; but it may not be amiss to re- ANNALS OF KEENE. 97 f ./■■ cord, in what would otherwise be a vacant space, that the Clerk's office was removed, and the Clerk with it, by order of court, from Walpole to Keene. It has been said, that every event whatev- er, even the most trifling, has an influence on subsequent events, from the instant of its happening through all future time. — Whether the influence of this event on the destiny of the town, and of the Clerk, has been good or evil, who can tell ? — but had it not happened, the good citizens of Keene might never have known the trials, sufferings and indomitable energy of their an- cestors. 1814. The Rev. Aaron Hall died on the 12th of August, in the 64th year of his age and the 37th of his ministry. He was much beloved by his people, who manifested their attachment, by in- creasing his salary, at successive periods, from eighty pounds, ($266.66,) to S500 ; by assistance in various ways, and by con- stant acts of kindness. The town, a short time before his death, on consultation with him, voted to settle a colleague, and invit- ed Lemuel Capen, afterwards settled at Stirling and South Bos- ton, to preach as a candidate ; and at the first town meeting held after his decease, they voted to pay to the widow ^is salary to the first. of March, the anniversary of his settl*»nient. The intercourse between pastor and pe^-pfe had always been familiar and cordial. The drawing '^'"his wood, from the min- ister's wood lot, afforded an an^aal occasion of bringing them together, at which all were ^appy, and none more so than the pastor. On the day set apart for that purpose, a sufficient num- ber of the parishioners assembled at the wood lot, and late in the afternoon, twenty or thirty sleds, in long procession, arrived, heavily laden, at his door, and then, the great pile being built up, baked beans in huge pots, and good cider in quart mugs, were placed before the company, and partaken of with becom- ing hilarity. A contemporary describes a practice of those times, which might have been taken by a foreigner for a religious exercise, had he witnessed, for several Sabbaths, the regularity of its re- currence. The seats in the pews, being hung with hinges, were turned up during prayer, and when prayer was ended were 13 98 ANNALS OF KEENE. simultaneously allowed to fall, in some cases with added impe- tus, on the supporters, making a noise which might be heard far beyond the walls of the meeting-house — almost equalling a vol- ley of musketry. It was another time-honored custom for the audience, after the services were ended, to Avait standing in their pews, until the minister had left the pulpit, and, walking down the broad alley, with respectful and dignified deportment, had nearly reached the front door. Towards the close of Mr Hall's ministry, the young men in the right hand gallery, (that being reserved for them, as the front was for elderly men and the left for females,) could not in their impatience be restrained, by the elders, from moving too soon, and thus making disturbance. Mr Hall's successor introduced the present custom, by requesting the audience to go out first. 1815. On the 24th of May, David Oliphant was ordained as pastor over the First Congregational Society, as successor to the Rev. Aaron Hall. As was anticipated, it hu^ become difficult, on approaching the present time, to collect facts vplating to Keene or its citizens, of sufficient interest to be recorded, e-ien in such an unpretend- ing work as this. We do not now stand apart from the rest of the world ; neither our position nor the circumstances that sur- round us, present any features grand, remarkable or romantic. Men's minds are not now tasked to the uttermost, at once to sub- due the wilderness, to defend themselves from lurking, domestic and foreign foes, and to lay the foundations of their civil polity. The deeds of our ancestors are interesting to us, not merely be- cause they were the deeds of our ancestors, nor because they are viewed through the long vista of past time, but principally be- cause they were performed by a few men of stout hearts and strong wills, amid perilous and remarkable circu instances, and are appreciated by the vast importance of their consequences. ANNALS OF KEENE. 99 Individuals are now lost in ihe niultilude, and a multitude ex- cites no interest. Future generations will not look back upon this, or individuals of this, wiih the same dt^gree of interest that we look back uj)on the little band of first settlers of Upper Ash- uelot, or on the Blakes, the Dormans, the Guilds, the Willards, the Wymans, the Ellises, even the Ferrys, of the third and fourth generations anterior to us. Let us thank God, and them, that we are placed in circumstances so fortunate as not to be requir- ed to endure the trials and perform the actions that impart inte- rest to history. The map of the village, at the end of the book, when com- pared with that of 1800, tells the history of the progress of the town, which is in fact its whole history, more impressively than words could do it. APPENDIX. The following article was furnished by Josiah P. Cooke, Esq. of Boston, who, though not a native of Keene, resided here from infancy to early manhood. KEENE. It has been said " there is virtue in a name," and it has often been regretted that Keene was ever selected as the corporate name of the township, in preference to its ancient Indian name — Ashuelot — so much more appropriate and euphonious. — Without, however, stopping to cavil at a name, which it is now too late to change, we proceed, with the aid of the journals of the late Noah Cooke, Esq. to give our reminiscences of Keene, between the years 1783 and 1800. The late Judge Daniel Newcomb, whose name is so intimate- ly connected with that of the town, at the close of the last and the beginning of the present century, was a native of Norton, Mass. ; was a graduate of Harvard, of the class of 1768, and was in full practice, as a lawyer, in Keene, in the year 1783; but at what time he went there I am unable to state ;^ that he was there at the time slated appears by an entry in the journal before referred to of Mr Cooke, who appears to have been then associated with him as a student or otherwise. "1783, 19th April.— Mr Newconib then agreed that I should have as perquisites all writings except original writs and pro- cesses." * Judge Newcomb came to Keene in 1T78. 1791. 102 ANNALS OF KEENE. ( In January, Mr Cooke was admitted to practice as * ( an attorney, and settled at New Ipswich, in the coun- ty of Hillsborough, where he resided until his return, a few years afterwards, to Keene. Mr Newcomb having received the appointment of Judge, Mr Cooke, in January, removed to Keene, and there established himself in his profession. He was at this time, as I suppose, the only lav>ryer in the town, except Judge New- comb. And from the time of his return, he continued to reside in the same dwelling house, situated in West-street, until his decease, the 15th of October, 1829, at the age of eighty years. Miss Ruth Kidder, now living at New Ipswich, opened (May 1st) a school, by subscription, at Keene. This paper is in the hand-writing of Mr Cook, who subscribed for three scholars. On the 5th of September, another school was opened by Miss Ruth Kidder, upon the same terms, except that " the school should be limited to 27 scholars." But this number was destin- ed shortly after to be diminished, as appears from the following entry in the journal : — " Noah Cooke, son of Noah and Polly Cooke, died Oct. 2d, 1791, aged 6 years and 16 days." It was the fashion of this day and it prevails in some places now, to call in some neighbor or intimate friend, to remain dur- ing the night, as a watcher with the corpse ; and Mr Joseph Appleton, a graduate of Dartmouth, of the class of 1791, who had just commenced the study of the law, in the office of Mr Cooke, undertook that melancholy office. And, (probably from this exposure,) this young man, brother of Aaron Appleton, of Keene, and of the distinguished men of that name in Boston, and said to be of high promise, took the same fever, died about a week afterwards, and was interred in the same grounds, in the rear of Judge Newcomb's house, with the remains of the deceased child. This place of interment, (since so much neglected, if not des- ecrated,) was then the only place of burial near the Main-street. The new burying ground, (as it has been called since my recol- lection,) on what is now Washington-street, was first opened at a much later period ; the exact date may be ascertained by in- spection of a grave stone erected to the memory of John Hol- land, son of Moses Johnson, who was the first person interred ANNALS OF KEENfi. 103 thefe. — (April, 1795.) And when the nunnber of tenants now (1850) occupying this ground, and the lapse of time are consid- ered, this monument reads a sad but useful lesson, at least to one, who is able to compass the whole period in his memory. About this time, the outskirts of Keene and the 1792. > neighboring towns were much infested with wolves, so that a heavy bounty was ottered for their destruction. Wolf hunts were frequent, and on one or rtiore occasions, Monadnock mountain, then a great resort of these noxious animals, was sur- rounded by the inhabitants of the neighboring towns, (Keene furnishing its quota of men,) to hunt them ; their skins were fre- quently brought into the village, to obtain from the Selectmen the certificate required by law to entitle the huntsman to his reward. It was during the summer of the same year, that the first church bell was purchased and raised in the new meeting-house; and the assessment of its cost upon the inhabitants threatened, for a lime, to interrupt the harmony of the parish. The only- meetings for religious worship were then held in the building above reierred to, except what used to be called "catechising the children," which were meetings usually opened by prayer, by the Rev. INIr Hall, and held, during the summer months, at the different district school houses, of which notice was always given from the pulpit, A very large proportion of the persons who usually attended church, or meeting, as it is called, came from At^h Swamp and the hills in the "West part of the town, at considerable distances. It was not convenient for these persons to return during the in- termission, and it was the practice of those persons living in the vicinity of the meeting-house to throw open their doors for the accommodation of such, during the cold weather, when it was inconvenient to remain in the meeting-house. This weekly communication of the inhabitants of the village with those re- siding at a distance, if it did not tend to their religious improve- ment, was well calculated to cultivate the social virtues, to make the members of the parish better acquainted wilh each olhrr, and to give additional interest to the usual exercises of the Sabbath. The usual town meetings, for the transaction of the public 104 ANNALS OF KEENE. business, were then held, (as is understood.) in the " old meeting" house," then used as a court-house, as hereinafter stated; though I remember, on one occasion, a town meeting held in what was known as Ralston's tavern, on the West side of Main-street, in the hall, which was on the South side of the house. This build- ing was a little North, I think, of the present house of the Hon. James Wilson. The house was then kept by Maj. John Todd, who formerly resided in Essex-street, in Boston, removed from there to Keene, and was, for a considerable time, the Postmas- ter of the place. March 12th. — Ruth Kidder opened her school in the basement story of what was called " Watson's shop." This building still exists on the West side of Main-street. The entrance to the school-room was from the South door, looking across the mead- ow towards what was then Mrs Dunbar's tavern, afterwards Mr Watson's house. By the original subscription for this school, the subscribers " promise Mrs Ruth Kidder the sum of five shil- lings a week for her services and five shillings for her board, and to furnish the necessary wood." The only vehicle or carriage, at this time, known to be kept and used in Keene for pleasure traveling, was owned and kept by Thomas Wells, known in his day as " Farmer Wells," though he was by trade a hatter. This vehicle was what was then call- ed " a chair," was without a top, accommodated two persons, and was frequently let for the use of persons going short dis- tances, and who desired an easier mode of locomotion than a hard trotting horse. It was at a much later period that Judge Newcomb introduc- ed the first chaise, and at a still later, that the Rev. Aaron Hall followed the same fashion. No stage at this time had ever pass- ed through the streets, nor were the roads generally such as could be passed in wheel carriages ; and the usual and only mode of travel was on horseback, 17QQ i Homer & Goodale occupied, as a store, a long one- ' ( story building, which stood on the East line of Main- street, and a few feet in front of a building erected by N. Cooke, Esq , on the same lot, in li^OS. This building was from fifty to sixty feet in length, and twenty or twenly-five feet wide. They (Homer & Goodale) at the. same lime carried on a Pota,sh es- ANNALS OF KEENE. 105 tablishment, which was located on, or very near, the spot where the house of Thomas M. Edwards, Esq. now stands. The store or long building before referred to, was afterwards divided into different apartments, in one of which William Briggs, Esq. kept his shoemaker's shop. He afterwards fitted himself for college ; received his degree, at Hanover, in 1799 : first studied his profession Avith Peleg Sprague, at Keene, and afterwards with Benjamin West, Esq. at Charlestown, was ad- mitted to the bar, and finally settled in the latter place. Here (in this building) Samuel Hunt, Esq. at one time had his office, and Moses Johnson, for a time, carried on the brazier's business, so far as to manufacture brass shoe-buckles when they were in fashion. Moses Johnson commenced trade, in the front room of a building he occupied as a dwelling-house, on the East side of Main-street. The building still remains, and was once occupied by the first Gov. Dinsraoor, as his dwelling-house.— Moses Johnson, at a later period, built and occupied the store now known as A. & T. Hall's ; and James Wyman occupied the low building above named, as a carpenter's shop. The State and county courts were at this time held in what was called " the old meeting-house." This building was situ- ated a short distance westerly from the meeting-house, in the North-west corner of the common, as it was then bounded.-— There was then no road where Court-street now is. The cen- ter pews and seats of this building were removed, and a bench and table, called a bar, substituted, for the use of the Judges and lawyers ; the gallery pews I have a quite distinct impression re- mained. Justices' courts were held at the dwelling-houses of the magis- trates, — sometimes at the taverns, and of these more frequently at the tavern house of Josiah Richardson, Esq. This house still remains in form and in all appearance (except color) as it then existed externally ; the South-west front room was the one then fitted up, and in constant use by the traveler, as " the bar room." The magistrates or Justices, then, were Thomas Baker, Dan- iel Newcomb, and Jeremiah Stiles ; afterwards, in 1795, Peleg Sprague was an acting magistrate. To Daniel Newcorab, perhaps, more than to any other person 14 106 ANNALS OF KEENE. of his day, is the town of Keene indebted for efforts and sacrifi- ces in promoting the cause of " good learning." Having him- self an increasing family, he early realized the importance of a higher order of schools than then existed ; and at a period prior to this date (1793) but the precise time is not known, establish- ed, at his own cost, what was afterwards called " the grammar school ;" sometimes known as " Mr Newcomb's school." This school was to be kept by a man of liberal education, and to be supported by the tuition of the scholars ; and its location was on the West side of Main-street, on the site of the present brick school house, nearly opposite the present residence of the Hon. Salma Hale. Judge Newcomb was quite unfortunate in his first selection of a master, who was one Peter John Ware. He left a lasting impression of severity on the memories, if not on the backs, of his pupils. The first instructor of which I have a distinct recol- lection, was William Thurston, Esq. ; he took charge of this school in 1793, and continued the instructor through that sea- son. He was a graduate of Dartmouth college, of the class of 1792, was afterwards admitted to practice as a lawyer, and set- tled in Boston ; erected the famous house on Beacon Hill, (see Thurston vs Hancock, 12 Mass. Rep. p. 220,) and died on a for- eign voyage in the year 1823. The tuition demanded will hard- ly, at this day, be deemed unreasonable, when it is stated to have been 9d. a week ; an additional charge being made for those learning to write. Mr Thurston was succeeded by Master Far- rar, a man of very agreeable, mild manners. An indenture of copartnership between Abijah Wil- 1794. » der and Luther Eames was executed Feb. 25th. This indenture had relation, as I suppose, to supplying Boston with fresh water, hereinafter referred to. John Balch, better known as " Potter Balch," (from his early vocation, I suppose,) was " the post-rider," as it was called, in 1794. He rode on the same horse, carrying the mail and pa- pers at stated times (how often is not recollected) from Boston to Keene ; he usually took charge of all the errands and small commissions required by the inhabitants, for a very moderate fee, down to 1796. Samuel Hunt, Esq., afterwards a member of Congress, was 1795. ANNALS OF KEENE. 107 ill the practice of the law in Keene in 1794 ; His office, if I re- member right, was, at one time, kept in the same building spo- ken of as Homer & Goodale's store. Dr Asa BuUard, who was afterwards a highly respectable teacher and physician in Boston, toolc charge of the grammar school, in May, 1794, and continued it imtil November of the same year ; he was a native of New Ipswich, and of the class of 1793, at Dartmouth College, and died at Boston in the year 1826. He was succeeded by Thomas Heald, Esq. of the class at Hanover of 1794; who subsequently became a lawyer and set- tled in Concord, Mass. Another indenture is drawn and executed between Abijah Wilder and Luther Eames, Jan. 13th. Feb. 27th. — Luther Eames and his associates were incorpo- rated by the Legislature of Massachusetts into a society for bring- ing fresh water into the town of Boston. " April 16. — Solomon Woodward began to work here [for N. Cooke] for 6 months, if I wanted him ; (three certain,) at £15 ($50) for six months, and at that rate by the month." This is quoted to show the price of labor at that time. May 12. — Writings were executed between Abijah Wilder, Luther Eames, and Church. Here the Jamaica Pond Aque- duct had its origin. It may not be generally known, but it is nevertheless true, that Boston is indebted to New Hampshire enterprise for the first introduction of pure water into the town. ^ „ ^ April 27. — Monsieur Bellerieve, a Frenchman, took * I charge of the grammar school, for the purpose of giv- ing instruction solely in French. His career was a short one— < he turned out a vagabond ;■ — having got in debt and obtained advances from the parents of his pupils, he absconded, and left, I believe, his board bill, at the tavern of Dr Thomas Edwards, where he lodged, unpaid. It was during the existence of this school, in the summer of 1796, that the boys belonging to it went into the Ashuelot River to bathe, when George Newcomb, oldest son of Judg£ New- comb, was drowned. The circumstance caused a great sensa- tion at the time, and must have been noticed in the papers of the day. I well remember being present at the time of the accident, and remember but too well seeing the bereaved fa- 108 ANNALS OF KEENE. ther up to his arm-pits in the river, feeling for the dead body of his son. The first court house, which stood near the site of the old meeting-house, (which had been used by the courts as a court house,) was built during the summer of 1796. The principal agent in erecting and finishing this building was Elias Slur- tevant, one of the most enterprising and energetic citizens of his day, in Keene. It was built principally by the subscription of the inhabitants ; among the large contributors were Daniel Newcomb and Noah Cooke. Foster Alexander, Esq., a graduate of Dartmouth college, of the class of 1796, and a native of Winchester, came to Keene to read law, in the office of Noah Cooke, Esq. He was subse- quently admitted to practice, and settled, first in his native town, and afterwards at Keene, where he remained in practice some years, and subsequently resumed his practice in Winchester, where he died. i Sept. 12. — Abijah Wilder became interested in the \ printing office and its effects. This printing office stood on the West side of Main-street, near the line of the Todd estate now occupied by Gov. Dinsmoor ; it was in fact on the Wells lot, but upon the northerly line, near a small spruce tree. The first dancing school in Keene was taught during this winter (1798-9) by Master Burbank, of Brookfield, in the hall of the public house then kept by Dr Thomas Edwards, where the Cheshire House now stands. A bill of sale and transfer is drafted by N. Cooke, of 1799. 1 the printing apparatus and effects — formerly owned by C. Sturtevant, Jr. & Co. — from Abijah Wilder to John Prentiss. For these writings Abijah Wilder is debited in the books of ac- count of N. Cooke as follows, viz : " March 27, 1799. Abijah Wilder, Dr.— To drawing writings between him and Prentiss, 15 cents." The foregoing charge, while it well illustrates the modesty of professional charges for those days, has a more important bear- ing, inasmuch as it fixes the origin of the New-Hampshire Sen- tinel, and the time when Mr Prentiss, who has been so long and so much identified with the town of Keene, first became a resi- dent in the place. ANNALS OF KEENE. 109 October 30. — Abijah Wilder secured his patent right for his invention of a new mode of manufacturing sleigh-runners by- steam. -Q^. ( Feb. 26. — Samuel Prescott, Esq. a native of West- ' \ ford, Mass, and a graduate of Harvard college, of the the year and class 1799, assumed the charge of the grammar school as its instructor, and continued the school for a year. — He subsequently prepared himself for the bar and was admit- ted ; he first settled in Chesterfield, N. H. ; afterwards removed and opened his office in Keene ; then went, with his father-in- law, Moses Johnson, to western New- York, and finally returned to Keene, where he died. The conjecture expressed on page 12, that the road from the North house lots to the saw-mill on Beaver Brook was first laid out East of where it now runs, and was afterwards altered, is confirmed by the record of a new road laid out in 1761, which has, since the first part of the Annals was printed, come to the knowledge of the compiler. This new road begins " at the North end of the street, by the causeway, by the crotch of the road that leads to Ash Swamp and up to the old saw-mill, (that is, the crotch of the two roads one of which leads to Ash Swamp and the other up to the old saw-mill,) thence running by Mr David Nims's (Lucian B. Page's) to the North side of David Morse's 100 acres," "thence up the old road through the old mill-yard, as is now marked out." This does not give courses and dis- tances, but undoubtedly describes a new road leaving the old road at the causeway, and coming into it again at the cross street beyond Mr Page's. No record of the laying out of West-street from School-street East has been found. It was probably thrown open, after 1761, by Capt. Richardson, and dedicated to the public ; and not un- til after that was the old road from the causeway to West-street discontinued. Tradition says that a house built or owned by 110 ANNALS OF KEENE. Capt. Richardson, and occupied as a tavern, once stood West of Mr Lamson's barn ; that a potash stood a little farther Westy near the lowland ; and that some of the buildings attached to the house, and a part of the house itself, Avas removed to where the Richardson house now stands. Probably the house was on the East, and the potash on the West, side of the old road. — ■ Men now living recollect the potash, and there are yet eviden- ces existing of the site of the house. ORTHODOX SOCIETY, Keene, 20lh Feb. 1851. To the Hon. Salma Hale : Dear Sir, — In answer to yours of the 14th inst., asking for statistics of the First Congregational Church and Society in Keene, I send you the following hasty sketches. The Rev. Aaron Hall, after a ministry of more than thirty- seven years, reckoning from the beginning of bis labors, died August 12th, 1814. During his ministry 211 members were received to the church, and 871 persons (adults and infants) were baptized. His successor, the Rev. David Oliphant, was a graduate of Union College in 1S09, and of Andover Theological Seminary in 1814. He commenced his labors in Keene in November of the same year; and was ordained Pastor May 24th, 1815, Dur- ing his ministry 91 were received to the church, and 129 persons were baptized. The present Pastor, who was a graduate of Yale College in 1813, came hither in February, 1818; and was ordained July 1st, of the same year. At his settlement there were 175 mem- bers of the church. He has officiated in marrying 352 couples ; in baptizing 675 persons ; and in receiving 483 members to the church. During his ministry just as many have been dismissed to other churches as were received in Mr Hall's ministry, viz : 211. These dismissions and the the deaths of members have reduced the number of members to 265. ANNALS OF KEENE. Ill 1818, . . . . 32 1829, 1819, . . . . 22 1830, 1820, . . . . 22 1831, 1821. . . . . 23 1832, 1822, . . . . 27 1833, 1823, . . . . 24 1834, 1824, . . . . 29 1835, 1825, . . . . 23 1836, 1826, . . . . 51 1837, 1827, . . . . 21 1838, 1828, . . . . 27 1839, 1840, . ... 43 1841, . . . . 59 1842, . ... 50 1843, . . . . 63 1844, . ... 36 1845, . . . . 49 1846, . ... 89 1847, . , . . 63 1848, . ... 60 1849, . . . . 70 1850, . ... 54 t Con^res national So- The deaths in the whole town have been as follows, viz . 31 . 29 . 34 . 51 . 33 . 35 . 46 . 31 . 57 . 39 . 41 The present house of worship of the First Congregat ciety was built in 1786, on the common ; and in 1829 it was turned half round, and removed back more than 70 feet, to its present position ; repaired ; and dedicated anew. It was a great work to build that house in the day of small things ; as will be seen from quoting a few extracts from the records of the building committee. Most of those who bought pews, in anticipation of its being built, paid in cattle, that were sold at great discount, after being driven to Boston, Wrentham, or Providence. Besides, there were other obstacles, as will be seen by the following quotations. The following are the charges of one of the committee, viz : " To a journey in Feb., 1787, to Sutton, Franklin, and £ s. d. Boston, to purchase oil, glass, and vane . .14 " To a journey down with 27 head of cattel to Wren- tham, Dec. 1787 ; also, a journey to Providence, to buy the glass for the meeting-house ; and expense of keeping said cattel, ..... " May, 1788. — To a journey to Providence after the glass ; to carting glass from Providence to Wren- tham; also, a journey from Providence to Boston, 19 And the following are quoted from the same book : "Paid for cattel more than they sold for in cash, . 16 18 " To cash to defray the expenses of Samuel Heaton down to Wrentham after the glass for the meeting- house — wagon and two horses, .... 1 "Paid Mr John Ward & Co., Providence, for glass, 38 " The pews sold for . . . . . .941 " Raised by tax, 400 " The sum total that has been paid, in cash, for meet- 5 3 10 1" 18 4 5 4 5 ing-house matters, is 120 13 9" 112 ANNALS OF KEENE. " Began to raise the meeting-house in Keene on June 28lh, 1786, and completed the same on the 80th day, at noon." The following votes, passed by the building committee, will show how difficult it was, at that period, to procure " lawful money," viz : " Jan. 19, 1787. — Voted, to hire one hundred pounds silver money, towards finishing the meeting-house ;" and " 2. Voted, that Dea. Daniel Kingsbury be appointed to procure said mo- ney, if possible." The following have been lay officers in the First Church, viz : Deacons Josiah Fisher, David Foster, Obadiah Blake, Simeon Clark, Daniel Kingsbury, Abijah Wilder, Thomas Fisher, Elijah Carter, Collins H. Jaquith, John W. Binney, John W. Briggs, Henry G. Perkins, Isaac Rand, Stewart Hastings, and Christo- pher C. Denny. As you ask for extracts from my meteorological journal, with-* out attempting to give the mean temperature of any particular year, I will quote the remarks made in the journal, at the close of 1837, which I consider rather a remarkable year, viz : There were 227 clear days, and 38 that were clear a part of the time, with occasional squalls or showers. Snow fell on 22 days, and rain on 57. The thermometer stood below zero on 30 mornings at sunrise, and on 24 evenings at 10 o'clock, and once in the year at 1, P. M., viz : Feb. 13th. The coldest week in the year was the first week in March, and the warmest week was the first week in June. The coldest evening was Jan. 26, when the thermometer stood at 30° below, and the coldest morning was the 2d of March, when it was at 26° below zero. The warmest day at noon was July 1st, when the thermometer was at 94°, and two hours after it was 97° in the shade. The warm- est evening at 10 o'clock was Aug. 2d, when it was at 72°, and the last evening in the year it was at 34°, which was 12*^ warm- er than the first evening in May, at 10 o'clock. I would add, that on the evening of Jan. 25th, about 7 o'clock, there shot up in the north-east, a beautiful aurora of scarlet, with shades of crimson, and streaks of white. At nearly the same time, but subsequently, another of a similar description arose in the north-west, and both ascended till they met in an apex 2^'^ S. of the zenith. From the apex, as a radiating point, there now ANNALS OF KEENE. 113 extended rays in all directions, at a quarter before 8 o'clock.^ These rays, as well as the hues of the rest, were very variable, as scarlet, crimson, brick, straw, orange, and carnation. There was a black, inky segment at the North, through which, however, stars were visible. These appearances continued- growing fainter, till about 9 o'clock, when they ceased. I will further add, that at the commencement of the aurora my attention was called to it while looking at the thermometer ; and about the time that the rays met at the apex, I looked again at the thermometer, and perceived that the mercury had descended nearly 10° in that three-fourths of an hour ! I had known there was a variation of the magnetic needle, of several degrees, dur- ing an aurora ; but I never before conjectured such a sudden change of temperature ; nor have I since found any that had no- ticed it. Yours, respectfully, Z. S. BARSTOW. BAPTIST SOCIETY. Keene, March 13, 1851. Dear Sir,— 'In accordance with your request, I send you the following particulars in relation to the Baptist Church in this place. Some items in relation to its early history I have not been able to ascertain ; but the account is correct, I believe, as far as it goes. The church was organized some time prior to the year 1816, under the care of Rev. Charles Cummings. In 1816, it num- bered 18 members. The first meeting-house, built for the use of the church, was the one at the West part of the town, called Ash Swamp meet- ing-house. It was dedicated in 1816. In 1832, it was deemed necessary to organize a new church, embracing most of the members of the old church, together with such other members of Baptist churches as resided in town. This church was called the Union Baptist Church of Keene, and numbered at the time of its formation 27 members. It was pub- licly recognized, and Rev. Christy G. Wheeler ordained as Pas- tor, by an ecclesiastical council convened Aug. 21, 1832. The sermon on the occasion was by Rev. J. H. Boswell, of Bow. 15 114 ANNALS OF KEENE. The year following, Mr Wheeler was dismissed, and the church remained without a Pastor until 1838, when Rev. John Peacock visited the place, and it was deemed advisable to com- mence a meeting at the village. A hall was obtained for the purpose, and the measure was attended with so much success, that a new meeting-house was erected the following year in the village. It was dedicated Sept. 17, 1839, Rev. Mark Carpenter, then of Milford, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The name of the church had been previously changed from the " Union Baptist Church" to the " Keene Baptist Church," a name which it still retains. During the ministry of Mr Peacock the church increased from 25 to nearly 100 members, April 22d, 1840, Rev. Mark Carpenter was installed as Pas- tor. Rev. D. D. Pratt, of Nashua, preached on the occasion. The ministry of Mr Carpenter continued until Ocober, 1844, and was attended with good success ; the church having in- creased to upwards of 160 during the time. After Mr Carpenter's dismissal, Rev. Horace Richardson be- came Pastor of the church. He was ordained May 6, 1845, and dismissed March 1, 1846. The present incumbent commenced his pastoral labors in Au- gust, 1846. The number of communicants is now 120, and of the congregation, from two to three hundred. Yours, truly, GILBERT ROBBINS. UNITARIAN SOCIETY. The Unitarian Society was organized, under the general law of the State, on the 18th of March, 1824, assuming the name of the Keene Congregational Society. They had preaching in the summer of the same year ; and on the 30th of August gave Mr Samuel Barrett a call to become their Pastor, which he declined to accept. The next year they invited Mr Thomas Russell Sullivan to become their Pastor ; he accepted the invitation and was ordain- ed on the 28th of December, 1825. A church was gathered on the 27th of December, consisting of 13 members. ANNALS OF KEENE. 115 Mr Sullivan preached to the Society, in the town hall, until the 28th of April", 1S30, on which day the new meeting-house, which was then just finished, was dedicated. The funds for building this meeting-house, and purchasing an organ and bell, consisted of one thousand five hundred dollars, bequeathed to the Society by Mr William Lamson ; of seven hundred and fifty dollars received from the First Congregational Society for the relinquishment, by the Unitarian seceders from that congregation, of all their rights to the meeting-house built by the town, in 1788 ; of the proceeds of the sale of the pews, amounting to something more than $4.500 ; and of a small amount raised by subscription. The clock was a gift, made at a subsequent time, by John Elliot, Esq. On the first day of July, 1835, Mr Sullivan's connection with the Society was dissolved by mutual consent, he proposing the dissolution. Mr Abiel Abbot Livermore was ordained over the Church and Society on the 2d of November, 1836 ; and was dismissed at his request, on account of failing health, on the first of May, 1850. When the church was organized, in the year 1825, it consisted of ...... 13 Admitted since, 118 — 131 Removed from town, 31 Deceased, ....... 29— —60 Present number of members, ..... 71 The lay officers of the church have been, and continue to be, Deacons Samuel Wood and Adolphus Wright. AREA OF KEENE. When Keene was incorporated by the Governor of New-Hampshire, (April 11, 1753) the town contained 39,45 square miles, equal to 25.248 acres. Taken from Keene to form Sullivan 1920 acres. Taken from Keene to form Roxbury 1472 acres. Taken from Swanzey and annexed to Keene 154 acres. From all which it results that the town now contains 34,39 square miles, equal to 22,010 acres. Its greatest length — East and West — is 8 miles, 64 rods. Its greatest width — North and South — is 6 and a half miles. The center of the town is a little West of the river opposite the house of Sumner Black, North of the Knight place. 116 ANNALS OF KEENE. The following " Census and Agricultural Statistics of Keene," re- ferring to June 6, 1838, were taken by Mr Daniel Watson : Males under 14 years of age, . Males over 14 years of age. Females under 14 years of age, Females over 14 years of age, . Total, Males between 70 and 80, . Females between 70 and 80, . , Males between 80 and 90, . Females between 80 and 90,. Males between 90 and 100, Female between 90 and 100, Of both sexes over 70 years of age, Acres of Wheat in cultivation, *' Rye " " Corn " other grain " " Root crops " Total, Quantity of Maple Sugar made in 1838, 409 802 435 927 2573 22 38 6 12 2 1 81 106 368 375 427 341 1617 19,550 lbs. POPULATION OF KEENE. To enable the reader to compare the Rev. Dr Barstow's Register of Deaths with the population of the town during the same period, the following table is inserted here ; and all the enumerations are given that they may be seen at one view. It must be kept in mind that a part of Keene was set off to Sullivan, in 1787, and another part to Roxbury, in 1812. 1767, . 427 1820, . , , 1895 1775, . . 756 1830, . , . 2374 1790, . . 1314 1838, by Watson, 2573 1800, . . 1645 1840, . , . 2611 1810, . . 1646 18^0, . 3392 Increase from 1790 to 1800, . , 331 {{ " 1800 to 1810, , 1 K " 1810 to 1820, . . . 249 (( " 1820 to 1830, . 479 (( " 1830 to 1840, . 237 (( " 1840 to 18 50, . ■ , ' 781 ANNALS OF KEENE. 117 POPULATION OF THE VILLAGE. From the New-Hampshire Sentinel, it appears that the popula- tion was in 1827, January 1, . . . . . . 1079 In 1838, by Census taken by Mr Watson, June 6, ; . . 1562 In 1850, by Census taken by Isaac Sturtevant, Esq., Deputy U. S. Marshal, June 1, 2272 Increase from 1827 to 1838, (11>^ years,) 483 " 1838 to 1850, (12 years,) . . . .710 TREES. The first part of the following article was prepared for insertion in the Annals ; but as tree after tree, and young as well as old, present- ed claims to be noticed, the Appendix seemed to be the most appro- priate place. In the N. H. Recorder, published in May, 1789, the editor states that the preceding Sunday evening " a number of the trees which were the last year set out in Main-street were girdled by some unknown profligate." Tradition had brought down to us the fact here stated, connected with another fact, that the trees mentioned were set out on the East side of Main-street, at the North end ; and the paragraph fix- es the time when this outrage against good taste, and treason against posterity, was perpetrated, and enables us to fix very nearly the age of the elm tree standing equi-distant from Water and Marlborough-streets, which is believed to be one of the survivors of the massacre. It must be now (1850) between seventy and seventy-five years old. At four feet from the ground, its circumference is 8 feet 8 inches. Aged peo- ple remember that, many years ago, water stood, for some portion of every season, around this tree, which probably retarded it growth. — Lately it has grown rapidly, and promises to be a magnificent tree. Let future generations take care of it. The elm, at the South corner of Main and Marlborough-streets, near the residence of T. F. Ames, is another survivor of the massacre. Col. Ames remembers to have heard Elijah Dunbar, Esq. who died a few years ago, say, in his old age, that he assisted in setting out the trees, a number of which were girdled, and often boast that he had carried the latter on his back. It may have been older than the other when transplanted. It is now larger, measuring 10 feet 6 inches. But its larger size may be owing in part to the fact that it sends out numer- ous branches near the ground, and, having more leaves, receives more nourishment from the atmosphere. Another large elm, standing fifteen rods South of the one last men- tioned, was probably set out at the same time. It now measures 9 feet U}4 inches. The Hon. John Wood, who has been more than 50 years a citizen of Keene, and one of its most active business men, fias handed to the compiler the measurement, four feet from the ground^ of the several 118 ANNALS OF KEENE. elms hereafter mentioned, all standing on the South side of West-street, in which was his domicil, in early life. The first stands a short dis- tance West of the mansion house of the late Noah Cooke, Esq., of the age of which nothing is known. Obscure tradition says that the sec- ond, third, and fourth, standing near the residence of Mr Timothy Hall, were set out just before the beginning of the revolutionary war. The fifth was probably planted, or sprang up, on the East side of the old road to Surry, before the East end of West-street was laid out ; a lady now living remembers seeing a boy climbing it about the year 1775. The sixth, standing a little West of the house of Mr Charles Lamson, was set out by Capt. Richardson, about the year 1790. They severally measure, observing the same order, 12,5 — 9 — 10,3 — 9,2 — 11,2—8,7. A balm of Gilead, standing East of the elm last mentioned, was set out by Mr Lamson, in 1822, being then a small shoot not more than three years old. It measures 7,6 ; its diameter must therefore have in- creased an inch and an eighth yearly. Turn back and go, on West-street, to the bridge over the Ashue- lot, beyond Josiah Colony's, and you will see, just South of it, a soft maple which, at the surface of the embankment, measures 13,1. The elm standing in the back yard of what was once the Sun Tav- ern, now owned by Calvin Page and situated about half a mile up Court-street, was planted by Deacon Henry Ellis, on the line of the old road to Surry ; but on which line, East or West, is disputed. It is now between 80 and 90 years old, and measures 10,2. The four elms in front of the residence of Mr Prentiss were trans- planted in 1809, and may be set down as fifty years old. They mea- sure, beginning with the one most North, 6,8,^2 — 5,2 — 5 — 6,3. The beautiful elm, in his back yard, is a native of the spot, and is believed, from circumstances well considered, to be between 60 and 65 years old. It measures 8,10. Mr Abijah Wilder, son of the Abijah Wilder often before men- tioned, has furnished, from his note book, the following memoranda, which ought to be here recorded, accompanied by an acknowledgment of the credit due to him and his brother, Azel, for what they, in con- nection, have done for the improvement of their native village : " April 27, 1842.— Planted the East end of the North line of trees, on Winter-street, from the Baptist church to Central Square. The other trees on that street were planted the year before. " Nov. 11, 1842. — Commenced planting a row of elm trees (111 in all,) from my house, (near Central Square,) to Calvin Page's house, lining the side-walk on the East side of Court-street, a distance of half a mile. Finished planting Nov. 15." He now says, every one was in a flourishing condition, at one year old, and continue so to the present time, except a very few accidentally injured. The 10 elm trees (one vacancy) on the South side of West-street, between the Lamson elm and the large elm, were set out, the East four, in 1844, bj^ George A. Wheelock, the remainder, in 1845, by Timothy Hall. The elm standing on the South side of Central Square was set out ANNALS OF KEENE. 119 by Maj. Walker, in 1842, and being then small, may be assumed to be fifteen years old. It measures just two feet. Let future genera- tions take care of this also. The sugar maple, being, for many good reasons, a favorite orna- mental tree, especially when young, ought not to be passed over. Of the multitude that line the streets, four have been measured, and their ages ascertained very near to exactness. The three in front of Charles Lamson's residence are about 46 years old, and respectively measure, beginning East, — 4,23o — 4,ll/;>' — 5,13^. The North maple in front of Mr Appleton's residence is about 48 years old, and measures 5,43:j. The two rows of maples in front *f the compilers orchard were set out in 1819. A sugar maple, standing in the pasture of Charles Wym an, near the wall, on the East side of the road leading to the railroad summit, meas- ures, at three and a half feet from the ground, 9,43c. A sugar maple, growing on the farm of Daniel Thompson, (Sta- tia,) measures 11,2. — A white or river maple, growing on the same farm, measures 11,8. On the land of Abel Blake, about forty rods in a w-esterly direction beyond the bridge over the Ashuelot, on the Winchester road, stands a majestic elm, the stem rising near thirty feet without a limb, and surmounted by a beautiful top. It now measures 12,8x4, and lessens but little as it rises. The two elms in front of the compiler's residence were planted there about the year 1824, and being then large, may now be forty years old. They are connected with a character, not uncommon in border settlements, and as fully deserving to be noticed in these annals as many a famous hero to fill the elaborate pages of dignified history. — They were an unexpected present from an old man, of grave and rath- er dignified deportment, self-possessed at all times, and enjoying the reputation of uncommon expertness in predatory enterprises, far and near, in his own country and in foreign lands. From this reputation he derived no little profit, for many of his neighbors were eager to of- fer, and he ready to receive, black mail, upon the pledge, which he cheerfully gave and never forfeited ; that they should remain in quiet possession of their goods and chattels. His son, being indicted, in a neighboring State, the counsel assigned by the court to defend him, conveyed through the compiler to the father, information of the son's peril, and asked instructions in regard to the defense. The son was acquitted. A short time afterwards, the father brought the trees, and with the deferential politeness of a gentleman of the old school, asked permission to set them out as a token of his gratitude. The North tree measures 5 ; the other 4,11. They grew tortuously at first, but are doing better now. The shell-bark, or shag-bark, walnut, in the compiler's back yard, is about twenty-five years old from the seed. Of four transplanted this only survived, and grew slowly for several years. It began to bear in 1849. The three basswoods standing in the yard of Dr Charles G. Ad- ams, in front of his house, are of various ages, from 26 to 30 years.-— 120 ANNALS OF KEENE. They measure respectively, beginning South, 2,9 — ^2,11 — 2,4^. The slippery elm, South of the house, by the steps, is about twelve years old, and measures 1,6. On his grounds South of his residence, are several large maples, planted by his father, Dr Daniel Adams, who was amono- the first to introduce the sugar maple as an ornamental tree. He came to Keene in 1788. The two elms South of Dr Adams's old house, the residence of his late father, measure, — the one nearest the house, — 7,3>o ; the oth- er, 7,2io-. The three elms standing in the field of James B. Elliot, South of the school house, measure, beginning North, 7,4 — 7,1 — 6,10):.^. The laro-e one in his yard, South of the house, was planted there by the Hon. James Wilson, senior, who came here to reside in 1815. It was removed thither from the garden, was then quite large, and was prob- ably first set out at the same time as the three above mentioned. It measures 6,10. The four elms in the street, in front of Mr Elliot's field, measure, beginning North, 6,4— 6,2^2— 8,9— 8,3. The Rev. Dr Barstow and the Rev. Dr Ingersoll, near neighbors and livino- on the West side, and near the South end, of Main-street, have each a favorite elm in their front yards. They differ widely in religious belief, but nature has been impartial, each tree measuring precisely alike — 6,10. Since the foregoing was written, a belief has been expressed, by some, of whom enquiry was made, that all the large elms on Main- street were set out at the same time with the three first mentioned, (1788.) Some have so received the tradition, connected with the gossip of that time, that the "unknown profligate" was the instru- ment of feminine malice. That some of the trees are larger than oth- ers may be attributed to the superior richness of the soil in which they stand, but the difference is such as to raise some doubt of the fact. The seven large elms on the East side of Main-street, in front of land now owned by James B. Elliot, were set out by Eli Metcalf A slight circumstance points to the year 1788, as the time when they were transplanted. Some of them may be substitutes. They respect- ively measure, beginning South, 7,43^ — 8,7 — 7,2^ — 7,3)^ — 8,3)i — 7,2 — 6,10. It is remembered that, long ago, some place in Main-street was desio-nated as "The Elms;" and this, including a short distance North, is believed to be the place. The South End of Main-street was called " Gentlemen's End," and the space between the Eagle Hotel and Water-street, " Federal Row." To the honor of the pres- ent dwellers in West-street, it should be recorded that it once bore the name of " Poverty Lane." An elm in Baker-street, East of Beaver brook, measures exactly twelve feet. Among the visions of the future is that of several old men, peram- bulating, in the fall of 1900, the streets of Keene, carrying with them the only copy of these Annals then extant, and carefully measuring, just four feet from the ground, some of the trees here described. — They at least will be thankful for these memoranda. p ^ ^/^ THE LIBRARY ^ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA /<^jl //4* Santa Barbara STACK COLLECTION THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. 30ot-8,'65(F6447s4)9482 3 1205 02528 5006 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 877 051 3 /.:♦?•>•.■.■:*■.■• V «■ • •■ •••'.■\*.-,>''.-\'. ;