f r: % I ' • . •<',' '' ' '/''WW' hi J ' I > t * •* '1:: ).'» . • i'\ Ui ' ..:m^0mimr *ite, i: V' S 'jVi^tv-iVt V , *Wh^ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM Date Due Cornell University Library F 44L4 D75 History of Lebanon N.H 1761-1887 by olin 3 1924 028 836 125 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028836125 REV. CHARLES A. DOWNS. HISTORY OF LEBANON, N. H 1761-1887 BY REV. CHARLES A. DOWNS ILLUSTRATED CONCORD, N. H. RUMFORD Printing Co. 1908 M - I ■i I V - r; ii ri Y I L^UAI;Y AlHSC>0\- REV. CHARLES ALGERNON DOWNS, |l|tsitortan. Born in South Norwalk, Conn., May 21, 1833. Died in Lebanon, N. H., September 30, 1906. Rev. Charles A. Downs prepared for college at Concord, N. H., under the tutelage of his maternal uncle, Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, D. D., the eminent historian, and entered the Concord Literary Institute in 1839, from whence he proceeded to Dartmouth College, where he remained something over one year, when he transferred himself to the University of the City of .New York, where he graduated in 1845. Mr. Downs came to Lebanon July 5, 1848, as a candidate for the pas- torate of the Congregational Church, to succeed Rev. Phineas Cook, who had served the church for nineteen years; he was installed as pastor November 33, 1845, and continued in that office for twenty-five years, when, at his own request, the connection was dissolved. He continued to reside in Lebanon, but for a few years was the acting pastor of the church at Hanover Centre. He served the state as superintendent of public instruction, and the town as selectman, representative, police judge, superintendent of schools, precinct clerk and treasurer, and town clerk, and spent much time and labor in the preparation of this volume. For fifty-eight years Mr. Downs was known to every citizen of Lebanon, and he left this earth without an enemy. He once said to the writer of these lines, " I have tried to live so my obituarist would have nothing to say." F. c. 0. PREFATORY NOTE. The warrant for the annual meeting of the town of Lebanon held March 9, 1880, contained the following : ' ' Article 12. To see what action the town will take in relation to a preparation of a history of the town and raise money there- for or act thereon." Whereupon the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That the selectmen be authorized to secure a proper person or persons to prepare a history of the town and to use such sums of money as may be necessary therefor out of any monies not otherwise appropriated." At the annual meeting March 11, 1884, the following resolution was adopted : "Resolved, That the selectmen be authorized to take such ac- tion as they deem expedient in regard to the printing of the town history and that the expense of the same be paid from any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated." Under the resolution passed March 9, 1880, Rev. Charles A. Downs was engaged to write a history of the town, but no defi- nite action was taken regarding its publication until the annual town meeting, March 12, 1895, when the following resolutions were adopted: "Resolved, That the selectihen be authorized to appoint three suitable persons whose duty it shah be to supervise the publica- tion of the history of the town, as prepared by the historian, Rev. Charles A. Downs; that such sums of money as may be necessary for the completion, publication and illustration of said work be and is hereby appropriated therefor. "Resolved, That said committee when appointed shall have authority and they are thereby empowered to make a contract VI PEEFATOEY NOTE. for the publication of said history and to fix the number of copies to be published." Under the resolutions the selectmen appointed Alpheus W. Baker, William H. Cotton and Frank C. Churchill said com- mittee. This committee met on March 12, 1895, and organized by choosing Alpheus W. Baker, chairman; "William H. Cotton, treasurer; and Frank C. ChurchiU, secretary; at which time it was voted to ask the historian to meet the committee for confer- ence on March 16, 1895. The conference brought out the fact that the manuscript was not yet complete and the further fact that it was Mr. Downs' intention to finish his work at an early day. Mr. WiUiam H. Cotton died August 25, 1904, and Mr. Alpheus W. Baker died April 11, 1905, the manuscript not being in the hands of the committee at the time of the decease of my associates. On January 4, 1906, I turned over to the selectmen the record book of the committee and all papers and pictures that had come into its hands. At the annual town meeting held March, 1906, the following resolution, offered by Mr. Solon A. Peck, was passed : "Resolved, That the selectmen be a committee to act with Frank C. Churchill, whose duty it shall be to supervise the pub- lication of the history of the town, as prepared by Eev. C. A. Downs." The manuscript was placed in the hands of the commit- tee in August, 1906, and on September 20, 1906, Rev. Charles A. Downs died. September 3, 1906, the committee entered into an agreement with the Rumford Printing Co. of Concord, N. H., to print 1,500 copies. FRANK C. CHURCHILL. Lebanon, N. H., 1908. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Introduction 1 Charter 2 Names of Grantees 4 Provisions of Charter 5 Persons 7 Records 8 Town 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 39, 43 Proprietors' 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 37, 41 Territory of Lebanon 45 Survey of the Town -47 Settling 51 First Meeting House 59 Boundaries 64 Controversy with Enfield 66 Condition of the Town, 1775 67 Revolution 71 Provision Bill 84 Revolutionary Papers 86 Soldiers in the Revolution 95 Major Whitcomb 's Battalion 97 Committee of Safety 100 Vermont Controversy 108 Settlement of the Controversy 140 Development of the Town 144 Eight School Districts 153 New Meeting House , 165 Town in 1900 190 Property in Town 190 Roads and Bridges 198 Lyman's Bridge , 202, 203, 305 Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike 202, 204, 262 War of 1812 222 State and Town Officers 229 Vm TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. The Toleration Act . . ., 243 Political Affairs 248, 256, 279, 289, 300 Meeting House 249, 265 Poor Farm 250 New Roads ^ 251 Support of Primary Schools 253 Railings on Bridges 253 Railroad in Prospect 254 Public Money from United States Surplus Revenue 254 Town Clerk's Recording Deeds 255 Meeting House Uneasy 255 Dividing Grafton County 262 Surplus Revenue 262 Sale of Spirituous Liquors 266 Railroads 268 Opening of Northern Railroad to Lebanon 269 Capital Punishment 276 Extinguishment of Fires 276 Vote of Thanks to George H. Lathrop 277 Teachers' Institutes 277, 281 New Burying Ground 278 Tomb 279 Town House 281, 296 Horse Sheds 283 Common 284 Humphrey Wood Bridge 285 Firemen 's pay 285 Railroad Tax 286 Cemetery at West Lebanon 286 School Districts 286 Fence Around Village Burying Ground 287 Instruction to Collector of Taxes 287 Groceries 288 Railroad Bridges and Crossing 288 Hearse for West Lebanon 289, 304 Police Officers 289 County Farm 291 Burying Grounds ,, 292 Shade Trees 293 TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX Page. Engine Company, No. 2 294 Hearse , 294 To Provide Place for the Poor. 294 Sextons for Cemeteries 295 Encouragement of Manufactures 293, 303 Park on Hanover Street , 295 Eoads Discontinued Across the Common 296 Purchase of Hose 299 Common — ^Regulations 299 Town Pound , 300 Town Bonds 302 Hay Scales 302 Hanover Street Bridge 302 Survey of Streets i 304 First Board of Health 304 Fire Precinct Extended 305 Bequests to the Town 311 Centennial Fourth of July i 312 Town Pump 312 Sale of Cider and Sewage 313 Hog Reeves 313 Coasting , 317 Soldiers' Monument 318 C. C. Benton's Bequest 318 Stocking Streams with Trout 319 Heatiug and Lighting Town Hall 319 Street Lights 320 Manufacturers ' Exemption from Taxation 321 Spring at West Lebanon 321 Town Clocks 322 Balance of the Dog Tax 322 Colburn Park 324 Postmasters of Lebanon 324 Town ia the Rebellion 325 Town Meetings 325 Selectmen During the War 329 Soldiers in the War 329 State Aid, Etc 351 Reimbursement 351 X TABLE OP CONTENTS. Paoh. Centennial and Patriotic Celebration 352 Exercises on the Stand 353 Toasts and Speeches 353 Volunteer Toasts 363 Memorial Building 364 Village Fire Precinct and Great Fire of 1887 370 At Last 384 List of Losses 393 Insurance ■ 395 Resurgam 399 Notes About the Fire 399 Relief "Work 402 Who WiU Rebuild 402 Churches of the Town 405 Congregational Church 405 Decade 1817 to 1827 410 "West Congregational Church 417 Baptist Church 418 Methodist Episcopal Church 429 "Universalist Society 432 Sacred Heart Church 436 Index 437 General Index 437 Index of Names 446 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Rev. Charles A. Downes Frontispiece Old Lafayette Hotel facing page 24 Old Lebanon Bank Building 40 Maj. Wm. Willis Bliss 52 Hon. Experience Estabrook 58 Prof. Ira Young 64 Capt. John Bliss 72 Maj. John Griswold 76 Richard Burleigh Kimball 80 Prof. Charles A. Young , 88 Dr. Cyrus H. Fay 104 William P. Gallup 120 Hon. George S. Towle 128 Sally Truman , 136 Diarca Allen 144 Lucinda Howe Storrs 148 Hiram A. Simonds 152 Orren Hubbard 156 James Hubbard 160 Abel Storrs 164 Col. Constant Storrs 168 Seth Blodgett 170 George Blodgett 172 The Old Meeting House on the Common — Present Town House 174 Old Yiew of the Common 176 Clement Hough 180 Clark Hough 184 Rev. Story Hebard 188 Abram Pushee 192 Simeon S. Post 196 XU ILLUSTEATIOlSrS. Page. Halsey R. Stevens 204 Oliver Lathrop Stearns 204 Dr. Phineas Parkhurst 208 Timothy Kenrick 238 Ami B. Young 240 Dr. Benjamin Gallup 240 Dr. Caleb Plastridge 240 Robert Byron Kimball 254 Robert Kimball 254 J. W. Peek Homestead 264 John W. Peek 265 Harvey Murch 266 Blisha P. Liseomb 266 Hon. A. H. Cragin 278 WiUiam G. Perley 286 Daniel Richardson 286 Jesse C. Sturtevant 292 Col. Frank C. Churchill 296 William H. Cotton 296 Joseph W. Gerrish 296 Alpheus W. Baker 296 Edward J. Durant 298 Albert M. Shaw 298 Solon A. Peck 304 Postmasters of Lebanon 324 Col. James G. Benton 328 Harry H. Hosley, U. S. N 332 Maj. N. H. Randlett 346 Call for Troops, Spanish "War 350 Col. Henry L. Kendrick 362 Laying Corner Stone Memorial Building 364 Sergt. Jesse E. Dewey 364 After the Fire, 1887 384 After the Fire, 1887 392 Charles H. Dana 406 Rev. Phinehas Cooke 412 Baptist Church 418 Elias H. Cheney 420 Gibnan C. Whipple 420 ILLUSTRATIONS. Xlll Page. First Baptist Church and Parsonage 422 Rev. John Moore 432 Colbee C. Benton 432 Rev. G. W. Bailey 434 Map of Proprietors' Lots, 1761-1803 436 HISTORY OF LEBANON. INTRODUCTION. The final conquest of Canada in 1760 gave peace to the fron- tiers of New Hampshire. The Indians, who had for so many years been a source of terror and distress, were no longer feared. The various Indian and French wars, by the continual passage of soldiers, had made the lands in the valley of the Connecticut weU known. They were eagerly sought by both adventurers and speculators. Benning Wentworth, the royal governor of New Hampshire, always alive to his own interest, "availed himself of this golden opportunity, and by advice of his council ordered a survey to be made of the Connecticut river for sixty miles, and three lines of townships on each side to be laid out. ' ' This sur- vey was made by Joseph Blanchard. Townships of six miles square were laid out on both sides of the river and granted to various petitioners, and so numerous were the applicants that in the year 1761 not less than sixty townships were granted on the west side of the river and eighteen on the east side. Nor was this movement wholly speculative. In the older set- tlements of Massachusetts and Connecticut there came upon the people one of those mysterious impulses which prompt men to leave their homes and seek new abodes in unoccupied territory. "There was a passion for occupying new lands." In the various expeditions to repel French and Indian aggressions, soldiers had passed through the Connecticut valley in going to and returning from Canada. They had noticed the fertile intervales and well timbered hills of the Cohos country. They pictured to them- selves the farms and homes with which the hills and valleys might be beautified. Among those who had noted these lands were certain soldiers from the, southeastern towns of Connecticut. They reported what they had seen to their neighbors, and as soon as peace was secured by the conquest of Canada, they took meas- ures to give reality to the pictures which had so often filled their fancies upon the scout and march. 2 HISTORY OF LEBANON. A number of persons in the towns of Norwich, Lebanon and Mansfield, Conn., associated themselves together to procure char- ters of townships in the new territory of the Connecticut valley. They formed two companies, though each was composed mainly of the same persons. One company sought a charter of a town to be called Lebanon, the other company proposed to call their town Enfield; both names of Connecticut towns. They ap- pointed Jedediah Dana their agent to go to Portsmouth and obtain from Governor Wentworth charters for the towns. He was successful in his mission and on the same day, July 4, 1761, charters were issued for Lebanon and Enfield. The following is the charter of Lebanon : CHARTER. Phovince of New Hampshire — George the Third By the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c — To all Persons To whom these presents shall come GREETING KNOW Ye that we of our special grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, for The due encouragement of settling a new Plantation within our said Province, by and with the advice of our Trusty and well be- loved BENNING WENTWORTH, E s q., our governor and commander in chief of said Province of Newhampshire, in New England & of our council of the said Province — Have upon the conditions and reserva- tions hereinafter made given and Granted, and by these presents for us and our heirs & succefsor, do give and Grant in equal shares unto our loving Subjects, inhabitants of our said Province of Newhampshire and our other Governments & to their heirs and afsigns forever, whose names are Entered on this grant — To be divided to and among them into sixty-eight equal shares, all that tract or parcel of land situate lying and being within our said Province of Newhampshire, containing by admeasurement Twenty-three thousand acres, which tract is to contain six miles square, and no more, out of which an allowance is to be made for highways and unimprovable lands, by rocks. Ponds mountains and Rivers, one Thousand and forty acres free, according to a plan and survey hereof made by our said Governor's order and returned into the secretary's Office, & hereunto annexed, butted and bounded as follows (viz): Beginning at a white Pine Tree marked with the figures three on one side and four on the other, which tree is about eighteen miles on a point from the upper end of Charleston, and stands on the bank of Connecticut river, from thence South, seventy-two degrees East six miles; from thence North, thirty-six degrees East five miles and one INTEODUCTION. 3 half; from thence North sixty-four West seven miles to Connecticut River, To a hemlock tree marked four and five that stands just at the head of white river falls; from thence down the river to the first bound mentioned; and that the same be & hereby is incorporated into a Town- ship by the name of Lebanon; and the inhabitants that do or shall here- after inhabit the said Township are hereby declared to be enfranchized with and Entitled to all & every the privileges & immunities that other Towns within our Province by law exercise & enjoy & further that the said Town as soon as there shall be fifty Families resident And settled thereon shall have the liberty of holding two fairs, one of which shall be held on the and the other on the annually, which fairs are not to continue longer Than the respective following the said and that as soon as the said Town shall consist of fifty families a Market may be opened and kept one or more days in each week as may be thought most advantageous to the inhabitants: also That the first meeting for the choice of Town OflBcers agreea- ble to the laws of our said Province shall be held on the last Wednesday in August next, which said meeting shall be notified by Mr John Baldwin, who is hereby also appointed Moderator of the sd first meeting which he is to notify and govern agreeable to the laws and customs of our said Province; and that the annual meeting forever hereafter for the choice of such Ofilcers for the said Town shall be on the second Tuesday of March annually — To have and to hold the said tract of land as above exprefsed, together with all privilidges and appurte- nances, to them and their respective Heirs & afsigns forever, upon the following conditions (viz) First That every Grantee, his heirs or afsigns shall plant and culti- vate five Acres of land within the term of five years for every fifty acres Contained in his or their share or proportion of land in said Township, and continue to improve and settle the same by additional Cultivation on penalty of the forfeiture of his Grant or share in the said Township & of its reverting to us our Heirs and Succefsors, To be by us or them regranted to such of our subjects as shall effectually cultivate and settle the same. 2nd That all white and other pine trees within the said Township fit for masting our Royal Navy be carefully preserved for that Use, and none to be cut or felled without our special license for So doing first had and obtained, upon the penalty of the forfeiture of the right of such Grantee, his heirs & Afsigns To us our heirs and Succefsors, as well as being subject to the penalty of any act or acts of Parliament that now are or hereafter shall be Enacted. 3d That before any Division of the land be made to & among the Grantees, a tract of land as near the Center of said Township As the land will admit of shall be reserved and marked out for Town-lots, one of which shall be allotted to each Grantee, Of the contents of one acre 4tii Yeilding and paying therefor To us our Heirs & Succefsors for the 4 HISTORY OF LEBANON. space of Ten years to be computed from the date hereof. The rent of one Ear of Indian corn only in the twenty-fifth Day of December annually if lawfully demanded, the first Payment to be made on the twenty-fifth day of December 1762. 5tii Every proprietor settler or inhabitant shall yeild and pay unto US. Our heirs and succefsors Yearly and every year forever, from and after the Expiration of ten years from the above said twenty-fifth day of December namely on the twenty fifth day of December which will he in the year of our Lord 1772 one shilling Proclamation money for every hundred acres he so owns settles or pofsesses, and so in proportion for a greater or lefser. Tract of land, which money shall be paid by the respective persons above said, their heirs or Assigns, in our Council chamber at Portsmouth, or to such Officer or Officers as shall be appointed to receive the same & this to be in Lieu of all other rents & service whatsoever In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our Said Province to be hereunto affixed witness Benning Wentworth Esq. Our Governor and Commander in chief, of our said Province the fourth Day of July in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and Sixty-one, & in the first year of our Reign — By his Excellency's command with advice of council B. Wentworth Theodore Atkinson Sec.ty THE NAMES OF THE GRANTEES OF LEBANON John Hanks Joseph Dana John Salter John Swift Obadiah Loomis Daniel Allen Jr. Elijah Huntington David Eldredge Huckins Storrs Jun Jesse Birchard John Baldwin Nathan Arnold Robbert Barrows Jun Levi Hyde Richard Salter John Birchard Constant Southworth Nathan Blodgett Thomas Storrs Moses Hibbard Jun Hobart Estabrook John Allen Samuel Storrs Robert Hyde Charles Hill John Hyde Benjamin Davis Lemuel Clark Joshua Blodgett Jefse Birchard Joseph Turner Daniel Blodgett 3 3 12 6 4 12 8 3 12 n 6 n 7 8 4 13 12 27 8 8 4 1 3 1 7 3 12 6 4 12 8 3 12 5 n R 7 2 11 14 •a 12 7 2 1 2 1 5 9 12 16 4 32 8 9 12 1 5 1 R 6 6 10 10 21 4 6 6 1 1 11 20 10 34 B 68 12 20 10 s fi 3 6 4 8 7 8 15 4 8 n fi in 9 12 16 4 32 8 9 12 1 5 1 s 8 4 13 12 27 8 8 4 1 a 1 7 18 12 31 4 62 8 18 12 3 1 3 ? 6 10 20 fi n 1 n 1 n 2 4 3 11 7 8 2 4 3 4 10 8 18 2 .36 4 10 8 1 fi 1 10 6 6 10 10 21 4 6 fi 1 1 n 11 7 14 13 4 26 8 7 15 1 3 I .■> 4 12 7 13 15 10 4 12 n 7 n 10 4 8 7 8 15 4 8 n fi n in 12 1 4 2 8 12 n 1 2 2 4 8 12 7 14 2 4 n 3 F> 2 10 4 6 9 12 2 10 4 n 6 10 2 16 4 33 12 10 2 1 6 1 in 15 26 50 15 n 2 4 2 fi 3 6 5 10 11 4 ■S 6 5 n 7 12 6 20 10 41 4 12 6 2 1 2 1 6 10 20 6 n 1 n 1 ft 2 4 3 12 7 14 2 4 n 3 5 2 10 4 6 9 12 2 in n 4 n fi 3 6 5 10 11 4 3 fi n 5 n 7 3 6 b 10 11 4 3 fi n 5 7 12 20 40 12 n 2 n 2 n 2 4 3 12 7 11 2 4 3 n 5 3 Q b 10 3 n n 4 n fi 20 10 34 6 68 12 20 in 3 4 3 fi 12 6 20 8 41 10 12 6 2 1 2 1 4 8 7 8 lb U 4 8 6 n 9 5 4 8 12 17 8 5 4 n 7 n 11 13 8 22 3 45 13 s 2 1 2 3 19 8 32 8 66 19 8 3 2 3 3 4 2 B 12 13 12 4 2 fi fi 3 5 10 3 n 4 n fi 15 12 26 4 .52 8 IS 12 2 S 7 R 19 14 33 4 66 8 19 14 3 3 3 4 25 2 40 14 83 12 25 2 4 2 4 S 4 14 8 16 4 14 1 n in 2 4 4 4 8 8 2 4 3 R 4 14 8 16 4 14 1 n 10 7 14 13 2 26 4 7 14 1 3 1 4 12 12 21 4 42 8 12 12 1 5 2 2 28 2 46 14 93 12 28 2 4 fi 4 R 8 10 14 6 28 12 8 in 1 4 1 fi 15 12 26 4 52 8 15 12 2 5 2 8 3 6 & 10 11 4 3 fi n 5 n 7 15 6 2b 10 51 4 15 6 2 5 2 7 13 8 22 8 45 13 8 2 1 2 3 23 4 38 12 77 8 23 4 3 7 3 11 6 12 11 4 22 3 6 12 1 1 ? 10 8 17 8 35 in 8 fi 1 9 10 14 18 2 36 4 in 14 7 1 ■> 7 8 12 8 25 7. R 2 1 3 8 4 13 12 27 8 8 4 3 1 5 28 8 4b 8 95 28 8 7 i 9 ZalmoD Aspen wall Zenas Aid en Daniel Alden Thop. Barbrick Isaiah Bliss Sherblah Ballard Gedion Baker Jonathan Bingham Stephen Bliss Azarlah Bliss Jun Sam" Baley Daniel Bliss Stephen Billings BuCfus Baldwin Euffas Baldwin Jr Nathi Bosworth Jonathan Bosworth Lt Thomas Bingham Sami Baley Jr Ebenr Bliss Asa Colburn Stephen Colburn Sam" Crocker David Crocker James Crocker Robert Colbourn Jeremiah ^'onet Jesse Cook Isaac Corey Jacob Colbourn Israel Convers ■William Chaplain Sam" Convers Elijah Dewey Saxton Dewey Martain Dewey William Downer William Downer Jr Nathan Durkee Dea. Zachaus Downer. . . D'n Jonathan Danna Capt William Danna D'n Neh. Estabrook Neh. Estabrook Jr Sami Estabrook Bandol Evens Edmund Freeman John Fox John Fenley Benj. Fuller James Fuller Jer'h Griswold Maj John Griswold Joseph Griswold Oliver Griswold John Griswold Jr John Gray Lent Levi Hyde Leut Jedediah Hebbard.. Joslah Hovey James Huntington. ., William Huntington David Hough James Hebard Ensgn Nathi Hall INTRODUCTION. 85 A PEOVISION BILL FOR THE USE OF THE ARMEY FOR THE YEAR ENSU- ING. — Continued. Pork Beef Wheat Flower Rye Salt Bal James Harthorn Widow Elesabeth Hyde.. Daniel Hough Hiraim Huntington Thop Huntington Jr Sami Huntington Thop. Huntington Jesse Heath Elihu Hyde Esq Oliver Hamlain Doot. Ziba Hall Lemuel Hough Lt Charles Hill Widow Jane Hill Nathi HallJr David HinMey Walter Harris Moses Hebard James Jones Daniel King Uriah Knight Joiel Kilbourn Elias Lyman Joshua Lothrop Sam* Leach Richard Lyman Lt John Lyman Sluman Lothrop Lt Able Lyman Maj. Elisha Lothrop Capt John Lassell Sam> Lothrop Josiah Lyman John Martian Joseph Martian Dan Metcalf Samii Millington Solomon Millington Timothy Owen Nathi Porter Ichabod Packard Simeon Peck Walter Peck BbbaPeck Estate of Bb Perkins Goven Blisha Payn Ellaz' Robinson Sami Richardson Enoch Redington Constant Storrs Sam> Sprage Elkenah Sprage Nathi storrs Maj. John Slapp Clapp Sumner Simon Slapp Huckens Storrs Josiah Sweatland Joseph Tllden Lent Elisha Tioknor Barnabas Tisdall Capt Bela Turner Silas Waterman Able Wright Thomas Wells Joseph Wood Joseph Wood Jr lb oz 8 10 9 4 12 12 2 4 6 4 8 14 8 4 2 4 6 7 4 5 20 10 12 6 14 10 6 12 11 14 2 4 27 10 2 10 19 8 5 10 16 8 13 14 3 6 3 6 10 19 6 22 10 9 6 16 5 2 2 6 2 2 4 2 4 15 12 28 8 5 10 19 8 24 12 lb OZ 14 6 8 12 21 4 5 4 7 10 13 7 8 34 20 20 3 5 4 21 14 66 14 4 4 4 4 .5 10 10 4 4 2 2 16 6 4 4 13 13 24 11 4 18 12 4 4 5 10 9 6 9 6 4 4 15 10 6 12 4 4 46 4 i 14 32 8 4 4 5 10 9 6 8 2 10 10 16 14 31 14 10 10 36 14 16 14 15 8 14 26 14 27 23 S 6 26 47 9 41 4 18 4 13 12 66 12 6 14 lb OZ 28 12 17 8 42 8 11 8 15 20 26 15 17 8 68 12 41 41 6 4 11 4 8 8 43 12 112 12 8 8 11 30 U 8 8 26 26 48 12 22 8 37 8 8 8 11 4 18 12 18 12 8 8 31 4 13 12 8 8 92 8 9 12 65 8 8 11 4 18 12 55 46 11 14 11 14 33 12 68 12 21 4 73 12 83 12 .30 17 12 53 12 17 12 62 8 95 18 12 65 42 8 36 8 27 8 113 8 13 12 lb OZ 8 10 5 4 12 12 2 4 6 4 8 14 8 4 3 7 4 5 20 10 12 6 12 6 1 14 2 13 34 2 2 2 2 4 4 3 6 9 3 6 2 4 2 4 7 14 7 14 14 10 6 12 4 4 6 10 11 2 3 6 5 10 2 4 27 10 10 8 4 6 10 2 19 2 3 5 16 13 14 6 6 2 2 3 10 19 6 22 10 9 5 16 6 16 12 28 8 6 10 19 8 24 12 10 14 8 4 34 2 4 2 qts jP 4 1 1 7 1 3 5 6 6 1 9 1 6 11 2 9 10 9 3 7 10 5 9 9 86 HISTORY OF LEBANON. A PROVISION BILL FOR THE USB OF THE ARMEY FOE THE YEAR ENSU- ING.— Concluded. Pork Beef Wheat Flower Eye Salt lb oz lb OZ lb oz lb oz qts Jls 6 6 10 10 21 4 6 6 1 14 10 24 6 48 12 14 10 2 4 6 12 11 14 22 8 6 12 1 1 16 2 26 14 53 12 16 2 2 6 6 i 8 12 17 8 5 4 7 ■ 2 i 4 4 8 8 2 4 3 2 4 4 4 8 8 2 4 8 12 20 40 12 2 7 14 13 2 26 4 7 14 1 S 3 6 S 10 11 4 3 6 5 2 4 4 4 8 8 2 4 3 2 4 4 4 8 8 2 4 8 12 20 40 12 2 2 1 2 1 14 3 12 1 2 n 2 33 65 110 33 R 4 4 8 7 8 15 4 8 Hal s. d. Ben]. Wright Ens Nathaniel Wheat! ey John Wheatley Esq Hez' Waters Abial Wills DanielWills John Woodward Henery Woodward Eleaz' Woodward Phinas Wright Andrew Wheatley Ephraim Wood Asa Edgerton Mary Bennet Benj. Fuller J' fourfold . Charles Saxton 0. 6 2. 8 11 5 & 4 7 5 & 3 2 6 9 Naty Storrs 1 Hez'' Waters I Selectmen Edmund Freeman J There are some things to be noticed in this bill of provisions. Each man's weight of pork and rye flour are equal, his wheat flour is double the weight of his beef. Of pork there is about 1,344 pounds and an equal quantity of rye ; of beef 2,262 pounds, of wheat flour 4,524 pounds, equal to about 23 barrels ; of money a little over £11. The largest assessments were upon James. Jones and Joseph Wood, Sr., whose quantities are equal; the smallest, Mary Bennet. REVOLUTIONARY PAPERS. Losseses sustained in the publick service since the contest with Great Britain May 1776 Taken by the Enemy at the Cedars in Canada from Noah Paine of Lebanon the following Articles, (viz.) 1 Coat 60/, 1 pr Dear skin Breeches 33/, 1 pr Rusia drabb'd Breeches 15/, 1 Beaver — Hat 24/, 5 pr of stockings 30/ 1 Cheque Wollen shirt 15/ 1 Linnen Do 12/, 1 silk Handkerchief 8/, 1 pr mittens 2/6, 2 prs shoes 20/, 1 pr shoe- buckles 2/6, 1 gun 72/, Blanket 18/, Cash 12/, Knapsack 3/6, Tump- line 2/ An exact account of the Losses Sustained By Lieut. Charles Hill, at the Cedars in Canada may 19, 1776 A new great Coat £3 12 Strait bodied Coat fine Broad Cloth 4 10 Supafine Jacket 2. 2 INTRODUCTION. 87 Nankeen Jacket 1— Beaver Hat 3. 6 Pocket Handkerchief 0— 3—8 English Blanket 1— 4 Knapsack 0— 4— Fusee, Very neat 5— Powder Horn 6—8 Guns D D to the Soldiers, of my own private Property, which I never rec'd pay for 12— 0-0 £33— 8—4 The ahove acct. Charged as English goods ware sold for silver in A D. 1776. Tli€ Cedars was an important post about thirty-six miles from Montreal up the St. Lawrence. The post was in command of Colonel Bedell, who, having information from two friendly Indians that a body of English and Indians were in the neigh- borhood, left his garrison to communicate the intelligence, in- stead of sendiiig a suitable messenger, for which he was cen- sured. The fort was unfortunately surrendered and the losses detailed above we^e in consequence. A "beaver kitt" is a young beaver — a kitten. A tumpline is a broad strap passing across the forehead to aid in supporting the knapsack. D. D. probably is an abbreviation for delivered. Lebanon Oct. 28th 1776 We whose names are hereunto Annexed, having rec'd of the Selectmen of said Lebanon the several Quantities of Gunpowder Ball and Flint Annexed to our several names. Do by these promise to be, .and hold ourselves Accountable to the Select men of said Lebanon for the time . being for the above articles Rec'd as aforesaid Excepting only such of them as may be spent in actual Service Witness our hands lbs Pow( Zacheus Downer 1 Abel Wright 1 Nathi Hall Lieut Jed Hebbard Abiel Willes Isaiah Bliss James Jones Charles Tilden Stephen Tilden s Lbs No. der Balls Flints 2V2 6 2 6 1/2 2 6 V2 2 6 % 2 6 % 2 6 V2 2 6 V2 2 6 % 2 6 88 HISTORY OP LEBANON. Stephen Colburn Jerh Griswold Walter Peck James Fuller Elisha Ticknor Jun Joseph Martin Joseph Tilden Juu Solomon Mellington Henry Woodward Elkanah Sprague Eleazer Woodward James Hebbard Daniel Bliss Oliver Griswold Moses Hebbard Jesse Cook Lebanon July 25 1777 Rec'd of Elisha Payne Lent Coll in Col. Chase's Reg't Ten fire arms, Belonging to the State of New Hampshire, and Sent by Them to and for the use of said Regt. — for the town of Lebanon ; to be Returned to said Payne or any other proper officer, or accounted for at the price of five pounds ten shillings, besides the cost of Transportation when thereto Required — allso twenty pounds wt of powder, and twenty wt. of lead, and ten flints Belonging to said State as afore said. Rec'd pr Mr William Dana Lent. Lebanon 25tii July 1777 The proportion of arms and ammunition sent to Coli Chase's Regt as follows (viz) lbs. Lbs. No. Powder Balls Flints Va 2 6 1/2 2 6 V2 2 6 1 2 6 1 2 6 1/2 2 6 1 2 9 % 2 V2 2 1 2 9 % y2 6 % 2 6 V2 2 % V2 Cornish 4 guns 4 Plainfield 13 do 20 lb- powder 25 lb lead 13 flints- -13 Lebanon 10 do 20 lb powder 20 lb led 10 flints 10 Hanover 12 do 20 powder 25 lb led 20 flints 12 Cardigan 5 do 20 lb powder 30 lb led 15 flints 5 Canaan 4 do 20 lb powder 10 lb led , 4 flints 4 Grantham 2 do 2 One dollar to be paid on Each fire arm at time 50 of Receiving them for the Cost of Transportation. Lead 60 lbs powder 2 lbs town stock. John Martin 1% do Dam Hough 3 lb Do Nath. Hall 1 lb Do 1 lb powder Sami Paine 5 lb Do Jed. Hebbard 1 lb powder Abiel Welles 1 lb Do An accompt of the time and Charges of my going to Royalton at the time of the alarm on the 16 Oct 1780 Myself three days ; found a horse PROF. CHARLES A. YOUNG. INTRODUCTION. 89 to carry provisions from Lieut. John Lymans to the foot of Tunbridge mountains ; necessary charges — eight dollars Jeriah Swetland. To the select men for the town of Lebanon ; sirs, pleas to pay to Mr Daniel Hough of Lebanon the sum due to me from s* town for my ser- "vice A scouting in the year 1781 in Capt Charles Nelsons Company. Lebanon Dec ye 27 1784 pr me William Lathrop Received of the Selectmen contents of the within order Daniel Hough May 6tii 1777. Lebanon We the Subscribers, whose names are hereunto annexed Hereby Cer- tify & Declare that we have Rec'd of Nehemiah Estabrook & John Wheatley £24 Each Raised by subscription in the town of Lebanon, County of Grafton & State of New Hampshire for the Encouragement of such as should Voluntarily Enlist into the Continental Service for the Term of three years on Behalf of said Town. Witness our hands and names as follows John Colburn Jonathan Wright Luther Wheatley Nathi Bugbie Edward Slapp Jonathan Oonant Phinehas Wright. Another ammmiition list — date unknown : Nehemiah Estabrook 1 lb powder John Martin Do Phinehas Wright Do Abel Lyman Do Jabez Baldwin Do Charles Sexton Do John Slapp Jun Do Thos' Blake Do Hezeh Waters Do Oliver Grlswold Do Elkanah Sprague Do Levi Hyde Do Jos Tilden Do Sami Sprague Do James Hebbard 4 lbs lead 1 lb powdfer Neh. Estabrook Jun 4 Do Thos Blake 4 do John Slapp Jun % do pr me Daniel Hough Zacheus Downer 1 lb powder Sami paine Do Abell Wright Do James Gutter Do Asa Colburn Do Elias Lyman Do Bleazr Woodward Do Tilley Kingsbury Do Sluman Lothrop Do Dani Hough Do David Hough Do Elisha Ticknor Do Wm Dana Do Jos Martin Do Lieut Sami Paine 6 lbs lead Oliver Grlswold 4 lbs lead W™ Dana % Do Joseph Martin 1 Do 90 HISTORY OP LEBANON. An account of the Expense and losses sustained by the town of non, in the publick Defence since the contest with Great Brittain. £ May 1775. Expense to Committee after and for ammu- nition . . . . .20 July 1776. Expense to Committee after and for ainmu- nition . . . . .29 July 25. Rec'd of Col. Payne ten fire-locks, 20 lbs. of powder, twenty wt of Lead and ten flints which said Col. Payne obtained of the State of N. H. for the use of the Reg't commanded by Col. Jonathan Chase In the 1777 paid to nine men that join'd Col. Scilly's Reg't for three years service in the Conti- nental Army £24 Each, silver, m . 216 By orders from Col. Chase an Express to Col. Paine July 3d, 1777, 22 miles — By an- other Express July 30th to Do. . . 1 July 3d, 1777. Express to Capt. Hendy, Leba- s. d. 5 i July 30th. May 1777. July 16 2 8 14 18 16 12 10 2 Oct. Express to Col. Morey, Capt. Sam. Paine paid an Express to Col. Elisha Paine .... 1777. 6 Pack horses, 3 days, 34 miles to Coffins 1 Man and horse two days to ca*ry Packs To Ferriage over Connecticut River Jule 30th 1777 to six Pack Horses to Otter Creek 70 miles to the Block House . . .3 A man with the Pack Horses 7 days . 1 1777. Paid James Jones for the use of his horse to Saratoga and for his bridle lost in s'd service . . . . . 1 13 Committees Expense of Collecting and priz ing horses for the service to Saratoga To 62 lbs. of lead; powder, 3 lbs 1777. Maj. Griswold's Express to Col. Paine July 18th, 1780. By a journey of two horses and a boy two days to Orford to carry the baggage of a party of Frenchmen by order of Col. Chase 1780, 1781. Two Expresses to Canaan on Publick ser- vice ..... Jan. 26, 1779 by six men as a Scouting Party for 1 month at 40s per month, as money passed in 1774 12 1780 by 60 men, one day, in the alarm at Barnard at 3s. per day . . . .9 1780, By Expence in the late Alarm Occasioned by the Enemy's destroying the Town of Roy- alton, &c . . . . . 146 16 9 July 12 1 14 17 18 14 5 8 Aug. INTRODUCTION. 91 £ S. d. By paying and victualling 12 men Engaged for 1 month to scout upon the Frontiers at 48 per month, but as s'd men were in s'd service but three weeks their wages and victualling amounted to . . . 41 4 6 March 2d, 1781. To paying and victualling six men Raised for one month, to be under the command of Oapt. Nelson to scout upon the fron- tiers, but as s'd men Continued in s'd ser- vice but three weeks, Expence . . 22 12 S Expence for transporting provision for s'd men to Newbury . . . . 1 18 March 1781 by Expence in the Alarm at Newbury . 48 3 S Sept. 1781 by expense in the Alarm at Corinth for 60 men . . . . .9 By Expence of the Selectmen in &c in pro- curing provisions and other necessaries for the soldiers in the several Services and Alarms inserted as abovesaid 50 Days a 6s per day . . . . .15 Two barrels of Beef 2 hundred 1,4 per barrel for the troops at Corinth at £4. 10s per barrel . . . . .9 1781 By a bounty paid to Eleven men that en- gaged in the publick service for six months at £4 10s each . . . . 49 10- Additional pay advanced by the town to s'd men 24s per month for five months and % 72 12 1780 For three men that 'Listed under Capt. Sami Paine in the Public Service at Cohos — a bounty 40s each . . .6 For eight men under Capt Bush 1 month and % bounty and wages . . . 38 8 To Lieut Huntington 1 month and % at £5. 5 per month . . . . 7 17 ft Sum total . . . £770—1-1 Soldiers From Lebanon in the Revolution The historian has found great difficulty, on account of the rela- tions of the town to the state, in making a full and accurate list of these patriots. First, the names of those for whose connection with the army there is documentary evidence are given. In Colonel Bedel's regiment were Charles Hill, ensign, Noah Payne, private, Eleazer M. Porter. This regiment was raised to reinforce the army after its failure under Arnold to capture Quebec, and the death of General Mont- gomery. At a fort called the Cedars, above the City of Montreal the regiment was disgracefully surrendered by the major, Isaac Butterfield, Colonel Bedel being absent at the time. The svir- render was in May, 1776. Paine and Hill brought bills against the town for losses which they had sustained in the surrender. COLONEL CHASE'S REGIMENT. Isaiah Potter,* chaplain William Dana,* adjutant Edmund Freeman, Capt. CAPT. JOSHUA HENDEE'S* COMPANY. Lieut. Zalmon Aspenwall* Samuel McCluar Ensign Nathan Aldrich* Timy Owen* Daniel Bliss* Barnabas Perkins* Jacob Colburn* Phillip Paddleford Sluman Lothrop* Elisha Tickney* Nath. Mason Simeon Wheton Peres Mason Joseph Wood* Solomon Millington* Eleazar Woodward The above discharged the 20ti> (1777) out 48 days each. Lieut. Seth Martin Eleazar Robbinson* Sergt Nathaniel Hall* Simn Ballock Sergt Nehemiah Estabrook* Martin Dewey* Con Lemuel HufC* Josiah Hovey " Zacheus Downer* Elias Limon* " James Jones* Mathew Peck* " Joseph Loveland Silvanus Wells * Those martecl * were of Lebanon. SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 93 Levy Hide* Christopher Smith Hezekiah Waters* Joseph Sevey The above dismissed the 18 of June. The above were in service 4& days. Ensign Simon Duda (Derry) Th's Ellis Barbaric* Sergt. Henry Woodward John Gray* " Israel Winchester Pecli Asa Williams William Downer* The above dismissed June 13 (1777) John Grissel* Charles Saxton* Abel Eight Nathaniel Porter* Joseph Hamelton In the service 12 Days each, cauld 9 days. In a roll found among the Hall papers the name of Walter Peck is found in addition to the above. To carrying 45 Packs From Col. Chases to Mt. Independence, lOO miles £22-10-0 To Abel Lymon and Elish Tickney Bcabod Amsbery with There Horses five Days a fetching Baggage from Lebbanon to Col Chase's £2-2-0 To Ezra Percias? with one Hors assisting in gitting the sick along Home six days at £2-2-0 To three Hired Horses to assist in gitting the sick along Home 2 days, £0-12-0 Joshua Hendee Captain Another roll of Colonel Chase's regiment contains the follow- ing names of officers from Lebanon: W™ Dana, Adjutant Isaiah Potter Chaplain Samuel Payne Capt. Jeddediah Hibbard Sergt. Major John Lasel Capt. Abel Lyman Lieutenant Nathaniel Hall Lieut. The above was copied from papers 'of Colonel Chase, now deposited in the archives of the New Hampshire Historical Society. The spelling is preserved and some of the names must be made out by the sound. In the spring of 1777 there were great fears for the safety of Ticonderoga, when the militia was hastily ordered out, those in this region under the command of Col. Jonathan Chase of Cornish. The regiment marched to Ticonderoga, when, the alarms subsiding, they returned to their homes, in the latter part 94 HISTORY OP LEBANON. of June. From the names which appear above as of Lebanon, there could have been but few men left in the town. They had scarcely been dismissed when a new alarm was raised, and they were again summoned to the field to meet Burgoyne and save Ticonderoga. The regiment marched under command of Maj. Francis Smith. CAPTAIN HOUSE'S COMPANY IN COLONEL BALDWIN'S REGIMENT. Daniel Hough Sluman Lathrop John Slapp jr Ebenezer Bliss William Downer Jr Col. Nahum Baldwin was of Amherst. His regiment was raised in accordance with a vote of a special convention of the Council and Assembly, September 17, 1776, for the purpose of reinforcing the army in New York. The regiment was in the battle of "White Plains, October 28, 1776, and was dismissed in December of that year. CAPTAIN HOUSE'S COMPANY IN COLONEL CILLET'S REGIMENT. Mustered March 17, 1777. John Coleburn Jonathan Conant Edward Slapp Phineas Wright Luther Wheatley Jonathan Wright Nath. Bughee Jonathan Kingsbury John Laidee Elisha Tilden Stephen Tilden Benj. Quin COLONEL CILLEY'S REGIMENT. John Colbarn Edward Slapp Jonathan Conant Phineas Wright Jonathan Wright Josiah Magoon Luther Wheatley, Daniel Hough. Thomas Blake, Ensign Eben. Bliss Nathaniel Bugbee These men were enlisted for three years in the Continental service in the spring of 1777. This was General Stark's old regiment. The rendezvous of the regiment was Ticonderoga. When that fortress was aban- doned this regiment fell back with the army to Saratoga; was engaged in the battle of Stillwater or Bemis Heights, and the SOLDIEKS IN THE REVOLUTION. 95 battle of Saratoga. It passed the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge; was present at the battle of Monmouth, N. J., was with Sullivan in the expedition into the Indian country, New York. It was stationed at West Point for a time. Of those above named, Luther Wheatley, son of John Wheat- ley, a youth of seventeen, was mortally wounded in the battle of Stillwater, September 19, 1777, and died September 30. CAPTAIN HENDEE'S COMPANY IN COLONEL HOBART'S REGIMENT. Samuel Easterbrook Ens Joseph Wood Elisha Bingham Zalmon Aspenwall Jabez Baldwin Jeremiah Griswold Azariah Bliss Josiah Bliss Joel Tilden Walter Peck Jacob Colburn Eleazer M. Porter Colonel Hobart, eaUed in the records Hubbard, was from Plymouth. He was present at the battle of Bennington with a part of his regiment, while the other part went on to Saratoga and Stillwater. It has been said by several persons interested in such matters that there were soldiers from Lebanon at the battle of Benning- ton, which the historian would gladly believe if he could have reliable proof of the assertion. When he first became a resident of Lebanon there were living those who could remember the battle; neither they nor any of their descendants made any claim of presence at that battle. I find no proof of such presence in any document. There were soldiers from Lebanon in the field just before that battle and afterwards at the battle of Saratoga. Colonel Chase's regiment, in which there were many soldiers from Lebanon, took the field May 7, 1777, but was discharged in July. See Revolutionary Rolls, Vol. II, pages 14 to 19. The regiment was called out to reinforce the army at Ticonderoga. On page 138 of the same volume is a record of the discharge of sixty officers and men from Colonel Chase's regiment, June 11, 1777. Of these twelve, at least, were from Lebanon. The reason given for their discharge was that their crops needed their attention to provide food for their families and the army. On page 38 of Vol. II, Revolutionary Rolls, is another record of 96 HISTORY OF LEBANON. Colonel Chase's regiment, under command of Maj. Francis Smith, which marched from Cornish to reinforce the army at Ticonderoga on the alarms of June 27 and July 4, 1777. There were nearly twenty of these soldiers from Lebanon in this regi- ment, comprising most of those whose discharge took place June 11, 1777. AU. received discharge before the middle of July of the same year. Among those known to have been at Bennington was Colonel Hobart or Hubbard. Among the companies of his regiment was that of Captain Hendee, in which eleven men from Lebanon were enrolled, and it would seem probable that they were in the battle, but a careful examination of the official rolls leads to a different conclusion. According to the official rolls (Revolutionary Rolls No. 2, pages 143 to 158), Colonel Hobart 's command consisted of five companies, Captain Walker's, Captain Webber's, Captain El- liott's, Captain Post's, and Captain Hendee 's. Nothing shows more certainly where soldiers have been than the pay-rolls, be- cause they drew 2d. per mile for the distance they marched. Captain Walker's company is stated to have joined the Northern Army at Saratoga, No. 2, Revolutionary Rolls, page 143. The same statement is made concerning Captain Webber's company, page 146, but their travel was from Stillwater. Cap- tain Elliott's company was from Plymouth and towns adjacent. The roll does not state from what place their travel was allowed, but only "travel home." Captain Hendee 's company, page 155, was paid travel from. Stillwater. Captain Post's company was paid travel from Stillwater and Bennington, the only company of Colonel Hobart 's command so distinguished. This company is known to have been at the Ben- nington battle in which Captain Post lost his life. Out of the ten companies composing Colonel Stiekney's regi- ment, only five drew pay from Bennington and Stillwater. Oi\t of the ten companies composing Colonel Nichols' regiment, only three are distinguished as having been at Bennington. From all this the historian cannot resist the conclusion that Captain Hendee 's company was not at Bennington. SOLDIERS IN THE EBVOLUTION. 97 MAJOR WHITCOMB'S BATTALION. Major Whitcomb had command of a battalion of Rangers from 1776 to the close of the war. It was their duty to guard the upper Connecticut. In the roll of officers of the battalion as organized in 1780, is the name of Samuel Payne, as captain of a company. From the records we learn that three men enlisted under Captain Payne "in the Public Service at Cohos." Who they were the record does not state. There were also eight men under Captain Bush a month and a half. Lieutenant Huntington was out for the same period. In 1781 eleven men "engaged in the public service for six months. ' ' There were also others engaged for longer or shorter periods, called out at the various alarms in the closing years of the war; sixty men one day in the alarm at Barnard, August, 1780; twelve men scouting on the frontier three weeks; March, 1781, six men for one month under Captain Nelson to scout upon the frontiers. To these the following names must be added : Nehemiah Esta- brook 2d, who hastened to the front immediately after the battle of Lexington, and continued in the service to the close of the war. He was one of the body guard of "Washington. He was undoubtedly one of the two reported by the selectmen as gone into the army. The other was probably Lieut. Thomas Blake. What is said of Nehemiah Estabrook is traditional. The his- torian fails to find records to support it. His name is given in one of the lists of soldiers, but under different circumstances. The following persons were engaged in the service of their country, who came to Lebanon after the close of the war: Diarca Allen Gideon Baker Phinehas Allen Zuar Eldredge Jesse Cook Nathan Durkee David Millington Enoch Redington Nathaniel Storrs Edward Slapp, son of Maj. John Slapp, on the evacuation of Tieonderoga, was in the rear guard of the army and obliged to endure much fatigue and many hardships under the pursuit of 98 HISTOBT OF LEBANON. the enemy, under which his health gave way and he was sent to the hospital at Albany, N. Y. In October, 1777, he obtained a furlough to return home. Ensign Charles Hill happened to be at Albany, and in a most friendly way offered to assist him in reaching home. Growing weaker on the journey, he was obliged to stop at Shaftsbury, about forty miles from Albany, where he died at the house of Ichabod Cross. Nathaniel Bugbee contracted disease in the army and was a long time sick at Lebanon. Ensign Thomas Blake was born in Dorchester, Mass., in 1752, son of Samuel and Patience Blake. He descended from "William Blake, who came to Dorchester in 1630. In 1775 he purchased large tracts of land in Lebanon, and the sawmill by Hubbard bridge, known as the Davidson mills. He was a joiner and was at work on the college buildings when news came of the battle of Lexington. He immediately left and started, in company with some students and others, for Cambridge, and on the way was chosen leader. He immediately enlisted and was probably at the battle of Bunker Hill. He was first, ensign in Captain House's company, then lieutenant, and in General Sullivan's expedition he was appointed paymaster and continued such to the close of the war. He kept a journal which has been printed in Kidder's "History of the First New Hampshire Regiment." The first date is Lebanon. After the close of the war he trav- eled through the state, settling military accounts. He then went to Boston and established himself as a manufacturer of soap and candles, firm of Blake & Jackson. He died in Boston, February 18, 1840. He had the reputation of a most faithful and trustworthy officer. The following is a transcript from the original in the Pension Bureau, Washington, D. C. : We the subscribers Being a Draft from the Militia of the Regt. under the command of Col Jonth Chase Do Acnolage we have Reel of him four pounds ten shillings each as one months advanced pay, agrable to a Vote of the Councel and assembly of the state New Hampshire Lebanon Zalmon Aspenwall Isaiah Bliss Joel Tilden Joseph Wood Junr Asa Colburn Lemi Fuller SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 99 Jabez Baldwin Eleazer Mather Porter Jeremiah Griswold Jacob Colburn Ensign Charles Hill John Colburn Jonathan Wright Ensign Thomas Blake Edward Slapp Josiah Magoon Bbenezer Bliss Isaiah Potter chaplain Lieut. Zalmon Aspenwall Ensign Nathan Aldrich Daniel Bliss Jacob Colburn Sluman Lathrop Solomon Millington Timothy Owen Barnabas Perkins Elisha Gecknor Joseph Wood Sergt. Nathaniel Hall Sergt. Nehemiah Estabrook Corp. Lemuel Hough Corp. Zacheus Downer Noah Pa.vne private Jonathan Conant Luther Wheatley Nathaniel Bugbee Phineas Wright Daniel Hough William Dana Adjutant Corp James Jones Levi Hyde Hezekiah Waters Eleaser Robinson Martin Deney Ellas Lyman Azariah Bliss Walter Peck Benj. Harris. Junr Matthew Peck William Downer Ths. Ellis Barbarick John Gray John Griswold Abel Wright Charles Saxtoii Nathaniel Porter Ensign Samuel Estabrooks Capt Samuel Payne Jedediah Hibbard Sergt Major Abel Lyman Lieut. Robert Colburn John Slapp Jr Nathaniel Wheatley Silas Waterman Elkanah Sprague Stephen Colburn Nathaniel Storrs Jos. Gilden Jr Nathaniel Porter Jr James Hartshorn Jabez Baldwin Simon Porter Slapp James Fuller Moses Hibbard John Fox Asariah Bliss Jeremiah Meachan Benj. Fuller Walter Peck Bba Peck Huckins Storrs James Hartshorn Nathan Durkee The lists given on the preceding pages, probably incomplete, show nevertheless that the town did its part in the great strug- gle for independence. The lists have cost the historian months of perplexing labor, at great disadvantages, because of the attitude of the town towards New Hampshire in the Vermont controversy. 100 history of lebanon. Committee op Safety. This body of men was a necessity of the times in which it originated. In the sudden breaking up of the royal authority before there was any organization to bind them together, and to be a channel for legitimate authority, this organization was de- vised. It seems to have had both legislative and executive pow- ers. That of the state was only active when the assembly was not in session, as they had at the time no distinct executive body. The committees of the towns were appointed annually and were clothed with ample powers. To secure uniformity in their action, committees of neighboring towns consulted together and made rules for their government. The following are instances of their manner of proceeding: At a meeting of the Commitees of Safety for the towns of Plainfield, Lebanon, Hanover Canaan & Grantham at the house of Mr Azariah Bliss in said Lebanon Aug 24 A. D. 1775 Chose John Wheatley Esq. chairman, Bezaleel Woodward Esq. clerk. Voted that we will use our utmost Endeavorers as Committees of our respective Towns for the preservation of the Peace and suppression of Disorders among the people as Recommended by Congress Voted that the laws of our Country ought and shall be our Rule of Proceedure in judging of the Qualities of Offences & punishing the same, only with such Variations as the Different Channel of Admin- istration Requires Voted that each Committee keep records of their Proceedure Toted that this meeting be dissolved. Attest Beza Woodward Clk. At a meeting of the Committee of Safety for the town of Lebanon at the house of Mr. Azariah Bliss in said Lebanon on Wednesday the 2na day of Aug. 1775 said Committee Chose Deacon Nehemiah Estabrook Chairman and John Wheatley Esq. Clerk Voted that in Common Cases the Clerk of said Committee shall issue out proper precepts in behalf of said Committee for Conventing of Disturbers of the peace before said Committee At a meeting of the Committee of Safety for the town of Lebanon Aug. 7th 1775 Tyxhall Cleaveland of Hanover and Zalmon Aspenwall of said Lebanon appeared before said Committee to answer to a Com- plaint Exhibited to s'd Comtee by Sami Paine a Grand Juror of s'd Lebanon against said Cleaveland and said Aspenwall for breach of peace & Disorderly conduct. When said Committee proceeded to an Examination of the Case which by the Confession of the parties above named, as well as by Evidence said complaint was judged to be sup- SOLDIERS. IN THE REVOLUTION. 101 ported, when upon the Submission of the parties and promises of Regu- lar Conduct in the future said Comtee Dismissed said Delinquents. Also Hobart Bstabrook & John Barbarick appeared before said Comtee & were Examined Concerning their Labouring on the 20th day of July last being the day set apart by the Grand american Congress for pub- lick fasting & prayer throughout the Continent — when the above named persons Confessed their fault, and being Duly admonished to a better Conduct in future (which they Engaged) were accordingly Dismissed by said Comtee Lebanon, Nov 25 1775 Jos Tilden of said Lebanon Hushandman appears before the Comtee of Safety for said Lebanon & complains and says that he the said Tilden on the 23^ day of this instant Was met on the Highway between the towns of piermont & orford By Capt. Bela Turner of said Lebanon and Was by him the said Capt Turner stopt and By Him Robbed of legal property. Joseph Tilden Lebanon Nov 27 1775 At a meeting of the Comtee of Safety for said Lebanon the above ■complaint of Jos. Tilden aforesaid against Capt Bela Turner for Rob- bery was Considered & Evidences heard in form of both parties when said Comtee took the matter of the aforesaid Complaint into Considera- tion & said Comtee unanimously agreed that said Complaint is not Sup- ported ; and that him the said Jos. Tilden, the Complainant ought in Justice to make a proper Retraction to Capt Turner in a publick man- ner and pay all incidental charges. 'Test John Wheatley Clk. Colony of New Hampri Grafton County ssf At a meeting of the Committee of safety for the town of Hanover in said County at the House of John Paine in-holder in said Hanover, March 23a 1776. Present — Lt David Woodward Chairman Capt. Aaron Storrs Bezai Woodward Esq Clk Bezaleel Phelps of Norwich in the Colony of New York, yeoman, was bro't before this Committee by virtue of a warrant issued by Bezaleel Woodward and Aaron Storrs, two of the Committee, predicated on his having in his custody and detaining a certain Note of this Colony bear- ing the face of a six shilling Bill which is supposed to have been fraud- ■ently altered and increased as to the value or sum therein express'd by s'd Phelps, as by said warrant may more fully appear. Respondent pleads not guilty After a full hearing of evidences in said case said Phelps confessed that he had burnt said bill being conscious that it was altered, and 102 HISTORY OF LEBANON. that in case lie may be excused from penalty in detaining said bill when he knew that it was counterfeit, he will disclose to this Committee the author of that and sundry other bills, and discover where some of said bills are — ^whereupon s'd proposal is agreed to, only that he pay costs hitherto made in the affair, till they can be regularly recovered of some other person. Costs taxed at forty shillings. Said Phelps then desired Lemuel Paine of s'd Hanover to produce a certain forty shilling Bill which he received on the evening of the 15 inst. of Andrew Wheatley of Lebanon, which s'd Paine on request accordingly did, which bill is adjudged by this Committee to have been altered from a three shilling bill, and which s'd Lemuel on his oath declared he reed of said Wheatley as aforesaid Committee adjourned to tomorrow morning, 9 o'clock March 24* Met according to adjournment. Present — Lt David Woodward, Chairman I Committee It Aaron Storrs l of Bez'a Woodward Esq Clk Hanover Committee of iCbanon Cot ,1 L( John Wheatley Esq. ] Major John Slapp Major John Griswold Mr Azariah Bliss j 1st Charles Hill of Lebanon in-holder is bro't before these Committees for putting off and passing counterfeit money at which time Solomon Cushman of Norwich produced a forty shilling Bill of the Colony of New Hampshire No 3260 emitted July 25tii 1775 and payable Dec 20th 1779 which is adjudged by these Committees to have been altered, which bill said Cushman on his oath declares he re'd of said Charles Hill in payment for a silk Handkerchief, and s'd Hill is not able to inform us of whom he rec'd it. Whereupon it is considered and ordered that s'd Hill pay to s'd Cushman the value of s'd bill viz. forty shillings and costs. Judgment satisfied Beza. Woodward, Clerk. The Committee then resumed the examination relative to the bill laid before this committee yesterday by Lemuel Paine, relative to which Charles Hill (being sworn) testified that being at this house on the evening of the 15th Inst, he saw Joseph Skinner (of Capt Greens com- pany in Col Bedels Regt.) put a bill into the hand of Andrew Wheatley of Lebanon that he might get it changed Bezaleel Phelps before named (being sworn) testifies That he he saw Andrew Wheatley give a forty shilling bill to Lemuel Paine to be changed, and afterwards as s'd Phelps was going to Dr Eager with s'd Skinner, s'd Skinner told this deponent that it was his bill with which Wheatley paid the reckoning at said Paine's and added "And, I made it myself, and I have altered a good inany Mils from three shillings to SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 103 iorty shillings, and I have Known many more altered hoth here and at Camhridge, and a person may make his fortune 'by it in a little time." He also said all the money he spent at Cambridge he altered and further said to s'd Phelps that if he told anybody of it he would kill him. Said Phelps farther testifies that that he saw said Skinner cut certain peices from a certain book or pamphlet to use in altering bills, and s'd Skinner told him he had cut pieces from it before to use for that purpose, and that he would not take a thousand pounds for the book. Phelps described the book and informed particularly where he had left it (which being produced exhibited strong ground to apprehend from its appearance that it has been abundantly used for that purpose) Said Phelps further testifies when s'd Skinner had some paste to use in altering bills, Mrs Winton coming into the room asked what it was for? Dr. Eager replied to paste tooTcs — ^when he was sometimes in the room whilst Skinner was altering bills with the paste, both before and after Mrs Winton asked the question ; said Phelps further testifies that he saw said Skinner alter a bill to a forty shilling last Sunday and this deponent observing Dr. Eager to be present part of the time, asked Skinner whether the Doctor knew of his altering bills, to which Skinner replied "Damn him, yes." Said Phelps further testifies [The remainder is wanting] — Prov. Papers, Vol. VIII, pp. 115, 116. The Charles Hill mentioned above should not be mistaken for the Charles HiU who was one of the earliest settlers and was prominent in both town and church affairs. At this time he was dead. It was his son, Charles Hill, Jr. Colony of New Hampshire. Grafton ss Lebanon March 25tii 1776. At a meeting of the Committee of Safety for the town of Lebanon to hear and Consider of a Complaint Ehibited by Tyxhall Cleaveland of Hanover in said County, Trader against Robert Colburn of said Leba- non, yeoman, for that he the said Colburn being in company of Elijah King of Charlestown Doct. George Eager and Joel Foster of said Han- over on the lOth inst. (it being Lord's day) was aiding and assisting in Cutting and Causing to fall a Large tree on a certain frame (of a build- ing) in said Hanover, belonging to said Cleaveland which frame was entirely moved by the falling of said tree. Present at said meeting John Wheatley Esq. Maj. John Griswold Maj. John Slapp Mr. Azariah Bliss Maj. John Slapp Chairman. John Wheatley Clerk. Said Colburn being brought by Virtue of a warrant from said Comtee before them, was Carefully Examined touching the aforesaid Complaint, when s'd Colburn Confessed that he was in Compy with the persons mentioned in said Complaint. Upon which Declaration of the Respond- 104 HISTORY OP LEBANON. ant the Comtee proceeded to a Consideration of ttie point in Question & are of the opinion that him the said Robert Colburn is guilty of aiding and assisting in the fact Exhibited in the said Complaint & that the said Colburn ought in Justice to pay or secure to the satisfaction of said Cleaveland as a Compensation in Part, for the Damage done to said frame the sum of three pounds of Lawful money & as said Transgres- sion was committed on the Sabbath or Lord's day, which in the opinion of the Comtee Greatly Aggravated the offence that him the said Colburn be and is amerced the sum of five shillings for breaking the Sabbath and that he be held by Bond with one SuSicient surety for satisfying said judgment & paying Costs. Lebanon, Dec 16 1776. At a meeting of the Committee of Safety of said Lebanon Held at the house of Dea. Nehemiah Estabrook in said Lebanon Present Nehemiah Estabrook Chairman Azariah Bliss John Slapp John Griswold John Wheatley Then appeared before said Comtee Abel Wright of said Lebanon & made Oath that he Rec'd a certain Bill Emitted by the State of Connec- ticut, said bill Containing 10/6. of James Hebbard of said Lebanon ; said Hebbard also made oath that he Rec'd said bill of Sami Meacham of Relhan [Enfield] & said Meacham made oath that Jonathan Paddleford of said Relhan Delivered said bill to Phebe the wife of said Meacham. The Committee Having Examined said bill are of the opinion that said bill is Counterfeit & that said Hebbard settle with the said Wright, & that said Jleacham pay the contents of said bill to him the said Hebbard and that him the said Paddleford pay to said Meacham ten shillings and six pence & also the Costs necessarily arising in the Pros- ecution of the above premises Bill of Tax on the within written premises To James Hebbard for trouble and attendance 2/6 To Sami Meacham for travel and attendance 3/8 Costs of Committee • 12/6 Total £0. 18-8 Lebanon March 27-1778 At a Convention of the Comtee of Safety for said Lebanon appeared Nathi Hall, Complaint & Wm Downer Jr Defendt. Then was Read in the Hearing of said Downer a Complaint Exhibited by said Hall against said Downer for Cursing & Swearing and threatening the Life of said Hall. Abel Lyman and Andrew Hall were produced by said Nathi Hall as Evidences to Support said Complaint DR. CYRUS H. FAY. SOLDIERS IN THE KEVOLUTION. 105 The following is the original complaint, recently discovered among the Hall papers : To the Comtee of Safety for the Town of Lebanon in the County of Grafton on the N. Hampshire Grants Gentn Nathaniel Hall of s'd Lebanon complains and says that W™ Downer Junr of s'd Lebanon did on the 26tii Day of this instant March in the Presence of Mr Abel Wright Lieut Abel Lyman and Mr Andrew Hal! profanely Curse and swear and also threaten that on the morrow he would bring his gun and if s'd Nat' Hall did tap trees on the North side of his Lot which Mr Wm Downer pretends to claim as part of his lot that by God he would shute s'a Hall, and Gentn you are hereby desired to false immediate cogniciance hereof to prevent further evil I am Gentn Your most obedient & very humble servant Nathi Hall. The Commitee having heard the evidence are of the Opinion that said Complaint is well supported by s'd Evidences and that said Downer is guilty in manner and form as set forth in s'd Complaint. Wherefore the Comtee judge that him the said Wm Downer be amerced in the sum of twenty shillings. L. M. as a fine to be paid into the treasury of the said town of Lebanon for three breaches of the peace (viz) Cursing, Swearing, and high-handed Threatening & that him the said Downer pay the Cost of this Court & stand bound with one sufficient Surety for the satisfying of the afore said Judgment Signed by order of said Comtee John Wheatley Clk. Bill of Costs — four Comtee mens attendance half a day at 3/ each £0—12—0 Plaintifs attendance & evidences and other incidental Charges — 16 — Fine 1—0-0 £2-8-0 Lebanon June 22d 1779 At a meeting of the Comtee of Safety of said Lebanon at the house of Mr Silas Waterman in s'd Lebanon. Present John Wheatley, Lieut. Elihu Hyde, Capt. Edmund Freeman & Mr Silas Waterman. John Wheatley Chairman P. T. There appeared William Downer of said Lebanon, brought by special Warrant before said Committee to Answer to a Complaint Exhibited by Elkanah Sprague (one of the Tything men in s'd Lebanon) against said Downer for sundry breaches of the peace viz Cursing, threatening & strikeing; & also James Huntington for strikeing. 106 HISTOEY OF LEBANON. The Comtee then proceeded on the premises & Having 'feead said Com- plaint in the hearing of the above named Delinquents & they being asked the Question, whether they acknowledged the facts Exhibited in said Complaint, the said W™ Downer Denyed the authority of said Court; and him the said Huntington acknowledged the fact as men- tioned in said Complaint Wherefore said Court proceeded to Examine the Evidences being Duly cited and sworn, and after hearing and Deliberating upon the Case find that him the said Wm Downer is fully Convicted by legal Evidence of a breach of the peace viz Strikeing the said James Hunting- ton; & him the said James Huntington by Confession &c of striking him the said Wm Downer. Wherefore said Comtee award that s'd De- linquents pay a fine of one dollar each and their proportion of Costs. Lebanon March Gtn 1780 At a meeting of the Committee of Safety of said Lebanon. Present Dea. Nehemiah Estabrook Chairman John Wheatley and Ellhu Hyde members appeared Abigail Landee of said Lebanon to answer to a com- plaint Exhibited to said Comtee (viz) Kicking and striking, which are open breaches of the peace of the Good people of this Town. Wherefore said Committee Do award that she the said Abigail pay a fine of ten Dollars and the Costs of Trial, & to stand committed till this judgment is satisfied. Attest John Wheatley Clk. The Committee of Safety having served its purpose during the Revolution and other disturbances, passed away. Probably no court ever administered more even-handed justice, so far as its action pertained to this town, than did this committee. The following is a list of the persons who composed the com- mittee at various times : July 17, 1775. — Nehemiah Estabrooks, Maj. John Griswold, John Wheatley, Esq., Maj. John Slapp, Silas Waterman, Jedediah Hebbard, Azariah Bliss. 1777. — Deacon Estabrooks, John Wheatley, Major Griswold, Azariah Bliss, Jesse Cook. 1778. — Deacon Estabrooks, John Wheatley, Major Slapp, Azariah Bliss, Lemuel Hough. 1779. — Deacon Estabrook, John Wheatley, Elihu Hyde, Silas Water- man, Edmund Freeman. 1780. — Deacon Estabrook, Elihu Hyde, Elisha Lothrop. 1781 — Elihu Hyde, Deacon Estabrook, Major Lothrop. With this year the ofiice ended. In addition to the difficulties occasioned by the sundering of the relations of the people to the mother countrj^, in ci^'il mat- SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTION. 107 ters another came up. They were free, as they held, from all obligations to England, but did not know how to dispose of them- selves. They held that they had the right to form civil and political relations with any organization then existing, or create a new one. For various reasons they were dissatisfied with New Hampshire, and sympathized with the people of Vermont, and entered into civil relations with them. The history of this pro- ceeding is now to be given. The Vermont Controversy. This controversy makes a singular chapter in the history of New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Nothing like it is to be found in the history of any other part of the country. Until a recent period the acts of this controversy — it might, indeed, be called a drama — were little known and less understood. Doctor Belknap, writing of these times no later than 1784, being him- self an observer of them, says in respect to them: "It is not easy to develop the intrigues of the several parties or to clear their transactions from the obscurity which surrounds them. He who looks for consistencies in the proceedings of conventions and assemblies which were involved in this controversy will be ■disappointed." Nevertheless, all human transactions have their principles and motives, and it is possible for the patient and persevering student to discover them and so arrive at an under- standing of them. In this case it must be confessed that the task is a difficult one because of the number of the parties to the controversy, and because of the number and varying force of the motives and principles which governed the actors. There is not so much of obscurity as of complexity in these stirring events. The web is a tangled one, but the threads are whole, and with patience may be traced through to their ends. Inconsistencies are apparent only, and will in the end be found to be the nat- ural results of well-known principles of human nature. Before entering upon an examination of these extraordinary events, it may be well to mention the motives and principles governing the actors therein. They are these : 1. Grievances, real and fancied. 2. Neighborly sympathy. 3. Self-interest. 4. Patriotism. 5. Policy, American and British. Many of the grants of land were made by the crown before much exploration had been made. There was profound ignor- ance of the interior regions — of their extent and boundaries. Under these circumstances it is not strange that grants of ex- tensive territories should interfere with each other; that in some THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 109 parts they should overlay each other, with the result that upon exploration and survey, different parties should appear to have a title to the same lands. The Masonian grant, having its western line sixty miles from the sea, would not reach the Connecticut River. This western line, if straight, would commence in Rindge and run through Jaffrey, Peterborough, Greenfield, Prancestown, Weare, Hop- kinton. Concord, Canterbury, Gilmanton, across Lake Winne- pesaukee, Wolfeboro, Tuftonborough, to Ossipee. If a curve, as some contended that it should be, then it would commence in Fitzwilliam and pass through Marlborough, Roxbury, Sullivan, Marlow, Washington, Goshen, New Iiondon, Wilmot, Orange, Hebron, Plymouth, Campton, to or near the south line of Conway. Massachusetts claimed all the territory lying west of three miles north and east of the Merrimack River to the junction of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee Rivers, "thence due north as far as a tree known as Endicott's tree, three miles north of the junction of the above rivers; thence due west to the South Sea." The states both claimed the same territory, and after many years of disputes and evasive decisions, the matter was finally referred to the king in council for his consideration. The final decision was: "That the northerly bound of the Province of Massachusetts be a curve line pursuing the course of the Merrimack River at three miles distance, on the north side thereof, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean and ending at a point due north of Pawtucket Falls, and a straight line drawn from thence due west till it meets with his majesty's other govern- ments." 1740. This decision established the boundary between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, greatly to the advantage of the latter, but at the same time it opened the way to another dispute of far greater consequences. When in 1741 Richard Hazzen, surveyor, was instructed to run "the due west line till it meets his majesty's other govern- ments," the question arose as to the western termination of this line. Connecticut and Massachusetts had established their west- em boundaries twenty miles east of Hudson's River, thus estab- lishing the eastern line of the Province of New York. It was 110 HISTORY OF LEBANON, held that New Hampshire would meet "his majesty's other gov- ernments" on this line of the other provinces. Accordingly Sur- veyor Hazzen ran his due west line with an allowance of ten de- grees for the variation of the needle, to a point twenty miles east of the Hudson Kiver, thus annexing to New Hampshire the terri- tory of Vermont. No serious attention was given to this claim of territory for awhile, because of the French and Indian wars, which rendered any occupation of them dangerous. During a short peace, Benning Wentworth, royal governor, relying upon a description of the bounds of New Hampshire and instructions contained in his commission, granted a charter for the township of Bennington, Vt., twenty-four miles east of the Hudson. 1750. He had written to Governor Clinton of New York, informing him of his intentions to make grants of the territory in Vermont, and requested of him a description of the bounds of New York, but made his grant before the receipt of any reply. When that reply came it claimed the Connecticut River as the eastern boundary of the Province of New York according to letters pat- ent from King Charles II to the Duke of York, and so set up a claim to the territory of Vermont. Correspondence ensued be- tween the governors of the respective provinces, when it was agreed between them that the matter should be submitted to the king for his determination. Governor Wentworth continued to make grants, from time to time, in the disputed territory, till the close of the French and Indian wars, when in a single year, 1761, he granted fifty-nine townships, and a greater number in the two following years. New York was alarmed and "commanded the sheriff of Albany County to make a return of all persons who had taken possession of land under New Hampshire Grants and claimed jurisdiction to the Connecticut River. ' ' Governor Wentworth issued a coun- ter proclamation, designed to quiet the people in their grants. In 1764 the king determined the western boundary of New Hampshire and the eastern boundary of New York to he "the western banks of Connecticut River from where it enters the Province of Massachusetts, as far north as the forty-fifth degree of Latitude. ' ' This decision, while it ended one controversy, opened the way for others. The words "to be" the boundary are capable of THE VERMONT CONTEOVEESY. Ill two quite different interpretations. New York took the words in this sense — that the Connecticut River had always been the boundary between the two provinces. Another party held that from the time of the decision onward the Connecticut was to be the boundary. It makes a great difference which interpretation of the words is adopted. If the first, then the government of New Hampshire had no right to make these grants west of the Connecticut, for the territory did not belong to her, and the people on those lands must seek a renewal of their charters at the hands of New York, with consequent expense and trouble. If the other interpretation is correct, then the people on the New Hampshire grants west of the Connecticut might remain undis- turbed in their possessions as having received them by due authority. Another opening for controversy for our own days was left in the words ' ' western banks of the Connecticut. ' ' What is the €xaet line pointed out by those words 1 The meeting of the soil and the water? If so, whether at high, medium, or low water? It is a singular fact that this point, so likely to produce contro- versy, has never received an authoritative determination. New York took the first interpretation of the words "to be," and required those who had received grants under New Hamp- shire to renew their charters, with new fees and a higher rate of quit-rent. The people resisted these claims, peaceably at first, and finally with force of arms. This is one element in the great controversy. New Hampshire abstained from further grants, but turned an inquiring eye now and then upon the New Hampshire grants west of Connecticut River. Soon the Revolution came and with it a dissolution of royal authorities and decisions, and involved new relations of the par- ties to the contest. There had been a growing discontent in some of the towns on the east side of the Connecticut. The first public utterance of it took place in town meeting, February 1, 1776 : Qust. Whither this meeting will Resolve to pursue the Present Plan Proposed in warning for the Redress of their grievances and choose a Comtee to Correspond with other towns on that subject Resolved in the AfErmtiTe. 112 HISTORY OP LEBANON. What are these grievances? The warning is lost — and there is no further reference to them in the records. From other sources we learn what these grievances are. The following towns met in convention of delegates at College Hall, Hanover, July 31, 1776: Plainfield, Lebanon, Enfield (alias Relhan), Canaan, Cardigan, Hanover, Lyme, Orford, Haverhill, Bath, and Landaff. Nehemiah Bstabrook of Lebanon was chair- man and Bezaleel Woodward, professor in Dartmouth College, was clerk. They issued an address, from which we learn the grievances of which they complained. It should be remembered that New Hampshire had at this time declared her independence, and had assumed self-govern- ment. After a reference to the subsisting struggle of the colonies with England, the address enumerates the causes of their com- plaints : That a convention, elected, much as it chanced to happen, un- der our then broken and confused circumstances, assumed to determine how the present assembly should be elected, omitting some towns, uniting others, for the purpose of sending one only ; granting to some the liberty of sending one and to others two representatives, and others three, limiting the choice of repre- sentatives to persons of £200 estate, by this means depriving many towns of any representation, and others so in effect. In reply to objections to this complaint they say : That every town has a right to a voice in the formation of a government, whether it be large or small ; ' ' that no person or body corporate can be deprived of any natural or acquired right without for- feiture or voluntary surrender, neither of which can be pre- tended in this case;" that to unite a number of towns for the purpose of choosing a representative is as absurd as "to take the souls of a number of different persons and say they make but one, while yet they remain separate and different. ' ' To consent to be governed by a body elected in this way is, they say, to accept in their towns the very thing against which they are con- tending abroad — taxation without representation. They further complain of the acts of the assembly: That they, thus unequally elected, had chosen from among themselves a certain number to be called a council, thus dividing the repre- THE VERMONT CONTEOVBBSY. 113 sentative body into two parts, which was an act for which they had no instruction from their constituents. That in future elections to the council, they direct that twelve persons shall be elected as f oUows : Five in the county of Eock- ingham, two in the county of Hillsborough, two in the county of Strafford, two in the county of Cheshire, and one in the county of Grafton, while they claim that the council should be chosen from the colony at large instead of apportioning them among the counties. They complain that one portion of the state is seeking to aggrandize itself at the expense of the other ; that their petitions and remonstrances have been treated with neglect and contempt. These, then, were their grievances. Some of them were well founded, as to inequality of representation. It is to be noticed that up to this period, 1776, there never had been any repre- sentative to the assembly chosen from Lebanon. It appears, however, that Nehemiah Estabrook sat in the convention at Exeter, though I find no record of his choice by the town. Leba- non was classed, first, with Hanover, Enfield, Canaan, Cardigan [Orange] , and Grafton. In 1776 it appearing that these towns had inhabitants enough for two representatives, Lebanon was classed with Enfield and Grafton. It does not appear that there was any inequality in the apportionment of the representatives according to numbers, but they contended that every town ought to have at least one representative. In addition to these things there was little sympathy between the people in the eastern and western portions of the state. They were different in their origin, in their ways of thinking and acting. The eastern settlements were much older and somewhat aristocratic. The western towns, not without some show of rea- son, felt that they were despised, or at least not properly esti- mated. This address and the action of many of the towns refusing to have any dealings with New Hampshire, produced some effect upon the assembly, and a committee was appointed to visit Graf- ton County and take under consideration their complaints and propose some measures to give them content. This committee reported conciliatory measures. But the attention of the peo- ple was suddenly diverted to other matters. 114 HISTORY OF LEBANON. This state of mind of the people in the border towns should be kept in mind as a cause of their subseguent action. They were already disaffected towards New Hampshire for reasons alto- gether foreign to the Vermont controversy. The people of Vermont would undoubtedly have submitted quietly to the rule of New York if they had been left undis- turbed in their possessions. But that colony was not wise enough to pursue a conciliatory policy. The temptation to gain was great, and the authorities fell before it. They began to re- grant land already held under grants from New Hampshire, demanding new fees and larger rents. This produced great ex- citement and distress. They remonstrated — the oppressions con- tinued. They began to resist the authorities by force. They organized bands who administered summary punishment with beech rods to all who renewed their charters from New York. Various conventions of the towns were called, when finally, Jan- uary 15, 1777, it was unanimously resolved that the district of land, commonly called and known as the New Hampshire grants, be a new and separate state. They immediately informed the Continental Congress of this action, gave their reasons for it, and asked for recognition as a sovereign state. New York re- monstrated against any such recognition. Congress received the papers from both parties and "ordered that they lie on the table." The new state proceeded with its organization, with a stern determination to maintain its independence. Congress would not recognize the new state, but did recognize some of its citi- zens so far as to appoint them to military commands, among them Col. Seth Warner, who had raised soldiers for the defence of the country. This gave great offence to New York. But both Congress and the state were doing better than they knew, for when Ticonderoga "was given up" and the whole region left open to the enemy, these companies of Vermont proved inval- uable for the defence of that exposed territory. The surrender of Ticonderoga and the invasion of Burgoyne 's army, for the moment, arrested the action of the contending parties. All was alarm and confusion. The people of the new state saw their dearly bought and bravely defended homes desolated by a ruthless enemy. They must have immediate as- THE VERMONT CONTKOVEEST. 115 sistance or all must be lost. Detachments from Burgoyne's army were marching in all directions. Where should they seek assistance? Not from New York, who had claimed authority over them, for they were rebels against that jurisdiction. Be- sides that colony was fuUy occupied with its own dangers. Not from the Continental Congress, who had ordered their papers to ' ' lie on the table, ' ' who were too far away and too slow. They had received their lands from New Hampshire ; they never had any reason to complain of her rule over them, and to New Hampshire they naturally applied. Ira AUen, secretary of the council for Vermont, wrote, July 15, 1777, from Manchester, Vt., to the Committee of Safety for New Hampshire, a most urgent request for assistance, vividly representing the condition of the people in the new state ; that some of the towns were disposed to accept the protection of the British authorities, very freely offered, while the others must remain as captives to see their possessions destroyed or must forsake all and flee to other states. This request was laid before the New Hampshire assembly, July 19, 1777, then convened at Exeter. What should be done ? This people were in dange^-. It was best to help them. They had been formerly under the authority of New Hampshire ; they were living in a territory which she had claimed, and so sym- pathy enforced their patriotism. If no assistance was granted, the people of Vermont would be driven away from their lands and New Hampshire would become a frontier and sustain all the resulting disadvantages of that position. New Hampshire had been deprived of this portion of her possessions by royal decree ; that authority was now put in question, practically annulled; by this assistance a foundation might be laid to reassert her jurisdiction over this lost province. Under the impulse of these mixed and powerful motives, the assembly took immediate and energetic action. The militia was called out and directed to rendezvous at Charlestown. They were placed under the command of General Stark, and marched to meet the invading forces. August 16, 1777, the battle of Bennington was fought, many of the invading forces captured, the rest driven away, and the threatened people of Vermont were left in possession of their homes, and hg,d leisure to perfect 116 HISTORY OP LEBANON. their organization as a state and press their claims for recog- nition. The managers of the infant state were very able and shrewd men, fully the equals, if not the superiors, of their contem- poraries. Among them may be named Governor Chittenden, Ethan and Ira Allen. Disappointed in their hope of recogni- tion from Congress, they began to take means to strengthen their own position. It was known that some of the towns east of the Connecticut were dissatisfied with their relations to New Hampshire. Communications were secretly held with them, and they were solicited and encouraged to cast in their lot with the new state. The towns of New Hampshire, receiving no redress of what they called their grievances, soured towards New Hampshire, rejecting her jurisdiction, were just in the frame of mind to listen to these advances on the part of Vermont. That state took care that the people on this side the river should be sup- plied with information. Various conventions were h^ and the matter discussed thoroughly. "We learn the attitude of this town in relation to the matter from the following action taken in town meeting, March 31, 1778 : A Pamphet Containing the constitution of the State of Vermont being Read in said meeting — Voted, unanimously, to accept thereof, with the several articles of alteration proposed to be made therein by the Con- vention of Comtees from a Considerable Number of Towns on the Grants east of Connecticut river & to concur with such Towns as are Disposed, on said Easterly Grants, in the proposed union with the aforesaid state of Vermont. That Deacon Estabrook & John Wheatley be a committee to Rep- resent the town of Lebanon in the proposed Convention of Comtees of a Number of towns on the Grants east of Connecticut River to be held in Lebanon in May next. No records of the doings of this convention at Lebanon are now known, but events show that the sixteen towns of New Hampshire determined to connect themselves with Vermont, and appointed a committee to represent their wishes before the General Assembly of that state. The, General Assembly of Vermont, sitting at Bennington, June 11, 1778, having heard the representation of the -committee from the New Hampshire towns . THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 117 that they are not connected with any State with respect to their Internal police, and that sixteen Towns in the northwestern part of said Grants have assented to a union with this state agreeable to ar- ticles mutually agreed upon by this Assembly and a committee from the grants east of said river as by said Articles on file may more fully appear: Therefore Voted and Resolved that the sixteen Towns above referred to — viz. Cornish, Lebanon, Enfield, Dresden [Hanover], Canaan, Cardi- gan [Orange], Lime, Apthorp [Littleton and Dalton], Orford, Piermont, Haverhill, Bath, Lyman, Gauthwaite [Lisbon], Morristown [Franconia], and Landaff, be and hereby are entitled to all the privileges and immuni- ties vested in any Town within this state They also voted to receive any other contiguous to these towns where a majority of the town should consent to the union. After this vote of the Vermont assembly, a convention was held in Orford, June 25, 1778, to take final steps to dissolve their connection with New Hampshire, as appears from the fol- lowing letter with its well-known signature : Orford, June 25th 1778 Honbie Sir — The Convention of Committees from the several Towns mentioned in the inclosed Copies take this opportunity to transmit to you as Presi- dent of the State of New Hampshire a Resolve of the Assembly of the State of Vermont relative to a union of the said Towns with them, by which you will be avail'd of the political situation of these United Towns and others on the grants who may comply with said Resolve. We hope that not withstanding an entire seperation has now taken place between your State and those Towns, an amicable settlement may be come into at a proper time between the State of New Hampshire and those towns on the Grants that unite with the state of Vermont relative to all civil and military affairs transacted in connection with the State of New Hampshire since the commencement of the present war to the time of union, so that Amity and Friendship may subsist and continue between the two States. I am. Sir, in behalf of said Convention with respect, Your most obedient Humble Servant Nehemiah Estabrook Chairman To the Honbie Mesheck Weare Esq. President of the Council of New Hampshire At this point it is necessary to take notice of the reasoning by which these towns and others justified their bold step in severing their connection with New Hampshire. 118 HISTORY OF LEBANON. From the time the colonies east off the royal authority there had been much speculation and discussion as to the resulting^ state of the people in their political relations. How far were these relations affected by the severance of the tie which bound them to the mother country? They rejected all authority over their affairs. But were all former royal acts and decrees and grants made void? These are serious questions, deeply affect- ing the interest of the people, and difficult to determine. Upon the different opinions held in regard to these matters much of the action of the times was based. Early in 1778 appeared a pamphlet, printed at Danvers, and signed a "True Republican," which discussed these questions in a very earnest way, and exerted a powerful influence over the minds of the people. The author is unknown and the pamphlet is a very rare on& — only a single copy is known, found in the library of the Massachusetts historical rooms. "Very likely other copies might be found by search among old papers in garrets. The reasoning of this address is here given : That the grants and jurisdiction over them were created by royal authority, expressed through commissions ; that they were maintained with- out the consent of the people, and that when the power which gave vitality to these grants is overthrown they no longer have- any force ; that lines and boundaries established by royal decrees: were of no effect when the royal will could no longer enforce- them; that jurisdiction over a people who had not been con- sulted, nor had consented thereto, must cease so soon as the- force which maintained it was overthrown. He argues that the Revolution overthrew all royal authority and decrees; that power reverted to the people ; that they went back into ' ' a state- of Nature." This last phrase had great influence over the minds of the people. It became a favorite phrase and seemed to them weighted with unanswerable argument. By this phrase they seemed to indicate the condition of a community who have- no political relations to any sovereign power, but who are at liberty to choose under what government they wiU live; that until such a choice is made and guarded by mutual compacts they were entirely their own masters. Others held essentially the same views with some important modifications: That while the Revolution overthrew most of •> THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 119 the royal decrees, the town organizations were left intact, "which they received from the Kiag as little grants or charters of privi- leges by which they were imited in little incorporated bodies with certain powers and privileges, which were not held at the pleas- ure of the King (as those commissions were), bnt were perpet- ual." These primary organizations were to be considered as indestructible, unless voluntarily abandoned by the people them- selves. It was contended that through these they might main- tain order ; that by a majority vote of the inhabitants they might connect themselves with any larger government which they might approve, or remain independent. It was further asserted by those on the east side of the Connec- ticut that the towns which received grants of townships from royal governments were differently situated from those who were within the bounds of the Masonian grant. It was argued that authority over territory outside of the Masonian grant was wholly claimed by royal commissions; that the bounds of that authority were changed from time to time at the royal pleasure, as when he limited the Province of New Hampshire to the west- ern banks of the Connecticut Eiver, so that when the power which gave force and vitality to that authority wa^s overthrown, the people became independent ; that the people of the Masonian grant had erected themselves voluntarily into a distinct govern- ment, with prescribed bounds, by petitioning for a separate gov- ernment, which the people on the grants had never done, and they, therefore, claimed the right to choose their own govern- ment — to give their allegiance where they thought fit. "Whatever may be thought of the soundness of this reasoning it was wonderfully effective in those days in the minds of many. They took their stand upon its soundness and by it were influ- enced to the boldest action. It was this reasoning which led the people of the New Hamp- shire grants west of the Connecticut to cast off the authority of New York and declare themselves a free and sovereign state. First, they were placed under the authority of New Hampshire by the force of royal commissions; next, by royal decrees they were annexed to New York. In neither case were they con- sulted, — had no voice in their transfers from one to another au- thority any more than if they had been beasts or goods or chat- 120 HISTORY OF LEBANON. tels. The authority which had thus assumed to dispose of them had been overthrown and the right, which had always been theirs, of self-disposal came actually into their hands as towns, and they had the right to choose their future connections. The sixteen towns, with others, taking this view of their con- dition after the Revolution, already dissatisfied by their griev- ances with New Hampshire, influenced by neighborly sympathy with the struggling young state, many of the inhabitants being old friends and neighbors from Connecticut, joined themselves with Vermont. We find the town voting a tax of £8 as their share of "the public expense arising from the compleation of the union with Vt." On July 7, 1778, "Voted that Maj. Slapp procure a coppy of an act passed by the State of Vermont for Regulating Taverns and preventing Tipling houses." These matters, from the fre- quent reference to them in the records, seem to have given the fathers a great deal of trouble. At the same meeting, acting in their sovereign capacity as a town, they appointed John Wheatley a justice of the peace till the session of the assembly of Vermont, in October next. Although there is no record of any choice, by the town, of rep- resentatives, it appears from other records that Nehemiah Esta- brook and John Wheatley took their seats in the Vermont as- sembly October, 1778. The question came up what should be done with the towns which had united with the state from the east side of the Connecticut. The assembly voted on these ques- tions : Whether the counties in this state shall remain as they were established by this assembly at their session in March last? Teas, 35; nays, 26. Whether the towns east of the river, included in the union with this state, shall be included in the county of Cumberland? Teas, 28 ; nays, 33. Whether the towns on the east side of the Connecticut River, who are included by union within this state, shall be erected into a distinct county by themselves? Teas, 28; nays, 33. If the sixteen towns could not be included in any existing county, nor erected into a county by themselves, it was at least WILLIAM P. GALLUP. THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 121 a hint that there was no place for them in the new state. The representatives from the sixteen towns so understood it, and after a manly protest against the action of the assembly, retired. Lebanon, by a vote December 1, 1778, approved the action of her representative. The people of these tovms were evidently deeply disappointed by this action of the Vermont assembly. They had cut them- selves loose from New Hampshire and their privileges under that jurisdiction, and united with Vermont in good faith, only to be summarily rejected. They had only a town organization — no place of records, no courts, no protection, except that fur- nished by themselves. "What is the meaning of this sudden change on the part of Vermont ? They had at least encouraged this alliance, solemnly ratified it only in June preceding, had covenanted that these towns should have all the rights and privileges of the state, and yet deny them in such a way as to exclude them. Self-interest is the key to this unexpected action. Upon the report 9f the union of these towns, Mesheck Weare, president of New Hampshire, wrote, August 19, 1778, to the delegates in Congress from that state, protesting against the action of Vermont and of the towns east of the Connecticut, asserting that there was a respectable minority in the towns averse to any such transfer of their allegiance, and claimed pro- tection from New Hampshire; that the proceeding had excited so much feeling that there was likely to be bloodshed, and re- questing the delegates to secure the interference of Congress. President Weare wrote also, August 22, 1778, to Governor Chittenden of Vermont, claiming the sixteen towns as an integral part of New Hampshire, and protesting against their reception by Vermont. He says further: Were not those towns settled and cultivated under the grant of the governor of New Hampshire? Are they not within the lines thereof as settled by the King of Great -Britain, prior to the present era? Is there any ascertaining the boundaries between any of the United States of America, but by the lines formerly established by the authority of Great Britain? I am sure there is not. Did not the most of these tovTOs send delegates to the Convention of this state in the year 1775? Have they not, from the commencement of the present war applied to the state of New Hampshire for assistance and protection? It is well known that they did — and that New Hampshire, at their own expense, 122 HISTORY OP LEBANON. liath supplied them with arms and ammunition &c to a very great amount as well as paid soldiers for their particular defence and all at their request, as members of this state. Whence, then, could this new doctrine that they are not connected with us originate? Here we have the argument on the other side. It is to be no- ticed that British authority is cited or denied as is most for the interest of the parties. The president gives a diplomatic hint in the closing part of his letter far more effective than his argument : When I consider the circumstances of the people west of the Connec- ticut River, the difficulties they encountered in their first settlement, their late endeavors to organize government among themselves, and the uncertainty of their ieing admitted as a separate State, I am aston- ished that they should supply their enemies with arguments against them, by their connecting themselves with people whose circumstances are wholly different from their own, and who are actually members of the state of New Hampshire. The controlling aim of Vermont at this time was recognition from Congress as a sovereign state. The hint of President Weare, that her action in receiving the towns from New Hamp- shire might stand in the way of this recognition, produced its intended effect. The governor and council of Vermont were alarmed. They thought it possible that they had made a mis- take in taking the New Hampshire towns into union with them- selves. To be certain of this, Gen. Ethan Allen was dispatched to Philadelphia to ascertain what effect this action of theirs had produced upon Congress. Upon his arrival he found that the New Hampshire delegation had already introduced a protest against the action of Vermont in respect to the New Hampshire towns. He took pains to learn the general feeling of Congress concerning the proceeding and thus reports it : From what I have heard and seen of the disapprobation at Congress, of the union with sundry towns east of Connecticut River, I am suffi- ciently authorized to offer it as my opinion that, except this state recede from such union, immediately, the whole power of the Confederacy of the United States of America, will join to annihilate the State of Ver- mont, and to vindicate the right of New Hampshire, and to maintain inviolate the articles of confederation which guarantee to each state their privileges and immunities. THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 128- This it was which caused that sudden change of disposition in the Vermont assembly towards the sixteen towns, so lately cor- dially received, and led to that rather unmanly way of inform- ing them that their presence was not desired. But the towns, though disappointed, were not discouraged. A convention was called at Cornish, December 9, 1778, to take intO' consideration their situation and to determine what action they would take. The convention was composed of delegates from twenty-two towns — eight of the towns were on the west side of the Connecticut River. The convention seems to have finally adopted the proposals of a committee appointed to take into consideration the condition of the New Hampshire grants on both sides of the Connecticut. The majority of that committee were Jacob Bailey of Newbury, Vt., Elisha Payne of Orange, and Beza Woodward, professor of Dartmouth College. These proposals were as follows: 1. To agree upon and settle a dividing line between New Hampshire and the Grants, by committee from each party, or otherwise, as they may mutually agree. Or 2, that the parties mutually agree in the appointment of a Court of Commissioners of disinterested judicious men of the three other New England states to hear and determine the dispute. Or 3 that the whole dispute with New Hampshire be submitted to the decision of Congress in such way and manner as Congress shall pre- scribe: Provided always that the Grants be allowed equal privileges with the other party in espousing and conducting their cause. Or 4, if the controversy cannot be settled on either of the foregoing articles, and in case we can agree with New Hampshire upon a plan of government, inclusive of extent of territory, that we unite with them and become with them one entire state, rejecting the line arbitrarily drawn on the western bank of the Connecticut river by the King of Great Britain in 1764. They further requested the towns of Vermont to withdraw the vote which cast out the towns from the east side of the river, and that all other towns join them in the foregoing proposition to New Hampshire. Messrs. Marsh, "Woodward, Morey, Child, Payne, Oleot and Bailey were appointed a committee to receive proposals from other towns. There seem to be two main purposes in these propositions. 124 HISTORY OP LEBANON. one to make a state out of the grants on both sides of the Connec- ticut, the other to make a state out of New Hampshire as limited to the Masonian grant and the whole of the New Hampshire grants. But there was undoubtedly a secret purpose in the minds of the chief actors underlying both propositions, and that purpose was that the capital of the state, however constructed, should be somewhere on the Connecticut. Ira Allen, who says he was providentially (?) at the convention, writes "at or near the college." The following papers show the attitude of the people of Leba- non towards these propositions : With Respect to the Question proposed by the Comtee Chosen at Cor- nish in Dec. Last (viz) whether the people on the Grants or in this town are willing that the State of New Hampshire should Extend their Claim and jurisdiction over the whole of the Grants, N. H. at the same time submitting to Congress whether a New state shall be Established on the Grants — upon which motion we would observe 1st that New Hampshire Never had any Right of Jurisdiction (either by Charter or Compact) over the N. H. Grants (so called, therefore their attempting to Extend their jurisdiction over any part of s'd Grants, without the free and full Consent of the inhabitants on s'd Grants is such a stretch of arbitrary power, as we Conceive to be incom- patable with the Natural and Just Rights of a free people 2na And as the assembly of N. H. have not yet Determined to submit to Congress whether a N [new] state shall be Erected on the Grants or not, we thinli We Cannot Consistent with the principles held up to publick view by the Dissenting towns on s'd Grants Consent that the State of N. H. should Extend their Jurisdiction over the whole or any part of s'4 Grants — Yet, Nevertheless 34iy if the State of N. H. are Desirous to Extend or set up their Claim over the whole of s'd Grants, in Opposition to the State of N. York in order to Facillatate the Establishment of a New State on s'a Grants we are free to Concede thereto, or 4thiy if the state of N. H. will agree with the people on s'd Grants upon an Equitable plan of Government in which the Just and Natural Rights of the people shall be inviobly maintained & supported we are, on our part willing to unite with them and become one Entire state. At a town Meeting of the Legal inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon Holden May 24tii 1779 was taken under Consideration the Questions Purposed in a hand bill Published by a comitee at Dresden Apr 23 1779 and Resolved that the town Esteams no Consideration as an Equivalent to the Priviledg of an Equatable Representation — and not being favored with Gen. Bayleys Report are unable to pass any further Resolve upon said Question, it Being in our view foreign from the Prinsapel object in THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 125 view under our Present Dispute With New Hampsliire it being farthier from our intention to Coaless with any state without our Inviolable Wrights and Privileges are made first Certain and as to advise New Hampshire concerning Extending jurisdiction — we looli upon that to be a falacious Request — Calculated to Bring the Good people on the Grants into a Perpetual unrepresented situation that may be fattall to our Wrights and Liberties According to votes of the convention a proposal to New Hampshire was made in March, 1779, to extend her jurisdiction over the whole of the grants on both sides of the river. The proposal met with ready acceptance on the part of the assembly, but in order to give time for due consideration it was postponed till the next session. June 24, 1779, the assembly voted that they would lay claim to the whole of the New Hampshire grants, so called, unless Congress should erect Vermont into a separate state. At all events, they would exercise jurisdiction as far as the Connecticut River. Of course this action on the part of New Hampshire created fresh alarm and anxiety on the part of Vermont. Her diffi- culties were still further complicated by the action of towns in the southeastern portion of the state, who proposed to continue their allegiance to New York. All these matters finally came before Congress for settlement. They appointed a committee to visit the disturbed region and report. A part of the committee came and made some inquiries, but seem not to have made any report. Congress heard and con- sidered and delayed — and finally dismissed the whole subject for a time and left all parties in doubt and confusion. On July 16, 1779, a convention was called at Dresden (Dart- mouth CoUege) , at which the town was represented by Nehemiah Estabrook and Captain Turner. "What was done at that con- vention does not appear from any records. December 22, 1779, the tovm voted a tax of £200 to defray the expense of an agent or agents to represent the circumstances of the people on the New Hampshire grants before Congress on the first day of February, 1780. Congress failed to do anything to give relief to the people at that time, but later in the year gave good advice, cautioning the people against disorders, and enjoining patience till all parties 126 HISTORY OF LEBANON. were prepared for a hearing. September 9 seems to have been appointed as a time for a final hearing. Meantime all parties were making appeals to Congress and new projects discussed. Among them was one from Dresden, which seems to have been the birthplace of many projects, said to be the result of a convention held there. It is called the peti- tion of the principal inhabitants on both sides of the Connecticut River, and is addressed to Congress. It sets forth the desir- ability of annexing Canada to the United States, and represents the project as feasible and not at all difficult! At the same convention Colonel Olcot of Norwich, Vt., was appointed agent to represent the people on both sides of the ■Connecticut River from Charlestown upward. The sentiment of the people in this region on both sides of the river at this time seems to have been setting strongly towards union with New Hampshire. In September, Congress took up these questions, and, as usual, delayed any decision. All parties became impatient, nearly to desperation. Vermont was determined to maintain her inde- pendence and secure a recognition. Since all previous argu- ments had failed, a new move of diplomacy was made. She tegan to coquette with the British authorities, intimating that as no place could be found for her in the Union, she might cast in her lot with her former sovereign. It is not easy to determine how far these intrigues were carried, but certainly to the very verge of discretion. They awakened the gravest suspicions of fidelity on the part oi the Americans, and created great alarm. The British authori- ties were led on with confident hopes of regaining that important territory. They made liberal offers, were careful to treat all captives with great kindness, frequently sending them back to their homes to speak the praises of their lenity. There is little doubt that those raids of Indians and others at this time, which made it necessary for Lebanon and the other towns to employ ■so many scouts, was another part of their policy. They designed to keep the inhabitants in such a state of anxiety and alarm, to put them to so much trouble and expense in guarding them- selves, as to discourage and weary them, and lead them to con- clude that it would be best for them to make peace with their THE VERMONT CONTEOVERSY. 127 enemies, and so gain opportunity to care for their fields and homes. There is no doubt but that the Aliens were the leaders in these negotiations. To complicate matters still more, another movement was made to form a new state, originating this time in the southern portion of the grants on both sides of the river. After several prelim- inary meetings a general convention of towns on both sides of . the river was called at Charlestown, in January, 1781. This town voted, December 25', 1780, "to accept of the motion made By the County of Cheshire. Voted that Lieut Blihu Hyde be a Delegate to attend the Convention at Charlestown, Jan. next." The convention assembled at Charlestown, January 16, 1781. Forty-three towns from both sides of the river were represented. All the parties interested sent agents to watch, guide and control affairs, if possible, in their own interest. A large and able com- mittee was appointed to prepare the business of the convention. That committee reported January 17 in favor of a union of all the towns on the grants with the state of New Hampshire, a result which was expected from the tone of the preliminary meet- • ings. The agents of New Hampshire "were much pleased with their success and well enjoyed the night." The agents of New York were in no wise downcast, for it is suspected that there was a secret understanding between New Hampshire and New York that they would share the territory of Vermont between them, making the ridge of the Green Mountains the boundary of the two states. But Vermont? It is manifest that this measure, if consum- mated, would be fatal to her interest. She could not afford to lose so many towns on her own side of the Connecticut. It was probable that many more towns would be persuaded to join the movement. Thus, shorn of so much of her domain, she could present her claims to Congress with little hope of recognition as an iadependent state. But what can be done to arrest the move- ment or to turn it in her favor ? It seems a hopeless task. But one of her ablest sons is present at that convention, watching with eagle eyes its proceedings. He has come prepared for all emergencies, for he has the certificate of a delegate in his pocket, though he has not presented it. His skill has never forsaken 128 HISTORY OF LEBANON. him, he never loses heart. He is equal to the crisis in the fate of his beloved state. He inspires a motion that the report shall "be recommitted to be corrected and fitted for the press, as it would be a matter of public notoriety" and of great importance. The report is recommitted and Ira Allen does not sleep much that night. "What arguments he uses, what considerations he •presents, what motives he presses, cannot now be known. But when the next morning, January 19, at 10 o'clock, the report of the committee, "corrected and prepared for the press," is pre- sented, behold, Vermont is substituted for New Hampshire and union with the first state instead of the latter state is recom- mended. The report is adopted by a large majority. Eleven delegates from eight towns on the east of the Connecticut, most of them members of the New Hampshire assembly, dissenting and pro- testing. The secret of this marvelous change of front is undoubtedly this: Certain prominent men in that convention had never abandoned the scheme of the capital of a state somewhere on the Connecticut River. When they planned for a union with New Hampshire they thought that they would, so far extend her terri- tory westward as to bring its center to the Connecticut. Just then, a suggestion is made to them that Vermont is willing to claim jurisdiction up to the line of Mason's grant. That sugges- tion is made by Ira Allen. It is now a question of probabilities, of the realization of their favorite scheme. New Hampshire has a capital already. Vermont has none, but is migratory. The large numerical majority of population in New Hampshire is in the eastern portion of the state and they would resist the re- moval of the seat of government so far to the west. Vermont has no concentrated population ; it is more numerous in the Con- necticut Valley than elsewhere — the balance of probabilities is with Vermont, and with her they would cast their lot. Before the convention adjourned they appointed a committee to treat with the Vermont assembly and arrange for a union, and then adjourned, "to meet at Cornish N. H. Feb. 8 1781 opposite to "Windsor Vt. where the Assembly would be in session. ' ' February 10, 1781, Col. Elisha Payne presented to the Ver- mont assembly the request of the towns represented in the con- HON. GEORGE S. TOWLE. THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 129 vention at Charlestown — Cornish to be received into union with that state. The assembly prepared the way for their reception by resolving that "in order to quiet the disturbances on the two sides of the river (Connecticut), and the better to enable the inhabitants on the two sides of the river to defend their frontier, the Legislature of this state do lay a jurisdictional claim to all the lands whatever east of Connecticut river, north of Massa- chusetts, west of the Mason line and south of latitude 45° and that they do not exercise jurisdiction for the time being." The latter is a saving clause, looking cautiously to future contin- gencies. The terms of union were mutually agreed upon and confirmed February 22, 1781. By these terms the towns were to be re- ceived whenever they, by a majority vote, accepted them. At a town meeting held March 13, 1781 : The several Articles of Union, Agreed upon By the Assembly Comtee of the state of Vermont & the Com'ee of Convention from the County of Cheshire and Grafton &c being Read in s'd meeting was agreed to, Nem. Con. & Voted that Col. Elisha Payne and Lieut. Elihu Hyde Rep- resent the town of Lebanon in the Assembly of Vermont to be Holden in Windsor the first Wednesday in April next. Colonel Payne had from the beginning been a leader in all these affairs, being a resident of Cardigan (Orange), until this time, when he came to Bast Lebanon and built extensive mills there. The following towns were formally admitted to union with Vermont at the session of the assembly at Windsor in April: Acworth, Alstead, Bath, Cardigan, Charlestown, Chesterfield, Claremont, Cornish, Croydon, Dresden, Enfield, Gilsum, Grafton, Gunthwaite, Hanover, Haverhill, Hinsdale, Landaff, Lebanon, Lempster, Lyman, Lyme, Marlow, Morristown, New Grantham, Newport, New Stamford, Orford, Piermont, Plainfield, Rich- mond, Saville, Surry, Walpole and Westmoreland. But the measure designed "to quiet the disturbances on the two sides of the Connecticut river," resulted in anything but quiet. New Hampshire did not see her domain rent from her without vigorous protests and action. In many of the towns there was a strong minority who still clung to their former 130 HISTOET OF LEBANON. allegiance. As each state claimed jurisdiction over the same territory by the appointment of officers, institution of courts, and levying of taxes, collisions of a serious nature were inevitable. Vermont took possession of the records of the court of common pleas at Keene, N. H. New Hampshire protested and resisted. New Hampshire officers were arrested by Vermont officers and each was rescued by mobs of their friends. Vermont was charged with exchanging British soldiers taken in arms for private citizens. New Hampshire complained that in her dis- membered condition she could not comply with the requisitions of Congress for soldiers and provisions. The minority complained that they were not allowed to ex- press their sentiments at the polls if in favor of New Hampshire. Some were threatened and insulted and forced to leave their homes and possessions because of their fidelity to New Hamp- shire. New Hampshire ordered the arrest of any person who took office under Vermont. Vermont imprisoned a New Hamp- shire sheriff. New Hampshire imprisoned a Vermont sheriff. New Hampshire ordered out the militia to release her sheriff. Vermont gave orders to Elisha Payne, as major general of her forces, to call out her militia and to resist force by force. Let- ters of remonstrances, protests and threats passed between the governors. Affairs were in as disturbed a condition as can well be imagined, and could not continue so without injury to the parties concerned and to the whole country. "While some of these collisions were of a serious nature and threatened bloodshed, others assumed a comical aspect, as in the following detailed experience of Colonel Hale, a New Hamp- shire officer. He had arrested a certain 'Squire Giles, who was rescued by the people at Charlestown. The sheriff shall tell his story in his own way : They son after held a Consultation for Taking and Carrying me to Bennington, but fearing that would not so well sute, they sent me their Judas to advise me as a frind to make my escape, immediately, to avoid Going to Bennington. I gave for Answer, if that was their intention I would Tarry all night. But in the morning I had a second message that they would be Ready for me in half an hower. I gave for Answer, that that would be time enough for me to take breakfast — which I then called for — and after breakfast I had another message that if I did not make my Escape they would Catch me before I got three miles, for THE VERMONT CONTEOVEESY. 131 which I should be very sorry. I gave for answer that I should have the less way to come hack^ — but that if I was not molisted I ment to set out for hom son, but finding that all their stratigems would not Prevent my Taking breakfast and leaving the Town in an open and Publick man- ner, they then Rallied all their forces that was Near at hand to the amount of about forty men and a Pretended deputy Sheriff at their head; but for a frunt Gard they Raised some of their most abeelist women and set forward with some men dressed in Women's apparill, which had the good Luck to take me Prlsnor, put me aboard one of their slays and filled the same with some of their principal women and drove off nine miles to Williams tavern in Warlpole, the main body following after with acclimations of Joy — where they Regailed them- selves ; and then set me at liberty, nothing doubting but that they had entirely subdued New Hampshire! Prov. Papers, Vol X, pp. 481, 482. Meanwhile all parties professed their willingness to submit to Congress all matters in dispute between them. Congress took up the matter, appointed committees to investigate and report, discussed and delayed, balanced between opposing interests. By- August 20, 1781, it had proceeded so far as to declare by reso- lution that before they could recognize Vermont as a state they must "explicitly relinquish all demands of land and jurisdiction on the east side of Connecticut river, and on the west side of a line drawn twenty miles eastward of Hudson river to Lake Champlain. ' ' Vermont assembly, sitting at Charlestown, October 19, 1781, declares that they were determined "to remain firm in the prin- ciples on which they first assumed governinent, and to hold the articles of union inviolate ; that they would not submit the ques- tion of their independence to the arbitrament of any power what- ever; but they were willing at present to refer the question of their jurisdictional boundary to commissioners mutually Chosen, and when they should be admitted into the American union they would submit any such disputes to Congress. ' ' The matter still lingered in Congress, when early in January, 1782, General "Washington was prevailed upon to write a letter unofficially to Governor Chittenden of Vermont. In that letter Washington recommends a compliance with the requirements of Congress in abandoning all territory east of the Connecticut and west of a line twenty miles east of the Hudson ; that only on that condition is there any prospect that the state will be received into the Union. He appeals strongly to their patriotism not to em- 132 HISTORY OF LEBANON. barrass the United States in their struggle for independence, burdened already to the utmost; and finally intimates the dis- agreeable necessity of coercion on the part of Congress should the state continue to maintain its attitude towards the other states. This advice was well received on the part of Vermont, and was effectual in composing the disputes about boundaries. On the 19th of February, 1782, the Vermont assembly, being in session at Bennington, the whole matter of boundaries came up for consideration. Among other papers this letter of "Wash- ington's was read, having evidently a strong influence on their minds. On the 20th of February the assembly, being in com- mittee of the whole, "Resolved, that in the opinion of this com- mittee, Congress in their resolutions of the T*"" and 20''' of August last, in guaranteeing to the respective states of New York and New Hampshire all territory without certain limits therein ex- pressed, have eventually determined the boundaries of this State," and they voted to relinquish the claims to the territory therein mentioned. This action of Vermont virtually ended the great controversy, so far as boundaries were concerned. But the towns on the east of the Connecticut must be disposed of. Vermont did not hesitate. The union was dissolved in the absence of the members from the east side of the river. Doctor Belknap says with admirable naivete, "that when these members arrived and found themselves excluded from a seat in the As- sembly, they took their leave with some expressions of bitter- ness. " Very likely that was the case; they certainly had some provo- cations for such expressions. Probably Vermont was never very sincere in this union. Rather than lose her own towns in the movement towards New Hampshire, and see all her hopes of recognition as a sovereign state blasted, she consented to receive them with more diplomacy than cordiality. Probably "Honest deacon Moses Robertson" of Bennington unconsciously revealed the true feeling of many in Vermont when he said to General Folsom and others in an at- tempt to compose the dispute between the two states, ' ' We never THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 133 had it in view to take the East side of the River — only to get rid ■of them the first opportunity." On the other hand there is as little doubt that New York and New Hampshire were secretly opposed to the recognition of Ver- mont as a state; that while they were intent in keeping their own domains from being absorbed by her, they were quietly ob- structing her recognition in the hope that they might eventually divide her territory between them. Vermont had to wait till February, 1791, before she was ad- mitted to the Union. This sudden secession of Vermont from union with the towns •on the east side of the Connecticut left these towns in a sad con- dition. They had made many sacrifices and been at much ex- pense to secure this union. They hoped for peace and pros- perity under it; to be thus summarily dismissed from it while the echoes of the most solemn pledges of fidelity on her part had scarcely died away, was a sad blow to their expectations. With the burdens of the war pressing heavily upon them, with the dis- tractions of a disputed jurisdiction, they had hitherto had little time and strength to devote to their own improvements in the surrounding wilderness. They hoped by this tinion to be re- leased from one of these sources of trouble, but they are suddenly thrust back into their "state of nature," with nothing but their lown organizations to rely upon for peace and order. They had rejected the rule of New Hampshire, for good reasons as they thought ; pride, if nothing more, would make it difficult for them to return to that state. There was nothing left for them but to wait and watch, taking their stand upon their town organiza- tion. It is necessary in a complete history of the town to notice their action when they were without any state connections. Of course it was necessary to have certain oificers besides their usual town •officers ; they therefore appointed their own justices of the peace. Many of the duties of courts they committed to their committee of safety. They voted that this committee should take acknowl- edgments of deeds. It was necessary that they should have laws to govern them in their daily transactions. They had rejected New Hampshire and its laws, Vermont had rejected them. They naturally turned to 134 HISTORY OF LEBANON. a code with which most of them were familiar, and which had no smell of bitterness about it— the laws of the state which held their well-remembered homes. Voted, March 14 1780 that the Executive Authorities of the Town shall proceed in their Several Departments to persue and conform them- selves to the Rules prescribed in the laws of Connecticut, Especially In those acts that more immediately refer to the preservation of the Peace and good order of the Towns, &c. The following protest was made against the action of the town in certain matters : Lebanon Slst March 1780 We the subscribers Inhabitants of the town of said Lebanon, who hold ourselves in duty bound to be the League Subjects of the State of Newhampshire — • Do hereby publickly remonstrate and protest against the Illegal pro- ceedings of the Town of Lebanon (viz) the Town Voting to pay no re- gard To the Authority of the State of Newhampshire and that thay Would Yield no Obedience to any precept sent to them from the Au- thority of Said state for raising men for the defence of the United states or any otherwise — The Town enacting Laws in town meeting repugnant to the Laws of the state and adopting the Daws of Connecticut to govern them Selves by in open violation of the authority of the state of Newhamp- shire. Altho they have Unanimously Acknowlidge themselves under the jurisdiction of Newhampshire by VoUentarily confiderating with said State, and the Town under a pretence of authority in a high handed manner frequently stop men in the highway Rob them of their property even when they have a Certificate from proper authority to pass un- molested and Blocking up the publick highway by falling Trees Across, the path so as to Render it impractible for Travilors to pass Whereby Travilers have been much injured and to the disgrace of the Town and many Other Illegal proceedings inconsistant in themselves and inju- rious to the public peace of this and Neibouring Towns. — to be commu- nicated to the Town forth with, Sami Bailey John Gray Ebenr Bliss Jabez Baldwin Phinehas Wright Gideon Baker Solomon Millington Charles Hill James Jones W™ Downer Jur Elezer Robinson Sami Millington Joel Kilburn James Feller Wm Downer Joseph Tllden Jesse Heath Wm Wakefield Sami Millington Nathaniel Hall Junr Benga Fuller THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 135 We are not for a moment to suspect these men of any want of patriotism in this act, for many of them had been in the army, only they thought that the town had no right to take such action without the sanction of a higher authority than the town itself. Money was needed for public purposes — for building roads and bridges, for the support of schools, for raising soldiers for the public defense. Often they were at their wit's end to know how to assess the necessary taxes, and still more puzzled how to collect them, since there was no authority back of their own upon which they could rely. Of course there were some disposed to take advantage of this state of things and refused to pay their taxes and their debts. But they found means to enforce their payment. And yet we find them instructing their officers to exempt any who had placed themselves under the protection of the state of New Hampshire. Let it be kept in mind that all these burdens of taxation for so many purposes were to be met by a depreciated currency, whose value was scarcely the same for two successive inonths. It was a hard problem to know how much money to raise in such a cur- rency to meet their obligations and they were obliged to make a bushel of wheat their standard. Much of the time they could raise no money that had any fixed value, and were obliged to re- ceive their dues in grain and provisions. Men who, under such circumstances, could fight such sturdy battles for their preference for state affiliation, who could con- tinually raise and equip men for their defense are worthy of all praise and honor. One other thing should be set down to their credit. However defiant they were of state authority, whatever expressions of bitterness they uttered at their betrayals by Vermont, they were always loyal to Congress. They heeded every command, they yielded to every requisition which came to them from that sacred source. The following letter, addressed to Colonel Chase, indicates the position which they held : Lebanon New Hampshire Grants July 7 1780 Sir As this Town hath been Repeatedly Called Together on account of orders Rec'd from you for scouting and other service, &c we haveing Collected the Sentiments of the Town with Regard to Raising men To Stand thus: that they acknowledge Subordination to you as a Colo, of 136 HISTORY OF LEBANON. their own Choice and ever will obey you as Such, But at the same time, think to obey you as haveing an authorative Power from the State of New Hampshire is Derogative To the Birth Rite of Englishmen, it Being a Tax Laid on us for men without being Represented &c. Sir, we wish fore the future you would Be Pleased To send a Request To us. We shall own the Power we Committed to you We mean not to Sett up an Alitor in Defiance To the Public Cause, & be Please, sir, to Ex- cuse our Simplicity and Except this with our Sincere obedience from your Humble Servants. Simeon Peck "] Theop Huntington K. Selectmen Nath'l Storrs J To Colo. Jona. Chase, Cornish It was difficult in such circumstances to preserve peace and order. Some there would be ready to take advantage of the lack of organized courts and state authority to punish offences. Tippling houses, I judge, gave the fathers a great deal of trouble from the frequent mention of them upon the records and ordinances passed to regulate them ; yet through their committee of safety they were able to control the disorderly elements. The people were determined to sustain their committees, and did sus- tain them, and there was very little serious disorder. Having no place of records they experienced great inconven- ience in the preservation of their deeds and other papers. Early in the war one Fenton, the probate officer for Grafton County, whose letter to the people of Grafton County has already been given, was suspected, probably with just cause, of too much friendship towards the king. The demonstrations against him were so violent that he fled from his home, leaving the important papers in his office in great disorder. Many of them were either carried away or destroyed, causing great perplexity and troubk among the people. An old deed from Jane Hill, widow of Charles Hill, alludes to this event, reciting in a preamble: & as said will was Lodged in the Judge of Probate of wills Office by said Judge's order (viz John Fenton Esq.) who has absconded himself and carried off or mislaid said will, so that it cannot be found, by reason of which the afore said estate has not yet been settled and there are several creditors who have demands on said estate, who want to have their accompts settled; in order for which there is an absolute necessity of disposing of some of said lands to answer the just de- SALLY TRUMAN. THE VERMONT CONTEOVEESY. 137 mands of said creditors, wlierefore she, tlie said Jane as the sole Exec- utor of the said last will and testament, &c. The earlier deeds were recorded in the town, the acknowledg- ment being taken sometimes by a justice of the peace and some- times by the committee of safety. Among those by whom these acknowledgments were taken are the following: John Wheatley, J. P.; Nehemiah Estabrook, chairman of committee of safety; Francis Smith, J. P., Plainfield; 0. Willard, one of his majesty's justices of the peace for Cumberland County, province of New York- Vermont ; Bela Turner, J. P.; Beza Woodward, Dresden; Peter Olcutt, assistant, Dresden ; Elihu Hyde, J. P. ; Eleazer Wheelock, J. P. Many of them are destitute of any acknowledg- ment. A large number were made and executed in Connecticut. It is amusing to read the headings of these acknowledgements, showing as they do the changes in the connections of the town: State of New Hampshire, Grafton County, Lebanon; Province of N. H., Grafton County, Lebanon, on the New Hampshire Grants; State of Vermont, Lebanon; State of Vermont, on the Grants east of Connecticut River; State of Vermont, territory east of Connecticut River; State of Vermont, Windsor County, Lebanon. One officer determined to be right one way or the other, writes, "Lebanon, State of Vermont, alias New Hamp- shire. ' ' At the time when the town was uncertain as to its allegiance — both as to which party it of right belonged, and where it was for the time being, some were disposed to take advantage of the cir- cumstances and declare that there was no law that could be en- forced, and that they would do as they pleased. But the people were generally, at heart, law-abiding and would not suffer any breach of equity. The late Mrs. Truman, years ago, related to me the following incident as belonging to this period : A certain man had bought some goods of his neighbor and re- fused payment, confidently declaring' that payment could not be enforced. But he was mistaken. One night he found his dwell- ing surrounded by masked men, who led him out of doors and required him to pay his debts. He defied them. They then found an old horse, whose bony system was highly developed. They set him upon this horse in a position the reverse of that us- 138 HISTORY OP LEBANON. uaRy chosen for equestrian exercise — facing the rear. They then ran a rail between the legs of the horse and tied the obdu- rate debtor by the feet to the rail and sat down on each end, which proceeding brought out an emphatic promise "to pay up." The crowd then marched him away to a distance, blowing horns and conch-shells and ringing bells. Now on the way a couple were sleeping the sleep of the just (it is to be hoped). The wife was awakened and frightened by the noise, over which the horns predominated, which she, in her bewilderment, took to be the horn of Gabriel, when she gave a conjugal punch in the ribs of her spouse, crying out, "Wake up, husband, the day of judgment has come ! Get up and put on a clean shirt. ' ' The historian took this for a good story, which it is; but whether a tradition or myth,' he knew not. But a long time after, he discovered the following substantial verification of the whole matter : Lebanon Newliampshire July 27 1779 To the Honbie Meshack Ware and the Honbi Councel of the State of Newhampshire — Gentlemen: your petitioners desire to inform your Honers of A late disturbance in this town: against all Laws both Humane and divine — and in defyance of the authority of the States a number of men went to the dwelling House of mr. Jams Joans in the evening of the 224 inst. And by force and Violence toock him from his bed and bound Him on a horse with his face to the Horses tail: and he was obliged to ride in that maner four or five miles — to a tavern — they following him with Bells hdrns &c — at the tavern they abused him in a most Shocking maner with words and blows: then Returned about half a mile made a halt and abused him as before : Even threatening with death till He was obliged to Comply with their TJreasonable Demands, your petitioners are Very much threttened if we Say anything against Such Conduct, therefore we pray your Honers to take the mater into Considderation and Afford us Such assistance as you in your wisdom Shall think best Jesse Heath ] Sami Bailey j. Comtt Charles hill I Some of the citizens of the town were far-sighted enough to understand how the conflict with New Hampshire must termi- nate, and to cast an anchor to the windward they presented the following petition : THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 139" To the HonWe the Council & Assembly of the State of New Hampshire We the Subscribers being Inhabitants of Lebanon in the County of Grafton and State aforesi Humbly Petition and give your Honra to be Informed, that for Some Time past we have been greatly abused & harrassed by a Power, usurped without Right, to which we neither owe nor own Allegiance, and by which we have been prohibited, from Yield- ing that Subjection and Obedience to the State of New Hampshire which is justly due, and whereby we are deprived of those rights and Privlledges to which we are justly entitled as Subjects of s* State, and are liable to many and great Evils and Burdens for want of that Pro- tection, which we humbly conceive may be dutifully requested and de- manded from the State of New Hampshire — Wherefore we most humbly pray that your Honrs will take such Reso- lutions on the premises as may effectually redress the Grievances of your Petitioners and restore them to their Just Rights and & Prive-. ledges & the Protection of said state, and may be duly represented in the Geni Assembly and have Justice administered under the Authority of the Same — And your Petrs Shall ever pray &c Lebanon 15tii Dec- 1778 Charles Hill Beniam fuller William Downer Jur Simeon Hovey Solomon Millington Eliezer Robinson Ebenezer Bliss Phinehas Wright Isaac Cory Sam" Millington Joseph Tllden Jr Jesse Heath Joseph Wood Wm Wakefield Sam" Bailey William Downer James Jones Josiah Hovey John Gray James Fuller Jabez Baldwin December 24 the petitioners voted to present their petition to the selectmen, and December 28 they voted mr. William Downer their agent to pre sent S* petition to the Honbie Asembly of Sa State or in their reses to the Honbie president and Coun- cil and Receive their answer Jesse Heath, Clerk. To the Honwe the Gen" Assembly of the State of New Hampre To be Holden at Portsmo in s^ State the third Wednesday of Deer instant — May it please Your Hours We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon in the County of Grafton in Sd State; having taken into consideration the 140 HISTOET OF LEBANON. Several Resolves of the HonWe the Continental Congress Respecting the Disputes that have Arisen about the Jurisdiction of the State of N: Hampre over the Hampre Grants (So Called) are of the Opinion that Sd Resolves implicitly declare it to be the Opinion of that August Body that that part of Sa Grants Lying East of Connecticut River (in which we are included) Should be under the Jurisdiction of the State of New Hampre; with Vv'hich we Readily comply; and Acknowledge the same; Yet Nevertheless for us to be Obliged to pay the back State Taxes; for the time being that we have been unconnected with the State of New Hamp.re in matters of Government, we Look upon it to be a Hardship, & Trust that your Honrs will Consider us in that matter, & as there is a Considerable Number of the inhabitants of this Town that wholly deny the Jurisdiction of N: Hampre, — if your Hours should find yourselves Laid under the Dlsagreable Necessity of using Coercive measures, with Opposers, to your Authority we Hope that your Hon" will make a Specific Difference between them and Us, & we as in Duty bound Shall Ever pray Joseph Tildeu Dan Metcalf James Jones Charles Tilden Jesse Heath Joseph Wood Stephen Billings Joseph Downer Nathi Hall Jur Silas Waterman Joseph Chamberlin William Dana Rufus Baldwin David Hinckley James Hartshorn Solomon Millington Joel Kilborn Shereblah Ballard Barna Tisdale ZIba Hall Wm Downer Heze Waters David Crocker Jno Wheatley Anw Wheatley Oliver Penneg Sami Bailey Stephen Tilden Samel Millington Thos Wells Gidn Baker Phinehas Wright Thos. Bingham William Downer Jun Charles Hill Randol Evans Simon Slapp Settlement of the Controversy. On the 7tli day of October, 1790, commissioners from the state of New York and Vermont, meeting in the City of New York, mutually agreed upon their boundaries, and other questions which had arisen, and the long dispute was terminated. One of the conditions of their agreement was that the state of Vermont should pay to New York $30,000, to be paid to the THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 141 inhabitants of New York who had suffered in their person and estate at the hands of the ' ' Green ?'[ountain Boy. ' ' But this was a small compensation among the number who were to share in it, so the state of New York, taking the whole matter into consideration, passed the following resolution, intro- duced in the Senate and immediately concurred in by the as- sembly, March 1, 1786 : Resolved that the Legislature during their present meeting will make Provision for Granting to Colo Timothy Church, Major William Shat- tuck. Major Henry Evans and ahout one hundred other Persons whom they represent, a Quantity of Vacant Lands equal to a Township of eight miles square.— Documentary History of New York, Vol. 4, p. 1017. The township thus granted was situated on the Susquehanna River, and is now known as Bainbridge. In closing the account of this remarkable controversy, loyalty to historical truth demands that certain statements should be made iu behalf of the state of New York. 1. That the territory of Vermont was within the grant to the Duke of York, first made in 1663, regranted or confirmed in 1674, of which the Connecticut River was the eastern boundary. 2. If the validity of this grant be questioned, then by the deci- sion of the king in council, in 1764, this boundary of the province of New York was made certain. New York had precisely the same title to the territory of Vermont that other colonies had to their territory — royal authority. 3. The province of New York made the following offers : That all persons actually possessing and improving lands hy title under grants from New Hampshire or Massachusetts bay, and not granted under New York shall be confirmed in their respective posses- sions That where lands have heretofore been granted by New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay or either of them and actually possessed in eon- sequence thereof, and being so possessed, were, afterwards granted by New York, such possessions shall 6e confirmed; the posterior grant un- der New York, notwithstanding. — Documentary History of New York, Vol. 4, p. 953. It is admitted in a proclamation of the state of New York that in some of the grants of that state as a province ' ' the interest of the servants of the crown and of new adventurers was, in many instances contrary to justice and policy; . . . that many 142 HISTORY OF LEBANON. of the grantees labor under grievances arising from causes above mentioned, which, in some measure, extenuate their offence and which ought to be redressed. ' ' 4. While the inhabitants of Vermont suffered from the greed of some of the New Yorkers, the Vermonters themselves were unjustifiable in their opposition to the authority of the state of New York, because the soil belonged to that state. The Vermonters treated with great harshness and cruelty the subjects of New York. They speak with apparent gaiety and glee of applying the Beech Seal to those who took grants from New York. What the beech seal was, and its mode of applica- tion, may be gathered from the following statements, made under oath. Benjamin Hough, a magistrate under the authority of the state of New York, under the authority of a self-constituted court of Vermonters, was sentenced to be Tyed up to a tree, and receive two hundred lashes upon the naked Back . . . that thereupon the Deponent immediately had his Olothes taken ofC and he was stripped to the skin and four persons being by the said pretended Court appointed to carry the said sen- tence into Execution This Deponent accordingly received the two hun- dred lashes on his naked Back with whips of cords.— Documentary His- tory of New York, Vol. 4, p. 896. Daniel Walker being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty ■God deposed in part that a few days afterwards he met with the above said Hough. That the said Benjamin Hough showed him his naked back, which was then sore and appeared to have been much cut and wounded and the waistcoat which he then wore was stiff with Blood. Another part of the sentence of this Hough was that ' ' as soon as he should be able, should depart the New Hampshire Grants, and not return again upon pain of receiving five hundred lashes. ' ' One of the offenses charged against this man was that ' ' he had taken a commission of the peace under the government of New York and exercised his office as a magistrate for the County of Charlotte alleging that this deponent well knew that they did not allow of any Magistrate there." They did not charge him with any injustice in the exercise of his office. His offense was that he had accepted a commission from the state of New York. Documentary History of New York, Vol. 4, p. 896. THE VERMONT CONTROVERSY. 143 For some time after the dissolution of the union with Vermont the town remained independent. They were not ready to return to their allegiance with New Hampshire; not until they could make acceptable terms with that state. Aug 12 1782. Query whether they will Raife the Nine men sent for by the State of New Hampshire to Join the Continental Army? Refolv'd in the Negative 3rd Whether they will Raife one man for The Defence of the Fron- tiers to serve as a Soldier till Nov. next? Refolv'd in the Negative / 4th Whether they will Raife the sum of £914-13-4 Demanded by the State of New Hampshire? Refolved In the Negative 5tii Whether they will Choofe one or two men to Set in Convention at Concord in the afore S'd state to affist In forming a Constitution for S'd State of New Hampshire? Resol^a in ye Affir 6th Chofe John Wheatley to Reprefent The town of Lebanon in s'd Convention for the purpofe afore^a The sum demanded by New Hampshire was arrearage of taxes. This they declined to pay, on the ground that they did not belong to that state, and also because all this time they had been rais- ing and paying soldiers at their own expense. They were willing, however, to send a delegate to the conven- tion for forming a new constitution, because some of the provi- sions of the constitution under which the state had been acting since the Revolution was one of the grievances which had first alienated them from New Hampshire. If things could be made l)etter for them, they were willing to assist. But apparently affairs did not proceed to suit them, for at a meeting September 24, 1782, they voted to recall their represen- tative chosen to represent the town in convention at Concord, in the state of New Hampshire. Ten days later they reconsidered this last vote. By November the town had received the constitution and ap- pointed a committee to examine and report upon it. November "26, 1782, they voted to recall their representative from the con- vention, the proposed constitution not appearing satisfactory to them. The town, after many delays, after conventions of other towns held at Hanover, after sending agents to the assembly, after re- monstrances and petitions, finally took its place as a town in the :state of New Hampshire. Development of the Town. During all these years of disturbance and distraction con- cerning its state relations, the town has been steadily improving. Old roads were made better, new roads were laid out and built, bridges were built over the Mascoma at various points, one in this village, one near Walter Peck's, another at Davison's mills, an- other still on the river road. All this time the town had been gaining in inhabitants. The close of the Revolution brought many accessions of the best ma- terial. New names are found upon the records, and prominent in town affairs — ^the Aliens, Phiiiehas and Diarca ; Gideon Baker, the Huntingtons, Stephen Billings, Thomas Blake, Walter Hains, Arad Simons, Zuar Bldredge, Nathan Durkee. Col. Elisha Payne, coming here from Orange, was a valuable acquisition to the town. The proprietors made him valuable grants of land in the east part of the town in 1778, "on conditions that the said Payne, his heirs or assigns shall build and erect a good sawmill & grist- mill on the Mascomme river near to the place where said river empties out of the pond, within two years from the first day of April next [April, 1778] except the publick commotions and present wars shall render it impracticable, in which case they shall be built as soon as the publick affairs will admit of. ' ' In this same year the proprietors voted to consider the propa- gation lot and the church glebe and a part of the governor's lot as undivided land. They also proceeded to lot all of the undi- vided land, making this generous, and it may be presumed ac- ceptable provision, "to allow the committee and surveyor five gallons of rum while laying out said undivided land. ' ' The proprietors also gave liberty to Colonel Payne to erect "a dam across Mascomme river at the mouth of Enfield pond in order to raise said pond sufficient for the use and benefit of the mills which he has undertaken to build. ' ' The undivided land had been laid out into fifty-acre lots and DIAROA ALLEN. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 145 November 8, 1779, at the house of Nehemiah Estabrook, was drawn as follows: No No Thomas Barrows Jun 1 John Swift 12 Elijah Huntington 38 Daniel Allen Jun 34 Hucltins Storrs Jun 6 Robert Barrows Jun 19 David Eldridge 42 Jefse Birchard, by John Hobart Estabrooli 15 Griswold 48 Daniel Blodgett 3a 14 John Allen 37 Thomas Storrs 3 Joseph Wood 5 Charles Hill 18 Moses Hebbard 7 Joshua Blodgett 11 Joseph Turner 51 Nathaniel Porter 9 Jefse Birchard 40 David Turner 33 Jonathan Murdock 36 Joseph Martin 2 John Birchard 16 Robert Martin 25 Daniel Blodgett 8 School Right 20 Minister Right 4 James Nevins 32 Mark H Wentworth 10 Hugh Hall Wentworth 41 Clement Jackson 39 John Hyde 30 acres 54 Seth Blodgett 30 acre 53 N. B. The lot No 24 is taken out by Mr. Joseph Wood on the original right of Robert Hyde N. B. When the draught of the fifty acre Division was drawn in Liebanon, through mistake there was no lott in said division drawn to the original right of Richard Salter, wherefore the proprietors Commit- tee ordered that the lott No 35 in said division be af signed to said right Attest Gideon Baker, Proprietors Clerk At the same time the proprietors granted a tract of land in the southwest part of the town to "David Hinckley Clothier as an encouragement to him the said David to set up his trade as a Clothier in said Lebanon." In March, 1780, the proprietors appointed a committee to re- vise the field books of the several divisions of land, and to procure a plan of the township. This plan was made by Lieut. John Payne, "and being duly examined was accepted as correct in general. ' ' This plan still exists ; that is, the- parchment on which it is made does, the lines being faded and in many places entirely defaced. It is endorsed as follows : ' ' This plan is laid down to 100 rods to an inch by John Payne Jun — surveyor. ' ' In 1781 the proprietors made a division of twenty-acre lots, and assigned them by lottery. 146 HISTORY OP LEBANON. June 26, 1780, the town ' appointed John Wheatley, Elisha Ticknor, Major Griswold, Deacon Estabrook and William Dana a committee "to adjust and put in proper order aU the publick expense that the town has been at since the Contest with Great Britain." See page — At the same time they voted "to lease for nine hundred and ninety-nine years the whole of the sequestered right of land for the benefit of schooling in said town." The town in 1779 had voted three gallons of rum for the rais- ing of a bridge over the Mascoma, this bein^ the only business transacted at that meeting. It appears that in 1781 said rum had not been paid for and hence the selectmen were instructed, March 31, 1781, to include said riun in the taxes to be raised. May 30, 1781, the town voted to build a pound (the first) near Esquire Hydes, and that Henry Woodward be pound keeper. This pound was on the hill where Henry Farman now lives. Something of the condition of the town and their way of doing business may be gathered from the following vote : To raise ten hard dollars. Immediately, to bear the Expenee of an Agent now going to the Assembly of New Hampshire. Accordingly the following collection was made for the aforesaid purpose, viz: Gov payne £1-6-8 Nathi Storrs 0-6-0 Mai. Griswold 0-6-0 Jesse Cook 0-3-0 Doct Hall 0-3-0 Abel Wright 0-1-6 David Hough 1-2 Sami Lothrop 0-0-3 2-7-7 The hard dollars were specie — at the time exceedingly scarce — - and probably hard in another sense. April 8 1782 "Voted that the select men take into their care the money of Vermont Emission now in the town treasury & make the best thereof for the benefit of the town that lyes in their power. This was a relic of their union with Vermont. November 26, 1782, there, came before the town a proposi- tion which gave them some anxiety. Colonel Payne and some others proposed to take parts of Lebanon, Enfield and Hanover DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 147 and make them into a town. The town appointed Captain Free- man, Lieutenant Ticknor and Captain Dana a committee to "ex- amine into the matter and report." That report was adverse to the plan. The following, recently discovered among the papers in the state house, sets forth this plan for a new town : The petition of Elisha Payue, and others inhabitants of the towns of Lebanon, Hanover Enfield and Canaan humbly shew that their local situation is such, being in the four adjoining corners or parts of said towns, and so remote from the center of the respective towns to which they belong, and the places of holding their town and other publick meetings, that renders it very inconvenient and almost impossable for them to attend, especiJally on the Sabbath or Lord's day; that the terri- tory of land hereafter described, being about four miles square, is so situated, and the laying of the rhodes through the same such, that it makes it convenient for them to be a district or town by themselves and will not hurt nor injure the respective towns from which they may be taken off. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your honors to take their case into your wise consideration and grant them relief by allow- ing them an incorporation with town privileges agreeably to the follow- ing limits and boundaries Beginning at the N. W. corner of lot No 50 of the village lots & so called in the line between said Lebanon and Hanover, from thence running south 23° West by the westerly line of said village lots until it comes to the Masquome river then turning and running up said river and crossing the same to the S. W. corner of lot No 26 on the southerly side of said river; from thence southerly on a strate line to the South West corner of lot No 9 on the Northerly side of Enfield Rhode; thence S. 72° E by said Enfield Rhode to the east line of Lebanon called the Freeman line and to continue the same course in said Enfield one mile and a half thence turning off and running N. 36° E. parilel with the town line until it comes to said river; thence up said river till it comes to the bridge standing on said river in Canaan from thence N 36° E so far as one mile and a quarter from Enfield north line; thence turning off and running N 64° W through part of Canaan and into the town of Hanover to the N B corner of lot No 13, and by the northerly line thereof and by the northerly line of three lots till it comes to No 17; thence turning off by said lots No 17, 18, 19 and to continue the same course till it comes to the line between Lebanon and Hanover and thence by said line to the bound begun at Walter Peck Daniel Swetland Ebba Peck James Bellows Nathan Blodgett Jonathan Bingham David Hinkley Abie! Willes Edm'd Freeman Elisha Payue Gid. Baker Ephraim Brown 148 HISTOKY OF LEBANON. John Crowell Samuel Karr David Stoddard Daniel Willes Leonard Hoar Jeriali Swetland Daniel Alden Clapp Sumner Enoch Reddin&ton Phlneas Allen Dearca Allen The tract described above commenced on Hanover line, about a hundred rods westerly of the farm buildings of George Blodgett, striking the Mascoma a little west of Howard Benton's buildings; thence it passed up the river about a hundred rods, and from thence a straight line to the Alvah Bosworth farm, now occupied by Warren Daniell, intersectkig the broad road laid through the town; thence on the line of that road to Enfield line, and the same course a mile and a half into the territory of Enfield; thence a northeasterly course, striking the Mascoma again in Canaan. It will be seen that these liaes would include East Lebanon and the village of Enfield. It should be remembered that at this time there were few buildings in the center of the town, and that the meeting-house was then in the neighborhood of Mrs. Alden 's, while there was a large business done at East Lebanon. There is no doubt that Colonel Payne was the originator of this movement. The Legislature refused to grant the prayer of the petitioners. About this time there was another plan to divide the territory of Lebanon. The authorities of Dartmouth College wished to have entire control of the territory around the college and sought to have the territory granted by the proprietors of Lebanon, and a similar territory in Hanover, erected into a town or parish to be called Dresden, a name which Hanover Plain bore for many years. The following papers have reference to this plan : Objections against the incorporation of a part of Lebanon & Hanover in the county of Grafton into a distinct town. 1. The Freeholders of that part of Lebanon which is subject to taxa- tion, proposed to be taken into said corporation are unanimously opposed to such an Incorporation, that is those of them who reside in said Leba- non. Fourteen hundred and fifty acres are all the land exclusive of College Lands Lying in said Lebanon proposed to be taken in — thirteen hundred acres of which are owned by said resident Freeholders, and a LUCINDA HOWE STORKS. From painting by J. J. Jennys, June, 1802. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 149 considerable part of one liuudred forty acres remaining are owned by a Minor. 2 That the said resident Freeholders have done already their pro- portion for building up Dartmouth College, and they can see no reason why they should be subject to the authority of said College and their ■dependants. They have given one hundred and fifty acres of land, and in money and labor to the amount of fifteen pounds, altho but eight in number, and subject to those difficulties which generally attend those "who settle a new country ; and if such an Incorporation should be made every vote would be carried according to the inclinations of the said authority; who will always have a sufficient number of Dependants, to assist them in carrying any point, whereby the situation of said resident owners would be exceedingly uncomfortable 3 By such an Incorporation the said Freeholders will be excluded from all benefit of public rights, and ministerial and school privileges In said Lebanon. The public rights in s'd Lebanon are so far improved and disposed off that a considrable sum accrues to Lebanon from such Improvements A minister is settled, a meeting house and several school-houses are built. From which benefit the said Freeholders would be excluded by such an Incorporation. 4 Many new roads must be built to accommodate such a town as is desired, whereas if the said Freeholders remain as they are in con- Junction with Lebanon, the expense of said new roads will be saved. 5 That the said Incorporation will ever be greatly burdened with poor to maintain Dependants must be introduced and not warned out till they become a town charge 6 That the expense of maintaining town order will be great, & a "very large part of that expense will fall upon the said Freeholders in proportion to their interest. The said Freeholders and the owners of ■double if not treble the land in said proposed township which will be subject to taxation, and the College will ever own stock and other ratiable property — whereby the s'd Freeholders are apprehensive that they shall be obliged to do a great, if not the greatest, part towards supporting the poor, and discharging other town expenses, which they leel unable ever to perform 7 That it would be unprecedented to separate [them] from a particu- lar corporation they had joined, without their consent either explicit or implicit. to the Speaker of the house of Representatives of the state of New- Tiampshire now seting att Concord. Sir. Should thare be any moshun thursday Nex to see if the a Sembly will in corporate in to a Destinct town a Sarting track of Land Lying on Conocticut River so cauled Being part of Hanover and part of Lebanon by the name of Drisden. I Beg Sir you would in forme the Honorabel House that thare is a potishon or praer to s'd house not to encoporate in to a Destinct town the Lands potishiond for, last seting of a sembly — those that signed * gainst in coperation owne more than one half the ratabol land 150 HISTORY OP LEBANON. eontand in the potishion for in corperation — jea, sir, and tlie house in generol are sensobel the coledg lands and of coledg are not taxt sir there is not much, if any more one hundred and seventy acers under Emprovement taxabel Lands In s'd tract potishond for incorperation. Sir we heard thare was an order of cort upon thare potishon that the matter should be heard and Reson shone if any why it should not be incorperated and that the order of cort should be published in the pub- lick papers we have no knoledg of the orders being complyed with — Sir the Reson of my troughbling you with this letter was I was Desired to a tend cort and see that the potishoners protest a gainst in corpera- tion Lade before the Honorobel House when I set out better than a fortenate a go from home expected to a Returned home time enough to a ben Down by the Day and Left the potishon with the signers — beings wether bound find I cant comply with thare request. I feare they will have no opportunity to send thare potishon on with thare resous why they would wish not to be incoperated in to a Distinct town. Sir tho yeu are a Stranger to me the stashon or place yeu stan in is, sofishont Evedenc to me that yeu are a gentleman of vorosity and must feale for every Ingured Sufforer in the state in which asembly that you- are the Speaker of that Body that we under God have no whare els to look for help in matters of this nature Sir if you think that we are not to poore to be Notist, having but small intrest Liabol to pay what ever is put upon us without Ever having a voice in Representation liabol to make and mend the Rodes threw all the coledg land without thare help which Rods are very bad and the few and poor inhabitans will be oblig to make and mend or suffer the penalty of Law for Not doing it that you will at least Con- tinue our trial or Delay incoperating said town untill the next Seshon att which time Hanover and Lebanon will be represented, as they are not know [now] as they consider it If a Sembly under the consideration that we cant by Reson of the rods being Bloct and some other matters that the house ought to know upon oure trial that cant be Laid before the a sembly this seshon, if they in thare wisdom would give us heare ing att the nex seting we should think ourseves in Duty bound to pray f in behalf of signers Gideon Tiffane ) a gainst in coperation Decemb'r 20th 1783. ( of Dresden The "a sembly" very properly denied the petition for tho "incoperation" of Dresden. "Whether because the House was convinced by the reasonings of the remonstrance or because- the Hon. John Dudley, then the speaker of the House, bein? carried away by his compliment as a "gentleman of vorosity," threw his influence against it, is not known. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 151 Feb 24 1783 Voted that Elijah Dewey Jun, Esq. Hyde and Maj Gris- wold be a committee to Draw a Letter in the name of the town, to he sent to Mr Aaron Hutchinson & be signed by the Town clerlt, in behalf of the town. The next reference to this matter is in May, 1783. Voted to sit on that Clause In the warning respecting Aaron Hutchin- son, chose Messrs Elisha Ticknor Maj. John Griswold and Nathaniel Hall committee to make report. The historian is nnable to say what these records refer to. He guesses that it was a negotiation for Mr. Hutchinson to take up his residence in Lebanon as a lawyer. March 11, 1783, after electing town officers for the year ; Voted to build a new Meeting House — that a Committee be chosen to draw a plan for the bigness of s'd House and compute the quantity of stuff sufficient to cover s'd House and lay the under floor Chose Maj John Griswold Hezekiah Waters David Hough committee for the pur- pose above said March 26 of same year : Voted to build a Meeting House near the Dwelling House of Elihu Hyde Esq. by the first day of Sept. 1784. Voted to build a Meeting House 60 feet in length 40 feet in breadth with 24 feet posts — that Simeon Peck Lemuel Hough and HezaKiah Waters be a Meeting, House committee and that they perfix a perticular spot for s'd House agree- able to above vote. The spot pointed out above is on the hill where Henry Far- nam now lives. The first meeting-house was at this time only about ten years old. But the southwestern portion of the town had increased more rapidly in numbers and demanded a location nearer to them, opposed, of course, by those in other parts of the town. May 6 1783 Voted to Chefe a Member to attend the General Afsembly in June Next, with Inftructlons, if our Grievances be taken of, then to take a Seat in S'd House otherwife to Return. Col. BUfha Paine was Chofen a Member to attend the Generi Afsembly in New Hampfhire in June next. A committee was Chofen to draw Ini^tructions for the Member for the Afsembly & Report to the meeting May 19 1783. Voted to Release Col Elifha Paine as a member of Afsembly. They then Chose Col Elifha Payne and Elihu Hyde as Agents to the Afsembly and raised a tax to defray their expense. The grievances noted above were the arrearages which New 152 HISTORY OF LEBANON. Hampshire demanded of the town, arrearages which had accum- ulated while the town was in union with Vermont and inde- pendent. Later in November, Capt. Edmund Freeman was "ehofen agent of the town to wait on the General Afsembly of New Hamp- shire at their nex Sefsion to Lay before them the affairs of S'd town. ' ' The town claimed a set-off against the demands of the state for expense incurred in providing soldiers, bounties, equip- ments, etc., which the state was not willing to allow. February 25, 1784, Beza "Woodward of Hanover was chosen agent "to take Care of the affairs of the town Refpecting the Expenditures of the war & other matters already laid in Before s'd Afsembly." March 7, 1784, town ofScers were chosen, and Col. Elisha Paine was elected as representative of the town at the General As- sembly in June next. Messrs. Major Griswold, Lieut. Elisha Ticknor, Abiel Wills, Silas Waterman, Samuel Sprague and Rufus Baldwin, howards, or hog constables. This was the first recognition of this ancient and honorable institution in the town. It was also voted that the yards of the constables should be held as pounds. March 22, "Voted that those persons That Have paid a Pro- vifion Tax in the year 1781 shall be Repaid in the Prefent Town Tax and 10'' Be paid pr lb for Pork & six Pence for Beeff." "That a Charter be Requested of the afsembly for the feries all them that shall be wonted over the Great River. ' ' Votes for Prefident [of the state] George Atkinfon 39 M Weare 7 Elisha Paine 1 Votes for Senator Ellfh Paine 43 Mofes Dow 1 This was the first state election in which the town had taken any part since its settlement nearly twenty years before. All the time it had its grievances, part of the time it was classed with other towns, part of the time it was connected with Vermont. The form of government adopted at the beginning of the Revo- lution had expired by its own limitation — the proclamation of HIRAM A. SIMONS. DEVELOPMENT OP THE TOWN. 153 peace — a new constitution had been adopted and Lebanon took its place among the towns of the state, ably represented by- Colonel Payne. Eight School Districts. Dec 6 1784 Voted to accept the following Divifion of school Disfricts 1st Diftrict Beginning at the North west corner ,of ,the town thence Euning on the Great River to North west Corner of the River Lett Latley owned by Deacon Jonathan Dana thence East To the Bend of the River south of John martins thence up Mascoma to the North End of maj Slapps Intervale thence east 72 Degree North — (N. 18° E) To Han- over Line. 2d Diftrict — Beginning at the North west corner of Decon Dana's River Lott bounded on Conectcut River to Plainfield and on Plainfleld Line so far as To Include the Dwelling Houfe of Thomas Wright & Jofiah Hovey thence northerly to the Center of Jedidiah Hebbards Lott thence Northerly To the River Mascom 3d Diftrict to begins at the North easterly corner of the second Diftrict thence extends southerly upon the Line of said Diftrict till it Strikes Plainfield Line, thence Easterly on Plainfield Line opposite to the school Lott Latley owned by Samuel Huntington on the East Line of said Lott; thence on a North Line till it Strikes Mascoma River at the North Bast Corner of Hubbard Estabrook Lott [which would be on the farm now owned by Charles Gerrish] 4tii District To Begin at the North East Corner of Hubard Estabrook Lott, thence up Mascoma River To the mouth of Great Brook [which is the brook coming in from the south] thence on a Direct Line To the north easterly corner of John Fox's Lott thence south To the south easterly corner of Mr James Perkins Lott, thence westerly to the South west corner of Zalmon Aspenwall's Lott. 5tii Diftrict Begining at the North Bast Corner of John Fox's Lott thence a strait Line To the Brige Near John Porters Houfe thence up Great Brook To the Brige Near David Blifs' thence South To Plainfield Line, thence on Plainfield Line To the south East corner of the third district and bounded Westerly on said Diftrict and northerly on the forth Diftrict To the firft mentioned Corner 6th Diftrict begins at the South East Corner of the 5ts Diftrict thence on Plainfleld Line To the South East Corner of Lebanon thence north- erly on the town line till it Come Due East of the North Line of Weth- erill Hough Lotts thence Weft to the North Weft corner of said Houghs west Lott thence on a Line To John Fox's North East Corner of his Lott Leaving John Porter [Howe Place] in Esq. Wheatley's Diftrict. 7tii Diftrict Begins at mr Witherrill Houghs North West Corner thence To the South east corner of mr Parker's Lott [Packard?] where he Now Lives thence Northerly to Hanover Line then Westerly on Han- over Line To the bound of the firft Diftrict thence on the east line of 154 HISTORY OF LEBANON. flrft Diftrict to mascoma at the North End of maj Slapps Intervale Thence To the mouth of Great Brook ; thence up Great Brook To John Porters Brige, Thence To.Witberlll Houghs North Weft Corner 8ti> Diftrict from Witheril Hough's north west corner Due East to Enfield Line ; thence north on Enfield Line To the North East Corner of Lebanon Thence Westerly on the Town Line Till it come where the 7th Diftrict Strikes Hanover; thence on the Line of the Tth Difti-ict Till it comes To Witherill Hough's North west corner. Some of these lines are evidently somewhat uncertain and diffi- cult for us at this distance of time to retrace. Bast Lebanon was in the eighth district. The center village in the seventh and extended north to Hanover and south to the Howe farm and west beyond Scytheville. West Lebanon was in the first district. The families on the Great River, south of the Mascoma, were in the second district. Poverty Lane was in the third district. John Hebbard's farm would be in the fourth district. Dea. B. Cole's farm would be near the easterly line of the fifth district, and the sixth district took in the southeast corner of the town. In this year William Dana presented the following petition to the Legislature : Petition Humbly shows William Dana of Lebanon, Grafton County, that he was one of the first settlers in said Lebanon, that he has suffered greatly by the passing of persons through his land in going over Con- necticut river to Hartford in the State of Vermont (so called) that the privilege of a ferry on said river has not been granted, but the profit of assisting to cross said river has been engrossed by those that live not in the state of N. H. and have no estate therein, and can easily evade any laws of said state for the regulation of ferries ; your petitioner therefore prays, that granting to him and his heirs the privilege of a ferry, beginning at the northwest corner of his home lot in s'd Leba- non, thence extending across said river in a direct line with the north line of said lot to the western bank of said river ; thence south on said bank one mile and a half; thence east across said river to the north bank of the river Mascom, thence north on the easterly bank of the first mentioned river to the first mentioned bound Wm Dana Evidently they have not yet settled their affairs with the state, for January 31, 1785, "Voted that the Selectmen be directted not to make up a tax on the Town for the old Demands of the State of Newhampshire ' ' DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 155- The following indicates that there was discontent in the town concerning the place of meeting on the Sabbath, "Voted that the meeting on the sabbath be Held one Half the Days at Con- stant Storrs or Nathaniel Storrs." This would take the people on the hill in the neighborhood of Abel Storrs. At the "anuail meeting," March 8, 1785, Elisha Payne was chosen representative. I suppose this to have been Elisha Payne, Esq., not the colonel. Voted to move the meeting House Near to Elihu Hydes Dwelling House & set up as soon as possible & begin next Monday. — that Constant Storrs Nathi Porter David Hough Hezah Waters and Elias Lyman be a Comitte to move said House & set it up at said place. At a special town meeting warn'd by the Constables & Held at the meeting House March 15 1785, voted to Build a meeting House in the- center of the town, and Desolved said meeting. So "next Monday" has come and gone and the meeting-house yet stands. The folks in the center and eastern parts of the town have rallied and at this meeting have carried their point. At the annual meeting it is recorded that George Atkinson had seventy-six votes for the president of the state and Col. Elisha Payne eighty-two votes for senator. A stray colt. Taken up by Maj Elisha Lathrop of Lebanon august 16, 1785 a Stray mare Colt, one year old, of a Pail sorrel Colour, four white feet & Legs up to his knees & hams — white face, both Eyes white Lebanon Aug. 22 1785 the Above Stray Colt was Prized by Daniel Hough & Stephen Col- barn at £3-15 they being under oath Elihu Hyde Town Clerk Fees: for entering /6 ; for attending and Giving oath to the above persons 2/; to the aprisers 1/3. The town was still in trouble with the state and conventions of towns were held at Hanover on their affairs, at several different times, and a petition to the assembly on their grievances ordered, and agents appointed to wait on the assembly. Dee 22, 1785 Voted to direct the Selectmen to Procure a part of the Extent in the sherifs hands and pay the same to him by the Time the Extent is out An extent as here used was a writ to a sheriff for the val- uation of lands and tenements, to be followed in a specified time 156 HISTORY OP LEBANON. by an execution. New Hampshire had issued a great many of these writs against delinquent towns. Still further action was taken in this matter at a meeting January 17, 1786 : Voted to direct the Selectmen to Hire the £50 they have Borrowed To Pay the sherif in part of the Extent against the town for Deficiency of men on the best terms they can and they will Indemnify them Whereas the Town have this Day Directed the Selectmen to Hire £ 50 to Pay the £50, Borrowed To Pay the sherif Towards his Extent for Deficiency of men Do therefore vote. To Prevent Cost, that any Gentlm that will Pay in any sum or sums to the selectmen, that the Same shall he allowed them on any State Tax that shall be made up in the Town, with Intereft Till the same Bill be made up This action of the town indicates unmistakably that the peo- ple were poor — not that they did not own valuable lands and good homes, and had good crops, with horses and cattle — ^but they had no money. To understand their condition, their trials and straits, we must take a view of the condition of the wider community of which they were a part. The War of the Revolution had imposed heavy burdens upon the states and the people. The real money of the country was soon exhausted, and there was no other way to continue the struggle but by the emission of paper money by Congress and the states. The length and expenses of the contest soon made it manifest that these bills would never be redeemed. Besides this they were printed with so little skill that they were easily coun- terfeited. They soon began to depreciate in value and depre- ciated more and more, till their purchasing power was reduced to zero in many eases. As the paper money depreciated, silver and gold disappeared ; they were hoarded up by those who could get them, because their value was substantial and continuous. New emissions of bills were made from time to time, with the attempt to give a higher value than the old, but they shared the same fate of rapid depreciation. The extent of this depreciation may be seen by some tables compiled by authority of the Legis- lature from time to time : Continental Paper Feb. 1777 £104 equal to £100 silver Jan 1778 325 do do Jan 1779 742 do do Jan 1780 2934 do do Jan 1781 7500 do do ORREN HUBBARD. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 157 By this time the Continental was practically worthless and useless. The state emissions were a little better, but were insufficient for the wants of the people. If new emissions were made they would depreciate the more. The state was, therefore, forced to receive its demands in silver or its equivalent. But where were the people to get silver ? It had hidden itself, as it always will, in the face of unredeemable paper money. During the war the people could meet the demands against them in beef, pork and grain to feed the army. But the war was over and the Con- gress and the state had no use for these articles. Both states and individuals were at their wits end to meet their just obliga- tions. The state must receive its dues in gold or silver. The people had none. Just then some wise people thought they had found a way out of the difficulty. It was this: The Legisla- ture must make money. They must issue bills and make them a legal tender for all debts due itself and individuals. It was said "that the people had a right to call upon their representa- tives to stamp a value on paper, on leather or any other sub- stance capable of receiving an impression; and that to prevent its depreciation a law should be enacted to punish with banish- ment and outlawry every person who should attempt by any means to lessen its value. ' ' To this it was answered that if the state must receive these biUs for its dues, it could never redeem them, having no specie, and if these bills were never to be redeemed they could not pass for money. Many other extravagant plans were proposed for the relief of the people. The Legislature was wise and stood fast by the first principles of finance. Conventions of towns were held and petitions poured in upon them for relief. Finally the Legis- lature, sitting at Exeter, September 20, 1786, was visited by a mob, clamorous for relief. The president. General Sullivan, addressed them and explained the reasons why their petitions could not be granted. But they were not satisfied. They placed sentries at the doors and held the Legislature as prisoners. They went on vrith their business till evening, when the president, in attempting to pass out, was hedged in by the crowd. He attempted to reason with them, 158 HISTORY OP LEBANON. and warned them of the fatal consequences of their conduct. They only replied with cries for paper money, an equal distri- bution of property and a release from debt. Just at this mo- ment a drum beat at a distance and a cry was raised for the artillery by some of the citizens of Exeter. At this the mob was panic stricken and dispersed in all directions. Now it was in this condition of things that the town was called upon to meet the demands of the state for deficiencies. Their action under the writ of the sheriff shows how hard it was for them to raise so small an amount as £50. As a town they coxild only do it by borrowing of some one who was the fortunate pos- sessor of so much gold or silver. By a census taken by a law of the state in the year 1786, we again learn the number of the people. Pursuant to a Resolution of the Honbie the House of Representatives ■of the state of New Hampi- & read and Concurred in the same day by the Honwe Senate: that the Selectmen of the several Towns, districts & parishes within the said State make a Return of all the Inhabitants within their respective districts to the Secretary of sa State on or before the seca Wednesday in June nex. viz. the whole number of white & other free citizens, inhabitants of every age sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years & also all other persons not Comprehended in the foregoing description except Indians Not paying Taxes. Wherefore in conformity to said Resolve we, ye subscribers, have taken an exact account of the inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon in the County of Grafton in s* state Which is as follows, viz. Whites &c included in the foregoing description 841 Persons not included in sa description 2 843 Nathi Wheatley "1 Attest James Crocker I Selectmen Nathaniel Hall Jun I Dated in said Lebanon, May 23 A. D. 1786 In 1773 the number was 295, gain in thirteen years of 548. Most of this accession of numbers was after the declaration of peace. At the annual town meeting, March 14, 1786, Maj. Edmund Preeman was chosen representative, John Sullivan had 118 votes for president of the state and Elisha Payne, Esq., had 118 votes for senator. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWIST. 159 At the same meeting, "Voted that Rept. Colburn Thomas "Wells & Charles Tilden be a Commi'^^ to look up 3 or 4 men to ansur for this town To Compleat their Quota of Continental men. ' ' About this time it was discovered that the charter of the town was in a dilapidated condition. The following deposition ac- counts for it: Levi Hyde's Deposition. I, Levi Hyde, of Lawful age, Testify and Declare that in the year 1765 (I being Clerk to the propriety of the Town of Lebanon) at that time had in possession the Charter of sa Town and the Records of said propriety, the sd Charter was Repositated in a Chest that stood in my house and was stuffed full of Clothes, & by some means (but how I know not) some mice got into sa chest and Eat, not only some of the •Clothes, but the said Charter also, which was doubled together (& the Varmin, as I believe, & have sufficient ground therefor) Did eat out the middle of s^ Charter as it was folded or Doubled together, as may ap- pear by sd Charter to the satisfaction of any person upon View thereof; & as proof that said Charter was Defac* as aforesaid I found two mice ■dead in sa Chest, which had been lockt up therein for a time but how long I know not Levi Hyde State of New Hampshire, Grafton s.s. Lebanon June Sth 1886 Personally Appeared the above named Levi Hyde & being Duly cau- tioned to speak the Truth made Solemn Oath to the truth of the above Written Deposition. Attest John Wheatley Just. Peace Lebanon June S'h 1786 These may Certifie that I the Subscriber was Resident in said Lebanon & at the Dwelling House of the above Depo- nent when the Charter mentioned in the above Written Deposition was :flrst Discovered to be Defaced as above Described & am fully pesuaded of the truth of the above Written Deposition. John Whealley Oct 20 1786 Voted to accept the offer of made by Mr Lemuel Hough ■& Mr Robert Colburn. Voted to raise the sum of one thousand pounds in order to pay ar- rearage taxes demanded by the State of New Hampshire to be paid in Beef, Pork, Flax, Wool, neat Stock, Butter & Cheese & Wheat, said ar- ticles to be paid in at the rate of Wheat at five Shillings per Bufhel agreeable to an offer made by Mr Lemuel Hough & Mr. Robert Colburn for paying said Taxes to the state for the abovesd sum of one thousand pounds in the above said articles, sa Hough & Colburn to have the profits of the Demands of the Town upon the state said Hough and Col- l)urn to become obligated to clear the town from Cofts. 160 HISTORY OF LEBANON. Voted that the Tax be made up and collected forthwith. Voted that the Selectmen be directed to make up two Rate Bills for sd purpofe, one Bill for the nominal sum Demanded by the state, the other Bill to be made up for the sum of one thousand pounds in the articles before mentioned This, then, was their way out of their difficulties. They had no money to meet the demands of the state, but they had the above mentioned articles. These they raised on their lands and could spare. Messrs. Hough and Colburn thought they could take these articles, turn them into money, and pay the demands of the state, and, using the set-off which the town pleaded against the state for expenses during the war,, have something over. They were willing to take the risk, and bound themselves to save the town from loss. Each tax-payer's proportion of the one thousand pounds was to be ascertained first, and then he was to turn over to Mr. Hough enough of beef, pork, flax, wool, neat stock, butter, cheese, or wheat to meet the demand, suppos- ing wheat to be worth five shillings a bushel in prices — a good arrangement for the people and the only one open to them ia their condition. It is to be wished it could be added that the arrangement was a good one for Messrs. Hough and Colburn. They certainly deserved a handsome profit as a reward for their energy and public spirit, but they did not attain it. It is under- stood that they lost, and lost heavily. They could not make ready sale of the afore-mentioned articles. .The town saw and sympathized with their misfortune, but voted that they could do nothing to relieve them. John Wheatley, Esq., died July 30, 1786, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. His final record as town clerk was made 28th of March, 1786. The records of the annual town meeting of 1787 are not found. Dec 34 1787 Voted that the spot to set a Meeting House on be as near the Centre of the Town & Travel as any Judicious man shall judge reasonable. Voted a Comtee of five men to pitch on the spot to set a Meeting House on. Chose Aaron Hutchinson Esq. Mr. "Wm Huntington, Capt. David Hough Col. Elisha Paine & Deacn Thoph. Huntington for the abovesaid purpose. Committee to report near the first of January next. Jan. 10, 1788. Voted that the place for a Meetinghouse to stand on, be near Mr. Abbotts [at the head of School Street]. JAMES HUBBARD. DKVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 161 Voted to build a meeting House near to Mr. Abbott's — to raise a sum of money for the purpose of Building a meetinghoufe, — to raise tbe sum of three hundred pounds for the purpofe of Building a Meeting House & that sd sum be raifed by the first of January next — a committee of five men to view the Roads and accommodations respecting the par- ticular spot to erect the Meeting house on. Chase Aaron Hutchinson esq. Mr. Wm Huntington Capt Dalre Hough Col. Blisha Payne & Dn Theoph Huntington committee for sd purpose. Chose Col. Blisha Payne, Maj Math Wheatley, and Mr Lemuel Hough a Committee for Building the Meeting House. Chose Capt. David Hough a Delegate to attend the Convention to be holden at Exeter respecting the Federal Constitution & Voted a Comtee of nine men to give Instructions thereon Viz Col. Blish Payne, Mr Const Storrs, Aaron Hutchinson Bsq. Maj John Grlswold Col. Edmund Free- man Lt. Elisha Ticknor Maj Nathi Wheatley Capt. David Hough & Deacn Theoph Huntington Commtee Subsequently Captain Hough declined the office of delegate and Col. Elisha Payne was chosen. The confederation of the colonies was a work of haste under exigencies, and during the Eevolution its defects became mani- fest and embarrassing in the extreme. These defects were as follows: There was not coercive power in the Continental Con- gress. It had no power to punish individuals for any infraction of its land; it had no power to levy taxes or to collect revenue for the public service; they could apportion among the states the necessary sums, the states might raise them or not, according to their pleasure; it had no power to regulate either foreign or interstate commerce. Each state framed its own regulations of these important matters and they were often antagonistic. The want of uniform laws in these affairs left the Confederation at the mercy of foreign powers. Besides these defects there were others of less serious nature, but which yet stood in the way of national prosperity. In order therefore "to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general wel- fare," a convention of the states assembled in Philadelphia to frame a new constitution. After months of labor and discus- sion, the present constitution was finished and sent out to the states for their approval. It was during these discussions that the people formed them- 11 162 HISTORY OP LEBANON. selves into political parties. Questions were then raised which survive to our own times, views upon which have had a control- ling influence upon the course of our affairs. One part of the people wished to give a certain supremacy to the general government over the state governments. These took the name of Federalists. Another portion of the people believed that no state should part with its sovereignty. It might dele- gate its powers for certain objects and ends, but never beyond recall. It was held whatever the state might give up, it should be able to resume at its pleasure. These were called Anti-Fed- eralists. Upon these grand points the people took sides and carried their discussions, not merely to warmth, but to bitterness. They rightly deemed these matters of the utmost consequence, and met them with a corresponding degree of feeling. When, therefore, a convention was called of the people of New Hampshire to sit in judgment upon the new constitution, they felt the importance of the work before them. We need not be surprised that the town thought it proper that their delegate should have the advantage of the deliberate judgment of her wisest citizens framed into instructions for his guidance. Another thing which made this convention important was the fact that eight states had already taken action upon it, and stamped it with their approval. The action of New Hampshire would be decisive, this being the ninth state to vote. If New Hampshire approved of it, its adoption is made certain. The convention met at Exeter in September, 1788. John Sul- livan was president. The provisions of the constitution were warmly discussed, and it was immediately manifest that some of its provisions would meet with strong opposition. The friends of the constitution feared the result, and an adjournment to a future day was proposed and carried, February 22, 1788. The convention met again at Concord, June 18, 1788. A com- mittee was appointed to prepare and recommend certain amend- ments. The convention reached a final vote on its adoption, Sat- urday, June 21, when the yeas and nays were called. While the secretary was calling over the names of the members and record- ing their votes, there was a death-like silence, every bosom throbbed with anxious expectation." We listen for the name DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 163 of Colonel Payne and Ms answer — it is yea. The vote stood fifty-seven in favor and forty-six against the adoption. The vot- ing was conducted in silence, followed by intense excitement. Messengers started in all directions to announce the result. The vote of New Hampshire gave vitality to a government which later generations have held worth living and dying for. The closeness of the vote shows how nearly equally divided the people were upon the great questions of the constitution. We learn from the elders that they were most warmly discussed in this town. There were here Federalists and Anti-Federalists, who had their arguments and their arguments, at many times and "in divers places." It is said that the word Federalist came to a novel use. The pronunciation of it was made a test of soberness. If one in at- tempting to pronounce it rendered it Fetherlist, it was certain he had a "drop too much." Oftentimes accuser and accused both proved to be Fetherlists, not withstanding their party differ- ences. At the annual meeting, March 11, 1788, we find an office filled for the first time — Joel Gilden and Sluman Lathrop, Surveyors of Lumber. This, after a time, became a prominent business in the town. Many of the magnificent pines "fit for masting the royal navy" found their way down the Connecticut to "Old Harford" and intermediate points. Capt. David Hough was chosen representative to the General Assembly. Votes for president of the state: Hon. John Sulli- van, Esq., 82 ; John Langdon, Esq., 1 ; Beza Woodward, 3. For senator for Grafton County, Elisha Payne, Esq., had 57 votes; Jonathan Freeman of Hanover, 12. December 15, 1788, the town held its election for represent- atives to Congress. The state then had no congressional dis- tricts, as now, but each town voted for the three members to which the state was entitled, as many then, it will be noted, as we have now. The vote was as follows : Benj. Bellows Esq. 29 Ellsho Payne Esq. 32 John Sullivan Esq. 20 Simeon Olcott Esq. 15 Sami Livermore Esq. 22 Beza Woodward Esq. 7 Benj. West Esq. 17 Moses Dow Tsq. 3 164: HISTORY OF LEBANON. At the same time the town voted for the first time for five presidential electors, with the following result : John Dailey Esq. 21 John Sullivan Esq. 14 John Pickering Esq. 22 Simeon Olcott Esq. 2 Joshua Wentworth Esq. 20 Timothy Walker Esq. 1 Samuel Sherburne Esq. 21 Elisha Payne Esq. 5 Nathi Adams Esq. 23 Moses Dow Esq. 3 Benj. Bellows Esq. 16 Sami Livermore Esq. 5 Charles Johnston Esq. 13 Francis Smith Tsq. 1 Beza Woodward Esq. 16 Peter Green Esq. 1 Moses Chase Esq. 10 John Stephens 1 February 2, 1789, the town met again for the choice of repre- sentatives to Congress. Benj. West had 23 votes, Saml. Liver- more 23, Abiel Foster 23. Samuel Livermore, Abiel Foster and Nicholas Gihnan were elected, the last not among the candidates voted for in this town. The smallness of the vote shows that little interest was taken in this election. At the annual meeting, March, 1789, for president of the state, John Sullivan, Esq., had 80 votes, John Pickering, Esq., 2, Benj. Bellows 2. For senator from Grafton County, Jonathan Freeman had 65 votes, Elisha Payne, Esq., 16. Capt. David Hough chosen representative. The following is an instance of a proceeding common at the time, but not known in our day — the binding out of a boy: This indenture made the sixth day of August anno domini 1789 Between Jesse Cook, Stephen Billings and Gideon Baker, Selectmen of Lebanon in the county of Grafton and state of New . Hampshire of the one part and Samuel Weathers of Woodstock in the county of Windsor and state of Vermont, Husbandmen of the other part witnesseth — that the said Selectmen, by and with the Consent of two of the justices of the peace for the said county of Grafton have by these presents put, placed, and Bound John Patrick Juner, of the age of twelve years on the twelfth day of Dec. last, a poor boy belonging to Lebanon whose parents John Patrick and Molly his wife are not able to maintain him, to be an apprentice with him the said Samuel, and as an apprentice with him the said Samuel to dwell from the date of these presents untill he, the said John Patrick Juner, shall Come to the age of twenty- one years, according to the law in such case provided, by and during all which time and term the said John Patrick jjuner shall the said Samuel his said master well and faithfully serve in all such lawful business as he, the said John Patrick juner, may be put to by the Com- ABEL STORES. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 165 mand of his said master, according to the wit, power, and ability of him the said John Patricli juner & honestly and obediently shall behave himself in all things towards his said master, and honestly and orderly towards the rest of the family of the said Samuel, — and the said Samuel doth hereby covenant for his part, with the said selectmen for them and their successors in office and for the said John Patrick jun. that he, the said Samuel, shall teach and instruct him the said John Patrick jun. in the mistery and occupation of Husbandry and also shall learn him to read and write, and shall also find him with sufficient meat drink apparel and other things needful for an apprentice, so that the said apprentice shall not dureing said term be a charge to the said town of Lebanon, and shall at the expiration of said term dismiss the said apprentice with two new suits of Cloths, one suitable for Sabbath •days, the other for other days In Witness whereof the Parties hereunto have set their hands and seals the day and the year first above written Signed sealed and delivered In presents of Samuel Mathews John Colburn Jr Aaron Hutchinson Jesse Cook Stephen Billings Gid. Baker We Blihu Hyde and Aaron Hutchinson two of the justices of the peace for the County of Grafton within mentioned do hereby declare and assent to the binding of the within named John Patrick Juner an apprentice to the within named Samuel Weathers according to the form & effect of the within written Indenture. Given under our hands the sixth day of August Anno Domini 1789 Elihu Hyde Aaron Hutchinson A New Meeting House. For some time past, a meeting-house has appeared upon the records. Several votes indicated that the matter was settled and the meeting-house built long before this. Not by any means ! So far they have been only thinking, planning and voting. As yet there has been only some preliminary skirmishing between the parties, now and then a reconnoisance, sometimes "in force." to feel each other's strength. But the real battle is now at hand, and the historian will devote himself to this one subject until the meeting-house is located and built. The records supply the best history and become quite dramatic in their interest. April 9 1789 Voted to build a Meeting House near to Mr Abbotts [head 166 HISTORY OF LEBANON. of School Street] where a former Comtee stuck a stake for that Purpose, by a majority of eighteen votes. So once more the people of the center and eastern parts of the town have prevailed. By no means. For there is debate and discussion and next: — Voted to reconsider the matter respecting building a meeting house, near to Mr Abbotts and it is accordingly reconsidered! ! Voted to choose a committee of four men to find the center of this Town. Chose Col. Elisha Payne, Aaron Hutchinson Esq. Deacn Theo- philus Huntington, and Capt. David Hough a committee for s4 purpose A good committee of the first citizens of the town. This was in April. In June we make a new acquaintance, the shadowy form of the present town haU rises before us. There has been much talk and planning between the afternoon of the 7th of April and the 22nd of June. A new object is presented for the suffrages of the people— for a "majority of eighteen votes, ' ' more or less. Voted to Build a Town House on some convenient spot of ground that shall be agreed on by this Town and that the Society (religious) have Liberty to add to s'd house to make it convenient for Public Wor- ship & make use of it for s'd purpose as they shall see fit. Voted to raise two hundred pounds for the purpose of building a Town House — that the Selectmen be directed to measure from the cen- ter tree to the several spots proposed to set a Town House and report the distance to each spot at an adjourned meeting This now is the problem whose solution we watch with intense interest — Whether a town house with a meeting-house attached can be more readily located than a meeting-house, pure and simple. Oct 1. 1789 met and heard the report of the Select men respecting the distance from the center of the Town to the several spots proposed to set a Town House on. Adjourned for one quarter of an hour. Prob- ably at the suggestion of the Leaders of various parties who wish time to consult, possibly to look at the different "spots." Met according to adjournment and voted to build a Town House on Mr Peek's land, northerly of the Road about six rods easterly of a green pine tree standing in his field — that the Selectmen be a com- mittee to lay out the spot of ground for to set s'd House on & also a parade sufficient to answer said purpose as they shall judge necessary — that Capt. David Hough. Ensign Hezh Waters and Lt. Conslant Storrs be a Comttee to draught the fashion of sa House. Voted that Col Elisha Payne be a Comtee man to assist in s'lJ drughts, Adjourned for four weeks. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 167 The committee this time are all military men, bristling with titles. Something may be expected from the weU-known energy and efficiency of that class of men. Oct 29. 1779. Met and voted to accept the draught of s'a House as ex- hibited by the Comtee. Adjourned for 15 minutes. Met and Chose a Comtee to forward the building of s'a House. Chose Mr Simeon Peclj. Maj Nathaniel Wheatley & Capt. David Hough Comtee for said purpose. By this time the town house is so assured that it is time to think of disposing of the old meeting-house standing on its origi- nal location, so they vote that the selectmen be empowered to dispose of it, exclusive of private property, after said house is not wanted for public use. The "spot" selected for the town house as above was near Scytheville, probably in the vicinity of S. A. Peck's. The exact place is uncertain, for the ' ' Green Pine Tree, " is no longer vis- ible.. Still farther : Voted that the several Surveyors of highways be a Comtee to collect the votes of every legal voter in Town respecting the spot to set a Town House on, in order to accommodate the whole Town, and malse return to the adjourned meeting. Nov 27«' Met and adjourned to Dec 4. Met at the house of Mr. Simeon Peck and adjourned for half an hour. Met and adjourned till the second Tuesday in March, and the fore named Comtee be directed not to proceed in matters respecting s'd House till s'd time of adjourn- ment. March 9 1790 Met and Adjourned till March 25 Inst. Met according to adjournment and voted to reconsider all the votes respecting s'a Town House. Voted to dissolve s'a Meeting Spring came and ripened into summer, summer faded into au- tumn, and autumn sank into bare and leafless winter. Several town meetings were held during the season, but not one word concerning either meeting-house or town house. Suddenly, in a gloomy day of December, it was the 20th day A. D. 1790, like thunder out of a clear sky, comes this vote : Voted that the place to set a Meeting-house on (it is to be a meeting house after all) be near Mr. Abbotts. Voted to choose a Comtee of 8 men to choose a comtee respecting sd meeting house (the town clerk uses no capital this time, as though he had little faith In it). Chose Capt Human Lathrop, Capt David Hough, Mr Clap Sumner, Maj. Wheatley St. Constant Storrs Ens. Hezh Waters Col. Edmand Freeman. 168 HISTORY OP LEBANON. Mr Simeon Peck. Adjourned 15 minutes Met. Committee recommend tliat Lt. Constant Storrs Mr. Simeon Peck Capt. Hougii & Ensign Waters be a Comtee to prepare a plan and devise measures for tlie building s'd Meeting House, and report to ajourned meeting Dec. 27 1790 Voted to reconsider the former vote respecting building a meeting House near Mr Abbotts. And so closed the year 1790 The records for the year 1791 are missing. The subject of a meeting house seems to have come up during the year, for at the annual meeting, March 13, 1792, "Voted to reconsider a former vote to build a meeting house," by Mr. Simeon Peek. About this time the old meeting house, which had patiently waited the decision of the town, whether it should be supplanted by another, and wondered whether the adventures of the new would equal those of the old, suddenly disappeared. It was on the long contested spot in the early evening. It was not there in the morning. ' ' A company of young men, headed by one ' Cap- tain Stubbs ' alias Comfort Allen, gathered in the night and pro- ceeded quietly to remove the bone of contention, and before the morning light, the house of worship was levelled to the ground. The timber was bought by private persons and the house rebuilt on the hill near H. Farnam 's, and continued to be used for meet- ings for several years." — Dr. Allen's Centennial. It appears that the house was not wholly torn down, but some part of it remained, for with a sort of grim humor, the warning for a meeting immediately after calls upon the legal voters to meet in town meeting "at the standing Part of the old meeting house in said Lebanon." The town also took measures to pun- ish those who had assaulted the old house. It is not difficult to ascertain the motive for this destruction of the old house. It was not, probably, mere wanton mischief, such as young men will sometimes indulge in, but had a bear- ing on the great controversy. Judging from some of the votes passed, and other circumstances, a division of the people was im- pending, and there was a threat of two meeting houses. One party, the west and southwest of the town, were satisfied with the old location and proposed to keep the old house. The center and east saw that they must either go there, or else assume the ex- pense of a new house. It was considered that if the old house was out of the way, there was small probability that those in that part of the town would build alone a new house. COL. CONSTANT STORRS. From painting by J. J. Jennys, June 23, 1802. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 169 It is only in the light of such conjectures that this vote, passed April 26, 1792, can be understood : Voted to miite and build one meeting house for the town. — to Build a meeting house on or Near the old meeting house spot. — To Choose a Commtee to Build s'a house viz Lemuel Hough, Capt. David Hough, Hezekiah Waters, Aaron Hutchinson. Bsci., Lt Constant Storrs, Voted that the above Commtee set a stake where the house shall stand — that they Draw a Plan for sa house and lay it Before our Next meeting, and Draw a subscription to Raise money to Build s'd house At this meeting the west and southwest people prevailed. It was probably a reaction in their favor from the destruction of the old house. But May 7. 1792 Voted to Reconsider a former vote of uniting and Building a meeting house for the town altogether. — To releas the above Commit from Building a meeting house — that the Town will Except of the money subscribed of those that tore down the old meeting house if there is suficient subscribed to sattisfy the agents. Besides Comfort Allen, who was the leader in the raid on the old house, it is more than probable that the following persons were "there or thereabouts," Eliel Peck, Jonathan Quimby, James Ayers, Nathaniel Kimball, Moses Persons, Joseph Lath- rop, Gordon Lathrop, Joseph Byington, Enoch Worthen, Urban Lathrop. May 17 1792 Voted to choose a Committee to set half an hour to see if they can agree on a Place to Build a meeting house Committee — Capt Nathi Hall, Capt David Hough, Clap Sumner. Adjourned for half an hour. Met and Committee report that the westerly side of the Plane on which Robert Colburn now lives is the Place for a meeting house about 25, or 30 rods southerly from the School house on sd Plains Voted to form the meeting into a Committee of the whole and go out and Vew the Spot Reported by s* Committee for the meeting touse Voted to Except the Report of the Commt which was to Build a meeting house on the s'li Plain within 25 or 30 rods of a school-house. Sa vote carried By a majority of 104 to 41 Voted to reconsider a former vote for Building a meeting house By Esq. Elihu Hydes, ss vote passed the 26tii of April Last. Voted to go on and Build a meeting house on or Near the Stake which the committee of the whole stuck; Not more than 25 or 30 rods from sd stake. Capt. David Hough, Lieut. Constant Storrs, Mr. Stephen Bil- lings, Lieut. Robert Colburn, Capt. Nathaniel Hall, Mr. Clap Sumner were chosen a committee to build said house. The com- 170 HISTOEY OF LEBANON. mittee was instructed "to make out a subscription and Eaise as mucli money as they can and sell the Pew ground, and finish s"" house; and when finished, if money remains in their hand Eaised by subscription and sail of Pew ground, to be Refunded Back to the subscribers ; s'' Committee to Build according to the old Plan." Also the committee are instructed to "look out all Necessary roads Leading to s"^ meeting house spot." The meeting house is located finally by this decisive vote. Though it does not appear in the records, the decisive consid- eration was a generous offer by Eobert Colburn to give to the town what is now the park, if they would locate the house upon it. The park was then a field under cultivation, hence the direc- tion to the committee "to look out roads to the meeting house spot." That spot was some distance inside the present fence and a little to the west of its present location as a town hall, for that is the building where fortunes were so raised. Though the above vote for the location of the meeting house seems a very decisive one, there was dissatisfaction. The de- feated party did not lose heart, and made another trial to have the location changed. A special meeting was called for the 11th of September, 1792, at eight o'clock a. m., "to see if the town will agree upon some just Plan of measuring, whereby they may find a spot to set a meeting house upon that may Do Equal justice to the whole of the Inhabitants of s* Lebanon and do any other Business Relative thereto that they shall think propper. Voted to Chuse a eomm' to Propose a Plan of measurement to find where the center of Travel is in s'* Lebanon. Chose Nath' Porter Dan> Alden, Capt Dan' Phelps Capt David Hough for above said Purpose Ad- journed for half an hour" Met and the committee reported "that a former Plan of meas- urement to find the center of Travel should be the Present Plan." Voted not to accept said plan. The 12th day of November, 1792, they voted "to choose a Comm* to set with the old meeting house comm' to see if they could agree on Sumthing that should make harmony and union in said town in Regard to meeting house affairs. Chose Jesse Cook, Aaron Hutchinson Nath' Storrs Robert Colburn" The following is the report of the committee : SETH BLODGETT. DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN. 171 Nov 16 1892. Agreed that the Revd Isaiah Potter's Hearers Shall be considered as one Family, and that there be an IndifEerent Oom"e from out of Town that shall take Mr Potters rate bill View it, and have the Hired men and those that aint a going to live in Town not reck* and the rest reckon^ as in said family and the said Comtte shall ride into Each and Every part of this Town and view Every Circumstance of said Family as to Attendance on Publick worship, and say whether the said Family shall meet all the Time at the repaired Meeting-house, or all the time at the new Meeting-house, or whether at each of said houses part of the time, and if so, then in what Proportion at Each of said Houses so as to do Equal justice to Bach member of said Family, as to attendance and Publick worship Jesse Cook Robert Colburn Cook Papers Nov. 22 1792 Voted that a disinterested Com" be chosen to Deter- mine a center spot for a meeting house for Publick worship, which Commit shall consider the travel as it Respects quality and quantity and actually measure to find the same and say where in Justis it ought to be Erected upon the consideration of Every Circumstance of the Present and future Inhabitents — Provided measures are taken to Pre- vent injustls in the Respect to Subscriptions for work Done on the house already raised. Nov 26. Voted to Reconsider the last claws in the last vote (viz> Provided measures are taken to Prevent injustis with Respect to Sub- scriptions and work Done on the meeting-house already Raised. Chose a commt in tovm to measure s* town. Chose a commt to nominate a Commt, viz Nathi Porter, Lemuel Hough Clap Sumner Dean Downer Charles Saxton. Adjourned for % an hour. Met and Commt report that Stephen Billings Lt. Joseph Wood, Dani Hough Capt. Asher Allen be a commt to measure s4 town and are accordingly chosen with the substitution of Samuel Bstabrooks for Stephen Billings who declined December 24, 1792, the committee reported as follows : Lebanon Dec 17 1792 To the Inhabitants of the Town of Lebanon— Greeting ! We, the subscribers that were appointed By sn Town as a committee to measure & find where sa Town could get together with the Least Travel — have accordingly Gone and measured & calculated to Different Spots and Beg leve to Report. In the first Place we calculated the said Travel to the New meeting house & secondly to the mouth of the Lane Between Mr James Jones & Mr. Nathaniel Storrs and found that there was 215 miles & 29 rods less Soul Travel to s'a lane than to the New Meeting house— Likewise we ^ found the land Travel to the aforesaid spots to Be 37 miles & 246 (rods) the least Travel to the New meeting house Reconing one travel from 172 HISTORY OF LEBANON. Each habitable Hundred acre Lot. Likewise we found it to Be 52 miles & 303 Kods more Land Travel to Mr Peck's spot than to the New meeting house. Samuel Estabrook" Dan'i Hough Asher Allen Joseph Wood Jr Committee In the above report the "land travel" means the distance to the specified points from each inhabited house in town. By "soul travel" is meant this distance multiplied by the number of persons living in each house. From the report it appears that the meeting-house on the Plain was nearer a geographical center of the town than the other localities, but that the center of popur lation was at the "mouth of the lane between James Jones and Nathaniel Storrs, " which was in the neighborhood of Abel Storrs'. This report seems to have been final. The meeting-house, which had been already raised and work done upon it, stood its ground. We at this day see that the location was wisely chosen. The village is both the geographical and the natural center of the town. Various papers relative to this meeting house are here given. The people had little money to vote or give for the expense of building, but they had material and labor. The following is the subscription of the inhabitants: Coppy of Subscription Paper for the Purpose of raising money for Building a Meetinghouse on the plain by Robert Colburns. GEORGE BLODGETT. DEVELOPMENT OP THE TOWN. 173; Wheat £ Stephen Billings 3-0 Simeon Peck 20 -0 Isaiah Potter i6 -o -0 Isaac Walbridge 3-0-0 Josiah Cleaveland 6-0 Jabez Kellogg 2-0-0 John Colburn Jun 9-0-0 Beriah Abbott lo -0 -0 Elkanah Sprasue 5 -0 -0 Wlthiral Hough 7-10 -0 Johathan Hamilton 6-0-0 Eoger Hebbard 0-6-0 Zenas Alden 4-0-0 Asa Woodward 1-10 -0 Daniel Gushing i-io -0 Benjamin Gary 2-0-0 JohnAndros S -0 -0 Blial Peck 1-0-0 Jahleel Peck 4 -0 -0 Sam' Estabrook 9-0-0 Zlba Huntington 2-0-0 Sherekiah Ballard 6-0-0 Jesse Cook 15 -0 -0 Charles Saxton 2-0-0 Nathi Bid well 3 -0 -0 Daniel Barker 2-0-0 Robert Colburn 20 -0 -0 Andrew Wheatly 3-6-0 Asa Fitch 1-10 -0 Ashnr Allen 1-5-0 Daniel Wills 1 -0 -0 Ebba Peck 2-0-0 Arad Simons 4-0-0 Abijah Chandler 2 -0 -0 Richard Corning 2-0-0 Bbenezer Bliss 2-0-0 DaTid Hough 16 -0 -0 Xatban Durkee 4-0-0 Lemuel Hough 16 -0 -0 Sluman Lathrop 6-0-0 Samuel Lathrop 4-0.-0 ZureEldridge 2 -0 -0 Daniel Bliss 4-0-0 Jonathan Quimby 2-0-0 Constant Storrs 20 -0 -0 Nathaniel Storrs 10 -0 -0 Jonathan Bosworth 2-0-0 Nath> Bosworth 1-0-0 Cash ■shillings Wheat 12 10 20 20 6 40 12 18 12' 24 18 Stephen Bliss £8 James Hartshorn 0-15 Phinias Parkhurst 5-0 Hezekiah Waters 3-0 Aaron Hutchinson 16 -0 Clap Sumner 10 -0 Reuben Putnam 1-4 Andrew Aldrich 10 Fredrick Cook -5 Pelam Cook 0-5 Joseph Basf ord 0-6 Simeon Cook o-lO David Stoddard 1-0 John Payne 2-10 Noah Powers l-io James Bellows 1-10 Phineas Allen 3-0 Alexander Cambell 3-0 Nathan Blodgett s -0 Abial Wills 1-10 Cady Allen 3-0 Walter Peck 6-0 DiarcaAllen 5-0 Enoch Redington 1-10 Elisha Payne 10 -0 Jeriah Sweatland 1-10 Benj. Fuller 1-10 David Whitmore 3-0 Zacheus Downer 8-0 Richard Aldrich 6-0 John Chapman 2-0 Oliver Ellis 2-0 Qideon Baker 4-0 Andrew Baker 1 -0 Gideon Baker Jun 2-10 Richard Lyman 4-0 James Hibbard 3-0 John Porter 6-0 Daniel Hough 4-0 James Ayers 2 -0 Enoch Freeman 1-0 Richard H Little 1-0 Daniel Alden 7-0 Total £398 -5 Cash 6 6 20 12 10 12 15 6 2 353 S. Whereas the Town of Lebanon Did on the seventeenth Day of May 1792 vote to Erect a Meeting-house near the western part of the plain on which Robert Colburn lives in s'a Lebanon, And whereas David Hough Constant Storrs, Robert Colburn, Stephen Billings, Nathi Hall and Clap Sumner are A committee appointed for that Purpose and whereas the said Comtee have undertaken to lay out money or certicutes that may be subscribed towards Erecting said house the Subscribers in Consid- eration of said undertaking do Each one promise the said Comtee to pay them the sum or sums Set against our Respective names in the Articules specified at or before the 25 day of Dec next in witness of our hands Lebanon 21st May A. D. 1792 the above is a coppy Stephen Billings s'a Comtee & Clerk 174 HISTORY OP LEBANON. c^ 3f 7^6 i N» I V ^ ^ 7 C^ £ 7^^ ISI J_ ^ I y •^y?^' 7^^ « 1 I Floor Plan of tlie Meeting House on the Common, now the To-wn HaU. A debit and credit account was opened with each one of the subscribers and others, of which a few examples are added show- ing the condition of things in those days : Aaron Hutchinson Cattle or Grain To A Pew on the floor of the house No 21 Contra Crldet by Cash Laid out for rum Oct. 1792 by a yoak of Oxen and one Cow £ s. d. Money 15 £ 1 17 10 1 15 H rl) D O M fen ^ O H H ^ rl) H « PL, li O § S o u H W H |Zi O W ro P O w cb IZi so M pj H M M =4 § rt fl g 1-1 o O these shoals. The present generation knows little about this division among the people, the strength of feeling, the bitterness of hostility evoked by these issues now so plainly and boldly made. In this we may discern the meaning of those strange changes in the voting of the people, the gathering and falling away of parties. In these conflicts we may discern the gathering of that cloud which later, surcharged with lightning and tempests, burst upon the devoted land. 262 HISTORY OF LEBANON. DIVIDING GRAFTON COUNTY. In 1840 the following article was inserted in the warrant for the annual meeting: "To take the sense of the town (agreeable to a Eesolution passed the N. H. Legislature, June Session 1839) upon the following Question : Is it expedient to divide the County of Grafton?" This indicates that some of the people were still discontented with their position in county affairs and desiring better accom- modations. The vote of the town was, yeas 49, nays 52 ; and so the matter rested for a time. SURPLUS REVENUE. At this same meeting the town voted that "the sum of three hundred of the Surplus Revenue deposited with the Town be paid to the Overseer of the Poor for the use of the Town Farm, and all the residue of said surplus be appropriated for town purposes. ' ' At the annual meeting in 1845, the town voted "that it is expedient to receive the portion of the Surplus Revenue due this State from the United States." This was in addition to a sum already received. In 1849, "Voted to appropriate the Surplus Revenue to Town purposes. " At a subsequent meeting in August the vote was renewed. 4TH N. H. TURNPIKE. For some time the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike had been unprofitable to the corporation, and a movement was made to have it declared a free road. In view of this the town at its annual meeting, 1840, "Chose Col. Abel Baker agent for the Town with regard to the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike being made a free road." At a meeting held on the second day of November, 1840 : Voted that the Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized, and directed to borrow on the credit of the town the sum of sixteen hundred dollars for the purpose of paying to the Proprietors of the Fourth N. H. Turnpike Corporation the damages as assessed by the Court's Committee in December last. The Selectmen are also directed to take charge of the road and put it in good condition. STATE AND TOWN OFFICERS, ETC. 26S At the annual meeting in 1841 the town : Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to expend three Hundred dol- lars of the Town's money to repair the old Turnpike in addition to what may be necessary to repair the bridges &c. Thus passed away one of the noted institutions of this region and of the state. It was one of the paths from the interior to the seaside, over which there was an immense traffic. In one direction went the product of the farms of Vermont and New Hampshire, beef, pork, mutton, butter and cheese, eggs and poultry, potatoes and grain. In the reverse direction were car- ried groceries, dry goods, all manner of supplies for the family, many casks of New England rum, farming implements, iron and steel for blacksmiths, tools for the mechanic, toys for the chil- dren, medicine for the sick, and almost everything needed in the affairs of life. It required many horses, many drivers, many wagons, many harnesses, many blacksmiths along the route. There were eight- horse teams, six-horse teams, four-horse teams and two-horse teams. These last were called "Pod teams." Besides these reg- ular teams, farmers, especially in the winter, "went to market" with their own teams, neighborhoods joining together for the sake of company and mutual assistance. Ceaselessly these teams went to and fro, often in long procession. In addition to these freight teams were the stages, carrying passengers and the mails passing over this great highway. Fortunate in those days was the man, usually a farmer, who lived at the top of a long and hard hill, for these teams were loaded to the last pound and required assistance up the hills, and the man had a span of horses or yoke of oxen ready to ren- der that assistance — for a consideration. It was helpful to the teamster because by this occasional assistance he could transport a heavier load; it was more profitable to the farmer than many of his most fertile acres. But sometimes the farmer missed his fee, for neighbors or friends traveled in company, and when a difficult hill was reached one of the wagons was left at the bot- tom and the horses attached to the other and it was drawn to the top of the hill, and then the horses were returned to the wagon at the foot of the hill and that was drawn up. This was called doubling up. 264 HISTORY OP LEBANON. In these days the country taverns flourished mightily. They were to be found every two or three miles along the route. There were seven or eight in this town alone. At night there were from twenty-five to sixty horses to be housed and fed, with their drivers. These teamsters were acquaintances and had good times in the evening when the toils and hardships of the day were over. Experiences were compared, the condition of the highway criti- cised, stories were exchanged, religious doctrines were discussed, for in those days these subjects had a strong hold upon the minds of the people. They were pondered more than they are today, and the discussion of them and the thinking of them nat- urally developed a strong intellectual grasp — not so common today. Polities had a large place in their discussions, and they grew warm and heated over these matters, for in those days dif- ferences of opinion were not accompanied with any spark of courtesy or amiability. In the winter, gathered around an open fire of well seasoned logs, they had their lively frolics, helped on by visits to the bar, then openly and unblushingly kept. Those were the days when liquors were pure and indulgence in them only added exhilara- tion to their spirits without making them quarrelsome. Many were the practical jokes they played upon each other. One found his boots full of ice, a companion having filled them with water and set them outdoors. But that debt was repaid soon after when the roguish companion found an obstruction in his boots as he sought to pull them on one morning in the shape of a young kitten, whose claws and teeth resented the introduction of the unwary foot. This sketch of the ancient turnpike would be incomplete with- out the mention of the stage drivers. These were a class of men above the teamsters, the aristocrats of the road, gentlemen, well dressed, much trusted, proud of their occupation, the en^y of all the boys who made their manners by the roadside as the gaudy Concord coach rolled swiftly by, whose ambition was to be a stage driver when old enough. They were skillful men, knowing every rod of their routes, — just where all the bad spots in the road Avere in the darkest night. It would pay a stranger to go a mile or two to see one of these four or six-horse teams come up to the tavern door at full speed in a cloud of dust or JOHN W. PEOK. H P5 O H 02 O M M D STATE AND TOWN OFFICERS, ETC. 265 snow, pulling up exactly at the landing place, to leave the mail bags and passengers, while a crowd of loungers admired or criti- •cised the skill of the driver. These drivers had an annual ball in Concord, than which none was more select ; an invitation to attend their ball was an honor greatly coveted by the highest in the land. When the railroads were built this valuable class of men dis- ■appeared from these pathways, and most of this generation have never seen a genuine stage driver and cannot find them without going hundreds of miles. Some of them, however, found employ- ment as conductors on the railroads in their early days. THE MEETING-HOUSE. The meeting-house, still standing on the common, grew more ■dilapidated and forlorn, and it became evident that something must be done to prevent danger from accidents. So, at the an- nual meeting, 1840, it was "Voted that the sum of twenty-five dollars be appropriated to be expended, if necessary, under the ■direction of the Selectmen in repairing the bell deck of the old Meeting-house. ' ' Note that it has come to be the ' ' old meeting- house." At the annual meeting in 1841, "Voted that the Selectmen fit Tip the Town House, so as to make it convenient for Town pur- poses — not to exceed one hundred dollars in expense." This was the lower part of the house, the Universalists occupying the upper part. In December 25, 1841, at a special meeting the town "voted to appropriate the sum of two hundred dollars to repair and im- prove the town house so that it will be more convenient for pub- lic meetings and doing town business. Voted to appoint Watson K. Eldridge, Alpheus Baker, and John W. Peck committee for the above purpose. Voted that said committee procure two suit- able stoves and funnel for the town house, not to exceed in the amount the sum of fifty dollars. ' ' At the annual meeting, 1842, a new duty was imposed upon the town clerk, as follows: "Voted that the Town Clerk take charge of the Town House and see that the same be kept in proper repair, and generally open the same for the use of any portion of the Inhabitants of the town upon all proper occasions 266 HISTORY OP LEBANON. & to any Gentlemen for scientific purposes, and if at any time said Clerk shall doubt as to the expediency of opening the Hall, he shall consult with the Selectmen, and the board shall settle the right." The town clerk to whom this important duty fell was Timothy Kenrick. It may be safely presumed that the town clerk "faithfully and impartially discharged and performed" his duty in this matter, for neither meeting-house nor town house appear upon the records again until 1845, when this vote was passed at the annual meeting : ' ' Voted that the Selectmen paint in a good and substantial manner the lower part of the outside of the town house up to the top of the lower windows, and one half of the steeple or belfry above the roof of the house, provided the Universalist society, will, in like manner, paint the other part of the outside of said house and steeple or belfry. ' ' It does not appear that the selectmen ever did the work as- signed to them. At a special meeting held July 2, 1849 : Voted that the Selectmen be directed to purchase the reserved rights of the heirs of Robert Colburn to the Meeting House common, provided that the whole can be obtained for a sum not exceeding two hundred and the necessary expense not exceeding twenty-five dollars Voted that the Town consent that the town-house be removed, pro- vided a good deed of a strip of land 72 feet wide from the common and one hundred feet back towards E. A. Howe's house be given to the Town & provided said house be raised a suitable height above the land of the common when graded & to be set not more than one hundred feet from said common & provided B. Blaisdell G. S. Kendrick, C. C. Benton & H. R. Stevens give bonds to the town to remove said House and put in as good repair as it now is, without expense to the town, this to be done under the supervision of the Selectmen. SALE OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUOR. At a special meeting held December 23, 1843, the following resolution was adopted: Resolved: That we consider the sale and use of spirituous liquor in all its forms, except for medical purposes, and then under the direction of medical men, as immoral and unbecoming in a Christian commun- ity; as decidedly injurious to health, as destructive to sound happi- ness, as a great incitement to crime, as one of the gi-eatest and most alarming causes of increasing pauperism and as the source from which comes more of moral and political evil than any other single vice to which man is addicted. HARVEY MUROH. ELISHA P. LISCOMB. STATE AND TOWN OFFICERS, ETC. 2fr7 Therefore voted that the Selectmen of this town be directed not to grant any license for the sale of spirituous liquors or -wines of any kind for any other than medical purposes, and that under such re- strictions as they may judge proper for the promotion of a strictly tem- perance community. The vote was eighty-six to four in favor of the resolution. They also voted to postpone indefinitely the question of grant- ing a license to tavern-keepers and retailers. At a meeting held February 1, 1848, the town voted not to grant a license to any person for the sale of spirituous liquors or wines except for medicinal or mechanical purposes. The vote was 139 to 88 in favor. At the annual meeting in 1849 the town reaffirmed the pre- ceding vote. Railroads. At the annual meeting in 1844 the following preamble and resolutions were adopted: Whereas we believe Railroads to be one of the greatest Improvements of the present age, and above all others best calculated, not only to facilitate and cheapen travel and transportation over our hills and along our vallies, but to bring together and harmonize the various feelings and interests of our common Country and thereby strengthen and perpetuate that union and harmony without which human society can scarcely be called a blessing, and Whereas it is contemplated by many individuals to petition the nexf Legislature for a charter from Concord to the valley of the Connecti- cut river, and Whereas there are some who believe the Legislature is prohibited from granting a charter for Rail Roads with the right of way, and others who believe the right of way may be obtained by purchase of the individuals over whose lands such Rail Road may pass, without the grant of such right of way by the Legislature, and Whereas we believe the Legislature of this State have by the Constitution full power to grant the right of way for Rail roads as well as for other great public roads and ways for public use and convenience, and Whereas from full examination recently made, we are satisfied that no such right of way can be obtained without an act of the Legisla- ture authorizing such Corporation to take the land of individuals for such way. Therefore Resolved that our Representatives this day elected [E. P. Llscomb, G. H. Lathrop, be instructed, and we do hereby especially in- struct them, by all fair and honorable legislation to promote the ease and convenience of the inhabitants of the State by voting for charters for Rail Roads in all proper and necessary places, with right of way under such restrictions, and with such reasonable provisions as shall insure to land-owners, full and ample compensation for any lands they may be required to surrender for such right of way, and at the same time with such liberal priviledges, as shall enable the Corporation to carry forward this great enterprise through and not around New Hampshire The Preamble passed on division of the house 194 yeas to 14 nays. The Resolution passed on division of the house 190 yeas to 18 nays. RAILROADS, ETC. 269 The town clerk was directed to publish the above action in some newspaper. At the annual meeting, 1845, the following action was taken : Resolved that by the making of the contemplated Rail Road through this town its inhabitants would be relieved for ever from the cost and expense of great and important alterations in its present leading roads, as also of much of the expense of keeping them in repair for the heavy teams which are now continually passing over them; and whereas in- dividuals have already expended large sums for surveys for said Rail Road; and whereas further sums are necessary to procure its location, and, as we believe its ultimate success, which would be of great ad- vantage to the town in relieving its inhabitants from the burden afore- said Therefore voted that the Selectmen pay over to the Rail Road Com- mittee a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars of any money belong- ing to the town to be by said Committee expended in procuring the lo- cation of said Rail Roads, and to take a receipt of the chairman of said Committee, that the sum be refunded to the town, with interest, upon the completion of said railroad, and not otherwise By a subsequent vote the selectmen were directed to pay to T. J. Carter the sum of one hundred dollars toward expense of the survey. OPENING OF THE NORTHERN RAILROAD TO LEBANON. On Wednesday, the 17th of November, 1847, the Northern Railroad was farther opened to Lebanon, in New Hampshire. This event was celebrated by a large number of persons who came from Boston for that purpose, and by a great concourse from the neighboring region. The train made a halt at South Frank- lin for the purpose of taking in Hon. Daniel "Webster, then on a visit to his farm in that place. A collation had been prepared for the company at Lebanon. At this entertainment, a toast in honor of Mr. Webster was proposed by Charles T. Russell, Esq., of Boston, chairman of the committee of arrangements, to which Mr. Webster responded as follows : I wish. Sir, that the gentleman who has done me the honor to propose the toast just given had called upon some other per- son than myself to address the meeting and had left me in the position of a listener merely; but I could not properly refrain from expressing my sincere thanks for the manner in which my name has been announced by the president and received by the 270 HISTORY OP LEBANON. assembly. Thus called upon to speak, I cannot disregard the summons. Undoubtedly the present is a moment of great in- terest, and I now have to perform the pleasing duty of congrat- ulating the directors and stockholders of this road upon the suc- cessful completion of their enterprise; and also the citizens re- siding in this part of the country, upon the. result which has been witnessed today, the entire accomplishment of this most im- portant work. It is an undertaking not only important in it- self but also very important when regarded as a link in the great chain of railroads which is to connect the West with the sea- coast. For myself, in considering the progress of railroad structures throughout the country, I have been, doubtless many other indi- viduals have been, generally contented with admiring the enter- prise manifested, the ingenuity displayed, the industry shown in carrying them forward to completion. But here, on this occa- sion, there is to me a matter of peculiar interest. Perhaps, and very possibly, this is because the road whose completion is now to be hailed runs not only through New Hampshire, my native state, but also through that part of New Hampshire in which I have a considerable personal interest. This is but natural, for the road passes through my own farm, my own New Hampshire home. This Northern Railroad is destined to be connected with two other roads of vast importance, each having Montreal for its end. The one will traverse Vermont, passing Montpelier, and proceeding along the valley of the Winooski to Lake Champlain, while the other will extend itself up the valley of the Passump- sic. Each, for the present, has its terminus at Montreal, so that the traveler from the Atlantic coast, arriving at Lebanon, might have a choice to make between the routes. This choice, perhaps, may occasionally be perplexing. The passenger from the coast to the St. Lawrence may now know on which line travel is best, or which is most convenient for his purposes. It may not im- probably so happen that the traveler will compromise the mat- ter, deciding to go on by the one route, and return by the other. So far as I am concerned, both lines have my best wishes for their entire success. EAILROADS, ETC. 271 My friend, the presiding officer, has spoken of Burlington and Montreal as the termini of this road; but in point of fact, this is a mere link, a part of a line of land navigation, by steam, from Boston to Ogdensburg, and thence, by land and water, to the Great West. I do not exactly remember whether it was Mr. Gouveneur Morris or Mr. Clinton who said, with regard to the Erie Canal, that the object and aim of that undertaking were to "tap Lake Erie and draw down its waters to New York har- bor." One or the other of these two great men it was, and the design has been carried out. It may not, perhaps, be proper for me to say, that the design of this road, with its extensions, is to tap the St. Lawrence, but it can be asserted, and with truth, that it was to relieve that noble river of a large portion of its great, rich, overwhelming burdens, and deliver its freight, or at least a great part of its freight, at the Atlantic shore by a more safe, speedy and cheap conyeyance than any before available. That, I imagine, must be clear to all. Again, no one can fail to perceive how greatly instrumental this road, with its extension, will prove in bringing Ogdensburg near to Boston, — as near, indeed, as Buffalo now is to Albany. This connection between Ogdensburg and the capital of New England would open at once a new thoroughfare for the prod- ucts of the West, an outlet hitherto untried, through which the commodities of Lake Superior and the other upper lakes may seek and reach the Atlantic by the way of Massachusetts Bay and its chief port. I will not undertake to compare the little city of Boston with the great city of New York, preeminent as New York is among the cities of America, for her extended com- merce and her facilities for its increase. The great city of our neighboring state towers above all rivals in respect to every ad- vantage of commercial position. Let her enjoy all the benefits she can, let her claim all the credit she can from this circum- stance. Neither envy nor malice, on my part, shall contribute to rob her of one of her well deserved laurels; but without any very great arrogance, or any very undue exhibition of local pride, we may say that Boston, with her adjacent towns, throughout all the neighboring shore from Hingham to Marble- head — which extent of eovintry, in effect, is but one seaport, cer- tainly one so far as commercial and manufacturing industry is 272 histoSy op Lebanon. concerned — is entitled to command some degree of respect from the whole confederation of our states. Standing, indeed, upon the summit of Bunker Hill, one can look around upon a terri- tory and a population equal to that of New York and her im- mediate suburbs. In fact, from Boston to Newburyport it is all one city ; and by the development of her own enterprise, Boston, with her environs, has made herself a rival not lightly to be con- temned by any city of the country. I will for one not under- take to estimate the increased extent of her commerce when all the links in her chain of railroad communication shall be com- pleted. There is another consideration which will commend itself to those who would contemplate the immediate future. It is this, that there will soon be an entire railroad liae from New York, through New Haven, Hartford and Springfield, not only to Bos- ton, but up the valleys of the Connecticut and Passumpsic, to Montreal. It is the impression of many, that land in New Eng- land is poor; and doubtless such is the fact with regard to a great portion of it. But throughout the whole United States I do not know of a richer or more beautiful valley, as a whole, than that of the Connecticut Eiver. Parts of it are worth two hundred and fifty dollars an acre for the purpose of cultivation, and there is no land in the West worth half so much. I cannot say so much for the land of the Merrimack Valley for culti- vation, but that portion of the country is rich in water-power, rich in manufacturing industry, and rich in human energy and enterprise. These are its elements of wealth; and these elements will soon be developed, in a great measure by the means of rail- road communication, to a surprising extent. The whole region , of country along this line of road, a distance say of about one hundred and twenty miles, will, before our children have ceased to be active among the sons of men, be one of the richest portions of the whole world. Such, I really believe, is the destiny of the Merrimack valley. Rich, not in the fertility of the soil on its banks, but in its almost illimitable water-power, the energy and industry of its people, and the application of these elements to the improvement and extension of productive machinery. It EAILEOADS, ETC. 273 may soon be said of this beautiful river, with even more truth than applied to the poet's glorious lines upon the Thames, — "Though with those streams it no resemblance hold,. Whose foam is amber and whose gravel gold, Its greater, but less guilty, wealth explore. Search not its bottom, but survey its shore. ' ' And now what is the particular cause of all the prosperity and wealth which I foresee in this valley? "What is it that has chiseled down these Grafton rocks and made this road which brings my own house so near to the home of my most distant New Hampshire hearer? It is popular industry; it is free labor. Probably there never was an undertaking which was more the result of popular feeling than this. I am told there are fifteen hundred stockholders in the enterprise, tbe capital being two mil- lions and a half. That single fact would serve to show the gen- erally diffused interest felt by the people in its success. It is but three or four years since, when, having occasion to visit my farm at Franklin, I observed a line of shingles stretching across my fields. Asking my farmer what was the meaning of all this, I was answered, "It is the line of our railroad." Our' rail- road ! ! That is the way the people talked about it. I laughed at the idea at first; and, in conversation with a neighbor, in- quired what in the world they wanted of a railroad there. "Why," was the reply," the people want a ride behind the iron horse, and that ride they will have." This day they have had it. The result has proved, not that my friend was too sanguine, but that I was too incredulous. It is the spirit and influence of free labor, it is the indomitable industry of a free people, that has done all this. There is mani- fested in its accomplishment that without which the most fer- tile field by nature must remain forever barren. Human sa- gacity, skill and industry, the zealous determination to improve and profit by labor, have done it all. That determination has no- where been more conspicuously displayed than here. New Hamp- shire, it is true, is no classic ground. She has no Virgil and no Ec- logues. She has a stem climate and a stem soil. But her cli- mate is fitted to invigorate men and her soil is covered with the 274 HISTORY OF LEBANON. evidences of the comforts of individual and social Ufe. As the traveler pursues his way along her roads, he sees all this. He sees those monuments of civilization and refinement, churches; he sees those marks of human progress, schoolhouses, with chil- dren clustering around their doors as thick as bees. And they are bees, except in one respect. The distinction is, that whereas the insect day after day returns to its home laden with the spoils of the field, the human creature is admitted to the hive but once. His mind is furnished with the stores of learning, he is allowed to drink his fill at the fountains of knowledge, his energies are trained iu the paths of industry, and he is then sent out into the world, to acquire his own subsistence and help to promote the welfare of his kind. It is an extraordinary era in which we live. It is altogether new. The world has seen nothing like it before. I wiU not pretend, no one can pretend, to discern the end; but everybody knows that the age is remarkable for scientific research into the heavens, the earth, and what is beneath the earth; and perhaps more remarkable still for the application of this scientific re- search to the pursuits of life. The ancients saw nothing like it. The modems have seen nothing like it till the present genera- tion. Shakespeare's fairy said he would "Put a girdle round about the earth In forty minutes." Professor Morse has done more than that; his girdle requires far less time for its traverse. In fact, if one were to send a dispatch from Boston by the telegraph at twelve o'clock, it would reach St. Louis at a quarter before twelve. This is what may be called doing a thing in less than no time. "We see the ocean navigated and the solid land traversed by steam power, and intelligence communicated by electricity. Truly this is al- most a miraculous era. What is before us no one can say, what is upon us no one can hardly realize. The progress of the age has almost outstripped human belief; the future is known only to Omniscience. In conclusion, permit me to say ttat aU these benefits and ad- vantages conferred upon us by Providence should only strengthen our resolves to turn them to the best account, not EAILKOADS, ETC. 275 merely in material progress, but in the moral improvement of our minds and hearts. "Whatsoever else we may see of the won- ders of science and art, our eyes should not be closed to that great truth, that, after all, "the fear of the Lord is the be- ginning of wisdom." — The "Works of Daniel "Webster, "Volume II. Historical Miscellany. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. At the November meeting, 1844, the following article appeared in the warrant: To take the sense of the votes upon the question, Shall capi- tal punishment be abolished? Votes in favor of the abolition, 70. Votes against the abolition, 159. EXTINGUISHMENT OP FIRES. At the annual meeting in 1845 the town voted to choose a committee of three to take into consideration the whole subject of the extinguishment of fires and the adoption of certain laws relating thereto. Timothy Kenriek, Watson K.. Eldridge and Elisha P. Liscomb were named as that committee. At- an adjourned meeting held April 1, 1845, voted to adopt certain sections of Chapter III of the Revised Statutes. These sections define the duties of firewards in towns, give them author- ity over all fire apparatus and firemen, the precautions against fires and measures for extinguishing them. One of the sections provides as follows: "Every house or building with fireplaces or stoves shall have thereon a good secure ladder or ladders, reaching from the ground to the ridgepole, and shall be provided with one leathern bucket of such size and form as the firewards may prescribe for every two fireplaces or stoves in such houses ; and if the owner shall not provide and keep in repair such buckets and ladders he shall be liable to a penalty of six dollars for every three months' neglect." By a vote of the town all persons living two hundred and fifty rods from the town house were exempt from the duties pre- scribed by this section. Other acts or parts of them relating to the same subject were adopted from time to time, when at a special meeting held May HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 277 29, 1848, the town voted to appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars towards purchasing a fire engine and all necessary ap- paratus, on condition that the same sum be raised by subscrip- tion or otherwise and the said engine and apparatus be to the satisfaction of the selectmen. This was the engine now known as No. 2, and proved to be of excellent quality. Before this the town had used a small engine made by Stephen Kendrick, upon which W; S. Ela says he worked. It was of little power, had no hose and remained for years as a curiosity, and finally suc- cumbed to the depredations of the small or large boys. VOTE OF THANKS TO GEORGE H. LATHROP. At the close of an adjournment of the annual meeting of 1845 the following vote was passed: "Voted that the thanks of this meeting be rendered to George H. Lathrop Eq. for the Courteous, able, and impartial manner with which he has pre- sided over the deliberations of this meeting. ' ' This was an unusual proceeding and indicates that the meet- ing had been a stormy one. Mr. Lathrop was an excellent pre- siding officer, having all the qualities ascribed to him in the vote. TEACHERS' INSTITUTE. 3^he legislature in its June session, 1846, passed an act author- izing towns to raise, "in addition to the amount by law required to be raised therein for the support of common schools, a sum not exceeding five per cent of such amount, to be applied to the support of a Teachers' Institute within the limits of the county in which said town is situated. ' ' At the annual meeting in 1849 the following resolution was adopted : Resolved that we approve of the plan of establishing a 'Teachers' Institute' In the Western Judicial District of the County of Grafton, and that the Selectmen be directed to pay out of any of the towns money not otherwise appropriated our proportion of such expense as may be necessary for the same, not exceeding twenty-eight dollars ($28), when they shall be satisfied that the same is established and in operation, and that our jurymen and other Gentlemen attending Court at Haverhill, in April next, be requested to attend any meeting that may be held there for the organization of a "Teachers Institute' and act therein in behalf of the town 278 HISTORY OP LEBANON. This prompt action of the town in behalf of an institution which has been of great service to the common schools of the state shows a commendable interest in education. At this same meeting the town provided for the printing of the reports of town officers thereafter. In 1890 the town clerk succeeded in finding a copy of the reports for each year and had them bound together in one volume, greatly to the convenience of the town officers and the public. NEW BURYING GROUND. At the annual meeting, 1845: "Voted that the Selectmen immediately lay out the new Burying Ground into suitable lanes, alleys and suitable lots, putting up monuments to designate or marking the same, and make a plan of the same and lodge the same with the Town Clerk of said town ; that they designate one half of said lots as for sale, at a price not exceeding five dollars for any one lot, and so in proportion to their situation, and that the other lots be free for the use of any of the inhabitants of said town without any pay, and that any person desiring any lot appraised by said Selectmen, may have the same by paying the price so set by said Selectmen to said lot, and having his name written in said lot in the plan in the Town Clerk's office, and that the price for which any lot or lots may be sold be laid out in putting up permament monuments to said lots and in other ways of improving and ornamenting said Burying ground & that it be the duty of the Selectmen and all others concerned, to see that the lanes and alleys be not infringed upon, and that these regulations be strictly adhered to, and that it be the duty of the Town Clerk to enter the name of any inhabitant on any of the free lots, when the same may be Used by any of the inhabi- tant's family as a burying lot." These instructions refer to that part of the village cemetery lying in the rear of the Methodist Church. There was some dif- ference of opinion as to the way of disposing of the lots, for in the November meeting of the same year, when the question came up, ' ' To see what course the Town will take with regard to selling the lots in the Burying ground," it was voted to postpone the Article indefinitely. But at the annual meeting in 1846 the town reaffirmed the former instruction to the selectmen. HON. A. H. ORAGIN. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 279 TOMB. In 1843 the town again directed the selectmen to erect a tomb in the village cemetery, and also gave liberty to individuals and families to do so, but nothing was done. After the close of the annual meeting in March, 1849, it was discovered that the meeting was illegal. Application was made to Timothy Kenrick, a justice of the peace, to call another meet- ing, who states that "the meeting appears to him not to have been held according to law," but does not state the ground for his belief. The curiosity of the historian was excited, a careful scrutiny of the warrant was made; no defect was apparent. It seemed to be properly signed, 'sealed and duly certified as to posting. The posting seemed to be according to law, viz., "A true and attested copy" at the place of meeting, and a like copy at the tavern of Harlow S. Nash. The time it remained posted, not counting the day of posting or the day of meeting, seemed to be according to law — fourteen days. The question was sub- mitted to others ; they were no wiser. It finally occurred to the historian to examine the law as to the time of posting, and he found that law then required fifteen days and not fourteen. Of course the town lost its vote for aU state and county officers, but was represented in the legislature. At the first meeting A. H. Cragin was chosen town clerk, in place of Timothy Kenrick, but at the second meeting Kenrick secured the office. 1850 TO 1860. POLITICAL AITAIES. In 1850 the vote for governor was as follows: Nathaniel S. Berry, F. S., 36; Samuel Dinsmore, I. D., 146; Levi Chamber- lain, "W., 186. In the state Nathaniel S. Berry, F. S., 6,472; Samuel Dins- more, I. D., 30,750 ; Levi Chamberlain, W., 18,512. In 1851 the vote for governor was as follows : John Atwood, F. S., a new candidate, 55; Thomas B. Sawyer, W., 134; Sam- uel Dinsmore, D., 134. In the state, John Atwood, F. S., 12,049; Thomas E. Sawyer, W., 18,458 ; Samuel Dinsmore, D., 27,425. The Free Soil vote increased 5,577; in the Whig vote there was a slight loss; the Democratic vote decreased 3,326. There 280 HISTORY OF LEBANON". was no election by the people and Samuel Dinsmore was chosen by the legislature. In 1852 the vote for governor was as follows : John Atwood, F. S., 27; Thomas E. Sawyer, W., 210; Noah Martin, D., 145. A loss for the Free Soilers and a large gain for the Whigs. In the state, John Atwood, F. S., 9,497; Thomas E. Sawyer, 19,857 ; Noah Martin, D., 30,800. The Free Soil vote decreased while that of the Whigs and Democrats increased. In 1853 the vote for governor was as follows : John H. White, F. S., 37 ; James Bell, W., 159 ; Noah Martin, D., 134. In the state, John H. White, 7,995 ; James Bell, 17,590 ; Noah Martin, 30,934. Both the Whig and Free Soil vote decreased, a slight gain to the Democratic vote. In 1854 the vote for governor was as follows : Jared Perkins, F. S., 52; James Bell, W., 181; Nathaniel B. Baker, 134, showing an increase in the Free Soil and Whig vote. In the state, Jared Perkins, 11,080; James Bell, 16,941; Na- thaniel B. Baker, 29,788. The Free Soil vote increased. Whig and Democratic votes decreased. In 1855 a new factor in political affairs suddenly developed itself — the Know Nothing or American party. This was a secret organization, whose action was mainly directed against Catho- licism. In the town the vote was as follows : Asa Fowler, F. S., 9 ; James Bell, W., 33 ; Nathaniel B. Baker, D., 101 ; Ealph Met- calf, 282. In the state, Asa Fowler, 1,237 ; James Bell, 3,436 ; Nathaniel B. Baker, 27,055 ; Ralph Metcalf , 32,769. An analysis of the vote in town and state shows that the American party drew its support from the Whigs and Free Soilers. In 1856 the vote for governor was as follows : Ichabod Good- win, W., 29; John S. Wells, D., 137; Ralph Metcalf, American, 304. In the state, Ichabod Goodwin, 2,360 ; John S. Wells, 32,031 ; Ralph Metcalf, 32,119. It will be noticed that the Free Soil vote disappears in both town and state. Metcalf not having a ma- jority, was chosen by the legislature. During 1856 this uncertainty in the minds of the people came to an end. Purposes and aims became fixed, issues were framed HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 281 and the people took their positions on the great questions of the time and held them until these questions were decided once for all coming times. The Free Soil, the Whig and the American parties disappeared and became the Republican party, while the Democratic party- continued on its way. In 1857 the vote for governor was as follows : John S. Wells, D., 154; William Haile, R., 292. In the state, John S. Wells, 31,214; William Haile, 34,216, who was the first Republican governor. In 1858 the vote for governor was as follows: Asa P. Gate, D., 149 ; William Haile, R., 311. In the state, Asa P. Gate, 31,679; William Haile, 36,212, an increased majority. In 1859, the vote for governor was as follows : Asa P. Gate, D., 165 ; Ichabod Goodwin, R., 329. In the state, Asa P. Gate, 32,802 ; Ichabod Goodwin, 86,326. TEACHERS' INSTITUTE. At the annual meeting in 1850 the town appropriated twenty- five dollars for the support of a Teachers' Institute. In 1851 the same vote was passed. TOWN HOUSE. At the annual meeting in 1851 the following Resolution was adopted : Resolved that the sum of five hundred dollars, heretofore voted by the town for the purchasing of an engine, with an addition of two hun- dred dollars be appropriated by the town to purchase land on which to remove the Town House, if within six months a subscription of re- sponsible individuals for a sum in the opinion of the Selectmen, suf- ficient to remove and underpin the same be lodged with them. And Abner Allen, Roswell Sartwell and Ephraim "Wood are hereby appointed a Committee to buy for the Town and take a deed of such piece of land as they may judge best, and direct where the house shall be set; and those who subscribe shall begin the work of moving and setting, and carry it on under the direction of the Selectmen to completion, and to their final acceptance — the Universalist Society being allowed and se- cured the same privileges they now enjoy for occupying the upper story, and the Village Precinct be allowed to fit up and use one half of the basement for an Engine House and for fire apparatus And the vote heretofore passed by the town, appropriating five hundred dollars to- wards an Engine is hereby rescinded and annulled. 282 HISTORY OF LEBANON. To this action of the town there was much opposition, as the following indicates : July 20, 1850, at a special meeting: Voted that the vote passed at the annual meeting in March last ap- propriating a sum not exceeding seven Hundred dollars for the pur- chase of land on which to set the Old Meeting house be confirmed; pro- vided that a good and sufficient bond be given to the town to the ac- ceptance of the Selectmen; that said house be removed without damage, and well fitted up to the satisfaction of the Selectmen, before the work of moving it is commenced Another vote passed at the same meeting may explain the withdrawal of five hundred dollars which had been appropriated to the purchase of a fire engine. Whereas the town at a meeting in May 1848 voted to appropriate the sum of five hundred dollars toward the purchase of a Fire Engine upon the condition mentioned in said vote and Whereas the Engine has been purchased by the Precinct without the money, voted therefore to rescind said vote and that the Selectmen never pay out the money or any part thereof. At the annual meeting in 1851 the following resolution was adopted : Resolved that the Selectmen employ some suitable person to take charge of the Town House and suffer it to be opened for the use of the Inhabitants of this Town on all proper occasions, and for all free Lec- tures and discussions, which are in no way connected with shows or exhibitions for money; but on no occasion to open the house for the exhibition of shows of any kind, nor for lectures which are not free for all the Inhabitants of this town In 1849 the town house was moved from the Common where it scood about sixty-seven years, to its present position, all the con- ditions having been complied with. At a special meeting held October 8, 1850, the town voted to indefinitely postpone the fol- lowing article: "To see if the town wiU vote to direct the Se- lectmen to put up the spire and lightning rod on the town-house, and send the bell and get it recast and put it up again. ' ' Nevertheless, without further action on the part of the town, HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 283 the work was done by the selectmen in 1851, as the following biU indicates, taken from the report of the selectmen of 1852 : Repairing town house amounting to $103.10 Paid P. A. Alden bill, iron worlc for vane spire arms &c $6.25 " J. L. Drew 12 books gold leaf 4.75 L. Smith 6 3-4 days work self Chadwick and Morse 12.00 M. Partridge & Co. bill painting and gilding 4.75 J. Gustin 146 feet tinning on spire and dome 24.34 J. Gustin repairing dome 6.25 Wm. S. Ela 10 days work 862 ft boards and 16 lbs nails 22.42 Simons & Darcent bill Material and labor on vane letters &c 22.34 $103.10 Of these persons only one is now living in the town, William S. Ela. The bell on the town house had been cracked and after many attempts to repair it, by sawing and filing out the cracks, it was resolved to have a new bell. There is no record of any formal action of the town on the matter, but the old bell was to be recast with additional metal procured by subscription. The beU is dated 1853 and is the one now in use. HORSE SHEDS. At the annual meeting, 1854, the town authorized the select- men to receive proposals from the persons wishing to build sheds in the rear of the town house, stating what quantity of land they wished for and the terms and rent for the same, and report at the next town meeting. This matter does not appear again till the annual meeting in 1855, when it was "Voted that a Com- mittee of three be appointed to examine the land asked for sheds, appraise the value or rent of the same, and report to the town The committee named H. Hatch Jas Murch, B. Wood." At a special meeting held September 4, 1855, this committee reported as follows : ' ' Tour committee having attended to their duty, make the following report: That the petitioners John Peck and others, and their assigns have the lease of a piece of land at the Northwest comer of the Town House lot sixty feet North and South, and eleven and one half feet Bast and West to be used for sheds, so long as the Room over the Town Hall is used for public worship, and that they pay a rtent of fifty cents a 84 HISTORY OP LEBANON. into the town treasury annually, — South corner post to be three feet from corner, and said sheds to be kept in good repair and kept white-washed." These sheds were on the east side of the Thompson building. The rent is not very clearly expressed, it not appearing whether the fifty cents is for the whole ground, or for each shed ; probably the latter. THE COMMON. At a special meeting held October 8, 1850: Voted that tiie town consent that the inhabitants of the village may grade fence, and otherwise ornament the Common in this Village in such a manner as a committee may designate and determine, provided that no fence, trees or any other obstruction be built, set or placed within five rods of the outside of the Common The committee appointed, Abner Allen, Abel Lowe, Jr., and Seth Blodgett. There was much opposition to this plan, inasmuch as there were roads through the Common, one going east and west through the center, another from the southeast comer to the northwest comer. If fenced in, then all vehicles must go around, which was considered a hardship. "While it was decided to fence the Common there was great diversity of opinion as to the form which should be given to the enclosure. Many advocated right angular enclosure, because then the sides would correspond to the lines of the buildings sur- rounding the Common. Others objected to this form of the enclosure as too stiff and formal, the fact that the buildings were on angular lines requiring different lines in the enclosure for the purpose of variety — and they suggested an elliptical en- closure as more pleasing. Others still preferred a diamond form. Jonathan Adams, the chief engineer of the Northern road, laid out such a form, but it did not meet with general acceptance. The angular advocates prevailed finally. The castings for the fence were made in Lebanon. The granite posts were from Lebanon. The work was done under the supervision of George Post, noted for his extreme accuracy in work of all kinds. The expense was met by subscription. It is a curious indication of the change which time creates in HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 285 the preferences of a conmranity that while a fence, and a high, substantial one, was then thought highly appropriate, now the wish that it was taken away is not infrequently uttered. THE HUMPHREY WOOD BRIDGE. The bridge and abutments over Great Brook near the Ancel Kinne place had been rebuilt in 1850 and became the subject of earnest discussion. Complaint was freely made that the expense was too great, even extravagant. The town at its annual meet- ing, in 1851 took action in the matter as follows: "Voted that the whole subject-matter relating to the Bridge, wall, and road near Humphrey Wood be referred to a Committee to investigate the whole subject, with power to send for persons and papers and make a report to the town at the next town-meeting." Ab- ner Allen, John Wood and William Cole were the committee. At a special meeting November 29, 1851, the committee made their report, but it does not appear what it was ; but at a meet- ing March 9, 1852, there was the following vote: "That if the Contractors or persons who built the abutments, wall and road at the bridge near Humphrey Wood's, will pay or refund to the town the sum of eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents the town will relinquish any further claim upon them," indicating a com- promise. No further reference to this matter appears upon the records, but it was discussed a long time afterwards. FIREMEN'S PAY. At the annual meeting, 1851, the town voted to pay the mem- bers of the engine company the same sum annually that is al- lowed by law to soldiers doing military duty, which was one dollar annually. In 1852 the town voted the sum of fifty dollars to Engine Com- pany No. 2, provided they discharge the duties of enginemen and keep the engine in good repair and in condition to be used, to the satisfaction of the selectmen. The same sum was appropriated to the fire department in 1853. In 1857 voted to pay the mem- bers of the fire company three dollars a year — the number of members not to exceed forty. 286 HISTOEY OF LEBANON. RAILROAD TAX. At the annual meeting, 1852, the town "Voted that hereafter the sum of three hundred dollars of the money received by the town of the Rail Road tax be annually appropriated for the use of schools, to be equally divided among the several districts." CEMETERY AT WEST LEBANON. 1852 Voted to appropriate a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars for the purchase of a suitable lot for a burying ground at West Lebanon to be laid out by the Selectmen This is the present cemetery at West Lebanon. At the same meeting the following vote was passed: That, whereas the Connecticut Valley Agricultural Society has voted to hold their Next annual Fair in this town Therefore Resolved that the use of such part of the Common and Town Hall, as they may need, be granted to the Committee of Arrangements of said Society for the purpose of their exhibition. This was the first agricultural fair ever held in the town. In 1853 a similar vote was passed. SCHOOL DISTRICTS. For years the matter of the bounds of the different school districts was a matter of great perplexity. Almost every year there were petitions of individuals to be set off from one dis- trict to another. Sometimes the change was sanctioned, as often denied. In 1852 they appointed a committee "to divide the town anew into school districts or to make such changes in the old Districts as they may judge convenient and best calculated to promote the cause of Education, to define and establish the limits of all the School Districts, to number the Districts anew, and to make report of their doings to the town as soon as may be. ' ' The com- mittee were "W. G. Perley, Horace Hatch and Fitch Loomer. This committee made their report to a special meeting September 17, 1853. The report was laid upon the table and the selectmen directed to procure the printing of four hundred copies for distribution, to insert an article in the warrant for the next annual meeting to place the subject before the town. WILLIAM G. PERLEY. DANIEL RICHARDSON. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 287 At that meeting the report was recommitted to the selectmen for the purpose of reporting a plan of districting the town, dis- turbing the small districts as little as possible, not reducing the number of districts below twelve and describing the bounds and dimensions according to law and report as soon as may be. At the annual meeting, 1855, "Voted to choose a committee of three to divide the town into school districts and fix the bound- aries thereof according to law." Elijah Blaisdell, Daniel Richardson and Eichard S. Howe were the committee. At this meeting there were several appli- cations for changes in district relations. On the 7th day of July this committee made its report. The report was recommitted to the committee and the ' ' Selectmen directed to procure the print- ing of the report as it now stands, and the Committee directed to obtain such other statistical information in regard to the num- ber of the scholars in each of the proposed School Districts * * * of use to the inhabitants of the town and make such alterations as they may think necessary. On the 4th of September the report of the committee was ac- cepted, and their divisions of the town into School Districts en- tered upon the records. All this perplexity about school districts resulted from the fact that families decreased in number of children, leaving, per- haps, a dozen in a district where there used to be fifty or sixty, while the number of farms occupied was the same. The increase of population in the villages of Lebanon and West Lebanon added to the difficulty. FENCE AROUND THE VILLAGE BURYING GROUND. In 1854 the selectmen were directed to build a new and suit- able fence around the burying ground in the Center village, with suitable entrances, gates and locks. The expense was $283.97. The expense for painting the fence of the "West Lebanon "Bury- ing Ground" the same year was $122.10. In 1857 the selectmen were directed to fence the burying ground at East Lebanon. INSTRUCTION TO COLLECTOR OP TAXES. In the annual meeting of 1853 the town passed the following vote : ' ' That the Selectmen be instructed that when they make 288 HISTORY OF LEBANON. a contract for collecting the Taxes that it be distiactly under- stood and agreed, that if the Collector does not collect and pay over to said Selectmen the whole amount of taxes on his biH for collection (except so much as they may abate) on or before the 20"" day of February next, said Selectmen are forthwith to issue an extent against said Collector for all that may be due from said Collector." This certainly means business. Looking for the occasion of so stringent a requirement it is found that the collector for 1851 was behind at the close of the financial year $660.90, for 1852, $518.35. Was the requirement efficacious? In the report for 1853- '54 no deficiency of the collector is noted. An "extent" is a fearful legal implement, being a "writ of execution against the body lands or goods." GROCERIES. At the annual meeting in 1854 the following resolution was adopted : Resolved that the groceries in this town for the sale of strong Beer and Cider, as carried on for the last year are great nuisances, and that they ought to be discountenanced by all good citizens as not only cor- rupting our youth but as bringing disgrace on our whole community. At the same meeting the following resolution was adopted : Whereas the progress of Temperance has been essentially sustained and promoted by stringent enactments in other States therefore: Resolved that our Representatives be instructed to cooperate with other members of the Legislature in procuring the passage of a law whereby the traflBc in intoxicating liquors may most effectually be prevented and further resolved that our Gentlemen Representatives be a Committee in behalf of this town to wait on the Hon. Senator from Dlst. No 11, requesting him to use all due efforts in the cause of eradi- cating traffic The "Gentlemen Representatives" were A. H. Cragin and William S. Ela. The "Hon. Senator from Dist. No. 11," was Jonathan E. Sargent, afterward Chief Justice of the state. RAILROAD BRIDGES AND CROSSING. At first small engines and low cars were used on railroads. After a time larger engines and taller cars came into use, so that higher bridges were needed, involving changes in the grades when crossing highways, subjecting towns to inconvenience and expense, hence the following vote : HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 289 . That the Selectmen be instructed to object to the raising of the Rail- road bridge near Mrs. Hutchins and the bridge at Bast Lebanon and see that the rights of the public are fully sustained in regard to the damages and grading. The first bridge is that on Hanover Street. Formerly the railroad passed over the highway near Solon Peck's on grade, but in 1857 a change was made so that the high- way should pass under the railroad, and the town instructed the selectmen to supervise the work and lay out the highway ac- cordingly, and petition the court for leave to discontinue the old highway which was a part of the Fourth New Hampshire. About this time a large maple tree, which for more than fifty years had been a landmark in this locality, being one of the bounds of the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike, was taken down on account of old age. HEARSE FOR WEST LEBANON. At the annual meeting, 1857, the town instructed the selectmen to procure a hearse and build a suitable house for the same for the accommodation of the inhabitants of West Lebanon. POLICE OFFICERS. In 1859 the town adopted Chapter 114 of the Revised Statutes. This chapter provides for the appointment of police officers, not to exceed seven in number, whose term of office should terminate on the last day of March. They were to be constables and con- servators of the peace, to make regulations for the stand of hacks, etc., the height and position of awnings and shades on or near any buildings, respecting any obstruction of streets, lanes and alleys, the smoking of any pipe or cigar therein, or in any stable or other outbuildings. These regulations could only be in force upon the approbation of the selectmen, and being recorded by the town clerk and published a reasonable time in one or more newspapers. Nothing seems to have been done under this act, beyond its adoption. I860 TO 1870. POLITICAL AFFAIRS. Political parties, before so numerous, and so uncertain in their action, had by this time become consolidated into two great par- 19 290 HISTOEY OP LEBANON. ties, each having definite principles and aims — the Eepublicans and the Democrats. Matters came to a crisis in 1860 by the election of Abraham LincoLa as president. At the annual meeting in 1860 the vote was as follows for governor: Ichabod Goodwin, R., had 328; Asa P. Gate, D., had 187 votes. In the state Goodwin had 38,037 ; Gate, 33,544. In 1861 Nathaniel Berry, R., had 316 ; George Stark, D., 159. In the state Berry had 35,467 ; Stark, 3,141. In 1862 Berry, R., had 292 ; Stark, D., 150. In the state Berry had 31,150; Stark, 28,566. In 1863 Walter Harriman, I. D., had 28 votes ; Ira A. Eastman, D., 168; Joseph A. Gilmore, R., 328. In the state, 363 scatter- ing. "Walter Harriman, 4,372; Gilmore, 29,035; Eastman, 22,833. There was no choice by the people, but Gilmore was elected by the legislature. Harriman had always been a Demo- crat, but parted with his party on the issues of the war. He was among those who were known as War Democrats. In 1864 Joseph A. Gilmore, R., had 379 votes; Edward W. Harrington, *D., had 173. In the state Harrington had 31,340, Gilmore had 37,006. At the annual meeting in 1865, Frederick Smyth, R., for gov- ernor, had 330 votes; Edward W. Harrington, D., had 132. In the state Harrington had 28,017, Smyth had 34,145. In 1866, at the annual meeting, for governor, Frederick Smyth, R., had 334 votes ; John G. Sinclair, D., had 144. In the state Sinclair had 30,484 votes, Smyth had 35,136. In 1867, at the annual meeting, Walter Harriman, now become a Republican, for governor, had 335 votes ; John G. Sinclair, D., had 167 votes. In the state Sinclair had 32,663 votes, Harriman had 35,809. In 1868 Walter Harriman, R., had, for governor, 469 votes; John G. Sinclair, D., had 208. A large vote, the largest ever cast up to this date in the town and the largest in the state. In the state Sinclair had 37,260, Harriman, 39,778, making with the addition of 30 scattering, 77,068. For the first time three representatives to the legislature were chosen this year. In 1869 at the annual meeting the vote for governor was, for HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 291 Onslow Stearns, R., 350 votes ; for John Bedel, D., 200. In the state Bedel had 32,057 ; Stearns had 35,772. In this period only the ordinary town matters wiU be noted. The centennial celebration and the war history will be given in separate articles. It was not often that the people of the town had any great contests in their choice of officers, but one of the most remark- able struggles happened in 1860. The first representative was chosen at the first ballot, when the town proceeded to ballot for the second representative, with the following result: Daniel Richardson had 181 votes. Jewett D. Hosley had 174 votes. Harlow S. Nash had 32 votes. Asa M. Moore had 14 votes. Watson K. Eldridge had 6 votes. James H. Kendrick had 5 votes. Charles B. Haddock had 4 votes. James Hubbard had 1 vote. James Murch had 1 vote. Philander Hall had 1 vote. John Clough had 1 vote. Emory Whitaker had 1 vote. John W. Bean had 1 vote. Farris Cummings had 1 vote. Rodney Lund had 1 vote. There was no choice. There was none on the second ballot, but the candidates were not quite so numerous. In the third baUot a new candidate appears in the contest, Frances A. Cush- man, who was chosen by a majority of two votes. The historian remembers the day as full of excitement, the friends of the dif- ferent candidates shouting the names of their preference with aU their might. Yet there was no violence. But of all those voted for that day not more than two are living today, Frances A. Cushman and Rodney Lund. COUNTY FARM. At the annual meeting, 1860, the town gave an expression of opinion on the question whether it was expedient to establish a county farm by a vote of 150 in favor and 10 against it. 292 HISTOET OF I^EBANON. BURYING GROUNDS. In i860 the selectmen were authorized to improve the bury- ing ground at Lebanon Center at an expense not exceeding two hundred dollars. This cemetery had become so fully occupied that more ground was needed, and in 1863 the selectmen were directed to "examine and report on location and grounds for a new burying ground for the town." In 1864 these instructions were renewed. In 1867 the selectmen were instructed to "purchase such additions and make such repairs as they shall deem proper to the old Burying Ground near General Luther Aldens, sufficient to make it a Cemetery for the Town, and that the Moderator ap- point a Committee of three to cooperate and advise with the Selectmen. ' ' The committee were Daniel Eichardson, Adoniram Smalley and Nathan B. Stearns. All this shows that there was a great variety of opinion as to the proper place for so sacred a purpose. The location mentioned above was the first ground devoted to this purpose. In 1868 the matter was still undecided, for then this vote was passed: "That the Selectmen be authorized and directed to purchase land for a Burying Ground near the centre of the town. ' ' In June of the same year the question came up again and a committee of three consisting of Nathan B. Steams, Colby C. Benton and J. C. Sturtevant, was appointed to act with the selectmen and report at an adjourned meeting. In the meantime several different locations were examined, one of which was on land now owned by Horace Hatch, but it did not meet the minds of all the people, so the whole subject was referred to the same committee in a meeting held on August 8, to report at the next town meeting. In 1869 the selectmen were instructed to select and purchase a lot for burial purposes before the next annual meeting, but the period closed without any final action, so difficult it was to suit all the people or even a majority of them. In 1870 the committee purchased a tract of land for a ceme- tery, lying north of C. M. Messenger's dwelling-house, since known as the Trotting Park. But this did not satisfy the peo- ple, so at the annual meeting, 1871, the selectmen were directed JESSE C. STURTEVANT. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 293 to sell the land "for the most they could get," and that a com- mittee of three should be chosen to select new ground for a cemetery, and the committee to select a spot and ascertain the cost of erecting a receiving tomb and report to a future meeting called for that purpose. F. A. Cushman, Orrin Bugbee, L. C. Pattee, committee. This committee made their report to the annual meeting in 1872, when the following resolution was adopted: Resolved that the Town of Lebanon has not and does not possess a suitable or convenient spot of ground for a Cemetery for the use of the centre and East part of the town, and with a view of the great and pressing necessity for immediate action, that a committee of three be chosen, who shall be and are hereby authorized to purchase and estab- lish a Cemetery, fence and lay out the same into lots to be deeded to persons purchasing the same, by the Selectmen, and to erect a public tomb on the same, and to make such other improvements as they shall deem necessary, and that the sum of three thousand dollars be appro- priated for this purpose. The same committee was continued to carry out the terms of the resolution. The committee purchased of J. C. Sturtevant the tract now known as Glenwood Cemetery. The tomb which had been so often voted to be built was constructed by P. H. Freeto & Sons. The ground was laid out into lots by C. A. Downs & Sons. The total cost of the cemetery, including the land, was about $4,000. Thus the long difference of opinion as to the location of the cemetery was ended, though not to the satisfaction of every- body. But as time passes away the wisdom of the location be- comes apparent. It is secluded, yet within a few minutes' walk from the village. It has a varied surface, affording ad- vantages for great beauty of form. Constant improvement is now annually made, making it an attractive place for the final rest. It has been noted as an interesting coincidence that the first , occupant of both the village cemetery and of Glenwood bore the same family name — that of Hough. SHADE TREES. The following resolution indicates that the people were awak- ening to higher ideas as to their dwelling-place. They began 294 HISTORY OF LEBANON. to wish it to be beautiful and attractive as well as convenient. At the annual meeting, 1861, they resolved, "that the inhabi- tants of the town be allowed to set out shade trees and make sidewalks on the sides of the streets, not to exceed eight feet in width, where the width of the street will admit of it." Not a little of the beauty of our village is owing to the work then begun and encouraged. Benjamin Gallup, now of Chicago, then a young man, deserves recognition for the trees he planted on School Street. ENGINE CO. NO. 2. In 1862 the town voted "to pay each member of Engine Com- pany No. 2 the sum of three dollars per annum" from the date of their organization, which amounted to $158.50. In 1864 the town voted to pay the members of the company five dollars a year. HEARSE. At a special meeting held November 28, 1863, the selectmen were instructed to purchase a hearse for the town, to be kept at the hearse house in the village. TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR THE POOR. On March, 1864, the house on the poor farm was destroyed by fire, leaving the inmates without a home. April 7 a meeting of the town was held to consider the matter of rebuilding the house, at which they declined to raise money for that purpose, but au- thorized the selectmen "to buy or hire a house and land for the convenience of the town in the support of the town's poor, or otherwise provide as they shall deem best for the interests of the town." The selectmen "deemed it best" to distribute the poor among different families in the town. The house was never rebuilt, nor any other bought or built. So far as the tovm poor are concerned the practice continues to the present time. In 1865 the town authorized the selectmen to deed the town farm to G. W. Worthen. Price, $3,300. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 295 SEXTONS FOR CEMETERIES. In 1866, at the annual meeting, the selectmen were instructed "to appoint for each of the public burying grounds, a suitable person to take charge of the hearse and take care of the grounds, and answer the calls of those desiring his services, by their pay- ing him for such service." ENCOURAGEMENT OF MANUFACTURES. At the annual meeting, 1866, the following resolution was adopted unanimously : Resolved that we, the legal voters of the Town of Lebanon, do cor- dially extend a hearty invitation to Manufacturing capital to come among us, and that we will vote at the earliest opportunity to give our assent to the act entitled an act to encourage manufacturing, passed July 3, 1860. On the 14th of April, 1866, the town adopted this law. This was the first public encouragement given to manufac- turing by the town, which, continued from time to time, has been so effective in increasing its population and wealth. PARK ON HANOVER STREET. As early as 1866 there were plans to fence in a triangular piece of land at the junction of Hanover and High streets, for a park, for then Enoch F. Hough, Dan Storrs and others peti- tioned the town for liberty to build a fence there. The petition was referred to the selectmen. On the 14th of April, 1866, upon the recommendation of the selectmen, leave was granted to Enoch F. Hough, Dan Storrs and others "to fence ten feet of the road Leading past Ziba Durkee's garden for the purpose of a Park and for no other purpose Provided that said E. F. Hough shall also give his heater piece lying between the three roads for the same pur- pose." Nearly thirty years passed before the plan was realized. It is a good use of the piece of land. Much credit should be given to Miss Mary Lyman Storrs for her patience and perseverance in procuring the realization of a plan of so many years ago. In September, 1894, Frank G. Hough, son of E. F. Hough, presented the town with a deed of the "Heater piece." 296 HISTORY OF LEBANON. ROADS DISCONTINUED ACROSS THE COMMON. At the annual meeting in 1866, the town instructed the select- men to petition the supreme court for leave to discontinue aU highways leading through the Common. In due time leave was granted. TOWN HOUSE. The lower part of the town house had remained substantially in the same condition in which it was when removed from the Common, a very inconvenient and unsightly room. Little had been done to the outside, notwithstanding all the votes which had been passed directing the painting and repairing. Mean- time the town had increased in population and wealth and de- sired a better place in which to transact its business and hold its gatherings for various purposes. They considered it, — and justly, too, — unworthy of a town such as Lebanon had then be- come, the most prominent in northern New Hampshire. It was not only inconvenient and uninviting to the people themselves, but likely to repel strangers who might wish to find a home in a town having, in many respects, great advantages and attrac- tions. The people began to talk and to plan about a new or bet- ter town hall with the following results : At the annual meeting in 1868 the following resolution was adopted : Resolved that a Committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to ascertain at what price the pewholders of the Universalist Society will dispose of their interest in the Town House Building, and that said Committee be authorized to procure plans and estimates of the pro- posed alterations, and to make all necessary arrangements for the pur- chase of the interest of the Universalist Sobiety, and report at a special meeting of the town, to be called for that purpose at the earliest prac- ticable time. The committee were A. W. Baker, I. C. Sturtevant, F. A. Cushman, J. W. Gerrish and Martin Buck. On April 25, 1868, the committee made the following report: We, the Committeee appointed at the last annual town meeting to ascertain at what price the pewholders of the Universalist Society will dispose of its interest in the town house building, and to procure plans and estimates of the proposed alterations, and to make all necessary ar- rangements for the purchase of the interests of said Universalist So- ciety, and to report at a special meeting of the town called for that COL. FRANK 0. CHURCHILL. WILLIAM H. COTTON. JOSEPH W. GERRISH. ALPHEUS W. BAKER. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 297 purpose, having performed the duties assigned us, respectfully submit the following report: The Universalist Society, as a society, having by vote of the town gained permission to occupy the upper part of the house as a house of worship in 1835, and having now reserved to them in the deed of 1850 of the land on which tlie house now stands, all the right, title and in- terest which was granted to them by the vote of the town in 1835, have voted, at a meeting duly called, to exchange their interests in the upper part of the house, in case the town should vote to repair the house, for town purposes, for the same privileges in the lower part of the house they now have, in the upper part, or to abide the decision of disinter- ested appraisers. At a meeting of the pew-holders it was voted to sell the pews to the town, the same to be appraised by a Committee of three disinterested persons. The Committee further report that they have procured plans and made estimates of the proposed alterations and that the plans by them procured are substantially as follows: To take out the whole in- terior of the house, to raise the building six feet; put on to the north end an addition of thirty feet; at the South end to build out 13 feet even with the tower; having the entrance through the bell tower; base- ment story 9% feet high. Upon the first floor it is proposed to have the entrance from the front with double doors, an entry on either side of which are to be stairs leading to the gallery. Plrectly opposite the outer doors are the doors opening into the main room, designated the audience floor. At the North end of the house is the platform 3% feet high, 15 feet wide and 26 feet long, on either side of which are ante- rooms 12 feet square, opening to the platform. The gallery itself is to be built around the south side of the house and upon the East and West sides, extending as far as the scond window from the North end of the house. The bell deck to be remodeled and repaired, to corre- spond in outward appearance and symetry to the house. All to be clapboarded and painted. Your Committee further report that a house constructed on this plan will be well adapted to town purposes and business, and for public use; comfortable at all times, sufiiciently large and commodious, and so well arranged as to be adapted, not only to meet the wants and requirements of the town at the present time, but sufficient also to meet the demands and requirements of the future growth and increased population of the town, for town purposes and uses on public occasions. Your Committee also report that they have made liberal and careful estimates of the cost of remodeling and repairing the house, agreeably to the proposed plan, calculating the cost of every separate item by it- self necessary to alter and repair the same in a good plain and work- manlike manner, and estimate that the cost will not exceed $6487. Signed A. W. Baker, F. A. Cushman, J. C. Sturtevant, J. W. Gerrish, Martin Buck. 298 HISTORY OF LEBANON. After reading the report the following resolution was adopted : Resolved that the town do alter and repair the old Meeting-House for town purposes, agreeably to the plan reported by the Committee, and that a Committee of three be appointed by the Moderator to superin- tend and conduct said alterations and repairs, and that the work be commenced and carried on to completion as economically and expedi- tiously as may be, and make report of their doings at the first town meeting thereafter. Resolved that the pews and interests of the Universalist Society in the Town Hall be appraised; that the Selectmen be instructed to appoint a Committee of three disinterested persons, one of whom shall be chosen by themselves, one of whom shall be nominated by the pewholders, and one by the society, the same to constitute a Committee to appraise the pews and the interests of said Society, and to pay to said pewholders and Society, the full value of their respective interests, as determined by such appraisal, upon demand. It is to be noted that a distinction is made between pew- holders ajtid the society ; this was necessary because some of the pew-holders were not connected with the society, some of the people never having parted with their interest in pews bought originally of the town. Resolved that the Selectmen be authorized to raise by loan, and give town notes, a sum of money suflBcient to make such alterations and re- pairs of the Town House as have been voted, and to purchase the in- terests of the pew-holders and the Society, at their appraised value — the sum so raised not to exceed eight thousand dollars. The committee appointed by the moderator to superintend the alterations and repairs was Jesse E. Sturtevant, Lewis C. Pattee and Horace Hatch. At a meeting held November 3, 1868, the following vote was passed: "That the Selectmen be authorized to appoint some suitable person, whose duty it shall be to take charge of the Town House, and to have the entire charge of the same, subject to said Selectmen, and that they be further authorized and in- structed to fix the rules, regulations and prices for the use of the [Hall] for all purposes, and that all persons using or renting said hall or house shall be subject to and governed by said rules and regulations." William H. Eichardson was the first agent for the town hall. At the same meeting the following resolution was adopted: Resolved that B. J. Durant, A. M. Shaw, J. C. Sturtevant, Lewis Pat- tee, J. W. Gerrish, and such others as may be associated with them, EDWARD J. DURANT. ALBERT M. SHAW. HISTORICAL MISCELLANY. 299 be allowed, at their own expense, to put into the Town Hall building suitable gas fixtures for lighting the same, and that the free use of the Town Hall be given to them for the purpose of holding seven concerts or other public gatherings to raise money to compensate them for the money so advanced; said fixtures to be the property of the town. At the annual meeting, 1869, P. E. Davis, 0. "W. Burnap and George Blood were appointed a committee to investigate the accounts of the Town Hall Building Committee and report to the selectmen. At the annual meeting in 1870 the town "voted to pay L. C. Pattee & others for labor and material expended on the Town HaU basement: to assume the indebtedness of the Gas Asso- ciation for the gas fixtures in the Town HaU; that the Select- men be instructed to finish up the basement story and tower of Town Hall, and the painting of the building as they think proper, either by contract or otherwise." The cost of these alterations and repairs, as found in the re- port of committees in accordance with the foregoing instruc- tions, was as follows : Total expenditures less amount received for ma- terial sold $11,746.57 Amount paid to pew-holders and Universalist Soc 1,500.00 Cost of Lower Town Hall 1,621.00 $14,867.57 To this should be added cost of gas fixtures, &c., which is not easy to ascertain exactly, say 1,000.00 $15,867.57 This practically finishes the strange history of the meeting- house to date, resulting in a town house equal in all respects to any then existing in the state. PURCHASE OF HOSE. At the annual meeting in 1868, the town voted to raise $500 to purchase hose for Engine No. 2, to be expended under the direction of the selectmen. COMMON— REGULATIONS. At a special meeting June 9, 1868, the town voted to estab- lish certain regulations for the protection and preservation of 300 HISTOET OF LEBANON. its park or Common. The regulations established at this meet- ing were subsequently changed and the following adopted, August 8, 1868 : 1 No person shall play at any game of ball or other games without permission of the Committee. 2 No person shall pass or cross the same except upon the gravelled walks. Resolved that the Committee chosen to enforce such regulations be authorized to place upon the park or common notices of said regulations, and have the care of the common A penalty of five dollars was established for every violation of these regulations, to be recovered "in an action of Debt, by the Committee, and the fines to be used for the improvement of the Common. Joseph W. Gerrish, B. J. Durant and E. A. Ken- driek. Committee. ' ' TOWN POUND. At a special meeting May 21, 1869, the town voted to instruct the selectmen to sell the interest of the town in the town pound, near Solon A. Peck's, at auction or by private sale. 1870 TO 1880. POLITICAL AFFAIBS. At the annual meeting, 1870, the following was the vote for governor : Lorenzo D. Barrows, T., 4 votes ; Samuel Flint, Asst. D., 43 ; John Bedell, D., 159 ; Onslow Stearns, R., 484. In the state. Barrows, 1,135; Flint, 7,369; Bedell, 25,058; Stearns, 34,847. For the first time a distinctly temperance ticket appears in town and state. An Assistant Democrat was a Labor Reformer. In 1871 the vote in the town for governor was: James A. Weston, D., 203 ; James Pike, R., 489. No temperance vote ap- pears in the town. In the state, scattering, 24 ; Horton D. Walker, 17 ; Albert G. Comings, T., 314 ; Lemuel P. Cooper, Asst., 782 ; James Pike, R., 33,892 ; James A. Weston, D., 34,700. In 1872 the vote in the town for governor : James A. Weston, D., had 281 votes ; Ezekiel A. Straw, R., 570. In the state, scattering, 14; John Blackmer, T., 436; Lemuel HISTOKICAL MISCELLANY. 301 P. Cooper, Asst. D., 446 ; James A. Weston, 36,584 ; Ezekiel A. Straw, 38,752. In 1873 the vote of the town for governor was : John Blackmer, T., 1; Samuel K. Mason, Asst. D., 1; James A. Weston, D., 244; Ezekiel A. Straw, 482. In the state: Mason, 687; Blackmer, 1098 ; Weston, 32,016 ; Straw, 34,023. In 1874 the vote of the town for governor was : John Black- mer, T., 2; James A. Weston, 290; Luther McCutchins, E., 48l In the state : Scattering, 40 ; Luther McCutchins, 34,143 ; James A. Weston, 35,608 ; John Blackmer, 2,100. In 1875 the vote of the town for governor was : Person C. Cheney, R., 597 ; Hiram R. Roberts, D., 322. In the state : Scat- tering, 19; Nathaniel White, 773; Roberts, 39,121; Cheney, 39,293. In 1876 the vote of the town for governor was: Person C. Cheney, R., 640 ; Daniel Marcy, D., 289. In the state : Scatter- ing, 14 ; Asa T. Kendall, T., 411 ; Marcy, 38,133 ; Cheney, 41,761. The total vote in the state was 80,319, the largest vote ever given up to that time for governor and not reached for many years " after. At the annual meeting, 1877, the vote for governor was : Dan- iel Marcy, D, 261; Benjamin F. Prescott, R., 601. In the state: Asa S. KendaU, T., 338 ; Marcy, 36,721 ; Prescott, 40,755. At the annual meeting, 1878, the vote for governor was: Prank A. McKean, D., 255 ; Benjamin P. Prescott, R., 555. In the state : Samuel Flint, 269 ; Asa S. Kendall, T., 205 ; Prank A. McKean, 37,860; Benjamin F. Prescott, 39,372. At this time a law making elections for all officers, except those for a town, biennial was passed and another election was held November 8 of the same year, at which the vote of the town for governor was: Warren G. Brown, Greenback, 30; Frank A. McKean, D., 259 ; Natt Head, R., 526. In the state : Kendall, T., had 91 ; Brown, 6,407 ; McKean, 31,135 ; Natt Head, 38,075. The most noticeable feature of this period in political matters is the nearly equal division of the two leading parties. 304 HISTOET OP LEBANON. Resolved that the real estate of the Granite Agricultural Works, and the capital used in operating the same, be exempt from taxation for a period of ten years from this date Resolved that the Selectmen be instructed to arrange with any parties from abroad, who may within one year from the first of April next invest in any legitimate manufacturing at the Lebanon Slate Mill, at East Lebanon, a sum not less than $3000, an exemption for the term of ten years. This policy of favoring manufacturing, thus begun in Leb- anon, has been pursued steadily and with ultimate benefit to the town. Heaese for West Lebanon. At the anual meeting, 1873, the selectmen were instructed to purchase a new hearse for the use of the town, to be kept at the West Lebanon cemetery ground. Survey op Streets. At the same meeting the following resolution was adopted: Resolved that the Selectmen are hereby instructed to cause an accu- rate survey of the streets, both in this village and the village at West Lebanon, to be made and stone bounds set at the corners and angles of the same and to have a plan of both villages made, of suitable size, to keep in the selectmen's office, and that new streets hereafter layed out be similarly bounded, and entered upon the plans kept by the selectmen — also that the Selectmen cause suitable names to be applied to each street and posted by suitable signs on the corners of the same. This was done by C. A. Downs & Sons, and a plan made for both villages, now remaining in the office of the selectmen. First Board op Health. At the axinual meeting, 1874, the following resolution was adopted : Resolved that we now proceed to elect by nomination a Board of Health Commissioners, consisting of five, on which Board at least two Physicians shall be placed, to act and perform the duties devolving on such commission, according to the laws of the State for the ensuing year. William Duncan, E. A. Knight, M. D., C. W. Manchester, M. D., Pliny E. Davis, James A. Davis, M. D., constituted the board. SOLON A. PECK. historical miscellany. 305 Fire Precinct Extended. At the annual meeting, 1875, the following resolution was adopted : Whereas the present Fire Precinct comprises more than one half of the taxable property of said town and have already expended expended large sums for the purpose of supplying suitable apparatus for the extinguishment of fires, which is virtually for the benefit of the town; and whereas, under existing regulations, the present fire department have no jurisdiction or authority to act outside of the limits of the present Fire Precinct therefore Resolved That the Selectmen be instructed to so extend the limits of the Fire Precinct as to include the whole town At the Same meeting voted That all the members of the Fire Depart- ment, recognized as such by the fire wardens be paid the sum of five dollars each, annually, for their services. Lyman's Bridge. For some years there had been a desire to have Lyman's Bridge a free bridge, as most of the bridges connecting New Hampshire and Vermont had become. An article in the warrant for the annual meeting, 1875, was as follows: "To see if the Town will buy Lyman's Bridge, so called?" Upon this article the following resolution : Resolved that the Selectmen be a committee of three to examine. Lymans Bridge and Ascertain the terms upon which it can be pur- chased, and to investigate all matters relating to the purchase of it by the town, and report to the town as soon as practicable. The selectmen were Solon A. Peck, William S. Bla and Thomas P. Waterman. At a special meeting, held June 9, 1875, this com- mittee made a verbal report, and upon that report the following resolution was adopted: Resolved that Lewis C. Pattee, Daniel Hinkley and F. L. Owen be agents on the part of the town to investigate and examine into all mat- ters, questions and controversies, relating to the title, interest or claim which the Town has in, to or unto said Bridge and that they are hereby authorized to take such necessary action, as in their discretion and judgment may seem proper, and as soon as possible, in the name of the town, in order most expeditiously to protect, secure, settle and perfect the right, title, and interest of the town, to, in or unto said bridge or under the charter thereof. At the annual meeting this committee made a report, which was ordered on file. 20 306 HISTORY OF LEBANON. The charter of Lyman's Bridge was granted in 1836 by the New Hampshire legislature, by which it had the exclusive right and privilege to build or purchase and forever have and maintain a bridge over and across the Connecticut River between the town of Lebanon and the town of Hartford, at any place between the lower bar in White River Falls (Olcott Falls) and the south line of Lebanon. It was enacted that a toll be granted and estab- lished for the sole benefit of the corporation, the subjects and rates to be determined and settled by the justice of the Superior Court ; the net proceeds not to. exceed ten per cent, per annum on costs and expenditures. It was further provided that the corporations by their directors should, at the next term of the court in Grafton County, and once in five years thereafter, cause an exhibit, under oath, to be made of the costs and expenses incurred by said corporation for said bridge, and an account of all tolls received therefrom down to the time of making such exhibit; and upon the omission or neglect to make such exhibit all the rights and privileges granted by said act should be subject to forfeiture. By the act it was also provided that the capital stock should consist of 200 shares, which were transferable. Asa and Oscar Barron had purchased, in 1866, all the stock, and so composed the corporation. Upon inquiry and examination it was found that the provisions of the charter had not been complied with ; that a return had been made in 1837, and another in 1842, but none after that time. Information in the nature of a quo warranto was brought to the Superior Court in 1876. Judge Smith in his decision takes the following ground : The neglect of the defendants for more than thirty years, to make the returns required by their charter, presents a very sti-ong reason for decreeing a forfeiture of their franchise By the terms of the act itself such neglect renders their Charter subject to forfeiture. But, inasmuch as the defendants pray to be admitted to make such returns I think such permission should be given. Upon an examination thereof, and a hearing, the Court can determine whether "in equity and good conscience a decree of forfeiture should be made" The cause was committed to a referee, who reported substan- tially as follows: That the provisions of the defendant's charter, in respect to making returns of the tolls received and of the costs and' expenses incurred HISTORICAL MISCELLANT. 307 on account of their bridge have not been performed; and found that in equity and good conscience a decree of forfeiture should not be made, for the following reasons: Because the neglect of the defend- ants to make returns was not wilful; because there has not been and is not any bridge across Connecticut river, and no public way by which the river can be crossed — except on the Northern Railroad bridge — for a distance of five miles above and twelve miles below the defend- ants bridge: because the defendants have always kept their bridge in good repair and suitable for the public travel; and because it has been so managed as to accommodate the Public travel Upon the report of the referee the following is in substance the decision of Judge Smith: The question tried before the referee was, whether equity and good conscience required the forfeiture of the defendants charter, and as bearing on this question evidence of the receipts, expenses and cost of the bridge sii^ce the last return made In 1842, and evidence as to the way in which the bridge has been managed how far it had accommo- dated the public wants, how far it was necessary to meet the future wants of the public, and how much the proprietors had received and expended, was pertinent and properly received. In this view, the fact that the statements presented by the defendants to the referee did not contain all the information required by their charter presented no legal reason for their exclusion. Although the corporation has been guilty of ' gross neglect in not making the returns required by its charter, yet the facts laid before us do not, we think, furnish sufficient reasons why a forfeiture of the charter should be decreed upon the first application therefor. * * The neglect of the corporation to hold its annual meetings does not operate to dissolve the corporation. Provision is made by Gen. st c. 133 ss 15, 16 whereby the organization may be continued Case discharged 58. N H 370-371 At the annual meeting 1877, the following article was upon the warrant : 13th To see if the town will instruct the Selectmen to lay a road over Lymans bridge, or unite with the Selectmen of the town Hartford, Vt. in the purchase of said Bridge, in accordance with Pamphlet Laws of 1870, entitled "an act in relation to the construction and support of Highways and Bridges over the Connecticut river or act thereon" When this article came before the meeting for action they "voted to pass over article 13." A petition had been presented to the selectmen to lay a high- way over Lyman's Bridge to the Vermont line. In 1878 the 308 HISTOEY OF LEBANON. selectmen could not act in the matter and the petition was filed in the Supreme Court, and referred to the county commissioners. A highway was laid out by them to the supposed line of Vermont. They awarded to the Barrens as damages $3,000, which the Bar- rons accepted under protest and appealed to the court for increased damages. The court appointed referees, who awarded the farther sum, including costs, of $3,404.52, making the total cost of the bridge $6,404.52. So far as New Hampshire territory was concerned, Lyman's Bridge was free, but its freedom was greatly obstructed by the fact that some twenty-three feet of the western end of the bridge was on Vermont soil, and that some rods between the end of the bridge and the toll bar was the private property of the bridge owners, no highway having ever been laid over it; so the Bar- rens mantained the toll bar and had a right to demand toll of all who sought to pass over the bridge. This fact produced a great commotion on both sides of the river. Excitement was intense and resulted in the following action of the town at a special meeting, October 4, 1879, when William S. Ela offered the folowing preamble and resolution : Whereas the citizens of Lebanon are aggrieved and impeded In their rights of travel upon a public highway known as the Lymans Bridge in West Lebanon by the wilful, unreasonable and unjustifiable conduct of Asa T. Barron, and whereas the town of Lebanon has by their course and Courts of Justice been decreed the right to enjoy a free and unin- terrupted travel on said highway of which they are deprived by said Barron and his agents without right Be it resolved, therefore, that a Committee of three be chosen to investigate the legal aspects of the case as between Asa T. Barron and said town of Lebanon, and to determine what measures legal or other- wise should be taken to secure to the citizens of Lebanon an open, free and unobstructed right of way to and from the State of Vermont. 2i Resolved that said Committee be instructed to report to this meeting on Nov 1st 1879. 3