State Papers.
DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS
RELATING TO THE
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE
DURING THE PERIOD OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,
FROM 1776 TO 1783;
Including the Constitution of New-Hampshire, 1776; New-Hampshire Declaration for Independence; the "ASSOCIATION TEST," with names of Signers, &c.; Declaration of American Independence, July 4, 1776; the Articles of Confederation, 1778.
PUBLISHED BT AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE,
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VOLUME VIII.
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COMPILED AND EDITED BY
NATHANIEL BOUTON, D. D.
Corresponding Secretary of the New-Hampshire Historical Society.
CONCORD, N. H.:
EDWARD A. JENKS, STATE PRINTER.
1874.
NOTICE
JOINT RESOLUTION, passed by the Legislature of New-Hampshire.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, That His Excellency the Governor be hereby authorized and empowered, with the advice and consent of the Council, to employ some suitable person, and fix his compensation, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to collect, arrange, transcribe, and superintend the publication of such portions of the early State and Provincial Records, and other State Papers of New-Hampshire, as the Governor may deem proper; and that eight hundred copies of each volume of the same be printed by the State Printer and distributed as follows: namely, one copy to each City and Town in the State, one copy to such of the Public Libraries of this State as the Governor may designate, two hundred copies to the New-Hampshire Historical Society, and the remainder placed in the custody of the State Librarian, who is hereby authorized to exchange the same for similar publications issued by other States.
Approved July 6, 1866.
EDITOR'S PREFACE.
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Readers of this volume will please understand that the "Provincial" history of New-Hampshire terminated with the publication of Volume VII, 1766-1776. This volume is a continuation of documents and papers relating to New-Hampshire, after it assumed government and took the name, first, of COLONY, and then of STATE of New-Hampshire. The Colonial period continued about one year. Why it was called a "Colony" the editor has found no declared reasons; though it appears that all the other Provinces, Colonies, or States assumed the same designation, and were spoken of during the early part of the Revolution as the UNITED COLONIES of America, as they were claimed to be colonies of Great Britain.
This volume will be found to be of great value, as containing the First Constitution that was adopted by authority of the people of New-Hampshire, 1776, which is claimed and understood to be the first that was adopted in any State or Colony in the Union. It contains, also, the New-Hampshire Declaration, for Independence, — the "Association Test," as it was called, — in which are found the names of all the male inhabitants of New-Hampshire above twenty-one years of age, — about 8,199 in number, — who signed it, and the names also of 773 who refused to sign it. (1) Readers will take notice that the names attached to the Association Test are not repeated in the Index.
Although, under advice, the editor has found it necessary to omit from the proceedings of the General Assembly much mat‑
—————
(1) The above statement was made by the late John Farmer, Esq., but a careful count may, perhaps, vary the sum total. — ED.
iv EDITOR'S PREFACE.
ter relating to personal and town affairs, yet he has carefully copied and included in this volume whatever records, documents, and correspondence he could find relating to the part which New-Hampshire took in the Revolution. In this regard New-Hampshire has a proud history: she furnished her full quota of men from time to time, and her officers and soldiers did noble service for liberty.
The editor regrets that the undue size of this volume, — with matter which could not be omitted, — renders it necessary to defer the proceedings of the Conventions which were called to settle a form of government for the State, and which resulted in the adoption of a new Constitution in 1783. He hopes, however, to find ample space for the same in a subsequent volume.
The editor desires to express, publicly, his acknowledgments to their Excellencies, Governors EZEKIEL A. STRAW and JAMES A. WESTON, for the interest they have taken in this publication, and the encouragement which, by their counsels, they have given him in his work.
GENERAL CONTENTS.
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VOLUME VIII.
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1776. PAGES
Jan. JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE 1-67
New-Hampshire takes the name of a COLONY 1-3
Takes up Civil Government 2-4
Petition of Inhabitants of Newtown 4
Councillors chosen for each County 6
Letter from Pierse Long, Esq. 6
Rules for the House of Representatives 8
Justices and other officers appointed 10, 11
Dissent and Protest from Portsmouth, &c., against tak‑
ing up Government 14-17
More justices & County officers appointed 18
Letter from General Washington 22
An anonymous letter — offensive 25-27
Letter from Thomas Wk Waldron 28
County officers 28, 29
Letter to and from General Washington 30-35
Letter from General Sullivan 30-32
Note, relating to the name of Hobart 32
Condition of the people at Gosport 34
Letter from General Sullivan, relating to Quebec 36, 37
Order from Gen. Sullivan 38
Letter from General Washington 38
Letter from John Hancock — Resolves of Congress 39-41
Letter from Gen. Sullivan 42
Letter from Meshech Weare to Gen. Washington 42
Letter to Gen. Washington 43
Orders from Committee of Safety to Joseph Wait 46
Orders to Israel Morey & John Bellows 46
Letter from Josiah Bartlett, in Congress 48, 49
vi GENERAL CONTENTS.
1776. PAGES
Jan. Oaths to be administered 50
Complaint against Adam Stuart, of Londonderry 52, 53
Instructions to Committee to visit Gen. Washington 54
Letter from Gen. Sullivan 55
Justices of the several Courts 61-61
Letter to the Continental Congress, with documents and
petition 67
CORRESPONDENCE 68-77
Letter from General Washington, relating to certain ac‑
counts 68
Petition of Capt. Titus Salter 68
Letters to certain towns to return census 69
Letter to Col. John Bellows 69
Letter to Col. Morey and Maj. Bellows — instructions 69
Feb. Letter from Stephen Moylan, relating to Col. John Stark 70
Letter of Acknowledgment made by Col. Stark 70
Court of Inquiry relative to Col. Stark's conduct 71
Petition to Congress for Continental troops 71
Letter to Hon. John Hancock 72
Letter from Committee of Safety to Col. Morey 72
Letter from Col. John Langdon to Comtee of Safety 73
Letter to the Committee of Safety from a French gen‑
tleman 74
Letters from Hon. Josiah Bartlett, in Congress . 75, 76
Letter from Hon. Wm. Whipple, in Congress 76
Letter from Hon. John Langdon 77
JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE, resumed 78-114
List of Members [see Index of Names] 78-80
A regiment of 800 men to be raised 84
Orders from Gen. Washington, on Dorchester Heights 85
Gen. Howe to leave Boston 86
Letter from Col. Morey to the Committee of Safety 87, 88
Letter from Col. Bedel to the Committee of Safety 89
Instructions to Col. Henry Gerrish 89
Letter to Col. Bedel 90
Letter from Meshech Weare to Gen. Washington 91
Letter from Gen. Washington to Meshech Weare 91
Letter from Capt. Titus Salter, a guard at Fort Point 92
Letter from Gen. Sullivan, with a list of Col. John Wal‑
dron's regiment . 92, 93
On making Copper Coin 94
GENERAL CONTENTS. vii
1776. PAGES
Feb. Regimental officers appointed 94
Price of Salt petre 98
Letter from Col. John Goffe, relating to fish 99
Memorial and Petition of Dr. Hall Jackson 100, 101
Certificates relating to Dr. Jackson 101
Permission to Capt. Eliphalet Ladd to sail for West
Indies 102
A Proclamation by the Council & Assembly 103
Letter from Capt. James Osgood 104
Letter from Col. Timothy Bedel 104
Letter from Thomas Johnson 105
Appointment of a Commissary 109
CORRESPONDENCE 115-132
Hanover Committee, relating to counterfeit money 115-117
Letter for Gen. Sullivan 117-119
Apr. Orders to Capt. Titus Salter, and his return 119, 120
Letter to Gen. Ward, and answer 120
Letter from Hon. William Whipple 121
Order to Col. David Gilman 121
Instructions to Pierse Long, Esq. 121
Letter from Hon. John Hancock, with Resolves of Con‑
gress 122
May. Letter from Col. David Gilman, relating to officers and
soldiers 123
Letter from Meshech Weare to Hon. Thomas Cushing 123
Letter from John Hancock, with resolves of Congress 124
Letter from Wm. Whipple 125
Resolve of Congress for the Colonies to take up Gov‑
ernment 126
Orders to General Folsom 126
June. Resolves of Congress, relating to supplying Militia, &c. 127
Letter from John Hancock 128, 129
Letter from our delegates in Congress 129
List of Representatives [see Index, Names] 130, 131
JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE, resumed (1) 133
Business to be transacted 134
Order to Capt. Henry Gerrish 134
A bridge to be built at New Castle 136, 164
Letter from Col. David Gilman 138
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(1) On p. 133, for James Bellows, read James Betton. — ED,
viii GENERAL CONTENTS.
1776. PAGES
June. Committee to draft a DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 139
Civil officers appointed 139, 140
Letter from Selectmen of Hanover 140
Address and Petition of Maj. James Hackett 142
County officers appointed — Acts passed (1) 143, 144
Letter from Hon. John Hancock to the General Assem‑
bly 146, 147
Letter from our delegates in Congress 147
Letter from Hon. Josiah Bartlett 147, 148
Declaration of Independence 149
Letter to Hon. John Hancock 151, 152
Letter from Josiah Bartlett to John Langdon 152
Letter from Commissioners in Canada, relating to Col.
Bedel, &c. 153
Resolve of Congress, relating to clothing for soldiers 153
Persons inimical to the Country 156
Proclamation of Admiral Howe 159
Letter from Admiral Howe to Gov. John Wentworth 160
Letter to General Schuyler, relating to hard money 161
Major Robert Rogers, suspected 163
Letter from John Hancock, with resolves 165-167
Bills to be emitted, form of 169, 191
Letter from Col. Jacob Bailey — note 171
Alarms in Coos County, petition, &c. 172, 173
Letter from Col. Benja Bellows, asking for arms, &c. 173
County officers appointed 174, 175
Letter from Hon. Meshech Weare to Gen. Ward 178
Letter from Hon. Meshech Wears to General Court of
Massachusetts 178, 179
Alarms at Walpole 180
Petition from Plymouth 181
July. Powder to sundry towns 185
Regiments for the reinforcement in Canada 186
Order of Gen. Folsom to Capt. James Gage 186
Order of Gen. Folsom to Capt. Stephen Peabody 187
Letter from the Selectmen of Wakefield 187
Letter from Gen. Schuyler 188
Letter from the Selectmen of Rochester 188
Letter from Gen. Sullivan 189
Hand-bills issued — call for soldiers 192
Court Maritime Fees 198
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(1) On p. 143 for Benjamin Baker, read Barker. — ED.
GENERAL CONTENTS. ix
1776. PAGES
July. DECLARATION OP INDEPENDENCY, U. S. 200-203
RETURNS OF THE "ASSOCIATION TEST," 1776.
[Returns from towns in the order in which they are
printed in the following pages . 204-296
Er Names not repeated in the Index.—ED.]
Non- Non-
Signore. Signers. Signers. Signers.
Amherst 201` 4 Hinsdale 35 10
Allenstown 21 1 Hopkintown 161 14
Alstead 66 4 Keene 133 13
Acworth 32 0 Kensington 118 20
Lemeter (1) 24 0 Kingstown 150 14
Unity 26 4 Lebanon 87 0
Atkinson 97 0 Exeter ? [imperfect] 48
Barnstead 37 0 Leavittstown (Effingham)
Barrington 200 12 17 0
Bedford 87 1 Lee 142 14
Boscawen (2) 108 1 Londonderry 375 15
Bow 63 0 Loudon 69 0
Brentwood 160 18 Meredith 48 0
Canterbury 128 0 Monadnock No. 5 (Marlboro')
Claremont 84 16-31 50 5
Chester 221 0 New Boston 108 0
Chesterfield 139 13 New Castle 57 4
Concord 156 0 Newington 67 3
Conway &c. 55 0 Newmarket 164 38
Deerfield 157(8) 20 North Hampton 116 0
Deering 33 2 [Newport—see p. 282.]
Derryfield 47 0 Northwood 61 1
Dublin 57 (4) 0 Nottingham 104 25
Dunbarton 59 10 Nottingham W. (Hudson)
Dunstable [no return] 118 1
Canaan 24 0 Packersfield (Nelson) 38 1
Enfield 13 0 Pembroke 129 9
Epping 209 11 Peterborough 84 0
Epsom 68 2 Piermont (5) 35 0
Exeter — [no complete Portsmouth 509 46
returns; see p. 248.] Raby (Brookline) 23 0
East Kingston 78 3 Richmond 156 12
Francestown [no return] Rindge 150 0
Gilmanton 115 32-21 Rochester 198 22
Gilsom 42 0 Rye 123 0
Hampton 174 2 Salem 171 36
Hampstead 97 21 Salisbury 83 2
Hampton-falls [no return] Sanbornton 80 1
Hawke (Danville) 74 4 Sandown 103 7
Henniker 51 22 Sandwich 37 9
Hillsborough 35 1
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(1) In Lempster, for the name Trugrace, read Freegrace.
(2) In Boscawen, for Willm Welch, reset Mirick; and for Jerome Little, read Friend.
(3) By error, 101.
(4) By error, 22.
(5) Dorchester was classed with Piermont. — ED.
x GENERAL CONTENTS.
Non- Non‑
Signers Signers Signers. Signers.
Newport 36 0 Temple 84 3
Croydon 31 4 Wakefield 62 0
Saville 18 0 Weare 131 41
Society Land (Antrim) Westmoreland 130 6
25 0 Wilton 128 2
South Hampton 85 4 Winchester 103 15
Stratham 131 42 Wyndham 96 (1) 3
Burry 42 0
1776. PAGES
July. CORRESPONDENCE 297-318
Alarm on the Frontiers. Meeting in Hanover 297
Petition from Lebanon asking assistance 298
Letter from J. Hurd, Esq. Appeal for help 298
Petition from Conway for assistance 299
Letter from Capt. Ira Allen 300
Orders to Benja Giles 300
Portsmouth instructions to Representatives 301
Commission for Col. Isaac Wyman 302
Orders to Capt. David Woodward 302
Letter from Committee in Kittery 303
Letter to the Selectmen of New Market 303
Letter from Capt. Robert Parker 303
Letter to Capt. Jeremiah Eames — instruction 304
Letter from Maj. Jonathan Child 304
Letter from Committee in Moultonborough 305
Letter to Hon. John Hancock 305
Letter from Capt. William Barron 306
Letter from Col. John Hurd 306
Order respecting Samuel Dyer, of Berwick 308
Orders to Col. Joshua Wingate 308
Direction for Col. Jacob Bailey for raising men 308
Letter from Portsmouth Committee about Capt. Roach 309
Letter from Portsmouth Committee relating to Mrs.
Livius 309
Order to Brig. Gen. Stark 310
Letter from Benja Giles 310
Letter from Col. Hurd 311
Letter from Col. Joshua Wentworth 311
Letter from Col. John Bellows 311
Complaint of Zacheus Clough, of Poplin 312
Certificate for Zacheus Clough, of Poplin 312
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(1) Persons who add the above returns may find a different sum total from that stated in the text, p. 204. — ED.
GENERAL CONTENTS. xi
1776. PAGES
July. Petition from Warren for fire-arms, &c. 313
Letter from Col. David Gilman 313
License for Mrs. Livius to go to Quebec 313
Letter to Benja Giles 314
Orders to Lieut. John Gilman 314
Letter from Col. John Hurd 314
Letter from M. S. Metcalf to Col. Bailey 316
Letter from Col. Wait to Col. Hurd 316
Aug. Letter from Col. Hurd to Meshech Weare 317
Letter from Eleazer Russell to Meshech Wears 317
Proclamation by Gen. Howe 318
Sept. JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE, resumed 319-357
List of members [see Index — "Names"] 319-321
Massachusetts Resolves, relating to the ship Raleigh 322
Report of Committee, and papers relating to Asa Porter 324-331
New Hampshire assumes the name of State of New‑
Hampshire 332
Special Convention, proceedings of 337, (1) 338
Form of oath to be taken by Representatives 341
Form of precept for calling a new House 342, 343
Oct. Special Convention, proceedings of 349-351
Resolve of Congress for raising an army during the war, 349
Letter from Hon. John Hancock, relating to enlistments, 351
Pay-roll of members of the Convention, 356
CORRESPONDENCE 358-396
Letter from Charlestown Committee to Gen. Gates 358
Letter from Col. Moulton to N. H. Committee of Safety, 359
Letter from Col. Jacob Bailey 360
Letter from Col. Thomas Stickney 360
Letter from J. Brackett, relating to ship Prince George, 360
Letter from Portsmouth Committee, relating to a
billiard table 361
Letter from John Hancock, relating to an attack on
New York 361
Letter from Selectmen of Charlestown to N. H. Com.
of Safety 362
Letter from Eleazer Russell, on Maritime fees 363
Letter from Col. David Gilman, on being superseded, 365
Resolution of Congress, relating to gunpowder, 366
Orders to Col. Benjamin Bellows, jun. 366
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(1) On p. 338, for Capt. Sutler, read Salter. — ED.
xii GENERAL CONTENTS.
1776. PAGES
Oct. Letter from Col. Hurd, relating to Rangers at Cohos 366
Letter from General Washington, on exchange of
prisoners, 367
Letter from N. H. Committee of Safety to Gen. Ward 368
Petition in favor of Lt. Abraham Perkins 368
Col. John Langdon's return of enlisting men 369
Letter from Col. Bailey, relating to affairs in Canada 369
Resolves of Congress, relating to blankets, &c. 370
Letter from Gen. Ward 370
Letter from Andrew Colburn to Matthew Thornton 371
Letter from Col. Wigglesworth, relating to sickness at
Crown Point 371
Resolves of Congress, relating to Physicians, &c. 372
Letter from Hon. John Hancock on same subject 373
Petition of Joshua Heath, of Conway 373
Resolves of Congress, relating to the army 374-376
Letter from Hon. John Hancock on the same 377
Letter from Joseph Whipple, relating to roads, &c. 377
Representation relative to Capt. Jere. Eames 378
Tories sent from New York to New-Hampshire — names 379-384
Letter from France to N. H. Committee of Safety 385
Instructions to Committee sent to Ticonderoga 386
Introduction to Gen. Washington 387
Letter from Col. Thomas Tash to Com. of Safety 388
Letter from Col. Joseph Welch 388
Letter from Hon. John Jay, of New York, relating to
tories 389
Order of Col. Robt Van Ransilaer about tories 390
Letter from Col. Blanchard relating to raising men at
Ticonderoga for the army 390
Col. Blanchard's Report of Commissioned officers, &c. 391, 392
Letter of thanks from Gen. Gates to N. H. officers and
soldiers 392
Inlisting orders to Capt. Joshua Abbot 393
Action of N. H. Com. of Safety relative to New York
tories 393
Certificate &c., relating thereto 394
Letter from Hon. Wm. Whipple relating to the army 395
Resolve of Congress for a supply of shoes for the army 396
Nov. JOURNAL. OF THE HOUSE — resumed 397-427
List of members — names [see Index — "Names"] 397-400
GENERAL CONTENTS. xiii
1776. PAGES
Nov. County officers appointed 401
Restrictions on tory prisoners 403
Letter from Col. Jacob Bailey, relating to Indians 405
Resolves of General Assembly of Massaehusetts 406
Resolves of General Assembly of Rhode Island 406
Letter from Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut 407
Letters from Gen. Charles Lee to Gov. Bowdoin 407, 410
Letter from Col. Anthony Wayne to Col. Hurd 410, 411
Letter from Gov. Cooke, of R. I., to N. H. Assembly, &c. 411
Letter from Gov. Cooke to Gov. Bowdoin, of Mass. 411
Letter from Hon. Meshech Weare to Gov. Bowdoin 412
An embargo ordered 412
Names of muster-masters, &c. 415
Letter from Gen. Schuyler 417
Day of Fasting and Prayer 419
Letter from John Man, a prisoner 419
Letter from Hon. Meshech Weare to our Delegates in
Congress relating to troubles in Grafton County, &c.,
in Hanover, Lyme, Haverhill; also, in Acworth, Ches‑
terfield, Marlow, &c., &c. 420-425
Letter from Gen. Geo. Measam, commissary of cloth‑
ing, with Resolves of Congress 426
Letter from Gen. Washington on exchange of prisoners 426
Dec. JOURNAL of a new House of Representatives 428-471
List of Members [see Index — "Names"] 428-430
Affairs in Rhode Island — Gov. Cooke 431, 432
Letter relating to New York prisoners in Exeter 434
Letter from Doct. Peter Green, of Concord 435
Col. Asa Porter — reward offered for his apprehension 436
Delegates to Congress chosen 437
Letter from Capt. Eliphalet Daniels 438
Letter to Hon. John Hancock 439
Letter to our delegates in Congress 440
Letter from Col. Pierse Long, relating to the schooner
George 443
Letter from Capt. Thomas Thompson — on the same 444
Letter relating to Washington's victory at Trenton 444
Letter from Gen. Heath on the same 445
1777. Letter from Hon. Matthew Thornton 445
Jan. Letter from Col. Peirce Long, — explanatory 446
Officers of the schooner George placed in Concord 447
Letter from John Jay, on New York prisoners 448
xiv GENERAL CONTENTS.
1777. PAGES
Jan. Report on affairs in Grafton county 450
Certificates of money sent to New-Hampshire 453
Prices of sundry articles fixed 455, 471
Letter relating to John Powell, a deserter 458
Letter from Gen. Schuyler, relating to Ticonderoga 460
Letter from Hon. Jan Hancock on the same 460
Letter from Gen. Ward 462
Resolves of Massachusetts, concerning Ticonderoga 462
Propositions relating to couriers for New England 462
Report relating to Continental battalions, &c. 464
Military officers appointed 466
Letter from Col. John Langdon, relating to lead and
flints 467
Prisoners of war to be exchanged 468
CORRESPONDENCE 472-502
Letter from Col. Peirse Long 472
Letter from Gov. Bowdoin of Mass., relating to a
privateer 473
Letter from Timothy Walker, jun., relating to tories 473
Letter from H. Wentworth on the same 474
Commissary orders to Nichs Gilman 474
Orders to Capt. John Haven about prisoners 474
Letter from Joshua Gidney, a prisoner 475
List of British prisoners sent from N. H. to R. I. 476, 477
Letter from Gen. Schuyler, relating to Ticonderoga 480
Letter from Col. Long to the Committee of Safety 480
Letter from Comtee of Safety to Capt. Osborne 480
Letter from Hon. John Langdon to Com," of Safety 481
Petition of Josias Eltinge, a New York prisoner 481
Letter relating to clothing for Col. Scammell's regiment 482
Letter from Thomas Thompson on enlistment of marines 482
Letter from Thomas Thompson 484
Letter from Capt. Osborne on same subject 484
Application to Gen. Ward for fire-arms 485
Letter from Gen. Washington 485
Letter from Hon. Sam. P. Savage, of Mass., on sending
a vessel to sea 486
Certificates of money sent to New-Hampshire 486
Invoice of money and certificates sent 487
Letter from Hon. John Hancock, relating to money 487