Town Papers
DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO
TOWNS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
GILMANTON TO NEW IPSWICH,
WITH AN
APPENDIX,
Embracing some Documents relative to Towns which have been returned to the State archives since the publication of Volume XI
————————————
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE
————————————
VOLUME XII
————————————
COMPILED AND EDITED BY
ISAAC W HAMMOND
————————————
CONCORD, N H:
PARSONS B COGSWELL, STATE PRINTER
1883
JOINT RESOLUTION relating to the preservation and publication of portions of the early state and provincial records and other state papers 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 in the state as the governor may designate, fifty 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 by other states
Approved August 4, 1881
EDITOR'S PREFACE
————————————
In this volume is continued the publication of the same class of papers published in Volume XI, commencing with Gilmanton, and taking the towns, as alphabetically arranged, to New Ipswich They extend over a period, in some towns, of one hundred and fifty years, ending with the year 1800
The editorial introduction to each town is intended to give data relative to the grant, charter, and incorporation, and all severances and annexations of territory, and all divisions for the purpose of forming new towns, said data being compiled from the manuscript records of the state in all cases The petitions for various purposes are valuable, as furnishing much historical matter not elsewhere in existence, and the names of the inhabitants at various dates They have been in all cases copied as originally written, scrupulously preserving the orthography, punctuation, capitalization, etc Many valuable documents relative to soldiers of the various Indian and French and Revolutionary wars may be found in this and the preceding volume Volume XIII, the printing of which has been commenced, will contain the remainder of this class of documents
The editor desires to express his gratitude to many citizens of the state, who are especially interested in its history, for encouragement given him in his labor, and for the many favorable comments awarded to Volume XI, and particularly to His Excellency Charles H Bell, for valuable advice and support
Should this volume be as favorably received as its predecessor, the editor will be entirely satisfied with the result of his labor, and encouraged to future efforts
I W H
CONCORD, May, 1883
GENERAL CONTENTS
———————————————
GILMANTON
Introduction, 1
Petition for authority to assess and collect taxes, 1737, 2
Petition of inhabitants relative to a road, 1770, 3
Petition for a magistrate, 4
Letter from Col Joseph Badger to committee of safety,
1776, 5
Roll of men of Col Badger's regiment, mustered July
23, 1776, 6
Roll of officers in Col Badger's regiment, 1776, 8
Gilmanton soldiers' orders and receipts, 9
Return of ratable polls, 1785, 10
Petition for a magistrate, 1788, 11
Petition to have courts held at Norway Plains, 1789, 11
Action of town relative to Gilmanton Academy, 1792, 14
Thomas Cogswell to Hon Abiel Foster relative to the
academy, 1794, 16
Thomas Cogswell to Hon John Prentice, relative to the
academy, 16
GILSUM
Introduction, 18
Petition for a grant of the township, 1752, 18
Petition to have the charter lengthened out, 1763, 19
Relative to boundary line between this town and Stod‑
dard, 1768, 20
Relative to a wire factory, 1776, 21
Relative to collection of taxes, 1782, 22
Return of ratable polls, 1784, 23
Petition for a new town, 1786, 23
Cettificate of vote of town, 1787, 24
Non-resident land-owners, 1793, 25
vi GENERAL CONTENTS
GOFFSTOWN
Introduction, 25
Relative to church matters, 26
Petition from Presbyterians, 1771, 27
Relative to the settlement of Rev Mr Currier, 1771, 28
Remonstrance to Mr Currier's settlement, 1771, 29
Proceedings of town-meeting, 1771, 30
Relative to a dispute at town-meeting, 1772, 30
Petition for a lottery to build bridges over Piscataquog
river, 1778, 32
Petition for the privilege of sending a representative
without being classed with Derryfield, 1779, 33
Documents relative to soldiers, 1778, 34
Col Kelley to Col Stickney, 35
Relative to Joshua Wilson, soldier, 1775, 35
Warrant for town-meeting, 1780, 36
Petition relative to church affairs, 1781, 38
Request relative to management of town-meeting, 1783, 39
Deposition relative to constables' pay, 39
Return of ratable polls, 1783, 40
Warrant for town-meeting, 1783, 41
Protest against action in town-meeting, 1783, 41
Trouble between the Congregational and Presbyterian
parishes, 1783, 42
Protest against proceedings of town-meeting, 1783, 44
Petition to have the line between Goffstown and New
Boston established, 1787, 45
Goffstown men in first N H regiment, 46
GOSHEN
Introduction, 46
Rev Elias Fisher's certificate, 1796, 47
Petition for relief from paying ministerial taxes in Lemp‑
ster, 1796, 47
Vote of Lempster relative to ministerial taxes paid by
Goshen, 1796, 48
GRAFTON
Introduction, 48
Petition for incorporation, etc, 1777, 49
Petition for incorporation, 1778, 50
Petition relative to taxes, etc, 1779, 51
Justice of the peace elected, 1779, 52
Account of service done in the Revolutionary war, 52
GENERAL CONTENTS vii
Petition for the passage of an act making produce, etc,
legal tender for debts, 1783, 54
Documents copied from Gen Jonathan Chase's papers, 55
Grafton men drafted, 1780, 56
GRANTHAM
Introduction, 56
List of grievances, 1777, 57
Documents copied from Gen Jonathan Chase's papers, 58
Relative to town lines, 1781, 58
Inventory for 1775, 59
Petition for a parochial parish, 1780, 59
Petition to have the name of the town established as
New Grantham, 1787, 60
GREENFIELD
Petition of sundry inhabitants to be annexed to Fran-
cestown, 1792, 61
Petition for annexation of some lands to Greenfield, 1793, 63
GREENLAND
Introduction, 64
Petition to have the boundaries established, 1714, 65
Petition for authority to elect a representative, 1730, 66
Relative to ministerial taxes, 1739, 67
Military officers elected, 1775, 67
Vote relative to forming a state government, 1776, 68
Relative to Thomas Packer, Jr, soldier, 1779, 69
Soldier's order, 1781, 69
Matrimonial agreement, Thomas Packer and Molly
Tarlton, 1779, 69
Relative to election of representatives, 1783, 71
Petition for authority to raise money by lottery to build
a bridge, 1789, 72
GROTON
Introduction, 73
Election of justice of the peace, 1779, 74
Relative to a road through Plymouth, etc, 1781, 74
Petition relative to a road through Alexandria, 1782, 76
Capt Edmund Shattuck recommended for a magistrate,
1785, 77
Petition relative to boundaries, 1785, 78
Petition for change of name of town, 1788, 79
Petition of Cockermouth people for a new town, 1791, 80
viii GENERAL CONTENTS
Petition of Plymouth people for a new town, 1791, 80
Capt Edmund Shattuck's resignation, 1791, 82
Petition to have the name of the town changed to
Groton, 1796, 82
HAMPSTEAD
Introduction, 82
Assessment of rates, about 1764, 83
Petition for an incorporation of the town, 1746, 85
Committee to prosecute the foregoing petition, 1748, 86
Request relative to foregoing petition, 1749, 86
Committee to defend Kingston lawsuits, 1768, 87
Votes in town-meeting relative to Kingston claims, 1760, 87
Votes of town, relative to Kingston claims, 1767, 88
Committee appointed to settle with Kingston, 1767, 88
Relative to the settlement of Kingston dispute, 1768, 89
Elijah Heath's account, 1760, 90
William Heath, Jr, soldier, 1760, 90
Benjamin Morse, soldier, 1762, 91
John Sawyer, soldier of the R I expedition, 1778, 91
John Eaton's petition, soldier, 1780, 91
Petition to be classed for representative, 1785, 92
Petition relative to paper money, etc, 1786, 93
Relative to Revolutionary matters, 95
Petition for a magistrate, 1788, 96
Certificate of nails made, 1791, 97
Certificate of nails made, 1792 98
HAMPTON
Introduction, 99
Depositions relating to boundary line between Hampton
and Portsmouth, 1669, 99
Agreement relative to boundary between Hampton and
Portsmouth, 1669, 100
Election of assemblymen, 1691, 101
Vote relative to granting new town, Kingston, 1694, 102
Disbursements for soldiers, 1694, 102
Selectmen about a new town, 1694, 102
Election of assemblymen, 1694, 103
Hampton soldiers, 1695, 1696, 103
Hampton men in garrison at Exeter, 1695-'96, 105
Hampton soldiers, April to September, 1696, 107
New Hampshire to Hampton men, 1696, 109
Warrant for muster of the militia, 1697, 109
Hampton men sent to the fort, 1704, 110
Hampton soldiers, 1708, 111
GENERAL CONTENTS ix
Remonstrance against a township being granted
at Squamscot, 1709, 112
Another of same tenor, 1715, 113
Weare's petition for a township, 1717, 117
Warrant for parish meeting, 1719, 115
Falls men present at said meeting, 115
New Parish men present at said meeting, 115
Petition for grant of a township, 1731, 116
Bill of expense for constructing a pillory, 1732, 117
Petition of North Hill inhabitants relative to paying
ministerial rates, addressed to Gov Belcher and the
assembly, 1738, 117
North Hill parish declaration, 1739, 119
Report of committee concerning lines between North
Hill and the old parish, 1742, 120
Remonstrance to foregoing report, 120
Abstract from Dr Anthony's memorial, 1757, 122
Abstract from Nathan Blake's petition, addressed to the
governor and assembly, Jan 28, 1760, 122
Relative to small-pox, 1758, 123
Relative to a lottery, 1790, 124
Vote of town relative to a lottery, 1790, 125
Petition for authority to raise money by lottery to re-
pair a bridge, etc, 1791, 125
Relative to aforenamed lottery, 1791, 126
Relative to church matters, 1796, 127
List of land-owners, about 1738, 128
HAMPTON FALLS
Introduction, 130
Petition for grant of a township, no date, 130
Petition of John Brown, innholder, for the privilege of
a town fair, about 1734, 131
Deposition of Joshua Pierce, 132
Petition relative to making a new town of the west part,
1736, 133
Committee appointed to fix division line, and report of
said committee, 1736, 133
Action of legislature, 1737, 135
Petition for a change of dates of the fairs, 1738, 135
Petition for the granting of a township, 1749, 136
Petition of Quakers relative to service in the army, 1761, 137
Relative to incorporation of Seabrook, 1768, 138
Objections to the meeting called by Justices Bryant and
Emery, 1770, 138
Petition for the appointment of a committee to settle
parish difficulties, 1770, 139
x GENERAL CONTENTS
Report of the committee, 1770, 140
Louisbourg soldiers, 1746, 141
Crown Point soldier, 1756, 141
Abigail Dwinnell's petition 1759, 141
Petition of Isaac Tobey, 1760, 142
Jonathan Knowlton, soldier, 1760, 142
Isaiah Row, soldier, 1760, 142
Eleazer Quimby, soldier, 1760, 142
David Steward, soldier, 1761, 142
Proceedings in a parish meeting, 1773, 143
Summons to witnesses in foregoing matter, 143
Petition concerning aforesaid dispute, 144
Another statement relative to the foregoing dispute, 146
D Bachelder's statement concerning same, 147
Election of a magistrate, 1776, 149
Return of ratable polls, 1783, 149
Recommendation for appointment of magistrate, 1789, 150
Relative to working highway taxes in Hampton Falls
and Seabrook parish, 1791, 246
HANCOCK
Introduction, 152
Consent of inhabitants of the east side to the incorpo‑
ration of Hancock, 1779, 152
Petition for an incorporation of the town, 1779, 152
Petition relative to taxes, 1779, 153
Report of committee to locate a meeting-house, 1785, 154
Petition for special tax to build a meeting-house, 155
Petition for appointment of a committee to locate a
meeting-house, 1785, 155
Petition for authority to levy a fax to build a meeting-
house, 1785, 156
Relative to building a meeting-house, 1787, 156
Petition of Jos Putnam to be annexed to Hancock, 1793, 157
Consent of the town to the foregoing, 157
Relative to militia regiments, 1785, 158
HANOVER
Introduction, 159
Vote of the town relative to its boundaries, 1772, 159
Petition for an additional grant, 1771, 159
John Crane for leave to establish a hospital, 1773, 161
Jonathan Freeman relative to Hanover addition, 1774, 161
Precept for the election of a representative, 1775, 162
Vote of the town relative to the matter in dispute, 165
Petition of Lieut John House, 1779, 165
GENERAL CONTENTS xi
Petition of Thos Clark, soldier, addressed to the gen‑
eral assembly, 1783, 166
Petition of Lieut James Goold, 1783, 166
Peter Johnson, Bunker Hill, soldier, 167
Soldiers' orders, 1786, 167
From Gen Chase's papers, 168
Petition to have a part of Hanover incorporated into a
new town, 1783, 170
Return of ratable polls, 1783, 171
Petition for the appointment of a magistrate, 1784, 172
Petition for an issue of paper money, 1784, 173
Relative to a road through town, laid out by a legisla‑
tive committee, 1786, 174
Petition for a grant to make a canal, etc, 1792, 175
Isaac Rogers's petition for a ferry, 1794, 176
HAVERHILL
Introduction, 177
Petition for a ferry, 1772, 177
Extract from grand to Asa Porter, 178
Report of the committee on the matter of granting a
ferry to Thomas Johnson, 179
Relative to dead body found, 1776, 179
Enoch Bartlet's complaint, 1780, 180
Abstract from the petition of Geo Moor, soldier, 1783, 181
John French, armorer, 1780, 181
Moses Dow declines to accept an election as a member
of the congress of the United States, 1784, 182
Vote of town relative to paper money, 1786, 183
Selectmen's protest to the grant of a ferry to Ezekiel
Ladd, 183
Petition for an act of incorporation for the academy,
1793, 184
Subscriptions towards building a bridge over Connec‑
ticut river, 1794, 185
Asa Porter for a ferry, 186
John Hurd relative to roads, 1774, 186
Representation of services done by the town during the
war, and its present condition, 1798, 187
HENNIKER
Introduction, 189
Petition of the inhabitants to have the town incorpo‑
rated, 1768, 189
Return of men raised for the army, 1776, 191
Roll of Capt Aaron Adams's company, 1776, 192
xii GENERAL CONTENTS
Joseph Patterson, wounded soldier, 1778, 193
Abraham Kimball, wounded soldier, 193
Soldier's order, 1779, 194
Petition for the appointment of a committee to locate a
meeting-house, 1786, 194
HILL
Introduction, 195
Petition to be incorporated into two towns, 1776, 196
Arms and ammunition asked for, 1776, 197
Petition to be incorporated, 1778, 197
Certificate of soldiers exempt from poll tax, 198
Deposition of Capt Edward Everett, 198
David Emerson recommended for coroner, 1782, 199
Return of number of ratable polls, 1783, 199
Deposition of Joseph Emmons, 1781, 200
Petition for authority to tax non-residents, 1785, 200
Petition for a division of the town, 1787, 201
Petition for authority to tax non-residents, 1789, 202
HILLSBOROUGH
Introduction, 203
Hillsborough soldiers in R I expedition, 1778, 203
A list of alarm men in Hillsborough, 1776, 204
Return of a soldier, 1779, 205
Bounties advanced by towns, 1782, 205
Lieut Sam Bradford's petition, 1781, 205
Petition for authority to tax non-residents, 1780, 206
Relative to drawing town lots, 1784, 207
Relative to date of annual meeting, 1785, 208
Return of ratable polls, 1783, 209
Petition for authority to tax non-residents, 1785, 209
Relative to Robert Tinney, soldier, 210
Relative to incorporating a town library, 1797, 212
HINSDALE
Introduction, 212
Col Josiah Willard's account for supplies furnished sol‑
dier s, 1750, 213
Col Ebenezer Hinsdale's bill, 1785, 214
Relative to Dummer's ferry, 215
Relative to abatement of taxes, 1779, 216
Relative to Vermont controversy, 1781, 217
Petition for a grant of a ferry, 1735, 218
Relative to aforesaid ferry, 1786, 218
Another petition relative to same, 1786, 219
GENERAL CONTENTS xiii
Deposition of Josiah Wheeler, 1786, 219
Deposition of Nathaniel Stearns, 1786, 220
James Hubbard for a ferry, 1786, 221
Petition for a magistrate, 1789, 222
Petition for authority to send a representative, 1793, 222
Petition for the privilege of a lottery, 1795, 223
Petition of Nathan Willard for a grant of Gravel Island,
1795, 224
Petition of Zebulon Moffatt, soldier, 1776, addressed to
the general court, 225
Account for soldiers' bounties, etc, 225
HOLDERNESS
Introduction, 226
Petition for a regrant of some forfeited rights, 226
Petition for arms and ammunition, 1776, 227
Hercules Mooney's petition, 1779, 227
Holderness soldier, 1782, 228
Return of ratable polls, 1783, 228
Relative to class for representative, 1785, 228
Maj. Sam. Shepard recommended for a magistrate,
1789, 229
Against the appointment of Sam. Shepard, 230
Petition for the laying out of a road from Plymouth to
Hill, 1798, 230
HOLLIS
Introduction, 231
Peter Wheeler's petition, 1761, 232
Joshua Wright's petition, 1760, 232
Selectmen's account for taking an inventory of New
Ipswich, 1761, 232
Petition from inhabitants of Dunstable to be annexed to
Hollis, 1762, 233
Vote at a town-meeting, 1764, 234
Vote at a town-meeting, 1768, 234
Appointment of Sam. Farley, agent, 1768, 234
Petition for the formation of a new town, 1768, 235
Petition for the formation of a new town, 1769, 235
Boundaries of Raby, 1769, 236
Agreement relative to extending the town further east,
1773, 236
Petition of Dunstable parties to be annexed to Hollis,
1773, 237
Consent of Dunstable to the foregoing 1773, 238
Relative to a Hollis man enlisted in Massachusetts reg‑
iment, 1778, 239
xiv GENERAL CONTENTS.
Relative to appointment of officers in the militia, 1775, 239
Relative to the estates of absentees, 1779, 240
Estates of Hollis absentees, 1779, 241
Account of sale of confiscated counterfeiters' tools, 1780, 242
Petition of Capt. Reuben Dow, 1778, 242
Aid to the family of Jacob Danforth, 1779, 243
Soldiers' Petition for an allowance for the depreciation
of their pay, 1781, 244
Relative to Lemuel Blood, soldier, 1782, 244
Testimony of Reuben Blood and Wm. Cormick con‑
cerning the same, 1780, 244
Deposition of Jeremiah Prichard, 1778, 245
Soldiers' orders, 245
Relative to estate of Wm. Brown, an absentee, 1784, 245
Relative to the restoration of Monson, 1782, 246
Petitioners' tax, 1782, 246
Statement of a grievance, 1783, 247
Relative to articles of confederation, 1783, 248
Petition of certain persons to be set off to Raby, 1783, 249
Opposition of Hollis to the petition of Raby, 1785, 250
Petition for a magistrate, 1784, 251
HOOKSETT.
Introduction, 252
Petition of Joshua Abbott for a ferry, 1782, 253
Petition of Dustin and Martin for a ferry, 1782, 253
Petition of McGregore and Duncan for exclusive privi‑
lege of locking Hooksett falls, 1794, 254
HOPKINTON.
Introduction, 255
Petition for the privilege of having a representative,
1773, 257
Relative to the formation of counties, 1772, 257
Proceedings of a town-meeting, 1772, 259
Relative to the formation of counties, 1772, 259
Capt. Stinson relative to soldiers, 1776, 260
John Hale declines the appointment of major, 1777, 260
Petition of Timothy Clements, 1778, 261
Remonstrance to the appointment of Benj. Wiggin,
1785, 261
Petition for the appointment of Benjamin Wiggin as a
magistrate, 1786, 262
Another petition in favor of Wiggin, 1786, 263
Petition in favor of Lieut. Joshua Morse, 1786, 264
GENERAL CONTENTS. xv
Another remonstrance to Mr. Wiggin, 265
Enlistment papers, 1776, 266
Depositions relative to service in the army, 1777, 266
Enlistments, 1781, 267
Certificate of soldiers mustered, 1781, 267
Petition of Joseph Marsh, soldier, 1787, 268
Petition of Samuel French, soldier, 1787, 268
Petition of Elijah Smart, soldier, 1791, 269
Hopkinton men in the First N. H. Regiment, 269
Remonstrance to the ordination of Rev. Jacob Cram,
1789, 270
Another remonstrance of the same import, 1789, 272