CHAPTER XVII.

Thrift of the Colonies.--Settlements extend.--People of Derryfield do not thrive.--Causes.--Fishing and strife.--Vote to build a Meeting House.--Difficulty as to location.--People divide into parties.--Meeting House located.--Frame of house raised.--Boarded and shingled.--Vote to hire money to pay bills for same.--Vote to record names and amount paid.--Hall accused of retaining money.--Vote not to have preachnig [preaching].--Vote to have preaching through the year.--Quarrel personal.--The Hall Party elect Town officers. Petition to the legislature to vacate the Town officers.--Bill of the Legislature.--Warrant for Town Meeting.--Return on same.--Town Meeting.--Officers chose.--Hall Party succeed.--Another Town Meeting.--Opposition succeed.--Annual Meeting in March.--Officers chosen.--Vote to settle with Mr. Hall.--He presents a claim.--Town votes not to pay it.--He brings a suit.--Town vote to settle the suit.--Last of the suit.--Town second best in the suit. Ill effects of quarrel.--Rev. Mr. Pickle's preaching.

After the submission of the French power in Canada, the people of the colonies had a season of rest. Thrift followed in the footsteps of peace. Nowhere was this result more apparent than in the Province of New Hampshire, Its people had had little respite from the horrors of Indian war since it had been made a separate Province,--a period of twenty years. Of course there had been little opportunity for developing the resources of the Province, or the advantages sanguinely foretold and anticipated from its separation from Massachusetts. On the contrary, its settlements had been curtailed, its resources restrained, and its treasury depleted. But no sooner did permanent peace arrive than the Province assumed more than its wonted prosperity, Settlements ere extended in every direction. The various scouts, and expeditions that had traversed the Province in every direction during the late wars, had made known the good lands in the upper valleys of the Salmon Falls, Saco, Amariscoggin, Merrimack and Connecticut, were soon teeming with a hardy and industrious population. The people of Derryfield shared less in this prosperity than most other towns, for obvious reasons. The fisheries at the Falls took up a large share of the attention of many of the inhabitants at a time, when their labor could ill be spared from their farms. Hence their farms became neglected. Excitement, and money in hand at the Falls, was too often thought better than money in prospect from the farm. Thriftless farms were too often the result. Then the old element of discord, difference of races, had full play. Fear of the Indian and hatred of the French had led Scotch Presbyterian and English Puritan to march shoulder to shoulder up to the cannon's mouth;--this fear aside, they had leisure, opportunity and disposition to quarrel with each other, and there is not wanting proof to show that they embraced the opportunity.

As early as 1752, the subject of settling a minister in this town seems to have been agitated, and in the Warrant calling the annual March meeting, of date, February, 12, 1753, there was the following article;

   6thly. to see if the town will Joyn with the town of Bedford In Giving mr. mcDoel a Call to the worke of the ministry Between the two towns and to Do and act in that affair that the town shall think proper."

At the meeting March 5, it was

   "Voted, to give mr. mcDouell a Cauell to the work of the ministry, Eather to Joyen woth Bedford or by our selves.

   Voted, John Ridill Alexander mcmurphey, John Hall, a Comitey to prosequt the given of mr. mcDoul a Cauell to the work of the minestery to Joyn woth the town of Bedford or seprat and Distink by our selves."

At another meeting held April 26 1753, the town

   "Voted, tow Houndred poundes old tenor for yearly solery to mr. mcDowall Provied he Excpts of our Call to Joun woth the town of Bedford."

Nothing further appears on our town records relative to this call to Mr. McDowell.

By the records of Bedford it appears that a call was given by Bedford to Mr. McDowell. March 28, 1753, It was unanimously

   "Voted, to present a call for Mr. Alexander McDowell to the Revd Presbytery for the work of the ministry in this town."

But the records of the town show nothing further in relation to him.

He had probably been employed to preach some time before this in these two towns. The name of no other minister employed in this town is found in our records to this time.

As early as 1754 the town voted to build a meeting house, and to locate the same on the land near John Hall's house. This location produced much ill-feeling, and on the 3d of February, 1755, thirty of the inhabitants petitioned the Selectmen to call a meeting on the 20th of the same month, to reconsider the vote locating the meeting house and raising money to build the same; but the majority of the selectmen refused to call the said meeting, thus denying the aforesaid inhabitants a plain and legal right. This refusal of the selectmen produced great excitement, and the inhabitants aggrieved, petitioned Joseph Blanchard and Matthew Thornton, Esquires, two Justices of the Peace for the Province, to call a meeting of the inhabitants as provided by law.

They complied with the wishes of the petitioners and issued the following warrant to the Constable of Derryfield.

   "Province of
   New Hampshire

To Benja. Hadley of Derryfield in the sd Province, Constable of said town,--Greeting,

Whereas it has been mead to appeer to us the Subscribers, two of his Majestes justes of the Peace of sd Province, Qurom Unues that Thirty of the freeholders and Inhabitants of the sd town of Derryfield, by their Request signed by ye sd Inhabitants and freeholders made the maj'r Part of the Selectmen of Derryfield aforesaid. When together did on ye third Instant Deliver and present such application in writing for the Calling a meeting of the Inhabitants of sd town to be held on the 20th Day of Feby, Cur't for the following Articles.
   First to see if the town would Reconsider ye Vote, Relating to the choice of a meeting house place and make the same null and void.
   Also to see if the town would Reconsider that vote for Raising mony for Building a meeting house and order that ye Constable Omit his Collecting the Same and discharge the Severall freeholders and Inhabitents from such part of the Taxes in some proper method as shall then be thot Best and that the sd Select'n did on the said 3d day of Feby, Cur nt Unreasonably refuse and deny the Calling a meeting for the Propritors aforesd and ye sd freeholders and Inhabitants have applyed unto us for warnt, for the Calling of a meeting of the freeholders and Inhabitants of Derryfield aforesd for ye doing of the Busness aforesd to be held on ye first Day of march next,--at ye house of John Goffe, Esqr.
   These are Therefor in his majyt name to Require and Command you the sd Constable to Notifie and warn the freeholders and Inhabitants of sd town of Derryfield, that they assemble at the house of John Goffe Esqr. in Derryfield, afores'd on Saterday the first day of march nixt at ten o'clock, forenoon then and there to act on the following articles.
   First to see if the town will Reconsider the Vote Relating to the choice of a meeting house place and make ye same null and void.
   Also to see if the town will Reconsider that vote for Raisaing money for Bulding a meeting house and order the Constable omit his Collecting the same and discharge ye Severall freeholders and Inhabitants from such part of the taxes in Some proper method as Shall then be thot best here of faile not and make due return, Given Under Our hands and Seal at Merrymac this six day of Feb. 1755.

Joseph Blanchard, Matthew Thornton,

Jusces of ye peace. Qromus Unes."

The meeting was duly held on the first day of March, 1755, and it was voted to reconsider the vote "making choice of a meeting house place", and also to reconsider the vote raising money for building the meeting house.

The following protest was presented and enterd [entered] upon the record

"Derryfield, March, ye 1st 1755.

   Wee ye under Subscribers freeholders and Inhabitants of ye town of Derryfield, for Divers and weighty Reasons do Enter our Desent against the proceedings of this meeting which wee will make apeear at time and pleace Convenent.

Robert Dickey. Robt. Anderson. Alexe. McClintock. Nethenell Boyd. Willm. Elott. Willm McClintock. John Cochran. Walter Macffarland. Saml Macffarland. Willm Gamble. James Mac Neall."

The majority at this meeting were not opposed to building a meeting house, but they were opposed to locating it near Mr. Hall's, and would have it at some more convenient place, near the Merrimack. The war soon claimed their attention and limited their resources, and nothing was done towards building a meeting house until 1758 when the following paper was presented to the Selectmen.

"Derryfield Anguest ye 27 1758.

   To the selectmen of the town of Derryfield, Gentlemen, Freeholders and Inhabitants of said town, We the under Subscribers loking upon ourselves as under a great Disadvantage for want of a pleace of Public Worship, as we have rising fameleys which cannot atend at other places and as it would be encoragement to ministers to Com and preach unto us if we were forward in getting a place for the public worshipe of God ourselves.

Capt. Alexr. McMurphy.	Mickell McClintock.
John Hall	Robrt Dicky.
Robert Andrson.	John mirrall.
James Riddell.	James Pitirs.
Samuel Boyd.	William Petiers.
John Dickey.	William Nutt.
Binjimin Stivens.	James peirse.
John Riddell.	John Harvey.
James humphrey.	Wm perham, Jr.
Hugh Stirling,	Thoms Hall."

On the second of September, 1758, a warrant was issued for a town meeting, at the barn of John Hall, on the 21st, of the same month:

   "To see if the freeholders and inhabitants of the town would vote to build a meeting house this present year.
   To see what spot of ground the town would vote to build said meting house on.
   To see how much money the town would vote to raise for building the said meeting house.
   To see what dimensions they would vote to build said meeting house.
   To see if the town would vote to choose a committee to carry on the building of said meeting house.
   To see if the town would vote to raise any money for preaching this year and how much."

At the meeting Captain Alexander McMurphy was Moderator, and it was

   "Voted to build a meeting house this present year.
   Voted to build the meeting house on John Hall's land joining the road leading to Thomas Hall's ferry, and the Amoskeag Falls.
   Voted to raise six hundred pounds to carry on the building the said meeting house.
   Voted to raise the said meeting house forty feet in length, and thirty-five feet in breadth.
   Voted Capt. William Perham and Lt. Hugh Sterling and John Hall the committee to carry on the building of the above said meeting house."

The Hall party prevailed and he was placed upon the Build. Committee. The committee proceeded with the work and put up a frame, but nothing else was done. People neglected or refused to pay their taxes, and the committee could make no farther progress. Portions of the taxes were to be paid in labor and lumber, and those opposed to the location of the meeting house, continued to leave their taxes unpaid.

At a meeting July 15, 1759--It was

   "Voted to collect five hundred pounds old tenor this present year to be applied towards Boarding and Shingling of our meeting house, said sum is to be taken out of the five hundred pounds new tenor that was voted in the year 1757 for building the above said meeting house.
   Voted Capt. William Perham, Lieut. Hugh Sterling and John Hall a committee to spend the five hundred pounds old tenor, towars boading and shingling the meeting house.
   Voted that John Hall apply to the Gentlemen that have land not cultivated or improved in Derryfield, for money to help us in building our meeting house in said town.
   Voted that whoever pays any money to the above said meeting house shall have their names and sums of money they pay recorded in Derryfield town book of records."

Among other gossip, the Building Committee was accused of mismanagement and at a meeting Nov. 15, 1759,

   "Voted 3 men a committee to examine the accounts of the committee that was chosen to build our meeting house in said town.
   Voted Michael McClintock, John Harvey, and David Starrett, the committee to examine the accounts of the meeting house to far as they have proceeded in building of said house.
   Voted to record the six hundred pounds old tenor that was collected in 1758, and the following sums as they are collected for building the aforesaid meeting house and each man's name and sum what he pays to the aforesaid house.
   Voted to allow all the committee's accounts as they brought them in be before the town, in time and money spent by them in building our meeting house in said town, so far as they have proceeded in said building.
   Voted not to underpin our meeting house at present but to make one door this year."

At a town meeting Dec. 13, 1759, it was

   "Voted not to co'lect any more money from the town this year towards the meeting house.
   Voted to borrow what remains due for the meeting house to clear off the committee's accounts, and to pay the interest for the same.
   Voted that the present Selectmen for the year 1759 borrow money to pay off the committee for building the meeting house so far as they have proceeded, and the Selectmen in the year 1760, shall be equally bound to pay the money borrowed as the present Selectmen and shall have full power in law to collect the said money from the freeholders and inhabitants of the town."

At an adjourned meeting

   It was "voted to reconsider the vote that the Selectmen borrow the money, and voted that Capt. William Perham, Levt. Hugh Stirling and Levt. John Hall are impowered by the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Derryfield to borrow the sum of four hundred and twenty three pounds six shillings old tenor, and to pay interest such as they can hire the above money for, and all their time and expenses paid by the said town as well as the above sum of four hundred and twenty three pounds six shillings old tenor.

   N B. Till such time as the above sum is paid to them by the aforesaid freeholders and inhabitants of said town."

The money was hired, and the accounts paid off.

In August 1760, the Selectmen were authorized to underpin the house and to put doors in the same. December 15, 1760, the town voted that the names of those should be recorded who had paid for building the meeting house, and the amount paid by each. The record is as follows.

   "Agreabel to a vote of the free houlders and Inhabitantes of Derryfield at a meeteing held in the meeting House of Sd town, Novm 15, 1759, Voted, one ye third artical of the Warrent to Record the moneay that was Corlected In the year 1758 and the following Soumes as they are Corlected for the Bulden the meeting houes In Derryfield and eache mans name & Some of monay what hie Peayes to the a for Sd meeting houes which Eache mans and Soum is hiear Set Down In the followe order.

Still the house remained unfinished. Meanwhile Mr. Hall was accused of retaining the money given by the non-resident land-holders, and at a special meeting held the 15th of December, a committee was chosen "to call John Hall to account for the money that he received from gentlemen that has land not settled in Derryfield."

As this committee made no report, and there was no further action upon the subject, it is fair to presume, that they found no such money in Mr. Hall's hands.

Thus there was a continual quarrel kept up between the parties, sometimes one controlling the affairs of the town, and sometimes the other, as the partisans happened to be present at the town meetings, matters pertaining t the meeting-house, and to preaching being the subjects of contention. And at an adjourned meeting held April 2, 1764, the opposition on these subjects was carried so far, as to vote not to raise any money for preaching for the year, and not content with this vote, at a special meeting on the 29th of October following, they voted to apply the money already raised for preaching the preceding year, and in the hands of a committee, to pay the debts of the town. Their opposition to the location of the house, not only prevented the finishing it, but they would not have preaching in it! However, the other party mustered at the annual meeting March 4, 1767 in full force, and carried things with a high hand, voting that the Selectmen furnish preaching for the current year, at the cost of the Inhabitants. Thus there was more preaching in the house for 1765, than ever before.

Such continual strife had a most deleterious effect upon the prospects of the town. Emigrants of respectable character were very careful to avoid a place of so much contention, and the inhabitants themselves had less inducement, and less time for industrious pursuits. What with the spring fisheries, neighborhood canvassing, personal altercations, and town meetings, there was little attention paid to agricultural pursuits.

At this time there were sixty three polls in the town, as appears from the tax list, which was as follows.

[If you would prefer the text version of the 1765 tax list]

But a year of preaching did not produce any better state of feeling, and both parties prepared for a severe contest at the annual meeting in March, 1766.

The quarrel had now become almost entirely personal, and the object of both parties was to elect certain leading men to office. True, these men were in favor of, or against certain measures, but the men of one party at least, seem to have been more cared for than measures. On the 3d of March, the annual meeting came off at the meeting house, and the Hall Party taking time by the forelock, were present in force at the time appointed for the meeting, and proceeded to organize and to choose officers.

The following officers were chose, viz;

After this successful manoeuvre in the choice of the principal town officers, the meeting was adjourned for a half hour, to John Hall's Tavern. The object of the adjournment is not set forth, but as Mr. Hall kept a Tavern, it may be that they adjourned to enjoy some element of rejoicing not found in the meeting house.

The adjournment over, they proceeded to elect

The meeting then adjourned to the 31st day of March. The business was all transacted before the arrival of the other party. When they arrived, there was no little excitement, and they forthwith proceeded to organize the meeting, and to choose officers. After the choice of a complete set of town officers, this meeting was adjourned. Thus there were two sets of Town officers. The last set of officers are now unknown, as their names were not recorded in the Town Records, they being in the possession of the opposite party. Both set of officers entered upon their duties and with a will. The utmost confusion was the consequence. To add to the excitement, a special town meeting was held on the 27th of June, at which it was voted to finish in part the meeting house, and fence the grave yard near it.

At this time, the better part of the community began to look about them in all seriousness and examine the state of things; and well they might. The quarrel was fast driving people from the town.

We have already given the Tax List for 1765 the first one recorded in our ancient Town Records. We now subjoin that of 1766.

[If you would prefer the text version of the 1766 tax list]

"The Copy of the List in lawful money for ye year, 1766 of the polls and Estates.

          Recorded Feb. 7, 1767,
                              pr me JOHN HALL,
Town Clark.

From a comparison of the town lists it will be seen, that during the year preceding the making of the Tax List of 1766, there had been a decrease of twelve polls in the town. The list of 176* contained sixty-three, while that of 1766 contained but fifty-one. Eighteen men had deceased or left town, and six had been added to the town. But the case was still worse that [than] this. Two of the men added to the list of 1766, Daniel and Samuell Hall, were men of the town just come of age, or never before taxed, so that in reality there had been a decrease of fourteen polls, or more than one fifth of the polls of the town!

In this state of things a petition was forwarded to the Legislature for redress. The petition was as follows, viz;

   "To His Excellency Benning Wintworth Esqr & Commander in Cheiff of His Mayestye's Province of New Hampshier, the Honorable his majestyes Councell And House of Representatives In General Assembly Convened.
   The Pettetion of A number of the freeholders & In Habitants of the town of Derryfield Humbly Sheweth, that the first monday of March annually is appointed by charter to be the Day for chusing of Town offecers for the Currant year and the usual Costom of sd town has been to warn the Town of time and place and Design of holding said meeting with the Several articles to be acted upon on sd Day, by posting up a Coppy of Said warrant at three several places in said Town, (viz.) one at John Goffe Esqr's, one at John Hall, & one at Lr. Russes at Nameskeeg, which was a vote of Said Town, but so it was that neither of the places had any Notification Set up, and one of them Particularly Nameskeeg had no Coppy Set up in that part of the town, So that they knew not the time of Day the meeting was to be held; yet notwithstanding two of the Selectmen and town Clarke did contrary to former Costom, with about ten or a Dozen of the Inhabitants and boys and unqualified voters, did Enter and in about five menuits time Chouse all the principal offecers for the town, Notwithstanding one of the Selectmen and the Constable & Several of the Inhabitants opposed them and told them it was not fair to hold the meetin before the Inhabitants came, and that it was not the usual time of day that the meeting vse to begin & that the inhabitants that must pay the Greatest part of the Taxes that shall com upon the town were not presant & that they would be here presantly, yet they proceeded as afore Said, and at five minutes after eleven o' the clock a considerable number Came & in half an hour the Inhabitants Cheifly Came & uppon hearing that the principal offecers were Chosen by a Small Number of voters and many of them not Qualified, they concluded as that was the Day by Charter to Chuse town offecers they being the Larger part of the Qualified voters belonging to Said Town, maid proclamation that they were going to hold the town meeting & all were Desired to attend and they went to the meeting house and maid Choise of a moderator & Town Clark & Selectmen & all Town offecers, & they were sworn to the faithful discharge of their Duty as the Law Directs, So that their is two Set of offecers in Said town which makes Confusion; we most Humbly therefore Pray your Excelency & Hon'rs to take our Case under wise Considration and Grant that there may be a Regular town meeting in Said town & that we may have town offecers Choisen as the law directs and that our Confusion may be brought into order, and might be Inabled to Raise the provence taxes, mend high ways & do the nessesery business of the town and that your Pettetioners may bring in a bill for that End--& your Petten'ors as in duty bound shall Ever Pray.
   Dated at Derryfield first of May, 1766.

John Goffe,	Samuel Stark,
William McClintock,	Daniel McNeale,
David Starrett,	Thomas Russ,
Samuel Boyd,	John Rand,
Nathaniel Boyd,	John Hervey,
Charles Emerson,	Samuel Moor,
William Nutt,	John Moor,
John Griffin,
John Stark,
James McCalley,

It will be seen that some of the men who had generally acted with the Hall party, signed this petition. They were doubtless dissatisfied with the unfair proceedings of that party at the annual meetings. In fact Capt. W. McClintock was present at that Meeting, and told them that they were proceeding in an unfair manner. He was one of the Selectmen for 1765, elected by the Hall party, and had hitherto been with them.