CHAPTER. XX.
Page 2

   "In as mutch as there hath Bin a verry Suden and unexpected Revolution Respecting the old Continental money Since the Rates were made, and the money Rassed to purchase Beaf for the army Doth not answer the Eand Designed, to see what use the Town will vote to make of Said money Raised to purchase Beaf and also to see what method the town will take to purchase Said Beaf for the army which is wanted Emmediately."
On the day of meeting, June 12th, Gen. John Stark was chosen Moderator. The following action was had upon the second article in the warrant.

   "2dly. Voted that the three Selectmen shall Divide Town into three classes in order to provide the Beaf for the army and that Eatch Class Shall provide there Equill proportion of Said Beaf and Eatch parson Shall Be equilly assed according to pole and Estate and that the Said Beaf Shall Be Delivered to the Select man who is head of his class.
   3dly. Voted that Eatch man that paid the Beef tax to mr farmor Constable may have Leave to take his money Back again when Demanded."
The town was divided according to the vote, the beef cattle purchased and driven to Londonderry.

The amount of beef purchased was 4117 lbs.; the price allowed being 4d per lb. The expense was met by a tax made and levied December 6, 1781, in "new emmission money," and there seems to have been no farther difficulty in collecting the beef tax.

This difficulty as to the depreciation of the currency entered into all the avocations of life, and produced the greatest difficulty and distress. In illustration of the prices of articles in daily use, and also of the habits and customs of that day, the following extracts are given from Judge Patten's Journal.

   "1780, June, 6, I went to the Falls to fish for Eels, but got none."

   "7. I catched a salmon that weighed 18 or 20 lbs. as we guessed. I sold it for 100 dollars, and 60 12 rows of pins for which I paid 24 Dollars. I took a Deposition for Lieut. Hall, for which I had 16 Dollars in our expenses for it."

   "17th. The boys got near 60 Eels last night and a shad; I got 11 shad; 6 of them I gave to Isaac Atwood, [a cooper in Bedford, from Abington Mass] for 11 Dollars I owed him of the price of two barrels I had of him the 24th of last August."

   "27th. I gave Mrs. Chandler 27 1-2 Dollars for to pay Mr. Bean,* for the Newspaper for the present quarter."

   "28th. I attended the Probate at Amherst. * * I bot 8 3-4 lbs. of Tobacco from Dr. Stevens for which I am to pay him 20 Dollars, and John Henry gave me 8 Dollars, a present, and I had 40s for a citation from Enoch Eastman, and I bot a mug at Means's, [Robert Means trader at Amherst,] for which I paid 9 Dollars, & I tarried at Smyth's,] Jonathan Smith, Taverner,] one night."

   "July, 15th. I swore Esq McGregore for Mr. McDaniels and wrote the caption, for which and the Notification, he paid 20 Dollars."

   "24th. I went with Lieut. Reed, [James Reed of Bedford, who became deranged and was carried back to Abington; from whence came,] and took six Depositions for him in his case with Enos McDaniels for which service he gave me 70 Dollars."

   "25th. I got 14 gills of Rum from Lieut. Orr for which I paid him 28 Dollars."

   "27th. I attended the Probate Court at Amherst. * *. I paid Mr. Smith 32 Dollars for my Expenses, at the Probate Court last June, I paid Doct. Stevens 20 Dollars for what Tobacco I got from him at last June Probate & I got 4 lbs. of Tobacco from him to day, for which I paid him 20 Dollars."

   [This price shows a great depreciation in the currency, or a great improvement in the quality of the Tobacco.]

   "Sept.28, I bot a Quire of paper at Means's for which I paid him �12."

   "October, 10, I went to Esq. McGregor's and took three Depositions for him. I would not take anything for doing it but he threw down a Sixty Dollar bill, and would not take it back."

   "18th, I set out for Portsmouth, * * * I kept at Tobias Waren's from Monday afternoons to Wenesday fornoon, being six meals and two lodgings. They would not take ony pay for it. My expenses beside were 104 Dollars. I bo't things on this journey that cost 326 Dollars. While I was from home Alexander McMurphy paid my wife 200 dollars towards the 2000 of boards I let him have."

   "Nov, 2. I went to Esq. McGregores & bot 3 lbs. of sugar from him for which I paid 30 Dollars."

   "6th. I paid my brother Samuel 300 for the 200 I borrowed from him, was a year.

   [This shows a depreciation of 1-3 of the value of paper in the year.]

   10th. I went to Londonderry & took some cotton yarn with me to McKinseys, [a Scotch Irish weaver] to put into some lawn he is to weave for us. [The first cotton and linen lawn we have account of in America.] I bot 6 lbs of coffee at 84 Dollars, 1-4 lb pound of pepper at 30 & four rows of pins at 8 1-4 and 1-2 yard broad cloth at 187 1-2 Dollars of Major Pinkerton." [Major John Pinkerton, Trader, who amassed a large fortune and founded Pinkerton Academy, now in Derry.] I paid for my ferrage, going and coming 6 Dollars."

   "13* * * Run lines for Joseph Saunders and David and Nathaniel Merrill, and writ two Deeds for them and took the acknowledgement. I charged them 120 Dollars. They paid me the money and I gave it to Joseph Sanders for which he is to give me 4 lbs of Cotton."

   "18th, I held a Court at Chandlers, [Zachariah Chandler of Bedford, Taverner, father of Hon. Thomas Chandler.] * * * I had one half a mug of Toddy for which I paid 4 dollars."

   "January, 5th 1781, I attended the Sessions [at Amherst,] got a thousand of nails for nailing pail hoops from Mr. Fisk, for old Ensn. Chubbuck, [a blacksmith of Bedford, the paternal ancester of "Fanny Forrester," and myself. He sent 60 and I paid 80 for the one thousand."

   "20th,* * *I went to Capt. Chamberlin's [in Merrimack] with the team and I got 16 Bushels of Indian corn on credit. I am going to pay it when I make a turn of the timber, the boys and I have got to the river it is 60 dollars per bushel. * * * I had one half bowl of W. I. Toddy at McGaw's [McGaw of Merrimack, a Trader] for which I paid 6 dollars." [From these prices it will be seen that the paper money had got to be worth only about one cent on a dollar.]

   "May, 19th. I went to Litchfield & got 4 bushels of Rye from David Quigg, for which I paid him three dollars in silver 75 dollars in paper. * * * My ferriage was 3 Dollars, & I had 1-2 a mug of Toddy at McGaws for which I paid 4 Dollars."

   "28th. * * I gave James 77 Dollars to Divide between him & Robert & David for Election tomorrow."

   [The Election was celebrated at Amoskeag Falls on the Derryfield side of the river, and with a great deal of merrymaking. Booths were erected, and dancing, wrestling, and racing, with gingerbread, toddy and punch, were the order of the day. But James, Robert, and David Patten probably preferred fishing to other amusements, for "on the morrow" was the following entry.]

   "30." The boys and I got 20 Shad and got them home."

   "July 5th." I went to Amherst attended the Sessions & the Probate Court. * * * My expenses was �36 old Continental money for my dinner, horse at pasture about 7 hours & a glass of W. I. Rum."

   "6." I got 515 continental Dollars from Old Mrs. McLaughlin, for which I am to pay one Dollar of the new emission for each 80 of it.

   And I got 54 of Robt, 22 of Alexear and 10 of James and Sarah, and with what I had of my own, I went and paid James Vose, 765 Dollars towards our Rates which amounted to 19 Dollars of the Emission.".
The foregoing extracts not only show the depreciation of the currency, the difficulty consequent with the transactions of the day, but the last one shows the advantage men of means were enabled to take in dealing with this currency. Mrs. McLaughlin had no taxes to pay and sold her paper money for $6,437, the most she could get, but the purchaser passed it to the collector, for $12,874, for his taxes; thus doubling his money. He was able to do this, because the tax was to be paid in "new emission money," or "Continental bills," at $40, for $100, of the new emmission.

Such were the effects of the depreciation of the paper currency. The main causes of the depreciation were counterfeiting and non redemption as stipulated. This currency was of two kinds, one issued by the States, and the other issued by the Continetal [sic] Congress. Of these several sorts were issued at various periods.

Soon after the commencement of the revolution, the want of money was severely felt by the several colonies engaged in it. A paper currency, it was thought, would successfully meet this want. Accordingly, early in 1775, issues of paper money were made in many of the Colonies. In New Hampshire, the first issue was ordered by the Congress at Exeter, June 8, of that year.

The proceedings of the Congress as to this issue were thus:

   Resolved. That the Receiver-General of this Colony, appointed by this Congress, be hereby empowered to give his notes of hand on the faith of the Colony, payable to the possessor, for the sum of Ten thousand and Fifty Pounds, of the present currency, or lawfull money, to be paid into the Treasury aforesaid by a Tax on the polls and estates of the inhabitants of this Colony, in the following manner, viz; four thousand Pounds to be paid by the twentieth of December, which will be in the year of our Lord 1776, and six per cent. interest from the date; and the sum of three thousand Pounds the twentieth of December, 1777 and three thousand and fifty Pounds the twentieth of December, 1778. And the said notes shall be struck by copper-plate, to be engraved under the direction of this Congress for the several sums following, to complete said sum of Ten Thousand and Fifty Pounds, viz: Six Thousand Pounds in Forty Shilling notes: three Thousand Pounds in Twenty Shilling notes; nine hundred Pounds in six Shilling notes, and one hundred and fifty Pounds in One Shilling notes; and the form of said notes to be in the following words, with such other devices as may be ordered by the Congress, viz;
   'Colony of New Hampshire,
   No. . June 20th, 1775.
   "The possessor of this note shall be entitled to receive, out of the Treasury of this Colony, the sum of       Shillings; lawful money; on the 20th of December, 177__, with interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum; and this note shall be received in all payments at the Treasury, at any time after the date hereof, for the principal sum, without interest, if so paid before the said twentieth day of December, A. D. 177__.
     S. T. N. G.     
And the Treasurer or Committee who shall number the same shall fill the blank left for time of payment, in a number of bills sufficient for to complete four thousand Pounds, with the figure 6; and a number to complete three thousand Pounds with the figure 7; and the remainder with the figure 8. And the said notes when brought unto the said Receiver-General, and paid by him, shall, after the said time fixed for payment, be burnt to ashes in the presence of the Congress of this Colony.
3,000 40s is. �6,000
3,000 20s is. 3,000
3,000 6s is. 900
3,000 1s is.       150

�10,050

Friday, June, 9, 1775.

Voted, That Ebenezer Thompson, Esquire, and Colonel Nicholas Gilman, be a Committee to procure the plates, and see the notes struck off."
On the 5th of July following the Congress ordered another emission of paper currency, as follows;

   "Resolved, That the Receiver-General of this Colony, appointed by the Congress. be hereby empowered to give his notes of hand on the faith of the Colony, payable to the possessor, for the further sum of Ten Thousand Pounds, of the present currency, or lawful money, to be paid into the Treasury aforesaid, by a tax on the Polls and Estates of the inhabitants of this Colony, in the following manner, viz:
Two thousand Pounds to be paid by the 20th of December, which will be in the year of our Lord, 1776; and the sum of three thousand Pounds by the 20th of December, 1777; three thousand Pounds by the 20th of December, 1778; two thousand Pounds by the 20th of December, 1779.
   And the said Notes shall he printed off with printing types, under the care and direction of the Hon. Meshech Weare, Esq., and Captain Pierce Long, being a Committee appointed by this Congress for that purpose.
   Eight thousand Pounds of which first mentioned to carry interest the same with those already emitted, and to be of the following denominations, viz:
Three thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Pounds, to be in bills of three Pounds each; two thousand and one Pounds, in bills of thirty Shillings; nine hundred and ninety Pounds fifteen Shillings, in bills of fifteen Shillings; six hundred and sixty-seven Pounds, in bills of ten Shillings; three hundred and thirty-three Pounds five Shillings, in bills of five Shillings; making, in the whole, the said eight thousand Pounds.
   The form of said Notes to be in the following words, with such other devices as may be ordered by the Congress or Committee, viz:
"Colony of New-Hampshire, No.--.
   "The possessor of this Note shall be entitled to receive, out of the Treasury of this Colony, the sum of . . . . . Shillings, lawful money on the 2Oth of December, 177--, with interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum; and this Note shall be received in all payments at the Treasury at any time after the date hereof, for the principal sum, without interest, if paid before the said 20th day of December, A. D. 177--.
"E. T. N. G."     
   And the Treasurer or Committee who shall number the same, shall fill the blank left for the time of payment, in a number of bills sufficient to complete two thousand Pounds, with the figure 6; a number to complete three thousand, with the figure 7; and three thousand pounds, with the figure 8. The remaining two thousand Pounds to be small bills, of the following denominations, without interest, viz:
   One hundred Pounds, in bills of six Pence; one hundred and fifty Pounds, in bills of nine Pence; three hundred Pounds, in bills of one Shilling six Pence; three hundred and fifty Pounds, in bills of one Shilling nine Pence; five hundred Pounds in bills of two Shillings and six Pence; six hundred Pounds, in bills of three Shillings, making, in all, the said sum of two thousand Pounus [sic ?Pounds]. The bills to be in the following form:
"Colony of New-Hampshire,
   July, 25, 1775.
   "The possessor of this Note shall be entitled to receive, out of the Treasury of this Colony, the sum of . . . . , lawful money, on the 20th of December, 1779; and this Note shall be received in all payments at the Treasury at any lime after the date hereof.
"E. T. N. G."     
   And all the above Notes, when redeemed, shall be consumed to ashes, in the presence of the Representatives of this Colony, or a Committee appointed by them for that purpose."
   On the 1st day of November of the same year the Congress ordered the Receiver General to issue "twenty thousand pounds, lawful money, four thousand pounds of which to be redeemed on the 20th of December, 1779, six thousand on the 20th of December, 1780, six thousand on the 20th of December; 1781, four thousand on the 2Oth of December, 1782; and that eighteen thousand Pounds of the said sum be in notes of the following denominations, viz: forty shillings, thirty shillings, fifteen shillings, ten shillings, and five shillings, and that two thousand Pounds be of the following denominations, viz: three shillings, two shillings & sixpence, one shilling sixpence, and sixpence."
This issue was to "be paid by a tax on the poles & estates in this Colony, and when paid into the Treasury, to be burnt to ashes in the presence of the Representatives of the people of this colony, or a committee appointed by them.1 These bills were printed with common type.

January 26 1776, the Congress made another issue, as thus,
"Resolved, That there be emitted twenty thousand and eight Pounds sixteen Shillings, lawful money, upon the credit of this Colony, for the use and service thereof, in Bills of the following denominations, viz: 3,176 bills of six Dollars; 3,176 bills of five Dollars; 3,176 bills of four Dollars; 3,176 bills of three Dollars; 3,176 bills of two Dollars; 3,176 bills of one Dollar. And that the same shall be redeemed by a tax on the Polls and Estates of the inhabitants of this colony, in the following manner, viz; �5,000 by the 26th of January, in the year of our Lord 1783; �5,000 more by the 26th of January, 1784; �5,000 more by the 26th of January, 1785; �5,008 16s. more by the 26th of January, 1786. And that the form of said Bills be as follows;
"Colony of NEW HAMPSHIRE.
"     Dollars. Dollars.     
"No.       (     ) January, 26, 1776.

"The possessor of this bill shall be paid by the Treasurer of this Colony        dollars, by the           ; which bill shall be received for the aforesaid sum in all payments at Treasury, and all other payments by order of the Council and Assembly.
"        Dollars. Dollars.
}                         
}    Committee."
}                         
   That Josiah Moulton, Jun., Joseph Gilman, and Phillips White, Esquires, or any two of them, be a Committee to sign said bills.
   That Meshech Weare, Esq, and Doctor Levi Dearborn, be a Committee to procure Paper and supreintend [sic] the Press, while the Money is printing, and deliver the same to the Treasurer, and take his receipt therefor.
   All which Bills after their redemption, shall be burnt to ashes in the presence of the Council and Assembly."
The Congress held at Philidelphia, [sic] May 10th, 1775, ordered the issue of two millions of Dollars, and in July following another emmission of three millions of dollars.

These bills were printed with common type, and read thus:
"CONTINENTAL CURRENCY.
No. Dollars.

This bill entitles the bearer to receive Spanish milled Dollars, or the value thereof, in Gold or silver, according to the Resolutions of the Congress held at Philidelphia, [sic] on the 1Oth day of May, A. D, 1775."
Of this emission, forty thousand dollars were assigned to New Hampshire, by vote December 5, of the same year.

Each colony was to provide ways and means to sink its proportion of the bills ordered by Congress in such way as its circumstances would permit, and was to pay its quota, in four equal annual instalments, viz; Nov., 30, 1779, 1780, 1781 and 1782. It will be noted that the time of payment of these bills was within a month of the time specified for the redemption of the bills ordered by the colony.

On the 29th of December, the same year, Congress ordered another emission of three millions of dollars. This was assigned to the several Colonies according to population, and each was to redeem its share in four equal annual instalments, the first to be paid Nov. 30, 1783.

Thus it will be seen that in the first year of the Revolution, what with the bills issued on her own account, and those a signed by Congress, New Hampshire had an indebtedness on account of paper currency of more than three hundred thousand dollars. This was an amount that would he [sic ?be] considered onerous in our present prosperous circumstances, but then it was alarming, and could not be met, as the result proved.

But still the bills continued at par and were readily taken in all the transactions of life. However, in January 1776, the currency began to depreciate, as the public confidence in it began to be shaken. This was mainly owing to the efforts of the tories, sustained by the British government. These, secretly or openly embraced many of the wealthy men in all the colonies. So long as money could be had to carry on the war, so long it was evident it would be protracted, and it became the settled policy of the "enemies of liberty" to break down the currency. To do this completely, was to bring the contest to an immediate close. Hence there was a union among the adherents of the British government to practice any means to produce to them so desirable an end. Not content with keeping hard money from circulation, and refusing to take paper money under any circumstances, they resorted to counterfeiting. Counterfeits of the various Colonial and Continental issues were put in circulation in all the colonies. These in most cases the most perfect imitations. To meet this exigency, laws were passed making it an offence to refuse such currency for any cuniary obligation, and attaching severe penalties for counterfeiting the currency; but all to no purpose.

In this colony, the tories managed with much adroitness. In January 1776, the Legislature had made the bills of the State and of the United States, a legal tender in all cases, and counterfeiting of them a penal offence.

At the same time, they had ordered another issue of paper money to defray the expenses of the war. These bills as the others had been, were printed by Mr. Rob't. Fowle, under the immediate superintendence of a Committee of the Legislature. Fowle had been gained over to the interests of the British government, and from the same form from which he had printed the money for the Committee, he struck off an immense number of bills on his own account, and that of the tories. These were sent to, and put in circulation by the principal royalists in the colony. Being from the same form and the signatures well counterfeited, they passed with the utmost readiness. Many of them were taken to the treasury, and received without hesitation. At length such vast numbers were in circulation, that suspicion was aroused, the counterfeit detected, and measure set on foot to detect the counterfeiters. Fearing detection, Fowle absconded, and soon after some of his confederates were detected. Among them was Col. Stephen Holland of Londonderry. He also succeeded in making his escape, after he had been arrested. Many others were more than suspected, among them men who had hitherto sustained the most unblemished reputations. They had engaged in the measure as one of policy, not for the purpose of fraud, and hence they had no scruples on the score of morality. The law of the Legislature met them however without any such distinctions, and it was with the utmost difficulty that some of them evaded its penalties.

The emission that had been counterfeited was called in forthwith and destroyed, and a new emission made. This was printed by Mr. John Melcher, late of Portsmouth, who had been an apprentice to Fowle. After the form was set up, Mr. Weare, the Chairman of the Superintending Committee, drew hair lines with a knife, across the face of the type, the bills were then printed, and the form melted down in the presence of the Committee. This device prevented the counterfeiting of this emission. This was the last emission of paper money by New Hampshire, and all former bills were called in and exchanged for Treasurer's notes on interest, and of value not less than five pounds.

Counterfeits of the Continental bills were made in England, sent over in government vessels, and distributed in large quantities. This state of the currency of itself produced a want of confidence in it, but this was greatly increased from the fact that when the time stipulated for the redemption of these bills had expired, they were paid in like currency, instead of specie.

Thus the holders of Continental bills, redeemable the 20th of November, 1779, and those holding our own Colonial bills, redeemable a month later, on presenting them had to take a like amount in paper, instead of silver. Under such an accumulation of adverse circumstances, it was not strange that the curency [sic] should depreciate. On the contrary, it is passing strange that it did not become completely worthless, long before it did.

From the 1st of January, 1779, however, the currency which had steadily depreciated through the two previous years, began more rapidly to decline, as seen by the following.

Table-'Scale of Depreciation'

At length the state of the currency was so alarming, that Congress in March 1780, determined upon a new scheme of finance. The details of the plan were,
   "The states are to pay the Continental Treasury $15,000,000 a month. Forty dollars of the national paper, are to be equal to one of specie, and all of it gathered in at this rate shall be consumed. There is to be a new emission of bills, equal to, and payable in silver and gold, within six years, at five per cent. This paper shall be issued on the funds of individual States, and the promise of the whole country pledged for the liquidation of whatever portion of it any of them may fail to redeem. Each State is to have a portion of such notes according to its national tax, and place them in the loan office there, from which they may be drawn completed for circulation, in the proportion of twenty dollars of the old tenor, for one of the new. Of its quota of the last money every Commonwealth is to have six-tenths, and the United States four tenths which sum shall be credited to the former government.2
New Hampshire issued her proportion of these bills. It was issued in all convenient denominations from one to Fifty dollars. The following is the copy of an original note of this class;

"Twenty Dollars.
State of New Hampshire.
   The possessor of this Bill shall be paid twenty Spanish milled dollars, by the thirty-first day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, with interest in like money, at the rate ef [sic ?of] five per centum [sic] per annum by the State of New Hampshire, according to an Act of the Legislature of the said State, of the fith [sic ?fifth] day of May, 1780.
Interest. s    d    q C. ROBINSON
Annnally. [sic] 6 J. MCCLURE.
Monthly.       6 T. PEARSON."
Endorsement on the bill.

The United States insure the payment of the within Bill, and will draw Bills of exchange for the interest annually, if demanded, according to a resolution of Congress, of the 18th of March, 1779.
NICH. GILMAN."

This was called the "New Emission" and was received with coolness. It soon began depreciate, but not with the rapidity of the old issues. In 1781, it had so depreciated, as that �4 of it only passed for �1 of silver. The peace that followed in 1783, had a tendency to sustain the value of the currenhy, [sic ?currency] and it continued at the point of four for one until the time of its redemption in 1786.

The notes issued by New Hampshire from 1775, when the "copper plate notes" as they were called, were issued, remained in part unredeemed as late as 1794. The legislature in the June session of that year at Amherst, enacted a law for the redemption of all their previous issues. By this law it was provided, that all state notes or orders should be redeemed at the rate of fifteen shillings to the Pound; all bills of the "new emmission" at five shillings to the Pound; and all "copper plate notes" or any other bills issued by New Hampshire, at the rate of five shillings for every one hundred dollars!

To meet this draft upon the treasury, the treasurer was authorized to borrow twenty-five thousand Pounds for two years at six per cent. interest. All bills of a less denomination than three dollars were to be paid in specie, and all of a higher denomination were to be paid one half in specie and the remainder in state notes, payable in eighteen months and bearing interest at six per cent. This law was promptly carried into effect, and thus this depreciated currency was completely drawn from circulation, after a baneful existence of near twenty years.

May, 19, 1780 has been noted as "The Dark Day." The morning was cloudy and rainy. Near eleven o'clock it began to grow dark as if night was approaching. Fowls went to roost, and returned to barn-yards, as if it had been night. At noon it was too dark to read without lights, and they were necessary to perform the ordinary duties about house. Judge Patten, in his Journal has made the following entry as to it;

   "19th, was a Thunder shower in the morning and was followed by an uncommon darkness such as is not remembered, it was so dark That one would not known a man but at a small distance, and were obliged to keep a light in the chimney to see to go about and the night was Extraordinary dark until one o'clock, that a person could not see their hand when held up nor even a white sheet of paper, the day and night was cloudy, the clouds in the day did not seem thick and was of a lightning up couler our almanack makers have given no account of the matter the cause unknown."
The greatest alarm prevailed among all classes at this singular phenomenon. The more excitable ran about exclaiming that "the day of judgment was at hand;" while the more phlegmatic were filled with astonishment and surprise, not to say, alarm. The darkness was owing to natural causes. Fire had been raging in the wilderness northwestward, for a long time. Smoke and cinders filled the air, the west wind prevailing. On the night of the 18th and 19th, the wind changed and blew form [sic ?from] the eastward, bringing in from the Ocean a dense fog. The fog and clouds meeting, loaded as it were with smoke, soot, and cinders, formed an impenatrable stratum in the atmosphere, that for hours shut out the light of day.

Early in 1783 news had arrived that provisional articles of peace had been signed, betwixt England and the United States.

Meantime during the spring of the same year, Congress had ratified the provisional articles of peace, and had ordered the same to be promulgated in the States by the Executive officers thereof The Committee of Safety for New Hampshire, there being no Exectitivo [sic] officer, appointed Monday the 28th day of April for proclaiming the same, and it was read by the Sheriffs of the Counties, in the several shire towns. The proclamation was attended with great pomp and ceremony at Portsmouth. Mr. Weare, Pesident [sic] of the Council, and Chairman of the Committee of Safety, with other officers of the government, attended the reading of the same by the Sheriff, from the balcony of the State House; a collation was furnished a the Council Chamber, speeches were made and sentiments given, and in the evening there was a grand display of bonfires upon the parade, and many of the public and private houses were illuminated.

In this neighborhood, the 10th of July was set apart by general consent for noticing the pleasing event; and the people of this vicinity celebrated it by a general merrymaking at Amoskeag Falls, where and when it was doubtless celebrated with quite as much heart and feeling as at the Capital.

But peace put an end to the provisional government of New Hampshire, as it was to continue only "during this unnatural war." But agreeable to a resolution of the Legislature at its preceding session, and the vote of the towns upon that resolution, the same plan of government was continued by Proclamation of the Committee of Safety, until the 10th day of June 1784. This Proclamation was publised, [sic] april, 16, 1783, and the old form of government was continued in operation

MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS.
Robert Rogers was the son of James Rogers of Londonderry. From boyhood he was exposed to all the perils and hardships of a frontier life, and six feet in height, and of fine proportions, he was noted as one of the most active and athletic men of his time. He early took part as a volunteer in the French and Indian wars, and in 1755 was in command of a company from New Hampshire, in the expedition against Crown Point. Necessity as well as inclination led Rogers to join this expedition. He had engaged to enlist some soldiers in this neighborhood for Capt. Joseph Frye of Massachusetts, and while in this service, had become implicated with some others in counterfeiting the paper money of the Colony. He was arrested and put under bonds for his appearance at Court. The government was in want of troops, and an arrangement was soon made with Rogers, that the proceedings should be stayed against him and his companions, provided they enlisted for the war. Rogers was commissioned as a Captain, and in a very short time had his full complement of men, and was on his way to Albany. He preferred the risks of Indian warfare to the prospect of a hempen knot. Possessed of much presence of mind, intrepidity, and perseverance, he soon attracted the attention of his superior officers, and was appointed to the command of the noted Rangers. In this position, he gained great reputation, as has been developed in the preceding pages. After the reduction of Canada, he returned to this state, and lived on his half pay as a Major. He passed some time in Portsmouth, where he married a Miss. Browne. He soon after went to England, where in 1775, he published a volume of "Reminiscences of the French War." As a reward of his services, he was appointed Governor of Michillimacinack, in 1766.

In this position, he was accused of plotting the plunder of his own fort, and desertion to the French, and was arrested and sent to Montreal in irons. He managed to get rid of this difficulty, and in 1769, went a second time to England to prefer his claim upon the government for his services, and for money advanced to his soldiers on various occasions. While in England he published the second volume of his "Reminiscences of the French War." At the breaking out of the Revolution, he returned to America; After his return his conduct was very supicious, [sic] and although some of his former companions thought him favorably inclined to the patriot cause, yet there can be little doubt that he was a spy of the British Government. His movements were very erratic for one on an honest errand. Near the close of 1775, he was reported to have been in Canada, and had entered the patriot camp as a spy, in the habit of an Indian.

This he persisted in denying, but soon after he was in Hanover in this state, where he called upon Dr. Wheelock, and one can hardly imagine why he should have been there, unless he were on his return from Canada, or sounding the people of the N. H. Grants who were supposed to favor somewhat the royal cause. Dr. Wheelock immediately informed the Committee of Safety, of Roger's visit, saying in his letter;

   "The famous Major Rogers came to my house, from a tavern in the neighborhood, where he called for refreshment. I had never before seen him. He was in but an ordinary habit for one of his character. He treated me with great respect; said he came from London in July, and had spent twenty days with the Congress in Philadelphia, and I forget how many at New York; had been offered and urged to take a commission in favor of the Colonies; but, as he was on half-pay from the crown, he thought proper not to accept it; that he had fought two battles in Algiers under the Dey; that he was now on a design to take care of some large grants of land made to him; that he was going to visit his sister at Moor's Town, and then to return by Merrimac river to visit his wife, whom he had not seen since his return from England; that he had not got a pass, or license to travel, from the Continental Congress," &c.3
   "Major Roger's account of himself and his plans was not probably wholly true. He actually had a pass from Congress, but he had been a prisoner of that body, and had been released on his parole, and on signing a certificate, wherein he "solemnly promised and engaged on the honor of a gentleman and a soldier, that he would not bear arms against the American United Colonies in any manner whatsoever, during the American contest with Great Britain."4
From Hanover Major Rogers went to Cambridge and attempted to visit the American camp, but Gen. Washington would not permit him to come within the lines. He put up at a Tavern in Medford, where Gen. Stark and others of his old companions visited him. Gen. Sullivan waited upon him and questioned him as to his motives for visiting the country. This account of himself seems to have been satisfactory. About this time Major Rogers wrote Gen. Washington a letter, filled with his regard for America, and Washington requested Gen. Sullivan to examine him more particularly. In answer, Gen. Sullivan writes under date of Dec. 17, 1775, "Agreeably to your orders, I have again waited upon Major Rogers, and strictly examined him." * * * * *. He owns everything in Mr. Wheelock's letter, except his being in Canada; this he denies."

Gen. Sullivan suggested, "as he was once Governor of Michillimacinack, it is probable that he may have a commission to take that command, and stir up the Indians against us." From Cambridge Rogers proceeded to Albany where Gen. Schuyler sent for him anu [sic ?and] examined him closely. In a letter to Washington under date of January 5, 1776, Gen Schuyler says, "Since the receipt of your Excellency's of the 18th, Major Rogers' has come into this town. I sent to him, and among a variety of papers he produced a late one from the Committee of New Hampshire, to pass unmolested to New York, for which place he starts to day." Gen. Schuyler placed no reliance upon, the information given by Dr. Wheelock. Neither did Washington, for in January, he writes, "I am apt to believe the intelligence given to Dr. Wheelock respecting Major. Rogers, was not true." Yet he would have him strictly watched. In February, Rogers was in New York and made application to the Congress to be permitted to visit the "Duches of Gordon" the Governor's ship, then in the harbor, upon particular business connected with his own private matters. Leave was granted him. He continued in and about New York during the Spring and early part of the Summer, under suspicious circumstances. At length Washington ordered his arrest, and he wes [sic] taken at south Amboy. Washington says of his arrest;
   "Upon information that Major Rogers was travelling through the country under suspicious circumstances, I thought it necessary to have him secured. I therefore sent after him. He was taken at South Amboy, and brought to New York. Upon examination he informed me that he came from New Hampshire, the country of his usual abode, where he had left his family; and pretended he was destined to Philadelphia on business with Congress.
   "As by his own confession he had crossed Hudson's River at New Windsor, and was taken so far out of his proper and direct route to Philadelphia, this consideration, added to the length of time he had taken to perform his journey, his being found in so suspicious a place as Amboy, his unnecessary stay there on pretence of getting some baggage from New York, and an expectation of receiving money from a person here of bad character, and in no circumstances to furnish him out of his own stock, the Major's reputation, and his being a half-pay officer, have increased my jealousies about him. The business, which he informs me he has with Congress, is a secret offer of his services, to the end that, in case it should be rejected, he might have his way left open to an employment in the East Indies, to which he was assigned; and in that case he flatters himself he will obtain leave of Congress to go to Great Britain."
Washington sent him to the Congress at Philadelphia under the charge of an officer for their disposal, but Congress could not rid themselves of their suspicions, and they ordered him back to New Hampshire, to be at the disposal of the Provincial Congress. It is probable that he made an offer of his services to Congress, and that his offer was rejected on account of their want of confidence in the man. From this time Rogers, either despairing of obtaining employment in the patriot service, or finding it impossible to maintain his double character any longar, [sic] openly espoused the royal cause, and on arriving at New York broke his parole of honor, accepted the commission of a Colonel, raised the corps known as the, Queen's Rangers, and was for a time the scourge of the country in the neighborhood of Long Island Sound. In October 1776, Rogers and a portion of his command made an attack upon one of the American outposts near Mamarroneck. and was badly beaten, and he himself came near being made prisoner. A Hartford paper, of October 28, 1776, gives the following particulars of the defeat. "On Monday last, (October 21,) a party of tories (about 100 in number,) some of whom came from Long Island, under the command of the infamous Major Rogers, made an attack upon an advanced party of our men, when a smart engagement ensued, in which the enemy were totally routed, about 20 killed on the spot, and 36 taken prisoners, who were safely lodged in the goal [sic ?gaol] at the White Plains; the gallant commander with his usual bravery, left his men in time of action and made his escape." Soon after this time Col. Rogers left his command and went to England, and the noted Col. Simcoe took command of the Queen's Rangers.

In 1778, he was proscribed and banished by the Legislature of New Hampshire. It is probable that he never intended to return to his native land when he left for England in 1777. His wife was divorced from him by an act of the legislature, and married Capt. John Roach of Concord. Nothing is known of Col. Rogers after he left America for the last time, and the time and manner of his death, whether in Algiers or the East Indies, by the bowstring or the sword, is equally unknown. His son Arthur, lived with his mother at Concord, and after her death inherited the property in Concord, now known as the "Roger's Farm." He died in Portsmouth about 1841, leaving three children, two sons and a daughter, who occupied most respectable positions in life in the Republic of Hayti.

Footnotes
1See Journal in the Secretary's Ofice [sic]. Return
2See Felt, p. 187 and 188. Return
3Forces Archives. Return
4Sabin's Loyalists. Return

Autumn Leaves Divider

Link to Home page         Link Back to last page        Link to Next Page         Link to Table of Contents

ALHN Hillsborough County

Email Kathy Chapter 20
History of Manchester
Hillsborough County
ALHN-New Hampshire
Created April 24, 2001
Copyright 2000, 2001