Rev. Abraham Wood
Chesterfield's Pastor from 1772-1823

A second convention of deputies from the towns of the Province, met at Exeter in January, 1775, to consider the state of affairs and choose delegates to attend the next General Congress to be held at Philadelphia on the 10th of May following. Major Sullivan and Capt. Langdon were chosen for this purpose.

There is no record of the sending of a deputy or delegate by this town to the above mentioned convention, but it appears that its proceedings were heartily indorsed by a majority of the inhabitants.

Under date of Jan. 17, 1775, is the record of a town-meeting, at which it was voted to accept of the result of the General Congress held at Philadelphia in the autumn of the preceding year; to act upon a letter that came from the chairman of the Provincial Committee; also, that this town would pay its proportion of the cost of another Congress to be held at Philadelphia the following May. Lieut. Brown, Lieut. Hinds, Nathaniel Bingham, Silas Thompson and Ephraim Baldwin were constituted a committee “to draw up articles" and make return of the proceedings of the meeting to the Provincial Committee.

The annual town-meeting was held on the first day of March. In the warrant for the same was the following article. "To see if the town will choose a committee, agreeable to the advice of the Continental Congress, whose business it shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching said Congress." In accordance with this advice, Ensign Moses Smith, Dea. Silas Thompson and Lieut. Jacob Hinds were chosen "to observe the conduct of all persons," as above stated.

Society, at the time the war began, was in a very unhappy condition, being, in fact, in a state bordering upon anarchy. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, who wrote his excellent "History of New Hampshire" before the close of the last century, and who personally experienced the excitement and hardships of the Revolution, gives us the following vivid picture of the state of society in 1775:

"A spirit of violent resentment was excited against all who were suspected of a disposition inimical to the American Cause. Some persons were taken up on suspicion and imprisoned; some fled to Nova Scotia or to England, or joined the British army in Boston. Others were restricted to certain limits and their motions continually watched. The passions of jealousy, hatred and revenge were freely indulged, and the tongue of slander was under no restraint. Wise and good men secretly lamented these excesses; but no effectual remedy could be     administered. All commissions under the former authority being annulled, the courts of justice were shut, and the sword of magistracy was sheathed. The Provincial Convention directed the general affairs of the war; and town commit- tees had a discretionary, but undefined, power to preserve domestic peace."

Nathaniel Bingham, Ephraim Hubbard, Stephen Carter, Moses Smith, Jr., and John Davison were the selectmen this year (1775), having been chosen at the annual meeting.

In May, the royal Governor, John Wentworth, called a new Assembly, and urged the members to adopt measures that would restore tranquillity. A new Convention of deputies was in session at Exeter at the same time, and gave the Assembly instructions with regard to the course to be pursued bv the latter.      In accordance with these instructions, the Assembly ejected three members whom the Governor had summoned, by the King's writ, from three new townships.

This so displeased Gov. Wentworth that he adjourned the Assembly to the eleventh day of July following. One of the expelled members having in some way incurred the displeasure of the populace, took refuge in the Governor's house. The people placed a gun, mounted upon a carriage, before the door, and the man was surrendered. The Governor then withdrew to the fort, and his house, which was in Portsmouth, was pillaged. The Assembly having met on the 11th of July, according to adjournment, Gov. Wentworth sent a message from the fort and adjourned it to Sept. 28th; but it never met again. However, when the time came for the meeting of the Assembly, the Governor issued a proclamation from the Isles, of Shoals, adjourning it to the next April. This was his last official act, as Governor of the Province, and British rule in New Hampshire was now virtually ended.

The Convention that met at Exeter in May, was in session most of the time till November. One hundred and two towns were represented by 133 members. Post-offices were established, and a committee of supplies for the army and a "committee of safety" were formed. The Convention also proceeded to get possession of the provincial records.

Before the Convention dissolved, it applied to the General Congress for advice with regard to the form of government to be adopted. The General Congress recommended that a full and free representation of the people should be called, to adopt such a form of government as should he thought best for the Province during the contest with Great Britain. Accordingly, the. Convention decided that each elector should possess a real estate of the value of 20 pounds, and each candidate for election one of the value Of 300 pounds; that every town having one-hundred families should be entitled to one representative, and one more for every one-hundred families additional; that towns having less than one-hundred families should be classed. The number of inhabitants had been ascertained to be 82,200, of which 11,089 belonged to Cheshire county. But at that time, Cheshire county included the territory now called Sullivan county. It was decided that the entire population should be represented by 89 representatives.     Having sent to the towns copies of the plan of representation proposed, the Convention dissolved on the 16th day of November.

On the 4th day of December, a town-meeting was held to choose a person to represent Chesterfield and Hinsdale in the "Provincial Congress," as it was called, to be held at Exeter on the 2ist day of the same month. Archibald Robertson was chosen for this purpose. Mr. Robertson was to hold his office for one year, and was the first delegate or representative chosen by the town; at least, he was the first of whom we have any record. Capt. Shattuck, Aaron Cooper, Capt. Hildreth, Ensign Smith and Lieut. Fletcher were constituted a committee to give Mr. Robertson his instructions. Aaron Cooper was of Hinsdale, as was, probably, also Capt. Shattuck.

As soon as the Convention, of which Mr. Robertson was a member, had assembled, a new form of Government was drawn up. On the 5th day of January, 1776, the Convention assumed the name and authority of a House of Representatives, and chose twelve persons to form a separate branch of the Legislature, with the name of Council. These were empowered to choose their own president. It was decreed that no act should be valid without the approval of both branches. The two branches also performed executive duties, while in session; and at every adjournment, a "committee of safety" was appointed to exercise executive powers during the recesses of the Legislature. The president of the Council was also president of this committee. The first person who held this position was Meshech Weare. The name of "Colony of New Hampshire" was now adopted, and retained till independence had been formally declared.

On the first day of February, 1776, the inhabitants of Chesterfield held a town-meeting at which Ephraim Baldwin was elected a justice of the peace, to serve for the term of one year. The annual meeting for this year was held on the 6th day of March. This meeting was called "in the name of the Council or House of Representatives," all previous ones having been called "in his Majesty's name." Ephraim Baldwin, Michael Cressey, Samuel Hildreth, Moses Smith, Jr., and Ephraim Hubbard were chosen selectmen.  At another meeting held the 19th day of April, it was voted not to raise money for schooling; but a committee of seven men was formed to divide the town into school-wards.   At a town-meeting held the 31st day of May, it was voted to accept the school-wards as laid out by the committee chosen for that purpose, and to raise thirty pounds for school purposes. It was also voted to allow each ward to employ its own instructors, and to exempt those men who were in the army from paying a poll-tax for that year.

On the 14th of March the General Congress passed the following resolution:  

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed, within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of AMERICA, Or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by ARMS the United Colonies, against the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies."

This resolution having been received by the Committee of Safety for the Colony, it was transmitted to the selectmen of the towns throughout the whole Colony, together with the following request: 

“Colony of New Hampshire

IN Committee OF SAFETY

April 12, 1776.

In order to carry the underwritten Resolve of the Honorable Continental Congress into execution, you are requested to desire all males above twenty-one years of age (lunatics, idiots and negroes excepted) to sign to the DECLARATION on this paper; and when so done to make return thereof, together with the name or names of all who shall refuse to sign the same, to the General Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Colony.

M. WEARE, Chairman."

The Declaration.

WE, THE, SUBSCRIBERS, DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY ENGAGE AND PROMISE, THAT WE WILL, TO THE UTMOST OF OUR POWER, AT THE RISQUE OF OUR LIVES AND FORTUNES, WITH ARMS, OPPOSE THE HOSTILE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH FLEETS AND ARMIES AGAINST THE UNITED AMERICAN COLONIES.

The selectmen of Chesterfield having received the "Declaration," sent the following reply to the Committee of Safety. The date of their letter is not given, but it must have been written before the 12th of June:

"TO THE HONORABLE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OR GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COLONY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. As soon as ever we received your Directions requesting us to desire all the Males in this Town to sign to a Declaration (Lunaticks, &c.           excepted) in obedience thereto we Immediately proceeded to give publick Notice of your Intentions and otherwise as we Thought would have the most effectual Tendency to have put into Execution, in order that we might make a Return by our Representative, but having so short a Time for to accomplish the Matter in so great a Town, and being unwilling to omit anything relating to our Duty and which might be for the Benefit of the Whole, we calmly deliberated on the matter, asked ye advice of our Representative and others of Sense and Steadiness, and as we were not limited to a certain Time to make a Return, we propose to make one as soon as it may be done with conveniency.

So rest your Humble Servts.,

EPHM. BALDWM,          Selectmen
MICHAEL CRESEY,            of
SAMUEL HILDRETH      Chesterfield.

June 12, 1776, the selectmen made the following return: "In obedience to the within Declaration that we rec’d from your Honors, we proceeded According to your Directions and the persons Names underwriten are those that Refuse to sign to the Declaration on your paper:

Capt. Jonathan Hildreth,    Eleazer Pomeroy,          Ebenezer Harvey,
Lieut. Ephraim Whitney,     Ebenezer Cooper,          Joseph Prentice, Ephraim Whitney,            Ebenezer Fletcher, Jr.,   Sam’l Davis Converse, Elisha Walton,              Eseek Earl,               Silas Bennett,
Sal. Keing [Samuel King]

EPH. BALDWIN,                Selectmen Of  Chesterfield.
MOSES SMITH, JR.,
MICHAEL CRESEY,
EPH’M HUBBARD,
SAM’L HILDRETH

NAMES OF THOSE WHO SIGNED THE DECLARATION.

Abraham Wood,                       Moses Smith,
Simon Davis,                        Josiah Streeter,
Isaac Davis,                        Michael Woodcock,
John Snow,                          Jonathan Cobleigh,
Oliver Cobleigh,                    Jonas Stearns,
Jonathan Farwell,                   Samuel Fairbanks,
Oliver Farwell,                     Jonathan Farr, 2d,
Silas Thompson,                     Josiah Lamb,
William Farwell,                    Samuel Walker,
Jonathan Davis,                     Archibald Robertson,
Warren Snow,                        Andrew Colburn,
Ebenezer Streeter,                  Lawrence Walton,
William Thomas,                     Phineas Brown,
Daniel Baldwin,                     John Sanderson,
William Simonds,                    William Fisher,
Amos Smith,                         Jonathan Hildreth, Jr.,
Josh Smith, [probably Joseph Smith.]James Wheeler, Jr.,
Jonathan Farr, 4th,                 Josiah Hastings,
Jonathan Farr, 3d,                  Andrew Hastings,
Thomas Farr,                        Noah Emmons,
Benjamin Hudson,                    Jonathan Cressey,
Ephraim Wheeler,                     William Farr, Jr.,
John Cobleigh                        Ithamar Chamberlain,
Joseph Higgins,                      Caleb Johnson,.
James McElroy,                       Amos Streeter,
Joseph Wheeler,                      Abner Johnson,
James Wheeler,                       Kimball Carlton,
Zenas Fairbanks,                     Theodore Bingham,
Nathan Bishop,                       John Pierce,
Isaac Hildreth,                      Benjamin Colburn.
Israel Johnson,                      Ephraim Farr,
James Robertson,                     Isaac Farr,
Elisba Rockwood,                     Thomas Darby,
Dan Cobleigh,                        Joseph Metcalf,
Aaron Farr,                          Martin Warner
Peter Wheeler,                       David Stooder, Jr.,
Moses Ellis,                               [David Stoddard, Jr.,]
Ephraim Hubbard,                     Samuel Peacock,
Amos Davis,                          John Peacock, 
John White,                          Ephraim Baldwin,
Nathan Metcalf,                      Michael Cressey,
John Bishop,                         Samuel Hildreth,
Jonathan Cobleigh,                   Moses Smith. Jr.,
Nathan Thomas,                       William Aires,
Abel Emmons,                         David Stone,
William Robertson,                   John Grandy,
Edward Hildreth,                     John Grandy, Jr.
James Davis,                         Increase Lamb
Enoch Streeter,                      Abner Albee,
John Pratt,                          Ebenezer Taft,
Nathaniel Bingham,                   John Richardson,
Abel Ray,                            Daniel Kinnison,
Samuel Farr,                         Joel Whitney,
Nehemiah Merrill,                    David Farr,
Samuel Farr, Jr.,                    James Mansfield
John Haskell,                        Amos Hubbard,
Ezekiel Powers,                      Jonathan Farr, 1st,
Silas Wood,                          Patrick McMichael,
Obahiah Merrill,                     Abijah Kingsbury
William Henry,                       Ebenezer Gail,
Daniel Farr,                         Sylvanus Battey,
Amasa Colburn,                       Ebenezer Faver,
Thomas Harris,                       Abijah Stearns,
Douglas Robbins,                     Matthew Gray,
Ullainell Merrill,                   William Hildreth,
Sherebiah Fay                        James Reed,
Zur Evans,                           John Ellis,
Oliver Hubbard,                      Benjamin Smith,
Michael Metcalf,                     Samuel Fletcher,
Charles Johnson                      Abraham Farr.

One hundred and thirty-nine persons signed the Declaration, and thirteen refused to sign. The Declaration was known as the "Association Test," and, according to the returns that were made, was signed by 8,199 persons in the Colony of New Hampshire; while only 773 persons refused to sign.

Had the Americans failed in their cause, every person who signed it would have been subjected to the "pains and penalties of treason." It was a preliminary step to the national "Declaration of Independence," which was declared on the 4th day of July, the same year. Within fourteen days after the announcement of the National Declaration, it was proclaimed by the beating of drums in all the shire-towns of New Hampshire.

On the 30th of July, another town-meeting was held, the record of which is as follows: "The inhabitants of Chesterfield met at the meeting-house and proceeded as follows: Voted to act on a circular letter dated at Walpole, and chose Eph'm Baldwin as our agent to go to Walpole and act and transact (?) on matters, if they see fit when met, for the benefit of the county of Cheshire, and voted that the committee of safety give instructions to said Baldwin."

On the 2d day of December, another town-meeting was held. The warrant for this meeting was the first that ever bore the words "State of New Hampshire" at its head, and the meeting was called "in the name of the government and people of said State." Soon after the Declaration of Independence, the name "Colony" had been dropped, and the name of "State" adopted in its stead. At this meeting Michael Cressey was elected to represent the town in the Assemblv that was to meet at Exeter the third Wednesday of the same month. Rev. Mr. Wood, Dea. Thompson, Lieut. Fairbanks, Dr. Harvey and Lieut. Rockwood were chosen a committee to give Mr. Cressey his instructions. In accordance with the vote passed on the 2d day of December, the committee chosen for that purpose gave Mr. Cressey the following instructions:

“To Mr. MICHAEL CREASY. REPRESENTATIVE POR THE TOWN OF CHESTERFIELD

IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE”

Sir.--Whereas it having pleased Almighty God to humble the people of this land, by permitting the tyrant of Great Britain and his minions, in the fulness of their rage, to prevail against them, by subverting the Civil Constitution of every Province in his late American dominions, affecting thereby the activity of law and justice and [promoting] the introduction of vice and profaneness, attended with domestick confusion and all the calamities attendant on the dissolution of the power of Civil Government, which in this alarming progress have made it absolutely necessary for each state to separate itself from that land from whence their forefathers were exiled by the cruel hand of tyranny, and to form for itself, under the ruler of all the earth, such plans of Civil Government as the people thereof should think most conducive to their own safety and advantage; notwithstanding the importance of an equitable system of Government, as it affects ourselves and our posterity, we are brought to the disagreeable necessity of declaring that it is our candid opinion that the State of New Hampshire, instead of forming an equitable plan of Government, conducing to the peace and safety of the State, Have been influenced by the iniquitous intrigues and secret designations of persons unfriendly, to settle down upon the dregs of Monarchical and Aristocratical Tyranny, in imitation of their late British oppressor. We can by no means imagine ourselves so far lost to a sense of the natural rights and immnnities of ourselves and our fellow men, as to imagine that the State can be either safe or happy under a constitution formed without the knowledge or particular authority of a great part of its inhabitants; a constitution which no man knows the contents of, except that the whole Legislative power of the State is to be entirelv vested in the will and pleasure of a House of Representatives, and that chosen according to the Sovereign determination of their own will, by allowing to some towns sundry voices in the said House, others but one, and others none; and in a Council of twelve men, five of which are always to be residents of Rockingham County, who by the assistance of two others of said Council, have the power of a casting voice in all State affairs. Thus we see the important affairs of the State liable to be converted to the advantage of a small part of the State, and the emolument of its officers, by reason of the other part of the State not having an equal or equitable share in the Government to counterbalance the designs of the other. You are therefore authorized and instructed to exert yourself to the utmost to procure a redress of the aforementioned grievances, and in case they will not comply, to return home for further instructions.                       

SOLOMAN HARVEY, Chesterfield, December ye 12th, 1776. 

                    per order Com."

The inhabitants of Chesterfield were not alone in complaining of the injustice, as they regarded it, of the principle of representation that had been adopted. A number of towns in the western part of the State remonstrated against the form of government that had been assumed, and some of them refused to send representatives to the Assembly.   It was asserted that every incorporated town, whether large or small, should be entitled to at least one representative; and some towns maintained that there ought to be no Council to negative the proceedings of the House.

An incident occurred in the town on the 27th of January, 1777, that is worthy of mention. Our knowledge of this incident is derived wholly from a petition sent to the General Assembly by Richard Coughlan. In this petition Coughlan stated that, on the day above-mentioned, Kimball Carlton and "divers others" broke into his house and destroyed about twenty gallons of rum, abused him and his wife, and took him prisoner. His captors afterwards got a warrant from Ephm. Baldwin, appointing the 11th dav of February for his trial. Coughlan appeared for trial, but no one appeared to testify against him. He also complained that the men "swore in a prophane manner." The object of his petition was to get indemnity for the rum that had been destroyed.

The annual town-meeting for 1777 was on the 5th day of March.  Lieut. Fairbanks, Lieut. Rockwood, and Lieut. Robertson were chosen selectmen.    Lieut. Fairbanks, Jonathan Farr, 2d, Lieut. Robertson, Warren Snow and Lieut. Rockwood were chosen a "committee of inspection and correspondence." In the warrant for this meeting had been inserted the following article: "To see if the town will write anything to ease any reflections cast on the Hon'ble Committee from the General Court, by a letter sent to said Committee from this town." The vote on this article was in the negative. The writer has been unable to find the letter referred to, or to learn the name of its author. It was also voted, at the same meeting, to raise 5o pounds for schooling.

May 29, another meeting was held, having been called in pursuance of "an act passed in this State relative to choosing committees in the several towns in the State, in order to regulate the prices of provisions and other articles mentioned in said act." Ensign Moses Smith, Martin Warner, Capt. Hildreth, Lieut. Farwell and John Sargent were chosen a committee to carry out the provisions of the above-mentioned act. This act.was passed by the General Court, in January, for reasons set forth in the preamble to the same, which is as follows:

Whereas the exorbitant Price of the of the Necessary and convenient Articles of Life, and also of Labour, within this state, at this time of Distress, (unless speedily and effectually remedied) will be attended with the most fatal and pernicious Consequences.”

A few extracts from this act are here given, to show more fully its nature. The price of good, merchantable wheat was not to exceed 7s. 6d. per bushl; rye, 4s. 6d. per bushel; Indian corn, 3s. 6d. per bushel; beans, 6s. per bushel; potatoes, at any season of the vear, 2s; butter of the best quality, 10d. per lb - salted pork, by the barrel of 220 lbs. weight, £5; good sole-leather 1s. 6d. per lb. N. E. rum, of the best quality, 3s. 10d. per gal., by the hogshead, and 4s. 6d. by the single gallon; best Muscovado sugars, 8d. by the single pound, at the first port of delivery, allowing 9d. per cwt. for every ten miles of land-carriage, good coffee; 4d per single lb.; good sheep's wool, 2s 2d. per lb.; good cotton cloth, one yard wide, 3s. 8d. per.yard; good N. E. bar-iron, 40s. per cwt., at the iron-works.    The price of farm labor, in the summer season, was not to exceed 3s. 4d. per day, and was to be in proportion at other seasons. Other kinds of labor were to be computed according to previous custonm and usage, compared with farm labor. Certain penalties were also provided for the violation of any of the provisions of the act.     This law proved very ineffectual, however, and was repealed.

Another town-meeting was called for June 12th. The warrant was preceded by an "introductory address" to the inhabitants of the town, by Samuel Fairbanks and Elisha Rockwood. This address was as follows.

"TO THE INHABITANTS OF CHESTERFIELD.

Gentlemen: You are not ignorant of the calamities of this present day. Enemies without the state, and within; and being of late often alarmed by hearing of many conspiricies of such persons as were generally esteemed friendly to the American Cause and Freedom; and also of the great oppression of some and rejoicings of others at the fall and under Vallument of the paper currency, and some rejecting the Regulating Acts; all the above said circumstances considered, with many others that might be offered, it appears necessary that every town should be furnished with full sets of officers, both selectmen and committees of correspondence; and, as one constable is gone, or going, out of town, there will be need of one in his room and stead,--we have thought fit by the advice of some and desire of others, to call the town together for the purposes hereafter mentioned.

The fourth article of the warrant that followed the address was, "To see if the town inhabitants will choose a committee of correspondence to unite with other towns in this day of distress, and use means to defend all our lawful rights." At the meeting which followed, Nathaniel Bingham and Jonathan Farr, 2d, were elected additional selectmen; and it was voted to confirm the election of the committee chosen May 29th, with the exception of John Sargent, whose election was annulled.  The constable referred to in the above address was John Pierce.             The record merely says, "Voted in the negative with regard to the constable."

August 28, there was another town-meeting. There was considerable trouble with respect to the working out of highway taxes, this year; for much of the money that had been raised for the repair of the roads, had not been worked out as was directed.  Some declared they would, not work at all, unless the delinquents were compelled to make up their deficiencies, and "a real regulation took place." It was, therefore, voted that every man should work out his part of the "highway rate," or pay an equivalent; and if he refused to do so, he was to be "proceeded against' as the law directed.

On the 8th day of December, the fifth town-meeting of the year was held. At this meeting it was voted to sell the pews not already sold, at public vendue, and to put the pew money that had not been paid, on interest.

From the journal of the House for Saturday, Dec. 20th, is extracted the following: "Voted, That Mr. Giles, Mr. Cresey, Mr. Mellin be a Committee, with such as the Hon'ble Board shall appoint, to consider of the address of the Committee of Safety of Chesterfield, and report thereon." The following extract from this address, contains nearly all the information concerning the conduct of the principal tories of the town, which the writer has been able to obtain:

To the Honourable Court of State of New Hampshire:

The Committee of Safety of Chesterfield humbly sheweth this Hon^bl House, that whereas sundry Persons, viz., Ebenezer Harvey, Elezor Pomroy and Sam'l King, all of Chesterfield abovs^d, Were Some time in June last summoned to appear before the Court of Enquiry at Keen, as being Enemical to the United States of America, and upon tryall were found guilty of a misdemeanor against the State: on which account they were fined and confined to their farms by Bond, till that or some other Court or authority should set them at Liberty --upon which they, or some of them, Beg'd the Favour of S^d Court, that they might have y^e Liberty of taking the Oath of Fidelity to the States; on which accompt Esq^r Giles went Immediately to Exeter, as we have been informed, and procured said oath or form of it, and sent to us by Sheriff Cook of Keen, and our Direction was to take a justice of the Peace and tender 's^d oath to those confined persons, to y^e end they might take it and performe accordingly and be at Liberty; and we followed the Directions of Esq^r Prentice and Esq^r Wyman. The aforementioned confined persons said they were willing to take y^e said oath, if it came from lawful authority; but they Disputed y^e authority and paid no regard to Esq^r Prentice Letter, which was to take the Oath of fidelity and be set at Liberty; and as they were fully fixed in principal or will, they apply'd to Justice Baldwin and he liberated them.  Again they apply'd to Esq^r Wyman and notwithstanding they neglected to take the oath, he, said Justice, enlarged their bonds just so far as to serve their own turns fall which was contrary to y^e advice of the Committee, except they would take y^e oath of Fidelity to the States, and their bonds are just so far enlarged as to serve their own turns; and when called upon to do any publick service, they say that they are confined, and so are excused: all which gives great uneasiness to many steady friends to America.     *   *      *

We do therefore pray your Honours to take these things into your wise consideration, and Dismiss or Confine the abovementioned persons, and that they be subjects of their duty and service in y^e defence of our much oppress’d land.

SAMUEL FAIRBANK,
ELISHA ROCKWOOD
JAMES ROBERTSON,   Committee of safety, Chesterfield, December y^e 13th, 1777.

To the Hon^ble Court or Committee of Safety of this New Hampshire State.
(a Copy near similar to the former petition.)
Test., Sam^l Fairbank, Chairman."

Esqr. Giles and Esqr. Prentice, referred to in this petition, were probably Benjamin Giles of Newport, a prominent member of the House of Representatives, and Nathaniel Sartel Prentice of Alstead. Esqr. Wyman was undoubtedly Col. Isaac Wyman of Keene. It is not known what action the General Court took with regard to the persons against whom complaint was made in the above petition; but it appears, from a vote passed by the House, March 2d, 1778, that Esqr. Baldwin, who was town-clerk at that time, was summoned to appear before that body, to answer to a complaint made against him by the town committee of safety. The following is the record of the vote passed by the House: Voted, That Ephraim Baldwin, Esqr.. of Chesterfield, be cited to appear before the General Assembly on the second Friday of their next session, to answer to a complaint exhibited to this Court, against him, by the Committee of Chesterfield, as speaking or acting in some measure Enemical to the Liberties of the American States."

The upper branch of the General Assembly concurred with the House in this vote. On the 14th of March the House adjourned, to meet again on the 20th of May. After a session of three days, there being no quorum of the Council, the House again adjourned to the 12th day of August. No record of any further action, on the part of the General Assemblv, respecting the complaint made against Mr. Baldwin, has been found.

The first town-meeting, of the year 1778, was held February 6th.  The warrant contained the following article. "To read and consult the articles of confederation, as directed by the Court of this State, agreeable to the resolve of the Continental Congress." It was voted "to approve and accept of the confederation of the United States"; also, "to comply with the directions of the General Court of this State, relating to the instructing our representative concerning a plan or system for the future government of this State."

The "articles of confederation" mentioned in the warrant, were the ones adopted by the Continental Congress, Nov. 15th, 1777.  Thirteen states took part in the "confederation," which was to be thenceforth styled "The United States of America."

At the annual town-meeting held March 4th, Samuel Hildreth, Lieut. Moses Smith, Abner Johnson, Capt. Kimball Carlton and Capt. Jacob Hinds were elected selectmen. It was also voted that each inhabitant of the town should pay his proportion of the expenses of the war.

On the 26th of February, a resolution was passed by the House, instructing the President of the Council to issue a precept to every town, parish and district in the State, recommending them to elect one or more persons to attend a convention at Concord, on the 10th dav of June following, in order to agree upon some system or form of government for the State. At a town-meeting held in accordance with the above-mentioned precept, on the 21st of April, it was voted not to send a delegate to the convention; also, "not to raise money to hire continental men." There is no record of another town-meeting, this year, till the ...

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