stable, to search for the enemy and to find and bury the slain. Col. Tyng marched with his company on the 17th of May, and encamped at Namaoskeag, now Manchester, the first night. The next day being rainy, they continued at their encampment. Col. Tyng, having taken all the effective men from Dunstable, leaving the settlers in an exposed situation, wrote to Governor Dummer the following letter informing him of their condition, and asking protection for them:

"May it please your Honor.

This day I marched from Amoskeag, having 55 of my own men, and 32 of Capt. White's. (?) The men are well and proceeded with a great deal of life and

courage.

Yesterday I was forced to lie still by reason of the rain. I would humbly offer something to your Honor in the behalf of our people who are left very destitute and naked, that you would be pleased to consider their circumstances and order what you shall think proper for their defence till we return. I am Your Honor's Most Ob't Servant, ELEAZER TYNG.

Amoskeag, May 19, 1725."*

Governor Dummer, it seems, had anticipated Col. Tyng's request, and issued the following order.

"To Col. Flagg.

Sir, These are to empower and direct you forthwith to detach or impress out of the Reg't whercof you are Lieut. Coll., A Sergeant and Twelve effective able bodied men, well armed for his Magisteys service, for the Security and Reinforcement of Dunstable, until the return of Col. Tyng and his company. They must be posted at the Garrisons of Joseph Bloghead, Nath. Hill, John Taylour, and John Lovewell, and three Centinels in each Garrison, and the Sergeant in that of the four that is nearest the Centre.

The Sergeant must be very careful to keep the men well upon their duty, so as to be a good Guard and protection to the People, and you must give him directions in writing accordingly. Let this matter be effected with all possible despatch.

Boston, May 19th. 1725."

WILLIAM DUMMER.

Gov. Dummer had also written Gov. Wentworth at Portsmouth, informing him of the mishap to Lovewell's party, and

*See Letter Secretary's Office, Mass.

†See order in Secretary's Office, Mass.

Gov. Wentworth, by advice of the Council, dispatched a company to Pequauquauke, under Capt. Chesley, but they did not succeed in meeting with any of the wounded men. They went as far as Ossipee lake, and found Lovewell's fort, into which they hastened, having on Thursday, the 20th of May, discovered the trail of a large party of the enemy as they supposed. Under these circumstances, Capt. Chesley and his men were fearful they should "meet the same fate" of Lovewell's party, and they returned forthwith to Cocheco, from whence an express was dispatched to Portsmouth, to inform the Governor of the failure of the expedition.

But Col. Tyng and his party were more successful. They "went to the place of action where they found and buried the following men, viz:—

Capt. John Love well, Ensign Jonathan Woods, Ensign John Harwood and Robert Usher, of Dunstable: Jacob Fullam, of Weston; Jacob Farrar, and Josiah Davis, of Concord; Thomas Woods, Daniel Woods, and John Jefts, of Groton; Ichabod Johnson, of Woburn; Jonathan Kittredge, of Billerica,

Col. Tyng found where the Indians had buried three of their men which were dug up, and one of them was known to be the bold Paugus, who had been a great scourge to Dunstable.* Dr. Belknap observes of "Lovewell's Fight," "This was one of the most obstinate battles which had been fought with the Indians. They had not only the advantage of numbers, but of placing themselves in ambush, and waiting with deliberation the moment of attack. These circumstances gave them a degree of ardor and impetuosity. Lovewell and his men, though disappointed of meeting the enemy in their front, expected and determined to fight. The fall of their commanders, and more than one quarter of their number, in the first onset, was greatly discouraging; but they knew that the situation to which they were reduced, and their distance from the frontiers, cut off all hope of safety from flight. In these circumstances, prudence as well as valor dictated a continuance of the engagement, and a refusal to surrender: until the enemy, awed by their brave resistance, and weakened by their own loss, yielded them the honor of the field. After this encounter, the Indians resided no more at Pequawket, till the peace.

Farmer's edition, page 212.

CHAPTER X.

Indians retire from Pequauquauke to Coos.-To St. Francis.-Settlements extended.--Great Earthquake.-First Constitution of New Hampshire.—A triennial Assembly.-Reforms.-Difficulty between Lt. Gov. Wentworth and the Assembly.-Gov. Burnet.—His death.-Gov. Belcher.-Quarrels with Lt. Gov. Wentworth.-Lt. Gov. Wentworth's death.--His friends unite against Belcher.-First settler at Namaoskeag Falls.--John McNeil--Rer. Mr. McGregore visits the Falls.--First fish given to Minister.--Road to Namaoskeag.-People from Massachusetts at Namaoskeag.--Vote as to them.--Ferry established at Namaoskeag.--Massachusetts people here.--Benjamin Hadley, Benjamin Stevens, Nathaniel Martın, Ephraim Hildreth, Charles Emerson, William Perham, Edward Lingfield, Benjamin Kidder, Benjamin Blodgett, and John Goffe, Jr.-First inhabitants within the present limits of Manchester.-Londonderry people.-John Riddell, Archibald Stark, John Hall, Thomas Hall, Wm. McClintock, Alexander McMurphy, David Dickey. Biographical sketch of John Goffe, Esquire.-Major Gen. Wm. Goffe.- Of the Court to try Charles I.-Comes to America with Gen. Edward Whalley. Their wanderings, concealment and death.-John Goffe of Londonderry not a lineal descendant of the regicide.-Moves to Cohas Brook.-Death.-Edward Lingfield.-In Lovewell's Expedition.-Commissioned as Ensign for his conduct at Pequauquauke.-Benjamin Kidder.-In Lovewell's Expedition.-Sick.-Probable death.-Archibald Stark.-Settles at Londonderry.Removes to Harrytown.-Builds a fort.-His children, and death.-John Hall.-Moves to Harrytown.-His services and death.-John McNeil.-Daniel McNeil. Of the Council of Londonderry.-John flees to America.-His strength. His wife Christian.-" Old McNeil."-He moves to Suncook.Death.-Daniel his son.-John his son.-Mortally wounded at Bunker Hill. Major Gen. Solomon McNeil.--Brig. Gen. John McNeil.-His services.Leads his regiment at the battle of Chippewa.-Wounded at the battle of Niagara.-Difference in manners and customs of the people of Derryfield.— Disadvantage to the settlement.--The throat distemper.

After the close of Lovewell's War, the people had rest for a season. The attack upon the Pequauquaukes completely humbled the haughty spirit of the Indians, not only of that tribe, but of all those in the north of New Hampshire and Maine. They had been taught that they were not safe in their homes, that the adventurous whites would seek them there, and be avenged of them. In consequence of this state of feeling, from Pequauquauke to the head-waters of the Connecticut, and afterwards to St. Francis.

the Indians retired

The colonists, thus relieved of their fears of Indian depreda

tion, forthwith began to extend their settlements in every direction and the province of New Hampshire began to assume new importance in population and enterprise. In the last few years prior to 1730, her population exclusive of the Irish at Londonderry, had increased by one third, and including them, amounted to some over ten thousand.

In the night of October, 29 and 30, 1727, occurred what has been designated as "the great earthquake." It was more violent in the valley of the Merrimack, than in any other part of New England. Its startling effects in this and other towns upon the Merrimack, have been handed down as among the choicest specimens of fireside tradition. The shocks were very violent, jarring houses to their foundations, throwing down chimneys, and "scattering the pewter dishes from the dressers." The consternation attending such a scene may be imagined, but not described. Men and women aroused from their slumbers, ran about their houses in the wildest alarm and the immediate end of the world was anticipated. Nor was alarm confined to man alone. "The brute creatures ran roaming about the fields, as in the greatest distress."*

This year is remarkable, also, for the enactment or forming of what may be called the first constitution of New Hampshire. His Excellency, Samuel Shute, Governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, had been absent in England for some years, so that affairs in Massachusetts had been managed by Lt. Governor Wm. Dummer, and in New Hampshire by Lt. Governor John Wentworth. Governor Wentworth had managed the affairs of the Province much to the satisfaction of the people. There was one source of dissatisfaction. The Assembly called by Gov. Shute in 1722, had been continued in existence during his absence, Gov. Wentworth believing that he had no right to dissolve them and call a new one. The people were greatly dissatisfied and demanded a triennial Assembly. Goy. Wentworth was disposed to favor their demands when opportunity should offer.

Accordingly in 1727, upon the death of George I, the Assembly ceased to exist with him. A new Assembly was forthwith called, and one of its first acts was, to limit its own existence to three years. They provided also that writs of elections were to issue at least fifteen days prior to the election; a representative was to have a freehold of three hundred pounds in value; an elector was to have a freehold of fifty pounds, within the town for which there was an election; but habitancy

*N. H. His. Coll. Vol. IV, page 94.