to be found in the remotest bog of England, its praises would be heralded in every paper, its beauties would attract the attention of the entire traveling community, and specimens, by royal command, would be transported to the royal gardens, and the ingenuity of a Paxton called in requisition to furnish it a home suited to its peculiar nature, without regard to expense. But here, we are so accustomed to the sublime and beautiful in nature, that the noblest specimens of either, attract less attention, and are passed with but a common-place remark.

The farmers of Goffstown have ever ranked in the first class, and they can show some noble farms. The "County Farm" is located upon the "Squog" in this town, about four miles from Manchester, and is probably unsurpassed by any other in the County. Considerable business was formerly done at the West Village, as is evident from the unoccupied stores and other buildings there to be seen; but Manchester has absorbed it almost entirely, perhaps to the injury of a few individuals. But the people of the town at large, are more than compensated by the ready market a manufacturing City affords for the produce of their farms.

CHAPTER XIV.

Charter of Derryfield.-Difficulties at Chester.-Rev. Moses Hale,-Rev. John Wilson.-Rev. Ebenezer Flagg.-Arrest of Campbell and Tolford.-Chester consents to setting off a part of her territory to form Derryfield.-Londonderry objects.-Notified of Petition.-Pays no attention to it.-Again notified and a town-meeting called.-Vote.-Derryfield chartered.-Charter.Description of township." Chester Old Line."-"The Peak."-" Derry Qld Line."-Organization of the town.-First town meeting.-Second town-meeting.-Laying out Highways.-Old Style and New Style.-Value of Money.-Old Tenor and New Tenor.-Contemplated armed possession of the Coos Country.-Proceed to examine and survey that country.-Indians become exasperated.-Determine upon retaliation.-Attack Stark and his party on Baker's river.-Stark and Eastman carried to Canada.-Run the gauntlet.-Ransomed.-Sabatis and Plausawa at Canterbury.-Capture two negro slaves.-The Province still determined to take possession of Coos. Indians remonstrate.-Committee mark a road to Coos.-Sabatis and Plausawa killed at Contoocook.-Bowen and Morrill put in jail.—Jail broken open and they released.-Indians make an attack at Stevenstown.-Meloon and family taken.-Company ordered to Stevenstown under Capt. Webster of Derryfield.-The Roll.-Meloon and wife sold to a French Priest.--Ransomed.-Great Earthquake.

The people in the immediate neighborhood being so succesful in obtaining grants from the Masonian proprietors, and Charters from the Governor and Council, the subject began to agitated among the people of Amoskeag, upon the ungranted lands called Harrytown, of obtaining chartered privileges. The territory was altogether too small for a township, but the subject was broached of severing portions of the neighboring townships of Chester and Londonderry, uniting them with Harrytown, and thus forming a township. It was a very opportune time for such a project. There had existed for years a great deal of excitement in the adjoining town of Chester between the English Congregationalists and the Scotch Irish Presbyterians in relation to the settlement of a minister. As early as 1730, the people of Chester settled the Rev. Moses Hale as their minister. But he being a Congregationalist, was the minister of a part and not of the whole. The Presbyteri

ans were disinclined to hear him preach, or to pay taxes for his support. He left in 1734. The Presbyterians then settled the Rev. John Wilson as their pastor, and in 1738 built a meeting house for their accomodation. In 1736 the Congregationalists, who were a majority, succeeded in settling another minister, the Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, though not without the most strenuous opposition on the part of the Presbyterians. The Presbyterians were taxed for Mr. Flagg's support, and of course refused to pay their taxes assessed for such purpose. The majority of course were equally determined that they should pay them, and the Collector arrested two of them, James Campbell, and John Tolford, and committed them to the jail in Exeter. A tedious lawsuit ensued, and in the end the Presbyterians won their case, and in 1740 each Society had the privilege by Charter, of holding their own meetings, and paying their own ministers. As a usual result of religious feuds, the most bitter enmity existed betwixt the parties and continued for years. Accordingly when the subject was broached of setting off the south west section of Chester, for the purpose of forming a new township, a majority of the people favored it, as the most of the people upon the lands proposed to be separated, were Scotch Irish Presbyterians! And at the meeting of the town of Chester, holden March 28, 1750, there was an article in the warrant, "to see if the town would vote, that a certain parcell of land laying at the south west corner of the town containing four miles and a half in length, and two miles and three quarters in width: begining at the south west corner of the 134th lot, in the fourth division, and running four miles and a half to the North East corner of the 71st lot, in said division, then Westward to the head line of the town, may be adjoined with part of Londonderry, and the lands about Amoskeag not incorporated into a parish or otherwise, as the town shall then think and judge best."

"It was voted that the land may be set off as a parish, upon the following conditions, to wit; That any person who has land (which) falls within said tract, never pay any taxes for the same until they make settlement upon the same, and that this vote shall be of no effect unless they obtain a grant of the Governor and Council, for to be incorporated into a parish, taking in this Amoskeag, and a part of Londonderry, as set forth in a plan presented at the meeting this day."

"Capt. John Tolford, Archibald Dunlop, William Crawford, Robert Wilson, descents againts the foregoing; because it cuts off part of the parish already set off by the general court, and

further cuts them off from a privilige to their own land."

But the people of Londonderry were not so favorably disposed towards the project, and took no action upon it at the annual meeting. Nevertheless, the petition was presented to the Governor and Council, on the 17th day of July, 1751, of Thomas George, Abraham Merrill and others, praying for a charter, for the proposed township.

The Council record shows the following action by that body upon the petition.

"Portsmouth, 17th of July, 1751.

Upon reading the petition of Thos. George, Abraham Merrill and others, praying to have the inhabitants of a tract of land, lying partly in Chester, partly in Londonderry, and partly land not heretofore incorporated, lying between those towns and Merrimack River, incorporated, and the Inhabitants thereon invested with the privileges of a Town &c., and it appearing by a vote of the Town of Chester, that they had consented so far as they were concerned; but Londonderry not having signified their consent; Ordered, that the Town of Londonderry be notified hereof that they may shew cause if any they have; why the prayer of the said Petition, may not be granted on the first of August next, and that the petitioners serve the Selectmen or Town Clerk of Londonderry with a copy of the petition and this order."*

This notice was duly served doubtless, but the people of Londonderry seem to have taken no legal notice of it. There was no meeting of the Inhabitants called upon the subject, but when the Governor and Council met, Capt. Samuel Barr of Londonderry appeared on the part of the town. He may have appeared by request of the Selectmen or the Proprietors, or by some other improper authority, but was denied a hearing. The following action was had in the Council.

"Portsmouth 1st August, 1751.

Capt. Samuel Barr appeared in Council, and desired to be heared in behalf of Londonderry, on the Petition of Thomas George, Abraham Merrill and others, relating to a Parish as entered the 17th July last, but his power of appearing being insufficient, and he praying a further time to notify the Town, and to know their oppinion, &c; Ordered, that the affair of the said Petition be suspended till the first Tuesday in September next, and that the sd Town be notified accordingly and show

Council Minutes, Secretary's Office, N. H.

cause if any they have why the prayer of the sd Petition should not be granted."*

Upon this, notice was again served upon the town of Londonderry, and on the 12th of August, a warrant was posted calling a town meeting on Wednesday the 28th inst., the 2d article of which was as follows:

"To see what they will do in regard to a petition presented by Thomas George, and one Merrill, with others, to have a strip off the side of this town to make a new parish at or near Amoskeag."†

At the meeting on the 28th of August, the following action was had on the 2d article in the warrant.

"Voted to grant the prayer of the petition of Thomas George and one Merrill with others, this far; (viz.) begining at the pine tree No. 134, and run south a mile into Derry township and then a west line or point to Derry town line, providing that they of the new parish or town to be incorporated, shall not rule our land till settled, also that John McMurphy Esq. is to appear at Court to see that the thing may be done according to this vote."

Upon the meeting of the Governor and Council on the first Tuesday of September (the 3d inst,) the parties appeared and no serious objections being made on the part of Londonderry, the Governor was directed to grant a charter, which was as follows:

LS. "Province of New Hampshire.

George the second by the grace of God, of Great Britian France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c., and to all whom these presents shall GREETING:

come.

Whereas our loyal subjects, inhabitants of a tract of land within our province of New Hampshire aforesaid lying partly within that part of our province of New Hampshire called Londonderry in part, and in part in Chester, and in part of land not heretofore granted to any town within our province aforesaid, have humbly petitioned and requested to us that they may be erected and incorporated into a township, and infranchised with the same powers and privileges, which other towns within our said province by law have and enjoy;

*Council Minutes, Secretary's Office, N. H.

+See records of Londonderry, p. 283.