They appropriated any funds in the hands of the treas-
urer ; to raise by tax twenty-one hundred dollars by seven
annual installments ; and to raise by loan what is necessary.
" Voted, That the Selectmen (John Folsom, Josiah
Chase and Lemuel W. Blake) be a committee to purchase
a farm."
The selectmen purchased of Peter Shirley the farm
where James Shirley, sen., first settled, and paid $2,200.
They made an addition to the house and repaired it. The
stock, tools, furniture, &c., cost -^1,226. 29. Cost of the
establishment, $3,426.29.
RATES OR TAXES.
The public expenses were at first borne by the original
proprietors or grantees, and as they were mostly non-resi-
dents they soon sold their rights, or parts of rights, to act-
ual settlers, or other non-residents, who then became pro-
prietors and chargeable with the expense. Some items have
been given in the Proprietary History. The proprietors
were sometimes slack in their payments which caused
great embarrassment.
In April, 1731, there was an act passed, the preamble of
which recites, " That, Whereas the several towns of Ches-
ter, Nottingham and Rochester labor under many incon-
veniences in carrying on public affairs and especially in the
maintenance and support of the gospel ministry among
them, by reason of the great numbers of the proprietors of
land within said townships living out of the Province, by
which means the constables or collectors of the aforesaid
17
258 . HISTORY OF CHESTER.
towns are unable to collect the rates due from their re-
spective proprietors living out of the province as aforesaid."
It was enacted that the lands within any of those towns
might be extended on for rates and cost, to continue in force
three years. Tlicre were continually votes being passed
and committees raised for selling the rights of delinquents,
but as there came to be inhabitants who were not proprie-
tors the rates were levied on both ; but in what manner I
have seen nothing to indicate. An act passed in 1703
provides " that the justices, yearly at their December ses-
sion, shall appoint one freeholder in each town to go
through the town in which he belongs, unto every inhabi-
tant, and take an account of such person's ratable estate,
and shall deliver it to the selectmen between December and
March each year, and such person shall have power to ap-
point one or more assistants." At a town-meeting held the
last Thursday of March, 1741, John Tolford and James
Varnum were chosen " Invoice men to take the Invoice of
the heads and Estates of the Whole town," which was
taken. That document is in the Secretary's office and in
the excellent hand-writing of Mr. Varnum. The town had
never before been rated to the province and this inventory
was for fixing the proportion. There are D houses and S
houses. In some of tbe inventories the distinction is
made of two-story houses and one-story houses, which is
probably meant here.
The following is the inventory ; interesting, as showing
the taxable persons and property then in town :
EATES OR TAXES.
259
An Invoise Taken of y® mens Estates whose names are
here mentioned Between the month of December and
Marcli, which is in j" year 1741.
Pr. James Yarfium, ) j
T , rr If 1 } Invois men.
John Tolford, \
Chester, Febuary 27"S 1711.
IXYOICE TABLE.
NAMES.
X
6
o
W
a
i
O
X
a
o
aa
X
CO
n
in
"o
03
i
CO
1
2
1
i
1
i
1
1
1
"i
i
. .
i
5
1
1
i
3
8
3
5
4
.•
3
1
7
5
6
6
3
6
2
5
ii
6
5
'e
11
o
5
3
2
13
3
6
2
9
3
2
2
'2
'2
'2
'2
'2
'2
'2
'2
'2
i
1
1
i
'2
1
3
i
1
1
'\
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
i
'4
3
2
1
1
•2
i
2
'2
2
1
I
"3
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
i
i
i
1
1
i
1
i
1
1
"i
"1
1
1
i
'2
1
1
i
1
1'
1
1
2
i
'3
2
'i
i
i
'i
2
'2
2
'i
'2
'2
'2
'2
5?
'4
'2
"i
'2
3
'2
1
"2
i
..
1
William White
Jarob Sartrent. Jr
Ebeiiezer Gial
Nathan Hale
John Clement
Arlam Dickev
James Shirley, Jun
Michal Oerbon
James Sliirlev
John Uniierliill
Thomas Richardson
Bradbury Karr
Jonathan Sanders
Nathan Webster
Stephen Webster
.fames Varnum
Wid. Elisabeth Underhlll. .
Wid. Elisabeth Rowell
David rage
John Bastonl,
Moses liichartlson
Thomas Wasson
John Wadwell
Widiaui Turner
Robert Gillcrees
John Mills, Jan....
Robert Mills
Martha Forsith
John Carswell
Joseph Taylor
John Robie
SaniU. Robie
Samll. Powell
William Powell
Titus Wells
Robert Graham
Robert Graham, jun
William Graham
Patrick Melvin
John Allen
Thomas Worthen , . .
Eliphaz Sanborn
Ithamer Berrv
Joseph Clark
260 HISTORY OF CHESTER.
INVOICE TABLE — continued.
NAMES.
73
5
CO
S
2
o
O
.a
Jonathan Hall
Benja. Bachildcr
Page Bachilder
James Calfe
King Calfe
Robert Calfe
Danll Calfe
Joseph Calfe
John Foss
John Ambioss
Henry Anibross
Capt. Sanill. ]ngals
Lieut. Ebene/er Derbon
Ens. Jac(il) Sargent
Nathan Webster
John Calfe
Benja. Hills
William Wilson
Ephraini Hesseltine
Thomas Hes.seltine
John Hesseltine
Thomas Wells
John Talford
William 'J'altord
John .Shirley
Anthoney Towle
Thomas Smith
•James Campble
Benaih Colbe
Enock Colbe
Samll. Emerson
Jonathan Blunt
Isaac Foss
Jonathan Mmilton
Ebenezar Derbon, Jun.
Silvanus Smith
Paul Smith
Peter Derbon
William Healy
Robert Kunals
Joshua Preseott
Jacob Bassford
Joseph Bassford
Ebenezer Blunt
Ste])hen Clay
John Snuth.
Robert Gorden
Hugh Ramsey
Archabald Macaphee.. . .
Daniel Macaphee
James Cro-wheit
Alen Temlington
Robert Crage
Alexander (/rage
Nathanal Hall
Jethro Tiltoii
Isaac Foss, Jun
James Wadwell
James mac clure
Nathan Colbee
Peter Clittbrd
Joseph Davis
Thomas Hill
Thomas Crage
David mac clure
Wid. Mary Carswell
Archabalil Dalaph
William Grimes, Jun. . .
RATES OR TAXES.
INVOICE TAB'LY.— concluded.
261
NAMES.
Moses Hills
John Karr
Thomas Glinn
Henry Hall
John Webster. . . .
John Aken
Robert Willson...
Francis Towle
Hufih Willson
James Willson. . . .
William Craford...
Samll. Hills
Ben.ia. Derbon
Andrew Crage
Winthrop Sargent
William Karr. .. .
John Karr, Jun.
Samuel Brown.. .
Thomas Derbim. .
Paul Mac fason. . ,
John Moore
Charles Moore. . . ,
Xathanal Wood..,
Jonas Clay
Jonas Clay, .Jun.
James Bassford. .
6
o
i
s
o
a
(B
CO
a
S
O
1
X
•3
i
6
a
<o
,
..*
OJ
X
O
o
c
o
o
E
K
P^
«2
>i
^
O
U
w
M
(M
iH
(J
M
1
15
2
1
3
2
2
23
2
5
2
2
4
1
18
2
3
1
1
1
12
3
. .
2
4
, .
9
2
2
2
2
i
9
2
1
2
2
12
2
3
1
1
i
, .
8
2
3
2
. .
15
3
2
2
11
2
1
2
1
i
8
2
2
1
9
2
2
i
6
1
15
2
3
2
3
9
2
2
1
1
3
1
i
6
2
i
5
3
1
2
1
i
2
8
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
1
1 1
5
1
i
5
1
, ,
2
1
1
, .
The following from an old act in regard to making taxes,
I insert as a curiosity : From " the Generall Lawes and
Libaties of the Province of New Hampshire made by the
Generall Assembly in Portsm°, the 16"' of March, 1679-80,
and approved by the Presid* and Council.
"Making Eates.
" That there may be a just and equall way of Eaising- means for
defraying y'' publique charge, boath in church and civill affairs,
whereof every p'rsou doth or may receive y" benefit ; these persons
and estates shall be asseasted or rated as followeth: viz., to a
single rate of a penny in the pound, every male person above the
age of 16 years is valued at ISZ.; and all land within fence, med-
dow or marsh, mowable, shall beat '>^. per acre; all pasture lands
without fence rate free; all oxen 4 years old and upward, 3s.;
steers, cows and heiffers of three years old at 4s. ; steers and
heiffers of 2 years old at os. ; yearlings 10s. ; horses and mares of
3 years old and upward, at 20s. ; sheep above one year old at 5s. ;
swine above one year old at 10s. ; and all other estates whatsoever,
in y*^ hands of whome it is at y'' time when that shall be taken,
shall be i-atod by some equall proportion by y** selectmen of each
toAvn w"^ grate care \\ p'ticulars be not wronged; and all ships,
ketches, boates, barques and all other vessells w^soever shall be
rateable, as allso all dwelling houses, ware houses, wharffs, mills
and all haudycrafts men as cai-penters, masons, joiners, shoe-
makers, taylors, tanners, cun-iers, butchers, bakers, or any other
262
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
artificei's, victuallers, merch'^ and innkeepers shall be rated by
estymatyon."
This was probably the law for a long period, as I have
examined a reprint of the laws from 1706 to 1770, also all
the acts in the Secretary's office during that period, without
finding anything on the subject.
The following is one page of an inventory, found among
the papers of Deacon John Hills. There is no date, Init it
must have been as early as 1745, for Moses Tyler sold to
Andrew McFarland that year. There is, on the back side, a
footing, probably of the whole inventory. There are two
taxed for faculties, — some trade, or other extra mode of
making money. Mills, or a trade, were taxed as faculties
in Hampton in 1732 :
INVENTORY.
Kames.
M
tH
o
Nathaniel Wood
Jonas Clay
Jona. Saunders
Henry Ambrose
James Varnum
Benj . Dearborn
Robert Runnels
William Healey
King Calfe
Benj. Batchelder .
James Basford
Itbamar Berry
John Allen
Titus Wells
Thomas Hill
Eliphaz Sanborn ....
John Underbill
Page Bachelder
Peter Clifford
Joseph Clark
Jona. IliiU
Moses Tyler
James Calfe
Nathl. Hall
Capt. Tiltcm
Ebenezer Dearborn .
Peter Dearborn
Widow Rowel
Widow Underhill
David Craige
Nathan Webster, Jr.
Nathan Colby
80
10
8
10
2
4
4
12
3
3
2
4
4
3
3
4
2
2
4
4
20
16
5
6
3
10
649
66
100 53 55 59 69
51
EATES OR TAXES.
263
The following table shows the proportion of province
rates in 1709, to raise .£1720 :
Portsmouth .... £377 10s.
Dover 361 9
Exeter 325 8
Haniptou
New Castle
£505 13s.
150 00
In order to show the relative progress of the several old
towns in the province, I give the proportion of province
rates to each £1000 :
TABLE Showing the Puoportiox of Province Rates.
TOWNS.
Portsmouth .
Dover . . .
Exeter . . .
Hampton . .
Hampton Falls
New Castle .
Kingstown
Newington
Stratham . .
Gosport . .
Loudonderrv .
Rye . . ." .
Greenland
Oyster River .
Somersworth .
1723.
£
171
171
128
74
74
81
44
38
49
19
8 d.
10
12 2
12 8
18 9
18 9
5 8
10 5
19
G
5
1728.
£ s.
187 16
217 15
127 18
94 4 5
88 4 3
24 19 4
45 6
36 14 8
60 14 11
. 16 4
68 3 10
29 7 1
1732.
£ s. d.
142 16 3
103 13 5
114 3 6
94 12 6
90 16 8
21 3 2
54 3
25 1 4
57 4 7
52 13
32 16
35 15 10
97 16 3
39 15 6
TABLE II
TOWNS.
Portsmouth
Hampton .
Dover . .
Exeter . .
Londonderry
Chester . .
Kingston .
Derryiield .
Rumford .
Bow . • .
264
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
Footings of the Inventoky in Chester in 1753.
Polls 241
Houses 179
Tillage 462
Mowing 1098
Pasture G70
Horses 58
Oxen 302
Cows 389
Three-year-olds 87
Two-year-okls 121
One-year-olds . . . . . 170
Three-year-old colts ... 15
Two-year-old colts .... 12
One-year-old colts .... 11
Male slave 1
Orcharding 51
An act was passed July 3, 1766, providing that the
Province rates might be paid in the following articles of
produce at the following prices, new tenor :
AVt'll tanned sole leath-
er per iiound ... 4 00
Tallow per pound . . 2 6
"Winter a)id Spring cod-
lisii i)er quintal . 4 00 00
PiK^ii pevbariel . , 3 00 00
Tar per barrel ... 2 00 00
Turpentine per barrel 4 00 00
W. P. joists per M. . 4 00 00
W. P. boards per M. 5 00 00
W. O. two-inch plank
per iM 25 00 00
£
8. (1.
Bar ii-on per cwt .
. 5
00 00
Hemp per pound
Indian corn, bush
• •
3 00
10 00
Rye
Peas "
1
10 00
1 00
AVinter wheat "
1
5 00
Barley " .
Pork per poun
Beef
d '
10 00
1 00
9
Flax
3 00
Bees-wax "
5 00
Bavberrv wax "
3 00
CENSUS OF 1767.
Males.
Females.
,
<o
ffl
S-;
<0
>
>
TO'SfKS.
11
"SS
i-t
d
CD
t§
>
O
5
c
S
•a
3
o
Chester
116
168
106
24
295
153
7
2
34
916
Candia
27
C8
09
100
68
1
363
Raymond
21
78
13-2
3
134
81
6
362
Dp rrvfipld
29
31
50
7
81
38
••
5
230
RATES OR TAXES.
265
INVENTORY OF 1777.
e3
CA
rs
O
a
^
a
o
o
a
o
a
si
1-4
4)
to
3
a)
a
ja
93
o
o
o
Polls
Orchard
Arable
Mowing
Pasture
Horses
Three-years Colts.
Two-years Colts. . .
One-year Colt
Oxen
Cows
339
143
162
127X
603
205
1751
449
2749
852
141
51
36
10
22
24
17
11
243
115
600
241
131
71M
311
445
1033
49
5
6
5
76
229
Three-years old .
Two-years old. . .
One-year old
Rents of mills . .
Stock in trade . .
Money
257
116
331
164
317
137
£95 00
£29
280
125
3907
683
87
1.38
118
£64
100
52
State tax, 1783, which must have been lawful money, as
the Continental was worthless : —
Constable Joseph True to pay
Robert Witherspoou
Joseph Brown, Jr. .
£
643
B.
5
d.
9
361
12
10
80
00 00
PROPORTION FOR STATE TAX.
Towns.
1773.
1789.
1803.
£ 8. d.
£ s.
d.
£ 8. d.
Chester
22 8 -
16 2
10
11 19 -
Candia
8 6-
8 2
4
6 4 7
Raymond
7 13 -
6 4
8
4 2 1
Concord •
13 U -
12 7
4
10 8 2(
Exeter
24 4 -
15 10
2
8 8 6
Londonderry
35 15 -
20 15
3
15 2 1
Portsmouth
58 2 -
_ _
_
27 8 5
Derrvfield
3 12 -
2 10
4
2 2 -
266
HISTORY OF CHESTER.
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RATES OR TAXES.
267
The earliest tax-list which we have is for 1785, which is
not inserted on account of its length.
TABLE
Shottixg the Number of Inhabitants, Numbee of Polls and Proportiox of
State Taxes ix Several Towns in 1820; also the Proportion in 1829, Pop-
ttlation in 1860, Valuation and Proportion in 1864.
Towns.
QO
a
g
s
fi
C
o
o
o
o
S
CO
1-t
•.J
-.J
-t^
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o
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c o
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cj •)<
is
I— 1
xn
c
C)
C -M
o
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o <»
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<x>
pS CO
o
w-t
u '^
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tH
d <-!
e^
Ph
Ph
Ch
>
O 1>
Chester
Auburn*
Candia
Kaymond
Londonderry . . .
Derryt
Manchester
Concord
Exeter
Hampton
Hampton Falls .
Kingston
Portsmouth
2,262
415
S9.03
$7.40
1,276
886
§389,234
296,858
1,273
240
5..54
4.90
1,575
4-27.803
961
177
3.62
3.43
1,269
320.676
3,12T
515
13.27
5.17
1,717
627,501
7.54
1,990
678.645
761
133
2.48
2.69
20,108
10,176,142
2.338
498
13.48
13.73
10,889
5,036,014
2,114
457
9.90
9.46
3,309
1,661,274
1,098
187
4.58
4.67
1,230
518.991
57-i
100
3.40
3.27
621
393.121
847
170
3.67
3.67
1.216
435,713
7,327
1,190
54.36
42.41
9 335
6,442,062
$2.99
2 29
3.29
2.47
4.83
5.22
78..38
38.84
12.79
4.22
3.02
3.36
49.67
* Incor porated June, 1845. t Incorporated July, 1827.
These statistics are given to show the absolute and rel-
ative progress of these towns.
In 1732, Portsmouth had 479 polls ; Exeter had 333 ;
Hampton had 221. In 1727, Hampton Falls had 224 polls ;
and Kingston had 120.
Up to 1833, in making taxes a specific value was put
upon animals of each grade, irrespective of their real
value, and also on acres of land. At that time there was
an act passed requiring all property to be appraised at its
cash value.
268 HISTORY OF CHESTER.
STAGE AND MAIL FACILITIES.
Besides occasional private conveyance for letters, there
were sometimes persons "who periodically traveled on horse-
back and carried letters and newspapers. My grandfather
took a Newburyport paper, during the Revolutionary war,
which was probably brought by a "Post-rider,"
The Committee of Safety, Dec. 2, 1779, appointed Peter
Robinson for the term of six months, to ride from the post-
office in Portsmouth, to set out from thence Saturday morn-
ing, and ride to Peterborough in this State, and send a man
weekly to Charlestown, No. 4 ; and carry and return all
public letters and dispatches free of charge, for which ser-
vice he shall receive from the State the sum of three hun-
dred pounds lawful money. [N. H. Hist. Col., Vol. 7, p.
211.]
There was probably no regular mail or stage through
Chester before 1793 or 1794. In the New Hampshire Reg-
ister for 1794 there is the following list of dejmty post-
masters : Jeremy Liljbey, Portsmouth ; J.W. Oilman, Ex-
eter ; George Hough, Concord ; Samuel McClure, Hanover ;
and Samuel Crosby, Charlestown. There might have been
others, however, in the State. Tappan Robie, Esq., of Gor-
ham, Maine, says that his uncle, Edmund Webster, was
appointed postmaster about 1793 ; that he was clerk in his
uncle's store, and acted as assistant in the post-office ; and
the office supplied Chester, Sandown, Hampstead, Candia
and Raymond, and j)erhaps Londonderry. He recollects
that Ozias Silsby, of Chester, rode post and carried a mail
from Portsmouth to Amherst. [He went to Peterborough.]
The mail was carried on horseback. This supplied Chester
with a mail. Chase, in the history of Haverhill, p. 453,
says:
" At this period (about 1791) newspapers and letters
were carried through the country by persons who rode on
horseback, called ■• Post-riders.'' Samuel Bean was post-
rider from Boston to Concord, N. H. His route was
through Andover, Haverhill, Atkinson, Kingstown, Exeter,
STAGE AND MAIL FACILITIES. 289
Epping, Xottingliam, DeerfieM and Pemln'oke, to Concord ;
returning, passed through Londonderry and Haverhill. He
performed the route once a week.
"The first stage from Haverhill to Boston was started
about this time. It was a two-horse coach, by a Mr. Gage,
He performed the route only • when he had custom.' It
took twelve hours to perfoiwi the journey. An advertise-
ment in a Boston paper under date of April 9, 1798, informs
the public that the ' Haverhill Stage Coach is complete,
with genteel curtains and cushions, and an able pair of
horses ready for service.' It was to set out from Chad-
wick's Ferry, in Bradford, on Tuesday the IGlh, at six
o'clock precisely, arrive at Mr. Abbot's, in Andover, before
eight, and at Mr. Peabody's in Boston, before one. The
proprietor gave notice that he intend.s m a short time that
the stage shall perform this route twice a week. Fare, 3d.
per mile. In November, 1793, a stage commenced running
twice a week from this place [Haverhill] to Concord N. H.,
connecting with the Boston stage. It was owned by par-
ties in this town, Chester, and Concord. The mail, how-
ever, continued to be carried on horseback for several years
after the establishment of a regular line of stages."
Mr. Robie says that the first stage was owned by Rogers
and Kendall. Mr. Chase further says, p. 454 :
" At the celebration attending the opening of the Ando-
ver and Haverhill Railroad to Bradford, Oct., 1837, Hon.
Leverit Saltonstall, late of Salem, said he well recollected the
first setting up of the first stage-coach between Boston and
Haverhill, some forty or fifty years before, by Judge Blodg-
ett, of Haverhill. It started very early in the morning
from Haverhill, in order to have time to perform the dis-
tance, and arrive comfortably in Boston before dark. The
boys followed it through the villages, and the women put
their heads out of the windows gazing upon the wonder ;
and the welkin rang with the shout of ' The Stage ! The
Stage ! ' A stage was afterwards established to run between
Haverhill and Concord, X. H. This was considered a most
extraordinary event ; and one of the leaders had a bell of
a size nearly equal to that of the bell of an academy, sus-
pended to his neck, the sound of which could be heard a
great distance, to give the intelligence that the stage tvas
comi7ig.'^^
I have heard it said that Mr. Benjamin Brown drove
through Chester the first trip. A negro subsequently
270 .HISTORY OP CHESTER.
drove. It is said that Matthew Templeton and others as-
sembled at Dea. John Graham's to see the stage. Mr.
Templeton was probably dressed in an uncouth manner,
aud had a large dent in his forehead, where his skull was
broken, which caused some of the passengers to laugh.
Mr. Templeton cautioned thei# against laughing, as they
were all going to the d 1 together, with a nager to drive
them.
The earliest I recollect of a stage it passed over Chester
turnpike twice a week each way, and was driven by a man
by the name of Hall, and was owned by Kendall. This
was in 1806. Some time after it was removed to the Lon-
donderry turnpike. There were several changes each way,
and at length there was one put on each route, when it was
thought both must fail. Tbere could not be business to
support two stages. Thomas Pearson, of Haverhill, for a
long time drove through Chester, and Nathaniel Walker, of
Plymouth, through Londonderry. Fathtr Gibbs for a long
time rode post on Silsby's route, from Exeter to Peterbor-
ough. He rode horseback, carried a mail, and carried
Portsmouth, Exeter and Amherst papers, and did express
business generally.
Edmond Webster died May 12, 1801, and Dr. John Win-
gate, who married Sarah Webster, was appointed post-
master. He lived in the Webster house, and held the office
till 1807, when he removed from town, and Daniel French,
Esq., was appointed April 25, 1807, who held the office
until near the close of his life, when he resigned, and his
son, H. F. French, was appointed.
About 1826 a post-office was established at what is now