other ford still farther up. Josiah French, a shrewd man, observed, "those who wish to meet with the Indians, had better stay here: I feel no desire to see them, and will go over the hill with Howard." It was agreed to go over the hill; but no sooner had they reached the top of the nearest eminence, than they discovered nine Indians crossing at the ford they had left. They lay in wait for them a few hours, but did not see them afterwards. Returning to the fort, Howard received no mercy from the men, women and children within it. Several days afterwards, the men went, in a body, and armed, to hoe Mr. Day's corn, near Surry, and discovered that an old house, in that neighborhood, had been burnt; it was supposed to have been set on fire by the same party of Indians.

Afterwards, but in what year is not recollected, another, and the last party of Indians made a visit to Keene. The inhabitants had cleared and fenced a large common field consisting of about two hundred acres, laying southwardly of Mrs. Lanman's house. This field was used as a cow pasture, and the access to it was by a path which led southwardly along the high ground east of the place where the turnpike and Baker's lane unite. When driving their cows to this pasture, it was the custom of the inhabitants not to go in the path, for fear of a surprise, but on one or the other side of it. Early one morning, they came suddenly upon a party of Indians, concealed in thick bushes, and busily engaged in mending their mocasins. They instantly started up and escaped. It was afterwards ascertained that the leather, with which they were mending their mocasins, had been stolen, the night before, from a tannery at Walpole or Charlestown.

1756.

The term for which Mr. Carpenter was settled having expired, the town October 5, 1756, voted

❝to carry on and maintain the worship and ordinances of God in unity with the people of Swanzey, in the manner we have for three years past, for the space of one year to come."

1760.

A similar vote was annually past until 1760, when the town "voted not to join with the people of Swanzey in maintaining and carrying on the worship and ordinances of God."

In the warrant calling for a town meeting to be held the 31st day of December, 1760, an article was inserted, to see if the town will give a gentleman a call in order to settle in the work of ministry among us." The proceedings of this meeting, and also of another meeting held February 16, 1761, are lost. But from the proceedings of a meeting held March 26, 1761, it appears that the town had given a call to the worthy Mr. Clement Sumner." His salary was fixed at thirty-five pounds sterling and his fire-wood, with an annual increase of one pound ten shillings sterling, until fifteen pounds should be added. The amount of his settlement is not known.

1761.

In April, the town voted, "that the Rev. Mr. Sumner's salary be stated on commodities as they be now and so from year to year. Commodities as they be now: wheat at 3s. 2 1-2d. sterling per bushel; pork at 3d. per pound; beef at 2d. per pound; Indian corn at Is. 8d. per bushel; rye at 2s. 6d. per bushel; labour in the summer at 2s. per day." This was afterwards rescinded upon the suggestion of Mr. Sumner, that the article of beef was stated above the market price.

Mr. Sumner accepted the call, and the ordination took place on the 11th of June.

For several years from this period, but few interesting facts can be gleaned from written documents, or from oral tradition.

Amos Foster, an inhabitant of the town died this year. In his will he bequeathed one half of his estate to the town. The value of the legacy is not known; but in August the town voted that Mr. Sumner's settlement, and his salary for the first year, should be paid from this fund.

In September, the town voted to build a house for sick soldiers.

1762.

Among the town officers chosen this year was a clerk of the market, and a deer reif. Whether the former had any duties to perform is not known. It was the duty of the latter to enforce the laws against killing deer in the spring. The first office was annually filled for the succeeding ten years, and the latter until 1782.

1764.

At the annual meeting this year, the town voted six pounds sterling to defray the charges of a school.

1765.

By a vote of the town, each man was to be allowed for labour on the highway, two shillings and sixpence (probably lawful money) per day, until the last of September, and afterwards, two shillings per day; one shilling for a yoke of oxen, and six-pence for a cart.

1766.

The following votes are found on the records of this year.

"Voted, that Benjamin Hall be agent to represent the town in behalf of a shire town.

"Voted, that the security for the money given to the town by Capt. Nathaniel Fairbanks, deceased, the interest of which was for the use of a school in this town, be delivered to the care of the town treasurer, and his successors in office for the time being."

1767.

According to an enumeration made the 7th of October, the number and description of inhabitants

were as follows:

Unmarried men from 16 to 60

Married men from 16 to 60

Boys from 16 and under
Men upwards of 60
Females unmarried

Married women
Widows

51

66

84

4

146

68

8

Total, 427

1768.

Josiah Willard was chosen to represent the town in the General Assembly at Portsmouth. He was the first representative chosen.

1770.

The town was now first divided into school districts, being four in number.

1771.

This year, the state, which before consisted of but one county, was divided into five, and Keene was made one of the shire towns for the the county of Cheshire. The Inferior Court held its first session here, in October, 1771, and the Superior Court, in September, 1772.

1772.

The inhabitants, having become dissatisfied with the Rev. Clement Sumner, he was this year dismissed, in pursuance of a vote of the town, his own consent, and the result of an ecclesiastical council.

1773.

The following muster roll has been handed to the compiler, by a veteran of the revolution:

A List of the Foot Company in Keene.

To Col. JOSIAH WILLARD.

Keene, August 7, 1773.