From votes of the town, it appears that Nathaniel Niles and Augustine Hibbert preached this year, as candidates for settlement; and that, in

1774,

William Fessenden and Elias Jones preached also as candidates. To the latter, the town unanimously gave a call, and offered him £133 6s. 8d. as a settlement, and seventy five pounds as an annual salary. What answer he gave to the call does not appear.

Elijah Williams, Esquire, an attorney at law, who came to Keene, in 1771, was, this year, appointed a justice of the peace, as appears from the following precept.

Province of New-Hampshire,

Portsmouth, 28th May, 1774. To Mr. Simeon Jones, Clerk of his majesty's court of General Sessions of the peace, for the county of Cheshire, in said Province.

I am commanded by his Excellency the Governor, to direct that you enter, in the general commission of the Peace, for said county, the name of Elijah Williams, Esquire, who is appointed, by his Excellency, a Justice of the peace, for said county. You'l, therefore, hereby take order accordingly.

By his Excellency's command,

THEODORE ATKINSON, Sec'ry. The discussions and excitement, which preceded the revolutionary war, began, about this time, to extend to the interior towns. In Keene, nearly all the inhabitants were decided whigs; but a few were neutral or silent,and a very small number were avowed tories. Against the two last classes, the popular indignation was often directed, and sometimes with such irregular violence, as called for the interposition of the sober and considerate citizens.

In a warrant, calling a town meeting, to be held the 26th of September, the following articles were

inserted: "To see if it be the mind of the town to provide ammunition for a town stock, and grant money for the same." And "to see if it be the mind of the town to sign the covenant and engagement, which was sent and recommended, by the committee of correspondence, relating to the nonimportation agreement."

Upon the first article, the town "voted, to get a stock of ammunition for the town, viz. 200lbs. of good gun powder, 400lbs. of lead, and 1200 flints; and to raise twenty-four pounds, lawful money, for providing said articles."

Upon the other article, the following preamble and vote were adopted: "Whereas the towns, in this province, have chosen members to represent them in a General Congress of all the colonies, now sitting, at the city of Philadelphia, to consult and determine what steps are necessary for the colonies to adopt, voted, therefore, not to sign the nonimportation agreement, until we hear what measures said congress have agreed upon for themselves and their constituents."

October 17th, Capt. Isaac Wyman, and Lieutenant Timothy Ellis, were chosen delegates to attend the county congress, at Walpole. No information, concerning the object or proceedings of this congress, has been obtained.

1775.

On the 4th of January, at a legal town meeting, the inhabitants voted, "to come into the measures recommended by the Continental Congress, in their association agreement." They chose, agreeably to said advice, Isaac Wyman, Timothy Ellis, Thomas Baker, Dan Guild, and William Ellis, a committee of Inspection. They also chose Isaac Wyman to represent the town, at the meeting, to be held at Exeter, on the 21st day of said January, for the choice of delegates to the Continental Congress.

At a town meeting, held February 23, Captain Isaac Wyman was chosen "to represent the town

in the general assembly, holden at Portsmouth, on said 23d day of February, and so, day by day, during their sessions."

On the 19th of April, was fought the battle of Lexington. An aged gentleman, then an inhabitant of Keene, gives the following account of the proceedings of the citizens, on that occasion. The instant that news of the battle arrived in town, which was in the forenoon, Capt. Dorman, who then commanded the militia, called upon Capt. Wyman. "The regulars," said he, "have come out to Concord, have killed six men, and the battle was raging when the messenger started. What shall be done?" "Send expresses,"" said Capt. Wyman, "to every part of the town, notifying the inhabitants to meet, forthwith, on the green, and be governed by their decision." Expresses were sent, the citizens met, in the afternoon, and a vote was unanimously passed, that a body of men should be sent to oppose the regulars. The question was asked, who shall lead them? Capt. Wyman was nominated, was chosen, and though far advanced in years, cheerfully consented to go. Volunteers were then called for, and about thirty presented themselves. Capt. Wyman directed them to go home immediately, and prepare provisions for their use, for, said he, "all the roads will be full of men, and you can procure nothing on the way; and he appointed sunrise, the next morning, the time, and his house, the place of rendezvous. At sunrise

they met, and immediately started for Concord. In the afternoon, Gen. Bellows, Col. John Bellows, and Thomas Sparhawk arrived from Walpole, and riding to his house, enquired for Capt. Wyman. Being answered, that he started at sunrise, at the head of a company of men, they exclaimed," Keene has shown a noble spirit!" and hastened onwards. They were soon followed by a party of men from Walpole.

At an informal meeting of the inhabitants, held the 27th of April, they chose Timothy Ellis a delegate to meet the committee, at Exeter, and to sit, as a member, in the provincial congress, whenever they convene. He expressed his willingness to accept the office, but declared that he had not, and could not, in season, procure money enough to bear his expenses. The inhabitants, thereupon, voted, that he might draw from the treasury four pounds, lawful money.

Soon after the battle of Lexington, several tories, among whom was Elijah Williams, Esq. left this vicinity, and joined the British, in Boston.

In the warrant calling a town meeting, on the 7th day of December, one of the articles was, "to see if it be the mind of the town, that the names of those persons, who buy, sell, or make use of bohea tea, be advertised in the public prints." At the meeting, held on the day appointed, this article passed in the negative; but a committee of inspection was appointed to see that the resolves of the Continental Congress be complied with. After dismissing two other articles, relating to the troubles of that period, the town unanimously adopted the following Resolves, which may be termed the Satute Law of Keene. And here it may be proper to state, that no judicial courts were held in the county, from 1774 to 1778.

"Whereas, by the unhappy disputes now subsisting between Great Britain and the American Colonies, the laws of several of them have been entirely subverted, or wholly neglected, to the great detriment of society, and of individuals, whereby, many disorderly persons, taking undue advantage of the times, and taking upon them the name of liberty, as a cloak to put their revengeful designs in execution, do wickedly and maliciously threaten to abuse and destroy the persons and property

of many of the good and wholesome inhabitants of the land, and the Executive power being thrown by; and the Congresses, neither Continental or provincial, have, as yet, found out, or published, any method or system of government, for the security of our persons or property; and until such a system as they in their wisdom shall see fit, or some other, be proposed

"We, the inhabitants of the town of Keene, in the County of Cheshire, and province of New-Hampshire, legally convened, being desirous of order and good government, and for the security of our lives, persons, and property, do pass the following Resolves :

"1st. It is resolved, that a committee of three good and steady men of the town, be chosen to act upon, and a proper officer appointed, to prosecute the Resolves hereafter mentioned.

"2d. Whereas, profane cursing and swearing are highly provoking to Almighty God, and offensive to every true christian, which we fear, if not discountenanced, will provoke the Divine Majesty to bring heavy judgments upon us, and still heavier, deliver us up to the desire of our enemies; to prevent cursing and swearing, be it Resolved, that if any person, or persons, shall profanely curse or swear, and shall be thereof convicted, before the committee, by sufficient witnesses, or by confession of the party, every such offender shall forfeit, and pay to the committee, for the use of the poor of said town, a sum not exceeding three shillings, nor less than one; according to the repeatedness of the offence; and pay cost of prosecution, which cost shall be ascertained by the committee, before whom the person shall be convicted; and in case any person, convicted as aforesaid, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums, so forfeited and adjudged, he, she or they shall be immediately committed to the com