1784.

The treaty of peace with Great-Britain having secured to the tories the privilege of returning to this country, to collect their debts and settle their affairs, Elijah Williams, Esq. came to Keere, for that purpose, in the beginning of this year. His appearance here so exasperated the zealous whigs, that they seized him and carried him before Thomas Baker, Esq. a Justice of the peace. What were the charges against him, or whether any charges were exhibited, has not been ascertained. The Justice, perhaps with a view to protect him from outrage, ordered him to recognize for his appearance at the Court of Sessions, to be held at Charlestown, in April, and committed him to the custody of the sheriff. With this, the populace were not satisfied, and they discovered an intention of assaulting and beating him; but he was surrounded, and guarded to his lodgings by the old and the young men who happened to be present.

The animosity of the whigs, aggravated probably by the arts of those who were indebted to him, was, however, so great that they determined he should not thus escape their vengeance. On the day before that appointed for the sitting of the Court, a party concealed themselves in the pines near Fisher brook, intending, when he passed with the sheriff, to get him into their power. The sheriff passed without him, relying upon the promise he had made to appear at Court the next day. This circumstance excited their suspicions; they came immediately into the street, seized Williams at his lodgings, and, placing him in the midst of them, repaired to a tavern in Ash Swamp. When he arrived there, two bundles of black-birch rods were produced, from which it appeared that a place had been concerted to compel him to run the guantlet, with the view, probably, of inducing him, by

such harsh treatment, again to leave the country. But by this time, a large number of considerate citizens had assembled and arrived at the tavern. A proposition was made, that the whole subject should be referred to a committee. A committee was appointed; their report was too favorable to Williams, to suit the majority, and was rejected. Another committee was appointed, who reported that he should leave the town the next day, and leave the state the next week. This report was agreed to; but the minority, still dissatisfied, privately sent out messengers, to collect more of their friends. This being communicated to those who were disposed to protect Williams, they advised him to retire immediately. An attempt was made to prevent him from mounting a horse, which had been offered him by a friend. A conflict ensued, in which the horse was overthrown, and several persons were knocked down with clubs. He at length, however, mounted, with the assistance of his friends, and rode through the crowd, which continued to oppose him.

The next day, he repaired to Charlestown, and presented himself to the Court, which, thereupon, passed the following order: "that Elijah Williams, Esq. now in the keeping of Isaac Griswold, by virtue of a mittimus from Thomas Baker, Esq., continue in the custody of the said Isaac, until he shall have transacted the business upon which he came into this part of the country, and then be permitted to leave this State, upon his good behaviour, without further molestation." After settling his affairs, Williams repaired to Nova-Scotia. Shortly after, in consequence of ill health, he returned to Deerfield, his native town, died, and was buried by the side of his ancestors.

1786.

At a meeting, held January 12, the town chose a committee to take an account of all the services done by the town during the late war, that the same may be sent to the committee of claims in said State.

1788.

January 7th, the town chose the Rev. Aaron Hall a delegate to sit in convention, to be held at Exeter," for the full and free investigation, discussion, and decision upon, the proceedings of the Federal Convention," which framed the constitution of the United States. After a short session, the Exeter convention, on the 23d of February, adjourned to the 21st of June.

February 8th, the town" voted, that they will not, at present, shew their minds whether they will accept or refuse the new constitution."

1790.

The number of inhabitants this year was 1314.

After this period, but few, if any, events have occurred, which would be interesting or instructive. The adoption of the National and State constitutions, and the regular administration of the laws, have calmed the agitations which once were too common, and compelled the restless and discontented to engage in the quiet occupations of productive industry. Society has improved, the town has prospered, and now presents one of the fairest evidences of the benign effects of a regular government and of free institutions.

To the Publishing Committee of the 2d Vol. of Collections.

GENTLEMEN,

The Committee of Publication for the first volume of the Collections of the New-Hampshire Historical Society, in publishing the ancient deeds from Wehangnonaway and others to Rev. John Wheelwright and others, page 147, were unable to determine from the deeds themselves, whether they were authentic or spurious, or whether they were copies or originals. Having now the means of establishing their authenticity, I need offer no apology for this note. William Gibbs, Esq. of Salem, Massachusetts, has lately communicated to me the testimony of Rev. John Wheelwright and Edward Colcord, two of the original grantees named in the deed, respecting the grant they obtained from the Indians when they "first sat down at Exeter" in 1638. This testimony is of undoubted authority, being copied from a paper filed in the records of the ancient Norfolk County Court, and attested by the recorder, and proves conclusively that a purchase from the Indians, similar to the one expressed in the deeds, was actually made, and I think there can be little or no doubt that the deeds, from which the copies in our Collections were printed, are the originals. The purchase appears to be the same mentioned by Governor Winthrop, sub anno, 1638, which first led the Hon. James Savage, of Boston, to detect and expose the forgery of the famous "Wheelwright deed" of 1629. If Mr. Savage had not fully proved the forgery, and completely settled the controversy which has been agitated, the following testimony would do it.

I am respectfully, Yours, JOHN FARMER. Messrs. Bartlett, Plumer & Moore.

Testimony of Rev. John Wheelwright.

"I John Wheelwright, pastor of the church of Salisbury, doe testify that when I, with others, first came to sit downe at Exeter, we purchased of the Indians, to whom (so far as we could learne) the right did belong, a certen Tract of land about thirty miles square, to run from Merimack river Eastward, and so up into the Country, of wch. lands we had a graunt in writing signed by the[m.] JOHN WHEELWRIGHT."

April 15, 1668.

Edward Colcord's Testimony.

"Mr. Edward Colcord testifieth to all above written, and further saith that one northerly bound mentioned in our agreemt. with Wehahnonowet, the chiefe Sagamore was, the westerly part of Oyster River, called by the Indians Shankhassick, wch. is about foure miles northerly beyound Lampereele River.

"We the abovesaid witnesses doe further testefy yt. they of the town of Exeter, did dispose of and possesse divers parcels of land about Lamprel River by virtuee of sd. Indian Right before such time as it was actually taken in by the Jurisdiction of the Massachusetts, without interruption of Dover or any other."

Rev. Samuel Dudley's Testimony.

"Mr. Samuel Dudly doth testifie that he did see the argreemt. in writing betweene the towne of Exeter and the Sagamores for that land wch. is above mentioned, and the said Sagamores' hands to the same."

"Sworn before the Court ye 14th: 2d mo:

1668.

THOMAS BRADBURY, Rec."

Note. Sameb, one of the Indian witnesses, 2d deed. p 149, ought to have been James, and Edward Calcord should have been Edward Colcord.