MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - CIVIC HISTORY EARLY TOWN CLERKS, SELECTMEN, MODERATORS MANCHESTER INCORPORATED AS A CITY EARLY MAYORS AND CLERKS ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885 SELECTMEN OF DERRYFIELD AND MANCHESTeR 1751, John Goffe, WIlliam Perham, Nathaniel Boyd, Daniel McNiel, Eleazer Wells; 1752, John GOffe, Archibald Stark, Alexander McMurphy; 1753, William Perham, Alexander McMurphy, John Riddell; 1754,William McClintock, Alexander McMurphy, John Hall 1755, Daniel McNiel, Robert Anderson, John Harvey 1756, Daniel McNiel, Robert Anderson, John Harvey 1757, Eleazer Robbins, Robert Anderson, Daniel McNiel 1758, William Perham, William McClintock, Abraham Merrill 1759, William Perham, William McClintock, Abraham Merrill 1760, William McClintock, Hugh Sterling, Abraham Merrill 1761, William Perham, John Hall, Thomas Russ 1762, William Perham, John Stark, John Moors 1763, John Stark, William McClintock, John Moors 1764, William McClintock, John Stark, John Moors 1765, William Perham, William McClintock, Abraham Merrill 1766, Aleander McMurphy, Ebenezer Stevens, John Hall, David McKnight 1767, Eleazer Robbins, Alexander McClintock, Nathaniel Boyd 1768, John Hall, John Goffe, John Harvey 1769, William McClintock, Alexander McMurphy, John Moor 1770, William McClintock, Alexander McMurphy, John Moor 1771, William McClintock, Alexander McMurphy 1772, Alexander McMurphy, John Moor, William McClintock 1773, John Stark, Samuel Boyd, James McCalley 1774, James McCalley, Samuel Boyd, John Perham 1775, John Stark, John Moor, Joseph Goerge 1776, David Starrett, Ezekiel Stevens, John Perhaps 1777, John Goffe, Eenezer Stevens, Benjamin Crombie 1778, John Hall, Benjamin Baker, Samuel Boyd 1779, David Starrett, John Perham, Samuel Moor, Jonathan Russ 1780, JOnathan Russ, John Sheldon, Samuel Moor 1781, John Hall, Smauel Moor, Jonathan Russ 1782, Samuel Moor, Jonathan Russ, Joseph Sanders 1783, Samuel Moor, Joseph Sanders, Jonathan Russ 1784, Joseph Sanders, John Goffe, John Hall 1785, John Goffe Jr., William Perham, Samuel Stark 1786, Joseph Fermor, John Goffe Jr., Isaac Huse 1787, James Thompson, Isaac Huse, John Greene 1788, John Hall, John Webster, John Perham 1789, James Thompson, John Green, John Ray 1790, Isaac Huse, Samuel Moor, JOhn Stark Jr. 1792, Daniel Davis, Samuel Moor, John Stark Jr. 1793, John Goffe, Isaac Huse, John Webster 1794, JOhn Stark Jr., Daniel Davis, Samuel Moor Jr. 1795, Daniel Davis, John STark Jr., Samuel Moor, John Ray, John Perham 1796, Isaac Huse, John Tufts, John Stark Jr. 1797, John Goffe, Samuel Moor Jr., Samuel Blodget 1798, John Goffe, Daniel Davis, John Stark 1799, John Ray, Joseph Moore, Daniel Davis 1800, Samuel Moor Jr., John Ray, Israel Webster 1801, Samuel Moor Jr., John Ray, Israel Webster 1802, Samuel Moore Jr., Israel Webster, John Ray 1803, Samuel Moor Jr., Israel Webster, John Stark (3d) 1804, Samuel Moor Jr., Isaac Huse, John Stark (3d) 1805, Samuel Moor Jr., Edward Ray, Archibald Gamble 1806, Samuel Moor Jr., Edward Ray, Amos Weston 1807, Samuel Moor Jr., Amos Weston, Edward Ray 1808, Samuel Moor Jr., Amos Weston, Samuel Hall 1809, Samuel Moor Jr., Isaac Huse, John Stark 1810, Samuel Moor Jr., Thomas Stickney, Isaac Huse 1811, John Stark Jr., Amos Weston, Israel Webster 1812, Samuel Moor Jr., John Stark Jr., John Dickey 1813, Samuel Moor, Job Rowell, John Dickey 1814, Isaac Huse, Israel Webster, John G. Moor 1815, Isaac Huse, Israel Webster, Ephraim Stevens Jr. 1816, Isaac Huse, John Frye, John Stark (4th) 1817, Isaac Huse, John Stark (4th), John Dickey 1818, Isaac Huse, John Dickey, Nathaniel Moor 1819, Samuel Moor, Ephraim Stevens Jr., John Stark (4th) 1820, Joseph Moor, Ephraim Stevens Jr., Amos Weston Jr. 1821, Amos Weston Jr., Ephraim Stevens Jr., John Proctor 1822, Amos Weston Jr., John Proctor, Nathaniel Moor 1823, Amos Weston Jr., Nathaniel Moor, John Proctor 1824, Amos Weston Jr., Nathaniel Moore, Isaac Huse 1825, Amos Weston Jr., Isaac Huse, Nathaniel Moore 1826, Frederick G. Stark, Israel Merrill, James McQueston 1827, Frederick G. Stark, Amos Weston Jr., Franklin Moor 1828, John Gamble, JOhn Ray, Nathaniel Moore 1829, Frederick G. Stark, Archibald Stark, James McQueston 1830, Amos Weston Jr., John Proctor, Nathaniel Conant 1831, Frederick G. Stark, John Proctor, George Clark 1832, Amos Weston Jr., Frederick G. Stark, George Clark 1833, Amos Weston Jr., John Proctor, James McQueston 1834, James McQueston, Gilbert Greeley, Frederick G. Stark 1835, Frederick G. Stark, Amos Weston Jr., Isaac Huse 1836, Frederick G. Stark, Amos Weston Jr., Gilbert Greeley 1837, Amos Weston Jr., Gilbert Greeley, Joseph M. Rowell 1838, Joseph M. Rowell, Archibald Gamble Jr., Isaac Huse 1840, Amos Weston Jr., J.T.P. Hunt, Hiram Brown 1841, Amos Weston Jr., Isaac C. Flanders, Isaac Huse 1842, Moses Fellows, Andrew Bunton Jr., Abram Brigham 1843, Moses Fellows, Andrew Bunton Jr., David Child 1844, Nathan Parker, Warren L. Lane, George Clark 1845, Nathan Parker, George Clark, Charles Chase 1846, Moses Fellows, Andrew Bunton Jr., Edward McQuesten. **** MODERATORS ***** 1751, John Goffe 1742-54, William Perham 1755-56, John Goffe 1757, Archibald Stark 1758-60, William McClintock 1761, William Perham 1762-63, John Goffe 1764, John Stark 1765, Alexander McMurphy 1766, John Hall 1767, David Starrett 1768, Thomas Russ 1769, William McClintock 1770-73, John Stark 1774, John Goffe 1775, John Stark 1776-1777, John Goffe 1778, John Hall 1779, John Goffe 1780, John Harvey 1781, John Hall 1782, John Little 1783, John Stark 1784, John Hall 1785, John Stark 1786, John Hall 1787, John Little 1788, James Gorman 1789, John Stark 1790, Samuel Moor 1791-92, John Stark 1793, John Webster 1794, John Stark 1795-96, Daniel Davis 1797, John Goffe 1798, Samuel Blodget 1799, Daniel Davis 1800, Samuel P. Kidder 1801, John Stark 1802, Joseph Moor 1803, John Stark 1804, Joseph Moor 1805, Samuel P. Kidder 1806, John Stark 1807-8, David Flint 1809-11, John G. Moor 1812, David Flint 1813, William Hall 1814, John G. Moor 1815-16, John Dwinnells 1817-18, John Stark 1819, Samuel Moor 1820, Nathaniel Moor 1821, John G. Moor 1822, John Stark 1823-25, Nathaniel Moor 1821, John G. Moor 1822, John Stark, 1823-25, Nathaniel Moor 1826, Ephraim Stevens Jr. 1827, John Stark (3d) 1828, Nathaniel Moor 1829, Ephraim Stevens Jr. 1830-32, Frederick G. Stark 1833, Ephraim Stevens Jr. 1834, Gilbert Greeley 1835, Ephraim Stevens Jr. 1836, Gilbert Greeley 1837, Frederick G. Stark 1838, Ephraim Stevens Jr. 1839-40, Charles Stark 1841, James McK. Wilkins 1842-43, Joseph Cochran Jr. 1844, George W. Morrison 1845-46, Herman Foster *** TOWN CLERKS *** 1751-53, John Hall 1754, Alexander McMurphy 1755-56, JohN Goffe 1757-66, John Hall 1767-74, David Starrett 1775, John Hall 1776-79, David Starrett 1779-86, Asael Smith 1787, John Russ 1788, John Hall 1789-93, John Goffe 1794, John Stark Jr. 1795, Isaac Huse 1796, Samuel P. Kidder 1797-98 John Tufts 1799-1810, Samuel Moor Jr. 1811, John Stark Jr. 1812-13, Isaac Huse 1814, Samuel Moor 1815-18 John G. Moor 1819-23, Frederick G. Stark 1824-25, Amos Weston Jr. 1826-28, Franklin Moor 1829-30, Samuel Jackson 1831-33, Amos Weston Jr. 1834-37, John R. Hall 1838-40, Samuel Jackson 1841, Walter French 1842-46, John M. Noyes The town-meetings were held in the town until 1840. The increasing power of the "New Village" was not looked upon with favor by the old inhabitants, who regarded these new-comers are interlopers. Mutual jealousies soon arose, which finally resulted in a stormy town-meeting in March, 1840, which required the selection of thirty constables to keep order before the other town officers were elected. It had become apparent (said Judge Potter, in referring to this meeting) that the inhabitants of the "New Village" would soon outnumber those of the town, if they did not act at that time. The people of the village did not talk or act with much moderation. They openly told their intention of controlling the affairs of the town, and the nominations for town officers by the two parties seem to have been made with this idea, as all the candidates for the important offices in the town lived at the "New Village," or in its immediate vicinity. At the annual meeting the votes of the first day showed conclusively that the people of the "New Village" predominated. Accordingly, when about to adjourn on the evening of that day, a motion was made to adjourn to meet at Washington Hall, on Amherst Street, at ten o'clock A.M. of the next day. This motion at once produced a most stormy discussion. Upon putting the question, the utmost confusion prevailed and a poll of the house was demanded. Finally it was proposed that the two parties to the question should form in lines upon the common, in front of the town-house, and should be counted by the selectmen, thus taking the vote surely and in order. This suggestion met the views of all parties; the question was put by the moderator and a large portion of the voters went out and formed lines as suggested. While most of the voters had thus left the house, some one made a motion to adjourn the meeting to the next day, then to meet at the town-house; the moderator put the vote, it was carried, and the meeting was declared adjourned. When the "outsiders" heard of the vote, they rushed into the house; but to no purpose, the meeting was adjourned, and the moderator would hear no motion. After much confusion the people left the house and went home; but on both sides it was only to rally their forces for the contest the next day. The voters of the "New Village" met the same night in Washington Hall, and laying aside their political preferences, nominated a union ticket for town officers. The next day the parties were at the polls at an early hour, all under much excitement; so much so, that it soon became apparent that they could not proceed with the meeting without an increase of the constabulary force; it was accordingly "Voted to postpone the choice of selectmen until constables be chosen." They then made choice of thirty constables, as follows, viz: James McQuesten, J.L. Bradford, David Young, William P. Farmer, Mace Moulton, Matthew Kennedy, Walter French, John H. Copp, Levi Sargent, Adam Gilmore, Jonathan R. Cochran, Isaac C. Flanders, Adam Gilmore, Jonathan R. Cochran, Isaac C. Flanders, Joseph B. Hall Jr., Alonzo Boyce, Nehemiah Chase, Taylor L. Southwick, Barton Monsey, George W. Tilden, Josiah Stowell, Thomas Gamble, Jonathan C. Furbish, E.W. Harrington, Hiram Brown, Alonzo Smith, Reuben Kimball, John H. Maynard, Henry S. Whitney, Jacob G. Cilley, Joseph M. Rowell, and Ebenezer P. Swain. They then proceeded to elect the Board of Selectmen, and made choice of the gentlemen nominated in the caucus at the "New Village," viz: Amos Weston Jr., Jona. T.P. Hunt, Hiram Brown. After this ballot, the business of the meeting passed off quietly, the village party having things their own way. After choosing the usual officers they raised a committee, consisting of the selectmen, George Clark and James Hall, to purchase a "Pauper Farm," without limitation as to the price, and authorized the selectmen to hire such a sum of money as might be necessary to pay for said farm. THey also constituted the selectmen a committee to take into consideration the subject of a new division of the town into districts for school purposes. The villagers were triumphant; but they seem to have been moderate as victors, as the selectmen called to the very next meeting for the choice of electors at the town-house. It may well be imagined that a people of as strong prejudices as those of Manchester could not look upon these "new-comers" overriding them in a town-meeting with any great degree of complacency, and many stories are told of their remarks during the excitement. One is told of John Stark, Esq., or "Justice Stark," as he was commonly designated. He went into the moderator's desk and addressed the people thus: "Who are ye, that are here to act, and to tread upon us in such a manner? I'll tell ye who you are?-- You're a set of interlopers come here to get a living upon a sand bank, and a d--d poor living you will get, let me tell ye!" "Upon this the "interlopers" made so much disturbance that the "Justice" could not be heard, and he left the desk. The result was decisive. The people of the old part of the town saw at once that their power had departed, and that henceforth Manchester was to be controlled by the people of the "New Village." The first town-meeting in the new village was held in Washington Hall, February 1, 1841, and among other improvements voted was that of building a town-house. This structure was completed during the following summer at an expense of seventeen thousand dollars. The building committee consisted of John D. Kimball, Edward McQuesten and J.T.P. Hunt. THe first meeting in the new house was held March 8, 1842. CITY OF MANCHESTER--SO large had the population of this town become that in the March meeting, in 1846, it was deemed expedient to petition the Legislature for a city charter, and a committee, composed of David Gillis, Samuel D. Bell, Isaac Riddle, William C. Clarke, John A. Burnham, Luther Farley, and Walter French, was chosen to take the matter in change. Accordingly, a petition was at once presented; on June 1, 1846, the city of Manchester was incorporated. At the August election the act was accepted, by a vote of four hundred and eighty-five to one hundred and thirty-four. The first city election occurred August 19, 1846, with four candidates for mayor, viz: Hiram Brown, Whig; William C. Clarke, Democrat; Thomas Brown, Abolition; and William Shepherd. The result was as follows: H. Brown Clarke T. Brown Shepherd Whole No. voter Ward 1 34 65 8 4 111 Ward 2 78 65 21 3 169 Ward 3 85 38 30 15 170 Ward 4 108 26 8 0 143 Ward 5 123 93 28 6 252 Ward 6 95 74 5 10 185 Ward 7 46 81 6 4 137 ------ ------ ------ -------- -------- 569 442 106 42 1179 Necessary to a choice, 586 H. Brown's vote, 569 Majority against Brown: 17 The following officers were chosen at this election: Aldermen--Andrew Bunton Jr., George Porter, William G. Means, David Gillis, Timothy Blaisdell, Edward McQuesten, Moses Fellows Common Countil--John S. Kidder, George W. Eaton, William Boyd, Hervey Tufts, Daniel J. Hoyt, James M. Morrill, Israel Endicott, Joel Russell, George P. Folsom, David Cross, Abram Brigham, William M. Parker, Ebenezer Clark, Asa O. Colby, Nathaniel Herrick, William Potter, J.G. Cilley, F.A. Hussey, Sewell Leavitt, William W. Baker, Rodnia Nutt. School Committee--Archibald Stark, Nathaniel Wheet, Joseph Knowlton, Moses Hill, James McCauley, William W. Brown, Amos Weston Overseers of the Poor--Joseph M. Rowell, B.F. Locke, Francis Reed, Levi Batchelder, Caleb Johnson, Flagg T. Underhill, James Emerson. Assessors--Edward Hall, Ira Ballou, James Wallace, Charles Chase, Lewis Bartlett, Stilman Fellows, James Hall Jr. The second election for mayor was held September 1st. There were four candidates, viz: Hiram Brown, Isaac C. Flanders, Thomas Brown and John S. Wiggin. The results was as follows: (Individual wards shown in original document, not shown here) H. Brown, 602 Flanders, 347 Wiggin, 41 T. Brown, 109 Total # Votes 1154 Hiram Brown had 602 Necessary to a choice, 578 Brown's majority: 24 The city government was organized in the City Hall, September 8, 1846, Moses Fellows, chairman of the retiring Board of Selectmen, presiding. Prayer was offered by Rev. C.W. Wallace, D.D. after which the oath of office was administered to the mayor by Hon. Daniel Clark. After the delivery of the mayor's address the city government was organized as follows: President of the Common Council, William M. Parker; Clerk, David Hill; City Clerk, J.S.T. Cushing; Treasurer, Thomas Hoyt; Marshal, George T. Clark. Hon. Samuel D. Bell was appointed, September 28, 1846, police justice, and Isaac Riddle and Joseph Cochrane Jr., special justices. MAYORS AND CLERKS--the following is a list of the mayors and clerks from the incorporation of the city to 1885. *** MAYORS *** Hiram Brown 1846-47 Jacob F. James, 1848-49 Moses Fellows, 1850-51 Frederick Smyth, 1852-55, 1864 Theodore T. Abbot, 1855-57, 1863 Jacob F. James, 1857 Alonzo Smith, 1858 E.W. Harrington 1859-60 David A. Bunton 1861-62 Darwin J. Daniels 1865 (died August 15, 1865) John Hosely, 1865-66 (elected to fill vacancy) Joseph B. Clark 1867 James A. Weston 1868, 1870-71, 1874-75 Isaac W. Smith 1869 Person B. Cheney 1872 Charles H. Bartlett 1873 (resigned February 18, 1873) John P. Newell 1873 (elected to fill vacancy) Alpheus Gay, 1876 Ira Cross 1877 John L. Kelly, 1878 Horace B. Putnam 1881 George H. Stearns 1884 *** CLERKS *** John S.T. Cushing, 1846-49 Frederick Smyth, 1849-52 George A.French, 1842-56 Joel Taylor 1856-57 Frank H. Lyford 1856-57 Joseph Knowlton 1858-65 Joseph E. Bennett 1865-76 Albert Jackson 1876 John P. Newell 1876 Nathan P. Kidder, 1877 to present time The area of the city was enlarged July 1, 1853, by the annexation of what is now known as Amoskeag, from Goffstown, and Piscataquog, from Bedford. ***************** (end)