Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/342

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��NEW LONDON CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

��showing New Chester, Alexandria, Heidleburg, Dantzick, Perrystown, and other towns around it on the east and south ; from all which I am led to the same conclusion, as to the location of Heidleburg, as before.

There is one other circumstance which has great weight with me. My father was born in Hopkinton, in 1768, and removed thence to New London, in 1 781, when thirteen years old, and be was eleven years old when the town was incorporated as New London. He used to tell me often about his moving to New London with his father, that his father had been talking of moving there for several years before he did go, and that this tract of land was known in Hopkinton as Heidleburg until the time of its incorporation, and that in 1781, when he moved there, the name of Heidleburg was quite as frequently applied to it as New London, though both were used indiscriminately in common conversation. That Dant- zick was the name applied to the re- gion round the south end of Sunapee Lake, while Heidleburg was to the northeast ot it.

The only trouble with these old maps is that Sunapee Lake being put down without regard to any actual survey, is often represented on them as extending much farther south than it should be as compared with the surrounding territory. All the author- ities agree that Newbury (formerly Fishersfield) was originally called Dant- zick : and I think upon investigation it is equally well settled that the original name of New London was Heidleburg. I have no partiality for one name more than the other, and have only endeav- ored to get at the truth in this matter. I am inclined to think that the first set- tler.; were wise in selecting the plain English name of New London in pref- erence to either of them.

Let us now return to the records of the town and see what progress our new municipal corporation has been mak- ing. They held their meetings annually for the choice of town officers, and many special meetings were also hold- en ; one notified and held February 12,

��1 78 1, to see what method the town will take to procure a man for the Conti- nental Army, and it was voted " That some man be procured for the Conti- nental Army," also that " the select- men be a committee to hire a man for this town to serve in the Continental Army for three years."

Also, at a meeting held September 24, 1 78 1, " Voted, to raise silver money to pay for beef purchased for this year, and to pay the soldier hired for this vear."

At the annual town meeting held in March, 1782, after choosing town of- ficers, &c, they voted " twenty hard dollars to be raised for town charges."

/ Wed, To grant money for school, — twelve hard dollars granted.

Voted, Seventy-five dollars for high- ways ; work to be three shillings per day.

Voted, To do something towards the support of Mr. Ambrose, preacher. Chose a committee to inquire into his wants, and supply according to our pro- portion, and that an average of the same be made. The committee was Nathaniel Everett and Mr. Samuel Messer.

Voted, To join Perrystown and Fishersfield; and petition the General Court that these towns may be joined in representation.

We find nothing to show that New London was ever classed with Perrystown and Fishersfield to send a representa- tive, but it was soon classed with Per- rystown, which was incorporated as Sut- ton in the year 1784, April 13.

The Town Records do not show who was procured as the soldier in the Conti- nental Army. But I find in the Adju- tant General's office, among a mass of old papers and records, one with the following heading :

" Return of Soldiers mustered in the years 1781 and 1782 to fill up the Continental Army with the towns and places they engage for, and time when mustered in, for each of which a bounty of twenty pounds was promised by the acts and resolves of the General Court."

[continued in august number.]

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