Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/170

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��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��collector, that beef would be received as legal tender for each man's tax. Much labor was required to collect this tax, and it was found necessary in February, 1781, to call a town- meeting and appoint a committee to aid in collecting the tax and beef. Capt. Webster was chairman of this committee.

The Continental money was so far reduced in value as to be estimated less than five dollars on a hundred. From the orders and papers now be- fore us, we are able, to state the cur- rency of the time — beef being the standard of value. It appears, too, that this tax had no uniform title or ear-mark.

His colleagues in office allowed Capt. Webster three pounds, lawful money, for a heifer toward his war tax. Capt. Pettengill was allowed four pounds toward his cow tax for the army. Jonathan Young was allow- ed ten shillings and eight pence, out of his heifer tax. Ensign John Web- ster paid his tax with 1,890 continental dollars, being for 420 pounds of beef for the army. John Collins Gale was allowed for 400 pounds of beef 1S00 continental dollars, being the amount of his "war beef tax.'" Allowed Joseph Meloon 1500 continental dol- lars, it being in part toward a cow fur- nished by him to the town for the army.

Dr. Joseph Bartlett was paid one thousand dollars in full for his services as selectman March 12, 1781.

Capt. Ebenezer Webster was paid $500 in full for his services and 100 feet of boards. Edward Eastman was allowed $566, it being for shingles, nails, making shoes, and service as a selectman of the town.

In 1 78 1 Salisbury voted to raise twelve thousand continental dollars, to be worked out on the highways at $24 per day to each man.

In 1783 the town voted to raise $200 in specie, to be worked out at fifty cents per diem for each man.

Such was the state of the currency in the days of the Revolution. Great

��were the consequent difficulties to be overcome. But the patriotism of the times equaled every emergency.

The insurgents of 1786 claimed, as a measure of reform, that the legisla- ture should issue a large amount of bills of credit, pledging the faith of the state for their redemption, and that these bills should constitute a legal tender for all taxes and debts. These propositions were placed before many of the towns in this state for their consideration.

On the 15th day of August, A. D. 1786, the subject of a larger emission of paper money came up for discussion in public town-meeting in Salisbury. Judge Webster presided as moderator, and gave his views to the meeting. — The town voted, "Not to have any paper money on any plan whatever at present."

The town then appointed Dr. Joseph Bartlett, Capt. Wilder, Col. Webster, L. Judkins and John Sweatt, a com- mittee to instruct the representatives, on this subject. Such was the sym- pathy the insurgents obtained against government from Salisbury.

The situation of the body politic,, and the remedy of the insurgents, re- minds us of the case of Charles V. He spent the latter part of his days in the cells of a religious cloister, en- deavoring to obtain absolution from, his earthly sins by doing worthy pen- ance. He inflicted stripes upon his mortal body, until the blood started from his skin. Charles then inquired of his spiritual confessor, what more he would prescribe. He received for answer, "nothing but a little more whipping."

In March, 1787, Col. Webster and Capt. David Pettengill were chosen delegates to meet other delegates at Warner, to consider the propriety of the removal of the courts from Amherst to some more central part of the county of Hillsborough, or to estab- lish a new county from the northern part of said county. The proceedings of this convention brought about in the year 1788 the establishment of

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