A half-century of conflict. France and England in North America. Part ...

1743.] FORT AT NUMBER FOUR. 219English neighbor was nearly thirty miles away. Asmay be supposed, it grew slowly, and in 1744 it hadbut nine or ten families. In the preceding year,when war seemed imminent, and it was clear thatneither Massachusetts nor New Hampshire wouldlend a helping hand, the settlers of Number Four,seeing that their only resource was in themselves,called a meeting to consider thesituation and determinewhat should be done.The meeting was heldat the house, or log-cabin, of John Spafford, Jr.,andbeing duly called to order, the following resolutionswere adopted: that a fort be built at the charge ofthe proprietors of the said township of Number Four;that John Hastings, John Spafford, and John Averybe a committee to direct the building; that each carpenterbe allowed nine shillings, old tenor, a day,each laborer seven shillings, and each pair of oxenthree shillings and sixpence ; that the proprietors ofthe townsliip be taxed in the sum of three hundredpounds, old tenor, for building the fort; that JohnSpafford, Phineas Stevens, and John Hastings beassessors to assess the same, and Samuel Farnsworthcollector to collect it.^ And to the endthat their fort should be a good and creditableone, they are said to have engaged the services ofJohn Stoddard, accounted the foremost man ofwestern Massachusetts, Superintendent of Defence,Colonel of Militia, Judge of Probate, Chief Justice1 Extracts from the Town Record, in Saunderson, History ofCharlestown, N. H. (Number Four), 17, 18.