The Press., 1888-12-27

slThe snow comes soon in the fall and lies late in the spring. The inhabitants have never raised enough grain for their own use, and the cost of transportation was great over such hilly, boggy roads from the river towns. ]"
 ssThe unsettled condition of boundaries has involved the inhabitants in litigation and burdened them with debt
 ''In the space of 40 years they have had to settle three ministers, and are indebted to their present minister for more than his two last years salary, and they give him only the small sum of 67 pounds money per annum, vet such is their distressed condition at pres ent that he has thought it his duty, and has, in fact, abated or 5 pounds a year in the last two settlements they have made, beside the abatement of some very poor peoples rates.n
 seThey relied upon the pine timber in the past to help them out in their support, but now the supply IS failing and the market al- so"
 s"Twenty-seven went into the continental army the last year and 20 gone in the same this year. Four of these 20 soldiers had large and shiftless families, whom they had to sup port, and the clothing for the soldiers and care of the families cost them a rate of two shillinss on the pound, which many of the inhabitants were unable to pay, and the wealthier paid it and more by voluntary sub scription.."
 'fOne-third of the people were tenants to nonresident proprietors, and very few of the people were able to fat more cattle and swine than necessary for tn ir families. Oul fani- lies, say they, are very numerous, for the support of which we are obliged to have more - COWS in proportion to ether stock Many of those COWS are hired on the hard condition of returning double their number in the term of four years. That was exacting 25 per cent <. True [they say] the quantity of land used seems larger, but it is really overstocked The truth is, it is miserable poor township of land. In 1778-1O0 years ago. To sum up, there are 90 families, only 30 able to pay (this tax) for themselves"
 Only A have more than COWS, Is exactly 3, 20 1. The remainder 30 families have none. Not more than 40 families are able to keep oxen; 50 have no oxen. Total amount of list, 5000 pounds; 2, ,178 arises on polls of inhabitants. In 1776 ''there were 113 lists and 12l poles. The 20 soldiers gone reduced the list of poles to ], ,5OO pounds. :"
 In 1774 the population, according to the census, was 512 whites and ? blacks. Ot these there were 164 children under 10 years of age, 129 youth between 10 and 20, 196 be- tween 20 and 70, g above 70. So the fami- lies would average between and apiece.
 In closing the memorialists say, 'It is un- happy and disagreeable to bs in such 6 state of poverty, yet it is fact they are obliged to own" This situation is not for want of in. dustry or frugality on the part of the inhabit- ants, but is the result of their circumstances. 1-13 the land belonged to Tories.
 Hezekiah Bissel, questioned by Solomon Wales, Esq, (Which of the farms on the town street do you judge to be the best ?" re- piled:
 'I beli ve Esquire Sessions to be equal in goodness to any one, and his husbandry and improvements judge to have been the best.
 This Solomon Wales made one of the re- ports or memorials to the general assembly in which the poverty of the people is so vivid 1y portrayed and that he would not be in : clined to make things worse than they were, appears from the fact that he was public spirited man, as seen in the statement made by Rev. Dr. Hammond in his 4th of July ad. dress in 1853. This incident occurred three years after the memorial of 1778, and was re- lated to Mir. Hammond by Dea. Horton. Il was in debate about paying tax of 2 shil ling, pence on ponnd. He began his reply to MT. Bates by asking him about how much stock he kept? The answer was about IA ol 15 head of cattle and 15 or 20 sheep ''Aye,' said Squire Wales, ''about the same that keep" He then said, "When we begun this contest the general opinion was that if we could gain our liberties by spending half oul property it would be better than to remain as we were. For my part, am willing to pay this tax, and another as large, and another still, rather than to have the regulars come and take all, and hang me besides" Note 1-13th of land belonged to Tories.
 When we consider the troublous times through which the people in Union passed during this period we must pronounce the ministry of MT. Horton eminently successful. 72 were added to the church during his pas torate of 24 years. He was dismissed June 13, 1783, with the following minute of the .uncil: ''The Rev. Mir Horton is by this council freely and fully recommended as 8 pious and faithful minister of the gospel to the work of the gospel ministry, wherever the providence of God shall call him." He died Jan. B, 1789, ''much lamented," and his body still rests in yonder burying ground, with many of his former flock around him. He began to be rbout 30 years old when he was ordained, and was 8 little over B when he died.
 (Concluded next weekly