On Saturday, Francestown marked its 250th anniversary with a literal bang, starting a day of festivities with a reading of the town charter and firing Brookline’s Molly Stark cannon on the common.
Incorporated on June 25, 1772, Francestown only had a total of 928 residents during its first census in 1790, compared to its 1,610 residents today.
Early in its history, Francestown was the only route between Boston and Vermont, along the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, and those that wanted to use the road had to pay a toll of one cent per mile from coaches and wagons.
Amid the procession down Main Street, Stewart and Carol Brock of Francestown donned period dress as John Wentworth, the governor of New Hampshire in 1772, when Francestown was incorporated, and Frances Wentworth Deering, his wife, for whom Francestown is named. They were joined by the New Hampshire chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, a fife and drum band and Francestown schoolchildren in period dress.
The procession led to the town Meeting House, where Stewart Brock, in character as John Wentworth, read the town’s incorporation documents.
To mark the beginning of the celebrations, the New Boston Artillery Co. fired off their Molly Stark cannon, captured from the British at the Battle of Bennington, Vt., by Gen. John Stark on Aug. 16, 1777, and a raucous ringing of the Meeting House bells.
Children’s games and an ice cream social ran throughout the afternoon at the Meeting House horse sheds, along with a petting zoo and pony rides.
Later that afternoon, residents were treated to a fashion show and a roast pig dinner on the Town Common. After dinner, there was a costumed dance party, and fireworks after the evening fell.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.