The Exeter Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the history ofExeter, educate the community and visitors to Exeter through a variety of programs andcommunity events. The Historical society was founded in 1928 and has been key in preservingExeter. The Historical Society houses maps, documents, photos, artifacts, and other intriguingitems that have been collected since 1928 and aid in displaying Exeter’s rich history. FromOctober to May the Historical Society creates monthly programs based on a variety of topics sothose of all ages can learn about the town’s rich history. Also, each month a short video seriescalled the Exeter History Minutes is produced as another resource for those interested in learningabout Exeter. The Exeter Historical Society is committed to promoting the history of Exeter andis a great source for all things Exeter related.

In the midst of Phillip Exeter Academy's sprawling campus lies the Exeter Historical Society, which came into existence in the early 20th century. Dedicated to the preservation of Exeter's deep-rooted history, the organization provides numerous avenues through which individuals can engage with the past of the town and preserve it for the future.

The Exeter Historical Society

In the wake of the Revolutionary War, the newly independent United States was not yet clear of hardship. Aftereffects of the revolution were numerous and impactful, and among them was a severe debt crisis which came in the midst of an economic downturn following the war. This issue came to a head in the form of Shay’s Rebellion- an armed series of uprisings which sought to restore fiscal security to citizens facing turbulence as a result of the instability. 
Amongst the larger movement was a fringe incident known as The Paper Money Riot, which occurred in the town of Exeter, New Hampshire on the 20th of September, 1786. The perpetrators of the riot, who referred to themselves as Regulators, repeatedly requested that the state government print more paper money. They believed this would meaningfully contribute to alleviating the lack of physical currency in N.H., and by extension help to lift the populace out of debt.
When the Regulators’ requests to the legislature fell upon deaf ears, they resorted to more extreme measures to gain the ear of the government. Taking up arms, rebels from surrounding towns marched upon Exeter, New Hampshire’s capital, to make their demands. The rioters then mistakenly moved to surround the Superior Court, rather than the General Court as they had originally intended. Atypically, the town meeting house was not being used by the Legislature that particular day. By the time their mistake was realized, a large crowd had formed, creating a physical barrier between the Regulators and the First Church of Exeter where the Legislature was actually gathered.
Nonetheless, they pushed on, and managed to reach the church despite the considerable negative attention they had accrued in the process. Upon arrival, the Regulators were met with the state’s incumbent President, John Sullivan (who in modern times would hold the title of Governor). Sullivan was able to placate the rebels for a short while, and the group fled across the Exeter River where they then took refuge in the woods. This bought just enough time for Sullivan to force their disassembly, which he accomplished by calling upon the militia to intimidate the group into standing down.
The rebellion was effectively put to rest with the appearance of the state militia, and in the end, none of the demands made by the Regulators were entertained or fulfilled. However, its impact was not entirely negligible, as The Paper Money Riot is now considered to be one of the many instances which contributed to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which took place in the year following the riot.

The First Church of Exeter, which is more often referred to as the Exeter Congregational Church, is a place of worship with a rich history. It was founded in the year 1638 by the Rev. John Wheelwright, (who was also the founder of the town of Exeter itself), upon his expulsion from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The current building was constructed in 1798, and the current congregation was born of a union between the First and Second Parish of Exeter, which had split over ideological differences in the 18th century for several hundred years until they eventually reunited in 1920. 	Noteworthy attendees of the church include Nicholas Gilman Jr. and President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln worshiped at the Congregational Church during visits he made to his son, who was schooled at the nearby Phillips Exeter Academy. The current structure that can be seen today was not extant at the time of the Paper Money Riot, however the previous church at this location did house N.H. government meetings, including the meeting of the legislature on the day of the riot. 	John Sullivan, New Hampshire’s President in 1786, placated the rioters who had congregated outside. The rebels dispersed from the church and fled into the nearby woods after crossing the Exeter River, but were later accosted by the state militia. Sullivan’s appeasement of the group provided an opening with which he could call upon the militia and effectively bring The Paper Money Riot to an end. The leaders of the movement were subsequently taken into custody, but later released.

Located at 21 Front Street in the historic Exeter, New Hampshire, The First Church of Exeter has a storied past and incredible relevance to many events throughout the town's history. Now serving the area as The Congregational Church of Exeter, it has been a place of religious and community gathering for several centuries. Despite a brief internal separation, the Church has overcome the happenings of many eras and reconvened in its entirety in more recent times.

The Paper Money Riot at The First Church of Exeter

The Garrison House was built in 1709 by the Gilman family. The house sits on the banks of theSquamscott River. The Gilman family also owned a very successful sawmill. The Gilmans havebeen in America since our nation's founding and have had a role to play in our nation's foundingsince the very beginning. John Gilman built the house in 1700 and the house is still standing.Nicholas Gilman, one of the Gilmans to have lived in the home, became a state treasurer of NewHampshire. And thus it was decided that the Gilman House would be the treasury to New Hampshire.Important documents were held here, meetings occurred, and money was stored in the Gilmanhouse. Meaning that the house would need to be secure from invaders, robbers, etc.The exterior of this house looks relatively normal; however, the framing of the house is very elaborate. Thehouse has walls constructed of massive sawn logs. And to add to that already odd detail, thehouse also has had a pulley system above the front door that operated a reinforced door. Thehouse was owned and restored by William Dudley until it was given to Historic New England in1966. Since being taken over by Historic New England the house has been transformed into anelaborate museum.

A rare example of a fortified home, the Gilman Garrison house is a historical landmark that sits within the heart of Exeter, New Hampshire. Belonging to a vastly successful family of important, early American political figures, the structure has seen many different uses throughout its life, and currently functions as a museum. Additionally, the Gilman family had a presence during The Paper Money Riot of 1786, as Nicholas Gilman Jr. was a member of the NH state legislature, which was surrounded by protestors on the 20 of September before the riot was dispersed.

The Gilman Garrison House and the Gilman Family

Now known as the American Independence Museum, this property belonged to members of the Gilman family, who were an influential mercantile name in town among many other distinctions. The house came into their possession upon its purchase from Elias Ladd in the mid-18th century. Their ranks included Nicholas Gilman Jr., an Exeter-born American Founding Father who was involved in the events of The Paper Money Riot as a member of the New Hampshire state legislature. Notably, Nicholas Gilman Jr. was also a signer of the United States Constitution. 	The Ladd Gilman house is remarkable both for its association with the Gilmans, but also because a Dunlap Broadside, one of only 26 known copies, was discovered in the attic in 1985. Dunlap Broadsides are authentic, complete copies of the original Declaration of Independence which were printed by order of Congress on July 4, 1776. While the building now serves the town of Exeter by detailing historical matters of American Independence, it formerly functioned not only as a residence, but also as the State Treasury for a brief period during the Revolutionary War. 	This is because John Taylor Gilman and his brother, Nathaniel Gilman, both held the position of State Treasurer. The Ladd Gilman house served the state as the treasury between 1775 and 1789, meaning it would have been the Treasury at the time of The Paper Money Riot in 1786. Given its value as a place rich in historical happenings, especially due to its relevance to the history of New Hampshire, the house was transformed into the current museum.

The Ladd Gilman house is a historic marker in downtown Exeter, NH. Built by the Ladd family and later acquired by the Gilmans, the home has stood for multiple centuries and embodied many different roles in that time. Presently, it is a museum dedicated to American Independence and the role of New Hampshire in its attainment.

The Ladd Gilman House and Nicholas Gilman Jr.

The Exeter River is located in Rockingham county which is in southeastern New Hampshire.The river is 40.5 miles long. It connects to the Squamscott river which then leads to the GreatBay. The Exeter River is the freshwater-upstream portion of the Squamscott river. The river isessential in keeping the Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve healthy and thriving. Many rareand endangered species reside in the Great Bay National Estuarine Reserve therefore it isextremely essential for research. This river has been recognized by many organizations such asthe New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP) and the NewHampshire Resource Protection Project. The Exeter river has been used for centuries as a methodof transportation and a source of fish and shellfish. The Squamscott River which is made uppartially by the Exeter River was named after the local Native American Tribe that inhabited thearea surrounding the river. To this day the Exeter River is essential to the success of Exeter andthe overall success of New Hampshire.

Cutting through the heart of Exeter, the Exeter River (also known as the Squamscott River), is a brackish river which empties into the Great Bay, and eventually the ocean. The lifeblood of the historical mill town that sprung up on its banks, the river has been harnessed by many different groups throughout history in order to fill purposes both personal, natural, and commercial. In 1786, the Regulators of The Paper Money Riot fled Exeter across the river to seek shelter for the evening in the surrounding woods after the failure of their rebellion.

The Paper Money Riot of 1786

The Exeter Historical Society

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources