At a town meeting held November 5, 1779, the question of annexing a part of Adams to New Providence—now Cheshire—was, put and decided in the negative; yeas 24, nays 48. This would show 72 votes cast. As such a local question must have been somewhat exciting, it may be supposed that special efforts were made to bring out the voters, and that their attendance was full.

A town meeting was held May 1st, 1780, for the purpose of considering the new constitution or frame of government. Two of the articles were passed by 60 votes. One relative to the judiciary was rejected unanimously, and that the judges mentioned should be elected annually. One relative to the executive power was voted against unanimously, with this objection: That every person liable to do duty ought to have a voice in choosing the officers to command him. Article 2 of chapter 6 was passed with this addition, That the justice be debarred from holding a seat in the General Court. A committee, consisting of Nathan Comstock, Justus Holt and John Eaton, was appointed to examine and make amendments. The watchful, independent spirit of the people of that time is seen in these votes in favor of an elective judiciary, elective military officers, and the separation of the judicial and legislative departments of the state.

During the two or three years after the town's organization, town meetings were very frequent. They were held every few weeks. In 1779 there were ten. A great deal of work had to be done. The critical events of the war raised new questions continually for the voters to act upon; and it is no disparagement to the early settlers to say that they were inexperienced in the arts of wire-pulling and sly political scheming, and could not "fix" things so they would stay "fixed" for a whole year. Besides the feeling of the town was very democratic, and the voters would not tolerate encroachments or meddlesomeness bv their officers. The votes in regard to the constitution of 1780 show a wholesome distrust of rulers.

The patriotism of the early settlers is evinced by their liberal contribution toward carrying on the revolution. Probably no community in the state was more deeply imbued with the spirit of '76, or more free in offering her best blood and her hard-earned property to the cause. Money she had little or none, as is proved by the taxes being paid in produce. Following are some resolves of the various town meetings, copied from the records:

July 5, 1779—Voted to give the nine months men ten dollars a month, to be paid in grain at the stipulated price, viz: Wheat at 6 shillings, rye at 4 shillings and Indian corn at 3 shillings per bushel, and 100 Continental dollars as a bounty before the march.

July 23, 1779—Voted that the selectmen make provision for the men that are draughted to the place of rendezvous.

March 20, 1780—Made choice of David Smith, John Kilburn, Ambros Parker, committee of safety.

May 25, 1780—Voted to pay William Harrendeen 270 Continental dollars to make good the depreciation of money due to him as wages, for service in the Continental army.

June 20, 1780—Voted that the town will raise money by a tax to hire their quota of soldiers to serve in the Continental army six months.

Voted to give each man that shall engage in the service for six months a bounty of two pounds ten shillings for each month he shall serve, to be paid in produce at the stipulated price or in money equal thereto.

July 10, 1780—Voted that Captain Reuben Hinman be refunded the sum of three hundred dollars, which sum he gave a six months man, out of the town treasury.

Voted that the three months men now to be raised have fifty shillings per month in addition to the state wages, to be paid in the same manner and at the same time the six months men are paid.

December 28, 1780—Voted that a committee be appointed to report what bounty shall he given to the soldiers now to be raised for three years.

Voted that Enos Parker, Levi Brown and Samuel Law be a committee for that purpose.

Report of the committee—That each person who shall engage in the Continental army for three years, or (luring the present war, shall be entitled to receive the sum of fifty pounds per year for every year he shall serve, including the Continental pay, and each soldier so engaged shall receive the sum of thirteen pounds previous to his marching if he chooses, thirteen pounds more at the expiration of the first year, and the remainder of the money annually.

Voted that the town agree to and will comply with the above report.

February 12, 1781—The question being put whether the town will agree to class its inhabitants in order to raise its quota of men for the Continental service, voted in the negative.

Voted to choose a committee to hire or raise said men.

Voted that Joab Stafford, Solomon Gardner, Giles Barnes, Sam'l, Lowe and Sam’l Day be a committee for the above purpose.

May 15, 1781—Voted to lay a tax on the town of three hundred pounds hard money for the purpose of procuring a stock of ammunition and defraying town charges, Continental currency to be received at the common exchange.

July 19, 1781—Voted that each soldier engaging to serve in the Continental army three months shall receive from the town of Adams the sum of four pounds for each month he shall serve, to be