Biography of HON. MACE MOULTON of Manchester NH ----------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/Manchester On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896 : and Manchester edition of the Book of Nutfield : historic sketches of that part of New Hampshire comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time; by George Franklyn Willey; Manchester, N.H.: G.F. Willey, 1896 ------------------- page 26 HON. MACE MOULTON, son of Henry and Susan [Stevens] Moulton, was born in East Concord, [NH] May 2, 1796. Holding the theory that boys are better throughout life for having learned a trade, his parents apprenticed him to a house carpenter, with whom he served six years. To this work he applied himself with vigor and attained a proficiency which would undoubtedly have resulted in numerous monuments of his skill had he followed the trade, as, at even this early period of life, he was actuated by the principle of doing well whatever he attempted. In 1817, when but twenty-one years of age, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Hillsborough County, and he resided for a few months at Pembroke. Six months after his appointment he moved to Piscataquog, then a part of Bedford. He served as deputy sheriff with honor to himself and usefulness to the business men for a period of twenty-three years, until 1840, when he was elected high sheriff. He held that office until 1844, when he resigned and was elected representative to congress, serving during the stirring times of the Mexican War. During his occupancy of this office, he gained the personal friendship of Webster, Pierce, and Hamlin, and a close acquaintance with many who afterward became noted in the history of the nation, notably Houston of Texas, Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, John A. Dix of New York, but a native of New Hampshire, and many others. Although politically at variance with some of his new found friends, foundations were laid in Washington for friendships which existed during the remainder of his life. During his congressional term, he ranged himself on the side of economy and conservatism, and voted on questions which agitated the national legislature in a way which later developments have proved to have been sagacious and far seeing. He threw his influence in favor of the admission of Texas as a state and the organization of a territorial government in Oregon, and did his best to have the Wilmot Proviso, against slavery in any territory which might be acquired by the United States in future time, passed with the three million loan bill enacted for settling the war with Mexico. It was during this term of office also that a new tariff bill was enacted, during the discussion of which his judgment counselled him to vote against some of his best personal friends on certain questions, it being his nature to allow nothing to interfere with his convictions as to what was right, and best for his constituents. In 1847, on his return from Washington, Mr. Moulton was elected a member of the governor's council and served two years. He also filled many official positions in the town of Bedford. In 1849 he moved to Manchester, where he lived during the remainder of his life. Between 1847 and 1849, on the urgent appeals of the prominent men of both political parties, he again became deputy sheriff and served for several years. Both as sheriff and as deputy he is acknowledged to have had no superior in integrity and intelligence. He understood the law and the duties of the office thoroughly, and was prompt, humane, and honest in its execution. As a clear-headed, thinking man, fully abreast if not ahead of his times, he early discovered how much time and money were wasted in the old forms of "red tape," and in consequence he originated new forms for the returns on sheriffs' writs and other important improvements in the transaction of the routine business of that office. He hated duplicity and political cunning, never sough office; in his later years he had a decided distaste for it. He was often proposed as a candidate for mayor, and on the death of Hon. Levi Woodbury during his candidacy for governor, of the Granite State, a committee waited on Mr. Moulton to ascertain if he would accept the nomination for governor, but he peremptorily declined. He was a director of the Amoskeag bank and president of the Amoskeag Savings bank, which position he held at the time of his death. His mind was strong and active, and what his judgment told him was right he believed in. He was a model for promptness and reliability and his word was never questioned. He might have been called stern and severe at times, but of his overflowing kindness of heart many men in need had ample proofs. Young men, cramped in their business relations, seldom appealed to him in vain if he saw that they had the enterprise and ability, with a little aid, to carry out their plans. As a statesman, Mr. Moulton was a Jeffersonian Democrat of the old school, and had the highest reverence for the Constitution and the Union as established by the fathers. During his long and happy domestic life there were born to him and his wife, Dolly Gould (Stearns) Moulton, whom he married in 1822, one daughter, Eliza Jennie, and two sons, Henry DeWitt and Charles Lucian Moulton. The last named died March 10, 1858. Henry's death occurred Dec. 21, 1893; Eliza died Oct. 22, 1895. Mr. Moulton passed away March 5, 1867 at the age of seventy-one, after a short illness and his wife who survived him died Sept. 21, 1879. The only grandchild was Mace Moulton, son of Henry DeWitt Moulton. He was educated in the public schools of Manchester, and later graduated at Dartmouth college in the Thayer School of Civil Engineering in 1878. Since then he has settled in Springfield Mass as manager and chief engineer of one of the largest iron and bridge manufacturing establishments in New England. (end) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -------------- The Hon. Mace Moulton was buried in Valley Cemetery, Manchester NH His father Henry Mace, was the sixth child of Henry and Betsey (Mace) Moulton, bap Sandown NH 27 Apr 1735, d. Concord NH 1817, m. Betsey, dau of Richard Mace who was b. Isle of Shoals and d. 1818. She was living at Hampton Falls NH at the time of their marriage. They had 8 children. -------------- DeWitt Clinton Moulton, b. 17 Feb 1846, d. 2 Aug 1847 Charles Clinton Moulton, b. 17 Dec 1847; m. 11 July 1868 Emma Samantha Crosby. She d. 26 Jan 1906 Charles Lucian, b. Bedford NH, d. 10 March 1858 Eliza Jane, b. Bedford NH 22 Feb 1824, d. 22 Oct 1895 -------------- U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > Missouri > Saint Louis > Saint Louis > District 185 Moulton, Mace W M 26 Civil Engineering NH NH NH Moulton, Emma L. W F 26 wife Keeps House VT VT VT Moulton Maude W F 5 dau NH NH VT Moulton, Mace Jr. W M 2 son NH NH VT [servants and boarders] ---same census, same family-- 1880 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Grafton > Hanover > District 85 Charles Blaisdell W M 53 painter VT VT VT Mary Blaisdell wife W F 50 VT VT VT Emma Moulton daughter W F 27 VT VT VT at home Maud Moulton grand dau W F 5 NH NH VT [b abt 1875] Mace Moulton grand son W M 2 NH NH VT Charles W Blaisdell W M 31 son VT VT VT Bertha Blaisdell daughter W F 17 VT VT VT James Blaisdell son W M 12 VT VT VT Mattie Blaisdell grand child W F 5 at home ---------- 1900 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Hampden > Springfield Ward 5 > District 585 Mace Moulton Head W M Feb 1855 45 widow NH NH NH Civil Engineer Mace Moulton Jr. son W M May 1878 22 single NH NH VT, Clerk (engineering) Thornton R Moulton son W M Aug 1888 11 single MA NH VT at school Chas E Blaisdell father in law W M Dec 1825 74 widow VT VT VT Bertha Welch sister in law W F Dec 1862 37 widow 0 ch 0 living VT VT VT Mary Mc Cormick servant W F Apr 1863 37 single Can-Eng Ire Ire imm 1890 servant Winifred M Fay servant W F Aug 1878 21 single Ire Ire Ire imm 1889 servant -------------- 1910 United States Federal Census > New York > New York > Manhattan Ward 12 > District 686 Moulton, Mace Head W M 31 m1x 3 yrs NH VT VT Civil Engineer Moulton, Florence wife F W 30 m1x 3 yrs 0 ch 0 living IL Can-Eng Iowa -------------- 1920 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 25 > District 586 Moulton, Mace Jr. Head M W 41 married NH NH VT, salesman oils Moulton, Florence K. wife F W 40 married IL Canada Iowa --------------- 1930 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Norfolk > Brookline > District 17 Moulton, Mace Head M W 52 married at age 29 NH NH Vt, proprietor asphalt Co Moulton, Florence wife F W 50 married at age 27 IL Canada-Eng, Iowa Whelpley, Richard father-in-law M W 83 widow Canada-Eng Can-Engl Can-Eng --------------- 1930 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Hampden > Springfield > District 58 Moulton, Thornton Head M W 40 married at age 27 MA MA NH Contractor, Road construction Moulton, Jeannette wife F W 44 married at age 30 Scotland Scot Scot imm 1910 naturalized Moulton, Jannette B. dau F W 13 single MA Moulton, Thora M. dau F W 8 single MA Moulton, Mace son M W 6 single MA [b abt 1924] ----------- California Death Index, 1940-1997 Record Name: MOULTON, MACE Social Security #: 013149273 Sex: MALE Birth Date: 19 Sep 1923 Birthplace: INDIANA Death Date: 7 Jul 1971 Death Place: SAN FRANCISCO [His WWII draft info states he was an actor and motion picture director] ----------- Social Security Death Index Record Name: Mace Moulton SSN: 013-14-9273 Born: 19 Sep 1923 Died: 7 Jul 1971 State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts ----------- World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Mace Moulton Jr. born 27 May 1878 White registration place: Brighton, Suffolk, MA nok: wife, Florence Kilburn Moulton --------------- World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Thornton R Moulton born 1 Aug 1888 in Woburn MA registration place: Springfield, Hampden, MA ------ In 1931 Thornton Moulton gen mgr of New England Asphalt Distributing Co., hot asphalt road oil and emulsified asphalt, 95 State Street ------------ NEGHS Online Database MARRIAGE, Lowell MA, 1873, Dec. 11 Mace Moulton of Manchester NH, age 21, draughtsman, b. NH son of Henry D W. & Sarah K. Moulton Emma S. Blaisdell of Hanover NH, age 21, b VT, dau Charles & Mary M. MARRIAGE Nov 20, 1901 Boston MA - registered at Springfield MA Mace Moulton, age 45, 2nd marriage (widowed), res 9 Buckingham Place, Springfield MA, civil engineer, b. Manchester NH. Father: Henry DeWitt Moulton; mother, Sarah Davis; married by Henry O. Hanorum, Clergyman, Boston. [married to]: Bertha (Blaisdell) Welch, age 38, second marriage, divorced; same residence. b. Norwich VT; father, Charles E. Blaisdell; mother, Mary M. Hutchinson.