HISTORY OF AMHERST, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties 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). ======================================================== SOURCE: History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885, 878 pgs. p. 219 AMHERST The town of Amherst is situated in the southerly part of the county of Hillsborough, in the State of New Hampshire, in latitude 42 degrees 51' north. It lies on both sides of the Souhegan River, the principal part being on the northern side. Its length from north to south, according to a survey made in 1806, is nine miles and one hundred and seventy rods. Its greatest widty is about five miles, and its least width two miles and two hundred and forty-two rods, comprising an area of about twenty-two thousand acres, of which about five hundred are covered with water. It is bounded on the north by Bedford and New Boston, on the east by Bedford and Merrimack, on the south by Hollis and Milford, and on the west by Milford and Mont Vernon. Its surface is broken and uneven. Near the SOuhegan [river] is a strip of valuable intervale land. Adjoining this, at a higher elevation, are tracts of sandy plain land, formerly thickly covered with a growth of pitch pines. Along the water-courses are considerable tracts of meadow land. At a higher elevation, the hill-sides afford excellent grazing land, and when moderately free from rocks are well adapted to agricultural purposes, and with proper care yeild an abundant reward to the husbandman. In other parts they are as hard and strong as granite can make them, and are fitted only for the production of fuel and timber. *ORIGIN OF THE TOWN* The town of Amherst had its origin in a grant of land made by the General Court of Massachusetts to some of the citizens of that province for services in the Narraganset war in 1675-76. The township was granted in 1728, and was known as Narraganset No. 3, and subsequently as Souhegan West No. 3. It was incorporated as a town January 18, 1760, at which time it received the name of Amherst, from General Jeffrey Amherst, at that time commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America. The first meeting of the proprietors of Souhegan West was held at Salem, July 17, 1734. At this meeting Captain Benjamin Potter, Captain Richard Mower and Mr. Daniel Kenney were appointed a committee "to make a Perticular view of ye scircumstances of s'd Township, and make Report to ye Society or Grantees at their adjournment on the second tuesday in September next." They were authorized to employ a surveyo, and such pilots as might be necessary, at the expense of the proprietors. Captain Richard Mower, Messrs. Cornelius Tarble, Ebenezer Rayment, Jeremiah Gatchel and Daniel Kenney were appointed a committee to subdivide the township. Captain Benjamin Potter, Mr. John Bixbe and Ensign Thomas Tarbox were added to this committee at a subsequent meeting. Another meeting of the proprietors was held at Salem, August 13, 1734, at which William Collins was elected proprietor's clerk; Captain Richard Mower, Messrs. John Trask, Ebenezer Rayment, Stephen Peabody and Jeremiah Gatchel, prudential committee; and General Benjamin Potter, treasurer. The prudential committee was directed to rectify all mistakes in the names of the proprietors, as given in the list, and to lay the same before the General Court, if they thought proper. [more in original document not included here] In 1735, Robert Hale, Esq., Captain Stephen Peabody and Lieut. Ebenezer Rayment were appointed a committee to "lay out a place whereon to erect the Public Meeting House...a..place for a Public Burying Ground...."...and to "take a view of the Souhegan River, in Order to find out yet most convenient place to Build a Bridge over the same..." *THE FIRST SETTLEMENT* The first settlment in the township was probably made in the spring of 1735 by Samuel Lamson and Samuel Walton, from Reading, Mass. They settled at first about a mile south of the village, on the farm now owned by Mr. Bryant Melendy, where they built a log house. Both afterwards removed to other parts of the town,--Lamson to the westerly part, now Mont Vernon, where some of his descendants now reside. About 1765 he removed to Billerica, Mass. where he died about 1779. Walton removed to the easterly part of the town, near Babboosuck [sic] pond. Of his subsequent history but little is known. His name appears occasionally on the proprietor's records and is attached to the petition to the provincial authorities in 1747, asking for help against the Indians. He is said to have died here, but none of his descendants reside in town, and for the last eighty years the name is not found in the town records. Lieutenant Joseph Prince seems to have been the only one of the original proprietors who settled in the township. He was from Salem village (now Danvers) and was proprietor in the right of his uncle, Richard Prince. According to an old plan, still in existence, his land at one time extended from Bedford line westward to near where the village of Mont Vernon now stands. A family tradition says that he first located himself on the farm afterward owned by Nathan and Peter Jones, in Mont Vernon, but removed thence to the place now owned by Solomon Prince, in the easterly part of Amherst. Other settlers followed not long afterward, many of them from Salem, and the adjoining towns, but the progress of the settlement was slow. In September 1741, but fourteen families settled in the township. Efforts made by the proprietors to induce settlers to locate in the township, and sums of money were voted for the purpose, but the distance from the seaport towns and the hardships attending the lives of settlers in a new settlement prevented a rapid growth of the place. The French and Indian Wars, which commenced a few years later, also operated unfavorably to its progress. September 8, 1735 the proprietors appointed Captain Mower, Lieutenant Rayment and Cornelius Tarble a committee to build a bridge over the Souhegan river [it was built in the autumn and winter of that year]. On April 19, 1737 the proprietors voted that Capt. Ives, Capt. Majory, Capt. Hicks and Mr. Edward Bond, be paid forty pounds to build a saw-mill in Souhegan West No. upon Beaver Brook. February 14, 1737-8 the proprietors voted to a second division of land and appointed Capt. Joseph Parker, of Chelmsford, Ensign Thomas Tarbox and Lieutenant Cornelius Tarble a committee to see it done. On July 11, 1738 the committee for dividing the town was added by the names of Mr. John Wiles and Captain Ebenezer Rayment, and Mr. Joseph Richardson was apointed to serve in the place of Captain Joseph Parker. On May 20, 1740, Solomon Wilkins had leave to take up sixty acres of land ajoining the falls in Souhegan River, the land to lay square, on condition he built a good grist-mill near the falls, keep it in repair, and at all times supplied the inhabitants of the township with meal for the lawful and customary toll. He appears to not have taken the offer, as in April 1741, it was voted to give Mr. John Shepherd 120 acres of land for a similiar reason. Mr. Shepard was from Concord, Mass. He accepted the grant, built the mill, and became a citizen of the town. In 1753, a petition for incorporation was presented to the Governor and Council by the citizens of Souhegan West, who were as follows (by their signatures on the petition): Ephraim Abbot, Joshua Abbot, Josiah Abbot, Andrew Bixbe, Joseph Boutell, William Bradford, Benjamin Cheever, Joseph Clark, Ebenezer Ellinwood, Ebenezer Ellinwood Jr., Joseph Ellinwood, John Everdon, Solomon Hutchinson, Samuel Lamson, Samuel Lamson Jr., Robert Read, Benjamin Lovejoy, Ebenezer Lyon, Hugh Ross, Josiah Sawyer, Andrew Seetown, John Smith, Joseph Steel, Samuel Stewart, William Stewart, Caleb Stiles, Robert Stuart, Benjamin Taylor, Israel Towne, Benjamin Wilkins, Daniel Wilkins, and Daniel Wilkins, Jr. No action seems to have been taken upon this petition. **INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AMHERST** In answer to a petition of the inhabitants of SOuhegan West, the town was incorporated January 18, 1760. A meeting for the organization of the town, under the charter, was held at the meeting-house, February 20, 1760 at which Colonel JohN Goffe, was appointed to call the meeting, read the charter. Solomon Hutchinson was chosen town clerk, and was immediately sworn to the faithful execution and duties of the office. COlonel John GOffe was chosen moderator, and the town voted to accept the charter. Solomon Hutchinson, William Bradford, Reuben Mussey, Reuben Gould and Thomas Clark were chosen selectmen, David Hartshorn and Nathan Kendall tithingmen, and the other usual town officials were elected. **RESIDENT TAX-PAYERS in AMHERST, September 1760** Ephraim Abbot, Joshua Abbot, Josiah Abbot, Ebenezer Averill, Thomas Averill, Andrew Bixby, Joseph Boutele, Kendal Boutele, Andrew Bradford, Samuel Bradford, William Bradford, David Burns, JohN Burns, Joseph Butterfield, Oliver Carlton, Benjamin Clark, Joseph Clark Jr., Thomas Clark, James Cochran, John Cole, Jacob Curtice [sic Curtis], Benjamin Davis, John Davis, Benjamin Dresser, Ebenezer Ellinwood, Ebenezer Ellinwood Jr., Jedediah Ellinwood, Joseph Ellinwood, Francis Elliott, Elisha Felton, Simeon Fletcher, Nathan Fuller, Richard Gould, Samuel Gray, David Hartshorn, John Harwood, Ephraim Hildreth, Amey Hobbs, William Hogg, Ebenezer Holt, Ebenezer Holt Jr., J. Holt, Isaac How, Solomon Hutchinson, William Jones, Nathan Kendall, Jonathan Lamson, Samuel Lamson, Samuel Lamson Jr., William Lancy, Abijah Lovejoy, Benjamin Lovejoy, Hezekiah Lovejoy, Joseph Lovejoy, Ephraim Lund, Ebenezer Lyon, Jonathan Lyon, John McClernand, Timothy McIntire, William Melendy, Reuben Mussey, William Odall, John Patterson, William Peabody, John Pettengill, Joseph Prince, Robert Read, Alexander Robinson, Samuel Robinson, Hannah Rollins, James Rollins, Hugh Ross, Andrew Seaton, John Seaton, Samuel Steaon, John Shepard, John Shepard Jr., Joseph Small, John Smith, Timothy Smith, Joseph Steel, Caleb Stiles, John Stuart, Robert Stuart, Samuel Stuart, Benjamin Taylor, Israel Towne, Israel Town Jr., Moses TOwne, Thomas Towne, David Truel, Moses Truel, Caleb Upton, Thomas Wakefield, William Wallace, Davis Walton, Reuben Walton, John Washer, Stephen Washer, John Wasson, Daniel Weston, Ebenezer Weston, Ebenezer Weston Jr. George Wiley, Amos Wilkins, Benjamin Wilkins, Daniel Wilkins, Lucy Wilkins, William Wilkins and Mary Wilkins (110 in all). Among the heaviest tax-payers were William Peabody, whose tax was 46:18s:3d; Nathan Kendall, 39:11s:6d; Israel Towne, 34:1s:9d; Joseph Prinace, 31p:7s:9d; and Joseph Steele, 30p:14s:3d. [A poll tax was 3p:7s:6d]. The charter of the town expiring by limitation on the 1st day of January 1762, a petition for its renewal was granted January 7th, same year. The first dismemberment of SOuhegan West took place June 1, 1750, when, by the amended charter of Merrimack, a strip of land and water, some thirteen hundred and eighty rods in length, and averaging about one hundred and twenty-five rods in width, was taken from Souhegan West and annexed to that town [Merrimack]. This change seems to have been overlooked by Governor Westworth at the time the charter of Amherst was granted, its boundaries at that time being the same as those given in the original survey. This boundary contention remained unsettled until the autumn of 1832, when it was settled by a committee consisting of Benjamin M. Farley of Hollis, Jesse Bowers of Dunstable, and John Wallace of Milford. The town of Monson received a charter from Governor Wentworth April 1, 1746. It was formerly a part of the town of Dunstable, as chartered by the General Court of Massachusetts, Oct. 16, 1673, and came under the jurisdiction of New Hampshire on the establishment of the boundary line between the provinces in 1741. The town of Hollis formed its southern boundary and the Souhegan River its northern boundary. In 1754 a petition was presented to the Governor and Council by the selectmen and other inhabitants of the town of Monson, asking that a portion of Souhegan West, ajoining that town, and embracing about one-third of the area of the township, might be annexed to Monson. On Oct 18, 1762, Daniel Bayley, Robert Colburn, William Colburn, William Colburn Jr., Samuel Hayden, Daniel Kendrick, Abraham Leman, Onesiphorous Marsh, Thomas Nevens, William Nevens, Zaccheus Shattuck, Joseph Stearns, Samuel Stearns Jr., Daniel Wheeler and James Wheeler, inhabitants of Monson, petitioned the Governor and Council to be annexed to Hollis, but the petition was dismissed June 3, 1763. On the 4th day of July 1770 a charter dividing the town of Monson between the towns of Amherst and Hollis received the sanction of Governor John Wentworth, and thus Monson died from among the towns of New Hampshire, after an existence of about twenty-four years. It died, seized and possessed of a "pound" said to have been the only public building ever erected within its borders. Several other petitions were submitted to the General COurt for new townships, which were denied. The second, or northwest parish of Amherst, was organized June 30, 1781, and December 15, 1803 incorporated as the town of Mount [sic Mont] Vernon. The third or southwest parish was set off November 23, 1782, and incorporated January 11, 1794 as the town of Milford. **MILITARY HISTORY** At a meeting held in the meeting-house January 30, 1744-45, the proprietors "Voted that they will allow the Inhabitants a stock of Ammunition to defend themselves in case there should be an occasion." Tradition tells us that about this time seven garrison-houses were erected in different parts of the town, to which the inhabitants resorted in times of danger. Beside these, a block-house, or fort, is said to have been built for the protection of the settlers. Among the scouts employed by the province in 1748 we find the names of Daniel Wilkins and Wincol Wright, of Souhegan West, who were members of the company employed to guard Souhegan, Stark's and Monson garrisons that season. The war came to a close in 1749, but was renewed in 1752, and continued until the cession of Canada to the English in 1763. Fortunately, no attack was made upon the settlers at Souhegan West by the enemy, and no account has reached us that any serious damage was done by them within its borders.... Near the close of the war several of the inhabitants served in expeditions sent against the common enemy, Sergeant Ebenezer Lyon, John Everdeen, David Hartshorn Jr., Samuel Lamson, Joseph Small and Thomas Williams served in Colonel Blanchard's regiment at Crown Point in 1755. Humphrey Hobbs was a captain in the ranger service in 1755. Lieutenant Ebenezer Lyon, Daniel Wilkins, Samuel Bradford, Israel Towne, Joseph Lovejoy, JohN Burns, Jonathan Lamson, Nathaniel Haseltine, Daniel Weston, Stephen Peabody and John Mills served in Colonel John Hart's regiment at Crown Point in 1758. Benjamin Davis, John Mills, John Stewart, and Robert Stewart were privates in Colonel John GOffe's regiment at Crown Point in 1760. **REVOLUTIONARY WAR** The first reference on the old town records in relation to the Revolution is under date of December 27, 1774, when the town voted "to approve of the results of the Grand Congress, and strictly adhere to them," and chose a committee consisting of Colonel John Shepard, Lieutenant Benjamin Kendrick, Nahum Baldwin, John Shepard Jr., Esqr., Dr. Moses Nicholls, Daniel Campbell, Esq., Josiah Sawyer, Joseph Gould, Paul Dudley Sargent, Thomas Burns and Samuel Wilkins, to carry into effect the association agreement in this town. If any break over said agreement, the committee [are] ordered to publish the same in the newspapers. The town was represented by one of its citizens in the "tea-party" in December 1773, and in the Concord "fight" in 1775. March 13, 1775, voted three pounds nineteen shillings to Mr. Sargent for his time and expenses at Exeter. April 19, 1775. The attack upon the Lexington militia by the British troops aroused the country. In many of the town of Massachusetts and New Hampshire companies of Minute-Men had been formed and drilled in anticipation of the coming conflict. The company in Amherst repaired at once to Cambridge. The following will give us some idea of the enthusiasm of the people after receiving the news of the fight at Lexington and Concord. It is also a honorable tribute to Colonel John Shepard, one of the prominent citizens of the town: "This certifies that Esq. Shepard in April, 1775, went with a Detachment of the Melitia, of about one hundred men, from Amherst to Cambridge, aided, assisted, and comforted them, and at Cambridge left with them two Spanish milled dollars." [signed by Josiah Crosby] Nor was this all Colonel Shepard left with the "melitia." On the back of the certificate is a list of other articles as follows: Pork, fifty-seven and a half pounds, one-half bushel beans, one and a half bushels to Sargent, some bread, and one and a half bushels meal. By the census taken that year, Amherst had three hundred and twenty- eight men above sixteen years of age, fifty-three of whom were over fifty years old. Of these, Captain Crosby says "about one hundred," or over thirty per cent went to Cambridge. The census returns report "eighty-one men in the army." **AMHERST MEN IN THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL** Stephen Peabody, adjutant of Colonel Reed's regiment --Amherst soldiers in Captain Crosby's company-- Josiah Crosby, captain; Daniel Wilkins Jr., first lieutenant; Thompson Maxwell, second lieutenant; John Mills, William Bradford, David Ramsay, Josiah Sawyer, sergeants; Lemuel Winchester, Eleazer W. Kingsbury, Peter Goss, Eli Wilkins, corporals; Thomas Powell, drummer; Jabez Holt, fifer; Joshua Abbott, Nathaniel Barret, Joseph Bowtal, Alexander Brown, Jonathan Burnam, Joshua Burnam, Thomas Clark, Robert Cochran, John Cole, Stephen Crosby, Nathaniel Crosby, Jacob Curtice, Benjamin Davis, Thaddeus Fitch, Amos Flint, Thomas Giles, James Gilmore, Stephen Hill, Joel Howe, Archelaus Kenney, Solomon Kittredge, Jeremiah Lamson, Andrew Leavitt, Joseph Leavitt, Joshua Pettingill, Nourse Sawyer, James Simpson, Jonathan Small, Samuel Sternes, Jonathan Taylor, Rufus Trask, Eben Wakefield, Joseph Wakefield, Joseph Wallace, Sutherick Weston, Jonathan Wilkins, Samuel Williams, Isaac Wright. --In Captain Archelaus Towne's Company, then in Stark's Regiment-- Archelaus Towne, captain; William Read, corporal; Nathan Kendall Jr., fifer; Benjamin Merrill, Moses Barron, Jacob Blodgett, Stephen Gould, Samuel Lamson, Adam Patterson, Peter Robertson, Bartholomew Towne, Archelaus Towne Jr., Reuben Wheeler. --In Captain Levi Spaulding's Company, Reed's regiment-- Joseph Bradford, first lieutenant; Benjamin Dike, corporal; William Brown, Richard Goodman, William Tuck, Richard Hughes, Robert B. Wilkins. Captain Towne's company was at first a part of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, under the command of Colonel Bridge. At the time of the battle of Bunker Hill it was one of the thirteen companies in the First New Hampshire, or Stark's regiment. Peter Robertson, a private in this company, was wounded while crossing "the neck" on his way to Bunker Hill by a cannon-ball, which carried away his right hand. He received a pension of twenty shillings per month from the State, commencing January 1, 1776. John Cole, a private in Captain Crosby's company, was killed in the battle, and Robert B. Wilkins, of Captain Spaulding's company, was wounded in the right elbow by a musket-ball. After the battle, Captain Crosby made a return of the losses sustained by members of his company, as follows: "An account of things that was lost at the Battle of Bunker's hill, on the 17th of June, 1775, belonging to Capt. Crosby's company: viz, Capt Crosby's things are 1 pistol & 1 pair of worsted stockings; Lieut. Daniel Wilkins, 1 cotton shirt; Ens'n Thompson Maxwell, 1 fine shirt & 1 power-horn; Adj't Stephen Peabody, 1 blanket and 1 shirt; Quarter- Master Frye, 1 coat & 1 hat; Serg't William Bradford, 1 shirt; Serg't Lemuel Winchester, 1 pair of shoes; Eli Wilkins, 1 blanket & 1 bullet sack; Thaddeus Fitch, 1 shirt, 1 pair calfskin pumps, 1 pair trowzers & gnapsack; Samuel Stearnes, 1 pair of shoes; Stephen Crosby, 1 great coat & 1 shirt; Jona. Wilkins, 1 shirt; Thomas Giles, 1 gun, 1 cartooch gnapsack; Joseph Boutel, 1 pair of stockings, 1 pair of Leather Breeches; Nathaniel Barret, 1 gnapsack, 1 pair of shoes and buckles, & 1 handkerchief; Sam'l Williams, 1 shirt & 1 handkercheif, & 1 gun; James Gilmore, 1 blanket, 1 handkerchief; Joseph Wakefield, 1 p'4 deerskin breeches, 1 cartooch box; Eben'r Wakefield, 1 sett of shoemaker's tools, 1 shirt, 2 p'rs stockings & 1 p'r shoes; Daniel Kenney, 1 great coat & 1 gun; Joseph Wallis, 1 pair shoes; Andrew Leavitt, 1 coverlid, 1 p'r stockings, 1 gnapsack & handkerchief; Josiah Sawyer, 1 gun, 1 coat, 1 powder-horn, & 1 Bible; Joshua Abbot, 1 gnapsack & p'r stockings; Joshua Abbot, 1 gnapsack & p'r of stockings." [signed Josiah Crosby, Capt] Andrew Leavitt, Samuel Robertson, William Wakefield and Eben Wincol Wright enlisted into the company June 19, 1775. Of these, Leavitt seems to have been in the battle two days before. Captain Crosby's company was present when Washington took command of the army, July 2, 1775.... In compliance with requests of General Sullivan, 31 companies, numbering 61 men each were sent from New Hampshire to Winter Hill, near Boston in December 1775 to take the place of the Connecticut troops stationed there, who insisted on returning home, as the term of their enlistment had expired. The names of those commissioned officers alone have been preserved. Benjamin Taylor of Amherst was captain; Nathan Ballard of Wilton was first lieutenant; and John Bradford of AMherst, ensign of the company raised in Amherst and Wilton. Captain Taylor died at Medford in February 1776, before the expiration of the time for which he enlisted. Jonathan Burnham was paid 12p:4s:10d for mustering in the 31 companies of NH militia that served on Winter Hill in the winter of 1775-76. A regiment was raised in December 1775, and placed under the command of Colonel Timothy Bedel, which was ordered to join the northern army in New York, with which it was to march to reinforce the army in Canada. In one of the companies in this regiment, we find the following Amherst men: Daniel Wilkins Jr, captain; John Mills, second lieutenant; William Bradford, ensign; Benjamin Dike, sergeant; Sutherick Weston, Joshua Abbott, Samuel Sternes, corporals; Thomas Powell, drummer; Jabez Holt, fifer; William Brown, Amos Boutwell, Pimus Chandler (colored), James Clark, James Curtice, Roger Dutton, John Farnham, Laraford Gilbert, Obadiah Holt, Solomon Kittredge, Jeremiah Lamson, Joseph Lovejoy, Hugh McKean, Thomas Melendy, Aaron Nichols, Isaac Stearns, Daniel Wilkins (3d), Sylvester Wilkins, Andrew Wilkins and John Wiley. The following Amherst men, mustered by Colonel Nahum Baldwin, April 15, 1776, were a part of a company commanded by Captain Timothy Clement, which was sent to Portsmouth to assist in guarding the sea-coast, and the forts in the harbor: "William Steart, ensign; Nathan Abbot, Silas Cooledge, Jonathan Dutton, David Fisk, Richard Goodman, Joshua Kendall, Zephaniah Kittredge, Edmund Lyon, Jonathan Lyon, Ebenezer Odall, Robert Parker, Samuel Shepard, John Stearns, Asa Swinnerton, Archelaus Towne Jr. and Henry Trivet." This company, with others, was organized into a regiment, September 25, 1776, which was placed under the command of Colonel Pierce Long. On the 23d November following, it was ordered to Ticonderoga, to which place it marched in February 1777. **ASSOCIATION TEST** The following citizens of Amherst signed the "Association Test." For convenience of reference the names are placed in alphabetical order, and the names of those who served in the army have an "*" mark connected to their name: Darius Abbott, Ephraim Abbott, Ebenezer Averil, John Averil, Thomas Averil Jr., *Nahum Baldwin, Ephraim Barker, *Nathaniel Barrett, *Moses Barron, Samuel Blaisdell, *Jacob Blodgett, Joseph Boutell, *Joseph Boutell (2d), Kendall Boutell, *Reuben Boutell, Andrew Bradford, *Enos Bradford, *John Bradford, William Bradford, George Burns, John Burns, *John Burns Jr., John Burns (3d), Thomas Burns, Stephen Burnam, Oliver Carleton, Thomas Carrell, *Thomas Clark, Nathan Cleaves, JohN Cochran, Joseph Coggin, *Henry Codman, William Codman, *John Cole, *Nathan Cole, *Josiah Crosby, Samuel Crosby, *Silas Cummings, Jacob Curtice, *Jacob Curtice Jr., Benjamin Day, John Damon, Bartholomew Dodge, Benjamin Dodge, Josiah Elliott, *Joseph Farnum, *Stephen Farnum, ELisha Felton, William Fisk, William Fisk Jr., Amos Flint, *Amos Flint Jr., Nathan Flint, *Ephraim French, Nathan Fuller, James Gage, *James Gilmore, *Allen Goodridge, Amos Green, David Green, John Grimes, Jonathan Grimes, Joseph Gould, Richard Gould, Samuel Hall, *Samuel Harris, Benjamin Hartshorn, James Hartshorn, *John Hartshorn, Joseph Harwood, *Nathaniel Haseltine, Samuel Henry, Timothy Hill, Ephraim Hildreth, *David Hildreth, Jacob Hildreth, *William Hogg, Eben Holt Jr., Isaac Holt, Reuben Holt, Isaac How, *Joel Howe, Benjamin Hopkins, Benjamin Hopkins Jr., Ebenezer Hopkins, *Richard Hughes, Abner Hutchinson, Eben Hutchinson, Elisha Hutchinson, Nathan Hutchinson, *Nathan Hutchinson (2d), Nathan Jones, Nathan Jones Jr., *Michael Kieff, John Kendall Jr., Nathan Kendall, Benjamin Kenrick, Josiah Kidder, *Henry Kimball, Moses Kimball, *Solomon Kittredge, *Jonathan Lampson, William Lampson, Joseph Langdell, *Francis Lovejoy, *Hezekiah Lovejoy, Jacob Lovejoy, John Lovejoy, *William Low, Jonathan lund, *Jonathan Lyon, Thomas McALlister, *James McKean, Robert Means, William Melendy Jr., *Benjamin Merrill, *John Mitchell, *Dimond Muzzy, *Moses Nichols, Timothy Nichols, WIlliam Odell, WIlliam Odell Jr., *Robert Parker, *Adam Patterson, *John Patterson, *Stephen Peabody, William Peabody, WIlliam Peabody Jr., William Peacock, Joseph Pierce, Joseph Prince, Joseph Prince Jr., *Ebenezer Rea, Robert Read, *William Read, *Peter Robertson, John Roby, *Joseph Rollings, Jonathan Sawyer, *JOsiah Sawyer, *Josiah Sawyer Jr., John Secombe, James Seeton, John Seeton, John Shepard Jr., Joseph Small, William Small, *William Small Jr., Daniel Smith, Isaac Smith, Jacob Smith, Jonathan Smith, Timothy Smith, *Jacob Standley, *Samuel Standley, Joseph Steel, Joseph Steel Jr., Daniel STephens, *Samuel Sternes, *Simpson Stewart, Amos Stickney, Samuel Stratton, Jonathan Taylor, Samuel Taylor, William Taylor, Benjamin TEmple, Ebenezer Temple, *Archelaus Towne, Israel Towne, Israel Towne Jr., Thomas Towne, *Thomas TOwne (2d), David Truel, John Tuck, John Twiss, Jonathan Twiss, Phinehas Upham, Ezekiel Upton, Thomas Wakefield Jr. *Joseph Wallace, William Wallace, Richard Ward, John Washer, *Stephen Washer, Ebenezer Weston, Isaac Weston, Thomas Weston, *Abijah Wilkins, John Wilkins, *Jonathan Wilkins Jr., Joshua Wilkins, William Wilkins, *Lemuel Winchester, James Woodbury, Peter Woodbury, *Isaac Wright, and Joshua Wright. The selectmen of the town, Thomas Wakefield, Reuben Mussey, and Samuel Wilkins sent a letter to the Committee of Safety for the State of NH and indicated, "all have signed it except Joshua Atherton, Esq., Mr. David Campbell, Mr. Samuel Dodge, and Col. John Shepard. In a company in the regiment raised in July 1776, to reinforce the army in canada [commanded by Col. Isaac Wyman, mustered in July 16, 1776], commanded by Capt. William Barron, of Merrimack, we find the following soldiers from Amherst: James Gilmore, ensign; Nathaniel Hazeltin, Ephraim French, sergeants; Aaron Boutell, Benjamin Clark, Jonathan Lamson, Ebenezer Rea, William Small Jr. William Stewart and George Wilson, privates. In Captain William Harper's company were Silas Cooledge, Zephaniah Kittredge, Robert Parker and Joseph Perkins, privates. In Captain Samuel Wetherbee's company were John Averill and Timothy Nichols Jr., privates. Stephen Peabody, of Amherst was major of the regiment. In Colonel Baldwin's Regiment, raised in Sept 1776 and marched to assist the army in New York. It was in the battle at White Plains, October 28, 1776, and was dismissed at North Castle, N.Y. about the 1st of December of that year. Amherst was represented in the regiment by Colonel Nahum Baldwin, and the following men who served in the company commanded by Captain Philip Putnan of Wilton: "William Low, ensign; ELijah Averill, Reuben Boutell, Ebenezer Carlton, JohN Cochran, Jonathan Cochran, Stephen Farnum, John Grimes, John Hartshorn, Joel Howe, Francis Lovejoy, Isaac Peabody, Abel Prince, James Rea, Benjamin Smith, Daniel Smith, Benjamin Taylor, Richard Towne, Thomas Towne, Aaron Upton, Joseph Wallace and Jonathan Wilkins, privates. In Captain Read's Company were William Read, captain and ANdrew ELliot, private. Another regiment was raised in December 1776, to reinforce the army in Northern New York. This was palced under the command of Colonel David Gilman. In this regiment commanded by Captain William Walker of Dunstable: Jonathan Cochran, Isaac P. Curtice, Jacob Curtice, Roger Dutton, STephen Gould, Abiel Holt, Ebenezer Odell, John Taylor, and Robert B. Wilkins. A special town-meeting, held May 22, 1775 was the last one called in "His Majesty's" name in Amherst. The constables were simply directed by the selectmen to warn the inhabitants of the town of Amherst to the next meeting held August 14, 1775. A meeting, held October 24, 1775 was called in the name of the "Province" of New Hampshire. After this, until the Declaration of Independence, the town-meetings were called in the name of the "Colony of New Hampshire." Since September 11, 1776, the meetings of the town have been called in the name of the "State of New Hampshire." Parties of Loyalists, or TOries, were sent by the authorities of the State of New York to be confined in the jails in New Hampshire. Of these, the following were ordered to be sent to Amherst jail, November 22, 1776: Alexander Andrews, Peter Brown (to be kept in irons), Thomas Bullis, William Burns, Nathaniel Douglas, Jonathan Farmachiff, John Feathers, John Hitchcock, Laughlin McGaffin, Isaac Man, Abraham Nath (to be in irons), Thomas Pearson, Johannes Vanzelin and James Waddie. Not liking their accomodations, the prisoners soon broke jail and escaped. Other parties of New York Loyalists were sent to Amherst jail. They were supplied with such clothing as they stood in need of at the expense of the State. The expenses of their confinement were afterward repaid by the State of New York. On April 30, 1776 a document mentions Zaccheus Cutler Esq... "formerly of Amherst.. has in a very daring manner proved himself inimical to his country..and joined our unnatural enemies in Boston.." and the town voted to improve his property for future value to the town. July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was received and proclaimed by Moses Kelley, Esq. sheriff of the county, with beat of drum from the horse-block, which then stood on the common in front of the meeting-house. July 10, 1777 Captain Stephen Peabody, Captain Hezekiah Lovejoy and Mr. Solomon Kittredge appointed a committee to procure soldiers. Colonel Nahum Baldwin, Mr. STephen Burnam, Mr. William Wallace, Mr. Andrew Bradford and Mr. Timothy Smith chosen a committee to affix and settle prices upon sundry articles. In a return made by Colonel Moses Nichols, March 19, 1779, we have the names of the men employed by the town to fills its quota in the Continental army in the years 1777, 1778 and 1779, the period of their enlistment, and the regiments and companies in which they served, as follows: -Stephen Abbott, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 yrs -Elijah Averill, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 yrs -Joshua Blodgett, Cilley's regt, Richard's co for 3 yrs -Peter Brewer, Cilley's regt, Morrill's co, for the war -William Brown, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -James Cochran, Cilley's regt, Scott's co, for 3 years -Jonathan Cochran, Cilley's regt, Scott's co, for 3 years -Robert Cochran, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for the war -Silas Cooledge, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Robert Cunningham Jr., Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Robert Cunningham, Cilley's regt, Richards' co, for 3 years -Ezekiel Davis, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Joseph Davis, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Benjamin Dike, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -John Dow, Cilley's regt, Richards' co, for 3 years -John Dutton, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Richard Goodman, Scammel's regt, Frye's co, for 3 years -Jude Hall, Cilley's regt, Richards' co., for 3 years -Henry Harris, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Richard Hughes, Scammel's regt, Frye's co, for 3 years -Daniel Kidder, Cilley's regt, Morrill's co, for 3 years -Robert Parker, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Thomas Powell, Scammel's regt, Frye's co., for 3 years -William Shaddock, Cilley's regt, Morrill's co, for 3 years -Isaac Stearns, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -John Taggart, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years -Nathan Tuttle, Cilley's regt, Wait's co for 3 years -Reuben Wheeler, Cilley's regt, Wait's co for 3 years -Asa Wilkins, Scammel's regt, Frye's co, for 3 years -Sylvester Wilkins, Cilley's regt, Wait's co for 3 years -George Wilson, Cilley's regt, Wait's co, for 3 years John Rano was hired by Amherst, but afterward decided to belong to Andover. Peter Brewer was a colored man from New Boston Jude Hall, another colored man, was from Kensington. Joshua Blodgett was from Litchfield Silas Cooledge and John Taggart from Hillsborough The Cunninghams from Derryfield [later called Manchester] William Shaddock, from Boscawen. On the advance of General Burgoyne's army toward Ticonderoga, in the summer of 1777, thousands of volunteers marched from various places in New England to assist in the defense of that stronghold. Two companies, under the command of Major Abial Abbott, of Wilton, marched June 20, 1777 for the threatened fortress. On reaching Charlestown (No. 4) they were ordered home, but when they had reached Dublin, on their return, they received orders "to march with all speed to Ticonderoga." When they reached Otter Creek they heard of its evacuation. Amherst men in these companies... --In Capt. Peabody's Company: Captain Stephen Peabody, Lieutenant John Bradford, Ensign John Patterson, Corporal Amos Elliot, Nathan Cole, Josiah Crosby, STephen Crosby, William Crosby, Isaac P. Curtice, Jacob Curtice, Roger Dutton, Ebenezer Hutchinson, Jonathan Lamson, John Lovejoy, William Low, Jonathan Lyon, Benjamin Merrill, Timothy NIchols Jr., Adam Patterson, Thomas Peabody, Abel Prince, Josiah Sawyer, John Stewart, Simpson Stewart, Benjamin Taylor, John Wallace, Stephen Washer, and Jonathan Williams. --In Capt. Nathan Ballard's Company: First Lieutenant Joseph Farnum, Second Lieut. Eli Wilkins, Sergeant Nathan Hutchinson, Moses Averill, Samuel Curtice, Allen Goodridge, Asa Lewis, Aaron Nichols, Ebenezer Odell, Moses Peabody, Benjamin Sawyer, Daniel Smith, Samuel Stewart, William Stewart, William Talbert, Henry Trivett, Thomas Underwood, and Solomon Washer. In the Battle of Bennington the regiment commanded by Colonel Nichols of Amherst, commenced the attack, and Capt. JohN Bradford of the Amherst company is said to have been the second man who mounted the Hessian breast-work. The Amherst men engaged in the battle were: "Colonel Moses Nichols, commanding a regiment; Colonel STephen Peabody, aid to General Stark; John Bradford, captain; John Mills, first lieutenant; Joseph Farnum, second lieutenant; John Patterson, ensign; Joel Howe, Nathaniel Hazeltine, Jonathan Wilkins, James Gilmore, sergeants; Nathan Cole, Jacob Curtice, Amos Elliott, corporals; Reuben Boutell, David Burnam, Israel Burnam, Jonathan Burnam, Stephen Crosby, William Crosby, Isaac Curtis, Samuel Curtis, Stephen Curtis, Roger Dutton, Jedediah Ellinwood, John Everdon, Laraford Gilbert, Allen Goodridge, Daniel Green, Samuel Harris, William Hogg, Obadiah Holt, Joseph Jewett, Caleb Jones, Eli Kimball, Solomon Kittredge, Jonathan Lamson, Asa Lewis, Benjamin Merrill, Ebenezer Odell, Joshua Pettingill, James Ray, Benjamin Sawyer, Andrew Shannon, Benjamin Stearns, Samuel Stewart, Simpson Stewart, Benjamin Taylor, Henry Trivett, John Wallace, Eli Wilkins, George Wilson, privates. In Captain Ford's company, Nichols' regiment, were Silas Gould, Solomon Hutchinson, Robert, Parker and Eleazer Usher. Colonel Nichols was employed seventy-two days in this campaign; Captain Bradford and company seventy-one days. THey received L243 as bounty and advance waves at the time of their enlistment, and L461 7s. 9. as a balance, due for their services, Oct. 18, 1777. Archelaus Towne, Archelaus Towne Jr., Francis Grimes and William Hogg marched and joined the army under General Gates, at Saratoga, in September 1777 Among the old papers in the office of the Secretary of State is the following order for payment of supplies furnished for the Bennington expedition: "State of New Hampshire, April 2, 1779 "Pursuant to a vote of Council and Assembly, pay Josiah Crosby and Hezekiah Lovejoy twenty-five pounds, twelve shillings, for camp utensils for Gen. Starks brigade. L25. 12s. "M. WEARE, Presid't." A brigade of the New Hampshire militia, under the command of General WIlliam Whipple, was sent to Rhode Island in the summer of 1778 to assist in an attack upon the British forces stationed there. Colonel Moses Nichols commanded one of the regiments, Lieut-Col. Stephen Peabody one of the batallions. Captain John Bradford was adjutant in Colonel Nichols' regiment, and Colonel Daniel Warner quartermaster. The following Amherst men served in Colonel Nichols' regiment, in the company commanded by Captain Josiah Crosby: Josiah Crosby, captain; Hezekiah Lovejoy, lieutenant; John Mills, Josiah Crosby Jr., Allen Goodridge, sergeants; John Cole, Jonathan Wilkins, corporals; John Boutell, Enos Bradford, John Carlton, Daniel Chandler, Stephen Crosby, Silas Cummings, James Ellinwood, John Everden, Stephen Farnum, Benjamin Lewis, Reuben D. Mussey, Timothy Nichols Jr., Ebenezer Odell, John Odell, Peter Robinson, Joseph Rollins, Jacob Stanley, Samuel Stanley, Jotham Stearns, Thomas Stevens, William Stewart, Benjamin Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, William Talbert, Bartholomew Towne, Solomon Washer, privates. In Captain Reynolds' company were Roger Dutton, Ebenezer Odell, Joshua Pettingill, James Ray, John Stevens and John Wallace, privates. In Captain Dearborn's company were William Hastings, Andrew Burnam, John Ellsworth. March 8, 1779. Benjamin Hopkins Jr., William Odell and James Woodbury were chosen a committee to provide for the families of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers belonging to this town in the army. June 7, 1779. The town voted "that they will take a method to raise the soldiers called for to serve in the Continental army." August 5, 1779. Mr. Timothy Smith, Colonel Stephen Peabody and Captain John Bradford were appointed a committee to procure the quotas of men which should hereafter be required of the town during the war. Nine men were furnished for the Continental army in 1779, to serve one year as follows: -Samuel Clark, enlisted July 14, 1779; discharged August 20, 1780. -Charles Davenport, enlisted July 14, 1779, discharged August 20, 1780. -Calvin Honey, enlisted August 7, 1779; discharged August 7, 1780. -Abraham Littlehale, enlisted July 24, 1779; discharged July 24, 1780. -John McKean, enlisted July 20, 1779; discharged June 20, 1780. -Joseph Perkins, enlisted July 13, 1779; discharged June 20, 1780. -Joseph Rawlins, enlisted August 14, 1779; discharged August 20, 1780. -Archelaus Towne, enlisted July 21, 1779; discharged December 1, 1779. -Joseph Wilson, enlisted July 27, 1779; discharged June 20, 1780. SOLDIERS at RHODE ISLAND, 1779--Colonel Hercules Moody commanded a regiment to Rhode Island from this State in the spring of 1779 to assist the army stationed there. The following Amherst men served in this regiment, in the company commanded by Captain Daniel Emerson of Hollis: Moses Barron, ensign; Moses Averill, drummer; John Carlton, Alpheus Crosby, John Odell and Levi Woodbury. In September of this year Captain Hezekiah Lovejoy and Joseph Nichols enlisted for six months in the garrison at Portsmouth. Eleven men were furnished for the Continental army in 1780-- -Peter Abbot, enlisted July 8; discharged December 6, 1780 -Robert Campbell, enlisted July 8; discharged December 21, 1780. -Alpheus Crosby, enlisted July 8; discharged December 6, 1780. -Stephen Crosby, enlisted July 8;discharged December 4, 1780. -Isaac Curtice, enlisted July 8; discharged December 4, 1780. -Jacob Doyen, enlisted June 29; discharged December 31, 1780. -Obadiah Holt, enlisted July 8; discharged December 18, 1780. -Jacob Stanley, enlisted July 8; discharged December 18, 1780. -Jotham Stearns, enlisted July 8; discharged December 6, 1780. -Bimsley Stevens, enlisted June 29; discharged December 21, 1780. -Jesse Woodbury, enlisted July 8; discharged December 6, 1780. A regiment under the command of Colonel Moses Nichols served three months at West Point in the autumn of 1780. Dr. Henry Codman was surgeon. In the company commanded by Captain William Barron of Merrimack, we find the following Amherst men: Daniel Averill, Nahum Baldwin Jr., Andrew Bradford, Daniel Kenny, Henry Kimball, David Melvin, Joseph Nichols, Benjamin Stearns, William Tolbert, William Wallace (fifer), Daniel weston. William Brown served in another company. Seventy-four men, including those in the field, being called for to serve three years, or during the war, the town, at a meeting called February 8, 1781, appointed Captain Nathan Hutchinson, Captain Israel Towne and Amos Flint a committee to raise the men required. Captain Hezekiah Lovejoy, Thomas Wakefield, Daniel Campbell, Benjamin Davis, Eli Wilkins and Lieutenant Ebezener Weston were subsequently added to the committee, who were authorized to hire money to procure the men as needed. The families of William Brown, James Cochran, Richard Hughes, Farrar Miller, Nathan Tuttle and Joseph Wilson, soldiers in the Continental Army, were assisted by the town this year, 1781 John Abbot Goss, Francis Lovejoy, Joseph Lovejoy, John Pedrick and Daniel Wilkins 3d were mustered in March 5, 1781 to fill the quota of three years' men required of the town at that time. In July 1781, nine men were required to serve six months and the requisition was filled by Nahum Baldwin Jr., Ebenezer Curtice, David Hildredth, Caleb Hunt, Henry Hunt, Michael Kieff, Joseph Nichols, Allen Stewart and William Cowen (but there is no record that he joined the army until December following, when he enlisted for three years). Late in the summer of 1781 eleven men were called for to serve three months. They marched September 23d of that year. In the selectmen's account they are mentioned as "11 soldiers at Charlestown, 1781," and were probably raised in apprehension of trouble on the western and northern frontiers of the State. Their names were Peter Abbot, Daniel Averill, Elijah Averill, George Christopher, Paul Crosby, John Fields, Edward Hartshorn, Joshua Heywood, Samuel Phelps, Peter Wakefield and Daniel Weston, and they served in a company commanded by Captain John Mills. Among the papers in the adjutant-general's office in Concord, is an account of beef and fat cattle collected for the army in the town of Amherst, by Francis Blood, in the year 1781. In 1782 fourteen three years' men were required to fill the town's quota in the Continental army, and the following men were furnished: James Auld, Andrew Bradford, Enoch Carlton, Ephraim Goss, Peter Goss, Henry Handley, William Haywood, Adam Patterson, John Peabody, Thomas Peabody, Alexander Runnels, Benjamin Tuck, Daniel weston and John Grout. Peter Abbott, fifer, Moses Pettingill and James McKean, privates, enlisted in a company commanded by Captain Ebenezer Webster, which was raised for the protection of the northern frontiers of the State in 1782. Stephen Dike, of Amherst, served six months for New Boston in 1781. Davis Truel Jr. served six months for Merrimack in 1781; and William Henry Wilkins, son of the minister, enlisted to serve three years for Candia, in June 1777, but died at Yellow Springs, PA, June 22, 1778. Luther Dana served in the navy a short time, near the close of the war. Captain Joseph Perkins served on board a privateer vessel, which was taken by the British, and he was carried a prisoner of war to England, where he was confined for some time. Levi Woodbury served on the privateer "Essex," which was taken, and he was carried to England, a prisoner of war, where he died. Jonathan Wilkins served on the ship, Hague," and was wounded in an action with a British vessel. April 11, 1782. More soldiers having been called for to fill the town's quota, the town voted to add Lieutenant Darius Abbot, Robert Means, William Lampson, Samuel Dodge, Captain William Dana and Captain Ephraim Hildreth to the committee to hire soldiers. October 29, 1782. The sum of sixty pounds was granted for the support of the families of Joseph Lovejoy and Daniel Wilkins Jr., the same to be indorsed on the securities given them by the town's committee for hiring soldiers. [Bounties paid to soldiers in the war for independence by the town of Amherst, included in the original document, but not included here as it mentions no names]. LIST OF SOLDIERS - REVOLUTIONARY WAR - Alphabetical list of soliders and sailors from Amherst in the war for Independence-- Joshua Abbot, Nathan Abbot, Nathaniel Abbot, Peter Abbot, Stephen Abbot, James Alld, Daniel Averill, Elijah Averill, John Averill, Moses Averill, Nahum Baldwin, Nahum Baldwin Jr., Nathaniel Barrett, Moses Barron, Jacob Blodgett, Joshua Blodgett, Aaron Boutell, Richard Boynton, Andrew Bradford, Enos Bradford, John Bradford, Joseph Bradford, William Bradford Jr., Peter Brewer, Alexander Brown, William Brown, David Burnam, Israel Burnam, Jonathan Burnam, Joshua Burnam, Robert Campbell, Ebenezer Carlton, Enoch Carlton, John Carlton, David Chandler, Primus Chandler, George Christopher, Benjamin Clark, James Clark, Samuel Clark, Thomas Clark, James Cochran, John Cochran, Jonathan Cochran, Robert Cochran, Henry Codman, John Cole, John Cole 2d, Nathan Cole, William Cook, Silas Cooledge, William Cowen, Alpheus Crosby, Ezekiel Crosby, Josiah Crosby, Josiah Crosby Jr., Nathaniel Crosby, Paul Crosby, Stephen Crosby, William Crosby, Silas Cummings, Robert Cunningham, Robert Cunningham Jr., Ebenezer Curtice, Isaac Palmer Curtice, Jacob Curtice, Lemuel Curtice, Stephen Curtice, Luther Dana, Charles Davenport, Benjamin Davis, Ezekiel Davis, Joseph Davis, Benjamin Dike, Stephen Dike, John Door, Jacob Doyen, John Dutton, Jonathan Dutton, Roger Dutton, James Ellinwood, Jedidiah Ellinwood, Joseph Ellinwood, Amos Elliot, Andrew Elliot, John Ellsworth, John Everden, Asa Farnum, John Farnum, Joseph Farnum, Stephen Farnum, John Fields, David Fiske, Thaddeus Fitch, Amos Flint, Ephraim French, Laraford Gilbert, Thomas Giles, James Gilmore, Richard Goodman, Allen Goodridge, Ephraim Goss, John Abbot Goss, Peter Goss, Silas Gould, Stephen Gould, Daniel Green, Francis Grimes, John Grimes, John Grout, Jude Hall, Henry Handley, Henry Harris, Samuel Harris, Edward Hartshorn, James Hartshorn Jr., John Hartshorn, Nathaniel Hazeltine, Joshua Haywood, William Haywood, Stephen Hill, David Hildreth, William Hogg, Abiel Holt, Jabez Holt, Obadiah Holt, Calvin Honey, Joel Howe, Richard Hughes, Caleb Hunt, Henry Hunt, Ebenezer Hutchinson, Nathan Hutchinson, Joseph Jewett, Caleb Jones, William Jones, Joshua Kendall, Nathan Kendall Jr., Archelaus Kenney, Daniel Kenney, Michael Keef, Daniel Kidder, Eli Kimball, Henry Kimball, Eleazer W. Kingsbury, Solomon Kittredge, Zepheniah Kittredge, William Lakin, Jeremiah Lamson, Jonathan Lamson, Samuel Lamson, Joshua Lancaster, Andrew Leavitt, Joseph Leavitt, Asa Lewis, Joseph Lewis, Abraham Littlehale, Francis Lovejoy, Hezekiah Lovejoy, John Lovejoy, Joseph Lovejoy, William Low, Edward Lyon, Jonathan Lyon, Andrew MacIntire, Daniel McGrath, James McGraw, Hugh MacKean, James MacKean, John MacKean, Timothy Martin, Thompson Maxwell, Thomas Melendy, Robert Melory, David Melvin, Benjamin Merrill, Farrar Miller, John Mills, John Mitchel, Josiah Munroe, Reuben D. Muzzey, Aaron Nichols, Joseph Nichols, Moses Nichols, Timothy Nichols Jr., Ebenezer Odell, John Odell, Robert Parker, William Parker, Adam Patterson, John Patterson, Isaac Peabody, John Peabody, Moses Peabody, Stephen Peabody, Thomas Peabody, Joseph Pedrick, Moses Pearson, Joseph Perkins Jr., Joshua Pettingill, Moses Pettingill, Samuel Phelps, Thomas Powell, Abel Prince, David Ramsay, Ebenezer Ray, James Ray, Willaim Read, Peter Robertson, Samuel Robertson, Joseph Rollings, Alexander RUnnels, Benjamin Sawyer, Josiah Sawyer, Nourse Sawyer, Robert Scammell, Thomas Scott, William Shaddock, Samuel Shepard, Andrew Shannon, James Simpson, Jonathan Small, William Small Jr., Benjamin Smith, Daniel Smith, Isaac Smith, Jacob Stanly, Samuel Stanley, Benjamin Stearns, Isaac Stearns, John Stearns, Jotham Stearns, Samuel Stearns, Bimsley Stevens, Thomas Stevens, Allen Stewart, John Stewart, Samuel Stewart, Simpson Stewart, William Stewart, Asa Swinnerton, John Taggart, Benjamin Taylor, Benjamin Taylor 2d, John Taylor, Jonathan Taylor, Hugh Thornton, William Talbert, Archelaus Towne, Archelaus Towne Jr., Bartholomew Towne, JOnathan Towne, Richard Towne, Rufus Trask, Henry Trivett, David Truel Jr., Benjamin Tuck, William Tuck, Nathan Tuttle, Thomas Underwood, Aaron Upton, Eleazer Usher, Ebenezer Wakefield, Joseph Wakefield, Peter Wakefield, William Wakefield, John Wallace, Joseph Wallace, Daniel Warner, Solomon Washer, Stephen Washer, Daniel Weare, Daniel Weston, Isaac Weston, Sutherick Weston, Reuben Wheeler, John Wiley, Andrew WIlkins, Asa Wilkins, Daniel Wilkins Jr., Daniel Wilkins (3d), Eli Wilkins, Jonathan Wilkins, Robert B. Wilkins, Sylvester Wilkins, William Henry Wilkins, Ebenezer Williams, Samuel Williams, George Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Lemuel Winchester, Jesse Woodbury, Levi Woodbury, Eben Wincol Wright, Isaac Wright. SOLDIERS FROM AMHERST WHO DIED IN THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE Lieutenant Joseph Bradford, at Medford, July 1775 Peter Brewer, killed in the battle at Saratoga, October 7, 1777. Primus Chandler, killed by the Indians, May 1776. James Clark, at Mount Independence, July 1776 Jonathan Cochran (came home sick) died at home March 24, 1778. Robert Cochran, died of disease, time and place not known. John Cole, killed in the battle at Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 Ezekiel Davis, in Central New York, June 16, 1779. Joseph Davis, killed by Indians in New York, August 13, 1779. Benjamin Dike, killed in the battle at Saratoga, October 7, 1777. John Door, killed in the battle at Saratoga, October 7, 1777. Richard Goodman, at Yellow Springs, PA June 27, 1778 Calvin Honey, place not known, December 15, 1781. William Jones, at Crown Point, July 1776. Jeremiah Lamson, at Fort George, NY, August 1776. Asa Lewis, killed in the Battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777. James McGraw, killed in battle at Bennington, August 16, 1777. David Ramsey (brought home sick) died December 2, 1775. Nourse Sawyer, at Crown Point, July 1776. William Shaddock, place not known, died June 30, 1777. Isaac Stearns, at Crown Point, July 1776. Captain Benjamin Taylor, at Medford, Mass, February 1776. Captain Archelaus Towne, at Fishkill NY, November 1779. Jonathan Towne, at Crown Point, July 1776. William Tuck, died of disease, time and place not known. Aaron Upton, at Worcester, Mass, December 1776. Daniel Weare, at Crown Point, July 1776. Sylvester Wilkins, at Easton, PA, September 20, 1779. William Henry Wilkins, at Yellow Springs, PA, June 22, 1778. Levi Woodbury, a prisoner of war in England; date not known. Eben Wincol Wright, at Winter Hill, November 1775. **************** WAR OF 1812 **************** The record of the enlistments in the regular army for the War of 1812 are in the possession of the War Department, at Washington, and not accessible to the public. The names of some who enlisted from Amherst are, however, remembered. Captain Turner Crooker, at that time a resident of this town, opened a recruiting office on the Plain, September 1812. He was then a captain of the Ninth Regiment, United States Infantry. After the close of the war he was retained on the peace establishment, with the brevet rank of major. John Dodge Jr. enlisted and returned at the close of his term of service. He afterward removed to vermont. John Dutton enlisted and served on the northern frontier. Samuel Dutton served on the northern frontier. Timothy Dutton also served on the northern frontier, and he died at French's Mills in 1813. David Hartshorn served one year on the northern frontier. Joseph Hartshorn served one year in Vermont and New York, in the Twenty-ninth Infantry, and died June 27, 1884, the last survivor, so far as known of the Amherst men who served in the War of 1812. Joseph Low was second lieutenant in the First Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers. On the reorganization of the regiment, he was appointed paymaster of the Forty-fifth Regiment U.S. Volunteers. Peter Melendy enlisted in 1813, served a short time in Northern Vermont as lieutenant in a regiment of infantry. This commission he resigned and was shortly after appointed a lieutenant in the artillery service, and ordered to Fort Constitution, where he remained until near the time of his death, May 15, 1823. Jacob Pike had enlisted in 1809, and served through the war. John Purple served through the war as a drummer. Robert Purple, his brother, enlisted and died in the service. John Stewart and his son, John Stewart Jr. also enlisted, the latter served as a drummer-boy. John Warner was sergeant in a company of infantry, and died at Sackett's Harbor in 1814. He was son of Colonel Daniel Warner. Other's doubtless enlisted in the regular army, of whom we have at present no account. September 7, 1814 detatchments from 23 regiments of the State militia were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march for the defense of Portsmouth.... the quota furnished by the town of Amherst was a part of the regiment commanded by Colonel Nat Fisk, of Westmoreland, and consisted of : Josiah Converse, captain; Samuel Leonard, Luther Elliott, sergeants; Stephen B. French, Joseph Hartshorn, corporals; David Elliott, David Fisk 3d, Daniel Gilman, Jonathan Howard, Benjamin Jewell Jr., John M. Kuhn, Samuel M. Livingston, Benjamin Peak Jr., privates. They were mustered into service September 16, 1814 and served three months. Another detachment of militia were drafted for the defense of Portsmouth, which was mustered in September 27, 1814 and served Sixty days. The following soldiers from Amherst served in Colonel Steel's regiment in the company commanded by Captain James T. Treavitt of Mont Vernon: Robert Read, lieutenant; Leonard T. Nichols, Samuel Stevens, sergeants; John Annis, Samuel Converse Jr., Israel Farnum, James H. Grater, Timothy Hartshorn, Mansfield King, privates. About fifty citizens of the town, who were exempted from the performace of military duty by the militia law, met at the house of Captain Theophilus Page, October 10, 1814 and formed a company of Home Guards. The officers of this organization were Jedediah K. Smith, captain; Timothy Danforth, first lieutenant; John Secombe, second lieutenant. [The war was brought to a close by a treaty signed at Ghent by the representatives of the contending powers, December 23, 1814. **************** THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865 **************** The first war meeting held in Amherst was called April 22, 1861. Barnabas B. David was called to the chair, and upon taking it announced the object of the meeting, and pledged his all in support of the national cause. A finance committee was appointed to secure and disburse contributions for the support of families of those who volunteered to fight the battles of the country, and it was voted to raise the pay of the volunteers from Amherst to eighteen dollars per month, and furnish each one with a Colt's revolver. Fourteen young men came forward and offered their services as soldiers. A home Guard was formed, which met for some time for the purpose of a drill. The Amherst Soldier's Aid and Home Relief Society was organized in 1861 and closed its work in November 1865. During its existence money to the amount of $817.90 had been collected for the use of the society, and articles distributed to the amount of $1268.35, the excess being in labor, wearing apparel and other articles contributed. Names of soldiers who were furnished with revolvers: Jesse Barret, Taylor W. Blunt, Rodney Burdick, Frank Chickering, James B. David, John M. Fox, George W. George, George P. Griswold, Newton T. Hartshorn, Henry H. Manning, Ruel G. Manning, Alfred L. Moore, Henry S. Ober, Daniel A. Peabody, Charles H. Phelps, George W. Russell, William W. Sawtelle, George Vose. March 30, 1868, the selectmen were authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars in buildings a soldier's monument. May 30, 1869, the selectmen appointed Harrison Eaton a committee on the construction of the soldier's monument. August 9, 1870, J. Byron Fay, Edward D. Boylston and Charles Richardson were appointed a committee to ascertain the cost of a suitable monument to commemorate the soldiers from Amherst who lost their lives in the Civil War. March 14, 1871, Harrison Eaton, J. Byron Fay and John F. Whiting were appointed a committee to locate and erected a soldier's monument, and the style or character of the monument, and the time of erecting it, was left to their discretion. It was voted to appropriate the sum of three thousand dollars, in addition to the sum left by the late Aaron Lawrence, Esq. toward its erection. The granite base of the soldier's monument on the Plains was quarried from a bowlder found on land owned by Levi J. Secomb, Esq. The bronze figure of the soldier was placed upon it December 9, 1871. At the same time the bronze tablet, bearing the following inscription was inserted: "In Honor of OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS 1861-1856. William W. Sawtelle, 2d Reg't James W. Patterson, 2d Reg't Fifield H. Messer, 2d Reg't Henry S. Ober, 4th Reg't Thomas L. Gilpatrick 4th Reg't Charles H. Phelps, 5th Regt Edward Vose, 5th Reg't John L. Kendall, 5th Reg't Charles A. Damon 5th Reg't William Few, 7th Reg't Edwin Benden, 8th Reg't Joseph F. Johnson, 8th Reg't Albert Noyes, 8th Reg't Charles A.B. Hall, 9th Reg't James Blanchard, 10th, Reg't Samuel Corlis, 10th Reg't George B. Sloan, 10th Reg't Eli S. Gutterson, 10th Reg't Robert Gray, 10th Reg't George A. McCluer, 10th Reg't George A. Pedtrick, 10th Reg't John N. Mace, 10th Reg't Charles S. Parkhurst, 10th Reg't Lyman B. Sawtelle, 10th Reg't Martin P. Weston, 1st, Reg't N.H. Heavy Artillery Frank H. Holt, 47th Penn. ERECTED 1871 BY THE TOWN OF AMHERST ASSISTED BY A LEGACY FROM AARON LAWRENCE, ESQ. A meeting was held May 31, 1872 "to see if the town would vote to dedicate the Soldiers' Monument," but the article in the warrant for that purpose was dismissed 47 to 42. At another meeting, held June 17, 1872, the town voted "to dedicate the Soldiers' Monument," but no steps have been taken to carry the vote into effect, and the monument has never been formally dedicated. SOLDIERS AND SAILORS FROM AMHERST IN THE CIVIL WAR 1861-65 Three month's men that went to Portsmouth in Captain Gillis' company, April 1861: Jesse Barrett, Taylor W. Blunt, Rodney W. Burdick, Joseph F. Cady, Frank Chickering, James B. David, John M. Fox, George W. George, George P. Griswold, Reuel G. Manning, Alfred L. Moore, George W. Russell, William W. Sawtelle. Of the above, those who declined to enlist for three years returned home July 13, 1861, having recieved a discharge. THREE YEARS' MEN Second Regiment--John M. Fox, Fifield H. Messer, William W. Sawtelle. Third Regiment--Rodney W. Burdick, George W. Parkhurst, James Ryan. Fourth Regiment--Charles F. Crooker, Albert Fletcher, Thomas L. Gilpatrick, John G. Lovejoy, Henry H. Mannning, Samuel H. Ober, George W. Osgood, WIlliam D. Stearns, George H. Upton Fifth Regiment--John Boodro, James B. David, Edson Davis, Charles A. Damon, Joseph B. Fay, George W. George, Charles E. Hapgood, John L. Kendall, Henry A. Nichols, Daniel A. Peabody, Charles H. Phelps, Lyman B. Sawtelle, Edward Vose, George Vose, Frederick A. Wilson Seventh Regiment--Josiah Colburn. Eighth Regiment--Jesse Barrett, Edwin Benden, James L. Hardy, Joseph A. Johnson, Albert Noyes Ninth Regiment--Robert E. Benden, Charles A. Hale, Bartholomew Ryan. Tenth Regiment--George F. Aiken, Albert S. Austin, James Blanchard, Thomas Broderick, Joseph A. Brown, Lawrence Cooley, Samuel W. Corliss, George E. Crooker, Jeremiah Crowley, Thomas Doyle, Robert Gray, Eli S. Gutterson, Charles F. Hall, Robert Harrison, George E. Heath, Peter Levin, George A. McClure, John N. Mace, Thomas O'Connell, Charles N. Parkhurst, James W. Patterson, George A. Pedrick, John D. Pedrick, James A. Philbrick, George W. Russell, JOhn Shea, Joshua A. Skinner, James R. Stearns, George B. Sloan, Horace Lawrence, Charles C. Twiss. HEAVY ARTILLERY--Albert E. Boutell, Charles E. Flint, Edwin R. Roundy, WIlliam F. Russell, Charles H. Shepard, Nathan T. Taylor, William E. Wallace, Martin P. Weston. NEW HAMPSHIRE BATTERY--Edmund E. Bullard, Richard Mahar, Bryant H. Melendy. SHARPSHOOTERS--Charles Upton IN MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTS--Charles Hastings, Joseph Pettengill, Warren S. Russell. TWENTY-SIXTH New YORK REGIMENT--Michael Welsh FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT--Frank H. Holt UNITED STATES ENGINEERS--Newton T. Hartshorn UNITED STATES NAVY--John H. Clark, Henry A. Fletcher, Charles Champney, Nelson D. Gould, Patrick Moran, George N. Wheeler. Re-ENLISTED after THREE YEARS' SERvicE--Edward E. Benden, Rodney W. Burdick, John G. Lovejoy, Albert Noyes, James Ryan, George H. Upton, George W. Upton POST BAND AT HILTON HEAD--Warren S. Russell, David F. Thompson The following citizens of Amherst furnished substitutes: Hollis E. Abbott, Noah P. Batchelder, Henry R. Boutell, James C. BOutell, Luther Coggin Jr., Perley W. Dodge, John Fletcher, Butler P. Flint, Charles E. Grater, John Hadlock, Joseph F. Hanson, Reuben W. Harradon, Frank Hartshorn, Asa Jaquith Jr., Ebenezer Jacquith, Andrew L. Kidder, Charles H. Kinson, Stephen McGaffey, William Melendy, George W. Parker, Henry M. Parker, James S. Parkhurst, Solomon Prince, Albert A. Rotch, George J. Savage, Andrew F. Sawyer, Chester Shipley, Daniel C. Shirley, Daniel W. Trow, Joseph P. Trow, George W. Upton, John F. Whiting, Samuel Wilkins. NAMES OF SUBSTITUTES, so far as ascertained: Charles Baursturn, Pierre Boyleau, William Brown, John Caten, Ira Clark, George Farley, John Fox, George Fray, Charles Groht, John Harris, Benjamin F. Hinds, Edward Hogan, Thomas Jones, Alexander Miller, Hiram F. Morton, James O'Brien, Daniel O'Neill, Christian Petterson, Charles A. Rogers, Owen L. Rouse, Edward Rupel, William Thompson, Louis Walter, Joseph Wright. Of the above substitutes, nine are reported as having deserted, one was killed at Cold Harbor, and two were wounded. *************** ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY *************** THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH -- The Congregational Church in Souhegan West was organized September 22, 1741, and consisted of Daniel Wilkins, the pastor-elect, Samuel Leman, Israel Towne, Samuel Lamson, Caleb Stiles, and Humphrey Hobbs. On the following day Mr. Wilkins was ordained and installed as it pastor. Immediately after the ordination services six females were admitted to church membership. The church was the third formed in Hillsborough County, that in Nashua, organized in 1685, and that in Nottingham West (now Hudson) formed in 1737, only preceding it. Humphrey Hobbs was elected deacon January 6, 1742-43 but resigned the following year to enter the military service in the war [French & Indian]. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was usually administered five times in each year. The first baptism of which we have any record was that of Deborah, daughter of William and Sarah Lancy, in September, 1743. After a ministry of thirty-four years, Mr. Wilkin's faculties, physical and mental, failed, and the town made preparations for a colleague. [excerpts only] Mr. Jeremiah Barnard was the next pastor, followed by Mr. Nathan Lord (who died September 9, 1870), and was succeeded by Silas Aiken. A meeting was held October 3, 1828 at which a society was formed under the name and title of the Congregational Church and Society in Amherst. Edmund Parker was chosen clerk; David McGregor Means, Treasurer; John Mack, James Bell, and Richard Boylston, standing committee; and John Secombe, Robert Means and David Stewart auditors. Rev. Silas Aiken, the fourth minister of the church and the first of the Society was ordained and installed February 28, 1837. He was succeeded by the Rev. Frederick A. Adams who was ordained November 14, 1837. Rev. William T. Savage was installed February 24, 1841. Rev. Josiah G. Davis was ordained May 22, 1844 and was succeeded by Rev. Willis D. Leland, who was ordained January 22, 1880, and remained until 1881. Since that time the church has had no settled pastor, but has been supplied by various preachers, among whom were Revs. Palmer, Seabury, Batchelder and others. A list of deacons from the organization of the church to 1885 [only early deacons from the original list included here]: Humphrey Hobbs 1743-44 (died 1756 aged 44); Joseph Boutell, 1743, died May 19, 1795, aged 88; Samuel WIlkins 1774, residned 1816, died December 27, 1832, aged 90; John Seaton, elected 1774, resigned 1787, died 1793; Nahum Baldwin, elected 1774, died 1788, aged 54; Ephraim Barker, elected 1788, died September 20, 1800, aged 68; Joshua Lovejoy, elected 1788, resigned 1794, died January 28, 1832, aged 88; Amos Elliott, elected September 3, 1795; died October 4, 1836, aged 80; John Hartshorn, elected 1808, died November 28, 1842, aged 83; Matthias Spalding, elected 1817, died May 22, 1865, aged 95; David Holmes, elected 1817, resigned 1823, died November 1, 1867, aged 89; Amos Elliott Jr. elected 1823, died April 27, 1826, aged 44; Edmund Parker, elected May 15, 1832, resigned 1836, died September 8, 1856, aged 73; Abel Downe, elected Jan 21, 1836, died September 28, 1840, aged 52; Daniel Fisk 3d, elected 1836, resigned 1860, died June 22, 1873, aged 80; Cyrus Eastman, elected 1836, died December 17, 1862, aged 75; Barnabas B. David, elected 1845, died September 5, 1883, aged 81; Edward D. Boylston, elected 1860, resigned 1878; Aaron Lawrence, elected 1860, died September 1, 1867, aged 62; Charles H. David, elected 1871, resigned 1874; died October 17, 1880, aged 65; Aaron S. Wilkins, elected 1874; Zaccheus G. Perry elected 1874, resigned 1880; Daniel W. Sargent elected 1880; Joseph E. Fowle elected 1880; Henry Wheeler, elected 1884. THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY--September 9, 1819 public notice was given by Israel Fuller, clerk of the society, that Eber Lawerence3, Isaac CHickering and others had formed themselves into a religious society t obe known by the name and style of the Universalist Society in Amherst. THE CHRISTIAN OR UNITARIAN SOCIETY--Public notice was given, March 27, 1824, by David Holmes, clerk of the society, that on the 24th day of that month, Charles H. Atherton, David Holmes, Ephraim Blanchard, E.F. Wallace and others had associated and formed themselves into a religious society by the name and style of the Christian Society in Amherst. Rev. Edmund Quincy Sewall was ordained and installed pastor of the Christian Church and Society (Unitarian) January 26, 1825. Mr. Sewall continued pastor of the society about a year. A church was organized and continued in existence for some time, but its records, like the early ones of the First Congregational Church, are lost. In 1834, Rev. Lyman Maynard was employed as pastor by a union of the Unitarian and Universalist societies in town, and continued here until 1838. DUring his pastorate the new meeting-house (now Baptist) was built by members of the two societies. After the removal of Mr. Maynard, Dr. Amory Gale and other conducted the Sunday services at the church for some time. After the desk was occupied for a year or two by Rev. William Hooper, Universalist. Finally the house was sold to the Baptist Society, and the Unitarians and Universalists in town have become connected with other societies. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH--An association for the support of preaching on Chestnut Hill was organized October 6, 1828 under the name of the First Baptist Society in Amherst, N.H. by the following persons: Ralph Holbrook, Ebenezer Holbrook, Oliver Mears, Frankin Mears, Henry Tewksbury, Joseph Harvill, John Rollins, James Prince, Robert Fletcher, Otis Fletcher, Benjamin Damon, John Washer, Benjamin F. SHepard and Joseph Harraden. The church was organized July 2, 1829, ministers from the churches in Londonderry, Milford, New Boston and Goffstown being present at the council called for the purpose. Rev. Samuel Abbot, of Londonderry, was moderator, and Rev. Simon Fletcher, of Goffstown, clerk of the council. The society held their meetings for Sunday services on Chesnut Hill until 1837, when the removed to the Plain, a large addition made to their number, the result of a protacted meeting held in Feburary, 1835, making such a movement advisable. Here for a time they had no sure abiding-place. Sometimes they worshipped in the old school-house north of the court-house, at the east end of the common, sometimes in the court-house, and afterward in a small hall over the old Read store, which stood near where the soldiers' monument now stands. November 19, 1841, arrangements were made with the proprietors of the Unitarian meeting-house for the use of their house a portion of the time. Having become proprietors of two-thirds of the pews, the house was, agreeable to a condition in the subscription to the shares for buildling it, transferred to them by the Unitarian society by deed dated April 7, 1844. It was repaired in 1851 and in 1870. SInce the purchsae of the meeting-house a parsonage has been built and fitten up. A communion set has been presented to the church by Mrs. Mary Twiss and her children, and a legacy of two hundred and fifty dollars-- now amounting to nearly four hundred dollars--was left by Miss S. Lue Lawrence, to purchase a bell to be used on the church. The desk was supplied by different persons, for a short time each until 1841. Since that time, the ministers have been--Rev. Mason Ball (1841-1844); Rev. Aaron Hayes (1844-1845), Amasa Brown (1845-1847), Rev. David Burroughs (1849-1854), Rev. Samuel Jones (1856-1857), Rev. John H. Thyng (1857-1858), Rev. Samuel Cook (1858-1859), Rev. Amos W. Boardman (1859-1861); Rev. J. Baskwell (1863-1865), Rev. John Peacock (1866, nearly two years); Rev. Eli P. Noyes (1868 to 1870), Rev. Albert Heald (1870 to 1876); Rev. J.H. Lerned (1877 to 1879), Rev. Gorham W. Estabrook (1879 to 1881); Rev. E.J. Colcord (1881); and Rev. T.A. Howard (1885). THE METHODIST SOcIETY--Rev. Orlando Hinds, who commenced his labors here in 1829, is said to have been the first Methodist preacher in Amerhst. His immediate successors were A.M. Howe and J.C. Cromack. The first methodist society was organized in 1839. The first Quarterly meeting of which any account has been preserved was held September 19, 1834 at which John Haseltine, Isaac Weston and WIlliam Brown, of Amherst; Freeman Nichols of Merrimack; and William Coggin 2d of Mont Vernon, attended with the presiding elder. At that time the societies in Amherst and Goffstown were united, and the Quarterly meetings were held alternately in both places. Another effort to change the location of the house was made at the annual town-meeting, March 11, 1771, and which propositions were made "to reconsider the vote already passed for setting said house on the plain." "To see if the town, upon consideration of a far suprerior place, with respect to underpinning said house, dry land and a location nearer the centre of the town, will vote to set said house on the west side of the road, near the shop of Mr. Cheever, so called, "and, if voted in the negative, "to see if they will chuse a court's committee to establish a place for said house," all of which were rejected. Thomas Wakefield was chosen "new meeting-house treasurer," and the work of building went forward. At a meeting held August 26, 1771 the town voted that the building committee "provide drink [rum] for raising the meeting-house.. that is for the spectators." At a town-meeting held December 4, 1771 it was voted to allow the accounts of the committee appointed to build the new meeting-house, and the accounts of the workmen employed by them. November 14, 1772, David Campbell, Joseph Gould and Stephen Peabody were apointed a committee to sell said pewground. David Campbell refusing to serve on the committee, Ephraim Hildreth was appointed in his stead. The house was completed enough to be dedicated on the 19th day of January 1774, which date, curiously painted in gold, in old English letters, on a panel in front of the singers' gallery, directly opposite the pulpit, has been, in bygone days, an enigma to more than one of the younger members of the congregation. Of the gathering on that occasion and the sermon preached by Mr. Wilkins, no written records remain. Tradition affirms that the discourse was, to some extent, a historical one, treating of matters connected with the settlement of the town and the formation of the church. After the public services at the meeting-house it is said that the visiting clergymen were entertained at the house of Pastor Wilkins. march 14, 1774, a proposition was made to choose a committee to procure a good bell for the meeting-house, rejected by the town. June 22, 1774, Daniel Campbell, Lieutenant Kendrick and Israel Towne, Jr. appointed a committee to examine the accounts of the meeting-house and pew committees. March 9, 1778. The town voted that the seats in the front gallery in the meeting-house, from the women's seats to the first pillar in the men's be granted for the use of a number of persons skilled in singing, and Ephraim Barker, William Low, Amos Stickney, Abijah Wilkins and John Kimball were appointed a committee for seating said seats. October 30, 1815 a committee consisting of William Low, David Stewart, and Andrew Leavitt, reported that the meeting-house needed repairs, and were authorized to make them. March 1818. The town refused to purchase stoves for the meeting-house. Finally in 1824 some stoves were procured by individual subscriptions and placed in the meeting-house. [Still it was cold and uncomfortable until it was removed and remodeled in 1836]. March 1821 the town voted to reshingle the meetinghouse, and repaint the house, and William Fisk, William Low and David McG Means were appointed a committee to get the work done. March 14, 1832 the town voted to sell the meeting-house at auction, with the First Congregational Church and Society in Amherst being the purchasers. In August 1836 the meeting house was removed from the spot "on the training field" where the father's placed it, sixty five years before, to the place it now occupies. January 1, 1837 the repairs on the meeting-house were completed, and it was again occupied by the society for Sunday services. The exercises on this occasion were under the direction of the pastor, Rev. Silas Aiken. The centennial anniversary of the dedication of the second meeting-house was celebrated with appropriate services on Sunday, January 18, 1874. The house has lately been thoroughly repaired and a new organ built. AMHERST AS A COUNTY SEAT An attempt to divide the province into counties was made in the New Hampshire house of representatives January 22, 1755 but it failed to receive the concurrence of the council. The subject was again brought up in the council March 1769 at which time votes were passed for dividing the province of New Hampshire into counties and fixing their boundaries. March 29, 1769, the council voted that one Superior Court, four Inferior Courts of Common Pleas, and four Courts of General Sessions should be held annually at Amherst for the county in which it was included. The meeting house belonging to the town was presented to the county for a court-house, and was subsequently moved from its original location, at the junction of the roads near the house now occupied by P.W. and Thomas Jones, to sit on the Plain north of the soldier's monument, where it was burned by an incendiary on the night following the 15th day of March 1788. A jail was built shortly after the organization of the county, which now forms a part of the old jailhouse building, and some forty years later the stone jail building was erected. At a meeting held March 31, 1788, the town voted to grant eighty pounds toward the erection of a new court-house. John Patterson, Captain Josiah Crosby, Samuel Dana Esq., Daniel Campbell and James Ray were apppointed a committee to superintend its erection, and its "location, form and figure" were referred to the committee and the selectmen of the town. The second court-house was built on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of David Russell, Esq. After the brick court-house was built it was sold and removed to the westerly part of the Plain, where it was fitted up for a chapel, for which it was used several years, when it was again sold and fitted up for tenement buildings. It is still standing near the foundry buildings. West of it, as it was originally located, and near by, were the whipping-post and pillory, -- those "Terrors of the law" to evil-doers among the fathers. The whippings inflicted, we may judge, varied in severity according to the disposition of the officer who inflicted them. In once instance, still remembered, the culprit was told privately that he "should not be whipped very hard," but was directed to make a terrible outcry every time he was struck. After the State prison was built the pillory and whipping-post were dispensed with, and but very few persons now living can remember them. In this second court-house the giants of the legal profession in New Hampshire, from 1787 to 1822, were wont to congregate at the semi-annual sessions of the Hillsborough County courts.... Daniel Webster made his maiden argument before Judge Farrar here. He had finished the study of his profession in the office of Christopher Gore, a distinguished jurist in Boston, and had been admitted to the Suffolk County bar, on motion of that gentleman, in March 1805. A few weeks later he visited Amherst, and argued a motion before Judge Farrar's court with such clearness that the presiding judge remarked to his associates, "That young man's statement is a most unanswerable argument," and at once granted the motion. The town of Concord have presented a petition to the General Court, asking to be annexed to the county of Hillsborough, and that one-half of the courts then held at Amherst might be held in that town, the people of Amherst, at a meeting held April 28, 1785, voted their unwillingness that the petition should be granted, and chose Joshua Atherton, Augustus Blanchard and Samuel Dana, Esq., a committee "to show the General Court the reasons of their unwillingness." Colonel Robert Means, then the representative of the town, was instructed to assist the committee... The people of the towns in the northern part of the county requiring greater conveniences for the transaction of their business before the courts, the Legislature passed an act, which was approved December 25, 1792, providing that the May term of the Superior Court and the September and December terms of the Court of Common Pleas and General Court of Session, held annually at Amherst, should thereafter be held at Hopkinton, at the same time they had been held at Amherst, provided that the said courts should be held in or as near the meeting-house in said Hopkinton as they could conveniently be, and that the act should be null and void if, at the expiration of two years from its passage, the town of Hopkinton had not erected a suitable house, free of expense to the county, in which to hold said courts. The required building was promptly erected, and Hopkinton became a half-shire town in the county, and so continued until the formation of Merrimack County in 1823. A jail was also erected there, which continued to be used by the county of Merrimack after its incorporation until the completion of the new jail at Concord in 1852. The present court-house in Amherst was built shortly after September 21, 1818. By an act of the Legislature approved December 28, 1844 it was provided that a term of the Court of Common Pleas should thereafter be held at Manchester. On July 12, 1856, it provided that a term of the Superior Court would be held in Nashua. The county records were removed in 1866. A jail having been built at Manchester, the jail, jail-house, and small house near by, in Amherst, and the land around them, owned by the county, were sold at auction, October 8, 1867. The land on which these buildings stood was presented to the county by Jonathan Smitn in 1771. By an act of the Legislature approved July 15 1879, the May term of the Superior Court held at Amherst on the first Thursday of May, annually, was abolished, and the term of court was ordered to be held in its stead in Nashua and Manchester, alternately... This completed the removal of the Hillsborough County courts from Amherst, where they had been held wholly, or in part, for one hundred and eight years. On the removal of the courts, the court-house, agreeable to the provisions of the deed given the county in 1824, became the property of the town. It has since been fitted up for a town-house, rooms for the town officers, the town library and a fire-proof safe for the preservation of town records. SCHOOLS We find no records of schools in Souhegan West prior to its incorporation as a town. Probably private instruction was given by Mr. Wilkins, or some other qualified persons, to such as desired and could afford it. At the annual meeting of the town in 1762, a vote was passed "to keep a school this year in five divisions, the selectmen to divide." No mention is made of any effort being made to secure an appropriation for schools in the years 1763, 1765, and 1766. In 1764, 1767, 1768, and 1769 the town refused to make any appropriation for that purpose. Finally the matter became a serious one. The selectmen were in danger of being "presented" for neglect of duty in the matter of schooling. So the town voted, at a meeting held December 12, 1769, that "they will keep a school part of the year," and granted the sum of L13, 6.8d. to defray the expensies of doing so. At the annual meeting March 1770, they "voted, to keep a school the ensuing year to teach the children to read, write and cipher." But no record remains that any money was appropriated for teachers. A proposition to build several school-houses and to chose a committee to complete the same was rejected at the annual meeting held in March 1774. February 16, 1791, Joshua Atherton, Samuel Dana, Robert Means, William Gordon, Daniel Warner, John Shepard, Robert Fletcher, Nathan Kendall Jr., Samuel Curtis, Joseph Blanchard, Samuel Wilkins, and Daniel Campbell, Esqrs., William Read, Nathan CLeaves, David Danforth, Isaac Baldwin, John Eaton, David Stewart, Thomas Gilmore, Samuel G. Towne, James Roby, John Watson, Jeremiah Hobson, Ebenezer Taylor, Jonathan Smith Jr., and Ephraim Barker of Amherst; Moses Kelly of Goffstown; Isaac Cochran of Antrim; Timothy Taylor and Jacob McGaw of Merrimack; and Stephen Dole of Bedofrd, and there successors were, by the Legislature of the State, formed into, constituted and made a body polite and corporate by the name of AUREAN ACADEMY, which corporation was empowered to the support and maintenance of an academy, the end and purpose of which was declared to "encourage and promote virtue and piety, and a knowledge of the English, Greek, and Latin languages, mathematicks, writing, geography, logic, oratory, rhetoric, and other useful and ornamental branches of literature." The school went into operation under the charge of Charles Walker, a son of Judge Timothy Walker of Concord NH. He was succeeded by Daniel Staniford, Henry Moore, Jesse Appleton William Crosby, WIlliam Biglow, Joshua Haywood, William Abbott, Daniel Weston, Peyton R. Freeman, James McPherson and Thomas School. The school was success in its operation for some years, but it was finally closed in 1801 for lack of adequate funds for its support. A select school was kept in the village during the summer months for several years afterward. Among the teachers employed in this school were Ephraim P. Bradford, George Kimball, James McKean Wilkins, John Farmer, Samuel Whiting, Abel F. Hildreth, and Gideon L. Soule. The sum of ten thousand dollars was left to the town of Amherst by the will of the late Isaac Spalding, of Nashua, the same to be paid on one year from the death of his widow, and kept as a perpetual fund, to be known as the "Spalding fund," the annual interest, dividend or income of which is added to the school money raised by the town in each year.... POST-OFFICE--William Gordon was appointed postmaster at Amherst, by the President and Council February 16, 1791. Other postmasters have been: Samuel Curtis; Daniel Prior 1803; Samuel Foster 1808; Eli Brown 1809; Aaron Whitney 1812; Jedidiah K. Smith 1819; Isaac Spalding 1836; John Prentiss 1827; David Underhill 1829; Aaron Lawrence 1841; Charles B. Tuttle 1849; David Russell 1852; Timothy Danforth 1853; Nathaniel H. George 1855; Hollis E. Abbott 1861; Charles Richardson 1868; Horace W. Woodberry 1869; Wilson D. Forsaith 1876. A post office was established at Amherst station in August 1881, under the name of "Danforth" post-office, and Charles H. Mackay was appointed post-master. Mr. C.E. Smith is the present incumbent. TELEPHONE A telephone office was opened at the telegraph-office in the house of Dr. Edward Aiken, on the Plain, July 7, 1882. It is now the store of Mr. A.F. Sawyer. THE PRESS THE AMHERST JOURNAL AND NEW HAMPSHIRE ADVERTISER--commenced by Nathaniel Coverly, January 16, 1795, was the first newspaper published in Amherst or in Hillsborough County. It was printed on a sheet, eighteen by twenty-two inches, and issued weekly. In the centre of the title was a cut of the national eagle, bearing a shield of generous dimensions, which gave the paper quite a showy appearance. Its reading matter was made up of selected stories, news from abroad, from two to four months old, and very little of local interest. Mr. Coverly's son became associated with him in the publication of the paper, April 24, 1795, and it was discontinued at the close of the war. THE VILLAGE MESSENGER succeeded the JOURNAL, January 6, 1796. William Biglow was the editor; William Biglow and Samuel Cushing, publishers. This paper was a decided improvement upon its predecessor, and made a very creditable appearance. Mr. Biglow soon relinquished the editorial chair, but Mr. Cushing continued the publication of the paper until April 18, 1797, when he retired, and the establishment passed into the hands of Mr. Samuel Preston, by whom the MESSENGER was published until December 5, 1801, when it was discontinued. THE FARMER'S CABINET, Joseph Cushing editor and proprietor, succeeded the MESSENGER, November 11, 1802. Mr. Cushing continued its publication until October 10, 1809, when, becoming involved in the failure of the Hillsborough Bank, he sold the establishment to Mr. Richard Boylston, at that time a journeyman printer in his office, who continued its publication until January 3, 1840. His son, Edward D. Boylston, then became associated with him in its management, and continued associate editor until its removal to Manchester, in April 1843, when the senior editor again assumed the entire charge of the paper. In August 1848, his son again became associated with him in its management, and January 1, 1851 became sole proprietor by purchase, the senior remaining associate editor until 1856. In January 1869, Albert A. Rotch, son-in-law of the editor and a graduate from the office, became associate editor, and still continues as such. THE HILLSBOROUGH TELEGRAPH, Elijah Mansur editor and publisher was commenced January 1, 1820 and discontinued July 13, 1822. It was a well-conducted and well-printed paper. THE AMHERST HERALD, published by Thomas G. Wells and Nathan K. Seaton, was commenced January 1, 1825, and continued until December of that year, when it was united with the NEW HAMPSHIRE STATESMAN and CONCORD REGISTER. It was the offspring of the UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY of those times, and advocated Unitarian views. Quite a number of books and pamphlets were printed at the above-named offices, and with a view of enlarging his business as a publisher, Mr. Cushing shortly before he left town, erected the three-story brick building, on the Plain, for its accomodation, which he left in an unfinished state. Hence it was for a long time called, "Cushing's folly." Dr. Samuel Curtis, a citizen of the town, published a POCKET ALMANACK or NEW HAMPSHIRE REGISTER, from 1800 to 1809 inclusive, which was printed by Mr. Cushing from 1804-9. THE PISCATAQUA EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, conducted mainly by President Appleton, at that time the minister of Hampton, was printed by Mr. Cushing from January 1, 1806 until March 1808. **** BANKS **** THE HILLSBOROUGH BANK was incorporated June 18, 1806, for twenty years, with a capital of from $50,000 to $200,000. The corporation was organized July 23, 1806, when Samuel Bell, Charles H. Atherton, David Everett, Frederick French and Daniel Prior were chosen directors. Samuel Bell was chosen president, and David Holmes cashier by the directors. The first bills were issued October 17, 1806, and were of the denominations of one, two, three, five and ten dollars. They were printed on Perkins' sterotype plates. Being authorized to issue bills to double the amount of the capital employed, the directors availed themselves of the privilege, as business was good and the money in demand. Shortly after, in consequence of the course the government thought proper to adopt in reference to the trouble with Great Britain, the commerce of the country was destroyed and its business paralyzed. It became difficult to turn property into money, and the bank suffered in consequence. The holders of the obligations were clamorous for their money, but the bank found it difficult to obtain its dues from its debtors to meet them. The banks in the commercial centres, which had specie was exhausted, the Hillsborough Bank, August 23, 1809, suspended payment. September 26, 1809, its bills were at ten and twelve, and one-half percent; October 17, 1809 at fifty per cent discount. Many of the active business men of the place suffered severely by its failure, and some terribly bitter pamphlets were written and published in regard to its management. For years any connection with the management of the "Old Hillsborough Bank," was deemed a reproach by many of the citizens of Amherst. FARMER'S BANK--a charter for a new bank at Amherst was granted by the Legislature at its session held in June 1822. The grantees, under this charter, met at Ray's Hotel January 31, 1825. The capital stock, $65,000 was subscribed at once, and Feb. 12, 1825, the corporation was organized by the choice of Charles H. Atherton, James Wallace, Edmund Parker, Robert Means, Robert Read, Daniel Adams and Aaron F. Sawyer as directors. The board of directors organized immediately after by the choice of Charles H. Atherton as president and John Prentiss cashier, who served in those offices during the whole period of the existence of the bank. The bank went into operation April 11, 1825. The bank was quite successful in its business. March 12, 1847, Charles H. Atherton gave notice that he was prepared to make a final close of the affairs of the Farmers' Bank by paying the stockholders their stock in full, with a small surplus. May 1, 1839 an attempt was made to rob the Farmers' Bank by an Englishman, who gave his name as John Jones. The cashier was awakened and succeeded in securing the burglar before he had accomplished his object. At a session of the court held in September following he was sentenced to ten days of solitary confinement, and imprisonment for life at hard labor in the State prison. His real name was said to be John Honeyman. *** LIBRARY *** AMHERST SOCIAL LIBRARY--Samuel Dana, Joshua Atherton, Jeremiah Barnard, Samuel Wilkins, Daniel Campbell, John Shepard, Daniel Warner, Robert Fletcher, Jonathan Smith, Samuel Curtis and their associates, were, by an act of the Legislature approved June 21, 1797, incorporated as the Amherst Library Society. This society continued in existence about thirty-five years. It was finally dissolved and its books sold at auction February 25, 1832. THE FRANKLIN SOCIETY was organized September 16, 1807 for the improvement of its members in literary pursuits. It consisted of a number of young men who met every second Wednesday for the discussion of literary subjects, declamations and the reading of original compositions. The following list of members is copied from the book of records: Herman Abbott, Samuel Abbott, Abraham Andrews, Charles H. Atherton, John P. Batchelder, JohN Burnam, Joseph Bell, William Claggett, Nathan R. Clough, John Cushing, Elisha E. Elman, Caleb Emerson, Luther Farley, JohN Farmer, Allen Fisk, Benjamin F. French, William Gordon, Alonzo Greenville, Levi Hartshorn, Jacob Holmes, Joshua Holt, Eugene Hutchinson, Isaac Hill, George Kimball, Joseph B. Manning, David McG. Means, William F. Morrison, Harrison G. Otis Jr., Edmund Parker, James Perkins, Robert Read, David Secombe, Matthias Spalding Jr., Gustavus Swan, Ebenezer Taylor Jr., Henry J. Tudor and Andrew Wallace. *** FREEMASONRY *** A charter for BENEVOLENT LODGE, No. 7 F. and A.M. was granted by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire April 26, 1797, and the lodge was organized on the last Tuesday of May in that year. Samuel Dana was worshipful Master; Jonathan Gove, Senior Warden; and Luther Dana, Junior Warden. This lodge continued in successful operation quite a number of years. At last, a majority of its members resided in Milford, Brookline, and Wilton, and at a meeting held in 1862 it was voted unanimously to remove said lodge from Amherst to Milford. Samuel Dana, Daniel Warner, Charles H. Atherton, Aaron Whitney and Ephraim Blanchard were among the citizens of Amherst who served as Worshipful Master while it remained in town. It became dormant in 1832, but it was revived and is again in operation. There are but two older lodges now in existence in the State. SOUHEGAN GRANGE No. 10, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY, was formed December 5, 1873, with sixteen members, and is now one of the largest and most flourishign granges in the State. UNITED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS< was instituted July 1, 1881, with 27 members; officers chosen semi-annually. ***** PHYSICIANS ***** MOSES NICHOLS from Reading, Mass., settled here as early as 1761, and remained in practice until his death, in May 1790. He was an active and influential citizen, and filled many important civil and military offices. At the head of his regiment, he commenced the attack upon the Hessians at Bennington, in 1777. He also commanded a regiment at West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, in 1780. SETH AMES, from Dedham, Mass., brother of the celebrated orator and stateman, Fisher Ames, graduated at Harvard College in 1764 in the class of John Wilkins; practiced here from about 1770 to 1777, when, his health failing from the excessive use of snuff, he relinquished practice and returned to Dedham, where he died January 1, 1778. HENRY CODMAN, son of Henry Codman, an Irish immigrant, was born in Middleton, Mass. His mother was a near relative of Rev. Mr. Wilkins. He practiced here forty years, and died in March 1812. His son, Henry Codman, practiced in Mont Vernon a short time, but died young. EBNEZER WESTON JR. was in practice here some years. "Weston's Itch Ointment," of which tons were manufactured by Read & Spaulding, originated with him. SAMUEL CURTIS, from Sharon, Mass, graduated at Harvard College in 1766; was a surgeon in the army of the Revolution; settled in Amherst in 1789, and was in practice here a few years. He finally gave up his professional business for that of an inn-keeper. He also kept an apothecary's store in his tavern; compiled and published a pocket almanac and register several years, besides other publications of various kinds, and served as postmaster several years. In his old age he loved to hear and tell the news, and relate rare instances which had come under his personal observation or which he had heard. Being rather credulous, some of the stories he reported would have done credit to the "Pickwick Club." He died in 1822. MOSES NICHOLS JR., son of General Moses Nichols, studied his profession under the direction of his father, and commenced practice here in 1784; removed to Thornton in 1878, thence to Canada in 1802; returned to Amherst in 1805; remained here until 1811, when he again removed to Canada. He died at Sherbrooke, Canada in November 1849. NATHANIEL HENCHMAN, from Lynn, Mass. settled here in 1783 and remained in practice until his death in May 1800. JOHN MUSSEY, a native of Kingston, studied his profession with General Nichols; settled in Pelham in 1766; in Amherst in 1791, where he remained until 1800, when he removed to Peterborough, where he died in January 1831. He was the father of Professor Reuben Dimond Mussey, the celebrated surgeon and instructor in surgery. ROGERS SMITH, born in Middleton, Mass, came in infancy, with his father's family to Amherst; commenced practice prior to 1804; removed to Mont Vernon in 1808, thence to Greenbush, NY, finally to Weston VT where he died in 1846. He was father of Rev. Asa Dogdge Smith, the president of Dartmouth College from 1863 to 1871. MATTHIAS SPALDING, son of Col. Simeon Spalding of Chelmsford, Mass., graduated at Harvard College in 1798; studied medicine with Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse of Cambridge, and Dr. E.A. Holyoke of Salem, Mass; visited England in 1700 [? should be 1800] where he attended the medical lectures of Sir. Astley Cooper and other noted physicians and surgeons; on his return he commenced practice at Chelmsford, whence in 1806, he removed to Amherst, where he continued in practice until disabled by the infirmities of age. CHARLES F. HILDRETH, graduated at Harvard College in 1823; practiced here a short time; in 1824 removed to Bostson. AMBROSE SEATON, son of Deacon John Seaton Jr., graduated at Dartmouth Medical School in 1825; commenced practice in 1826. About 1830 he removed to Boston, thence, at a later date, to Greenup KY where he died. AMORY GALE, a native of Warwick, Mass., graduated at Bowdoin College in 1824; practiced in Lancaster, Mass some years; settled in Amherst in November 1834, where he remained until 1839. He died in 1873. FRANCIS PERRY FITCH, a native of Greenfield, who graduated at Dartmouth Medical College in 1831, commenced practice in New Boston, whence he removed to Amherst in 1839; succeeded to Dr. Gale's business in Amherst, and remained in successful practice until 1865, when he removed to Milford. After a few years he relinquished practice and removed to Vineland, NJ where he died in December 1874. EDWARD AIKEN, son of Rev. Silas Aiken, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1851; succeeded to the practice of Dr. Fitch in Amherst in 1865. He retired from practice in 1883 and is now engaged on the records of the State Secretary, but resides in Amherst. GEORGE W. MOOR, a native of Princeton, Mass., graduated at Dartmouth College in 1841; settled here in July 1843, and remained in practice until his death, in September 1866. PEYTON D. BAKER commenced practice here in 1855, but remained only a short time. He removed to Maine, where he died. BRADLEY H. BARTLETT, practiced in Manchester and Pittsfield, and was a surgeon in the Civil War; settled in Amherst in 1872. In October 1876, he was disabled by paralysis, and died in December 1878. C.M. DODGE practiced here a few months, commencing in April 1878, and was succeeded by A.C. BUSWELL who remained but a short time. W.H. DINSMORE settled here in 1880, and is now in practice in Milford. DRS. J.B. PETTENGILL and H.D. HICKS are now in practice. ******** LAWYERS ******** [See chapter on "Bench and Bar"] COLLEGE GRADUATES FROM AMHERST HARVARD COLLEGE: John Wilkins, 1764, instructor; died at Athens Ohio 1808, aged 68. Jacob Kimball, 1788, farmer; died at Amherst August 1, 1849, aged 81. Daniel Weston, 1806, lawyer; died at Amherst January 8, 1853, aged 79. William Gordon, 1806, lawyer; died at Brattleboro VT Jan 12, 1871, aged 83. Jonathan F. Dana, 1813, physician; died in New York City, April 1827, aged 33. [Name changed to JAMES by legislature in Massachusetts] Samuel L. Dana, 1813, chemist; died in Lowell, Mass, March 11, 1868, aged 72. John H. Wilkins, 1818, bookseller; died in Boston, December 5, 1861, aged 67. Charles G. Atherton, 1822, lawyer; died in Manchester, November 14, 1853, aged 49 Stephen R. Holmes, 1822, instructor; died at sea, January 11, 1830, aged 28. Joshua Hayward, 1795, clergyman; died November 11, 1814, aged 51. Reuben D. Mussey, 1803, physician; died June 21, 1866, aged 86. James mcK. Wilkins, 1812, lawyer; died June 18, 1855, aged 70. Levi Harthorn, 1813, clergyman, died September 22, 1819, aged 33. Allen Fisk, 1814, instructor; died September 18, 1875, aged 86. Ambrose Seaton, graduate of Medical College, 1825; physician; died April 9, 1866, aged 61. Charles F. Elliott, 1829, physician, died June 23, 1876, aged 72. Edward Spalding, 1833, physician. Charles E. Parker, 1834, physician; died AUgust 23, 1882, aged 69. William Read, 1839 physician. Edward H. Pratt, 1841, physician; died November 15, 1857, aged 51. Alfred Spalding, graduate of Medical College, 1843, physician; died December 20, 1878, aged 63. Edward Aiken, 1851, physician. John H. Clark, 1857, physician. Charles H. Wallace, 1857 law student; died June 21, 1861, aged 25. Vaola J. Hartshorn, 1860, clergyman Warren Upham, 1871, civil engineer. DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY Samuel Whiting, 1818, lawyer. BOWDOIN COLLEGE Robert Means Jr. 1807, lawyer, died September 26, 1842, aged 56. William Appleton, 1826, lawyer, died October 19, 1830, aged 21. James Means, 1833, clergyman; died April 1863, aged 50. AMHERST COLLEGE WIlliam O. Baldwin, clergyman John E. Wheeler, 1857 clergyman William B. Clark, banker WILLIAMS COLLEGE Edward C. David, lawyer William G. David, physician; died August 17, 1877, aged 46 ***** MODERATORS OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS ***** Only partial list included here... John Goffe 1760 William Peabody, 1761, 1762, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1776 Ebenezer Lyon 1763 Moses Nichols 1767, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1773, 1777 Robert Read 1768 Samuel McKean 1772 Benjamin Kendrick 1774 Daniel Campbell 1775 1788 Nahum Baldin 1778 Josiah Crosby 1779 Samuel Wilkins 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1789, 1793, 1797 John Shepard Jr. 1785, 1786, 1787, 1790, 1794 Samuel Dana 1791, 1792, 1795 William Gordon 1796 Daniel Warner 1798 Jonathan Smith 1799, 1801, 1802 Robert Means 1800, 1808, 1809 Jedediah K. Smith 1803-1807 inclusive, 1811-1814 inclusive, 1817, 1823-1824 John Cecombe, 1810, 1816, 1825-1834; 1836-1837 Charles H. Atherton 1815, 1838, 1840, 1841 Edmund Parker 1818-1822, 1835 Hubbard Newton 1839 Daniel Campbell Jr. 1842-1844 David Steart 1845-1846 Levi. J. Secomb 1837, 1848, 1849, 1852, 1855 Lemuel N. Pattee 1850-1851 Perley Dodge, 1853-1854 Charles H. Campbell 1856-5859, 1861-1864, 1866 Charles B. Tuttle 1860, 1865 Brooks R. Came 1777 [?] Frank P. Mace, 1882 ****** TOWN CLERKS ****** partial list Solomon Hutchinson 1760, 1761 John Shepard Jr., 1762-1768, 1770-1772 Thomas Wakefield, 1769, 1779-1783 Moses Nichols 1773 Samuel Wilkins, 1774-1777, 1784-1789 Nahum Baldin 1778 Joshua Lovejoy 1790-1793 William Fisk, 1794-1811 John Ellenwood 1812-1814 Robert Read 1815-1827 James Colburn 1828 Ambrose Seaton 1829 John Prentiss 1830-31 Andrew Wallace 1832-1836 Charles H. Stewart 1837-Sept 1838 David Stewart Sep 1838-1842 David Russell, 1843-1848 Lemuel Bissell 1849 Albert Hardy 1850 to June 23, 1851 [original document has town clerks from 1851 to 1885] SELECTMEN [partial list only] Solomon Hutchinson 1760, 1762 William Bradford, 1760 Reuben Mussey 1760-1761, 1770-1771, 1776-1777 Joseph GOuld, 1760, 1776 Thomas Clark 1760 William Peabody 1761-1762 John Shepard Jr., 1761-68, 1770-72; 1783 Thomas Wakefield, 1761-1771, 1776-1786 Robert Read, 1761-1764, 1768 Daniel Campbell, 1763-1764, 1770-1771, 1774-1775, 1780-84, 1787-89 Samuel Stewart, 1763 John Graham 1764 Moses Nichols 1765, 1768, 1773 Nathan Kendall 1765 Samuel McKean 1766, 1772 Benjamin Taylor 1755, 1767, 1769 James Seaton 1766, 17779 Ebenezer Watson 1767, 1774, 1775, 1781, 1782 Hezekiah Lovejoy 1767 Samuel Wilkins 1768, 1773-1777, 1780, 1782-1789 Israel Towne Jr. 1769, 1773, 1780 Nahum Baldwin 1769, 1778 Stephen Peabody 1770, 1772, 1773, 1779 Benjamin Kedric, 1771 Thomas Burns 1772, 1785, 1786, 1787 John Patterson 1773 Josiah Crosby 1774, 1775 1777 Stephen Washer 1774 Peter Woodbury 1775, 1776 Solomon Kittredge 1777 Amost Flint 1778 John Harvill 1778 John Burns 1778 Nathan Hutchinson 1779 Timothy Smith 1779 Benjamin Davis 1780, 1781 [additional selectmen to 1885 in original document] REPRESENTATIVES Amherst was classed with Bedford for the choice of a representative to the General Court, under the provincial government. The first meeting for a choice of a representative from the classed towns, of which there is a record, was held at Bedford meeting-house March 4, 1762 at which Colonel John Goffe received forty-six votes and Captain Moses Barron thirteen votes (i.e. JohN GOffe was elected). Paul Dudley Sargent was the deputy from Amherst in the First Provincial Congress. He was also chosen a delegate to the second Congress, which met January 25, 1775. Paul Dudley Sargent and Moses Parson represented the town in the third Congress, which met April 21, 1775. The same gentlemen represented the town in the fourth Congress, which met May 17, 1775. Moses Nichols and Nahum Baldwin were chosen delegates to the fifth congress, which met December 21, 1775. On the 5th day of January 1776 this congress adopted a temporary constitution, to continue in force during the "present unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain." Since 18 Dec 1776, the representatives have been [under NH govt] (partial list only) Moses Nichols 1776, 1777, 1781, 1782 Peter Woodbury 1776 Josiah Crosby 1777, 1778, 1779, 1782 Reuben Mussey 1778 Stephen Peabody 1779 Samuel Wilkins 1780 Nahum ABladwin 1780 *** POPULATION *** Fourteen families were settled in the town at the time of Mr. Wilkins' ordination, September 23, 1741. Thirty five families in which were fifty-eight men above sixteen years old, remained in town May 13, 1747. The whole population of the town: 1767 = 858 1773 = 1370 1775 = 1428 1783 = 1909 1786 = 1912 1790 = 2369 1800 = 2150 1810 = 1554 1820 = 1622 1830 = 1657 1840 = 1565 1850 = 1613 1860 = 1508 1870 = 1353 1880 = 1225 In 1767 there were 421 males and 437 females. In 1773 there were 692 males and 678 females. In 1775 there wre 697 white males and 747 white females. In 1790 there were 1147 white males and 1204 white females [more in original document not included here] Of the inhabitants in 1880, 965 were natives of New Hampshire, 118 of Massachusetts, 27 of Maine, 21 of Vermont, 16 of New York, 4 of Pennsylvania, 3 of Connecticut, 2 of Wisconsin, 1 each of New Jersey, Kentucky, Minnesota and California, 52 of Ireland, 8 of England, 3 of Canada and 1 each of Germany and Scotland. In 1800 there were 31 colored persons in the first parish. At the same time there were 2 colored persons in the second parish. In the census of 1783 the selectmen stated that there were in town two hundred and fifty-nine dwelling-houses and two hundred and forty- seven barns. In 1820, four hundred and four of the inhabitants were engaged in agriculture, one hundred and twenty two in manufactures, and ten in trade. The ministers, doctors and lawyers were classed as manufacturers. The organization of the HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY was completed at a meeting held at Hardy's Tavern, February 8, 1848. Dr. Peter P. Woodbury was chosen president; Edward D. Boylston, treasurer, and David Stewart, a member of the executive committee. This society held a fair at Amherst October 1 and 2 1851, which was considered one of the most successful ever held in the county. The society held several fairs subsequently, at various places, but finally disbanded. ******** BIOGRAPHIES AND GENEALOGIES OF EARLY SETTLERS & PROMINENT CITIZENS ******** ISAAC BROOKS, ESQ. Isaac Brooks, Esq. son of Isaac and Joanna (Holden) Brooks, was a native of Woburn, Mass, born August 16, 1757. He was one of the early teachers in this and several of the neighboring towns, as also the fourth register of deeds in Hillsborough County. At the age of nineteen (December 2, 1776) Mr. Brooks entered the office of Dr. John Hale of Hollis, NH as a student of medicine where he was but a short time, Dr. Hale having received an appointment as surgeon in the United States army. At precisely what date he came to Amherst is not known, but a diary in the hands of his grandson, Isaac B. Dodge, makes it certain that it was previous to 1784, and that during 1787, 1788 and 1789 he was employed in teaching in several parts of Amherst, and that we was also a student in the Aurean Academy here four months in the last named year. August 3, 1790, he commenced a school in New Boston, contracting for three months, at six dollars per month, one-half in money and the other half in grain keeping a horse. April 6, 1791, he closed a school in Lyndeborough, of ten weeks, at thirty-six shillings per week, excluding horse-keeping. He also taught a day-school in Merrimack and a writing-school in Temple, his diary containing the names of all the scholars attending these several schools. He married Miss Abigail Kendrick, a most estimable lady, daughter of Benjamin Kendrick, Esq., of Amherst, and sister of the mother of President Franklin Pierce. Soon after, with her, he returned to Woburn, where he cultivated a farm, and in 1793 was elected clerk of that town, serving also as tax collector in 1794. In that year he removed to Wilton, NH with his family, having purchased a small place there of Luther Dana, Esq., a merchant of Amherst, who assisted him in opening a small store. Here he continued until November 30, 1801, becoming discouraged from the illiberality of his reception, supposed or real, and want of success in business, as well as depressed by the loss of his first-born, he disposed of his place to one Sampson Keyes, of Westford, Mass, a blacksmith, and took up his permanent residence in Amherst. Being a fine penman and having much reputation as a scholar, he soon obtained employment as a clerk in the office of Jonathan Smith, Esq. register of deeds for the county. Awaking on the morning of October 5, 1802, to find the office vacant, in consequence of the incumbent having departed to parts unknown, through the persevering efforts of his friends, in spite of much popular opposition, he secured the appointment to fill the vacancy thus occasioned, and entered upon his duties October 9th and continued therein for nearly twenty-six years, being annually re-elected thereto by the people, a majority of whom, for most of the time, were his opponents in politics.....Soon after entering upon his the duties of his office he purchased an unfinished house, recently erected by Ephraim Blanchard, being then centrally situated, the same as is now owned and occupied by his grandson. This he finished for his own occupancy, and there resided until his decease. This was the first house to show glass larger than seven by nine, being furnished with crown-glass nine by twelve. Here the records of the county were kept. Mr. Brooks was a gentleman of strict integrity and marked purity... Mr. & MRs. Brooks, united with the Congregational Church in Amherst, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, September 6, 1807. Mr. Brooks died December 20, 1840 at the age of eighty-three. His children were Isaac who died at Wilton aged four years; Luther Dana, died August 22, 1829 aged 34; and Abigail the widow of Ninian C. Dodge, died at Amherst, January 22, 1872, aged sixty-five. A fine monument has been erected upon the family lot, in the west cemetery, by his only grandson, Isaac Brooks Dodge, Esq. HON. CHARLES H. CAMPBELL Hon. Charles H. Campbell, the youngest son of Captain Daniel and Susan (Story) Campbell was born in Amherst, April 24, 1827; recieved an academic education; commenced teaching school at sixteen years of age; following teaching and farming several years; settled on the ancestral farm and engaged in farming and cattle-dealing until 1866, when he disposed of the larger part of his real estate in Amherst, and removed to Nashua, where he now resides, engaged in the real estate and auction business, in which he has been quite successful, his sales aggregating, in some instances, two hundred thousand dollars in a single month, his business extending over most of New England and many of the Western States, and his sales having been of all kinds of property, the old Hillsborough County jail, the New Hampshire State Prison and the Manchester and Keene Railroad included. He served on the board of selectmen and on the superintending school committee of Amherst; was moderator of the annual town meeting nine years, excelling as a presiding officer; represented the town in the State Legislature in 1863 and 1864, and the old Seventh Senatorial District in the Senate two years, of which body he was the president in the year 1872. He also represented Ward One, Nashua, in the Legislature of 1883, and presided at the organization of the House of Representatives in 1858 and 1883. [more in original document not included here] He was one of the leading citizens in planning for the centennial celebration of the incorporation of his native town in 1860.... Of his four children, only one survives, Colonel George Hylands Campbell, of Boston, who was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1874. DANIEL CAMPBELL The year 1719 brought a valuable accession to the inhabitants of New Hampshire, in the settlement at Londonderry of a colony of Scotch Presbyterian emigrants from the north of Ireland, where their ancestors had settled a century before. This first immigration was followed in succeeding years by others of their countrymen....... Among those who came over a few years later after the first emigration was HENRY CAMPBELL and his family. His father, Daniel Campbell, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1660, was (as a family tradition asserts) a descendant of one of the Earls of Argyle. He was an officer in the army of William, Prince of Orange, and took part in the battle of the Boyne Waters in 1690, the result of which seated William securely on the throne of England. After the close of the war he settled in Ireland. HENRY CAMPBELL, born in 1697, married Martha Black, whose parents emigrated from near Aberdeen Scotland, to Ireland. In 1731 or 1732 they emigrated to America with their family, and after some delay settled, in 1733, in that part of Londonderry afterward incorporated as the town of Windham, where their youngest son, David Campbell, was born, June 27, 1739. He married Janet Hylands, of Londonderry, June 25, 1760, and one bright morning near the close of April 1761, the twin started on foot from Londonderry to Amherst. At Lutwyche's ferry, in Litchfield, they crossed the Merrimack in a dug-out boat and proceeded on their journey to Amherst, which they reached on the evening of the same day. On the lot where their cabin was then erected they spent the remainder of their days. He was one of the stalwart men of his time, possessed of an iron frame, a strong will, and decided opinions, which he was ever ready to express fully and freely. His manner of living was plain, his habits regular and he was temperate in all things. He rose with the sun and retired early. The use of ardent spirits was common in his time among all classes and on all occasions, but a wine-glassful twice a day sufficed him, and an invitation to partake of more was always declined. In 1766 he received a commission as coroner from Governor Wentworth, and filled the office many years; he also served a long time as a justice of the peace; thirteen years he was a member of the board of selectmen of his adopted town, and was for years the senior survivor of those who had served the town in that capacity. He was also the last survivor of the town officers elected prior to the Revolution. He was frequently employed as a land surveyor, and by that means became possessed of a better knowledge of the lots and farms in Amherst and the ajoining towns than was possessed by any other person of this time. The town of Hillsborough was surveyed and divided into lots under his direction, and the adjoining town of Windsor received its first name (Campbell's Gore) from him. He was one of the four citizens of the town who refused to sign the "Association Test Paper" in 177, as he doubted the ability of the colonies to resist successfully, by force of arms, the claims of the mother-country. In his religious views, he was, in early life, a decided Presbyterian, but shortly after the commencement of Mr. Lord's ministry, he joined in the movement which resulted in the formation of the Liberal or Unitarian Society in Amherst, to which he adhered through the remainder of his life. He retained his physican and mental vigor wonderfully. After he had passed his ninety-eigth birthday he held a breaking-up plow a long distance, his son and grandson walking on either side to assist him in case of accident. He was a great reader, and kept well posted in the current events of the day. He also retained his interest in town and State affairs to the last, attending the annual town-meeting the March before his death, and voting the Whig ticket. He died October 7, 1838, having attained to the age of ninety-nine years, three months, and ten days. CAPTAIN DANIEL CAMPBELL JR., only son of Daniel and Jane (Hylands) Campbell was born in Amherst, March 26, 1778. He taught school for a succession of winters in Amherst and the adjoining towns; was a competent land surveyor, coroner for the county of Hillsborough, an officer in the militia, a director of the Farmer's Bank, moderator of the annual town meetings three years, a member of the board of selectmen twelve years and represented the town two years in the State Legislature. He passed his entire life on the farm where he was born, which he managed to the advantage and profit, being one of the most successful farmers and stock-growers in town. He was a man of strict honesty and integrity, conservative, but ever loyal to his convictions, of some judgement.... He died July 7, 1853. HORACE GREELEY Horace Greeley, founder of the NEW YORK TRIBUNE was born in Amherst February 3, 1811, and spent the first ten years of his life here. He ws early noted for his love of reading and study, and, before the family left Amherst, there was scarcely a book within ten miles of his home, that he could borrow, which he had not read. Driven from Amherst by the failure of his business plans, his father removed, with his family, to West Haven, Vt., in the spring of 1821, where, for five years, the future editor was engaged with the rest of the family in a struggle for the means of subsistence in a new settlement. In 1826 he began to learn the printer's trade at Pultney, Vt. He followed this trade at Erie, PA and other places, and in 1831 went to New York City. In 1833 he commenced his career in journalism as part owner of the MORNING POST, the first daily penny paper ever printed. Subsequently he was interested in the NEW YORKER, DAILY WHIG, JEFFERSONIAN LOG, LOG CABIN and THE TRIBUNE, issued first April 10, 1841. His subsequent career as editor of the TRIBUNE Is a part of our national history. He was elected to Congress in 1848, serving one session. In 1872 he was the Liberal candidate for the Presidency, but was defeated. His death occurred November 29, 1872 at Chappaqua, NY. CAPTAIN JOHN SECOMBE Captain John Secombe, for many years one of the prominent citizens of Amherst, was a native, and through hiw whole life a resident of the town. In early manhood he took quite an interst in military matters, and at one time commanded the artillery company in the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Militia, whence he obtained the title of Captain, by which, as was customary, in those times, he was ever after known. He served on the Board of Aldermen twenty years, was moderator of the annual town meeting sixteen years, and represented the town in the General Court three years. He was also treasurer of the county of Hillsborough three years, and held a commission as justice of the peace twenty-five years. Politically he was a Republican.... He was a Calvinist in his religious belief, and at the time of his death was the oldest member of the Congregational Church in Amherst. He was a man of few words, firm and decided in his opinions....a lover of reading, he delighted in collecting books and newspapers, and spent much of his leisure time in their perusal. RICHARD BOYLSTON Richard BOylston served a four years' apprenticeship in the office of the FEDERAL SPY in Springfield, Mass., and finished his trade in the office of the BOSTON CENTINEL, where he was employed seven years under the direction of Major Ben. Russell. Early in 1809 he came to Amherst, in answer to an advertisement for a journeyman rinter, to take the place of Isaac Hill, who was about to graduate from CABINET office. After presenting his "credentials," he was engaged and assigned a place beside the future Governor, who left shortly after, and on the 18th day of April 1809, commenced his career as editor and publisher of the NEW HAMPSHIRE PATRIOT. In the autumn of that year the proprietor of the CABINET office became involved in the failure of the Hillsborough Bank, of which he was one of the directors, and, to avoid doing worse, left town somewhat suddenly and located himself in Baltimore, Md, where the remainder of his life was spent. Previous to his leaving he called Mr. Boylston to him, and, after telling him frankly of his plans, offered him his printing establishment, with the bookstore, at that time the only one in the county, on easy terms, assuring him that with proper care and management there was every prospect of doing a successful business. To this offer he required an answer early on the following morning, as circumstances would admit of no delay. For some time the younger journeman knew not what to say. He was young, without capital or a proper education, his school-days having terminated when he was twelve years old. What could he do? After hours of anxious thought the time arrived. An affirmative answer was given, and Mr. CUshing departed to his new home. The first number of the CABINET under Mr. Boylston's direction was issued October 10, 1809, and fron that time his success was assured. For ten years the paper had no rival in the county. Being located at the county-seat, it had a large advertising patronage, beside which a large amount of job-work was done in the office. The proprietor also had nearly all the book trade in the county. Large invoices of school-books were bought and sold at a satisfactory profit, and before a long time had elaped Mr. Cushing's claim was paid in full. In 1810, Mr. Boylston marrried, and again he was fortunate. His wife, a niece of Paul Revere, of Revolutionary fame, proved to be a helpmeet indeed. Her husband, in his old age, said, "To her efficient help and wise management of all the family concerns I owe all my after-prosperity and success in life." Of her, also a graduate of the CABINET office, for some years an inmate of the family, said, when more than eight years of age, "Mother Boylston was, emphatically, the editor's 'better half." And so time passed away. Under his management the CABINET maintained a respectable standing among the journals of its time and had quite an extensive circulation. As his means increased, Mr. Boylston was ready to engage in enterprises that promised to benefit the place of his residence. He was one of the first to advocate the building of a railroad to Amherst, the building of a steam mill and kindred enterprises. He early took decided grounds in favor of the temperance movement and the improvement of the common schools. For many years he was a member of the Congregational Church and was repeatedly elected one of its officers, but invariably declined the acceptance of the charge. He served on the superintending school committee several years, and in 1844, 1845 and 1846 represented the town in the General Court. DR. MATTHIAS SPALDING Dr. Matthias Spalding began his studies in Westford Academy, under the instruction of Professor Hedge; graduated at Harvard College in 1798, in the class with Stephen Longfellow, William Ellery Channing and Joseph STory, and although he was the oldest member of the class, he survived all but two of them. He studied his profession with Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, of Cambridge, and Dr. E.A. Holyoke of Salem. In 1801 he went to London, where he attended medical lectures, and devoted himself to acquiring the knowledge afforded by its medical schools and hospitals. He attended the lectures of Sir Asley Cooper and the younger Cline, and received from them many marks of personal attention. With Dr. Jenner he had a special acquaintance, and recieved form him much information relating to vaccination--a subject in which he was much interested. Dr. Batchelder, of New York, one of his pupils, says, "Perhaps it would not bee to much to say that, with the exception of Dr. Waterhouse, he did more than any other man to introduce that important practice into this country." On his return home, in 1802, he was the bearer of a letter from Dr. Jenner to Dr. Waterhouse, with the celebrated silver snuff-box, containing vaccine, and having on it the inscription, "From the Jenner of the Old World to the Jenner of the new." Soon after his return, Dr. Spalding commenced practice in his native town, where he remained four years, and secured a large business and a high reputation as a surgeon. In 1806 he removed to Amherst, where the remainder of his life was spent. Although his constitution was originally feeble, by regularity of life and a careful abstinence from all injurious indulgences, he was enabled to preform a vast amount of professional labor. Sensible of the advantages that would accrue to the profession and the public from a more intimate acquaintance of physicians with one another, he exerted himself to bring the regular physicians of his neighborhood together for mutual improvement and professional culture, and to him, more than to any other one, is due the establishmentof the Southern District New Hampshire Medical Society, of which he was for many years the president and librarian. In 1809 he was elected a member of the New Hampshire Medican Society, of which he was vice president from 1815 to 1821 inclusive, and president in 1822 and 1823. In 1817 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth College, and he was elected an honorary member of the New York Academy of Medicine June 1, 1860. Favored with an education which was superior to that of most of his medical brethren around him, he was also gifted by nature with many qualities which admirably fitted him for the profession of his choice. He was a gentleman in heart and manners, and his integrity and purity of character was never questioned...... Besides his labors in his profession, he was deeply interested in agricultural matters... he was one of the first members of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society... He was a member of the Congregational Church, and held the office of deacon there for nearly half a century. After a long and useful life he went to his rest, May 22 1865. DR. EDWARD SPALDING graduated at Dartmouth College in 1883; studied medicine with his father and at Harvard Medical School, graduating MD in 1837; began practice at Nashua, and there continues; has often been a member of the municipal government, and was mayor of that city in 1864. He became a trustee of Dartmouth College in 1866, and in 1877 and 1878 was a member of the executive council. DR. ALFRED SPALDING, spent two years in Dartmouth College and some time in Yale. He studied medicine with his father, and Dr. Reuben D. Mussey, and received the degree of M.D. from Dartmouth in 1843. He commenced the practice of his profession at Greenup, KY soon after receiving his degree...... During the Rebellion his house was a hospital for the wounded soldiers, and his services were sought by those who did not sympathize with his loyalty to the old flag... His enthusiasm in the study of medicine never abated. The latest reports and the most improved surgical instruments and apparatus-- everything posssessing advantage to his profession--was examined.. He was a good horseman, and when he came into possession of lands suited for the purpose, devoted some time to the raising of his favorite animals. His health failing he relinquished his practice, and the summer before his death, revisited his birthplace, for a time with some benefit; but it proved not to be permanent, and in November he returned, by slow stages, to his home, where he died Dec. 20, 1878. For BIograph of Isaac Spalding, see HISTORY OF NASHUA. (end)