USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 24
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Silas Meserve.
William Lovejoy.
James Hugh.
202
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
1828 .- Class A. 1813, Stephen Meserve. " H. 1813, J. M. Gove. " J. 1815, Abraham Boynton.
L. Dixville, Errol, ) Millsfield, and > Jeremiah Lovering. Stewartstown. 1
M. Maynesborongh, Success,
and Shelburne. B. Burbank.
K. Class K, 1825, and Randolph, and Nash and William Chamberlain. Sawyer's Lo- cation. D. 1828 .- Class D, 1825, except ! Randolph. Thomas Peverly. 1829 .-- Class J, 1815, Roswell Hobart. ". D. 1828. Sammel Porter. 6. H, 1813, Asa Taylor. " K, 1828, George P. Plaisted. " L, 1828, Jeremiah Lovering. M. Maynesboro') and Berlin. . M. 1828, (save 1 B. Burbank. 1830 .- Class D, 1828, Caleb Smith. ". H. 1813, Simeon Warner. " J. 1815, William Holkins. · K, 1828, W. Chamberlain. . L. 1828, Benjamin Drew. "' M, 1829, Robert Ingalls. D. 1831 .- .. D, 1828, save Stratford, Ransom Twitchell. .. J, 1815, William Holkins. K. 1828, Clovis Lowe. ". L. 1828, Benjamin Drew. MI, 1829, B. Burbank.
N. Jackson and Bartlett. George P. Meserve. 1832 .- Class N. 1831, George P Meserve. .. MI, 1829. Robert Ingalls. O. Carroll, Jefferson, Kilkon-) ny, and Randolph, Clovis Lowe. Class J, 1815. A. Boynton. " L. 1828, B. Brainard. " D. 1831, Francis Lang. 1833 .- Class J, 1815. Jonas Mills.
L. . L. 1828 and Clarksville, B. Brainard. Dalton and Stark, Thomas Smith. Jefferson and Kilkenny, Clovis Lowe. Northumberland and Stratford. T. L. Marshall. Milan and Stark, R. Twitchell. 1834 .- Colebrook and Columbia, Abr. Boynton. L. Class L, 1833. and Berlin, Benjamin Thompson. Dalton and Carroll, Asa Taylor, Jefferson and Kilkenny, David Pinkham. Northumberland and Stratford, T. L. Marshall. Milan and Stark, Aaron Potter
1835 .- Class L, 1834, B. Thompson. Colebrook and Columbia, Heze. Parsons. Dalton and Carroll, Benjamin Brooks, Jr. Jefferson and Kilkenny, D. Pinkham. Northumberland and Stratford, S. T. Brown.
Milan and Stark, R. Twitchell.
1836 .- Colebrook and Columbia, R. Hobart. Dalton and Carroll, Asa Taylor. Jefferson and Kilkenny, Robert Tuttle. Northumberland and Stratford. S. F. Brown.
Milan and Stark, Aaron Potter. 1837 .- Class L. 1834. William Chase. Dalton and Carroll, William Denison. Jefferson and Kilkenny, David Legro.
Northumberland and Stratford, H. Lucas. Milan and Stark, Th. Wheeler. 1838 .- Dalton and Carroll, James B. Sumner. Jefferson and Randolph, David Legro. Milan, Stark and Dummer, Aaron J. Smith. Northumberland and Stratford, Hiram Lucas.
Shelburne and Gorham, Oliver B. Howe. Class L, 1834. Jeremiah Young. 1839. - Dalton and Carroll. J. B. Sumner. Jefferson and Randolph. Robert Tuttle. Milan Stark, and Dummer, Peter Wheeler. Northumberland and Stratford, Abijah S. French. Shelburne and Gorham, Robert Ingalls. Class L. 1834, Jeremiah Young. 1840 .- Berlin, &c., * Daniel Green. Carroll. &c .. Thomas Smith. Clarksville, &c., Josiah A. Young. Dalton, &c., Aaron Ballon. Jefferson and Randolph, Robert Tuttle. Milan and Stark, Aaron J. Smith. Northumberland and Stratford, A. S.
French.
1841 .- Carroll, &c .. Eben. Glines. Jackson, &c., J. P. Emery. Jefferson, &c .. Justus Lowe. Milan, &c., Peter Wheeler. Shelburne, &e., Daniel Green. Stratford, &c., Nahum D. Day.
1842 .- Milan, &c., Harwood Pike. Stratford. &c., N. D. Day. 1843 .-- No classified towns. 1844 .-
P.
1845 .- Berlin, Gorham, Shelburne, D. Wheeler. Carroll, Nash and Sawyer's ) Location, Hart's Location > R. Tuttle. and Craword's Purchase. Jackson and Pinkham's Grant, J. F. Gerrish. Jefferson and Randolph, Jas. G. Summers. Northumberland and Stratford, J. B. Brown. Milan, Stark and Dummer, Joslma Parker. Pittsburg, Clarksville, ) Dixville, Millsfield, N. Perkins. Errol,
Q.
1846 .- Berlin, Gorham and Shelburne, D. Wheeler. Class P. 1845, Abel Crawford. Jackson and Pinkham's Grant, J. F. Gerrish. Jefferson and Randolph, Edward Parsons. North'land and Stratford, J. B Brown. Milan. Stark and Dummer, A. J. Smith. Class Q. 1845, William Dunn. 1847 .- Berlin, Gorham, Shelburne, Thomas J. Hubbard.
Class P. 1845, Abel Crawford. Q. " R. J. Blanchard. Jackson and Pinkham's Grant, N. P. Meserve. Jefferson and Randolph, Edward Parsons. Milan, Stark, Dummer, Amos Green. North'land and Stratford. R. Gamsby. 1848 .- Berlin, Gorham. Shelburne, Thomas J. Hubbard. Class P. 1845, Samnel Worthley. " Q, " R. J. Blanchard. Jackson and Pinkham's Grant, N. P. Meserve. Jefferson and Randolph, B. H. Plaisted. Milan, Stark, Dummer, Harwood Pike. North'land and Stratford, R. Gamsby.
*"&c." is rather indefinite, but I copy as given in " Register."
203
NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICERS.
1849. - Class P. 1845, Samuel Worthley.
Q. .. Q. " save Clarksville, Sam'l Akers.
Jackson and Pinkham's Grant, N. P. Meserve.
Milan, Stark, Dummer, P. Wheeler. North'land and Stratford, (. Bellows. 1850 .- Berlin and Milan, Joshua Parker. Gorham, Shelburne and Randolph, J. D. Burbank.
Class P. 1845, Samuel Holmes. Q, 1849, Sammel Akers. Jackson, Pinkham's Grant, G. H. Pinkham. Stark and Dummer, Moses Jackson. North'land and Stratford, J. B. Brown.
1831 .- Berlin, Gorham, Shelburne. S. Chipman. Class P, 1845. S. Holmes. Dixville, Errol, Millstield, M. Thurston. Clarksville and Pittsburg. John T. Amy. Jackson and Pinkham's Grant. G. HI. Pinkham.
Jefferson and Randolph, B. H. Plaisted. Stark and Dummer, J. R. Briggs.
Stratford and Northumberland, R. S. Marshall.
1852 .-- Randolph, Gorham and Shelburne. James C. Scates. Class P, 1845, Joseph L. Gibbs.
Dixville, Errol. Millstield, Elliot Harper.
Clarksville and Pittsburg. John T. Amy. Jackson and Pinkhan's Grant. Samnel Hazelton.
Milan and Berlin, H. T. Ellingwood,
Stark and Dummer, Moses Jackson. Stratford and North'land. R. S. Marshall.
1853 .- Randolph, Gorham and Shelburne. T. J. Hubbard.
Class P. 1845, Joseph L. Gibbs.
Dixville, Errol. Millsfield, etc., E. Harper. Clarksville and Pittsburg. A. F. Abbott. Milan and Berlin, R. H. Wheeler.
Stark and Dummer, E. Horn.
1854 .- Carrolland IFart's Location. Win. J. Hobbs. Dummer and Stark. Levi Rowell.
Errol, Cambridge and Millsfield. George Il. Randall. Clarksville and Pittsburg, Samuel Comstock.
1855 .- Carroll and Hart's Location, W. J. Hobbs.
Clarksville and Pittsburg, Samuel Comstock.
Randolph, Shelburne and Gorham, John D. Burbank.
Dummer and Stark. John R. Briggs. Errol, Cambridge, Dixville, Millsfield and Wentworth's Location.
Ziba F. Durkee.
1856 .- Berlin and Randolph, Merrill C. Forist. Carroll and Hart's Loration, John Hunt. Clarksville and Pittsburg. S. Comstock. Dummer and Stark, Levi Rowell.
Errol. Cambridge. Dix-j
ville. Millsfield, Went-> Z. F. Dnrkec. worth's Location.
Shelburne and Gorham, V. L. Stiles.
1857 .- Berlin and Randolph. Daniel Green. Carroll and Hart's Location, Charles S. Leavitt. Clarksville and Pittsburg, Moody B. Quimby.
Dummer and Stark, Elijah Griffin. Errol, Cambridge, Dix- ) ville, Millsfield and Win. W. Bragg. Wentworth's Loca.
Gorham and Shelburne, John T. Peabody. 1858 .-- Berlin and Randolph, Goo. P. Hodgman. Carroll and Hart's Location, David Emery. Clarksville and Pittsburg, Moody B. Quimby.
Dummer and Stark. Solomon Cole.
Errol. Cambridge. )
Dixville, Went- David HI. Thurston.4 worth's Loca.
1859 .- Berlin and Randolph, Geo. P. Hodgman. Carroll and Hart's Location. David Emery Clarksville and Pittsburg, David JJohnson. Stark and Dummer, Elijah Griffin.
1860 .- Berlin and Randolph. Fletcher J Bean. Carroll and Hart's Location, Charles S. Leavitt. Clarksville and Pittsburg. David Johnson. Errol, Cambridge, &c .. Moses F. Coolidge. Stark and Dunner, Solomon Cole.
1861 .- Berlin and Randolph, Fletcher 1. Bean. Carroll and Hart's Location, P. Rosebrook. Clarksville and Pittsburg. G. Washburne. Errol, Cambridge, &c., M. F. Coolidge. Shelburne and Green's Location, J. M. Thompson.
Stark and Dummer, Gilman Twitchell.
1862 .- Berlin and Randolph, John E. Lcighton. Carroll and llait's Location, Phineas Rosebrook. Clarksville and Pittsburg, Jno. Keysar. Errol, Cambridge, ke., Samuel Akers. Stark and Dummer. Sylvester Cole.
1863 .- Berlin and Randolph, Jno. C. Leighton. Carrolland Hart's Location, Geo. W. Tufts. Clarksville and Pittsburg, Juo. Keysar. Stark and Dummer, G. Twitchell.
1864 .-- Berlin and Randolph, Cyrus Wheeler. Carrofl and Hart's Location, Geo. W. Tufts. Errol, Cambridge, &c., David W. Wright. 1865 .-- Berlin and Randolph, William A. Wilson. Carroll and Hart's Location. L. C. Aldrich. Errol, Cambridge, &c., David W. Wright. Stark and Dummer, John M. Bickford. 1866 .-- Berlin and Randolph, Robert I. Leighton. Carroll and Hart's Location, Sanmel Worthley. Errol, Cambridge, &e .. Albert J. Peaslee. Stark and Dummer, Luke Cole.
1867 .- Berlin and Randolph, Robert I. Leighton. Carroll and Hart's Location, Samuel Worthley Errol & Cambridge, &e .. Albert J. Peaslee. Stark and Dummer, John M. Bickford. 1868 .-- Berlin and Randolph, Daniel Green. Carroll and Hart's Location, Charles S. Leavitt.
Errol. Cambridge, &e., C. L. Heywood. Stark and Dummer, Luke Cole. 1869 .- Berlin and Randolph, Daniel Green. Carroll and Hart's Location, C. S. Leavitt. Errol, Cambridge, &c., C. L. Heywood. Stark and Dimmer, C. E. Bickford.
1870 .- Berlin and Randolph, J. E. Leighton. Carroll and Hart's Location, M. P. Rosebrook.
Errol, Cambridge, D. II. Thurston. Stark and Dummer, J. A. Pike. 1871 .- Berlin and Randolph, J. E. Leighton. Carroll and Hart's Location, M. P. Rosebrook Stark and Dummer. C. E. Bickford.
1872. No Classified Towns.
1873 .- **
..
1874 .- **
*Seat vacated.
204
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
1875. - No Classified Towns. 1876 .- ** .. ..
Shelburne and Randolph, Emblyn W. Evans. 1877 .- «
1878 .- .
1879-80 .- ** ..
1881-82 .- Berlin and Randolph, Laban M. Watson. Clarksville and Pittsburg, Moody B. Haines. 1883 -84 .- Clarksville and Pittsburg, Herbert M. Smitlı. Dummer, Errol, Mills- ) field, Wentworth's . C. N. Bickford. Location,
1885-86 .- Clarksville and Pittsburg, Jas. W. Baldwin. Dummer, Errol, Dix- ville, Millsfield, Can- bridge, and Went-
E. D. Thurston. worth's Location. Shelburne and Randolph. Chas. E. Lowe. 1887-88 .- Clarksville and Pittsburg, Berkley Keysar. Randolph and Shelburne, Trustam H. Minard.
Senators. - New Hampshire was divided into twelve senatorial dis- tricts, December 14, 1792. No. 12 contained the county of Grafton, excepting Burton. The Coos senators from this district were John W. Weeks, Lancaster, from June, 1826, to June, 1829: Jared W. Williams, Lancaster, from June, 1832. to June, 1835. July 3. 1841. No. 12 was changed to embrace the county of Coos and all towns in Grafton and Carroll not included in any other district. The members from Coos were Simeon Warner, Whitefield, from June, 1843, to June, 1844: Ephraim Cross, Lan- caster, from June, 1844, to June, 1846; James M. Rix, Lancaster, June, 1852, to June, 1854. The senatorial districts were re-arranged July 13, 1855, but No. 12 remained the same. William Burns, Lancaster, was senator from June, 1856, to June, 1858: Amos W. Drew, Stewartstown, June, 1862, to June, 1864; John W. Barney, Lancaster, 1868 to 1870: Wayne Cobleigh, Northumberland, 1875 to 1877. In 1877 the state was divided into twenty- four senatorial districts; Coos county constituting district No. 1. The senators from this district have been Sherburn R. Merrill, Colebrook, 1879 to 1883; Irving W. Drew, Lancaster, 1883 to 1885; Henry O. Kent, Lan- caster, 1885 to 1887: Samuel E. Paine, Berlin, 1857 to 1889.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
[This list, compiled from the New Hampshire Registers, is as accurate a one as is attainable since the burning of the county records.]
Justices of Court of Common Pleas .- Joshua Marshall, Stratford, ap- pointed January 8, 1833, in office until 1850: John Pendexter, Jr., Bartlett, from 1833 to 1842: Richard Eastman, Lancaster, from 1841 to 1848; Robert Ingalls, Shelburne, from 1848 to 1855; Nahum D. Day, Stratford, from 1850 to 1555.
Clerks of Court of Common Pleas .- William Farrar. Lancaster, from 1537 to 1839: James M. Rix, Lancaster, from 1839 to 1857; Daniel C. Pink- ham, Lancaster, from 1857 to 1869.
County Justices-Court of Common Pleas .- Richard C. Everett, C. J., Lancaster, 1805: Obed Hall, Bartlett. 1805: Joseph Loomis, Colebrook, 1805; Silas Meserve, Bartlett, 1511.
Circuit Court .- Silas Meserve. Bartlett. 1816: William Lovejoy, Lan- caster, 1816: John Pendergast, Bartlett, 1520.
205
NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICERS.
Court of Sessions .- John Pendexter. C. J., 1820: Samuel Plaisted, Jefferson, Ass .. 1-20; N. Baldwin, Stratford, Jus., 1821.
County Justices .- Joshua Morrill, Stratford. 1833.
Clerks of Superior Court .- Jonas Baker, Lancaster: Adino N. Brackett, Lancaster, from 1837 to 1847: James M. Rix. * Lancaster. Is47 to 1>56.
Clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court .- James M. Rix, Lancaster. from 1856 to 1-57: Daniel C. Pinkham, Lancaster, from 1s57 to 1869; Chester B. Jordan, Lancaster, from 1569 to 1875; Moses A. Hastings, Lancaster, from 1875.
Judges of Probate .- Francis Wilson, Northumberland. January, 1805; Ebenezer L. Hall, Bartlett, January, 1811; Benjamin Hnnking, Lancaster, appointed in July, 1829, in office until 1852; Jared W. Williams, Lancas- ter, from 1852 to 1854: James W. Weeks, Lancaster, from 1854 to 1855; Turner Stephenson, Lancaster, from 1855 to 1869; Benjamin F. Whidden, Lancaster, from 1869 to 1875; Hazen Bedel, Colebrook, from 1575 to 1877: William D. Weeks, Lancaster, from 1877 to 1885: Everett Fletcher, from 1885.
Registers of Probate .- John M. Tillotson, Northumberland. January. 1805: Thomas Peverly. Jr., Northumberland, November, 1822: William Lovejoy, Lancaster, 1829; Jared W. Williams, Lancaster, from 1829 to 1835; George A. Cossitt, Whitefield, from 1838 to 1852; John W. Barney, from 1852 to 1855; Albro L. Robinson, Lancaster, from 1855 to 1860; John M. Whipple, Lancaster, from 1860 to 1875: George H. Emerson. Lancaster, from 1875 to 1877: Charles B. Allen, Lancaster, from 1877 to 1550: George H. Emer- son, Lancaster, from 1880 to 1886; Joseph W. Flanders, Lancaster, from 1886.
County Solicitors .-- Abraham Hinds. Lancaster, June, 1807; William Farrar, Lancaster, February 12, 1807; Obed Hall. 2d, Bartlett: William Farrar, Lancaster, 1821; Jared W. Williams, Lancaster, from 1>21 to 1838; John S. Wells, Lancaster, from 1838 to 1847; Saunders W. Cooper, Lan- caster, from 1847 to 1849; William Burns, Lancaster, from 1849 to 1853; George C. Williams, Lancaster, from 1853 to 1856: Benjamin F. Whidden, Lancaster, from 1856 to 1863; Ossian Ray, Lancaster. from 1863 to 1573; Edgar Aldrich, Colebrook, from 1873 to 1575; Henry Heywood, Lancaster, from 1875 to 1877: Edgar Aldrich, Colebrook. from 1877 to 1879: William S. Ladd, Lancaster, from 1879 to 1880; J. H. Dudley, Colebrook, from 1880.
Treasurers .- Joseph Peverly, Northumberland, 1505: John W. Weeks. Lancaster; Richard Eastman, Lancaster, 1520; Robert Ingalls. Shelburne, 1831; Lyman Lombard, Lancaster, 1835: John M. Gove. Whitefield, from 1836 to 1839: George P. Meserve. Jackson, from 1539 to 1840: John P. Pit-
*John Willson is also given as " Clerk of Court" with date of service prior to James M. Rix.
206
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
man, Bartlett, from 1840 to 1842; William Ewen, Dalton, from 1842 to 1843; John P. Pitman, Bartlett, from 1843 to 1844: William Ewen, Dalton, from 1:44 to 1846; Abraham Boynton, Columbia, from 1846 to 1847; Oliver B. Howe, Shelburne, from 1847 to 1849; Hezekiah Parsons. Cole- brook, from 1849 to 1851; Edward Parsons, Jefferson, from 1851 to 1853: Amos W. Drew, Stewartstown, from 1853 to 1855; James B. Brown, Northumberland, from 1855 to 1857; Harwood Pike, Stark, from 1857 to 1859; Morris Clark, Whitefield, from 1859 to 1861; Nahum D. Day, Strat- ford, from 1861 to 1863; Orren Tubbs, Gorham, from 1863 to 1865; George A. Cossitt, Lancaster, from 1865 to 1867; Wayne Cobleigh, Northumber- land, from 1867 to 1869; Edwin W. Drew, Stewartstown, from 1869 to 1871; Jabez P. Evans, Gorham, from 1871 to 1873; A J. Smith, Stark, from 1873 to 1875: Sidney B. Whittemore, Colebrook, from 1875 to 1877; J. M. Lang, Dalton, from 1877 to 1879; James M. Rowell, Lancaster, from 1879 to 1883: John C. Pattee, Stratford, from 1883 to 1856; George R. Eaton. Lancaster, from 1SS6.
Registers of Deeds .- John M. Tillotson, Northumberland, 1803; Abra- ham Hinds, Lancaster; Asa W. Burnap, Lancaster; William Farrar, Lan- caster: John M. Dennison, Lancaster, 1817; Reuben Stephenson, Lancas- ter, from 1830 to 1839; John W. Lovejoy, Lancaster, from 1839 to 1849; John S. Roby, Lancaster, from 1849 to 1855; Ira S. M. Gove. Lancaster, from 1855 to 1861: Hezekiah B. Parsons, Lancaster, from 1861 to 1866; Benjamin F. Hunking, Lancaster, from 1866 to 1871; Charles W. Smith, Lancaster, from 1871 to 1876; Joseph W. Flanders, Lancaster, from 1876 to 1882; Charles A. Cleveland, Lancaster, from 1882 to 1887; James M. Rowell. Lancaster, 1887.
Sheriff's. - Levi Willard, Lancaster, January, 1805; Obed Hall, Bartlett, December, 1812; Lemuel Adams, December, 1816; John W. Weeks, June, 1820; Ephraim H. Mahurin, June, 1825; John H. White, Lancaster, from 1830 to 1839; George P. Meserve, Jackson, from 1539 to 1844; Charles Bellows, Northumberland, from 1844 to 1849; Reuben Stephenson, Lan- caster, from 1849 to 1855; Hezekiah Parsons, Jr., Colebrook, from 1855 to 1>57; Enoch L. Colby, Lancaster. from 1857 to 1847: Benjamin H. Corning. Northumberland, from 1867 to 1872; Samuel H. LeGro, Lancas- ter, from 1872 to 1873; E. G. Rogers, Colebrook, from 1873 to 1875; Sam- uel H. LeGro, Lancaster, from 1875 to 1877: E. George Rogers, Colebrook, from 1877 to 1879; William T. Pike, Stark, from 1579 to 1883: Samuel I. Bailey, Columbia, from 1883 to 1887; George M. Stevens, Lancaster, from 1887.
County Commissioners .-- Robert Ingalls, Shelburne, from 1556 to 1858; Samuel Worthley, Carroll, from 1856 to 1860; Elliot Harper, Errol, from 1856 to 1859; Daniel Green, Berlin, from 1857 to 1861: Hazen Bedel. Cole- brook, from 1859 to 1862; Moses H. Rix, Dalton, from 1860 to 1863; Hazen
207
BENCH AND BAR.
Evans, Gorham, from 1861 to 1864; Edwin W. Drew, Stewartstown, from 1862 to 1865; Benjamin H. Plaisted, Jefferson. from 1863 to 1866; Gilman Twitchell, Dummer, from 1864 to 1866; Samuel T. Bailey, Columbia, from 1865 to 1868: Simon Cole, Milan, from 1866 to 1867: David M. Aldrich, Whitefield, from 1866 to 1869: Andrew J. Congdon, Lancaster, from 1867 to 1870: Seneca S. Merrill, Colebrook, from 1865 to 1571: John C. Leigh- ton, Randolph, from 1869 to 1872; Sprague Carleton. Whitefield, from 1870 to 1873: Isaiah H. Pickard. Stewartstown, from 1571 to 1573; Samuel Brown, Stratford, from 1872 to 1875; Amos W. Drew, Stewartstown, from from 1873 to 1877; James W. Weeks. Lancaster, from 1873 to 1876: James H. Curtis, Northumberland, from 1875 to 1878; A. N. Twitchell, Gorham, from 1876 to 1879: L. G. Piper, Colebrook, from 1877 to 1879; N. R. Per- kins, Jefferson, from 187s to 1882: J. P. Evans, Gorham, from 1879 to 1882: George R. Eaton, Stratford, from 1879 to 1883; Bert A. Taylor, Dal- ton, from 1852 to 1856; Jonathan Gilmore, Columbia, from 18 2 to 1886; Eugene W. Scribner. Berlin, from 1883 to 1857: W. E. Drew, Colebrook, from 1886: Harley E. Jenness, Carroll, from 1886: Levi Shedd, Gorham, from 1857.
CHAPTER XX.
BENCH AND BAR.
History of the Courts-Bench and Bar-Northern Judicial District.
ISTORY of the Courts .- Previous to 1770 the whole of New Hamp- shire, for all financial and judicial purposes, was a single court. All business of a public nature was transacted at Portsmouth. Exeter and Dover: and the bulk of it at Portsmouth, which had a population of over 4,000, was the residence of the royal executive officers, and was, prac- tically, the provincial capital. As the province increased in population, other and smaller political divisions, with suitable courts, were demanded by the people. John Wentworth, the second of that name, was appointed governor in 1767, and one of his first measures considered the formation of various counties in the province, and the creation of a judicial system of adequate proportions. The matter was debated in several sessions of the Assembly, favored by the governor as calculated to develop the prov- ince, (an object to which he devoted all his energies, ) and opposed by the residents of the three principal towns and contiguous country, with the
20S
HISTORY OF COOS COUNTY.
plea that it would increase the provincial expenses without corresponding advantages. The affair was finally settled by a division of the province into five counties, with an ample judiciary system. The act constituting these took effect in the spring of 1771, and was entitled "An Act for dividing the Province into Counties, and for the more easy administration of Justice." This act created three courts of justice-the Superior Court. of Judicature, the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and the Court of Gen- eral Sessions.
The Superior Court of Judicature had cognizance of all questions of law and divorce, and, finally, was clothed with equity powers, and was intended as the supreme tribunal of the province. It existed until 1813, when the Federalists, then in power in the state, to get rid of politically obnoxious judges, abolished it, and erected the Superior Judicial Court, which was overturned in 1816 by the Democratic Republicans, and the Superior Court of Judicature re-erected. No attempt was made to interfere with this court of last resort until 1855, when, under the brief term of power of the "Know-Nothing " party, it was again abolished and the Supreme Judicial Court re-created. This was superseded in 1874 by the Superior Court of Ju- dicature, which continued in being until 1876, when it was succeeded by the present Supreme Court. It would appear that the legislature could, con- stitutionally, get rid of obnoxious judges by changing the name and some of the minor functions of a court: and the great height to which partisan- ship has been carried has almost caused this court to be a mere shuttle- cock in the hands of the legislature.
The Inferior Court of Common Pleas was the court for the disposi- tion and settlement of all ordinary controversies. It continued in existence under the name first given it, and the Court of Common Pleas, from 1771 until 1859, except for five years, from 1820 to 1825, when it was discon- tinued. In 1859 it was abolished, and its business transferred to the Supreme Judicial Court. It was again revived in 1874. and, after two years' existence, its business was handed over to the Supreme Court.
The Court of General Sessions of the Peace had for its judges all the justices in commission of the county. It had a limited jurisdiction in crim- inal complaints, and was accompanied by a grand and petit jury. It had the entire control of the financial affairs of the county. The number of justices composing the court depended on the number in commission, sometimes more, sometimes less, and the law did not require the justice to reside in the county for which he was commissioned, and it was a mat- ter of choice with the justices as to how many should sit at any particular term It was a cumbersome and unwieldy institution, and, in 1794, its functions were given to the Court of Common Pleas: some of the judges of the last court, called side judges, attending to financial affairs and special committees formed to lay out highways. In 1855 a board of
209
BENCH AND BAR.
county commissioners was created to act with the court in conducting the financial matters of the county and in laying out highways. By the organ- ization of this board the services of side judges were dispensed with.
The sessions docket, now a branch of the business of the general term of the Supreme Court, but formerly of the Common Pleas, is all that now remains of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and treats only of entries for the laying out of highways.
Probate Court .- This has jurisdiction of the probate of wills, of grant- ing administrations, and of all matters and things of probate jurisdic. tion, relating to the sale, settlement, and final distribution of the estates of deceased persons. It has original jurisdiction in relation to the adop- tion of children, assignments of dower and homesteads in estate of deceased persons: in the appointment and removal of guardians of minors, insane persons, spendthrifts, together with other powers unnecessary to mention. It has been also a court of insolvency for some years.
From the organization of the county the office of judge of probate has been held by men of ability, not always lawyers, but their rulings and decisions have been of such a character that very few appeals have been made.
Bench and Bar .*- In its personnel and practice, the bar of Coös county has always stood in the front rank. Among its members have been some of the strongest legal minds in the state. Beginning with the organization of the county and continuing to the present time, there have been leaders at its courts whose character and attainments have placed them among the first in the profession, and whose influence has been so pervading and salutary that the whole bar has caught something of their spirit. The county is represented in this profession to-day by men of force, ability and integrity, who worthily stand as equals of the lawyers of any county of the state. and whose practice extends not only to all sections of New Hampshire, but a much wider area.
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