USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 115
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1845 .- Jabez P. F. Cross, Gilman Andrews, Alvan Smith. 1846 .- Gilman Andrews, Alvan Smith, Samuel Morrison. 1847 .- Paul IFardy, Jabez P. F. Cross, Stephen D. Greeley. 1848 .- Paul Hardy, Jeremiah Smith, Stephen D. Greeley. 1849 .- James Pierce, Alvan Smith, Benjamin F. Chase. 1850 .- Paul Hardy, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley. 185I .- Alvan Smith, Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley. 1852 .- Calvin Pollard, Stephen D. Greeley, George W. Burns. 1853 .- James Pierce, George W. Burns, George W. IFills. 1854 .- Stephen D. Greeley, Hiram Marsh, Benjamin F. Chase. 1855 .- Benjamin F. Chase, Luther Pollard, John Cross. 1856 .- David Clement, John Cross, James T. Palmer. 1857 .- James T. Palmer, Eli Hamblet, Granville Hill. 1858 .- Eli Hamblet, Granville Hill, Samuel Gowing. 1859 .- Alvan Smith, John P. Pierce, Noah O. Robinson. 1860 .- Hiram Marsh, Samuel Gowing, Silas Hills. 1861 .- Eli Hamblet, Samuel Gowing, Daniel T. Gage. 1862 .- Daniel T. Gage, Samuel Gowing, Caleb Richardson.
1863 .- Daniel T. Gage, John Chase, Alden Hills. 1864 .- Eli Hamblet, Alden Hills, Benjamin A. Merrill.
1865-66 .- Stephen D. Greeley, Benjamin F. Chase, Josiah K. Wheeler. 1867-68 .- Stephen D. Greeley, Benjamin F. Chase, Benjamin A. Mer- rill.
1869 .- Eli Hamblet, Joseph Fuller, John M. Thompson. 1870 .- Eli Hamblet, John M. Thompson, James B. Merrill. 1871 .- John M. Thompson, James B. Merrill, Augustus F. Blodgett. 1872 .- James B. Merrill, Kimball Webster, Otis R. Marsh. 1873 .- Kimball Webster, Otis R. Marsh, Charles W. Spalding. 1874 .- Kimball Webster, Reuben Spalding, John Lenahan. 1875 .- Kimball Webster, Reuben Spalding, Charles Steele. 1876 .- Josiah K. Wheeler, John M. Thompson, George W. Trow. 1877 .- John M. Thompson, Charles Steele, George W. Trow. 1878 .- John M. Thompson, Lucien M. Tolles, William F. Winn. 1879 .- Lucien M. Tolles, William F. Winn, Charles W. Spalding. 1880 .- Lucien M. Tolles, Charles W. Spalding, William S. Weston. 1881 .- Charles W. Spalding, Mark Batchelder, Arthur S. Andrews. 1882 .- Josiah K. Wheeler, William F. Winn, Clifton E. Buttrick. 1883 .- Josiah K. Wheeler, William F. Winn, Robert A. Andrews. 1884 .- William F. Winn, James F. Wilson, Daniel A. Colburn. 1885 .- James F. Wilson, Daniel A. Colburn, George G. Andrews.
DELEGATES TO THE GENERAL COURT, ETC., FROM 1733 TO 1885
1733 .- Captain Robert Fletcher and Zaccheus Lovewell, delegates to the Massachusetts General Court to get the non-resident lands taxed for the support of the ministry, and to get a proportion of the lands for the town, given to the town of Dunstable by the proprietors or others.
1734, March .- Zaccheus Lovewell, delegate to the Massachusetts Gen- eral Court to procure the passage of an act allowing the town to assess a tax of ten shillings each upon all cattle driven into the town to pasture in addition to the usual rates.
1734, June .- Captain Robert Fletcher, Henry Baldwin, Joseph Snow and Joseph Hamblet, delegates to the Massachusetts General Court to answer for the town in all matters relating to the petition of the people of "Natticook " to be incorporated as a separate township.
1734, November .- Captain Robert Fletcher, delegate to the Massachu- setts General Court to procure a grant of province lands to aid the town to maintain a public school.
1741 .- Captain Thomas Colburn, delegate to the Massachusetts General Court to procure the abatement of the county tax, in consequence of the town being divided by the new province line.
1747 .- John Marsh, delegate to the New Hampshire General Court, upon a petition of the town, for the passage of an act for taxing the lands of non-residents.
1748 .- Deacon Samuel Greeley and John Marsh, delegates to the New Hampshire General Court to answer to a citation in relation to a petition of Josiah Cummings and other inhabitants of the town to be released from paying taxes for the support of Rev. Nathaniel Merrill.
1760, March 17 .- Ephraim Cummings chosen delegate to the New Hampshire General Court to make application to have the lands of non- residents laid under a tax.
1762, January 15 .- Captain Samuel Greeley chosen Representative for Nottingham West and Litchfield to represent said towns in the Gen- eral Assembly.
Captain Samuel Greeley was re-elected March 4, 1762.
Captain James Ford, delegate to the Provincial Convention at Exeter, January 25, 1775.
Captain Abraham Page, delegate to the Provincial Congress at Exeter, April, 1775.
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HUDSON.
Captain Abraham Page, delegate to the Provincial Convention at Exeter, May 17, 1775, and to act for the town for six months.
John Hazeltine, Jr., delegate to the County Congress at Amherst, 1775.
1778, May 30 .- William Burns chosen delegate to the convention to meet at Concord, June 10th, to form a new plan of government.
1781, May 8 .- Timothy Smith chosen to represent the town at a con- vention to be held at Concord, on the first Tuesday of June, to form a new plan of government.
1786, October 30 .- Reuben Spalding chosen delegate to the convention "to make a general plan for Paper money."
1788, January 28 .- Ebenezer Cummings chosen delegate "to sit in the convention at Exeter, on the second Wednesday of February next, in order to consult and examine the Federal Constitution."
1850 .- Ethan Willoughby, delegate to the convention to revise the constitution.
1876 .- Dana Sargent, delegate to the convention to revise the constitu- tion.
Representatives to the General Court from 1775 to 1885 .- Prior to October, 1780, this town was classed with Litchfield for the election of Representatives.
Those elected from this town are given in the fol- lowing list,-
Captain Abraham Page, 1775, '76. Asa Davis, 1777, '79, '92, '93, '94, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08.
Captain Samuel Marsh, 1784,'85,'86 Ebenezer Cummings, 1788.
Colonel Joseph Greeley, 1795, '96, '97, '98, 1811, '15. Robert Patterson, 1809, '10.
Isaac Colburn, 1812.
Isaac Merrill, 1813, '14, '16, '17. Noah Robinson, 1818, '20, '21.
Thomas B. Wason, 1819, '28, '30, '31, '33, '35, '36. Caleb S. Ford, 1822, '23, '24, '25, '26, 127.
Reuben Greeley, 1829. Joseph Greeley, Jr., 1837.
David Burns, 1838, '39, '47.
Jabez P. F. Cross, 1840, '41, '42. William Hadley, 1843, '44, '46.
James Carnes, 1848.
James Pierce, 1850. Joseph Storer, 1851.
William Warren, 1852, '53.
James Emery, 1854. Hiram Marsh, 1855.
Benjamin F. Chase, 1856.
Paul Colburn, 1857.
Luther Pollard, 1858. Granville Hill, 1859. Samuel Morrison, 1860. William II. Chase, 1861. Addison Heald, 1862. Samuel Gowing, 1863.
Stephen D. Greeley, 1864. Eli Ilamblet, 1865.
Isaac Colburn, 1866. Benjamin Kidder, 1867.
Thomas Gowing. 1868.
Daniel M. Greeley, 1869.
Daniel T. Gage, 1870.
Josiah K. Wheeler, 1871. Samuel Greeley, 1872. Dana Sargent, 1874, '75.
James B. Merrill, 1876.
Lucien M. Tolles, 1877. Waldo P. Walton, 1878.
The following were elected under the revised con- stitution providing for biennial sessions of the Legis- lature :
John M. Thompson, elected November, 1878. Justin F. Hill, elected November, 1880.
Nathan P. Webster, elected November, 1882.
William F. Winn, elected November, 1884.
No Representatives were elected for the years 1787, '89, '90, '91, 1832, '34, '45, '49 and '73.
VOTES FOR STATE PRESIDENT FROM 1784 TO 1792, INCLUSIVE.
1784 .- Meschech Weare, 45, all cast.
1785 .- George Atkinson, 42 ; John Langdon, 5.
1786 .- John Langdon, 66, all cast.
1787 .- John Langdon, 86 ; John Sullivan, 7.
1788 .- John Langdon, 33; John Sullivan, 9.
1789 .- John Pickering, 78 ; John Sullivan, 2. 1790 .- John Pickering, 88, all cast. 1791 .- Josialı Bartlett, 80, all cast.
1792 .- Josiah Bartlett, 72, all cast.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOR FROM 1793 TO 1884, INCLUSIVE. 1793 .- Josiah Bartlett, 55, all cast. 1794 .- John Taylor Gilman, 50, all cast.
1795 .- John Taylor Gilman, 67, all cast.
1796 .- John Taylor Gilman, 56, all cast.
1797 .- John Taylor Gilman, 57, all cast.
1798 .- John Taylor Gilman, 74, all cast.
1799 .- John Taylor Gilman, 49, all cast.
1800 .- John Taylor Gilman, 49 ; Timothy Walker, 3.
1801 .- John Taylor Gilman, 51, all cast.
1802 .- John Taylor Gilman, 40; John Langdon, 19. 1803 .- John Taylor Gilman, 31 ; Jolin Langdon, 28.
1804 .- John Langdon, 73 ; John Taylor Gilman, 34.
1805 .- John Langdon, 72; John Taylor Gilman, 54.
1806 .- John Langdon, 90 ; Timothy Farrow, 1.
1807 .- John Langdon, 96; Justus Dakin, 1.
1808 .- John Langdon, 69; Thomas Senter, 6.
1809 .- Jeremiah Smith, 111; John Langdon, 50.
1810 .- Jeremiah Smith, 113 ; John Langdon, 44.
1811 .- Jeremiah Smith, 111 ; John Langdon, 68.
1812 .- John Taylor Gilman, 112; William Plummer, 65.
1813 .- John Taylor Gilman, 116 ; William Plummer, 80.
1814 .- John Taylor Gilman, 136; William Plummer, 83.
1815 .- John Taylor Gilman, 121; William Plummer, 86. 1816 .- James Sheafe, 114 ; William Plummer, 97.
1817 .- James Sheafe, 106; William Plummer, 103.
1818 .- William Pinmmer, 97 ; Jeremlah Smith, 93.
1819 .- William Ilale, 74; Samuel Bell, 82.
1820 .- Samuel Bell, 95; Jeremiah Mason, 70.
1821 .- Samuel Bell, 103, all cast.
1822 .- Samuel Bell, 131 ; John Foster, 1.
1823 .- Levi Woodbury, 106; Samuel Dinsmoor, 65.
1824 .- David L. Morrill, 152, all cast.
1825 .- David L. Morrill, 158, all cast.
1826 .- David L. Morrill, 152 ; Benjamin Pierce, 7.
1827 .- Benjamin Pierce, 81 ; David L. Morrill, 19; Jonathan Nye, 11.
1828 .- John Bell, 103: Benjamin Pierce, 76.
1829 .- John Bell, 95 ; Benjamin Pierce, 84.
1830 .- Matthew Harvey, 115 ; Timothy Upton, 97.
1831 .- Samuel Dinsmoor, 108 ; Ichabed Bartlett, 103.
1832 .- Samuel Dinsmoor, 114 ; Ichabed Bartlett, 98.
1833 .- Samuel Dinsmoor, 135, all cast.
1834 .- William Badger, 132, all cast.
1835 .- William Badger, 116 ; Joseph Healey, 54.
1836 -Isaac Ifill, 126, all cast.
1837 .- Isaac IIill, 77; Jeremiah Smith, 1.
1838 .- Isaac Ilill, 139 ; James Wilson, Jr., 94.
1839 .- John Page, 142; James Wilson, Jr., 89.
1840 .- John Page, 138; Enos Stevens, 78.
1841 .- John Page, 137 ; Enos Stevens, 79.
1842 .- Henry Hubbard, 139 ; Enos Stevens, 59.
1843 .- Henry Hubbard, 132; Anthony Colby, 57.
1844 .- John II. Steele, 132 ; Anthony Colby, 57 ; Daniel Hoyt, 13.
1845 .- John H. Steele, 91 ; Anthony Colby, 44.
1846 .- Jared W. Williams, 125; Anthony Colby, 61 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 20.
1847 .- Jared W. Williams, 141 ; Anthony Colby, 75; Nathaniel S. Berry, 17.
1848 .- Jared W. Williams, 153; Nathaniel S. Berry, 93.
1849 .- Samuel Dinsmoor, 157 ; Levi Chamberlain, 67; Nathaniel S. Berry, 12.
1850 .- Samnel Dinsmoor, 144;' Levi Chamberlain, 62 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 7.
1851 .- Samuel Dinsmoor, 105; John Atwood, 104 ; Thomas E. Sawyer, 31. 1852 .- Noah Martin, 135; John Atwood, 64; Thomas E. Sawyer, 37. 1853-Noah Martin, 135; James Bell, 42; John II. White, 36.
1854 .- Nathaniel B. Baker, 135 : Jared Perkins, 53; James Bell, 34.
1855 .- Ralph Metcalf, 145 ; Nathaniel S. Baker, 119 ; Asa Fowler, 5.
1856 .- Ralph Metcalf, 147 ; John S. Wells, 138 ; Austin F. Pike, 2.
1857 .- William Haile, 152 ; John S. Wells, 129.
1858 .- William Haile, 150; Asa P. Cate, 124.
1859 .- Ichabed Goodwin, 133; Asa P. Cate, 125.
1860 .- Asa P. Cate, 152; Ichabed Goodwin, 150.
1861 .- George Stark, 152 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 151; Levi Bartlett, 1.
1862 .- George Stark, 135 ; Nathaniel S. Berry, 131 ; Paul J. Wheeler, 10. I863 .- Ira A. Eastman, 130; Joseph A. Gilmore, 97; Walter Harri- man, 53. 1864 .- Joseph A. Gilmore, 149 ; Edward W. Harrington, 121.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
1865 .- Frederick Smythe, 134; Edward W. Harrington, 96.
1866 .- Frederick Smythe, 130; John G. Sinclair, 118.
1867 .- Walter Harriman, 144 ; John G. Sinclair, 132.
1868 .- Walter Harriman, 158 ; John G. Sinclair, 146.
1869 .- Onslow Stearns, 139 ; John Bedel, 114.
1870 .- Onslow Stearns, 133 ; John Bedel, 93 ; Samnel Flint, 31 ; Lo- renzo D. Barrows, 3.
1871 .- James Pike, 147 ; James A. Weston, 112 ; Lemuel P. Cooper, 7. 1872 .- Ezekiel A. Straw, 139; James A. Weston, 123; Lemuel P. Cooper, 14; John Blackmer, 6.
1873 .- Ezekiel A. Straw, 125 ; Jas. A. Weston, 103 ; John Blackmer, 4. 1874 .- James A. Weston, 148; Luther Mccutchens, 128; John Black- mer, 4.
1875 .- Hiram R. Roberts, 149; Pearson C. Cheney, 128 ; Nathaniel White, 2.
1876 .- Pearson C. Cheney, 148 ; Daniel Marcy, 142.
1877 .- Daniel Marcy, 144 ; Benjamin F. Prescott, 130.
1878 .- Frank A. Mckean, 146; Benjamin F. Prescott 137.
1878, November .- Natt Head, 150; Frank A. McKean, 130; Warren G. Brown, 10.
1880 .- Charles H. Bell, 161; Frank Jones, 140.
1882 .- Samnel W. Hale, 129 ; Martin V. B. Edgerly, 121.
1884 .- Moody Currier, 161; John M. Hill, 135; George Carpenter, 11; Larkin D. Mason, 3.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
KIMBALL WEBSTER.
John1 Webster, of Ipswich, Mass., is supposed to have emigrated from Ipswich, England, county of Suffolk, in the year 1634. He was a freeholder in 1635, and died about 1645. He had eight children,- John, Mary, Hannah, Elizabeth, Abigail, Stephen, Israel and Nathan.
Stephen2 was born in Ipswich, Mass .; removed to Newbury ; from there, in 1653, to Haverhill. He was a tailor by trade, a man of influence and one of the selectmen in 1669. He married, first, March 24, 1663, Hannah, daughter of John Ayer, of Salisbury; second, widow Judith Brown. His children, all by his first wife, were Hannah, John, Mary, Stephen3, Nathan and Abigail. He died Au- gust 10, 1694.
Stephen3, born in Haverhill January 1, 1672, mar- ried widow Mary Cook. He was one of eight men in the garrison of John Webster, March, 1690. He died March 9, 1748. He had six children,-Samuel, John, Stephen, William, Ebenezer and Mary.
Ebenezer4, born September 20, 1711, married Me- hitable Kimball, of Bradford, Mass. Their children were Lydia, Isaac, Mary, Ebenezer, Jonathan, Ste- phen, Moses, John.
Ebenezer5, born in Haverhill, Mass., February 1, 1744, settled in Pelham, N. H., was married three times. His third wife was Elizabeth Bradford, of Beverly, Mass., by whom he had Rebecca, Nancy, Moses, Simon, Isaac, Asa, John, Benjamin and Betsy. Ebenezer Webster was a quiet, industrious farmer in Pelham, and enjoyed the universal respect and es- teem of his townsmen. He died in Pelham March 13, 1823, aged seventy-nine years. His widow sur- vived him twenty-two years, dying at Amherst March 27,1845.
John6 was born in Pelham, December 25, 1791. He married, August 22, 1815, Hannah, daughter of Elea- zer and Sarah (Hale) Cummings, of Nottingham West (now Hudson), and great-granddaughter of Deacon Henry and Mary Hale. (The Hales and Cummings were noted families in early New England history. Mr. Cummings combined the vocations of farmer and school and music-teacher.
Mrs. Sarah (Hale) Cummings, born April 20, 1767, was a very remarkable woman in physical strength and endurance; while her husband was ab- sent from home, occupied in teaching, she performed her household duties, which were many and arduous, having a large family of children, and also took charge of a stock of cattle. She was a woman of sterling worth, a member of the Congregational Church for many years. Her Christianity was a part of her daily life, not an adjunct, and she obeyed truly the golden rule. She died May 7, 1852.)
John Webster lived upon the old homestead in Pel- ham, excepting one year in Meredith and one in Hud- son (formerly Nottingham West), until 1841, when he sold his farm in Pelham and purchased one in Amherst where he resided until 1846, when he returned to Hudson, and buying a farm upon Bush Hill, he lived there twenty years ; then resided with his daughters (Mrs. Titcomb and Mrs. Baker) until his death, March 1, 1883, of old age. Mr. Webster was a man of great energy and unremitting industry, and it was only by hard, unceasing toil that the rough and rocky soil of the old homestead, at Pelham, could be made to yield a remunerative crop ; but perseverance and patience conquered, and Mr. Webster was able to provide for his large family of children and insure himself a comfortable living for his old age. He was drafted in the War of 1812, and served in Captain Haynes' company of New Hampshire militia at Ports- mouth, where he obtained an honorable discharge, and received for his services a pension from February 14, 1871. He was a loyal citizen, a good husband and father, a kind and attentive son, supporting his aged parents until their death, doing his duty faith- fully in every position, and for many years he was universally called "Honest John Webster."
Mrs. Hannah (Cummings) Webster, although a woman of small stature and delicate health, performed faithfully her part in life as wife, mother and Chris- tian. Industrious and frugal, she cared for her children, physically, morally and religiously; not- withstanding her weakness, she was a tower of strength to lean upon, and her children learned from her daily, by precept and example, the force of the words, a good Christian mother. She united with the Congregational Church in Pelham, and was an esteemed member of other churches of the same denomination wherever she resided. She died in Hudson February 3, 1871. The children of this worthy couple were Elizabeth B. (Mrs. Warren Blodgett), Moses, Sally Hale (Mrs. Simeon C. Tit-
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Pinball Webster
James B. Menvill
483
HUDSON.
comb), Eleazer C. (dec cased), Louisa U. (Mrs. John H. Baker), Lucy Ann (Mrs. Daniel B. Cluff), Kimball, Hannah J. (deceased), John C., Nathan P., Willard H. (deceased), Milton E. (deceased), Orrin P. (de- ceased).
Kimball Webster™, son of John and Hannah (Cum- mings) Webster, was born in Pelham, N. H., November 2, 1828. His education was acquired at the common schools of his native town and Hudson. While a boy he worked upon a farm in Hudson, and for a short time in the quarries in Pelham. He was one of that historic, heroic and truly illustrious band, the old "Forty-niners," which has furnished so much material for story and song. Before attaining his majority, in April, 1849, when the news of the dis- covery of gold in California had reached New Eng- land, he started and traveled across the country, arriving in the Sacramento Valley in October, six months being passed in reaching the golden West. He remained there about two years, engaged in mining and other pursuits ; then went to Oregon, where he was a deputy-surveyor upon the government surveys, and returned home in the fall of 1854. In 1855 he was employed by the Hannibal and St. Jo Railroad Company in Missouri. In 1858 he resided in Vinal- haven, Me. ; since that time he has been a resident of Hudson, where he owns and occupies a portion of the land purchased by his great-grandfather, Eleazer Cummings, in 1728.
Mr. Webster married, January 29, 1857, Abiah Cutter, daughter of Seth and Deborah (Gage) Cutter, of Pelham. Their surviving children are Lizzie Jane (Mrs. Horace A. Martin), Ella Frances (Mrs. Frank A. Walch), Eliza Ball (Mrs. Charles C. Leslie), Latina Ray, Julia Anna and Mary Newton.
Mr. Webster is a quiet, unostentatious man, of ac- tive temperament and of great executive ability. He has a marked power of making friends, and enjoys a high degree of popularity in a very large circle of acquaintance. He is a worker and does his work conscientiously and thoroughly, and as a sur- veyor of long experience he has a wide reputation as being one of the most accurate and reliable in the county. He is a Democrat in politics and an active believer in the Jacksonian theory that "The blessings of government, like the dews of heaven, should fall unseen, alike on the just and unjust." He has been the standard-bearer of a minority party in his town and county in many elections, and has generally polled more than the party vote. He was seleetman for four years and chairman of the board. He has been justice of the peace since 1859, and is a trustee of the Mechanics' Savings-Bank, Nashua.
He is a member of Rising Sun (Nashua) Lodge of F. and A. M., Hudson Commandery, U. O. Golden Cross, and has been largely identified with the history of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry in Hillsborough County. He was the first to petition for the establish- ment of a grange in Hudson, and upon its organiza-
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tion, December 8, 1873, was chosen its presiding officer, which office he held three years. He was one of the few to organize the New Hampshire State Grange, December 23, 1873, and also Hillsborough County Council, March 4, 1874, of which he was master two years, and secretary from December, 1876, until the organization, April 17, 1883, of its succes- sor, Hillsborough County Pomona Grange, when he was made secretary of that body and is now holding that office. He has been an active and valuable member of this order from the first, and stands high in the regards of the fraternity.
He is much interested in historical matters and ancient landmarks. He has done much to preserve the latter by careful and creditable copies of many of the much worn and injured plats of portions of lands, old grants, etc., in "Old Dunstable."
Mr. Webster is a safe counselor, a good representa- tive of New England's intelligent farmers and busi- ness men, an honest man, and worthily stands high in public esteem for his hearty co-operation in every- thing tending to the elevation or improvement of the community.
JAMES B. MERRILL.
Among the families of New England who should be recorded in history, the one bearing the name of Mer- rill has a high claim, and many of its representatives have been good and faithful ministers of the gospel.
Nathaniel Merrill was one of the first American ancestors of this numerous family. Emigrating from England to America in 1634, he settled in Newbury, Mass., in 1635. His wife was Susanna Jourdaine. Their children were Nathaniel, John, Abraham, Susanna, Daniel and Abel. He died March 16, 1655. Abel 2 was born in Newbury, February 20, 1646 ; settled there; married, February 10, 1671, Priscilla Chase. He died at Newbury, October 28, 1689. His oldest son ' Abel3, was also born at Newbury, December 28, 1671. He moved to West Newbury, married, January 19, 1694, Abigail Stevens, and died February 6, 1759. He was a man of note, a deacon in the church, and left property, which, by will made October 21, 1752, and proved March, 1759, was divided among his sons and sons-in-law. His children were Samuel, Abel, Thomas, John, Nathaniel, Abigail (Mrs. John Kent), Martha (Mrs. Joshua Marsh), Priscilla (Mrs. Ezekiel Clark).
Nathaniel4, youngest son of Abel and Abigail (Stevens) Merrill, was born in West Newbury, Mass., March 1, 1712, was graduated at Harvard College in 1732, and was pastor of the Congregationalist Church in Rye, N. H. When the Congregationalist Church was formed in Nottingham West (now Hudson), No- vember 30, 1737, he was ordained its pastor, and continued in that relation until his death, in 1796. The minister was settled by the town, and his salary raised by a special tax. There being many opinions
484
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
in the church, some claiming to be Presbyterians, others Baptist and Methodist, the people protested against being compelled to pay outside of their own denomination ; therefore the civil contract was dis- solved in 1774, but Rev. Mr. Merrill's connection with the church as pastor did not cease, his salary being paid voluntarily by his congregation. He was a man of great decision of character and love for his chosen profession ; of acknowledged ability, both natural and acquired, he possessed excellent judg- ment and sterling integrity, and secured the respect of all men. He married Elizabeth Sarjeant. They had twelve children,-Nathaniel, Betty B., Mary, John, Abel, Dorothy, Oliver, Sarah, Benjamin and Ruth (twins), Molly and Theodore.
Nathaniel Merrill5 (Tertius) was born September 25, 1739, at Nottingham West ; married, February 25, 1767, Olive Lund, of Dunstable (Nashua). They had three children, all of whom attained maturity,-Ben- jamin, Oliver and Asa. Nathaniel held an ensign's commission from King George III. before the Rev- olution, but supported the cause of the colonies. He inherited a portion of his father's estate, which, just previous to the war, he sold and purchased a mill, where he manufactured machinery for cider-presses, etc. The parties to whom the farm was sold did not pay for it until Continental money was so depreciated as to make it valueless to Mr. Merrill. His death occurred in 1785. His wife survived him, dying in 1820, aged seventy-nine.
Benjamin 6 was born January 24, 1768. His father dying soon after the loss of his property, when Ben- jamin was seventeen years old, it was only by his indefatigable industry and energy that his mother was enabled to keep the family together. He worked early and late, and provided a home for his widowed mother during her life. He married, July 25, 1820, Mrs. Sarah Caton, whose maiden-name was Plummer. They commenced house-keeping in the house which he had built in 1810, on the farm in the south part of Hudson, where he ever after resided, and which is now owned by his descendants. Their children were Benjamin A., Ebenezer B. (deceased), James B. and William T.
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