USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 118
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Among those who have contributed to the business and financial success of the town for the past fifty years may be mentioned Moses Chase, Warren Good- speed, Isaac McQuesten, Simeon D. Leach, Isaac N. Center, John Goodspeed, Phineas Reed, J. A. Marsh, Warren M. Barnes and John White. The first five of the foregoing have resided and paid taxes con- tinuously for the last half-century.
TOWN CLERKS.
1734-35, Aquila Underwood ; 1736, Nathaniel Curtis ; 1737-38, Josiah Richardson ; 1739-40, Jacob Ilildreth; 1741, Samuel Cochran; 1742, John Bradshaw ; 1743, Samuel Cochran ; 1744-48, Thomas Parker; 1749, Jacob Ilildreth ; 1750, Thomas Parker ; 1751-53, Joel Dix ; 1754, William Parker; 1755-59, Thomas Parker ; 1760-62, James Underwood ; 1763, Jacob Hildreth ; 1764-69, James Underwood ; 1770-75, William McQnesten ; 1776-77, Timothy Kendall ; 1778-80, Jonathan Parker ; 1781, James Underwood; 1782, Jonathan Parker ; 1783, James Under- wood ; 1784-85, Daniel Bixby ; 1786, William McQuesten ; 1787-95, Samuel Chase, Jr. ; 1796-98, James Parker ; 1799-1803, Samuel Chase, Jr. ; 1804-6, Robert Parker ; 1807-11, Samuel Chase, Jr. ; 1812-15, Simeon Kendall ; 1816, Thomas Bixby ; 1817-18, Samuel Chase ; 1819-23, Joseph Chase, Jr. ; 1824-25, Moses Chase ; 1826-27, Joseph Chase, Jr .; 1828-34, Joshua Marsh ; 1835-36, Abel G. Quigg; 1837-38, Joshua Marsh ; 1839, George Griffin ; 1840, Moses Chase; 1841-42, Isaac Mc-
493
LITCHFIELD.
Questen ; 1843-47, Isaac N. Center : 1848-49, Isaac McQuesten ; 1850-51. Samuel Chase ; 1852-53, Isaac N. Center ; 1854, Horace Center ; 1855-56, Moses Chase ; 1857-58, Jonathan A. Griffin ; 1859-61, Langdon C. Lyds- ton ; 1862-64, Benjamin L. Pike ; 1865, Isaac N. Center ; 1866, William HI. Moor; 1867-69, George B. Griffin ; 1870, Isaac N. Center ; 1871-72, lForace Center ; 1873, Frank Kendall ; 1874-78, Isaac N. Center ; 1879- 80, Norris C. Grithin ; 1881-83, Alphonso II. Powers; 1884, Norris C. Griffin ; 1885, Alphonso H. Powers.
SELECTMEN AND ASSESSORS.
1734 .-- Aquila Underwood, Christopher Temple, Nathaniel Ilills. 1735 .- Aquila Underwood, Christopher Temple, Josiah Cummings. 1736 .- Josiah Cummings, Benjamin Blodgett, Ebenezer Taylor. 1737 .- Josiah Richardson, Josiah Cummings, Ebenezer Wright.
1738 .- Josialı Cummings, Christopher Temple, Ebenezer Wright, Josiah Richardson, Jonathan Powers.
1739 .- Josiah Cummings, Jacob Hildreth, Christopher Temple, Josialı Richardson, Jacob Kendall.
1740 .- Jacob Hildreth, Josiah Cummings, Alexander Parker, Josialı Richardson, James Nahor.
1741 .- Samuel Cochran, Joshua Converse, Jacob Hildreth, Christopher Temple, James Nahor.
1742 .- John Bradshaw, Thomas Karr, John Usher.
1743 .- Thomas Karr, John Usher, Jacob Hildreth.
1744 .- Thomas Karr, Jonathan Cummings, John Robinson. 1745-48 .- Thomas Parker, John Usher, John Harvell. 1749 .- Nathan Kendall, James Nahor, Jacob Hildreth. 1750 .- Thomas Parker, Joel Dix, James Nahor. 1751 .- Joel Dix, James Nahor, Andrew Cochran. 1752 .- Thomas Parker, James Nahor, Joel Dix. 1753 .- James Nahor, Joel Dix, John Ilarvell. 1754 .- Josiah Richardson, William Parker, James Nahor. 1755 .- Thomas Parker, James Nahor, John Harvell. 1756 .- Thomas Parker, Andrew Cochran, John Harvell. 1757 .- Thomas Parker, John Harvell, James Nahor. 1758-59 .- Thomas Parker, Jacob Hildreth, James Nahor. 1760 .- James Underwood, William McQuesten, Joseph Barnes. 1761-62 .- James Underwood, William McQuesten, William Reid. 1763 .-- Jacob Hildreth, John Parker, John Cochran. 1764-67 .- James Underwood, Robert Darrah, John Harvell. 1768 .- William McQuesten, Samuel Chase, James Nahor, Jr. 1769 .-- James Underwood, Robert Darrah, Samuel Chase. 1770-72 .- William McQuesten, David Campbell, Daniel Kendall. 1773-74 .- William McQuesten, John Harvell, Daniel Kendall. 1775 .- Robert Darrah, John Parker, Samuel Chase. 1776 .- James Underwood, Samuel Chase, Timothy Kendall. 1777 .- James Underwood, Samuel Chase, Timothy Kendall. 1778 .-- John Harvell, Robert Darrah, Jonathan Parker. 1779 .- John Parker, Jr., Daniel Kendall, John Parker. 1780 .- Jonathan Parker, John Parker, Jr., James Nahor, Jr. 1781 .- James Underwood, Joseph Barnes, Daniel Bixby. 1782 .- Jonathan Parker, Robert Darrah, Timothy Kendall. 1783 .- James Underwood, John Cochran, Samnel Chase. 1784-85 .- Daniel Bixby, David McQuig, Robert Parker. 1786 .- William MeQuesten, Timothy Kendatl, Simon McQuesten. 1787-90,-Samuel Chase, Daniel Bixby, Matthew Parker. 1791-94 .- Samuel Chase, Jr., Robert Parker, David McQuesten. 1795 .- Samuel Chase, Jr., Robert Parker, Simeon Kendall. 1796-98 .- Timothy Kendall, Hugh Nahor, Jacob Coburn. 1799-1800 .- Samuel Chase, Jr., William Parker, Matthew Parker, Jr. 1801-3 .- Samuel Chase, Jr., William Bixby, Matthew Parker, Jr. 1804-6 .- Robert Parker, Simeon Kendall, Hugh Nahor. 1807-11 .- Samuel Chase, Jr., John Underwood, Thomas Bixby. 1812-15 .- Simeon Kendall, Simon M. cQuesten, Jr., Jonathan Abbott. 1816 .- Thomas Bixby, John Rollins, John Goodspeed. 1817-18 .- Samuel Chase, William Bixby, Josiah Richardson. 1819-20 .- Joseph Chase, Jr., Jonathan Abbott, James McQuesten. 1821-23 .- Joseph Chase, Jr., James MeQuesten, John White. 1824-25 .- Jonathan Abbott, John White, Moses Chase. 1826-27 .- Joseph Chase, Jr., John Goodspeed, Abel G., Quigg. 1828-31 .- Joshua Marsh, John White, Simeon Harvell. 1832 .- Joshua Marsh, Frederick Chase, Parker Bixby. 1833-34 .- Joshua Marsh, Parker Bixby, Samuel Center. 1835-36 .- Abel G. Quigg, John White, Warren Goodspeed. 1837 .- Joshua Marsh, George Griffin, Jabez L. Manter. 1838 .- Joshua Marsh, Daniel McQuesten, Samuel Center. 1839 .- Daniel McQuesten, Samuel Center, George Griffin.
1840 .- Moses Chase, George Griffin, David C. Bancroft.
1841 .- Moses Chase, Horace Center, David C. Bancroft.
1842. - Moses Chase, Isaac McQuesten, Horace Center.
1843 .- Isaac McQuesten, Samuel Center, Samuel Chase. 1844 .- Isaac N. Center, Samuel Chase, William Cross. 1845 .- Isaac N. Center, Samuel Chase, Horace Center. 1846-47 .- Isaac N. Center, Horace Center, John White. 1848-49 .- Isaac McQuesten, Terrence Dodge, William E. Goodspeed.
1850-51 .- Samuel Chase, Simeon D. Leach, Charles McQuesten.
1852-53 .- Isaac N. Center, Isaac McQuesten, Parker Bixby. 1854 .- Ilorace Center, Henry MeQuesten, John White, Jr. 1855-56 .- Moses Chase, Charles McQuesten, Jonathan A. Griffin. 1857-58 .- Jonathan A. Griffin, William Cross, William Reid. 1859-60 .- Jonathan A. Griffin, Andrew J. Pike, Zachariah Whittemor ... 1861 .- Andrew J. Pike, Zachariah Whittemore, Phineas II. Reid. 1862-64 .- Isaac McQuesten, Herbert Chase, S. C. Richardson. 1865 .- Isaac McQuesten, Isaac N. Center, Zachariah Whittemore. 1866-67 .- Isaac McQuesten, Benjamin Dodge, Zachariah Whittemore. 1868 .- Isaac N. Center, Harrison Weston, George B. Griffin. 1869 .- Isaac N. Center, David C. Bancroft, George B. Griffin. 1870 .- Isaac N. Center, David C. Bancroft, Daniel Bradt. 1871 .- Horace Center, John Goodspeed, Benjamin Dodge. 1872 .- Horace Center, Isaac McQuesten, John White. 1873 .- Isaac McQuesten, Alexander Taggart, Leavitt L. Daniels.
1874 .- Alexander Taggart, Leavitt L. Daniels, Elbridge Pike. 1875 .- Samuel Chase, Elbridge Pike, Norris C. Griffin. 1876 .- Samuel Chase, Norris C. Griffin, George M. Read, 1877 .- Isaac McQuesten, John W. Goodspeed, John L. Center. 1878 .- Isaac McQuesten, John W. Goodspeed, George H. Goodspeed.
1879 .- Francis H. McQuesten, George II Goodspeed, Samuel Center.
1880 .- Francis II. MeQuesten, Frederic L. Center, Elbridge Pike. 1881 .- Frederic L. Center, Elbridge Pike, David S. Leach.
1882 .- Alphonso H. Powers, David S. Leach, Frederick McQuesten.
1883 .-- Alphonso H. Powers, Frederick McQuesten, George C. Danforth. .
1884 .- John F. Chase, George C. Danforth, Alexander Taggart. 1885 .- John F. Chase, Alexander Taggart, Orville D. Annis.
TOWN TREASURERS.
1735, Samuel Moor ; 1736, Nathaniel Hills ; 1737, Benjamin Hasel ; 1738-40, John Usher ; 1741, Dexter Russell ; 1742, Christopher Temple : 1743-45, Nathan Kendall ; 1746-48, Thomas Parker ; 1749, Nathan Ken- dall ; 1750-52, John Harvell ; 1753. James Nahor ; 1754, Josiah Rich- ardson ; 1755-59, Thomas Parker; 1760, James Underwood : 1761-62, David Whittemore ; 1763-67, William MeQuesten ; 1768-69, John Har- vell; 1770, Nathan Kendall ; 1771, John Harvell ; 1772-75, Jonathan Parker ; 1776-77, Samuel Cochrane ; 1778-80, Daniel Kendall; 1781, John Harvell ; 1782-83, William McQuesten ; 1784, John Cochrane ; 1785, William MeQuesten ; 1786, Jonathan Parker ; 1787, Samuel Sprague ; 1788, Jonathan Parker ; 1789-90, James Underwood ; 1791, William McQuesten ; 1792, Timothy Kendall ; 1793, William MeQues- ten ; 1794, Hugh Nahor ; 1795, Daniel Bixby ; 1796-97, Matthew Par- ker ; 1798, David Quigg; 1799-1800, Joseph Barnes; 1801-2, Clifton ('laggett ; 1803, Simeon Kendall ; 1804-6, Samuel Chase, Jr. ; 1807-8. Robert Parker ; 1809, Clifton Claggett ; 1810-11, Matthew Parker; 1812 -15, William Bixby ; 1816, Simeon Kendall ; 1817, John Parker; 181>, Jonathan Abbott ; 1819, Samuel Chase ; 1820, Jonathan Abbott ; 1821- 23, Joseph Chase, Jr. ; 1824-25, Jonathan Abbott ; 1826-27, Joseph Chase, Jr. ; 1828-34, Joshua Marsh ; 1835-36, Abel G. Quigg ; 1837-3%, Joshna Marsh; 1839, Daniel McQuesten ; 1840-42, Moses Chase ; 1843, Isaac McQuesten ; 1844-47, Isaac N. Center ; 1848-19, Isaac McQuesten ; 1850-51, Samuel Chase ; 1852-53, Isaac N. Center ; 1854, Horace Center ; 1855-56, Moses Chase ; 1857-60, Jonathan A. Griffin ; 1861, Andrew J. Pike ; 1862-67, Isaac MeQuesten ; 1868-70, Isaac N. Center ; 1871, Hor- ace Center ; 1872, John White; 1873-76, Isaac MeQuesten ; 1877, Charles McQuesten ; 1878-79, Isaac McQuesten ; 1880-85, Norris C. Griffin.
From 1820 to 1872 the chairman of the Board of Selectmen qualified as town treasurer.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT FROM LITCHI- FIELD FROM 1775 TO 1885.
[NOTE .- Litchfield was classed with Nottingham West until 1780, then with Derryfield until 1816, when a special act of the Legislature gave the town a right to send a representative annually until otherwise ordered. The apportionment of 1881 authorizes the town to elect a representative such proportionate part of the time as its number of Inhabitants (census 1880) bears to six hundred.]
494
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
March, 1762, Captain Samuel Greeley ; 1768, James Underwood ; April, 1775, Wiseman Claggett, Samuel Chase ; May, 1775, John Parker ; December, 1775, Wiseman Claggett ; 1775, James Underwood for Litch- field and Hudson; 1776, Wiseman Claggett ; 1777, '79, Asa Davis for Indson and Litchfield ; 1780, Samuel Chase; 1793,1 John Webster ; 1794, 1806, Robert Parker; 1795, 1807, Isaac Huse; 1800, '02, Clifton Claggett ; 1804, Samuel Chase, Jr. ; 1805, S. P. Kidder; 1801, '08, Sim- eon Kendall ; 1809, Joseph Moor ; 1811, '13, '15, Samuel Moor ; 1812, '14, Thomas Bixby ; 1816, '17, '18, '24, '25, Joseph Chase, Jr. ; 1819, '20, Simon McQuesten ; 1821-23, Jonathan Abbott ; 1826-27, 1832-33, 1843, Moses Chase ; 1828-31, Joseph Richardson ; 1835-36, Samuel Corning, Jr. ; 1837-38, Abel G. Quigg ; 1841-42, Parker Bixby ; 1844-45, 1865-66, Isaac McQuesten ; 1846-47, 1870-71, Warren Goodspeed; 1848-49, George Griffin ; 1850-51, Isaac N. Center ; 1852-53, Sammel Chase; 1854, 1872-73, John Goodspeed ; 1855-56, Samuel Kennard ; 1857, Daniel Mc- Questen ; 1858-59, Simeon D. Leach ; 1860-61, Jonathan A. Griffin ; 1862-63, William Cross ; 1864, Andrew J. Pike ; 1867-68, John White; 1869, John Griffin ; 1874-75, Horace Center; 1876-77, Elbridge Pike ; 1878, Alexander Pike; 1880-81, Norris C. Griffin ; 1883-84, Francis H. McQuesten.
DELEGATES TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION FROM LITCHFIELD.
Jonathan Parker, 1778 ; Daniel Bixby, 1788 ; Robert Parker, 1791-92 ; Isaac N. Center, 1850 ; Samnel Chase, 1877.
Military History .- In the different wars Liteh- field has furnished her quota of troops for the service. During the French War one of the regiments (Colonel Goffe's) rendezvoused in this town. Timothy Barron, William Barron, Simon MeQuesten and Samuel Chase enlisted for the campaign.
The following list of Revolutionary soldiers is probably incomplete:
David McQuig, Sergeant Harry Glover, drummer, Edward Bicksby and James Gibson were members of Capt. John Moore's company in Gen. Stark's regiment, and were present at the battle of Bunker Hill. John Parker commanded a company in Colonel Timothy Bedel's regiment of rangers, Northern Division, Conti- mental army, under General Montgomery in 1775. William Darrah, John Thompson, Joseph Harvell, Stephen Lowell and John Loring were privates in Captain Parker's company. They enlisted July 6, 1775, and were discharged December 31, 1775. In 1776, John Loring (second enlistment) and James Butterfield enlisted in Massachusetts for three years. William Darrah (second enlistment) and John Lare were attached to General Washington's Life-Guard. Hon. James Underwood was commissioned adjutant of Colonel Joshua Wingate's regiment, raised to re- enforce the Northern army in July, 1776. For the First New Hampshire Continental Regiment (Colonel Cilley), raised in 1776, Litehfield furnished the follow- ing-named officers and privates :
Chaplain, Rev. Samuel Cotton ; First Lieutenants, Nathaniel McCauly and Moody Dustin ; Privates, James Simpson Thompson, Obed MeLain, Samuel Smith, Joseph Ilaselton, John Stone, Thomas Coleburn and Joshna Blodgett.
At a special meeting of the legal voters held April, 1777, the town voted a bounty of fifty dollars each to those who had enlisted in the Continental army.
William Reed commanded a company in Colonel Nahum Baldwin's regiment, raised in September,
1776, to reinforce the army near New York City. Dr. Joseph Barnes was commissioned surgeon of Colonel David Gilman's regiment, which was raised in answer to a requisition from General Washington, in December, 1776, for service at Fort George and Fort Ticonderoga. In the "Great Return" of 1782, the following soldiers were eredited with bounties : Robert Cunningham, Samuel Chase, Jr., William Whittle, John Williams, Stephen R. Youngman, Thomas Coleburn and Obed Mclain. It is not known where the first five of the foregoing list served, but from the amounts paid to them, they are supposed to have been in the serviee a considerable time.
In June, 1777, a party of sixteen men, ineluding Major Samuel Chase, Captain Samuel Cochran and Ensign Daniel MeQuig, marched from Litchfield for Ticonderoga, upon news of General Burgoyne's ad- vance upon the fort. On reaching Charlestown (No. 4) they received news of the evacuation, and returned to their homes. In 1779 the sum of one thousand dollars was appropriated for the purpose of raising men to fill the town's quota for the army. The Committee of Safety for 1775 and 1776 consisted of James Underwood, Robert Darrah, John Harvell, John Thompson and Daniel Kendall.
During the War of the Rebellion the town paid seven thousand five hundred dollars for bounties to soldiers, besides liberally caring for their families during service.
The following are the names of the soldiers in the War of the Rebellion from Litchfield :
James Aiken,2 David L. Annis, Calvin G. Blodgett, John G. Boise, E. Boynton, George Brown, John D. Buckham, Jonathan Burbank, 3 Rufus Butterfield, Patrick Casgrove, Jonathan Crane, Franklin Cross, Thomas Donahue, James Duffie, William Flanders, Thomas Fergurson, Elias Foot, John G. Graham, George H. Hazzard, Frank Jones, Iliram Joyal, Joseph Lachance,2 Charles Low, Langdon C. Lydston, George G. Lydston (navy), Charles H. Marsh, Joseph Manning, James F. McQnes- ten, Ilenry W. Moor, William H. Parker, Fernando Parker,2 James F. Parker, Jefferson Page, William Patrick, Hiram Pierce, Stephen Rolfe, William E. Russell, Harrison Seavey, Edwin Seavey, John E. Seavey, Daniel Scott, Albert St. Cloud, Jeriah Tufts, 3 Thomas Taylor, James Wilson, William Wallis.
Biographical Sketches .- Captain James F. Me- Questen was the third son of Henry McQuesten and Eliza (Chase) McQuesten, and was born in Litchfield March 7, 1835. During his boyhood he attended the district school in his native town, and was afterwards a student at the academy in Derry, where he prepared himself for the United States Military School at West Point, entering that institution as cadet in 1857. He graduated with honor in May, 1861, as second lieutenant of the Second United States Cavalry, and immediately entered the service at the outset of the War of the Rebellion. He was soon promoted to first lieutenant, and in February, 1863, to a captaincy, and served on the staffs of Generals Buford, Fitz-John Porter and Mcclellan. At the time of his death he
1 No representatives were sent between 1780 and 1793.
2 Killed.
3 Died in the service.
495
LITCHFIELD.
was assistant adjutant-general on General Merritt's staff. Captain MeQuesten was present in more than thirty engagements, and was killed at the battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864.
Such was the brief but brilliant career of one of the noblest souls and bravest officers that fell during the late Civil War.
From youth he was fitted, both by nature and his own great energies, for a soldier. His physical devel- opment was faultless ; his height was something more than six feet, with full chest and ruddy complexion. His presence was commanding, and his character unexceptionable.
Captain MeQuesten married Miss Marcia V. Mc- Questen, daughter of Edward and Harriet (Colby) McQuesten, September 23, 1863. The mortal remains of Captain MeQuesten rest in the cemetery of his native town. His only legacy was his noble example of devotion and loyalty to his mother, his country and his friends.
Wyzeman Claggett was born in Bristol, England, in August, 1721. His father was a barrister-at-law, and educated his only son liberally for the same pro- fession. Wyzeman, after graduating at the Inns of Court, was admitted a barrister in the Court of the King's Bench. He was subsequently appointed a notary public. In 1748, Mr. Clagett sailed for the West Indies, where he devoted ten years to the prac- tice of his profession in the island of Antigua. He was secretary of the island for a number of years. An annuity of fifty pounds sterling was settled upon him during life by John Weeks, Esq., of Antigua, a gentleman of means, who highly esteemed the friend- ship of Mr. Clagett. This annuity was paid regularly till his death, and was a source of consolation in his declining years, when his professional income was meagre. From Antigua he emigrated to Portsmouth, N. H., where he soon became the chief magistrate.
In 1765 he was commissioned King's Attorney- General by Governor Benning Wentworth, and was re- appointed, in 1768, by Governor John Wentworth. In 1771, Mr. Clagett purchased a valuable farm in the centre of Litchfield, and removed there in 1772. He was a member of the Council in 1775 and 1776, and one of the members of the Committee of Safety for Hillsborough County during the Revolution, and solicitor general until the new form of State govern- ment was established, in 1783. He was a member of the Legislature several years, representing Litchfield, Nottingham West, Derryfield, Merrimack and Bed- ford; although a resident of Litchfield, the last two towns, classed, returned him to the Assembly, much to his delight and satisfaction. Mr. Clagett was married August 14, 1859, to Miss Lettice Mitchell, of Ports- mouth. This lady afterwards became the wife of Simon MeQuesten.
Mr. Clagett was very severe as a magistrate; the very name Clagett was a synonym for "prosecute." He was very eccentric and overbearing, and many
anecdotes are told of his peculiarities. It is related of him that at one time, while he was judge at Ports- mouth, being too poor to buy a load of wood, he sent his servant out to insult a farmer who was passing with a load. The countryman swore at the servant, and Judge Clagett had him arrested and fined him just the load of wood.
He died on the 4th of December, 1784. One of his sons, Clifton Clagett, studied law with his father, and began the practice of his profession in Litehfield in 1787. He removed to Amherst in 1811. During his residence in Litchfield he represented the town in the General Court for several years. In 1810 he was appointed judge of Probate for Hillsborough County, and held the office until he resigned, in September, 1812, having been appointed one of the judges of the Superior Court; upon the reorganization of the court by the Federal party, he was removed from the Superior Court, and again became judge of Probate, holding the office until his death, January 26, 1829.
James U. Parker, son of Deacon Matthew and Sally (Underwood) Parker, was born in Litchfield, July 28, 1797. He fitted for Dartmouth College, and was graduated from that institution in 1820. He read law with Hon. James Parker, of Bedford, Artemas Rogers, of Henniker, and Hon. Joseph Gilbert, ot Hanover. After admission to the bar he began prac- tiee at Litchfield ; thence he went to Merrimack, but returned to his native town in 1847. In connection with his brother Nathan, he established the Man- chester Bank, and was its president while it con- tinued a State bank. His brother, who still survives, succeeded him when it became a national bank. James U. was also the first president of the Lawrence Railroad. He represented Merrimack in the Legis- lature in 1844 and 1845, and was president of the New Hampshire Senate in 1846. In 1850 he moved to New York City, and from 1857 to 1859 he was a resident of New Jersey. In 1859 he returned to New Hampshire, settled at Manchester and re- sumed the practice of law. He married, first, Miss Mary Hawkins, of Hanover, N. H., February 25, 1829. After her decease he married, in January, 1835, Miss Rebecca J. Lund, the daughter of Deacon Augustus Lund, of Merrimack, by whom he had several children. He died in March, 1871. His eldest son, James U., is a resident of Manchester ; his youngest son, Charles A., resides in Lynn, Mass.
Dr. Jonathan Parker, a graduate of Harvard College, and a physician and surgeon of eminence, was a native of Litchfield.
Dr. Parker had an extensive practice in his native town and also in the surrounding towns, being often summoned from a distance as a consulting physician. He died in September, 1791, leaving a family of ten children in destitute circumstances.
William McQuesten emigrated to this country from the north of Ireland about 1735, and settled in Litchfield. He was a descendant of the Melisthons
496
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
who emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland, near the close of the seventeenth century. William married a Miss Arbuckle, by whom he had eight children,- three sons (William, John and Simon, all of whom settled in Litchfield) and five daughters.
Besides holding other positions of responsibility, he was town clerk for many years, and the records bear witness of his faithfulness. He is mentioned by the early writers as a man of "sterling sense and integrity."
Captain Isaac McQuesten, one of the oldest in- habitants of Litchfield, has led a useful and laborious life from his boyhood. He was the first child of Robert H. McQuesten and Lydia (Barrett) McQues- ten, and was born October 18, 1811. His only oppor- tunity for education was the district school for a term of eight or ten weeks yearly, until he attained the age of fourteen years, when he was hired out as a farm-hand; therefore, his success in life is due, in a great measure, to his own exertions. His parents were poor, and his great aim in early life was to pre- serve the homestead; this he secured at his majority, and he has since resided upon it.
In 1840, Captain McQuesten and Captain Samuel Chase formed a copartnership which continued twenty years. They were extensively engaged in the lumber trade, and for several years were proprietors of the store at the centre of the town. Owing to the removal of Captain Chase to Nashua, the firm was dissolved in 1860, and Captain McQuesten con- tinued the business till 1878. Under the old State militia he held a commission as captain in the Fifth Regiment.
In politics he has co-operated with the Democratic party ; he has represented the town in the Legislature four years, and was elected road commissioner for Hillsborough County in 1849; from time to time he has held various offices of trust under the town gov- ernment. From 1862 to 1868 he was first selectman and town treasurer, and discharged the duties of these offices (which were greatly increased on ac- count of the Civil War) with fidelity. In 1868 and 1869 he was his party's candidate for State Senator. He has been a justice of the peace, county since 1845, quorum and State since 1870, the principal magistrate of the town, and often employed in writ- ing deeds, wills and other instruments.
Isaac McQuesten and Margaret A., daughter of Major Francis Chase and Dorothy (Bixby) Chase, were married December 29, 1842. They have three children,-Eugene F., a practitioner of medicine and surgery for eighteen years past in Nashua, N. H .; Francis H., lumber merchant and Jennie F., wife of Frederick L. Center. Since 1851, Captain McQuesten has been clerk of the Presbyterian Society, and for the past ten years superintendent of the Sabbath- school.
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