USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > History of Plymouth, New Hampshire; vol. I. Narrative--vol. II. Genealogies, v. 2 pt. 2 > Part 25
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SWETT.
1. DANIEL SWETT, son of Daniel. m. Rachel Loring, and lived in Perry, Me., and in Portsmouth. He was a mariner, and d. of ship fever in Boston about 1827.
2. BENJAMIN SWETT, son of Daniel 1, b. Perry, Me., Sept. 20, 1816. Came to Campton, 1840. He m. Dec. 12, 1844, Emily Jane Rogers. He lived in Campton, Thornton, and a few years in Plymouth. He d. May 7, 1887. She d. Jan. 21, 1904.
i. SARAH ELLA, b. August 2, 1848. m. G. Frank Homan.
ii. BENJAMIN CLARENCE, b. March 31, 1851.
iii. FRANK PIERCE, b. August 27, 1852.
iv. RUFUS ROGERS, b. Sept. 17, 1858. d. Dec. 22, 1888.
V. DANIEL SYDNEY, b. Dec. 11, 1862.
3. DAVID R. SWETT, probably a brother of Daniel 1, b. Maine, 1803, and wife Rebecca (a second wife), b. Massachusetts, 1818. Lived in Plymouth, 1848-1850. Three children, b. Maine, the young- est in Plymouth.
i. ROBERT, b. 1832.
ii. CHARLES W., b. 1836.
iii. DYER P., b. 1841.
iv. HENRY C., b. 1849.
667
TARLTON.
TARLTON.
1. RICHARD TARLTON, ancestor of the New Hampshire family of Tarlton, came to America with Capt. John Mason about 1688. He was the carpenter in charge of the erection of the Mason House at New Castle. To Richard Tarlton was paid the rent of the house in which the Council and Assembly were convened, 1694-1696. He left a daughter by his first marriage in England. He m. second, about 1692, Ruth Stileman dau. of Elias and grand-dau. of Hon. Elias Stile- man. He d. 1706, leaving four children b. in New Castle.
2. ELIAS TARLTON, son of Richard 1, b. August 13, 1693. Lived in Portsmouth, where he d. 1785. The name of his wife was Mary. Seven children.
3. ELIAS TARLTON, son of Elias 2, b. 1720. Was a ship carpenter. He was a soldier in the French and in the Revolutionary Wars. He . d. Dec. 2, 1811.
4. WILLIAM TARLTON, son of Elias 3, b. Nov. 23, 1752. Was in Orford, 1772, and was taxed in Plymouth, 1774, 1775, 1777, and 1778, and during this period his name appears on the special tax-lists for schools and other purposes. It is stated in the History of Haver- hill that he settled in Piermont in 1774, and authority for that date is found in a tavern sign, lettered "William Tarlton, 1774," but the evi- dence of his residence in Plymouth several years is unmistakable. He removed from Plymouth to Piermont in 1778 or 1779, and was a selectman of that town, a delegate in Constitutional Convention, 1791, a colonel of the 13th regiment, presidential elector, 1804, sheriff of Grafton Co., 1808-1813, executive councillor, 1808. In the Revolution, he was a sergeant in Capt. Everett's company, Col. Bedel's regiment, 1776, and a captain in Col. Bedel's regiment, Dec. 15, 1777, to March 31, 1778, and from July 1, 1778, to July 1, 1779. He m. 1779, Betsey Fisk, b. Jan. 29, 1762, who d. Nov. 4, 1791. He m. second, Polly Melvin, b. Chester, June 30, 1770, dau. of Benjamin and Mehitable (Bradley) Melvin. He d. March 19, 1819. She d. in Concord, June 7, 1826. Six children by the first and nine by the second marriage, b. in Piermont.
i. WILLIAM, b. Oct. 22, 1780. m. March 5, 1800, Abigail Ladd, b. Dec. 3, 1778, dau. of Dea. James and Hannah (Locke) Ladd, of Haverhill, and Piermont. He d. about 1813. No children.
ii. AMos, b. March 14, 1783. m. Feb. 18, 1806, Theodora Ladd, b. Dec. 19, 1782, dau. of Deacon James and Hannah (Locke) Ladd. He was a farmer of Warren, representative and town officer. In
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TARLTON - TAYLOR.
1819 he returned to Piermont, where he d. Dec. 1, 1864. She d. April 10, 1875. Seven children.
iii. BETSEY, b. May 8, 1785. m. Amos Towne, of Bath, where she d. August 1, 1835.
iv. JOSIAH, b. August 27, 1787. Removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he d. Dec. 11, 1820.
v. MARY, b. Nov. 17, 1789. m. Loammi Davidson, b. 1790, son of Francis and Janet (Ayers) Davidson, of Hudson. He was admitted to the bar of Grafton Co., 1817, and practised in Wentworth two years. He d. May 11, 1819. She d. Feb. 23, 1819. He probably d. in Windham.
vi. CAROLINE, b. 1791. d. Nov. 4, 1791.
vii. ANN, b. Oct. 20, 1793. m. 1815, John Goldthwaite, and removed to Montgomery, Ala. He was a successful merchant. She d. 1843.
viii. JOHN, b. Nov. 25, 1795. Was a silversmith, removing to Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a colonel, sheriff, and United States Marshal. He went South as a marshal, and while returning d. of yellow fever, Sept. 9, 1839. He m. Mrs. Rosanna Sherer, who d. Sept. 18, 1881.
ix. SAMUEL BRADLEY, b. August 13, 1797. d. 1818.
X. GEORGE WASHINGTON, b. Feb. 12, 1800. Was a merchant in Mont- gomery, Ala., where he m. 1837, Margaret Brack. Later he was a cotton broker in Mobile, Ala., where he d. May 16, 1874. She d. Dec. 10, 1879. Eight children.
xi. THOMAS JEFFERSON, b. April 17, 1802. Was a merchant and planter, living at Washington, Ala. He m. Ellen Whiting.
xii. ALBERT G., b. May 1, 1804. Was in business in St. Albans, Vt., and in Plattsburg, N. Y. In 1839 he removed to Benton, Ala., where he d. Feb. 9, 1867. He m. 1829 Mary T. Simmons.
xiii. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, b. March 4, 1806. Was a planter in Wash- ington, Ala. He m. Mary Cox, and d. in Mobile, Ala., June 30, 1848.
xiv. JAMES MONROE, b. August 11, 1809. m. August 20, 1834, Sarah Walker Fisk, b. Sept. 20, 1814, dau. of Francis N. and Polly (Walker) Fisk, of Concord. He was a commission merchant in Montgomery, Ala. In 1853 he was appointed United States Consul at Melbourne, Australia, where he remained until 1858 or 1859. He d. Washington, D. C., Dec. 23, 1880. She d. Feb. 28, 1882. No children
xv. JANE, b. Sept. 29, 1811. m. Silas Ames, M.D., and res. in Mont- gomery, Ala. She d. Oct. 6, 1854. Six children.
TAYLOR.
1. EDWARD TAYLOR. m. in Hollis, Nov. 14, 1771, Mary Worcester, of Hollis. He removed to Plymouth after his marriage and before the following April. He d. in Plymouth, 1777. His widow m. second,
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TAYLOR -TENNEY.
Jan. 31, 1780, Enoch Page, Esq., of Wentworth. There was another, Edward Taylor, of Campton, a soldier in the Continental Army. Four children of Edward and Mary (Worcester) Taylor were b. in Plymouth.
i. MOLLY, b. August 23, 1772. m. Jarahmael Cummings (see).
ii. PATIENCE, b. March 3, 1773.
iii. EDWARD, b. Nov. 11, 1775.
iv. JESSE, b. Nov. 21, 1777. m. 1802, Lydia Clifford, and removed from town. They had children: Mary, Joseph, Hiram, Ann Lydia, and Eliza.
TAYLOR.
1. JOEL TAYLOR, son of Edward and Mary Taylor, b. Hollis, August 23, 1752. Came to Plymouth, 1776. He served twelve days in Capt. Willoughby's company, Ticonderoga alarm, 1777, and the same year he was sergeant in Capt. Elliot's company, Col. Hobart's regiment, Bennington service from July 21 to Sept. 26. He m. in Plymouth, April 9, 1778, Sarah (Hobart) Lovejoy, widow of Phineas Lovejoy (see). He was taxed until 1793.
TAYLOR.
1. GEORGE R. TAYLOR, b. 1812. With wife Dorothy removed to Plymouth, 1844, and remained in this town until his death in 1856. They had at least one child.
i. LUCY. m. Proctor Harris.
TENNEY.
1. THOMAS TENNEY. Was one of the colony of English emigrants who settled Rowley, Mass. His wife Ann d. 1657. Buried Sept. 26, 1677. He m. second, Feb. 24, 1657/8, Elizabeth Parrat, widow of Francis Parrat. He d. in Bradford, Feb. 20, 1699/1700. He was a brother of Dea. William Tenney.
2. DANIEL TENNEY, youngest son of Thomas 1, b. Rowley, July 16, 1653. m. July 21, 1680, Elizabeth Stickney, dau. of Lieut. Samuel Stickney. She d. June 12, 1694. He m. second, 1695, Mary Hardy, and third, 1712, Elizabeth Woodman. He lived in Bradford and in Rowley.
3. WILLIAM TENNEY, son of Daniel 2 and Mary Tenney, b. Oct. 23, 1698. m. 1720 (published Sept. 3), Mehitable Pearson, b. May 18, 1695, dau. of Benjamin and Hannah (Thurston) Pearson, of Newbury.
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TENNEY.
He lived in Byfield Parish, which included a part of Rowley and a part of Newbury. She d. March 1, 1774. He d. Sept. 29, 1784.
4. WILLIAM TENNEY, son of William 3, b. in Rowley (Byfield Parish), Mass., July 19, 1723. m. Nov. 7, 1744, Ann Jewett, b. July 19, 1723, dau. of Dea. Daniel and Elizabeth (Hopkinson) Jewett, and a sister of the wife of Gideon George (see). They were born the same day. They settled in Hollis, where he d. March 22, 1783. His widow d. July 1, 1794.
5. BENJAMIN TENNEY, eldest son of William 4, b. Hollis, Oct. 28, 1746. m. Jan. 28, 1772, Ruth Blanchard, and removed about 1775 to Temple, where he was a useful townsman, and d. Sept. 2, 1790. She m. second, May 28, 1795, Darius Hudson, of Pepperell, Mass. She d. April 11, 1831.
6. BENJAMIN TENNEY, son of Benjamin 5, b. Temple, August 23, 1781. m. June 14, 1803, Betsey Taylor, b. Hollis, Jan. 28, 1782, dau. of Jacob and Betsey (Boynton) Taylor, of Hollis, and later of Groton. He settled in Groton. Was a carpenter and joiner. Deacon. He d. Sept. 12, 1871. She d. Oct. 3, 1852. They had eleven children.
i. JACOB TAYLOR, b. Jan. 20, 1804. Was a mute. Educated at the Hartford Asylum. Killed by a passing train on the Boston & Worcester R.R., Jan. 18, 1836.
ii. HIRAM, b. July 29, 1805. Was a merchant in Newark, Ohio. He m. Sept. 9, 1810, Caroline Knowles. He d. Oct. 9, 1876.
iii. BENJAMIN JEWETT, b. June 6, 1807. Was a carpenter. Removed to Richland Centre, Wis. m. Jan. 25, 1832, Anne McClure. m. second, May 17, 1847, Abby Daggett, b. Troy, August 7, 1822, dau. of Levi and Abigail (Butler) Daggett. Hed. March 17, 1868.
iv. JOHN, b. July 13, 1809. m. Oct. 15, 1832, Philena Willoughby. He was a carpenter in Grantville, Mass. d. Dec. 2, 1854.
v. LUCY, b. August 24, 1811. m. Dec. 1, 1830, Luther Hardy. A farmer of Groton. She d. August 20, 1871.
vi. LEONARD, b. August 5, 1814. Dartmouth College, 1840. Andover Theological Seminary, 1844. Ordained junior pastor Congrega- tional Church, Jaffrey Centre, April 19, 1845. The venerable Rev. Laban Ainsworth was senior pastor, but prevented by age from active ministration. His labors were successful, and he was greatly beloved. Subsequently, he was pastor at Thetford, Vt., and Barre, Vt. Representative from Thetford, 1866. He retired, and res. in Watertown, Mass. Ile d. July 5, 1903. He m. June 26, 1845, Malvina Baker, dau. of Col. Abel Baker, of Lebanon. She d. July 31, 1001. Two sons are graduates of Dartmouth.
vii. BETSEY CLARISSA, b. June 20, 1816. A mute. She d. unm., Feb. 4, 1885.
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TENNEY - THIBODEAU.
viii. WILLIAM R., b. Dec. 20, 1818. d. August 4, 1821.
ix. GEORGE, b. Feb. 12, 1821. Dartmouth College, 1847. A lawyer. He practised in Bristol, 1851-1859; Concord, 1859-1862, and sub- sequently in Hartford, Vt. He m. June 23, 1852, L. Malvina Bissell, of Hanover. He d. April 10, 1881. She d. June 19, 1878.
x. JONAS BOYNTON, b. May 1, 1823. Was a physician in Waynesville, Ill., where he d. March 16, 1869.
7. xi. DAVID MORRILL, b. Nov. 3, 1825.
7. DAVID MORRILL TENNEY, son of Benjamin 6, b. Nov. 3, 1825. Was a farmer on the paternal homestead in Groton until 1886, when he removed to Plymouth. He was a selectman and school committee of Groton many years, and a representative, 1867 and 1868. He has been the efficient secretary and active in the management of the Grafton Co. Fair Association, and interested in all laudable meas- ures for the public good. He m. June 19, 1872, Anna Maria French, a graduate, Meriden, 1857, b. Boscawen, May 2, 1839, dau. of Francis S. and Asenath (Sawyer) French. Mrs. French, the aged mother, has a home with her daughter, Mrs. Tenney.
8. JOHN TENNEY, b. July 9, 1767. m. Dec. 31, 1795, Lucinda Eaton. Removed from Connecticut to Hanover, where he d. April 17, 1847. He was a descendant of Thomas 1 Tenney. The genera- tions being John 6, b. July 9, 1767, John 5, b. Sept. 2, 1729, Joseph 4, b. March 16, 1699, Samuel 3, b. Nov. 17, 1667, John 2, b. Dec. 14, 1640, Thomas 1.
9. JOHN TENNEY, son of John 8, b. Hanover, July 30, 1801. m. Dec. 31, 1823, Tryphena Dow. He d. Hanover, Dec. 23, 1888.
10. LEMUEL DOW TENNEY, son of John 9, b. Hanover, March 28, 1836. m. May 23, 1860, Cornelia W. Everett, dau. of William Everett. He was a farmer in Hanover until 1898, when he removed to Colebrook, living with his dau., Mrs. Currier.
i. ANNA M., b. Dec. 11, 1865. m. August 31, 1898, George D. Bates, of Athol, Mass.
ii. EMMA CORNELIA, b. June 2, 1871. State Normal School, 1892. m. Jan. 1, 1895, Dean S. Currier (see).
THIBODEAU.
1. SOLON A. THIBODEAU, son of Zoel and Nora (Brooks) Thibodeau, b. Sandfall, P. Q., Oct. 8, 1857. m. Nov. 1, 1875, Eva Grace Bacon, b. Stanstead, P. Q., Sept. 2, 1859, dau. of Levi and Betsey Bliss (Mosher) Bacon. He is a brickmaker, removing to Plymouth, 1881, and is now a section hand, B. & M. R.R.
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THIBODEAU -THOMPSON.
i. MATTIE MABEL, b. Jan. 18, 1877. m. 1893, Alfred St. Peter, and lived in Plymouth until 1896, when he removed to Rumney. (1) Edna Hazel, b. Plymouth, July 6, 1896.
ii. SADIE ALICE, b. Feb. 13, 1882. m. Charles E. Chandler (see).
iii. JOSEPHINE EVA, b. August 7, 1883. m. July 2, 1904, James F. Peavey, b. 1880, son of James and Mary (Bonner) Peavey, of Ashland.
iv. CHARLES SOLON, b. Nov. 23, 1884.
v. FLORENCE EDNA, b. April 20, 1891.
THOMPSON.
1. THOMAS THOMPSON, b. near Alnwick, Northumberland Co., England, Oct. 2, 1742. He was in Boston, 1760, and subsequently was a tobacco merchant in Newburyport, Mass. He m. Isabella White, b. Glasgow, Scotland, May 16, 1743. She d. Newburyport, August 29, 1791. He m. second, Nov. 20, 1792, Sarah (Waite) Wood, b. May 1, 1749, dau. of Samuel and Rebecca (Sweetzer) Waite, and widow of Benjamin Wood, of Charlestown, Mass. He d. Newburyport, March 7, 1808. One child b. in Boston and six in Newburyport.
2. THOMAS W THOMPSON, son of Thomas 1, b. Boston, Mass., March 15, 1766. Harvard University, 1786. In Harvard Catalogue he is called Thomas Weston Thompson, and in Dearborn's "Salisbury " the name is Thomas White Thompson. Both are incorrect. His parents gave him the name of Thomas. The W is a silent term adopted to distinguish his name from that of his father. It stands for no word or name. He was a tutor at Harvard a short time and served on the staff of Gen. Lincoln at the time of Shays's Rebellion. He studied law in the office of Theophilus Parsons, of Newburyport, was admitted to the bar, 1791, and the same year opened an office in Salisbury, re- moving to Concord, 1810. He was postmaster of Salisbury, 1798 to 1803; trustee of Dartmouth College, 1801-1821 ; representative in the State legislature, 1807, 1808; representative in Congress, 1805- 1807; State treasurer, 1809-1811; representative from Concord in State legislature and speaker of the house, 1813 and 1814; United States Senator, to fill unexpired term of Nicholas Gilman, deceased, from June 24, 1814, to March 4, 1817. "Mr. Thompson was a states- man of refined manners, superior scholarship, an elegant speaker, a learned lawyer, and a Christian gentleman." To which Dr. Bouton has added: " An accomplished gentleman, distinguished for the dignity and urbanity of his manners, for integrity and piety." He m. Dec. 25, 1796, Elizabeth C. Porter, b. Haverhill, June 21, 1775, dau. of Col.
1
673
THOMPSON.
Asa and Mehitable (Crocker) Porter. He d. Oct. 1, 1821. His widow d. at Plymouth, Sept. 2, 1834. Five children.
i. LUCIA KINSMAN, b. May 6, 1798. m. Rev. Thomas J. Murdock, b. Norwich, Vt., Nov. 27, 1790. Dartmouth College, 1812; Andover Theological Seminary, 1818. Pastor, Canterbury, Conn. He d. Dec. 15, 1826. Their dau. Lucia m. July 20, 1848, Edward R. Olcott, b. August 9, 1805, son of Mills Olcott, Dartmouth College, 1825. Lawyer, Haverhill, and New Orleans, La. He d. Ellicott City, Md., Sept. 2, 1869.
ii. CAROLINE, b. Jan. 8, 1801. d. Jan. 19, 1801.
3. iii. WILLIAM COOMBS, b. March 17, 1802.
iv. FRANCIS, b. Feb. 24, 1804. Drowned in Merrimack River, June 22, 1814.
v. CHARLES EDWARD, b. June 19, 1807. Dartmouth College, 1828. He read law with his brother at Plymouth. His study was inter- rupted by three years in South America and a brief residence in Mobile, Ala. Ile was admitted to the bar, 1838. He practised his profession in Haverhill, 1838-1854, when he removed to Chicago, Ill. He m. May 20, 1835, Mary Olcott, dau. of Hon. Mills and Sarah (Porter) Olcott. Their mothers were sisters. He d. 1883. Four children.
3. WILLIAM COOMBS THOMPSON, son of Hon. Thomas W 2, b. Salis- bury, March 17, 1802. Dartmouth College, 1820. He was a lawyer of character and marked ability, and practised his profession in Ply- mouth with unusual success from 1828 to 1852. He was a trustee of Holmes Plymouth Academy. (See biography in Vol. I.) He m. Oct. 15, 1828, Martha Higginson Leverett, b. Windsor, Vt., dau. of John Leverett (see). She d. April 30, 1846. He m. second, June 21, 18-, Susan B. Nelson, dau. of John and Susan (Brewster) Nelson, of Haverhill. He removed from Plymouth to Worcester, Mass., 1852, where he d. April 27, 1877. His widow d. July 3, 1900. Four children of William C. and Martha Thompson.
i. WILLIAM CHARLES, b. Sept. 25, 1832. Dartmouth College, 1853. Harvard Law School, 1856. Admitted to the bar at Worcester, Mass., 1856. He was in successful practice in St. Paul, Minn., 1856- 1862. On account of failing health he went to New Providence, Nassau ; and was United States Vice Consul from 1862 until the close of the war, 1865. His health has not permitted him to resume the practice of his chosen profession, and he has lived a retired life in Worcester, Somerville, and, since 1879, in Pepperell, Mass.
4. ii. JOHN LEVERETT, b. Feb. 2, 1835.
iii. THOMAS W, b. August 31, 1837. Dartmouth College, 1859 ; Andover Theological Seminary, 1866. Previous to graduation at Andover, VOL. 11 .- 43
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THOMPSON.
he was in China and Japan nearly three years. Under the auspices of the A. B. C. F. M. he again went to China, 1868, as a mission- ary. With the exception of a few months in Pekin, he was sta- tioned at Kalyan, on the great wall. Ilis principal mission was touring into the interior with native helpers, preaching and dis- tributing books. After seven years of devoted service he returned to his native land, and since 1875 has res. in Worcester, Mass. IIe is not married.
iv. MARTHA LEVERETT, b. Sept. 3, 1840. d. April 20, 1846.
4. JOHN LEVERETT THOMPSON, son of William C.3, b. Plymouth, Feb. 2, 1835, pursued a preparatory course of study at Meriden Acad- ยท emy and entered Dartmouth College, 1852. He was at Dartmouth two years and at Williams College, junior year. A.M. Dartmouth, 1867; Williams, 1875. He entered upon the study of law at Worcester, Mass., in the office of Francis H. Dewey, senior, 1855. Grad. from Harvard Law School, 1858, and admitted to the bar of Worcester Co. in the autumn of 1858. He passed the ensuing two years in study at the Universities of Berlin, Munich, and Paris. Upon his return he entered, 1860, the office of Seaman, McCagg & Fuller, of Chicago, Ill.
He enlisted, a private, April 21, 1861, in the 1st Illinois Light Artillery, promoted sergeant and commended for efficiency and skill in drilling his men. The term of enlistment was short, and upon his discharge he was a guest for a few weeks of his uncle William Lev- erett in Plymouth. At this time New Hampshire was raising four companies of cavalry which subsequently were consolidated with eight companies raised in Rhode Island and known as the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry and also as the 1st New England Cavalry. Asserting a life- long fondness for the horse, he entered this arm of the service, and was commissioned by Gov. Berry a first lieutenant, Oct. 9, 1861. His pro- motions were richly earned and won by gallant conduct and valiant service. He was commissioned a captain, Dec. 9, 1861, major, July 3, 1862, and lieutenant colonel, July 11, 1862. In the spring of 1864, New Hampshire recalled the battalion from the regiment and began the organization of eight new companies of New Hampshire men, under the name of the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry. Lt. Col. Thomp- son was commissioned by Gov. Gilmore, colonel of this regiment, March 17, 1864. It is history, if not a matter of record, that he ac- cepted this commission on the expressed condition that Gov. Gilmore would not select the officers of the eight new companies without his . approval. This agreement was honored by the governor. " For dis-
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THOMPSON -THORNTON.
tinguished and meritorious service" and on the recommendation of Gen. Sheridan he was breveted brigadier-general, March 13, 1865. He was mustered out at the close of the war, July 15, 1865. For a generous tribute to a gallant officer and brave man, see an appre- ciative sketch by Senator Blair in Vol. III., Proceedings Grafton and Coos Bar Association.
Declining a commission in the regular army, Gen. Thompson re- turned to Chicago, and in the spring of 1866 formed a partnership with Norman Williams, a native of Woodstock, Vt., and a classmate at Meriden. Gen. Thompson was a learned lawyer and an able advo- cate. In court his energy and vigilance made him a formidable adversary, and in the heated conflicts of his profession the coolness and self-command of the lawyer were as conspicuous as the constant energy and heroism of the soldier.
He was an alderman of Chicago, 1876 to 1878, and a leading mem- ber and two years the president of the Citizens' Association. Many years he was a member of the Union League of Chicago, and was elected president of this patriotic organization one week before his death ; and the same month he was elected president of the Dartmouth Alumni Association, of Chicago. He d. Jan. 31, 1888.
He m. at Concord, Sept. 5, 1866, Laura Chandler, b. Peacham, Vt., dau. of Samuel A. and Susan (Emerson) Chandler. She d. Nov. 24, 1889. Two children.
i. LEVERETT, b. Nov. 11, 1869.
ii. SUSAN, b. Jan. 26, 1874.
THORNTON.
1. JAMES THORNTON, b. near Londonderry, Ireland, 1685, was the emigrant ancestor of a family distinguished in the annals of New Hampshire. He came to America 1718, and it is believed that he was included in the twenty families who spent the following winter in a ship at Falmouth, Me. In the spring of 1719 he settled in Wiscasset, Me., and a very few years later he removed to Worcester, Mass. The story of the fortunes of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians in Worcester from about 1720 to 1740 is an interesting chapter of the early history of that town. They were driven from Worcester. They did not leave in a body, but colonies and families, about 1740, removed to towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire where they were assured of a more friendly reception. James Thornton organized a
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THORNTON.
colony of thirty-four families, and in their behalf he and Robert Peebles purchased of Col. John Stoddard, of Northampton, Jan. 21, 1739, a tract of land for a township from the territory known as " Equivalent Lands." Of this purchase James Thornton owned fourteen-sixtieths and Robert Peebles, five-sixtieths. The settlement was called the "Lisburne Propriety," or "New Lisburne," and was established as the town of Pelham, Mass., Jan. 15, 1743. While he remained in Pelham, James Thornton was the foremost and most conspicuous man in the affairs of the settlement. In 1743 the people of Pelham extended a call to Rev. Robert Abercrombie, and he was ordained the following year. Against these proceedings, James Thornton entered a formal protest in writing, and it is possible that his removal from Pelham may have been a sequence of these pro- ceedings. He removed, 1748, to Londonderry, where his son Matthew had been living several years. He d. in Londonderry, Nov. 7, 1754, in his seventieth year.
The traditions of the family, that the wife of James Thornton and the mother of his children was Elizabeth Jenkins, are ancient and well established. In the sale of land in Worcester, Feb. 14, 1740, a wife Ketiran joins in the conveyance, which suggests a second wife. Reference is made to histories of Worcester, Mass., Pelham, Mass., and to a scholarly sketch of " Matthew Thornton, A Patriot of the American Revolution," by Charles Thornton Adams, Esq., of New York, 1903, 62 pp. Of the family of James Thornton, a record is found of eight children. The order of age is not known.
i. JAMES. Lived in Wiscasset, Me., and probably in Bath. In 1783 he was deceased, and his widow Susannah administered on the estate. He had sons John, William, Joshua, and James, the last three being minors above 14 years of age.
ii. ANDREW. Was one of the grantees of Thornton.
2. iii. WILLIAM.
iv. MATTHEW, b. 1714. A physician of Londonderry, and a statesman of New Hampshire; a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and an honored actor in the annals of the State.
v. SAMUEL. Was res. in Pelham, Mass., 1746.
vi. HANNAH, b. 1724. m. William Wallace, b. Feb. 5, 1725/6, son of John and Annis (Barnet) Wallace, of Londonderry. He d. Nov. 16, 1805. She d. August 17, 1814. Among their seven children was Catherine, who m. James Cox, of Holderness.
vii. ESTHIER. m. in Pelham, Mass., Dec. 4, 1746, James Ferguson.
viii. AGNES. m. James D. Wasson.
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THORNTON.
2. WILLIAM THORNTON, son of James 1, was one of the proprietors of Pelham, Mass., where he lived from 1740 to 1744. He was assistant to the committee to survey and allot the township. He removed 1744 to lands now in Palmer, Mass., and in 1748 or 1749 he became the first settler of Dublin. The town with other settle- ments in the vicinity was abandoned from fear of Indian incursions, and he removed to Schenectady, N. Y. He returned to New Hamp- shire in 1773, and was in Londonderry about one year, when he settled in Thornton. He had sons William and Matthew, and other children apparently born 1735 to 1750, and Eleanor, Abraham, Catherine, and Sarah, born probably after 1773. It is certain that he was twice married, but a record is not available. He d. 1791, and his widow Eleanor m. Sept. 22, 1798, Benjamin Stevens. His son Matthew m. Mary Crawford, and lived several years in Thornton. He was a lieutenant and later a captain in 1775 and 1776, but became an alleged Tory, and removed to New Brunswick.
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