USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
For the Kilburns, Abner Mack, and Stephen Griswold, of the original Grantees ; and Ebenezer Bill, Ebenezer Dewey, Medad Thornton, and Eleazer Wileox, named in the proprietors' records, see the following chapters.
SAMUEL GILBERT was of Hebron, Conn. He was a Captain, and probably served as such in the French and Indian war. At the time of his death he is called Colonel. He also held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was a land speculator on a large scale, and was one of the leaders in securing the grant of Newton, now Alstead. Though at one time the owner of a large part of Gilsum, no evidence has been found that he ever came to see it. He died in 1786, and his heirs were Samuel, Thomas, Elizabeth wife of Rev. Clement Sumner, John 2d, Sylves- ter, and Gardner.
JONATHAN SMITH was of Bolton, Conn., and was associated with Samuel Gilbert in the pur- chase of the township. (Page 21.) He settled about 1764, in what is now Surry, on the farm at present occupied by Frank Carpenter, and was among the petitioners for a new town. In 1776 he was on a committee to join with Alstead and Marlow to petition the Legislature for " a full and free election or representation of each of the individual towns above-mentioned." He also represented these three towns in the Legislature of 1779-80. He died October 4, 1786, in the 71st year of his age, and his heirs were THOMAS ; ICHABOD m. Lydia dau. of Obadiah Wilcox of Gilsum ; JONATHAN m. Huldah dau. of Peter Hayward, served in the Revolution, was Colonel in the militia, represented Gilsum and Surry in the Constitutional Convention of 1788, removed to Rockingham, Vt., where he died leaving no children ; Samuel ; Patience, wife of Moses D. Field ; Experience, wife of Abia Crane ; Sarah, wife of Nathan Hayward ; and Susanna, wife of Abner Skinner ; all of whom settled in Surry about the same time with their father.
THOMAS SUMNER was of Hebron, Conn., and is not known to have come to Gilsum. He was associated with Capt. Gilbert in other land enterprises, and was one of the leading grantees of Lyme. In the records, he is styled Lieutenant.
DANIEL DART was of Bolton, Conn., where he died before 1777. His dau. Lucy m. Joseph Spencer. Three of his sons settled in Surry : - NATHANIEL who came about 1765 and sold his residence, 2nd Lot 3rd Range, to Thomas Harvey in 1777 ; ELIPHALET who came about the same time and was Deaeon in the Congregational Church in Surry for many years, and has left many descendants called Dort ; and JOSHUA, who came about 1770, and after a little more than ten- years removed to Weathersfield, Vt. Nathaniel and Eliphalet signed the petition for a new townl.
In November, 1763, JOSEPH WELLS, SAMUEL GILBERT, JR., JAMES COX, WILLIAM COX, EDMUND WELLS, NATHAN ROWLEE, ABNER BROWN, ABNER WATERS, ROGER DEWEY, JOHN SKINNER, STEPHEN
172
GILSUM.
HORTON, ABIJAH ROWLEE, LEVI POST, THOMAS BROWN, and JONATHAN BROWN, all of Hebron, Conn., sold their shares, " for and in consideration of the Love and Good will we Bear nnto Samuel Gilbert, and other Valuable Species in hand." The name of THOMAS WELLS appears in the deed, but he did not sign it. He is probably the same who settled in Keene and sold his share in Gilsum to John Starling. The name is Wills on the charter. Stephen Horton is doubtless the same as Stephen Houghton. Which is the true name remains doubtful. This whole transaction appears to have been "a put-up job." Capt. Gilbert probably hired these fifteen men, for a sum so small he was ashamed to put it into the deed, to allow their names to be used in getting the Charter, and then transfer their rights to him.
CLEMENT SUMNER was the son of Thomas Sumner, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Gilbert. He graduated at Yale College, 1758, was ordained and installed pastor of the First Church in Keene, June 11, 1761, where he remained eleven years. He was first Clerk of the Proprietors of Gilsum. His wife was a woman of marked peculiarities. On one occasion, either an ecclesiastical Council or other gathering of ministers, she entertained her guests with bean porridge. On being reminded that such provision was somewhat discourteous, she said it was " better than they deserved." The reply was made that it was indeed better than they deserved at the hands of the Lord, but not at her hands. Clement A. Sumner was their son, and in the later records represented his father's right among the proprietors.
SAMUEL PHELPS was of Lyme, Conn., and sold his right to Thomas Harvey of the same place in 1766.
JAMES NOBLE was of Pittsfield, Mass., and sold his right in 1767, to Simeon Dunham of Hebron, Conn., for £30.
WILLIAM SUMNER was a physician, and settled in Claremont before 1773.
BENJAMIN GRAVES was of East Haddam, Conn., and sold his right for £26 to Woolston Brockway in 1767.
Jonathan Mack died at Lyme, Conn., before November, 1774. He m. Aug. 24, 1727, Sarah Bennett, and had Joseph, Jonathan, Love d. inf., John, Elizabeth, Josiah, Samuel, Sarah, Abijah, Love, and " Lidia."
Joseph Mack b. Lyme, Conn., July 22, 1728, was associated with Capt. Gilbert in the purchase of Gilsum, (page 21.) and it is remarkable that his name does not appear on the charter. In the " Ranging Table " he drew No. 36, which is assigned to Abner Brown on the back of the charter. He was at Lyme, Conn., in 1766, but in 1769 is called of Gilsum, at which time he bought the 2d Lot, 6th Range in what is now Surry. His daughter Betty was born there, Sept. 16, 1770. In 1772, he sold to Abel Allen and removed to Alstead where he died about 1792. The inventory of his estate is dated Feb. 10, 1792. His " home farm " was bounded on Surry line. The name of his first wife was Lois, and of his second, Lydia. The children mentioned in the settlement of his estate were Nathan, Dorothy, Mary wife of John Slade, Jr., Reuel, and Lois wife of Joseph Razor. He was the first Collector and one of the Selectmen appointed by the Proprietors in 1762.
Jonathan Mack, Jr., b. Lyme, Conn., July 1, 1730, is found in the Ranging Table in place of Abijah Rowlce, and probably sold his share to Capt. Gilbert before 1763.
JOHN MACK b. Lyme, Conn., Jan. 13, 1737, also sold his right to Capt. Gilbert about 1763.
JOSIAH MACK b. Lyme, Conn., July 25, 1740 or 1741, gave his right in Gilsum to his son-in- law John Marvin in 1766. He owned another share which he sold to his brother Joseph in 1771.
ABIJAH MACK b. Lyme, Conn., Sept. 3, 1746, sold all his right to lands in Gilsum, inherited from his father, to his brother Josiah in 1774, for £20. In the deed he calls himself " Clerk."
173
PROPRIETORS.
EZRA LOOMIS was of Bolton, Conn., perhaps the son of Serg't Thomas Loomis, and born about 1723. He sold a part of his right to Joseph Spencer in 1766.
JONATHAN WRIGHT was of East Windsor, Conn., and sold his right to Samuel Church of East Haddam, Conn., in 1768.
DURAN WADE was of Lymc, Conn., where he married Jan. 3, 1743, Phebe Ransom. Their children were Anna, Phebe, Thomas, and John. He settled in Surry before 1770, and in 1773, sold his place to Dr. Gideon Tiffany of Keene, and removed to Walpolc.
JOSIAH BLODGETT was of Windsor, Conn., and sold his right to Job Gleason in 1767. Hc signs his name Bloggit.
ABEL ALLEN was born Windsor, Conn., Ang. 14, 1733 O. S. In November, 1762, he was still at Windsor, and bought of Josiah Kilburn " One Right in Boyle," which included the 6th Lot in the 5th Range of fifty-acre Lots west of the mountain, where he probably settled the next year. It is the place now occupied by the widow Abbot and formerly known as the " Humphrey Tavern." He married in 1756, Elizabeth, daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Pease) Chapin of Enfield, Conn., by whom he had nine children. He died in Surry Nov. 13, 1820. and she in 1808. The family has been not only very numerous but of high standing and influence. Judge Wm. H. H. Allen of Claremont is his great-grandson. Abel Allen's name appears in the petition for the new town of Surry, and at the first town meeting in 1769, he was chosen Tithing Man. Capt. Samuel Allen, who afterwards appears among the Proprietors, was his son, was born at Surry in 1766, and was the last Clerk of the Proprietors.
" RUBEN " SUMNER was probably son of Lieut. Thomas Sumner who sold Reuben's right in 1770, to Samucl Wadsworth of Keene.
JOSEPH SPENCER of East Haddam, Conn., was a weaver by trade, and married Lucy the daughter of Daniel Dart. He settled in Surry in 1770, and removed to Charlestown about 1776-7. He was one of the first Selectmen appointed by the Proprictors. His children were Erastus, Luther, Elijah, Joseph, Jerusha, and one more.
THOMAS PITKIN, (frequently called Jr.,) was of Bolton, Conn. He was Moderator of Pro- prietor's' Meetings in 1762-3, but probably never settled in New Hampshire. He sold part of his right to Jonathan Smith in 1763, and the rest to John Boynton of East Windsor, Conn., in 1771. This Boynton was probably tlie ancestor of the Sullivan family of that name.
BENJAMIN SUMNER was of Hebron, Conn., in 1767, and removed to Claremont about that time. He sold his right to Stephen Griswold and others.
SAMUEL BANNING was of Hartland, Con., and, in April, 1765, sold his share to Medad Thornton for £30.
JOSEPH LOTHROP was of Springfield, Mass., and sold his right for £40 to William Cumstock or Comstock of Lyme, Conn., Jan. 5, 1769. His wife's name was Elizabeth.
ICHABOD FISHER settled in Keene, where his name appears on the alarm list of 1773. He sold his right to Samuel Gilbert.
JONATHAN LEVET probably settled in Walpole, as the name is found there before 1765.
ELIPHALET YOUNG was of Hebron, Conn., and sold his share in 1770, to Stephen Taylor of Coventry, Conn., who soon after removed to Tyringham, Mass., and sold to Giles Crandall of Tolland, Conn. Ichabod and Joseph Young (Chap. 34,) may have been his sons.
JOHN STERLING, (frequently written Starling,) was of Lyme, Conn., where he died before 1769. He was probably son of Capt. Daniel and Mary (Ely) Starling, and born Oct. 28, 1704. At the first meeting of the Proprietors in 1762, he was chosen First Selectman.
174
GILSUM.
DAVID TAYLOR was of Bolton, Conn., and gave part of his right to his nephew David Fuller. (Chap. 33.)
EBENEZER WHITE was from Westfield, Mass., and settled in Swanzey before 1779. He was also one of the original proprietors of Marlow. He presented the Congregational Church in Gilsum, with a pewter basin for baptismal service, which is now in possession of the writer. (Genealogy.)
JOHN HOOKER was of Northampton, Mass., and sold his right to Woolston Brockway in 1761.
SAMUEL LORD was of Lyme, Conn., and sold part of his share to Jonathan Adams in 1766. In one place he is called Samuel B. Lord.
SETH HALL was of Hebron, Conn., and sold liis share in 1770, to John Rowe of the same place. He probably did not settle here. The name is found in Keene in 1778, but at Hebron, Conn., again in 1786, and may not refer to the same man.
Richard Hays (written also Hayes, Haze, or Haizc,) was of Lymc, Conn., and m. Ap. 24, 1735, Patience Mack. Their children were the following : -
Silas ; SETH b. Lyme, Conn., Dec. 26, 1737, was chosen Selectman by the proprietors in 1762, but probably never settled herc, as he was of East Haddam, Conn., in February, 1764, when he sold his share to William Markham of the same place; Richard b. Lyme, Conn., June 30, 1740, appears in the " Ranging Table " in place of Eliphalet Dart ; John ; Catherine ; Titus ; Philemon b. Lyme, Conn., Feb. 26, 1748, settled in Surry ; and Joseph.
LEMUEL WYLY [Willey ] was of East Haddam, Conn., and sold his right to Allen Willey of the same place in 1769.
Allen Willey is afterwards called of Chatham, Conn. He was one of the proprietors of Lempster, and served as their Clerk. He settled in what is now Goshen before 1773. His wife Mary died Aug. 9, 1804.
ABNER SKINNER from Bolton, Conn., was son-in-law to Jonathan Smith, and settled in Surry about 1764. John Skinner (page 25,) was probably his brother.
THEODORE ATKINSON was the Colonial Secretary, and followed the example of the Governor in claiming a share in the Townships granted, as one of the perquisites of his office. THEODORE ATKINSON, JR., and NATHANIEL BARRELL were doubtless inserted in the same way. The lots drawn by Theodore Atkinson were the 7th and 8th in the 12th Range, and the south half of the 8th in the 11th Range. Theodore Atkinson, Jr., had the 6th and 7th and the north half of the 5th in the 12th Range. Nathaniel Barrell had the 7th and 8th in the 10th Range, and the north half of the 8th in the 11th Range. (Map page 24.)
Joseph Burt found in the " Ranging Table " in place of James Cox, settled in Westmorc- land. He was a prominent opposer of Vermont in the contention between that State and New Hampshire, and was a delegate from ten towns in Cheshire County, including Gilsum, "to wait upon the Committee of Safety " in reference to the same. He was also a Captain in the Revo- lution, and represented Westmoreland in the New Hampshire Assembly for three years.
Benjamin " Maan " [Mann] was of Hardwick, Mass., in 1763. In the " Ranging Table " he drew No. 34, which is not assigned on the back of the charter. He may have been the same person who commanded a Company at Bunker Hill and was one of the most prominent of the early settlers of Mason.
Joseph " Wille " found in the " Ranging Table " in place of Joseph Beakit was probably the son of Joseph and Lucretia (Holmes) Willey of East Haddam, Conn., where he was b. March 22, 1734. He deeded his sliare, " in consideration of ye Love Efection & good will I bare " to
175
PROPRIETORS.
his son Barnabas, July 4, 1768. Barnabas and his wife "Marcy " settled in Surry before 1767, and removed to Walpole abont 1775, when he sold the 2-Lots in the 1st and 2nd Ranges with buildings to Thomas Harvey.
Woolston Brockway was of Lyme, Conn., and settled in Surry about 1763, on the place now oeeupied by Joshua D. Blake. His first wife was Anna or Mary Brook of New London, Conn. At the time of his death his wife's name was Esther. His will was dated July 8, 1789, and proved Oet. 29 following. His children as therein mentioned were John, Rufus, William, Wool- ston, Bridget Hudson, Sarah Doolittle (then deceased,) Parnal Beckwith, Jane Gates, Jerusha Whitney, Phebe Chaffe, Esther Meriam, Mehetabel, and a grandehild Anna Alger. The inven- tory of his estate was £265-16-4. He represented Surry in the Vermont Legislature at Windsor in 1781. At the time of his death, he had 87 living deseendants.
The following additional names are mentioned in the Proprietors' records, and there were doubtless others who bought or inherited shares, whose names are not found here :-
William Comstoek of Lyme, Conn., bought the right of Joseph Lothrop and settled in 1769 on the farm now oceupied by Alonzo Farrar in Sullivan. (Genealogy.)
John Dimmoek was from Ashford, Conn., and settled on the hill near the Cannon place in Sullivan, about 1766. He owned a large amount of land which he divided to his children. Timothy Dimmoek, his son, lived with him, and was Seleetman in 1786.
Joshua Fuller was from Bolton, Conn., and settled in Surry in 1764-5. His wife was sister to David Taylor. Capt. David Fuller was their son. Another son, Joshua, Jr., was killed at the battle of Bennington. Lieut. Levi Fuller was another son, who lived on his father's place in Surry, now occupied by George K. Harvey, Esq.
Job Gleason first appears on a Committee to lay out land in 1764. He bought a share of Josiah Blodgett. In 1765 the County road from Keene is said to run between " Mr. Fuller and Mr. Gleason," and another road was laid out " Running North Between Job Gleason & Mr. Willcoxes."
Samuel Hall is found among the proprietors in 1766, and signed the petition for dividing the town in 1768. He probably settled in " Westmoreland Leg." The same name is prominent in Keene Annals, but is probably that of another man.
Thomas Harvey was of Lyme, Conn., and settled in Surry about 1766, on the farm now oeeu- pied by Edward H. Joslyn. He was the aneestor of the well-known family of that name in Surry. He served the town as Seleetman and was a Captain in the militia. He was a Lieutenant in Capt. Reuben Alexander's Company at Ticonderoga in 1777. Asahel Harvey was his son, was Town Clerk of Surry for many years, and was otherwise prominent in town affairs.
Lemuel Holmes lived both in Keene and Surry. He was Proprietors' Clerk for many years, and was one of the most prominent men of those times. He had a Captain's commission from Gen. Washington in the Revolution, and was taken by the British and held prisoner at New York for a long time. He was on the Committee of the Walpole Convention concerning the Vermont troubles, and represented Gilsum with Surry and Sullivan six years in the New Hamp- shire Legislature. He was also Justice of the Peace, and Judge of the County Court. His farm was at the foot of Bald Hill, and is still known as the " Holmes place."
Lieut. Calvin Locke was son of Lient. James Loeke who came from Ashby, Mass., and settled in Sullivan about 1784, on the farm afterwards occupied by Dea. Charles P. Loeke late of Marl- boro'.
John Marvin was born at Lyine, Conn., Jan. 30, 1727, and settled near the northwest corner
176
GILSUM.
of Surry about 1766, where he died Dee. 24, 1792. He was among the petitioners for a new town, and was Moderator of the proprietors in 1768.
Samuel MeCurdy was from Antrim County, Ireland, and settled in Surry about 1772. He kept tavern for many years on the place now ocenpied by Edmund Woodward. His descendants are numerous. (Sec Mark and Dart in Genealogy.)
Benjamin Olcott or Alcott was from East Haddam, Conn., and settled on the 4th Lot, 9th Range in what is now Sullivan, 1767-8. He was a cooper by trade, and in 1772, sold out to Capt. Gilbert, and removed to Swanzey.
Peter Olcott was of Bolton, Conn., and sold to Benoni Olcott of East Windsor, Conn., in 1772. Benoni sold to Thomas Wheelock of Alstead in 1790.
Samuel Wadsworth who owned the land marked S. W. on the map, (page 24,) was a black- smith and settled just below the railroad in Keene. He was one of the Tories taken by Capt. Mack in 1779. (Page 160.)
Obadiah Wilcox was from Guilford, Conn., and settled about 1764, on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Hollis Wilcox of Surry. He was for many years Proprietors' Clerk, and Town Clerk of Surry.
CHAPTER XXXI.
PROFESSIONAL AND LITERARY.
THIS list cannot be made complete. Whatever material has come to hand, is inserted here.
I have been somewhat surprised to find only three natives of Gilsum, who have graduated from College : - Aaron Day, Jr., Silvanus Hayward, and Harvey Woodward. There have been others, brought up here and identified with Gilsum history who have graduated, and others more distinguished who have not been graduates, but these three, so far as known, are the only gradu- ates born here. Another, Myron W. Adams, is now in his Junior year in Dartmouth College, and bids fair to graduate with high honor.
CLERGYMEN.
JOSIAH KILBURN, JR., graduated at Dartmouth College 1778, received the degree of A. M. in course, studied divinity, and was ordained and installed pastor of the Congregational Church at Chesterfield, Mass., Nov. 9, 1780. The following spring he married Temperance Dewey, the daughter of his nearest neighbor in Gilsum. While on a visit at his father's the next September, he died at the age of 28.
DAVID KILBURN was among those whose carcer has been an honor to his native town. The following sketch of his public life is condensed from " Zion's Herald."
In 1801, through the instrumentality of Rev. John Gove, he was converted, and received to the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1805, he was licensed to preach, and after three years' labor as a local preacher, was received into the New England Conference. He was first stationed
1
Doved Killorn
The Heliotune Printing Ca 211 Tremont Se Rastan
177
PROFESSIONAL AND LITERARY.
at Union, Me., in 1808, was afterwards appointed to Readfield, Me. ; Stanstead, Canada ; Barnard and White River, Weathersfield and Barre, Vt. In 1815, he was made Presiding Elder of the N. H. Distriet. He was afterwards stationed at Needham, and Boston, Mass. ; Portland, Me .; and Danville and Barre, Vt. From 1825 to 1829, he was Presiding Elder on Portland District, Maine Conference, and the year following, on Springfield Distriet, N. E. Conference. He was next stationed at Providence, R. I., then at Lowell, Lynn Common, Bridgewater and Northwest Bridgewater, Mass. He was then Presiding Elder on Providence Distriet for three years, and the next four years on Boston Distriet. He was next stationed at Waltham, Barre, Ashburn- ham, South Royalston, and Dudley, Mass. In 1851, he took a superannuated relation, but in 1852-3, was again able to be at work on Enfield Station. In 1854, he was made supernumerary ; in 1856, was stationed at Southampton, Mass. ; in 1858, supernumerary ; and in 1859, took again the superannuated relation. He then moved to Keene, and continued to preach and labor in that vieinity as long as his health permitted. It was at this time he supplied the M. E. Church in Gilsum.
Few men have traveled more New England roads or formed acquaintance with more people than he. Inherit- ing a strong constitution and large physical frame, and being early accustomed to hardships, he was eminently qualified for the immense labor he performed. He possessed a sound judgment, clear understanding, strong will, and a great degree of conscientiousness, so that in all matters of truth and duty, he was earnest and decided. His sermons were argumentative, systematic, in language well-chosen, and delivered with a pathos that made the truth attractive and searching. In his earlier days, especially, he had great power in the pulpit. His administrative abilities were of a high order. He was born for a leader. His prudent foresight, his comprehensive views, his knowledge of men, his almost intuitive perception of character, his urbanity of manners, his elevated Christian character, all raised him to a high social and official position in the church.
Iu 1812, he married Lovisa Perkins of Barnard, Vt., who lived with him nearly 52 years, proving a devoted " helpmeet " in all his labors. She was a woman of saintly piety, - truly " a mother in Israel."
After her death in 1864, Mr. Kilburn having no children, removed to the residence of his nephew, Merrill I. Kilburn, at Hartford, Vt., where he died. His closing life was in keeping with that of his greater activity. His last appearance in public was at a meeting near by his home, about three weeks before his death. Sitting in his chair, extremely pale and feeble, he addressed the people, for about twenty minutes, in words of remarkable eloquence, causing the deepest sensation among those who listened as if to his dying utterances. The Sabbath evening before he died, he raised himself in bed, and in an extremely weak but clear voice united with the family in prayer, commending each separately to the Divine care and protection. This was his last vocal prayer.
He was buried beside his wife in the new Cemetery at Keene, where his monument bears the following words:
" Rev. David Kilburn was for 60 years an eminent, faithful, and successful minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for 57 years a beloved and houored member of the New England Conference. He finished his course with joy, and the Ministry he received of the Lord Jesus. His dying message was 'Tell my brethren that I greatly love the doctrine, discipline and membership of the church of my early choice.'"
SAMUEL CHAPMAN LOVELAND was one of the most distinguished of the natives of Gilsum. In his youth " he was a simple, honest boy, and everybody loved him." His early opportunities for education were very limited, and in his " search for knowledge " he was beset with difficulties unknown to the youth of the present day. His zeal and perseveranee, however, triumphed over all obstacles. He had a special aptitude for the study of language, and eagerly embraced every opportunity for gratifying this taste. Through the preaching of the noted Elhanan Winehester his parents had aeeepted the doctrine of Universal Salvation. Early imbibing these views, he was impressed with the duty of devoting himself to their propagation in the work of the ministry.
To this end he first desired to be able to study the original Scriptures. His near neighbor, Silvanus Hayward, who had been three years a member of Dartmouth College, had a few Latin and Greek books, among them "part of an old Latin Bible, which he procured, and with a grammar and dictionary plodded through several chapters. He then commenced the Greek, with old Schrevelius, and a grammar, and tumbling back and forth in search of roots of words, changes, syncopations, and constructions of sentences, he was able, generally, to read out a whole verse in the space of half a day. Words that he could not trace were carefully noted down for further develop-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.