USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire > Part 11
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Dr. DAVID SMILEY commenced practice in town as early as 1786, and continued it as long as his strength permitted. He died in extreme old age, Oct 3, 1855, aged 95 years, 5 months. Vide Gen.
Dr. THOMAS H. BLOOD. It is uncertain when he came to town. We know that when Samuel Smith removed to his mills, and occupied his new residence at the end of his large building, Dr. Blood occupied his house at the Corner, Jan. I, 1795. In the proceedings of the town in 1798, the following vote was passed, viz., "Voted to set the meeting-house a little to the east of the house that Thomas H. Blood lives in, when built or moved."
We learn from descendants of Dr. Blood something in rela- tion to his after life. Between 1800 and 1801, he removed to Bolton, and subsequently to Sterling, giving up the profes- sion, and engaging in the hatting business; he also devoted himself to public life, having been a Representative for Ster- ling, and also a State Senator to the Legislature. He also became a brigadier-general in the militia of Massachusetts. He acquired much property by his business, but lost it in 1829 by the great depression in business, and never regained it. He had eight children. One son, Oliver, graduated at
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
Harvard College in 1821 ; studied the medical profession and took his M. D. at same institution, in 1826. Afterwards he devoted himself to dentistry in. Worcester, and died in 1858. Another son, Thomas S., took his medical degree of M. D. at Harvard College in 1838, and is now practising dentistry in Fitchburg, Mass. One of his daughters married Prof. Oliver Stearns, of the Divinity School at Cambridge. She died June, 1871. Dr. Blood died at Worcester, May 15, 1848, aged 73 years, 3 months.
Dr. JOHN MUSSEY came to town in 1798. He never prac- tised much in town, though a regularly educated man. He died Jan. 17, 1831, aged 85 years, 4 months. Vide Gen.
Dr. THOMAS PEABODY is remembered by some of the elderly inhabitants as an intemperate vagabond, who tramped about on foot, with a secret remedy, which he called his " arcanum." It was supposed to be some one of the preparations of anti- mony. With his secret remedy, he dispensed his skill equally to man and beast. He died at Greenfield, Nov. 6, 1822, aged 57 years.
Dr. WILLIS JOHNSON was born in Sturbridge, Mass., Dec. 21, 1786. He first commenced practice in Jaffrey, in 1807, and removed to Peterborough in January, 1808, where he remained till 1814, when he removed to Mason, where he remained the rest of his life. He died in 1859, aged 73 years.
Dr. JOHN STARR came to town in 1808 or 1809. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1804. He remained till 1814, when he removed to Northwood; married Sally Virgin, of Concord; died Sept. 8, 1851, aged 67 years.
Dr. DAVID CARTER removed from Marlboro to town in 1812, and remained till 1820. He spent a few years in prac- tice in Dublin, where he died, January, 1828.
Dr. JABEZ PRIEST commenced practice in town in 1816, and continued in the same till his death. He died of an epidemic dysentery, Aug. 17, 1826, aged 36 years. Vide Gen.
Dr. SAMUEL RICHARDSON came to town in 1820, and was in active practice till he removed to Watertown, Mass., in 1838. Vide Gen.
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PROFESSIONAL HISTORY.
WILLIAM FOLLANSBEE, M. D. He succeeded Dr. Priest in his practice. Received his degree of M. D. at Dartmouth College in 1825. He remained in successful practice till his death, May 30, 1867, aged 66 years. Vide Gen.
RICHARD STEELE, M. D., began practice in 1825 or. '26, but did not succeed, and left town. A. M. and M. D., Dartmouth College. He died at Durham, 1870, aged 73 years.
DANIEL B. CUTTER, M. D., 1835, Yale College. A. M., Dartmouth College. Born in Jaffrey, May 10, 1808; re- moved from Ashby to Peterborough in September, 1837. Is yet in the practice of his profession in town. Vide Gen.
ALBERT SMITH, M. D., graduated at Dartmouth College, 1825. Received from the same the degree of M. D., 1833; of LL. D., 1870. After spending five years in practice in Leo. minster, Mass., he removed to Peterborough in 1837, where he now resides. Vide Gen.
JOHN H. CUTLER, M. D. Born in Rindge, Feb. 16, 1834. Received his M. D. at Burlington College, Vt., in 1861. Prac- tised his profession in Mason Village; was in the army as assistant surgeon in 1864, and removed to Peterborough in the fall of 1865, and has remained here since. Vide Gen.
WILLARD B. CHASE, M. D. Born in Claremont. Received his M. D., Harvard College, 1866; practised for a while in Greenfield, and removed to Peterborough in 1869, where he now resides. Vide Gen.
Dr. GEORGE GREELEY came to town in -, and remained a few years.
The following homoeopathists have been here at various times, viz., Drs. Seavey, Chase, Bradford, and Dodge.
Mary Ann Kimball, M. D., is the homœopathic physician in town at the present time.
Natives and Inhabitants of Peterborough who became Physi- cians and Settled Elsewhere.
REUBEN D. MUSSEY, M. D., LL. D. Professor at Dart- mouth Medical College, and Ohio Medical College.
Dr. FREDERICK A. MITCHELL studied the profession and practised it at various places ; died at Manchester, July 28, 1869, aged 80 years. Vide Gen.
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
Dr. DAVID MITCHELL located himself as a physician at Bradford, where he suddenly died of a heart affection, Jan. 21, 1821, aged 39 years. Vide Gen.
JESSE SMITH, M. D. In Cincinnati, O. Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the Ohio Medical College. Died of cholera, July, 1833, aged 40 years. Vide Gen.
WILLIAM LITTLE, son of Thomas Little, settled in Hills- boro, and was drowned in the Contoocook. Vide Gen.
ROBERT SMITH, son of John Smith. He practised in vari- ous places ; died at Addison, Vt. Vide Gen.
WILLIAM H. PEABODY, M. D. Dartmouth College, in 1826. Settled in Gorham, Me., and died there, March 2, 1843, aged 42 years. Vide Gen.
ALBERT SMITH, M. D. Five years at Leominster, Mass. Vide Gen.
HIRAM J. EDES, M. D. Took his medical degree at the Hampden Sidney College, Va., and first practised in Kansas, and then removed to Cedar Rapids, Ia., where he now resides in the active practice of his profession. Vide Gen.
DAVID YOUNGMAN, M. D., graduated at Dartmouth College in 1839, and also took his medical degree in 1846. He prac- tised ten years in Winchester, Mass., and is now in the practice of his profession in Boston, Mass.
GEORGE H. INGALLS, M. D., settled at Proctorsville, Vt., where he remained till the failure of his health, and died at Peterborough, May 26, 1849, aged 44 years. Vide Gen.
LUKE MILLER, M. D., at Woodstock, Vt., 1843 ; A. B., Nor- wich University in 1841. He is now practising his profes- sion at Lanesboro, Minn. Vide Gen.
JOHN G. PARKER, M. D. at Dartmouth College. A. B. at Norwich University, Vt., in 1847. He practised twelve years at Dublin, and then removed to Warner, where he died, Sept. 12, 1869, aged 51 years. Vide Gen.
E. COOLIDGE RICHARDSON, M. D .; medical degree at Har- vard College in 1842; now resides in Ware, Mass., in the practice of his profession. Vide Gen.
JAMES MORISON, M. D. Graduated Harvard College, 1844. Medical degree in Maryland University in 1846. Resided
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PROFESSIONAL HISTORY.
many years at San Francisco, Cal .; was Professor of Theory and Practice in the Pacific University; now resides in Quincy, Mass., in the practice of his profession.
FREDERICK A. SMITH, M. D. Graduated Dartmouth Col- lege, 1852 ; M. D., 1855. Resided in Leominster, Mass. ; died Dec. 20, 1856, aged 26 years. 18
.
CHAPTER XIII.
MUNICIPAL.
The Record of Town Meetings. - List of Moderators. - Town Clerks. - Selectmen. - Treasurers. - Representatives. - Committee of - Safety.
THE town was incorporated Jan. 17, 1760, and the first meeting called by Hugh Wilson, authorized so to do by the charter, was held at the meeting-house, - the full proceedings of which are given in the fourth chapter.
The meetings of the town after this organization have been held continuously to the present time, of which there is a fair record preserved, with the exception of two meetings, one in 1770, under the clerkship of Deacon Samuel Mitchell, and the other, the presidential meeting in 1840, under the clerk- ship of A. C. Blodgett. The record is marred by only a few other omissions. In two or three instances, the warrant is not recorded, and a number of the clerks have neglected to certify to their record. The other errors are of minor impor- tance ; as bad spelling, a clumsy and obscure wording of the propositions before the meetings, a careless heading of the proceedings on the record, an omission of the date on the pages, and of marginal notices, rendering it often very diffi- cult to consult it as a reference.
The names of all individuals who have held the principal offices in town, from 1760 to 1876, are here recorded, in the various lists which follow.
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MUNICIPAL.
Those who have held offices the longest time are here presented :-
For Selectmen. - Hugh Miller held the office of selectman from 1805 to 1828, twenty-four years successively. Next to him is Thomas Steele, who held this office eighteen years. Asa Evans, Capt. William Wilson, twelve years each. Alex- ander Robbe, 2d, eleven years. Henry Ferguson and Charles Stuart, ten years each.
Town Clerks. - Rufus Forbush, to 1867, held this office twenty-one years. Thomas Steele, nineteen years. John Steele, fourteen years. Samuel Mitchell, thirteen years.
Moderators. - Samuel Smith, seventeen years. Timothy K Ames, fourteen years. Charles Scott, twelve years. .
Treasurers. - James Walker, nine years. Hugh Miller, Henry Steele, Ervin H. Smith, seven years each.
Representatives. - John Smith, twelve years. James Wil- son, Hugh Miller, and Jonathan Smith, nine years each.
List of Moderators of the Annual Meetings from the Incorpora- tion of the Town to the Present Time, with the Years they Respectively Served, Arranged in the Order in which they first Appear upon the Record.
Hugh Wilson, 1760, 61, 62, 63, 64, 72, 73.
John Young, 1765, 66, 68, 69, 83, 84, 85.
Thomas Morison, 1767, 74. Samuel Moore, 1771. William Smith, 1775, 79. Jotham Blanchard, 1776, 77, 78, 80, 81.
Samuel Mitchell, 1782. David Steele, Sen., 1786, 87. Jeremiah Smith, 1788, 90. George Duncan, 1789. Robert Smith, 1791. Henry Ferguson, 1792. .
John Smith, 1793, 97, 98, 99, 1801. Samuel Smith, 1794, 1803, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.
Kendall Osgood, 1795.
David Steele, Jr., 1796, 1802, 4, 6, 8, 11, 17. James Wilson, 1800, 5, 9, 13, 14. Thomas Steele, 1807, 10.
John H. Steele, 1830, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37. Timothy K. Ames, 1833, 34, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 51, 55, 61.
David J. Clark, 1841.
Daniel B. Cutter, 1848, 49, 50.
Edward S. Cutter, 1852, 56, 57, 58. Charles G. Cheney, 1853, 54. Albert S. Scott, 1859, 62, 65.
Charles Scott, 1860, 66, 67, 68, 69,
70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76. Samuel I. Vose, 1863, 64.
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HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
List of Town Clerks from the Incorporation of the Town to the Present Day, in the Order in which they Appear upon the Record.
John Ferguson, 1760, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.
Samuel Mitchell, 1767, 68, 69, 71,
72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80. Matthew Wallace, 1781.
William Smith, 1782.
Samuel Cuningham, 1783, 84, 85, 86.
Thomas Steele, 1787, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 1800, I, 2, 3, 4, 13.
John Steele, 1805, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Daniel Abbot, 1815.
Nathaniel Holmes, Jr., 1821, 22.
Stephen P. Steele, 1823, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
Cyrus Ingalls, 1829, 30, 31, 32.
Rufus Forbush, 1833, 34, 35, 36, 50,
51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.
Moody Davis, 1837, 38.
A. C. Blodgett, 1839, 40.
Samuel Gates, 1841, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49.
Kendall C. Scott, 1867.
Daniel W. Gould, 1868.
Samuel N. Porter, 1869.
Charles A. Ames, 1870.
John H.Steele, 1871, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76.
A List of Selectmen from the Incorporation of the Town to the Present Day, with the Years they Served, Arranged in the Order in which they first Entered their Office.
Hugh Wilson, 1760, 64, 72.
Thomas Morison, 1760, 65, 66, 73, 79.
Jonathan Morison, 1760.
Joseph Caldwell, 1760, 67.
John Swan, Jr., 1760.
John Smith, 1761, 73.
William Mained, 1761.
William Smith, 1761, 67, 69, 71, 72, 73, 77, 78, 82. John Taggart, Jr., 1761, 68. James Robbe, 1761.
Samuel Mitchell, 1762, 66, 77, 78, 80. William Ritchie, 1762. John Morison, 1762.
William Robbe, Jr., 1762, 66, 74, 75, 77, 78, 85,86. John Gregg, 1762, 63, 67. Samuel Moore, 1763, 72.
Hugh Gregg, 1763.
Alexander Robbe, 1763, 69, 71, 72, 83, 84, 85, 86.
Thomas Cuningham, 1763.
Samuel Todd, 1764.
John Cochran, 1764.
John White, 1764, 73.
John White, Jr., 1787.
Henry Ferguson, 1764, 71, 77, 78, 85, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92.
Robert Wilson, 1765, 71.
David Steele, Capt., 1765, 66, 69, 72, 73, 80.
Matthew Wallace, 1765, 80, 81, 82.
John Young, 1765, 66, 68, 74, 84. William Miller, 1767.
John Wiley, 1767. Samuel Gregg, 1768, 71, 80, 82.
Joseph Hammill, 1774.
Thomas Davison, 1774,
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MUNICIPAL.
Robert Morison, 1774. James Templeton, 1775, 76, 83, 84. William McNee, Jr., 1775, 76, 79. Samuel Cuningham, 1 768, 76, 79, 81. Thomas Turner, 1768. William Moore, 1769. James Miller, 1769. James Cuningham, 1775.
Charles Stuart, 1775, 81, 84, 85, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98. Aaron Brown, 1 776. Kelso Gray, 1 776.
Jotham Blanchard, 1777, 78, 79. Jonathan Wheelock, 1779. Robert Holmes, 1780.
Thomas Stuart, 1783, 84. Robert Smith, 1785, 92.
Thomas Steele, 1786, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 1800, 1, 2, 3, 4. Nathaniel Evans, 1786. Israel Taylor, 1786. John Gray, 1787. Nathan Dix, 1 787. George Duncan, 1788, 89.
George Duncan, Jr., 1805, 6, 7, 8, 9. Jeremiah Smith, 1790, 91.
Asa Evans, 1793, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 1800, 1, 2, 3, 4.
Jonathan Smith, 1 799, 1800, 1, 2, 3, 4. Hugh Miller, 1805, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.
John Steele, 1805, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II. John Scott, 1810, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Nathaniel Morison, 1812, 13. Robert White, 1813.
William Wilson, 1814, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28. Nathaniel Moore, 1819, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. Alexander Robbe, 1824, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 43, 44. Timothy Fox, 1827, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33.
Moses Dodge, 1829, 30, 31. Samuel Holmes, 1829, 30. George W. Senter, 1832, 33. Timothy K. Ames, 1834, 35, 36, 37, 42, 46, 47, 49, 52. Isaac Edes, 1835, 36, 37, 38. William Scott, 1836, 37, 38, 42. John Smith, 1838, 39, 40.
William M. White, 1839, 40.
John Todd, Jr., 1839, 40, 41. Samuel Miller, 1841, 50, 51.
Samuel Adams, 1841, 59, 60.
Ezra Peavey, 1842.
Archelaus Cragin, 1843, 44, 45, 53, 54.
Abiel Peavey, 1843, 44, 45.
James G. White, 1845, 46.
John H. Steele, 1846.
James Scott, 1847, 48, 50, 56, 57, 65. Isaac Hadley, 1847, 48, 49, 51, 52, 61, 62, 63.
Robert Fulton, 1848.
Josiah S. Morison, 1849, 50.
Edwin Steele, 1851. William B. Kimball, 1852, 53.
Eri Spaulding, 1853, 54, 55.
Amzi Childs, 1854, 55.
Diocletian Melvin, 1855.
Thomas Little, 1856, 64, 65.
Samuel R. Miller, 1859, 60.
Asa Davis, 1856, 57, 58, 66, 67, 68.
Albert Frost, 1857, 58, 59.
William R. Heywood, 1858.
Charles H. Brooks, 1860, 61, 62, 63, 73, 75, 76 ..
Eli S. Hunt, 1861, 62, 63, 64.
Franklin Field, 1864, 65, 66.
John M. Collins, 1866, 67. Samuel I. Vose, 1867, 68, 69.
Mortier L. Morrison, 1868, 69, 70. Charles Barber, 1869, 70, 71.
John Q. Adams, 1870, 71, 72, 74, 75. E. W. McIntosh, 1871, 72, 73. John Cragin, 1872, 73, 74. Augustus Fuller, 1874, 75, 76. William Moore, 1876.
142
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
List of the Town Treasurers from the Incorporation of the Town to the Present Day, in the Order in which they Appear upon the Record.
William Smith, 1774, 75, 77. Matthew Templeton, 1776.
William Alld, 1783, 84.
Robert Wilson, 1785, 86, 87, 88.
Thomas Steele, 1799.
Hugh Miller, 1821, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
James Walker, 1828, 29, 30, 31, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47.
Cyrus Ingalls, 1832.
Riley Goodridge, 1833, 34, 35.
William Moore, 1837, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42.
Stephen P. Steele, 1848. ,
Henry Steele, 1849, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56.
John Kinsley, 1855.
S. Hudson Caldwell, 1857, 58, 59, 60, 61, 66.
Kendall C. Scott, 1862, 63, 64.
Charles H. Brooks, 1865.
Ervin H. Smith, 1867, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72. Ezra M. Smith, 1873.
Samuel N. Porter, 1874, 75, 76.
List of Representatives from the Incorporation of the Town to the Present Time, in the Order in which they Appear upon the Record.
Samuel Cuningham, April 25, 1775, to 3d Provincial Congress at Ex- eter.
William Smith, May 17, 1775, to 4th Provincial Congress at Ex- eter.
Samuel Moore, Dec. 21, 1775, to 5th Provincial Congress at Ex- eter.
Matthew Wallace, 1784.
Samuel Cuningham, 1 786.
Nathan Dix, 1787.
Jeremiah Smith, 1788, 89, 90.
John Smith, 1791, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 1800, I, 2.
James Wilson, 1803, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14.
Jonathan Smith, 1809, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. John Steele, 1810, II. Hugh Miller, 1815, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 31, 32. John H. Steele, 1829.
James Walker, 1833, 34, 44. Alexander Robbe, 1835, 36, 43, 44. John Todd, 1837, 38, 39. William Moore, 1838, 39, 40.
Timothy K. Ames, 1840, 41. Stephen P. Steele, 1841, 42.
William Follansbee, 1842, 43.
Luke Miller, 1845, 46.
Josiah S. Morrison, 1845, 48.
Norton Hunt, 1847.
Samuel Adams, 1847.
A. P. Morrison, 1848, 62, 63.
Daniel McClenning, 1849, 50.
James Scott, 1849, 50.
Samuel Miller, 1851, 52.
Daniel B. Cutter, 1852.
Isaac Hadley, 1853.
Person C. Cheney, 1853, 54. Asa Davis, 1854. Albert Smith, 1855.
Albert S. Scott, 1855, 57, 66, 67.
Samuel Edes, 1857, 58. Asa F. Gowing, 1858, 59.
143
MUNICIPAL.
John Smith, 1859, 60. Andrew A. Farnsworth, 1860, 61. Cornelius V. Dearborn, 1861, 62. Granville P. Felt, 1863, 64. Elijah M. Tubbs, 1864, 65. Nathaniel H. Moore, 1865, 66. John Wilder, 1867, 68. Riley B. Hatch, 1868, 69.
Charles Wilder, 1869, 70. George Dustan, 1870, 71. Ezra M. Smith, 1871, 72. Daniel W. Gould, 1872, 73. Joseph Farnum, 1873, 74. Levi Cross, 1874, 75. Franklin Field, 1875, 76. Charles Scott, 1876.
Committees of Safety for the Years 1775, 76, 77, 78, 79, as they Appear upon the Record.
1775.
Aaron Brown, Henry Ferguson, Kelso Gray, Alexander Robbe, William McNee.
,
1776.
William Robbe, David Steele, Jotham Blanchard, Samuel Mitchell, Robert Wilson.
1777. John White, Jonathan Wheelock, Robert Gray.
1778.
David Steele, Thomas Davison, Matthew Wallace, Matthew Templeton.
1779.
James Templeton, Samuel Gregg, James Cuningham, Charles Stuart, John White.
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CHAPTER XIV.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
No Records of the Military. - Efficient Military Training. - French and Indian Wars. - American Revolution. - Association Test. - Men who Served in the Revolution. - At Battle of Bunker Hill. - War of 1812. - The Late Rebellion. - Men in Service. - Soldiers' Monu- ment.
IT will be impossible to collect any information of the vari- ous military organizations that have existed in town; and any attempts must result in only a fragmentary record, with little that would be of interest to any one. From the frequency of military titles in the town records-and our fathers were particular in bestowing them,- we suppose the men thus recognized by their titles were among the best citizens, and were the leading men in the town. Military companies ex- isted quite early - anterior to the Revolution, - and the men who bore military titles were numerous. At one time the street road divided the town as to the military, and all those on the east side of it constituted the East Company, and those on the west, the West Company. This arrangement was sustained for many years. There was also a flourishing com- pany of artillery, established about 1804, first commanded by the late Hon. James Wilson, which was well sustained for many years, till removed to Lyndeboro; and, still earlier, a company of cavalry existed here, or in the immediate vicinity, but when or how it flourished, and when it became extinct, we do not know, - probably before the present century came in.
145
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
Any attempts to investigate the early history of the various military companies that have existed in town, from time to time, would, in their results, be so unsatisfactory and meagre as to be of little or no value. The citizens of Peterborough participated largely in all the service of the field in times of war. They had a military training at home, and frequent experiences in the French and Indian wars, that made them ready and efficient soldiers at once. In the use of fire-arms they were always skilled ; it was common to find a musket in every house, and those who could use them adroitly, either in securing wild game, or in protecting themselves against the incursions of the Indians, were numerous.
The French and Indian wars were a heavy drag upon all the infant and frontier settlements of New Hampshire. We shall see how readily and freely, at the call of the mother government, * they aided in the protection of their extensive frontier, by their services, their property, and their lives. We regret that there are so few data now existing by which we can do proper justice to these heroic men. We can only rely on the account given of them in a sketch of Peterborough, by Rev. Elijah Dunbar, in 1822, ¡ and manuscript notes in 1833 or '34, by Hon. Samuel Smith, ¿ any other means of informa- tion being entirely unknown to us.
The following list of soldiers was furnished in the war of 1755 : viz., James Turner, brother of Thomas Turner, Samuel Wallace, William Swan, son of old John Swan. Of these, James Turner died in camp at Crown Point, 1760. In 1756 Thomas Cuningham and Samuel Cuningham. The former, who was a lieutenant, died of small-pox.
In 1757, Charles McCoy, John Stuart, son of William Stuart, David Wallace, son of Maj. Wallace, Wm. Wilson, brother of Maj. Robert Wilson, Robert McNee, son of old Dea. McNee, John Dinsmore, John Kelley, brought up by
* Holmes' American Annals de French War, 1758, and a call for three hundred men from N. H. 2d vol., p. 225.
. t Topographical and Historical Account of Peterborough, by Rev. Elijah Dunbar. Historical Collections.
$ Manuscript Notes, by Hon. Samuel Smith, made in 1833 or '34.
19
146
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
Rev. Mr. Harvey. All the above, being enlisted in Rodgers' Company of Rangers, were killed in one unfortunate moment, having fallen into an Indian ambuscade, March 13, 1758, near Lake George; while Samuel Cuningham and Alexander Robbe, being of this brave but unfortunate band, and in the same fight, escaped.
In 1758, Wm. Scott, Jeremiah Swan, Samuel Stinson, Alexander Scott. Of these, Jeremiah Swan died in camp.
In 1759, Robert Wilson, Daniel Allat, John Taggart, Wm. Scott, George McLeod.
In 1760, Samuel Gregg, John Taggart, Samuel Cuningham, William Cuningham, Moore Stinson, Henry Ferguson, John Swan, William Scott, Solomon Turner, John McCollom, John Turner, John Hogg, David Scott. Of these, John Turner and John McCollom died somewhere on the lake, and John Hogg and David Scott, son of Alexander Scott, both took the small-pox in returning, and died at home.
The whole number enlisted from Peterborough during the war was thirty-two, and fourteen were lost in this war, a great number from a settlement so small and weak. It must have been seriously felt, and been a heavy damper upon the prog- ress of the town.
AMERICAN REVOLUTION. - The American Revolution came as the great event of the early settlers, although they had had various experiences in the French and Indian wars. We are surprised that they were not appalled by such imminent danger as they incurred by their bold and defiant course, and sometimes think' that they did not realize what they were doing, or what mighty consequences might flow from their conduct. But they were intelligent men ; they had weighed the whole matter in their minds; they were not rushing impulsively and rashly upon a great danger ; they were ready, as their declaration in the Association Test avers, to meet the enemy with force of arms, and give their lives and their all, if need be, to the cause. They knew their prowess, too ; they had had much experience in the French and Indian wars, and they were accustomed to the use of fire-arms, which
147
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
they all possessed, and which were much used in the early settlements in securing wild game as a part of their support ; so that they were already soldiers in skill in the use of fire- arms, in hardihood and courage, and in everything but the military drill. When the trial came, the town was truly patriotic and loyal to the principles of freedom. They never flinched or paled in the hour of peril, when the alternative seemed to be either ease and safety, by not engaging in the movement of the times, or, by action, the risk of all they had, their wealth, honor, and lives in an uncertain conflict.
When the Association Test, or virtual Declaration of Inde- pendence, was sent to the various towns in the State, by the General Committee of Safety, eighty-three persons in town, out of a population of only a little over five hundred, signed it. It probably embraced every efficient man in town, capa- ble of bearing arms. Not a single Tory was ever known. Our ancestors not only professed to be willing to risk everything for the cause, but they really did so; and during the war of the Revolution no town could be more patriotic in furnishing men and supplies to the army than Peterborough. So many went to the war, that it is a wonder to us how the out-door work at home was carried on. The noble women of that day kept all home-matters right and prosperous in their absence. They were hale and hearty, and could, if necessity required it, work as effectually out of doors as within. Their hearts were in the enterprise, as much as those of the men, and their hands and efforts were little less effectual in the ultimate success of the war.
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