USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire > Part 34
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Blanche M., b. Feb. 16, 1871.
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THE CHENEY FAMILY.
MOSES CHENEY was b. in Thornton, Jan. 31, 1793, and was the son of Elias Cheney, b. in Newbury, Mass., April 18, 1768, and Sarah Burbank, his w., born in New- bury, Mass., Nov. 22, 1766. He m. Abigail Morison, b. March 25, 1796. He was a paper manufacturer at Hol- derness, from which place he removed to Peterborough in 1835 to engage in the same business with his brother in-law, A. P. Morrison, of this place. He remained in town ten years, when he returned to Holderness, or Ash- land, severed from that town, and spent the rest of his life there. He was a good and highly respected man, and held many important offices in the town in which he lived. He died while on a visit at Lebanon, July 17, 1875, æ. 82 yrs., 5 mos.
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OREN B. CHENEY.
tOren B., b. Dec. 10, 1816 ; m., Ist w., Caroline Adelia Rundlett ; 2d w., Nancy St. Clair Perkins.
Esther M., b. Sept. 27, 1819 ; m. John M. Merrill, Hol- derness ; d. -
Sarah B., b. March 30, 1821 ; m. S. G. Abbot ; r. Need- ham, Mass.
Moses, fr., b. June 28, 1822 ; m. -; r. Henniker.
Abigail M., b. Dec. 21, 1823 ; m. George Washburn ; r. Ashland.
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+ Charles G., b. July 8, 1826 ; m. Sarah E. Smith, of Holderness.
t Person Colby, b. Feb. 25, 1828 ; m., Ist w., Anna Moore ; 2d w., Sarah W. Keith.
Ruth E., b. May 28, 1830 ; m. Joseph W. Lord ; r. Wol- laston, Mass.
+ Elias H., b. Jan. 28, 1832 ; m. Susan W. Youngman.
Marcia A., b. Sept. 26, 1834 ; m. I. P. F. Smith ; r. Mere- dith.
Harriet O., b. in Peterborough, Feb. 27, 1838 ; m. Dr. C. F. Bonney ; r. Manchester.
All the above born in Holderness, now Ashland, but the last.
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OREN B. CHENEY, D.D., was b. Dec. 10, 1816, in Hol- derness, now Ashland. He was prepared for college at New Hampton, and entered Brown University in 1835, but took up his connections and entered Dartmouth Col- lege in the spring of 1836, and graduated in 1839. Dur- ing his college course he kept schools every winter, and in one of them he had an experience that may have been serviceable to him in all his after life. A certain impor- tant man in the district did not approve of prayers in school, and was determined that he should not offer them, and he, being disinclined to acquiesce in such a demand to discontinue the exercise, the district were summoned to decide the matter ; but they could not be made subservient to this man's view, and he went on, nothing awed or intimidated, to the close of his school as he had begun. He learned a lesson of perseverance, self-reliance, and self-control from this circumstance that has, no doubt, had much to do in making him the great educator and efficient man he is at the present time.
After graduation he was engaged in teaching in acad- emies some two or three years in various places, and commenced preaching in 1842. He had two pastorates ; he was six years at Lebanon, Me., and five at Augusta. He started a movement for a Free Baptist School in 1854. It was located at Lewiston, Me., and existed until 1863 as a seminary. In 1863 it became "Bates College,"
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OREN B. CHENEY.
now in a flourishing condition, with 125 students. Mr. Cheney has been president of the institution from the beginning. The college has a campus of 50 acres, -- three large buildings and president's house ; total value of college property about $300,000, and also a fund of $100,000, and an effort is now making to add $200,000, of which $150,000 has been already subscribed. Con- nected with the college is a theological department, and there is also near by a preparatory school. The college is named after Benjamin E. Bates, of Boston, who has subscribed $200,000.
Mr. Cheney received the degree of D.D. from the Wesleyan University in 1863.
He m., Ist w., in 1840, Caroline Adelia Rundlett, dau. of James and Betsey Rundlett, of Stratham. She died in June, 1846. He m., 2d w., August, 1847, Nancy St. Clair Perkins, dau. of Rev. Thomas and Rebecca Per- kins, of New Hampton ; Ist w., one ch .; 2d w., two ch.
Horace Rundlett, b. Oct. 29, 1844. Graduated Bowdoin College, Me., 1863. Studied law at Harvard Law School ; is now settled in the practice of law in Bos- ton, and for the past three years has been Assistant District Attorney of Suffolk Co.
Caroline A., b. July 30, 1848 ; m. Charles H. Swan, of Providence, R. I.
Emeline R., b. Jan. 23, 1850 ; m. J. Frank Boothby, of Lewiston, Me.
CHARLES GILMAN CHENEY came to Peterborough with his parents while young, - was fitted for college, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1848. He studied law in the office of Nesmith & Pike, of Franklin, and commenced the practice of his profession in town in 1851, but on account of ill health was obliged to relin- quish it, and accepted the office of the first cashier of the Peterborough Bank, in 1854. He held this office till the spring of 1862, when, his health failing entirely, he was obliged to resign. By a severe rheumatic affection he lost the use of his lower limbs for some three or four years before his death, and was in constant suffering for the last years of his life. His life opened with the promise of great usefulness and honor, which was blighted by ill health from his first beginning to the end. He was a man of sterling integrity, of manly and honor- able attainments, and of kindly affections, and his loss was deeply deplored by the community. He m., Oct. 25, 1851, Sarah E. Smith, dau. of Obadiah Smith, of Hol-
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lingd by A. H.Ritchie
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PERSON COLBY CHENEY.
derness. He d. at Hillsborough Bridge, Nov. 13, 1862, æ. 36 yrs., 4 mos.
Albert P., b. Feb. 2, 1853 ; d. March 8, 1862, æ. 9 yrs.
PERSON COLBY CHENEY (Gov.) was seven years of age when his father removed to Peterborough, to engage in the paper-making business, in company with his brother- in-law, A. P. Morrison. He was here trained to paper- making in all its modern forms, devoting all his early life to it, aside from the time spent in his education. He commenced business in the west part of the town, erected the paper-mill now owned by John J. Barker, and carried on the paper manufacture successfully until he removed to Manchester in 1866, to engage in the paper and stock business, where he now resides. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and was appointed quartermaster of the 13th Reg. of N. H. Vols., August, 1862, and was honor- ably discharged August, 1863, on account of a severe sickness, which assumed a chronic and dangerous form that threatened life ; but after a long and tedious illness, he finally and fully recovered his health. He repre- sented Peterborough in the legislature in 1853, '54; was elected Railroad Commissioner in 1864 for three years ; elected Mayor of Manchester for 1872, which office he held but one year, being obliged, on account of the urgency of his business, peremptorily to decline a reëlec- tion, which was earnestly proffered to him. Mr. Che- ney's removal from Peterborough was a source of sincere regret to his many friends, and a great loss to the com- munity. He at once became popular at Manchester by his honest and upright business relations, by his kind and unselfish manner, and his sincerity and integrity of character.
Though denied, by the circumstances of his early life, the highest mental culture, yet it is supplemented to him with a far-seeing sagacity, and a common-sense applica- tion of his powers that render him an exceedingly use- ful man in society, and particularly to his political party, over which he exercises such an extensive control. He possesses, in all the relations of life, the very soul of honor. He can never do too much for his friends ; he cherishes no resentments against any one, - no vindic- tive feeling against his enemies, if he has any, or his political opponents.
His judgments of men and things are almost always singularly correct and just, and he is considered a safe adviser in any exigency of business or of party. Though unhackneyed in political life, and unwilling to yield his
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PERSON COLBY CHENEY.
time and services to public office, to the great injury of his private business, yet his uncommon qualifications pointed him as perhaps the only man who could be suc -. cessful against the great odds in the election of March, 1875. An uncommon unanimity in the party induced him to yield to the public call to be considered a candi- date for Governor of the State. The result of the elec- tion was a surprise to every one, -a triumphant and confident party was defeated, and he was almost elected by the popular vote. His election was consummated by the legislature in June, 1875. Gov. Cheney was a candi- date again for Governor in the March election of 1876, and was triumphantly elected by over 3,000 majority, and is the Governor of New Hampshire during this Centen- nial year. He m., Ist w., May 22, 1850, S. Anna Moore, dau. of S. Morison Moore. She d. Jan. 7, 1858, æ. 27 yrs. ; m., 2d w., Mrs. Sarah W. Keith, dau. of Jonathan White, Esq., of Hanover, Ill., June 29, 1859.
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Agnes Annie, b. Manchester, Oct. 22, 1869.
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ELIAS H. CHENEY m. Susan W. Youngman, of Peter- borough, b. April 11, 1831. He was fitted for college at New Hampton and Exeter Academy. Having become a printer by trade, he purchased the Peterborough Tran- script in 1853, and published it two years. In 1855, he removed to Concord, and took charge of the New Hamp- shire Phoenix, and subsequently purchased, in 1861, the Granite State Free Press, published at Lebanon, and has published that paper since. He represented the town of Lebanon in the legislature in 1867, '68.
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Fred. W., b. Peterborough, May 19, 1853. Harry M., b. Newport, March 8, 1860. Susie Y., b. Lebanon, Dec. 23, 1863 ; d. Jan. 28, 1864, æ. I mo., 5 dys. Helen Gray, b. Lebanon, Nov. 5, 1865.
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THE CHILDS FAMILY.
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AMZI CHILDS, son of Henry and Matilda Billings Childs, of Deerfield, Mass., was b. Nov. 1, 1817. His father was the descendant of persons of that name that first came to Deerfield one hundred and sixty years ago. He lived and died there. Amzi Childs received his edu- cation at the common schools and at the academy in Deerfield. His early life was spent on the farm. He removed to Peterborough in 1841, and carried on, for thirteen years, the manufacture of lead pipe, the first
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HENRY FRANCIS COGSWELL.
manufactory of the kind in this region. He then com- menced the manufacture of baskets in 1854, having purchased the large building erected by Moses Chap- man for a wheelwright shop-which he rebuilt and remodelled for this purpose, -and has continued the same business on an extensive scale to the present time. His wares are sold and known all through the New England States. He lives on Pine Street, in a house built by himself in 1849, situated a few rods south, and on the same side of the road, of the house of M. L. Morison and James Scott. Selectman, 1854, '55 ; m. Jan. 28, 1846, Sarah D. Manahan, of Francestown. She d. March 24, 1856, æ. 36 yrs. ; m., 2d w., July 7, 1859, Margaret A. Brenan of Francestown. One ch., Ist w.
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Henry, b. Sept. 21, 1849.
THE CLARK FAMILY ..
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SAMUEL CLARK, son of Samuel and Rebecca Miller Clark, dau. of Samuel Miller of Peterborough, residents of Sharon, was b. Dec. 13, 1793; m. Lucy McCoy, May 14, 1829, dau. of William and Lucy Ryan McCoy, born in Sharon, Sept. 25, 1798. They removed to Peter- borough March 4, 1834, and occupied the Jerry Chap- man place in south part of town, his farm lying on the town-line brook. He d. Dec. 4, 1851, æ. 57 yrs., II mos. She d. Oct. 26,. 1861, æ. 63 yrs.
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Lucia A., b. in Sharon, May 6, 1830 ; m., 1851, Kendall C. Scott. Sarah E., b. in Sharon, July 4, 1832 ; m., April 12, 1860, Sampson Washburn.
Albert S., b. Sept. 1, 1834 ; m., April 4, 1867, Ellen E. Taggart, dau. of Phineas Taggart, of Sharon.
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Abbie f., b. Aug. 4, 1839 ; d. Oct. 7, 1861, æ. 22 yrs.
THE COGSWELL FAMILY.
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HENRY FRANCIS COGSWELL, son of William and Abi- gail Dowes Cogswell, was b. in Marlborough, Mass., May 3, 1796; m. Rebecca P. Hosmer, dau. of Cyrus and Polly Hosmer, of Concord, Mass., Sept. 14, 1818, b. in Concord, Nov. 28, 1797. He is a woollen manufact- urer, having served his apprenticeship of four years at the business in Concord, Mass. During this time he had a short service in the war of 1812. He says: "I spent three months in the war in 1814, at South Boston, in the company of light infantry, which consisted of
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HENRY FRANCIS COGSWELL.
fifty men ; and I am the only man living out of the fifty, - rather extraordinary, as I always had a feeble body!" He purchased the woollen-mill and clothier's-shop of Calvin Chamberlain, in 1817, built and operated by Perkins and Chamberlain for wool-carding and cloth- dressing, and removed to Peterborough and commenced business the same year. He manufactured satinets, cassimeres, and roller-cloth. While owned by him, the mill was destroyed by fire, with a loss of $3,571 in 1823, and promptly rebuilt in 1824. In 1831 this mill was remodelled with new machinery and the power looms. He remained in the woollen business till 1845, when he sold his factory and other property to Joseph Noone, and that same year removed to Buffalo, N. Y., where he now resides. He was very successful in business, and before he retired had acquired a large estate.
Martha R., b. May 26, 1820 ; d. June 23, 1836, æ. 16 yrs. Caroline H., b. May 26, 1823 ; m. Ethan H. Howard ; r. Buffalo, N. Y.
William Henry, b. June 10, 1826 ; d. Hudson, Mich., March 28, 1858, æ. 31 yrs., 9 mos.
Albert Smith, b. Nov. 23, 1827 ; d. at Buffalo, Sept. 13, 1848, æ. 20 yrs., 9 mos.
George W., b. July 1, 1830 ; d. Le Roy, N. Y., April 22, 1854, æ. 23 yrs., 9 mos. Graduated H. C. 1849.
Eliza, b. Feb. 17, 1832 ; d. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1855, æ. 22 yrs., Io mos.
Sarah, b. Feb. 10, 1834 ; m. Joshua O. Whitcomb, June 2, 1852 ; r. New York.
THE CONVERSE FAMILY.
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SAMUEL CONVERSE came to town from Cambridge, Mass., about 1833. A blacksmith by trade. He still resides in town, having given up his trade. He m. Eliz- abeth, dau. of Samuel and Betsey Stuart Turner, Sept. 1, 1835.
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Emma, b. April 14, 1837 ; m. Timothy M. Longley. Sarah Jane, b. Oct. 26, 1840 ; m. S. P. Longley. Abby, b. May 27, 1841 ; drowned April 27, 1843, æ. 2 yrs.
THE CRAGIN FAMILY.
FRANCIS and ARCHELAUS CRAGIN were the sons of Capt. Francis and Sarah Cummings Cragin, of Temple, both of which parents were b. in Temple, and d. there ; he d. Jan. 18, 1852, æ. 79 yrs .; she d. March, 1867, æ. 93 yrs.
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JULIA M. CRAGIN.
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FRANCIS CRAGIN, Jr., was b. in Temple, Aug. 15, 1796 ; died in Peterborough, Nov. 23, 1866, æ. '70 yrs. Hem., Ist w., Alice Mckean, June, 16, 1824; b. in Wind- ham, Aug. 28, 1796 ; d. Sept. 17, 1825, æ. 29 yrs. He m., 2d w., Hannah Boynton, b. in Temple, June 17, 1804 ; d. March 1I, 1872, æ. 68 yrs. He came to Peter- borough in 1832, and worked in the north cotton factory many years in the repair shop. He was a carpenter.
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William M., b. Aug. 21, 1825 ; m. Emily L. Wilson, of Gilsum, March 29, 1860 ; she was b. Sept. 26, 1839 ; d. July 30, 1860, æ. 21 yrs., c .; 2d w., Emeline L. Wil- son, May 26, 1862.
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Francis, Fr., b. Jan. 24, 1831 ; m. Eliza R. Baldwin, Oct. 24, 1854, of Greenfield, b. Oct. 6, 1831 ; d. July, 1872, æ. 41 yrs .; ch., Emma Florence.
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Alice Fane, b. Aug. 17, 1834, ; m. John H. Vose, Jan. I, 1857.
Hannah M., b. Oct. 28, 1836 ; m. Samuel W. Vose, May 6, 1869.
Samuel O., b. March 30, 1840 ; m. Jan. 1, 1870, Mary H. Ricker, of Great Falls ; b. Dec. 9, 1843 ; r. Law- rence, Mass .; one ch., Charles S., b. Aug. 25, 1871.
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ARCHELAUS CRAGIN, b. in Temple, April 28, 1798 ; m., Ist w., Martha Horsely, b. in Temple, Nov. 14, 1800 ; d. March 31, 1852, æ. 52 yrs. He m., 2d w., Barbara Maxwell, Oct. 27, 1853 ; b. in Pictou, N. S., June 1, 1822 ; d. - -, 1874, æ. 52 yrs. A carpenter by trade. Lived in south-west part of town, on Eli Upton, or old Robert Smith, place. Ist w., five ch. ; 2d w., four ch.
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Eveline, b. Jan. 31, 1824 ; m. Joshua Dean, Sept. II, 1857 ; he was b. in Easton, Mass., March 25, 1820 ; r. Bridgewater, Mass. ; ch., (1) Martha F., b. June 25, 1852 ; d. Sept. 14, 1853, æ. 1 yr .; (2) Clarrie, b. Aug. 26, 1855 ; d. July 29, 1863, æ. 8 yrs .; (3) Jennie E., b. July 14, 1861 ; (4) Carrie E., b. Feb. II, 1865.
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t George, b. Dec. 2, 1825 ; m. Sarah Miles.
Martha A., b. Sept. 20, 1829 ; d. Jan. 7, 1845, æ. 15 yrs. t Fohn, b. Nov. 2, 1831 ; m. Maria S. Ober.
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Sarah, b. Dec. 19, 1833 ; m. Nelson Washburn, Nov. 20, 1855 ; c .; d. 1875.
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Charles T., b. Aug. 13, 1854.
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Edward, b. March 8, 1857 ; d. Jan. 2, 1862, æ. 4 yrs., 9 mos. William N., b. Nov. 22, 1858. Julia M., b. April 5, 1866 ; d. Aug. 13, 1869, æ. 3 yrs., 4 mos.
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GEORGE CRAGIN.
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GEORGE CRAGIN m. Sarah Miles, Nov. 7, 1851 ; b. in Salem, Mass., June 6, 1832.
Sarah Ella, b. Nov. 13, 1862.
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JOHN CRAGIN occupies the Thomas Upton farm. He m. Maria S. Ober, dau. of Hezekiah and Prudence Poor Ober, Dec. 16, 1858. Selectman in 1873, '4.
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Lizzie Maria, b. Jan. 21, 1863.
THE CRAM FAMILY.
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NATHAN CRAM, son of Nathan Cram, of Lyndeboro, m. Elizabeth White, dau. of John White, of Peterborough. He removed to Belfast, Me. He was drowned in 1815, and his wife returned to Peterborough, and subsequently married Michael McCrillis, and d. Feb. 9, 1858, æ. 77 yrs. He was b. 1780, and d. Oct. 23, 1815, æ. 35 yrs.
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Almira, b. Belfast, Me., June 2, 1806 ; m. Rufus For- bush ; r. Peterborough.
Hannah M., b. Belfast, Me., July 4, 1808 ; m. Bowdoin McCrillis ; r. Clarendon, N. Y. Sarah E., b. Belfast, Me., Oct. 20, 1810 ; m. William Stanley ; r. Winchendon, Mass.
Elizabeth R., b. Belfast, Me., Feb. 28, 1812 ; d. Oct. 9, 1835, æ. 23 yrs.
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JOSEPH CRAM was a brother of the above, b. March 26, 1791 ; m. Sally White, dau. John White, July 4, 1817. He first settled in Belfast, Me. Returned first to Han- cock, and then to Peterborough. She d. Aug. 19, 1864, æ 73 yrs., 10 mos. He d. at Brattleboro, Vt., Nov. 30, 1874, æ. 83 yrs., 8 mos.
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Elizabeth, b. Belfast, March 15, 1822 ; unm. ; r. Brattle- boro, Vt.
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Hannah Fane, b. Waldo, Me., April 20, 1825 ; m. Oct. 27, 1847, B. N. Chamberlain, Brattleboro, Vt. ; one ch. living, Herbert B., b. Newport, Aug. 15, 1849. John W., b. Waldo, Me., July 5, 1830 ; d. March 12, 1840, æ. 9 yrs.
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Harriet H., b. Antrim, Feb. 25, 1833 ; m. John P. Lis- com ; r. Brattleboro.
THE CRANE FAMILY.
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HENRY CRANE was b. Milton, Mass., Feb. 22, 1758, and moved from Newton to Peterborough in 1795. He was a
THOMAS CUNINGHAM.
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paper-maker, and probably came to town to work in Sam- uel Smith's new mill, just then put in operation. He m., 1785, Elizabeth Thompson, dau. Dea. Robert Thomp- son, who d. July 10, 1808, æ. 84 yrs. They removed to Franklin late in life, and died there. He d. Aug. 3, 1829, æ. 71 yrs., 5 mos ; she d. Aug. 2, 1835, æ. -.
Edith S., b. Oct. 2, 1786 ; m. William Bent ; d. June 12, 1866 ; r. Enfield, Conn.
Betsey T., b. Jan. 1, 1788 ; m. Moses Hayden ; r. Ohio. Patience, b. March 20, 1789 ; m., Ist hus., Wm. Bailey ; 2d hus., Jonathan Marsh. She d. Aug. 13, 1850, æ. 61 yrs., 4 mos.
Henry, b. March 2, 1791 ; m. Catharine Richards ; d. April 30, 1852, æ. 61 yrs. ; r. Dorchester, Mass.
Charles, b. Newton, November, 1792 ; m. Betsey Buss, September, 1817 ; ch., (1) Ariana B., b. Milton, July 25, 1819 ; d. Peterborough, July 8, 1836, æ. 16 yrs., II mos. ; (2) Augusta B., b. Dec. 14, 1821 ; m. Prof. Ephraim Knight, A.M., of New London, April 20, 1847 ; ch., Sherbert, b. Jan. I, and d. Jan. 27, 1850, æ. 27 dys. ; Carl Ephraim, b. May 6, 1851 ; William M., b: May 20, 1855 ; Mabel Adele, b. April 17, 1859 ; d. July 25, 1871, æ. 12 yrs., 2 mos. ; (3) Charles T., b. March 28, 1823 ; m. Oct. 10, 1850, Jerusha Johnson ; ch., Flora M., Julia Buss, George F., Allen O. Charles d. at Milton, May 18, 1824, æ. 31 yrs.
Robert T., b. in Newton, - , 1794 ; m. Miriam San- born, of Franklin ; had nine children. He d. March 20, 1845, æ. 51 yrs.
Isaac, b. in Peterborough, May 20, 1796 ; m. Louis Greenleaf, of Salisbury ; five ch. He d. Nov. 7, 1857, æ. 61 yrs., 5 mos.
Jeremiah S., b. June 4, 1798 ; a blacksmith ; went South and has never been heard of.
Sally Fane, b. June 17, 1800 ; unm. ; d. in Dorchester, Feb. 4, 1862, æ. 61 yrs., 7 mos.
Children born before the family removed to Peterbor- ough, and who never lived in town :-
THE CUNINGHAM FAMILY.
The history of this important family among the early settlers of Peterborough, must necessarily be very im- perfect, as but few materials for this purpose are to be found in any quarter. We suppose they emigrated from the north of Ireland, and were of Scotch-Irish descent.
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THOMAS CUNINGHAM, the name always spelt by the early settlers with one n, as here spelt, came to Peter-
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THOMAS CUNINGHAM.
borough about -- from Townsend, Mass. He was b. in 1706, and had two wives. Elizabeth, the Ist w., was b. 1706, and d. in Townsend, May 17, 1748, æ. 42 yrs. The 2d w., Elizabeth Creighton, came to Peterborough, and d. April 22, 1805, æ. 99 yrs. We are uncertain when he first came to town. He lived near the Dea. John Field place, just north, on the same side of the street road. He d. Sept. 23, 1790, æ. 84 yrs.
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Dohn, b. -; re. to Maine.
William, -; re. to Maine.
t James, b. 1744 ; m. Mary Nay.
¡Samuel, b. July, 1739 ; m. Susan M. Carter, of Hollis. Elizabeth, b. -; m. Alexander Robbe.
Mary, b. -; m., Ist hus., James McKean ; 2d hus., Samuel Treadwell.
Moses, b. 1751 ; m. Elizabeth Miller ; he d. Oct. 25, 1822, æ. 7 1 yrs.
Thomas, b. -; re. to Maine.
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JAMES CUNINGHAM lived in the east part of the town, directly west of the Cuningham. Pond, on the place afterwards occupied by his son James. We do not know the precise time when he first occupied this farm, proba- bly not far from 1770, though he had lived in town some years previous. He m. Mary Nay, dau. of Dea. William and Mary Ecles Brownlee McNee. He d. Oct. 29, 1826, æ. 82 yrs. She d. Jan. 31, 1811, æ. 66 yrs.
Not a single inhabitant of this name and race now remains in town, and only a few descendants. The name was formerly spelled Kinacum, and, thus pronounced, was in common use in our early days. It is a name that occurs often in the early records of the town. Thomas Cuningham, the father, was selectman in 1763, and tith- ingman in 1764; but his son James was much more employed in the town affairs. He was selectman in 1775, tithingman 1774, '80, '83, and one of the Com- mittee of Safety 1779.
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Sarah, b. Dec. 11, 1771 ; m. Paul Hale.
Thomas, b. Oct. 26, 1773; m. Susan Cuningham, dau. Samuel Cuningham.
William, b. May 18, 1775 ; m. Susan Carter, Northport, Me.
t Fames, b. April 27, 1777 ; m., Ist w., Hannah Porter ; 2d w., Sarah M. Cuningham.
Samuel, b. June 22, 1779 ; m. Dorothy Bachelder ; r. Maine. Elizabeth, b. May 2, 1783 ; m.Thomas F. Goodhue, June
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MARY CUNINGHAM.
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2, 1808; ch., (1) Elizabeth ; (2) Thomas ; (3) Jane ; (4) Charles.
Robert, b. Nov. 2, 1785 ; m. ; re. to Canada. John, b. -.
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SAMUEL CUNINGHAM (Capt.) was the most distinguished of this family. It is related, in a note in* Mr. Dunbar's sketch of Peterborough, that Thomas Cuningham (son of Old Mose, so called) and Samuel Cuningham were out in the French war in 1756, when he was only seven- teen years old, and that in Rodgers' fight, March 13, 1758, he and Alexander Robbe only escaped, while seven men from Peterborough were slain. He was a stern patriot in the times of the Revolution, and served his country faithfully ; but just how long or much we are unable to say. We have no means of accurately tracing his military career. He was among those who volunteered on the alarm of the Lexington battle, April 19, 1775. He was a captain in the Revolutionary service, and was with the army in Rhode Island in 1778. He was a lieutenant in a company raised in Peterborough and New Ipswich to resist the progress of Burgoyne, and joined the army at Bennington, Vt. When the company in their course had fallen into an ambuscade of the tories, Cuningham's coolness saved it.t "With the voice of a lion he called out to one of the officers to bring up a body of five hun- dred men to flank the enemy ; at which the tories fled, leaving behind them all their baggage and plunder, and an open and unmolested road to the main army. In this encounter, Hon. Jeremiah Smith, then a private, and several others were wounded." He held many offices in town ; was selectman in 1768, '76, '79, '81 ; town clerk 1783, '84, '85,' '86 ; and representative to the legislature in 1786. He m. Susan Carter, of Hollis, in 1774. He lived on the place afterwards occupied by Capt. Robert Swan, in the east part of the town. Late in life he re. to Belfast, Me., and d. there. He d. Feb- ruary, 1828, æ. 89 yrs. She d. October, 1842, æ. 86 yrs., b. June 27, 1756.
Susanna, b. April 1, 1778 ; m. Thomas Cuningham ; d. Belfast, Me .; seven ch.
Thomas, b. Feb. 10, 1780 ; m. Charlotte Elwell ; d. Bel- fast, Me .; five ch. Mary, b. Feb. 6, 1782 ; m. Samuel Jackson ; d. Belfast, Me .; four ch.
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