USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 2 > Part 41
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The Concord Monitor in commenting upon his executive career said, in an editorial review of his administration : "The suc- cesses of Governor Smith's term have been most brilliant and the governor's frequent appearance at public functions as the re- presentative of the state has been characterized by a dignity of presence befitting his high place and by a moderation and strength of utterance fully in keeping with the traditions of the common- wealth. Governor Smith receives the congratulations of the people upon the unqualified success of his administrative labors and retires from the office to become one of the foremost citizens of the state."
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Besides belonging to many of the clubs in his town and else- where, Governor Smith was a Mason of the thirty-second degree and popular in the lodge room or in business circles.
Above all he found the highest source of satisfaction in his spacious home on School Street, one of the finest residences in the state. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Jennie Knowles of Manchester, who d. many years ago. He m. second, Nov. I, 1883, Emma Elizabeth, dau. of Stephen and Sarah (Millis) Lavender, b. Feb. 20, 1858, in Boston, Mass. A descen- dant of the ancient Lavender family of Kent County, England, Mrs. Smith is a woman of education, culture and high social con- nections, making the successes and honors which fell to the lot of her husband doubly attractive. He d. Aug. 10, 1914.
VII. CHILDREN, ALL BY SECOND MARRIAGE.
1. Butler Lavender, b. March 4, 1886 ; d. April 4, 1888, in St. Augustine, Fla.
2. Archibald, b. February 1, 1889. (See)
3. Norman Butler, b. May 8, 1892; engaged in real estate business; m. November 1, 1913, Dorothy H., dau. of Solon G. and Josephine E. (Holmes) Warren, b. February 8, 1890.
VIII. CHILD.
1. Jane, b. September 8, 1914.
LIEUT. ARCHIBALD LAVENDAR, was b. Feb. 1, 1889, and educated in Hillsborough's public schools. He was fitted for col- lege at the Noble and Greenough preparatory school, Boston, and graduated from Harvard University, A. B., class of 1911. He was a member of the Pi-Eta society and engaged in real estate business in Boston, which he continued until the declaration of war by this country against Germany, when he enlisted in the Quartermaster's Department, U. S. A., Aug. 7, 1917, attached to 30Ist Co. Motor Supply Train 401. He was sent overseas November, 1917, and died suddenly of heart affection, Aug. 21, 1918, at Tours, France, the day after he had successfully passed a physical examination and gone to Tours to receive his commis- sion as Lieutenant. This commission was forwarded to his family following his untimely decease. His body was interred in France,
LIEUT. ARCHIBALD L. SMITH
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SMITH.
and in 1920 the remains were brought to this country and placed in the Smith mausoleum in Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester, with appropriate ceremony, Sept. 25, 1920, the Gleason Young Post American Legion of Hillsborough doing escort duty.
At memorial services held in Smith Memorial Church in Lieutenant Smith's memory, his life-long friend, Rev. Edward D. Towle, said in his address most fittingly in summing up his charac- ter: "The innate refinement of Lieutenant Smith kept him from the coarser things, but pure democracy, for which he died, was always something by which he had always lived. Concerning the part he played in this critical period of the world's life, a soldier in France wrote,-'He is doing a wonderful work and doing it well.' * * * He had much to give and he gave it all, for he had learned that service to humanity crowned with love to God is the sum total of life's meaning."
Lieutenant Smith married Nov. 1, 1916, Madeleine, dau. of Bert J. and Edith B. (Warren) Fellows of Manchester, who sur- vives him.
VIII. CHILD.
1. John Butler, b. August 2, 1918.
SAMUEL, b. in Haverhill, Mass., May 1, 1696, m. Abigail Emerson, who lived to be 103 years, 3 months, and 5 days. They had at least twelve children, though the records of Haverhill gives the name of only one, Samuel, Jr., who m. Hannah -
III. CHILDREN, ALL BORN IN HAVERHILL.
1. Timothy, b. August 24, 1731; d. October 3, 1735.
2. Sarah, b. January 25, 1733 ; d. January 14, 1757.
3. Samuel, b. January 15, 1734; d. October 3, 1735.
4. Samuel, b. June 28, 1736 ; d. January 14, 1757.
5. Nathaniel, b. May 17, 1738.
6. Joseph, b. January 22, 1740.
7. Hannah, b. March 31, 1742.
8. Emerson, b. January 30, 1744.
9. Daniel, b. December 24, 1745; m. Ruhama Cutter of Haverhill; d. November 30, 1836.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
IV. CHILDREN, BORN AT MILFORD, N. H.
1. Daniel, Jr., b. March 14, 1770; d. in 1790.
2. Hannah, b. March 22, 1772 ; m. - Hadley of Lyndeborough ; d. October 31, 1869.
3. Ezekiel, b. June 19, 1774 ; m. - Read, of Hollis; d. March 17, 1860.
4. Amey, b. February 2, 1776; m. - Blanchard, of Lyndebor- ough ; d. February 25, 1868.
5. John B., b. June 1, 1779 ; m. Mary Conn, of Harvard, Mass .; d. August 12, 1819.
6. Keziah, b. February 15, 1781; m. - Peabody, of Milford; d. March 7, 1856.
7. Samuel, b. September 23, 1783; m. Betsy Conn, b. September 29, 1783; came to this town about 1808, and settled upon a farm half a mile west of the Upper Village; afterwards sold to his brother-in-law, William Conn, and rem. to Washington; res. several years on the Turnpike, and then ret. to H. to Live on the John Bradford place, where he d. February 22, 1879 ; his wife d. August 8, 1856.
V. CHILDREN.
1. Daniel, b. in Milford, August 11, 1808; was a baby when his parents came to H .; he was a "New Bedford Whaler" during his early manhood, and was on the Pacific coast several years ; finally settled in H. upon the "Dea. James Howe Farm," and lived on other places in town; was Supt. of Town Farm awhile; m. February 3, 1841, Harriet, dau. of Joshua and Sarah (Colbath) Rines ; d. January 11, 1884; he d. March 19, 1901.
VI. CHILDREN.
1. Sarah E., b. April 28, 1841 ; d. October 27, 1857.
2. Rodney, b. October 3, 1843 ; m. April 20, 1871, Maria C., dau. of Reed Page and Sarah Elizabeth (Dodge) Whittemore, of Antrim; he res. in Antrim on the "Whittemore Farm" until 1880, when he came to H., and lived near the foundry. Was Selectman in 1885, '86, '95, '98, '99; wife d. August 6, 1887.
VII. CHILDREN.
1. Albert G., b. September 21, 1873, in Antrim; d. May 17, 1879.
2. Mabel E., b. June 26, 1876, in Antrim; d. May 22, 1879 ..
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SMITH.
3. Ida J., b. May 22, 1880; a teacher.
3. Charles, b. December 16, 1844.
4. Albert, b. October 13, 1847; d. at Holyoke, Mass., De- cember 7, 1872.
5. Alvin, b. August 5, 1849.
. Emma J., b. March 22, 1851; m. January 19, 1875, Albert M. Poor, b. February 12, 1847, of Antrim.
7. Willard L., b. September 29, 1855; d. December 29, 1855.
8. William L. (twin), b. September 29, 1855; d. at Gard- ner, Mass., November 26, 1890.
9. Clark D., b. October 2, 1857; d. March 8, 1865.
2. Martha J., b. April 13, 1810; m. in 1831, Silas Blanchard, of Washington; d. December 30, 1863.
3. Mary A., b. December 3, 1811; d. September 5, 1813.
4. Adelaide, b. July 5, 1814; m. - Hutchinson; d. June 11, 1856.
5. William, b. June 10, 1817.
6. John, b. August 28, 1820.
7. Rodney, b. April 19, 1822.
8. Eliza, b. August 14, 1827; d. May 9, 1847.
8. Nancy, b. in March, 1785 ; m. Timothy Gray, of Wilton ; d. April 19, 1866.
9. Mary, b. August 22, 1789 ; m. John Rolins, Mont Vernon; d. in 1826.
10. Susan, b. July 11, 1792 ; m. Oliver Wright, of Milford; d. March 3, 1875.
10. John, b. February 13, 1747.
11. Page, b. February 28, 1750.
12. Susannah, b. June 13, 1752.
BENJAMIN, s. of Ebenezer (Benjamin, Francis, John, Fran- cis) Smith, was b. in South Reading, now Wakefield, Mass., in 1764, and m. Betsy Sherman of the same town, in 1785. Fran- cis Smith, his earliest ancestor named, was b. in England and came to this country with his s. John, probably in 1635, as he was made a "freeman" in Watertown, Mass., in 1637, from whence he rem. to Reading, later to South Reading. Benjamin, the subject of this sketch, rem. to H. about 1790, and settled on the "Pike Farm," 4 acres having heen cleared by Thomas Murdough. His wife d. in Aug., 1847 ; he d. Jan. 5, 1854.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
VII. CHILDREN.
1. Benjamin, Jr., b. in South Reading, July 4, 1785 ; m. Alice Atkins ; res. in Washington, this state, where he d. in 1850. (See Ben- jamin, 3rd.)
2. Betsy, b. in South Reading, November 20, 1786; m. Charles Pool, of Reading, Mass .; d. at Washington, in May, 1870.
3. Elias, b. December 26, 1792; m. October 12, 1817, Tamma, dau. of David and Sally (Tilton) Livermore, b. February 17, 1794. He was a blacksmith and had a smithy where the school house in Division 8 stands. Later he relinquished his trade and bought the "Stow Farm," where he d. His wife d. September 10, 1875.
VIII. CHILDREN.
1. Frederic J., b. April 25, 1829 ; m. first, December 25, 1857, Mrs. Mary J. Templeton, dau. of Joseph and Ruth (Huse) Nichols. She d. May 29, 1870, aged 46 years, and he m. second, November 20, 1870, Susan, dau. of William and Phebe (Curtis) Mellen, b. in Walden, Vt., July 12, 1826. He succeeded to the homestead, and shortly after the death of his first wife rem. to the Upper Village, where he res. until his decease, October 9, 1892. His second wife d. March 20, 1911.
IX. CHILDREN, BY FIRST MARRIAGE.
1. Alice I., b. December 8, 1863; m. April 21, 1885, Albert J. Burnham. (See)
2. Annie J., b. January 14, 1866 ; m. October 13, 1889, Eugene J. Trow, who settled at the Upper Village.
2. Sarah Caroline, b. February 14, 1832; m. Luther S. Curtis, of Antrim; had one dau., b. May 29, 1856.
4. Polly, b. December 20, 1794; d. May 18, 1809.
5. Nathaniel, b. in August, 1796.
6. Lydia, b. August 23, 1798; m. William Everett, of North Hudson, N. Y .; rem. to Mich.
7. Ebenezer, b. March 15, 1801; m. Rowenna French; rem. to Brad- ford, where he d. June 11, 1874.
8. Stephen, b. November 4, 1806 ; m. Matilda Kenney ; res. in Unity.
BENJAMIN, 3rd, s. of Benjamin, Jr., and Alice (Atkins) Smith, b. in Washington, Oct. 6, 1809; m. July 1, 1835, Elizabeth, dau. of Henry and Sarah (Kelly) Collins, b. in Stoddard, Nov. 4, 18II; he lived in several towns before coming to H. in 1853, locating on a farm on "County Road," where he d. Feb. 13, 1894 ; his wife had d. Jan. 17, 1894.
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SMITH.
VIII. CHILDREN.
1. Harriet M., b. in Washington, July 20, 1835 ; m. May 15, 1877, George McAlpine; res. at the old homestead; he d. June 27, 1901; she d. May 10, 1903, having been an invalid from rheumatism for many years.
2. Hannah M., b. in Alexandria, October 23, 1838; m. first April 6, 1854, Daniel, s. of Samuel and Sally (Barker) Murdough; he d. September 16, 1890, and she m. second, in 1897, John Grimes ; d. in 1915.
3. Tryphena V., b. in Alexandria, January 13, 1842 ; d. in H., October 9, 1849.
4. Sarah E., b. in Windsor, October 24, 1844; m. March 25, 1863, Charles H. Grinnell.
DR. LUTHER, S. of James and Maria (Rolfe) Smith, was b. in Mont Vernon, Dec. 27, 1786; studied medicine with his brother Dr. Rogers Smith, and settled as a physician at Bridge Village, in Nov., 1809, where he res. until his death, Aug. 5, 1824. He m. July 22, 1817, Mary, dau. of John and Judith (Weston) Carlton, of Mont Vernon, b. Jan. 19, 1790, and who survived him, and in 1837 ret. to her native town to live, until her death, Mar. 20, 1872.
III. CHILDREN.
1. Mary Ellen, b. May 7, 1818; was ed. at Milford Female Seminary and Abbott Female Academy, Andover, Mass., and followed the vocation of teacher ; d. in Virginia, in December, 1852.
2. Charles J., b. September 3, 1820; rem. to Mont Vernon in 1842, where he res. except temporarily until his death, several years ago. Active in his political affiliations and in public affairs, he was Moderator of town meetings for fifteen years; Select- man and Town Clerk four years; Superintendent of Schools for several years; Representative to the Legislature in 1860- 61; State Senator in 1863-64; was Register of Deeds one year ; Clerk and Inspector in Custom House in Boston four years. He was a heavy loser by the great fire in Boston, in 1871. Mr. Smith was the author and publisher of "Annals of Hillsbor- ough, 1741-1841," a pamphlet of 72 pages replete with valuable information relating to the early settlement and settlers of the town and a history of Mont Vernon. Mr. Smith m. June 6, 1878, Margarette, dau. of William and Catherine (Millard) Haymand, of Colchester, Nova Scotia.
534
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
IV. CHILDREN.
1. Mary Ellen, b. May 13, 1879.
2. Edward Luther, b. January 24, 1881.
3. Lelia Eugenie, b. April 15, 1882.
4. Helen Adelaide, b. October 1, 1884.
JOHN, s. of Daniel, Timothy, Samuel, Jr., Samuel, m. Mary Conn.
VI. CHILDREN, BORN IN MILFORD, N. H.
1. John, b. August 3, 1803 ; d. May 15, 1854.
2. George, b. April 15, 1805 ; d. December 14, 1856.
3. Mary, b. April 14, 1807; d. December 16, 1818.
4. Freeman, b. February 20, 1809 ; d. December 23, 1818.
5. Ruhama, b. July 18, 1811; d. September 20, 1812.
6. Ruhama, b. August 18, 1813; d. July 21, 1818.
7. Rodney, b. December 8, 1815; d. July 18, 1818.
8. Charles Cutter, b. March 25, 1818. (See)
CHARLES CUTTER, s. of John and Mary (Conn) Smith, b. in Milford, Mar. 25, 1818; came to this town in 1834 and res. until 1858; a farmer also engaged in manuf. of bobbins, rem. to Hart- ford, Vt., and thence to Hartland, Vt., and Troy, N. H., living in last two places ten years each. Selectman while here five years, and one year each at Hartford and Hartland, Vt .; m. Jan. 16, 1840, Ruth, dau. of Benjamin and Susannah (Gerry) Kimball, b. Sept. 12, 1817; she d. Feb. 2, 1879, at Queche, Vt.
VII. CHILDREN.
1. Chas. H., b August 18, 1841; d. March 26, 1882, at Providence, R. I.
2. Joseph C., b. December 9, 1846 ; d. August 8, 1865, at Hartland, Vt.
3. Lizzie A., b. June 7, 1850; d. October 20, 1867, at Hartland, Vt.
4. Geo. M., b. December 30, 1851.
FRANCIS GRIMES. s. of Isaac and Parmelia (Stevens) Smith, b. in Deering, Apr. 21, 1832 ; came to Hillsborough when 22 years old; m. Mar. 29, 1857, Mary A., dau. of Humphrey and Elizabeth (Brown) Peasley, of Deering; res. at Bridge Vill., member of I. O. O. F. forty years ; d. Mar. 15, 1900.
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SMITH.
III. CHILDREN.
1. Mary P., b. April 30, 1859 ; m. Edward F. Heath, Henniker, Decem- ber 19, 1883 ; one child, Morris C., b. August 14, 1892.
2. James F., b. October 18, 1862; m. January 20, 1898, Alma J. Wheeler, of Bradford; res. Bridge Village; one child, Walter J., b. May 6, 1899.
3. Annie E., b. November 1, 1871 ; m. April 28, 1888, Henry Skellins, of Henniker.
IV. CHILDREN.
1. Vincent, b. June 29, 1890.
2. Milo, b. January 12, 1892.
3. Marion L., b. June 15, 1901.
ISAAC, JR., s. of Isaac and Parmelia (Stevens) Smith, was b. in Deering, Nov. 23, 1826; m. Josephine Whittle, b. in Deering, May 13, 1840. Active in town affairs, he was Selectman of Deer- ing several terms, Moderator twenty years in succession, member of the Board of Education and under the old district system he was Superintendent of Schools for the town ten years, and Representative to the State Legislature two terms. He d. in 1902.
III. CHILDREN, BORN IN DEERING.
1. Ermin H., b. August 21, 1858 ; m. Anna F. Goodall, of Deering.
2. Verto, b. October 26, 1862. (See)
3. Effie Eliza, b. May 20, 1872 ; m. Carlton C. Eaton, of H.
VERTO, s. of Isaac, Jr., and Josephine (Whittle) Smith, and grandson of Isaac and Parmelia (Stevens) Smith, was b. in Deer- ing, Oct. 26, 1862; ed. in district schools and academy ; painter and paper-hanger ; m. in Antrim, Dec. 11, 1901, Ismay, dau. of Wallace F. and Mary M. (Hubbard) Carter; supervisor of checklist several terms, and member of School Board in Deering; is a member of Valley Lodge I. O. O. F., and North Star Encampment, being Past Noble Grand and Past Chief Patriarch; is a member of Valley Grange, P. of H., and Past Master; res. in H., with the exception of three years in Deering, since 1898.
IV. CHILD.
1. Donald V., b. September 13, 1903, in Deering.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
CHARLES F., s. of George and Martha J. (Jones) Smith, b. in Washington, Feb. 18, 1842; m. first, Nov. 16, 1860, Sabrina M. Curtice of Windsor; lived with Simeon Buck, his mother's second husband; came with him to H., where w. d. Jan. 31, 1873, aged 26 years, 6 mos .; m. second, Dec. 12, 1875, Mary E. Wood, of Deering.
III. CHILDREN, BY FIRST MARRIAGE.
1. Nancy A., b. April 6, 1863; m. Thompson Travis.
2. Willie H., b. March 7, 1867.
3. Minnie M., b. September 29, 1868.
Daniel B., s. of Daniel B. and Mary H. (Goodale) Smith, b. April 10, 1848; m. May 23, 1867, Mary E., dau. of John and Mary (Danforth) Small, rem. to Concord about 1876, where he was a prosperous farmer ; was member of the City Council in 1882-83- 84; Alderman in 1885 and 1886; Representative in 1891-92; d. July 1, 1907. No children.
LEONARD BURLINGTON, b. in Orrington, Me., Sept. 10, 1839; m. first, Dec. 23, 1863, Edra S. Cobb, who d. Oct. 3, 1869, and he m. second, April 2, 1872, at Brewer, Me., Clara May Harding. He was United States Consul at Curacao, West Indies, where he lived for twenty-two years.
II. CHILDREN, ALL BORN IN BREWER, ME .; TWO BY FIRST MARRIAGE.
1. Arthur Burlington, b. December 25, 1865 ; m. Charlotte Anna Robin- son.
2. Emma Rich, b. October 23, 1867; d. at Curacao, W. I., July 30, 1890. 3. Leonard Clarence, b. January 13, 1874; m. Eva Mary Flanders, Portland, Me.
4. Ralph Gardner. (See)
RALPH GARDNER, s. of Leonard Burlington and Clara May (Harding) Smith, was b. in Brewer, Me., Sept. 20, 1876; ed. in the public schools, of Brewer, Bowdoin College, Class of 1899; grad. from Boston University Law School, 1906, and began the practice of law with Judge Samuel W. Holman, office in Opera Block, Bridge Village, in 1906, and upon the decease of Judge
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SMITH-SPALDING-SPAULDING.
Holman, succeeded to the entire business. He m. in Littleton, Mass., Sept. 28, 1907, Ethel Augusta, dau. of Nathan Augustus Taylor, of Littleton.
III. CHILDREN.
1. Marjorie Taylor, b. May 10, 1909.
2. Ethel Proctor, b .November 12, 1912.
SPALDING-SPAULDING.
Most, if not all, of the Spauldings in this vicinity are descen- dants of Edward Spaulding, who came to New England about 1630 and settled in Braintree, Mass. His son, Edward Spauld- ing, removed to Chelmsford, Mass., where he d. in 1670. Edward's son, Ebenezer, removed to Nottingham West, now Hud- son, where also his son Stephen res. Stephen Spaulding had a son Ebenezer, born in Nottingham West, Mar. 27, 1750, and he rem. to that part of Washington since included in the territory of Lempster. Ebenezer Spaulding was a soldier in the Revolu- tion, and was at Bunker Hill and Ticonderoga.
MARK J. SPAULDING, b. at East Washington, Jan. 24, 1831, as soon as he was large enough to do so, began to drive a team for David Fuller & Son at their tannery at Lower Village, which occupation he followed as long as this business continued; after- wards he became a stone mason. He m. Oct. 10, 1854, Sarah R., dau. of David Emerson and Lois (Richardson) Woods, b. in Deering, Dec. 6, 1829; they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Oct. 10, 1904. He d. Aug. 15, 1909; she d. Mar. 17, 19II.
II. CHILD.
1. Clara M., b. April 22, 1861 ; m. Fred L. Baker, who d. November 27, 1914. One child, Maudeine S., b. December 27, 1886.
DEA. JACOB SPALDING was b. in Chelmsford, Mass., about 1768, and m. first, about 1790, Mary Barker, Milford, and came to H. soon after. She d. Sept. 3, 1824, and he m. second, Susanna Robertson, of Bow. He d. May 14, 1838.
.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
II. CHILDREN.
1. Polly, b. in 1792; m. September 20, 1808, Daniel Coolidge of An- trim, where they lived. He d. February 25, 1869. (See History of Antrim for list of ten children.)
2. Nabby, b. March 14, 1794; m. March 16, 1837, John Dunlap, of An- trim; he d. December 15, 1869.
3. Jacob, b. April 26, 1796 ; d. in New York City, October 4, 1818, unm.
4. Sally, b. May 3, 1798 ; d. June 9, 1820.
5. Benjamin, b. August 27, 1800; m. in 1838, Hannah, dau. of Joel and Esther (Foster) Barker of Milford; was a farmer and lived in several towns in N. H. and Mass .; wife d. at Salisbury, Mass., in 1887; date of his death unknown.
III. CHILDREN, ALL BORN IN HILLSBOROUGH.
1. John, b. in 1840; d. in infancy.
2. Warren, b. in 1841.
3. Jacob F., b. in 1842.
6. Cyrus, b. September 28, 1802 ; d. in Chicopee, Mass.
7. Franklin, b. January 30, 1806 ; m. and res. in Holyoke, Mass.
8. Nancy B., b. February 2, 1809 ; m. Ephraim Spalding ; d. at Tewks- bury, Mass., in 1887.
9. Emeline, b. December 1, 1812; m. Joel Spalding; d. in 1890, at. Augusta, Me.
STARRETT.
JOHN, b. Jan. 31, 1789, in Francestown; m. Ann Love, dau. of William and Margaret (Gamble) Love of H., b. Mar. IO, 1810, d. Windsor, Vt., Dec. 23, 1863.
II. CHILD.
1. David. (See)
DAVID, s. of John and Ann (Love) Starrett, and grandson of William and Margaret (Gamble) Love, early settlers in H., was b. in Francestown, July 31, 1817. His father rem. to Charles- town, "No. 4," in 1824, where David received a common school education, and where after attaining his majority he became active in military affairs, holding commissions from 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel. He m. Sept. 28, 1848, Sarah A., dau. of Ransom and Sarah (Andrews) Bixby, and two years later came to Hillsbor- ough. He was a large dealer in real estate and lived, besides in
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STARRETT.
H. in Antrim, Francestown, New Boston and Greenfield; served as selectman and tax collector in H. Was delegate to the con- stitutional convention in 189 ; was also representative to the state legislature. Died April 28, 1891 ; wife d. July 31, 1908.
III. CHILDREN, ALL BORN IN HILLSBOROUGH.
1. David A., b. Sepetmber 27, 1851; m. August 31, 1873, Abbie J. Kidder of Francestown.
IV. CHILDREN.
1. Osmond N., b. May 8, 1880; d. August 27, 1882.
2. John P., b. May 2, 1883 ; res. in Nashua.
2. Ransom B., b. April 21, 1853; m. April 3, 1883, Belle S. Joslin of Bennington. He d. February 21, 1895. Wife d. April 8, 1895, leaving a son.
3. Belle, b. December 23, 1861; m. October 10, 1882, Edward R. Gould of Greenfield, who later rem. to H., where he d. August 22, 1896. Wife d. May 10, 1896.
IV. CHILDREN.
1. Walter F., b. May 28, 1886.
2. David H., b. July 16, 1889.
3. Herbert, b. December 15, 1890; d. August 15, 1891.
4. Elmer E., b. December 31, 1894.
DAVID, s. of William and Abigail (Fisher) Starrett, was b. in Francestown, April 21, 1774; was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1798; studied law with the Hon. Samuel Bell, then at Francestown; was admitted to the Hillsborough County Bar in Sept., 1802, at Hopkinton ; commenced practice of his profession here the same year and res. at the Lower Village until March, 1812.
One morning in that month, he left home for the ostensive purpose of making a business trip to Boston, taking his usual affectionate leave of his family who expected his return in a few days. He proceeded directly to Charlestown, Mass., and took lodgings at Gordon's Inn, where he remained for several days, frequently walking into Boston for the transaction of business.
One evening at nightfall he remarked to his landlord that he was going to Boston to attend to business and that he should re-
540
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
turn the same night, and immediately started taking a small trunk in his hand. As he failed to return, his friends became alarmed and on making inquiry it was ascertained that his trunk had been found empty the next morning on the bridge leading from Charlestown to Boston and with marks of having been forced open. Mr. Starrett had left his horse and carriage at Gordon's and was supposed to have a large sum of money in his possession. Suspicions were aroused that he had been murdered and robbed by the innkeeper and the affair created intense excitement in the public mind.
Several years elapsed before any intelligence was obtained from Mr. Starrett. When the first information was received of him, he held the rank of Major in the republican army of Mexico and in a letter to his brother he stated that he left Hillsborough with a fixed determination to abandon forever his home and country, that he had himself left the trunk in the position in which it was found to mislead the public and that he had walked to Providence, R. I. the same night that he left Gordon's tavern.
He subsequently left the Mexican army, went to Arkansas and there engaged in trade under the assumed name of William Fisher, sustained a respectable character and acquired a small property there. In June, 1819, however, he terminated his own existence by shooting himself at the house of Stephen R. Wilson on the Saline Bayou, about six miles from Red River and from the borders of Texas. He was a man of distinguished scrupulous integrity and enjoyed the respect of his townsmen and the confidence of his clients. What could have induced this unfortunate man in the successful practice of an honorable and lucrative profession, surrounded by friends and an amiable, affec- tionate family, to forsake all in the height of his ambition, to lead a hapless life and die an untimely death in a strange land is a profound mystery.
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