The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 2, April 1847

Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

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HOPIN, STEVEN,* born 1626, Dorchester, in Capt. Roger Clapp's employ,
1642. Witness to Indian deed of Dorchester, (8:4:1649.)

HOUGHTON, RALPH, Lancaster, 1676, where he was constable, collector
of taxes, treasurer, &c. There were at the same place in 1703,
HENRY, JONAS, ROBERT, JOHN, SEN, JOHN, JR., JOSEPH and JACOB.

HOWARD, JACOB,* Dorchester, 1664.

HUDSON, WILLIAM, lived at "Wading River" in 1670, "where King Philip
and Squamaug (brother of Josias deceased) met to settle the bounds
between them, which had for some time been in dispute."

JOHNSON, EDWARD, a. 60 in 1660, at which time he gives evidence about
land in Charlestown. FRANCIS, Marblehead, 1660, nephew of Mr.
Christopher Coulson, a merchant adventurer of London.

JOYLIFFE, JOHN, Boston, will dated 1699-1700. Had a brother, Dr.
GEORGE JOYLIFFE, in England; sisters, DOROTHY CANE, in England,
MARTHA COOK, in England, REBECCA WOLCOTT, MARGARET DRAKE, and MARY
BISS, "sometime wife of James Biss of Shepton Mallet, in the county
of Somerset," Eng.

KEY, JOSHUA,* probably married a daughter of Capt. Thomas Lothrop,
who was killed by the Indians in 1675, as his children received a
legacy out of Lothrop's estate.

KING, THOMAS, was an inhabitant of Exeter, 1675.

KNIGHT, WALTER, aged 66 in 1653, at which time he was at Boston. The
same person was at Nantasket in 1622. JOHN, Charlestown, juror in
the witch trials, 1680.

LATHAM, CARY, was born in 1612; Boston, 1663.

LAWRENCE, THOMAS, Hingham, 1661.

LOEPHELIN, PETER,* Frenchman, Boston, 1679.

LEACH, RICHARD, Salem, a. 60 in 1678, leased a farm of Gov. Endecott,
1657.

LONG, ROBERT, Marblehead, a. 70 in 1660.

LOTHROP, CAPT. THOMAS; his widow married Joseph Grafton, before May
19, 1680. After her decease, the property left her by Lothrop was
ordered by court to the wife of Ezekiel Chever, and her issue,
heirs of Capt. Lothrop. It is also ordered Mrs. Grafton to pay to
the children of Joshua Key, £20.

LYON, PETER, Dorchester, 1664.

MARRINER, ANDREW,* Boston, 1693, leather dresser.

MATHER, TIMOTHY, Dorchester, 1667.

MAYHEW, THOMAS, hired a farm in Medford, 1636.

MELLEN, JOHN,* Charlestown, where he died before 1695.

MIDDLECOTT, MR. [RICHARD?] Boston, juror at trials for witchcraft,
1680.

MOKALL, JAMES,* b. 1660, Massachusetts, 1680.

MORSE, WILLIAM, Newbury; wife, Elizabeth, accused of practising
witchcraft, finally acquitted at Boston, 1680.

MOSE, JOHN, Watertown, 1680, constable.

MOTT, NATHANIEL, a. 19, or thereabouts, in 1681.

NARAMORE, THOMAS,* Dorchester, 1664. Persons of this name are in N.
Hampshire at this time.

NEIGHBOR, JAMES,* Massachusetts, 1662.

ODIORNE, JOHN and PHILL., Portsmouth, N. H., 1657, subscribed toward
the support of public worship.

PAGE, ONESIPHORUS,* Salisbury, 1667, married daughter of Thomas
Hauxworth [Hawksworth].

PARSONS, MARK,* Sagadahock, 1665.

PATESHALL, ROBERT,* Boston, 1655, petitions General Court against
duties on importations.

PEASLEE, JOSEPH, went to Haverhill before 1653.

PHILIPS, JOHN,* Massachusetts, 1630, styled servant, went to
Plymouth, 1631.

POLE, WILLIAM,* Dorchester, 1649. The name is since written _Pool_.

PRAY, EPHRAIM,* born 1661, Dorchester, 1680.

RAINSFORD, SAMUEL,* Boston, killed with Capt. Turner, at Pawtucket,
in Philip's war, leaving no relative in the country.

RICE, HENRY, Charlestown, juror, 1662.

RICHARD, GYLES,* SEN., Massachusetts, 1666.

ROBBINS, RICHARD, juror at trials for witchcraft, 1680.

ROOT, THOMAS, Lynn, 1674, where he attempted to gather a church.

RYALL, JOSEPH,* Charlestown, constable, 1680.

SAUNDERS, MARTIN,* born 1630, Boston, 1679.

SEALE, EPHRAIM,* Lieutenant, Boston, juror, 1686.

SEARES, JOHN,* Boston, Lieutenant, 1652.

SEWALL, HENRY, was residing at Manchester, Lancaster co., Eng., in
1623, only son of HENRY SEWALL, who came to N. England with his
family, and settled in Newbury.

SHERBURNE, GEORGE, b. 1602, Portsmouth, 1650, m. Rebecca, dau.
Ambrose Gibbins, and had children, SAMUEL, ELIZABETH, m. Tobias
Lear, MARY, HENRY, JOHN, AMBROSE, SARAH, and REBECCA. [_Farmer's
MS._]

SIBLY, JOHN, church member, Salem, 1640.

SMITH, JOHN,* Barnstable, 1644.

SPRAGUE, SAMUEL,* Charlestown, 1695.

STILEMAN, ELIAS, Boston, constable, 1673.

STONE, JOHN,* Watertown, juror, 1680.

STUDSON, ROBERT,* one of the commissioners for settling the bounds
between Plymouth and Massachusetts, 1664.

SUMNER, WILLIAM,* Dorchester, 1670.

SWAIN, JOHN,* Salisbury, b. 1633, Nantucket, 1703. A Lieutenant SWAIN
had been under Major Appleton against the Indians at Narraganset,
in 1675. He was afterwards a captain.

TAYLER, JOHN,* Shipcot, [Sheepscot,] 1665.

THAYER, RICHARD, Massachusetts, went to England, and returned in 1679.

TINKHAM, EPHRAIM, Massachusetts, 1666, at which time he was a witness
to the sale of lands to Richard Thayer of Braintree, by the Indian
chief _Josias_. He attests to it in 1678.

TOWER, JOHN, Hingham, buys a large tract of land of several Indians
in that place; deed dated June 17, 1641. In an endorsement on said
deed, (made by Ri: Bellingham, 19: 1: 1662-3,) JOHN TOWER is called
senior. But in the TOWER GENEALOGICAL TREE there are assigned
as the children of JOHN TOWER of Hingham, (1637) only AMBROSE,
BENJAMIN, JONATHAN, HANNAH, and JEREMIAH.

TRAVIS, DANIEL,* "chiefe gunner in ye town of Boston, to salute
shipps and look after ye artillery," at £5 per annum, 1680.

WAIT, JOHN, Charlestown, juror, 1662, [spelt _Wayte_,] Boston, juror
at the trials for witchcraft, 1680. RICHARD, Boston, a. 82 in 1678.
He was marshal. RICHARD, Springfield, 1680, wounded by Indians,
Oct. 5, 1675.

WALES, JOHN,* and JOHN, JR.,* Dorchester, 1677.

WALKER, ROBERT, Boston, aged 72 in 1679. He came from Manchester,
Eng., where he was living in 1623.

WAY, RICHARD, Lieutenant, Boston, juror, 1680. HENRY, Dorchester,
1664.

WEBB, THOMAS, came to N. England in 1671, in the ship Arabella, Capt.
Richard Sprague, which sailed from Gravesend May 27.

WHITTINGHAM, RICHARD,* Charlestown, 1693; had been in England in 1691.

WILLEY, EDWARD,* Boston, juror, 1686.

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM,* Boston, 1675, wife, Johanna; was pressed to go
against the Indians in Philip's war, and was killed at Medfield,
leaving "four small children."

WILLIS, LAWRENCE,* Barnstable, 1644.

WINSOR, JOSHUA,* Boston, constable, 1686.

WISWALL, JOHN, Dorchester, witnesses a new deed of the town, (8: 4:
1649,) made "because ye old deed was something decayed with ill
keeping."

CAPITAL OFFENCES IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Thirteen offences were made capital by the original laws of Massachusetts Bay; namely, Idolatry; Witchcraft; Blasphemy; Murder; Bestiality; Sodomy; Adultery; Rape; Man-stealing; False-witness; Conspiracy, or rebellion against the government; Cursing or smiting the father or mother, after passing sixteen years of age, unless with justifying provocation, or with unchristianly neglect in education; Filial rebellion, after sixteen years of age.

To these were added, 1692, High Treason; Concealing the death of a bastard child; Arson; Piracy.

JURIDICAL STATISTICS OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, N. H.

(Concluded from page 59.)

ATTORNEYS AT LAW.

----|-----------+---------------------+---------------+---------------
No. | _Towns._ | _Names._ |_Native Place._|_When and where_
| | | | _graduated._
----|-----------+---------------------+---------------+---------------
1 |Andover |John H. Slack |New London |Dart. 1811
| | | |
2 | |Samuel Butterfield |Goffstown |---- ----
| | | |
3 |Boscawen |Nathaniel Green |Worcester, Ms. |---- ----
| | | |
4 | |Daniel Webster |Franklin |Dart. 1801
| | | |
5 | |Ezekiel Webster |Franklin |Dart. 1804
| | | |
6 | |Zachariah G. Whitman |Hanover, Ms. |Harv. 1807
| | | |
7 | |Francis Cogswell |Dover |---- ----
| | | |
8 | |Frederick Smith |Gilmanton |Dart. 1826
| | | |
9 | |Lewis Smith |Ashford, Ct. |---- ----
| | | |
10 |Bradford |Weare Tappan |East Kingston |Dart. 1811
| | | |
11 | |James Whittle |Weare |Dart. 1823
| | | |
12 | |Mason W. Tappan |Newport |---- ----
| | | |
13 |Chichester |Philip Carrigain |Concord |Dart. 1794
| | | |
14 | |Zachariah Batchelder |Gloucester, Ms.|Dart. 1821
| | | |
15 |Concord |E. St. L. Livermore |Londonderry |---- ----
| | | |
16 | |Peter Green |Worcester, Ms. |---- ----
| | | |
17 | |Thomas W. Thompson |Newbury, Ms. |Harv. 1786
| | | |
18 | |Arthur Livermore |Londonderry |---- ----
| | | |
19 | |Charles Walker |Concord |Harv. 1787
| | | |
20 | |Samuel Green |Concord |---- ----
| | | |
21 | |Arthur Rogers |Concord |---- ----
| | | |
22 | |Philip Carrigain |Concord |Dart. 1794
| | | |
23 | |William Pickering |Greenland |Harv. 1797
| | | |
24 | |Moody Kent |Newbury, Ms. |Harv. 1801
| | | |
25 | |Isaac Gates | |Harv. 1802
| | | |
26 | |Samuel A. Kimball |Concord |Dart. 1806
| | | |
27 | |Lyman B. Walker |Brookfield, Ms.|---- ----
| | | |
28 | |Moses H. Bradley |Concord |Dart. 1807
| | | |
29 | |Samuel Fletcher |Plymouth |Dart. 1810
| | | |
30 |Concord |John Whipple |Hamilton, Ms. |Dart. 1812
| | | |
31 | |Amos A. Parker |Fitzwilliam |Vt. U. 1813
| | | |
32 | |George Kent |Concord |Dart. 1814
| | | |
33 | |Richard Bartlett |Pembroke |Dart. 1815
| | | |
34 | |Samuel D. Bell |Francestown |Harv. 1816
| | | |
35 | |Nathaniel P. Rogers |Plymouth |Dart. 1816
| | | |
36 | |Nathaniel G. Upham |Rochester |Dart. 1820
| | | |
37 | |William C. Thompson |Salisbury |Dart. 1820
| | | |
38 | |Stephen C. Badger |Warner |Dart. 1823
| | | |
39 | |William W. Stickney |Enfield |Dart. 1823
| | | |
40 | |Ira Perley |Boxford, Ms. |Dart. 1822
| | | |
41 | |William G. Webster |Plymouth |Dart. 1822
| | | |
42 | |Ralph Metcalf |Charlestown |Dart. 1823
| | | |
43 | |James Whittle |Weare |Dart. 1823
| | | |
44 | |Charles H. Peaslee |Gilmanton |Dart. 1824
| | | |
45 | |Franklin Pierce |Hillsborough |Bowd. 1824
| | | |
46 | |Hamilton Hutchins |Concord |Dart. 1827
| | | |
47 | |George Minot |Bristol |Dart. 1828
| | | |
48 | |James Sullivan |Exeter |Dart. 1829
| | | |
49 | |Calvin Ainsworth |Littleton |---- ----
| | | |
50 | |Ephraim Eaton |Candia |Dart. 1833
| | | |
51 | |Asa Fowler |Pembroke |Dart. 1833
| | | |
52 | |Arthur Fletcher |Bridgewater |Yale. 1836
| | | |
53 | |Josiah Minot |Bristol |Dart. 1837
| | | |
54 | |William Butterfield |Goffstown |Dart. 1836
| | | |
55 | |George G. Fogg |Meredith |Dart. 1839
| | | |
56 | |Sylvester Dana |Orford |Dart. 1839
| | | |
57 | |Chandler E. Potter |Concord |Dart. 1831
| | | |
58 | |John H. George |Concord |---- ----
| | | |
59 |Dunbarton |Jeremiah Stinson |Dunbarton |Dart. 1798
| | | |
60 |Dunbarton |Caleb Stark, Jr. |Dunbarton |---- ----
| | | |
61 |Epsom |Benjamin Moody |W. Newbury, Ms.|---- ----
| | | |
62 | |Jonathan Steele, Jr. |Peterborough |Wms. 1811
| | | |
63 |Franklin |Parker Noyes |South Hampton |Dart. 1796
| | | |
64 | |Thomas H. Pettingill |Salisbury |Dart. 1804
| | | |
65 | |George W. Nesmith |Antrim |Dart. 1820
| | | |
66 | |Austin F. Pike |Hebron |---- ----
| | | |
67 |Henniker |John Kelly |Warner |Dart. 1804
| | | |
68 | |Artemas Rogers |Billerica, Ms. |Harv. 1809
| | | |
69 | |Samuel Smith |Peterborough |Dart. 1827
| | | |
70 | |John J. Prentice |Mont Vernon |Dart. 1834
| | | |
71 | |Lewis Smith |Ashford, Ct. |---- ----
| | | |
72 |Hooksett |John Whipple |Hamilton, Ms. |Dart. 1812
| | | |
73 | |Benjamin B. French |Chester |---- ----
| | | |
74 | |Ebenezer French |Newtown |Dart. 1824
| | | |
75 |Hopkinton |Stephen Scales |Concord, Ms. |Harv. 1763
| | | |
76 | |Baruch Chase |Sutton, Ms. |Dart. 1786
| | | |
77 | |John Harris |Harvard, Ms. |Harv. 1791
| | | |
78 | |Joel Harris |Harvard, Ms. |Dart. 1804
| | | |
79 | |Matthew Harvey |Sutton |Dart. 1800
| | | |
80 | |John Whipple |Hamilton, Ms. |Dart. 1812
| | | |
81 | |Horace Chase |Unity |Dart. 1814
| | | |
82 | |Hamilton E. Perkins |Hopkinton |---- ----
| | | |
83 | |William S. Morton | |---- ----
| | | |
84 |Loudon |Timothy Darling |Henniker |Harv. 1822
| | | |
85 | |James Whittle |Weare |Dart. 1823
| | | |
86 | |John Doe |Pembroke |Dart. 1825
| | | |
87 | |Edward S. Morris |Gorham, Me. |---- ----
| | | |
88 |New London |Stephen C. Badger |Warner |Dart. 1823
| | | |
89 | |Walter P. Flanders |Warner |Dart. 1831
| | | |
90 |Northfield |Asa P. Cate |Sanbornton |Dart. M.A. 1844
| | | |
91 | |Benjamin A. Rogers |Northfield |---- ----
| | | |
92 |Pembroke |Arthur Rogers |Concord |---- ----
| | | |
93 | |Moody Kent |Newbury, Ms. |Harv. 1801
| | | |
94 | |Nathaniel Dearborn |Chester |
| | | |
95 | |Boswell Stevens |Promfret, Ct. |Dart. 1804
| | | |
96 | |Caleb Stark, Jr. |Dunbarton |---- ----
| | | |
97 | |John Parker |Bedford |
| | | |
98 | |John E. Stanyan |Pembroke |Dart. 1840
| | | |
99 | |Edward S. Morris |Gorham, Me. |---- ----
| | | |
100 |Pittsfield |Caleb Merrill |Atkinson |Dart. 1808
| | | |
101 | |Moses Norris, Jr. |Pittsfield |Dart. 1828
| | | |
102 | |Ithamar W. Beard |Littleton, Ms. |Dart. 1837
| | | |
103 | |Charles H. Butters |Pittsfield |Dart. 1837
| | | |
104 | |James A. E. Merrill |Pittsfield |Dart. 1839
| | | |
105 | |George L. Merrill |Pittsfield |Dart. 1840
| | | |
106 |Salisbury |Thos. W. Thompson |Newbury, Ms. |Harv. 1786
| | | |
107 | |Moses Eastman |Salisbury |Dart. 1794
| | | |
108 | |Thomas W. Pettingill |Salisbury |Dart. 1804
| | | |
109 | |Richard Fletcher |Cavendish, Vt. |Dart. 1806
| | | |
110 | |Samuel I. Wells |Sherburne, Ms. |Dart. 1814
| | | |
111 | |Elbridge F. Greenough|Boscawen |Dart. 1828
| | | |
112 |Sutton |Harrison G. Harris |Harvard, Ms. |---- ----
| | | |
113 | |Benjamin B. French |Chester |---- ----
| | | |
114 | |Ebenezer French |Newton |Dart. 1824
| | | |
115 | |Ira B. Pearson |Newport |---- ----
| | | |
116 |Warner |Jeremiah H. Woodman |Sanbornton |Dart. 1794
| | | |
117 | |Parker Noyes |South Hampton |Dart. 1796
| | | |
118 | |Henry B. Chase } |Brookfield, Ms.|Dart. M.A.
| | } | |1823
119 | |Harrison G. Harris |Harvard, Ms. |---- ----
| | | |
120 | |Herman Foster |Andover, Ms. |---- ----
| | | |
121 |Wilmot |John H. Slack |New London |Dart. 1811

[**continued]

----|---------------------+------+-----------------------------------------------
No. |_With whom read Law._|_Com._|_General Remarks._
| |_prac._|
----|---------------------+------+-----------------------------------------------
1 |J. Harris |1814 |Practised also at Goffstown and Wilmot a
| | | short time, and resided a short time in various
| | | other places, lived at Georgetown,
| | | D. C., now in Virginia, on a farm.
| | |
2 |Thomas Jameson } | |
|Josiah Forsaith } |1817 |Practised in Epping till 1821, removed to
|John Harris } | | Andover, Rep. from Andover and P. Master.
|Levi Woodbury } | |
| | |
3 |Peter Green |1787 |Practised also a short time in Hopkinton,
| | | removed from the State, d., 1811.
| | |
4 |T. W. Thompson } |1805 |Practised in Boscawen till 1807, Portsmouth,
|Christopher Gore } | | till 1817. Rep. in Cong. from 1813 to '17,
| | | removed to Boston, Rep. in Cong. from
| | | 1823 to '27, Sen. from 1827 to '39 and again
| | | 1845, Sec. of State of U. S., 1841 to '42.
| | | LL.D. Dart., Harv., Coll. N. J., Columb.
| | |
5 |James Sullivan } |1807 |Rep. from Boscawen from 1821 to '25 and
|Parker Noyes } | | 1827-28, Sen. 1815, Trustee of D. C. He fell
| | | dead while arguing a case in the Court
| | | House in Concord, April 10, 1829, a. 49.
| | | Brother of Hon. Daniel Webster.
| | |
6 |B. Whitman |1811 |Practised also in Boston till 1831, then in
| | | Hopkinton, d. in 1839.
| | |
7 |Oliver Crosby |1817 |Son of Hon. Amos Cogswell, born April 16,
| | | 1790. In Dartmouth Coll. three years,
| | | Notary Public.
| | |
8 |S. Moody } |1829 |Removed to Boston and went into the
|S. C. Lyford } | | mercantile business.
|R. M. Field } | |Asst. Clerk of House of Reps. 1843 to '45, and
| | |
9 |H. Clossen } |1841 | also Clerk in 1845. Resides in Fishersville.
|E. Burke } | |
| | |
10 |Caleb Ellis } | |
|H. Newton } |1814 |He was born in March, 1790.
|B. Chase } | |
| | |
11 |Artemas Rogers } |1827 |Practised also at Loudon and several other
|S. Fletcher } | | places, went South.
| | |
12 |Weare Tappan |1841 |In partnership with Weare Tappan, Esq.
| | |
13 |A. Livermore | |See Clerks of Court of Sessions.
| | |
14 |S. Moody } |1828 |Removed to Wolfborough, Solicitor for Carroll
|S. C. Lyford } | | Co.
| | |
15 |Samuel Livermore |1783 |See Solicitors of Rockingham Co.
| | |
16 |Samuel Livermore | |Counsellor 1788-89, removed to Boston, returned
| | | and died at Concord.
17 |James Sullivan |1791 |See Solicitors of Hillsborough Co.
| | |
18 | |1792 |See Judges of Superior Court.
| | |
19 |John Pickering |1793 |See Solicitors of Rockingham Co.
| | |
20 |Peter Green } |1793 |See Judges of Superior Court.
|Jonathan Rawson } | |
| | |
21 |E. St. L. Livermore |1793 |Practised also at Gilmanton, Barrington, and
| | | Pembroke.
22 |A. Livermore | |See Clerks of Court of Sessions.
| | |
23 |W. K. Atkinson |1800 |See County Treasurers.
| | |
24 |William Gordon } |1804 |Practised also in Deerfield, and now resides in
|Charles H. Atherton} | | Pembroke.
| | |
25 | | |He was at Concord in 1814.
| | |
26 |Samuel Green |1810 |Practised also at Dover, Clerk of Senate, Dep.
| | | Sec., Rep. from Concord.
| | |
27 |Phineas Walker |1811 |Practised also at Gilford, Sol. of Strafford Co.
| | | from 1819 to 1834, Rep. from Gilford, app'd
| | | Att'y Gen'l Jan 10, 1843.
| | |
28 |Samuel Green |1815 |Practised in Concord but a short time, removed
| | | to Sanbornton and to Bristol, Rep.
| | | and Sen. Died in Concord in 1834, a. 52.
| | |
29 |Samuel Green |1815 |Rep. from Concord, Trustee of D. C., Trustee
| | | and Treasurer of Phillips Academy, Andover,
| | | where he now resides.
| | |
30 |Baruch Chase |1817 |See Registers of Deeds.
| | |
31 | | |Practised before at Epping, afterwards at New
| | | Market and Kingston, and is now at Fitzwilliam.
| | |
32 |Samuel Green } | |Rep. from Concord, Trustee of D. C., Cashier
|William Sullivan } |1817 | of Concord Bank, Ed. of N. H. Statesman
| | | and Concord Register, and of Boston Sun.
| | |
33 |George Sullivan |1818 |Sec. of State, N. H., 1825-'28, Clerk of Senate,
| | | Rep. from Concord, removed to N. Y., and
| | | d. in 1831.
| | |
34 |George Sullivan |1820 |Practised in Meredith to 1820, Chester 1830,
| | | Concord 1839, Manchester, Rep. 1825, '26.
| | | Sol. Rock. Co. 1823 to '28, Com. to revise
| | | Statutes 1841, '42, Judge of the Police
| | | Court of Manchester.
| | |
35 |Richard Fletcher } |1820 |Practised also at Plymouth, Ed. of Herald of
|Parker Noyes } | | Freedom. Died Oct. 16, 1846, a. 52.
| | |
36 |David Barker |1823 |See Judges of Superior Court.
| | |
37 |Samuel Fletcher } |1824 |Removed to Plymouth, where he now resides.
|Parker Noyes } | |
| | |
38 |H. B. Chase |1826 |See Clerks of Superior Court.
| | |
39 |H. B. Chase |1826 |Practised in Concord till 1827, removed to
| | | New Market, Rep. from New Market 1840,
| | | '41, '42.
| | |
40 |B. J. Gilbert |1827 |Practised also at Hanover, Treasurer of D. C.,
| | | Rep. from Concord.
| | |
41 |Samuel Fletcher |1827 |Practised also at New Hampton and Rochester.
| | |
42 |Henry Hubbard } |1827 |Practised also at Newport, Claremont, Sec. of
|G. B Upham } | | State, N. H. 1831 to '38, Clerk at Washington,
| | | resumed the practice at Plymouth,
| | | Bristol, Newport, Reg'r of Probate for Sul.
| | | Co. 1845.
| | |
43 |Artemas Rogers } |1827 |See Bradford.
|S. Fletcher } | |
| | |
44 |S. Moody |1827 |Rep. from Concord, Director and Clerk of C.
| | | R. R. Corporation, Adj. Gen. from July 6,
| | | 1829, Trustee and Sec. of N. H. Asylum for
| | | Insane, Director of Mechanics Bank,
| | | Concord, Rep. in Cong. 1847.
| | |
45 |J. Burnham } | |Practised in Hillsborough till 1838, Rep. 1829,
|L. Woodbury } | | '30, Speaker 1831, '32, Rep. in Cong. 1833 to
|E. Parker } |1827 | '37, Sen. in Cong. 1837 to '42, Dis. Att'y U.
|Dane Law School } | | S. 1845, Maj. Gen. U. S. Army.
| | |
46 |Richard Fletcher |1830 |Treasurer of N. H. M. Fire Ins. Co.
| | |
47 |N. G. Upham |1831 |See County Treasurers.
| | |
48 |George Sullivan |1832 |Practised also in Pembroke, removed to
| | | Michigan.
| | |
49 |Henry A. Bellows } |1835 |See Registers of Probate.
|J. D. Stoddard } | |
| | |
50 |S. Fletcher |1837 |
| | |
51 |C. H. Peaslee |1837 |Clerk of Senate from 1835 to '40, Rep. from
| | | Concord.
| | |
52 |S. Fletcher |1840 |
| | |
53 |H. Hubbard } | |
|J. J. Gilchrist } |1840 |Practised also in Bristol.
|S. D. Bell } | |
|Ira Perley } | |
| | |
54 |S. Butterfield |1840 |Practised in Lucas Co., Ohio, and Gilmanton,
| | | Asst. Clerk of Senate, 1845, '46, Editor of N.
| | | H. Patriot, also of a paper in Lowell, Ms.,
| | | and one in Nashua.
| | |
55 |W. Lovell } | |Practised first in Gilmanton, Sec. of State, N.
|S. C. Lyford } |1841 | H., 1846, Editor of Independent Democrat.
|Dane Law School } | |
| | |
56 |Pierce & Fowler } | |
|Dane Law School } |1842 |Editor of a paper.
| | |
57 |J. Bartlett } |1813 |Removed to Manchester, Editor of Manchester
|Pierce & Fowler } | | Democrat.
| | |
58 |Pierce & Fowler } |1846 |In partnership with C. H. Peaslee, Esq.
|C. H. Peaslee } | |
| | |
59 |Baruch Chase? |1802 |He died in 1809 aged 36.
| | |
60 | |1829 |Practised also in Pembroke and Concord,
| | | Rep. from Dunbarton, previously admitted
| | | to the Bar in Ohio.
| | |
61 |Stephen Mooody |1801 |
| | |
62 |Jonathan Steele } | |See Solicitors of Rockingham Co.
|C. H. Atherton } | |
| | |
63 |T. W. Thompson |1801 |See Solicitors of Hillsborough Co.
| | |
64 |John Harris |1808 |Practised in Canaan till 1822, also in
| | | Salisbury, Rep. from Salisbury.
| | |
65 |Parker Noyes |1825 |Rep. from Franklin, 1831, '2, '4-'6, '8, '9, '44-6,
| | | President of N. R. R. Corporation.
| | |
66 |G. W. Nesmith | |In partnership with G. W. Nesmith, Esq.
| | |
67 |J. H. Woodman |1808 |Practised in Henniker till 1809, Northwood
| | | till 1831, Exeter, Clerk of the House 1828,
| | | Reg. Prob. Rock. Co. 1831 to '42, Rep. from
| | | Northwood and Exeter, Counsellor 1846,
| | | Editor of Exeter News Letter.
| | |
68 |Joseph Locke } |1813 |See Solicitors of Merrimack Co.
|T. Rowe } | |
| | |
69 | | |
| | |
70 |E. Parker } | |Practised also at Merrimack, Henniker, and
|B. M. Farley } |1837 | Claremont, P. M. at Claremont.
| | |
|R. M. Field } | |
71 |H. Clossen } |1841 |See Boscawen.
|E. Burke } | |
| | |
72 |Baruch Chase |1817 |See Registers of Deeds.
| | |
73 |Daniel French? |1823 |Practised also at Sutton, Clerk of Judicial
| | | Courts Sul. Co., Rep. from Newport, Asst.
| | | Clerk and Clerk of H. of Reps, in Cong.,
| | | Washington, D. C.
| | |
74 | |1827 |Practised also in Sutton and Seabrook,
| | | removed from State 1845.
| | |
75 |E. Trowbridge } |1770 |Practised in Hopkinton till 1772, where he
|Francis Dana } | | died, a. 33.
| | |
76 |Bradley & Buck |1789 |See Solicitors of Hillsborough Co.
| | |
77 |Simeon Strong } |1794 |See Judges of Superior Court.
|Timothy Bigelow } | |
| | |
78 |John Harris |1807 |Removed to Mass.
| | |
79 |John Harris |1809 |Rep. from Hopkinton, Speaker of H. 1818-'20,
| | | Pres. of Sen. 1827, Coun. 1828, Rep. in
| | | Cong. 1821-25, Gov. 1830, District Judge U.
| | | S. 1830.
| | |
80 |Baruch Chase |1817 |See Registers of Deeds.
| | |
81 |Matthew Harvey |1817 |See Judges of Probate.
| | |
82 |M. Harvey } |1833 |Removed to Boston, 1845.
|H. Chase } | |
| | |
83 |Samuel Fletcher | |
| | |
84 |Artemas Rogers } |1826 |Practised in Hillsborough 1826, Henniker 1827,
|Samuel Hubbard } | | Loudon till 1833. Studied at Gilm. Theo.
| | | Sem., and settled as a minister in Warsaw, N. Y.
| | |
85 |Artemas Rogers } |1827 |See Bradford.
|S. Fletcher } | |
| | |
86 |B. Stevens |1828 |Died several years since.
| | |
87 |M. McDonald |1844 |Practised in Loudon in 1844, removed to Pembroke.
| | |
88 |H. B. Chase |1826 |See Clerks of Superior Court.
| | |
89 |Joseph Bell } | |
|G. W. Nesmith } |1835 |Rep. from New London 1841, '42.
|J. D. Willard } | |
| | |
90 |G. W. Nesmith | |See Solicitors of Merrimack Co.
| | |
91 |Asa P. Cate |1846 |Removed very soon after commencing practice to Gilmanton.
| | |
92 |E. St. L. Livermore |1793 |See Concord.
| | |
93 |William Gordon } |1804 |See Concord.
|C. H. Atherton } | |
| | |
94 |George Sullivan |1806 |Practised also in Deerfield and Northwood.
| | |
95 |Amos Kent |1807 |See Judges of Probate.
| | |
96 | |1829 |See Dunbarton.
| | |
97 |Jonas B. Bowman |1835 |Practised also in Hooksett and Bedford.
| | |
98 |N. Clifford |1844 |
| | |
99 |M. McDonald |1844 |See Loudon.
| | |
100 |Baruch Chase } |1815 |Practised also in Chester and Barnstead, and
|A. Kent } | | in partnership with A. Kent, Esq.
| | |
101 |Isaac O. Barnes |1831 |See Solicitors of Merrimack Co.
| | |
102 |M. Norris, Jr. |1839 |Removed to Lowell, Ms.
|L. B. Walker } | |
| | |
103 |I. Perley } | |
|Hayes & Cogswell } |1843 |
|C. Merrill } | |
| | |
104 |I. Perley } |1843 |Removed to Manchester, and died 1846.
|C. Merrill } | |
| | |
105 |I. Perley } |1844 |Practised a short time previous in Kentucky.
| | |
106 |James Sullivan |1791 |See Solicitors of Hillsborough Co.
| | |
107 |T. W. Thompson |1797 |See Clerks of Superior Court.
| | |
108 |John Harris |1808 |See Franklin.
| | |
109 |Daniel Webster |1809 |Removed to Boston, Rep. in General Court
| | | from Boston, Rep. in Cong, from Mass.,
| | | LL. D. at Dartmouth College.
| | |
110 |Richard Fletcher |1819 |Practised in Salisbury till 1836, removed from
| | | State.
| | |
111 |E. Webster } |1831 |Practised in Danville, Columbia Co., Pa., to
|R. Fletcher } | | 1838, went to Salisbury 1843, Rep. from
| | | Boscawen 1843.
| | |
112 |John Harris |1815 |Practised also in Warner.
| | |
113 |Daniel French? |1823 |See Hooksett.
| | |
114 | |1827 |See Hooksett.
| | |
115 |Edmund Burke | |Removed to Chester, Vt.
| | |
116 | |1800 |Practised afterwards at Meredith, now at
| | | Rochester, Rep. from Rochester.
| | |
117 |T. W. Thompson |1801 |See Solicitors of Hillsborough Co.
| | |
118 |Baruch Chase |1804 |See Registers of Probate.
| | |
| | |
119 |John Harris |1815 |See Sutton.
| | |
120 |H. B. Chase |1839 |Practised in Warner to 1841, removed to Manchester,
| | | Rep. from Manchester.
| | |
121 |John Harris |1814 |See Andover.

REASONS FOR GENEALOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

[COMMUNICATED FOR THE REGISTER.]

Perhaps at no time since the settlement of our country, has the public mind been so deeply interested in genealogical research as it is at the present. There is now perceived among all classes, a growing disposition to make inquiries respecting the past. The National and State archives are compelled to surrender the treasures which for centuries have been locked up in their musty embrace. On every side individuals are to be found, who are ransacking the homesteads of their fathers, to acquire materials for biography and to settle the questions respecting their ancestors which inquisitiveness suggests.

Some of these individuals appear to be urged on by curiosity alone. If, through their inquiries, they ascertain that they have descended from an old and celebrated family, the discovered fact seems to repay them for all the toil at the expense of which that fact may be brought to light. To establish their claim to descent from some noted warrior of the age of chivalry, or from some distinguished statesman of a later date, they are willing, not only to spend laborious days and sleepless nights, but their purses are open, and their gratitude is freely expressed, to any one who shall furnish them with a link to perfect the chain which may connect them with their supposed ancestors.

A family pride, either innate or acquired, leads other inquirers to their task. It is the height of their ambition to be able to trace their lineage to the first settlers of our country. To have derived their existence from the noble band who left a home rendered insupportable by religious persecution, and crossed the stormy Atlantic in the frail Mayflower, is to them a source of the highest pleasure. In their efforts to establish this derivation, facts of great importance in the local history of our country have been elicited. These efforts have given birth to most of our town histories, whereby materials, invaluable to our future historiographers and biographers are preserved from the ravages of time. These men in consequence of their researches become the _nuclei_ of associations for historical, genealogical, and biographical pursuits, which, here and there, are springing into existence. These associations are awakening the mass of the people to a sense of the importance of the objects for which they were formed. Many young men, naturally enthusiastic in every thing they undertake, have caught the spirit of antiquarian research. From them we have much to hope. New modes of investigation may be projected, new plans for arranging and preserving historical and genealogical discoveries may be proposed, and new deductions from these discoveries may be made. Such are some of the advantages which may be confidently predicted as the result of these labors in the genealogical field.

Other inquirers are inclined to the study of genealogy from the _argumentum ad pecuniam_. The vast amount of property which remains in abeyance in the old world, has arrested their attention. Every announcement of estates wanting heirs stimulates anew their investigations; and the presiding genius of the age suggests to them the possibility of finding themselves entitled to this unclaimed property.

How important, then, that a genealogical record should exist, wherein the heirs of families should have a permanent place! How many bitter controversies respecting heirship would thereby be prevented! How many fraudulent distributions of property would thus be defeated! How many of those who have been rendered destitute by the deceptions of false claimants, would be restored to their legal rights, if such a record had been hitherto properly kept!

The disputes of heirs relative to the distribution of estates have frequently occasioned difficulty in our civil courts. In some cases property has been carried to collateral heirs, because lineal descendants could not sufficiently prove their derivation, and in other cases, those who would have inherited at law as the representatives of a deceased parent, are excluded by the intrigues of living co-heirs. Frauds, as the reports of our courts attest, have been perpetrated by those, who, from a similarity of name, though unrelated, have emboldened themselves to step in and exclude others who were legally entitled to the property, but who were unable to furnish sufficient evidence to establish their claim.

The steamers from England often bring news of the extinguishment of European resident heirs to estates in that country; and much money has been expended in the research of ancestry, by our own citizens, who have imagined themselves to be the true heirs to this property. The families, from which the greater number of these estates descend, are old families; branches of which came to this country prior to the commencement of the eighteenth century, and the trans-atlantic branch of the stock has run out. When this is the case, it is of high importance that the American descendants of these families should be able, clearly and conclusively, to prove their derivation. In this view, is it not a matter of surprise, that until the present year, the publication of a journal which could furnish information of so important a character as that which now demands so great a share of the public attention, has been delayed?

A Register which shall contain "Biographical Memoirs, Sketches, and Notices of persons who came to North America, especially to New England, before Anno Domini 1700; showing from what places in Europe they came, their Families there, and their descendants in this country;" which shall give "full and minute Genealogical Memoirs and Tables, showing the lineage and descent of Families, from the earliest dates to which they can be authentically traced down to the present time, with their branches and connections," cannot but be invaluable. If properly conducted, if the severest scrutiny is exercised by the writers over the materials which come under their notice, in the preparation of genealogical articles, the Register will become an authority in our courts, and will save immense amounts of money to the large number of individuals, who are attempting to trace their descent from European families. The policy of the law which invests, first, lineal descendants with intestate estates, and in the absence of lineal descendants, carries the estates to collateral heirs, in preference to an escheat to the State, is generally admitted. Were it not so, one great incentive to industry would be destroyed. The desire of securing their offspring against want, is a prevalent characteristic of New England parents. Assiduity and energy in the pursuit of wealth, which have overcome so many obstacles in our inhospitable climate, have their origin in the desire to advance the interests of posterity. How desirable, then, in order to carry out these views, does the Genealogical Register become! Such a publication affords the only permanent depository for such records as will serve to insure the correct distribution of the property of deceased persons; and no parent who wishes the avails of his labors to be transmitted to his remote descendants can fail to perceive the utility of such a work, or can decline to furnish such information for its columns, as will enable those who come after him to prove their descent.

The frauds continually practised by those who assume to be heirs to every unclaimed estate, have become a matter of notoriety in English legal practice; and though there are many estates now in abeyance in England for want of discovered legal heirs, the bar and the bench in England are exceedingly distrustful of the evidence forwarded by claimants in this country. No doubt many of these claimants are sincere in the belief that they are true heirs to those estates; but the evidence upon which that belief is founded generally proves to be of too unsatisfactory a character to procure a judgment of the English tribunals in their favor; whereas, had materials been previously collected and given to the world through the columns of an authoritative periodical, the evidence thus furnished would be almost irresistible to any court of law.

We can ask with confidence the attention of all travellers to this journal. Communications relative to the antiquities of the countries they may visit; descriptions of monuments which exist, with the inscriptions thereon; and such information as they may communicate respecting themselves which may be interesting to the families to which they belong: all these will be within the scope of this work. It needs but an announcement of these facts, to obtain from those interested, communications which will not only throw light upon the pedigree of families, but will contain many accounts interesting to genealogists, biographers, and historians, which otherwise would be swept into oblivion; and in this department of the periodical, the public will find amusing, entertaining, and instructive pages. In this view of it, the New England Historical and Genealogical Register should be extensively patronized; and we are happy to learn that thus far it meets with the decided approbation of the community.

OUR ANCESTORS.

"Our ancestors, though not perfect and infallible in all respects, were a religious, brave, and virtuous set of men, whose love of liberty, civil and religious, brought them from their native land into the American deserts."--_Rev. Dr. Mayhew's Election Sermon_, 1754.

* * * * *

"To let the memory of these men die is injurious to posterity; by depriving them of what might contribute to promote their steadiness to their principles, under hardships and severities."--_Rev. Dr. E. Calamy's Preface to his Account of Ejected Ministers._

COMPLETE LIST OF CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS IN THE EASTERN PART OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, FROM ITS SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME; TOGETHER WITH NOTES ON THE MINISTERS AND CHURCHES.

BY THE REV. JONATHAN FRENCH OF NORTH HAMPTON.

(Continued from page 46.)

[**continued]

NOTES.

EXETER. The settlement of Exeter commenced in 1638. The founder and first minister of the place was the _Rev. John Wheelwright_, mentioned by Dr. Belknap as "a gentleman of learning, piety, and zeal." He came from Lincolnshire, England, and landed at Boston, Ms., May 26, 1636. "He and Mary, his wife, were admitted to the Boston church, on the 12th of June." A settlement had been made, as early as 1625, at Mount Wollaston, afterwards Braintree, Ms. In 1634, Boston was enlarged, so as to include Mount Wollaston. Mr. Wheelwright became preacher to the people at that place. These circumstances account for his being mentioned in some publications, as having removed to New Hampshire from Braintree; and in others from the church in Boston. Antinomian sentiments were imputed to Mr. Wheelwright. He was a brother of the famous Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, whose Antinomian zeal brought her into public notice. At a Fast in Boston, in December, 1636, Mr. Wheelwright preached one of the sermons. It gave offence, as it was judged to reflect on ministers and magistrates. He was said to have asserted, "that they walked in such a way of salvation as was no better than a covenant of works:" and also, that "he exhorted such as were under a covenant of grace to combat them, as their greatest enemies." [_Neal's New Eng._, Vol. I. p. 186.]

Mr. Wheelwright was summoned, by the civil court, "to give in his answer explicitly, whether he would acknowledge his offence, in preaching his late seditious sermon, or abide the sentence of the court." His answer was, "that he had been guilty of no sedition nor contempt; that he had delivered nothing but the truth of Christ; and, for the application of his doctrine, that was made by others, and not by himself, he was not responsible." [_Neal's N. E._, I. 190.]

Not being inclined to comply with the request of the court, that he would, "out of a regard to the public peace, leave the Colony, of his own accord," he was sentenced "to be disfranchised, to be banished the jurisdiction, and to be taken into custody immediately, unless he should give security to depart before the end of March." Appeal not being admitted, and declining to give bail, he was taken into custody, but released the next day, on "declaring himself willing to submit to a simple banishment." [_Neal's N. E._, I. 191.]

Mr. Wheelwright, having purchased lands of the Indians at Squamscot Falls, with a number of his adherents began a plantation in 1638, which, according to agreement made with Mason's agent, they called Exeter. "Having obtained a dismission from the church in Boston, _they formed themselves_ into a church; and judging themselves without the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, they combined into a separate body politic," &c. [_Belknap_, I. 37.] This combination continued three years. The names of those dismissed from Boston were John Wheelwright, Richard Merrys, Richard Bulgar, Philemon Purmont, Isaac Gosse, Christopher Marshall, George Baytes, Thomas Wardell, William Wardell. [_Dr. Belknap from Boston Chh. Records._] "When Exeter came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, Mr. Wheelwright, being still under sentence of banishment, with those of his church who were resolved to adhere to him, removed into the Province of Maine, and settled at Wells. He was soon after restored, upon a slight acknowledgment, to the freedom of the Colony; and in 1647 accepted an invitation from the church in Hampton, and settled as colleague with Mr. Dalton." "After his dismission from Hampton church he went to England, where he was in favor with Cromwell, with whom he had in early life been associated at the University of Cambridge in England. After Charles II. came to the throne, Mr. Wheelwright returned to New England, and took up his residence at Salisbury, where he died, November 15, 1679, aged, probably, about 85 years." [_Dow's Hist. Address at Hampton._]

Neal, although his sympathies were with the opponents of Wheelwright, mentions him as being "afterwards an useful minister in the town of Hampton." Dr. Cotton Mather, while he justifies the proceedings of the court against Mr. Wheelwright, accounts him "a man that had the root of the matter in him." Having quoted at large Mr. Wheelwright's address to the government, Dr. Mather says, "Upon this most ingenious acknowledgement, he was restored unto his former liberty, and interest among the people of God; and lived almost 40 years after, a valued servant of the church, in his generation." Referring to some publications of the day, in which Mr. Wheelwright was charged with being heretical, Dr. Mather said, "_this good man_ published a vindication of himself, against the wrongs that had been done unto him." In this vindication were quoted the words of Mr. Cotton--"I do conceive and profess, that our brother Wheelwright's doctrine is according to God, in the points controverted." Mr. Wheelwright also produced "a declaration from the whole general court of the Colony, signed by the secretary," in which "they now signify, that Mr. Wheelwright hath, for these many years, approved himself a sound orthodox, and profitable minister of the gospel, among the churches of Christ." [_Magnalia_, II. 443.]

Dr. Mather's own opinion of Mr. Wheelwright was expressed in a letter to G. Vaughan, Esq., in 1708. "Mr. Wheelwright was always a gentleman of the most unspotted morals imaginable; a man of a most unblemished reputation." "His worst enemies never looked on him as chargeable with the least ill practices." [_Belknap's Biog._, III. 338.]

The sermon of Mr. Wheelwright which gave offence in 1636, is still preserved in manuscript. The Hon. Jeremiah Smith, late of Exeter, N. H., who had read it, and who was fully competent to judge of its legal bearings, said that he found in it no ground for a charge of sedition. The charge was "wholly groundless, there was not the least color for it." [_Judge Smith's MS._]

Mr. Wheelwright was settled over the first church in Salisbury, Ms., Dec. 9, 1662. [_Rev. J. B. Felt._] In 1671, at the ordination of Rev. Joshua Moody, at Portsmouth, Mr. Wheelwright gave the Right Hand of Fellowship. One of Mr. Wheelwright's descendants, of the ninth generation, Rev. Rufus Wheelwright Clark, is now pastor of that church in Portsmouth. Mr. Wheelwright's last will "names his son Samuel, son-in-law Edward Rishworth, his grandchildren Edward Lyde, Mary White, Mary Maverick, and William, Thomas, and Jacob Bradbury." [_Farmer's Geneal. Reg._] Thomas Wheelwright of Wells, was also a son of Rev. John Wheelwright. For an interesting account, containing other facts respecting Mr. Wheelwright, see "Collectanea" by Hon. J. Kelly, in Exeter News Letter, May 24, 1842.

Two of the descendants of the Rev. Mr. Wheelwright, of the seventh generation, are now living in Newburyport. Abraham Wheelwright, Esq., and Ebenezer Wheelwright, Esq., both merchants. The first is the oldest man in the place who is still able to walk abroad, having attained to the age of 90 years. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was distinguished for patriotism and bravery. He was in the field with Washington in most of his actions, and was several times taken prisoner by the British, but always effected his escape.

"The first church formed in Exeter became extinct a few years after its formation." [_Dow's Hist. Address; Farmer & Moore._] "An attempt was made by the remaining inhabitants of Exeter to form themselves into a church, and settle Mr. Batchelder, who had been minister at Hampton." This the general court prohibited, on account of their divisions; and directed them to "defer gathering a church, or any other such proceeding, till they, or the court of Ipswich, upon further satisfaction of their reconciliation and fitness, should give allowance therefor." [_Belknap's Biog._, I. 58.]

The _Rev. Samuel Dudley_ was the _second minister_ in Exeter. It does not appear that there was any formal church organization there, during his ministry. In some circumstances, a minister labored with a people several years, before a church was formally organized. Rev. Joshua Moody was ten or twelve years in the ministry at Portsmouth, before a church was gathered in that place.

Mr. Dudley was son of Gov. Thomas Dudley, who came to New England in 1630, and of whom Farmer speaks, as "a man of approved wisdom and godliness." Gov. Dudley was, however, among the most zealous of those who effected the banishment of Wheelwright. Cotton Mather says, "His orthodox piety had no little influence unto the deliverance of the country, from the contagion of the famalistical errors, which had like to have overturned all." [_Mag._, I. 122.]

A short passage from Farmer should be introduced here, not merely as relating to the persecution, which led to the settlement of Exeter, by Wheelwright, but as it gives a just representation of the Puritan character in those times. "Through the whole of his life, Governor Dudley opposed and denounced what he deemed to be heresy with an honest zeal, which, in these days of universal toleration, is sometimes referred to, as a blot upon his fame. But the candid and judicious, who are acquainted with the history of the Puritans, and the circumstances under which 'they came into a corner of the new world, and with an immense toil and charge made a wilderness habitable, on purpose there to be undisturbed in the exercise of their worship,' will never be found censuring and railing at their errors. They will rather wonder at the wisdom of the views, the disinterested nobleness of principle, and self-sacrificing heroism, displayed by these wonderful men, to whom the world is indebted for the most perfect institutions of civil and religious freedom known among men." [_Am. Quar. Reg._ Vol. XV. 301.]

Mr. Dudley of Exeter is noted in Fitch's MS. as "a person of good capacity and learning." [_Belknap_, I. 53.] He was born in England in 1606. In New England, he resided in Cambridge, in Boston, and in Salisbury. He was Representative of Salisbury in 1644. His ministry in Exeter he commenced in 1650, and died there in 1683, aged 77. In 1656 the inhabitants of Portsmouth voted "to give an invitation to Mr. Samuel Dudley, son of Thomas Dudley, the Deputy Governor of Massachusetts, to be their minister, and to give him a salary of eighty pounds a year." He accepted the proposition, and agreed to visit them the next spring; but it does not appear that he ever came. [_Adams's Annals of Portsmouth._] Mr. Dudley's first wife was Mary, daughter of Governor Winthrop. She died at Salisbury, April 12, 1643. He had a second and a third wife. Besides his descendants of the name of Dudley, there are numerous families in New Hampshire, and elsewhere, who trace their descent from Mr. Dudley of Exeter. Among his descendants were the wife of Gen. Henry Dearborn; the wife of Rev. John Moody; the wife of John Burgin; the wife of Gov. James Sullivan; the grandmother of Tobias Lear, Washington's secretary; and also the mother of Gov. Langdon. For a long list of descendants of Rev. Samuel Dudley, see Exeter News Letter, Aug. 31, 1846.

The _Rev. John Clark_ was the _third_ minister in Exeter.

A church, which continues under the style of the First Church in Exeter, was _organized_ in September, 1698. In the Hampton Church Records is the following entry: "1698. Sept. 11, Dismissed, in order to their being incorporated into a church state, in Exeter, Mr. Moses Leavitt, Mr. Henry Wadley, Jno. Scribner, Mrs. Elisabeth Clark, Mrs. Elisabeth Gilman, wife of Cap. Gilman, Mrs. Tipping, Mrs. Deborah Coffin, Goodwife Bean, Mrs. Mary Gilman, Mrs. Elisabeth Wadley, Mrs. Sarah Dudley, Sarah Sewal, Deborah Sinclar. And Mr. Wear and Cap. Dow were chosen, messengers of the church, to assist in the ordination of Mr. Jno. Clark, at Exeter." The persons who have been mentioned, as having been formerly admitted to the church in Hampton, (most or all of whom lived in Exeter,) constituted nearly half the number, who entered into a church state at Exeter.

The most ancient volume extant of the records of the present "First Church of Christ in Exeter" commences thus, "The order of proceeding in _gathering_ a particular Church in Exeter."

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The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. 1, No. 2, April 1847Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

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