A memoir of Judge Ebenezer Thompson of Durham New Hampshire - wi

J R H A M N II / /r^0 A MEMOIR Judge Ebenezer Thompson DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS PARENTAGE AND OFFSPRING BY HIS GHEAT-GRANDDAUOHTER, MARY THOMPSON P " Tell me wht ancestors were ilim \_Parinata to Dante.'} Inferno, Canto X [Printed for private circulation only.'] 'RINTED BY THE REPUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION 1886 1762950 JUDGE EBENEZER THOMPSON AND HIS PARENTAGE Among at the the prominent men in New Hampshire Revolutionary period was the Hon Ebenezer Thompson, Councillor of the State under the temporary constitution, and again under the state constitu- member of the Committee of Safety, Judge for many years of the Court of Common Pleas, Justice of tion, the Superior Court of Judicature, incontestably the most eminent town of Durham; for He etc., etc ever born Gen Sullivan, though a was not a native of the Durham, however man citizen, place insignificant at the present one of the oldest towns ment, is noted in history for the is in the in mo- the state, and is repeated and cruel attacks of the Indians in the wars of the seventeenth and eigh- teenth centuries It was then known as the Oyster River settlement, so called from a branch of the Piscataqua that flows directly through the hilly and somewhat picturesque village, which stands at the head of tide-water about two miles from the mouth of the river Half a mile distant, towards Madbury, on a height slowly ascending' Thompson homestead, been the is in pos- The presby Judge Thompson himself, session of the family from the ent mansion was built on the the way, all that has always grant first of an older one in which he was born site This house has been scrupulously kept unchanged in its principal features, by pied his and is now owned and same large rooms of hospitable tic occu- There are the great-great-grandson aspect, characteris- of the builder, with low ceilings, heavy mouldings and cornices, corners, a huge shafts of timber framework in the good deal of wainscoting, small panes of glass in the windows, and in " hall-chamber," the specially reserved for guests, the same paper on the walls as a century ago The 72 1, who first house on is first was father, mentioned as being the year 1707 year, Robert ley, this spot by Judge Thompson's On built as early as Robert by name, at Oyster River in the 17th of September in that Thompson was with Capt Samuel Ches- a brave officer just returned from Port Royal, and eleven others, engaged when, as Belknap they were suddenly relates, tacked by a band of " French who, with a terrific yell, fell in clearing the forest, Mohawks suddenly upon them and killed eight or nine of their number, — among them Captain Chesley and his brother James John Pike, at- painted red," in his Journal, states that The Rev the Indian who 8o Thomas ried Allison, an early settler of Barrington, where he discovered ed a forge iron ore the use of the colonists obtained They were Benjamin F Butler, Another was a captain One in till the great-grandparents of Gen of their sons, also named James, the Revolutionary army, and a at He was with Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Major Andrew McClary when the latter was slain at Bunker arms when he his mem- Another son, Robert, gallant ofificer in for ex-governor of Massachusetts rendered good service his, and erect- a better quality could be ber of Gen Lee's body-guard Stillwater his land, Mary, married James Morrison of sister, Nottingham on manufacture of iron utensils for the Hill, and received that fell A son of the Hon Robert Morrison of Portsmouth, N H (born June 30, 1797), died Nov 23, 1884 in Northwood, N H., : 8i Children of Ebenezer Thompson'* and of Jane Demerit his wife I d May 15, 1869; m., Sept b Aug 15, 1821 Nancy G Carr of New London, N H He the Thompson homestead, where he established Ebenezer,^ 26, 1843, inherited ; himself at his marriage, and where all his children were born II William,^ 1845, b Oct 27, 1S23 Mary Jane Chapman May Oct 24, 1824; died called father, ; he was a of expression Mary May New 20, 1852 " Torr farm," on Mast road, man He left 1859; m., Jan He in i, who was born inherited the so- Durham Like his much humor and originality no children Pickering,^ born Nov of this Record 7, Market, of fine physical proportions, and of a genial, generous nature, with III d of 19, 1S25 The compiler 82 Of the children of Ebenezer Demerit, the only one who EBENEZER THOMPSON,^ May and He was 1869 15, intellectual man a Thompson^ and Jane left issue b was Aug 182 15, ; d mind of keen, active He was specially familiar New England colonies, tastes with the early history of the and began He to collect materials for the history of ham was shrewd and energetic and laborious frugal licitous for In treasurer, in and first for several years He He was schools, and was so greatly was overseer of the 86 efficient a " for Metcalf, interested he received a vote of thanks his in schools in this town," similar nature in the — one Capt public superintendent that at the annual town- assiduity, and interest common of the few votes of a whole town records Ebenezer Thompson married, Sept cy Greeley Carr of July 13, the taken, and zeal manifested, in the cause of New 26, 1843, Nan- London, N H.^ daughter of Samuel Carr (or Ker, inally written) so- took a appointed Justice of the Peace for 1855 in business, and carefully selectman and town the county of Strafford by Gov meeting Dur- and held several town politics, 1855 he was He was poor his habits, the welfare of his family strong interest offices in in as the name was and of Nancy Greeley his wife orig- On — 83 Thompson descended from the paternal side, Mrs John and EHzabeth (Wilson) Ker, Scotch-Irish emigrants, who came to Chester, N H., in 1736, bring- ing with them a valuable testimonial of their moral worth from their pastor lowing is in Ireland, of which the an exact copy from the original " That John Ker and his wife Elisabeth fol- : Wilson lived within the bounds of this Congregation from their Infancy, behaveing themselves soberly, honestly free of any Publick Scandall, so ceived as ety members of any where God in and piously, may be re- Cristian Congregation or Soci- may Providence Certified at Bally wollen, that they June order their 23, 1736, lott, is by "Ja: Thomson." Mrs Thompson's mother was the daughter of Jonathan Greeley^ Esq., don, N H., in 1795 rity, member a leading who He was of the one of the early benefactors town Among Greely, the his man celebrated Arctic his uncle New Lon- of great integ- Baptist church, and academy of that to the grandnephews Hon Horace Greeley, of the scended from settled in a is Lieut A W And the explorer New York Tribmie, de- 84 Children of Ebenezer and Nancy G Clarence Greeley,® b April I N H., Aug ARTHUR^ II III b Sept 20, Ella PICKERING^ d in 1846; Dec b Nov d offices, He was Manchester, 11, 1847 10, 1846 ; in the also a member for 1881, 15, many years it in the legislature for four years of the state senate, and belonged to He descended from Joseph the governor's council built the May of the town, holding the chief affairs and representing Thompson d at the She married, 15, 18S2 Hon Joshua B Smith, of Durham, prominent who ; : 30, 1877 homestead, June the 1845 13, Thompson Smith garrison Smith, Oyster River that escaped at destruction in the Indian attack of 1694 The following notice Dover Enquirer o{ the "In Durham, June 15, of Mrs Smith appeared in ]\ine 29, Mrs Ella P Smith, wife of Hon Josh- ua B Smith, and daughter of the aged thirty-four years and six late Ebenezer Thompson, Esq., months and favorably known as an amateur her death cannot fail to excite ous friends and acquaintances at the celebrated where she was much regret of great merit, and among Rimmer, edge of art-anatomy her numer- art education School of Design, Cooper Union, New for York, had completed a thorough Here she at once attracted the the director of the school, special pains in developing her talent guished This lady was widely artist She received her sent as soon as she course of English studies notice of Dr 1882: who took and giving her the knowl- which her productions are distin- In 1S69 she received the highest prize of the school, 85 sixty dollars in gold, for remarkable for from the " Stephen," an original painting St following year she painted " The in oil its model her much admired live The Beggar Maid," rich Rembrandt-like coloring Baby," suggested by Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies." ; statuette, and executed " The Water "The of fairy tale graceful pose and anatomical correct- ness of this statuette attracted the attention of Frank Leslie, the known journalist, who purchased the first copy "Miss Thompson subsequently resided several years well N H., where she chester, many admirable exceptional artistic talent, and her of traits Art Association, and several of her works were exhibited Music Hall, at the state fair of 1874, and obtained Society ton, for her Soon after, a medal from the Agricultural silver she had a studio on Tremont street, Bos- among other works, she executed a fine bas-relief "Madonna and Child," and a statuette, "Mother and Several of her productions are to be seen in the art child." rooms at Manchester They have common grade of amateur inality In fact, art, directed by the fair to the she seldom copied the works of others, but rules of art, lively imagination well and a decided creative talent that render her distinguished " Returning to her native place, Miss Mr Smith, excellent much above a character and give proofs of genuine orig- produced original designs indicative of a bade in having the post of honor, where, of the to Man- She became a prominent member of the Manches- character ter in excited interest on account of her May 15, 1881 judgment and guished her Thompson was married In domestic practical good sense life she showed the that always distin- She was not only capable of directing but was well skilled herself in every knowledge of which she regarded accomplishment ; and she seemed as the true to others, branch of housewifery, the woman's highest ennoble the lowest house- hold duties by the very manner in which she performed them — 86 "She joined the Congregational church at Durham in 1869, and, though unostentatious in her piety, had strong religious convictions and her moral influence was constantly ; felt by those brought in contact with her Mrs Smith was most valued where she was " In social life best known tastes were strong, Her mental refined qualities were of a high order, her and elevated, her friendships generous and and her sudden death in the prime of life leaves a sad void in the circle of her relatives and friends." Mrs Smith one left Ella Thompson' IV Francis,*' b b b June 15, Feb 23, 1849; V Annie Louise,^ VI LuciEN,^ ^ child, b June June 3, 1882; d Oct 23, 1882 d Sept 16, 1849 8, 1857 1859 He inherited the Thompson homestead, where he resides, and, with the exception of his great uncle, who representative of Benjamin Thompson's is unmarried, is now line the only male ... A MEMOIR Judge Ebenezer Thompson DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS PARENTAGE AND OFFSPRING BY HIS GHEAT-GRANDDAUOHTER, MARY THOMPSON P " Tell me wht ancestors were ilim \_Parinata... was the daughter of John Davis (son of James Davis, who, was the largest tax-payer 1646, in Mass., and representative a Haverhill, in of that town General Assembly of Massachusetts Bay who came... to and found affixed to a document indicative of his interest in the moral welfare of the place his lands, does not appear that employ a school-master, and 15, for a have a also to separate parish