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  |              VOL. I.     JANUARY, 1847.     NO. 1.               |
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  |                           NEW ENGLAND                            |
  |               Historical & Genealogical Register:                |
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  |                                                                  |
  |                       PUBLISHED QUARTERLY,                       |
  |                                                                  |
  |                    UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE                    |
  |           NEW ENGLAND HISTORIC, GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY.            |
  |                                                                  |
  |              REV. WILLIAM COGSWELL, D. D., EDITOR.               |
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  |                          [Illustration]                          |
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  |                             BOSTON:                              |
  |                   SAMUEL G. DRAKE, PUBLISHER,                    |
  |                         NO. 56 CORNHILL.                         |
  |                              1847.                               |
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  |                                                                  |
  |            COOLIDGE & WILEY. Printers, Water Street.             |
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CONTENTS.


                                                                     Page.

  Memoir of John Farmer, M. A.,                                          9

  Genealogical Memoir of the Farmer Family,                             21

  Memoirs of Graduates of Harvard College,                              34

  Congregational Ministers and Churches in Rockingham County,
      N. H.,                                                            40

  Foreign Missionaries from Norwich, Ct.,                               46

  Passengers in the Mayflower in 1620,                                  47

  Major Pendleton's Letter,                                             53

  Capt. Miles Standish's Inventory of Books,                            54

  Juridical Statistics of Merrimack County, N. H.,                      54

  Biographical Notices of Deceased Physicians in Massachusetts,         60

  Extract from a Letter of Hon. William Cranch,                         65

  Letter from Rev. John Walrond to Rev. William Waldron,                66

  Form of a Family Register,                                            67

  Genealogy of the Chase Family,                                        68

      "     "   "  Dudley Family,                                       71

  Epitaphs,                                                             72

  Instances of Longevity in Belfast, Me.,                               73

  Scraps from Interleaved Almanacs,                                     73

  Decease of the Fathers of New England,                                74

  Notice of Governor Bradstreet,                                        75

  Sketches of Alumni at the different Colleges in New England,          77

  The Fathers of New England,                                           91

  Governor Hinckley's Verses on the Death of his second Consort,        92

  Biographical Notices of Physicians in Kingston, N. H.,                95

  Register of Births in Dedham,                                         99

  Anniversary of the New England Society at Cincinnati,                100

  Notices of New Publications,                                         100

[Illustration: G. L. Brown.

S. Schoff.

LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS AT PLIMOUTH 11ᵗʰ DEC. 1620.]

[Illustration: _T. Moore direxit, Boston._

JOHN FARMER, M. A.

Cor. Sec'ry N. H. Historical Society.

From a miniature painted in 1824.

_Engraved for the American Quarterly Register._]

                              NEW ENGLAND

  HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.

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  VOL. I.     JANUARY, 1847.     NO. 1.
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MEMOIR OF JOHN FARMER, M. A.,

LATE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.


John Farmer, who was the most distinguished Genealogist and Antiquary
of this country, was born at Chelmsford, Ms., June 12, 1789.[1] He was
the eldest son of John Farmer, who married, January 24, 1788, Lydia
Richardson, daughter of Josiah Richardson of Chelmsford, Ms. His father
was the son of Oliver Farmer, born July 31, 1728, who was the son of
Edward, born at Ansley, Warwickshire, England, who emigrated to this
country about the year 1670, and settled at Billerica, Ms.[2]

Mr. Farmer inherited a feeble constitution. From early life till death,
his appearance was that of a person in the last stage of a consumption.
But notwithstanding his great bodily infirmity, he was enabled by his
industry and perseverance to accomplish wonders.

From childhood, he was fond of books and study; ever diligent as a
scholar, and excelling most of his school-fellows in his acquisitions
of knowledge. Hours which, during recess or vacation, the more hardy
and robust would spend in athletic games and youthful sports, he was
disposed to employ in poring over books of history, geography and
chronology, inquiring after ancient records and papers, looking into
the genealogy of families, and copying and treasuring up anecdotes and
traditions of Indians and Revolutionary struggles. In his fondness
for writing, and for copying antiquarian, civil, ecclesiastical and
literary matters, he almost insensibly acquired a beautiful style
of penmanship, which gave to all his manuscripts a peculiar air of
neatness and grace. A favorite of the clergyman of his native place, he
was allowed free access to his books and papers, and thus he imbibed
those impressions of filial respect for the ministers of the gospel,
which he exhibited on all occasions through life. He regarded, with
great reverence, the clerical profession, looking upon the ministers of
the cross as indeed "the messengers of God."

At the age of sixteen, he became a clerk in a store at Amherst, N. H.
Here he remained five years, giving diligent attention to the business
of his employers, and devoting his leisure hours to literary studies
and correspondence. In a letter to the Rev. Hezekiah Packard, D. D.,
who had been his teacher before he went to Amherst, Mr. Farmer spoke
with affection and gratitude of his early Instructor; and in a reply,
dated Wiscasset, Me., Dec. 4, 1809, the Doctor says, "If any of my
friendly and religious counsels, or any books I put into your hands,
made deep and lasting impressions upon your tender mind, you will
join me in giving praise and glory to God and the Redeemer. I can
truly say of my pupils, as St. John did of those he had converted to
the Christian faith, 'I have no greater joy than seeing them walking
in the truth.' I am much pleased with the account you give of your
industry and progress. If you have no idea of a college education,
it might appear as useful to you to become more familiar with your
favorite branches, geography, history, the constitutions of our State
governments and that of our common country, as well as with the origin
and progress of wars, and other calamities of the eastern world." No
pupil, probably, ever more highly valued an instructor, than did young
Farmer; and that he placed a high estimate upon the teachings of Dr.
Packard, is sufficiently shown by his affectionate remembrance of him,
and by his pursuits in after life, and the results of his many labors.

In the course of the year 1810, finding the labors of his station too
arduous for his feeble health, Mr. Farmer left the store, and engaged
in teaching school, an employment in which he is said to have greatly
excelled. Two or three years previous to this, a literary association
for mutual improvement was formed at Amherst, the members of which
met weekly for debate, the rehearsal of pieces, and reading original
compositions. Of this society, Mr. Farmer was for about eleven
years the chief supporter, contributing largely to the interest and
usefulness of the meetings by his own performances, and by inviting
and attracting to it the young men of promise that were about him. The
neighboring clergy were made honorary members of it, and frequently
attended its meetings, and participated in the discussions.

While engaged in school-keeping, Mr. Farmer cultivated his natural
taste, and pursued, with industry, historical inquiries. In 1813,
becoming known to some of the Members of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, he was elected a Corresponding Member of it, and immediately
became a contributor to its Collections, which have been published.
In 1816, he published, in a pamphlet form, his "Historical Sketch of
Billerica," and furnished many valuable facts towards the materials for
the History of Chelmsford, afterwards published by the Rev. Mr. Allen.
In 1820, he published "An Historical Sketch of Amherst from the first
settlement of the town," in pamphlet form. In these two publications,
the marked peculiarities of his mind are strongly exhibited. He evinced
a memory wonderfully tenacious of particular facts, dates, and names,
sound judgment in collecting, selecting, and arranging his materials,
and an exquisite niceness and exactness in all the details of these
histories.

About this time, Mr. Farmer commenced the study of medicine with
Dr. Matthias Spalding, an eminent Physician of Amherst; but after
a few months, foreseeing that he should be unfitted to discharge
the laborious duties of the profession, he relinquished the study;
and in 1821, removed to Concord. He there formed a connection in
business with Dr. Samuel Morril, and opened an apothecary's store,
from which circumstance he received the title of _Doctor_. His feeble
health not allowing any kind of hard manual labor, or exposure to the
changes of weather out of doors, he, partly of necessity and partly
of choice, adopted a very sedentary mode of life. He was rarely away
from his place of residence. He deemed it hazardous for him to leave
home. In 1836, however, after a lapse of eighteen years, he visited
Boston, where he was treated with marked respect and attention by the
_literati_ of the city; but was quite ill, while there, and unable to
enjoy very much of what he expected from his visit. He soon returned
home, restored to comparative health.

From the time of his removal to Concord, Mr. Farmer devoted himself
_principally_ to what had become his favorite studies and pursuits. He
gathered together books of ancient date, early records of the towns,
and notices of the first settlers of the country; inquired into the
names, ages, characters and deaths of distinguished men of every
profession; and entered into extensive correspondence with individuals
who might be able to furnish him with facts, relating to the subjects
of his inquiry. In short, he soon became known as an Antiquary,
distinguished beyond any of his fellow-citizens, for exact knowledge of
facts and events relative to the history of New Hampshire, and of New
England generally. His mind was a wonderful repository of names, and
dates, and particular incidents; and so general and well established
was his reputation for accuracy of memory, that his authority was
relied on as decisive in historical and genealogical facts. And though
at times, he might have been inaccurate, it is to be remembered, that,
while he was the greatest Genealogist and Antiquary of the country,
he was also the _Pioneer_ in this department of knowledge; and while
some, who shall follow him, may _occasionally_ discover a mistake, the
_honor_ of _this_ is not to be compared to the _honor_ of _projecting_
and _executing_ such works as Mr. Farmer's.

In 1822, Mr. Farmer, in connection with Jacob B. Moore, Esq., commenced
a Periodical Miscellany, devoted principally to, "1. Historical
Sketches of Indian wars, battles, and exploits; of the adventures and
sufferings of the captives: 2. Topographical Descriptions of towns and
places in New Hampshire, with their history, civil and ecclesiastical:
3. Biographical Memoirs and Anecdotes of eminent and remarkable
persons who lived in New Hampshire, or who have had connection with
its settlement and history: 4. Statistical Tables; Tables of Births,
Diseases, and Deaths: 5. Meteorological Observations, and facts
relating to climate." Three volumes of this work were published.

In the same year he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts
from Dartmouth College; and in the following year he was complimented
with the appointment of Justice of the Peace for the newly constituted
county of Merrimack, but he did not deem the office of sufficient
importance, ever to act under his commission.

The New Hampshire Historical Society was established, May 20, 1823;
and, although Mr. Farmer was unable to be present at any of the early
meetings of its founders, he took a deep interest in its establishment,
and contributed much towards its organization and success. Though
he was never more than once or twice present at the meetings of the
Society, yet he never failed to communicate with the members, by letter
or otherwise, on such occasions. He was Corresponding Secretary of
the Society till his death, the duties of which office he discharged
with rare ability and fidelity. Of the five volumes of Collections,
published by the Society, he was on the Publishing Committee of four.
The fifth volume was wholly compiled by him, and all the preceding
volumes are enriched by his contributions.

In 1823, Mr. Farmer, with an associate, Jacob B. Moore, Esq., published
"A Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire, comprehending, 1. A concise
description of the several towns in the State, in relation to