History of Pittsfield, (Merrimack County) New Hampshire United States of America

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Biographies:

Samuel Gardner Drake, antiquarian, was born in Pittsfield, N.H., Oct. 11, 1798; son of Simeon and Love Muchmore (Tucke) Drake, and a descendant of Robert Drake, who emigrated from England about 1642 and settled in Exeter, N.H., as a merchant. In 1818 Samuel Gardner became teacher of a school in London, N.H., and in 1819 and 1820 taught in New Jersey. He continued to teach in his native state until 1825, meanwhile taking great pleasure in collecting old books. In 1828 he embarked in the book auction business which proved a failure and was discontinued in 1830. He then opened an antiquarian book store on Cornhill, Boston, the first store of the kind in the United States, and it was well patronized by book collectors. Mr. Drake became interested in the aboriginal history of the country and made exhaustive researches for his "Book of the Indians" (1834; 11th ed., 1851). In 1845 he took an active part in the formation of the New England historic, genealogical society, was its first corresponding secretary, 1845-56, and its president, 1858-59. In November, 1858, he went to England to collect material for his books and remained abroad two years. He received from Union college the honorary degree of A.M. in 1843. His principal publications are: A Reprint of Church's History of King Philip's War (1825); Indian Biography (1832); The Book of the Indians (1833); The Old Indian Chronicle (1836); Indian Captivities (1844); Genealogical Memoir of the Family of Drake in America (1845); Life of the Indian Chief, Brant (1848); News from New England (1850); Memoir and Pedigree of Cotton Mather (1851); Old Dorchester (1851); Prince's Chronology (1852); History and Antiquities of Boston (1856); Result of Some Researches Among the British Archives for Information Relative to the Founders of New England (1860); Memoir of Sir Walter Raleigh (1862); Mather's History of Philip's War (1862); Early History of New England (1864); Annals of Witchcraft in the United States (1869); and History of the French and Indian War (1870). He died in Boston, Mass., June 14, 1875.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Moses Norris, senator, was born in Pittsfield, N.H., Sept. 16, 1799; son of Moses and Comfort (Leavett) Norris; grandson of Moses and Susannah L. (Gordon) Norris, and of Benjamin and Esther (Towle) Leavett, and a descendant of Nicholas and Sarah (Coxe) Norris. Nicholas Norris, of English extraction, born in Ireland in 1640, came to America as a stowaway about 1654, and settled in Hampton and subsequently Exeter, N.H. Moses was graduated at Dartmouth college in 1828; was admitted to the bar in 1832, and settled in practice in Barnstead, N.H. He removed to Pittsfield and from there to Manchester, N.H., in 1849, where he continued his practice. He represented Pittsfield in the New Hampshire legislature, 1837-40 and 1842, and was speaker in 1840. He was a member of the governor's council in 1841, and was state solicitor for Merrimack county in 1843. He was a Democratic representative from New Hampshire in the 28th and 29th congresses, 1843-47, was again a representative in the state legislature, 1847-48, and speaker in 1847. He was elected to the U.S. senate as successor to C. G. Atherton, whose term expired, March 3, 1849, and he served until his death, J. S. Wells completing the term. He was married to Abigail Brown, daughter of Atkins and Rhoda (Choate) Todd of Portsmouth, N.H. He died in Washington, D.C., Jan. 11, 1855.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor