HILLSBOROUGH.
��371
��the town had voted one hundred pounds for the support of schools, and soon thereafter added seventy-five pounds. No scholar then carried to school what would at that time he considered a whole library, such as our school boys are now obliged to study; and yet, with nothing but the •' Horn-book, ",the Psalms, Watts' Hymns, and the simple rules of Arith- metic, it was wonderful what expert scholars were then made — what stores of knowledge of real practical use were imparted to the young. What they learn- ed they thoroughly understood. It was simple but substantial, and not made up of myriads of somethings, which be- get the knowledge of almost nothing, as is said to be too often true with our more elaborate modern systems of tuition. Boys were then taught, when very young, such educational accomplishments as fit- ted them for the requirements of the age. They were brought to a high state of practical perfection, quite as early as our young people are now allowed to gradu- ate from school. They were prepared to meet the obligations imposed upon them, and not too proud [to commence at the bottom of any respectable industrial ladder.
REVOLUTIONARY NOTABILITIES.
The share which the men of Hillsbor- ough had in the Revolutionary War, as has been stated, was one more than cred- itable to the patriotism of her people. The progress of the contest with the mother country brought into glorious light the bravery of many of her volun- teer warriors. The previous French and Indian wars had taught some the art of war, among them Capt. Isaac Baldwin, who was the fifth in the list of the sec- ond settlers. As a ranger, he had fought in twenty battles : and when the news of the fight at Lexington reached his ear, which was at a barn raising in'Deering, he instantly hastened home, collected a band of his fellow settlers, the very flow- er of the settlement, and set out for Bos- ton, where they joined Col. John Stark's Regiment, and were engaged in the bat- tle of Bunker Hill. In the early after- noon of that memorable da}', Capt. Bald- win fell, shot through the breast, and
��died the same evening. Deep veneration for his memory exists to this day.
Ammi Andrews served through the war as a Lieutenant, first in Arnold's ex- pedition to Quebec, and in many of the Revolutionary battle-fields. He carried to his grave, at the advanced age of 97, the scars of many honorable wounds, lie was a man of singular valor, and an- ecdotes of his courage and intrepidity numerously survive. Among them was the feat of climbing the battlements of Quebec, stealthily approaching the senti- nel on guard, seizing, gagging and bring- ing him alive to the American camp.
Lieut. John McNeil was not more than twenty years of age when he joined Capt. Baldwin's company as a private, was with him at Bunker Hill, and by his side when he fell mortally wounded. He also fought under Stark at Bennington, and did emi- nent service during the war. He lived in Hillsborough after the war, leading a quiet, rural life, and died in 1836. His memory is cherished with gratitude, and his descendants have largely inherited his patriotic and other noble virtues.
Samuel Bradford was another of Capt. Baldwin's volunteers. He was almost a boy when he enlisted, was engaged in every battle the Regiment fought— won his commission at Bennington, and died respected by all.
Robert B. Wilkins, also a Bunker Hill hero, ever bore the character of a brave soldier. He was quartermaster of Gen. Lafayette's brigade, and saw service till the end of the war. When Lafayette vis- ited New Hampshire, in 1825, the inter- view between him and his old companion in arms was most affecting. Time had so changed Lieut. Wilkins that Lafayette did not, at first, recognize his old com- rade, whom he tenderly loved. An allu- sion to a battle field incident, made by Wilkins, caused Gen. Lafayette to care- fully scrutinize his features — and recog- nizing in the old battered warrior before him his brave and faithful comrade, he leaped from his horse, and, throwing his arms around Wilk'ms's neck, the two wept like children! Every head in the immense crowd that witnessed the scene was instantly uncovered, and the shouts
�� �
