Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/392

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MAJOR SAMUEL HUTCHINSON.

��How much was realized upon it does not appear.

Mrs. Shepard died in 1817. Her estate was appraised at $12,144.50. Of this amount, $5660, two farms and various articles of personal property were parcelled out by her will in lega- cies, and the residue she bequeathed to-.'JVIaj. Hutchinson, whom she ap- pointed her executor.

After Gen. Shepard's death, Maj. Hutchinson extended his business widely. He established a commercial house at Potsdam, N. Y., under the management of Samuel Partridge, who had been with him some years in the store at Alstead, whom he admitted to a partnership. On similar terms he opened another store at Canton, N. Y., which was in charge of Sartel Pren- tice, a native of Alstead. Of the home establishment he continued his personal supervision. His ventures were successful, the opportunities being chosen with much prudence and sagac- ity. All were in full operation up to the time of his death.

The title, by which he was best known in his day, he received by com- mission from Gov. John Taylor Gil- man, who appointed him on the staff of Maj. Gen. Shepard, with the rank of major.

On the 6th of May, 1804, Mr. Hutchinson married Hannah Pratt, daughter of Levi Pratt, of Pomfret, Vt., who was born in Middleboro', Ms., 7 July, 1 783. Their children, all born in Alstead, were : —

1. Thankful Cadvvell, born 9 June, 1805 ; married, 1827, Elijah Bingham, a brother of Hon. James H. Bingham (Dart. Coll. 1801), with whom he studied law. In 1835 they removed to Cleveland, O., where both are still living (1879), in the enjoyment of hon- orable old age.

2. Hannah Emily, born 6 Jan., 1807 ; married Charles F. Brooks, of West- moreland.

3. Amos Shepard, born 21 April, 1809; married (1) Harriet E.White, of Plattsburg, N. Y. ; (2) Ann DeWitt, of Cleveland, where he died 26 April,

��4. Samuel Richards, born 28 Oct., 181 1 ; married Catherine M. White, of Plattsburg ; removed to Cleveland, where she died 2 Jan., 1855, and he 1 Oct., 1S69.

5. Susan Pratt, born 1 Aug., 181 3 ; married Geo. W. Lynde, of Cleveland, and died 25 July, 1853.

6. James Bingham, born 31 May, 18 15 ; married Sarah Cook, of Cleve- land ; removed to Madison, Ind., where both are s'ill living.

7. Elisha Cheney, born 28 May, 181 7 ; died in infancy.

8. George Cheney, born 6 April, 18 19 ; died in Cleveland, 26 April, 1838.

To Elijah Bingham, Esq., above named, I am indebted for the principal facts relating to Major Hutchinson. Concerning Mrs. Hutchinson he says :

" By the death of her husbund, she was left with the care of these seven children, the oldest not fourteen years old. But she had an abiding sense of a parent's duty, and her good judg- ment never forsook her. She sent her children to the best schools, and had the satisfaction of seeing, in after years, that she had pursued the right course.

  • * * * She was a noble woman ; no-

ted for deeds of charity and benevo- lence ; always ready to contribute of her means to every good work. She lived the life of a consistent christian."

After her husband's death her pa- rents came from Pomfret and resided with her ; she ministering to their com- fort and supplying their wants. Her father died in 1846, aged ninety-seven ; .her mother in 1848, aged ninety-two. After this she disposed of her property in Alstead, followed her children to the west, and spent the remainder of her days with them, dying at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Bingham, in Cleveland, 21 May, 1867, aged eighty- four.

Major Hutchinson was a life-member of the New Hampshire Bible Society, to which he left a legacy of $500, and also $1000 to the Congregational church in Alstead. Hon. James H. Bingham, his legal advisor, was named bv him executor of his will, who as-

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