The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-15
Biographical Sketches OF Governor BeDJamia
Pierce, the Father, and General Franklin
Pierce, the Son.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GOVERNOR BENJAMIN PIERCE,
THE FATHER OF GENERAL FRANKLIN PIERCE.
HIS early Hfe-He enters the Army Of the ReUolutton-
He becomes a Captaa-RemoUsS 10 ReD Hampdfe-I
Is appointed Brigade Major-Shsrtf Of Marlborough
County-ELected Representative CounelAor-GoUern-
or-Reiires from public Hfe-DieS al HiRSbOroagh-Hs
Characteristic Monument,
Benjamin Pierce the father OF General franklin Pierce
the democratic candidate for President OF the United
States was born at Chelmsford, town Lowell, in
the Commonwealth OF Massachusetts,, in 1857 and, as
he was the son OF farmer his early life devoted 10
agriculture He descended from respectable Irish
family who originally emigrated, along with many other
Irish emgrans from Londonderry in the north OF Ireland
and settled in New Londonderry in New Hampshire On
the memorable nineteenth OF April 1775, the revolution
airy committee of Boston sent out couers in every drec
ton, and OF these messengers came up TO the door
of the farm house while young Pierce then only eigh-
teen years of age, ploughng in his fathers field
and, having delivered brief message, FASTENED on TO
arouse the country to action II was the news oil the bat
tie OF Lexington which the stranger was commissioned TO
proclaim, and which, like rumpers voice, reused all
the Inhabitants OF the land. Young Pierce left the
plough, and, shouderng his musket proceeded on foot
towards Lexington, where he found, his arrival that
the troops had fallen back upon Boston and he proceeded
to Boston, and enstng private soldier in the army
OF the revolutions was assigned TO the regiment com
manded by Col Brooks. In the battle OF Bunker Hill,
which occurred on the nth of June following, Pierce
took part and from that time TO the close OF The
revolution he continued in The service OF the country
and followed the fortune OF his regiment, fighting
when i was called into action, and attracting the no
ce and winning the commentator OF his superior 9th
GERS for his gallantry and good conduct by which
means he rose gradually TO the command OF com
pany, that, at the dlsbandng OF the revolutionary
army, in 1884, he held the rank of captain The leaders
OF the revolution had been driven by necessity TO the is
suing of paper money; and in that currency aeadyd
preciatng the troops paid off Pierce was amongst
the sufferers and when he set out to return 10 his native
village, he found the continental money which be had
received from Congress far deprecated that the whole
amount his possession the arrears OF his pay Tor eight
years of service, would not suffice for the purchase OF
farm He obliged, like many other officers OF the
revolutions 60 into the wilderness where lands were
cheap and begin the cultivation of wild land He re.
moved to the State OF New Hampshire INTO the town and
county of Hillsborough; and having made clearing
erected rude habaton, telling the trees with his axe,
and procuring food for susenance with his gum In that
town his son, Franklin PIERCE was born, and there lived
until he removed to concord the capital OF the State,
where he now resides.
In the autumn of 17sG, General John Sullivan, who
then President OF New Hampshire and whose grand
son John Sullvan) is now attorney general OF tina,
State, determined 10 form the militia OF the county OF
HIsborough into brigade, and having sought ou Ben
jamin Pierce, commissioned him as a brigade major
and he, being veteran soldier Immediately took the
necessary steps for the perfect organization and discipline
OF the several regiments lie had already served eight
years in the regular army and he continued for twenty
years in the militia leaving IT finally in the station OF
brigader general. Gen. Miller, and Gen, John Mcneil,
who was a sonn. law OF Benjamin Pierce,) both OF
whom served with so much distinction in the war of
1872 and the latter OF whom recently deceased al the city
of Washington, BOTH belonged, when they were young
men, TO the militia regiment commanded by the father OF
the democratic nominee and L = sad thai several other
valuable officers who have distinguished themselves
have been proud 10 declare that they received their first
lessons OF military discipline from Gen Benjamin Pierce,
in the militia OF Hlsborough
From 1889 10 1909, he a representative OF the peo
pie IN tue Legislature OF The States and IN 1903 was first
elected member OF the governors council, where he
continued six years, five OF which passed in the
council of the celebrated governor, John Langdon This
brings us 10 the wear 500 Soon after that time be was
shrfu % HillsbOTOuph which
office be held till 1913 In that year, at the June session
OF the egs lature change made in the Judiciary
system oil the Stale which resulted in abollsnng the
Offices OF the existing judges and gave TO the dominant
party an opportunity to appoint their successors on the
bench. The name of the highest court in the State
which had been styled the superior court of judicature
was, by the law, changed 10 the supreme judicial
court. Arthur Livermore, chief justice OF The former
court, retained associate justice in the new
one. jeremiah Smith, of Exeter who had resigned his
seat the bench TO accept the office OF governor, was
again appointed chief justice The remaining seat was
gushed member OF the bar This nominal change in the
courts made, the republican party contended Tor
the sole purpose oil gettfg nd OF the old court, and was
unconstitutional. warm controversy ensued and both
courts sal aud claimed right 10 administer the law du
ring which time the public business thrown into
confusion BY the Jurors and witnesses sometimes obeyDg
the summons 10 attend court and sometimes the
other. In consequence OF the confusion resulting from
this unsettled state OF things, Governor John Gilman then
chef magistrate of the Stale, convened the legislature on
the 9th day OF October several weeks earlier than the
day 10 which il had been adjourned. AT an early
period OF this session. Josiah Butler, sheriff OF the county
OF Rockingham, and Benjamin Pierce, sheriff OF Hills
borough removed by address Pierce, however was
elected four years successfully 10 the governors coun-
cl and ultimately again appointed sherhof Hlsborough
county While holding that office event occurred
which strongly marked his character and erected for him
enduring monument in the hearts OF the people Ii was
in the year 1918, at the time when the enormous abuses
OF the creditor the debtor exciting the at
enon OF the people, and calling forth execratons from
the phianthTopic and liberal everywhere In some in
stances the father OF poor family for years mmued
dungeon CHARGES
his family meanwhile reduced to pauperism and
beggary. No age, no condition exempt. The poor
and decayed veteran whose best years had been spent
the service OF his country often confined with eons
and year rolled after year, leaving him in hopeless
Imprisonment In Amherst jail there were three aged
prisoners, Of whom had groaned in confinement al
most four years. When Pierce appointed sheriff. be
gave these prisoners notice that they were be released
and appointed day for their deverance the goth Of No
vembsr, lSlS,he grateful to the prisoners that II
was 10 occur just al the coming oil winter The in
habltanls thought the occasion worthy OF public demon
stratons and when they had assembled together at the
prison 10 witness the release, the sheriff. Benjamin
Pierce having opened the prison door, thus addressed the
three prisoners
Moses Brewer, Isaac Lawrence, and George Lancy
BY the return made by Israel w Kelly ESQ., my prede
Ia the office oil sheriff for the OF Marlborough
tappesrs that you, Moses Brewer committed, Dccem
Der -, 1914 and you, Isaac Lagranoe, limited,
December 81 1915 and you, George Lancy, July q 1917
/" My unfortunate felowoitzenst The feelings excited
by view Of your situation nexprossibe That those
heads svered by and hardship, and those hearts hrob
bling with kindly emotions, should he held for this long re-
riod OF time by their fellow czsns, without tbs mputaon
OF cTme in captivity unparalleled oven in the annals o
with sentiments OF mex ptesbe horror is than
nature Is able to endure To be mmured in dungeon,