The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-09
ALL ABOUT THE pIGRCE FAMILY.
Biographical Sketches of Governor sniamin
Pierce, the Father, and General
Franklin Pierce, the Son.
Tie Reception and Speech Of Gen. Pierce, on
his Return from the Mexican War.
THE EFFECT OF THE NOMINATION. ~
NRW HAMPSHIRE.
biographical Sketch or Governor Benjamin
Pierce, the Father Of General Franklin
&c, &c, &c.

Pierce, the Father OF General Franklin
Pierce.
MS EARLY LIFE-HE ENTERS THE ARMY or THE
REv0LuTI0N--RE BECOMES A CAPTAfN-REMovEs
TO NEW HAMPsHIRE--Is APPOINTED BRIGADE
MISUNDERSTANDING or niLLsB0RoUGu COUNTY =
ELECTED OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ER.
Noli-- RETliss FROM PUBLIC LIFE-pIES AT
HILLsRoRoUGn- HIS CHARACTERISTICS MONUMENT
Benjamin Pierce, the father of General FRANKLIN
Pierce, the democratic candidate for President Of
The United States. was born at Chelmsford, II town
near Lowell. in the Commonwealth of Massachu-
sctts in 1857 and, as he the of a farmer
his early life was devoted to agriculture Ho was
descended from a respectable Irish family, who
originally emigrated, along with many other Irish
emigrants, from Londonderry, in the north Of Ire
land, and settled in Now Londonderry, in New
Hampshire On the memorable nineteenth of April,
1915, the revolutionary committee of Boston sent
out courers in every direction, and of these
messengers came up to the door of the farm house,
while young Pierce, then only eighteen years of
age, was blowing in his fathers field; and having
delivered a brei message, fastened to arouse
the country to action 1t was the news of the batt,
OF Lexington which the stranger commissioned to
proclaim, and which, like trumpet's voice, reused
all tho Inhabitants of the land Young Pierce left the
plough, and, shoulderng his musket, proceeded on
foot towards Lexington, where he found on his ar
rival, that the troops had fallen back upon Boston;
and he proceeded to Boston, and enlising as pri-
waite soldier in the Army Of the Revolution was as
signed to the regiment commanded by Col. Brooks
In the battle of Bunker Hill, which occurred on the
18th Of June following, Pierce took part and from
that time to the close of the Revolution, he con
tinued in the service of the country, and followed
the fortune of bis regiment, fighting when it was
called into action, and attracting the notice and
winning the commentator of his superior officers
for his gallantry and good conduct, by which means
he rose gradually to the command of d company, so
that at The disbanding Of the Revolutionary Army,
in 1884, he held the rank Of captain. The leaders
of the revolution had been driven, by necessity, to
the issuing OF paper m.ney; ana in that currency,
already deprec'a,ing, the troops Were paid oil.
Pierce was amongst the sufferers; and when he set
out TO return TO ms native village, he found the con-
tinental money which he had received from Con-
gless 70 far appreciated. that the whole amount in
his rossession the arrears o. his pay for eight years
of service would not suffice for the pu chase OF n
farm Ap wac obliged like many other officers OF
the Revolution. TO 60 into the wilderness, where
lands cheap, aud begin the cultivation of Wild
land He removed to the State Of New HAMPSHIRE
into the town and county Of Hillsborough and hay-
irg made clearing, erected rude habitaion telling
the trees with his axe and procuring food for sasen
ance with his gun. In that town his son, Franklin
Pierce. was born and there lived until he removed
to Concord, the capital of the State, where he
resides.
In the autumn Of 1876, General John Sullivan,
who was then President Of New HAMPSHIRE and
whose grandson. John Sullivan, is now Attorney
General OF that State determined TO form the Mill
tia ofthe county of Hillsborcugh uo brigade, and
having sought out Benjamin Pierce, commissioned
him brigade major; and he being veteran
soldier Immediately took the necessary steps for the
perfect organization and discipline of the several
giments. He had already served eight years in the
regular army, aud he continued for twenty years
in the militia, leaving ID finally in the station Of bri
gadler general. Gen. Miller and Gen. John McNiel
(who a son-in law Of Benjamin PIERCE. both of
whom served with so much distinction in The of
1872 and the latter of whom recently deceased Mt
the city of Washington, both belonged, when they
were young men, to the militia regiment commanded
by the father of the democratic nominee; and it is
said that several other valuable oli0rs who have
distinguished themselves, have been proud TO de-
clare that they received their first lessons Of mill
tary discipline from Gen. Benjamin Pierce, in the
militia of Hilsborough.
From 1859 to 1902, he representative Of the
people in the Legislature of the State; and in 1903,
first elected member of the Governors council,
where he continued six years, five Of which were
passed in the council Of the celebrated Governor
John Langdon. This brings us to the year 1909.
Soon after that time, he was appointed Sheriff of
the county Of Hillsborough, which Office he held till
1873 In that year, at the June session of the Le-
gislature, change was made in the judiciary sys-
TEN CT hesitate. which resulted in abolishing the
nant party an opportunity to appoint their success
upon the bench. The name of the highest court
Of the state, which had been styled the Superior
Court of Judicature, was, by the new law, changed
to the Supreme judicial Court. Arthur LverInore
Chief Justice of the former court, was retained
an Associate Justice in the new one. Je
remiah 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 filled by Caleb Ellis, Of Claromont.
young but distinguished member Of the bar. This
nominal change IN the courts was made, as the re-
publican party contendcd, for the sole purpose Of
getting rid of the old court, and was unconsttu-
tonal. A warm controversy ensued, and both
courts sat and claimed right to administer the
law; during which time the public business Was
thrown into confusion, by the jurors and witnesses
sometimeS obeyng the summons to attend one
court and sometimes the other In consequence Of
the confusion resulting from this unsettled state of
things, Governor John Gilman, then chief mags-
tratc Of the State, convened the Legislature the
9th day Of October, several weeks earlier chan the
day to which it had been adjourned. At IN early
period of this session, Josiah Butler, sheriff of the
county Of Rockingham, and Benjamin Pierce, sheriff
Of Hillsborough, were removed by address Pierce,
however, elected four years successfully to the
Governors council, and ultimately again appointed
sheriff Of Marlborough county While holding that
Office event occurred, which strongly marked his
character and erected for him an enduring monu-
ment in the hearts Of the people. II was in tho
year lSlS mt the time when the enormous abuses of
the creditor over the debtor were exciting the at
tcntion of the people, and calling forth excavations
from the philanthropc and liberal everywhere. In
some instances the father of poor family was for
years immurcd in dungeon for the amount of the
prison charges, aud his family, meanwhile, re-
duced to paupcrism and beggary. No age, no con-
diton was exempt. The poor and decayed veteran
whose best years had been spent in the service of
his country, was often confined with feons and year
rolled on after year, leaving him in hopeless
imprisonment. In Amherst lail there were three
aged prisoners, one Of whom had groaned in
confinement almost four years. When Pierce
was appointed sheriff, he gave these prisoners no
tice that they were to be released, and appointed
day for their doliverancc, the 10Th of November,
1916 the moro grateful to the prisoners that IT was
70 occur Just at the coming on of winter. The in.
habants thought the occasion worthy of public de-
monstrations, and when they had assembled toge.
Their at the prison to witness the release the shor
Benjamin Pierce, having opened the prison door,
thus addressed the three prisoncrs -
Moses Brewer, Isaac Lawrence and George Ian.
| CIV tho return made mo hv tsraal w II iii .,