Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-12-24
5Miscfltanp.
A Remarkable Centenarian.
An American who is as Old as the Nauo'
and whose Father threw British Tea int
Boston Harbor--the Honorable Career o
N Citizen Of. We Olden Time"

y
government celebrates hers. lie was
born at Newton, Mass, (then called New
town) April 9th, 1776, consequently he
will be one hundred years old next Apr.
His father, Samuel Hammond, was one
of the old patriots who set the ball OF
the Revolution in motion by throwing
the tea from the English vessel into Bos-
ton harbor. He had several children,
most of whom lived to a good old age.
One of these was Nathaniel, at one time
quite prominent citizen of Boston, hav-
ING been an alderman number of years,
State senator, director in the Boston and
Worcester railroad. ETC., and who died
only a year or two ago, aged nearly
ninety years. Samuel, the father with
his wife, moved from Newton to Wards
boro, Windham county, VT, where he
died Dec. 1S42, aged ninety-four years
His mind became impaired some time be-
fore his death, but while he seemed OBJ
| llNlOus 10 lue CuIIent SfSHtS VI eiiS N"y'
he would recount with much gusto the
doings of the Boston tea party. That
event seemed always fresh and green in
his memory.
; At the time they emigrated to Yer
mont-the west as it was then called
they left their oldest son, Peter, (the sub
iect of this sketch) with his maternal
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Rog-
ers. where he remained until his mother
made the journey on horseback after
him, and took him back to their new
home. a distance of 125 miles, much o
the way through the wilderness; thu
mother riding the horse while the lac
walked the whole way, occasionally in
}, dulging in the luxury of holding on tt
the stirrup for little rest. Peter wa
Immediately put to work, assisting il
;, clearing and subduing the land read,
for crops. As the country was new AM
rough, they were literally obliged t
earn their bread by the sweat of thei
brow" and he that "would not wor
neither could he eat" Then and ther
it was the young man sowed the seeds {
industry and economy and acquired
sound mind and body whereby he hi
been enabled to walk nearly one hundre
years on this earth, with fair prospe'
of yet many more years in store for hir
His physician says he has not disease
organ in his body, and he bids fair
commence bis second century muC
stronger than he did his first. His frien
hope he may yet be spared many yeal
When arrived at mans estate, he nat
rally soon commenced home of
de- own, and he was particularly fortuna
in in selecting partner for life in the pt
son of Charlotte Holbrook, daughter
Colonel AbEer Holbrook, then prom
81 nent citizen of that part of Vernon
They were married in the month of {
tober, 1902. She proved help m,
want indeed in every sense of the word
un- good wife, noble mother, an excel,
' neighbor and devoted Christian.
died in Troy, N. Y, at the residence
her son-in-law, Mr.. Alfonze Bills, il
1856, aged II years. They built no
soon after they were married, at W
IN Wardsboro, in which they lived toget
fifty-three years, in which eight child
we're born unto them, and from VIII
three of the same number were carr
to their last resting place. One s
> John r., who died in Illinois ninet
years ago, was at one time promln
lumber merchant at st. Louis. Anot
son, Joseph, now resides in Geneseo,
has lived there many years and has s
the growth of the place from sn
'''' country village to respectable 81
western city. He helped to organic
into city and was its first mayor,
adies' The other living children are Mrs. I
'ss ! soiO T. lor, Mrs. Bills and Mrs. King, the
'iSins two of Troy. Mr.. Hammond ownt
grist mill, saw mill and small farm
Z 90 90 was the first postmaster at West Wa
20 20 boro, then called Hammond's NJ
4gS which office he resigned after holdin
!. e e eighteen years He was also justice
y j ao ao the peace for many years and held '
i e g GUS other public positions of honor
:. 90 trust. No one ever accused him of
work traying a single trust or of approp
ing a single penny to his own use
did not rightfully belong to him. ]
had honest men in those days. /
one of the Oldest, and perhaps the oil
- Fres Mason in the United States, ha
taken his first degree in the fall of
ployess He was master of Mount Moriah 10
of Wardsboro, for a number of y
/ until the Morgan excitement, wher
oIvc lodge voted to disband very much agi
his wishes and judgment. He ye
8tips Of tains the masters jewel of office,
in Be ssl- is now a precious jewel to him, and