Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-27

father was one OF the grantees OF the
town
About the year 1873 Thompson was
married to Sarah the daughter OF Rev
Timothy Walker she being at tho time
the widow of Col. Benjamin Rolle. lie
was % years OF age and his wife 81.
She wa rich and lived in the finest house
in Concord. known as the Rolfe mansion.
After Thompson lelt home at the break
ing out of the war OF the Revolution.
never 20 return to it, his wife continued
10 reside in the Rolfc mansion until the
time @. her death, which occurred On the
ly,h OF January. l792. Their ONLY child
Sarah wh1 became the Countess OF Rum
ford, was born oct. lS.h, 117t, in The
R9llc mansion, and died there in 1852.
Mrs. Thompson with. her former bus
band Rolle, had often visited Gov.
Wentworth at Portsmouth. and ihiIher
she toda, her young husband who soon
became an Object Of marked layori'i-m
The Governor shorty after promoted
hin 10 u maior,hip iu , Provincial R"gi
menl, IN NewhampsJire F-r - time
Thompson appeared aS gentleman
farmer. lie had broad acres to tin and
employed many lahoross. among whom
were deseueyS from The British army.
Then came on the Struggle between
the colonies aud the mother country
Thompson frequently visited Portsmouth,
was intimate with the Governor and was
ioa,5 accused ot being n tory Excite
u,u. ran hjsh and the Sons OF liberty
l,u .,tcd Dha, hc be summoned before a
e,nn.-cc 3D.. ,he people ot Concord &c"
sr,..rt. ... ,1,rsc lie denied tie
charge "a, uut nl.iues> to tic cause o!
the coioni>s. and was discharged. But
he was still dis,ru-ted. aud Iinal'y mob
gathered round his house determined to
hy violent hands upon him Bat he bad
escaped He sought refuge, az first, at
Woburn. and inally went to CharesIown
and Boston. Ills wile and child met him
at Wobu,u in Mly, l715. and he never
SAW his wife again. Thompson vas
arrested and tried before The Committee
ogSatcly while II Wubuyn, and was So
tXtsucraled al his treatment that te
determined to join himself To The enemies
OF ais coun,ry.He went to Eagland and
was appointed 10 a place in the colonial
Office under Lord Germaine. Here he
soon became such iavorite that he was
daily IN the habit OF dining with His
Lo.dship. Here be commenced his eX
pellments on gunpowder, having great
facilities at his command. lie was re
ceived with great favor into The best oi
society. and rapidly g,ew lich. lie was
elected member OF the Royal Society,
and became one OF its most prominent
members. lie deyi sed new code Of
marine signals, aud made great improve
meuts in naval artillery.
He vas finally appointed Lieut.. Colon
el in the British army, aud up his mind
10 90 into active service. He sailed from
Englandt or Charleston, South Carolina
for service in the Southern Department
He was subseq emily promoted to
Colonel. and placed in command OF a
Regiment vt Cavalry under Sir Guy
Carleton He served here until the cap.
tnre OF CORVALLIS and the close OF the
war. when he went back TO England.
He obtained permission TO travel on The
Continent. went to Paris and beeA me
acquainted with Cuyier and other
French Slpanis. who were ever after his
warm friends. lie returned 10 England
was kpigh,ed and received permission
n enter the service of the Eiector OF
Nnnich lie remained in this service
several wears where he had great irNn
erca lie wrote many essays on various
subjects. and did much Tor the improve
mont Of affairs IN the Kingdom. lie
Instituted reforms in almost every
d.p,rtmcn: of the civil and military
service II was here that he took the
d,l- Of Count Rumlord. lie finally re-
turned to Eagland, published his essays
sr.,rt.d several successful, economical
,rhcmcs. visited Ireland and iiually sent
or h.s daughter, who subsequent J
| i,incd him in England.
lie wrote = grea, many essays which
we're published in the Philosophical
Transactions ol the Royal Society, most
o, - hich gave the results Of his own
experiments. lie received The thanks
Of This and var;ous other Societies. and a
large number of medals were prepared
AMI presented TO him.
We haze not space to follow him far
,bsr in bis career. lie visited Munich
and spent some lime there with his
daughter. lie sponded with men
Of science all over the world. lie con-
,irpsJ his economical and scientific
experiments as long as he lived. In tie
pt,i.b Parliament he was the recipient
Of ercomiums Tor his benevolence and
b,.c.utiibutious TO domestic economy
He married for his secoad vile The widow
nj the celebrated Lavoisier, but the union
was not happy one. lie died n' AuteniI
France. in 1914. His death was much