Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-27
SeIrttt0 St0rp.
COUNT RUJIFORD.

About The ml..., ot the l.tu century,
Massachusetts gave lu;t TO ,wo men
aao became more distinguished Tor then
philosophical. researches. jl4u any two
which have ever been pyotaccd on ;he
sol. %, ,,is Continent. llcy were born
~. I.a .g,,yc mi-s ol each other. both
of Eas,.,l .,ucs.e aud in the humber
wa.k>o usc. Ole ol them was Benia
mia Fiauklio. OF whom nothing more
need be said. The other was Benjamin
Thompson. who will be the subiec, oi
this brief sketch. lie IS much better
known under another name, and because
be Iid uot become famous until alter he
had lef, America. there are many who
are not aware OF the fact that Sir Benja-
mia Thompson, better knowa As Couat
Rumiord. was born in America.
The Two men whom We have Just
named. though both became famous IN
ihe deld ol philosophy, were IN some re
spoc,s very unlike, Waen ihs war
broke cut which resu,ted in American
independence, Franklin Was 4 patriot
and Thompson a loya,ist. The former
was memberol the Continental Congress
and signer OF the Declaration OF lnde
pcudence. and the latter lied bis country
and loined the ranks oil her enemies.
We have no doub, that both acted con.
scienliou,ly and a their reason aud
sense OF justice dictated.
Benjamin Thompson and Ruth Sim
ouls were the parents OF Sir Benjamin
who was born. at Woburn at the resi-
deuce Of his grand parents Eoeneze'
Thompson and Hannah Conyers, March
49.b. 1893. His father died At the age
of a6. when he was less tl1u 20 months
o'd. and be was left 10 the care and sup
p3r, oi l.s grand parents. Three years
ai.,r hi, mother was married again to
Josiah Pierce, Jr. OF Wo5Ucu. and w'
/ believe afterwards moved with him 10
GorAam. Maine. They had a son Josiah
who was the father OF Hon. Josiah Pierce
who wrote "a history OF Gorbam
Young Thompson received a grammar
school education. and in l77G he was ap
pr.n,iced io Mr.. John Appel ct St'en
a wholesale merchant. lie early eNhio
,,l great ,ait aud ingenu,t, in draw'a!
/ designs and engraving. and some OF hi
-s.Ir attempts sre sill in cNiNtcnce. l.
. 400 he attended a French school 10 81
/ .ta. and became quite proficient Ia tina
...r..u4qe. Afterwards be attended lee
I,nr.sat Cambridge on Chemistry Ma'err
N,Jica and other Kindred subjects.
would seem ,hat he had abandoned tn
idea OF becoming i merchant and spsn
pol,ien of his time .eaching. i
-aurb,a, Bradford on The Nerrimae, sn'
Ms 80 wellHked that he was sent Tor L
l,.le charge OF q school Of higher 2rad'
IN Concord. The Indian name OF TIN
own was Pcnnacoos. and j, had beei
claimed by lbe Engiish as being within
,ile bcuud,ies OF Massachusetts, As SueI
il was incorporated by the name OF Kun
torl. from q town of tha, name nes
L.udon. Alter long period OF ag''a
lion. LAumcny was restored 10y al
abandonment by Massachusetts OF nc
pr,tentions. aud 10 commemorate IN
event The town Was called Concord. Il
compensate The proprieiors OF Concor'
7 ror their loss in litigation, the Massaehu
SETS General Court granted them
,owpsbia il Maine. This was first ca'ie'
N,w Peonnacook. but was incorporate
by the name of Ramlord, ard IS sitnale'
on the andre, cogsiu RIVER IA he count
oI Oxford. When Thomp.on was suose
qu ntly made a "COunt OF The iioi