Author: Everett Schermerhorn Stackpole

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-08-08

Total Pages: 598

ISBN-13: 9781974347834

The movement to publish a History of Durham was begun in 1885 by a vote in town meeting, authorizing the appointment of a committee by the selectmen for that purpose. The committee so appointed consisted of Joshua B. Smith, Winthrop S. Meserve and Lucien Thompson. In 1886, in response to a petition signed by this committee and by James W. Burnham, Benjamin Thompson, Hamilton A. Mathes, William P. Frost, Samuel H. Barnum, Henry B. Mellen, Albert DeMeritt, Joseph C. Bartlett, Ephraim Jenkins and John W. E. Thompson, the town voted an appropriation of I900 to assist in the publication of a History not to cost over I5 per copy, and added Ephraim Jenkins and Joseph W. Coe to the above mentioned committee. The committee had power to fill vacancies and was authorized to collect material and secure the publication of the history with such aid as they thought best. Printed circulars were issued, stating the scope of the proposed history, and also there were distributed five hundred circulars full of questions, especially soliciting genealogical information. To this circular there were but few replies. In 1887 Albert Young was chosen a member of the committee to take the place of Joshua B. Smith resigned. In 1889 Hamilton A. Mathes was chosen to fill a vacancy caused by resignation of Joseph W. Coe. Conferences were held with the Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D., and Miss Mary P. Thompson relative to the preparation of the history. Dr. Ham of Dover ofifered all possible assistance. Thus the records close, -to be reopened over twenty years later