Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/309

 Windham, N. H.

��297

��ance of the pioneer. He was a lead- ing and respected citizen. He mar- ried Jenny McKeen,of Londonderry. Tlieir married life was long and pleasant, and they sleep side by side in the " Cemetery on the Hill." They are the ancestors of the Cochrans of Windham, and of Rev. W. R. Coch- rane, historian of Antrim, N. H.

��James Betton was born in Scotland in 1727-'28. He came to Windham about 1753, and died March 18, 1803. He settled in the north part of the town, and was a very active, popular, and influential citizen. He was for the time well educated ; was an auc- tioneer, surveyor, and justice of the peace. He filled all the prominent positions in town, and was in 1777 an agent from the state of New Hamp- shire to the seat of the national gov- ernment at Baltimore, and brought to New England a large amount of money with which to prosecute the Revolutionary war. He was the fa- ther of Hon. Silas Betton, who was born in Windham, Aug. 26, 1767. He graduated at Dartmouth college in 1787. Was a member of the house and state senate several years, mem- ber of congress from 1803 to 1807, and high sheriff of Rockingham coun- ty from 1813 to 1819.

��Lieut. Samuel Morison'^ was born in Ireland, at or near Londonderry, He was of Scotch blood, and his parents were C/mrier James Morisou,^ of Londonderry, N. H., and Mary Wallace. His grandfather, John Mor- ison,^ was born in Scotland, and emi- grated to Ireland previous to 1688, and resided at or near Londonderry. He and his sons and family were of

��the number of Scotch Protestants who during the famous siege and de- fence of that city in 1688-'89 were by the inhuman order of Gen. Conrad de Rosen, the French commander, driv- en beneath the walls of the city, suf- fering the pangs of starvation, and exposed to the missiles of death from the besieged and besiegers. They suivived, and were admitted into the city. He died in Londonderry, N. H., in 1736.

Lieut. Samuel Morison came to Londonderry, N. H., when a lad of 15 years. He located in Windham about 1730, and his home farm is still in possession of a descendant, its bounds unchanged. He is the an- cestor of the Morisons of Windham. He was well educated in Ireland, and became an influential man in this set- tlement. He presided in the first town-meeting, and in thirty subse- quent meetings of the free-holders, the last time in 1775. It may be of interest to state that the person who acted as moderator at the last annual meeting is a great-grandson of Sam- uel Morison, who acted as moderator of the first annual meeting 141 years ago. He was a member of the first board of selectmen, and acted in that capactity for seven years, and was clerk for four years. His intellectual power was robust and strong. His mind was broad, and his heart sensi- tive to the calls of the needy and un- fortunate. He was noted for his piety, and was held in the highest es- teem. He was a lieutenant in a Mas- sachusetts regiment, at Fort Cumber- land. N. S., in 1760.

He was a rigid Presbyterian, and was an elder in that church. In the town records he is alluded to as

�� �