Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/127

 PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS AT PORTSMOUTH. 109

��bly the office of postmaster as well as naval officer. His residence, which was also the Custom House as well as the first post-office, was located near the old ferry ways, where the stone store now stands, opposite the inter- section of Russell with Market street. In the Committee of Safety, at Exeter, July 27, 1 7S1, pursuant to a vote of the General Assembly of June 27. 1 7S 1, authorizing the establishment of a post to ride from Portsmouth to the western part of New Hampshire, John Balch, of Keene. was appointed post-rider for three months, at the compensation of seventy dollars in hard money for the entire service. The route was from Portsmouth \ia Concord and Plymouth to Haverhill ; thence down the Connecticut rivet- through Charlestown and Keene to Portsmouth ; the trip to be performed in each and every fourteen days, the committee reserving the right to alter the route if the public good or con- venience should require any change.

Names of Postmasters. D.ite of Appoi.ir.ment.

Eleazer Rus ell. (See sketch.)


 * Jeremiah Libbey, Feb. 16. 1790.

Mark Simes, April 1, 1798.

Jonathan Fayson, April r, 1812.

John F. Parrott. Fel>. 24, 1826.

Abner Greenleaf, April 22, 1829.

Samuel Cushman, Julv 2. 1840.

Samuel Gookin, May 19, 1841.

Nehemiah Moses, March 22, 1845.

Thomas L. Tullock, April 25, 1849.

Gideon H. Rundlett, April 4, 1S53.

Joseph P. Morse, March 27, 1861.

Joseph B. Adams, April 11, 1S65. Elbridge G. Pierce, jr., April 21, 1869.

Since writing the foregoing, we have prepared other tables, including collectors, naval officers and surveyors of the port of Portsmouth, and navy agents and naval storekeepers con- nected with the United States Naval Station on the Piscataqua. The names enumerated and herewith transmitted are well-known to the sons of Ports- mouth as, generally, citizens of repu-

Jau. 5, 1770. (Sie tketch)
 * .lert miitli Libbev was 1'ostmaster as early as

��tation, holding conspicuous places in our local and state history. A brief biographical sketch of each one would be interesting ; but the reading ot their names will readily recall their prominence and characteristics. We have a personal knowledge of at least four fifths of the officers whose appoint- ments date subsequently to the Federal Constitution, and almost feel prompted to characterize them. We shall, how- ever, only premise by mentioning those who held the offices prior to the date of the tables, so far as we can name them from the sources of infor- mation accessible at the present writ- ing.

About the year 1675 Sampson Sheafe, senior, was collector of the port of Piscataqua, and continued in office a few years. During his admin- istration several vessels were seized for a violation of the revenue laws, or the "laws of trade and navigation." He was successful as a merchant ; honored as one of His Majesty's Council, and also as Secretary of the Province. In 1711 he was appointed commi-s.try of the New England forces formed fur an expedition against Quebec. Mr. Sheafe was a native of Boston, and died there in 1726, aged 76. His descendants hecame promi- nent and wealthy citizens of the Province. His great-grand-son, the Hon. James Sheafe, an opulent mer- chant of Portsmouth, was a member of the Sixt-h Congress, and a United States senator, serving from December 7, 1S01, to June, 1802, when he re- signed. He was also the Federal candidate for governor of New Hamp- shire in 1816, but was defeated by William Plumer. Mr. Sheafe died December 5, 1829, aged 74.

March 22, 1680, Edward Randolph, the collector of customs for New England, appointed by the King, seized a vessel belonging to Ports- mouth, commanded by Capt. Mark Hunking, who brought an action against the collector before the president and council, and recovered judgment for £15 and cost. Walter Barefoote was

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