Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/41

 THE HOME OF THE GILMANS.

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��in New Hampshire, and stands at the head of the tide water of the Piscata- qua river, but ships of three hundred and four hundred tons are built at it. Above (but in the same town) are considerable falls, which supply several grist mills, two oil mills, a slitting mill, and a snuff mill. It is a place of some consequence, but does not contain more than one thousand inhabitants. A jealousy subsists between this town, where the legislature alternately sits, and Portsmouth, which, had I known it in time, would have made it neces- sary to have accepted an invitation to a public dinner ; but my arrangements having been otherwise made, I could not."

Probably a greater number of dis- tinguished men have been in Exeter than in any other town in the state, Portsmouth and Hanover not except- ed. Its prominence, as the seat of leg- islative and executive power, drew celebrities there at the time of the Revolution, and for several subsequent years. Latterly, the fame of its insti- tution of learning, Phillips' Exeter Academy, has called the best brains of the land to the village on the Squam- scot. They have gathered there, states- men, like Webster and Cass ; schol- ars, like Everett, Sparks and Bancroft ; lawyers, like Hale and Dix, and scores of other brilliant names, to drink of the well of knowledge, and have gone forth again to spread the waters from bench and bar and pulpit, throughout the nation.

And Exeter has had great men of her own. There is a great deal in blood, and there was good blood among the early settlers. Exeter has furnished her full share of public worthies. Governors, senators, attor- ney-generals, judges, members of cab- inets, without number, have had their birth-place and residence in this vil- lage by the Squamscot. The intelli- gence and morals of her people, and the genius of her sons have been among the brightest ornaments of the Gran- ite State.

��Exeter is an old family town. One hundred years ago it was, as it is to- day, the abode of a dozen wealthy and aristocratic families. These owned ex- tensive possessions, lived in stately mansions, and their wealth was as abun- dant as their patriotism was approved. Foremost among these families were the Gilmans. Through all the colonial period they were a notable and influ- ential race. Members of the family held civil office from the time our colo- ny became a royal province up to within the memory of men now living. Edward Gilman, the ancestor of all the Gilmans of this state, came into New Hampshire soon after its first settle- ment, and among his descendants have been men in every generation, who have done honor to their coun- try, and whom this country has de- lighted to honor. Hon. John Gilman, the son of the preceding, was one of the councillors named in President Cutts' commission in 1679. He died in [70S. His son, Capt. Nicholas Gilman, was an officer of skill and de- cision during the Indian wars of Queen Anne's reign, was a friend of Col. Win- throp Hilton, and had command of a detachment that marched against the savages to revenge the death of that lamented officer in 1710. Hon. Peter Gilman was a royal councillor under John Went worth, and was the first to fill the office of brigadier-general in New HamDshire. Col. Daniel Gilman

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was one of the commissioners from New Hampshire, stationed at Albany, in 1756, to take care of the provisions furnished by the province for our troops quartered at Ticonderoga. He was also the colonel of the Fourth New Hampshire regiment of militia for many years. He was a grantee of the town of Gilmanton, and two of his sons settled there.

Nicholas Gilman, his oldest son, was born Oct. 21, 1731. The greater part of his life was passed at Exeter. He inherited his father's patrician rank, and early became a man of influence in his native village. In 1752 he pur- chased of William Ladd, Esq., the large

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