Genealogy of Patty Rose
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| Notes for John HODSDON | ||||||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JOHN Hodgdon5, b. in Dover, N.H., Apr 22, 1745, m. Jan. 22, 1772, Susannah, dau. of Joseph and Elizabeth (Tibbetts) Hussey, b. in Dover, Jan. 28, 1750. From his childhood he was fond of reading, and in one way and another he managed to acquire an excellent practical education, though he attended school but seven days. He drew up all his contracts, deeds, bonds, and obligations of every description; was a good land surveyor, made neat plans of his work, and computed the contents by triangulation. One of the few amusements of his busy life was the solution of problems in "Thomas' Farmer's Almanac" and in the newspapers of that early day. On the 18th of November, 1771, he purchased of Joshua Corliss, for the sum of �217, 16s., the nucleus of the farm at Weare, on which he lived and died. A log house then stood on the premises, but he at once erected a small frame house (about 20 x 12 feet, still standing), which soon gave place to the substantial house now (1888) occupied by his grandson, Moses A. Hodgdon. John Hodgdon had the usual experience, with rather more than the ordinary success, that attends pioneer life. Forests gradually disappeared, barns were built, orchards planted; and by industry and economy, field was added to field, pasture to pasture, until the "Hodgdon farm" became one of the most noted in the country. He also owned land in Hillsborough, Antrim, Unity, New Boston, Fishersfield and many other towns. In 1799 he purchased of the "Westford & Groton Academy Grant" a large tract of land in the eastern part of Maine, on which the town of Hodgdon now stands. In company with others, he purchased unsold lands in an old grant called the "Packer Right," which involved him in much litigation. In conducting his numerous lawsuits, he manifested so much skill and ability, that the late Judge Jeremiah Smith once said: "I would rather have John Hodgdon associated with me in a land-suit than any lawyer of the New Hampshire bar." Gov. Samuel Bell, with whom John Hodgdon was associated in real estate transactions, notably one purchase of 31,600 acres in Grafton County, once made a similar statement. Judge Smith and Governor Bell were his council until they were severally raised to the Bench. To a grandson of John Hodgdon, Judge Levi Woodbury once said: "My first case was a land-suit, in which John Hodgdon was plaintiff, and much curiosity was manifested at the bar to see who would be the sucessor of Smith & Bell. The case was well prepared, and the jury gave me a verdict. This case was a great advantage to me, and from that time I had an established reputation, that gave me a very large docket." Many anecdotes are related in which John Hodgdon's ready sarcasm was very effective. On one occasion when he drove up to the court house at Amherst, where a crowd had assembled, a youthful aspirant to legal honors called out in a patronizing tone, "Well, Mr. Hodgdon, so you've come again!" "Yes," he replied, "but if I had no more business here than thee has, I shouldn't come." "We must look out for Mr. Hodgdon's sharp tongue," was a common phrase among the lawyers. Aside from his larger real estate transactions, Mr. Hodgdon bought and stocked many farms for others to cultivate, and was one of the founders of a factory at Hillsborough Bridge, which at one period he carried on alone. He interested himself in improving stock of all kinds. In 1812, he purchased, and brought from Exeter, in his chaise, a Merino buck; about the same time, he bought, on the Connecticut river, a Merino ewe, for which he paid $125, and ten half breed lambs for $300. John Hodgdon was a man of large and powerful frame, about six feet one inch in height; thin but muscular, usually weighing about 212 pounds. In politics he was an openly avowed Federalist, looking more at national than local interests. He had an abiding faith in the simplicity of Christianity as taught by the society of Friends, and was a constant student of its distinctively doctrinal works. He was a man of clear, vigorous intellect, sternly upright, always knew his own mind, and had little patience with indecision and inefficiency. He had an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, was quick in repartee and rhyme, as well as prose; pitiless in his satire against meanness and pretence, but kindly and genial. He died Jan. 15, 1821; Susannah, his wife, died Dec. 6, 1841. Children: Moses, Abigail. [ref 32:132] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JOHN b. 26 April 1741*; m. Susannah Hussey 22 Jan. 1772; d. 15 Jan. 1821 at Weare, N. H. [ref 33:533] *conflicting date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - children 1773-78: Moses, Abigail - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||||||
| Last Modified 27 Sep 2004 | Created 4 Jan 2005 |