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DANIEL WEBSTER was born on the 18th day of January, 1782, in the town of Salisbury, New Hampshire. His earliest ancestor, of whom the family has any certain knowledge, was Thomas Webster. He was settled in Hampton as early as 1636. The descent from him to Daniel Webster can be found recorded in the Church and Town Records of Hampton, Kingston, (now East Kingston) and Salisbury.

The family came originally from Scotland, two centuries ago and more. It is probable, however, from certain circunstances, that they tarried in England awhile, before emigrat ing to a new world. They did not bring over with them all the distinguishing peculiarities of their countrymen; the Scottish accent had become a mere tradition, in the time of Mr. Webster's father's father. The personal characteristics of the family are strongly marked: light complexions, sandyhair in great profusion, bushy eyebrows, and slender rather than broad frames attest the Teutonic and common origin of the race. Dr. Noah Webster,-the compiler of the Diction

ary, was, in personal appearance, the vera effigies of the

family.

The uncles of Daniel Webster had the same characteristics They were fair-haired, and of rather slender form. His father however, was of a different physical organization. No two persons could look like each other less than Ezekiel Websterthe father of Daniel-and either of his brothers. They resembled their father, who had the hereditary features and form; but Ezekiel Webster had the black hair, eyes, and complexion of his mother, whose maiden name was Bachelder. She was a descendant of the Rev. STEPHEN BACHElder, a man famous in his time, in the County of Rockingham, and towns circumjacent. There are many persons now alive in Kingston, who will tell you they have heard their fathers say, she was a woman of uncommon strength of character, and sterling sense. Daniel and his only brother of the whole blood, Ezekiel, alone of the five sons of Ezekiel Webster, had the Bachelder complexion; the others ran off into the general characteristics of the race.

Many persons in Kingston and collect Ebenezer Webster well.

Salisbury still live who re

They say his personal ap

pearance was striking. He was tall and erect; six feet in height; of a stalwart form, broad and full in the chest. His complexion was swarthy, features large and prominent: with a Roman nose, and eyes of a remarkable brilliancy. He had a military air and carriage,-the result, perhaps, of his service in the army. He enlisted, early in life, as a common soldier

in the Provincial troops, and during the war of '56 served under Gen. Amherst, on the north-western frontier; ac companying that commander in the invasion of Canada. He attracted the attention and secured the good-will of his superior officers, by his faithful and gallant conduct; and before the close of the war, rose from the ranks to a captaincy. Peace between England and France soon following the capture of Quebec and conquest of Canada, the Provincial troops were disbanded, and returned to their homes.

Previous to the year 1763, the settlements in New Hamp shire had made little or no progress towards the interior of the State, for more than half a century. The fitful irruptions of the French from Canada and the more constant if not more cruel assaults of their subsidized allies-the Indians-repressed any movement inward, into the country. To defend what they held, by a kind of cordon militaire of block-houses, was all the frontier-men hoped.

The session of Canada, however, to England, by the Treaty of Paris in 1763, removing the great obstacle to farther progress into the interior, the royal Governor of New Hampshire, BENNING WENTWORTH, began to make grants of townships in the central part of the State. Col. Stevens with some other persons about Kingston,-mostly retired soldiers, obtained a grant of the township of Salisbury, then called, from the principal grantee, Stevens'-town. This town is situated exactly at the head-waters of the Merrimac River: which river is formed by the confluence of the Pemigiwasset and Winni

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