THE FARM OF THE FIRST MINISTER. 47 



ten years, but was never settled. A little before the commence- 

 ment of the Revolutionary War, he relinquished the sacred 

 duties of the pulpit for those of civil life. 



On the fifth day of September, 1775, he was commissioned 

 by the Congress of the Colony of New Hampshire, Colonel of 

 the Third Regiment of Minute men of this Colony. 1 He was 

 a Paymaster of the New Hampshire forces, stationed at Winter 

 Hill in the early part of the Revolutionary War, and served a 

 campaign under General Sullivan. Later, he was a member of 

 the Committee of Safety. He was also a member of the Fourth 

 and Fifth Provincial Congresses, the latter, of which assumed 

 civil government by the adoption of a State Constitution, Janu- 

 ary 5th, 1776' He was also a member of the committee which 

 drafted and reported to the House of Representatives the mem- 

 orable Declaration of Independence which was passed by this 

 resolute body on the fifteenth day of June, 1776. 2 



x His commission, which has been preserved, has upon it the old Colonial 

 seal, bearing upon its face the device of a bundle of arrows, flanked on the 

 left by a fish and on the right by a pine tree; together with the legend, '-Vis 

 Unita Fortior." It is signed by Matthew Thornton, President, and counter- 

 signed by E. Thompson, Secretary. 



2 This Declaration was as follows: 



" Whereas it now appears an undoubted Fact, That Notwithstanding all the 

 dutiful Peticions and Decent Remonstrances from the American Colonies, and 

 the utmost Exertions of their best Friends in England on their Behalf, the 

 British Ministry, arbitrary and vindictive are yet Determined to Reduce by 

 Fire and Sword our Bleeding Countr^v, to their absolute obedience; and for 

 this Purpose in addition to their own forces, have Engaged great numbers of 

 Foreign Mercenaries, who may now be on their passage here, accompanied 

 by a Formidable Fleet to Ravage and Plunder the Sea Coast; From all which 

 we may reasonably Expect the most Dismal Scenes of Distress the ensuing 

 year, unless we Exert ourselves by every means and Precaution possible; And 

 Whereas as We of this Colony of New Hampshire have the Example of several 

 of the most Respectable of our Sister Colonies before us for Entering upon 

 that most Important Step of a Disunion from Great Britain, and Declaring 

 ourselves Free and Independent of the Crown thereof, — being propelled 

 thereto by the most violent and injurious Treatment; and it appearing abso- 

 lutely Necessary in this most Critical Juncture of our Public Affairs, that the 

 Honble the Continental Congress, who have this Important object under 

 Immediate Consideration, should be also Informed of our Resolutions thereon 

 without loss of time: We Do, therefore Declare that it is the opinion of this 

 Assembly that our Delegates at the Continental Congress should be Instructed, 

 and they are hereby Instructed to join with the other Colonies in Declaring 

 The Thirteen United Colonies, A Free and Independent State: Solemnly 

 Pledging our Faith and Honour, That we will on our parts Support the measure 

 with our lives and Fortunes;— and that in consequence thereof, They, the 

 Continental Congress, on whose Wisdom, Fidelity & Integrity we rely, may 

 enter into and form such Alliances as they may judge most conducive to the 



