TITLE: Biographical Sketch of the Hon. John Plummer

SOURCE:  History of  the Town of Rochester New Hampshire, From 1722-1890      	      
         by Franklin McDuffee, A.M. edited and revised by Silvanus Hayward.     
         In two Volumes.-- Vol. I., Manchester,  The John B. Clarke Co.,
	 Printers.  ©1892.  Pages 115-117

SUBMITTED: Transcribe by C. Parziale 8/6/00

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                 LEADING MEN OF THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD

                           HON. JOHN PLUMMER

	John Plummer was an active and useful man in our town for many years
before and after as well as throughout the Revolution.  Interested in public 
affairs, and possessing a sound judgment with considerable energy of 
character, he gained an influence with the people, so that his opinion was 
authority on important questions.  His business experience caused him to be 
elected to many local offices.  No man in the history of the town has been so 
frequently chosen moderator of town meetings.  Nearly sixty times was he 
elected to this office.  He was an important committee appointed, of which he
was not a member.  At that time few persons had sufficient education or 
business experience to qualify them for responsible offices.  The people were 
almost exclusively engaged in farming, while the schools afforded no such 
advantages as at the present day.  The education even of the leading men of 
that time would be regarded very limited now.  Their success depended more 
upon native force and good judgment than upon knowledge derived from books.
  This fact must not be forgotten in estimating the character and abilities 
of men of that generation.  Mr. Plummer was the first magistrate appointed in
the town, "and by his remarkably conciliatory conduct was able to settle 
most disputes that came before him in an amicable manner, and was worthy to 
be called a peacemaker."  This expression well illustrates his character.  
His benevolent disposition was constantly manifested in acts of kindness to 
the poor.  By assistance, as well as good advice, he gained their friendship
and esteem.  He was well known beyond the limits of the town, holding 
acquaintance with the influential men of the State.  He was a friend of Gov.
Wentworth who showed his appreciation of his worth by appointing him Judge 
of the Court of Common Pleas in 1773.  Though perhaps some what restrained by 
this friendship of the British Governor, from radical opposition to the royal 
government, yet his loyalty to the American cause is unquestionable.  He was 
hardy and athletic with an iron constitution.  Witty and humorous, he was 
very fond of company, especially that of the young.  After the Revolution, 
his house was much frequented by his old companions in arms who always found
a hearty welcome and hospitable entertainment, and many hours were spent 
talking over the events of the war .  He was a man of much popularity, for 
his kind-heartedness made him beloved by the whole community.  No person’s 
feelings were more easily moved in behalf of the poor and distressed, whose 
sufferings he was ever ready to relieve.  If the corn crop happened to be cut 
off, the poor for miles around knew who had a goodly store left over from 
which their wants would be freely supplied.  He often pleaded the cause of 
the poor in court, without fee or reward, and sometimes volunteered his 
services in defense of the unfortunate.  In such cases, he was listened to 
with marked attention, and seldom failed of success.  The town manifested its 
confidence by choosing him the first member of the Committee of 
correspondence.  He hastened away -- a volunteer delegate -- to the 
Convention at Exeter immediately after the battle of Lexington, and rendered 
various services to the Committee of Safety during the war.  When an 
independent State government was established in 1776, such reliance was 
reposed in his patriotism and integrity, that he was re-appointed to the 
Judgeship.  He retained this office until his voluntary resignation in 1795,
at which time he was Chief Justice.  He was a member of the constitutional 
convention in 1778.  As a farmer he was successful, and was a stock-raiser 
upon a large scale.  His affairs were managed with economy and skill, and he
acquired large tracts of land which were inherited by his children.  He died
Nov. 19, 1815, at the advanced age of ninety-six years.
	Of Judge Plummer’s ancestry little is known.  His parents resided at 
Dover Neck, from which place he came with several brothers and settled in 
Rochester.  Descendants of these families are now quite numberous in this and 
neighboring towns.  Judge Plummer’s natural endowments, benevolent 
disposition, and patriotism, rather than his moral character, gave him 
position.  He whose duty it is to enforce the laws, ought to set the example
of obedience.  But Judge Plummer was no Puritan.  The town treasury received
frequent accessions by his numerous fines for breaking the Sabbath.  Even 
to-day, tradition recounts his notorious amours, the memory of which is 
preserved as faithfully as that of his revolutionary services.
	Judge Plummer’s first wife was Elizabeth, sister of Col. Titcomb of 
Dover, a distinguished and gallant officer in the Revolution.  After her 
death he married Lydia Dennett of Portsmouth.  The following amusing account 
of his courtship is from "Brewster’s Rambles about Portsmouth":--


"Like a good housewife in those days, when no factories were in operation, 
the widow Dennett kept her flock of sheep, and attended to the various 
processes of converting their product into cloth, and her fame extended 
beyond the limits of the town.  Near the house is a good spring which still
flows as of old.  It was a time of wool-washing.  laying aside her widow’s
weeds, dressed in a leather apron, a man’s broad brim hat and other apparel
to match, she was washing her wool at the spring, when a stranger on 
horseback approached and inquired for the residence of widow Dennett.  
Nothing daunted she pointed to the house, directing him to the front door, 
while she stepped round and entered the back way.  He was not long in waiting
before the lady of the house in comely apparel appeared.  The gentleman 
introduced himself as John Plummer of Rochester.  He had heard of her good 
reputation, said perhaps it was too soon to come a courting, but would ask 
the privilege in proper time of proposing himself to her favorable 
consideration.  In due time Judge Plummer came again, and they were married. 
They lived happily together many years, and their gravestones in Rochester 
record the ages of each at about ninety years.  Whether he ever inquired who 
it was he found washing wool at the spring, we have never been informed."

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