FOUNDERS OF FORT NO. 4, CHARLESTOWN, NH
From:	Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth

Surname:  BELLOWS
Source:     History of Charlestown, NH - Fort 4 - by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson,
pub. 1876
               
p.284
Peter Bellows was the oldest son of Col. Benjamin Bellows, the founder of
Walpole. He was born at Lunenburg, MA Jan 6, l739 and removed to Walpole with his
father the year he was l4.  At the age of 2l he was apptd constable of the place.  He
m. Mary Chase of Cornish, NH and settled at Charlestown, NH  He d. Apr 5, l825.
She d. Apr. l8, l830.

Rev. Dr. Bellows of NY  in his account of the Bellows family says "A good deal
has been said to me of Peter's bravery.  It appears he went to Ticonderoga, June
28, l777 just a fortnight before his father's death, as a private in Colonel
Walker's company.

"At the close of the celebrated Kilburn fight, which ended in the evening, the
occupants of Col. Bellow' fort were in a state of great anxiety as to the result,
fearing that Kilburn and his family had been killed.  The anxiety of Uncle Peter was
so great that he determined to ascertain their fate if possible, and for that purpose
he left the fort late in the evening and alone, to pass through what was then an unbroken
wilderness, and filled, as might be supposed, with Indians.   He crept through,
using all the caution of a hunter and at length arrived safely at Kilburn's house; and
having carefully reconnoitered and ascertained that it was still held by Kilburn, he
asked and obtained admittance and was the lst to congratulate him upon his successful
defence.

"He was distinguished for wit as well as for courage and could furnish very
good company to any body disposed to a merry time.  I have heard that he was famous
for the point and readiness of his repartees which he could even put into very
good rhyme at short notice; and among these witticisms was his own epitaph which is
described to me as exceedingly funny and smart, but I have not been able to
recover it"  The Doctor adds to this account.  "He was left many highly
respectable descendants.

p.285  The children of Peter and Mary (Chase) Bellows:

1.   Samuel Bellows b. l776 m. Martha ___; he d. April 5,l820. She d. Mar 8, l843 
     aged 77.  One child, Royal Bellows who d.June l6, l8l9 in his 28th year.
2.   Benjamin Bellows m. Polly Parker dau of Elijah and Elizabeth (Farwell)
     Parker on July 24, l79l.
3.   Peter Bellows, Jr. m. Mehitable Jacobs.
4.   Solomon Bellows b. Sept 9, l77_ m. Polly Hoyt 
5.   John Bellows b. Aug 25, l77- 
6.   Polly Bellows b. Jan 9, l782 m. Stephen Parker
7.   Betsy Bellows b. Apr l2, l785 m. Dr. ___Child.

p.285
Theodore Bellows was the son of Colonel Bellows by his 2d wife, Mary Jennison
whose maiden name was Hubbard.  He b. abt l762 m. Sarah Hutchins, dau of
Capt. Phineas and Abigail Hutchins and settled at Charlestown, NH  Their
children:
1.   Sarah Bellows b. Apr 8, l782 m. Walter Powers.
2.   George Bellows b. Jan 3l, l784 m. Clarissa Bellows
3.   Polly Bellows b. Oct 29, l785 
4.   Theodore Bellows b. Oct l0, l787 m. Elizabeth Davis
5.   Thomas Bellows b. Dec l2, l789
6.   Charles Bellows b. Apr 23, l79l d. Aug l6, l802
7.   Orlando Bellows b. June 30, l793 m. Maria Bleannett.
8.   Eleanor Bellows m. J. P. Baker.
9.   James Bellows b. Dec l2,l796 d. Sept l7, l802.
10. Abigail Bellows b. _ m. Charles Watkins.

p.286  In the sketch of the Bellows family, by Dr. Bellows, Theodore Bellows 
is thus described: "At the age of twenty, I find by one of the army rolls that
he was a sergeant in Capt. Peter Page's company of militia raised by NH
l780 (Colonel Nichol's Regiment) to join the Continental Army for the defence
of West Point. He served 3 months and fourteen days.  He was l7 yrs old when his
father died.  Being of a huge frame and lively spirits he was convivial in his
habits Misfortunes overtook his property but he had the blessings of a good and
constant brother in the squire, General Benjamin Bellows, who never failed to minister
to his necessities.  He lived the latter part of his life in Charlestown, NH  He more
than any one of our founders' children emulated his father in size and weight attaining
I believe over 300 lbs.  He possessed immense strength in his prime.  At one instance
when a trial was made of the strength of some horses by hitching them in turn to
a great iron cannon, and no one of them (horses) could drag it from its position,
Uncle Theodore (called "Thod") slipped his head into the collar and alone drew
the weight which no horse had been able to stir".

Theodore Bellows and wife Abigail had these children:
1.   Mary Ellen Bellows b. June l7, l804
2.   Abigail R. Bellows b. Dec 24, l806

p. 59
A garrison was sustained at Fort 4 from the time of Ensign Obadiah Sartwell's
death.  In the summer of l754 Governor Wentworth ordered a detachment of
60 men from the regiment of Colonel Joseph Blanchard of Dunstable for the 
protection of the frontiers on the Merrimac and Connecticut Rivers.  Colonel
Blanchard says in a letter dated Dunstable, Aug 29, l754, "The complement 
destined for Connecticut River marched in company and under the command
of Major Bellows."  This consisted of 18 men, officers included, of
which the following is the muster roll:
Lieut Benjamin Bellows,  Jesse Richardson, James Hewey, Henry Hewey, Amos
Kenney, Henry Hill, Joseph Richardson, James Page, John Lovell, Jr., Samuel
Parker, Jr.,  Timothy Beadle, John Martin, Sameul Stearns, James French, James
Whiting, Amos Whiting and James Hill.
(see also Potter's "Military History of New-Hampshire"

p.111 A letter dated July l3, l777 from Colonel Benjamin Bellows to the
Committee of Safety (full text)

p.l73 a letter from General Bellows to President Weare date Walpole Nov 29,
l78l (full text )  (it concerns liberation of prisoners, Messrs Bingham and
Grundy and the authority of Vermont)

p.l85 a letter from Benjamin Bellows to President Weare dated "Walpole, Jan 2,
l782 (full text) (it concerns Samuel King of Chesterfield and his conveyance to
Exeter.

p.l86 Excerpt concerning the release of prisoner Colonel (Enoch) Hale saying
he thought Hale's release took place between the 27th and 30th of Dec. l78l

p.l89  Letter to President Weare from Colonel Enoch Hale dated Walpole, Jan ye
11, l782.


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