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

Surname: SUMNER
Source:  History of Charlestown, NH - Fort 4 by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson
1876

p.575
Frederick Augustus Sumner the son of Benjamin and Prudence (Hubbard) Sumner
of Claremont, NH was b. in 1770.  He fitted for college and entered Dartmouth
in 1789 but after remaining at that institution a part of the course, took up his
connection with it and entered at Harvard College where he grad. 1793.  On graduating
he decided on pursuing the legal profession and immediately commenced the study
of law in the office of Hon. Benjamin West of Charlestown, NH; and was a fellow
student, as he had been in his collegiate course, with the Hon. John C.
Chamberlain.  On being admitted to practice in the courts of the state, in 1796 he
opened his office in Charlestown where the remainder of his life was spent.

Mr. Sumner in 1803 was elected town-clerk and held the office sixteen years in
succession.  He was again elected in 1823.  In 1804 he was chosen one of the
selectmen.The next year he was chosen 1st Selectman and was continue in the
same position fourteen years.  He also in 1823 held the same office.  He was
postmaster many years and erected for his office the building now nearly in front
of the Town Hall, on the corner of Main and Summer Streets.  This office he left at
10 o'clock A.M. in his usual health Aug 13th, 1834 and before noon he was dead.

Mr. Sumner was a good business lawyer but did not excel as an advocate.  He
was deficient both in copiousness and fluency of speech.  What he said was
sensible but was often uttered with such hesitancy, especially in his attempts to
address a public assembly that he seldom spoke either in court or at political
gatherings.  He opened the Democratic Convention in Baltimore in 1832 to which he was a
delegate, by a carefully prepared political speech, "On the mutual advantages of the
North and South to each other," which was highly spoken of in the papers of his
political party at the time, and has since occasionally been quoted.  But his public efforts
in that way were few, and owing to the characteristics mentioned, not usually attended
with great success.  He was a person much esteemed and what certainly is no small
encomium, was a peace-maker in his profession.

Esquire Sumner as he was usually called, married May 16th in 1801, Mrs.
Abigail (Bailey) Stone who was born in Newbury, VT but was educated at Newburyport,
Mass.  She was the widow of Captain Phineas Stone.  By this marriage there
were 6 children all born at Charlestown.  (note: by the marriage to F.A.Sumner)

1.  Frederic Augustus Sumner, Jr. b. 1802 grad Harvard 1823 took M.D. degree
     from Harvard Medical Dept. 1827.  He m. Sarah McFarland and est. himself in
     Boston where he d. 1873.
2.  George W. Sumner b. 1804 studied medicine but never practiced; was active in
     business in Charlestown until his death Aug 14th 1840.  He m. Charlotte 
     Marryat Tucker of Bellows Falls.
3.  Catherine Sumner b. 1806 m. James Breckenridge Sumner and settled at
     Hartland, VT from which place she removed to Dalton, NH where she d. May
     17th 1874.  
4.  Martha Brandon Foxcroft Sumner b. 1808 m. James S. Blanchard of Boston and
     d. 1827.
5.  Kaleb Ellis Sumner b. 1812 grad Dartmouth 1833 d. Feb 15, 1840.
6.  Sarah Sumner b. June 8th 1819 m. Mar 5, 1838 Thomas Swan Weld of Boston,
     Mass.,
                 1.  Sarah Sumner Weld b. Jamaica Plain, MA Dec 16, 1838
                 2.  Francis Minot Weld b. at Dalton, NH Jan 17, 1840.
                 3.  Louisa Sedgewick Weld b. at Jamaica Plain Sept 22, 1843 m. (2)
                      May 9, 1851 at Dalton, NH Donald Thane.
                            1.  William F. Thane b. NYC Mar 1, 1852
                            2.  Frederick A. Thane b. at Lock Haven, PA Aug 28, 1857
                            3.  Mary Engersol Thane b. at Buffalo, NY Aug 6, 1860
p.576
Mr. Sumner built the house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Harriet M. Baker 
which during the last years of his life was his home.  None of the family now
remain in Charlestown.
              

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