Public bequests to Charlestown, NH (Silsby Library)
From:	Farns10th@aol.com - Janice Farnsworth

Subject:  Public bequests to Charlestown, NH
Source:   History of Charlestown, NH by Rev. Henry H. Saunderson 1876
p. 709

Colonel Ithiel Homer Silsby, who died at Newton, MA in the summer of 1874, left
a will which contains several provisions of such interest to the town of Charlestown
NH as to require notice in this work (book).

Colonel Silsby was a native of Acworth, NH and Mrs. Silsby was also of that
town.  Both taught school at Charlestown and both succeeded not only in gaining
the strong attachment of their scholars but of the people; and that the attachment
of our citizens to Mr. Silsby was most warmly and heartily returned, we have most
incontrovertible evidence afforded us in his generous and noble bequest.  While
in Charlestown he also became involved in the business of keeping a hotel, which
he afterwards so honorably followed, and which was one means of opening his way
to the large possessions which, as he contemplated life as about closing, he so
bountifully and appropriately distributed.  From Charlestown, NH he went to
Saratoga where he became connected with the United States Hotel and from
Saratoga he removed to Boston and kept with great acceptance for many years
the United States Hotel there.  He aferwards kept the Winthrop House, his interest
in which he sold out a little before the great fire.   Newton, MA had been for some
time prior to his death, his home.  The following is the 8th clause of his will
which contains the provision to which reference above has been given:

8.  "I give ten thousand dollars to the town of Charlestown, N.H. in trust, upon
the conditions and for the purposes as follows, viz:  That said town shall accept
the trust and that said town will expend eight of the said ten thousand dollars in
erection of a building of face brick with stone trimmings, one and one half stories
high, the entrance of said building to be in the center on the front thereof, with a
room on each side for books and a reading room and over all a large room or hall."

The said building shall be calle the Silsby Public Library which name in raised
letters shall be cut in granite on the front of said building.  And that the said town
shall expend the remainder of said ten thousand dollars in the purchase of
suitable books for a Free Public Library and that said town shall keep said 
library for the full use of all the inhabitants of Charlestown under reasonable rules
and regulations and shall also permit said hall to be used for lectures, lyceums and
similar purposes under like rules and regulations" 

"It is my wish that said building shall be place on the Briggs Lot once so called,
on the corner of Main Street and the street that runs back to the old common,
the front of said building to be on Main Street where Mr. Briggs and Mr. 
Gorden once had their law offices." 

"This my gift to the town of Charlestown is in gratitude to its inhabitants who 
received me, a poor boy, in kindness, and ever treated me with consideration
and hospitality, and for whom, and for the beautiful old town wherein they live,
I have many pleasant attachments; and I trust and hope this library will be of
service to many of my old pupils and their descendants."

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