By Muriel Bristol | September 20, 2024
Fifty Strafford County inhabitants petitioned Federalist NH Governor Jeremiah Smith (1759-1842), seeking reappointment of Strafford County Sheriff James Carr (1748-1829).
James Carr was born in Somersworth, NH, April 22, 1748, son of Dr. Moses and Mary (Gerrish) Carr.
Late in life, in 1819, when applying for a Bounty Land Warrant, James Carr recalled his military service during the Revolutionary War:
That he, the said James Carr, entered said service, as a Lieut. in a Company of Infantry commanded by Capt. Jonathan Wentworth, of the New Hampshire Regt. commanded by Col. Enoch Poor, some time in June 1775 ~ That in Novr 1776 he was appointed, and commissioned, Captain of the aforesaid Company, and in Decemr 1782 he was appointed a Major in the New Hampshire line; and that he continued to serve […] aforesaid, in the New Hampshire line in the service of the United States, from June 1775 until January 1784, when he was discharged from said service, at West Point, in the State of New York. That he was in the battles of Trenton – Princeton – Hubbardton, where he was made a prisoner & was sent to Quebec – Monmouth, & Newtown, in the Indian country …
(Several petitioners, including Milton’s William Palmer, Esq., had served also in the NH Second Regiment).
Former Major James Carr married in Dover, NH, March 5, 1785, Susanna Wentworth. She was born in Exeter, NH, August 2, 1760, daughter of Col. John and Abigail (Millett) Wentworth.
Somersworth, NH, sent James Carr to the NH House as its NH State Representative in 1791 through 1800. Federalist NH Governor John Taylor Gilman (1753-1828) appointed him as Strafford County Sheriff, in 1800, in which office he served until 1810.
The fifty Strafford County petitioners sought to have his expiring term extended through a reappointment by the NH Governor.
To his Excellency the Governor and the Honorable Council of the State of New Hampshire,
Respectfully represent the undersigned inhabitants of the County of Strafford, that as the time for the Appointment of a Sheriff of said County by the Executive will shortly arrive, and feeling as we do in common with the rest of the community, a sense of the importance of this Office to the public at large, and more especially to the interests of the County, deem it our duty with all deference and respect to your excellency and honors to submit to your wisdom the impressions which have been made on our minds in favor of the reappointment of Colo James Carr ~ That it is the favor’d lot of few men so to conduct in any public Office as to escape censure, is a melancholy truth, too notorious to be denied ~ this truth becomes more evident at a time when a contemplated vacancy calls into exercise the passions and feelings of the many toward an object, which one only can obtain ~
While we wish not to detract from the merits or qualifications of any rival Candidate, we cannot over look the honesty, integrity and faithfulness of the present holder ~ these, with the promptitude and alacrity with which the Soldier is to get forward at the call of our common Country, the zeal with which he espoused her interest, the part he took in her struggles for liberty and Independence, and the sacrifice of his health and the early part of his life for their achievement, together with the rank he holds in Society as a citizen, have twice recommended him to the Executive of this State, as a suitable Candidate for this Office ~
We trust this confidence has not been misplaced ~ Through the long period of ten Years, during which he has been Sheriff of this County, no suggestion of fraud, oppression, fraud or abuse of Office has been heard ~
Under these circumstances had not the officer strong, very strong claims to be continued and having these claims, what must be his feelings and the sentiments of an impartial public, should they perceive they weigh nothing with the present executive? ~ Will they not be apt to consider a non-appointment and a removal from Office, as a distinction without a difference? ~ Powerfully impressed with these considerations we cannot but view the reappointment of Colo Carr under existing circumstances as a measure which while it meets the approbation of the public at large will be in unison, not only with our own feelings and wishes but with those of a very great portion of the Citizens of this Country ~ January 22d 1810 ~
[Column One:] Saml Hale, Nathan Hoit, Aaron Wingate, Wm F. Atkinson, Ebenr Smith, Joseph Clark
[Colum Two:] Oliver Crosby, Benjn Thompson, Stepn Moody, J.P. Hale, Stephen Mitchell, William Sawyer, Samuel Pabody, D.C. Atkinson
[Reverse Side]
in favor of James Carr for Sheriff
[Column One:] Edward Sise, Luther Dearborn, Andw Gilman, Jacob Brown, Danl Wingate, John Pike, Jur
[Column Two:] Andrew Lovejoy, Josiah Moulton, Wm Woodman
[Page Two:]
[Column One:] John Ham, Moses Hodgdon, Saml Shepard, Richd Rust, Wm Barker, Joshua G. Hall, Richd Furber, Jabez Dame, Saml Bragg, Jur, Thomas Roberts, Caleb Hodgdon, Moses Wingate, Wm Perkins, Mark Walker, Walter Cooper, Ezra Greene, Christopher Howe, John Pike, Amos Wallingford, Stephen Sawyer
[Column Two:] Wm Palmer, Isaac Walden, John Plumer, Junr, Emerson Porter, Jonas C. March, Andrew Hayes, David Copp, John Fish, Joseph Plumer, Jabez Dore, John Mooney, Jos Harford, Hatevil Knight, Thos W. Hale, John Wingate, Joseph Leavitt, Ebenr Ricker, J. Wheeler, Andw Rollins, James Rollins, J.H. Woodman
Despite this petition, Sheriff James Carr did not receive his reappointment. He served Somersworth, NH, again as its NH State Representative, in 1810 through 1815.
James Carr died in Somersworth, NH, March 11, 1829. Susanna (Wentworth) Carr died in Somersworth, NH, August 4, 1833.
References:
Find a Grave. (2011, September 26). James Carr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/77117657/james-carr
Milton Observer 