VOL. IX.

Nos. I., II.

As the thoughtful traveller passes the wayside school-house in some remote rural district of New England and catches a glimpse of the tow-headed boys and girls, he sees not only future American sovereigns, but the blueblooded descendants of the Puritan and Scotch Covenanter;-boys, whose ancestors overturned princes, fought and died for principle, and founded a nation, -boys upon whom will devolve the future prosperity of the United States. From the hill-side farms have gone forth the financiers, writers, orators, and statesmen who have so far guided and directed the destinies of this country; while the wisdom exercised in conducting the affairs of each township, or miniature commonwealth, is a school in statescraft of the highest order.

New England weather, with its extremes of heat and cold and sudden changes, illustrates the theory of the survival of the fittest. The hardy constitution inherited from stalwart sires and noble mothers, a boyhood and youth passed amid the health-giving and invigorating occupations of farm life among the hills of New Hampshire, a character, partly inherited, partly formed by precept upon precept and the most loving and tender guidance, mens sana

in corpore sano, fit a young man to enter the arena, assured of success, to struggle for the prizes given only to the victors. From the ranks of such young men are recruited the great actors in the political and social drama.

Hon. Charles H. Burns, of Wilton, scarcely needs an introduction to the people of New Hampshire. From his start in life as a farm lad he has won a distinguished rank among the lawyers of the State, as a legal student, as an advocate of rare eloquence, and as an orator broad in his views, and swaying great audiences by his well chosen words. Mr. Burns is a representative of the two peoples, or races, who have made a marked impression not only on New Hampshire and New England, but on American history; the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Scotch Irish clans who migrated later were his forefathers.

For many generations his ancestors have been sturdy, liberty-loving, Godfearing, upright, and honorable citizens, yeomen ready to do service for their country and for their faith. The Burns family is of Scotch origin, whose annals are lost in the oblivion of border warfare and antiquity. The pioneer ancestor, John Burns, was born in 1700,

came to this country in 1736 from the north of Ireland, and settled in Milford in 1746, where he died in 1782. Thomas Burns, the son of John Burns, married Elizabeth Hartness, of Lunenburg, Mass., and settled in Milford, where he died at the age of eighty.

Samuel Burns, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hartness) Burns, and grandfather of Charles H. Burns, was born in Milford, September 17, 1779; married February 12, 1801, Abigail Jones, a woman of great strength of mind, and of most excellent character, and settled in Milford. He was a strong man, frequently elected to responsible offices, serving the town ten years as one of the selectmen, and died of brain fever in the prime of life, September 20, 1817. His funeral was the largest ever held in Milford.

Charles A. Burns, son of Samuel and Abigail (Jones) Burns, was born in Milford, January 19, 1809; married December 31, 1833, Elizabeth Hutchinson, of Milford, and settled in his native town. They were both people of the highest character, and well known for their intelligence and worth. They were the parents of Charles H. Burns. The father died of fever January 25, 1857. The mother, Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Burns, born in Milford, June 18, 1816, and now living, traces her descent from Barnard Hutchinson, who in 1282 was living in Cowlan, in the county of York. He was an esquire, and married at daughter of John Bagville, of one of the oldest families of Yorkshire. From their oldest son, John Hutchinson, (1) Richard Hutchinson, the pioneer ancestor of Mrs. Burns, traced his descent. He was born in England; married December 7, 1627, Alice Bosworth; resided in North Markham, and in 1635 migrated to America. The following

year he was in Salem, Mass. He died about the year 1662.

2. Joseph Hutchinson was born in England in 1633, and was brought to this country in his infancy.

3. Benjamin Hutchinson married (1) Jane, daughter of Walter and Margaret Phillips; married (2) January 26, 1714, Abigail Foster; died in 1733.

4. Benjamin Hutchinson, son of Benjamin and Jane (Phillips) Hutchinson, was born in Salem, Mass., January 27, 1693, and married February 7, 1715, Sarah, daughter of John and Mary (Nurse) Tarbell. He was a man of large wealth.

5. Nathan Hutchinson, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Tarbell) Hutchinson, was baptized February 10, 1717; married Rachel Sterns, and was one of the first settlers on the territory within the present limits of Milford. He died January 12, 1795.

6. Nathan Hutchinson, son of Nathan and Rachel (Sterns) Hutchinson, was born in Milford, which was then a part of the town of Amherst, in Febri ary, 1752; married, in 1778, Rebecca, daughter of William and Rebecca (Smith) Peabody; was a farmer, and died December 26, 1831. She was born January 2, 1752; died February 25, 1826.

7. Abel Hutchinson, son of Nathan and Rebecca (Peabody) Hutchinson, father of Mrs. Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Burns, and grandfather of Charles H. Burns, was born in Milford, August 8, 1795, and married January 22, 1815, Betsey, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Bartlett. She was born October 26, 1796, and died August 23, 1873, in Milford.

He died February 19,

1846. Of this union was born, June 18, 1816, Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Burns.