Joseph Dow

• General Notes
  • Joseph, the illustrious author of the History of Hampton, was well qualified for the work, his five ancestors in direct line having been town clerks for 100 consecutive years. He graduated form Dartmouth in 1833, received his A.M. in 1836, was salutatorian of his class, which included Judge Asa Fowler of Concord, Dr. Edward Spaulding of Nashua, Honorable James F. Joy of Detroit, John Ford LL D, and others of distinction. He bacame principal of Pembroke Academy for four years, then was in charge of the Gardiner, Maine Lyceum. The panic of 1837 came and the next year this school went down in the general crash. He then taught in academies at West Machias, Pompey, New York, and elsewhere until in 1862 he retired to his native Hampton. He was commissioned a major of the Militia in 1867 by Governor Isaac Hill. He was justice of the peace and quorum throuout the State. One of his first duties on his return to Hampton was to make a new survey of the town. In 1860 he was elected president of the New Hampshire Historical Society. He engaged in probate and other legal business, which brought him in contact with the old wills and deeds of Hampton. From 1852 to his death he devoted himself to writing the History of Hampton, which was almost finished. His daughter completed it within a year and published it. Little sale was anticipated for the two-volume work and the edition was small. It was not "pushed". After several years Miss Dow sold the "remainder" for a trifle to a dealer. For years it was obtainable at about the original price of $7.00. It is now (1929) worth about treble that. The book is the finest example of a New England town history is everywhere conceeded. No equal genealogical effort has ever been accomplished.