THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, October 28, 2010
23
WASHINGTON VISITS NEW HAMPSHIRE
Reprinted from The New Hampshire Sunday News April 8, 1984
by George Woodbury Just once in his life did
Gen. George Washington visit New Hampshire. He spent only five days, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 9, 1789, and was entertained at the state’s two largest cit- ies, Portsmouth (popula- tion 5,000) and Exeter (population 1,000). Both communities at that time took turns as the capital of the state’s government under a curious alternat- ing arrangement. In the autumn of 1789
the United States was only 6 months old. George Washington, general of the continental armies and national hero, had been inaugurated as the first President in New York in April of that year. He had attended the first session of the First Congress in New York that had ended in September. It was quite natural that
Washington would wish to visit all parts of the newly formed republic, espe- cially those he had never seen in the course of his campaigning. The near- est he had ever come to New Hampshire was when he assumed command of the ragtag and bobtail continental army in Cam- bridge, Mass., at the onset of the great struggle. The source of informa-
tion about Washington’s New Hampshire sojourn is taken from his own diary. Indefatigable diarist that he was, he maintained a detailed journal of his day to day life and the impres- sions gained. Edward Everett, one of
New England’s literary greatest, was the first to have access to those
George Washington’s only visit to New Hampshire was from Oct. 31st to Nov. 9. 1789.
private volumes in 1858, long before they were pub- lished. New Hampshire- historian Judge Elwin Page published a compre- hensive book on Wash- ington’s New Hampshire visit. Traveling from New York
by private coach, Wash- ington and his entourage of two private secretaries and corps of servants rid- ing-horses, with a wagon load of baggage, reached Boston after nine days on the road. It would not have taken so long, but everywhere through Con- necticut and Massachu- setts he had to halt for re- ceptions, fetes and public gatherings. The Virginian was the
most famous American in existence. Every village and hamlet insisted in doing him homage, and he, always the courteous gentleman, was careful to slight no one.
Similarly it took him an-
other seven days to reach Portsmouth from Boston, crossing over the Merri- mack River at Salisbury
because the ferry at New- buryport was wider. On the New Hampshire bank “he was received by the president of the state of New Hampshire (General Sullivan), the vice presi- dent, some of the Coun- cil, Messrs. Langdon_and Wingate of the Senate, Col. Parker, Marshall of the state and many other respectable characters as well as several troops of well clothed horse, in handsome uniforms and many officers of the mili- tia, also in red and white uniforms, the manufac- ture of the state. Washington showed wonderful endurance and stamina in bearing up un- der the deluge of doggerel odes, eulogies, prayers and addresses by promi- nent politicians that were poured upon him. Every- body who was anybody in Portsmouth had a turn. The tall dignified Virgin-
ian gentleman responded with fitting humility, al- ways briefly and always to the point, something which could not be as honestly said for the spate
of flattery decanted over him at every turn. The next day, being Sun-
day, was somewhat more trying. Most of the fore- noon was spent attending service at the Episcopal Church where Mr. Ogden, the incumbent prayed all over him. The afternoon was dedi-
cated to attending service at the “Presbyterian or Congregational” church where Rev. Buckminis- ter did likewise. “Dined at home (Col. Brewster’s Tavern) with the Marshall and spent the evening in my own room writing let- ters,” Washington wrote in his journal. In amongst the wine and
dinners, speeches, odes and addresses, frequently punctuated by the efforts of amateur musicians and bands, Washington was taken deep sea fishing. Sailors in white smocks rowed the President out into the harbor where he dangled a cod line without success. One of the sailors made up for it. He wet a line too See HISTORY on 34
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