Draft:Ebenezer Thompson

Ebenezer Thompson (March 5, 1737 – August 14, 1802)^[1]^[2] was a justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1795 to 1796.

Born in Durham, New Hampshire, Thompson studied medicine and practiced it until he became engaged in political affairs.^[2]

In 1765 he was chosen as selectman of Durham, and re-elected for the next ten years. In 1766 he was representative in the provincial legislature, which position he filled until the Revolution. He early espoused the patriot cause, and December, 1774, was one of the parly that dismantled Fort William and Mary, at New Castle, of its ammunition. Governor Weutworth deprived him of his commission of justice of the peace for this open act of resistance to the royal authority. He was a delegate to the several provincial congresses elected by the people between the breaking up of the royal government and the adoption of the first written constitution in 1776, and was a member of the committee of safety from May, 1775, to January, 1781 ; was chosen a member of the council in 1776, and remained such until 1781. During the Revolutionary period he was frequently placed upon the most important committees; was twice appointed delegate to the continental congress, but declined the office. From 1783 to 1787 he was clerk of the court of common pleas in the county of Stratham, when, in 1787, he was made one of the judges of that court. In 1795 he was appointed to the Superior Court, but resigned after about a year's service. In 1796 he was again appointed a judge of the court of common pleas, and served as such until the close of his life. In 1792 he was an influential member of the convention to revise the state constitution, and was a presidential elector in 1792, 1796 and in 1800.^[2]

He died suddenly at Durham at the age of 65.^[2]

Ebenezer was a son of Robert and Abigail (Emerson) Thompson, and was born in Durham, March 5, 1737. His early education was conducted under the advice of Dr. Joseph Atkinson, who afterwards made Thompson bis heir. He was prepared for the profession of medicine, and practiced till he became engaged in political affairs, after which he substantially abandoned it. In 1765 he was chosen a selectman of Durham, and rechosen for each of the ten years succeeding, and in 1766 he was representative in the provincial legislature, a position which he continued to fill until the Revolution. He was early recognized as an opponent of the acts by which the British ministry attempted to abridge the liberties of the colonies, and in December, 1774, was one of the party that dismantled Fort William and Mary at New Castle of its ammunition. For this overt act of resistance to the royal authority he is said to have been deprived of his commission of the peace by Governor Wentworth.
He was a delegate to the several provincial Congresses which were elected by the people between the practical dissolution of the royal government and the adoption of the first written Constitution in January, 1776, and was made a member of the Committee of Safety from May, 1775, to January, 1781. He also held the office of secretary of New Hampshire from 1775 to 1786. In 1776 he was chosen a member of the council, and remained such until 1781. During the period of the Revolution he was frequently placed upon the most important committees. He was twice appointed delegate to the Continental Congress, but declined the office.
From 1783 to 1787 he was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in the county of Strafford, till in the latter year he was made Judge of the same court. From that bench he was in 1795 transferred to the Superior Court, but resigned after about a year's service. Again appointed in 1796 Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, he officiated as such to the close of his life. In 1792 he was an influential member of the convention to revise the state Constitution, and was a presidential elector in that year, in 1796, and in 1800.
Judge Thompson was a man of reading and much general information ; of a keen, discriminating mind, a retentive memory, and sound judgment. He was also cautious and shrewd; of much decision of character and perseverance, and in the opinion of those who knew him best, upright and honest. He was plain and unassuming, averse to display, industrious, and devoted to the public interest. He died suddenly at Durham, August 14, 1802.
He married, May 22, 1758, Mary, daughter of Vincent Torr of Dover. They had five children.^[1]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Charles Henry Bell, The Bench and Bar of New Hampshire (1894), p. 48-50.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Clark Bell, ed., The Medico-legal Journal, Vol. 18 (1900), Supplement, p. 108-109.