OBITUARIES & DEATH NOTICES FROM OLD NEWSPAPERS

Surnames starting with B

BABB, George Alanson
2-26-1831
New Hampshire Statesman & Concord Register
In Epsom, George Alanson, child of Dr. James Babb

BAKER, Rufus
September 22, 1911
Paper Unknown
Rufus Baker, who died of pneumonia at the home of his son, Charles Baker, in Suncook last week, was brought to Short Falls Monday and the funeral services were held at the I.O.O.F. hall, Rev. A.R. Toothacre officiating. Interment at Short Falls cemetery. Mr. Baker was well known in this town having formerly lived here and in the adjoining town of Deerfield, and was a member of the Evergreen lodge, I.O.O.F. He is survived by one son, Charles, of Suncook and two daughters, Mrs, Ida Brackett of Medway, Mass., and Mrs. Lillian Wells of this town, and several grandchildren.
The funeral was held at the I.O.O.F. hall at 1:30 o'clock, the Rev. A.R. Toothacre of the Free Baptist church conducted the services.
The bearers were J.W. Marden and C.W. Leighton representing the G.A.R. and Frank P. Ricker and James H. Tripp, the Odd Fellows. Interment was made in the family lot in the Short Falls cemetery.

BARTLETT, Elbridge M.
Feb. 22, 1955
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, Feb. 23 - Elbridge M. Bartlett, 69, died at his home yesterday morning after a long illness. He was a native of Manchester and had resided here for the past 45 years, engaging in farming and carpentry.
Mr. Bartlett was a member and past master of Corinthian lodge, F. & AM, a member of Pleiades chapter, OES, of Pittsfield and a former member of Chichester Grange. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Mabel T; Bartlett; three sons, Elbridge Bartlett Jr., of Chichester, Macbeth G. Bartlett and Carroll F. Bartlett of Epsom; a daughter, Miss Eleanor E. Bartlett of Epsom; and four grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at Chichester Congregational church Thursday at 2 o'clock.

BARTLETT, Lois
10-7-1826
New Hampshire Statesman and Concord Register
In Epsom, Miss Lois Bartlett aged 62.

BARTLETT, Maude (Kelley)
July 29, 1950
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, July 31 - Mrs. Maude Bartlett 68 died Saturday night at the Margaret Pillsbury unit of Concord Hospital where she had been receiving treatment for the past two weeks.
She was born in Northwood, the daughter of Benjamin F. and Martha F. (Gray) Kelley. She was a member of the Epsom Baptist church and its organizations, and Epsom Woman's club. She had lived in Epsom about 18 years. Survivors are her husband, Edward E. Bartlett, two sons, Harry A. Bartlett of Concord and Clarence E. Bartlett of Gossville, a daughter Mrs. Ruby Bergstrom of Gossville, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Epsom Baptist church. Friends may call at her late home in Epsom, Monday afternoon and evening. Burial will be in the Hopkinson cemetery, Gossville, with the Rev. Donald E. Macomber officiating.

BATCHELDER, Mrs. Martha (Unknown)
6-6-1829
New Hampshire Statesman and Concord Register
In Epsom, of paralysis, 19th ult Mrs. Martha Bachelder, wife of Mr. John Bachelder of Epsom and formerly of Kensington, aged 70 - Printers in Vermont and Canada are requested &c.
6-16-1829
Vermont Watchman and State Gazette- Mrs. Martha Batchelder, wife of Mr. John Batchelder, formerly of Kensington, in the 70th year of her age. She had a shock of the palsy two years ago last December; in March had another, on the 13th she had a third, and was speechless as long as she lived, but appeared to have her reason till the last.

BATCHELDER, Mary Frances (Hall)
February 25, 1936
Union Leader 2-26-1936
Epsom, Feb. 26 - Mrs. Mary Frances Batchelder died on Tuesday evening at the home of her niece, Mrs. Arthur Roby, in Epsom center. Mrs. Batchelder passed her 84th birthday on January 24 of this year. She was born in Epsom and was the daughter of Benjamin Hall and Mary Dowst Hall. After her marriage to James L. Batchelder, Mrs. Batchelder lived in Boston and later in Suncook. After her husband's death she lived with a sister in Pittsfield, coming to live with her niece about two years ago. Mrs. Batchelder had been in poor health since her illness with pneumonia last winter. Several nephews and nieces survive Mrs. Batchelder. She was a member of the Suncook Baptist church.

BICKFORD, Benjamin
7-8-1880
Independent Statesman
In Epsom, June 23, Benjamin Bickford, aged 81 years

BICKFORD, Daniel C.
3-2-1877
Independent Statesman
In Epsom, Jan. 28, Daniel C. Bickford, aged 77 years

BICKFORD, Emma J. (Philbrick)
March 4, 1954
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, March 5 - Mrs. Emma J. Bickford, 85, died at her home Thursday afternoon.
She was born in Allenstown, the daughter of Jackson C. Philbrick and Eliza (Crawford) Philbrick. Moving to Epsom at an early age, she spent nearly all of her life here.
Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Eliza P. Philbrick of Concord; two children, Mrs. Esther J. Pickard and Harold S. Bickford; two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one great great-grandchild, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Sunday at 2 o'clock at the Epsom Baptist church with burial in the family lot at McClary cemetery in Epsom Center.

BICKFORD, Harold S.
September 23, 1956
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, Sept. 24 - Harold Samuel Bickford, 65, died at his home here yesterday after a long illness. A lifelong resident of the town, and the son of Samuel W. and Emma J. Bickford, he was a carpenter and craftsman, and with Mrs. Bickford, operated the Pine Shop here.
Mr. Bickford was a member of Jewell lodge, F. and A.M. of Suncook, and of the local fire department. He was formerly active in the Junior OUAM and held memberships in McClary grange and Evergreen Lodge IOOF.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Laura Y. Bickford; a son Jackson R. Bickford of Fort Wayne, Ind; a sister, Mrs. Hester E. Pickard; three granddaughters, Mrs. Marjorie B. Wyatt and the Misses Sally V. Bickford and Lynne E. Bickford of Springfield, O.; a nephew, Samuel W. Bickford of Los Angeles.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at his Gossville home. The Christian Science service was read by Frederick K. Manger of Contoocook.
The bearers were Edward B. Demers, Arthur H. Sullivan, Warren T. Fowler and Jesse A. Hunt, all of Epsom, and Charles Ellis of Rochester and Richard Goss of Hampton. The committal service at the family lot in McClary cemetery was in charge of Jewell lodge F. of A.M. of Suncook.

BICKFORD. Mercy (Blake)
5-10-1824
NH Patriot
In Epsom, Mrs. Mercy Bickford, aged 89 years. She was the last survivor of the brothers and sisters: her brother, Benjamin Blake, died in Wolfeboro in Feb. last, aged 92. She left four children, 28 grandchildren, 70 great grandchildren, and 3 of the fifth generation - making 105 living descendants. She was left a widow at the age of 37, and devoted her remaining years to the care of her children, and the service of her redeemer, of whose church she was a member half a century.

BICKFORD, Natalie Susie
April 26, 1937
Union Leader 6-7-1937
EPSOM June 7 - Natalie Susie Bickford, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmore Bickford of Laconia, died suddenly at the Laconia hospital, Sunday. She had had a whooping cough, but was apparently recovering when a sudden relapse caused her death. Funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the former Bickford home in Epsom, with Rev. Ralph T. Osborn of Epsom officiating. Mr. & Mrs. Bickford moved to Laconia last fall.

BICKFORD, Samuel
5-24-1831
Dover Gazette & Strafford Advertiser
In Epsom, Mr. Samuel Bickford, aged 74, one of the veterans of the Revolution; How fast the remnant of the gallant band that achieved our Independence pass away.

BICKFORD, Samuel
5-29-1863
New Hampshire Statesman
In Epsom, Mr. Samuel Bickford, aged 84

BICKFORD, Thomas E.
12-16-1864
New Hampshire Statesman
In Sickles' Barracks Hospital, Alexandria, Va., Nov. 23, Thomas E. Bickford, of Epsom, of the 11th N.H.R., age 29.

BIXBY, Elizabeth
June 13, 1937
Union Leader 6-14-1937
GAR Veteran's Widow Dies
EPSOM, June 14 - Mrs. Elizabeth McClary Bixby, one of Epsom's oldest residents, died a her home Sunday night, after several weeks' illness caused by a fall. Mrs. Bixby was born on June 11, 1849 in the house across the road from the home of her later years. She was the daughter of Joseph Blake Cass and Mary Lucy Brown; and was the second oldest of four sisters, two of whom survive her.
Mrs. Bixby was the widow of George S. Bixby, a veteran of the Civil war., whom she married on Jan. 1. 1867. She was a member of the Woman's Club and had been active in attending meetings and entertaining up until about two years ago.
Funeral services will be held at her home on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Survivors are two sisters, Mrs. Mary P. Philbrick of Epsom and Mrs. Alice J. Philbrick of Beverly, Mass.; two nieces, Miss Blanche C. Philbrick of Sanford, Me., and Mrs. Hazel P. Steele of Epsom; and one nephew, Ellsworth B. Philbrick of Epsom and Durham.

BIXBY, George S.
April 12, 1918
Paper Unknown
Another old Grand Army man answers the final muster call. Last week Mr. George S. Bixby, of Epsom, had a paralytic shock which proved fatal. The funeral services were held at his late home on Monday afternoon at two o'clock. Members of the Grand Army Veterans, also Sons of Veterans attended in a body. Three solos were sung by Mrs. Eva Lawrence Cox. Rev. W.I. Sweet of Pittsfield preached the sermon. Members of the Pittsfield Post, let by Commander Leavitt, held a final service at the grave, where the school children also sang a burial song. These children has assisted Mr. Bixby on Decoration Day in decorating soldier's graves.
Mr. Bixby was born in Manchester in 1841. He came to Epsom when six years of age and had always resided there. When at the age of twenty he enlisted as a soldier in the war of the rebellion, August 26, 1831. He was mustered into the United States service, September 18, 1861, as a private, and soon was appointed Corporal. He re-enlisted February 20, 1864. He was taken prisoner at Deep Bottom, Va., August 16, 1864 and suffered untold horrors in three different prison camps. He was appointed Sergeant Major, March 1, 1865, and discharged from service July 11, 1865.
He married Elizabeth Cass, daughter of Blake and Lucy Cass, in 1867.
Last year Mr. and Mrs. Bixby celebrated their golden wedding. He is survived by Mrs. Bixby. Nr, Bixby was a most honored citizen, greatly beloved by the community, and will be sorely missed by his comrades being a loyal and ardent member of the post, but most of all in the home where he was a most affectionate husband.

BLAKE, Mr. Benjamin
3-26-1824
Salem Gazette
In Wolfeboro, Mr. Benjamin Blake, aged 93. From Greenland, Mr. B. first removed to Epsom, and thence to Wolfeboro, Nov. 9, 1766, being the first white man who entered the town. Deeply interesting must have been his reflections in the decline of life, whilst reviewing the pleasing and rapid changes that had occurred around him during the last fifty years of his protracted existence. Before his own axe, the forest began to fall; and yet he had lived to see the spot, on which his own were the first foot-steps imprinted by civilized man, covered with almost two thousand inhabitants and rendered the abode of industry and enterprise. In the hour or trial, Mr. Blake was not found wanting in firmness and courage. During the contest usually denominated the French War, he marched to Saratoga, and before he returned was personally concerned in a sharp action with the enemy.

BLAKE, William
3-31-1829
Dover Gazette & Strafford Advertiser
In Wakefield, Mr. William Blake, aged 84; he was born in Epsom, in 1741, and was the 2nd male child born in that town. His children were 13, his grand children 88, his great grandchildren 120, his great great grandchildren 8. He was a soldier in the old French war and in the war of the Revolution.

BRACKETT, Abigail (Clark)
1-3-1820
Concord Observer
In Epsom, Mrs. Abigail Brackett, 75, wife of Mr. Ebenezer Brackett

BRACKETT, Walter G.
9-18-1863
New Hampshire Statesman
In Memphis, Tenn., Walter G. Brackett, 15th N.H.V., only son of John L. Brackett of Epsom, aged 18

BROWN, Abigail (Ewer)
4-24-1879
Independent Statesman
In Epsom, April 17, Abigail, wife of Wm. S. Brown, aged 70 years

BROWN, Albert L.
March 9, 1937
Paper unknown
Albert L. Brown died on Tuesday afternoon, March 9, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Mack of Short Falls, where he had been living the past few years. Mr. Brown was born in Epsom on May 9, 1859; and was the son of Stephen Brown and Fidelia Chase Brown of Canterbury. He has always lived in Epsom. Funeral services will be held in the New Rye church on Thursday afternoon and burial will be in the family lot.

BROWN, Enoch
8-11-1829
Dover Gazette & Strafford Advertiser
At Epsom, on the 25th inst in the 77th year of his age, Mr. Enoch Brown, a wealthy and respected citizen. In the war of the revolution, he marched, (with the other volunteers from this section of the state) for Saratoga, to assist at the capture of Burgoyne.

BROWN, Frank E.
October 30, 1953
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, Nov. 3 - The funeral services for Frank E. Brown were held Sunday afternoon at the Epsom Baptist church with a large attendance of relatives and friends and many floral tributes.
Rev. Alfred Luce officiated. Mrs. Grace McKay was organist and Charles B. Yeaton, soloist.
Bearers were John Cox, George H. Yeaton, John B. Yeaton and Gerald Pickard, all of Epsom. Out of town relatives attending the services were Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Brown of Concord; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Call, Mrs. Clara Towle, and Mrs. Emma Kenney, Chichester; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest MacNeal, Hooksett; Elmer MacNeal, Suncook; Mrs. Patricia Crafts, Pembroke; Charles B. Yeaton, Atkinson; Mr. and Mrs. Ashton Davis, Bruce Davis, Mr and Mrs. Howard Heath, and Miss Elizabeth Heath, all of Saugus, Mass.
Burial was in the New Rye cemetery with Rev. Luce conducting the committal services.

BROWN, George
BROWN, Elvira Ann
1-24-1831
NH Patriot
In Epsom 8th inst. George Brown, aged 4 years; also on 10th inst. Elvira Ann Brown, aged 6, children of Jacob Brown.

BROWN, George H.
Feb. 21, 1937
Union Leader 2-22-1937
Special to the Union - Epsom, NH Feb. 22 (1937) - Funeral Services for George H. Brown will be held Wednesday at the New Rye church. Mr. Brown was born in Epsom, NH July 5, 1885, the son of William and Sarah Brown. At the time of his death he lived in Kittery, ME. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Mrs. Carrie Kirk Brown; a daughter Mrs. Muriel Hall of Kittery; one grandson, Malcolm Hall; a sister, Mrs. Alice B. Allman of Concord; and two brothers, Frank E. Brown of Epsom, NH and Clarence Brown fo Concord. Burial will be in the family lot in the New Rye Cemetery.

BROWN, Jonathan
6-14-1836
Dover Gazette & Strafford Advertiser
In Epsom, April 21, Jonathan Brown, aged 75

BROWN, Lucretia B.G. (Gray)
5-22-1875
Mirror and Farmer
Death of an Old Resident - Mrs. Lucretia Gray Brown, wife of William Brown, died at Epsom on the 11th inst., at the advanced age of ninety-two years. In many respects Mrs. Brown was a remarkable woman, and with her death is lost much of the history of the town of Epsom. Her mother was a sister of Theophilus Parsons of legal fame, and her father, Capt. James Gray, an educated and accomplished soldier and for many years a prominent citizen of Epsom. He was captain in the Revolutionary war and his home after the close was the resort of many of the officers and prominent men of the State. This daughter had the advantage of education and social position, which, with an active mind, retentive memory, taste for reading, converszation and travel and long life, brought to her command a wonderful knowledge of the men and events of her time. Possessed of a vast fund of historical and general information, good humor, patriotic and generous impluses, her conversations were exceedingly interesting and instructive. She retained her mental and physical powers during her old age, and when eighty years old made a trip to Virginia to visit her son then serving in the Federal army, and while at Washington, attended one of the levees of President Lincoln. Her husband and three children survive her, and her memory will be cherished by a wide circle of acquaintances.

BROWN, Mamie
5-16-1877
NH Patriot and State Gazette
FATAL SHOOTING ACCIDENT. Epsom, May 11. This community was the scene, yesterday, of one of the most distressing accidents that has ever occurred here. Little Mamie, four years of age. daughter of Cyrus O. and Mary E. Brown, accidentally shot and fatally wounded herself while playing with a revolver that was carelessly left lying on a stand in one of the chambers in the house of her grandfather, Newell Brown. It is suppossed she took the revolver in her hands, and while peering into the barrels, out of childish curiosity, the revolver was discharged, the ball entering the upper part of her right eye, grazing the frontal bone, traversing the brain horizontally, and inflicting a wound of which she died in about ten minutes. Dr. French was at once summoned, but the child was past all medical aid before he arrived. The revolver belonged to a hired boy who occupied the room, and everything points to the fact that the weapon was left cocked, as the child could hardly have accomplished it alone. This much for giving boys of 14 years of age, guns, pistols and bowie-knives for playthings, and to scatter about promiscuously. This is the third time the parents have been bereaved within the past three years, and they have the sympathy of the whold community in this last affliction.

BROWN, Mary (Smith)
3-15-1830
Paper unknown
In Epsom, Feb. 21, Mrs. Mary Brown, wife of Jonathan Brown, and daughter of Richard Smith of Kingston, aged 63. She has left numerous connections to mourn their loss. She was a kind and affectionate wife, a tender mother, a faithful friend, and hospitable to the poor, and above all, in her most trying moments gave perfect evidence that her primary study and aim was to known and to do the will of her Heavenly Father; and that she had a treasure in heaven, and her name written in full faith the promise of her Savior, that where he is there she shall be also.

BROWN, Mary Josephine (Nixon/Nickerson)
Dec. 9, 1934
Union Leader
Special to the Union - Epsom, NH, Dec. 10 (1934) - Mrs. Mary Josephine Brown, widow of the late William Brown of Epsom, NH, died at the home of her son, Frank E. Brown, in Short Falls, early Sunday morning. Mrs. Brown had been in poor health for a long time, but was taken seriously ill on Tuesday of last week. Mrs. Brown was born in Pembroke, March 10, 1866, and was the daughter of Joseph Nixon and Sarah Burnham Nixon. She was the last of her family. She is survived by Clarence W. Brown, Mrs. Alice E. Allman and George H. Brown of Concord, and Frank E. Brown, of Short Falls, children. Mrs. Brown was a member of the Seventh Day Advent church of Concord. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 12, at the Brown home in Short Falls. Burial will be in the family lot in the New Rye Cemetery.

BROWN, Maud Augusta (Burnham)
Sept. 18, 1919
Paper Unknown
Mrs. Maude Augusta (Burnham), wife of Robert M. Brown, died Thursday afternoon, September 18th. Mrs. Brown is survived by a widower; a young son, John Robert Brown; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Burnham, and one sister, Miss Doris Burnham. Mrs. Brown was a graduate of Pembroke Academy and a member of McClary Grange. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community. Funeral services were held at the Free Baptist church, Sunday at 11 o'clock. The edifice was filled with many sorrowing relatives and friends, with a large attendance from out of town, including Mrs. Brown's classmates of Pembroke Academy. Rev. G.B. Southwick conducted the service with instrumental music by Mrs. H.G. Yeaton. The bearers were Karl Rand, Albert Yeaton, Harold Bickford and Charles Huckins. There was a profusion of beautiful flowers. Burial was made in McClary cemetery under the direction of C.R. Bickford of Northwood.

BROWN, May (Knowlton)
March 28, 1933
Paper Unknown
The death of Mrs. May Brown, wife of John C. Brown, on Tuesday, came as a great shock to her many friends in this vicinity. She was ill but a few days, apoplexy being the cause of her death. She is survived by her husband, one son, Robert of Lynn, Mass., and several grandchildren. The funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon and burial was in the family lot at McClary cemetery.

BROWN, Michael D.
2-20-1879
Independent Statesman
In Epsom, Feb. 13, Michael D. Brown, aged 61 years

BROWN, Capt. Robert F.
4-23-1838
NH Patriot
In Epsom, on the 2d inst., Capt. Robert F. Brown, aged 27 years, son of Mr. James and Mrs. Hannah Brown. In this most afflictive dispensation of Providence, a large and respectable family are called to mourn the loss of one near and dear: near by the strongest ties of nature, natural and social affection, and endeared by the constant practice of every Christian virtue. Mr. B. suffered a long and distressing consumptive illness, which he bore with fortitude and resignation. He lived and died as becometh a true Christian, and his whole character, exalted by that spirit of benevolence and kindness which characterized the glorious Author of his faith, his held in the highest estimation by all his friend, neighbors and acquaintance; and by all his memory will be long cherished, and deeply lamented.

BROWN, Sarah E.
12-26-1872
Independent Statesman
At Harlem, New York city, Dec. 19, Mrs. Sarah E. Sanborn, wife of John Brown, Esq., formerly of Epsom, aged about 60 years

BROWN, William C.
January 195?
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, Jan. 18 - William C. Brown, foster son of the late Cyrus O. and Mary E. Brown, died recently at Wells, Me.
Mr. Brown spent his boyhood here, and lived formerly in Lynn, Mass, where he was a master plumber and conducted a plumbing business. He moved later to Wells, where he had a farm and plumbing business. He leaves his widow, three sons, several grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Evangeline Pearson of Concord.
Funeral services were held in Wells, with burial in Lynn.

BURNHAM, Joseph
2-19-1831
New Hampshire Statesman & Concord Register
In Epsom, Jan. 25th, Joseph, aged 4, child of Mr. Jeremiah Burnham

BURNHAM, Josephine (Shaw)
September 16, 1948
Paper Unknown
EPSOM, Sept. 21 - The Rev. Donald E. Macomber, pastor of the Baptist church conducted the funeral sermon for Mrs. Josephine B. Burnham at her home in Gossville on Sunday afternoon.
The bearers were George H. Yeaton, Allie Bartlett and Millard J. Yeaton of Gossville; and Ernest Lane of Pittsfield. Burial was in Floral Park cemetery at Pittsfield with arrangements by the Steward-Pinkham Funeral home of Northwood.

BURNHAM, Rachel
1-29-1831
New Hampshire Statesman & Concord Register
In Epsom on the 21st inst, Rachel, daughter of Mr. Jeremiah Burnham, aged 9 years

BURNHAM, Sally
2-19-1831
New Hampshire Statesman & Concord Register
In Epsom, February 13th, Sally, daughter of Jeremiah Burnham