Compiled by Russell Bastedo
State Curator
1998

Governor Benjamin Pierce (1827-1828, 1829-1830). Pierce (1757-1839) was born at Chelmsford (MA). While ploughing in his father's field Pierce heard the news of the Battle of Lexington (April 18, 1775), and like many others he went immediately to Cambridge (MA) to join the Revolutionary forces massing against the British at Boston. He served with distinction throughout the American Revolution, returning to Chelmsford with $500 in almost worthless "Continental" paper currency in 1784, ten years after he had first set out.

In 1785 Pierce secured work exploring lands belonging to Colonel Stoddard in southwestern New Hampshire. Pierce was on his way back to Chelmsford when he passed through Hillsborough (NH), saw land and a farmhouse he liked, and bought them from a farmer. He returned with a fellow war veteran in 1786, and the two men cleared the fifty acres Pierce had bought. Over time Pierce added lands to his original tract.

As a Revolutionary War Brigade Major, Pierce was immediately (1786) asked to organize the Hillsborough County (NH) Militia. Pierce maintained a strong interest in the militia all his life, and in 1805 he was made Brigadier General of the State Militia. He married in 1787 (first wife Elizabeth Andrews; second wife Anna Kendrick, 1790), and began a political career when he was elected a State Representative (served 1789-1802). Pierce was a delegate to the 1791 state Constitutional Convention, a member of Governor's Council (1803-1809, 1814) and Sheriff of Hillsborough County (1809-1812, 1818-1827), before becoming Governor. He was a close friend of Andrew Jackson( President of the United States, 1827-1839), and one of Pierce's own nine children, Franklin, later became President (served 1853-1857). The Pierce Homestead is maintained by the State and Hillsborough Historical Society.

Location: State House, Second Floor, Corridor, West Face, Beginning at Room 208
Portrait a copy by A. Tenney, from original by H.C. Pratt; Presented by descendent, 1873