YOUNG FAMILY GENEALOGY IN PETERBOROUGH NH ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com/HillsboroughCo/Peterborough/ On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire : with the report of the proceedings at the centennial celebration in 1839, an appendix containing the records of the original proprietors, and a genealogical and historical register, by Albert Smith; Boston: Press of G.H. Ellis, 1876 THE YOUNG FAMILY Page 361-363 JOHN YOUNG (DR.) was the first physician of Peterborough, of whose early life and education very little is known. He was b. in Worcester, Mass, June 2, 1739, and after obtaining such an education as the times afforded, he studied his profession with the elder Dr. Green. The preparation for the profesison of medicine in those days must have been very meagre compared with even the advantages now enjoyed, which are poor enough. He was considered among the best read men of his day, and our old people had a very high opinion of his medical knowledge and skill. He commenced his practice in Pelham, Mass., where he continued for a short time, and during this period he married and also buried his first wife. He now returned to Worcester, and was m. to Elizabeth Smith, who was b. Jan 17, 1740, and they removed to Peterborough about 1764. We have no means of fixing definitely the precise time when he came to town. In his old account-books some charges are made in 1764, but none go back of this date. His name first appears on the town records as a moderator of a meeting held Jan. 1, 1765, and then it occasionally occurs all alone, to 1800. He was moderator eight years and selectman five years. He seems to have been a prominent man with our fathers in all these years previous to the present century. They had a large family of ten children after they came to town, none of whom are now living. They all left Peterborough early, but one daughter, Jane, who was unmarried, and lived and died there. Mrs. Young survived her husband many years, and was again married to Samuel Twitchell, Esq. of Dublin (father to the late Dr. Amos Twitchell, of Keene) but again became a widow, and returned to Peterborough and spent the residue of her life with her daughter Jane. She d. Sept. 25, 1825, ae 84 years. Dr. Young sustained the reputation of being one of the best physicians of his day, and was extensively employed in all this region. The elderly people of the town always spoke highly of his skill and judgment as a physician, while they deplored his intemperate habits, which grew upon him and greatly abridge his usefulness, espcially during the latter part of his life. among a hospitable people, such as were the early settlers of this town, the temptations to intemperance were very great, particularly to the physician. He could hardly avoid falling into this vice, unless he had been a "total abstinence man," a think unheard of in those days. The practice of medicine was attended by great hardship. The roads were poor, often little more than bridle-paths, or the course pointed out by blazed trees. All was an interminable forest yet inhabited by wild beasts. I am told by an aged inhabitant of this town, now living, Mr. Elihu Thayer, that about ninety years ago Dr. Young on a professional visit to his father's house--Deacon Christopher Thayer's,-- came into the house in great trepidation, having been followed by a wolf, which had been attracted by a quarter of beef his brother had just brought home on his saddle before him. He stayed all night, fearing to go home through the woods. The charges for medical service were very low at this time, and also very poorly paid. The early settlers had little to pay with but the produce of their farms; and I suppose the ancient doctor then shared the same fate with his successors,--that his bill was the last to be provided for, and most easily pushed on from year to year without payment. It was the custom of the early physicians to charge so much a mile, and extra for all the medicines dispensed. Dr. Young, before the Revolution, charged eightpence per mile, but he afterwards increased it to one shilling a mile. The medicines were charge high--they were probably more expensive than at the present time,--and if our subject may be authority, they were used with a pretty liberal hand. In Dr. Young's charges there is great profuseness of medicine in some cases, and it would often be difficult to devise with what intention a great deal of it was prescribed. It was no doubt necessary for the reputation of the doctor, and to satisfy the patient. Though Dr. Young continued in full practice, yet he became very poor as he grew old, probably in consequence of his intemperate habits, and was obliged to ask assistance of the town towards the support of his family. The action of the town was kind and delicate towards him; for in 1799 the following vote was passed: "Voted, To take into consideration Dr. Young's low circumstances in worldly affairs. Chose Henry Ferguson, Robert Morison, Robert Swan, a committee to make inquiry of the said Young's situation, and propose such relief as they shall think proper." We have no account of the report of the committee, but suppose their suggestions were acted on at once, and that he was aided as much as was necessary. One other vote of the town is found, June 5, 1805: "Voted, that the selectmen furnish Dr. Young with two cows for his use, being the town's property." We suppose that Dr. Young was considerably above mediocrity in his profession, and he enjoyed for many years the entire confidence of a community quick to see defects, ready to sift pretensions and expose shams. He went through the ordeal successfully, and but for his intemperance would have passed off as one of the most honored and worthy of the early physicians. He d. of a cancer of the face, after long suffering, Feb. 27, 1807, ae 68 yrs. Children: 1. John, b. March 8, 1764; m. -- White, Whitestown NY 2. William, b. Aug 14, 1768; m. Eunice Porter 3. Elizabeth, b. Feb 21, 1771; m. -- Earl, Chester, Vt. 4. Jane Foster, b. May 24, 1773; unm.; d. March 2, 1857, ae 84 yrs; always lived in town. 5. Susanna, b. Aug 24, 1776; m. Capt. B. Carryll. 6. David, b. Oct 25, 1779 7. Foster, b. March 25, 1784; m. --, Chester VT and removed to Buffalo, NY. (end)