VOL. X.

Rand is a name of French origin. It was formally written Randé. So far as known, the first of the name in this country settled in Charlestown, Mass. Rev. John Rand, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in that town January 24, 1727; was graduated at Harvard college in 1747, and settled in Lyndeborough, N. H., in 1761, as the first Congregational minister in that place. Soon after, he married Sarah, daughter of Col. John Goffe, of Derryfield (now Manchester), N. H., and in 1765 removed to that town, and seems to have relinquished the work of the ministry. He received the commission of justice of the peace under George the Third, and removed to Bedford, N. H., in 1778, which continued to be his residence until his death in 1805, at the age of 77. He was the father of seven children. The eldest, John and Jonathan, twins, were born at Lyndeborough June 24, 1762. Jonathan married Sarah Abbott, daughter of Dea. Ephraim Abbott, of Amherst, now Mont Vernon, a family long distinguished for its

No. I.

evangelical faith and devoted piety. They had eight children-three sons and five daughters-among them, John, whose life we notice, the fourth child and second son. He was born Jan. 27, 1801, in Bedford, N. H., and spent his boyhood on his father's farm, receiving only such limited education as the country school then afforded, of from eight to twelve. weeks during the year. He never enjoyed the advantages of a high school or academy. When about eighteen years of age he left the farm and entered as an apprentice the shop of Mr. Robert Parker, in his native town, to learn the trade of cabinetmaking. At that time, in the country, house and sign painting were often united in the same business. Mr. Rand became a workman in both branches, for he was a man who could very readily adapt himself to almost any handicraft. Soon after his majority he went into business for himself. He also introduced some machinery, not common sixty years ago, in the manufacture of furniture. But although he was a good