Although the minutiae of history may often be overshadowed by larger events, it is interesting, and important, to explore the daily lives of those who lived through it. The history of Windham is not an exception. Samuel Gregg was born in Windham, NH on November 8, 1786 to Deacon William Gregg and his wife Isabel. In 1812 he married Jennie Dickey of Londonderry, NH. Gregg was a blacksmith and his business was located in Windham Centre, where he also resided. He died at 43 years of age in 1829 and his wife passed away nearly 50 years later at 88 years of age. The July 7, 1812 receipt below is for monies to be paid to Samuel Gregg by James Noyes. The receipt includes:
- 2 days of chopping at 4/6 per day . . . 1.50
- 1 day work with William Anderson . . . 1.25
- 1/2 bushel of Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.50
- cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.12
$3.37
- 2 days of chopping at 4/6 per day . . . 1.50
- 1 day work with William Anderson . . . 1.25
- 1/2 bushel of Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.50
- cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.12
$3.37
James Noyes was born in 1786 to Moses Noyes and his second wife, Phebe Richardson. Noyes lived on the family farm in the south part of town with over 100 acres. He lived most of his life caring for his parents and relieving the household of its debt. On March 14, 1816 he married Abigail R Lovejoy of Amherst. She is noted as having been, "a woman of cultivated tastes and sterling piety". Together the couple had eight children. James is recorded as having said, "I have worn these stones smaller, digging around them to raise corn and potatoes", referring to the rocky soil found on many early Windham farms. It is noted in records that Noyes spent the majority of his life in good health, requiring the care of a doctor only once. However, in old age his mental capacities began to weaken. James Noyes died on December 26, 1870, just over six years after his wife died.
