WINDHAM'S VOTE FOR GOVERNOR IN 1837

     On the second Tuesday of March in 1837, 53 eligible voters of Windham turned out for the election of the next New Hampshire governor. They cast their votes unanimously for the incumbent, Isaac Hill, who had served as a US senator for New Hampshire prior to becoming governor. With the male population of Windham at the time being just under 500, even when it is taken into account that not all were of voting age, the turnout seems to be rather poor for that night. After the polls closed and the votes were tallied by the board of selectman, the results were signed off on by town clerk, John Cochran, twice. The results would have then been sent to the county sheriff or the secretary of state.
   Captain John Cochran was born on June 9, 1781 and lived at his family homestead in town before marrying Margaret Hemphill on February 2, 1809, after which he moved to the Hemphill home. Cochran was popular, and trusted, in town, holding several town offices for numerous years; he served as town clerk, selectman, and treasurer. It is recorded that Cochran "was an excellent penman, and kept records with great neatness. It is with a sense of unbounded relief that one turns from many pages in the records to the plain, clear-cut, and intelligent records of [Cochran]". Below on the voting result form are two great examples of Cochran's highly regarded signature.  ​

1837 gubernatorial voting results