Historically Speaking: Henry Mainjoy of Senegal and Exeter
By Barbara Rimkunas
Henry Mainjoy, formerly enslaved by Noah Emery, lived into his eighties in his house on Green Street. Here are a few reminiscences about him from some nostalgic white neighbors.
“It is not necessary that I should say much in regard to Harry. He was well and favorably known to nearly all now living in Exeter and vicinity (this was written in 1879 –by an unidentified commentator to the Exeter News-Letter). “I remember him when he was first brought to Squire Noah Emery’s. Judging from his size I should think he could not have been more than 12 years of age. He was the blackest, sleekest, lithest little chap that I ever saw.”
Historically Speaking: The life of William King Atkinson in Dover
Tony McManus
Even his name sounds impressive: William King Atkinson. Except that this wasn t his original name. He was born in 1765 in Portsmouth as plain old William King, son of William King, but over the years he made a name for himself in more ways than one.
He apparently had some degree of intelligence and initiative. Graduating from Harvard in 1783 he opened a law practice in Dover in 1786. Almost immediately he made his mark, becoming Register of Probate a year later, a position he held until 1819, the year before his death. He served as Justice of the NH Supreme Court from 1803-05, and was state attorney general from 1807-12. Somewhere in those years he married Abigail Pickering, of the Newington Pickerings, a prominent family on the other side of the bay.