George B. Wallace's Autobiography

            George B Wallace.  Born Feb 16, 1817. Epsom. N. H.

Son of John and Mary True Wallace who was the Son of George who was the Son of George, Son of Samuel, Son of William, the Son of George who sailed from London England.  Landed in Boston, Mass. in 1635 then aged about 16. 1660 became land [illegible—probably “owner”]  in Porthmouth N. H. now Rye. My G G Grand Father Samuel then living in Rye N H married and had [illegible] sons, united with others to go about 40 miles in to the [illegible] A dence forrist to commence a settlement twelve miles west of Nottingham fort where the hardy pioneer had commenced to settle.  Samuel became a large land owner and his sones William, George, and Williams Son William were among the first settlers in Epsom at that [illegible] comprising what is now Epsom, Deerfield, Northwood, Chichester and Polsfield.  Epsom in the center with good watter power for mills.  at that time the whole country embraced the [illegible] abouved named Towns was A dence forrest.  My Great Grand Father George married Margret McClary Sister to Andrew McClary that was killed on Bunkers hill, and Uncle to General Michel McClary who served through the war.  My Grand Father George and brothers John and Ebeneser onely sons of G Grand Father. John killed on Bunker hill, where General Major Andrew McClary his Uncle fell.  My Grand Father served through the 7 years, was shot through the knee, crippled ever after, his brother Ebenezor came out without a wound. at that time the decendants of George the first had become numerous in the North East part of N H & Mass. [End of page 1]  My Grand Mother Rachel Babb, decenant of one of the Oldest families of the State, also my mother, Mary True.  My Grand Father at his death Drew A penson and lived in Deerfield, the line seperating DeareField from Epsom run through the farm, he died about 78 years ago.  I remember seeing my Grand Father & G Mother once.  I in company with A older brother had been to my Fathers farm, joining my G Fathers to salt the cattle.  after preforming that duty, we went to Grand Fathers house, it being late in the afternoon, we stoped but A short time as Grand Father & G Mother thought it was time to go, so as to be home befor dark.  Grand Mother gave us both of us A slice of bredd & butter and walked A little way home with us.  G Father put his hand on my head and blest me and called me his little joy, leaning one hand on his Cane and the other on my head.  I remember how they looked as if it had been but A few years ago, and the onely time I remember ever seeing eather of them at that time. I then was bettoene 4 and 5 years of age.  the branches of the Wallace family at that time had become quite numerious, not being room in Epson and the towns joinging, they went further north and were princerples in settling Sanderton and other surrounding towns.  nearly all gained there living by farming not one of the decendents of George Wallace of Rye but what espoused the cause of liberty & independence and labored vigerously to maintain them.  [End of page 2]  My Father John Wallace was A farmer by ocupation.  I labored on the farm untill I was seventeen years of age. my mother died when I was 13, leaving eleven children.  I chose as but one son could enharit the home farm othe so at the age 16 & 17 of going and making homes for them selves.  I chose to go and learn to be a carpenter when bentwene the age of 16 and 17 my father was stricken down nie unto death and he wanted me to abanden going to learn A trade and to remain with him and he offered to dead to me all his land 115 acers and give to me all the stock, tooles and all his posesions if i would remain and take care of him the ramainder of his life.  at that time he owed no man, and had money out at intrest and my step mother agread to sighn the deeds and join with him but I told him I had got my heart set in going and learning A trade, and I would rather go than to remain at home with him.  I told him that my oldest brother br would be glad to remain with him if he would give him half of his posesions, which he accordingly did, and I went and learned my trade, and after learning went to the city of Boston, to work at my trade, then 21 years of age.  I work as A journaman carpinter for about two years, then in company with A brother of mine commenced taking contracts from master machinests to do the work certen parts of hosues and stors they had contracted to do.  we followed this for about two years, and we contracted to do the work in a larg fine house in Cambridge fort [End of page 3] and finished our work according to contract and our employies failed and we lost all our labor and all I had saved up befor and fell while working at this contract fell 29+ feet and nearly killed me, yet I ralled and commenced again to take small contracts boss carpinters untill I had got A small start again.  now at this time there was great excitement at the second advent of the coming of Chrst.  Father Milles so called from the state of New York was the principal leader and adverkate of this doctrin.  I attended many of there lectures, and beleaved that the second advent of the savior was neare but could not nore did not endorse there set times for his comming. about this time, 1840, married Mary C McMurphy distent relative of mine in Epsom N H 14 Feb. 1840.  imeditely took my wife and returned to Boston and followed my trade.  as A small contracter to do the work master workman, about that time we united with first Baptis chirch Rolins H Neals [?] pastor, and from that time on I took more and larger contracts, keep from one to three apprentices untill about June 1842 I meet Freeman Nickson A mormon Elder.  after conversering with him for about 15 minutes I was convinced that I was building upon a sandy foundation.  I envited him to go home with me and we spent the time from about 10 Oclock am untill evening conversing in my parlor.  I was thurououly convinced that he was a servant of the living God.  I purchesed the onely book of mormon that he had at that time.  I had A good bussiness as A contracter & builder.