Draft:Timothy Farrar

Timothy Farrar (June 28, 1747 – February 20, 1849) was a justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1791 to 1803.

Judge Farrar was born in that part of Concord which is now Lincoln, Mass., June 28, 1747; graduated from Harvard in 1767. In 1774 he was chosen first selectman and town clerk of New Ipswich. In 1775 he received from the Revolutionary government the commission of judge of the common pleas and also that of major in the militia; accepted both positions, though he did not distinguish himself as a military man; was, from 1778 to his resignation in 1782, a member of the convention for forming a more complete state constitution and of the committee to draft the instrument, and from 1779 to 1784 he was a councillor. In March, 1791, he was appointed to the bench of the Superior Court. After serving five years he tendered his resignation, but on the urgent request of the Executive he was induced to withdraw it. In 1802 he received the appointment of Chief Justice, but desiring that Judge Jeremiah Smith should accept that office, and with the intention of quitting the Superior Court, he took no action upon the appointment, but remained as Acting Chief Justice until Judge Smith's acceptance later in the year. He then retired from the superior court, was reinstated as judge oi court of common pleas, and resided there until 1813. On the reorganization of that court in 1813, with wider jurisdiction, he was appointed chief justice of the court of common pleas and served as such until a political revolution in 1819. He lived more than thirty years after quitting the bench, and died in Hollis, at the home of a daughter, February 20th, 1849.

Timothy Farrar was the youngest son of Deacon Samuel and Lydia (Barrett) Farrar, and was born in that part of Concord which is now Lincoln, Massachusetts, June 28, 1747. He lived on his father's farm and attended the schools in his native town till he entered Harvard College in 1763, whence he graduated in 1767. He taught school in Massachusetts about two years, and in 1770 came to New Ipswich and settled upon a farm there, at the same time being employed as an instructor. In 1774 he was chosen first selectman and town clerk of New Ipswich. On the alarm on April 19, 1775, that the British troops had marched out of Boston, he with others, hastily arming themselves, started to meet them, but on reaching Concord they learned that the regulars had retreated to Boston, and proceeded no further.

In 1775 Mr. Farrar received from the Revolutionary government the commission of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and also that of major in the militia. He accepted both, and though it is not known that he ever distinguished himself as a military man, he filled judicial stations for forty continuous years with usefulness and honor. Inter arma silent leges, and it was not till the Revolution was substantially achieved that the courts were much occupied with business. Meantime, Judge Farrar was from 1778 to his resignation in 1782 a member of the convention for forming a more complete state Constitution, and of the committee to draft the instrument, and from 1779 to 1784 he was a councilor.

In March, 1791, Judge Farrar was transferred to the bench of the Superior Court. After five years' performance of his duties there, he tendered his resignation, but on the urgent request of the Executive he was induced to withdraw it. In 1802 he received the appointment of Chief Justice. In the desire that Judge Jeremiah Smith would accept the office, and with the intention of quitting the Superior Court, Judge Farrar took no action upon the appointment, but remained as acting Chief Justice until Judge Smith's acceptance later in the same year. He was then reinstated as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and presided there until 1813. On the reorganization of that court in 1813 with a wider jurisdiction, he was appointed Chief Justice, and served as such till a political revolution in 1816.

Though Judge Farrar was originally intended for the pulpit, and had no regular legal training, yet he did not fail to study to qualify himself for his duties. When he received his first appointment he procured a copy of Blackstone's Commentaries, and “ read it with more avidity than any girl ever read a novel." He was highly conscientious in reference to his duties, and doubtless omitted no means in his power to enable him to discharge his judicial functions well and thoroughly. When Jeremiah Mason surprised the court by filing a demurrer, Judge Farrar appears to have been the only one of their Honors who had any rational idea of the purpose and effect of the proceeding. He has been described as a man of “strong powers of mind, of large acquaintance with business, and superior in talents and information generally.” And in 1796 Judge Jeremiah Smith wrote of Farrar and Dudley, that in his opinion they greatly overmatched the two lawyers who were then upon the bench.

Judge Farrar lived more than thirty years after quitting the judgeship, and died in Hollis, at the home of a daughter, February 20, 1849.

His wife, whom he married October 14, 1779, was Anna, daughter of Captain Edmund Bancroft of Pepperell, Massachusetts. He left a son and three daughters.

References

Category:1747 births Category:1849 deaths Category:Justices of the New Hampshire Supreme Court

This open draft remains in progress as of August 8, 2024.