This Day In Founding Fathers History – 9 April

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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 9 April

On this day in 1833, the Peterborough Town Library in Peterborough, New Hampshire became the first public library funded with tax moneys. Reverend Abiel Abbott, a Unitarian minister, proposed the creation of the library. At a town meeting on this day, the proposal was made and passed “that a portion of the State Literary Fund be used for the purchase of books to establish a library, free to all the citizens of Peterborough.” ₁

In 1971 on this day, Maine ratified the 26^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which set the minimum voting age at 18 years old. ₂

On this day in 1778, Jeremiah Wadsworth was promoted to Commissary General of Purchases for the Continental Army. Wadsworth had served as commissary to forces raised in Connecticut, then Deputy Commissary General, resigning after only a couple months. Congress reorganized the supply system and Wadsworth was elected Commissary General upon the retirement of Joseph Trumbull. Wadsworth held this position for nearly two years before resigning. He then went on to serve as commissary for Comte de Rochambeaus’ army until the end of the war. ₃

 

_{1 “Peterborough Town Library 175th Anniversary,” Town of Peterborough,
http://www.townofpeterborough.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B17C47A8B-40E3-4A22-A5F1-136EE39750EE%7D
2 “Ratification of Constitutional Amendments,” usconstitution.net/constamrat.html
3 “Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth,” The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, connecticutsar.org/patriots/wadsworth_jeremiah.htm}