Hugh Brown
Dec. 24, 1847 – Nov. 29, 1920
Hamptons Union, Dec. 2, 1920, p.1
Mr. Hugh Brown whose sudden death from that dread disease, cancer, in the Portsmouth hospital on Monday Nov. 29, saddened the whole community, was born Dec. 24, 1852 [another source says he was baptized in Glasserton, Scotland, on Dec. 25, 1847], in Scotland, one of six children all of whom have passed away. He married Addie B. Godfrey forty-two years ago and celebrated this event upon his twentieth anniversary. After their marriage they resided in Hampton Falls one year then moved to Pittsfield, N.H. where they lived sixteen years and upon their return purchased the residence [on Exeter Road] where they have since lived a happy life. They brightened this home in 1898 by taking into it a little girl, Jeanette Thurlow, who lived with them until her marriage to Mr. Forest Pratt and has always been as their own daughter, naming her two children after Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Mr. Brown was a Mason and Odd Fellow loyal to both orders which he enjoyed so much.
He had the respect of all the people because they knew him to be honest, honorable and true to the village of his adoption and a firm consistent believer in its progress. Mr. Brown has held several positions of public trust, selectman, supervisor of [the] check list and representative and was ever true to the confidence reposed in him by his fellow man. He was a man of strong likes and to his personal friends he made himself dearer as the years went by. He was ever helpful, kind and generous as a neighbor. In his home he lived a sweet life with his beloved wife, whose very life seems broken by his sudden demise.
Mr. Brown was fond of music and was a member of a band in Pittsfield; he often played on different occasions in town when Mr. John Nutter brought his orchestra here. He was often impressed with bits of poetry and never tired of repeating the late Dr. Gerrish toast:
We came into this world naked and bare
We go through this world with sorrow and care,
We go out of this world God only knows where.
But if we’re thoroughbred here, We’ll be thoroughbreds there.
The funeral will be held at his late home on Thursday at two o’clock.