Collection number: MS 303
Size:
(1 folder)
About Sally (Brown) Burnham
Sally Brown (1794-3 July 1840 Epsom) married farmer Alphonzo J. Burham (1800-1881) at the Epsom Congregational Church on April 24 1828. The names of their parents are unknown. In late November or early October 1839 she appears to have had a stroke or other medical event which caused her to collapse and appear intoxicated while at church. When she died ten months later (the cause is not recorded) she was buried in the Short Falls Cemetery. Alphonzo remarried in 1841 to Martha Perkins (1805-1885). It does not appear any children survived from his first marriage.
About the Sally (Brown) Burnham of Epsom Deposition
The Oct. 4 1839 Deposition consists of an inquery into the charge that Sally Burnham collapsed as a result of surreptitiously drinking the church's communion wine. Mrs. Critchett, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Harvey, Susan Fowler, Mrs. Yeaton, Mrs. Green, Abigail Fowler, and Mr. Burnham are all interviewed and questioned about whether they saw her drinking, and none say they did. On the other hand it is opined that she appeared intoxicated in speech and balance when she collapsed. The committee (consisting of postmasters Jon Steele and Hanover Dickey Jr.) conclude that there isn't enough evidence to form an opinion and admonish the congregation not to induldge in alcohol.
Administrative Information
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Preferred Citation
Sally (Brown) Burnham of Epsom Deposition, October 4 1839, MS 303, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Dealer Purchase, 2019
Collection Arrangement
Collection is in original order.
