moved away, and now stands near the railway-station, where it is occupied as a dwelling-house.  Judge Dana held the office during four years, and he was succeeded by William M. Richardson, Esq., afterward the chief-justice of the superior court of New Hampshire.  Mr. Richardson was a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1797, and at the time of his appointment as postmaster had recently finished his professional studies in Groton, under the guidance of Judge Dana.  After his admission to the bar, Mr. Richardson entered into partnership with his former instructor, succeeding him as postmaster in July, 1804; and the office was still kept in the same building.  During Judge Richardson’s term, the net revenue to the department rose from nine dollars to about twenty-eight dollars for three months.  He held the position nearly eight years, and was followed by Abraham Moore, who was commissioned on January 31, 1812.

Mr. Moore was a native of Bolton, Massachusetts, where he was born on January 5, 1785.  He graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1806, and studied law at Groton with the Honorable Timothy Bigelow, and after his admission to the bar settled here as a lawyer.  His office was on the site of the north end of Gerrish’s block, and it was here that the post-office was kept.  During his administration the average income from the office was about thirty-three dollars, for the quarter.  In the summer of 1815, Mr. Moore resigned the position and removed to Boston.

Eliphalet Wheeler, who kept the store now occupied by Mr. Gerrish, was appointed in Mr. Moore’s stead, and the post-office was transferred to his place of business.  He, however, was not commissioned, owing, it is thought, to his political views; and Major James Lewis, who was sound in his politics, received the appointment in his stead.  Major Lewis, retained Mr. Wheeler for a short time as his assistant, and during this period the duties were performed by him in his own store.  Shortly afterward Caleb Butler, Esq., was appointed the assistant, and he continued to hold the position for eight years.  During this time the business was carried on in Mr. Butler’s law office, and the revenue to the government reached the sum of fifty dollars a quarter.  His office was then in a small building,—­just south of Mr. Hoar’s tavern,—­which was moved away about the year 1820, and taken to the lot where Colonel Needham’s house now stands, at the corner of Main and Hollis Streets.  It was fitted up as a dwelling, and subsequently moved away again.  At this time the old store of Mr. Brazer, who had previously died, was brought from over the way, and occupied by Mr. Butler, on the site of his former office.

On July 1, 1826, Mr. Butler, who had been Major Lewis’s assistant for many years, and performed most of the duties of the office, was commissioned postmaster.