By Christine St. George
Captain Samuel Douglass
Samuel Douglass is a better known patriot of the American Revolution in our community. He was a commissioned Captain under Col. William Prescott’s Regiment.
Samuel was the eldest son of Samuel Douglass, Sr. and Hepzibah Richardson, born in Scotland in 1723. When he was a young child, he and his family emigrated to Townsend, Massachusetts. As borders became more defined and towns developed, the farm was in Hollis and later became part of Raby, New Hampshire. He learned to be a very proficient farmer.
He married his wife, Molly Conant of Townsend in 1764. They had five children: John, Samuel, Sally, Hannah, and Simon. After Molly passed, Samuel married Hannah Shattuck of Hollis in 1785.
Samuel was fifty two years old when he and his company of twenty men marched to the Lexington alarm on 19 April 1775, under Col. William Prescott’s regiment. It is also listed that he spent a year in [New] York.
Samuel was fifty two years old when he and his company of twenty men marched to the Lexington alarm on 19 April 1775, under Col. William Prescott’s regiment. It is also listed that he spent a year in [New] York.
Samuel was very active in Raby’s government. He was Town moderator for four years, and Town Treasurer for four years. He served in committees to help boost enlistment of soldiers in the Continental Army.
After the war, Samuel became an innkeeper in Brookline and was also the first elected Raby’s State Representative of our brand new State of New Hampshire.
Later in his years, Samuel moved to Littleton, New Hampshire where he died in 1816. Despite all that he did in life, he is buried in an unmarked grave there. His name is listed on the monument in front of the Daniel’s Academy building. In 2001 the newly built upper elementary school was named after him, the Captain Samuel Douglass Academy.
Later in his years, Samuel moved to Littleton, New Hampshire where he died in 1816. Despite all that he did in life, he is buried in an unmarked grave there. His name is listed on the monument in front of the Daniel’s Academy building. In 2001 the newly built upper elementary school was named after him, the Captain Samuel Douglass Academy.
All sources and additional information are available at the Brookline, NH Historical Society. It is open on Wednesday mornings from 9am to NOON. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm.
Hollis Brookline News
By Christine St. George
September 2nd, 2025
https://hollisbrooklinenews.org/the-revolutionaries-of-raby-nh-introduction-p10771-297.htm