Reverend Stephen Bachiler Founder of Hampton, New Hampshire "He must have had rare physical as well as intellectual vigor. From tradition and the characteristics of his descendants, it is probable that he was tall and sinewy, with prominent features, especially the nose; a very dark complexion; black, coarse hair in early days, white in age, mouth large and firm, eyes black as sloes; features long rather than broad; a strong clear voice; rather slow of motion and speech; simple in dress, wearing in Lynn a suit of liste which he brought from England; obstinate and tenacious of his opinions to a marked degree; a powerful preacher, drawing larely from the scripture and impressing his hearers with the uncommon power and sanctity of his sermons; strong in his friendships and his hates. Winthrop classed him among "honest men" when he arrived in 1632, and Prince in his Annals of New England, Appendix to 1632, says: :'From governor Winslow and Captain Johnson, we learn that) he (Stephen Bachiller) was an ancient minister in England: had been a man of Fame in his Day; was 71 years of Age when he came over: bro't a number of people with him; and soon became the 1st Feeder of the Flock of Christ at Lynn (and by several Letters I have seen of his own Writing to the R. Mr. Cotton of Boston, I find he was a Gentleman of Learning and Ingenuity, and wrote a fine and curious hand.')." It is evident from what I have read and learned of Stephen Bachiller that he was not only instilled with exceptional physical and intellectual prowess but was also imbued with a great love for his children and grandchildren. A famous story of Rev. Bachiller that illustrates this fact is; "On the first Sunday at Lynn, four children were baptised. Thomas Newhall, the first white child born in Lynn, was first presented. Mr. Bachiller put him aside saying, "I will baptise my own child first.' meaning Stephen Hussey, his daughter's child, born the same week as Thomas Newhall." The very fact that he was responsible for transporting not only his daughter Deborah and her four sons to America, but also other members of his family (Ann Sanborn and her 3 sons) indicates that he had a great love for all of them. How painful it must have been for his children and grandchildren to watch as others tried to ruin his reputation and besmirch his name. Eventually the Rev. Bachiller would return to England, no doubt broken-hearted over his perceived failure in America. Burned out, his books and papers destroyed, his finances in tatters, his name blackened by the young Mary Beedle and leaving the family that meant so much to him must have caused tears to well in the old man's eyes. Sometime in 1654, accompanied by one grandson   (possibly more) he sailed from New England to return to his own England that now, ironically, seemed a refuge to him. Daniel Webster, the politician and famous orator, was one of the illustrious descendants of Stephan Bachiller. Daniel Webster wrote to his son Fletcher March 5, 1840: "I believe we are all indebted to my father's mother for a large portion of the little sense which belongs to us. Her name was Susannah Bachelder; she was the descendant of a clergyman and a woman of uncommon strength of understanding. If I had had many boys I should have called one them Bachelder." There is monument to Stephen Bachiller at the Center of Founders Park in Hampton, New Hampshire. What follows is the inscription on that monument: A little band of pioneers under the leadership of Rev. Stephen Bachiler of Southhampton, England. Seeking a larger liberty, in October 1638 settled in the wilderness near this spot to plant a free church in a free town. They were joined in 1639 by others and in that year the town was incorporated. To do honor to the founder of Hampton, to exalt the ideals for which they strove and as an inspiration to posterity this memorial is dedicated, October 14, 1925.