As our ancestors settled into the year 1832 in Concord, they were provided much information each morning by the New Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette. The people of Concord would rise early and complete their chores, gather in their offices to address the everyday concerns, open their shops down on Main Street and read the newspaper so that they would be informed, for with information they felt safe, secure and even mildly entertained at times.

In the year 1832 the people that inhabited our little town of Concord read with interest that Charles Carroll, the last surviving signatory of the Declaration of Independence passed away at the age of 95 at his home in Maryland. They read about the Black Hawk War, Jacksonville, Florida being chartered and a gentleman named Benjamin Bonneville leading the very first wagon train across the Rocky Mountains at the south pass. There was news from Europe and the people of Concord held concern about the various epidemics and pandemics currently in Europe, for the people of Concord had experienced sickness in our town as far back as the 1700s with smallpox and influenza.

With much concern for the people in our community, the concern of sickness was monitored by both the people, and the officials here as well as in other locations in the United States. During the early months in 1832 there was much mentioned about Asiatic Cholera in Europe and it was this fear that our ancestors lived as each new month arrived. If this sickness arrived it must be addressed to keep the people safe.

During the month of June, 1832, the news of widespread sickness and death arriving each day from across Europe was now close to our home in Concord. There was news of the spread of the infection, cholera had crossed the Atlantic Ocean and was well documented not far away to the north in Canada. The people to the north were simply ravaged at this time, the concern was very near and very real. It was common during this era to travel from Canada to Boston to book passage on a ship sailing to Europe. The people of New Hampshire lived with the fear that a person infected with cholera might pass through Concord en route to Boston and spread the disease locally.

The citizens of Concord gathered and signed a petition so that this concern could be addressed by local lawmakers. The politicians agreed and called a town meeting on July 9, 1832 to address the concerns of the Concord community. The people desired a board of health as well as a plan to address anyone arriving locally that might be ill. So, it was on July 9, 1832 the people of Concord established and appointed a board of health consisting of Richard Bradley, Joseph Stickney, Laban Page, Thomas Chadbourne, Ezra Carter, Peter Renton, Elijah Colby, Samuel Morrill, Thomas Brown and J.T. Gilman Leach. This newly formed Concord board of health now had the authority to both address and accommodate those in need of assistance as a result of cholera or any other disease that might develop and threaten the people in our community. A budget was established in the amount of $500 to fund the new board of health and meetings were held with regular updates from the board to the citizens.

By establishing this organization on July 9, 1832, the people were satisfied with a plan in place. With cholera now in New York City to the south and Canada to the north, the people of Concord at least had a plan to address concerns before their family, friends and neighbors became ill. If indeed anyone in Concord did become ill there were additional provisions for isolation to help manage the spread of the infection.

Much like today, the people living in Concord in 1832 felt the fear and anxiety from unknown ailments. They sought comfort and the local officials responded. The people of this era were very much like we are today, with fear and a desire for comfort. They came together and helped each other, perhaps a little more than they might have once.

Today, just like during the summer of 1832, people live in a similar manner. We have isolated, but we still check on our neighbors from afar. We have found great comfort and joy in helping those in need perhaps a little more than usual. The people of Concord look after the young and the elderly a little closer. People walking our streets here in Concord today still walk in the shadows of our ancestors with much concern for those in need in their thoughts and an abundance of compassion in their hearts. Togetherness was as important to our ancestors 191 years ago as it is today. I’m proud to be a member of this community where we care for those in need today, for there is still goodness and hope.