Samuel A. Morrill, farmer and carpenter of Canterbury, Merrimack County, was born May 26, 1827, in the house that he now occupies. His parents were Nathaniel and Sallie S. (Morrill) Morrill. His paternal grandfather was Samuel Morrill, a farmer of Boscawen, where he always lived. Nathaniel Morrill removed from Boscawen to Canterbury in 1821, settling upon this farm. He died in the winter of 1836, at the age of forty-seven years, his wife surviving him until August, 1861. They had Emily, born March 3, 1821, married Abram Fitz. Catherine, the second child, was born August 27, 1823, and died at the age of seventeen years. Reuben, the third child, was born August 11, 1825, and died in East Concord, N.H. He married Hannah McCoy, who now lives in Boston. Samuel A. was the fourth child. Charles F., the third son, married first Martha M. Roby, second Ann Sawyer, and third Roxey James. He is a farmer and carpenter, and resides with his wife in Canterbury. Elizabeth was born March 7, 1831, and died April 24, 1832. The youngest child is Elder Enoch Morrill, born September 16, 1833, who is a jeweller by trade, and is an Advent preacher. He resides in Hampton, N.H. His first wife was Angeline Stevens, and his second Augusta Mace, of Seabrook, N.H.
The Morrill children all received a common-school education. Samuel A. had the additional advantage of two terms in the academy at Boscawen, and after finishing his studies he taught school five winters. He was in his tenth year when his father died. When he was twenty-one years old he had learned the carpenter’s trade, and he then took the entire charge of the farm. On April 10, 1851, he married Miss Mary E. Garland, who was born October 23, 1830, daughter of Nathaniel and Abigail Garland, of South Berwick, Me. Her father was a merchant, a hotel man, and a teamster. After marriage Mr. Morrill went to Massachusetts, and spent a year in Winchester and Lawrence, employed as a carpenter. Since that time he has lived on the old homestead. He now owns about one hundred acres of good farm land, well improved, and does some dairy business, still working more or less at his trade.
He always takes an active interest in politics, voting the Republican ticket; and, though heretofore he has held no office, he is now candidate for Supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Morrill are both members of the Congregational church, in which they are among the most active workers, Mr. Morrill having been a member of this church since fifteen years of age. They have one adopted child, George A., who lives near the farm, and whose son, Harry R., now resides with them.