HON. SAMUEL DANA entered the freshman class of Harvard College at the age of twelve years, and graduated four years later, having for classmates President John Adams, Governor John Wentworth, and other noted men. After fitting for the ministry he received and accepted a call to settle in Groton, Mass., where he was ordained and installed 3 June, 1761. There he remained in office until 15 May, 1775, when the affections of many of his parishioners having become alienated from him on account of the course he saw fit to pursue in regard to the controversy between Great Britain and her American colonies, he voluntarily relinquished his pastoral charge. He however remained in Groton engaged in the cultivation of a small farm, and, for some months, in 1780 and 1781, acted as the minister of a portion of the people, who, not pleased with his removal, had formed a new society. About this time a law library came into his possession, and from a perusal of the volumes he formed a taste for the investigation of legal matters. An attorney who boarded with him furnished him with some information in his investigations. In 1780 he spent some months in Amherst in the office of Joshua Atherton, Esq., from whom he received further instruction. In the fall of that year he purchased a small tenement of Mr. Atherton, into which he moved with his family in the spring of 1781. In the autumn following he was, on motion of Mr. Atherton, admitted to practice as an attorney in the court of common pleas, and soon came into full practice. In 1782 he purchased the farm and buildings of Samuel Stewart's heirs, at the west end of the Plain, which he occupied throughout the remainder of his life. In November, 1782, he was chosen a delegate to the convention which framed the constitution of the state. Shortly after the adoption of the constitution he was appointed a justice of the inferior court of common pleas, but declined to accept the office. In 1785 he was appointed register of probate for Hillsborough county, and held the office until 9 January, 1789, when he was appointed judge of probate. This office he resigned 21 December, 1792, saying, in the letter conveying his resignation, that "for the support of my family I am obliged to practice as an attorney, and there is danger that I may not always be able to distinguish between a fee to the attorney and a bribe to the judge." In 1793 he was chosen to the state senate to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. Joshua Atherton. In this position he took an active part in procuring the passage of a law abolishing the courts of general sessions of the peace. A few years before his death he procured the establishment of a lodge of Free Masons in Amherst, of which he was the first worshipful master. This lodge held their meetings for some time in his house, where a hall was fitted up for their accommodation. His death, caused by typhus fever, violent in its attack and rapid in its progress, occurred 2 April, 1798, and his remains were entombed with Masonic honors on the fourth, when Timothy Biglow, of Groton, delivered a funeral oration. In his person Judge Dana was tall, spare, and very erect, except an inclination of the knees, which never deserted him when he was in a standing position. He had a blemish, occasioned by the small-pox, which had destroyed the sight of one of his eyes. His religious views were of the most liberal kind, and he was a kind friend and supporter of Rev. Mr. Barnard, the minister of the town. His talents as a lawyer were above mediocrity, but many of the habits acquired in the ministry remained through life. A contemporary says, "Could a person have been placed so as to hear Judge Dana while he was addressing a jury, without distinguishing his words, not a shadow of doubt would remain in his mind that the speaker was engaged in devout and earnest prayer." In his will, written in 1795, the usual invocation to the Deity is omitted. No bequest of his soul and body or mention of his religious belief is made, the first instance it is believed in the county, says Hon. C. H. Atherton, of the omission of these supposed essentials to a will. [Secomb 876-877]

His wife was Anna Kendrick, 1742-1810 born in Newton, Middlesex, MA and died in Amherst, Hillsboro, New Hampshire. We don't know for sure, but think it highly likely, that she was buried in the tomb beside her husband. No records have been found regarding her burial.
DIED... In this town, Mrs. ANNA DANA, relict of the Hon. Samuel Dana, aged 68. [The Farmer's Cabinet (Amherst, New Hampshire), October 23, 1810, p. 3, col. 3.]
WILL: Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, Register of Probate Index 1771-1884: Anna Dana, 1810, Amherst, Will, O2545 [see familysearch.org Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Probate Records, Probate case files, no. 2544-2570 Oct 1899-1933; DGS #101955530, probate starts image 9/435, will image 27/435]
Date of will 15 Mar 1806
Filed for probate 27 Oct 1810
Anna Dana of Amherst, Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Good health & sound mind
3 sons, Luther Dana of Exeter, Samuel Dana of Groton, James Green Dana of Boston
4 daughters, Amelia Smith, Thestay Brown, Mehetable Bowen Bell and Anna Dana
Appoint Samuel Bell of Francestown executor
Signed Anna Dana
Witness: Anna Smith, Betsey Henchman, J.K. Smith