The charter of the Phil. Kearney Post, No. 53, dated April 9th, 1880. It includes the names of twenty-five charter members, the majority of them having resided in Canaan during the 1880 census, while others lived in Orange. A notice in The People and Patriot newspaper, dated May 15th, 1884, mentions this Post meeting in Grafton, NH. The Dep't Annual Report for the year prior makes no mention of a No. 53. This number would later be reused by a New Ipswich Post before 1890. Many former members of this Post would join the one in Enfield, NH.

The original membership (with service):
Horace P. Emerson - Co. D, 8th VT INF
Thomas Hogle - perhaps Co. I, 10th VT INF
Alonzo Allen Smith - Co. C, 7th NH INF
John W. Towle - Co. B, 6th NH INF
Stephen R. Swett - 1st Batt'n, New England Cav + 1st RI Cav
James Morrill - Co. D, 14th NH INF
Moses T. Hale - Co. B, 18th NH INF
Jonas S. Watson - Co. B, 12th NH INF
Orville Goss - Co. E, 3rd NH INF
William Wesley Knowlton - Co. F, 6th MA INF
Allen Hayes George - Co. H, 11th NH INF
Simeon Currier - Co. H, 7th VT INF
Benjamin F. Terrill - Co. D, 14th NH INF
George P. McCormick - US Navy
Robert R. Morey - Co. B & F, 9th VT INF
Charles R. Coburn - Co. D, 13th NH INF
Stephen D. Smith - Co. C, 7th NH INF
John Ford - Co. F, 15th NH INF
Philip G. Prescott - Co. H, 11th NH INF
Melvin Marcus Barney - Co. F, 15th NH INF
Edwin (Edward) M. Tucker - 3rd MA Battery, LA + 24th VRC 
John W. Philbrick - Co. E, 3rd NH INF
Charles D. Washburn - Co. H, 11th NH INF
Hiram G. Blaisdell - Co. I, 9th NH INF
​E. G. Fogg - maybe the George E of Canaan, 3rd VT INF

This Post was likely named for Brigadier General Philip "Phil" Kearney, US Volunteers, who was killed at the Battle of Chantilly on Sept. 1st, 1862. His surname was usually spelled "Kearny", but was often spelled both ways. The pension papers for his widow Agnes even used the -ey variation.

​It was one of many in the country given the name Phil Kearney (or Kearny), presumably all after the famed general. Others (with their spellings alternating) included Post, No. 10, in Richmond, VA, Post No 5 in Jersey City, NJ, Post No 48 in East Wallingford, VT, No. 40 in Oskaloosa, IA, No. 2, Fort Omaha, NE, No. 7, Toledo, WA, # 5 in Washington, KS, and Post #8 in New York City. Muskegon, MI had the Phil Kearny Post, No. 7.

The charter of the GEORGE BOWERS Post, No. 81, Department of New Hampshire, dated October 15th, 1884. This one is a replacement, as the original was lost when a fire destroyed the GAR Hall in Warren on Feb. 8th, 1890.

​There were thirteen charter members:

This post was named for Lt. Col. George Bowers of the 13th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers. He was a resident of Nashua, NH, a graduate of West Point, and was a lieut. in the Mexican War. A charter member of Nashua's GAR Post No. 7, he was its first commander for two years. He served as Department Commander in 1879 and 1880, becoming the Junior Vice-Commander of the National G.A.R. in 1881. He died in Nashua on Feb. 14th, 1884, and the veterans of Warren honored him eight months later with this Post.

The Bowers Post was active through April 1911, when their name was last seen listed in the 44th Department Encampment Journal.