Volume 1 of History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763–1910, represents the product of years of dedicated local research by William Henry Child. First published in 1911, the work offers a detailed historical and genealogical account of Cornish, a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, from its founding through the first years of the 20th century.
Despite his self-professed lack of literary training and the demands of managing a farm, Child undertook the task of compiling the town’s history with earnest intent and methodical care. His purpose was clear: to provide a truthful and comprehensive record that honors both the early settlers and their descendants. Recognizing the value of preserving memory for future generations, he worked to document not only public and civic events but also the genealogies of families who have shaped the town.
The book opens with a geographical and historical overview of Cornish, describing its location along the Connecticut River and its development from a royal timber camp in the 18th century to an established New England community. It details the town’s changing boundaries, its topographical features, and its agricultural and scenic qualities. Child’s narrative also explores the character and values of the early settlers—men and women committed to political and religious liberty—whose influence, he argues, helped shape the institutions and moral character of the town and, more broadly, the American republic.
Volume I of this history sets the foundation for the genealogical work that follows in the succeeding sections, providing essential context for understanding the lives of Cornish’s early inhabitants. As both a historical document and a genealogical reference, this volume stands as a significant contribution to local history and family heritage studies in New England.
See Volume 2 for the Genealogies of Cornish New Hampshire
Volume 1
Table of Contents
I. General Description — Situation — Boundaries — Territory — Approaches — Name — Altitude, p. 1-3
II. Charter — Grantees • — Reservations — Grant to Moses Chase — First Settlements — First Town Meeting p. 4-19
III. Pioneer Life — Houses — Crops — Tools — Food — Dress — Sports — Postal Facilities — Church — Wild Beasts — Forests — Flora p. 20-42
IV. New Hampshire Grants — Claims of New Hampshire and New York — Vermont State Organized — New Hampshire Severed from Great Britain — Petition of Sixteen Towns — Cornish Convention — Re-solves of Congress — Boundaries of New Hamp-shire and New York Determined p. 43-53
V. Revolutionary War — Stamp Act — Committees of Safety — Taxes Imposed by Parliament — Boston Massacre — Boston Tea Party — Battle of Lex-ington — Bunker Hill — Provision of New Hampshire for War — Association Test – — Decla-ration of Independence — Trenton and Princeton — General Stark at Bennington — Saratoga — Burgoyne’s Surrender — Cornish at Ticonderoga — Surrender of Cornwallis p. 54-78
VI. Military History, 1783-1861 — New Hampshire Divided into Military Districts — Muster — War of 1812 — Cornish in War of 1812 — Mexican War 79-84 VII. Cornish in the Civil War — Call for Volunteers — Second Regiment — Third Regiment — Fourth Regiment — Fifth Regiment — Sixth Regiment — Seventh Regiment — Eighth Regiment — Ninth Regiment — Eleventh Regiment — Thirteenth Regi-ment — Fourteenth Regiment — Fifteenth Regi-ment — Sixteenth Regiment — Eighteenth Regi-ment — New Hampshire Battalion — First New Hampshire Cavalry — Heavy Artillery — Sharp-shooters — United States Navy — Cornish Men Drafted p. 85-106
VIII. Churches — -Religious Proclivities — Union Soci-ety— Congregational, First and Second Churches — Second Division of the Latter — Baptist -Episcopal — Methodist Episcopal — Perfection-ists – – Millerites — Independent — Pentecostal Nazarenes p. 107-141
IX. Schools– Town Divided into School Districts -Town System — School Houses — High Schools — Supervision — Inspectors — Superintendents — School Board — Kimball Union Academy — Grad-uates of Kimball Union Academy p. 142-156
X. Town Officers — Selectmen — Town Clerks — Moderators — Representatives p. 157-166
XI. Societies — G. A. R. — Soldiers’ Aid Society — Cornish Colonization Society — Temperance — Grange — Cheshire Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons p. 167-178
XII. Manufacturing Industries — Tanneries — Carriage Building — Grist Mills — Sawmills — Creameries – Blacksmithing — Harness Making, etc. p. 179-186
XIII. Census Data of Cornish — Census of 1767 — of 1773 — of 1775 — of 1790 — Population of Cornish in Twelve Censuses — of the United States — of New Hampshire p. 187-192
XIV. Cemeteries of Cornish — Three Abandoned Cemeteries — Eight Principal Cemeteries — Casualties 193-201
XV. Pauperism — Care of Paupers by Town of Cornish Alms House — County Support of Paupers — County Affairs — Formation and Incorporation of Sulli-van County — County Courts p. 202-211
XVI. Cornish Bridge — Blue Mountain Park — Proprie-tors of Cornish Bridge — Toll House Journals — Austin Corbin — Game in Park p. 213-219
XVII. “City Folks ” in Cornish (By Homer St. Gaudens) . 220-232 XVIII. Town Building — Soldiers’ Monument — Libraries – Town House — Record Building — Inscription on Monument — Stowell Free Public Library . 233-243 XIX. Miscellaneous — Climatic Extremes — Hotels — Stores — Centennial — Post Offices — Town Re-ports— Indians — Shows — Ascutney Mountain — President’s Visit — Old People’s Association p. 244-262
XX. Lawyers — Physicians p. 262-276
XXI. Sketches of Cornish Men p. 277-346
Vital Statistics p. 347-368
General Index p. 369-376
Index of Names p. 377-392
The image attached to this file is a copy of a postcard depicting the Blow-me-down Bridge, Cornish, New Hampshire. Designed by Joseph Wells of the architectural firm McKim, the bridge was completed in 1888. It was built for Charles Cotesworth Beaman, owner of nearby Blow-Me-Down Farm. He was first of the “summer people” in what became the Cornish Art Colony. Beaman’s adjacent grist mill was finished in 1891. Both the bridge and mill are now part of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site.
Source
Child, William Henry. History of the town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with genealogical record, 1763-1910, vol 1. Concord, N.H., Rumford Press. c1911.