Cheshire County NH

The Third Congregational Church of Alstead New Hampshire

On the 3d of August, 1842, this church was organized, located at Alstead village. It grew out of the inconvenience undergone by the people in this vicinity reaching the other churches, and was made up of members as follows: twenty from the church at the Center, eight from the church at Langdon, one from the church at Acworth, and one from the church at East Alstead, making, with three who united by profession, thirty-three in all. Their first minister, Rev. Darwin Adams, remained about three years, and was succeeded by Rev. John Lawrence. Their church building, erected in 1843, is … Read more

Biography of Josiah Butler

Josiah Butler, an early settler, located on road 6, where Seymour E. Butler now resides. He early cleared his farm and opened his house as a tavern, being on what was at that time the direct road from Massachusetts to Chesterfield and places north. Frequently, it is said. his house was filled with guests and his yard filled with the conveyances of pioneers who were on their way to their pioneer homes. Here he continued to reside until his death, at an advanced age.. He was the father of two sons and six daughters. His wife survived him and married … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Hamilton

Samuel Hamilton, born in Ireland, in 1752, was the son of a linen merchant, or weaver, came to Boston about 1772, and settled in Chesterfield sometime between 1780 and 1785. He married Mary, sister of Dr. Joshua Tyler, May 9, 1775. He was engaged after coming to Chesterfield in the weaving of linen cloth. He died February 12, 1810. His children were John, Hannah, Hance, Loammi, James, Samuel, Ara, Fanny, Uri, and Amadella. Ara, born May 22, 1789, married twice, first, Sally, daughter of James Roberston, in 1815, who died December 11, 1823; and second.Almira, daughter of Phineas Fullam, in … Read more

General History of Fitzwilliam NH

FITZWILLIAM, one of the southern tier of townships in the county, lies in lat. 42° 45 and long. 4° 54′, bounded north by Troy and Jaffrey, east by Jaffrey and Rindge, south by the state line, and west by Richmond. The town was originally granted by the Masonion proprietors, as Monadnock No. 4, January 15, 1752, to Roland Cotton and forty-one others. These grantees, however, failed to comply with the requirements of the charter and thus forfeited their right to the territory, and it was subsequently, early in 1765, rE.granted to Samson Stoddard and twenty-three associates. On May 19, 1773, … Read more

The Congregational Church of Jaffrey, NH

The Congregational church of Jaffrey village.-The grant from the Masonian proprietors stipulated that a meeting-house be built within six years from the date of the charter. There is nothing in the early records of the town, however, to show that anything was done towards this object previous to 1774, when it was voted that such a structure be built. Neglect to build a meeting-house was not the only instance in which the settlers failed to fulfill the requirements of their charter. From the reports of the settlers to the grantors, testifying of the condition of the colony, we find that … Read more

Early Government Dublin NH

On November 16, 1768, a meeting of the inhabitants was convened, with John Goffe, Esq., moderator, at which time a political organization was effected by electing the following officers: Moses Adams, Eli Morse and John Muzzey, assessors; Joseph Greenwood, clerk; Henry Strongman, collector; and Moses Adams, commissioner of assessment. This partial form of government was kept up till 1771, when, it not being considered adequate for all purposes of the town body-politic, a formal charter was required. Under this charter the town was duly organized, as previously stated, and Thomas Morse was chosen moderator; Joseph Greenwood, town clerk; and Henry … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Oliver L. Spaulding

Oliver L. Spaulding. was born in Jaffrey, N. H., August 2, 1833, graduated at Oberlin college, Ohio, in 1855; removed to St. Johns, Mich., in 1857. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan for the term of six years. Served during the war of the rebellion in all the grades from captain to brevet brigadier-general In 1866 he was elected secretary of state for Michigan, and was re-elected in 1868. Was a special agent of the United States treasury department from 1875 till he resigned the position to take his … Read more

Fitzwilliam Depot, Cheshire County NH

FITZWILLIAM DEPOT, a post village located in the central part of the town,, on the Cheshire railroad, contains one church, a few mechanic shops, stores, etc.

Biographical Sketch of Ralph J. Holt

Ralph J. Holt, son of David, was born in Alstead, September 29, 1812. He taught schools winters and was engaged in farming during the summers. He married Sallie A. Towns, in 1844, and has three children. He moved to Keene in 1846, and was engaged in farming until 1848. He was then elected constable and policeman, holding the latter position for thirty years. In 1854 he was appointed deputy sheriff, which office he held until 1866, when hewn elected sheriff, holding that position for several years, and was again appointed to the office of. deputy sheriff, which he still retains.

Biography of Francis W. Brooks

Francis W. Brooks, who died at Brattleboro, Vt., February 5, 1885, was born in Boston May 14. 1821, during the residence of his parents in that city or its vicinity. In the following August the family removed to Chesterfield. In 1839, however, they took up their residence in Brattleboro, and it was probably at about this time, or a year or two before, that the boy “Frank” went to Putney where he was the active, efficient clerk of Mr. P. R. Chandler, now of Chicago. After a few years spent at Putney the young man went to New York city … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ebenezer Bigelow

Ebenezer Bigelow, a native of Winchendon, Mass., moved to Weathersfield. Vt., married Sally Wales, and reared nine children, five of whom are now living. His son Enos married Emily B., daughter of Amos and Lucretia (Buffum) Bennett, has three children, Charles, Marion, and Frederick, and resides in Keene. The father of Mrs. Sally Bigelow served as a captain in the Revolutionary war, and thereafter drew a pension.

James Wilson Genealogy

I. The ancestor of the Daniel2 Wilson family came from Tyrone, Ireland, in 1737, with the famous Scotch Irish emigrants. These emigrants were a hardy, industrious, long-lived, honest and sturdy race of people. A great proportion of New Hampshire’s most distinguished sons are found among their descendants. One of these emigrants was James1 Wilson. The history of Peterborough gives his name as WILLIAM. Later researches favor JAMES, but we are not positively sure of the name. Nor do we know who was his wife. They brought with them from Ireland a son, Robert2, and a daughter, Lettuce2. In this country … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William White

William White, a native of Boston, Mass., and a rope-maker by trade, came to Marlboro in 1778 and located where his great-grandson, Thomas, H., now resides, and died here at the age of eighty-four years. Of his family of eleven children the youngest died first, at the age of fifty-two years, while the oldest died at the age of 102 years- Thomas, son of Thomas, a native of this town, reared six children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, as mentioned above, occupied the homestead. He has been a traveling salesman for twenty-five years.

Biographical Sketch of Dea. Milton Chaplain

Dea. Milton Chaplain, son of Squier Moses Chaplin, was born in thesoutheastern part of this town, in 1805. He attended a district school and the academy at Amherst, Mass. In the year 1824, when nineteen years of age, he “bought his time” during his minority and built a small shop in which he began the manufacture of clothes pins, being the first to make them in town. The method employed when he began was to turn them all in a lathe then cut the slot with a circular saw, when they were finished by boys and girls by hand. At … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hezekiah Stone

Hezekiah Stone came from Massachusetts about 1780, and bought the land where Benjamin Whitcomb now lives. He was a farmer, owned a saw-mill, and had two sons and three daughters. The eldest, Artemas, had a son, Artemas, who was the father of Stillman S. Stone. Moses, second son of Hezekiah, was born in Fitzwilliam, December 31. 1785. He was also a farmer, and operated a saw-mill. He was one who responded to the call for troops in 1812, and went to Portsmouth, but not into active service. He died in January, 1854.

Methodist Church Alstead New Hampshire

A Methodist class was in existence at East Alstead previous to 1820. A house of worship was built in 1839, and a church constituted, which at one time had fifty members. The organization continued until about 1865, when, the membership having become so greatly decreased, preaching was discontinued, and the membership transferred to Marlow church. Their church building, a brick structure, was sold and remodeled into a store. Mr. Samuel M. Kidder was connected with this society longer than any other person now living.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Gardner C. Hill

Dr. Gardner C. Hill was born in Winchester, N. H., March 20, 1829, and was educated in the public schools of his native town, and the academies of Chesterfield, Swanzey and Saxtons River, Vt., graduating from the latter institution. He taught school six years; the last year as principal of the ” old high school” at Winchester. He commenced the study of medicine with the late L. L. M. Comings, M. D., of Swanzey. He entered the Castleton Medical college, Vt., in 1853, and graduated with the class of 1856. He commenced the practice of medicine in Warwick, Mass., where … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Richardson

Nelson Richardson was born in Hinsdale, February 13, 1817. His educational advantages were limited, but by careful study and reading he has acquired a good business education- At the early age of eighteen years he began to assist in the navigation of the Connecticut, and in 1841 was made captain of a flat-boat, continuing in that capacity until the close of 1847, when the railroad was completed, and the river navigation abandoned. About two years later he purchased a farm in the northern part of the town, upon which he has resided until the present time. He has the confidence … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Stephens

James Stephens, a lieutenant under General Washington in the Revolution, and a native of Andover, Mass., came to Jaffrey about 1769. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Lacy, and second, to Betsey Wood Litch, and settled upon a farm on road 44, where Henry Chamberlain now resides. Polly,, the youngest of his seven children, and the only one now living, resides on the home farm and is eighty-seven years of age. Polly, a granddaughter of James, has a set of spoons made from the silver mountings that were upon the sword worn by her grandfather during the war. His … Read more

Biography of Dr. Oscar H. Bradley

Dr. Oscar H. Bradley was born in Louisville, Ky., February 10, 1826. He was a grandson of Jonathan Holmes, of Londonderry, N. H., an officer who served under General Stark, at Bennington, and under Washington through the dark and memorable winter at Valley Forge. At the age four years Oscar H. moved with his parents to the western part of Vermont, where he lived until he reached the age of seventeen. He graduated fry Black River academy, at Ludlow, Vt., in 1847, taught school the following winter at Mt. Holley, Vt., and in the spring of 1848 entered the law … Read more