Cheshire County NH

Biography of Joseph Perry

Joseph Perry was born in Westminster, Vt., May 30, 1788. His father, Silas Perry, married Catharine Hale (both natives of Massachusetts), in 1783. Silas served in the Revolutionary war, and, in 1800, moved with his family o Keene, locating upon a farm on road 4. Joseph prepared for college in the preparatory schools, and graduated from Dartmouth in 1811. He was the appointed preceptor of the academy connected with this college, where he remained until November, 1816. He then went to New York city and engaged in the business of a private classical and mathematical teacher, for which h had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David W. Goodrich

David W. Goodrich, son of George and Lucinda (Wells) Goodrich, and a descendant of William Goodrich, of the ancient line of that name in England, who emigrated to Watertown, Mass., about 1636, came to Chesterfield from Gill, Mass., about 1810. He was a cloth dresser by trade, but after some years’ residence here he engaged in farming. In 1813 he married Salome, daughter of Benjamin Wheeler. He died March 22, 1857. His children were Honor, George W., Lucinda, Mary E., Charles C. P., Sarah, David W., William, and Ellen. The family have quite widely separated, but nearly all are prominent … Read more

The Universal Restoration Society of Chesterfield NH

The Universal Restoration Society is the corporate name of the Universalist society at West Chesterfield. This society was organized as early as 1798, or earlier. In June, 1818, fifty-five members of the society petitioned the legislature to be incorporated into a society, under the name that had already been adopted. The petition was granted, and an act was passed incorporating Oliver Baker, Stephen Streeter, Jonathan Cochran, with their associates and successors, into a society to be known as the Universal Restoration Society. Rev. Robert Bartlett, from Langdon, was their first pastor. Previous to their building, in 1830; the meeting-house now … Read more

Jaffrey East Congregational Church, NH

Jaffrey East Congregational church.- On the first of December, 1849, the following named persons requested letters of dismission from the church at the Center, for the purpose of organizing a church at East Jaffrey: Jonas M. Melville, Betsey Mellville, Liberty Mower, Mary Ann Mower, William Morse, Salmon H. Rand, Emeline A. Rand, Martha W. Lacy, Mary Bacon, Rebecca Bacon, John Verder, Sarah J. Verder, Samuel Marble, Lucy Marble, Roxanna J. Mower, Angelina S. Mower, Phineal Spaulding, Lyman Spaulding, Susan M. Spaulding, Thomas A. Stearns, Sarah E. Stearns, Samuel N. Laws and Abigail. Parker. On the 9th of January, 1850, the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry O. Coolidge

Henry O. Coolidge, whose father, Oscar, was one of the early merchants of the town, was born January 5. 1830. In 1849 and 1870 he engaged in trade at the Center village in partnership with Hon. C. J. Amidon; from ’51 to ’62 (excepting ’54, when he was in Brattleboro. Vt.) with his father; from ’62 to ’66, alone. He was also postmaster about eight years; town clerk from ’52 to ’69, with exception of the years ’54 and ’68; selectman ’60, ’61, ’65 and ’67; representative ’67. In 1869 he removed to Keene, where he now resides, cashier of … Read more

History of Industry in Marlboro, New Hampshire

The Frost Free Library.-The town has a fine public library, founded by Rufus S. Frost, in 1865, who donated $15.000.00 for the purpose. Of this amount $7,000.00 were devoted to the erection of a substantial granite building, $3,000.00 more were used in the purchase of books, and the remainder placed at interest, the revenue therefrom to be used in sustaining the library and in the purchase of new books, The Cheshire Blanket Co., whose mills are located at the village, was organized in the spring of 1873, the proprietors being C. O. Whitney and AV. H. Clark. Their main building … Read more

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 Joseph Scott

Joseph Scott was a native of Lancashire, England. Thomas, one of his five children, married a Miss Welch and reared a family of six children. His son John S. married four times, first, Alice Wilder; second, Lucy Tollman; third, Louisa Wilder; and fourth, Sarah A. Hodge. He has three children and resides upon a farm on road 45.

Biographical Sketch of William Randall

William Randall came to Chesterfield from Cranston, R. I., about 1780. His children were Eleazer, Anthony, Benajah, and Esther. Eleazer married Martha Staples, and settled in Chesterfield on land given him by his father. His children were Roxana, Prusha, Diana, Nathan, and Eleazer. The latter, born August 4, 1796, married Clarissa, daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, in 1815. He resided marfy years in this town, on the farm on which his fatherin-law had settled, now owned by William L. Clegg. He died in Westmoreland, June 17, 1860. He had born to him eight children, namely: Diana, Roxana, Eleazer, Sarah Harris, Shubel … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abiathar Wetherell

The second family that located in the town was that of Abiathar Wetherell, who came from Westmoreland, N. H., in 1798. In 1803, there came from the same place Zephaniah Leach and his four sons, Stephen, Nathan, William, and Jacob. He first settled on East hill, above where Nathan Page now lives , but afterward removing to the village, in connection with his son Nathan he built the first saw and grist-mill in town.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas R. Prentiss

Thomas R. Prentiss was born in Langdon, N. H., in 1803, and came to Alstead about 1834. He followed mercantile pursuits about ten years, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of paper. In company with his son, Frederick L., he built a paper-mill upon the site of the one destroyed by fire in 1868, and which was in turn destroyed, in 1881. He died September 27, 1899. Two of his eight children are living, viz.: Lewis M., in Chicago, and Frederick L., in this town. The latter served as a drummer during the late war, and is the present town … Read more

Biography of George Wallingford

George Wallingford, a prosperous business man of Claremont in the last generation, was born in Dublin, N.H., July 17, 1808, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Hildreth) Wallingford. The first ancestor, Nicholas Wallingford, settled in Bradford, Mass., in 1672. David Wallingford, of the third generation descended from Nicholas, was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Born September 25, 1744, he went to the war from Hollis, N.H., was a minute-man, served in four companies under Captains Dow, Towns, Emerson, and Goss, and took part in the battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington. His son Ebenezer, who was born October 5, 1780, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry H. Smith

Dr. Henry H. Smith, the only physician and surgeon of this town, came here from Claremont, N. H., in October, 1865, commenced practice, and has remained here to the present time, meeting with great success. He married Arabella S., daughter of Thomas and Sophia (Appleton) Fisk. He was a naval surgeon in the late war, where he remained until its close.

Frederick A. Wilson Genealogy

1. William1 Wilson, of Lynn, Mass., m. Priscilla Purchase and had four ch.: William, of Concord, Mass., was b. at Lynn, Aug. 28, 1664; d. Concord, Aug. 7, 1741. The age on his gravestone would show that he was the son of William1, and investigations show that he could not have been the son of any other known American Wilson. He was the town clerk of Concord, 1710-18; selectman, 1700-17, deputy and representative to the General Court, 1702, and many other times; was captain of the militia, and a man of prominence in the community and acquired a property of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lieut. Nathaniel Vilas

Lieut. Nathaniel Vilas, from Grafton, Mass., fourth son of Dea. Noah, came to Alstead in 1778, locating in the southwestern part of the town. Here he carried on a farm and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, employing in the latter occupation twelve hands. He built the first water works into Boston, bringing the water in logs from Roxbury, Vt. He was twice married, first to Mary Chandler, and second to Lavina Crosby, both of whom bore him twenty children. He was a lieutenant of militia, held several of the town offices, and died in 1853. His son, … Read more

History of the Water Works of Keene, New Hampshire

The matter of supplying Keene with an adequate water supply was agitated at an early date. In 1861 a charter was granted for the purpose, the estimated cost of the proposed works being $40,000.00. Much opposition was met with, however, on the part of some tax payers, which, combined with the troubles of the war, put the matter off. In 1866 the subject again came up, though it was not until August, 1868, that the vote was finally carried. A committee was appointed to act immediately, consisting of Samuel A. Gerould, Edward Joslyn, Thomas H. Leverett, Daniel H. Holbrook and … Read more

Biography of Reverend Samuel Goddard

Mr. Samuel Goddard was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, July 6, 1772. We have no information concerning his early life. His opportunities for education are said to have been scanty. After coming to manhood he was for several years in trade with a brother in Royalston, Mass. Here he married his first wife (Abigail Goddard of Athol, a town adjoining Royalston), and here his older children were born.

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.

Biography of Alger, William Rounseville

Alger, William Rounseville, son of Nahum and Catherine Sampson (Rounseville) Alger, was born in Freetown, Bristol County, December 28, 1822. He attended the common schools from the age of four to ten, then began to work for a livelihood; he worked five years in a cotton mill at Hookset, N. H., studied attentively in all available house, educating himself in the various branches of an academic course. He attended an academy in Pembroke, N. H., two years, and one year at Lebanon, N. H. He entered the divinity school of Harvard University in 1844, and was graduated in the class … Read more

Hinsdale, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History

Hinsdale lies in the southwestern part of the county, in lat. 42º 48′, and long. 4º 32′, bounded north by Chesterfield, east by Winchester, and southwest by the left bank of Connecticut river, the township being triangular in outline. It originally comprised within its limits the township of Vernon, on the opposite side of the river. This land, as it originally stood, was granted by Massachusetts at a very early period. Even after the river had been declared the boundary line between the provinces of New Hampshire and New York, and the township had in this manner been divided, the … Read more