Cheshire County NH

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Dinsmoor Jr.

Samuel Dinsmoor, Jr., was admitted to the bar in 1819, but was not enrolled as an attorney at Keene until 1823. He was the son of Gov. Samuel Dinsmoor, and was born May 8, 1799. He graduated from Dartmouth college in 1815, and was associated with Gen. James Miller in the practice of law in Arkansas. In 1826 and 1827, and in 1829 and 1830, he was clerk of the senate, and postmaster several years, at one time cashier of Ashuelot bank. and later its president. In 1849, 1850 and 1851 he was governor of New Hampshire. He died February … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Gates

Elijah Gates was born in Stowe, Mass., in 1765, came to Marlboro in 180o, settled where his son Elijah how resides, and died here in 1824. The latter was born here June 17, 1801, in the house he still occupies.

Biographical Sketch of John E. Fisher

John E. Fisher was born near St. Johns, N. B., in 1525, on Darling’s Island, which was the property of his grandfather, Captain Darling. His father, Richard, was a blacksmith, and removed to Boston about 1825, and ten years later moved to Quincey, Mass. He was one of the first four abolitionists in the town. His son John served seven years apprenticeship at stone cutting, working on the Boston custom-house. He had worked on government work in Boston about fifteen years before the Rebellion began. About three days after the firing on Fort Sumpter, he was placed in charge of … Read more

Biography of Dr. Messer Carmon

Dr. Messer Carmon moved to Sullivan, from New Salem, about 1796, and settled near the center of the town. He practiced medicine there about thirty years and died in 1824. Eliza, one of his two children, married Stephen Dean, of Keene, and died there in 1876. The other, Nancy, married George Hubbard, of Sullivan, and died in Gilsum at her son’s residence, in 1882.

Biographical Sketch of Aaron Royce

Aaron Royce came from Rhode Island at an early day. He has four children, one son and three daughters. His son David was born in town, married Harriet Streeter, of Hinsdale. N. H., and located in Hinsdale. After living here and in different parts of New Hampshire and Vermont for severa years, he moved to Charleston, Vt., where he and his wife both died. He reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living. Of these, Burnham lives in Boston; Harriet married H. Osman, and lives in Vermont; Cynthia in Lyndon, Vt.; Charles and Clark in Charleston, Vt.; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Major Abner S. H. Hutchinson

Major Abner S. H. Hutchinson was born in Wilton, N. H., December 10, 1803. He joined the militia when a young man, and rose to the rank of major in the 12th N. H. Regt., and was captain of the Nelson Rifle Company. He married Mary, daughter of Bethuel Harris, who bore him five children, of whom Albert is in North Carolina, and Henry in Boston. His daughter, Belle, resides in Harrisville. Two sons, Albert and Henry N., are dead. A. S. Hutchinson came to Nelson in 1829, and began work in the mill. He was a partner four years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Cummings Sawyer

Cummings Sawyer, son of Josiah, married Elizabeth, daughter of W. Edward and Parnell Young, and has three children. He now resides on the homestead farm, on road 39.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Watts

Joseph Watts was born here and, resided in the town until his death, in 1816. He resided just north of the village, where he reared four children, none of whom are living. An adopted son, George U. R., is now a resident of the town. John, Isaac and Jesse, brothers of Joseph, also spent their lives here. None of their descendants now reside here.

Biographical Sketch of Frederick Metcalf

Frederick Metcalf was born in Keene, June i 1, 1769. He married Esther Dwinell and reared a family of eleven children-five sons and six daughters. Four of these, Alvah E., Edwin G., William and Mary E., are living and reside in Keene. Mr. Metcalf died September 16, 1849. His wife died February 27, 1847. Mary E. married Arba Kidder and is now a widow. Alvah E. was born October 30, 1813, married Harriet Willis, of Alstead, and has had six children, only two of whom are living. Of these, Alice married C. H. Clark, and Hattie M, resides at home. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Boyden

Elijah Boyden, a native of Massachusetts, came to this town in 1806, and died here July 22, 1814, aged fifty-one years. His son Elijah, born here August 15, 1814, began life as a clerk for his brother, with whom he remained seven years. He then went to Boston, and remained about three years, when he returned to Marlboro, and was a merchant here for fifteen years.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, Fitzwilliams NH

The Methodist Episcopal church, organized by Rev. W. Merrill, the present pastor, in 1867, has two branches, one at Howeville, and one at the Depot Their first church building was erected at Howeville, and the one at the Depot in 1878. It will seat 150 persons, cost $1,000.00 and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at $2,000.00. The society has thirty-two members, and a Sabbath-school with 103 scholars.

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

General History of Chesterfield New Hampshire

Chesterfield lies in the western part of the county, in lat. 42° 54′ and long. 4° 40′, bounded north by Westmoreland and Keene, east by Keene and Swanzey, south by Winchester and Hinsdale, and west by the west bank of Connecticut river, and has an area, exclusive of the Connecticut, of about forty-four square miles, or 28,160 acres. In tracing the sketch of the grant of Chesterfield, etc., it is necessary to glance at the trouble attending the settlement of the boundary line between New Hampshire and Massachusetts, which are written up in the sketch of Hinsdale and in the … 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 John Shirley

John Shirley, a soldier of the Revolution, was born on board ship coming from England, and was brought up in Boston. He came to Fitzwilliam about 1780, settling in the village, and married Submit Bogle, of Sudbury, Mass. He reared a family of nine children, and died at the age of ninety-three, in the house where his grandson, William H., now lives. His son, Henry, was born in the town, held the office of selectman several years, and died at the same place his father did, at the age of seventy-two. William H., son of Henry, was born in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Captain Jonathan S. Adams

Capt. Jonathan S. Adams, the only son of Joshua, was born in Plainfield, Conn., September 22, 1802. His father was a major of militia in Connecticut, and had two daughters, who, with Jonathan, constituted the family. Maj. Joshua Adams died in August, 1813, from a fall upon a stake. His son Jonathan came here in December, 1814, to live with his uncle, Rev. John Sabin, who was the pastor of the Congregational church. He spent the first six years of his life here in study with his uncle, who added to his labors as pastor here, those of tutor, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Frederick Boyden

Dr. Frederick Boyden was born at Deerfield, Mass., in 1810, and died at Hinsdale, November 11, 1871. He graduated at the medical school of Harvard university. He located at Hinsdale about 1835, and for twenty-five years was the only physician permanently located here, and was counted among the best in his profession. After some years he became interested in manufacturing cashmerettes with Sylvester Bishop. C. J. Amidon joined the firm, and after Mr. Bishop died the firm was Boyden & Amidon, until his death. During the latter years of his life he almost entirely withdrew from practice. By his energy … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph B. Abbott

Joseph B. Abbott, son of Daniel, was born in Surry, August 1, 1835. His grandfather, Daniel Abbott, settled in Surry, in 17- was a tailor, married Lucy Harvey, of Surry, in 1794, and reared four children. He went to aid in suppressing the outbreak near Lake Champlain in 1812, and was never heard from again. His son Daniel was a farmer, and was often called upon to do town business. Joseph B. fitted for college at Keene, went to Illinois, where he taught school, and then to Newburn, N. C., where he taught school about four years. After the war … Read more

City of Keene, New Hampshire

KEENE, as a city, was brought into existence by an act of the legislature, approved July 3, 1873, incorporating the same, subject to the acceptance, by a majority of votes, of the city charter so enacted. In March, 1874, the act was accepted by a vote of 783 to 589. The new government was duly organized May 5, 1874, Hon. Horatio Colony being elected mayor. As previously stated, the entire township was included within the city limits, and is divided into five wards. The city proper, how ever, is the old village of Keene, which President Dwight pronounced ” one … Read more

Keene New Hampshire Proprietor List

In March, 1732, a committee was appointed to lay out house-lots in the townships mentioned, who, in June, made a report of the house-lots in the Upper township. Of these, fifty-four were laid out on what is now the city plain, twenty-seven on each side of the Main street, and the other nine upon the plain on the Swanzey line. They were 160 rods long and eight rods wide, each containing eight acres. This committee, being also authorized to admit settlers, notified all persons who were desirous of taking lots to meet at Concord, Mass., June 26, 1734. A few … Read more