Philemon Wright, a soldier of the war of 1812, married Abigail Bigelow, and reared six children. He came to Keene, from Worcester, Mass., in 1833, and remained here until his death, in 1862. His daughter Mary married Will-. lam Rand, who served two years in the late war. Their three children are, Abbie S., who married John W. Patch, and resides in Boston; Fannie M. and Mary I., who live at home.
Ira J. Prouty, M. D., only son of Dr. Ira F. Prouty, was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., August 15, 1857. He was educated in the public schools of Keene, graduating from the High school in 1875. He continued his studies in Keene until 1878, when he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he pursued a special course in analytical chemistry. In 1879 he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he remained three years, graduating in March, 1882, in which year he commenced the practice of medicine in Keene. In 1883 … Read more
Ezra Hayden, a native of Sudbury, Mass., came here about 1804 or 1805. locating upon the farm where Ethan Blodgett now lives. He removed to the place now owned by Eli Smith, where he died in 1843, at the age of fiftyeight years. His son, Otis, was born here where he has lived most of his life. His residence is on road 37.
EAST ALSTEAD (p. o.) is a hamlet located about 1 mile from the east line of the town, near Warren pond, and consists of one street running north and south, bordered by a Congregational church, one store, and about a dozen dwellings. Just west of this, however, upon the outlet of the pond, is a hamlet containing three mills, a grocery and ten or twelve dwellings, where quite an extensive lumber business is carried on.
Green Towne, son of Deacon Towne, who was a captain under General Green in the Revolution and also served in the French and Indian war, married Lucy, daughter of Capt. Solomon Rand, of Rindge. He reared a family of eight children, five of whom are now living. His son Levi P. married Emily A., daughter of Jonathan and Harriet (Dwinell) Sawyer, of East Alstead. He has two children and is a thriving farmer on road 53.
Thomas Morse is supposed to have been the first English settler to locate in the town. During the year 1761 he came on from Sherborn, Mass., cleared a piece of land, built a house, and during the following year brought his family to their new home upon the farm now owned by C. W. Fiske, on road 27.
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
Kittredge, Lewis Harris; automobile business; born, Harrisville, N. H., June 18, 1871; son of Samuel Grant and Harriet Louise Harris Kittredge; educated, Keene, N. H., High School, New Hampshire State College, degree of B. S.; 1896-1897, with New York Belting & Packing Co., Passaic, N. J.; 1897 to present time with The Peerless Motor Car Co. of Ohio, pres. since 1906, same office for the company in New York and New England; director The Peerlees Motor Car Co. of Ohio; pres. since 1906, same office for the Company in New York and New England; director the Peerless Motor Car Co. … Read more
John Kneeland, son of Timothy, was born in Gardner, Mass., in 1766 or 1767. He married Polly Johnson in 1791. He came to Chesterfield about 1797 and resided many years on the farm now owned by Charles C. P. Goodrich, Esq., and which has long been known as the “Squire Kneeland farm.”He was justice of the peace for many years, and held the office of selectman sixteen years in all, longer than it has ever been held by any other person since the town was incorporated. He was also representative in 1818,’20, ’22 and ’25. He died February 9, 185o, … Read more
Timothy Bemis, a native of Marlboro, Mass., came to Marlboro, N. H., in 1776. His son James, a commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war, married Hannah Frost, who bore him nine children, only one of whom is now living, and settled in Dublin. His son Josiah married Sibyl Emery, of Jaffrey, and had born to him three children, only two of whom are now living. His son. Alvin J., married Mary Greenwood, of Marlboro, N. H., who bore him two children, neither of whom is now living. He resides on road 35, in the village of East Jaffrey.
Dudley Smith was born at Dracut, Mass., February 10, 1772. He was twice married, first, to Hannah Graham, who bore him four children, as fol. lows: Dudley, Daniel, Dinsmore, and Hannah G. He married, for his second wife, Betsey Rollins, August 13, 1822, and had born to him four more children, as follows : Daniel. Joseph E., Eliza A., and Elbridge. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and when he first came to the town he cleared land by day, and worked at his trade till eleven at night, and from four in the morning till daylight. In 1849 … Read more
The Baptist Church. – Baptists from Middleborough, Mass., located in the east part of Westmoreland, where they constituted a church in 1771. This family spread into the west part of Keene. Here a church of the same faith was recognized by on ecclesiastical council, on the 9th day of September, 1816, consisting of thirteen members. It was gathered under the ministry of Rev. Charles Cummings. The church was received into the Dublin Baptist Association, in October of that year. A small meetinG.house, with square pews and a gallery, was built that autumn, situated in that part of the town known … Read more
The Second Congregational church was organized October 16, 1867, with one hundred and twenty-three members, who had seceded from the First church for that purpose. The building and organ cost $35,000.00, and was completed, paid for, and dedicated September 16, 1869, when Rev. Joseph Allen Leach was installed as pastor. Mr. Leach is a native of Rockingham, Vermont, born April 15, 1836, graduated at Amherst college in 1861, at Andover Theological school in 1864, was commissioned chaplain of the 19th Regt. U. S. A., and first settled in Keene as a colleague of Dr. Barstow, at the close of the … Read more
Francis French was born in 1817, and married Julia A., daughter of Samuel Walker, of Rockingham, Vt., who bore him three children, Annette J. Helen S., and Emily C. Mr. French is quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of carriages, and also somewhat interested in railroading, having helped to build the Boston, Winthrop & Shore railroad, of which he is one of the directors. He was one of Keenes first city councilmen, representing the first ward.
The name of the grantees of 1765 were as follows: Sampson Stoddard, Nathaniel Treadwell, Thomas Spaulding, Benjamin Edwards, Jacob Treadwell, Jr., Matthew Thornton, Nathaniel Brooks, David Millen, Jonathan Lovewell, John Honey, John Stevens, John Woods, William Earl Treadwell Paul March, Charles Treadwell, Edmund Grouard, Jonathan Blanchard, Sampson Stoddard, Jr., Abel Lawrence, James Reed, Benjamin Bellows, George Libbey, Jonathan Willson and Jeremiah Libbey. The first meeting of the grantees of which a record exists, after the lots had been drawn, was held at the house of Thomas Harwood, in Dunstable, Monday, May 20, 1765, when Sampson Stoddard, Esq., was chosen moderator, … Read more
Timothy Ellis was born in that part of Keene which is now Roxbury, about 130 years ago, upon the place where William Ellis now lives. Samuel son of Timothy. was born there, where he lived until he was about thirty years of age. He then moved to Stockbridge, Vt., where he remained four years, and then he came to Fitzwilliam, where he died in 1826. George W., son of Samuel, was born in Keene, came to this town in 1814, and lives on road 15, corner of 45.
Stephen Adams came to Jaffrey from Hamilton, Mass., about 1807 and settled upon the farm where D. P. Adams now resides, an road 25. He was in the naval service during the Revolution. He married Mehitable Cummings, of Marlboro, N. H., and reared a family of five children. His son Jessie married Ruth, daughter of Edward and Ruth Perkins, who bore him six children. He resided on road 26 for many years, or until his death, which occurred December 15, 1863. His son Addison has married twice, first, Mary L. Davis, of Lawrence, Mass., who bore him one son; second, … Read more
John Wright m. Mary and res. Dunstable. Benjamin2 Wright, son of John1, b. at Dunstable, d. Milford, N. H., res. at Mile Slip (afterwards Milford); m. Betsey Adams of Dunstable (now Nashua). Of their eleven children eight were b. in Mile Slip, and the last three in Milford: Benjamin, b. May 20, 1775; d. Sept. 19, 1777. Benjamin; Betsey; Ira; Joel, 1, b. Jan. 26, 1784; Oliver; Sally; Mary; Lydia; Nehemiah and Gratia. Joel3 Wright, son of Benjamin2, was the fifth minister and third settled pastor of the First Cong. Church of S. See page 409. According to the Milford, … Read more
Fitzwilliam, one of the southern tier of townships in the county, lies in lat. 42º 45 and long. 4º 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
Jacob Wellman, son of Jacob, and a native of Linesboro, N. H., was at the battle of Bunker Hill, under General Warren, and after the war was honorably discharged, and drew a pension. His second wife was Elizabeth Moore, who bore him fourteen children. His son John married Betsey Moore, of Bedford, N. H., and reared nine children, six of whom are now living. His second son, Jesse P., married Acsah J. Coburn; of Walton, N. H., has eight children, and resides on road 39, in this town.