Chesterfield New Hampshire

Chesterfield Village, Cheshire County NH

Chesterfield, a quaint post village in central Chesterfield, NH, features two churches, a store, a hotel, two blacksmith shops, a town hall, and around thirty residences. Notably, it housed the Chesterfield Academy, established in 1790, which became a prominent educational institution for over fifty years. The original academy building, erected in 1794, was destroyed by fire in 1859, prompting the construction of a new facility by the local school district and academy trustees, which now serves as the graded school.

Biographical Sketch of David Holman

David Holman settled in Chesterfield around 1805 and had two marriages, first to Mehitable Gale and then to Laura (Stone) Henry. He had two children, James and Ella F. James adopted a son, David, and had several children, including Frederick H. and Alice M. Another son, William, married Mary M. and they had five children. Holman passed away on April 28, 1844, at the age of thirty-five.

Biography of Ezekiel Porter Pierce

Ezekiel Porter Pierce, born on April 20, 1785, in Chesterfield, became a notable carpenter, architect, and businessman. After moving to Farmington, Maine, he married Susanna Porter in 1808 and later returned to Chesterfield, where he engaged in farming and manufacturing. He operated a tavern and a temperance house, raising ten children. Politically, he was a staunch supporter of republican democracy and President Jackson, advocating for education and morality until his death on February 9, 1864, leaving a legacy as a committed community leader.

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Hinds

Jesse Hinds arrived in Chesterfield around 1805 and established a farm in the town’s southeastern region. His son Corlis was born on November 12, 1814, and married Harriet M. Hill on November 26, 1846. Corlis and Harriet had several children: Arthur C., Fernando P., Harriet E., Sarah M., Caroline L., Jesse B., Manly H., Louisa L., Royal T., Flora May, Noble A., Ernest W., William W., and Melvin A.

Biographical Sketch of Reuben B. Foster Sr.

Reuben B. Foster Sr., born on September 9, 1812, married Betsey H., daughter of Richard Hopkins, on June 11, 1832. Employed by Currier Brothers at Chesterfield Factory, he fathered seven children: James M., Helen M., Mary Jane, Mahalia S., Reuben B. Jr., Frank H., and William E. Reuben B. Jr., born on March 17, 1844, married Julia A., daughter of Hosea L. Stoddard, on February 16, 1869, and also worked as a mechanic at Chesterfield Factory.

Biographical Sketch of John H. Barrett

John H. Barrett, born on November 8, 1789, settled in Chesterfield in 1851. He married Charlotte Thomas from Hinsdale, and together they had four children: Shubael, Miranda, Julia, and George W. George W. Barrett arrived in Chesterfield in 1851 and currently lives on Road 37.

Biographical Sketch of Ebenezer Safford

Ebenezer Safford settled in Chesterfield around 1780 on the Dudley farm. He had three children: Luke, Roswell, and Ebenezer, Jr. Roswell, born in 1784, married Fanny Farr in 1809 and had five children. Ebenezer, Jr., born in 1787, married Dolly Farr the same year and fathered six children. Among their descendants, Watson, born in 1818, married Catharine Hildreth in 1843 and had five children, further extending the Safford lineage.

General History of Chesterfield New Hampshire

Chesterfield, located in western New Hampshire, spans approximately 44 square miles and was chartered in 1752. Initially, it was part of a disputed grant by Massachusetts in 1733 but became officially recognized after the boundary was established in 1740. The town features a diverse landscape with hills like Wantastiquet and various brooks, including the picturesque Spaffords Lake. By 1880, Chesterfield had a population of 1,173 and operated fourteen school districts. Its geological composition primarily consists of Coosgroup rocks with minimal mineral resources.

Biographical Sketch of Moses Dudley

Moses Dudley, born on October 18, 1794, was a prominent figure in his community, engaged in tanning from 1817 to 1851 before transitioning to farming. He served as selectman multiple times and was a delegate at the 1850 constitutional convention. Dudley married Persis Pratt and had five children, including William L., who became a lawyer, practiced in California, and fathered four children. Moses Dudley died on April 16, 1874, leaving a legacy through his family and community involvement.

Biography of Sergeant Thomas Pierce

Sergeant Thomas Pierce emigrated from England with his wife Elizabeth, settling in Charlestown, Massachusetts, around 1634-35. He is an ancestor of Captain John Pierce, born in Groton, Massachusetts, in 1743. John married Tabitha Porter and moved to Chesterfield around 1770, where he operated a store. A participant in the French and Indian War, he volunteered in the Revolutionary War, notably at the Battle of Bennington. John passed away on July 7, 1812, leaving behind nine children, all born in Chesterfield.

Biographical Sketch of William Randall

William Randall settled in Chesterfield around 1780 after moving from Cranston, R.I. He had four children: Eleazer, Anthony, Benajah, and Esther. Eleazer, who married Martha Staples, continued the family line and fathered eight children. His grandson, also named Eleazer, became a carpenter and worked on railway projects in Canada and the U.S. He had two children, Oran Edmund and Frederick, with Oran’s wife, Maria N., authoring a notable history of Chesterfield. Frederick later married Alice C. Kathan.

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Hildreth

Jonathan Hildreth arrived in Westmoreland around 1751, settling on a farm by 1763. He served as selectman in 1767, 1770, and 1779. His son Lotan was born in 1763, married Sarah Pierce, and died in 1812. His lineage included Africa, born 1797, who married twice and had eleven children. Among them were Henry S., born 1826, and Charles C., born 1848. The family continued through generations, marking significant contributions to the community and the Hildreth legacy.

Biographical Sketch of John Darling

John Darling settled in Chesterfield, Massachusetts, in 1778 after participating in the march to Quebec in 1775 under Benedict Arnold. He built a significant two-story house known as the yellow house and operated a lumber mill. Darling was married three times and fathered several children. He died on March 28, 1824, at the age of seventy-two. His legacy continued through his son John, Jr., and his grandson George W., who manages the Darling picnic grounds today.

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Wild

Benjamin Wild, originally from Norton, Massachusetts, settled in Chesterfield in 1801. He married Sarah Babbitt, who passed away in 1826, shortly followed by Wild in 1838. The couple had seven children. Wild was an accomplished mathematician, surveyor, and astronomer, known for his almanac publication, initially started around 1819. He served as selectman, general court representative, and a member of the New Hampshire Senate. His contributions to both agriculture and local governance left a lasting impact on the community.

Biography of Eli Pattridge

Eli Pattridge relocated from Mendon, Massachusetts, to his new town around 1776 and resided there until 1800. He had nine children, including Joseph, who became a selectman and had eleven children. Samuel Pattridge, another son, was active in local governance and the Chesterfield Light Infantry, advocating for temperance during his military service. Samuel died in April 1884, remembered as a kind and respected neighbor. His family legacy continued through his children, who played significant roles in their community.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Atherton

Joseph Atherton, a native of Howard, Massachusetts, settled in town around 1794 on Atherton Hill. He was a respected figure, serving in various town offices until his death on April 4, 1839. He married Hannah Farnsworth in 1771 and had eight children: Nathaniel, Oliver, Arathusa, Sally, Humphrey, Fanny, Rachel, and Lucy. His grandson, William, born in 1826, married Hannah M. Pierce and lives on road 13, while his daughter, Maria, resides on road 28.

Biographical Sketch of William Henry

William Henry arrived in Chesterfield from Lunenburg, Massachusetts, between 1770 and 1776. He married May Conn, with whom he had six children: May, William, James, Betty, Eunice, and Freelove. His son James married Mary Willard in 1798, having six children. One of his descendants, Willard, was married three times and had several children. Nathaniel C., born in 1837, married twice, first to Augusta M. Snow and then to Jennie N. Chamberlain, further extending the family’s lineage.

Biographical Sketch of Henry O. Coolidge

Henry O. Coolidge, born January 5, 1830, to merchant Oscar Coolidge, had a significant role in local commerce and governance. He partnered with C. J. Amidon in trade, worked with his father, and ran his own business from 1862 to 1866. He served as postmaster for eight years, town clerk from 1852 to 1869, and selectman in several years. After relocating to Keene in 1869, he became cashier of the Ashuelot National Bank and was elected as a representative from Keene in 1880.

Biography of Peter Wheeler

Peter Wheeler settled in the town around 1762, where he and his wife Sarah raised a large family with twelve children. His son, Jonathan, married Lavina Fisk and had three children, while another descendant, Hoyt H., became a prominent lawyer and politician, serving as a Vermont senator and later as a U.S. district court judge. Hoyt, a local educator, played a significant role in the community and continued to influence Vermont’s legal landscape until his appointment in 1877.

Biographical Sketch of Beza Aldrich

Beza Aldrich, born on September 21, 1779, in Westmoreland, was the son of General George and Azuba Aldrich. He married Lydia Arnold and settled in Chesterfield around 1831. Aldrich passed away on October 28, 1857. He and Lydia had four children: Warren L., William A., Helen A., and George A.