The ancestors of the Field family, of Chesterfield, were of old Puritan stock, who settled in Taunton, Mass., early in colonial times, where many of their descendants still live. Bethuel, son of Nathaniel Field, of Taunton, married Sally Lincoln, of Norton, Mass., and settled in Chesterfield, in 1819 or ’20. “He was somewhat given to …
Peter Wheeler came to this town about 1762, and settled where Russell H. Davis now lives, not far from the brook that bears his name. His children were Lydia, Peter, Jane, John, Ephraim, Jonathan, Olive, Samuel, and Sally. Peter, born in 1762, married Sarah, daughter of Amos Hubbard, who bore him twelve children, namely: Hubbard, …
In the troubled times of the Revolution the little town performed her part bravely and well. In September, 1775, the selectman made an enumeration of the inhabitants of the town, and in their report to the provincial authorities stated that thirty-six persons were absent in the army; that there were eighty-three guns in the town …
Chesterfield lies in the western part of the county, in lat. 42º 54′ and long. 4º 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, …
Chesterfield, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History Read More »
Ezekiel Porter Pierce, fifth son of Captain John Pierce, was born in Chesterfield, April 20, 1785. He lived at home, working on his father’s farm, attending the common schools and Chesterfield academy, until he learned the carpenter and joineis’ trade. At the age of twenty-one he left home, going to Farmington, Me., where he engaged …
Fred B. Pierce, son of Benjamin, was born at Chesterfield Factory, April 20, 1845. He married Emma F., daughter of Josiah W. Cook, of Alstead, December 16, 1868, and has one daughter, Maude E., born May 23, 1871; a son, Frank M., born May 17, 1875, died September 18th of the same year From 1868 …
Richard Henry Hopkins, son of Richard and Emeline (Lewis) Hopkins, was born in Chesterfield, May 9, 1831, and died February 21, 1877. He received a good business education, and then learned the machinist trade at Hinsdale, N. H., after which he returned to Chesterfield Factory and soon engaged in the manufacture of bits and augers …
Eleazer Jackson was born May 12, 1736, married Rachel Pond in 1761, and came to Chesterfield about 1778. He settled upon the land which is now a part of the farm on which his grandson, Jay Jackson, resides, and which has always been, since 1778, owned by members of the Jackson family. He was selectman …
Richard Hopkins came to this town as early as 1787, married Lucy Fairbanks, and died April 5, 1847, aged eighty-three years. Thornton, son of Richard, married Diantha, daughter of William Farr, and died in Fitzwilliam about 1855. William W., son of Thornton, was born December 21, 1831, married Miranda, daughter of Squire Streeter, September 12, …
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, …
The Congregational church of Chesterfield was organized in 1771, and the Rev. Abraham Wood, a graduate of Harvard, was ordained its first pastor for the following year. The ministry of Mr. Wood continued until his death in 1823. A few months previous to Mr. Wood’s death, Rev. John Walker, a graduate of Dartmouth, was installed …
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 …
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 …
Sanford Guernsey, son of Cyril, was born in Richmond June 23, 1820. He married Lydia, daughter of John Starkey, of Richmond, January 20, 1846, she being born October 11, 1822. Mr. Guernsey moved to this town in 1867, and kept the hotel at Chesterfield Factory for thirteen years, where he now resides. He has an …
Benjamin Pierce, son of George, was born in Smithfield, R. I., February 26, 1815, and in early life lived with his father on the farm. He obtained his education at the common schools and at the Chesterfield academy, taught school winters until his marriage, which took place November 15, 1842, to Caroline A. Gale, of …
Beza Aldrich, son of Gen. George and Azuba (How) Aldrich, of Westmoreland, born September 21, 1779, married Lydia Arnold, settled in Chesterfield about 1831, and died here October 28, 1857. Their children were Warren L., William A., Helen A. and George A.
Eli Pattridge moved here from Mendon, Mass., about 1776, and remain in this town until 1800, when he moved to the northern part of the state. He had born to him nine children, namely: Eli, Joseph, Amos, M Rachel,, Charles. Nathaniel, Abel and Adam. Joseph, born in 1753, married Sarah Warren, of Mendon, Mass. He …
Asa Britton was among the earlier residents of Chesterfield, and among those who contributed largely to its business and prosperity. He was the son of Ebenezer and Sarah (Bullock) Britton, and was born in Raynham, Mass., April 30 1763. In 1771, with his father’s family, he moved to Westmoreland, N. H., where his early youth …
Josiah Torrey, born October 7, 1758, came here from Upton, Mass., about 1785, and settled in the eastern part of the town on the farm afterwards owned and occupied by his grandson, Levi Torrey. He married twice, first, Lydia Fisk, who died in 1806, and second, Anna, daughter of Israel Amshrv. He died January 25, …
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 …
