Croydon New Hampshire

Military History of Croydon NH

Revolutionary War The sympathies of the first settlers of Croydon were early enlisted in the Revolutionary struggle. Soon after the Battle of Lexington, they sent Eleazer Leland and Abner Brigham to join the Provincial army; enrolled a company of twelve minute-men; raised eight pounds to purchase a town supply of ammunition, and chose Moses Whipple, Stephen Powers, Phineas Sanger, Abner Brigham and Joseph Hall a "committee of safety." In 1777 nine men from Croydon joined a company of militia, commanded by Captain Solomon Chase, of Cornish, and marched to Ticonderoga. Eight men joined the company of Captain Hardy, of Hanover, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Vashti Town

VASHTI TOWN, sister of the above, was educated at the Kimball Union Academy, and commenced teaching in her native town. She was soon called to take charge of the female department of the Norwich Institute, at Norwich, Vt., where she remained three years. She was then invited to Portsmouth, Va., and after nine years of successful labor in that place, removed to the city of Washington, where she has been mainly occupied in teaching for the last fifteen years. Her occasional contributions to the press indicate a ready pen, and a high degree of literary merit.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Merrill

SAMUEL MERRILL, the father of the Merrills, married Fannie Bancroft, a great-aunt of George Bancroft the historian. She is still living. He died in 1827, leaving a large family of small children.

Biographical Sketch of Peter Stow

PETER STOW, a sterling farmer, married Deborah Nettleton, of Newport, and was the father of the Rev. Dr. Stow, of Boston, and Royal P. Stow, former Clerk of the U. S. House of Representatives. While in town he held many important civil and military offices.

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Gershom Powers

HON. GERSHOM POWERS, son of John, was born June 11, 1779. After completing his studies he opened a law-office at Auburn, NY, where he had a successful practice. He was assistant justice of Cayuga County Court, and at the end of three years he was elevated to the position of judge. In 1829 he was chosen Representative to Congress. He died January 25, 1831.

Biographical Sketch of Gershom Powers

GERSHOM POWERS, son of the late John Powers, was born June 11, 1789. His early advantages were quite limited – denied even the advantages of a common school. His parents being too poor to furnish other means, his books were read and pondered by the uncertain light of the “fore-stick.” A lameness in his right arm induced him to leave the farm and turn his attention to law, the study of which he commenced at Sempronius in 1810. After completing big course, he opened an office at Auburn, and was popular and successful in his practice. He was appointed Assistant … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Asa Ryder

ASA RYDER, son of Jotham Ryder, studied medicine with Alexander Boyd, of Newport, graduated at the medical department at Hanover, and settled at Alstead, N. H., where, after two years of practice, he died.

Biographical Sketch of Henry Breck

HENRY BRECK, Jr., third son of Henry Breck, has been a practical farmer and gardener in the vicinity of Boston for several years, and is well known for his skill in his business, and his integrity and intelligence. He now lives at Watertown, Mass., where he has a very fine farming establishment.

Biographical Sketch of John Cooper

JOHN COOPER, son of Dea. John Cooper, came to Croydon in 1770, and died March 20, 1832. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and was active in the affairs of the town-for nine years one of the selectmen.

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Cutting

JONATHAN CUTTING, Son of Jonathan Cutting, early in life removed to Newport where he was extensively engaged in town business, and was an active and worthy deacon in the Baptist church. He was a man of “infinite jest.” I will relate only one of the many anecdotes told of him. Once laboring for a man whose love of gain required his hands to be up, eat breakfast, and be miles away to the woods with an ox team before light, he wished to give him a gentle reminder that he was asking too much-which was done in this wise: When … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Cooper Powers

DAVID COOPER POWERS, third son of Peter, and grandson of David Powers, was born June 30, 1822. When eight years of age he removed with his father to Cayuga County, N. Y. He received his academical education at Aurora; studied medicine with his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Leavitt, M. D., and graduated at Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1848. He then went to California, and remained until 1850, when he returned, was married to a daughter of Samuel Ledyard, Esq., of Wayne County, and settled in the practice of his profession, at Auburn, N. Y. In 1853 he again went … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Freeman Cooper

WILLIAM FREEMAN COOPER is the fourth son of the late Dea. Sherman Cooper, of Croydon. On his father’s side he is descended from the Coopers and Shermans; and on his mother’s, from the Powerses and Lelands. His parents having a large family and but little property, his early life was one of toil. While living with them his means of education were small. At the age of eighteen he left the paternal roof and was thrown upon his own resources. After spending four years at the Newport Academy and in teaching school to improve the state of his finances, he, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Barton, M.D.

WILLIAMS BARTON, M. D., son of Bazaleel Barton 2nd, and grandson of Peter Barton, was born Aug. 6, 1820. He received his literary training at Unity and Kimball Union Academies ; studied medicine with Drs. Coburn, Hall and Nichols; graduated at the medical department of Dartmouth College in May, 1845, and soon after commenced practice at Croydon, where he still resides. He was often chairman of the Superintending School Committee, and was three years Commissioner of Common Schools for Sullivan County, during which time he was often employed as professor of elocution, in teachers’ institutes, in different parts of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Seneca Merrill

SENECA MERRILL, a younger brother, connected with Sherburn in business at Colebrook, where they have become wealthy, has held several county offices. One of the daughters married William B. Leavitt, a scientific man and astronomer at Grantham.

Biographical Sketch of Major Abijah Powers

MAJ. ABIJAH POWERS, son of Ezekiel Powers, one of the earliest settlers of the town, was a man instinctively inclined to leisure and social enjoyments. He was a Major in the war of 1812. He was well educated, and bad a ready judgment, and hence was enabled to fill the offices of Justice, Selectman and Representative with much credit to himself. He was the greatest story-teller the town ever produced, with the exception perhaps of his uncle, Abijah Hall, the father of Capt. Amasa Hall. With him, as with James and other members of the family, in his last days … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Stockwell

DAVID STOCKWELL was born in 1748. He came from Sutton, Mass., to Croydon, in 1772. He was a farmer, served honorably in the Revolutionary war, and died July 16, 1824. All by the name of Stockwell, who have originated in Croydon, have descended from him. STILLMAN STOCKWELL, son of Giles, and grandson of David Stockwell, removed to the West, where he has become a wealthy farmer.

Biographical Sketch of Jotham Ryder

JOTHAM RYDER came early to Croydon, and settled in the south-east corner of the town, and from him and his connections the place has always since been known as ” Ryder Corner.”

Biographical Sketch of Captain Edward Hall

CAPT. EDWARD HALL, Son of Lieut. Edward Hall, opened the first store of note in town. It was situated on the top of the swell of land between East Village and Four Corners. He is remembered as a shrewd, prosperous trader. He died March 14, 1817, aged 57 years.