Fitzwilliam New Hampshire

Biographical Sketch of Royal Smith

Royal Smith came here from his native town, Lexington, Mass. He was a carpenter and died here in 1838. His son, Oliver W., was born here, is a farmer and lives on road 1.

Biographical Sketch of Amos Andrew Parker

Amos Andrew Parker, son of Nahum, was born in Fitzwilliam, October 8. 1791. He was fitted for college at the New Ipswich academy, and graduated from the University of Vermont. He studied law with James Wilson, of Keene, and opened an office at Epping, N. H., where he remained two or three years. He then went to Concord, N. H., where he established the “New Hampshire Statesman.”

Biographical Sketch of Oliver Whitcomb

Oliver Whitcomb came to Fitzwilliam from Massachusetts, and located in the western part of the town, where he spent the remainder of his life. He reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Rebecca, is living, and resides on the old homestead. Jacob, son of Oliver, was born in town, married Phillis Grant, who bore him six children, three of whom are now living, and located in the town of Richmond, on lots Nos. 11 and 12. His wife died November 23, 1866, and his death occurred in February, 1871. Anthony S. now … Read more

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 Rev. Samuel S. Dudley

Rev. Samuel S. Dudley, a native of Sudbury, Mass., has been a Methodist minister forty-four years, seventeen of which he has preached in this county. He now resides on road 42.

Biographical Sketch of Hosea Platts

Hosea Platts, a descendent of Abel, who came from England and settled in Rindge previous to the Revolution, was born in that town. He married Nancy, daughter of Thayer Smith, of Fitzwilliam, April 16, 1831, and resided in Rindge until 1837, where two sons and two daughters were born. They then moved to Fitzwilliam and located on road 14, where seven more children were born. Of these, John A. Platts, born September 16, 1838, enlisted as a private in Co. K, 6th N. H. Vols., October 28, 1861, and served until July 15, 1865, being mustered out as a first … Read more

Fitzwilliam Village Cheshire County NH

FITZWILLIAM is a pleasant post village located in the northern-central part of the town, on six main roads. Besides the usual mechanic shops, and stores, it has a savings bank, three church organizations, town hall, two hotels, and several granite shops and quarries.

Biographical Sketch of Barzaliel Baker

Barzaliel Baker came to Marlboro from Westminster, Mass., about 1800. He was a farmer and settled upon the farm now occupied by Howard Clark, where he died, at the age of eighty-two. His son Asa was born in Marlboro, where lived until 1833, when he moved, to Jaffrey, where he remained until his death, in October, 1869, at the age of sixty-six years. Edwin C., a native of Jaffrey, came to this town in 1870.

Biographical Sketch of John Harkness

John Harkness, born in Smithfield, R. I., in 1767, came to Richmond, N. H., when a child, and lived there until his death. in 1851. His son, James,. a native of Richmond, came to this town when about twenty-six years of age, and is now located on road 19.

Biographical Sketch of Hon. John M. Parker

Hon. John M. Parker, son of Amos A., and Mary (McClary) Parker, was born in Kingston, N. H., September 17, 1836, but his father, returning to Fitzwilliam, soon after his birth, he spent the remainder of his life here. He was educated in the Fitzwilliam common schools, and in Philip’s Exeter academy. He spent three years and three months in the army, and was mustered out as lieutenant. He has been engaged in mercantile business here for twenty years, was a member of the house of representatives in 1870 and 1871, and of the senate in 1881 and 1882. He … Read more

The First Congregational Church, Fitzwilliam NH

The First Congregational church – The Unitarian denomination has a society under this name at Fitzwilliam village, holding meetings about three months during the summer season, in the town hall. They have no regular pastor.

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 John A. Streeter

John A. Streeter, son of Adam, of Orange, Mass., came to Fitzwilliam. where he married Ruth C. Carroll, and located at Bowkerville, where be lived sixteen years. He then moved to the southern part of the town where he died. He reared a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters. none of whom are now living in town. His widow and two daughters, Jennie L. and Hattie M., live in Baldwinsville, Mass., and John H. resides in Swanzey.

Early Settlers of Fitzwilliam NH

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

Samuel Winch Genealogy

Elizabeth1 Winch, spinster, of Great Alhallows, London, in her will, made 1659, proved 1661, calls herself “bound for Virginia” and names her brothers Richard and John. It is thought that John may have been the father of Samuel of Framingham, Mass. Virginia was often used to mean America. I. Samuel2 Winch was in Sudbury, Mass., as early as 1670. A few years later he settled in Framingham and was an original member of the Framingham church. He was buried, Aug. 3, 1718; m. (1), Feb. 11, 1673, Hannah, dau. of Matthew Gibbs and had seven ch. by her. He m. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of General James Reed

General James Reed was the only one of the proprietors of Fitzwilliam, named in the charter of 1773, who located here. He organized three com. panies for the Revolutionary war, and was one of the three colonels from New Hampshire, who fought at Bunker Hill. He continued with the army until he was afflicted with blindness, when he returned to Fitzwilliam, but after. wards removed to Fitchburg, Mass., where he died.

Biographical Sketch of Hezekiah Stone

Hezekiah Stone came from Massachusetts about 1780, and bought the land where Benjamin Whitcomb now lives. He was a farmer, owned a saw-mill, and had two sons and three daughters. The eldest, Artemas, had a son, Artemas, who was the father of Stillman S. Stone. Moses, second son of Hezekiah, was born in Fitzwilliam, December 31. 1785. He was also a farmer, and operated a saw-mill. He was one who responded to the call for troops in 1812, and went to Portsmouth, but not into active service. He died in January, 1854.

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Davis

Isaac Davis, a native of Royalston, Vt., and brought up at Princeton, Mass., came here March 11, 1839. He is a blacksmith by trade, and, in 1877, invented the compound force cartridge, which he patented the same year. It is intended for shooting long distances, and the principal has been acted upon for heavy ordinances for piercing iron-clad vessels. By dividing the charge of powder great accumulative force is gained.

Biographical Sketch of Silas Morse

Silas Morse came here from Holliston, Mass., with his parents, who settled on a farm near where Samuel Payne now lives, over a hundred years ago. After the death of his father he traded the farm owned by him for one in Sullivan, which he afterwards sold, and moved with his son, Ira L., to Gilsum. He finally returned to this town, where he died January 13, 1859, at the age of eighty-two years. His son, Ira L., was born in Sullivan, came to this town March 28, 1861, and resides on road 29.