Fitzwilliam New Hampshire

Biographical Sketch of Edward C. Reed

Edward C. Reed, son of Phinehas, was born here, March 8, 1793, and graduated from Dartmouth college, in 1812. He studied law in Troy, N. Y. and settled in Homer, N. Y., in 1816. He was admitted to practice in one court after another, until 1830, when be was admitted to the court of chancery. He was elected to the Twenty-second congress; was district attorney many years, and also judge. He married Amanda Weller, of Pittsfield, Mass., and reared a family of twelve children, four of whom survive him.

Biographical Sketch of Captain Jonathan S. Adams

Capt. Jonathan S. Adams, the only son of Joshua, was born in Plainfield, Conn., September 22, 1802. His father was a major of militia in Connecticut, and had two daughters, who, with Jonathan, constituted the family. Maj. Joshua Adams died in August, 1813, from a fall upon a stake. His son Jonathan came here in December, 1814, to live with his uncle, Rev. John Sabin, who was the pastor of the Congregational church. He spent the first six years of his life here in study with his uncle, who added to his labors as pastor here, those of tutor, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Anson R. Gleason

Dr. Aaron R. Gleason, was born, June 1, 1835, in Warren, Vt., where he lived until twelve years of age, when his father, Windsor, moved to Acworth, N. H. He attended school and fitted for college at Westminster, Vt., and taught for two years, more or less, in the public schools. He studied medicine with Dr. K. D. Webster, of Gilsum, and Dr. George B. Twitchell, of Keene, pursued a course at the medical college at Burlington, Vt., at Washington, D. C., and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city. He enlisted in the 2d N. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Oren Brooks

Oren Brooks, a native of Putney. Vt., moved with his parents to Massachussets while he was a child. He married Julia A. Wright, of Boston, who bore him twelve children. He moved to this town in 1848, where his two youngest were born, and died here in 1876, surviving his wife sixteen years. Two sons, George W. and Amos W., served in the civil war, the latter dying in the service. George W. is a merchant in West Swanzey, and the only son living. Three daughters, Serepta, wife of Dea. Alva S. Clark, Louisa P., wife of Franklin Whitcomb, living … Read more

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.

Military of Fitzwilliam NH

During the late war Fitzwilliam furnished 168 men for the service, 162 of whom were volunteers or substitutes for enrolled men not drafted. Of the thirty drafted men, twenty-two were excused for disability, one emigrated to Canada, one was excused as alien, four served, and two furnished substitutes, Of the total number furnished, forty-four were killed or died of disease while in the service. The total amount of money furnished by the town was $29, 933.37, of which $1,500.00 was reimbursed by the state, and $886.00 by the United States, leaving a net expense of $27,547.37.

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

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

Fitzwilliam, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History

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

Biographical Sketch of Bartlett Bowker

Bartlett and John Bowker, brothers, from Scituate, Mass., were among the early settlers of the town. They bought a tract of land in the northern part, and were the first ones who settled where the hamlet of Bowkerville now is. Bartlett married Jemima Wright, a widow, of Templeton, Mass., and reared a family of fifteen children. John also had a large family. The former erected a grist-mill near where Coolidge & Whittemore’s mills now are. Luke and Elijah, sons of Bartlett, erected the dam, and built the mill now used for a pail shop. They operated the grist-mill, and manufactured … 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.

Fitzwilliam Depot, Cheshire County NH

FITZWILLIAM DEPOT, a post village located in the central part of the town,, on the Cheshire railroad, contains one church, a few mechanic shops, stores, etc.

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 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 Dr. Silas Cummings

Dr. Silas Cummings, son of Thaddeus, was born in Fitzwilliam, October 7, 1803. He studied medicine and received his diploma from Dartmouth college. He began practice in this town about 1826 or 1827, where he continued until his death, June 30, 1882. He was superintendent of schools for many years, and as such labored hard and effectively to elevate the plane of public education. Although a Democrat in a strongly Republican town, he so endeared himself to his townsmen that he was chosen town representative. He was chosen one of a committee to prepare a history of the town, but … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Silas Fife

Silas Fife came to Troy from Bolton. Mass., and settled in the eastern part of the town. He was a farmer, had a family of ten children, and died there in 1834. His son, Timothy, a native of Troy, remained there until his death, December 12, 1872, in his eightieth year. Daniel J., son of Timothy, also a native of Troy, came to Fitzwilliam in 1877, and located on road 49 1/2.

Biographical Sketch of David Forristall

David Forristall was born in Holliston, Mass., in 1780, and came to this town with his father when a child. His father, one of the early settlers, came first, cleared some land, and built a log house, and then moved his two children, Daniel and Jessie, here. His son, Thomas, was born here, and still lives in the house his father built over a hundred years ago.

Biographical Sketch of Dea. Milton Chaplain

Dea. Milton Chaplain, son of Squier Moses Chaplin, was born in thesoutheastern part of this town, in 1805. He attended a district school and the academy at Amherst, Mass. In the year 1824, when nineteen years of age, he “bought his time” during his minority and built a small shop in which he began the manufacture of clothes pins, being the first to make them in town. The method employed when he began was to turn them all in a lathe then cut the slot with a circular saw, when they were finished by boys and girls by hand. At … Read more

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.