Fitzwilliam New Hampshire

The Orthodox Congregational Church, Fitzwilliam NH

The Orthodox Congregational church, located at Fitzwilliam village, was organized in 1771. During the autumn and winter of 1768, Rev. Nehemiah Parker supplied the people of Fitzwilliam with preaching. In November, 1770, Rev. Benjamin Brigham, of Marlboro, Mass., who had graduated at Harvard, in 1764, received an invitation to settle here, and in January of the following year, gave an affirmative answer to the call. March 27, 1771, was appointed for his ordination, and on that day the Congregational church was organized, with six members, viz.: Benjamin Brigham, Benjamin Bigelow, John Fassitt, Nathaniel Wilder, Caleb Winch, and James Reed. These … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Phinehas Reed

Phinehas Reed, a soldier of the Revolution, came to Fitzwilliam, from Westford, Mass., in 1784, built a tannery and conducted the business. His son Charles followed the same trade, and employed a large force of men in the manufacture of shoes, which were sold in the South. About 1838, he met financial reverses, and had to begin life anew. He was a claim agent for about fifteen years after 1850, and died in March, 1866, aged fifty-three years His son, D. H. Reed, was born February 8, 1819, and was brought up on a farm. He enlisted, October 11, 1861, … 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 Dexter Whittemore

Dexter Whittemore, son of John, who came here at an early date, and kept a small store in the cottage where he lived, was born in Fitzwilliam, October 9, 1798. When Dexter became of age he induced his father to buy the store of Dr. Scott, and there engaged in trade, continuing over forty years. He is said to have been the first merchant of Cheshire county to give up the sale of spirituous liquors. He was chosen to many offices of trust, and was very generous and liberal in all good works. He married twice, first, Betsey Wright, April … Read more

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

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.

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

The First Baptist Church, Fitzwilliam, NH

The First Baptist church, located at Fitzwilliam, was organized in 1815, with six or eight members, by Rev. Nathaniel Bowes, of Richmond, Rev. Arnot Allen being the first pastor. The church building, erected in 1842, will seat 250 persons, cost $1,800.00, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $5,000.00. The society now has sixty-two members, and a Sabbath-school with ninety scholars, with Rev. Andrew Dunn, pastor.

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 John E. Fisher

John E. Fisher was born near St. Johns, N. B., in 1525, on Darling’s Island, which was the property of his grandfather, Captain Darling. His father, Richard, was a blacksmith, and removed to Boston about 1825, and ten years later moved to Quincey, Mass. He was one of the first four abolitionists in the town. His son John served seven years apprenticeship at stone cutting, working on the Boston custom-house. He had worked on government work in Boston about fifteen years before the Rebellion began. About three days after the firing on Fort Sumpter, he was placed in charge of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Spaulding

Daniel Spaulding, son of Phinehas, of Jaffrey, married Lucinda Perkins. May 11, 1819, and removed to Gardner. Mass., where he remained until 1825 or 1826. He then bought out Luke Richardson, of Fitzwilliam, and opened a store on the corner where Elisha Chaplin now lives. At one time he had John Perkins, his wife’s brother, as a partner, and later, Dr. G. C. Noble, but carried on the business alone most of his life. He was chosen to all the offices of the town, including town representative in 1833 and 1834. He died July 17, 1882, at the great age … 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. 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 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

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 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.

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 William Dunton

William Dunton was born here in May, 1824, and for twenty years before the war worked at the manufacture of wooden-ware for N. & J. Howe. He enlisted in April, 1861, in the 2d N. H. Vols., and went South in defense of the Union. He followed the fortunes of his regiment through the peninsula campaign unscathed, until the second Bull Run battle, when he was struck in the left cheek by a gall which came out under his left eye, shattering his upper jaw and knocking out every tooth. He was left on the field for dead, where he … Read more