Gilsum New Hampshire

The First Congregational Church, Gilsum NH

The First Congregational church, located at Gilsum village, was organized by a council convened for the purpose, October 28, 1772, with eighteen members, Rev. Elisha Fish being the first pastor. Their church building, erected in 1834, is the successor of one built in 1793. It cost about $1,200.00. The society now has fifty members, with Rev. George W. Rogers, pastor. The society has also a Sabbath-school with 150 scholars, Robert Cutbett superintendent.

Early Settlers of Gilsum NH

Of the first settlement in Gilsum, Silvanus Hayward, in his History of Gilsum, speaks as follows: ” The Kilburns have always claimed to have been the first settlers in Gilsum. So far as I know every Gazetteer or similar work names Josiah Kilburn as the first settler. A counter tradition has been met in looking up, materials for this history. It is believed the following record gives a full and fair statement of the case : Josiah Kilburn was in company with a Mr. Ford in a large tannery and shoe manufactory in Glastonbury, Conn. They were prosperous in business, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Howard

Thomas Howard moved to Marlow, from Lyme, Ct., about 1780 and settled in the northwestern part of the town. He married Hannah Beckwith and reared a family of eight children. He died in 1842, aged eighty-five years. His son Thomas was born in Marlow in 1784, and lived there till 1837, when he moved to Gilsum, and died here in 1852. He was a farmer and a carpenter, married Parmelia Buss, of Marlboro, and reared a family of nine children, four of whom are now living. Of these, two daughters live in Hamilton, Ont., one son, James M., lives in … Read more

Biography of Aaron Hammond

Aaron Hammond built here about 1785. He drew the boards for his house from Swanzey, and split and shaved his own shingles and clap boards, some of which were found sound and bright seventy years after. This house was removed some years ago, to be the sugar house, owned by Mr. T. T. Clark. Mr. Hammond served the town as moderator, and was selectman four years. He was the ancestor of all the Gilsum Hammonds. This has always been one of the leading families of the place, and though mostly scattered at present, those who have gone to other places … Read more

Benjamin Willis Genealogy

Benjamin1 Willis, who d. at Keene, Mar. 22, 1820, aged 80, was probably the father of Benjamin2, 1, of Sullivan. 1. Benjamin2 Willis, son of Benjamin1, was a farmer and res. Keene and Sullivan; d. in Sullivan, Aug. 26, 1837, aged 75; m. Mar. 17, 1785, Annis Briggs b. Norton, Mass., Sept. 25, 1759, d. Sullivan, Jan. 22, 1831; dau. of Elisha and Mary Briggs of Keene. Ch. b. Keene: Mary3 (christened Polly), b. Mar. 17, 1785; m. John Newman (q. v.) Sarah3, b. 1789; m. Robert. Hall (q. v.) Annis3, b. May 25, 1794. Asenath3, b. unk.; d. Keene, … Read more

Biography of Reverend Samuel Goddard

Mr. Samuel Goddard was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, July 6, 1772. We have no information concerning his early life. His opportunities for education are said to have been scanty. After coming to manhood he was for several years in trade with a brother in Royalston, Mass. Here he married his first wife (Abigail Goddard of Athol, a town adjoining Royalston), and here his older children were born.

Biographical Sketch of Ezra Carpenter

Ezra Carpenter was born in Keene, June 9, 1774, and died in Surry, January 4, 1849, His son Willard was born in Surry, November 1, 1803, and came to Gilsum in 1865. He died January 27, 1875. George H., son of Willard, now resides on road 14, is a scientific and practical farmer, and was president of the Farmers’ Club in 1878. He has been selectman four years.

Biographical Sketch of William Banks

William Banks was born in the part of Marlboro now Roxbury, May 13, 1802, and came to Gilsum in 1820. He is a shoemaker by trade. He has served the town as selectman and lives with his son, Elmer D., on road 2. The latter is at present one of the selectmen of the town.

Biographical Sketch of Charles Franklin Kingsbury

Charles Franklin Kingsbury was born in Gilsum June 11, 1824, being the third child of William and Temperance (Leonard). Kingsbury. Until the age of twenty he lived and worked on the farm, ‘having no opportunity for an education except the public schools of not more than ten or twelve weeks each winter. He was anxious for an education, and that he might have the means to attend an academy, spring and fall, he worked on the farm two or three months in summer, and taught school in the winter. In 1848 he entered Norwich University, Vt., where he remained three … Read more

Samuel Woods Genealogy

I. Samuel1 Woods of Cambridge, Mass., b. abt. 1636; went to Groton, Mass., in 1662; d. in Groton, Mar. 19, 1712; m. in Cambridge, Mass., Sept. 28, 1659, Alice Rushton, b. abt. 1636. Seven ch.: the first b. in Cambridge, the others in Groton, Mass. II. Samuel2 Woods, son of Samuel1, I, b. Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 3, 1661; m. in Chelmsford, Mass., Dec. 30, 1685, Hannah Farwell, b. Chelmsford, Mass., Jan. 20, 1667-8; dau. of Joseph and Hannah (Learned) Farwell. She m. (2), Capt. Peter Joslin of Lancaster, Mass. Peter’s first wife was slain by the Indians who attacked her … Read more

General History of Cheshire County NH

GILSUM lies in the northern-central part of the county, in lat. 43° 1′ and long. 4° 50′. In outline it is similar to that of a carpenter’s square, bounded north by Alstead and Marlow, east by Stoddard and Sullivan, south by Sullivan and Keene, and west by Surry. It was originally granted, under the name of Boyle, to Joseph Osgood and his associates, December 30, 1752. No settlements were made under this grant, through fear of the Indians, until so late a date that the charter was forfeited But notwithstanding this, in March, 1761, Benjamin Bellows bought of Rebecca Blanchard, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dudley Smith

Dudley Smith was born at Dracut, Mass., February 10, 1772. He was twice married, first, to Hannah Graham, who bore him four children, as fol. lows: Dudley, Daniel, Dinsmore, and Hannah G. He married, for his second wife, Betsey Rollins, August 13, 1822, and had born to him four more children, as follows : Daniel. Joseph E., Eliza A., and Elbridge. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and when he first came to the town he cleared land by day, and worked at his trade till eleven at night, and from four in the morning till daylight. In 1849 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Guillow

John Guillow was born in Gill, Mass., December 21, 1784, and came here in 10o6. He studied medicine with Dr. Palmer, and was called ” Doctor” Guillow, but never practiced much. He married Betsey Stevens, March 29, 1808, and had born to him thirteen children. His son, John C., was born April 7, 1813, and married Finis P. Hemenway, June 21, 1837, who bore him thirteen children. He is engaged in lumbering and farming, and has served the town as selectman several years. His son, Lucius R., was born February 24, 1842, and married Elizabeth Spooner, in 1862. He is … Read more

Gilsum, Cheshire County, New Hampshire History

Gilsum lies in the northern-central part of the county, in lat. 43° 1′ and long. 4° 50′. In outline it is similar to that of a carpenter’s square, bounded north by Alstead and Marlow, east by Stoddard and Sullivan, south by Sullivan and Keene, and west by Surry. It was originally granted, under the name of Boyle, to Joseph Osgood and his associates, December 30, 1752. No settlements were made under this grant, through fear of the Indians, until so late a date that the charter was forfeited. This history entails tax records, sketches of early industry, churches, military, and … Read more

General History of Gilsum NH

GILSUM lies in the northern-central part of the county, in lat. 43° 1′ and long. 4° 50′. In outline it is similar to that of a carpenter’s square, bounded north by Alstead and Marlow, east by Stoddard and Sullivan, south by Sullivan and Keene, and west by Surry. It was originally granted, under the name of Boyle, to Joseph Osgood and his associates, December 30, 1752. No settlements were made under this grant, through fear of the Indians, until so late a date that the charter was forfeited But notwithstanding this, in March, 1761, Benjamin Bellows bought of Rebecca Blanchard, … Read more

Phineas Wright Genealogy

Phinehas Wright of Hartford, Conn., m. Zilpha Cooper of Westmoreland, N. H., settled at Walpole and removed to Keene abt. 1796. Caleb2 Wright, son of Phinehas, b. Feb. 15, 1794, d. Keene, Nov. 21, 1869; m. Dec. 7, 1815, Sarah Reed, b. Surry, July 14, 1796, d. Keene, Nov. 16, 1838. Among their fifteen children, was: Calvin3, b. Keene, Mar. 13, 1816; d. Gilsum, Feb. 16, 1907; m. Diantha Leborveau of Keene, and had six children. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Wright lived in S., on the Old Kemp or John Dunn place for a few years, and had born here: … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Newman

George W. Newman was born in Keene, November 18, 1818. He has, by industry and good management, acquired a large property, and has probably built more houses in Gilsum than any other man. He is now engaged in the manufacture of lumber, in building and in farming. He has served the town as selectman, justice of the peace, etc.

Biography of Roswell Hubbard

Roswell Hubbard moved to Sullivan, from Northfield, Mass., at an early day, and settled in the central part of the town where he died. He was a farmer, took an active part in town affairs, being known as Esquire Hubbard, and was also town representative. His son George, born in Sullivan, September 4, 1797, resided in this town until his death, in 1852. He was captain of the militia, and was also a farmer. George C., one of his two chit dren, represented Sullivan two terms in the legislature. He moved to Marlow in 1872, and, in 1874, came to … Read more

Biography of Dr. Messer Carmon

Dr. Messer Carmon moved to Sullivan, from New Salem, about 1796, and settled near the center of the town. He practiced medicine there about thirty years and died in 1824. Eliza, one of his two children, married Stephen Dean, of Keene, and died there in 1876. The other, Nancy, married George Hubbard, of Sullivan, and died in Gilsum at her son’s residence, in 1882.

Military in Gilsum NH

During the war of the Revolution Gilsum had no Tories to report. Col. Ashley’s seventh company, numbering fifty-seven men, almost all of whom belonged in Gilsum and Surry, marched to the relief of Ticonderoga, in June, 1777. In another regiment, under Col. Moses Nichols, the ninth company, comprising forty men, was about half from Gilsum and Surry. This company joined the Continental army at Saratoga, and was in the battle of Bennington, where three of their number, Michael Metcalf, Joshua Fuller and William Wood were killed. In the war of 1812, no demand for soldiers was made from Gilsum till … Read more