Harrisville New Hampshire

The Evangelical Congregational Church, Harrisville, NH

The Evangelical Congregational church of Harrisville was organized September 22, 1840, by a council composed of clergymen and delegates from the following towns: Swanzey, Troy, Antrim. New Ipswich. and Warwick, Mass., with thirty-one members, the first pastor being Rev. Otis C. Whiton. Their church building was erected in 1840-43, a brick structure capable of seating 350 persons, cost $4,000.00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $5,000.00. The society has fifty-one members, with Rev. George H. Dunlap, pastor. There have been added to the original thirty-one members 189 others, making a total of 220, of which 169 have been removed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Bemis

James Bemis, from Weston, Mass., settled in Dublin in 1793, where he died December 15, 1832, aged seventy-five years. He married first Hannah Frost, of Marlboro, by whom he had one son, Jonathan. He next married Lois Walker, of Sudbury. Mass., in 1786. His children were Hannah, James, Lois, Thomas, Josiah, Betsey, Eli and Mercy. James Bemis was a soldier of the Revolution, enlisting when a boy of eighteen, and reached headquarters just before the battle of Bunker Hill. His son Thomas, born in 1793, married first Sally Williams, and second Anna Knight, of Sudbury, Mass. His children were Sally, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Milan Harris

Milan Harris, son of Bethual, was born January 29, 1799. He it was who did so much for the town of Harrisville, giving it its name, serving it as its first representative, etc. He received only a common school education, and before he was twenty-one he worked alternately on the farm and in the custom-shop, carding wool in summer and dressing cloth for customers in the autumn and winter. At the age of twenty-one he taught school in Dublin and Nelson several terms. In 1821 he began the manufacture of woolen goods at Saxton’s River, Vt., and in 1822 began … Read more

Town of Harrisville, New Hampshire

HARRISVILLE is a handsome post-village located in the central part of the town, about 1,300 feet above the ocean, thus being, probably, the most elevated ground in New England boasting such extensive manufacturing facilities. Up to 1830 the village went by the name of Twitchell’s Mills, but at that time it was given its present name by Milan Harris, in honor of his family. Aside from its manufactures, the village has ample mercantile facilities, one church (Congregational), postoffice, telegraph office, graded school, etc., and about one hundred dwellings and 500 inhabitants. The village formerly laid on the line between Nelson … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Yardly

William Yardly came to the northern part of Dublin, which is now a part of Harrisville, from England, in 1776, and located on the farm now owned by his grandson, George. He was a farmer, married Sarah Twitchell, and reared a family of six children. He died in June, 1805. His son William was born here in 1784, married Rhoda Brooks, reared a family of nine children, five of whom are now living, and died in 1858. Two sons, George and John, and one daughter, Mrs. Persia Beals, still reside in town.

Biographical Sketch of William Seaver

William Seaver came from Roxbury. Mass., and settled upon a farm in the southern part of Nelson in 1823, and died in 1867. He reared a family of seven children, four of whom, Charles C., Wellington W., George W., and Mrs. Lucy H. Towne, are living, all located in this town.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Mason

Joseph Mason was born in Shelborn, Mass., in 1748, reared a family of ten children, and was killed by the fall of a tree, in 1806. His son Samuel, who was known as Captain Mason, was born in 1771, reared a family of twelve children, and died in 1822. His son Merrill was born in 1816, and now resides in Marlboro. Samuel, Jr., was born in Sullivan, and came to what is now Harrisville when a young man, reared a family of eight children, six of whom are livina. He died in 1862. His sons, George W. And James A., … Read more

General History of Harrisville, New Hampshire

HARRISVILLE lies in the extreme eastern part of the county, in lat. 42° 57′ and long. 4° 59′, bounded north by Nelson and Hancock, the latter in Hillsboro county, east by Hancock and Peterboro, south by Dublin and west by Roxbury and a portion of Marlboro. This is the youngest township in the county, having been incorporated as late as July 2, 1870, its area being made up of territory taken from the southern part of Nelson and northern part of Dublin. The extreme length of the town, east and west, is nearly eight miles, and its greatest width, north … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel D. Bemis

Samuel D. Bemis, son of Thomas, was born February 8, 1833, He has been engaged in farming, and has held the office of selectman, being chairman of the board from 1872 to 1884. He was a member of the state legislature in 1872, and a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1876.

Biographical Sketch of Lewis Harris Kittredge

Kittredge, Lewis Harris; automobile business; born, Harrisville, N. H., June 18, 1871; son of Samuel Grant and Harriet Louise Harris Kittredge; educated, Keene, N. H., High School, New Hampshire State College, degree of B. S.; 1896-1897, with New York Belting & Packing Co., Passaic, N. J.; 1897 to present time with The Peerless Motor Car Co. of Ohio, pres. since 1906, same office for the company in New York and New England; director The Peerlees Motor Car Co. of Ohio; pres. since 1906, same office for the Company in New York and New England; director the Peerless Motor Car Co. … Read more

The Baptist Church of Harrisville, New Hampshire

The Baptist church and society, located at Pottersville, was organized by Elder Ballou and his son, Maturin, at the house of John Muzzey, December 7, 1785, with thirty members, the Rev. Maturin Ballou being the first pastor. In 1829 the church was re-organized and now has about seventy members. The church building was originally built in 1997, was re-modeled in 1830, and was removed and again re-modeled in 1844. It will seat 175 persons and is valued at $2,500.00. The Sabbath-school has sixty scholars, with C. Albert Seaver, superintendent.

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Elijah Willard

Rev. Elijah Willard came here from Fitchburg, Mass., and was pastor of the Baptist church until his death, in 1839. He preached at Pottersville for a period of forty years. During his life he united one hundred and forty-six couples in marriage, and preached a funeral sermon four weeks before his death. His son Levi was horn in 1795, and lived here till his death, in 1860. He married Irene Knight, of Sudbury, Mass., who still survives him, and reared a family of thirteen children. Seven of them, Zophar, Solon, Milton B., David, Benjamin, Mrs. C. H. Nye, and Mrs. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Major Abner S. H. Hutchinson

Major Abner S. H. Hutchinson was born in Wilton, N. H., December 10, 1803. He joined the militia when a young man, and rose to the rank of major in the 12th N. H. Regt., and was captain of the Nelson Rifle Company. He married Mary, daughter of Bethuel Harris, who bore him five children, of whom Albert is in North Carolina, and Henry in Boston. His daughter, Belle, resides in Harrisville. Two sons, Albert and Henry N., are dead. A. S. Hutchinson came to Nelson in 1829, and began work in the mill. He was a partner four years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abner Smith

Abner Smith, from Needham, Mass., came to Dublin, now Harrisville, soon after the Revolution, and lived here until his death, in 1833. His son, Aaron, was born in 1791, and died in 1840. During his life he was engaged in the manufacture of earthen ware, at Pottersville. Aaron, Jr., was born in 1822, and during his early life was engaged with his father in the pottery business. He was one of the selectmen thirteen years, town representative of Dublin seven years, and was county commissioner four years. He occupies the homestead, on road 32.

Hamlet of Pottersville, New Hampshire

POTTERSVILLE (p. o.) is a hamlet located in the southwestern part of the town, its name being derived from the extensive potteries that once thrived here. Clay of an excellent quality, is found here, and the business was commenced by David Thurston, in 1795. Jonathan Flood Southwick, from Danvers, Mass., purchased Mr. Thurston’s shop, and continued the business till his death, when it passed into the hands of Jedediah K. Southwick. The non-intercourse and embargo acts, and the war with England, gave such an impulse to the manufacture of this kind of ware, that some eight or ten shops were … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Asa Fisk

Asa Fisk came to what is now Harrisville, from Rutland, Mass., in 1800 or 1801, and settled on the farm where his grandson, Levi W., now lives, and died there in 1829. His son Parker, eight years of age when he came here with his father, reared six children, only three of whom lived to maturity, and occupied the home farm until his death, in October, 1866. Levi W. married May B. Priest, of Hancock, N. H., who died in 1863, and lives on the old homestead.

Biographical Sketch of Erastus Harris

Erastus Harris, from Medway, Mass., located in the southeastern part of Nelson, (now in Harrisville), at an early date. He was a carpenter, owned a large farm, and died in 1798, aged eighty-four years. His son, Bethuel, born in 1769, came on about 16 years later, and located at the village. His house was located just on the line between the two towns, though he voted in Nelson. He married Deborah Twitchell, reared ten children, and died in July, 1851. The part he took in the manufactures of the town. has already been spoken of. He was a major of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Davis

George Davis was born in Hancock, N. H., in 1816. He learned the carpenter’s trade, which he carried on a few years, was captain of militia there in 1842 and 1843, and owner of a grist-mill, which he operated several years. He married Julia A., daughter 0f Asa Greenwood, of Dublin, in 1840, and moved to Keene in 1844. He was selectman of Harrisville in 1899 and 1880, town clerk and treasurer since 1881, and was chosen representative in 1884.

James Wilson Genealogy

I. The ancestor of the Daniel2 Wilson family came from Tyrone, Ireland, in 1737, with the famous Scotch Irish emigrants. These emigrants were a hardy, industrious, long-lived, honest and sturdy race of people. A great proportion of New Hampshire’s most distinguished sons are found among their descendants. One of these emigrants was James1 Wilson. The history of Peterborough gives his name as WILLIAM. Later researches favor JAMES, but we are not positively sure of the name. Nor do we know who was his wife. They brought with them from Ireland a son, Robert2, and a daughter, Lettuce2. In this country … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Barker

William Barker came from Acton, Mass., and located in Nelson, in 1780. He was a soldier under General Washington, in the French and Indian war, and, with two of his sons, served in the Revolution, and was at the battle of Concord. His son Thaddeus, who came here with his father, had a family of eleven children, and died in 1843. His son Chauncey, the only child now living, was born in 1809, and has lived forty-six years on the place he now occupies. William Barker was town clerk and town representative for many years. Thaddeus also took an active … Read more