Hinsdale New Hampshire Genealogy

The First Congregational Church of Hinsdale, NH

The First Congregational church of Hinsdale was organized in 1763. Rev. Bunker Gay, who served the parish forty-seven years, was its first pastor. The first house of worship was built of wood about 1760, and the present one also of wood, in 1835 or ’36. Its present membership is 150. The church property is now valued at $10,000, and the parsonage is valued at $3,000. The house will seat 550 people. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of 120. Rev. Henry R. Hamilton is the present parish clergyman.

Biographical Sketch of Lemuel Liscom

Lemuel Liscom, born in Rehoboth, Mass., came to Hinsdale at a very early date and September 26, 1796, married Submit Barrett, who bore him nine children. Of these, Mary married Henry Reed, and resided in Brattleboro, Vt. Lemuel married Emerancy, daughter of Hezekiah Horton, September 20, 1831, he at that time being a resident of Boston, Mass., where he was successfully engaged in the coal trade. In 1835 he purchased the farm where he and his aged wife are now residing with their son, L. F. Liscom. Their house is one of the oldest, if not the oldest in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Obed Slate

Obed Slate, born in Bernardston, Mass., married Susan Doolittle, of Hinsdale, and came to this town about 180o, engaging as a carpenter and joiner. His first work was building the house of his wife’s father, Oliver Doolittle. Soon after he married, he purchased a farm on the Hill road, leading from Hinsdale to Northfield, where he remained till his death, about 1863. He was a man of influence, and early took an active interest in town affairs, holding all military positions from drummer to Colonel, also the office of first selectman for fifteen years, justice of the peace as many … Read more

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Hinsdale, NH

The Methodist Episcopal church, on Main street, Hinsdale, was organized in the fall of 1842, by Rev. Justin Spaulding, with six members. Rev. T. Furber was the first pastor. The first and present house of worship was erected of wood in 1876. The society has sixty members. The church originally cost $8,000, it present valuation. It will seat nearly 400 people comfortably, and the Sunday-school has about sixty members. The church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph L. Felt.

Biography of Walter C. Stearns

Walter C. Stearns, born in Northfield, Mass., was one of the pioneer fathers of Hinsdale. He married Tryphenia, daughter of Makepeace Shattuck, and was blessed with a family of thirteen children. By dint of industry and frugality, as a farmer, he succeeded in comfortably raising his large family, allowing them fair educational advantages, only one of whom survives, via, Maria (Mrs. Worden), who resides on Canal street, in Hinsdale. Of his five sons, only two settled in town. John Stearns, who died at his home in Hinsdale, December 2, 1884, at the ripe age of eighty-three years, had been a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dea. Bill Burnham

Dea. Billy Burnham, born in Vernon, Vt., married Sarah Thomas, of Chesterfield, N. H., and came to Hinsdale when there were only three permanent dwellings in the town. For several years thereafter the religious meetings were held in the dwellings of the settlers. Dea. Burnham was a Baptist and a devoted Christian, he and his wife being two of the eight original members of the first Baptist church. They were baptized by moonlight, when the weather was so cold that in returning to the house. eight rods distant, their clothing froze stiff. None of their five children are now living. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Kimbal C. Worden

Peter Worden was among the early pilgrims of our country. He was from Clayton, Lancashire, Eng., and. lived for a short time in Lynn, Mass., it is certain, though the year of his arrival in America is not known for certain, Eighteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, however, or on the 19th of February, 1638, he made his last will and testament, which ancient document is now in the possession of his descendants, in Hinsdale. The fact that he died soon after is established, as the will was proved on the 9th of March of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry M. Jones

Henry M. Jones was born in Phillipston, Mass., July 25, 1811. When about two years old, his father died, and his mother removed to Athol, Mass., and in his twelfth year he came to Hinsdale to live with his uncle, Windsor Bowker, where he remained two years. Next he was an errand and farm boy for Abram Hinds, who was the first lawyer of Hinsdale. Here he remained about four years, and was afterwards engaged as a laborer till about 1835, when he bought a saw-mill on Kilbourn brook, a short distance from the village, which he run about three … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Amos Thomas

Daniel, Amos, Israel, and Nathan Thomas, sons of one of the early pioneers, all settled here themselves as pioneers. Nathan married Marion Coats, and settled as a farmer in the northern part of the town. His children were Nathan, Charles, Frederick, Gideon, Thankful, Eunice, Electa and Marion. Nathan Thomas, Jr., was born in Fort Hinsdale, and settled on the place where his son Franklin and Waldo Rouillard now reside. He married Abigail Butler, and had born to him ten children, only two of whom now reside in the town-Mrs. Ellen Tyler and Franklin. The latter, at the age of seventy-three … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Simeon Horton

Simeon Horton, born at Milton, Mass., in 1784, came to Hinsdale about 1816, and finally located a home on road 15, where his son’s widow, Mrs. Mary A.. now resides. Here he remained till his death in 186o, aged seventysix years. He was a prominent man in town affairs, held the offices of selectman and justice of the peace several terms, and was the father and leader of the temperance cause here. Of his three sons and three daughters, one son died in infancy, and the others all settled in the town, though only one is now living, Mrs. Ivory … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Estey

Isaac Estey came to Hinsdale, from Royalton, Mass., in 1806, settled on Canal street, and engaged extensively in road building. He was the father of seven children, as follows: Joseph, the eldest, a farmer, and jobber in stone work, died in 1806, where his son George F., now lives; Sarah married a Mr. Parker, and died in Rutland, Mass.; Mary married Philip Fisher, and lives in Brattleboro, Vt., a widow; Israel Bartlet resides in Brattleboro, Vt.; Jacob is the well-known organ manufacturer of Brattleboro, Vt.; James F., also resides in Brattleboro, and is superintendent and vice-president of the Valley Mill … Read more

Lodema Hepsibah Todd Ketcham of Richland City WI

KETCHAM, Lodema Hepsibah Todd8, (Caleb7, Jehiel6, Stephen5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born Oct. 25, 1828, in Hinsdale, N. H., died April 19, 1891, married Dec. 31, 1856, William Ketcham, who was born May 24, 1819, died Sept. 14, 1879. Their children were all born in Richland City, Wis., where also they both died. He represented his district in the state Legislature several years. Children: I. Charles Bates, b. Feb. 8, 1858. II. William Jagger, b. March 21, 1859. III. Abigail Rebecca, b. April 5, 1863, d. April 10, 1863. IV. Maggie Louise, b. Jan. 8, 1865, d. Aug. 8, 1879.

Biographical Sketch of Nathan Thomas

History of the Industry of Hinsdale, NH

The Hinsdale Savings bank, located a Hinsdale village, was incorporated in June, 1874, with C. J. Amidon. president, Edward Stebbins, vice-president, George S. Wilder, secretary, and George Wellman, treasurer, which list of officers is still retained. This bank has a solid financial basis, and is doing a constantly increasing business. Haile, Frost & Co.’s woolen mills, located at the village, were first built and run by Ripley & Harrington, using only one set of machinery. Subsequently they were run by Mr. Ripley alone, then by Ripley & Todd, and next by Haile & Todd, who sold to the present firm. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. John Brockway

Rev. John Brockway, the first Universalist preacher in Surry, settled in that town at a very early day and died there about 1810. He was the father of four sons and two daughters. John, the eldest, was an officer in the war of 1812, and died at Schenectady, N. Y. Cephas was a goldsmith and a noted dentist. Rufus was a farmer, and Calvin emigrated to Ohio, where he accumulated a large fortune. Lockhart W. Brockway, a grandson of Rev. John and son of John, was born in Surry and came to Hinsdale in 1819. He boasts the honor of … Read more

Biography of Hon. William Haile

Hon. William Haile, son of John and Emma (Henry) Haile. was born in Putney, Vt., in May 1807. At the age of about fourteen years he went with his parents to Chesterfield, and was soon after taken into the family of Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sr., with whom he lived until he was about twenty-one years of age. Having attended school about two years, he entered, in 1823, Mr. Pierce’s store as clerk, and in 1827 or 1828 he borrowed a small amount of money and opened a store on his own account, in the Center Village. With his characteristic sagacity, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Valentine Butler

Valentine Butler, one of the early settlers of the town, located as a farmer at North Hinsdale, where Mrs. Abby M. Chandler now lives. He married Hannah Osgood, of Newfane. Vt., and reared five children, none of whom are now living. His oldest son, Josiah, died on the homestead previous to his father’s death. Lucinda, daughter of Valentine, married Azor Chandler, who purchased the homestead and remained thereon during life. Nathaniel, their only child, inherited the estate, which he retained until his death, in May, 1882. The property is now owned by his widow, Abby M., and their only child … Read more

Captivity and Redemption of Mrs. Jemima Howe – Indian Captivities

A particular account of the captivity and redemption of Mrs. Jemima Howe, who was taken prisoner by the Indians at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, on the twenty-seventh of July, 1765, as communicated to Dr. Belknap by the Rev. Bunker Gay. As Messrs. Caleb Howe, Hilkiah Grout, and Benjamin Gaffield, who had been hoeing corn in the meadow, west of the river, were returning home, a little before sunset, to a place called Bridgman’s fort, they were fired upon by twelve Indians, who had ambushed their path. Howe was on horseback, with two young lads, his children, behind him. A ball, which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Cooper

Elijah Cooper, who came to Hinsdale at an early day, married Sarah Sanger, April 4, 1777, and reared four children, as follows: Lucy, born November 5, 1777; Elijah, born November 26, 1782; Mary, born April g, 1785; Arad, born April 10, 1787; and Pearly, the date of whose birth we are unable to give. Mr. Cooper settled as a farmer upon the place Daniel Smith now occupies, where he reared his family, and finally died at the residence of his son Arad. Of the children, Lucy died unmarried; Mary married a Mr. Stearns, and went west; Elijah married and also … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willard Martin

Willard Martin, born in Rehoboth, Mass., March 6, 1786, married Lucretia Houghton, in 1810, and died in Hinsdale, October 14, 1849. Mr. Martin was long known as one of the leading merchants of Guilford, Vt., where he was distinguished as one of the principal citizens, and for many years received almost the universal suffrage of the town as representative in the state legislature. Mrs. Martin died August 17, 1847. Dr. Oscar Martin, their eldest son, was born March 9, 1815. He married Susan George Sartle, November 27, 1839, and had born to him one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. … Read more