Narrative of the captivity of Frances Noble, who was, among others, taken by the Indians from Swan Island, in Maine, about the year 1755; compiled by John Kelly, Esq. of Concord, New Hampshire, from the minutes and memoranda of Phinehas Merrill. Esq. of Stratham, in the same state; and by the Former Gen. Tleman communicated for publication to the editors of the Historical Collections of New Hampshire.
Rev. Henry H. Hamilton, born in Chester, Mass., February 1, 1842, fitted for college at Williston seminary and graduated from Amherst in 1868, from Union Theological seminary, New York, in 1871, and also passed an extra year at Andover Theological seminary. He was installed pastor of the Union Congregational church of Westfield, Mass., June 4, 1872, and continued its pastor just five years. His next settlement was over the Congregational church of Hinsdale, March 1, 1878, where he still remains.
Caleb Todd7, (Jehiel6, Stephen5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born March 16, 1785, in Wallingford, Conn., died May 21, 1871, in Hinsdale, N. H., married first, Jan. 26, 1809, Hepsibah Miller, who was born Aug. 12, 1787, in West Springfield, Mass., died Dec. 29, 1826. He married second, July 10, 1828, Abigail Prentice, daughter of Seth and Abigail (Gay) Hooker, who was born Aug. 28, 1792, in Hinsdale, N. H., died Nov. 26, 1879, in Worcester, Mass. He was a manufacturer of woolen goods in Hinsdale, N. H.; a Justice of the Peace; representative to the State Legislature from his district. … Read more
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
Levi Todd, born in Rindge, N. H., in 1797 or ’98, was educated in the common schools of his neighborhood, and came to Hinsdale when about twenty-one years of age. He was a shoemaker by trade, and built the first shoe shop in the town, and about six months after he came he married Nancy Corey. of Ashburnham, Mass. He followed his trade several years, then gave his attention to manufacturing brick, his brick-yard being the first in the town. He finally bought the farm now occupied by his son “alter C., where he found excellent clay beds. He continued … Read more
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
Rev. John G. Bennett was born in Swanzey, July 17, 1812. He attended the district schools until sixteen years of age, when he attended a private school in Winchester, taught by Rev. Mr. Cushman, a Methodist clergyman. He next attended the Methodist Institute, located at Newbury, Vt., where he instructed several classes and occasionally preached. Before going to Newbury he was employed to preach under the direction of the presiding elder; being at that time only eighteen years of age. In 1836 he married Ruth C Britton, of Westmoreland, N. H., and soon after joined the Vermont and New Hampshire … Read more
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
Hinsdale lies in the southwestern part of the county, in lat. 42º 48′, and long. 4º 32′, bounded north by Chesterfield, east by Winchester, and southwest by the left bank of Connecticut river, the township being triangular in outline. It originally comprised within its limits the township of Vernon, on the opposite side of the river. This land, as it originally stood, was granted by Massachusetts at a very early period. Even after the river had been declared the boundary line between the provinces of New Hampshire and New York, and the township had in this manner been divided, the … Read more
Rev. John Hooker, born March 28, 1729, ordained pastor of the Congregational church of Northfield, Mass., was the father of Seth Hooker, who was born October 22. 1759. The latter married Abigail Gay, daughter of Rev. Bunker Gay, May 5, 1789, and settled on the farm of his wife’s father, in Hinsdale, where he continued to reside until his death, May 31, 1844, aged eighty-four years. His children were Sally Gay, born December 25, 1789 and died January 12, 1797. Henry, born July 5, 1791, in Charlestown, N. H.. married Mary Dagget, of Westmoreland, October 23, 1816. In early life … Read more
Hon. Caleb Todd, or “Esq.” Todd, as he was more familiarly known, was for many years one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Hinsdale. He was born in Wallingford, Conn., March 16, 1785, resided and did business in Cooperstown, N. Y.. a few years, taking up his abode in Hinsdale in 1815. Here he was one of the pioneer manufacturers, and was widely known as a manufacturer of woolens for a great number of years. At his death, May 21, 1871, he was the oldest citizen of Hinsdale. Mr. Todd was twice married and reared eight children, five … Read more
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.
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
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
Abel Fletcher, one of the pioneer settlers of Chesterfield. N. H., married Phoebe, daughter of Jonathan Hildreth, of Chesterfield, in 1784; for his second wife he married Sally Willard, and for his third Charlotte, daughter of Ephraim Hubbard, who survived him. His will was made in 1816 and proved in 1817. Daniel, son of Abel, born August 8, 1789, married Lucy, daughter of Joseph Converse, and resided many years in Chesterfield, but died in Hills. dale, December 5, 18i5, aged eighty-six years. Joseph C. Fletcher, son of Daniel, born May 27, 1822, died May 31, 1873, aged fifty-seven years. He … Read more
Dwight Leonard Sanderson was born in Chesterfield, N. H., May 21, 1822. He married and settled upon the homestead of his grandfather, which he still owns, where he lived a few years and carried on farming and dealt in livestock and merchandise. About 1857 he moved to Winhall, Vt, where he resided five years, engaged in farming and stock dealing. In 1862 he came to Hissdale, where he now resides. Here he has been a farmer, live stock dealer and merchant. Only two of his five sons settled in the town. Elliot married Betsey Darling, was a successful farmer, accumulated … Read more
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.
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
Capt. Thomas Taylor, a son of Thomas and grandson of John, was a colonial captain and one of the grantees of Northfield. He was born in 1717 and learned the trade of a shoemaker. As a sergeant he was in command of seventeen men who were attacked in this town by twenty-six French and eighty Indians, July 14, 1748, while on a march from Northfield to Fort Dummer. After a desperate resistance Mr. Taylor was captured and carried to Canada, where he was kept in close confinement till September 2d, when he was released, arriving at his home on September … Read more
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