Timothy B. Rossiter, one of the wealthiest men in Claremont, was born there, September 18, 1807, son of Sherman and Olive (Baldwin) Rossiter. Sir Edward Rossiter, the founder of the family, with his son and son’s wife, Dr. and Mrs. Bray Rossiter, embarked from Plymouth, England, on the ship “Mary and John,” March 20, 1630, and arrived at Nantasket, Mass., May 30, 1630. They began a settlement at Mattapan, and in the spring of 1636 removed to Windsor, Conn. Sir Edward Rossiter, who was chosen in London in 1629 to serve as an assistant to Governor Winthrop, died soon after his arrival in the colonies. Dr. Bray Rossiter, his son, removed in 1650 to Guilford, Conn., where he became a planter, and purchased in 1651 the Desbourough estate. Dr. Rossiter died September 30, 1672, leaving ten children. Josiah Rossiter, a son of the Doctor, born at Windsor, removed with his father to Guilford. For ten years, between the years 1700 and 1711, he was Assistant Governor in the colony of Connecticut, and for some years Recorder and Justice of the Peace. He had seventeen children. His death occurred January 31, 1716. Theophilus, his son, born February 12, 1696, married Abigail Pierson, November 18, 1725, became the father of fourteen children, and died April 9, 1770. His son, Captain William, who was born February 11, 1740, married Submit Chittenden, February 18, 1768, and died December 28, 1820, leaving eleven children.
Sherman Rossiter, the father of Timothy B. Rossiter, born April 20, 1775, leaving Guilford, Conn., came up the Connecticut River to Claremont when that section was nearly all wilderness. He was one of the first settlers of the eastern part of the town. His death occurred in his sixty-fourth year. His wife, Olive, who was a daughter of Timothy Baldwin, of Guilford, had eight children-William, Pomeroy M., Luzern S., Stephen F., Chittenden, Lorett, Submit, and Timothy B. William was a merchant of Claremont. When but twenty-four years of age he engaged in business. He was Selectman a number of years and a Representative to the General Court. He died February 29, 1860, leaving three children-Sarah, Adelaide, and Albert. Pomeroy M., deceased, married Elizabeth Tucker, who bore him one child. Luzern S. married Elizabeth Dart, who bore him four children. Stephen F. married Maria A. Marshall, and had four children. Figuring prominently in local politics, he has been Selectman, Representative, County Commissioner, and Tax Collector. In January, 1897, he was appointed President of the Claremont National Bank. Chittenden, also deceased, married Charlotte Converse, and left four children. Lorett, deceased, married William Tutherly, and had three children. Her husband has held various offices in the town government. Submit, deceased, married Edmund Wheeler, of Newport, N.H., a prominent citizen of the place, and had one child.
Timothy B. received a common-school education. After his marriage he settled in Newport, N.H., where he devoted himself successfully to agriculture for twenty-two years. On April 1, 1858, he removed to Claremont, and bought the farm of Nathaniel Goss. He then began farming on a large scale, and by his industry, frugality, and scientific methods of work has steadily prospered, accumulating a handsome property, becoming virtually a private banker. He is considered one of the wealthiest men in the town. When celebrating his golden wedding in 1886, he received the heartiest congratulations from friends and neighbors.
In May, 1836, he married Elvira Dustin, who was born December 14, 1809, daughter of Moody Dustin. Mr. and Mrs. Rossiter are in excellent health to-day, and he still attends to his duties about the farm. They are members of the Congregational church. They had two sons and one daughter. George, one of the sons, married Caroline Gleason, of Plainfield, N.H., and had three children-Charles, Edward, and Robert. The second child, named Edward, died in December, 1879. Ellen, the third child, died at the age of four and one-half year.