Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society

1892 Map of New Hampshire

The Collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society is a 15 publication series documenting the state’s history through various primary sources, including manuscripts, letters, and public records. It collates valuable narratives that were previously difficult to access, providing insight into events, individuals, and communities in New Hampshire. Each volume offers focused topics and historical analyses, and most volumes contain individual indexes.

History of Stratford New Hampshire

1861 Map of Stratford, New Hampshire

The “History of the Town of Stratford, New Hampshire, 1773–1925,” edited by Jeannette Richardson Thompson, compiles decades of historical research prompted by Rev. Lucius W. Prescott. Initially prepared for publication in the late 19th century, the work was serialized before being comprehensively revised and published in 1925 for Stratford’s 150th anniversary. It documents the town’s settlement, demographics, and significant events, drawing from original records and community contributions while ensuring preservation of historical narratives and genealogical information for future generations.

Abington Massachusetts Birth Records

1830 Map of Abington, Massachusetts

Volume 1 of the Abington, Massachusetts vital records details births recorded in the town up to 1850, featuring comprehensive research from town records, cemeteries, and church documents. Established in 1712, Abington’s jurisdictional changes may affect genealogical searches. The records also include separate listings for Black families, primarily by given names. Additionally, various surnames are cataloged, emphasizing the need to consider alternate spellings. For marriages and deaths, researchers should consult Volume 2.

Vital Records of Sheffield Massachusetts, 1733-1792

Map of Sheffield, Harstville, Southfield and New Marlborough Massachusetts

The vital records of Sheffield, Massachusetts from 1733 to 1792 detail the town’s historical births, marriages, and deaths. While names and dates are transcribed accurately, some wording has been abbreviated for clarity. Marriage records often specify the union of couples, while birth records typically include parental names. Notably, some families lack marriage entries, starting instead with a child’s birth. The records also document a few out-of-wedlock births, emphasizing lineage through parental names, even in adult death records.

History of Francestown New Hampshire

Map of Francestown New Hampshire

History of Francestown, New Hampshire is a historic and genealogical record of the town from its first settlement in 1758 through the beginning of 1891. It records Francestown’s settlement, civic growth, religious and educational institutions, military participation, industries, and social customs, followed by an extensive genealogical register of families associated with the town.

Vital Records of Bellingham, Massachusetts

Vital Records of Bellingham Massachusetts to the year 1850

Alphabetical indexes to the vital records of Bellingham, Massachusetts, up to the year 1850, supplemented by information from bible records, church registers, cemetery inscriptions and other private sources to include the diary kept by Samuel Wight and his daughters.

Medway Massachusetts vital records

Medway Village Straw Factory

Alphabetical indexes to the vital records of Medway, Massachusetts, up to the year 1850, supplemented by information from church registers, cemetery inscriptions and other private sources to include Rev. Dr. Jacob Ide’s account of Marriages and Deaths, 1814-1849.

Bassett-Preston Ancestors

Bassett-Preston Ancestors

Miss Belle Preston initiated her ancestry research in 1898 in Hinsdale, Illinois, later tracing the Bassett lineage after moving to Brooklyn. Using various libraries as resources, she documented numerous New England colonial immigrants from both families, including six Mayflower ancestors. The book details eighty-nine Bassett and ninety-two Preston ancestors in the ninth generation. Belle’s connection to New England relatives is highlighted, noting an impending loss of that intimate knowledge as family members pass away. Read and download the PDF.

Ashfield Massachusetts Vital Records

Main Street, Ashfield, Massachusetts

Alphabetical indexes to the vital records of Ashfield, Massachusetts, up to the year 1850, supplemented by information from bible records, church registers, cemetery inscriptions and other sources. PDF file is free to read and download.

Elkhart Centennial, 1855-1955

Drawing of Elkhart at the Turn of the Century

The village of Elkhart City, nestled on the western slope of a long wooded hill in the heart of Illinois, celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1955. This book, “The Village of Elkhart City, Elkhart, Illinois, Centennial History, 1855-1955,” is a comprehensive chronicle of the village’s first hundred years, compiled and written by the Elkhart, Illinois Centennial Book Committee and published by Feldman’s Print Shop in Lincoln, Illinois.

Spokane Story

Spokane Story

“Spokane Story: A Colorful Early History of the Capital City of the Inland Empire” by Lucile Foster Fargo offers readers an evocative journey through the formative years of Spokane, Washington. Published in 1957 by Northwestern Press in Minneapolis, this work seeks to straddle the realms of history and storytelling, presenting a narrative that is neither entirely factual history nor pure fiction. Fargo accepts the challenging task of depicting Spokane’s cultural and developmental evolution from its fur trade beginnings to its emergence as a municipal entity in the early twentieth century.

Brown Genealogy

Brown Genealogy

In 1895, Cyrus Henry Brown began collecting family records of the Brown family, initially with the intention of only going back to his great-grandfathers. As others became interested in the project, they decided to trace the family lineage back to Thomas Brown and his wife Mary Newhall, both born in the early 1600s in Lynn, Massachusetts. Thomas, John, and Eleazer, three of their sons, later moved to Stonington, Connecticut around 1688. When North Stonington was established in 1807, the three brothers were living in the southern part of the town. Wheeler’s “History of Stonington” contains 400 records of early descendants of the Brown family, taken from the town records of Stonington. However, many others remain unidentified, as they are not recorded in the Stonington town records. For around a century, the descendants of the three brothers lived in Stonington before eventually migrating to other towns in Connecticut and New York State, which was then mostly undeveloped. He would eventually write this second volume of his Brown Genealogy adding to and correcting the previous edition. This book is free to search, read, and/or download.

The Amidon Family of Rehoboth, MA

The Amidon Family

The Amidon Family genealogy book details the lineage of Roger Amadowne, a French Huguenot who fled to England and later to America after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Documented in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637, variations of his surname include Amadon, Amidown, and Ammidon. The work, organized with biographical sketches and two helpful indexes, presents the family’s history and is richly illustrated. Originally published in 1904, it serves as a valuable resource for descendants and historians alike.

History of Littleton New Hampshire

1895 Map of Littleton New Hampshire

The History of Littleton New Hampshire is comprised of three volumes, two volumes of history, and a final volume of genealogies. Considered one of the best examples of local history written in the early 20th century, is your ancestors resided in Littleton then you need these books. Read and download for free!

The genealogy and history of the Ingalls family in America

The genealogy and history of the Ingalls family in America

Edmund Ingalls, son of Robert, was born about 1598 in Skirbeck, Lincolnshire, England. He immigrated in 1628 to Salem, Massachusetts and with his brother, Francis, founded Lynn, Massachusetts in 1629. He married Ann, fathered nine children, and died in 1648.

Ancestry of Nathaniel Reynolds Packard, 2d of Brockton Massachusetts

Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts

Nathaniel Reynolds Packard, 2d, a notable shoe manufacturer from Brockton, Massachusetts, passed away on November 6, 1908, at seventy-five. His lineage traces back to Samuel Packard, an early settler from England. Born in 1833, Nathaniel transitioned from wheelwrighting to shoe manufacturing, establishing his successful business in Brockton after relocating from Easton amidst local disputes. A respected figure in his community, he was also a Mason and a member of local clubs. He married Juliette V. Thayer, but they had no children.

Knowles Family of New Bedford, MA

thomas knowles

The Knowles family, established in New Bedford for nearly a century, descends from the ancient lineage in Eastham, Massachusetts. Key figures include Thomas and James H. Knowles, whose firm was pivotal in the whaling industry. The family name was upheld by later generations engaged in diverse business and civic roles, greatly impacting local commerce and community welfare. Noteworthy individuals include Capt. John P. Knowles, a prominent whaling captain, and Joseph Knowles, influential in cotton manufacturing. The family’s legacy intertwines with New Bedford’s rich maritime history.

Descendants of John Washburn of Duxbury, MA

nathan washburn

The Washburn family of Middleboro, Massachusetts, traces its lineage to John Washburn, who emigrated from Evesham, England, in 1632. His descendants played significant roles in early American history, including Capt. Amos Washburn, a Revolutionary War officer, and his son Gen. Abiel Washburn, a prominent leader in Middleboro. The lineage continued through notable figures, including Judge Nathan Washburn, who practiced law and served as a special justice in the Plymouth district. This family has left a lasting impact on the Old Colony and its governance.

Descendants of Frederick Packard of Brockton, MA

Fred. Packard

Frederick Packard, born in 1836 in Brockton, MA, emerged as a prominent figure in the local shoe manufacturing industry. His success stemmed from hard work and business acumen. He began his career making boots and shoes, eventually founding firms such as Burt & Packard, which gained a reputation for quality. A respected community member, Packard was active in local organizations and politics but shunned public office. He married Mary Eliza Ramsdell, and after a long and prosperous life, he passed away in 1910, leaving a lasting legacy.