Cheshire County New Hampshire - Genealogy and History
 

This web site is a resource for researchers of family tree (genealogy)
and history in Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
HISTORY | DOCUMENTS | OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH
MAP OF CHESHIRE COUNTY | TOWNS/CITIES IN CHESHIRE COUNTY

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BRIEF HISTORY OF CHESHIRE CO., NEW HAMPSHIRE
The province of New Hampshire was divided into five counties in 1771. One of these was named Cheshire, deriving its name from a county in the west of England, celebrated for its manufacture of cheese; hence, the name originally. Keene and Charlestown were made the shire-towns. July 5, 1827, the county was divided, the northern portion taking the name of Sullivan County. This division left Cheshire County with its present limits. It is situated in the southwestern part of the State, bounded on the north by Sullivan County, east by Hillsborough County, south by the State of Massachusetts, and west by the west bank of the Connecticut River. It contains twenty-three towns, eight of which were incorporated in the reign of George II.--namely Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Keene, Richmond, Swanzey, Walpole, Westmoreland and Winchester, -- ten in the reign of George III--namely Alstead, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Jaffrey, Marlow, Nelson, Rindge, Surry, Stoddard, -- and five under the government of New Hampshire--namely, Harrisville, Marlborough, Roxbury, Sullivan and Troy. In the census of 1880 there were 2836 farms. In 1827 Keene became the shire-town (county seat) of Cheshire County. The Inferior Court met here first in October 1771 and the Superior Court in 1772. The early settlers of Cheshire County came from the south along the Connecticut River. This area was originally the home of the "Squakheag" tribe of Native Americans, who remained here until about 1720.

Get detailed information on how to perform genealogical research in Cheshire County

Learn more about Cheshire County's History
Learn more about Cheshire County's geography and current condition
Learn about Cheshire County's current form of government
Read Interesting Short Stories about Cheshire County - Cheshire Co. Historical Society [Archive]
SEE Biographies of Cheshire County People - USGenWeb Archives
The Cheshire County Historical Society - a GREAT resources

DOCUMENTS (this site) for genealogical research - unique to this web site!

These documents often refer to resident living on numbered roads (i.e., road #1, #25, etc). These roads can be viewed on the 1885 cheshire county map seen below.
OTHER AREAS OF RESEARCH FOR CHESHIRE COUNTY
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If you are looking for town/city specific resources, click on the town map.

For other resources within Cheshire County

If you want to know about general genealogy resources (such as how to find vital records, deeds and other documents), visit the "Genealogical Research" section.


Current communities in Cheshire County include:

Alstead, Chesterfield, Dublin, Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Jaffrey, Keene, Marlboro, Marlow, Nelson, Richmond, Rindge, Roxbury, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Troy, Walpole, Westmoreland, and Winchester

Clickable Map of Cheshire County NH
 
TOWNS / CITIES IN CHESHIRE COUNTY, New Hampshire

ALSTEAD

CHESTERFIELD
  • History: Established in 1735, this town was the site of Fort #1, one of the line of forts bordering the Connecticut River, which was later known as Fort Dummer. The incorporation of the town took place in 1752 as Chesterfield, after Phillip Stanhope, fourth Earl of Chesterfield. Chesterfield includes the village of Spofford, and Spofford Lake. Harlan Fiske Stone, a chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1872-1946), was born in Chesterfield.
  • Villages and Place Names: Fort #1, Camp Notre Dame Spofford, West Chesterfield
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Chesterfield N.H.- TXT file. Early history of the town including a geographical description, changes in the town's boundary, naming of the town, waterways and other landmarks, incorporation and settlement, early settlers and births, names of settlers before 1767, early population, early town meetings, Chesterfield during the American Revolution (includes name of most of the citizens who participated), signers of the "Assocation Test," War of 1812 in Chesterfield, Participants in the War of the Rebellion (Civil War), history of schools (including Chesterfield Academy) and churches, early physicians and attorneys, Spafford Lake as a summer resort;Aged persons in Chesterfield and their death dates; Civil list including some early town clerks, selectmen and representatives to the General Court;early manufactures, taverns and hotels, early postmasters; Biographies of the following people and families: Jacob Amidon & Family, Joseph Atherton, Dr. Oliver Baker, Ephraim Baldwin, John H. Barrett, William Bennett, Nathaniel Bingham, Samuel Burt, Asa Britton, Capt. William S. Brooks, Francis W. Brooks, John Butler, John F. Butler, Sidney S. Campbell, Dr. Henry Carpenter, Alexander Chandler, Ithamer Chamberlain, Eleazar Cobleigh, Charles Converse, Oscar Coolidge, Amos Crouch, John Darling, Samuel Davis, Moses Dudley, Samuel Fairbanks, Josiah W. Fairfield, Marshall H. Farr, Dennie W. Farr, Field family, Thomas Fisk, Isaac Fletcher, Rodney Fletcher, Reuben B. Foster Sr., Rev. T.L. Fowler, Phineas Fullman, Samuel Gilson, Samuel Goodrich, David W. Goodrich, Sanford Guernsey, William Haile, Samuel Hamilton, Phineas Handerson, The Harris Family including Abner Harris , Broughton D. Harris, John Harris and Wilder Harris, Capt. Ebenezer Harvey, Dr. Solomon Harvey, Benjamin Haskell, George Hawes, William Henry, Jonathan Hildreth, Jesse Hinds, David Holman, Joseph Holt, Richard Hopkins, Eleazer Jackson, Edward Jarvis, Asa Keys, Samuel King, John Kneeland, Benjamin Lloyd Marsh, Levi Mead, Larkin G. Mead, Calvin E. Nurse, Eli Pattridge, John Pierce, Ezekiel P. Pierce, George Pierce, Warham R. Platts, John Putnam, William Randall & Family and Eleazar Randall, Silas Richardson, Archibald Robertson, James Robertson, Elisha Rockwood, Aaron Royce, Ebenezer Safford, The Sargent Family including Erastus Sargent, Waitstill Scott, William Shurtleff, Roswell Shurtleff, Barton Skinner, Moses Smith (the first settler) and Moses Smith Jr., John Snow, Alpheus Snow, Ebenezer Stearns, David Stoddard, Peter Stone, Warren Stone, Charles L. Strong, Stephen Streeter Jr., Nathan Symonds,Silas Thompson, Ezra Titus, Joseph Titus, Josiah Torrey, Francis Tuttle, Dr. Joshua Tyler, Nathaniel Walton, Lawrence Walton, Sumner Warren, Peter Wheeler, Ashbel Wheeler, Hon. Hoyt H. Wheeler, Nathan Wild, Captain Simon Willard, Rev. Abraham Wood, and Professor Alphonso Wood.
    • Brief History of Chesterfield NH - Keenenh.com
    • FIRST METHODIST MEETING PLACE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE marker in Chesterfield NH - In 1772, "the people called Methodist" held their first religious meeting in this state on the James Robertson farm, 1.2 miles north of here, on Christian Street, with Philip Embury as the preacher. On June 20, 1803, Francis Asbury spoke here using as his text: "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
    • CHIEF JUSTICE HARLAN FISKE STONE marker - Born October 11, 1872, in a modest cottage 1.7 miles west of here on Horseshoe Road. Stone graduated from Amherst College and Columbia Law School, returning to the latter as Dean, 1910-1924. Attorney General of the United States in President Coolidge's Cabinet, he was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 1924, and Chief Justice in 1941, serving until his death April 22, 1946. A teacher, lawyer, judge and judicial craftsman of the highest order, he held the affection and respect of the lawyers of the nation. Located on NH 63, at its intersection with the Old Chesterfield Road in the village of Chesterfield.
    • Governor William Haile of NH (resided Chesterfield NH, includes likeness)
    • Story of the John Braley Deed, 1795
    • Harlan Stone, Supreme Court Justice, b. Chesterfield NH | 2nd biography & photo
    • Madame Sherri's Castle (Antoinette Sherri) - history & photographs

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DUBLIN
FITZWILLIAM

GILSUM
  • History: Gilsum was originally granted, under the name of Boyle (named after Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington and famous architect. Burlington, Vermont), to Joseph Osgood and his associates, December 30, 1752. No settlements were made under this grant, through fear of the Indians, until so late a date that the charter was forfeited. In March 1761, Benjamin Bellows bought from Rebecca Blanchard, widow of Joseph Blanchard, of Dunstable MA, the "Rights he had in Boyle..." This deed conveyed twenty-six rights. Joseph Blanchard purchased additional rights to the area from Theodore Atkinson of Portsmouth. He then sold some of these shares in 1761 to Samuel Gilbert, Esq., Josiah Kilburn, Thomas Sumner, Jonathan Smith and Joseph Mack, all of Connecticut, who in turn, sold some of their shares. In January 24, 1763 Thomas Sumner, on hehalf of the proprietors, petitioned Gov. Benning Wentworth for a new charter of the town, which was granted and the name changed to Gilsum on 13 July 1763. Reportedly the name "Gilsum" was given in settlement of a dispute as to whether the town should be named "Gilbert" or Sumner" after the respective proprietors, choosing "Gilsum" as a compromise.
  • Villages and Place Names: Lower Village, Roundys Corner
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
    • Official Gilsum NH web site (none known)
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Gilsum, N.H. - TXT --Geography, geology and description of the town of Gilsum NH; origin of the name, early town boundary changes, 1880 population and town description, early physicians, early merchants and manufactories, the first settlement and first settlers, churches, early town officers, residents participating in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War (War of the Rebellion); Brief biographies of early and later settlers including: William Banks, Dr. Messer Carmon, Ezra Carpenter, John Guillow, John C. Guillow, Aaron Hammond, Dr. G. W. Hammon, Amherst Hayward, Nahum O. Hayward, Thomas Howard, Roswell Hubbard, George C. Hubbard, Charles Franklin Kinsbury, James M. Mark, Luther Mark, George W. Newman, Dudley Smith.
    • Brief History of Gilsum NH - KeeneNH.com
    • History & Genealogy, Gilsum NH - USGenWeb
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HARRISVILLE
HINSDALE
  • History: Hinsdale originally contained the township of Vernon (VT), on the opposite side of the Connecticut River. 21 October 1802 Hinsdale Vermont's name was changed to Vernon. The land was granted by Massachusetts at a very early period, but an exact time is difficult to determine because of changes in land governance between Massachusetts, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Reportedly the land was purchased of native Indians and granted by the province of Massachusetts Bay...confirmed to the original proprietors of the town 3 Sept 1753 (New Hampshire charter of the township). Hinsdale was named for Colonel Ebenezer Hinsdale. Colonel Hinsdale was from a prominent family in Deerfield, and he was once chaplain of Fort Dummer, an important trading post on the Connecticut River. He later enlisted as an officer, and then established the trading post at Fort Hinsdale, reportedly at his own expense.
  • Villages and Place Names: Dole Junction, North Hinsdale
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Hinsdale, N.H. - TXT file -- Geography, geology and early history of Hinsdale, NH; early boundary disputes; separation of Hinsdale (later Vernon) VT and Hinsdale NH; population and description of the town and villages; manufactures and businesses about 1880, including mills; churches; biographies of early settlers and later prominent settlers to include the families of: Oliver Adams, Rev. Elisha Andrews, Rev. John G. Bennett, Aaron Blanchard, Dr. Frederick Boyden, Rev. John Brockway, Dea. Billy Burnham, Josiah Butler, Valentine Butler, Elijah Cooper, David Crowninshield, Capt. Oliver Doolittle, Isaac Estey, Abel Fletcher, Rev. Bunker Gay, Hon. William Haile, Rev. Henry W. Hamilton, Reuben Hildreth, George W. Holland, Rev. John Hooker, George P. Hooker, Simeon Horton, Capt. Henry Ide, Henry M. Jones, Dr. William S. Leonard, Lemuel Liscom, Willard Martin, Ivah Newton, Rev. Jeremy Packer, Nelson Richardson, Samuel Rose, Daniel Rugg, Elijah Rugg, Nathan Rugg, Dwight Leonard Sanderson, Charles R. Sargent, Obed Slate, Walter C. Stearns, Elihu Stebbins, John Streeter, Captain Thomas Taylor, Daniel Thomas, Amos Thomas, Israel Thomas, Levi Todd, Hon. Caleb Todd, and Kimbal C. Worden.
    • Article: Hinsdale New Hampshire Journalist, Editor, and Publisher: Charles Anderson Dana (1819-1897) - blog, Cow Hampshire
    • Brief History of Hinsdale NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Another brief History of Hinsdale NH
    • HINSDALE'S AUTO PIONEER marker - In the Holman and Merriman Machine Shop opposite this location, George A. Long of Northfield (Mass.) in 1875 built a steam-propelled four wheel automobile with a fifth wheel for steering. This vehicle, fired by hardwood charcoal, had a bicycle-type frame, ordinary wooden wheels, solid rear axle and could maintain 30 miles per hour, roads permitting. This early inventor patented and built another automobile, propelled by gasoline, now in the Smithsonian Institution. Located on the edge of a parking lot on the south side of NH 119, about .2 mile east of its junction with northbound NH 63.
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JAFFREY
KEENE
  • History: First granted in 1735 as Upper Ashuelot to soldiers in the wars against Canada, and intended to be a fort town. Establishment of the Massachusetts-New Hampshire boundary in 1753 made it one of the largest towns in New England. Under regrant by the New Hampshire governor, the town was named Keene, in honor of Sir Benjamin Keene of England, an associate of Governor Wentworth in the Spanish West Indies trade. Keene was incorporated as a city in 1873, and is home to Keene State College.
  • Villages and Place Names: North Swanzey, South Keene, Arlington
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Keene, N.H. - TXT file -- Geography and geology of Keene (town, later the city) NH, early history including formation and incorporation, early settlers including house lot numbers, early merchants and businesses, early census populations, description of the town in 1800 and 1819, patriotic service during wars, history of the churches, schools, manufactures, history of banks, interesting history of the masonic temples, library, societies, utility companies, fairgrounds and trotting park, brief (a few length) biographies of early settlers and notable citizens including those of Joseph B. Abbott, Dr. Daniel Adams, Dr. Charles G. Adams, Artemas Bailey, David Barker, W.A. Barrett, Hon. John J. Allen Jr., Alfred T. Batchelder, Ebenezer Bigelow, Daniel W. Biscoe, Leonard Biscoe, Hiram Blake, Benjamin Bowker, William S. Briggs, Dr. Eben / Eber Carpenter, Dr. Algernon Sidney Carpenter, Ira C. Clark, John Colony, Timothy Colony, Henry Coolidge, Rev. David Darling, Dr. S.M. Dinsmore, Hon. Samuel Dinsmore, Samuel Dinsmore, Hon. Thomas Mackie Edwards, Francis Augustus Faukner, Daniel Fisher, Arad Fletcher, Francis French, John Houghton Fuller, Samuel O. Gates, Dexter W. Gilbert, Hon. Samuel W. Hale, Silas Hardy, Capt. Noah Hardy, Jacob Hart, Col. Nehemiah Hart and the Hart Family, Dr. Gardner C. Hill, Adin Holbrook, John Holbrook, John Josiah Holbrook, Ralph J. Holt, John Humphrey, Horace M. Irish, Dr. John F. Jennison, Deacon Luke Joslin, Nathaniel Kingsbury, Farnum F. Lane, Thomas H. Leaverett, Hugh Mason, Frederick Metcalf, Hezekiah Munsell, Hon. Daniel Newcomb, Godfrey Nims, David Nims, Eliakim Nims, George H. Nims, Lanmon Nims (and other NIMS family members), Benjamin Nourse, Daniel O'Brien, Joseph Perry, Francis Allen Perry, Capt. Horace Truman Hanks Pierce, Edward Pittsinger, Jeremiah Pratt, Hon. John Prentiss, John W. Prentiss, Ira French Prouty M.D., Ira J. Prouty M.D., Augustus M. Rice, Archibald Robertson, James Robertson, Ebenezer Robertson, Noyes Robertson, C.F. Rowell, Barton Skinner and the Skinner family, Thomas Spaulding, Ashley Spaulding, John Symonds, Hon. Peleg Sprague,Reuben Stewart, Amos B. Tenney, John A. Thayer, James and Samuel Thompson, Daniel Thompson, Dr. George B. Twitchell, Leonard Wellington, William P. Wheeler, Abijah Wilder, Lockhart Willard Esq., Hon. James Wilson Sr., Gen. James Wilson Jr., Nathan Wood, Rev. Horace Wood, Solomon Woodward, Philemon Wright, and Charles Wyman
    • Inscriptions from Old Cemeteries in Keene, N.H. - TXT file this site
    • Map - Village of Keene NH (showing some residents) - 1850 - GIF file this site
    • Online Book (Free) - Annals of the Town of Keene: From Its First Settlement, in 1734, to the Year (searchable)
    • Vital Statistics of the Town of Keene, New Hampshire:
    • Cemetery Division, Keene NH
    • Genealogy: USGenWeb Archives - brief genealogies of Keene Families: Capt. Jeremiah Stiles; Col Isaac Wyman.
    • Brief History of Keene NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Keene, New Hampshire, by Francis S. Fiske: The New England magazine; Volume 23, Issue 2; Oct 1897
    • An Old New Hampshire Muster, by Horatio J. Perry;The New England magazine; Volume 13, Issue 1; September 1892
    • Biography: Keene New Hampshire's Civil Rights Activist and Martyr, Jonathan Myrick Daniels (1939-1965) - blog, Cow Hampshire
    • KEENE GLASS INDUSTRY marker - The first of two famous Keene glass factories was established near this site in 1814 and produced window glass for the New England area until 1853. Another glass works (1815-1842), 1.5 miles southeast of here on Marlboro Street, made bottles and flasks now known as "Keene Glass" and prized today by museums and collectors. Located on the east side of Washington Street at Fuller Park.
    • HAMPSHIRE POTTERY marker - About 150 feet north of here stood the famous Hampshire Pottery Works, founded by James Scolly Taft for the manufacture of earthenware. In 1878 Majolica ware was a major product, followed in 1883 by the addition of useful and decorative art objects and souvenir pieces. With the introduction in 1904 of the famous "mat glaze," Hampshire Pottery was recognized as a leader in its field. Located in front of the Keene Public Works Office Building on Lower Main Street.
    • Goose Pond Guest House -- In 1789, Phineas Wright exchanged one hundred acres of land in Walpole for 200 acres in Keene.

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MARLBOROUGH
  • History: Marlborough was first granted in 1752 as Monadnock Number 5, one of the fort towns first known only by number. The town was at one time called Oxford, then New Marlborough, but was incorporated as Marlborough. Many of the settlers were from Marlborough, Massachusetts, which had been named for John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, in the late 1600's.
  • Villages and Place Names: Webb
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Marlborough, N.H. - TXT file; Geography and geology of Marlborough NH; early town history and proprietors; population and description in 1880; description of villages; manufactures and early businesses, the Frost Free Library, early settlers of the town; 1770 list of settlers, first town meeting and officers; town citizens during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War; early church history; cemeteries, Odd Fellows, lakes, rivers and streams, early school history; Biographies of early settlers and later prominent citizens including: (Duncan) Abel Baker, Dr. James Batcheller, Charles A. Bemis, Dolphus Bixby, Elijah Boyden, Dr. Kendall Bruce, Dr. David Carter, Martin Chase, Fuller Clark, Osgood Collester, Jairus B. Collins, John Converse, Nelson Converse, John Willie Converse, Rev. Charles Cummings, Isaac Davis and Family, Edwin Davis, Hon. George G. Davis, Phineas Farrar, Luther Farrar, Silas Fife, Elijah Fitch, Levi A. Fuller, Elijah Gates, Levi Gates, Daniel Goodenow, Asa Greenwood, Dr. Ephraim K. Frost, Dr. George L. Harrington, Rev. Osgood Herrick, Luther Hemenway, Curtis F. Hunt, James Knowlton, Timothy L. Lane MD, Dr. Samuel J. Martin, Clark Mason, Joseph C. Mason, Sumner A. Mason MD, Charles R. Mason, Ziba Mason, Isaac McAllister, Rev. Sullivan H. McCollester, Lee Sullivan McCollester, Isaac McCollester, John Quincy Adams McCollester, Samuel J. Martin, Dr. Nathaniel E. Merriam, Cyrus Sidney Moors, William A. Nason, Dr. Justus Perry, Jedediah Putney, Dr. Samuel A. Richardson, Charles Ryan, Jedediah K. Southwick, Hon. Andrew A. Stone, Rev. Cyrus STone, Jeremiah Stone MD, Henry P. Tenney, Benjamin Thatcher, Leonard Ellsworth Tilden, Benjamin Tucker, Cyrus Wakefield, Rev. William C. Whitcomb, William White, Rev. Luther Wiswall, Abel Woodward, Daniel B. Woodward, Elisha O. Woodward
    • Genealogy: USGenWeb Archives - brief genealogies of Marlborough Families: Richard Porter; Whitney Families.
    • Genealogy: Marlborough Cemetery Records
    • Brief History of Marlborough NH - KeeneNH.com
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MARLOW
  • History: First named Addison, after Joseph Addison, Secretary of State for England, who signed the appointment papers making John Wentworth Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts in 1717. As a result of the French War, few original grantees settled there, and the town was regranted in 1761 as Marlow, in honor of Christopher Marlowe, the famed author and playwright.
  • Villages and Place Names: Baker Corner, Gee Mill, Marlow Junction. Echo Lake
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Marlow, N.H. -- TXT file; Geography and geology of Marlow NH; early history and proprietors; description of villages; earliest buildings, early documents; citizens and their participation in the American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War; history of meeting-house and churches; education and schools; early physicians; mercantile / merchant history; inn and tavern keepers; mills; cemeteries; population; accidents in town; biographies of early settlers and prominent citizens including: Dr. Isaac Baker, Willard Baker, Osman Baker, Francis Brown, Hon. James Burnap, Jonathan Butler, Rufus Dodge, David Downing, Daniel Downing and family, Ebenezer Farley and family, Bethuel Farley, Amos F. Fisk(e), George W. Fox, Peter E. Fox, Elisha Gee, Elbridge B. Gee, Patrick Giffin, John Giffin and family; Samuel Gustin, John Gustin and family, James M. Howard, Nathan Huntley and family, John Jones and family, Stephen C. Joslin, Ira Knight and family, Eber Lewis and family, William Lewis, John Lewis Sr., Dudley Lewis, George Lewis, Gurden Lewis, Rev. Ebezner Mack, Isaac Monroe, James H. Morrison, Dr. Marshall Perkins, Phelps family including Luther Phelps, Orville S. Rogers, Hiram F. Russell, George S. Russell, Phinehas Stone and family, Hosea Towne, Andrew Towne, Joseph Tubbs and Abisha Tubbs and family including Daniel Tubbs, Joseph Tubbs, and Eli Tubbs, Daniel Way and family including Wells Way, Christopher Way and Asa Way.
    • USGenWeb Archives - brief genealogy of Marlow Family: Elisha Mack
    • Brief History of Marlow, NH - KeeneNH.com
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NELSON
  • History: One of the original border towns, Nelson was first known as Monadnock Number 6. In 1767, it was renamed Packersfield after Thomas Packer, one of the grantees, who was high sheriff of Portsmouth. It kept that name until 1814, when it was renamed in honor of Lord Horatio Nelson, who died on board the British ship Victory in the war against Napoleon. Nelson includes the village of Munsonville.
  • Villages and Place Names: Munsonville, Nelson
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  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Nelson, N.H. -- Txt File -- Geography and geology of Nelson, NH; early history and record of early proprietors and settlers of the town; early mills and manufactures/businesses; population and description in 1880; description of villages; early churches; biographies and genealogies of early settlers and prominent citizens including: Breed Batchelder [Batcheller], Dr. Nathaniel Breed, John Atwood and family, Philip Atwood, Josiah Atwood, Asa Beard, David Beard [Bard], John Burnap and family; John Greene and family, Samuel Greene, Samuel Griffin Esq. and family, Noah W. Hardy and family, Willard Jewett and family, Isaac Jewett, Samuel W. Loveland, Josiah Melville [Melvin] and family, John and Nathaniel Osgood and families, Benjamin Rice, Asa Spaulding, Danforth Taylor, Ebenezer Tolman, Josiah Whitney, Stephen Whitney, Archelaus Wilson, Capt. Asa Wilson, among others.
    • Brief History of Nelson NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Brief History & Photographs of Nelson NH - NewHampshire.com
    • Richardson Family of Nelson NH (genealogy) - use the search engine, Advanced, and type in Nelson for the location.
    • CENSUS NOTE: In the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census, this town will be listed as "Packersfield," then starting in 1820 will be listed as "Nelson."
    • Nelson New Hampshire's Moment in the Guinness World Record Book - from blog: Cow Hampshire
  • PHOTOGRAPHS:
    • Nelson NH Foliage
    • Sketch - Nelson School (NH)
    • Photograph: Simon Goodell Griffin, b. born August 9, 1824 in Nelson, Cheshire Co. NH and died January 14, 1902 in Keene NH; m1) Ursula Harris; m2) Margaret Lamson; In 1860 he was a law student in Concord NH; In June 1861 Simon Goodell Griffin was appointed captain in the 2nd New Hampshire, and fought at 1st Bull Run. In 1862 he was made colonel and saw duty at 2nd Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Vicksburg. Griffin was appointed brigadier general of volunteers in 1864 and fought at Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Crater, and Appomattox. He became major general of the U.S. volunteers in April 1865. [see town history & genealogy above for more about his family]
    • Nelson NH - Town Offices & Scenic View from Nelson NH
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PLAINFIELD AND OTHER TOWNS FORMERLY IN CHESHIRE COUNTY...
In the US Census from 1790 to 1820, Plainfield and several other towns (see list below) can be found under CHESHIRE COUNTY. Starting in 1830 look for these townships under SULLIVAN COUNTY.

June 23, 1826, the NH Legislature created a new county, named Sullivan County, after General John Sullivan, one of New Hampshire's most distinguished Revolutionary partriots and soldiers. This new county was comprised of Acworth, Charlestown, Claremont, Cornish, Croydon, Grantham, Goshen, Lempster, Langdon, Newport, Plainfield, Sunapee, Springfield, Unity and Washington (in all 15 towns).

Special NOTE: Prior to 1830, census records for SUNAPEE NH will be located as the town of WENDELL in CHESHIRE COUNTY.

See Sullivan County
RICHMOND
  • History: First granted to soldiers returning from the war in Canada, this town was named Sylvester Canada, in honor of Captain Joseph Sylvester. When New Hampshire because a separate province, Sylvester Canada was reincorporated as Richmond, in honor of the governor's English friend, Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond, a staunch advocate of colonial independence.
  • Villages and Place Names: Sylvester Canada
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Richmond, N.H. -- TXT file -- Geography and geology of Richmond NH; early history, proprietors and settlers; early mills and manufactures/businesses; population and description in 1880 and 1884; description of villages; schools, churches, post offices/postmasters; early [pre 1850] representatives and town clerks; early physicians; early deeds; other first, i.e. first hotel, births, buildings; citizens who participated in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War; Biographies of early town settlers and prominent citizens, including: Nathan Aldrich, Levin Aldrich, Hosea Ballou, Uberto Brown or Bowen, James Brown, Jedediah Buffum, Daniel Buffum, Robert Buffum, Jacob Bump, Jeremiah Bullock, Cass Bullock, Daniel Cass, Jonathan Cass, Lewis Freeman, Preston Freeman, Dr. Samuel P. French, Amos Garnsey, Cyril Garnsey, Paul G. Gillson, Nathan Harkness, Elijah Harkness, John Martin, Wikchmess Martin, Reuben Parker, Lemuel Scott, Obadiah Sprague, Enoch Sprague, Jeremiah Thayer, Ellis Thayer, Peregrine Wheeler, Jonas R. Wheeler, William Wright, Luther Wright, and others.
    • Brief History of Richmond NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Hosea Ballou (1771-1852) was the most influential of the preachers in the second generation of the Universalist movement. His book, A Treatise on Atonement, radically altered the thinking of his colleagues in the ministry and their congregations. He resided in Richmond NH. [from archive]
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RINDGE
  • History: Granted to soldiers from Rowley, Massachusetts, returning from the war in Canada, the town was known as Rowley-Canada. In 1749, the town was renamed Monadnock Number 1, or South Monadnock. It was incorporated as Rindge in 1768, in honor of Captain Daniel Rindge, one of the original grant holders. Rindge is the home of Franklin Pierce College, and the Cathedral of the Pines, a multi-denominational outdoor chapel.
  • Villages and Place Names: Converseville [Conversville], Cutter Hill, East Rindge, Jones Corner, Rand, Thomas, West Rindge, Woodmere, Blakeville [not to be confused with Blakeville in Hampton NH].
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  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Rindge, N.H. -- Txt file -- Geography and geology of Rindge NH; Early history, population and description in 1880; description of villages; early businesses and manufactures, hotels, etc.; Churches; the Medium's Camp Meeting of the Two Worlds of Rindge; Incorporation and the officers of the first town meeting; Firsts in town; An extensive description of participants in the American Revolution, including those who signed the Association Test; names of residents who participated in the Civil War; Biographies of early settlers and prominent citizens including: Dr. Walton H. Aldrich, Joel R. Bixby, Aaron B. Bixby, Ebenezer Blake, Charles Broman, John Broman, Rev. Amos Wood Burnham, Reuben A. Buzzell, Joshua Chadwick, Isaac Chadwick, Thomas Danforth, Benjamin Danforth, Lucius Converse, Capt. Ebenezer H. Converse, George W. Cragin, John Danforth, Charles Danforth, John Earl, Ellis or Eills, John Emory or Emery, Warren W. Emory / Emery, Luther Goddard, Martin S. Goddard, Moses Hale, Nathan Hale, Chester O. Hale, Julius A. Hale, Stephen Hale, Samuel J. Hardisen, Thomas J. Hill, Nathan Hubbard, Deacon Hezekiah Hubbard, Levi Hubbard and family, Joshua Hunt, Ezekiel Jewett, Asa Jones, Samuel Jones, Rev. Richard Kimball, George Kimball, Samuel M. Kimball, Warren S. Kimball, Byron D. Leighton, Nathaniel Lowell, Francis Maxwell, George J. Maxwell, James B. McGregor, Charles H. Miller, Clement Tatro Jr., Francis J. Morlock, John Perry, Jason B. Perry, Amos Ramsdell, Reuben Ramsdell, Abijah Rice, Harrison G. Rice, George G. Rice, Thomas Rugg, Luke Rugg, Warham H. Rugg, Nathaniel Russell, Henry Rugg, Sumner Rugg, Simeon Rugg, John H. Rugg, Dr. Ira Russell, Dr. F.W. Russell, James Simonds (Symonds), Captain Freeborn Stearns, Charles F. Stearns, Willie E. Stearns, William Stickney, Simon Fletcher, William, Stickney, Asa Stickney, Elbridge G. Tarbox, John Thrasher, Samuel P. Thrasher, Ned Thrasher, Francis Towne, Joshua Towne, Levi Russell, Greene Towne, George W. Towne, Solomon F. Towne, Dana S. Walker, Ivers Wellington, William Kimball, Daniel White, John White, Abraham M. White, Zachariah F. Whitney, Osborn A. Whitney, David Wilson, Elenzor Royce, Lemuel Royce, Isaac Wood, Addison M. Wood, Marshall Wood, Samuel M. Wood, and Stillman M. Wood among others
    • History of the Town of Rindge NH - online book, free, searchable
    • Genealogy: USGenWeb Archives - brief genealogies of Rindge Families: Abijah Smith; Capt. Othniel Thomas.
    • Rindge New Hampshire's Cathedral of the Pines - Blog: Cow Hampshire
    • Brief History of Rindge NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Ezra Scollay Stearns - born in Rindge NH

    • SECOND RINDGE MEETING HOUSE marker - This Meeting House was an outgrowth of the time when Proprietors of the town were responsible for the encouragement of religion. It was built in 1796 when church and state were intertwined. Until 1819, regardless of denomination and belief, residents were considered members of this parish and their tax money supported the minister. In 1839 the town became owner of this edifice and the church society its tenant and this arrangement remains today. This building of simple colonial architecture still embraces some of the religious and civil affairs of this community and stands as a monument to pure democracy. Located on the Main Street in Rindge Center, off the west side of US 202 and south of NH 119

    • Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge NH

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ROXBURY
  • History: Roxbury was once a part of Monadnock Number 5, one of the settlements reserved for soldiers of the French wars. Monadnock Number 5 became Marlborough, and in 1812, a group of citizens successfully petitioned for incorporation as a separate town. It was named Roxbury after their old village, now part of Boston.
  • Villages and Place Names: Monadnock Number 5, Marlborough, Roxbury Center
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Roxbury, N.H. -- TXT -- Geography and geology of Roxbury, NH; early town history including officers appointed at the first town meeting; population and description in 1880; schools; churches; early physicians and pastors; early merchants and businesses; biographies of early settlers and prominent citizens including: John Nims, Ebenezer ims, David Nims, Zadoc Nims, Asahel Nims, Capt. Eliakim Nims, Matthew Nims, and many other members of the NIMS family; Gideon Phillips, Richard Phillilps, Deacon Reuben Phillips, and other members of the Phillips family; Nathan Nye, Gardner Nye, Eli Clark, Henry C. Clark, Quincey E. Clark, and other members of the Clark family, Solomon Kingbury, Elbridge Kingsbury, Josiah Woodward, and other members of the Woodward family.
    • Brief History of Roxbury NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Joseph Ames - born in the small town of Roxbury in 1816, the son of Robert and Sarah Ames. Young Ames received his early education in Roxbury's district schools. He showed artistic ability at a young age and began portrait painting early in life. Ames attained some success as a painter in New Hampshire and soon moved to Boston where he opened a studio. He quickly earned a favorable reputation, painting portraits of several well known citizens. He was entirely self taught in his profession. A portrait and genre painter, Joseph Ames worked in Boston from 1841 to 1847 and then went to Italy where he painted a portrait of Pope Piux IX. On his return, he worked primarily in Boston for several decades. By 1870, he was in Baltimore and then in New York where he died in 1872. The Joseph Ames portrait, of Abraham Lincoln, painted in 1865, was the last portrait of Lincoln done from life. Link #2 to another biography
    • Nims Family Association - genealogy & photographs
    • Buckminster Farm, Roxbury NH
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STODDARD
  • History: First granted in 1752, this town was originally known as Monadnock Number 7. It briefly held the name Limerick before being incorporated as Stoddard in 1774, in honor of Colonel Sampson Stoddard. Colonel Stoddard was appointed to survey southwestern New Hampshire by the colonial government, receiving several land grants for the service. Between 1840 and 1873, Stoddard was a center of glass manufacturing, home to four glass factories whose products are much prized today.
  • Villages and Place Names: Leominster Corner, Mill Village, South Stoddard, Woods Mill
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Stoddard, N.H. -- TXT file -- Geography and geology of Stoddard NH; early town history; 1880 and 1884 description; villages of Stoddard; early manufactures and businesses; "Firsts" in town; participants and problems during the American Revolution; other early town officers from documents; churches; Biographies and genealogies of early settlers and prominent town citizens including (but not limited to): Zebulon Barrett, Ebenezer Blake, James Copeland, George L. Curtis, Asa Davis, Joseph Dodge, Samuel Foster and family, Simeon Gould Jr., Nathan Gould, Isaiah Gould, Stephen Gould, Nathaniel Joslin, David Joslin, Stephen C. Joslin, and many Joslin families; Daniel Locke, Enos Locke, Elbridge W. Locke (musician), Dr. Asher Loveland, Aaron Matson and family, Francis Matson, Samuel Messenger, Silas Messenger [or Messinger], Nathan Morse and many MORSE family members, Peter Rice, Josiah M. Rice and other members of the Rice family, Ziba Richardson, James Robb, Christopher Robb, and other Robb family members, James Scott, John Scott, Ebenezer Stacy, Abel Stacy and family, Daniel Stevens and family, John Stevens, Hon. George STevens, John Taggard [sic Taggart] and family, Israel Towne, Luman Weeks, William Dexter Wilson, Dr. Nathaniel Worcester and family.
    • History of Stoddard and photographs of old buildings
    • Brief History of Stoddard NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Dow Hill Cemetery - Stoddard NH (Dodge Family stones)
    • STONE ARCH BRIDGE Marker in Stoddard NH - This twin arch structure, built without mortar and sustained solely by expert shaping of its archstones, is typical of a unique style of bridge construction employed primarily in the Contoocook River Valley in the first half of the Nineteenth Century. These bridges are a significant part of our American architectural heritage. Located on the south side of NH 9, in a roadside rest area about .1 mile west of the the Antrim-Stoddard town line.
    • STODDARD GLASS Marker in Stoddard NH - Glassmaking in this town covered the years 1842-1873. Nearby stood the South Stoddard Glass Works founded by Foster in 1842. A second works was erected in 1846 at Mill Village two miles north. In its day, a major industry of the State, Stoddard glass products are now highly prized by collectors. Located on NH 9, about .1 mile west of its junction with NH 123.
    • Biography: WILSON, William Dexter, clergyman, born in Stoddard NH
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SULLIVAN
  • History: Carved out of portions of Gilsum, Stoddard, Nelson, and Keene, this town was named in honor of General John Sullivan, a Revolutionary War hero. General Sullivan served as a member of the Continental Congress, Adjutant General to Washington, and Major General of the Northern Army. He was elected President of New Hampshire in 1786, and the town of Sullivan was created the following year.
  • Villages and Place Names: East Sullivan, Ellisville
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Sullivan, N.H. -- TXT file -- Geography and Geology of Sullivan, NH; early town history, signers of early documents, description of villages, early businesses and manufactures, early mills and buildings, incorporation of the town, early murders, participation in wars (Revolution and Civil); monument to soldiers; description of town cemeteries, first births and oldest residents; library and bands; politics; biographies of early preachers including Rev. William Muzzey, Rev. Josiah Peabody, Rev. Job Cushman, Rev. Joel Wright, Rev. Alanson Alvord, Rev. Thomas Snell Norton, Rev. George Washington Stinson, Rev. Nelson Barbour, Rev. John Murdock Stowe, Rev. Samuel Stillman Drake, Rev. Henry Warren Lyman Thurston, Rev. George Warren Rogers, Rev. Charles Cummings, and others; early physicians including Dr. Messer Cannon, Dr. Timothy Livingston Lane, Dr. Edward Barton; brief biographies of early college graduates in the town including: Marquis Delafayette Collestor, Samuel Newell Fifield, Dr. Carlton Pennington Frost, Dr. Edwin Brant Frost, Rev. Henry Martyn Frost, George Wallace Keith, Dr. Alba Enoch Kempt, Dr. Edwin Augustine Kemp, Dr. Frank Kemp, Rev. George Solon Kemp, Hon. David Haven Mason, James Bracket Mason, Dr. Rufus Osgood Mason, Dr. Edward Beecher Nims, George Lyman Nims, Rev. Josiah Lafayette Seward, Orlando Lesie Seward, and other Seward descendants, Rev. Granville Wardwell, Edgar Vinton Wilson, Esq., Rev. Enoch Charles Augustus Woods, Prof. J. Willston Wright, Rev. Artemus Bowers Muzzey; Other biographies and genealogies of early settlers and prominent citizens including: Hon. Charles Carter Comstock, Atwell C. Ellis, Joseph Foster, Stephen Foster, Daniel Goodnow, Roswell Hubbard and Erastus Hubbard, Nathan Taft, Elbridge A. Taft, Samuel Winchester, and Harrison Rugg and the Rugg family, and Judson White, among others.
    • Brief History of Sullivan NH - KeeneNH.com
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SURRY
  • History: Chartered in 1769 from a part of Westmoreland, the town was named for Charles Howard, Earl of Surrey, Duke of Norfolk, and hereditary Earl Marshal of England. The county of Surrey in England was known for manufacture of pleasure carriages called surreys, introduced to America in 1872. Surry is an excellent geological area, containing quantities of quartz bearing veins of gold, silver, copper, and lead.
  • Villages and Place Names: Shaws Corner
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Surry, N.H. -- TXT file -- Geography and geology of Surry [sometimes mis-spelled Surrey]; the population and description circa 1880; villages [there is only one, Surry], early mills and businesses; the first settler (Peter Hayward); the first town meeting and officers; other early town history and early settlers; Surry in the Revolutionary war and known participants; names mentioned in other early documents; churches; biographies and genealogies of early settlers and prominent residents including: James Britton, John Britton, William Carpenter, Ezra Carpenter, and the Carpenter family; Warren Carpenter, Charles Carpenter and family; John Cole, Asa Cole and family; Henry T. Ellis, Capt. Thomas L. Harmon, Thomas Harvey, Asahel Harvey and family, Peter Hayward (first settler) and his family; Hon. Lemuel Holmes, Augustus Johnson, Charles Johnson, George Johnson, Henry Johnson, et al; Thomas Harvey, Jonathan Harvey, and family; Daniel Hodgkins Jr., Elijah Holbrook, Francis Holbrook, Stephen Holbrook, and family; John Howe, Rev. Perley Howe, Phebe Howe (who married Dr. John Petts), James Kingsbury, William L. Kingsbury, John McCurdy, Samuel McCurdy and family, William Perkins, Charles H. Perkins, et al., Dr. William H. Porter, Daniel Reed (from IL) and family, Jonathan Robinson, Samuel Robinson, et al, Obadiah Wilcox, Gaylord Wilcox, Wallace W. Wilcox et al, Asa Wilcox, Asa Wilcox, et al.
    • Brief History of Surry, NH - KeeneNH.com
    • SURRY MOUNTAIN GOLD MINE and LILY POND marker - To the east rises Surry Mountain, stretching four miles north and south. For many years, mines yielding small amounts of mica, copper, lead, silver and gold were operated along the ridge. In the saddle of the mountain, slightly north of the village, there is a Lily Pond, some 750 feet above the valley meadows. Often called a freak of nature, Lily Pond has been measured to be 80 feet deep in places. Located in Surry village, just east of NH 12-A, in front of the town library.
    • Genealogy of Peter Hayward, and family, of Surry NH
    • The Surry House was built circa 1865 part of a village farm in an agricultural town, it is now an inn.
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SWANZEY

TROY
  • History: Troy was separated from Marlborough in 1815, and included parts of Fitzwilliam, Swanzey, and Richmond. A prominent citizen and friend of Governor John Taylor Gilman, Captain Benjamin Mann of Mason, suggested the name Troy. His daughter Betsy was married to Samuel Wilson, famous as Uncle Sam, and at that time a resident of Troy, New York. At least seven members to Wilson's family were living in the town at the time, thus securing the name.
  • Villages and Place Names: Marlborough
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Troy, N.H. -- TXT file -- Geography and geology of TROY, NH; Description of town in 1880; description of Troy Village; Schools and Churches; Early manufactures, businesses, hotels, stores, etc; early history and first settlers; "firsts in Troy" (i.e. first buildings, first birth and death, etc.); military history (American Revolution, and Civil War); early physicians (with brief biographies); biographies and genealogies of early settlers and prominent citizens including, but not limited to: Elijah Bemis, Lemuel Brown, Abel Brown and family; Daniel Butterick, James Capron, Joseph F. Capron, Thomas Clark, Dea. Alva S. Clark, Hezekiah Coolidge, Abraham Coolidge, Elias D. Elliot, Thomas Goodall, Stephen Harris, Abner Haskell and family; Hezekiah Hodgkins, Jonathan H. Holt, Edward P. Kimball, Winthrop Knight, Arthur P. Knight, David Lawrence, Jonathan Lawrence, Rev. Ezekiel Rich, Martin Rockwood, Peter Starkey, Luna Starkey, Calvin Starkey, Levi Streeter, Thomas Tolman, Daniel Tolman, George P. Ward, Preston WHeeler, John Wheeler (adopted son of Luke Harris), Dr. Charles W. Whitney, and Thomas Wright
    • Genealogy: USGenWeb Archives - brief genealogies of Troy Families: Asa Porter; Noah Porter.
    • Brief History of Troy, NH - KeeneNH.com
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WALPOLE
  • History: Settled as early as 1736 as Great Falls or Lunenburg, this town was not granted by New Hampshire until 1752, when it was named Bellowstown. Colonel Benjamin Bellows, for whom Bellows Falls, Vermont, was named, built a large fort at Walpole for defense against Indian attack. In 1761 the grant was renewed, and the town was renamed Walpole, in honor of Sir Robert Walpole, first Prime Minister of England.
  • Villages and Place Names: Christian Hollow, Cold River, Dodge Tavern, Drewsville, North Walpole
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Walpole, N.H.-- TXT file -- Geography and geology of Walpole NH; description of the town in 1880 and also in 1885; Description of the villages; early business and industry in Walpole; description of the first settlement, and first settlers; history of churches, "firsts" in Walpole; early physicians of the town; early newspapers and journals; importing merino sheep and other breeds; diseases in town; military history including the Amercian Revolution (with names of participants), the War of 1812 and the Civil War; Biography and genealogy of early settlers and prominent citizens including, but not limited to: Gen. Amasa Allen, Aaron Allen, Levi ALlen, David Arnold, William Arnold, Otis Bardwell, Col Benjamin Bellows and Family; Jonathan Blanchard, William Bond, William Buffum, David Buffum, Moses Burt, Aaron Burt, George Carlisle, Matthew Dickey, Pliny Dickinson, Thomas Collins Drew, Dr. Moses Emerson, Augustus Faulkner, Thomas Fessenden, Thomas Green Fessenden, Moses Fisher, Jonathan Fletcher, Benjamin Gates, Samuel Grant, Aaron Graves and Family, Josiah Griswold Graves, John Graves, William Guild, David Hodskins, Aaron Hodskins, Dr. Abraham Holland, Levi Hooper, Foster Hooper, Jonas Hosmer, Lyman Houghton, John Howland, Charles Howland, Aaron Prentiss Howland, George Huntington, Isaac Jennings, Robert Jennison, Oliver T. Joslyn, Nehemiah Kidder, John Kilburn, Dr. Francis Kittredge and Family, Richard Knapp, Jacob N. Knapp, Hope Lathorp [sic Lathrop], Jonathan Leavitt, Bolivar Lovell, Christian B. Lucke [or possibly Locke], Joshua March, John Maynard, Nathaniel Monroe, Dr. Ebenezer Morse, Caleb Plaistridge, Vim Porter, Jonathan Putney, Thomas and Isaac Reddington, Jonathan Royce, James Russell, William Selkirk, John Selkirk, James Selkirk, Ebenezer Smith Sr., Esdras Smith, Dr. George Sparhawk, Thomas Sparhawk, E.E. Stowell, Thomas Tole, John Tuttle, Roger Vose, Frederick Vose, Nathan Walkins, Alexander Watkins, Charles Watkins, Hiram Watkins, name change to Wotkyns, Colonel Christopher Webber, True Webster, Benjamin E. Webster, Frederick A. Weir, Ebenezer Wellington and Family, William Wellington, Nahum Wilson, and Moses Wright.
    • Genealogies: USGenWeb Archives - brief genealogies of Walpole Families: Joshua Marsh, Daniel Marsh, John Martin, Joseph Mason, John Maynard, Moses and Rev. Samuel Mead, Stephen Mellish, John Merrimam, Timothy Messer, Jared Miller, Ebenezer Morse, Thomas Nichols, Stephen Ormsby, Philip Peck, Vine Porter, Thomas and Isaac Redington [sic Reddington], Elizabeth (Kilburn) Remich photograph, William Rollins, Jonathan and Nehemiah Royce, William Ruggles, James Russell, Frederick Scovill, Thomas Seaver, Ephraim Sherman, Dr. George, Hull and Thomas Sparhawk families; Moses, Ephraim and Aaron Stearns families, David Stone, Charles Stratton, David Thompson, Luke Thurston, Amasa TIffany, Samuel Titus, Nicanor Townsley, Roger Vose, Alexander and Nathan Watkins, Col. Christopher Webber, Ebenezer Wellington, Daniel Whipple, Wier Family including Samuel Wiers, Dacon Samuel Wightman, Roger Wolcott, and Uzziah and William Wyman
    • Brief History of Walpole NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Another Brief History of Walpole NH
    • Alfred Wotkyns, M.D. - originally from Walpole (he changed the spelling of his name)
    • FIRST CONNECTICUT RIVER BRIDGE marker in Walpole NH - The first bridge across this river was built approximately 1/4 mile north of this location in 1785 by Col. Enoch Hale. This toll bridge, replaced in 1840, was recognized in the 18th century as one of America's outstanding bridges because of its unique engineering style. Its replacement was made a free bridge in 1904. Located on the west side of NH 12, north of its junction with NH 123 and about .3 mile south of the present Vilas Bridge.
    • History & Photographs: The Walpole Inn, built by Col Benjamin Bellows in the 1760's
    • Inn at Valley Farms Bed & Breakfast and Cottages (circa 1774) 633 Wentworth Road, Walpole, NH 03608, 603-756-2855,an elegantly restored Colonial home & cottages situated on 105 acres of organic farmland. Working fireplaces, original flooring, and antique hardware all reflect the craftsmanship of the past.
    • Biography and likeness of Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Oxford (after whom the town is named)
    • Drewsville Mansion, history & photographs of this building, stick style architecture, in Walpole NH, built circa 1880 on the site of a hotel which burned that year. According to a newspaper account, the architect of the structure was William P. Wentworth of Boston. The house was built for Bolivar and Sarah Lathrop Lovell on the site of Mrs. Lovell's father's house. Her father was Hope Lathrop
    • Walpole Academy - Walpole Academy, completed in 1831, is a generally well-preserved example of a nineteenth century New England academy in the Greek Revival style. In all likelihood it was designed and built by a local master builder of some competence, Aaron Prentiss Howland (1801-1867). Built in the form of a three-bay Greek prostyle temple with portico, the Academy has an overhanging triangular pediment with modillion cornice, in which is centered a semi-circular louvered fan with shaped surround and keystone.
    • Village Bridge at Walpole NH (over the Connecticut River)

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WESTMORELAND
  • History: Once known as Great Meadows, this town was established in 1735 as Number 2 in the line of Connecticut River fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian attack. When New Hampshire became an independent province, it was granted to settlers as Westmoreland, named for John Fane, seventh Earl of Westmoreland. The meetinghouse in Westmoreland, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere bell.
  • Villages and Place Names: East Westmoreland, Parkhill, Gilboa, Westmoreland Depot
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Westmoreland, N.H. --TXT file -- includes the geography and geology of Westmoreland NH; early history of the town; list of the town's proprietors and early settlers; early businesses and manufactures, schools, churches, early "firsts" and unusual weather; early lawyers (with their bios) early town officers of Westmoreland; A description of Westmoreland in 1880-84; description of villages; description of early cemeteries, Residents who partipated in wars (French & Indian, American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War); biographies and genealogies of early families and prominent citizens including: William Aiken, Ichabod Albee, Abisa Albee and family; Caleb Aldrich, Capt. George Aldrich (Aldridge), Allen Aldrich and family, Ephraim Amidon, Nathaniel Amidon and family, Nathan Godfrey Babbitt, Larkin Barker, Col. Tileston A. Barker, Benjamin Barker, Capt. Frank T. Barker and family; Willard Bill Sr. (gr grson of Samuel Bill), Caleb Briggs and family including Lemuel Briggs, Amasa Briggs, Oliver Leonard Briggs, Zenas Britton, William B. Britton and family, Silas Brown Jr., George S. Brown and family, Erasmus Buffum, Joseph Buffum and family, David Buffum, Haskell Buffum, Henry Burt and family including Samuel Burt, Hiram Burt, Willard Burt et al, the Chamberlain family including MANY descendants of John & Eunice (Edson) Chamberlain, including STEARNS family members; Charles B. Chase Jr. and family, Samuel Chickering and family; Asa Cole and many descendants of the COLE family in this area and elsewhere, including Capt. Theodore Cole; Jonathan Cole, Sherebiah Cowdery, John Cowdery and family; William Daggett, son of Phineas Daggett and family; Dr. George F. Dunbar; Thomas Dunham and family including Josiah Dunham; Steward Estey [Esty] and family, Henry Esty [sic Estey], Colonel Nat Fisk and family, Nathan Franklin and Family, French family (detailed) including David, Abijah and Jotham; Dr. Noah Fuller, and family including Josiah, Joseph, and Col. Levi Fuller; Christopher Fuller; Edwin J. Goodnow, Jonathan Goodnow and family; Ambrose C. Higgins, Egbert C and Edgar K. Horton; William Hutchins and family including Otis; Frank Jarvis, Artemus Knight; Luther Knight; Henry Leach son of Isaac and family; George W. Nims, son of Roswell and family; Josiah Noyes and family including Dr. Josiah Noyes, Augustus Noyes, and others; David W. Patten and family including John and family, Daniel; George W. Perry, son of Dr. William Perry and family; Sylvester Powers and familiy; Abiatha Lambert Shaw and family; Barnabas Shelley and family; Dr. Barton Simmons son of Edward and family; Israel Stowell son of Reuben and family; Albert Thompson (Tompson) and family including Nathaniel; Levi B. Ware, son of Erastus and family; Erasmus Wellington and family; Shubael White and family including Moses White, Cornelius White, Calvin White, and others; Isaac K. White; Edmund Wilcox and family. Mention of many others not included in this list.
    • Brief History of Westmoreland NH - KeeneNH.com
    • Cheshire County "Poor Farm" Westmoreland NH
    • History of Cheshire County Poor Farm
    • Caleb & Jemima Howe of Westmoreland - biography & genealogy
    • PARK HILL MEETING HOUSE marker - This church, built on the northeast corner of Cole Cemetery in 1762, was moved in sections by ox cart in 1779 to this location, then known as Federal Hill. A steeple with a bell cast by the Paul Revere Foundry was added in 1826. This edifice is recognized as one of the most beautiful churches in New England. Located on the north side of NH 63 in the Park Hill section of Westmoreland, directly in front of the Meeting House
    • The Norris Family of Westmoreland NH - GoogleBooks
    • Ballou Family of Westmoreland NH - GoogleBooks
    • Abiather Howe of Westmoreland NH - GoogleBooks
    • Bennett and Gleason families of Westmoreland NH - GoogleBooks
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WINCHESTER
  • History: Originally named Arlington, in honor of Charles Fitzroy, Earl of Arlington, this town was one of those established in 1733 as protection for the Massachusetts border at the Connecticut River. After becoming part of the New Hampshire province in 1741, the town was granted to Colonel Josiah Willard, commander of Fort Dummer. Following the wars, it was incorporated as Winchester, for Charles Paulet, Marquis of Winchester, third Duke of Bolton, and constable of the Tower of London.
  • Villages and Place Names: Ashuelot, Camp Forest Lake, Curits Corner, Scotland
  • GOVERNMENT & RESEARCH:
  • HISTORY & GENEALOGY:
    • History & Genealogy: Winchester, N.H. -- TXT file -- Geography and geology of Winchester NH, description of the town 1880-1884; description of the villages; early bank history; early manufactures and businesses; early history of the town; list of proprietors and early residents; history of post offices; listing of a few early fraternal organizations; Winchester during the American Revolution, and the Civil War; old cemeteries; early churches and their history; Biographies and Genealogies of early families and prominent citizens and their families including (but not limited to): Amos Adams and family; Joab F. Adams, James M. Allen, Samuel Atherton, Amos B. Atherton, Jonathan Atherton, Stephen Baker, Alvan W. Ball, David Ball, Stephen Ball, David Bolton, Russell W. Boyce, Jedediah Buffum, Sampson W. Buffum, Christopher Bullock, John Burbank, Eugene Burpee, Benjamin Carlton, J. Byron Cass, James Cass, Anthony Combs, Joshua Cook, Francis Cook and large family; Abel Davis, Dickinson family including Nathaniel Dickinson, Joseph Dickinson, Erastus Dickinson, Ansel Dickinson et al; Amzi Doolittle, Hiram Doolittle, Eliphalet Doolittle, Abel Eaton, Loren Eaton, Ames C. Eaton, Daniel I. Emerson, Zenas Fairbanks, Samuel and Ira Fairbanks, Rev. John Felch, Reuben Field, Pliny Field, Charles B. Field et al; John Follett, Luther Follett et al, Joel Fosgate, James Fosgate, et al; Philip Goss, Samuel Goss et al; Cyrus Greenwood; Seth Hammond, David Hammond et al; Rev. Elijah Harmon, Gaius Harmon, et al; Stephen Hawkins, et al; Nehemiah Healy, Nathaniel Healy et al; Charles Holton, et al; Eliab Howard et al; JEWELL FAMILY (extensive) including Asahel Jewell, Marshall Jewell, Lyman B. Jewell, et al; David Kelly; Asa C. Lewis; Joshua Lyman and Family; John Manning; William Morey et al; John G. Morse, Daniel Locke PICKET, Hosea G. Picket et al; Jonas P. Putnam; Amos Putnam et al; Charles Mansfield et al; John A. Powers et al; Abram Randall, Stephen Randall et al; David Read [Read], Rufus Read, et al; Rixford family including William Rixford, Henry Rixford, Simon Rixford (brothers) and Artemus Rixford, et al; Daniel T. Sabin; Charles E. Slate; Elisha Smith; Jedediah Smith; George C. Snow, Samuel Snow; Clark Stearns et al; Henry B. Swan, Ambrose W. Swan et al; Silas Taft, Ephraim Taft, Sewell Taft, et al; Charles W. Thompson, Daniel H. Thompson et al; Moody Towns; Henry A. Tower et al; The Turner Family including James B. Turner et al; Jacob Ware et al; Thomas Wheelock and family; Elijah Willard and family; Timothy Willis et al; Samuel Wright and family.
    • Biography & Genealogy: Winchester New Hampshire Businesswoman, Persis Foster (Eames) Albee (1836-1914) - from Blog: Cow Hampshire
    • George Walton Peirce MD - biography GoogleBooks
    • The Dodge Family of Winchester NH - GoogleBooks
    • Samuel Taylor & Family of Winchester NH - GoogleBooks
    • Zenas Fairbanks of Winchester NH - GoogleBooks
    • History & Genealogy in Winchester NH - USGenWeb
    • Brief History of Winchester NH - KeeneNH.com
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